Plauche's Battalion D'orleans of French Creole Volunteers & Napolean's Grand Army Veterans in the Battle of New Orleans

The Battalion d'Orleans or Plauché's Battalion was one of the most colorful units in the American army during the War of 1812. Besides their decorated uniforms, these French speaking volunteer soldiers brought a Joie des Vivre to the struggles of war.The Battalion became famous for its participation in the defeat of the British forces at the Battle of New Orleans. The Battalion was a continuation of units which had existed under the French and Spanish regimes and were reorganized after the Louisiana Purchase by the territorial act of January, 1805.Major Jean Baptiste Plauche led this unit made up of French natives and French Creoles.