8 Jan 1815 – New Orleans, Louisiana
Alexander Ritchey was 23-years-old when he became a substitute for Benjamin Curry to serve in Captain John C. Dodd's Company of the 14th Regiment Kentucky Detache Militia in November 1814. A man who was drafted was allowed to hire a substitute. Ritchey and his regiment sailed down the Mississippi to New Orleans to reenforce General Andrew Jackson's army, which was waiting for the British to attack. I believe his unit was one of those Kentucky units that manned the center part of the American line of battle in the main battle of 8 Jan. 1815, as seen in the picture on this page. Below is an account of another Kentucky militiaman in the battle, probably very similar to Alexander Ritchey's experience: EyeWitnesstoHistory.com The Battle of New Orleans, 1815 The American mission seemed hopeless. As dawn broke on the morning of January 8, 1815 a ragtag group of Americans faced off against the world's mightiest military force a few miles south of New Orleans. America was in...
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8 April 1815 – New Orleans, Louisiana
He joined Captain John C. Dodd's company, 14th Regiment Kentucky Militia in Nov 1814. The Kentuckians traveled down the Mississippi River on flat boats to reinforce General Andrew Jackson's U.S. Army at New Orleans, which was preparing to repulse a British Invasion. The American line of battle was at Chalmette and most of the Kentuckians were stationed in the center of the main line east of the Mississippi River. They helped repulse the main British attack on 8 Jan 1815.
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