The British force, under Major General Keane, made good progress. Arriving at the mouth of Lake Borgne on 10 December, they met and captured the American gunboat flotilla on that lake four days later. After that, they conducted an undetected reconnaissance to within six miles of New Orleans.

News of the gunboat's capture caused consternation. Jackson placed the city under martial law and concentrated his scattered troop detachments nearby. General Coffee with his mounted riflemen arrived on 19 December, and Tennessee and Mississippi volunteers, under General Carroll, arrived a few days later. In and around the city itself Jackson had two regular regiments, the 7th and 44th; a thousand state militia; a battalion of three hundred city volunteers; a rifle company of about sixty; a battalion of free blacks, mostly refugees from Santo Domingo; and twenty-eight Choctaw Indians.

The painting shows the Choctaws and a mixed group of Major Daquin's Battalion of Free Men of Colour. The latter were mostly attired in civilian clothes because they had been organized only for a few weeks. They are led by an officer distinguishable by his sword and red sash. Facing them are members of the British 85th Regiment in red coats with yellow facings and white lace, and members of the British 95th Regiment in green uniforms with black facings and white lace.

Attacking behind a fiery barrage, the 369th Infantry assaulted successive German trenchlines and captured the town of Ripont. Against determined resistance, the 369th advanced up the heights north of the Dormoise River and spearheaded the attack toward the town of Sechault.

On 29 September, the Regiment stormed powerful enemy positions, took, after heavy fighting, the town of Sechault, captured prisoners, and brought back six cannons and a great number of machine guns. Despite heavy casualties, the 369th, called "Hell Fighters" by the French and Germans, relentlessly continued the attack at dawn.

The citation for the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star was published in War Department General Orders 11, 1924, and reads as follows:

369th Infantry

Under the command of Colonel Hayward, who although wounded, insisted on leading his regiment into combat; of Lieutenant Colonel Pickering, admirably cool and courageous; of Captain Cobb (killed); of Major Spencer (severely wounded); and of Major Little, a real leader of men, the 369th Regiment of American Infantry, under fire for the first time, captured some powerful and energetically defended enemy positions, took the village of Sechault by main force, and brought back six cannon, many machine guns, and a number of prisoners.

The painting, titled "Charge of the First and Tenth Regular Cavalry," depicts the heroic charge by these cavalry units during the Spanish-American War in 1898. Led by both black and white soldiers, these units were instrumental in the battle for Cuba. The charge was famously supported by Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders and became one of the iconic moments of the war.

This artwork by Howard Chandler Christy captures the intense action and camaraderie of the troops during the charge. The first and tenth cavalry units, consisting of African American soldiers, played a crucial role in advancing U.S. forces and securing key positions. Their bravery is immortalized in this painting, which remains a testament to their legacy.

This high-resolution image (249KB) offers a detailed look at the scene, with vibrant depictions of the soldiers and the battlefield.