The Battle of New Orleans Map of The South in 1814 Further Reading Andrew Jackson's Southern Defense Cochrane's Campaign: The British Approach New Orleans The December Defense: Andrew Jackson Arrives at New Orleans The British Arrive at New Orleans Night Before the Battle Massacre at New Orleans Eyewitness Accounts

The South in 1814: Background to the Battle of New Orleans The borders in the southern United States, like those of the northwest, were a subject of much dispute in the 1812 period. This situation had long since been problematic for an American government bent on expansion. The Spanish still held territory in West Florida and west of the Mississippi. The Creek Nations, who occupied a vast amount of land between the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico, presented another powerful barrier to white settlement. The U.S. policy makers were determined to possess these territories for ideological and financial reasons. The United States acquired the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, thereby gaining even more control of the all-important Mississippi River, especially its watershed at the Gulf of Mexico. The government recognized the great potential for this area to grow into the principal trading district of the western US By 1812, many of these hopes were being realized as the south’s primary commercial center, New Orleans, grew in size and importance. The declaration of war had serious implications for citizens living in these territories and for the administration that wanted to control them. New Orleans was essentially an isolated outpost of the United States. It was the only American naval station on the Gulf Coast and was geographically cut off from the rest of the country by Spain’s territories. Since acquiring Louisiana, the US had made no secret of its desire to acquire these lands, since it would give them control of the shoreline from the Gulf right up to the Atlantic seaboard. But, the war weakened New Orleans, that jewel in the southern crown, to an extremely vulnerable position. The Spanish crown prince was allied with England in its war against Napoleon. The Americans feared that the Spanish would allow Britain access to its forts and waterways in order to infiltrate the south. As important as New Orleans was for the American government, the northern theater presented a more immediate concern early on in the conflict. Consequently, New Orleans and the rest of the south received little financial support with which to prepare their defense. The British were well aware of the value that the Gulf Coast and the Mississippi held for the Americans. They also realized that America’s control of these territories was not as strong as it would have liked. Due however, to its fight in Europe throughout 1812 and 1813, Britain could not provide the military and naval strength needed to capitalize on this weakness by mounting a major campaign along the Gulf coast. All Britain could do was send agents to try forge alliances with the disaffected First Nations, such as the Creeks, as well as with the large population of black slaves living in the Louisiana and Mississippi Territories. With the balance of the war constantly tipping back and forth, the British met with little success.