ATTEMPTS TO SECURE AID FROM THE LAFITTES. war Sophie to Barataria Bay with a letter to Jean Lafitte, one of the three leaders of a band of pirates infesting that region. Barataria Bay lay about 60 miles south of New Orleans. Stretching across its entrance was Grand Terre, an island two miles long and a quarter of a mile wide. About a mile to the west of this lay Grand Island, and between the two was a pass about a mile in width affording an easy entrance from the gulf to the harbor of Barataria. Taking possession of Grand Terre, the pirates fortified the islands, built store houses and dwellings, laid out farms and orangeries, and sold the plunder which they smuggled up to New Orleans by various passages." It was to this place that Captain Nicholas Lockyer was sent in the Sophie. After firing at an inbound vessel and forcing her to run aground, Lockyer dropped anchor about six miles off shore. He then sent to Jean Lafitte a packet containing four documents: the first, a proclamation of Nicholls to the people of Louisiana and Kentucky; the second an address to the Baratarians threatening the destruction of the place if they did not join Great Britain in her war against the United States and put their armed ships under the command of Nicholls; the third, an offer to Jean Lafitte of the rank of captain in the British service and protection to his person *Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, p. 12 et seq. (The maps accompanying this chapter are based on those of Latour.) 65 and property; and the fourth, instructions from Percy to Lockyer to the effect that, if Lafitte cared to serve England, his ships should be made ready for an attack on Mobile.* After reading the letters, Lafitte gave assurance that he would accept the offer, but asked for two weeks to put his affairs in order. † Lockyer then agreed to return in fifteen days. After his departure, Lafitte gathered up his letters and sent them to an old friend in New Orleans, asking also whether to make overtures to the United States. What advice was given is unknown, but a few days later Lafitte wrote to Claiborne offering his services to defend Louisiana, in reward for which he asked that the proscription against him be stopped by an act of oblivion for all that he had done.‡ Claiborne was in a quandary, for Colonel George T. Ross and Master Commandant Daniel T. Patterson were then engaged in equipping an expedition to destroy Lafitte.|| On September 11, with three barges full of troops, Patterson dropped down the river, joined by six gunboats and a schooner, and on September 16 cap *Latour. War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 17-19 and App. iii.; Lossing, War of 1812, p. 1018; Frost, Life of Jackson, pp. 350-351; Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. i., pp. 584-585. Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 19-21 and App. iv.; Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. i., p. 587. James (Military Occurrences, vol. ii., p. 341) accuses Lafitte of playing a deep game " with the British officers. Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 21-22 and App. v.; McMaster, vol. iv., pp. 176178; Frost, Life of Jackson, pp. 351–352. Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. i., p. 589. 66 THE BRITISH ATTACK ON FORT BOWYER. tured Grand Island and Grand Terre, Percy and his ships had been sent to bombard Fort Bowyer, a battery established by General Wilkinson on a bare sand point, at the entrance to Mobile Bay. In the fort Jackson had placed 130 men of the 2d United States infantry under Major William Lawrence.‡ The armament of the fort consisted of 20 guns, of which 8 (2 24-pounders and 6 12-pounders) were serviceable. To reduce the fort, Percy took with him the Hermes, 22 guns, the Carron, 20 guns, and the Sophie and Childers, 18 guns each. The land force at Percy's command consisted of 60 marines and 120 Indians, with two light field-pieces.§ * McMaster, vol. iv., pp. 178-179. For a description of the fort, see Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, p. 30 et seq. Ibid, p. 34; Lossing, War of 1812, p. 1019; Frost, Life of Jackson, p. 273; Hamilton, Colonial Mobile, p. 378. Others say 160 men. Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. i., pp. 601-602. The ship and land forces are as given in Adams, United States, vol. viii., pp. 322-323. Adams follows the British account (probably James, Military Occurrences, vol. ii., p. 343 et seq.). Lossing (War of 1812, p. 1020) substitutes the Anaconda for the Childers and says the land force consisted of 130 marines and 600 Indians. On September 12 the marines and the Indians were landed on the beach in the rear of the fort and were stationed behind the sand hills.* On the 15th the Sophie came to anchor within range of the fort, while the Carron and Childers anchored so far out that their carronades were useless. The officers of the fort solemnly bound themselves not to surrender until the ramparts had been battered down and the garrison almost destroyed.† For an hour the firing from the ships, the fort, and the battery behind the sand hills was incessant. Then the superior American gunnery began to tell. The cable of the Hermes was cut and she was swept slowly down stream by the current. As she went, the Americans raked her from stem to stern. She finally grounded and Percy, fleeing with his wounded to the other ships, set her afire.‡ The Sophie now withdrew from the zone of fire and, followed by the Carron and the Childers, returned to Pensacola, while the See also Armstrong, Notices of the War of 1812, vol. ii. pp. 157-158. A. P. Hayne, Inspector General of the seventh military district, places the force at 100 marines and 300 Indians.American State Papers, Indian Affairs, vol. i., p. 860. Latour (p. 39) gives to the Hermes and Carron 28 32-pounders each, 18 to the Sophie and 16 to the Anaconda (which he sustitutes for the Childers). Though the map (based on Latour's) discloses some discrepancies in the text, it shows the position of the fort and the plan of attack, which are of utmost importance. Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, p. 36; Lossing, War of 1812, pp. 1020-1021. Hamilton, Colonial Mobile, p. 379. See also the report in American State Papers, Indian Affairs, vol. i., pp. 860-861. 68 CAPTURE OF PENSACOLA BY JACKSON. he acquainted Monroe with his intention, who, on October 21, forbade the step. He reiterated the warning that the British forces undoubtedly would be directed against Louisiana, but he did not order Jackson to New Orleans, nor did he inform him that arms would be sent there. Meanwhile the Tennessee brigade under John Coffee had passed through the lower country and on October 25 arrived at Mobile.* The force under Coffee was somewhat in excess of the number required, there being 2,800 men.† At Mobile Jackson had some Mississippi troops, a few Choctaw Indians, and four regiments of United States infantry. With the Tennesseans, he thus had more than 4,000 troops. ‡ Despite Monroe's letters, Jackson still paid no attention to New Orleans, but on November 3, with 4,100 men, started for Pensacola.|| Upon his arrival on the 6th, he sent a flag with a message to Manriquez, the Spanish governor, but as the flag advanced the fort opened fire and compelled it to return.§ Jackson thereupon encamped for the night, and discovering that the place was defended * Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. i., p. 617. Buell (History of Andrew Jackson, vol. i., p. 356) says that of these Coffee declined the services of 1,000 because they had families who needed their support. Lossing, War of 1812, p. 1022. Buell (His• tory of Andrew Jackson, vol. i., pp. 347-348) makes the total 3,000. Buell (History of Andrew Jackson, vol. i., p. 352) says 2,800 men. § Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 45-46; Frost, Life of Jackson, pp. 279-281. by British as well as Spanish soldiers, determined to storm it the next day. * On the 7th, deceiving the Spaniards as to the quarter from which he meant. to attack, Jackson divided his force into three columns, marched along the beach so as to avoid the fire of the fort and the shipping, and, approaching the town, ordered the middle column to charge. On entering the principal street a battery of two guns opened fire, but it was carried at the point of the bayonet, and soon the governor surrendered the town and fort unconditionally.‡ The British abandoned Fort Barrancas on the 6th and blew up the town after it capitulated.|| Jackson remained at Pensacola only two days and by the 11th was back at Mobile, where he remained until November 22, as though in doubt as to his next best course.§ Nothing indicated that Jackson felt anxious about the safety of New Orleans, although the British expedition was then at Jamaica. This indifference greatly alarmed the President and the Secretary of War, and on December 7 and 10 Monroe wrote two letters to Jackson urging him to Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. i., p. 619. Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 47-48. Lossing, War of 1812, pp. 1022-1023; Buell, History of Andrew Jackson, vol. i., pp. 353-355; Armstrong, Notices of the War of 1812, vol. ii., pp. 159-161. Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 48-50; Frost, Life of Jackson, p. 282; Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. i., p. 622. § McMaster, vol. iv., p. 181; Adams, United States, vol. viii., pp. 328-330. JACKSON'S ARRIVAL AT NEW ORLEANS. 69 proceed with all haste to the defence of New Orleans. But Jackson merely dispatched separate bodies of troops to various parts of the country and proceeded by easy stages to New Orleans, where he arrived on December 2. If Jackson's conduct could be called negligent, that of the government and the people of Louisiana was shameful. Edward Livingston had no doubt of the genuineness of Lafitte's letters sent to Claiborne and took the lead in calling a meeting of citizens at the Coffee House to consider the danger threatening the city. A committee of safety was chosen, but nothing further was done." The governor then called a special session of the legislature, but that body neither voted money, raised troops nor adopted a plan of defence, so that when Jackson arrived on December 2 the city was utterly unprepared to defend itself. The magazines were empty; there was a deficiency of munitions of war, of clothing, and of the requisites of defence; there were no funds or credit, the banks paid no coin, all business was at a standstill, and all confidence was gone. Immediately on reaching New Orleans, therefore, Jackson called for gangs of slaves to erect * Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, p. 29. For the resolutions and proclamation of the meeting, see ibid, app. xiii.-xiv.; Frost, Life of Jackson, pp. 292–296. † Lossing, War of 1812, pp. 1023-1024. Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 52-54. fortifications in the marshes.* The Baratarians, on a pledge of pardon, offered Jackson their services, which were gladly accepted, to the effective defence of New Orleans. Besides, Jackson released and armed the convicts in the calaboose, and every person in the community received incessant and pressing intimations of what the indefatigable commander expected of him.t Immediately after his arrival, Jackson started to inspect Fort St. Philip on the river 60 miles below.|| He returned to New Orleans on December 11 and, believing that the British would approach by the river, ordered the erection of works to arrest their advance. He then rode out to Chef Menteur and Lake Pontchartrain on the north, which he thought the next probable point of attack.§ The banks of the Mississippi were fortified, a battery was erected at the Rigolets, or pass leading from Lake Borgne into Lake Pont * Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. ii., p. 31. ** † Brackenridge, History of the Late War, p. 290. In his general orders of January 21, 1815, Jackson said: "The brothers Lafitte have exhibited * courage and fidelity and the general promises that the government shall be duly ap prised of their conduct."-King, New Orleans, p. 207. On February 6, 1815, the President proclaimed their full pardon. Accounts of the services of the Baratarians in defending New Orleans will be found in the Southern Bivouac (August 1886); Magazine of American History (October, 1883); The Century (April, 1883); G. W. Cable, Creoles of Louisiana; Julius Chambers, The Mississippi River, pp. 245-248 (1910). King, New Orleans, pp. 219-220. Latour, War in West Florida and Louisiana, pp. 54-56; Frost, Life of Jackson, p. 305. § Parton, Life of Jackson, vol. ii., pp. 32-33. |