Answer:
New Orleans was one of the most important port cities in t he U.S. at the time. The city allowed access to the Mississippi River, an important route for both transportation (of both troops and civilians) and shipping. The Mississippi gave access to a large portion of North America and new Orleans was one of the greatest ports in the area.
The Battle of New Orleans was the final major battle of the War of 1812, fought between the British Empire and the newly formed United States. American troops, led by (future) President Andrew Jackson, defeated the much larger British force, which bolstered U.S. hopes for a speedy end to the war.