As for New Orleans, my opinion hasn't changed. Last summer, I read the complete correspondence of (General Prevost, the British C-n-C in North America, 1812-1814 and the military and government authorities in London. What struck me in the correspondence was the fact that, until 1814, Britain waged a defensive war in North America although many of the junior commanders were urging offensive attacks. Prevost, although an excellent administrator, was a rather timid general, and held back. Both the Washington and New Orleans expeditions, although nominally under his command, originated in London. The major effort of the British during the war, however, the attack down the Champlain Valley was under his direct command. What an army he had; Eighteen thousand Peninsula Veterans of Albuera, Badajoz, Talavera, Salamanca, Victtoria and the Pyrenees and he blew it at Plattsburgh. That, to my way of thinking, was the major British offensive and it was defeated by a very small American force, and, incidentlly, the major part of that American force was four companies of the 6th U.S. Infantry! Editor's Note: Take Veteran British Peninsula troops and place them in the wilderness of Up-state New York of one hundred sixty four years ago, add heavy baggage and poor roads, then lose naval support, and the result is a veteran army in retreat.) Back to Empire, Eagles, & Lions Table of Contents Vol. 1 No. 22 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