The newspapers of 1806, 1807, 1808, and 1809 abound in stories of our losses in shipping and of the ill treatment experienced by our officers and crews at the hands of these brigands. In this connection we cannot fail to recall Lord Nelson’s expression, "All privateers are no better than pirates." When held up, American vessels seemed, as a rule, to have been pillaged of all the boarders coveted. Cases were broken into, letters and papers opened, moneys and everything valuable taken at will.
Extract of a letter from the captain of an American vessel at Laguayra, dated July 25, 1807:
Previous to my departure I promised you if I saw anything worthy the notice of your excellent paper to communicate it to you. I therefore sit down in this dreadful place to give the details of injustice and piracies committed on our commerce.
I conceive it a duty I owe to my fellow citizens to give such information as may prevent them from falling into error. A number of small open boats are fitting out here, whether by order of government or for individual enterprise I know not; but that they commit depredations, in the open view of this port, on our unprotected commerce, is certain; several Americans having already experienced the mortification of being brought here, as well as into Cabello (which seems to be the favourite porte, being at a greater distance from the seat of government), under the special pretence of having British goods on board, and, after experiencing every species of insult, they allowed to take their vessels again, and their cargo if not British goods but all of them condemned, and no redress in either case, whether you have them on board or no.
I have an instance now before my eyes of an American ship in the offing, taken by a Spanish privateer (formerly the Fis Gig of New York) and is about conducting her to Porto Cabella. What ship she is, I cannot tell; but this is her description—a pretty long, low ship, yellow sides, ports apparent, whether painted or real I am not able to judge; no figure head, three top-gallant-yards and royals. Some of the vessels have absolutely been taken in the act of letting go their anchors, and carried away…
From the same to the same, by the ship Brutus:
Laguayra, July 28th. Sir, I wrote you on the 25th inst. and requested you to publish the facts stated in that letter; they being of such a nature, and immediately under the eye of this government, that I think they cannot plead ignorance.
A similar affair to the one mentioned happened yesterday. An American schr. being about two leagues to windward, and baffled with small winds (her colours very distinguishable), at 4 p.m. a boat from one of those picaroons departed full of men from his port in quest of her. I particularly watched his motions, and at 20 minutes before 6 I saw him board her, and no doubt he has carried her off, as there is no appearance of her this morning. You may rest assured that anything of this nature shall not pass unnoticed, and that I will give you the facts from time to time and request their publicity, that my countrymen may not go unarmed, and be any longer the dupes of those piratical rascals.
That the southern coast of our own country, also, served as a hiding place for these rascals was only too true:
The bays and inlets of Louisiana were the rendezvous of privateers and pirates claiming to sail under the flags of England, France and Spain. These gentry were continually hovering on our coasts, and in default of finding enemy’s ships would seize upon our own, upon one pretext or another, for which outrages our people obtained little redress. New Orleans being at that time an ungarrisoned place, not frequented by foreign ships of war, many of the privateers resorted there for supplies; and, as they spent their money freely, the local authorities rather encouraged their presence. These desperadoes, mixing with the dissolute part of the population, kept the town in a continual state of turmoil.
Boston, August 5.—Arrived schooner Osborn, Tubbs, Martinico 26 days. Capt. T. informs, that several American vessels had been recently taken by the French privateers and boats from Guadaloupe and sent into ‘Statia and St. Martins, where they were hauled up, dismantled, immediately unloaded, and vessel and cargo sold without any trial or condemnation whatever!
The capture by the French of American vessels, merely because, in defiance of the Milan Decree, they touched at a British port, while an outrage in itself, can hardly be considered as falling within the limits of this study, however closely, in the accompanying pillage and burning, it resembled piracy in all practical essentials.
The policy with which Jefferson’s name is indissolubly linked in the naval mind, of trusting to gunboats for defence rather than to properly designed, armed and equipped vessels of war, had the usual disastrous effect on the attempts to suppress piracy. That gunboats were invaluable in narrow and shallow waters is not to be denied. We may, therefore, read with approval that no less than 20 of these craft were reported as at New Orleans on December 1 of the year 1809.
1810-1815
While probably somewhat exaggerated through a righteous indignation, there is no reason to doubt the substantial accuracy of the picture of affairs in West Indian waters which is contained in this contemporaneous letter:
New Orleans, April 12, 1810.—The capture of the three privateers, the Duc de Montebello, the Intrepide, and the vessel bearing the papers of the pirogue called la Petit Chance, has disclosed a system of iniquity which has heretofore been unparalleled to this country. There appears to be a regularly connected chain of villainy which the breaking of this link gives us hopes will be entirely destroyed. We suspect extremely many persons being engaged who now share our hospitality and all the rights of American citizens: we hope, however, for the honor of the American name, that none of our countrymen are engaged. The Duc de Montebello was fitted out at Baltimore, purchased by a Captain White, cleared out with French passengers for St. Bartholomews, was called the Amiable, put into Savanna (Georgia), armed, shipped part of her crew, sailed, and received the rest from on board a vessel commanded by Captain Kuhn. She assumed off the bar of Charleston the French character & name she now wears; sailed on a cruise, robs, sinks, burns, and destroys every American, Spanish and English vessel she falls in with, until, glutted with plunder, she is compelled to put into this port under pretence of distress; her captain’s name is Besson; her apparent owner’s name Brouard—one Menton, and a certain John de Loupe, make conspicuous figures on board of her.
The Intrepide was built, sailed from this port, about two months since on her first voyaget o St. Bartholomews with French passengers, commanded by a captain Rogers, where it is said she was sold by him to Souvinet, one of the passengers, and sailed with rest of the passengers, under the command of Broughman to St. Martins, where she obtained a French commission, proceeded on a cruise, and after taking from on board a Spanish vessel 6000 dollars, put in here under pretence of distress. On board the Duc de Montebello is found a commission for a vessel to be called "The French Soldier," to be commanded by Brougham, who now commands the Intrepide.
The schr. which bears the papers of pirogue la Petit Chance is commanded by a person by the name of St. Caste, who says he sailed from Guadeloupe in the Petit Chance, of between five and six tons burthen, on a cruise; but meeting this vessel, and finding her a very fast sailer, he took his crew on board her, gave the Petit Chance to the crew of the schr. and went on a cruise. After making several captures and destroying several vessels, he put into this port in distress. On examining his leak it was found to be a fresh bored auger hole.
The schooner Blossom arrived here from St. Jago with a number of passengers, sailed under the command of a certain John Jaque, under American colours, and spoke by the Montebello off the bar of the Balize a short time since, bearing a different name, cruising as a privateer under French colors, and richly laden with plunder, who is no doubt somewhere on our coast engaged in smuggling her cargo into this place. The captain of the Montebello supplied her with a boat which he had taken from an American brig; and she proceeded to the westward, where some of our vessels of war have pursued her without effect.
The schr. Leonora sailed from this place under Swedish colors for St. Bartholomews with about 80 French passengers on board, and was strictly examined at the Balize by our vessels of war, in order to find arms on board her, but without effect. She proceeded to Breton Island, where it is supposed she took on board her arms and ammunition, as she has since appeared off the Balize in chase of some vessels and has plundered others.
We hear of a schr. called the Superior, now cruising off Jamaica, sinking and burning every vessel she meets; not long since she was at Charleston; also 6 other privateers which sailed from Guadeloupe before it surrendered, and are supposed to be destined for this place: they are now cruising in the neighborhood of Cuba and Jamaica.
The system of warfare conducted by those men is a disgrace to human nature. Having now no place to send their prizes to, they destroy them on the high seas; and perhaps the prisoners share the fate of their vessels, for we find none on board except a few persons of colour intended no doubt for sale. Nor do they confine their outrage to English and Spanish vessels; we find the Montebello has robbed three American vessels, has burnt one, and ransomed another; the protest of captain Schoolfield is in part evidence of this fact.
We hear of a vessel that was purchased at Norfolk, by some Frenchmen, and sailed for Savanna, but stopped at Hampton, where she was equipping in every respect for a privateer; this circumstance, joined to the circumstance of the Montebello’s having been equipped by a certain Mr. Jerome at Savannah, we are induced to believe New Orleans and Savannah are intended as the two principal places of rendezvous. When we recollect the buccaneering system which was conducted by Dampier, and others can we have no doubt of an intention in those people to revive it!
There exists no authority whatever at this moment for privateering in those seas, and yet those seas are full of vessels which have assumed the character; and when these privateers may have assembled in squadrons, what guarantee have we for their honesty? What security from their depredations on our commerce? Perhaps those very cities which hailed them to our shores as distressed exiled brothers, and benevolently extended to them charity and protection, may be laid under contribution, or perhaps in ashes!
We have felt it as our duty to give this warning, and it rests with the officers of government to elude the danger.
The neighborhood of New Orleans appears to have been a happy hunting ground for pirates masking as privateers, as well as the scene of some share of the just retribution imposed upon them.
In February, 1810, the 11-gun ketch Vesuvius, under the command of Lieutenant B.F. Reed, and her boats, under the command of Midshipman F.H. Gregory, captured off the mouth of the Mississippi River the Duke of Montebello, of five guns, the schooner just mentioned, and the Diomede, a one-gun schooner, manned principally by Frenchmen expelled from Cuba by the Spanish government. The vessels were sent to New Orleans, where they were condemned.
The name of the second prize is open to question, as the following letters indicate:
U. States Brig Vixen
Balize, March 21, 1810
Honorable Paul Hamilton.
Sir: I have the honor of informing you of my arrival at this place on the 16th Inst. where I found two French Schooners (with about 120 men) that had been detained by the Ketch Vesuvius. The French Men very turbulent & dissatisfied at their detention, and showing every disposition to use force for their release, inducing me (deeming it for the good of the service) to remain until I could hear from Capt. Porter. Yesterday he arrived and handed me a letter which I here send.
Copy
Balize, March 20, 1810
Sir: I feel much gratified that you have remained at this place until my arrival, in consequence of the detention of the two French Corsairs the Duke de Montebillo & the Intrepid, as the presence of your vessel was materially necessary to promote order in our waters. It is my intention to send them either to N. Orleans or to some Atlantic Port, perhaps Norfolk, and the Public service requires that you should remain here until I can proceed to N. Orleans & give you further advice.
I have the honor to be with much respect,
Your obt. Servt.
(Signed) D. Porter
Lt. Comdt. Charles Ludlow
Comdg. U.S. Brig. Vixen.
I have the honor to be very respectfully sir
Your obt. hble, Svt.
Chs. Ludlow
The Duke of Montebello "is loaded with valuable dry goods and specie."
The locality mentioned was recognized as the storm center of those days, since we read that the United States schooner Vixen (Bainbridge) and no less than 20 gunboats were there September 1.
During the years 1811 and 1812 the newspapers report in general terms that the French privateers and the British cruisers were still active. So far as the operations of our navy are concerned, they seem to have been confined to the work of our gunboats along our Gulf coast, in August and September of 1811. On August 7, off Pensacola, gunboat 162 took the schooner la Franchise, five guns; on August 10, off Mobile, the schooner Santa Maria, four guns. On September 7, west of Barataria, she engaged two schooners, la Sophie, six guns, and la Vengeance, four guns, and a ship, la Divina Pastora, of 14 guns. As before, the credit seems to be due to Midshipman F.H. Gregory. The pirates escaped to the mainland after setting fire to the schooners, but Gregory sent the ship to New Orleans.
During 1811, a French privateer captured the valuable ship Canton, from New Orleans to Liverpool, off the Florida coast. She was ordered to France, but recaptured off the coast of England by the British ship Pompee, and sent into Plymouth. The case is typical as illustrating the fate of such of our ships as fell first into one hand and then into another.
"The United States gunboat 152 has captured a French privateer off the Balize." This vessel is not identified in the official documents examined. She was probably the Divina Pastora, taken by the gunboat 162.
On April 9, 1813, the United States schooner Nonsuch captured on our "Southern coast" the privateer Caledonia, of which the crew consisted principally of blacks. The latter lost nine men in the action, and was sent into Savannah. In the same month the same schooner Sancho Panza, which was also sent in and sold. Mork’s official report is:
Savannah, 11th April, 1813
Sir: Having according to your orders finished my cruise, and on my way back on Friday, the 9th inst., at 5 p.m. Savannah lighthouse in sight from the Mast head, I made four sail ahead, two standing for me. When near enough, saw one to be a schooner, the other a sloop. Finding them to be enemies, I engaged them when near enough, the schooner keeping long ways to windward, and after firing one broadside into the sloop, she struck her colors. I am happy she proved to be privateer sloop Caledonia of Nassau, mounting eight guns and forty men. I arrived safe in with her last evening. The schooner escaped when I took possession of the cutter. She was the Mayflower, privateer of two guns and forty men, belonging to Nassau; the other two vessels were a Spanish schooner and a pilot boat. The Caledonia, besides her eight guns mounted, has eleven in her hold of different sizes. As soon as I can give up the prisoners, I shall return to Charleston.
I have the honor to remain, most respectfully,
Your very obt. Svt.,
James Mork.
Commodore Dent.
The Caledonia has 3 killed, 7 wounded (2 dangerously); 3 missing.
The Nonsuch has, Alex. Markinson, O. Seaman, wounded dangerously. William Herringbrook, Seaman, Joseph Sachet, wounded slightly.
The vicinity of New Orleans was a favorite scene of piratical depredations, official cognizance of which was taken by the governor of Louisiana, who, on March 15, 1813, issued a proclamation against "a considerable number of banditti composed of individuals of different nations who have armed and equipped several vessels, with the design to cruise at sea, and to commit depredations and piracies against the vessels of nations who are at peace with the United States, in order to carry on with the inhabitants of this state an illicit commerce in provisions and merchandise, etc." He charges all officers of this state to seize and apprehend every individual engaged in these criminal practices, etc.
In 1814, as in the previous year, interest in piracy was confined to the same locality, where Commodore Daniel T. Patterson, U.S. Navy, was in command. Just to the westward of New Orleans the celebrated Lafitte had established a station from which there issued many craft destined to prey upon commerce. Barataria, as the island was called, seems also to have been a port of entry for slavers.
The character and deeds of Jean Lafitte present a curious and perplexing problem which, to this day, has not been satisfactorily solved. It is aside from the purpose of these investigations to enter into so involved a subject. Lafitte stoutly maintained that he had never preyed upon American commerce, that he was a friend of the Americans but a bitter enemy of the Spaniards, against whom, and whom only, he operated. That he and his gang rendered efficient service against the British is of record. Whatever be the rights of the matter, the fact is that Lafitte’s establishment being regarded, justly or unjustly, as an annoyance and a menace, a joint expedition was dispatched to destroy it. The following is the official report of this episode:
New Orleans, 10th October, 1814.
Sir—I have very great satisfaction in reporting to you, that the contemplated expedition against the pirates, so long and strongly established among the western islands and waters of this state, of which I had the honor to inform you in my letter of the 10th ult. has terminated in the capture and destruction of all their vessels in port—their establishment on the islands of Grande Terre, Grand Isle and Cheniere Caminada, and the dispersion of the band themselves. The successful issue of this attack upon them will, I trust, prevent their ever collecting again in force sufficient to injure the commerce of this state.
The force of the pirates was twenty pieces of cannon, mounted, of different calibers, and, as I have learnt since my arrival, from eight hundred to one thousand men of all nations and colors.
I have brought with me to this city six fine schooners and one felucca, cruisers and prizes of the pirates, and one armed schooner under Carthaginian colors found in company and ready to oppose the force under my command.
Herewith I have the honor to transmit a detailed account of this expedition, which, I hope, will prove satisfactory to the department, as also a copy of a letter from Lafitte, the chief of the pirates, to captain Lockyer of H.B.M. brig Sophia, which forms the conclusion of a correspondence entered into between the English commanders in the Gulf of Mexico and the Floridas, and the pirates, copies of which his excellency governor Claiborne informs me he transmitted to the department of state. This correspondence shows the importance of the expedition and the important species of force we have prevented the enemy’s receiving by their proposed alliance with the pirates, and added to our own.
I have the honor to be, with great consideration and respect; your obedient servant,
Daniel T. Patterson
The hon. Wm. Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
New Orleans, October 10, 1814
Sir—I have the honor to inform you that I departed from this city on the 11th ult. accompanied by colonel Ross, with a detachment of seventy of the 44th regiment of infantry—on the 12th reached the schooner Carolina, at Plaquemine and formed a junction with the gun vessels at the Balize on the 13th—sailed from the south-west pass on the evening of the 15th and at half past 8 a.m. on the 16th made the Island of Grand Terre, (Barataria) and discovered a number of vessels in the harbor, some of which showed Carthaginian colors—at 9 perceived the pirates forming their vessels, ten in number, including prizes, into a line of battle near the entrance of the harbor, and making every preparation to offer me battle—at 10, wind light and variable, formed the order of battle with the 6 gun vessels, viz. Nos. 5, 23, 156, 162, 163, and 65, the Sea-Horse tender, mounting 1 six pounder and fifteen men, and a launch mounting 1 twelve pound carronade; the schooner Carolina drawing too much water to cross the bar—at half past 10 perceived several smokes along the coast as signals, and at the same time a white flag hoisted on board a schooner, at the fore, an American flag at the main-mast head, and a Carthaginian flag (under which the pirates cruise) at her topping lift; replied with a white flag at my main; at 11 discovered that the pirates had fired two of their best schooners; hauled down my white flag and made the signal for battle—hoisting with it a large white flag bearing the words "pardon to deserters," having heard there were a number from the army and navy there, who wished to return if assured of pardon, and which the president’s proclamation offered till the 17th. At a quarter past 11 gun vessels No. 23 and 156 (the latter bearing my pendant) grounded, and were passed agreeably to my previous order, by the other four which entered the harbor; manned my barge and the boats belonging to the grounded vessels, and proceeded in, when to my great disappointment I perceived that the pirates had abandoned their vessels, and were flying in boats, in all directions. I immediately sent the launch and two gun barges with small boats in pursuit of them—at meridian took possession of all their vessels in harbor, consisting of six schooners and one felucca, cruisers and prizes of the pirates, one brig, a prize, and two armed schooners under the Carthaginian flag, both in the line of battle, with the armed vessels of the pirates, and apparently with an intention to aid them in any resistance they might make against me, as their crews were at quarters, tompions out of their guns, and matches lighted. Colonel Ross at the same time landed, and with his command took possession of their establishment on shore, consisting of about forty houses of different sizes, badly constructed, and thatched with palmetto leaves.
When I perceived the enemy forming their vessels into a line of battle, I felt confident from their number and very advantageous position; and their number of men, that they would have fought me; their not doing so I regret; for had they, I should have been enabled more effectually to destroy or make prisoners of them and their leaders; but it is a subject of great satisfaction to me, to have effected the object of my enterprise, viz. capturing all their vessels in port, and dispersing the band without having one of my brave fellows hurt.
The enemy had mounted on their vessels twenty pieces of cannon of different caliber; and, as I have since learnt, from 800 to 1000 men, of all nations and colors.
Early in the morning of the 20th, the Carolina at anchor, about five miles distant, made the signal of "a strange sail in sight to the eastward"; immediately after, she weighed anchor, and gave chase, the strange sail standing for Grand Terre, with all sail; at half past 8 the chase hauling her wind off shore to escape; sent acting lieutenant Robert Spedden with four boats manned and armed to prevent her passing the harbor; at 9 a.m. the chase fired upon the Carolina, which was returned; each vessel continued firing during the chase, when their long guns could reach—at 10 the chase grounded outside the bar, at which time the Carolina was, from the shoalness of the water, obliged to haul her wind off shore, and give up the chase—opened a fire upon the chase across the island from the gun vessels—at half past 10 she hauled down her colors and was taken possession of by lieutenant Spedden—she proved to be the armed schooner called the General Bolivar, under the Carthaginian flag—by grounding she broke both her rubber pintles, and made water—hove her off in the course of the day, and at day-light on the 21st sent out a small prize schooner to lighten her—took from her her armament, consisting of one long brass 18 pounder, one long brass 6 pounder, two 12 pound carronades, small arms, &c., and twenty-one packages of dry goods, and brought her into port; and as I could not wait for the repairs necessary for her rubber, ordered her to this port for adjudication. I am well convinced that she is one of the vessels belonging to, or connected with the pirates, as signals of recognition for her were found on board one of the pirate’s cruisers, and at the time she was discovered, she was standing directly for Grand Terre, which she still endeavored to gain, after being chased by the Carolina, not knowing of our being in possession of it; she fired several shots at the Carolina, after the latter had shown her colors.
On the afternoon of the 23rd got under way, with the whole squadron, in all seventeen vessels—(but during the night one schooner under Carthaginian colors escaped)—on the morning of the 24th entered the southwest pass of this river, and on the 1st inst. arrived opposite this city with all my squadron.
The amount of the prizes and prize goods will probably be considerable; but at present cannot be ascertained.
Three of the schooners are admirably adapted for the public service on this station, being uncommonly fleet sailers and light draught of water, and would be of infinite public utility.
I cannot speak in too high terms of commendation of the good conduct of the officers, seamen and marines whom I have the honor to command; nothing could exceed the zeal shown by all on this occasion.
"Great credit is due to lieutenant Louis Alexis and Mr. Thomas Shields, purser, for gallantly leading in, in the face of the enemy; the former in the Sea-horse tender; the latter in the launch, when they had every reason to believe the enemy would open their whole battery upon them, supported by gun vessel No. 5, astern of them, commanded by Mr. J.D. Ferris; Mr. Shields very handsomely volunteered his services on this expedition, and has from his being a seaman rendered me great assistance in taking charge of and bringing one of the prizes to this city.
Lieutenant Thomas A.C. Jones, particularly distinguished himself by boarding one of the schooners which had been fired, and extinguishing the fire after it had made great progress; a quantity of powder being left in her open cabin, evidently designed to blow her up; he is also with lieutenant Norris, and acting lieutenant Thomas S. Cunningham, entitled to my thanks for the severe duty performed by them in open boats for several days and nights.
Acting Lieutenant Spedden merits particular notice for the handsome manner in which he led the boats to cut off the General Bolivar, and afterwards bringing her into port.
I am also greatly indebted to lieutenant Alexis, acting lieutenants Spedden and M’Keever, sailing masters J.D. Ferris, George Ulrick, and William Johnson, for their indefatigable exertions in fitting the prizes for sea; to acting lieutenant M’Keever, also, for his extreme attention to the duties devolving on him from my pendant being hoisted on board No. 23, under his command. I beg leave, sir, to seize this opportunity of recommending these officers to your particular notice, and to solicit a confirmation of their present rank for acting lieutenants Robert Spedden, Isaac M’Keever, and Thomas S. Cunningham.
It affords me great satisfaction to inform you that the most cordial cooperation of Col. Ross, and the detachment of his regiment, in every measure adopted or duty performed, the utmost harmony existing between the two corps during the whole expedition, himself, officers, and men sharing in every enterprise or arduous duty where their services could be useful.
Had it been possible for the Carolina to have entered the harbor, or prudent to have drawn her officers and men from her, when anchored in an open roadstead, and where I had every reason to expect the appearance of enemy’s cruisers, I should have derived great aid from Captain Henley, his officers and crew, who all expressed the strongest desire to partake of our toils, and any danger there might be to encounter, I have no doubt the appearance of the Carolina in the squadron had great effect upon the pirates.
I have the honor to be, with great consideration and respect, your obedient servant,
Danl. T. Patterson
The honorable W. Jones,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington.
In connection with this affair, it may be noted that President Madison, under date of February 6, 1815, pardoned all those Baratarian "pirates" who could prove to have aided in the defence of New Orleans at the time of Jackson’s battle, January 8, a clemency which subsequent events showed to have been in some cases quite misplaced.
On November 11, 1814, Commodore Patterson wrote to the Secretary of the Navy, reporting the safe return of an expedition, under Lieutenant Thomas A.C. Jones, to Grand Isle, Cat Island, etc., where he captured two piratical schooners.
The disturbed condition, due to the revolt of Spain’s Central and South American possessions, offered abundant opportunity to such as were so disposed to commit depredations on neutral shipping. That this state of affairs was not only serious in itself, but was clearly perceived by Commodore Patterson, and that he also recognized the necessity of preparing for the return of the Baratarians to their old practices, can be seen from his official correspondence of that time. It will suffice to quote two of his letters:
New Orleans, 7th April, 1815
Sir: I do myself the honor to enclose for your information the copy of a letter received yesterday from His Excellency Governor Claiborne.
I had hoped that the generous pardon granted by the President to the Baratarian Association, added to the opening for employment afforded by the return of peace, and their dispersion last year, would have had the desired effect of preventing a recurrence of such iniquitous practices as have already taken place; information on which I could rely had reached me prior to the Governor’s letter, that armed vessels had appeared off the western waters of this state and even off the Balize. I therefore dispatched Gun Vessel No. 65, strongly manned and armed, on the 4th inst. to the Westward, where I was informed two prize vessels (one French, the other Russian) had already been carried. In addition to No. 65, I dispatched to-day two heavy launches and one Gun Barge, with heavy carronades and strongly manned, on the same service, and which will, I think be sufficient to cope successfully with the force the smugglers may have in those waters at present.
The immediate return of these people to their former mode of life will point out the indispensable necessity of keeping a small active naval force on this station in time of peace. The communications to the sea from this city are very numerous, and all admirably calculated to facilitate the clandestine introduction of foreign articles, which during the continuance of the present duties will be attempted to a great extent, to the ruin of the honest merchant, defrauding the revenue and demoralizing the community.
By my letter of the 10th February I informed you that pursuant to previous instructions from the Honble., your predecessor, I intended pursuing a small schooner for the public service, and I now beg leave to report to you my having done so, and that in consequence of the last paragraph of your letter of the 15th February, I have added a second, both of which are admirably calculated for this station, are now fitting out, and when completed will, with my barges and launches, enable me in some measure, I trust, to enforce the revenue laws, prevent smuggling and piracy, and protect the commerce of this port from the force which those lawless freebooters for a time be able to procure, but which will, unless timely and efficient measures are taken to prevent it, rapidly increase. Those vessels once equipped, I will allow them no respite within the limits of my command…
With sentiments of the highest consideration and respect,
I have the honor to be, Your obedient Servant,
Danl. T. Patterson
The Honble.,
Benjamin W. Crowninshield,
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington City.
As illustrating the amenities of the day, mention may be made of an offer of $5000 by Governor Claiborne for Lafitte’s head and the latter’s offer of $50,000 for Governor Claiborne’s. Neither of these rewards was ever earned or claimed.
New Orleans, 17th April, 1815.
Sir—By my letter of the 7th instant I had the honor to inform you that the Baratarians had returned to their former iniquitous course of life, and that I had dispatched a force against them; I have now great satisfaction in reporting to you my having received information that Lieut. Cunningham has succeeded in capturing the vessel alluded to in Governor Claiborne’s letter, and one other, together with a schooner which the former had captured, and took to Cat Island, doubtless with an intent to smuggle in her cargo. Vincent Gambier, who is particularized in the Governor’s letter, is, the above information I this morning received from two men who were prisoners to Gambier when he was captured by the Gun Vessel.
The American ship Ceres, just arrived, was boarded, I am informed, in the Gulf of Mexico by a Privateer under Carthaginian Colors and plundered of a part of her stores. The privateer had at the same time an English Vessel in tow, a prize, and was bound to Carthagena. I am daily applied to by the Consignees of Foreign Vessels, as also by their Captains, for protection against these Pirates, who have had the temerity to threaten to capture Spanish Vessels within our own Waters. So soon as the two Schooners, in dock, are ready, I hope they may attempt it, that I may have the satisfaction of bringing them to punishment.
Some months ago I wrote to the Honorable, your predecessor, soliciting instructions relative to Vessels sailing under Carthaginian Colors, for ‘tis under this Flag that most of the Piracies are committed, and there is now added to that the Flag of the Patriots of Mexico, which will, I have no doubt, be also used as a cloak for every species of violence, Plunder and Piracy. These Vessels come to this Port: are received with the Hospitality of the most favored Nations: repair, equip and provision their Vessels, & clandestinely send off arms and men to the Sea Shore, with which to prey upon the commerce of this Port by capturing indiscriminately Vessels of every Nation bound thither, the cargoes of which are smuggled into this city, the Vessels are burned, and of their crews nothing is ever seen or heard. Permit me to request you to give me such instructions relative to armed Vessels under the above mentioned Flags as you may think necessary for my government.
Two fleet Brigs or Schooners, mounting 10 to 14 guns, attached to this Station, and which could be constantly kept cruising in the Gulf of Mexico, would afford great security to the commerce of this Port, which will be seriously injured unless the naval force is sufficiently strong to prevent it, and allay the fears of those engaged in it, which are already, I find, greatly excited.
General Gains and myself contemplate going to Grand Terre in a day or two, to fix upon a scite for a small Battery, to protect the entrance of Lake Barataria, by establishing a Military Post there, which would greatly aid the Naval Force in effecting the apprehension or dispersion of the Pirates. A Proclamation from the President of the United States on the subject would give me power over them, and greatly tend to their annihilation.
With sentiments of the highest consideration and respect,
I have the honor to be, Your obedient Servant,
Danl. T. Patterson
The Honble.,
Benjamin W. Crowninshield,
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington City.
Evidently Patterson’s letter on the subject of the Baratarians received immediate attention from the government, for we read:
A letter from Washington says that Barataria has again became a scene of pillage and smuggling but that orders were given immediately to break up the Establishment…It appears that those concerned in these nefarious practices are of the old stock, who fought out a pardon for themselves when New Orleans was attacked.
A good idea of the difficulty of navigating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea at this period can be derived from the following extracts from newspapers of this year 1815:
The sloop Leander, Davis, is said to have been plundered off Havana by a Carthaginian privateer.
The Spanish ship Carlota, from New York to Havana, put into Charleston in distress July 20, having been plundered by a small schooner under Carthaginian colors, but which Captain De Hita says was manned almost exclusively by Americans and was apparently from the United States. Captain De Hita sailed from New York June 8th and was captured on the 13th of July. There was another Spanish vessel, the brig Carmen from Philadelphia, in possession of the privateer.
The brig Sailor Boy, Devereaux, on her passage hence to Port au Prince was detained by a Carthaginian pirate and anchored on the north side of Cuba; after plundering the cabin of stores and the passengers and crew of their baggage and apparel, they were made prisoners and confined below. The pirates then commenced dismantling the vessel of her sails, rigging, and breaking open the hatches, &c., when a strange sail heaving in sight they left her in search of more valuable plunder.
Just what Patterson’s squadron accomplished during this year in its efforts to rid the seas of this continual menace is not definitely known, but one of his lieutenants, Thomas Cunningham, commanding the schooner Fire Brand, in September, recaptured an American brig and Spanish ship from pirates near "Isle Cayu," 50 miles west of Barataria. "A pilot boat, a schooner of about 90 tons, mounting one 12-pounder on a pivot, has been cruising for 15 days without a commission. The United States schooner Fire Brand hove in sight and was taken for a merchantman, the pirate firing two shots into her. The Fire Brand captured the pirate and had also taken a ship from the Baratarians, a Spaniard captured by Carthaginians and given up to the Baratarians.
1816-1818
The events of 1816 do not vary in any essential from those of the immediately preceding years. An important capture was that of the Comet, of which the official report follows:
New Orleans, 24th April, 1816
Sir…The Boxer captured an armed schooner under Carthaginian Colours, Commanded by a man named Mitchell, a most notorious Pirate. He had the hardihood to come into this River while the Boxer lay at the Balize, having on board 14 slaves and plunder of various kinds to a large amount, retained from the unfortunate persons who took passage on Board his Schooner when flying from Carthaginia, all of whom he landed on a small island on the Musquito Shore, and stolen from the Spanish Island of St. Andrews, the Governor of which, with six Soldiers, he caused to be shot. The Grand Jury have found a Bill against Mitchell and crew, and they have been turned over to the Civil authority. The Vessel, with the goods and effects found on Board her have been libeled for a Breach of the Slave laws.
I presume ‘tis Mitchell, the Commander of this Schooner, that is alluded to in this letter.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, Your obedient Servant,
Danl. T. Patterson
The Honble.,
Benj. W. Crowninshield,
Secretary of the Navy,
Washington, D.C.
The following is the enclosure mentioned in the foregoing letter:
New Orleans, April 15, 1816.
Sir: A most nefarious conspiracy is now forming against the Naval Officers of this place. Some of the villains who were formerly engaged in the noted piracies are now lurking here and meditate an attack on the lives of the officers, in revenge for past occurrences. They also intend blowing up the Tom Bowline or destroying her in some way or other. Let me beseech you to take proper preventative measures, as I believe the time for doing the Business is already appointed.
Who I am and my reasons for divulging the above cannot now be explained, but shall be before long.
Beware of Mitchell.
Commodore Patterson.
Some details of this affair are contained in a letter from an officer on board the Boxer.
We have captured and sent to New Orleans for trial the privateer Comet, under Carthaginian colors, having on board doubloons, Spanish dollars, bars of gold and silver, silver plates, jewelry, &c., valued at 50,000 dollars. She attempted to pass us but we were too quick on the trigger for her; we even did not fire a gun but merely trained them on her, which was sufficient.
Such acts, however, were not confined to the neighborhood of New Orleans:
We have some unpleasant accounts, but happily they are not very numerous, of acts of piracy in the West Indies. The depredators appear to be gathered of many nations and attack equally American and British vessels. Some irregularities have also been committed by vessels under the Spanish patriot flag; which, we hope, for their sake as well as our own, may be restrained.
The impossibility of distinguishing between privateering and piracy, when we were the victims, seems to have been equally experienced in cases where we were the aggressors. The lure of the traffic, it would seem, was often greater than respect for international comity, and American seamen took no small part in the questionable traffic—to-day privateering, to-morrow sheer piracy. There is no good reason for challenging the substantial accuracy of the Spanish Minister’s protest on this subject, addressed to the Secretary of State:
Washington, January 2, 1817.
Sir: The mischiefs resulting from the toleration of the armament of privateers in the ports of this Union, and of bringing into them, with impunity, the plunder made by these privateers on the Spanish trade, for the purpose of distributing it among those merchants who have no scruples in engaging in these piracies, have risen to such a height, that I should be wanting in my duty if I omitted to call your attention again to this very important subject.
It is notorious that, although the speculative system of fitting out privateers and putting them under a foreign flag, one disavowed by all nations, for the purpose of destroying the Spanish commerce, has been more or less pursued in all the ports of the Union, it is more especially in those of New Orleans and Baltimore where the greatest violations of the respect due to a friendly nation, and, if I may say so, of that due to themselves, have been committed; whole squadrons of pirates having been (fitted) out from thence, in violation of the solemn treaty existing between the two nations, and bringing back to them the fruits of their piracies, without being yet checked in these courses, either by the reclamations I have made, those of His Majesty’s consuls, or the decisive and judicious orders issued by the President for that purpose.
(Signed) Luis de Onis
This practice was made the subject of extensive investigation by the Spanish authorities:
By real orden of July 18, 1817, the intendant was instructed to secure evidence of injuries to the crown and subjects of Spain, caused directly or indirectly by the conduct of the government or subjects of the United States. The merchants of Havana were thereupon requested by the intendant to supply him with statements of their losses from pirates or insurgent privateers since the year 1808. The information obtained was embodied in an expediente, entitled, Report showing the losses which the commercial houses of Havana have suffered in their maritime expeditions since the year 1808, a document of about 100 pages, containing a multitude of interesting details relative to the commerce of the time, as well as to the activities of the pirates. The losses of 36 houses were estimated at 2,733,584 dollars from September 1808, to the year 1817. Two other expedients were subsequently formed to complete the report of these losses…
This digression from our story is due to a desire to place before the reader the main facts, whether creditable or no. That Americans were by no means guiltless is tacitly admitted by certain of our own officials, and a result, quite curious in itself, of the temporary waning of piracy, is thus reported officially. Robert M. Harrison, consul of the United States at the Island of St. Thomas, writes to the Secretary of State, under date of April 20, 1817:
The increasing number of American seamen, whose ill success in the privateers and pirates that infest those seas, induces them to relinquish those unprofitable pursuits, whenever an opportunity offers; and who almost universally swarm to this island to claim my protection and support, so that they daily almost surround my door, renders it again my duty to request instructions from the Department of State. I have not yet extended to such men, any more than a partial assistance, though many of them are in the greatest possible distress, considering that the expenditure of such large sums of money might be considered as advancing beyond the bounds of my duty. It is much to be regretted that the disappointment sustained by so great a number of our seamen, should not be sufficient to deter others from embarking in such enterprises.
Mr. Harrison also deplores the lack of American cruisers, again writing to the Secretary of State:
St. Thomas, May 30, 1817.
Numbers of American vessels, originally bound to the Spanish Main, where their cargoes could have been disposed of to great advantage, have been deterred from a prosecution of their voyage, from a dread of the piratical cruisers that infest those seas, and have been actually obliged to sacrifice their property here, whilst English vessels prosecute the trade in perfect safety, merely from the circumstance of there being a few English vessels of war on the West India seas. The presence of one of our smallest armed vessels would completely awe those marauders and enable our merchant vessels to prosecute a legal trade in safety. Her presence (of the Boxer) in this neighborhood would be attended with the most salutary effects.
The depredations upon American commerce in the Gulf of Mexico during the years around 1817 seem to have been the accompaniment of a widespread movement by organized bodies to carry on an illicit trade in slaves and smuggled goods. It is difficult, at times, to draw the line between mere infractions of law and the graver consequences flowing from those infractions. The general situation is officially stated in the following extracts from a letter from Beverly Chew, Collector at New Orleans, to Mr. Crawford, Secretary of the Treasury, dated August 1, 1817:
As it is your wish that every attempt to evade the provisions of the existing laws should be communicated to the Department, accompanied by suggestions of the measures necessary to repress the evil, I deem it my duty to state that the most shameful violations of the slave act, as well as our revenue laws, continue to be practiced, with impunity, by a motley mixture of freebooters and smugglers, at Galveston, under the Mexican flag, and being, in reality, little else than the reestablishment of the Barataria band, removed somewhat more out of the reach of justice; and unless the officers of the customs are provided with more effectual means for the enforcement of the laws, the treasury must suffer incalculably. To give you a more correct idea of this establishment, it will be necessary to be a little prolix, which I beg you will excuse. Galveston is a small island or sand-bar, situate in the bay of St. Bernard, on the coast of Texas, about ninety miles west of the Sabine, within the jurisdictional limits claimed by the United States, in virtue of the cession of Louisiana, to them by France. The establishment was recently made there by a Commodore Aury, with a few small schooners from Aux Cayes, manned in a great measure, with refugees from Barataria and mulattoes. This establishment was reinforced by a few more men from different points of the coast of Louisiana, the most efficient part of them being principally mariners, (Frenchman and Italians) who have been hanging loose upon society in and about New Orleans, in greater or smaller numbers, ever since the breaking up of the establishment of Barataria. Colonel Perry commanded one party of about eighty or ninety men of this new community, who had been enlisted principally as soldiers within our jurisdiction; and Mr. Herarra, coming with a few followers from New Orleans, brought up the rear; and then announced the establishment to the world by a proclamation, attested by a Frenchman by the name of Morin, very recently a bankrupt auctioneer in New Orleans, as Secretary of State. From this new station, fed and drawing all its resources from New Orleans, and keeping up a regular intelligence, through a variety of channels, with their friends here, an active system of plunder was commenced on the high seas, chiefly of Spanish property, but often without much concern as to the national character, particularly when money was in question. The captures made by their numerous cruisers (many owned by citizens of the United States) were condemned by a pretended court of admiralty there as prizes, and the cargoes introduced into this State, principally in a clandestine manner. The vessels thus condemned have generally come here under new names, and with the Mexican flag. Some of them have been detained by the United States naval force for hovering in our waters, and others have been libeled for restitution by the Spanish consul, in behalf of the original owners; and though several trials have come on before the honorable the United States district court for the district of Louisiana, and the claimants have never been able to produce proof of the Government of Galveston having ever been authorized by the Mexican republic, restitution has been decreed in several instances. There is no evidence of the establishment having been made or sanctioned by, or connected with, a Mexican republic, if one be now existing; and the presumption of such an actual establishment having been made or sanctioned by, or connected with, a Mexican republic, if one be now existing; and the presumption of such an actual establishment under such an authority is strongly repelled by the illegal and piratical character of the establishment, and its ambulatory nature. It is not only of very recent origin, but it is clothed with no character or permanency; for it was abandoned about the 5th of April, and transferred to Matagorda, leaving at Galveston only an advice boat, to advertise such privateers and prizes which might arrive there of the spot on which they had fixed their new residence. Some days after the abandonment of Galveston, several privateers arrived there, and among the rest the General Artigas, commanded by one G. Champlin, of New York, with two schooners, her prizes, the Patronila, with one hundred and thirteen slaves; and also a Spanish and a Portuguese vessel, and the American schooner Evening Post, of New York, Calvin Williams, master, prizes to the—, Captain Maurice Nicholas Jolly.
Among the most conspicuous characters who happened to be then at Galveston were many of the notorious offenders against our laws who had so lately been indulged with a remission of the punishment, who, so far from gratefully availing themselves of the lenity of the Government to return to or commence an orderly and honest life, seem to have regarded its indulgence almost as an encouragement to a renewal of their offences. You will readily perceive I allude to the Baratarians, among whom the Lafittes may be classes foremost, and most actively engaged in the Galveston trade, and owners of several cruisers under the Mexican flag…
On the part of these pirates we have to contend with, we behold an extended and organized system of enterprise, of ingenuity, of indefatigability, and of audacity, favored by a variety of local advantages, and supported always by force of arms; and, unless they be met by correspondent species of resistance, the results of the contest are of very simple calculation.
As a matter of fact, the Galveston gang, under "Commodore Aury," had, even at the time of Chew’s writing, moved to Amelia Island in East Florida. Later in the year a joint expedition under Captain J.D. Henley, U.S. Navy, in the John Adams, and Major James Bankhead, U.S. Army, was dispatched to break up this den and to stop smuggling and the slave trade. This was completed without bloodshed, Aury surrendering on December 24. We may suspect that Aury did not refrain from acts of piracy prior to that time, although evidence on this point is lacking.
The merry game of privateering went gaily on, largely, it was believed, by vessels fitted out in American ports. That there was good ground for this belief is manifest from the renewed protests filed in our Department of State by the Spanish Minister, Don Luis de Onis, under dates of January 15 and 16, February 10 and 11, 1817, as well as subsequently, on March 11, 26 and 29, and April 4.
While Spanish vessels were the chief sufferers, those under other flags were not spared. Captain Charles Morris, writing to the Secretary of the Navy from Balize, on June 21, 1817, says: "Since my last report of the 10th instant, complaints have been made of unwarrantable violence on vessels of the United States upon the coast of Campeachy by small patriot privateers. I have given orders for their detention should our vessels fall in with them." Captain Morris, in the frigate Congress, had relieved Commodore D.T. Patterson at New Orleans, and had assumed command of the entire West Indies squadron.
On July 28, Patterson, in command of the New Orleans Station, wrote to the Secretary of the Navy that "two American brigs have been robbed of Specie to a considerable amount in the Bay of Campeachy on their way thence from this port by a vessel under the Venezuelan flag—and the American Brig Charles bound from this Port to La Vera Cruz laden with Flour, American property, was boarded on the 11th ultimo by the Mex. Arm’d Vessel called the Mexican Congress and robbed of all her papers and her Mate detained on board."
Beverly Chew, Collector at New Orleans, wrote, under date of August 30, 1817, that the United States brig Boxer had sent in two small schooners with 30 slaves on board, and stated that Commodore Patterson had sent to the Secretary of the Navy a memorial of certain merchants in New Orleans, praying him to furnish convoy against "these piratical cruisers."