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Andrew Jackson first visited New Orleans on Dec. 1, 1814, and helped lay the cornerstone for the Place d'Armes some 26 years later. After his death, a monument was erected in the square in Jackson's honor, and the Place d'Armes was renamed Jackson Square.
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Courtesy of French Quarter Festivals Inc
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Hey Blake,
My
g-g-g-grandfather, Isaac Denson (1793-1875) and his brother Jesse (1797-1864)
both were in the War of 1812. Jesse was too young to fight, but it is said that
he was the personal secretary to Andrew Jackson. He thus was given the name
Jesse the Scribe. The story goes that when they renamed the square, Mr. Jackson
asked Jesse to come up to the podium and introduced him to the crowd as "My
Scribe, Jesse." There is the rub. This is a story that has been handed down
in the family, and I have not been able to prove it as a fact. I wonder if you
could help me.
Dillard Denson
Dear Dillard,
I'm
afraid you and your family are going to be very disappointed, and I'm sorry
that I have to be the bearer of bad tidings.
It is impossible that Andrew Jackson stood
up and introduced your ancestor at the renaming of the Place d'Armes because
the name was not officially changed to Jackson Square until Jan. 28, 1851, and
Andrew Jackson had died on June 8, 1845.
Jackson made several visits to New Orleans,
arriving for the first on Dec. 1, 1814. He was greeted by the governor, W.C.C.
Claiborne, Commodore Daniel T. Patterson, and Edward Livingston, chairman of
the New Orleans committee of public defense. Jackson was so impressed with Livingston
that he quickly became Jackson's secretary, translator, confidential adviser
and aide-de-camp.
Jackson settled in at 106 Royal St., and from
these headquarters plans were made to deal with the British. Just before Christmas,
he ordered all troops to rush downriver, away from New Orleans. And there, on
Jan. 8, 1915, Jackson soundly defeated the British as they proved to be no match
for Old Hickory and the Americans.
It was 10 days later that the British army
slipped away in the night, boarded their ships, and sailed away. On Jan. 21,
Jackson addressed his troops, praised them for their bravery, and marched them
back to New Orleans.
On his second visit to the city, grateful
citizens all turned out to hail their rescuers. On Jan. 23, there was a splendid
ceremony held in the Place d'Armes to honor the hero of the Battle of New Orleans,
who arrived amid shouts and artillery fire. There were expressions of gratitude
and a laurel wreath placed on his head. Jackson then crossed to the cathedral
where the abbe thanked the Almighty for sending such a "savior." All fell silent
to hear Jackson's response. "Reverend Sir, I receive with gratitude and pleasure
the symbolic crown which piety has prepared. I receive it in the name of the
brave men who have so effectually seconded my exertions for the preservation
of their country -- they well deserve the laurels which their country will bestow.
For myself, to have been instrumental in the deliverance of such a country is
the greatest blessing that heaven could confer."
His last visit was at the invitation of a
group of New Orleans citizens who were planning a celebration of the 25th anniversary
of the Battle of New Orleans. He had been president from 1829 to 1837, during
which time his nephew Andrew Jackson Donelson served as his private secretary.
Jackson arrived in New Orleans on Jan. 8,
1840. Flags were flying, cannons firing, and 30,000 spectators were waving and
shouting "Jackson! Jackson! Jackson!" Welcomed by the mayor, Jackson rode in
a procession to the Place d'Armes and the cathedral. He was supposed to go to
the battleground to lay the cornerstone for a monument, but Jackson, exhausted
and weak from illness, went instead to his hotel.
For the next several days, Jackson was entertained,
received visitors and went to the theater. Then, on Jan. 13, a procession took
him back to the Place d'Armes where he did finally participate in the laying
of the cornerstone. After this, he went directly to the river, boarded a steamer
and departed.
In 1851, it was finally decided that since
a monument to Jackson was to be erected in the square, the square should be
named after him as well.
