by nolahistoryguy | Nov 30, 2025 | Battle of New Orleans, Gulf Coast, Maps
As we close out November, it’s time for a Battle of New Orleans re-org.
Battle of Pensacola, 7-November-1814. (Revolutionary War Trust image)
Battle of New Orleans re-org
Your humble NOLA History Guy received an invitation to speak to a group on the history of the Battle of New Orleans next March. While an undergraduate at University of New Orleans, I focused more on European history from the French Revolution to the mid-19th Century. I wasn’t all that interested in the American Southern Rebellion. Naturally, the War of 1812 comes under the Napoleonic umbrella, and a NOLA student knew the importance of the last battle of that conflict. So, I’ve been proud to speak on the subject of the 1814 Gulf Coast campaigns of the British and Americans that culminated in the “Glorious 8th of January, 1815.”
The organization of blog posts and podcasts on the battle here is quite haphazard. I want to re-organize this material so that, when I give this talk, I can point folks at a proper set of resources. Come along for the ride!
Movements prior to 1-December-1814
Andrew Jackson received a commission as Major General in the US Army on !4-June-1814. He assumed command of the 7th Military District. While the district operated from New Orleans, Jackson and his troops marched from Tennessee to Mobile. He attacked the Creek nation, forcing the indigenous to support the United States. He arrived in Mobile on 22-August. The US Army controlled Mobile, but not Florida. Then-Lt. Colonel Edward Nicholls of the British Army occupied Pensacola on 14-August. Nicholls and his troops attempted to take Mobile on 16-September. The attack failed. Jackson counter-attacked and captured Pensacola on 7-November. He established an American presence there and returned to Mobile. Satisfied that Mobile and Pensacola were secure, Jackson left Mobile for New Orleans on 22-November.
Naval Operations
Jackson focused on acquiring territory along the Gulf Coast. His operations concentrated on pushing the indigenous, Spanish, and British off the coast. The Americans ignored developments in Europe, most notably, the defeat and abdication of Bonaparte. The cessation of hostilities with France gave Britain more resources to turn on the Americans. So, Jackson didn’t consider his movements a defense, but rather an advancement of American goals.
Additionally, United States Navy ignored the movements of the Royal Navy in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. Despite receiving warnings of the RN movements, Commodore Daniel Patterson attacked a potential ally–the Lafitte Brothers. Patterson attacked the Lafitte base at Grand Terre Island, on the Gulf in Jefferson Parish. Patterson’s attack was successful, and the Lafittes abandoned Grand Terre. The USN established a base there. Eventually, Fort Livingston became a permanent coastal defense position. So, in the long term, taking over Grand Terre made sense. In the short term, however, Patterson alienated the Lafittes. This threatened to cut off a significant source of intelligence and assistance for Jackson.
Royal Navy movements
As mentoned, the Royal Navy, under the command of Vice Admiral Alexander Cochrane, re-grouped at the Jamaica Station after the British Army burned Washington, DC. On 26-November, Cochrane led a 60-vessel force from Jamaica into the Gulf of Mexico.
Prelude to Battle
Jackson had his hands full when he reached New Orleans. December, 1814, determined the course of American history. This NOLA History Guide continues with movements leading up to the Battle of Lake Borgne on 14-December-1814.
by nolahistoryguy | Jun 15, 2023 | 1920s-1930s, Amtrak, Gulf Coast, L&N, Railroads
The L&N Railroad operated Biloxi Depot in 1925.
Biloxi Depot
1925 photo of the the railroad depot at Biloxi. According to the Biloxi Historical Society, the Biloxi Daily Herald reported that the plans for the depot were in the hands of T.J. Rosell & Company as of January 5, 1901. On April 3, 1901, the paper reported that the depot was expected to open in two weeks.
Mendes
This photograph, by John Tibule Mendes, is listed by THNOC as “Unidentified Location.” To me, anything “unidentified” is a challenge. I put the image out on social media, and local railroad historian and expert Tony Howe replied back within minutes (thanks, Tony). So, that was enough to do a proper search. According to UNO Press:
Between 1916 and the mid-1930s, John Tibule Mendes (1888–1965) was a consistent and curious observer of life in New Orleans. His photographs are archived in The Historic New Orleans Collection.
It’s no surprise that Mendes meandered over to the Gulf Coast.
L&N
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) owned and operated Biloxi Depot. Mendes likely traveled to Biloxi on an L&N train. L&N arrived and departed New Orleans from their passenger terminal at Canal Street and the river. The Aquarium of the Americas now stands on that site.
The State of Kentucky chartered the L&N in 1850. The railroad acquired the Pontchartrain Railroad in New Orleans in 1871. That acquisition enabled the connection of L&N’s system to downtown New Orleans. The L&N operated local and express passenger trains along the Gulf Coast. Those trains also provided mail service.
Amtrak
After several attempts at restoring passenger service along the Gulf Coast, Amtrak extended the route of the Sunset Limited (Los Angeles to New Orleans) to Jacksonville, Florida, in 1993. The railroad discontinued that service in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Amtrak plans to restore service along the coast in stages. The first stage extends the Sunset Limited from New Orleans to Mobile. With that in place, they would continue eastward.
by nolahistoryguy | Aug 5, 2021 | 1920s-1930s, CBD, Gulf Coast, Railroads
The Illinois Central Railroad operated the Panama Limited from Chicago to New Orleans.
Panama Limited
Travel poster advertising the Panama Limited railroad route, 1929. The Illinois Central Railroad (IC) operated the route. The train ran from Chicago to New Orleans and return. The trip ran overnight, departing Chicago in the afternoon, arriving in New Orleans the next morning.
Illinois Central featured the Panama Limited as its flagship route. The train operated in “limited” service, running a consist of sleeper, diner, lounge, and observation cars. Since it was a luxury train, its advertising appealed to passengers with means. Travel to New Orleans, they suggested. Escape the stifling Summer heat of the big city with activities along the Gulf Coast! Come golf, swim, sail, fish, even play polo!
Panama Canal
The IC operated their Chicago-New Orleans service as the Chicago and New Orleans Limited. On February 4, 1911, the railroad changed the route’s name in honor of the Panama Canal. Even though the canal did not open for another three years, the IC made a big deal of the achievement. A year later, in 1912, IC rolled out new equipment for the route. They solidified the route as an exclusive, first-class train. It made the trip in twenty-five hours.
The train transitioned to diesel and streamlined equipment in 1942. The 1944 timetable shows the train departed at 3:15pm, arriving in New Orleans at 9:15am the next morning.
Amtrak
When Amtrak took over passenger rail service in 1971, they dropped the route. The new entity retained the day train, the City of New Orleans. Later that year, Amtrak revived the Panama Limited, returning the schedule to an overnight run. In 1972, they once again dropped the Panama Limited name. Amtrak returned to the name, City of New Orleans, in the hopes they could leverage the popularity of Arlo Guthrie’s song of the same name.
The current Chicago to New Orleans trip on Amtrak’s City of New Orleans departs Chicago at 8:05pm, arriving in Union Passenger Terminal in New Orleans at 3:47pm the following day, for a total trip of 19 hours and 42 minutes.
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