In late 1814 Andrew Jackson passed through Covington on his way to the Battle of New Orleans. Two hundred and nine years later, a new historical marker was unveiled at the foot of Columbia Street at the river to spotlight that event. Around 20 people took part in the program, which was hosted by the Covington Heritage Foundation.
Mark Dalrymple pulls the cover from the historical marker
as Jack Terry looks on.
A number of visitors and dignitaries posed with the sign after its unveiling
Video Recording of the Historical Presentation
Click on the "play triangle" above to view a video giving a detailed presentation on the research conducted tracing General Andrew Jackson's trek through Covington 209 years ago. Comments by Jack Terry, Mark Dalrymple, Ellen Agee, Mayor Mark Johnson and Mark Verret, city council member and president of the Covington Heritage Foundation.
The text of the marker read: "BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS- On November 29, 1814, Gen. Andrew Jackson came through Wharton (Covington) on his march from Mobile to New Orleans. His Topographical Engineer, Maj. H. Tatum, described Wharton as a new town situated at the head of navigation on the bank of the Bogue Falaya, containing but a few ordinary buildings. Jackson continued to Madisonville, where the next morning he boarded William Collin’s packet boat and crossed Lake Pontchartrain to take command of his troops in New Orleans."
Andrew Jackson visited Covington in 1814
Covington Mayor Mark Johnson spoke briefly during the historical marker presentation.
Music was provided by a drum and fife combo
Mayor Mark Johnson, Jack Terry, Ellen Agee and Mark Dalrymple
Mark Verret, president of the Covington Heritage Foundation, welcomed those present and thanked them for coming out to witness the event.
Since Jackson was to become the 7th president of the United States in 1829, his visit to Covington (at that time named Wharton) was pretty important. He also played a hand in getting Military Road built. Major Tatum described Wharton as "the seat of justice for the county in which it stands, and is situated at the head of navigation, on the bank of the creek."
The historical marker
See also:
Major Tatum's Whirlwind Tour Through St. Tammany
The video showing the historical marker unveiling has been posted to the information kiosk at the Covington Trailhead Visitors Center. It runs 18 minutes and thoroughly explains the research that went into the project.
