Fifteen days after the Treaty of Ghent was signed (Christmas Eve 1814), General Andrew Jackson decisively defeated the British at New Orleans. Neither the British, nor the Americans had received news of the peace yet. Although the final engagement happened on 8 January, 1815, the fighting around New Orleans had been going on since 14 December 1814, starting with a Royal Marine vistory over US gunboats guarding the entrance to New Orleans on Lake Borgne. On 23 December, Jackson failed to dislodge the British at their quarters on the Villeré Plantation. Jackson fell back and occupied the approach to New Orleans at the Rodriguez Canal. On 28 December, the British probed the line in force, but were repelled. On 1 January 1815, the British attempted to dislodge Jackson with artillery, but the duel ended with the American artillery victorious, probably because they had more ammunition. The Americans had more ammunition due to Jackson's temporary alliance with the Baratarian pirates, including Jean Lafitte, who hated the British more than the Americans.
Finally, on 8 January, the British executed a frontal assault on the American positions which failed miserably, including the loss of the British Commander , Pakenham. Jackson had delivered the heaviest defeat on the Brits in the war, even though they were formally at peace. The British and the Americans continued the fight in the area, not hearing of the peace until 12 Febuary 1815.

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Start at Chalmette, near the site of the 8 January battle and make your way to Louisiana State Route 23, running southeast to the tip of the delta, following the Mississippi River. New Orleans is a bit rougher these days, so be prepared for detours and some deserted areas. As always, be aware of your surroundings when riding through this area.

Maps

On 13 December 1939, the first significant naval engagement of World War II occured near the mouth of the River Plate (Rio Plata), near Argentina and Uruguay. The Brits caught the German ship Admiral Graf Spee and a major battle ensued with the Royal ships, Exeter, Ajax and Achilles. After being seriously damaged, the Admiral Graf Spee limped into Montevideo and called home. Their instructions were to sink her in the River Plate, where she remains today, although attempts in recent years to re-float her are underway.

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When you take that lifleong dream ride through South America, take the ferry between Buenos aires and Montevideo to travle across the Rio de la Plata, (River Plate)

The war between between the USA and Britain was the end of the fraternal bickering in North America. After an intial USA attack on Canada and modern day Toronto, the two battled to a stalemate after Britain took Washington, DC and the USA won a naval battle on Lake Champlain.

• British Defeat Kentucky Riflemen at the Battle of Frenchtown 22 January 1813
• British Capture Fort Niagara 19 December 1813
• Battles of Enitachopco and Emuckfau / Emuckfaw Creek 22-24 January 1814
• Andrew Jackson Defeats "Red Stick" Creek Indians at Battle of Horseshoe Bend, Alabama, 27 March 1814
• Andrew Jackson Defeats British at New Orleans 8 January 1815




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Today is the 65th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
This post from Terrestrial Musing's also reminds us how stupid today's conspiracy theories should look. Hat tip Instapundit