I have never really been all that interested in the Battle of New Orleans, as I regard it as something of a cheap victory on Jackson's part (my apologies, but that's the way I feel). What most people don't seem to realize about the battle is that it was basically a siege operation and the paramount rule for the besieger in a siege is to obtain and maintain artillery superiority over the defender. This the British never were able to do for very good reasons. If you want an accurate account of the battle from the British point of view and from the point of view of a professional artilleryman, read Dickson's journal of the New Orleans campaign which appeared about 40 years ago in the JSAHR. Dickson commanded Wellington's artillery in the Peninsula and he was sent to Louisiana on the express desire of the Duke. The problems he encountered during the campaign (dragging 24-pdr. guns on naval carriages through the bayous) were enough to dement any gunner. The failure of Dickson's artillery to silence Jackson's line in the preceding firefights actually spelled the failure of the British attack, Pakenham's attack was a foolish attempt at a coup de main to take the lines. Its failure was almost certain without superior artillery cover. In any case, I think Americans make entirely too much of New Orleans while hardly any seem aware of the importance of the Battle of Plattsburgh in September, 1814. It was Prevost's army from Canada not Ross's or Pakenham's armies which was the major British offensive effort in the War of 1812. The American victory at Plattsburgh far outweights New Orleans in importance. Yet few seem aware of it. COMMENTS ON DON GRAVES' COMMENTS ON THE WAR OF 1812 by J. Lochet I have a tendency to agree with Don Graves' point of view. We have here once more the OTHER SIDE point of view. History has been and is being taught as a one side story in which invariably the enemy is always the bad guy and of little value. (It's the point I am trying to give on my article on page 9 of this magazine when I give the evaluation of the French dragoons by Pericoli) Of course every nationality is thinking that "We are the Best". Well this course of action is questionable and is' going to bring some comments identical to the comments of Don Graves and my comments. We are trying here to present the complete story, including the other side. That may be unpleasant at some time but necessary. Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 21 Back to EEL List of Issues Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List © Copyright 1978 by Jean Lochet This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com