In 1814 We Took A Little Trip

     In April, 1959 the popular song, The Battle of New Orleans¹ by Johnny Horton topped the charts.  I was in eighth grade at the time and loved singing this song.  Even today if this song comes on the radio I will start singing. (Assuming that I am in the car alone.)

In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.

[Chorus:]
We fired our guns and the British kept a'comin.
There wasn't nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin' on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

     Based on the War of 1812 records, James Legget was in Perkins' Battalion of the Mississippi Militia.  This battalion participated in the real Battle of New Orleans
     He was certainly part of the battalion at the time of the battle.
     Doesn't it make you wonder if he caught any alligators after the cannons melted down?


1. Driftwood, Jimmy, Battle Of New Orleans 1957