The victory at New Orleans, one of the most decisive defensive victories of history, will always be celebrated as an illustrious feat of the American arms and of the military genius of Andrew Jackson. Jackson mobilized incongruous elements, every available resource, into defense against the enemy attack. The forces thus assembled, consisting of Tennessee militia, Kentucky militia, Louisiana militia, and small contingents of regulars, Baratarian privateers, free men of color, Mississippi Dragoons, and friendly Choctaw Indians, numbered in all a little over five thousand. The invading army consisted of about twelve thousand seasoned British regulars. The British soldiers fought bravely, as British soldiers always do, but they could not stand against the well-planned, unerring fire from the American breastworks. The assault continued for twenty-five minutes, and then the British retreated in confusion, having lost in killed, wounded, and captured over twenty-five hundred of their number, including General Pakenham, chief in command, and General Gibbs, second in command, both having been killed. The American loss was put at thirteen killed and wounded. On the west bank of the river the British succeeded in capturing a small redoubt, but owing to the catastrophe of the main attack, this was abandoned. Jackson was too prudent to yield to the impulse to pursue the retreating enemy, which he knew still outnumbered him by two to one, but kept in readiness against a return assault. The British ten days later broke camp and retired to their ships, and on January 28 set sail for the Dauphine islands. Jackson maintained himself in constant readiness against possibility of a return attack. _The Judge Hall Fine_