Ron Chapman, author of Battle of New Orleans, The "But for a Piece of Wood", will be at Bay Books signing his book on Saturday, December 13th from 5:00-7:00.

Although it occurred near the end of the conflict, the Battle of New Orleans was a pivotal moment in the War of 1812 and in the history of the United States. Had the defenders of New Orleans, led by Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson, failed, the British would have been able to seize the territory recently acquired by the US in the Louisiana Purchase, including the lucrative port of New Orleans. This exacting account details the events of and leading up to the battle and the British military blunders, chief among them a failure to account for the strong current of the Mississippi River. If the British had tested the river’s flow with a simple piece of wood, all might have been lost for the fledgling American nation.

Author Ron Chapman brings the last dramatic weeks of the War of 1812 to life with clear and compelling descriptions of the battles, portraits of the major figures, the political climate of the time, and the consequences of failure. Numerous maps and appendixes provide insight for readers. From the disparate defenders of the Mississippi to the weaponry used in each army, Chapman examines each facet of the conflict.

Ron Chapman is a professor of history at Nunez Community College in Chalmette, Louisiana. He has written numerous articles for publications including Louisiana Life and New Orleans Magazine. His long-running weekly column for the St. Bernard (LA) Voice has received eight Louisiana Press Association Best Regular Column Awards. Chapman, the recipient of the Spirit of 1812 Award from the National Society United States Daughters of 1812, is a popular speaker on Louisiana history.