Military / Uncategorized / Veterans

War of 1812 – Battle of New Orleans…The history of New Orleans is breathtaking!

by | Dec 21, 2012

The Battle of New Orleans by Henry Bryan Hall after William Momberger
Date January 8, 1815
Location About five miles (8 km) south of New Orleans on the grounds of Chalmette Plantation
Result Decisive American victory[1]
British troops and fleet withdraw from Louisiana
 
   
   
   

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_New_Orleans

Cafe Pontalba  & Apartment Buildings

http://www.gonola.com/2011/08/03/nola-history-the-pontalba-apartment-buildings-at-jackson-square.html

“One of the people we have to thank for this large outdoor garden in front of St. Louis Cathedral, as well as the two apartment buildings on either side of the square, is Micaela Leonarda Antonia Almonester, Baroness Pontalba. The only child of Don Andres Almonaster y Rojas, a leader of one of the oldest Creole families in New Orleans, Micaela was born in 1795. Don Andres died in 1798, leaving the baby Micaela sole heiress to his fortune. Her family arranged a marriage to her cousin, Xavier Celestin Delfau de Pontalba. Xavier was the oldest son of the baron, Joseph Delfau de Pontalba. The couple moved to France, where the elder Pontalba was constantly scheming to acquire Micaela’s fortune, eventually shooting her with a dueling pistol in 1834. Micaela survived, but the baron committed suicide with the same set of pistols.”

                 Jackson Square and the Lower Pontalba building, 1860s (LA State Library photo)
 
“In order to increase the rental value of her apartments, Micaela was one of the leaders in the effort to rename the Place d’Armes after the hero of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans, General (later President) Andrew Jackson. The square’s name was changed, and city leaders purchased an equestrian statue of Jackson from the sculptor Clark Mills in 1856. The square was converted from a military parade ground and execution site (runaway slaves and others committing crimes were often hanged in the Place d’Armes) into the peaceful park we know today.”
 
 
 
Jackson Square
 
 
Saint Louis Cathedral
 
 
 

Our last night in New Orleans was breathtaking!  The Christmas spirit, unique history and the food; almost too much to handle all at once!  The St. Peter Clavier Gospel Choir was the highlight of the evening at the Saint Louis Cathedral http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkiKo-8NwW4.  Connecting the amazing history of New Orleans while enjoying delicious Creole food at Cafe Pontalba http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_Creole_cuisine inspired us to plan a return visit.  We were at the epicenter of 200 years of history dating back to the War of 1812, including the final Battle of New Orleans in 1815, the Pontabal Aparments, Jackson Square, and the Saint Louis Cathedral…  WOW!

Farewell New Orleans…  We’ll be back…

Steve Sparks
Author
Reconciliation: A Son’s Story

About the author

Steve Sparks is a retired information technology sales and marketing executive with over 35 years of industry experience, including a Bachelors’ in Management from St. Mary’s College. His creative outlet is as a non-fiction author, writing about his roots as a post-WWII US Navy military child growing up in the 1950s-1960s.
View all posts by stevesparks →

You might also like

Pearl Harbor Day “Never Forget”

Pray for all souls lost to wars My father Vernon, passed away in 1998. He was 79. It took my own life experience, including following his footsteps, enlisting in the US Navy in 1963 at age 17, to...
Dec 03, 2023

Mindfulness Reflections Of The Aging…

Honestly, I hate the term "aging gracefully." What does that mean? My body and mind doesn't feel graceful most of the time. Getting up in the morning, stumbling and bumbling around the house, feels...
Nov 17, 2023
Translate »