Famous Privateersmen and Adventurers of the Sea Part 49

Lafitte smiled.

"I would be delighted to do so," he replied. "But, pray come ash.o.r.e and there I will return you your answer after I have seen the great Captain, who is camping about a league inland."

The Britishers readily a.s.sented, and both rowed towards the sandy beach, where a great number of pirates of Barrataria had collected.

As soon as the boats were in shallow water, Lafitte made himself known to the English, saying:

"Do not let my men know upon what business you come, for it will go ill with you. My followers know that war is now on between Great Britain and the United States, and, if they hear you are making overtures with me, they will wish to hang you."

It was as he had said. When the Englishmen landed, a great cry went up amongst the privateers, pirates and smugglers:

"Hang the spies! Kill the dirty dogs! To the yard-arm with the rascally Englishmen! Send the hounds to New Orleans and to jail!"

But Lafitte dissuaded the mult.i.tude from their intent and led the officers in safety to his dwelling, where he opened the package, finding a proclamation addressed to the inhabitants of Louisiana, by Col. Edward Nichalls--British commander of the land forces in this state--requesting them to come under the sheltering arm of the British Government. There were also two letters to himself, asking him to join and fight with the English.

"If you will but battle with us," said Captain Lockyer--one of the British officers--"we will give you command of a forty-four gun frigate, and will make you a Post Captain. You will also receive thirty thousand dollars,--payable at Pensacola."

Lafitte looked dubiously at him.

"I will give answer in a few days," he replied, with courtesy.

"You are a Frenchman," continued the British Captain. "You are not in the service of the United States, nor likely to be. Come--man--give us a reply at once."

Captain Lafitte was obdurate, for--strange as it may seem--he wished to inform the officers of the State Government of this project of the English. So he withdrew to his own hut.

As he did this, the pirates seized the British officers, dragged them to a cabin, and thrust them inside. A guard was stationed at the door, while cries went up from every quarter:

"To New Orleans with the scoundrels! A yard-arm for the butchers! A rope's end for the scurvy tars!"

Lafitte was furious when he learned of this, and, after haranguing the crowd, had the Britishers released.

"If you treat men under a flag of truce as prisoners," he cried, "you break one of the first rules of warfare. You will get the same treatment if you, yourselves, are captured, and you will lose the opportunity of discovering what are the projects of the British upon Louisiana."

His men saw the good sense of these words of advice, and acted accordingly.

Early the next morning the officers were escorted to their pinnace with many apologies from Lafitte, who now wrote a letter to Captain Lockyer, which shows him to have been a man of considerable cultivation, and not a mere "rough and tumble" pirate--without education or refinement. He said:

"BARRATARIA, 4th Sept., 1814.

"TO CAPTAIN LOCKYER,

"SIR:--The confusion which prevailed in our camp yesterday and this morning, and of which you have a complete knowledge, has prevented me from answering in a precise manner to the object of your mission; nor even at this moment can I give you all the satisfaction that you desire. However, if you could grant me a fortnight, I would be entirely at your disposal at the end of that time.

"This delay is indispensable to enable me to put my affairs in order. You may communicate with me by sending a boat to the Eastern point of the pa.s.s, where I will be found. You have inspired me with more confidence than the Admiral--your superior officer--could have done, himself. With you alone I wish to deal, and from you, also, I will claim in due time, the reward of the services which I may render you.

"Your very respectful servant,

"J. LAFITTE."

His object in writing this letter--you see--was, by appearing to accede to the proposals, to give time to communicate the affair to the officers of the State Government of Louisiana and to receive from them instructions how to act, under circ.u.mstances so critical and important to his own country: that is, the country of his adoption.

He, therefore, addressed the following epistle to the Governor of Louisiana. Do you think that you, yourself, could write as well as did this pirate?

"BARRATARIA, Sept. 4th, 1814.

"TO GOVERNOR CLAIBORNE:

"SIR:--In the firm persuasion that the choice made of you to fill the office of first magistrate of this State, was dictated by the esteem of your fellow citizens, and was conferred on merit, I confidently address you on an affair on which may depend the safety of this country.

"I offer to you to restore to this State several citizens, who perhaps, in your eyes, have lost that sacred t.i.tle. I offer you them, however, such as you could wish to find them, ready to exert their utmost efforts in the defence of the country.

"This point of Louisiana, which I occupy, is of great importance in the present crisis. I tender my services to defend it; and the only reward I ask is that a stop be put to the proscription against me and my adherents, by an act of oblivion, for all that has been done heretofore.

"I am the stray sheep wishing to return to the fold.

"If you are thoroughly acquainted with the nature of my offences, I should appear to you much less guilty, and still worthy to discharge the duties of a good citizen.

I have never sailed under any flag but the republic of Carthagena, and my vessels were perfectly regular in that respect.

"If I could have brought my lawful prizes into the ports of this State, I should not have employed illicit means that have caused me to be proscribed (hounded by the State authorities).

"I decline to say more upon this subject until I have your Excellency's answer, which I am persuaded can be dictated only by wisdom. Should your answer not be favorable to my ardent desire, I declare to you that I will instantly leave the country, to avoid the imputation of having cooperated towards an invasion on this point, which cannot fail to take place, and to rest secure in the acquittal of my conscience.

"I have the honor to be,

"Your Excellency's Most Humble Servant,

"J. LAFITTE."

Now how is that for a swashbuckling privateer? Anyone would be proud of such a letter and it does honor to the judgment of this sand-spit king, giving clear evidence of a strange but sincere attachment to the American cause. Hurrah for the Frenchman!

This missive, in fact, made such an impression upon the Governor that he had an interview with Lafitte, who was ushered into his presence only to find General Andrew Jackson (Old Hickory) closeted with the chief executive.

"My dear sir," said the effusive Governor. "Your praiseworthy wishes shall be laid before the council of the State, and I will confer with my august friend, here present, upon this important affair, and send you an answer."

Bowing low, the courteous privateersman withdrew.

"Farewell," cried Old Hickory after his retreating form. "When we meet again I trust that it will be in the ranks of the American Army."

And in two days' time appeared the following proclamation:

"The Governor of Louisiana, informed that many individuals implicated in the offences. .h.i.therto committed against the United States at Barrataria, express a willingness at the present crisis to enroll themselves and march against the enemy.

"He does hereby invite them to join the standard of the United States, and is authorized to say, should their conduct in the field meet the approbation of the Major General, that that officer will unite with the Governor in a request to the President of the United States, to extend to each and every individual, so marching and acting, a free and full pardon."

When Lafitte saw these words, he fairly yelled with delight, and it is said that he jumped into the air, cracking his heels three times together before he struck the ground.

The orders were circulated among his followers and most of them readily embraced the pardon which they held out. Thus--in a few days--many brave men and skillful artillerists flocked to the red-white-and-blue standard of the United States. And when--a few months afterwards--Old Hickory and his men were crouched behind a line of cotton bales, awaiting the attack of a British army (heroes, in fact, of Sargossa), there, upon the left flank, was the sand-spit King and his evil crew. Lafitte's eyes were sparkling like an electric bulb, and the language of his followers does not bear repet.i.tion.