British Forces, North America
Active1814–1815
Country United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Allegiance George III
BranchBritish army
TypeArmy
Size5,933 effectives out of a headcount of 6,660 soldiers
(25 December 1814)[1]
8,000 participants on 8 January 1815
6,334 effectives
(25 January 1815)[2]
EngagementsBattle of New Orleans
Commanders
Commander-in-chief
(23 December 1814 – 24 December 1814)		Major General John Keane
Commander-in-chief
(25 December 1814 – 8 January 1815)		Major General Edward Pakenham
Commander-in-chief
(8 January 1815 - 13 February 1815 )		Major General John Lambert

The following units of the British Armed Forces participated in the Battle of New Orleans on 8 January 1815. The American order of battle is shown separately.




The Death of Pakenham at the Battle of New Orleans by F. O. C. Darley shows the death of British Maj. Gen. Sir Edward Pakenham on 8 January 1815. This romanticised portrayal, dating from 1860, has British soldiers wearing Bearskin caps, a headdress not worn since the American Revolutionary War

British order of battle

British Army

Source:[a]

General Staff







Infantry Brigades

Brigade Unit Comments

1st Brigade, Major General John Keane - wounded 8 January 1815[4]

* 1st Battalion, 93rd Regiment of Foot 907 men as at 25 November 1814. [9][10] Effective strength of 850 out of a headcount of 862 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 23 to 31 December: 2 killed, 6 wounded. Casualties 1 to 5 January: 9 killed; 11 wounded. 775 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 63 killed; 101 wounded.[4] Effective strength of 331 out of a headcount of 673 as at 25 January 1815, 78 deaths since the prior monthly return.[2][c]
* 1 battalion of the 1st West India Regiment. Effective strength of 755 out of a headcount of 809 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 25 to 31 December: 1 killed. Casualties 8 January: 5 killed; 23 wounded; 1 missing.[4] Morrell estimated a strength of 700 men. [d] Effective strength of 675 out of a headcount of 787 as at 25 January 1815, 22 deaths since the prior month.[2]
* 1 battalion of the 5th West India Regiment. 643 men as at 25 November 1814.[10] Effective strength of 570 out of a headcount of 585 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 25 to 31 December: 1 killed, 2 wounded. Casualties 25 to 31 December: 4 killed, 2 wounded. Casualties 8 January: 1 wounded.[4] Effective strength of 439 out of a headcount of 569 as at 25 January 1815, 19 deaths since the prior month.[2]

2nd Brigade, Colonel Arthur Brooke

* 1 battalion of the 4th Regiment of Foot. 893 men as at 25 November 1814. [10] Effective strength of 802 out of a headcount of 916 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 23 to 24 December: 5 killed; 15 wounded. Casualties 25 to 31 December: 4 wounded. 747 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 42 killed; 254 wounded; 55 missing.[4] Effective strength of 512 out of a headcount of 793 as at 25 January 1815, 56 deaths since the prior monthly return.[2]
* 1 battalion of the 44th Regiment of Foot. 647 men as at 25 November 1814.[10] Effective strength of 552 out of a headcount of 692 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 25 to 31 December: 2 wounded; 1 missing. Casualties 1 to 5 January: 2 killed; 3 wounded. 427 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 35 killed; 163 wounded; 80 missing.[4] Effective strength of 286 out of a headcount of 565 as at 25 January 1815, 46 deaths since the prior month.[2]
* 1 battalion of the 21st Regiment of Foot 995 men as at 25 November 1814. [10] Effective strength of 873 out of a headcount of 1010 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 23 to 24 December: 3 killed; 11 wounded; 8 missing. Casualties 25 to 31 December: 1 killed, 1 wounded. Casualties 1 to 5 January: 1 killed; 5 wounded. 800 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 70 killed; 155 wounded; 236 missing.[4] Effective strength of 482 out of a headcount of 709 as at 25 January 1815, 75 deaths since the prior month.[2]
* 12 man detachment of the 1st battalion of the 62nd Regiment of Foot Effective strength of 12 out of a headcount of 12 as at 25 December.[1] Effective strength of 12 out of a headcount of 12 as at 25 January 1815.[2]

Advance Brigade, Colonel William Thornton - wounded 'severely (not dangerously)'[4]

* 1 battalion of the 85th Regiment of Foot who participated in the attack on the west bank of the Mississippi.[14][15] 456 men as at 25 November 1814. [10] Effective strength of 345 out of a headcount of 471 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 23 to 24 December: 13 killed; 69 wounded; 19 missing. Casualties 25 to 31 December: 4 killed; 13 wounded. Casualties 1 to 5 January: 2 killed; 6 wounded. 298 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 2 killed; 41 wounded; 1 missing. Casualties 9 to 26 January: 1 wounded.[4] Effective strength of 265 out of a headcount of 430 as at 25 January 1815, 25 deaths since the prior monthly return.[2]
* 5 companies of the 3rd battalion from 95th Regiment of Foot. They disembarked at Bayou Catalan on 22 December 1814, having departed Plymouth, Devon on 18 September 1814.[16][17] Effective strength of 317 out of a headcount of 395 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 23 to 24 December: 23 killed; 62 wounded; 42 missing. Casualties 1 to 5 January: 1 killed. 296 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 11 killed; 101 wounded.[4] Effective strength of 200 out of a headcount of 345 as at 25 January 1815, 32 deaths since the prior monthly return.[2]
Sailors and Marines See further down

Reinforcements from Europe [e] [f]- Both battalions commanded by Major General John Lambert

* 1 battalion of the 7th Regiment of Foot. Effective strength of 887 out of a headcount of 887 whilst at sea as at 25 October 1814.[20] 800 men as at 5 January 1815.[21] 750 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 49 killed; 53 wounded.[4] Effective strength of 681 out of a headcount of 812 as at 25 January 1815, 58 deaths since the prior month.[2]
* 1 battalion of the 43rd Regiment of Foot Effective strength of 991 out of a headcount of 991 whilst at sea as at 25 October 1814.[20] 900 men as at 5 January 1815.[21] 820 ORs on 8 January according to Major Pringle's letter.[11] Casualties 8 January: 11 killed; 163 wounded; 44 missing. Casualties 9 to 26 January: 1 killed; 5 wounded.[4] Effective strength of 785 out of a headcount of 907 as at 25 January 1815, 13 deaths since the prior month.[2]
* Dismounted troopers of the 14th Light Dragoons. 160 men as at 25 November 1814. [10][22] Soon joined by a second squadron, the unit having a strength of 295 as at 8 January 1815.[23] Effective strength of 261 out of a headcount of 277 as at 25 January 1815.[2] No casualties during battle, but 2 officers and 37 troopers in a boat were captured on 25 January 1815.[4] Effective strength of 214 out of a headcount of 275 as at 25 February 1815.[24]

Artillery and supporting elements

Service Composition Comments
  • Artillery
 Three companies of Royal Artillery each commanded by Captain John Michell, Captain Lewis Carmichael and Captain Adam Crawford, redeployed from the Chesapeake (320 men).[25] Now joined by a fourth company commanded by Major Alexander Munro[26] of 115 men[27] and a rocket detachment of 40 men commanded by Captain Henry Lane.[25][22] Colonel Alexander Dickson accompanied these reinforcements.[27]
 Effective strength of 381 gunners & 216 drivers out of a headcount of 649 as at 25 November 1814.[28] Effective strength of 610 out of a headcount of 646 as at 25 December.[1] Casualties 23 to 24 December: 2 ORs killed; 1 Officer, 7 ORs wounded. Casualties 25 to 31 December: 4 ORs killed; 1 Officer, 5 ORs wounded. Casualties 1 to 5 January: 1 Officer 1 NCOs & 9 ORs killed; 12 ORs wounded. Casualties 8 January: 5 ORs killed; 10 ORs wounded.[4] Effective strength of 581 out of a headcount of 625 as at 25 January 1815, 19 deaths since the prior month.[2]
* Royal Engineers Effective strength of 101 out of a headcount of 109 as at 25 December.[1] Company of sappers [29] with a strength of nearly 100 men,[30] confirmed as 98 men on 8 January.[23] Casualties 23 to 24 December: 1 OR missing. Casualties 25 to 31 December: 1 OR wounded. Casualties 1 to 5 January: 1 Officer killed. Casualties 8 January: 3 ORs wounded.[4] Effective strength of 94 out of a headcount of 109 as at 25 January 1815, zero deaths since the prior month.[2]
Royal Staff Corps detachment of 57 men as at 8 January[23] on shore, no source material to indicate whether they participated in the battle. Effective strength of 57 out of a headcount of 57 whilst at sea as at 25 October 1814.[20] Effective strength of 29 out of a headcount of 57 as at 25 January 1815, zero deaths since the prior month.[2]

Royal Navy

Composition Comments
  • Sailors from the fleet
 Naval Brigade of 100 sailors from the fleet, in combat, commanded by Rowland Money of HMS Trave,[31] who participated in the attack on the west bank of the Mississippi.[14][32][15] Casualties 8 January: Royal Navy casualties were two dead, Captain Rowland Money and 18 seamen wounded.[4]
* Royal Marines - Infantry Composite battalion of 100 marines from the fleet, in combat, commanded by Brevet Major Thomas Adair, who led the attack by the Royal Marines [33] on the west bank of the Mississippi at New Orleans.[14][32][15] Casualties 8 January: Royal Marine casualties were two dead, with three officers, one sergeant, and 12 other ranks wounded.[4]
* Royal Marines - Gunners Royal Marine Artillery rocket detachment from the marine battalion (elsewhere), commanded by Lieutenant John Lawrence. The Marine Artillery numbered 1 officer and 26 gunners. [34] Their penultimate engagement was the Battle of New Orleans.[35]

Native American allies

- Brevet Major Edward Nicolls accompanied by less than 100 Seminole, Creek, and Choctaw warriors.[36] Among them were the Hitchiti Indian chief Kinache.[37]

Notes and citations

Notes

  1. ^ One useful document is the one page 'Journal of the movements of the Army acting in the Southern part of the North American coast.' It contains a list of units and their strengths as at 25 November 1814. This, a one page "Plan of the Position we occupied" and Major Forrest's journal were sent with a covering letter to Lieutenant General Clinton by Lieutenant John Peddie. They were discovered in the Clinton Papers held by the University of Michigan. As well as a transcription of the 'Journal of the movements of the Army' a reproduction of the image can be seen via this link.[3] This source was also quoted in Duncan's book in 1873. The same information is recorded in the monthly returns for British forces in North America, archive reference WO 17/1218.
  2. ^ In addition to Bell's service in the Peninsular War, it documents that he 'served afterwards with the army employed against Louisiana, from Dec. 1814 to June 1815', as documented in the "War Services of the General Officers" [7]
  3. ^ The monthly returns for British forces in North America, archive reference WO 17/1218, prepared on the 25th day of the month, provide valuable details on unit strengths. Images of the original documents can be seen on microfilm at The Historic New Orleans Collection's research center. Transcriptions of the returns can be downloaded [12]
  4. ^ Estimate of 'British Army Corps and Strength' & 'Staff of the British Army' by Robert Morrell, M.D. formerly a prisoner of the British, letter dated 8 April 1815. These attachments were sent in a letter from Morrell to Major Latour, and are reproduced in the Report of Sesquicentennial Celebration 1815-1865[13]
  5. ^ The 7th and the 43rd were to go to Georgia to assist, but were diverted to New Orleans, unbeknown to Read Admiral Cochrane[18]
  6. ^ Despatch from Bathust to Pakenham dated 24 October 1814, within: Secretary of State for War and the Colonies, Out-letters, archive reference WO 6/2. 'You will be followed immediately by the 7th and 43rd Regiments with another squadron of dismounted Dragoons, which are embarked at Plymouth under Major General Lambert, and by the 40th Regiment from Cork. The 2nd West India Regiment has also been ordered to join you from Barbadoes.'[19]

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Within Monthly Return, December 1814 via Monthly headcount returns
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Within Monthly Return, January 1815 via Monthly headcount returns
  3. ^ "Image of the 'Journal of the movements of the Army.. '" – via hathitrust.org.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Casualty returns within "No. 16991". The London Gazette. 9 March 1815. pp. 443–446.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Despatch from Lambert to Secretary of State for War and the Colonies dated 28 January 1815 within "No. 16991". The London Gazette. 9 March 1815. pp. 442–443.
  6. ^ Lee 1894, p. 415.
  7. ^ Hart 1848, p. 27.
  8. ^ Marshall 1831, p. 68.
  9. ^ Duncan 1873, p. 395-396.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g Forrest 1961, p. 24.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h Stuart 1834, p. 95.
  12. ^ Monthly headcount returns.
  13. ^ Report of Sesquicentennial Celebration 1815-1865, pp. 104–107.
  14. ^ a b c Gleig (1840), p. 340 quoting report from Colonel Thornton to Sir Edward Pakenham mentioning 'the force which you had allotted for the service viz., 298 of the 85th, and 200 Seamen and Marines'
  15. ^ a b c "Letter from Vice Admiral Cochrane to the Admiralty dated 18 January 1815". thegazette.co.uk. 9 March 1815. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via London Gazette. The 85th regiment, with a division of seaman under Captain Money, and a division of marines under Major Adair, the whole amounting to about six hundred men.
  16. ^ Cope 2008, pp. 181–182.
  17. ^ Surtees 2005, pp. 324–337.
  18. ^ Fraser & Carr-Laughton (1930), p. 296.
  19. ^ Grodzinski (ed) (2011), p.1
  20. ^ a b c Within Monthly Return, October 1814 via Monthly headcount returns
  21. ^ a b Levinge, p. 220. 'On the 5th of January the 7th and 43rd landed.. mustering upwards of 1700 bayonets'
  22. ^ a b Surtees (2005), p. 325 'The force that embarked at the same time with us [18th September 1814], consisted of the 93rd (Highlanders), a company of artillery, some rocketeers, a squadron of the 14th light dragoons, without horses, and our five [rifle] companies, the whole under the command of General Keane.'
  23. ^ a b c James 1818, p. 373.
  24. ^ Within Monthly Return, February 1815 via Monthly headcount returns
  25. ^ a b Duncan 1873, p. 395.
  26. ^ Hill, p. 10
  27. ^ a b Duncan 1873, p. 396.
  28. ^ Within Monthly Return, November 1814 via Monthly headcount returns
  29. ^ Forrest 1961, p. 23.
  30. ^ Despatch from Keane to Pakenham dated 26 December 1814 within "No. 16991". The London Gazette. 9 March 1815. p. 439.
  31. ^ Nicolas 1845, p. 233.
  32. ^ a b "Report from Colonel Thornton to Sir Edward Pakenham dated 8 January 1815". thegazette.co.uk. 9 March 1815. Retrieved 22 November 2021 – via London Gazette. whilst one hundred sailors, under Captain Money, of the Royal Navy... threatened the enemy's left, supported by the division of the 85th Regiment under Captain Schaw... I deployed the column... under Major Deshon.. and about one hundred men of the royal marines under Major Adair.
  33. ^ Nicolas 1845, p. 232.
  34. ^ Duncan 1873, p. 398.
  35. ^ Letter from Lieutenant Harrison to the Admiralty dated 3 June 1815 within reference ADM 1/3340 (Letters from Marine Lieutenants 1813-115).
  36. ^ Sugden 1982, p. 300.
  37. ^ Bourchier (1872), p. 329.

Bibliography

External links

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