Chalmette : The Battle for New Orleans and How the British Nearly Stole the Louisiana Territory [Paperback]

Charles Patton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 9, 2001

Chalmette shows how the United States nearly lost the Louisiana Territory at the end of the War of 1812 and WHY the British were even at New Orleans. See how General Andrew Jackson manuevered thge British Army into a position where a rag tag militia could beat them. (longer description follows) Chalmette is not just another book about the Battle of New Orleans, but maybe for the first time you will understand WHY the British were there. This book shows how the United States nearly lost the Louisiana territory at the end of the War of 1812. In the summer of 1814 England had finaly conquered Napolean and France. After twenty-one years of tremendous struggle against the European continent, England had become a highly efficient war machine, They were left standing, a superpower. They had been carrying out a war in Europe with only an occasional jab at the United States. Now they were turning their full attention on that irritating loose association of states across the Atlantic. The United States had almost no standing army; they had only the militia that each community maintained for protection against indians. Most militia were a social club where men fired their weapons once a month. Therefore during the early part of the War of 1812 their performance was pretty dismal. The exception was in the western states (between the Applachians and the Mississippi River) where the militia was a working military force in frequent combat with Indians. These community militia from Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana and a few from southern Ohio answered the call to join General Andrew Jackson to meet the British at New Orleans. Follow Jackson's militia as they manuever a far superior British Army into a position where Jackson's men had a better than even chance of winning. They had to subdue the British allies (the Creek indian Nation). And they had to stop any Spanish help at Pennsacola and Mobile (the best invasion point) and lastly had to get them to land in a spot almost impossible to support. It was the bleakest point in the history of the United States. The whole East Coast had been blockaded, raided and burned at will. British Canada uled the north and noe the English ere going to take New Orleans, control of the Mississippi River and the Louisiana Territory. With the United States almost completely boxed in, see how, with determination and luck, they pulled off a victory that electrified the united Staes and stunned Europe.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...exciting, sometimes tear-wrenching account of the men who won this battle so impoortant to the eventual expansion of our country -- Andrew Jackon Donelson, Jr. - great, great, great nephew of Rachel Donelson

About the Author

Charles Patton obtained his history degree from Middle Tennessee State University. After graduation he spent several years in the military as a naval officer and pilot. After the military he spent 25 years as an engineer in the apparel industry until the whole industry picked up and move south of the border. Charles now works in county government. This allows him to stay near his beloved Lake Waccamnaw in coastal North Carolina.He enjoys history, writing and photography.

Product Details

• Paperback: 143 pages
• Publisher: Hickory Tales Pub (April 9, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970910401
• ISBN-13: 978-0970910400
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #587,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chalmette, May 28, 2001

By 

earle d roberts - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chalmette : The Battle for New Orleans and How the British Nearly Stole the Louisiana Territory (Paperback)

"Chalmette" takes its name from the Louisiana plantation where General Andrew Jackson led a collection of American militia, frontiersmen, Indians, Creoles, pirates, and Blacks in a stunning defeat of a larger, better trained and equipped British army in the Battle of New Orleans, January 1815. The details of the units and their commanders, the tactics, the phases of the conflict are clearly told, the various movements and maneuvers leading up to the battle, as well as the aftermath--jubilation in New Orleans and the United States, homeward sail for the stunned British, astonishment in Europe. The real significance of this victory, however, lies in the blocking of the British intent to wrest the Louisiana Purchase territory from the US and to control the Mississippi River, linking New Orleans and Canada in British hands. This dimension of the War of 1812 is told more clearly in Charles Patton's "Chalmette" than in most accounts of the Battle of New Orleans. Well researched and clearly presented in brief compass.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars American victory at the most crucial time., May 23, 2001

By 

Roger (Hickory, NC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chalmette : The Battle for New Orleans and How the British Nearly Stole the Louisiana Territory (Paperback)

What a reading delight this book is as the intriguing story virtually leaps from the pages. Some may remember the gravity for our young nation of the events leading up to the battle at New Orleans in early 1815. But for many it has been lost.

Yet what a critical time it was for the American experiment in freedom and democracy. This book details in a fasinating way the background years and the intrigue surrounding negotiations to end the nation's war with England. The action then builds from late 1814 right up through the climax of the final battle. The reader will find himself unable to put this book down until the reading is finished. It's a great read, not only for the history buff but also for every patriotic American.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Battle for our nation's history, February 24, 2006

By 

Robert R. Fisher (Tallahassee, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Chalmette : The Battle for New Orleans and How the British Nearly Stole the Louisiana Territory (Paperback)

I very much enjoyed this brief history of an often neglected period of American history. In his short piece, Patton not only covers the battle itself, but places the battle in the larger context of the politics and international affairs of the day. That's a lot of material to cover and to accomplish it in a book of this length is commendable. What is sacrificed are discussions and details that would require hundreds of additional pages; what is gained is an appreciation of the topic and a desire (if one is so inclined) to learn more.

While serious students of the period may take offense at some details, I believe this book accomplishes exactly what it set out to do: That is to debunk the common misperception that the battle was meaningless due to a previously signed "treaty" and to stimulate thought and further research into a fascinating topic.