Kendall - on the contrary British forces in the Peninsular War had executed three successful escalades (assault by scaling ladders) just three years previously, Ciudad Rodrigo in January, Badajoz in April, and the Salamanca forts in June 1812. There are other examples in the Peninsular Wars, veterans of which formed Pakenham's forces at New Orleans. At the time escalade was a normal military tactic and the British Army was the most experienced in the world at it. It could easily have worked but for the unlucky clearing of the mist during the approach of the storming parties and the failure to bring up the ladders.