New Orleans French Market Place is just east of the French Quarter. It has changed a bit since this drawing in the 1790's.
The picture above and the one below are taken in approximately the same area, more than 200 years apart.
Inside the market has changed more in what is sold. Certainly less tourist items then.
The market as it is today. Awesome voodoo dolls. These are good juju voodoo.
Anyone for a gator dog?
And bands, did I mention lots of jazz bands sprinkled throughout.
Bring plenty of lip, tongue, and throat balm. You taste these you hurt.
We walked out of the open market towards the French Quarter, along Decatur. This little park just outside the market, splits the road. This is the Statue of Joan of Arc.
Walking along Decatur we spotted a Seahawk Fan's balcony.
An interesting store window.
This is the undisclosed reason for the walk down Decatur. Yes, beignets and cafe au lait.
Some school children getting scared by a street performer on the far left. One of those guys that stand in place for hours without moving then jump out at you.
Street art surrounding Jackson Square and the Cathedral of New Orleans built by the King of France when New Orleans was French Territory.
Andrew Jackson Statue.
Cathedral of New Orleans.
The front alter.
The back organ area.
And overhead.
A drawing of the Cathedral.
We all remember Katrina. The flooding is gone, it's been 8 years and still there are many areas where the damage is evident. I was told there are huge areas where no rebuilding has taken place because the owners can't afford the flood insurance premiums.
Below are some photos taken of the Katrina aftermath.
After spending the morning in town seeing more of the city we drove out to Jean Lafitte National Park for an afternoon of history. The 1815 Battle of New Orleans.
When we first arrive we took the self guided car tour of the battlefield. The following are pictures of what it looks like today.
A P.S. My sister Peggy, the family genealogist commented
" our ancestor Abraham Carlock enlisted 1814 & walked to New Orleans to fight under Gen Jackson killed 6 Brits out of 7 shots then after the battle walked back home to Tenn."
About half way around is the Cemetery.
This tree must be over 200 years old. Notice how it's swallowed the headstones.
There were also many Unknown as shown to the right.
As we drove down the main road back towards the visitor center to continue our tour we see the Chalmette Monument.
We had the great fortune to meet the Ranger inside the Visitor Center. We asked a question about the war and received a wonderful history lesson about what lead up to the war. So in a nutshell....and as difficult as it might be to imagine, there were two political parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans who couldn't agree on anything. One party wanted a "second war of independence" against Britain. The other party wanted war with France.
The French ruled the world except for Britain.
Napoleon's Empire.
America pulled the neutral card, supplying to
both countries. This was financially cool.
both countries. This was financially cool.
Neither France or Britain could be bothered with
America. We were pesty punks messing with them.
Britain had stolen 6000 troops right off American
ships to fight in their Navy, against France,
pissing off America.
ships to fight in their Navy, against France,
pissing off America.
Napoleon needed cash to fight Britain and sold
their territory which was our Louisiana Purchase.
America was growing so we invaded Canada while
Britain was busy fighting France.
Bad idea...we got our butts handed to us.
Now Britain was pissed with us and
had delusions of powerfulness.
Britain was busy fighting France.
Bad idea...we got our butts handed to us.
Now Britain was pissed with us and
had delusions of powerfulness.
America tries to negotiate a truce..."let's just go
back the way it was". Hell no says the Brits.
Britain attacks Washington D.C. burning the
Capital and the White House, sending the
President on the run. This was
not a good time for America.
Capital and the White House, sending the
President on the run. This was
not a good time for America.
Britain now has their eye on Baltimore...great
harbor. Gain control of that, give the Indians
back Ohio, Pennsylvania and the New York
area to thwart another Canadian attack from America and
prevent growth in the direction of Canada. This would
create a great buffer.
That idea fails with a great victory to America.
America is stoked. Francis Scott Key
writes our National Anthem. Bring it on.
America is stoked. Francis Scott Key
writes our National Anthem. Bring it on.
Britain heads to New Orleans to claim ownership
of the mouth of the Mississippi and reclaim the
Louisiana Purchase area for Spain (Britain) and
further restrict growth for America towards the west.
Another buffer.
Jean Lafitte was a dark character. No doubt
a thief, a murderer, a mercenary, and probably
a lot of other things including a brilliant soldier
with flint to fire the rifles. The British bribed
him with land, money, everything they could
think of. But Jean Lafitte decided to throw in
with the Americans. And a good thing too with
his flint. He got a pardon in exchange for his
valuable assistance during the war. Everyone
was happy.
Had Jean Lafitte sided with the British the outcome would likely have been devastating. However it worked in America's favor. Had it worked out like the Brits hoped, America would consist of our Southeast states.
So how did this turning point for America battle play itself out?
The Players
The British suffered numerous snafus, including strong currents against the British ships approaching up the Mississippi, resulting in portaging only part of their cannons through miles of swamps instead.
The attack along the West bank was successful. Believing he had the American's whooped the British command left taking most of his troops to help along the other attack flanks. Soon after arriving General Pakenham and his second in command Cochran were both dead. There was no one in charge, the supplies and equipment that was suppose to arrive didn't, the British were floundering, leaderless.
The American cannons ripped the British apart, destroying 2000 of the 9000 troops sent to obliterate the 4000 Americans. The British fled downriver hell bent on getting Mobile instead. The paperwork all caught up with everyone, was ratified and the war was over. The Brits went home before reaching Mobile. The Americas began gobbling up more land and pushing more people off their land. Andrew Jackson was a hero and eventually became our 9th President.
The embankment the American Troops were behind still has some cannons.
This was the largest cannon on the embankment and it alone caused considerable damage to the British Troops.
This is the largest oak tree I've ever seen. This one is over 200 years old.
This ditch runs along the entire embankment, and built as a line of defense against the British soldiers.
I'm sure I've left out important facts about the Battle of New Orleans. Hopefully I've given an almost true rendition of how it all went down.
Our brains are full of great new information. Time to head home. Thinking we were headed for a bridge we were pleasantly surprised when we realized we were going to be on a ferry across the Mississippi. And it's no charge.
Disembarking on the East bank...another ferry loading up.
Delicious. We shared a half a muffalato sandwich on the way home.Whew! We're worn out. I'm worn out going through this day again on the blog.
Thanks for visiting. See you soon.
Tomorrow we leave and head to the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
2 comments:
Great history lesson. Thanks...
I won't say "any time" because I'm too old to absorb too much more information. But glad to do it.
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