800 EMANCIPATED SLAVES?

I was surprised to read that the repulsed British had removed “almost 800 enslaved persons” from New Orleans, after they were defeated by Andrew Jackson and his gumbo army of whites, blacks, (slave and free) Creek Indians on January 25, 1815. Of course, I already knew that Andrew Jackson had reneged in his promise, had lied that he was going to free the slaves who fought, and to give them the same benefits that would be given to the white Tennessee and Kentucky soldiers who fought , if the American side won. He did nothing, except return them to slavery . But Edward E. Baptist in THE HALF HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD (2016), states: “By 8 a.m. it was all over. Two thousand British soldiers lay as casualties on the Chalmette plain, of whom at least 300 were dead. The Americans lost a mere thirteen killed. Still, Jackson wisely refused his subordinates’ pleas for him to pursue the retreating British army, which still held 2,000 trained men in reserve. Instead, he let the enemy pack their bags. On January 25, the invaders departed, taking with them almost 800 enslaved people who had, in effect, emancipated themselves.” P.71 Baptist cites no source for his “emancipation” assertion. I had not previously read it. So, I looked for it online and found nothing like it! But, if it is nevertheless true, the emancipated slaves with the British, somewhat compensates for the 200 slaves who were killed after the unsuccessful revolt of 1811 starting at the “Deslondes” plantation. It was true that many of the slaves’ heads were placed atop pikes, along the 15 mile route to New Orleans on the German Coast, as gory trophies to white supremacy .