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 situation in the south changed drastically in 1814. With the end of hostilities in Europe in April of 1814, a navy-led attack on the southern United States suddenly became conceivable. In early summer, after weeks of strong petitioning, Royal Navy Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane had convinced Britain that possession of New Orleans would not only throw a monkey wrench in America’s plans to expand their borders, but it could cripple their already- shaky economy. At the very least, British possession of any American lands would prove useful at the Ghent bargaining table. Cochrane was an energetic and skilled commander who also had a large appetite for booty. He knew that after years of successful blockades, New Orleans was overflowing with millions of dollars worth of tradable goods, including cotton, sugar, tobacco and hemp. If he could take the city, a considerable portion of this prize would be his. Cochrane was also convinced that the mixed population of First Nations, Spanish, French and black slaves would be eager to escape American domination. This issue of the diverse population was the primary concern for the American army’s newest brigadier general, Andrew Jackson. The expansionist-minded Jackson found that his recent campaign against the Red Stick Creeks provided a stepping stone to more military and political clout which could be used to further his vision of a growing America. In the summer of 1814, he was determined to use the conflict with England in order to make even more gains, but he knew this would be difficult given the circumstances surrounding the southern population. The Louisiana Territory was thinly-populated with the majority of people concentrated around New Orleans. Jackson did not see them as the dependable type of settlers one might find in Kentucky or his home state of Tennessee; they were mainly Francophones of mixed race, immigrants, slaves and pirates. What Andrew Jackson could not predict was whether this population could be counted on for an effective defense of New Orleans.