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Re-enactments open living history park

NEW ORLEANS — The public is invited for a sneak peak at the purpose-built battlefield where 1,500 historical re-enactors will assemble Jan. 9 to 11, 2015, to put on the largest re-enactment of the Battle of New Orleans in history, according to a Louisiana Living History Foundation news release.
“In January 2015, we will assemble on our new living history park more people in War of 1812-era uniforms than at any time since January 1815,” explained military historian Tim Pickles, the founder and president of the Louisiana Living History Foundation. “Re-enactors are coming from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and across the United States to put on this event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans.”
As noted, the re-enactment of the five principal Battles of the New Orleans 1815 campaign will take place on this purpose-built field a mile from Chalmette Battlefield.
“Most people don’t realize it, but it literally takes an act of Congress to have re-enactment on a Federal Battlefield,” Pickles continued. “So, thanks to the generosity of the Joseph and Arlene Meraux Charitable Foundation, the Honorary Consul of Great Britain Mr. James Coleman, and Mr. Terry Tedesco, we will break ground on a new living history park — upon which this massive, three-day battle re-enactment will be held in the first weekend of January for the Bicentennial of the Battle of New Orleans.”
The groundbreaking will formally inaugurate the new living history park featuring a historically accurate, scaled reconstruction of the original battlefield from the British formations to the American ‘Line Jackson.’
This 20-acre plot of land, located at 8207 Patricia St. in St. Bernard Parish and adjacent to Torres Park, will host visitors throughout the year, spreading the story of the Battle of New Orleans and its key role in the history of the United States, the news release said.
RE-ENACTMENTS SLATED
—Jan. 9, 2015, 7 p.m., first battle: The Night Battle of 23rd December 1814.
—Jan. 10, 2015, throughout the day, second battle: The Reconnaissance in Force, Dec. 28, 1814; third battle: The Artillery Dual, Jan. 1, 1815; and fourth battle: The British Victory on the West Bank, Jan. 8, 1815.
—Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015: fifth battle: The Battle of New Orleans, Andrew Jackson’s great victory on 8th January 1815.
For more information visit the Louisiana Living History Foundation website, www.lalivinghistory.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/laliving history.

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