I do love this blog...

If memory serves, Jambo's current "List of Five" (most nationally "defining" battles in American history) contains:

1. Trenton, 1776
2. Princeton, 1777
3. Fort McHenry, 1814
4. Vicksburg, 1863
5. Gettysburg, 1863

While I agree that these are ALL pivotal moments in American history, if I had to make a critique of this list, it would be with #2 and #3.

Without the small but vital victory at Trenton on Christmas Day, 1776, the colonial insurection that we have come to call the Revolutionary War (I prefer the War of Independence, myself... far more accurate) would not have survived the winter of '76-'77. However, the Battle of Princeton (fought only days later on Jan. 3, 1777) could NOT have been won without Trenton, but didn't HAVE to be won to continue the "glorious cause" into the New Year.

The very emotional and stirring defense of Baltimore is also pivotal to the America we know and love today... but Fort McHenry was only one part of a larger "Chesapeake Campaign" that the British lost in every sense of the word. The death of General Robert Ross forced the British to abandon their invasion at North Point and, along with the successful defense of Baltimore Harbor, ultimately end the entire campaign.

Were I to place battles in place of Jambo's #2 and #3... I would have to pick the Battle of Cowpens, 1781, and the Siege at Yorktown, 1781. In these two battles, the American forces finally, after 8 long years, managed to bring the mightiest Empire on the face of the earth to the bargaining table by destroying (Cowpens) or forcing the surrender of (Yorktown) two major British armies on the continent, totalling more than 9,000 veteran British Regulars.

*NOTE* I know that at Yorktown there were about 10k French troops... but we WON at Yorktown because we over-ran the defense on the point that Cornwallis had taken shelter on, and when I say WE, I mean Americans... not Frenchies. Had we NOT taken those defenses, the battle was not decided.

Now, while I agree with Baddboy's assessment of the Battle of New Orleans, I still don't think it makes the list.

Yes, had the battle gone the other way, the British may very well have re-thought their treaty positions. BUT, even losing the battle and recalling the siege because it was too risky and too expensive, Lambert took the 10k men he had left and immediately attacked, raised and occupied Biloxi, and had set in motion the invasion and attack of Mobile (virtually defensless itself) with plans on moving all the way to the Atlantic Coast via Florida... until he got the news of the Treaty and stopped all fighting.

My point is that Lambert had the men, material and khutspah to march his 10,000 Redcoats all the way to the Georgia Coast... but didn't, because of the Treaty. In light of this, I'd have to say that the Battle at New Orleans, while vital to the America we know today and one of our most formative battles in terms of region and culture, is NOT a Top Five battle.