Battle of New Orleans

Journal Of Jeanne Bonnet Joseph

My name is Jeanne Bonnet I am the wife of Bazille Joseph. I decided it would be best to follow my husband to war because of August. We’d been praying for me to be with child for years. After all the failed attempts I had almost given up. Just months before the news of war came I gave birth. I decided then I would do anything for my family, even if it meant going to war. I knew traveling would be hard with a baby, but the want of my family to be together over powered all feelings.

December 16, 1814

December 18,1814

August has been sick for weeks now, and his condition is seemingly getting worst. The weather is freezing. Everyone is getting sick; I may be the only still in health. My servant has died leaving me to care for my son while cooking to feed both him and myself. So the camp life is all I have now. I must go now for August has woken. I can hear the cold built up in his chest. I pray for my family, for they are all I have left.

December 23, 1814

Today we packed up and headed to Chalmette. The walk was long and hard on my sore feet. I now own one pot and a single blanket to wrap August in. I had to lighten my load since I lost my servant just days earlier. Once we arrived to the plantation we began to set up for the night. Putting the tent together was harder than I thought it would be. Since tent building was never my expertise. I feel I'm becoming a stronger independent woman, learning to cook and put things together without the help of my servant.

January 8,1815

Today the War of 1812 is over, and it was all in our favor. We have won. I’m so proud to call America my home. We defeated the power house Britain. We’ll celebrate today with roasted chickens and steamed rice. All of the women are gathering to prepare the feast. We lost men, but in a good name. They died and fought for what they believed in. I’m taking my family home.

Work cited

• Corral, Patricia. Personal Communication. May 19 2011

• Gehman, Mary. The Free People Of Color Of New Orleans. Donaldsonville; Margaret Media Inc. 2009. Print.

• Remini, Robert. The Battle Of New Orleans. New York; Penguin Books 1994. Print.

• Joseph, Jamie. Personal Experience, Battle of New Orleans Anniversary. January 8, 2011