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The Battle of Lake Borgne
14 December 1814
The Battle of Lake Borgne was an essential prelude to American victory in the Battle of New Orleans. A large British fleet, carrying about 10,000 troops, anchored east of Lake Borgne on 9 December 1814. According to plan, the British would move across the shallow waters of Lake Borgne into the bayous below New Orleans, some 40 miles to the west. A handful of US Navy gunboats under the command of Lieutenant Thomas ap Catesby Jones obstinately anchored in the narrows at the entrance of Lake Borgne. After a brisk fight, the British overwhelmed the Americans, but Jones's determined stand delayed the enemy advance for several days.
In the meantime, General Jackson and Commodore Daniel Patterson were able to prepare the defense of New Orleans. After several weeks of savage fighting, Jackson's troops, aided by the cannons of Louisiana and Carolina, repulsed a major attack on 8 January 1815. Unknown to the participants, a treat ending the War of 1812 had been signed in Ghent, Belgium, two weeks earlier. Despite this fact, the victory provided decisive proof of American military prowess. |