Jean Joseph Humbert, A French General in New Orleans, 1815

General Jean Humbert of France

One of the many fascinating people who aided the American cause at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814-1815 was a French general named Jean Joseph Amable Humbert (1767 - 1823). General Andrew Jackson had an assortment of exotic volunteers on his side from Choctaw Indians to Baratarian pirates. General Humbert, with a romantic past, fit right in with Jackson's motley crew.

General Humbert made his name fighting for Napoleon Bonaparte in Ireland. He made an ill-fated attempt to land at Bantry Bay in Ireland in 1796. Bad weather and a powerful British Royal Navy prevented his invasion. In the Irish uprising in 1798 (often called "The Year of the French" in Ireland), Humbert successfully landed and fought alongside Irish rebels against the British who then controlled Ireland.

General Humbert had a small force of 1,100 men, a few light cannon, muskets with bayonets, gun powder, and other supplies. As he marched, Irish locals joined his army eager to rebel against the oppressive British. He defeated a larger British force at the Battle of Castlebar in Ireland and declared Irish independence -- the Republic of Connacht.  He was defeated, however, at the Battle of Ballinamuck by a vastly larger British army and taken prisoner. The British commander at that battle was none-other-than Lord Charles Cornwallis, who had surrendered to George Washington at Yorktown in the American Revolutionary War.

Among the British forces fighting against Humbert and the Irish was an English officer who was born in Ireland, who was the brother-in-law of the Duke of Wellington. His name was Edward Pakenham.

As time passed, after Humbert was released in a prisoner exchange, war against the British continued. This time the battlefield was near New Orleans, Louisiana; and England's enemy was not France but the United States. After his distinguished service with Wellington in the Peninsular War against the French in Spain, Pakenham was chosen to lead a large British invasion force to capture New Orleans. This was to be the final and most decisive battle of the War of 1812.

The battle actually occurred after a peace treaty had been decided, but the combatants did not know this. And although it was called The Battle of New Orleans, it actually occurred about four miles downriver from the city at the Chalmette Plantation on a cut sugarcane field between the Mississippi River levee and the cypress swamp -- with more fighting across the river on the West Bank.

General Humbert had traveled to the city because of its French connections. Possibly because of his friendship with Jean Lafitte, he decided to lend his hand to fight the British once again. General Andrew Jackson had Humbert serve with the American army on the West Bank across the river from Line Jackson.

Although he did not play a major part in the Battle of New Orleans, he was nevertheless in harm's way and served honorably, winning the thanks of General Andrew Jackson. Edward Pakenham, Humbert's English enemy from his days in Ireland and again at New Orleans, was killed on the Chalmette battlefield. Humbert died in 1823 and was buried in New Orleans in St. Louis Cemetery Number 1.

Adrian McGrath

For more information, see
 http://www.neworleansbar.org/uploads/files/He%20Fought%20Pakenham%20Twice_1-21.pdf
and  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Joseph_Amable_Humbert
Also see an Irish song book called "Blain na Bhfrancach: Songs of 1798 The Year of the French" by Duchas, 1982. The book has Irish songs of the period and brief historical information. It discusses Humbert and New Orleans.
The drawing of General Humbert above is from Wikimedia Commons and in public domain.

Sangria: New Orleans and Old Spain

My Homemade Sangria

New Orleans is often seen as a French city. It is certainly true that the city was founded by the French Canadian brothers Iberville and Bienville. It is also true that the original city was build by the French, and the city today still has French culture and customs. It is also true that New Orleans -- and all of the Louisiana Territory -- was sold to the USA by Napoleon Bonaparte. But for many years New Orleans was owned and controlled by Spain, from 1763 to 1803. And like France, Spain has left its influence on Old New Orleans.

There are many stories of Old New Orleans which deal with Spain -- such as the notorious administration of Governor "Bloody" O'Reilly and the military adventures of Bernado de Galvez. These would make for good stories for this history blog. But today, in honor of Old Spain, I will reveal my "secret recipe" for my own version of New Orleans Sangria. This is a superb drink to make on a hot and humid summer day in the Crescent City. 

My recipe is simple and light for a refreshing drink in summer. You will need a basic dry red wine. It can be an inexpensive table or jug wine since we will be adding many things to it. Then you need brown sugar, club soda or sparkling water, and fresh fruit like oranges, lemons, limes, and perhaps pineapple. You can also use orange juice, lemon juice, and pineapple juice, optionally. You will also need a large pitcher (clear glass or even plastic is good) and ice.

To prepare simply add the wine to the pitcher and add enough brown sugar to reach the taste you like. I like it just barely sweet, but not too much.  To get this, just slowly add sugar and taste and repeat until you reach your desired taste. Then slice the fruit and squeeze some of the juice into the pitcher. You can add the extra fruit juices of your choice at this point, optionally.Then add the remaining sliced fruit into the pitcher.  Mix to the proportions of your choice.

To serve, place ice and a splash of soda water into a tall clear glass, then add your Sangria. Stir and top your glass with some sliced fruit. And that is all.  Do other glasses the same way.

Some people like to add a shot of brandy or cognac to the Sangria, but I don't usually do that since I like the drink as a refreshment on a hot day. The brandy or cognac simply makes it too strong to drink as a refreshment in the New Orleans heat. But I suppose in the evening, this might be OK.

Sangria is a fine drink and reminds us of the wonderful things Old Spain added to New Orleans' history and culture.