HISTORY

December 23,1814
Battle of Villere's Plantation

After the complete defeat of all American forces at the battle of Lake Borgne, Jackson was effectively cut off from his reconnaissance tools. He would not learn of the British dispositions until they were eight miles below the city of New Orleans. Told there were only 1,800 exhausted British troops in their vanguard he decided to attack them the very night he learned their location.

Jackson's main body of men had at last arrived in New Orleans on December 20th. From these he assembled 2,131 men and the schooner USS Carolina to support a night attack on the British camp. British troops did not notice and Jackson forces were able to get within 500 yards of their camp. The first sign of trouble was the appearance of the USS Carolina. When it failed to answer hails, the British opened up on it with rifle fire and the USS Carolina responded with grapeshot. Jackson used this as his signal to attack.

The seven gun broadside from the USS Carolina created havoc in the British camp, but their experienced officers got them under order quickly. Due to the darkness and the sudden impact of Jackson's troops the battle disintegrated quickly. It became a mishmash of individual soldiers fighting around an officer without out any idea of the positions of other troops. As the fight continued Jackson was informed that British reinforcement had been spotted approaching and he ordered a withdrawal to the Rodriques Canal. American casualties were 213 to 276 for the British.