Book Discussion

Author: Brian Kilmeade & Jon Yaeger

Facilitated by: Billy David

An account of the War of 1812’s Battle of New Orleans that gives you a new understanding of one of America’s greatest generals and a renewed appreciation for the brave men who fought so that the United States could one day stretch “from sea to shining sea.”

When the British fought the young United States during the War of 1812, they knew that taking the mouth of the Mississippi River was the key to crippling their former colony. Capturing the city of New Orleans and stopping trade up the river sounded like a simple task – New Orleans was far away from Washington, out of sight and out of mind for the politicians.

What the British didn’t count on was the power of General Andrew Jackson. A formidable military leader with a grudge against the British and a heart for the common man, he rallied the divided inhabitants of New Orleans, bringing together Frenchmen, Native Americans, freed slaves, pirates, and Kentucky woodsmen to fight so that America could one day stretch “from sea to shining sea.”

About the Facilitator
Billy David was raised in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and graduated from Washington and Lee University. Following graduate school, he served in Vietnam as a Marine infantry officer. Bill spent his career in magazine publishing, including Town and Country, Sports Afield and Rolling Stone. He now resides in West Palm Beach, Florida.