The ornate memorial tombstone of Maj. Samuel Spotts, who fired the first shot at the Battle of New Orleans, stands near the old plantation house at the Chalmette National Battlefield, Chalmette LA.
The monument reads as follows:
"IN MEMORY OF MAJOR SAMUEL SPOTTS USA
Who shot the first gun at the Battle of New Orleans January 8, 1815. Third Regiment Seventh Battery Artillery Corps.
Born November 30, 1788 in Philadelphia PA
Died July 11, 1833 in New Orleans, Louisiana"
When Samuel Spotts fired the first shot at the Battle of New Orleans, he was serving in the 4th US artillery as a regular Army 2nd Lieutenant. He was brevet-promoted to captain on the battlefield. Overall commander of the US Troops that day was Gen. Andrew Jackson.
Jackson apparently never forgot the men who served with him that day as the American forces routed the British at the battle of New Orleans.
In 1829, Spott's former commander, who was then President of the United States, nominated Spotts for a promotion to brevet major effective 8 Jan 1825. It's Source: "Journal of the Executive Proceedings of the Senate of the United States of America from March 4, 1829 to March 3, 1837, Inclusive, Vol. 4", a free e-book available in the Google Play store, (
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[page 15]
March 11, 1829
to the Senate of the United States:
I nominate to the Senate the persons following for the appointments respectively attached to their names:
Brevet promotions of officers on war brevets for gallant actions and meritorious conduct:
[list of names, ranks, and units of the officers who served with Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans]
Majors by brevet:
. . .
Samuel Spotts, Captain of the 4th Artillery, to be major by brevet, effective January 8, 1825, having on that day completed ten years faithful service in the grade of brevet captain in the Army.
ANDREW JACKSON
President of the United States.
. . .
On March 12, 1829 . . . The Senate proceeded by unanimous consent to consider the appointments to brevet promotions in the Army; and
ORDERED that they be referred to a select committee chaired by the vice president."
We found more on Maj. Spotts in another free e-book in the Google Play store, which was published in 1887, which gives more details about the continuing connection between Pres. Jackson and Maj. Spotts. From "A History of Henderson County, Kentucky: Comprising History Of The County And City, Precincts, Education, Churches, Secret Societies, Leading Enterprises, Sketches And Recollections, And Biographies Of The Living And Dead. Illustrated." By Edmund Lyne Starling: (
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"[page 405]
THE FOUNDER (of the city of Spottsville -- BMB)
Maj. Samuel Spotts was a soldier, and spent but little time on his possessions. He entered the Army in 1812 as Second Lieutenant, 14th artillery, and served up to 1829. Served with Gen. Jackson throughout the Seminole and Creek Indian wars, and was brevetted at New Orleans. In 1829 he was appointed by Gen. Jackson a Major, and during the year appointed Assessor of the Port of New Orleans. While in New Orleans, and during the summer of 1833, he died of cholera. During the years 1827 and 1828 he was stationed at Fortress Monroe, and while there obtained a furlough and came west to look at his lands. He spent several summers on Green River with his brother-in-law Robert Scott. Maj. Scott married Harriet, a daughter of Dr. Chetherall, USA, Charleston South Carolina. She died June 10, 1834, and was buried in the Henderson Cemetery."