New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-01-17

of her armament.
When we returned to Galveston, Laft
l called us all t0gether-men and officers
and told us that he was determined to ri
up following the sea, and would leave u
! that if we desired, we could choose q ne
/ leader. We were very sorry to hear TIL
for we all loved our intrepid and genera
l Lafrte. and endeavered to shake b
resolution. But he was firm, and so Y
I went into an election, and Chauvet, Lafitte
I first lieutenant, WAS chosen our leade
! Shortly after Lafitte babe us adieu, an
taking one ship-the Chiquita-sailed f,
South America. remained benin on tt
4 island. with Chauvet. Chauvet was mott IL
1 leader LATTE was. He lacked dash an
! avaraciOus and Overbearing. We feare
him. but did not love him as we did LATTE
Well. one day Chauvet took command
the Vengeance, the fastest vessel and bee
armed in our navy. and sailed into the gu
for a cruise.
! We stopped at one Of the Florida key
and while there Chalvet received some dil
patches. the contents Of which seemed t
give him intense pleasure. He immediatel
weighed al Choir and ran into the Atlantic
heading for Hatteras. After We got of Ha,
on che lookout, with strict orders to repOr
! every sail he saw. One day, think it wa
sometime in the month of March or April
! 1873, the man alOft reported q strange sal
on our larboard. Chauvet seized his glass
| and after viewing the stranger for SOM
time. ordered the men piped into quarters
! and the deck cleared for action. was thel
! the gunner of the same identical six pound
! er captured at New Orleans. All! but she
! was beauty. never missed with her.
We kept the stranger in sight until dark
and then, under press Of sail. began to craw
upon her. She was fast sailer, but Mon
Oieu! she was > tortoise compared to the
Vengeance. About daybreak next day We
were close enough TO make her out dis
tinctly. She was pilot-built schooner and
was armed, two guns awidships and q
swivel forward. We ran about 200 cables
length distant from her, and Chauvet,
Piled that she was the American privateer
schooner Patriot, bound from Georgetown,
South Carolina, to New York, and ran up
the stars and stripes.
Chauvet, instead Of displaying the VeAe-
zuelan flag, under which We usually sailed.
flung to the breeze tho terrible black flag.
and fred broadside into her. Mon Dieu
she Yankees were no towards. and they
replied with their tarboard gun and their
swivel. And we'll aimed they were, TOO.
for We had four men killed and some six
wounded by the discharge, besides having
eur rigging badly cut up. After sharp but
brief conflict We carried her by boarding.
and every soul was either put 70 the sword
or made food Tor sharks in our own peculiar
way. All: but didn't my pet, my beauty
my little six-pounder-do good work!
Never shot missed. She behaved splen.
didiy. And didn't pet her and kiss her
when the fight was over and che prize Sc
cured. A prize, indeed, the Patriot proved.
ShQ had h1Hn cFniSinn
depredating upon British commerce, and
was returning to New York to divide the
plundey.
After We had disposed Of the dead and
living privateersmen, Chauret descended
INTO The cabin, and pretty soon he called out
"A an angry tone for myself and my mate to
20 60 MIN. We descended and found him in
he cabin confronted by beautiful woman
Who held an empty bottle in her hand, with
which she had struck Chauvet, who had at. I
enHted. it seems. to make too free with I
lei. lie ordered US to tie her hand and foot
mo convey her on board the Vengeance and (
.lace her in his cabin. We obeyed him. But I
he fought US. and did all she could o. jump
verboerd.
After cutting the captured vessel and
the yaluables 70 the Vengeance I
'e fired her and then headed for Galveston
,land.
III.
ylng the Venezuelan flag, we had a terrible
ght with q Spanish cruiser, and being
ably hulied and cut up, and after losing
ne third OF our crew (ah! the brave fellows.
oW calamity they fOught!) we took advan-
ago OF foggy night to draw off, and under /
AL press OF canvas made TO, the island.
pom our arrival We found the Vengeance
} badly damaged that it became necessary
, remove from her her armament and all
a ~ hao
y repairs.
We had gotten everything OF sut three
-Four guns. my little six-pounder among
ie number, when one night, through some
fernal carelessnees Of the Waterman. thu, |
sngeance caught IRE and burned to the
ater's edge. and in few hours after sank |
inc channel between our town, on the |
'st end OF Galveston island, and our navy
'rd. which was about halt mile to tho ! i,
est.
All, how my heart bled 20 lose nv oes-
y little six-pounder. ] grieved over its
ss even as grieved over the death of one '
my comrades 0, little beauty. / little
ped ever to hear Of you again. Yes sirs. !
at cannon described in your paper is nv s.
st pet. l know her. Have not handled !
r! pOf'6 know every mark on herr | =
re marks you describe near the cross were =
ade by a cursed Spanish shot in our on. =
cement in che guilt. II 1 were not 90 old | I
d so feeble would travel to Galveston | :,
see once more my little pet.
inc w6man captured on tho privateer =
ID q few days after our arrival in Calves. u
>: She was very handsome woman, -
d ! afterwsId learned was the daughter ! !"
q distinguished American. Her clothing ! y
WHICH was OF tke finest materiaI-vaS :,
rked"T. A." and che had . golden =,
ket containing the portrait Of beauti- ~ :.
o"y. YIN the locket Wero the words, %
my wife. Theodosia." She was buried :.
the island: few hundred yards to the =. =.
& OF the old fort on the point. 1t was - -
ispered among the men that Chsuvet p
! Killed her because she would not yield ..
his wishes. u
hope. sirs. you will excuse the prosv ~
OF All old man. am nearing nv end - ~
e much 70 repent OF. But when saw I tA
DESCRIPTION in your paper Of my lost I ~,
, 1slt compelled 70 writs you the truth ~
ut her: My old comrades whs are u .,i
ng-and some were living in Texas w.
ago--caE bear witness to tho truth Of =.
az have written. I am uearing Che ~
We. A few weeks. nay days, and NAV ~
zone. There are but few Of nv old com. e ee
es living. Those that are will remember
when they read the name bore in the u un
re days o. LATTE. They will remember es
best gunne, LATTE and Chauvet ever pc
the best oarsman and tho one whom ~,
: nickDamed ''rEcolier."
you publish this in your paper please S ba
sct the English and put some polish to 10
IA sentences. for have some pride vet an
the reputation for scholarship W
'"Jed among the brave 6Hbusters Of "
tie. 10
| Hes
4 Michisau Boar Hunt. to!
Saturday afternoon two men named I ar
r. Marshall and John Ebbitts. the for. | Do
a drummer for New York house. and ne,
after residen: OF Detroit. started from me-
IA Branch on bear hunting expedi. an
~