Plunder and Pardon: Piracy, Presidency, and the Battle of New Orleans

When we think of a pirate, we automatically think of Jack Sparrow. What if Jack Sparrow assisted a future president in wartime by kicking the British out of New Orleans to receive a pardon from another president for his previous plundering?

We know that pirate wasn’t Jack Sparrow. Though Disney would love to tell that version, I still doubt there are enough alpacas to pay Johnny Depp.

The Legend of the Battle of New Orleans

My mom used sing this song about the Battle of New Orleans. “In 1814, we took a little trip down the mighty Mississippi along with Colonel Jackson. . .” They were there to save the city of New Orleans from the British. The brand new nation had to once again fight off the very Army who’d they’d beat only a few decades before. Now, they were knocking at the door of America’s newest state, Louisiana.

As a Tennessean transplanted from Louisiana, I learned how the importance of this battle. When I was younger and still lived in Louisiana, I also became acquainted with a pirate who roamed around the Gulf Coast named Jean Laffitte. His name is never mentioned in the folk tune about the famous battle.

Louisiana Highway 14, where my grandparents’ home sits across from my aunt’s across the street is part of the state’s byways and highways project (scenic routes). These were historical areas for many reasons. This particular area is rumored to be Jean Lafitte’s old stomping grounds.

In 2015, I took my daughter to Nashville for Spring Break. On our way home, we stopped at The Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s home) and they were celebrating 200 year anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. In the little film that visitors to the house see, it talked about Jean Lafitte being given a pardon for he and his men helping Jackson.

In 1807, Lafitte had been forced out of New Orleans because of the Embargo Act, but he knew the waterways along the coast fairly well. During the Battle of New Orleans, Jackson realized that the pirates who’d been plundering ships originating in Spain, England, and other European countries might be able to help American troops fight the British on two fronts: land and sea.

Deal With a Pirate

Anyone who has visited the Crescent City knows that the port isn’t exactly simple. A pirate who knew the small waterways and was good at zipping in and out of the channels — he could easily get a leg up on the redcoats. Jackson made a deal. The then future seventh president of the country struck a deal with Lafitte. The pirate received a pardon from the US government for his efforts. Still piracy was technically illegal in that great new country.

The area of southwest Louisiana that partially makes up Calcasieu, Cameron, and Beauregard Parishes were known a “neutral strip.” in the early 19th century. Remember, that’s mostly marshland. One only has to look at a map to see how many bayous and lakes surround what is now the city of Lake Charles. It became a popular spot for outlaws and pirates.

For some, this seems a little boring. If you’re into pirates and buried treasure, it’s very interesting. There have been various theories bandied around in the last 200-plus years about the location of Jean Lafitte’s treasure. The ban himself has become something of a hero. The word “contraband” is usually something bad or something you’re forbidden to have. It’s the name of a bayou in southwest Louisiana. Casinos and festivals have capitalized on the word to create more fun.

Heroes In the Aftermath

Jackson became president largely on his military successes. He was hailed as a hero. The Battle of New Orleans effectively ended the War of 1812 even though peace talks had already begun and a treaty had already been signed. The British suffered heavily and lost interest in America since Napoleon escaped Elba and began another European campaign.

Lafitte’s presence influenced three presidencies: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Andrew Jackson. For various reasons, Jefferson and Jackson have been controversial over this past summer due to Jefferson owning slaves and fathering children with a slave. Jackson received slack for his policies regarding Native Americans. No president is perfect. In the early nineteenth century, Jefferson acquired the Louisiana purchase, which led to the largest portion of land being added to what is now the United States and possibly helped the nation eventually reach from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Perhaps the one thing that came out of the battle that nobody ever even considered was the beginning of the Cajun Navy. Jackson got support from many sources, including the Mexican government. Jackson started his military career as a youngster. However, Lafitte himself was a slave smuggler, which was typical for pirates of the time. As a fellow adopted Volunteer with Cajun blood, I’d like to think that maybe this was the beginning of that bond that goes beyond military attributes.

***This post provides Amazon affiliate links. The blog may receive a small compensation for items purchased for clicks to Amazon from this page.***