200th Anniversary of Battle of New Orleans inaugurates ‘Living History’ battlefield

29th December 2014   ·   0 Comments

By Christopher Tidmore
Contributing Writer

On January 9, 10, and 11, 1500 historical re-enactors will gather at a purpose built ‘Living History Park’ in St Bernard Parish to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.

In the largest collection of people in 1812 uniforms since the War of 1812, they will ‘re-fight the five major battles of the New Orleans campaign. And according to Louisiana Living History Foundation President Tim Pickles, these military re-enactors will highlight the massive role that African-Americans played in the British and American armies in January of 1815.

“The Battle of New Orleans was the first military engagement in North America where Free People of color fought on both sides. The “Gens de Couleur Libre” of New Orleans fought against the Black troops of the West India Regiments that had already won battle honors fighting against Napoleon’s troops in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Lucia. Our Bicentennial re-enactment on January 9, 10, &11 will highlight the contributions these Free Men of Color who fought on both sides.”

In 1812 Louisiana’s Battalion of Free Men of Color was unique in the United States, as the only Black volunteer militia with its own line officers. In fact, Andrew Jackson welcomed the free Negro troops who fought heroically at the Battle of New Orleans, and the Louisiana State Legislature praised their patriotism and bravery. So when Pickles started his effort to build a battlefield five years ago to host the Bicentennial, he wanted to emphasize their efforts, along with honoring the soldiers of both sides.

“In January 2015, we will assemble on our new Living History Park more people in War of 1812-era uniforms than at any time since January 1815,” explained Pickles, a military historian as well as the founder and President of LLHF. “Re-enactors are coming from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and across the United States to put on this event to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.”

As noted, the re-enactment of the five principal Battles of the New Orleans 1815 campaign will take place on this purpose built field a mile from Chalmette Battlefield.

“Most people don’t realize it, but it literally takes an act of Congress to have re-enactment on a Federal Battlefield,” Pickles continued. “So, thanks to the generosity of the Joseph & Arlene Meraux Charitable Foundation, the Honorary Consul of Great Britain Mr. James Coleman, and Mr. Terry Tedesco, we have broken ground on a new living history park—upon which this massive, three day Battle Re-Enactment will be held in the first weekend of January for the Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans.”

This 20-acre a plot of land at 8207 Patricia St., Chalmette adjacent to Torres Park (behind the Wal-Mart and bordered by Patricia Street, the Guerenger Canal and the St. Bernard Government Complex will host visitors throughout the year, spreading the story of the Battle of New Orleans and its key role in the history of the United States. In time for the bicentennial, it has been transformed from forest into a ‘living history park’ featuring an historically accurate, scaled reconstruction of the original Battlefield from the British lines to the American Lines.

The Meraux Foundation entered into a charitable lease with Pickles’ Louisiana Living History Foundation, which pays $1 per year for this 20 acre stretch of land which will not only host the yearly re-enactments of the Battle of New Orleans, but will also serve as a multi-purpose civic resource for the people of St. Bernard Parish.

“St. Bernard has a rich history, and we want to share it with the world,” said Rita Gue, President of the Meraux Foundation. “In addition to honoring history, we see this as an economic development engine. The battlegrounds will compliment our other tourism assets, create jobs, and attract tourist dollars to the Parish.”

“We are so grateful to the Meraux Foundation for donating this land to honor and preserve the history of St. Bernard and the United States. We cannot thank our honorary Chairman Jimmy Coleman, Mr. Terry Tedesco, and our many contributors for donating almost $100,000 to construct Line Jackson and the battlefield in time for our first night battle on January 9, and the next two days of re-enactments to follow on this site.”

Demo Diva’s Pink Bulldozers are putting the finishing touches on clearing the property. LLHF President Tim Pickles noted that in constructing the Battlefield, “We have worked with the Meraux Foundation to design a space that celebrates the past and serves the public for a variety of other uses connected with the history of the region, and its population, charity, historical, educational and cultural events will be our main focus.”

Thanks to the LLHF, Friday, January 9, 2015, 7 PM will see a Re-Enactment of the 1st Battle: The Night Battle of 23rd December 1814 followed on Saturday, January 10, 2015, by a Recreation of the 2nd Battle: The Reconnaissance in Force; December 28, 1814, a Recreation of the 3rd Battle: The Artillery Dual; January 1, 1815, and a Recreation of the 4th Battle: The British Victory on the West Bank, January 8, 1815. The three day event will conclude on Sunday, January 11, 2015, with the Fifth Battle: the actual Battle of New Orleans and Andrew Jackson’s great victory on 8th January 1815.

The weekend is open to the public without restriction to all who wish to attend. However, space will be limited, and on a first come/first served basis. To guarantee your place, the Louisiana Living History Foun­dation suggests obtaining an advance ticket. The recommended donation is $10 per person with Children under 12 admitted without needing a ticket. Obtain tickets at http://­bit.ly/1uHyz9C.

More at the Louisiana Living History Foundation Website, www.lalivinghistory.org or at www.facebook.com/lalivinghistory.

This article originally published in the December 29, 2014 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.