CHARACTERS

Major General Andrew Jackson

In December 1812, Brig. Gen. Jackson is authorized by the War department to gather 1,500 militia and head south to make preparations to invade West Florida. Before getting into position, however, the operation was called off. Jackson's forces then remain inactive until the Ft. Mims massacre and Jackson is placed in charge of the Creek War front with directions to crush the Red Sticks.

Although successful in his efforts to suppress the Red Sticks, Jackson had numerous troubles with supplies and with his militia forces. He develops a very unusual style for a gentlemen officer of his rank. He yells and harangues his men . . . directly. This allowed Jackson to reverse two near defeats at Emuckfau and Enotachopco Creeks by effectively having a temper tantrum in front of his men. This style would later be adopted by Woord War II's Den. George Patton.

After rushing into battle with militia in the first stage of the Creek War, Jackson learned to stockpile his supplies before taking offensive action and with his first unit of regulars, the 39th Regiment, he crushed the Red Stick forces at Horseshoe Bend, forcing the Creek nation to surrender virtually the entire state of Alabama to the US. After this Jackson was given command of the entire Southern front (over the head of President Madison) and promoted to Major General to replace William Henry Harrison.

Jackson's first action was to force the British out of Pensacola . . . completing the task he was sent to do in December of 1812. At this point, Jackson correctly deduced that the British would be heading to New Orleans and he started setting up that city's defenses. Once again Jackson had difficulties with the local militia . . . many of whom considered themselves French or Spanish and not American. Perhaps in an effort to annoy the locals (or at least shame them) he armed an entire regiment of black troops and then took on another regiment of pirates who had been praying on local American shipping!

When the British did arrive, Jackson's response was again unconventional for the time. Instead of waiting in a defense position, Jackson actually launched a full scale attack. Although driven back, the victorious British decided to wait for reinforcements before proceeding. This gave Jackson the time he needed to build defensive works. The result was the very lopsided victory of New Orleans were the British took 2,000 casualties to about a dozen American.

Jackson then ended the war still arguing with the militia who wanted to go home now that the war was over. Jackson, however, saw the war as still on until the treaty was ratified by both sides.

Jackson Myth Number 1

The traditional stories about Andrew Jackson discuss his success with the militia . . . in fact, he was used, after the war, as an example of the militia system working in the defense of New Orleans. But Jackson had more than his share of problems with the militia. At one point, during the height of the Creek War, plagued by expiration of militia terms and lack of supplies the garrison of Ft. Strother dropped to 120 men.

Just hearing about lack of supplies caused one group of 200 militia men on their way to join Jackson to desert and go home.

Jackson Myth Number 2

On January 25, 1815, after the successful defense of New Orleans by a force consisting of mostly militia, Jackson wrote to Secretary of War Monroe asking for 5000 regulars. He stressed that they needed to be regulars adding: "the only description of troops upon which reliance can be placed."

Jackson had difficulties keeping the militia in place after they heard that a peace treaty had been signed. Jackson wanted to keep them defending New Orleans until the treaty was ratified by both sides.