Jean Lafitte Battle of New Orleans & The Contraband

Mr. E’s Wednesday Jan. 28th Louisiana History Class Jean Lafitte Battle of New Orleans & The Contraband

Jan. 28, 1934 ~Court fights begin between N.O. between Mayor Wamsley and Sen. Huey Long. 77. Describe major conflicts in context of Louisiana history (e.g., Rebellion of 1768, the French and Indian War) (H-1D-M3)

CONSTRUCTIVE RESPONSE QUESTION Is the Lafitte legend true? Most treasure legends had two things in common- the burial at some remote spot usually a marsh chenier, and nearly always, the existence of an ‘apparition’ - an eerie light to lead the gold hunters astray, or a big rattlesnake with fangs bared, perhaps a cutlass-swinging skeleton, or some other ghostly creature whose assignment was to guard the pirates' money. • Are buried treasure tales true? • Where are most burials? • What is an ‘apparition’?

Jean Lafitte (ca. 1776 - ca. 1826) was a pirate/privateer in the early 19th century. He is believed to have been born in the French colony of Saint Dominque along with his brother Pierre and half brother Alexandre, commonly known by the alias of Dominique You. Fact # 1 Fact #1

He has been called"The Buccaneer," "The King of Barataria," "The Hero of New Orleans". At three separate times, U.S. presidents have condemned, exonerated and Fact # 2 again condemned his actions. He is known for his piracy in the Gulf of Mexico, and lauded for his heroism in the Battle of New Orleans. He hated being called "pirate," for, as he saw it, he was a "privateer“. Fact #2

His name was legend even in his day. He took an island-full of bloodied seafarers and turned them into an organization of buccaneers. Fact # 3 From the ships they plundered off the Caribbean Coast he and his "crew of a thousand men" kept a constant cargo of black-marketed and very necessary provisions (including Negro slaves, a very important "commodity" to the early South). Fact #3

He never attacked an American ship. A man without a country, he nevertheless respected the constitution of American ideals and hoped that what he called his "kingdom by the sea" might someday become American. Fact # 4 Fact #4

Lafitte's commerce of merchandise — of cloths and linens, spices and trinkets, furniture and utensils — sold at discount prices, avoiding high tariffs, to the grateful citizens of New Orleans. In short, Lafitte's Fact # 5 methods proved to be a survival factor for what was to become a major American city. Fact #5

And then came a new territorial governor who decided not to let alone a notorious pirate — become a part of the blossoming American texture. Harassment and imprisonment followed, even destruction of Lafitte's Valhalla. When Claiborne needed to keep New Orleans and the entire Mississippi River from enemy hands, Lafitte — despite the chastisement and the near ruination he faced from Americans — stepped forward to defend them. Fact # 6 Fact #6

Lafitte's presence started when he and brother Pierre opened a blacksmith shop. Fact # 7 (The smithy was merely a cover, which served as a depot where the brothers Lafitte took orders for goods recently "confiscated" from ships at sea.) Jean, was pleasant and fitting company. He was a well-read, well-dressed, very cultured gentleman for his young age, 24, he spoke four languages (English, French, Italian and Spanish) Fact #7

Under Lafitte were a fleet of fifty sailing vessels and an army of buccaneers who sailed the southern waters for plunder, bringing back riches and spoils of every kind to sell for a price. The ships they captured at sea, harvested boundless wealth — furniture, clothing, the latest silks, dinnerware, wines and cheeses, slaves, silver, gold, even medicines — destined for other places before being detoured. Fact #8

By 1817 the privateers of Jean Lafitte were capturing numerous Spanish slavers off the coast of Cuba. The pirate's slave pens, on Galveston Island were often swelled beyond capacity, with slaves selling at $1.00 per Fact # 9 pound. Their illicit slave trade was via Black Bayou on Lake Sabine or via the Calcasieu River to Charley’s Lake. Fact #9

Then Lafitte learned that he could multiply his profits by marketing slaves direct to the Louisiana planters. By 1817, he had built slave barracks on Contraband Bayou. Fact # 10 Probably the oldest legend along the Calcasieu River was of Charles Sallier, a minor French aristocrat. Months later, 1817, the Barataria Bay pirate anchored in Charley’s Lake where he was supplied with tons of fresh vegetables and beef. www.wtblock.com/wtblockjr/jean1.htm Fact #10

Upcoming Thursday(29):War of 1812 - Jackson Friday(30):Post War of 1812 Monday(2):Movie – The Buccaneers Tuesday (3):The Buccaneers Wednesday (4):The Buccaneers Thursday (5): Jeopardy Game Friday (6): Major test of Ch. 7-8 Monday (9): Antebellum Era

Jean Lafitte Battle of New Orleans & The Contraband