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.

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...

I enjoyed learning about this era in American history. I didn't realize the union was so weak after the American Revolution that we nearly lost our country back to the British. I finally understand the War of 1812. It was fun to learn how our national anthem fit into this story. I also learned what a wonderful man Andrew Jackson was - a true hero! I really appreciate how the New Orleans women's prayer vigil during the Battle of New Orleans is given credit for the miraculous victory. What a great American story!

Along with Brian Kilmeade's other books "George Washington's Secret Six" and "Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates", another outstanding, condensed, yet thorough work on an interesting piece of American history. A great companion book to HW Brands, " Andrew Jackson, His Life and Times."Along with Oreilly's "Killing" series, I anxiously await the arrival of his next book!Dr. Stanley E. Toompas, Optometrist& Arthur of, "I'm the One the Other Isn't"

This is among the top five history books I have ever read, and I like to read history. It has ample background to the battle without killing the reader with WAY too much information like so many history books. It almost read like an action novel. In fact, by the time I got to the battle I couldn't put it down! Like most Americans all I knew about the Battle of New Orleans was the old Johnny Horton song where the British ran off after being fired on a couple of times. I never had thought about the fact that the British soldiers were the survivors and victors over the Republican Army of Napoleon. They had beaten the best army in the world! In Louisiana they were facing a ragtag mix of frontiersmen, riverboat men, dock workers, prisoners, and even pirates. There is only one reason they were not demolished by the Brits--Andrew Jackson. Since I learned about the Trail of Tears I have never liked the man. He was a man of his times and had many flaws. After reading this book my opinion has changed completely. I still don't really like him, but I don't think there is a man on this earth that could have accomplished what he did in preparation and execution of this final chapter in the war. He was sick, had old wounds that troubled him, was hampered by lack of funding and had almost no trained soldiers to rely on. He accomplished the impossible, and with that he has my undying admiration and respect. He truly earned his nickname "Old Hickory." He was perhaps the best natural military leader in the history of this nation.