Arrest of Dominic Hall and Louis Louaillier

Upon entering New Orleans in December 1814, Major General Andrew Jackson declared martial law to establish control of the city to defend it from British forces.

On March 3, 1815, Louisiana State Senator Louis Louaillier wrote an anonymous article in the Louisiana Courier criticizing Andrew Jackson's declaration of martial law and his refusal to release the militia after the British ceded the field of battle.

[1] Jackson did not relent his campaign of suppressing dissent until after ordering the arrests of Louaillier, Hall, and John Dick (a lawyer) and after intervention of State Judge Joshua Lewis.

Jackson then released Hall and escorted him beyond the city limits, outside the zone of martial law.

Just two days later, Jackson received official word of the Treaty of Ghent and immediately lifted martial law and released all prisoners.