NEW ORLEANS From Bienville to Bourbon Street to bounce. 300 moments that make New Orleans unique.
WHAT HAPPENED On Sept. 13, 1814, 1718 ~ 2018 the U.S. attacked Lafitte’s Barataria 300 headquarters. TRICENTENNIAL
Part legend, part historic hero, part pirate, the story of Jean Lafitte looms large in Jean Lafitte, whose smuggled New Orleans’ history. goods made a him a cult figure along the Gulf Coast, became a leg- end after his involvement in the War of 1812 and his disappearance off the Texas coast. His tale has been An 1873 told in books and movies, including painting of in the 1938 semi-fictional account Lafitte as directed by Cecil B. DeMille, “The he looked at Buccaneer.” the Battle of New Or- leans.
An illustration of Lafitte and his men clearing the deck of a prize ship after commandeering it. Lafitte’s band of pirates (though he preferred the term ‘pri- vateer’) raided ships at the mouth of Mississippi River and re- lieved them of their cargo, which often included slaves. With his brother Pierre operating out of New Orleans, they sold the goods and the slaves from their secluded hideout in Barataria Bay. The hideout was a booming port in its own right from 1810 to 1814. During the War of 1812, Britain offered Lafitte $30,000 for his Jean Lafitte allegiance. Lafitte said he would cooperate, but then warned the has become U.S. of the pending British attack. Gov. W.C.C. Claiborne didn’t a character through believe Lafitte, and instead ordered the U.S. Navy and Army to the years, wipe out Lafitte’s Barataria headquarters. But Lafitte pressed shown THE HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION IMAGES COLLECTION ORLEANS NEW HISTORIC THE on, going to Gen. Andrew Jackson and offering to defend New here rendered Orleans with his men if Jackson would grant them a full pardon. as a little Jackson later personally commended Lafitte for his efforts boy’s costume in battle, and President James Madison pardoned the group. and as a doll. Lafitte returned to piracy and smuggling after the war and moved with his nearly 1,000 followers to Galveston, Texas. Af- ter he attacked U.S. ships in 1820, gaining the attention of the U.S. military, he burned the town and sailed away with a crew. Lafitte, in a meeting with Gov. William C. C. Claiborne and His end is unknown, but many believe he left behind a buried Gen. Andrew Jackson, before the Battle of New Orleans. treasure somewhere along the Gulf Coast.