Having received most of my "education" about the War of 1812 back in high school on ONE day, and from Johnny Horton's song, "....in 1814 we took a little trip...and fought the bloody British in the town of New Orleans..." A humorous little ditty - lots of fun, but not really a great place to get a realistic look at that time in our history. Anyway, as I said, having received my education thusly, I was totally enthralled by this very griltty recounting of Jackson and his amazing victory over not only the British, but forces in the U.S. arrayed against him, his own fragile health, and the topography of New Orleans itself. This is not to be missed!

THIS BIIK IS A GREAT READ, AND IS MORE LIKE A NOVEL THAN AN AMERICAN HISTORY BOOK. YOU HAVE OLE GEN ANDY JACKSON FRONT AND CENTER, DEFENDING NEW ORLEANS FROM THE BRITISH, WHO HE HATED WITH ALL HIS MIGHT, WITH A BAND OF BACKWOODSMEN, LOCAL VOLUNTEERS, AND PIRATES. I DIDNT REALIZE THAT THE BRITS, AFTER GETTING SOUNDLY DRUBED IN LA, SAILED EAST AND ATTACKED A SMALLER AMERICAN FORT. THE FACT THAT THE WAR OF 1812 WAS ALREADY OVER, AND A PEACE TREATY SIGNED BEFORE EITHER BATTLE IS JUST A SAD FACT OF HISTORY.

I really enjoyed this book. It acquainted me with what was really happening in our country during this early period in U.S. history.It shows that Andrew Jackson was a lot more than the boisterous country bumpkin of his general reputation. The detailed progressoutlined of the battle of New Orleans is riveting. This book has sparked me into getting the 3 volume history of Andrew Jackson by Remini. I need to know a lot more about this man who probably, as pointed out in the book, saved the U.S. and allowed it to become the large continent covering country it is today.

If more history were related in this manner there would be more histoy buffs around...The facts, personalities and locations related accurately in a fasinating, very readable way. Jackson was a great man, certainly flawed but aren't we all? Judging people in history thru a 21st century lens is not always fair!!! Thanks for the read Bryan...

Once again the authors delve more deeply into the history of our country than our teachers and textbooks ever did. From Washington's spies, of which I only some existed. To the Tripoli pirates, where I only knew that Jefferson sent the Navy and which the USMC sing so proudly about. Now the Battle of New Orleans, which is without a doubt, a much more important moment in our history than I had ever known it to be before.Thank you gentlemen. Please keep the books coming.