by Charles Patton
Historian, Charles Patton, recounts how the plans the British had for our country were thwarted, when against overwhelming odds, Andrew Jackson and his rag-tag army outfoxed and soundly defeated general Pakenham's forces, with remarkably few American casualties. Jackson remembered how the braggadocios Admiral Cockburn, who set aflame the White House in 1812, had brandished his sword from horseback, yelling mockingly "Where's Jimmy?" referring to James Madison, threatening to parade him and his wife Dolley, in humiliation through the streets of London. So self-assured and cocky that they would easily conquer the American "rebels," some British officers had brought, on board their vessels, wives and sweethearts to witness their anticipated victory" Ironically, Jackson used an ancient Scottish trick, luring the enemy into a marsh, to the defeat of the predominantly-Highland regiment. Regimented British military tactics proved a dismal failure, with tremendous Brit losses, and death of General Pakenham himself. Word spread quickly of the remarkable victory Jackson and his men had accomplished. In cities across the U.S., joy was so great that even old enemies hugged enemies, and in the temporary White House, the Octagon House, President "Jimmy" at last could stop pacing and shaking in his boots.
