A Fight for Ages

The Battle of New Orleans—good and bad.

At New Orleans on January 8th, 1815, some 4700 Americans (led by General Andrew Jackson) took on more than 11-thousand British troops. The casualties: 71 Americans; more than 2000 British. It was an overwhelming victory for the U.S.—but it was all for naught. The War of 1812 was at a virtual end before the New Orleans fight took place. But the affair boosted Jackson’s notoriety and popularity. He was elected president 14 years later.