Chalmette - Virtual Tour

Discussion in 'The War of 1812' started by CrescentCorps, Jun 8, 2009.

  1. CrescentCorps

    CrescentCorps New Member

    The Battle of Chalmette was fought on January 8, 1815, and after suffering heavy casualties in officers and men, the British ended their campaign against New Orleans. A map of the battlefield park can be viewed at the following link:

    http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/national_parks/jean_lafitte_park98.pdf

    [​IMG]

    LaClotte's panorama of the battlefield. In the foreground, Rennie's advance guard of Keene's Brigade takes the American advanced redoubt on the left bank of the Mississippi, but can advance no further. The 93rd Regiment moves diagonally across the field, exposing its left flank to the American line, to assist the main attack by Gibb's Brigade to the north which is quickly arrested. Alexander Dickson's guns fire from the far right center on the American lines.

    [​IMG]

    The Chalmette Monument, looking northeast from the visitor center parking lot. The monument is located approximately 100 yards to the west of Jackson's defensive line slightly south of its center. The cornerstone was laid on January 8, 1840. Construction of the monument began in 1855 and was carried to a height of 55 feet with funds provided by the State of Louisiana. In 1908 the monument was completed with funds provided by Congress.

    [​IMG]

    The Malus-Beauregard house looking south from the American lines near the visitor center parking lot. The house is a postwar structure built in 1830. The grassy patch in the foreground marks the Rodriguez Canal which served as a moat in front of the American works. The redoubt stormed my Rennie's advance party would have been close to the levee near the house.

    [​IMG]

    The Malus-Beauregard house looking east from the general vicinity of the advance redoubt. Rennie's attack came along the river to the right of the house. The 93rd Regiment moved across the field from behind the house to the left of the picture. Dickson's artillery was located across the field. The Chalmette National Cemetery is located in the distant treeline, and was initially used for the burial of Federal soldiers in the Civil War, but later used for Confederates, and then soldiers from other wars, and now contains over 15,000 graves. Unfortunately, the skyline in this direction is dominated by the Kaiser Aluminum plant.

    [​IMG]

    American battery located near the center of the American line looking northeast. This battery would have been in position to rake the 93rd Regiment as it advance diagonally across its front to assist the main assault of Gibbs' Brigade against the northern end of Jackson's line.r

    [​IMG]

    American battery located near the center of the American line looking east. Gibbs' Brigade attacked across the left of this picture, with its right flank perpendicular to the treeline (light companies covered the Brigade's right flank in the treeline). The 44th Regiment, which was in the lead, was tasked with carrying scaling ladders and fascines, but went into position without them, and was forced to move back to retrieve them, which caused delay. When the 44th returned to its position, its commander, Lt. Col. Thomas Mullens, did not accompany it, and the Regiment prematurely collapsed in the attack. Gibbs remaining regiments advanced but were quickly checked. General Pakenham was mortally wounded in the area behind the large tree. The 93rd Regiment advanced diagonally across the picture from right to left, but was halted in the field with its left flank facing the American lines. The Highlanders took heavy casualties standing in formation awaiting further orders, which were not forthcoming due to extremely heavy casualties in the ranks of the field commanders.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Two views from the British perspective looking north towards the American lines from Tour Stop 4 on the park map. The American works run parallel to the tree line on the horizon at the edge of the field. Gibbs' Brigade attacked on the right of the picture, with its right flank perpendicular to the woods on the upper right. The 93rd Regiment attacked from left to right but was halted towards the left center. Pakenham had held Lambert's Brigade, composed of Peninsular War veterans and considered the finest troops on the field, in reserve near this position. After Pakenham's death, command devolved upon Lambert, who considered advancing his Brigade. However, the field in front of him was in chaos, the remnants of Keene and Gibbs Brigade's retiring. Although Thorton had considerable success against Morgan's troops across the river, putting Jackson's line in jeopardy, Lambert chose to retreat due in large part to the near destruction of Keene and Gibbs's Brigades and the extremely heavy casualties suffered among the army's field officers.
     

Share This Page