New Orleans Part 3
Breastwork
Amazingly, a few British made it to the American ditch but were too few and unable to cross. As losses mounted, the columns began to hesitate. Keane was hit and his reinforcing column then halted.
Packenham Is Hit
Packenham saw men streaming to the rear and rode forwrd to rally his men. Somewhere near here, he was mortally wounded. His final orders were to bring up Lambert's reserve but the signaling bugler was hit before he could sound the call. In a final desperate charge, Gen. Gibbs was mortally wounded and the Highlanders lost half their men in a single volley. The men at last fell back to regroup. Gen. Lambert, now in command, sent some West Indian troops into the swamp to flank the American line, but they too were repulsed. British losses for the day were 700 killed, 1,400 wounded, and 500 captured, about a third of the force. The American army lost only 13 killed and 39 wounded.
Monument
Although the battle had been fought after the signing of the peace treaty, the treaty was not yet ratified. The British remained a threat to New Orleans but attempted nothing after the battle. The battle was a welcome end for the war for the American people and provided a valuable boost to national pride. Gen. Andrew Jackson's lasting fame from the battle would catapult him to the White House nearly fifteen years later.