As 1815 progressed, so did a trend of desertion that had plagued Andrew Jackson’s troops for months. Tired of mindless drill and stifling military discipline, these men saw little point in their continued service and wished to return home. Crushing boredom, coupled with the December treaty officially ending hostilities and the January victory at the gates of the Crescent City, led many men to believe they no longer needed to stay on duty, and as many as several hundred of them left outright. Andrew Jackson pursued courts martial for many such men, allowing some to pay fees or for their offenses but leaving others imprisoned for long stretches and ordering the execution of six militiamen charged with desertion.
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Becoming Alabama:
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