s, broken here and there by inlets of
the Mexican Gulf, and sluggish, winding bayous that lead up into the
higher lands of the State,--waterways that lead even to the back door
of the Crescent City herself, but known only to oyster-gatherers, or
in 1814 to the adventurous men who followed the banner of Lafitte the
Baratarian pirate.

Pirate he was called then; but it is doubtful whether his misdeeds
ever exceeded smuggling, or, at worst, privateering under the
protecting flag of some belligerent nation. When all nations were
warring, what was easier than for a few gallant fellows, with
swift-sailing feluccas, to lurk about the shores of the gulf, and now
under the Spanish flag, now under the French, or any colors which
suited the case, sally out and capture the richly laden Indiamen that
frequented those summer seas? And when a power known as the United
States Government, that had its quarters more than a thousand miles
from the country of the Creoles, passed an outrageous law known as the
embargo, what was more natural than that the Baratarians, knowing the
mysterious waterways that led up to the Crescent City, should utilize
their knowledge to take ships and cargoes in and out without the
formality of a custom-house examination? Such were the times that led
to the formation and growth of the "piratical" colony of Barataria.
Its leaders and rulers were John and Pierre Lafitte; one of whom lived
in New Orleans in the character of a prosperous merchant, while the
other led the expeditions which brought in merchandise to stock the
former's stores. Under the influence of the warlike state of Europe,
the trade of these worthies throve, and their settlement at Grande
Isle took on the appearance of a prosperous colony and naval station.
Storehouses and dwellings stood close to the sea. The fertile face of
the island was cut up into fruitful plantations and orange-groves.
Breastworks, well dotted with the muzzles of cannon, commanded the
approach by sea. More than once, from behind those ramparts, the
Baratarians had proved that they could fight, and that they
acknowledged the authority of no flag. The Creoles of New Orleans
looked indulgently upon the conduct of the outlaws; but the few
Americans in the city were highly incensed to see the authority of the
United States thus set aside, and vowed that when the war was over the
audacious adventurers should be crushed. However, the end came even
sooner.

On the 3d of Septembe