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Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve - Chalmette Battlefield

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Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve - Chalmette Battlefield

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Looking south toward the river.

Looking north toward the Chalmette Monument.

Macarty House

Chalmette Monument

The Chalmette Monument Andrew Jackson proposed this monument in 1840 to honor the American victory at Chalmette. Construction of the 200 foot obelisk began in 1856 but ran out of financing, not to resume until 1894 when the Louisiana Legislature gave control to the United States Daughters of 1776 and 1812. The tower was completed in 1908, at only 100 feet, 2.5 inches for better stability, with additional financing from the Federal government.

Choctaw Nation.	U. S. Artillery (describing the overwhelming firepower against British troops).
The Chalmette Monument is ringed with commemorative and informative plaques. U.S. Navy. U.S. Marines. 7th U.S. Infantry and 44th U. S. Infantry. Tennessee Militia. Kentucky Militia. Mississippi Militia. Louisiana Militia. Choctaw Nation (above left). U. S. Artillery (above right).

Rodriguez Canal

The Rodriguez Canal was a depression between the Chalmette and Macarty plantations. A former mill race, it was no longer in use and collapsed at the time of the battle. Reinforced by the troops, it added to the strength of the American line.

Batteries (artillery and crews)

Several batteries of guns were arranged along the front. They played an important part in stopping the British attack on January 8, 1815. Batteries 5 and 6 defended the center of Major General Jackson's line. The field carriage were painted in U.S. Army regulation colors sky blue and black. The guns of Battery 6 were mounted on more compact navel carriages, painted U. S. Navy regulation colors "Spanish Red" and black.

There were three types of artillery used in the Battle of New Orleans, guns, howitzers, and mortars. Guns (as in Battery 5 and 6) were the most common. They had long barrels and fired solid shot, grape shot, and canisters on low trajectories. The range was over a mile but were not accurate over 500 yards. Howitzers (there was one in Battery 1) had shorter barrels that fired shells, grape shot, and canisters. The trajectory was higher but shorter to about 800 yards. Mortars (present but not used in the battle) and very short barrels and fired shells on very high trajectories and were used to reach points behind fortifications.

Battery 4 had the largest piece of artillery on the battlefield, a 32-pounder under the command of Navy Lt. John Crawley and served by 24 men from the U.S.S. Carolina. The gun fired grapeshot and landiage (scrap metal).

The line with Batteries 1 through 8.

Batteries 1, 2, and 3.


Batery 7 and 8, north end of the line, furthest from the river.


Batery 7 and 8, north end of the line, furthest from the river.

Looking south toward Batteries 5 and 6. McCarty House in the distance.


Battery 5 and 6.

Battery 4.


Battery 2 and 3 (Battery 4 beyond).

Battery 1, Navel gun. Battery 1 included a Redoubt (extruding curved wall) with additional artillery that could rake the levee and canal.

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This page last updated: Tuesday, 03-Jan-2012 09:43:04 EST

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