The Chalmette Battlefield is now part of the Jean Lafitte National ... The battlefield and adjacent Chalmette National Cemetery In Chalmette, six miles southeast of New Orleans, is the Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery, site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans and the final resting place for soldiers from the Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, and Vietnam.

The Battle of New Orleans, also known as the Battle of Chalmette Plantation, took place on January 8, 1815, at the end of the War of 1812, when the United States forces defeated the British. The Treaty of Ghent, which ended the war, had been signed—though not ratified—over two weeks earlier, but the news had not yet reached the Southern front.

CHALMETTE MONUMENT AND GHOST, PHOTO SENT TO US BY NICHOLE QUICK.

Chalmette Monument and Grounds was established on March 4, 1907; transferred from the War Department to the National Park Service on August 10, 1933. It was redesignated Chalmette National Historical Park on August 10, 1939. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1974. Chalmette was incorporated into a new park/preserve authorized on November 10, 1978.

Chalmette Battlefield is located 6 miles SE of the city of New Orleans and is the site of one of the most famous battles ever on American soil. On January 8, 1815 the U.S. fought the battle that brought victory over British forces, the bloody official ending of the War of 1812. With the aid of famous Louisiana Pirate Jean Lafitte and his Buccaneers, the U.S. forces at Chalmette soundly defeated the more skilled and more numerous British. But it was not without loss, and some say the memory of this loss still lingers in the swampy fens and mist-enshrouded paths of the Chalmette Battlefield.

General Andrew Jackson’s stunning victory over crack British troops at Chalmette plantation on January 8, 1815, was the greatest American land victory of the War of 1812. Commonly called the Battle of New Orleans — the last battle of the last war ever fought between England and the United States—it preserved America’s claim to the Louisiana Purchase, prompted a wave of migration and settlement along the Mississippi River, and restored American pride and unity. It also made Jackson a national hero.

The War of 1812 was fought to vindicate U.S. maritime rights, secure the western frontier from British provocation of the Indians, and pave the way for the annexation of Canada. It was pursued half-heartedly by both sides, and with little success for either. Also, battling Napoleon’s armies in Europe, England could spare few troops to fight in the United States and did little more than help to defend Canada. American victories were few and mostly at sea. When England defeated Napoleon in the spring of 1814, the character of the American war changed dramatically. Thousands of battle-tested British soldiers sailed for the United States, and invasion thrusts were planned via Lake Champlain, the Chesapeake Bay, and, later, the Gulf coast.

The first thrust ended when Commander Thomas MacDonough defeated the British fleet in the Battle of Lake Champlain in September 1814. The second was turned back about the same time at Fort McHenry, the main defense of Baltimore, but not before the British had burned the White House and the Capitol at Washington. The third began in late December when 36-year-old British Major General Sir Edward M. Pakenham led 10,000 troops overland from Lake Borgne to attack New Orleans. The capture of this important port was Britain’s main hope for exacting a favorable peace settlement from the Americans. By controlling the mouth of the Mississippi River, England could seriously threaten the economic well-being of the entire Mississippi Valley and hamper U.S. westward expansion.

Defending New Orleans were about 5,000 militia and volunteer soldiers (including a contingent of Jean Lafitte’s Baratarians) under 47-year-old Major General Andrew Jackson. On December 23, when Pakenham’s troops were within nine miles of the city, Jackson halted their advance in a fierce night attack that caught the British off guard. The Americans then withdrew behind the banks of the Rodriguez Canal.

"BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS" New Orleans, 1815 Herbert Morton Stoops

Either the 21st Regiment of Foot (Royal North British Fusiliers) (later the Royal Scots Fusiliers) or the 93rd (Highland) Regiment of Foot (later the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders). The painting inaccurately shows them wearing kilts when, in fact, trousers were worn during the New Orleans campaign.

United Kingdom	United States
Sir Edward Pakenham† John Lambert Alexander Cochrane	Andrew Jackson
8,000 men	3,500-4,000 men
385 killed 1,186 wounded 484 captured	13 killed 58 wounded 30 captured

On December 13, 1814, a British fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane arrived off the Louisiana coast. In a brief but violent naval battle on Lake Borgne, 42 British rowing boats armed with bow-chasers overwhelmed five American gunboats protecting the waters near New Orleans. A few days later, the British forces under Major General Sir Edward Michael Pakenham landed along the lower Mississippi River. At first, they met with only minor resistance. The Americans, led by Andrew Jackson (a colonel in the United States Army and a Major-General of the Tennessee militia), set up defensive positions at Chalmette, Louisiana, some five miles (8 km) downriver from New Orleans. Jackson, because he needed time to get his artillery into position, decided to immediately attack the British. On the night of December 23, Jackson led a three-pronged attack on the British Army camp which lasted until early morning. After capturing some equipment and supplies, the Americans withdrew to New Orleans suffering 24 killed, 115 wounded and 74 missing or captured while the British claimed their losses as 46 killed, 167 wounded, and 64 missing or captured. This stalled the British advance long enough for the Americans to bring in their heavy artillery and establish earthworks along a portion of the east bank of the Mississippi River. On Christmas Day, Pakenham arrived on the battlefield and ordered a reconnaissance-in-force against the American earthworks protecting the roads to New Orleans. On December 28, groups of British troops made probing attacks against the American earthworks. When the British withdrew, the Americans began construction of artillery batteries to protect the earthworks which were then christened “Line Jackson”. The Americans installed seven batteries which included one 32-pound gun, three 24-pounders, one 18-pounder, three 12-pounders, three 6-pounders and a 6in howitzer. Jackson also sent a detachment of men to the west bank of the Mississippi to man two 24-pounders and two 12-pounders from the grounded warship Louisiana.

The main British army arrived on January 1, 1815, and attacked the earthworks using their artillery. An exchange of artillery fire began which lasted for three hours. Several of the American guns were destroyed or knocked out which included the 32-pounder, a 24-pounder and a 12-pounder, and some damage was done to the earthworks. But the Americans held their ground. The British guns ran out of ammunition, which led Pakenham to cancel the attack. Pakenham decided to wait for his entire force of over 8,000 men (which included Native American members of the Hitchiti tribe, led by Kinache, and several hundred black soldiers from the British West Indies colonies) to assemble before launching his attack.

On January 8, Pakenham ordered three large, direct assaults on the American positions; all of his attacks were cut down by American fire. Pakenham was fatally wounded in the third attack when he was hit by grapeshot on horseback while 500 yards from the earthworks. The British suffered defeat in part because ladders needed to scale the earthworks were not brought forward to the soldiers. As a result, with most of their senior officers dead or wounded, the British infantry could do nothing but stand out in the open and be shot with a combination of muskets and grapeshot by the Americans. General John Lambert assumed command upon Pakenham's death and ordered a withdrawal, despite the fact that Pakenham had ordered Lambert to continue the battle. The British had suffered a loss of nearly 2,000 dead, wounded or taken prisoner; while the Americans only had 13 dead, with 58 wounded. The only British success was across the Mississippi, where a 700-man detachment attacked and overwhelmed the American line on the west bank of the river. But when they saw the defeat and withdrawal of their main army on the east back, they decided to withdraw also, taking some American prisoners and a few cannon with them.

United States forces at the time of the battle were between 3,500 and 4,500. This detachment was composed of U.S. Army troops (Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Louisiana Militia), U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy sailors, Barataria pirates, Choctaw Indian warriors, and free black soldiers. Major Gabriel Villeré commanded the Louisiana Militia, and Major Jean-Baptiste Plauché headed the New Orleans uniformed militia companies.

Throughout the battle, the Americans were greatly aided by the famed Jean Lafitte and his group of pirates. Lafitte's men joined the Americans because the pirating in the seas south of Louisiana had largely been ignored by the U.S. government since the pirates mostly attacked the Spanish and other pirates. Lafitte's men wore red shirts as their uniform, which caused much confusion in the British ranks, who were also clothed in red. Some pirates came down from General Jackson's ramparts and merged with the British ranks, thus allowing them to kill small pockets of isolated British troops before the British would realize that there was an intruder.

Unknown to both armies, the end of the war had been negotiated with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. However, by the terms of the treaty, the war was not officially over until the treaty was ratified on February 17, 1815, and proclaimed the following day. In some circles it is postulated that the battle may not have been completely pointless. This is because it has been speculated that had the British been in control of the key port of New Orleans, they would have attempted to use this to seek additional concessions from the United States. However this is a somewhat fallacious argument since the British government had already ratified the treaty. A comparison is with the Battle of the Saintes in the American Revolutionary War, which did have an effect, since it actually affected peace negotiations.

>MAP OF BATTLE HERE TO SEE ENLARGED GO HERE Click thumbnail to view actual Haunted America Tours background wallpaper, then just right-click wallpaper to download.<

Unknown to both armies, the end of the war had been negotiated with the signing of the Treaty of Ghent on December 24, 1814. However, by the terms of the treaty, the war was not officially over until the treaty was ratified on February 17, 1815, and proclaimed the following day. In some circles it is postulated that the battle may not have been completely pointless. This is because it has been speculated that had the British been in control of the key port of New Orleans, they would have attempted to use this to seek additional concessions from the United States. However this is a somewhat fallacious argument since the British government had already ratified the treaty. A comparison is with the Battle of the Saintes in the American Revolutionary War, which did have an effect, since it actually affected peace negotiations.

With the defeat of the British Army and the death of Pakenham, Lambert decided that despite reinforcements and the arrival of a siege train to besiege New Orleans, continuing the battle would be too costly. Within a week, all of the British troops had redeployed onto the ships and sailed away to Biloxi, Mississippi, where the fleet captured Fort Bowyer on February 12. But the next day, the frigate Brazen arrived with the news of the peace treaty that had been signed which ended the war nearly two months earlier. The British fleet then abandoned Biloxi and sailed back to its base in the West Indies.

The victory was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the United States and gave Andrew Jackson the reputation of a hero, which later propelled him to the Presidency.

With the defeat of the British Army and the death of Pakenham, Lambert decided that despite reinforcements and the arrival of a siege train to besiege New Orleans, continuing the battle would be too costly. Within a week, all of the British troops had redeployed onto the ships and sailed away to Biloxi, Mississippi, where the fleet captured Fort Bowyer on February 12. But the next day, the frigate Brazen arrived with the news of the peace treaty that had been signed which ended the war nearly two months earlier. The British fleet then abandoned Biloxi and sailed back to its base in the West Indies.

The victory was celebrated with great enthusiasm in the United States and gave Andrew Jackson the reputation of a hero, which later propelled him to the Presidency.

Ghost of the Battlefield

Reports continue to come in of paranormal occurrences including the sound of ghostly cannon and voices barking commands to unseen troops. Many have heard whispers in the cemetery and seen the wandering figure of a lone British soldier walking among the headstones.

Chalmette Battlefield and National Cemetery

Established in May 1864 as a final resting place for Union soldiers who died in Louisiana during the Civil War, the cemetery also contains the remains of veterans of the Spanish- American War, World Wars I and II, and Vietnam. Four Americans who fought in the War of 1812 are buried here, but only one of them took part in the Battle of New Orleans.

Six miles southeast of New Orleans is the Chalmette Battlefield, which preserves the site of the January 8, 1815, Battle of New Orleans, a decisive American victory over the British at the end of the War of 1812. Facilities include a tour road, visitor center, and the Malus-Beauregard House (c.1833). Adjacent is the Chalmette National Cemetery. Located on St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette. The Battlefield is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Very haunted with ghost of The battle of New Orleans and more. Many real strange sightings and ghost photos happen here daily . Orbs mists, EVP's and and occasional feeling of being grabed by unseen hands.

Adjacent to the battlefield, is the United States Civil War Chalmette National Cemetery, honoring Civil War soldiers who died on both sides. Those buried there include members of the famous Buffalo Soldiers. The cemetery sits on a tract of land which is approximately where the British artillery was located during the Battle of New Orleans. Both of these sites are maintained by the National Park Service, and are open to the public.

The Chalmette National Cemetery website has searchable databases, listing the soldiers who are buried at this location, The Union Army and the Confederate Army. Chalmette National Cemetery

Confederate Database www.cwc.lsu.edu/cwc/projects/dbases/chalm.la.csa.htm

Also located on the Chalmette Battlefield grounds, and serving as a museum and visitor center, is the Beauregard House. Beauregard House was never used as a plantation, and was built in 1830. It is named for René Beauregard, its last owner, the son of the Civil War Confederate General, P. G. T. Beauregard (whose monument is at the entrance to City Park, at the north end of Esplanade Avenue). While many visitors arrive by automobile, many also arrive by riverboat, the Chalmette Battlefield being part of the tour.

Additional artifacts of the Civil War can be seen at the Confederate Civil War Museum, located in downtown New Orleans, 929 Camp Street, just one block from Lee Circle

Operating Hours & Seasons

Chalmette Battlefield, Beauregard house, and the National Cemetery are about 7 miles downriver from the New Orleans French Quarter.

Hours of Operation

Chalmette Battlefield and Jean Lafitte National Park

is open daily: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; closed December 25.

Chalmette Battlefield

http://www.nps.gov/jela/Chalmettebattlefield.htm

Chalmette Battlefield, beauregard house, and the national Cemetery

ALSO SEE: THE TOP TEN MOST HAUNTED BATTLEFIELD LIST

Though the battles have long ago ended and the sound of cannons and muskets is but a distant memory, there are some souls who are still waiting for the call to “Retreat” – and for them, it may never come!

Make plans to visit a Haunted Battlefield today!

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