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Battle of New Orleans Commemoration at The Hermitage

Presented by The Hermitage at The Hermitage

December 6, 2010

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On January 8, 1815, Major General Andrew Jackson led a small, poorly-equipped army to victory against eight thousand British troops at the Battle of New Orleans. The victory made Jackson a national hero and eventually propelled him to White House, making him our nation's seventh president.

The anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans was widely celebrated with parties and dances during the nineteenth century, especially in the South. An 1860 New York Times article, published January 10, describes a typical celebration for the day:

"The Tammany Society or Colombian Order celebrated last night the Anniversary of the Battle of New-Orleans. The commemoration lacked neither in numbers nor dignity...The ceiling was canopied in the national colors, with striking effect. On the floor crowds of dancers assembled, and continued their pleasures without intermission until a few minutes before 12 o'clock."

Come to The Hermitage this Saturday, January 8th, to relive a time-honored tradition and to celebrate the 196th anniversary of the
The traditional wreath-laying ceremony will begin at 10:00am with the Tennessee Army National Guard Color Guard at the tomb of President Andrew Jackson. The ceremony will also feature a keynote speech from Nashville Mayor and recently named "Tennessean of the Year," Karl Dean, and a presentation by the Daughters of 1812.

Special additions to this year's commemoration will be the introduction of a new biography of Rachel Donelson Jackson. Titled A Being So Gentle, the volume's author Patricia Brady will conduct a lecture and discussion at 1:00 p.m. that will be followed by a book signing. The book will be available for purchase in the Hermitage Museum Store.