HISTORY

Jan. 1, 1815
Battle of Rodriques Canal

Pakenham's forces began their advance upriver toward the city of New Orleans on December 28th. A number of writers have made the claim that the British advanced too slowly and that if they had launched an immediate attack after the battle on the 23rd the city would have fallen. There is no evidence to support this however.

This criticism is based on the fact that on the 23rd Jackson had still to build any defenses around the city. But the fact of the matter is that the British still had only one brigade at their disposal, limited munitions and a long and undefended supply line back to the fleet. Advancing on the 23rd would have exposed British troops to enfilade fire from the USS Carolina and allowed British forces to be defeated piecemeal, one brigade at a time. Instead Pakenham chose to destroy the USS Carolina first and then advance up the river.

Soon after the advance began, the British were brought under fire from a number of guns manned by the Baratarian pirates and the USS Louisiana on the river. Pakenham planned to reduce Jackson's defenses here by artillery attack and a rush on the right, out of range of the Louisiana's guns. He was forced to wait three days while guns were brought up the 80 miles from the fleet. This gave Jackson the three days he needed to build and strengthen his defenses. By the night of the 31st the British were ready to launch their attack, although they were still dangerously low on ammunition.

The battle began with an artillery duel started by the British shelling Jackson's headquarters. The American responded and the duel lasted for three hours, at which point the British had exhausted their artillery supplies. After the British artillery had failed to breach the defenses the infantry attack was called off. When more supplies arrived the British attempted to renew the artillery assault, but a heavy rain prevented the action form taking place.