| The first Louisiana was built in New Orleans, Louisiana,
in 1812 for merchant service on the Mississippi; purchased by the Navy in
September of that year; and placed in service immediately with the small
force defending New Orleans against British invasion. |
| Attached to the New Orleans station, unarmed and not fitted out
through the first 2 years of war, Louisiana was made Commodore Daniel
T. Patterson's flagship in August 1814, received her guns, and along with
schooner Carolina and a handful of gunboats, prepared to protect the
city from attack by sea. The heaviest and most powerfully armed ship in
Patterson's small flotilla, the sloop served as a floating battery, stationed
along the right bank of the Mississippi to cover any possible attack by land
or sea. |
| By 23 December, the British Army was landing its forces only 9
miles below New Orleans, and Commodore Patterson ordered Louisiana
and Carolina to sail downriver and attack, supporting General Jackson's
hastily assembled troops. Becalmed, the sloop was unable to sail, but the
next day joined Carolina and for the four following days pounded the
British on the flank, making their advance untenable and giving Jackson time
to dig in. On the night of 27 December, Carolina was hit by enemy
fire and blew up, leaving Louisiana the only naval vessel at New
Orleans. |
| The British moved forward on the 28th but Louisiana's heavy
battery forced them back. Though they retaliated with an incessant 7-hour
cannonade, the sloop was able to fire nearly 800 rounds at the enemy while
suffering only one man wounded. Dropping downriver 30 December,
Louisiana continued to punish the enemy with devastating flank fire.
Meanwhile, the sloop's inshore guns were brought ashore and placed in redoubts
to bombard the enemy. As the English continued to press the attack,
Louisiana supported General Jackson's soldiers with accurate fire
until by sunset, 8 January 1815, the British veterans were disastrously defeated
in the last attack, and the valuable port of New Orleans remained American.
General Jackson gave well earned tribute to the Navy's key role in this great
victory. |
| Louisiana was subsequently dismantled and laid up at New
Orleans, and in 1821 was broken up. |
Tonnage, 341; Length between perpendiculars, 99'6"; Beam, 28';
Draft, 14'; Armament, sixteen long 24-pdrs. |
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