‘They ran through the briars and the ran through the brambles’
203 years ago today: A small force of U.S. Marines participate in the Battle of New Orleans, repulsing the British assault on General Andrew Jackson’s lines. The enemy loses more than 2,000 soldiers, while the American forces suffer only 13 casualties.
This painting by Col Charles H. Waterhouse, USMCR — Repulse of the Highlanders, New Orleans, 8 January 1815– is from the Marine Corps Art Collection via the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
As the battle lines formed for the city, 58 Marines from the New Orleans Navy Yard took position in the redoubt next to the Mississippi River, where they were commanded by Maj. Daniel Carmick, a veteran of the Quasi War with France. As commander of the Marine detachment assigned to the frigate Constitution, Carmick had led an attack to spike the cannon in the fort at Puerto Plata, Santo Domingo, according to the Navy’s history Web site.
They also particpated in the campaign in several other ways .