Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-08-19

anQ ABOUT . % CLOCK IN the morning
the cannon of the British forces were
brought to bear upon it, but without
effect. Gen. Carroll, with his flat boat
drilled Tennesseeans, went to work like
men accustomed to such scenes. Gen.
Coffee had position with the troops
hunder him near the woods, and was
very successful in repelling the attacks
of the enemy, and the volunteers Of
Louisiana under Maj. Pluche covered
themselves with glory. .Laftte and his
followers had command of two guns
near the edge,,of the river, and precis-
ion and GOODNESS of his every move
ment won for him the appreciation of
ALL"
Thirty days after the battle the Pres
ident issued his proclamation of amnes-
ty, in which he said
among the evils produced by the
wars which, with little intermission,
have afflicted Europe, and extended
their ravages into other parts of the
globe, for a period exceeding twenty
years, the dispersion of considerable
portion of the inhabitants of different
countries, in sorrow and want, has
not been the least injurious to human
happiness, nor the least severe in the
trials of human virtue. It had been
ascertained that many foreigners flying
from the dangers Of their own homes,
and that same Of our citizens, forget
full Of their duty, have co-operated in
forming an establishment On the Island
al Barataria, near the mouth of the
Mississippi, for the purpose of clan
destine and lawless trade. Hfa sr-
The President then goes on to recite
the herioc conduct of the outlaws at
New Orleans, and closes with a grant
of full amnesty for all past offe1lses. s25
Soon after the pirate chief visited
Washington and was received with
much distinction by the President and
other officials. 70 For time he seemed
to enjoy the. batteries Of Government
officials, but evidently grew restless,
went to Baltimore, purchased vessel,
called for a volunteer crew, and with
a commission obtained from one Of the
agents of the South American Repub-
| lie, sailed for the gulf. Of his opera
tions there the following, from report
of the Governor of Louisiana, will give
a key The writer says: "The break
ing up of, these freebOoters is Of the
utmost Importance to the United States,
for it is ascertained that vessels clearing
from New Orleans with passengers
have been captured; every soul on
board murdered, and the Identical
cargoes brought to New Orleans and
sold by the pirates agents. ''a- 80 %@1
A rendezvous being Indispensable,
and not daring to return to Barataria,
Laftte fixed upon the present site OF
Galveston, and hoisted his flag there in
1917. ~ a....sa17 l' ."ss.Tif@ al . -'rA
| Very soon after the Collector of
! Customs at New Orleans wrote to the
authorities at Washington as follows:
l. 81 deem it my duty to state that the
most shameful violations of our revenue
laws continue to be committed with
inpunity by a motley mixture Of free
! hooters and smugglers at Galveston,
it being no less than there establishment
of La4itte's Baratarian band, somewhat
more out Of the reach of justice. y bsr
But, strange to say, the Government
took no action, and the rover who had
been the Presidents guest still secured
the sea for booty. His force increased,
until his navy consisted Of thirteen
armed vessels, manned by 200 men.
The largest Of his ships mounted four
teen heavy guns o. q. 'l 1"f. p n'"H
In 1919 the Collector of New Orleans
| again wrote to his Government, urging
the breaking up Of the band, and
said: = "s'"@14 L"' $40! e. las.I1 o. 81
q con the part Of these pirates we
have to contend with, we behold an
extended and organized system Of en-
terprise, Of ingenuity, Of interchangeable
ty, and audacity, favored by a variety
Of local advantages, and supported
always by force of arms. y ...l...
In 1912 decisive action was taken,
and Lieut. Kearney, with the Enter
prise, appeared before Galveston and
demanded it's immediate evacuation
There was no alternative, and il two
months the last Of the pirates had fed,
and organized American piracy became
a thing of the past.
Laftte died in Yucatan four years
after, and is buried in the little Indian
village of Silan, about Is miles from
Merida the CaDita1