A sandbar lay dead ahead, guarding the mouth of Lake Borgne, and the lake’s shoals were known to pose a danger to all boats with more than the shallowest draft. The Americans, knowing the waters, escaped unscathed as the British watched, unable to stop them from ruining Cochrane’s surprise. Within a day or two, Andrew Jackson would know that his fears were confirmed and that a huge British invasion force was heading toward Lake Borgne.
