Rating: 
Summary: Brisk, exciting account of the battle
Review: I bought and read this book while visiting New Orleans which made the book a very enjoyable read. Remini starts with Jackson's early War in the South. A forgotten American war hero, Jackson manages to win decisive victories in the Creek war, repulse the British at Mobile, and capture Pensacola from the Spaniards before scurrying over to New Orleans to save the city from an ignominious fate at the hands of the Duke of Wellington's army.
The story itself is fantastic - Jackson's few regulars and Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky militiamen, allied with New Orleans society men, free blacks, and Lafitte's pirates wind up outfighting the finest and most disciplined army in the world (who defeated Napoleon, by the way). The book includes helpful campaign maps and is well written even if some of the author's claims are a bit overblown (?America's first military victory?).
Rating:
Summary: Brisk, exciting account of the battle
Review: I bought and read this book while visiting New Orleans which made the book a very enjoyable read. Remini starts with Jackson's early War in the South. A forgotten American war hero, Jackson manages to win decisive victories in the Creek war, repulse the British at Mobile, and capture Pensacola from the Spaniards before scurrying over to New Orleans to save the city from an ignominious fate at the hands of the Duke of Wellington's army.
The story itself is fantastic - Jackson's few regulars and Tennessee, Mississippi, and Kentucky militiamen, allied with New Orleans society men, free blacks, and Lafitte's pirates wind up outfighting the finest and most disciplined army in the world (who defeated Napoleon, by the way). The book includes helpful campaign maps and is well written even if some of the author's claims are a bit overblown (?America's first military victory?).
Rating:
Summary: Stirring Account Of A Great Battle
Review: I tend to agree with all the previous reviews of this book, both the good and the bad. That may sound a bit strange, as this is a well told historical account of the Battle for New Orleans. The book's narrative is fast and snappy, the story is well told and presented in a way that it reads like a novel. The author, Robert V. Remini certainly loves this period of history and has a deep respect for Andrew Jackson, which shows throughout the book, maybe too much so. One of the previous reviewers mentioned the fact that the story was a bit too much like "good versus evil". I found on occasions that the American forces could do no wrong while the British were blunderers. For example, the chapter 'The Night Attack' shows Jackson throwing his troops, inferior in numbers and without full knowledge of the British forces in a spoiling attack against the advance guard of the British forces. Certainly the spoiling attack is a sound military move and paid good dividends in this instance. Jackson is shown as a daring commander however when the British forces do something very similar against the American positions they are made to sound like bumbling fools. Why is one commander a daring master and the other an idiot? On a similar note, when Jackson showed caution on a number of occasions throughout this battle he was commended but when the British leadership showed this same caution they were castigated. I agree with the author that the British leadership was ineffectual at times but that is making a judgement in hindsight. The author made mention of Jackson's burning hatred of the British and their contempt for the American forces, maybe a little of this has rubbed off on the author? Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book, it's a great story and my own country's history has no love of the British but I don't like it to show so one sided in any book I read. Beside that, the maps supplied (3) were of a high quality and a pleasant change but once again even the maps seemed to be one sided. The map showing the positions of the opposing forces for the attack on January 8, 1815 (page 135) show in great detail the American positions with the units indicated but nothing as detailed for the attacking British forces. Having said all that, it was pleasing to note that the author paid tribute to the brave soldiers on both sides of this terrible battle. Overall this is an excellent story, told with verve and passion and it's a great book to read. I hope that the remarks above do not offend anyone, they are not made with that intention. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history and would like to learn about this turning point in America's history.
Rating: 
Summary: 1950's style history
Review: If you prefer your history written in the style of the 1950's, then this book is for you. The "Indians" are variably described as 'hostiles' and "banging on their war drums while they screamed their defiance", their battles described as "massacres" the US army response as "vengeance", "the punishing hand of Andrew Jackson".One has the impression that the British and the Spanish are dastardly characters who deserved to lose the battle of New Orleans. There is some reasonably nice history of the city and the battle, but I must confess I hadn't the stomach to finish this book.What I read of the book is too black and white, heroes and villains, good guys and bad guys for my taste. I would have returned it if I hadn't accidentally torn the dust cover just after receiving it.
Rating: 
Summary: A first rate historical account
Review: Nobody knows "Old Hickory" like Robert Remini and with this short but very enjoyable book, he recreates the high point of Jackson's military career. Little remembered by history is just how important this battle was, not only because it restored American pride after a war gone badly, but because it prevented the British from establishing hegemony over the Mississippi River and with it America's heartland. The battle scenes are well described and the heroism of the American leader is well chronicled. This is a great history book just begging to be made into a TV miniseries.
Rating:
Summary: Well Written, Concise, Stiring Account of Battle
Review: Remini has filled a gap for lovers of American history. The War of 1812, which the Battle of New Orleans ended convincingly (allowing the previously negotiated Treaty of Ghent to be accepted by both the British and our side as negotiated), has had too few treatments in recent years. Yet the Battle of New Orleans, as the author argues, perhaps was the event that convinced hostile Europeans that America was here to stay as a free nation. I would not completely agree with Remini's contention that the Battle of New Orleans was America's first major victory over European arms (he dismisses Yorktown and Saratoga as mere surrenders doing in my opinion a disservice to the aggressive American commanders and troops who did fight and convincingly beat the British at Saratoga). The author makes a case that this neglected Battle of a forgotten war earned our country the grudging respect it would need to grow unmolested over the next few decades. That having been said, the book is a very well written account of a stirring and fascinating story. General Andrew Jackson, after defeating the Creek Indians and punishing Spanish Florida for aiding that foe as well as the British, leads his American volunteers to Louisianna to defend against the expected British move on New Orleans. The British proceed to the bayous of the Mississippi delta and engage in another European style campaign against wiley American back country fighters. One wonders why the English high command did not learn the lessons of Gen. Braddock's defeat in the French and Indian War or numerous defeats during the American Revolution. Doctrinaire plans and rigid troop handling along the lines of European war were not very successful against citizen soldiers who know how to use their weapons with skill and fight from behind cover. Using first person sources to illustrate the events in December 1814 to January of 1815, Remini gives voice to the events and people who helped make New Orleans a stirring American victory. Unsurprisingly, this biographer of Jackson paints a good portrait of the man whose talents and traits were sorely needed by our side in facing British regiments who had recently faced down Napolean's best troops. The hodge-podge of defenders are given colorful treatment. The pirate Laffite brothers and their outlaw band who manned our artillery, backwoodsmen in buckskin (giving the name the British used for our troops -- 'dirty shirts'), freed blacks, Creols and New Orleans first citizens all manned the barracades to await the onslaught. The British, with their straight ahead determination, poor avenue of attack and lack of planning aided the American cause. But Jackson earned much of the glory that surrounded his victory. He cajoled troops and supplies, built a well fortified line, attacked before the British were all up and ready and worked to keep together an army that in reality was more like today's UN peacekeeping forces than a coherent American corps. The battle scenes are well told, particularly the Jan. 8th main assualt in front of New Orleans. Remini's writing is good enough that the unfamiliar (to most) details of an unknown battlefield come alive in the reader's mind. So do the personalities on both sides. His descriptions are aided by three very good maps that allow one to fully picture the terrain. This book is a quick read. The author tells just enough of the main charactors to separate them from one another in the story without bogging it down with a lot of background. The battles themselves come alive and are given a full description and dramatic rendering. You'll enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Forget Hollywood, Real American heroes are here!
Review: Remini has long been regarded as one of the, if not THE foremost historian on Jackson of our day, and he lives up to his reputation once again in this excellent book. He not only accurately portrays this battle as one of the defining moments of our nation's development, but does so with insight, a flair for the dramatic, and extensive historical research. Therefore, this book is both thrilling and educational at the same time, what a concept! Hopefully this book will reignite interest in Jackson and teach my fellow citizens why Jackson deserves to have his picture prominently displayed on the $20 bill. Furthermore, it will hopefully spark interest in how our nations past and present is shaped in great part due to the heroic efforts of a diverse society (just consider the hodgepodge of characters in Jackson's army), and of a society of common, average, hard-working folks who did extraordinary things in advance of their freedom. Truly, Remini inspires our present society by making this point crystal clear and I highly recommend it to anyone who will listen.
Rating:
Summary: Remini's never-ending work on Andrew Jackson
Review: Remini's thesis is that the Battle of New Orleans was critical for the self-esteem of the young republic. The victory of New Orleans allowed Americans to once again hold their heads up with pride, and Andrew Jackson was crowned, national hero. Remini attributes the victory of American troops to Jackson's Charismatic leadership, and the British leadership's failures lack of intiative and understand of the logistical demands of their invasion plans. Remini evidence is persausive on tatical issues on field of battle, but is less convincing on issues of symbolic importance of the Battle of New Orleans to the American people. However, Remini use of primary sources is commendable. The use of journals of British officers and Jackson's personal letters add credibility to the work. This book is a good starting place for those interested in the Battle of New Orleans or want an introduction to Andrew Jackson.
Rating:
Summary: Remini's never-ending work on Andrew Jackson
Review: Remini's thesis is that the Battle of New Orleans was critical for the self-esteem of the young republic. The victory of New Orleans allowed Americans to once again hold their heads up with pride, and Andrew Jackson was crowned, national hero. Remini attributes the victory of American troops to Jackson's Charismatic leadership, and the British leadership's failures lack of intiative and understand of the logistical demands of their invasion plans. Remini evidence is persausive on tatical issues on field of battle, but is less convincing on issues of symbolic importance of the Battle of New Orleans to the American people. However, Remini use of primary sources is commendable. The use of journals of British officers and Jackson's personal letters add credibility to the work. This book is a good starting place for those interested in the Battle of New Orleans or want an introduction to Andrew Jackson.
Rating:
Summary: Readable and Informative
Review: Robert Remini, a noted and prolific scholar on Andrew Jackson, has narrowed his focus to write a colorful and informative account of the Battle of New Orleans, the final battle in Britain's unsuccessful war of invasion of the United States, the "War of 1812". Most Americans' grasp of the battle boils down to a few factoids: Andy Jackson won, pirate Jean Lafitte helped, and the battle was fought after the treaty marking its end (the Treaty of Ghent) was signed, but before news of the treaty reached the new world. Remini's success is in providing a wonderful and interesting background for the events of the battle: the polyglot and stratified society of New Orleans; continued British designs in North America even after the American colonies won their independence; and most starkly, the stalwart, near fanatical patriotism of Andrew Jackson. The British campaigning is well recounted, from attacks at Mobile Bay to the laborious transfer of troops through the Louisiana bayous, to the final disastrous assaults on entrenched American lines. This book is informative without being overly-dense to a newcomer to the material. A must-read for Americans who've let the battle and its significance slip from the national consciousness. Remini does pay a bit of lip service to the British by doing some research on their commanders and setting them in the context of their career paths. He also wraps up by noting that the Battle of New Orleans was, for decades, seen as a defining coming-of-age moment for the young American republic, it launched Jackson to the White House and was the final and true declaration of independence for newly-empowered Americans. However, Remini's unabashed flag-waving and affection for his hero create some awkward passages. Time and again he gnashes teeth at British arrogance and nearly weeps at the ragtag nature of the American army, held together by the immense will of great Jackson. At times the book borders on hero worship and veers away from analytical political/military history. So that in the end, this is a readable and interesting history, but a flawed one. An informative ride to the gates of New Orleans, but one taken from the American side.
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