Beschreibung:

JACKSON, Andrew, President . Autograph endorsement signed ("Andrew Jackson"), New Orleans, 4 March 1815. Four lines, signature and date written at the bottom of a document signed by Brigadier General John Coffee, "Camp Near Sandy Creek M.T. [Mississippi Territory]," 11 December 1814. 1 page, 4to, framed . JACKSON, COFFEE AND PREPARATIONS FOR THE DEFENCE OF NEW ORLEANS. A document connecting Jackson and one his most trusted subordinate commanders in the defense of New Orleans. It records Coffee's purchase, for his cavalry brigade, of "three hundred seventy nine bushels corn and two thousand seven hundred fodder...for the use of Genl. Coffees Brigade of...Mounted Gun men." That portion is in the hand of N.B. Rose, Brigade Quartermaster and is endorsed beneath by Brig. General Coffee. Three months later, after the spectacular victory, Jackson adds an endorsement approving the expenditure: "The quarter master general will pay the above account. Andrew Jackson Major Genl Comdg. 7th M. District." From spies, Jackson learned that a major British force was preparing to invade the Gulf coast; later it was confirmed that a flotilla of 60 vessels and 14,000 men were on their way. Jackson arrived in New Orleans on 1 December. Uncertain whether the British force would land at Mobile or New Orleans, he stationed the brigade commanded by Coffee (a friend and former business partner) at Baton Rouge. Marine approaches to New Orleans from the gulf were blocked and batteries established at strategic points. The city's militia were called out, two brigades of free blacks were mobilized, and the services of the Baratarian pirate Lafitte and his men accepted. On December 13 the British force was sighted just west of Lake Borgne; a small fleet of American gunboats was quickly overcome by the British. The city panicked. Jackson immediately summoned Coffee's brigade, telling Coffee "you must not sleep until you are within striking distance." Coffee force-marched his 850 Tennessee riflemen and arrived in the city on December 20, having covered 135 miles in three days (Hickey, War of 1812 , p.207). Coffee's men, who resolutely held Jackson's left flank, constituted one of the key components of the American force with which Jackson decisively defeated the British force on January 8, 1815.