Editing Jean Lafitte (section)

==War of 1812==
===British offer===
Following the charges of November 10, 1812, and subsequent arrest and jailing of his brother Pierre, Jean Lafitte operated the piracy and smuggling business. Over the next few months, the British Navy increased patrols in the Gulf of Mexico, and by August they had established a base at [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]]. On September 3, 1814, the British ship [[HMS Sophie (1809)|HMS ''Sophie'']] fired on a pirate ship returning to Barataria.<ref name=ramsay47>Ramsay (1996), p. 47.</ref> Lafitte's ship grounded in shallow water where the larger British ship could not follow. The British raised a [[White flag#Contemporary use|white flag]] and launched a small dinghy with several officers. Lafitte and several of his men rowed to meet them halfway.<ref name=ramsay48>Ramsay (1996), p. 48.</ref>

Captain Nicholas Lockyer, the commander of the ''Sophie'', had been ordered to contact the "Commandant at Barataria". He was accompanied by a [[Royal Marine]] infantry captain, John McWilliam,<ref>Nicolas, p. 277. states that he held a local (acting) rank of Captain of Royal Marines</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The Navy List, corrected to the end of December 1814 |year=1814 |page=111 |publisher= John Murray  |location=London  |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0xYYAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA111}}</ref> who had been given a package to deliver to Lafitte. The Baratarians invited the British officers to row to their island. When they had disembarked and were surrounded by his men, Lafitte identified himself to them. Many of the smugglers wanted to [[Lynching|lynch]] the British men, but Lafitte intervened and placed guards outside his home to ensure their protection.<ref name=ramsay48/>

McWilliam brought two letters in his packet for Lafitte: one, under the seal of [[George III of the United Kingdom|King George III]], offered Lafitte and his forces British citizenship and land grants in the British colonies in the Americas (by then, these consisted of islands in the Caribbean and territory in Upper and Lower Canada). In exchange, the king asked for Lafitte and his forces to promise to assist in the naval fight against the United States and to return any recent property that had been captured from Spanish ships. (Spain had become an ally of the British against the French.) If they refused the offer, the letters informed Lafitte that the British had orders to capture Barataria to put an end to their smuggling. The second item was a personal note to Lafitte from McWilliam's superior, Lieutenant Colonel [[Edward Nicolls]], urging him to accept the offer.<ref name=ramsay49>Ramsay (1996), p. 49.</ref>

Believing that the Americans would eventually prevail in the war against Britain, Lafitte thought he could more easily defeat the US revenue officers than he could the British Navy.<ref name=ramsay50/> He had also been told in August that American officials were planning an assault on Barataria with forces under the command of Commodore [[Daniel Patterson (naval officer)|Daniel Patterson]]. They feared that Lafitte and his men might side with the British.

Lafitte tried to convince the Americans that they had nothing to fear from him.<ref name=ramsay53>Ramsay (1996), p. 53.</ref> He sent a message to the Americans that few of his men favored helping the British but said he needed 15 days to review their offer.<ref name=ramsay50>Ramsay (1996), p. 50.</ref> Lafitte had copies of the letters sent to Jean Blanque, a member of the Louisiana state legislature who had invested in the Barataria operation. In a personal note, Lafitte reminded Blanque that his brother Pierre was still in jail and deserved an early release.

Lafitte added a note to Governor Claiborne, saying,
<blockquote>I am the stray sheep, wishing to return to the sheepfold... If you were thoroughly acquainted with the nature of my offenses, I should appear to you much less guilty, and still worthy to discharge the duties of a good citizen.<ref name=ramsay51>Ramsay (1996), p. 51.</ref></blockquote>

Lafitte committed himself and his men for any defensive measures needed by New Orleans. Within two days of Lafitte's notes, Pierre "escaped" from jail.<ref name=ramsay51/>

===American invasion===
[[Image:Daniel Patterson.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=Black and white painting of side-burned 30-something man in naval uniform|US Commodore Daniel Patterson commanded an offensive force against Lafitte and his men at Barataria, 1814.]]
The US ordered an attack on Lafitte's colony. On September 13, 1814, Commodore [[Daniel Patterson (naval officer)|Daniel Patterson]] set sail aboard the {{USS|Carolina|1812|6}} for Barataria. He was accompanied by six gunboats and a [[Ship's tender|tender]]. The fleet anchored off Grande Terre and the gunboats attacked. By midmorning, 10 armed pirate ships formed a battle line in the bay. Within a short period, Lafitte's men abandoned their ships, set several on fire, and fled the area. When Patterson's men went ashore, they met no resistance. They took 80 people captive, but Lafitte escaped safely. The Americans took custody of six [[schooner]]s, one [[felucca]], and a [[brig]], as well as 20&nbsp;cannon and goods worth $500,000.<ref name=ramsay54>Ramsay (1996), p. 54.</ref>

On September 23, Patterson and his fleet, including the eight captured ships, began the return trip to New Orleans. Widely publicized, the raid was hailed by the ''Niles' Weekly Register'' as "a major conquest for the United States".<ref name=ramsay55>Ramsay (1996), p. 55.</ref>

Lafitte was described as
<blockquote>a man who, for about two years past, has been famous for crimes that the civilized world wars against. ... [He] is supposed to have captured one hundred vessels of all nations, and certainly murdered the crews of all that he took, for no one has ever escaped him.<ref name=ramsay55/></blockquote>

Following the custom of the times, Patterson filed a legal claim for the profits from the confiscated ships and merchandise. An attorney representing Lafitte argued that the captured ships had flown the flag of [[Cartagena Province|Cartagena]], an area at peace with the United States. One of Lafitte's men testified that the Baratarians had never intended to fight the US but had prepared their vessels to flee. The judge ruled that Patterson should get the customary share of profits from the goods that had already been sold, but he did not settle the ownership of the ships. They were held in port under custody of the United States Marshal.<ref name=ramsay56>Ramsay (1996), p. 56.</ref>

Likely inspired by Lafitte's offer to help defend Louisiana, Governor Claiborne wrote the US Attorney General, [[Richard Rush]] requesting a pardon for the Baratarians, saying that for generations, smugglers were "esteemed honest ... [and] sympathy for these offenders is certainly more or less felt by many of the Louisianans".<ref name=ramsay58>Ramsay (1996), p. 58.</ref> According to Ramsay, Claiborne next wrote to General [[Andrew Jackson]], "implying Patterson had destroyed a potential first line of defense for Louisiana" by his capture of Lafitte and his ships.<ref name=ramsay59>Ramsay (1996), p. 59.</ref> Jackson responded, "I ask you, Louisianans, can we place any confidence in the honor of men who have courted an alliance with pirates and robbers?"<ref name=ramsay59/>

===Battle of New Orleans===
{{main|Battle of New Orleans}}
When General [[Andrew Jackson]] arrived in New Orleans on December 1, 1814, he discovered the city had not created any defenses.<ref name=ramsay60>Ramsay (1996), p. 60.</ref> It had approximately 1,000 unseasoned troops and two ships for its use. Although the city kept control of the eight ships taken from Lafitte, it did not have enough sailors to man them for defense. Resentful of the raid on Barataria, Lafitte's men refused to serve on their former ships.<ref name=ramsay61>Ramsay (1996), p. 61.</ref>

In mid-December, Jackson met with Lafitte, who offered to serve if the United States would pardon those of his men who agreed to defend the city. Jackson agreed to do so.<ref name=ramsay62>Ramsay (1996), p. 62.</ref> On December 19, the state legislature passed a resolution recommending a full pardon for all of the former residents at Barataria.<ref name=ramsay67>Ramsay (1996), p. 67.</ref> With Lafitte's encouragement, many of his men joined the New Orleans militia or as sailors to man the ships. Others formed three artillery companies.<ref name=ramsay69>Ramsay (1996), p. 69.</ref>

On December 23, advance units of the British fleet reached the Mississippi River.<ref name=ramsay69/> Lafitte realized that the American line of defense was so short as to potentially allow the British to encircle the American troops. He suggested that the line be extended to a nearby swamp, and Jackson ordered it done.<ref name=ramsay70>Ramsay (1996), p. 70.</ref>  The British began advancing upon the American lines on December 28, but were repulsed by an artillery crew manned by two of Lafitte's former lieutenants, [[Renato Beluche]] and [[Dominique You]]x.<ref name=ramsay71>Ramsay (1996), p. 71.</ref>

Patterson praised the Barataria men who served on one of the US Navy ships, and whose skill with artillery was greater than their British counterparts.<ref name=ramsay72>Ramsay (1996), p. 72.</ref> On land and sea, the former pirate gunners earned praise as the battle continued. On January 21, Jackson issued a statement praising his troops, especially the cannoneers and "Captains Dominique and Beluche, lately commanding privateers of Barataria, with part of their former crews and many brave citizens of New Orleans, were stationed at Nos. 3 and 4."<ref name=ramsay77>Ramsay (1996), p. 77.</ref> Jackson praised Jean and Pierre Lafitte for having "exhibited the same courage and fidelity".<ref name=ramsay77/> He formally requested clemency for the Lafittes and the men who had served under them. The government granted them all a full pardon on February 6.<ref name=ramsay82>Ramsay (1996), p. 82.</ref><ref>Ingersoll (1852) pp. 82–83</ref>