America 250: Presidential Message on the Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans
Today, our Nation remembers one of the greatest American tales of might and one of the grandest displays of American resolve in the history of our country—the legendary Battle of New Orleans.
As our last major engagement in the War of 1812 and our epic final struggle against the tyranny of the British empire, the Battle of New Orleans ensured the hard-fought flame of American liberty would never extinguish. Following a series of skirmishes throughout December of 1814, in which the British sought to break the defenses of the revered Major General Andrew Jackson, Major General Sir Edward Pakenham committed 8,000 seasoned British regulars to overwhelm the smaller American force of just 5,700 outside the city. The British objective: Steal the vital commercial and defensive strongpoint situated at the mouth of the mighty Mississippi River—the city of New Orleans—for the crown.
The morning of January 8, 1815, dawned damp and foggy as British soldiers formed long, neat rows of crimson along the swampy marshes of southern Louisiana. As the British began their attack, tradition holds that General Jackson—bracing behind a small canal and several hundred yards of defensive works—bellowed to his men: “Give it to them, my boys! Let us finish the business today!”
His men did just that. In less than an hour, American fighters—with nothing but courage, confidence, and faith—killed, wounded, or captured more than 2,000 hardened British veterans. The fog Sir Edward Pakenham hoped would conceal his attack lifted at the last moment, and his artillery bombardment from across the river materialized too late. Sir Edward himself fell during the battle, and soon after, General Jackson’s force reigned triumphant with only 71 American casualties as the British made their retreat. By the time the smoke cleared, New Orleans was safe. The British were forever expelled from American soil. And General Jackson was immortalized as an American hero and would later ascend to the Presidency.
To this day, January 8, 1815, remains one of the most significant days in our great national story. More than 200 years later, as we celebrate our 250th year of American independence, we pay tribute to the heroes who defied every odd to secure our birthright of liberty. We honor their immortal legacy of courage and resilience. Above all, we vow that the triumphant spirit of the Battle of New Orleans—and our victory over foreign influence in the War of 1812—will forever live on in every American heart.
