 | CHAPTER II. Lafitte |  |
2. CHAPTER II.
“That a sentiment, having for its object the surrender of the city,
should be entertained by this body, was searcely credible; yet a few
days brought the certainty of it more fully to view, and showed that
they were already devising plans to insure the safety of themselves
and property.
“In reference to these plans, a special committee of the legislature
called to know of the commanding general what course he should pursue
in relation to the city, should he be driven from his entrenchments.”
Memoirs of the War.
HEAD-QUARTERS—CAPITULATION OF THE SENATE—THE GOVERNOR
AND HIS VISITOR.
In the Faubourg Marigny, and not far from the
canal of the same name, at the period of the war,
stood a large dwelling, constructed after that combination
of the Spanish, or Moresque and French
orders, peculiar to the edifices of this suburb of the
Louisianian capital.
It was two stories in height; massive, with thick
walls, stuccoed, originally white, but now browned
by the dust and smoke of many years. Heavy pilasters
adorned the front, extending from the pavement
to the cornice; the roof was covered with
red tiles, and nearly flat, surrounded by a brick battlement.
The street in which this edifice was situated,
fronted the river, and was principally composed
of similar structures, many of which approached
close to the trottoir, while others were separated
from the street by a paved parterre, filled
walk a few yards in length, to the dwelling. Two
or three, including the one we are describing,
were situated still farther from the street, in the
midst of a garden, with umbageous groves of
orange, lemon, fig, and olive trees.
To the house in question, led an avenue, bordered
by these trees, terminating upon the street, in a
heavy gate-way. The gate was of solid oak, and
placed between square pillars of brick, each surmounted
by an eagle, his wings extended, in the
act of rising from the column. The house, situated
about twenty yards from the gate, and fronting
the leveé and noble river beyond, upon whose bosom
rode many armed vessels, was square and very
large, surrounded by ancient trees, which even
at noon day defended it from the southern sun.
The spacious entrance of the mansion, with its
lofty folding leaves, or more properly gates, thrown
open, would freely admit the passage of a carriage.
It gave admittance from the front into a lofty hall,
paved, and without furniture, with doors leading
into large rooms on either side, and terminating in a
court in the rear, also paved, in the centre of which
spouted a fountain. The court was surrounded
with a colonnade or a sort of cloister, and was filled
with plots of flowers and huge vases of plants,
arranged with much taste by the proprietor in many
picturesque and fantastic forms.
About the hour of nine, on the evening with which
our story is connected, this dwelling presented a
scene of warlike animation. Sentinels were posted
in front; officers arm in arm, were promenading in
grave or lively discourse before the door—horses
richly caparisoned for war were held by slaves in
military livery on the street in front of the mansion,
where also a guard was posted in honor of the present
passing in and out with busy faces, and
hasty steps.
Horsemen, with brows laden with care or weighty
tidings, rode frequently up, and dismounting, threw
the bridles of their foaming horses to those in waiting,
and rapidly traversed the avenue to the house,
while others, hurriedly coming out, mounted and
spurred away at full speed.
A door leading into one of the large rooms from
the paved hall of the mansion, through which persons
were constantly passing, displayed within, rich
drapery, curtains, deep window recesses, alcoves
for ottomans and various articles of furniture indicating
the opulence of the citizen proprietor of the
dwelling. Swords, richly-mounted pistols, plumes,
belts, military gloves and caps were lying as they
were hastily thrown down, about the room, upon
ottomans, tables and chairs.
Near the centre of the apartment drawn a little
towards the fire place in which blazed a cheerful
fire, necessary even in this southern clime to dissipate
the damp and chill of the night, stood a large
square table, surmounted by a shade lamp and covered
with papers, charts, open letters, plans of fortifications,
mathematical instruments, a beaver military
hat without a plume, and an elegant small
sword with its belt attached, which a tall, gentlemanly
man, in the full dress of a military chief,
seated at the table, examining very intensely a
large map of Louisiana, had just unbuckled and
placed there.
The rays of the lamp falling obliquely upon his
high forehead, over which the hair slightly sprinkled
with gray, was arranged after the military fashion
of the period, cast into deep shadow his eyes and
the lower portion of his face.
Raising his head from the chart for an instant to
the table, his features in the bright glare of the lamp
which shone full upon them, then became plainly
visible.
The contour of his face, now pale and thin,
apparently from recent illness, was nearly oval.
His age might be about fifty. His forehead was
high and bold, with arched, and slightly projecting
brows, bent, where they met, into a slight habitual
frown, indicating a nervousness and irritability of
temperament, qualified however by the benevolent
expression about his mouth.
His eyes were dark blue, sparkling when their
possessor was animated, with a piercing lustre, and
when highly excited, they became almost fiercely
penetrating. His countenance was marked with
resolution, firmness and intelligence. His smile
was bland, his manners easy, and his address pleasing
if not winning, as he spoke to the officer opposite
to him. When erect, his height might be
above six feet, commanding and military. His
frame was rather slight, yet apparently muscular.
Although his physical conformation seemed to disqualify
him for the fatigues and arduous duties of
the camp, yet, the bronzed cheek, the deep angular
lines in his face, and the field-worn, and military
appearance of the officer, showed, that with the
hard details of a soldier's life he had long been familiar.
A gentleman in the dress of an American naval
captain, much younger than the soldier, with a brown
cheek, a frank air and manly features, leaned over
his shoulder with his eyes fixed upon the chart, and
occasionally making a remark, or replying to some
question put in a quick, searching tone by the military
chieftain.
In the opposite or back part of the room, walked
two gentlemen, both of much dignity of person and
in high command; the other was only distinguished
from a citizen by the military insignia of a
small sword, buff gloves, which he held in his hand,
and a military hat carried under his left arm. They
were engaged in low but animated conversation, one
of them often gesticulating with the energy of a
Frenchman, which his aquiline features, lofty retreating
forehead, foreign air and accent, betrayed him to
be. The citizen was graver, yet equally interested
in the subject of conversation. The tones of his
voice were firm, and there was a calm and quiet
dignity in his language and manner, more impressive
to an observer, than the gesticulative energy of
his companion.
In a recess of one of the windows, a group of
young officers stood engaged in low-toned, but animated
conversation; while two or three of a graver
age, promenaded the back part of the apartment
conversing closely in suppressed voices upon subjects,
which, from their manner, were of the deepest
import.
Suddenly, a heavy, ringing tread was heard in the
hall, and an officer of dragoons hastily entered, and
without noticing the addresses,—
“Ha! colonel! good evening.”
“What news, colonel?”
“Hot haste, ha! you Mississippians do nothing
by halves!” from several of the young officers who
crowded round him, he approached the table where
the general officer was seated and communicated
some information to him, which, from its instantaneous
effect, must have been of the most surprising
nature.
Starting from his chair, with his brow contracted,
his eye flashing, and his cheek reddened with emotion,
he exclaimed in a stern voice which rung
through the apartment,
“Capitulate! capitulate! the legislature capitulate!
By the G—d of Heaven we will see to that!
—Where learned you this daming treachery of our
disaffected senate, colonel?” he inquired, addressing
the officer, while his eye burned with rage.
“But now, Sir; as I passed the Capitol, I
heard it whispered among the crowd assembled
before the doors. Dismounting, I ascended to the
outer gallery and found the house closed—yet—”
“A secret conspiracy!” said the general, pacing
the room in excitement—” go on!”
“As I was about to descend, a member, M. Bufort,
came out and told me they were at the moment
agitating the subject of capitulation to the enemy,
and making at once a proffer to surrender the city
into their hands—”
“The false, cowardly traitors!” exclaimed the
commanding general incensed, and in a loud angry
voice—“By heaven, they shall be blown up with
their crazy old capitol to the skies. Governor,” he
said with readily assumed courtesy, turning to the
gentleman in the blue dress of a citizen, “my immediate
pressing duties will not allow me to go
in person and wait on these traitors. To your excellency
I entrust the office. Take a sufficient
force with you—closely watch their motions, and
the moment a project of offering a capitulation to
the enemy shall be fully disclosed—place a guard
at the door and confine them to their chamber. If
they will not take the field, they had better be
blown up to the third heavens, than remain there to
plot treason against the state.”
The governor accompanied by two or three of
the young officers, immediately left the apartment
to execute the command.
“My object in taking this step commodore,”
said the general, quietly resuming his examination
of the chart as the governor left the room, addressing
proceed to their business without injury to the state;
now, whatever schemes they entertain will remain
within themselves without the power of circulating
to the prejudice of any other interest than their
own. Like the serpent in the fable—if they will
bite, they must fix their fangs in their own coils.”
The gentlemen who remained in the room, were
gathered in a group near the door, conversing upon
the conduct of the senate—and the general, having
laid aside the chart, was engaged in affixing his
signature to some papers lying before him, when a
special committee from the legislative body was announced.
“Admit them!” said the chief somewhat sternly.
Three gentlemen in the plain habiliments of citizens
entered with some embarrassment; originated
perhaps, by the nature of their business.
“Well, gentlemen! “said the general officer
quickly, his brow clouding as he rose to receive
them.
One of the legislative committee advanced a step
before the other gentlemen of the deputation and
said with some degree of hesitation,
“We are sent, sir, officially from the legislative
assembly of this state, being ourselves members of
that body, to ask of you—as commander in chief of
the army, and to whom is entrusted the defence of
our city—what course you have decided to pursue,
should necessity drive you from your position.”
“If,” replied the general, his eye kindling and
his lip writhing with contempt, looking fixedly
upon each individual of the deputation, as if he
sought to make him feel his look—“if I thought the
hair of my head could divine what I should do, I
would cut it off. Go back with this answer! Say to
your honourable body, that if disaster does overtake
the city, they may expect to have a very warm
session! You have my answer,” he added, resuming
his occupation at the table, as he observed the
committee made no movement to take leave.
“Let me suggest o your hononrable body, however,”
he resumed ironically, raising his eyes as the
deputation were leaving the room—“that it would
better comport with the spirit of these stirring times,
while the roar of artillery is pealing in their ears,
if they should abandon their civil duties for the
sterner and more useful labours of the field.”
“And what,” inquired the naval officer in a low
voice, as the deputation left the department, “and
what do you design to do general, provided you are
forced to retreat?”
“Fall back on the city—fire it—and fight the
enemy amidst the surrounding flame! There are
with me gentlemen of wealth, owners of property,
who in such an event, will be amongst the foremost
to apply the torch to their own dwellings.
The senate fears this—and it is to save their personal
property from the flames, that the members
are willing to surrender the city to the enemy,” he
added indignantly. “And what they leave undone,”
he continued with animation, rising from his chair
and vehemently gesticulating with his hands, “I
shall complete. Nothing for the maintenance of
the enemy, shall be left in the rear. If necessary, I
will destroy New Orleans to her foundations, occupy
a position above on the river, cut off all supplies,
and in this way compel the enemy to depart
from the country.”
As he spoke, a messenger entered and handed
him a sealed paper. Hastily breaking it open, he
glanced over it with a quick eye.
“To horse, young gentlemen,” he said in a sharp
tone, addressing the group of officers, rising and
lay on a chair beside him, he wrapped it closely
about his tall form.
“Well, commodore,” he said addressing the naval
officer as he took up his cocked hat and gloves,
“you will co-operate, as we have determined, with
the land forces. Urgent business now calls me
away; I will communicate with you on my return.”
“General,” he said, addressing the French-looking
military officer, whom we have already introduced
to the notice of the reader, “I shall be honoured
with your attendance for an hour. The night
dew will not hurt veterans like you and I, although
it may derange, perhaps,” he said pleasantly, “the
mustachoes of the younger members of our staff.”
At this moment the governor returned, and after
briefly stating to him the situation of affairs in relation
to the legislature, the general said,
“I will return before eleven, your excellency. If
you will do the honors of my household until then,
we will take our leisure to look over this business
the traitorous senators have thrust upon our hands
—as if they were not already filled.”
Taking the arm of the Louisianian general, he
then left the room; and in a few seconds the sound
of his horses feet, moving rapidly down the street
from the gate, fell upon the ears of the governor,
who was now left alone in the apartment.
Approaching the table, as the last sound of the
receding horsemen faded from his ear, he cast his
eyes over the map recently occupying the attention
of the general; and after tracing thoughtfully
with a pencil, a line from the mouth of the
bayou Mezant on lake Borgne to the Mississippi,
speaking audibly, he said,—
“Here is the avenue Packenham seizes upon.
It will conduct him close to the city. Well, let
him come—he will be caught in the nets his own
of war! I must look to them. This lynx-eyed
general must be ably seconded. What noble Romans
are our senators!” he added, his thoughts reverting
to the commands of the general he had just
seen executed. “They would fain capitulate before
the enemy is in sight.”
He then, taking up a bundle of papers, seated
himself by the table, the light falling upon his clear,
intellectual forehead, and unfolding them, commenced
reading with great attention, occasionally adding
or striking out passages, and making brief notes in
the margin. At length, having been several times
interrupted by individuals desirous of seeing the
chief, he closed the door, and gave orders to the
sentinel to admit no one, unless on business with
himself, and again became absorbed in the occupation
from which his attention had been so frequently
called off.
While thus engaged, and about half an hour after
the departure of the general and his staff, the challenge
of the sentinel stationed before the front door,
was followed by a low reply, and the heavy tread of
a man in the hall.
The door opened, and the governor lifting his
eyes, beheld enter, a tall man in the dress of a seaman,
who deliberately turned the key in the door
and approached him.
The act, the manner and the appearance of the
bold intruder, surprised him, and starting from his
chair, he demanded who he was, and the nature of
his business.
The stranger stood for a moment surveying him
in silence, his full dark eye fixed penetratingly upon
his features.
“Sir,” repeated the governor, after recovering
from his surprise, “to what circumstance am I indebted
for the honour of this visit?”
The stranger, without replying, drew from his
breast a folded paper, and approaching, whilst the
governor placed his hand upon his sword, laid it,
without speaking, upon the table.
He hastily opened and run his eye over it, and
then glancing from the paper to the stranger, alternately
several times, before he spoke, he at last said
while his brow changed:
“What means this, sir? It is but the printed
proclamation for the head of that daring outlaw, Lafitte.
Know you ought of him?”
The intruder advanced a step, and calmly folding
his arms upon his breast and fixing his piercing eye
upon him, said quietly and firmly—
“He stands before you!”
“Ha!” exclaimed the governor, starting back;
and seizing a pistol which lay near him, had just
elevated his voice to alarm the guard, as he levelled
the weapon, when Lafitte springing forward, grasped
it.
“Hold, sir! I mean you no harm! It is for
your good I am here. If I desire revenge, I would
not seek it beneath this roof, and thus place myself
in your power. Put up that weapon, your excellency,
and listen to me,” he added respectfully.
“nay, if you have business with me communicate
it, and let there be this distance between us.”
“As you desire, sir,” replied the Barritarian.
“Be seated, your excellency. I have received communications,”
continued the outlaw, as the governor
somewhat assured, took a chair and motioned him
to another, “from the British commander, that I
would confide to you. I feel they are of importance
to our common country, which, although outlawed,
I love.”
“You are a strange man, captain Lafitte—to enter
a city where thousands know you, with a reward
hanging over your head; and then voluntarily
laws you have violated; and on the pretence too, that
you can serve the state, which you have passed your
life in injuring! How am I to understand you, sir?
Shall I admire your intrepidity, or pity your duplicity?”
“Different language becomes our interview, monsieur
governor. At no small risk and trouble have
I undertaken this expedition. Fearlessly have I
placed myself in your excellency's power, trusting
that your sense of justice, would appreciate my confidence.”
“I do appreciate it, sir,” replied the governor,
after a moment's deliberative silence; “and whatever,
so that you do not forget yourself, may be the
issue of this interview, which I warn you must be
brief, for the general and his staff will soon return,
I pledge you my word as a gentleman and governor
of this state, that you shall go as free and as secret
as you came. I respect your confidence, and will
listen to what you have to communicate in reference
to the public welfare.”
Lafitte then briefly related his interview with the
British officer, stated and enlarged upon the overtures
so tempting to a band of proscribed men, who,
weary of their precarious existence, might be desirous
of embracing so favourable an opportunity of
recovering an honourable attitude among men, by
ranging themselves under the banners of a nation
so powerful as the English. After stating his reception
of the officers, and his expedient to obtain
delay to communicate with his excellency, he continued,
“Although a reward is suspended over my head
—although I have been hunted down like a wild
beast by my fellow citizens—although proscribed
by the country of my adoption—I will never let
pass an opportunity of serving her cause to the
atonement for the violence done to your laws
through my instrumentality. I desire to show you
how much I love my country—how dear she is to
me! Of this my presence here, and these papers
which I bear, are convincing proofs. A British officer
of high rank, whose name you will find appended
to the papers I lay before you, has made me
propositions to which few men would turn a deaf
ear. Two of them are directed to me. One is a
proclamation to the citizens of this state, and the
fourth, admiral Percy's instructions to that officer
in relation to his overtures to myself.”
| CHAPTER II. Lafitte | |