Pakenham was born into a prominent family of the Anglo-Irish aristocracy in 1778. He entered the military at a young age, rising quickly through the ranks due to the right combination of innate ability and aristocratic background. He was not yet 17 years old by the time he attained the rank of
major in the Ulster Light Dragoons.
Pakenham saw action throughout the wars of the French Revolution and was part of the expedition that captured the island of St. Lucia in 1803, during which he sustained a serious neck wound. During this period, the tall and handsome Pakenham established a reputation as a model gentleman soldier; respectful, mannered and highly esteemed by his fellow officers. Pakenham’s image was further enhanced when Arthur Wellesley, the soon-to-be Duke of Wellington, married his sister in 1806.
Pakenham served with distinction under his brother-in-law in the Peninsular Campaign against Napoleon from 1810 on. His successful leadership in battle had earned him the rank of major general within a year. Other victories followed, such as at the Battle of Salamanca in 1812 and the Battle of the Pyrenees in 1813. For his accomplishments in these engagements, Pakenham was knighted in Bath, England in late 1813.
When the news of Maj. Gen. Robert Ross’s death reached England in October of 1814, a replacement commander for the New Orleans campaign had to be found. Though he was opposed to the war with the United States, Pakenham accepted command of the British North American army and left almost immediately for Jamaica where he was to rendez-vous with more British forces before moving on to the Gulf Coast. Heavy winds delayed Pakenham’s crossing and he reached Jamaica only after Vice Adm. Alexander Cochrane had already departed for New Orleans to commence operations.
Pakenham finally made it to the British advance camp, 7 miles below New Orleans at the Villere Plantation, on December 25, 1814. He showed leadership and determination in bringing forward the large pieces of British artillery over difficult terrain, but the operation was plagued by a long, inefficient supply line, a lack of intelligence reports, and bitter weather.
Pakenham finally decided to mount a 2-pronged attack on the Americans positioned on both sides of the Mississippi River. But Pakenham failed to hold back his assault on Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson’s line until Col. ?? Thornton had taken the American guns on the West bank. It was a fatal mistake. In an attempt to rally his men who had begun to retreat, Pakenham rode close to the enemy line shouting encouragement. He was knocked from his horse by a cannonball, but quickly took his aide’s mount. As he started forward, he was struck twice by bullets; once in the chest, and again in the throat.
He was brought to the rear where he issued his final order which was to throw in the reserve forces under Maj. Gen. John Lambert. Within minutes, Pakenham died, his last words being, “Lost for the lack of courage.”
In memory of the fallen Pakenham, the British public raised funds to erect a life-sized statue in his honour. It stands today in the South Transept of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
| Copyright © 2010