Lafitte the pirate of the Gulf |
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| 4. | CHAPTER IV. |
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 | CHAPTER IV. Lafitte |  |
4. CHAPTER IV.
“Whilst preparations were making by Commodore Patterson for
an expedition against Barritaria, Governor Claiborne, received communications
from that point, which were deemed of importance to the
safety of the state. He therefore invited on the occasion the opinions
of the officers of the navy, army, and militia, to whom he communicated
the letters of the British officers, which he had received from the
Barritarian.”
Latour.
“Lafitte and his band rejected the overtures of the English with indignation.
These men saw no dishonour in enriching themselves by
plunder, but they had a horror of treason.”
Marboi's Louisiana.
INTERVIEW BETWEEN LAFITTE AND THE GOVERNOR—AN ADVENTURE
IN THE STREETS.
After having placed the papers in the governor's
hands, Lafitte turned away and walked to the window.
“Indeed,” exclaimed the governor, glancing over
the papers, preparatory to a more thorough examination,
as he read audibly the several signatures.
Then taking the letter of the British officer addressed
to Lafitte; he read it aloud, commenting upon
every few lines.
“I call upon you with your brave followers to
enter into the service of Great Britain in which you
shall have the rank of captain.”
“Indeed,” said the governor, looking up at Lafitte
with interest and surveying as his eye lingered over
it for a moment, his commanding figure. “Lands,”
he continued, “will be given to you, all in proportion
America.” (Ha, this is indeed counting the birds
rather prematurely) he soliloquized. “Your property
shall be guaranteed—your persons protected.”
“I herewith enclose you a copy of my proclamation
to the Louisianians, which will, I trust, point
out to you the honourable intentions of my government.”
“Humph! honourable! It is nevertheless a fine
round period.”
“You may be a useful assistant to me in forwarding
them: therefore, if you determine, lose no time.
We have a powerful reinforcement on its way here.
And I hope to cut out some other work for the
Americans than oppressing the inhabitants of Louisiana.”
“Humph! it is to be hoped so.—Well, this is a
most praiseworthy document,” said he, laying it
aside, and again glancing at the pirate, who stood
silently at the window, apparently gazing out upon
the stars; but his eye watched every expression of
the governor's features.
“Now, what says this scion of nobility, commander
of his majesty's fleet,” continued his excellency,
opening a second paper. “This is to Captain
Lockyer, and seems to be a letter of instructions:”
“Sir—You are hereby required and directed, after
having received on board an officer belonging to
the first battalion of royal colonial marines, to proceed
in his majesty's sloop under your command,
without a moment's loss of time, for Barritaria.
On your arrival at that place, you will communicate
with its chief, and urge him to throw himself upon
the protection of Great Britain; and should you
find the Barritarians inclined to pursue such a step,
you will hold out to them that their property shall
be secured to them and that they shall be considered
British subjects; and at the conclusion of the
to be won, worthy admiral,” said the
governor, in parenthesis,)—“will be allotted to
them. Should you succeed completely in the object
for which you are sent, you will concert measures
for the annoyance of the enemy as you judge
best, having an eye to the junction of their small
armed vessels with me, for a descent upon the
coast.”
“So much for the son of Lord Beverly,” said the
governor, in a tone of irony. “These papers are
growing in importance. What is this?”
“Proclamation, by Lieutenant-Colonel Edward
Nicholls, commanding his Britannic majesty's forces
in the Floridas.”
“This sounds well.”
“NATIVES OF LOUISIANA!
“On you the first call is made to assist in liberating
from a faithless, imbecile government.”—
(“Humph!”)—“your paternal soil!—Spaniards,
Frenchmen, Italians, and British!—whether settled,
or residing for a time in Louisiana, on you, also, I
call to aid me in this just cause. The American
usurpation in this country must be abolished, and
the lawful owners of the soil put in possession.
“I am at the head of a large body of Indians!”
(“Humph! British valour! British chivalry!”)—
“well armed, disciplined and commanded by British
officers. Be not alarmed, inhabitants of the
country, at our approach”—(“Jupiter tonens!”)
—“rest assured that these red men only burn
with an ardent desire of satisfaction for the wrongs
they have suffered from the Americans, to join
you in liberating these southern provinces from
their yoke, and drive them into those limits formerly
prescribed by my sovereign.”
“Bah! this has a tinge of the Eton fledgling!”
“The Indians have pledged themselves”—(“blessed
pledge! assuredly”)—“in the most solemn manner
not to injure in the slightest degree, the persons
or properties of any but enemies to their Spanish
or English fathers. A flag over any door, whether
Spanish, French, or British, will be a certain
protection, nor dare any Indian put his foot on the
threshold thereof, under penalty of death from his
own countrymen. Not even an enemy will an Indian
put to death, except resisting in arms.”
“Well, verily, the rhodomantine Captain must
have tamed his painted allies by some mode unknown
to us. He thinks to conquer by proclamation.
The gallant Lawrence should have taught him
better. So he concludes”—“accept of my offers;
every thing I have promised in this paper, I guarantee
you on the sacred honour of a British officer.”
“Given under my hand, at head-quarters.”
“These papers, Captain Lafitte, united with
your verbal communications, are indeed important,”
said the governor, rising and approaching the outlaw,
with dignity and respect in his manner.
“I do not wish to offend your feelings, sir; but
in the relation in which we stand to each other, I
must have authority for acting upon the knowledge
of their contents I possess. What other authority
than your own word, have I that they are genuine?”
“My person, your excellency!” he replied, with
firmness and unchanged features; “I am your prisoner
till you can ascertain from a more credible
source, the genuineness of these letters, and the
truth of my statements.”
“Captain Lafitte,” said the Governor, struck
with his manner, “I cannot do otherwise than place
confidence in you. I believe you sincere. The
letters themselves bear upon their face, also, the
stamp of genuineness. I will call a council in the
army, and militia, and, informing them how I
obtained them, submit these letters to their opinions.
“Captain Lafitte,” he continued, in a more friendly
tone, “I know not the motives which induced
you all at once to adopt this honourable course. I
am willing to attribute it to the best—a desire to regain
your standing in society, to atone for your past
violence to the offended laws of your country, and,
to the patriotism of a good citizen. As the last I am
willing to consider you. There is my hand, sir, in
token of amity between us! The proscription
against you shall be revoked, and I shall feel proud
to rank you hereafter among the defenders of our
common country.”
Lafitte, moved by the language of the governor,
replied, with emotion:
“Again, your excellency, I feel my bosom glow
with virtuous emotions. You do justice to my motives,
and I am grateful to you. This reception I
had not anticipated when I determined to make you
the repository of a secret, on which, perhaps, the
tranquillity of the country depended; but I knew
that it was in the bosom of a just man, of a true
American, endowed with all other qualities which
give dignity to society, that I was placing this confidence,
and depositing the interests of my country.
“The point I occupy, is doubtless considered important
by the enemy. I have hitherto kept on the
defensive, on my own responsibility. Now, sir, I
offer my services to defend it for the state. If the
enemy attach that importance to the possession of
the place, they give me room to suspect they do,
they may employ means above my strength. In that
case, if you accept of my services, your intelligence
and the degree of your confidence in me, will suggest
to you the propriety of strengthening the position
my services, at least I beg you will assist me
with your judicious council in this weighty affair.”
“I know not how to express the pleasure I experience
in recognising this extraordinary change in
you, captain Lafitte,” replied the governor; his noble
features beaming with benevolence and gratification.
“So far as my influence extends I accept
your services; but there must be a preliminary and
indispensable step! A pardon for all offences is
first necessary, and this can be granted only by the
president. Your disinterested and honourable conduct
shall be made known to the council in the
morning, and if I can aid you in setting out in your
new and high minded career, my services and counsels
are cheerfully at your command.”
“You can do so, your excellency!” replied the
outlaw.
“In what?”
“In procuring my pardon from the President, and
also that of my followers.”
“Cheerfully! I will at once, by the next post, recommend
you to the favour of the executive.”
“I thank you, sir!” said Lafitte, and turned away
with a full heart to conceal his emotion.
The reception he had met with by the governor,
whom he esteemed—his ready wish to forget his
offences—the prospect of returning to the world, and
of regaining his attitude in society, came over him all
at once with powerful effect. Then, prominent, and
superior to all, the image of Constanza floated before
his mind, and his bosom swelled with renewed being.
The wishes—the hopes—the prayers, of many
days of penitence and remorse, were now about to
be realized! A career in the American army was
open before him—fame, honour, and perhaps love, to
reward him; for, notwithstanding all the barriers
surrounding the young Castillian, he still cherished
him with her heart. He could not think that a being,
who had exerted such an influence over an important
period of his life, who had thus turned the
current of his destinies, and by her gentle virtues
led him to love virtue for her sake—should come
and depart again, as angels visit earth, and never
more lighten or influence his pilgrimage through the
world.
The governor remarked his emotion, and with
ready delicacy divining the cause, turned once more
his attention to the papers which he still held in
his hand.
“Before I leave your excellency,” said Lafitte,
after a few moments silence—the silence of a heart
too full for utterance—“I desire to learn something
definite as to the course to be pursued with reference
to these disclosures.”
“I have offered to defend for you that part of
Louisiana I now hold. But not as an outlaw, would
I be its defender! In that confidence, with which
you have inspired me, I offer to restore to the state
many citizens, now under my command, who, in the
eyes of your excellency, have perhaps forfeited that
sacred title. I offer you them, however, such as
you could wish to find them, ready to exert their
utmost efforts in defence of their country. As I
have remarked before, the point I occupy is of
great importance in the present crisis. I tender not
only my own services to defend it, but those of all
I command, 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 hitherto. I am, your excellency,” and his
voice betrayed emotion as he continued, “the stray
sheep, wishing to return to the sheep-fold![1]
If you
were thoroughly acquainted with the nature of my
worthy to discharge the duties of a good citizen and
an honest patriot. I might expatiate on the proofs
of patriotism I have shown this evening, but I let
the fact speak for itself. I beg you to submit to
your council and to the executive what I have advanced.
The answer of your council I will await
until to-morrow noon, when I will send for it, by
one who will not be molested. Should it be unfavourable
to my sincere prayers, I shall turn my
back upon the dazzling offers of the British government,
and for ever leave a soil, which, dearly as I
love, I am thought unworthy to defend! Thus will
I avoid the imputation of having co-operated with
the enemy, towards an invasion on this point I
hold—which cannot fail to take place—and rest secure
in the acquittal of my own conscience.”
“My dear sir,” said the governor with undisguised
admiration of his sentiments; “your praiseworthy
wishes shall be laid before the gentlemen
whose opinions and councils I shall invite early to-morrow,
to aid me in this important affair. Your
messenger shall receive an answer by noon. I will
also confer upon the subject, with the commanding
general on his return. Perhaps your pardon,” he
added hesitatingly, “may rest upon a condition. I
have thought of proposing to the council, that your
own, and the services of your adherents be accepted
to join the standard of the United States; and, if your
conduct, meet the approbation of the general commanding,
I will assure you of his co-operation with
me, in a request to the President, to extend to all
engaged, a free and full pardon.”
“With these conditions, I most willingly comply!”
said Lafitte. “I must now leave you sir,
but,” he added, laying his hand upon his heart,
“with sentiments of permanent gratitude!”
“Have you the pass-word of the night, Captain
“I have, your excellency.”
“Farewell then, sir! I am your friend. When
we meet again, I trust it will be in the ranks of the
American army;” said the governor smiling, and
extending his hand to the chief.
Lafitte seized, and grasping it warmly, pressed it
to his lips, and precipitately left the room.
Passing through the hall, he was re-joined by
Théodore, with whom he left the mansion, and after
replying to the challenge of the sentinel at the gate,
the two passed at a rapid pace down the street.
The moon was just rising, and they had been
walking but a few minutes, when a clattering of
horses' hoofs and the ringing of arms were heard at
the extremity of one of the long streets, intersecting
that, they were traversing, and in a few moments,
with nodding plumes, ringing swords, and jingling
spurs, the general in chief with his staff, and
followed by two or three mounted citizens, turned
the angle of the street, and dashed past them down
the road to his head quarters.
The outlaw and his companion had nearly gained
their boat, and were walking in the shadow of
fort St. Charles, along the canal, where it was
secured, having met no one but the horsemen, and
occasionally, a guard who challenged and allowed
them to pass, since they had left the house, when
their attention was attracted by a figure gliding
along the side of the canal Marigny, and evidently
seeking to escape observation.
They drew back within the shadow of a building
on the banks, when the figure passed them, almost
crawling upon the ground. Avoiding the street, immediately
afterward, he dropped without noise into
the water, swum to the side where they stood, and
cautiously ascending the leveé or bank, paused a
moment and peered over the top.
Apparently satisfied that he was unobserved, he
then crept along to the side of the fort and lingering
a moment, disappeared around the angle, leaving a
paper affixed to the wall.
“Here is mischief brewing.” said Lafitte—“Did
you observe that fellow closely Théodore?”
“Yes, I thought at first it was Cudjoe.”
“No—no—he is too tall for him”—“we will see
what he has been at.”
Followed by Théodore, he left the canal and advanced,
until he stood under the walls of the fort.
“It is too dark to read in this pale moon; we
will take the paper to the light,” he said passing
round the fort, to a lamp burning in the gate-way,
and over the head of a sentinel posted there.
“Ho, who goes there?”—he challenged as they
approached. Answering the challenge, Lafitte
added;
“Here, guard, is a paper, but now stuck upon the
wall of your fort by a skulking slave, who just disappeared
among yonder china trees—I fear it
hodes mischief in these perilous times!” and as he
spoke, he held up the placard to the light. On it
was printed in large letters both in French and
Spanish,
“Louisianians! remain quiet in your houses; your slaves
shall be preserved to you, and your property respected.
We make war only against Americans.”
“Well, this is most politic—`said Lafitte,' our
enemy fights with printed proclamations, signed too
by admiral Cochrane and major general Keane!
Preserve slaves! These Englishmen have shone me
what reliance is to be placed on their promise to
preserve slaves to their masters. Did they not by
their insurrection, expect to conquer Louisiana?”
The soldier who heard him read the placard, was
about to call for two or three comrades within the
Lafitte interrupted him.
“Hold, my good man! I know his figure, and the
way he has taken. I will pursue him!” and adding
to Théodore “now we will show our attachment to
the cause we have embraced,” followed the slave.
In a few moments, after passing two other placards,
which Théodore tore down, they saw him
—his form hardly distinguishable among the trunks
of the trees—apparently engaged in affixing another
of the proclamations to a limb. They cautiously
approached, when the negro discovering them,
and supposing himself unseen, drew himself up
into the tree to escape detection as they passed
by. But this action was detected; and Lafitte
walking rapidly forward, before he could conceal
himself, caught him by one of his feet.”
“The negro drew a long knife and would have
plunged it into the arm of his captor, over whose
head it gleamed as he raised it for the blow, had
he not caught his hand, and hurled him with violence
to the ground.
“Oh mossee beg a mercy mossee, pauvre négre—
nigger gibbee all up,” he cried rolling upon the
ground in pain. Lafitte grasped him by the arm
and drew from his breast a large bundle of placards.
“Who gave these to you slave?”
“Mossee de English ossifer.”
“Where is he?”
“Down by mossee Laronde's plantation; he tellee
me stick um up in de city; dey stick um up all 'long
on de fence down de Leveé mossee. Now mossee,
good, sweet, kind mossee, lettee poor négre go, he
hab tell mossee all de libbing trufh.”
“You must go with me,” replied his captor,
heedless of the chattering and the prayers of the
slave; and leading him by the arm, he returned and
delivered him to the guard at the fort.
“Take him to the governor in the morning,” he
said to him as he called some of his comrades to
receive him.
“Thank you Monsieur,” said the guard, as Lafitte
turned away. “You are a good patriot. I
would all the citizens were like you. Will you
take wine?”
“No, Monsieur.”
“Who, shall I tell the governor, has taken this
prisoner?”
He wrote the word “Lafitte,” with a pencil
upon one of the bills, and folding it up, handed it to
him; and before the guard could decipher it, he had
disappeared below the leveé. Springing into his boat,
he waked the Irishman, who had fallen asleep, and
sought once more, through the chain of guard-boats,
the barge he had left secreted at the mouth of the
artificial inlet to the bayou. Then releasing his
Irish prisoner, with a warning to be less afraid of
alligators, and to keep better watch when on post,
he entered his own boat; and before the break of
day, was again concealed among the huts of the
fishermen, which he had left early on the preceding
evening.
| CHAPTER IV. Lafitte | |