Thursday, May 24, 2007

DID YOU KNOW ? # 3

Did you know during the war of 1812, American Major General Andrew Jackson took a ragtag group ( “regular army troops, state militia, western sharpshooters, two regiments, Spanish fishermen and pirates from the Delta Swamps.”) and defended New Orleans from a British invasion. General Jackson had only 1,500 men standing alone against 8,000 seasoned British troops. At 8 to 1 odds a British victory was almost a sure thing.
Andrew Jackson, later our 7th President, was known as “Old Hickory” because of his flinty toughness. His motley army was equally as tough. They mauled the British troops. Jackson’s army lost less than 25 troops while the British lost over 2,000 including three general officers. The Battle of New Orleans or sometimes called the Battle of Chalmette Plantation was the last major battle of the long war.

Now for the rest of the story

Filipinos were there and fought along side of General Jackson for the freedom and sovereignty of America. “Spanish fishermen” were also known as “Manilamen”. These hardy fishermen / fighters had been crewmen (slaves?) on Spanish galleons. They jumped ship and lived in the swamps of Louisiana. I find it interesting that Filipinos fought for America’s freedom before we saw fit to give them theirs.

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