The Battle of New Orleans: Andrew Jackson & America's First Military Victory | Historical War Books, US History Gifts for History Buffs & Students

This is the story of the battle where the forces led by Andrew Jackson defeated the British attempting to capture New Orleans in January, 1815. The author, Robert Remini, is very fond of his subject, Andrew Jackson, whose fame gained in winning this battle eventually propelled him to high office where he became America's first president with upcountry origins.The most interesting part of the book involves Jackson's planning and putting together of the motley force with which to confront the British. From a military standpoint, the battle itself is not very interesting in that the British simply advanced toward Jackson's works and were cut to pieces. It was a sad waste of fine soldiery, many of whom were veterans of the Peninsular War against Napoleon's marshals in Spain. Their commander, General Packenham, was himself a Peninsular veteran and the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington.Remini's narrative flows very well and held my interest throughout. I found it especially informative as a former resident of New Orleans. The names of many of the dramatis personae, not just Jackson, but those such as Girod, Claiborne, Touro and others will resonate with New Orleanians as the names of many of their streets and other landmarks in the area.