Louisiana Anthology Podcast: 81. Interview with O'Neil De Noux about Battle Kiss.

81. We talk to O’Neil De Noux again about his Battle of New Orleans historical novel, Battle Kiss. Since O’Neil is also an expert about the Battle of New Orleans, we talk to him about that event as well. In anticipation of the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812 and the bicentennial of The Battle of New Orleans in 2015, New Orleans writer O’Neil De Noux spent two years researching and writing an epic historical novel set during that titanic struggle. Battle Kiss is an intense, accurate depiction of the battle, of life in New Orleans in the days and nights preceding and following the monumental event. It is a saga of love and war, of battlefield heroes, of young men and young women in love – a tale of spies and privateers, ladies and rogues, patriots and traitors, sudden passion and sudden violence as the battle unfolds in stages until the cataclysm of January 8, 1815, when a rag-tag army of Creoles, free-men of color, pirates, American backwoodsmen, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Attakapas braves, fortified by a limited number of U.S. army regulars and marines and led by a general whose only experience was fighting insurgent Creeks, stands between New Orleans and a battle-hardened army of British soldiers, led by one of the Duke of Wellington’s finest field commanders and hero of the Peninsula War against Napoleon – Major General Sir Edward Pakenham.

This week in Louisiana history. Dec. 6 1889 Confederate President Jefferson Davis died in New Orleans
This week in New Orleans history. Nearly three years after New Orleans police broke into Our Lady of Good Counsel Church to handcuff and evict parishioners trying to save it from closure, the 117-year-old church is being reopened on December 7, 2011. The arcdiocese of New Orleans announced that the Center of Jesus the Lord, a community of charismatic Catholics, would move there from its home on North Rampart Street.
This week in Louisiana. Russ-Town Band
December 12th, 2014 Dixie Center for the Arts
212 North Vienna Street, Ruston, LA 71270
318-255-1450
Battle of New Orleans December 26, 1814. NO. XXV.   Copy of a letter from general Andrew Jackson to the secretary of war, dated
Camp near New Orleans, 26th Decmber, 1814.
       The enemy having, by the capture of our gun-boats, obtained command of the lakes, were enabled to effect a passage to the Mississippi at a point on the side of New Orleans, and about nine miles below it. The moment I received the intelligence, I hastened to attack him in his first position. It was brought on in the night and resulted very honourably to our arms. The heavy smoke, occasioned by an excessive fire, rendered it necessary that I should draw off my troops, after a severe conflict of upwards of an hour.
       The attack was made on the night of the 23d. Since then both armies have remained near the battle-ground, making preparations for something more decisive.
       The enemy's force exceeded ours by double, and their loss was proportionably greater. The moment I can spare the time, I will forward you a detailed account. In the meantime I expect something far more important will take place. I hope to be able to sustain tho honour of our arms and to secure the safety of this country.