The Pirates Laffite

The Pirates Laffite 

By William C Davis

A brief book review by Tony Gerard

At well over 400 pages of text and copious footnotes , this book is a serious historical research text. I now feel I have a basic grasp of how the New Orleans pirate/privateer trade worked and who the major players involved were. It is a relentless chronology of political, economic and military moves which involved the Laffite brothers, Pierre and Jean. It reminds me of history books written in the early 20 century, and by that I mean it’s dry reading. 

I’ve got to confess, I didn’t finish the book. That makes it one of less than 10 books I’ve ever started in my life that I didn’t finish. After about 1819 or so I just no longer had any interest. Even the chapter on the Battle of New Orleans (which I have a lot of interest in) had not much to keep my attention. Maybe I just expected more about speculation about what life was like among the Baratarians, or about the social life of the Laffites. Maybe Davis is just too good a historian to speculate to make a book interesting.

It’s kinda like if Joe Friday (I know I’m showing my age here) wrote a history book. “Just the facts, Ma'am.”

From the Medical Journal 3

Nathaniel Drury, aged 20
Carpenter's Mate;

Disease or hurt:
Cuts on and about the face

Taken ill, 19 September at Sea,
North American Station

Discharged to Duty, 20 September.

Mr. Drury was brought in after being found near senseless by his hammock. His face, neck and hands were bloody, cut and bruised in a manner that would seem to suggest that he had been in a fight, Drury is small and slight of frame and I have I heard reports that he is oft teased for his size. After applying plasters to his cuts, he came around enough for me to ply him with a little brandy to help him recover his wits. I attempted to discover the name or names of the men who had beaten him, Drury took the brandy, but refused to divulge the names of the men who had gotten a hold of him. He insisted that he had not been fighting, but instead had fallen down the steps from the Orlop. I reminded Mr. Drury that rendering himself unfit for service was a serious offense, but his story remain'd firm.

I have submitted my report about Drury's injuries with the Captain, with a personal suggestion to grant Drury leniency, as it is my belief that he is covering up for the true culprits in an attempt to prevent future beatings.

Lieutenant's Log

On the North America station: Cloudy with mist today. We were unable to take the noon sightings. Wind out of the Nor East and steady. With luck the Captain will order the exercising of the guns before the first dog watch.

From the Medical Journal 2

Robert Sampson, 
Seaman;

Disease or hurt:
Compound fracture, taken ill
2 January at sea. Died later that day.

Unfortunately this evening about five o'clock while the people were reefing the topsails, (a) block strap of the maintopsail gave way and by the sudden driving threw several of the people off the yard. They all got into the top with little damage unless the poor man whose case I am now detailing. He fell down on the quarter deck, (there being no splinter netting in this ship which would have saved Him) near the Sky Light. Both thighs and the left arm were badly fractured. The left thigh was a compound fracture; about three Inches of the femur was propelled thro' the instrumentson the outside nearly about midway between the knee and head of the femoris. This portion had ruptured the femoral artery and dreadfully lacerated the contiguous muscles and by the violence of the fall was left sticking upwards of an inch and a half in the deck it was afterwards dug out with a mallet & chissell. As soon I accurately ascertained the extent of the of the injury he received, with the assistance of Mr. ___________, we proceeded to take off the left thigh and then replaced the fractured ends of the other thigh and left arm with proper Bandages & splints. From the time he fell he never spoke; but he was apparently quite sensible. We got him to bed and exhibited a codial draght, but his pulse gradually sunk and he expired almost imperceptibly at nine o'clock. He lost a good deal of blood before the operation from the artery being wounded but not so much as to endanger life. -- The Injurys he had sustained independant of concussion rendered his case a hopeless one.

 Originally Recorded by: Mr. John _______ , Asst. Surgeon, HMS Dryad, 1827-1828

Hollybrass

Samuel Hollybrass was typical of so many tars I served with- a capable hand, generous to a fault, fearless in a scrape and broke and busted within a forenight when ashore.  His particular friend was James Vaserman- the Surgeon's man who was mute. An odd pair they made. Vasserman was as close to a dandy as a sea going man could be. Tar just would not stick to him. Hollybrass could get filthy just watching another bloke work. They both had their hair cut short in the modern fashion. We all thought Vasserman figured it appealed better to the ladies. 

Hollybrass told us that his que once caught on a broke rail as he jumped from a ship afire and almost snatched his head off. He had to cut it off hisself as he hung there. He said he would never let that happen again. Which when they was together ashore there was Vasserman looking like a Banker's son and Hollybrass looking like a chimney sweep fallen on hard times. Some said Vasserman probably thought he looked that much more dapper by comparison.

- James Cullen, Remembrances of Eight years before the Mast, 1834.

What are you reading?

In the event you haven't noticed, we research and write a LOT, there's always something new to discover on the Acasta website. You can find specific content by following the labels at the bottoms of each day's posts, or by clicking on the links below. Let us know what your favorite stuff is:

200th - Posts with this label are posts that have to do with the 200th anniversary of some event that took place during the War of 1812. Either with the Acasta herself, or the war in general. Want to know what was happening on a particular date? Here you go.

Apple - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's carpenter Mr. Jas. Apple.

Baptiste - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Acasta Surgeon's Mate.

Book Review - These posts take a look at books written about Naval subjects of interest.

Capt Freymann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Captain Robert Freymann

Capt Hurlbut -  Posts with this label are either written BY or about Captain Tom Hurlbut, friend to the Acasta.

Capture - Information regarding historical captures made by the Acasta during her service.

CFNA- Posts related to the organization known as Crown Forces North America (CFNA).

Event Invite - These posts are invitations to the general public to attend specific historic events. A great way to figure out where the Acasta crew will be during the year!

History - Posts involving the REAL history of HMS Acasta or her crew

HMS Bounty - Articles or images concerning this particular vessel.

HMS Victory - Articles or images concerning this particular vessel.

Hollybrass - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta crew member Samuel Hollybrass, a generally unpleasant sort of fellow.

Images - This label is given to any post that is picture heavy. Looking for lots of awesome War of 1812 or Royal Navy recreation pictures? Look no further! The Acasta has been gifted with some amazing photography over the years from a variety of sources.

In The News - Historical news articles that make mention of the Acasta or her crew.

Jane Austen Festival - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Jane Austen Festival that is held every July in Louisville, KY.

Letter Writing - Posts relating to writing letters that look to be from the period portrayed by HMS Acasta. Great help if you wish to participate in the Mail Packet project.

LIST - This label is given to the series of reenactor list, Ways to improve, the best and worst things about the hobby, stupid questions asked by the public and so forth.

Lt Ramsey - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Second Lieutenant Michael Ramsey.

Lt. Hamilton - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's First Lieutenant Jim Hamilton.

Lt. Tumbusch - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's Third Lieutenant Tom Tumbusch.

Master & Commander - Posts that have to do with the Aubrey-Maturin series of books by author Patrick O'Brian or the 2003 movie.

Mail Packet - This label will involve letters (real or digital) sent or received by Acasta crew. It also occasionally has to do with a call to readers for letters, a fun project for authors and historians alike!

Medical Journal - These posts have to do with entries in the Surgeon's log book. Some are transcriptions from log books of the period, some are fictional.

Miscellany - A grab bag of odds and ends posts that couldn't really be labeled anything else.

Mission 1 - All posts pertain to the Acasta's first play test of the "Spy Game", a first person activity played between teams at Mississinewa 1812.

Mission 2 - A writing exercise by members of the crew involving the 1813 chase of the US vessel, 'Young Teazer'

Mission 3 - These posts involve the Doctor's special assignment to take part in a mock Naval assault at Niagara on the Lake.

Mission 4 - The Acastas go ashore at the Fair at New Boston in an attempt to catch a spy, and the Doctor gets engaged!

Mission X - All posts related to the Doctor's covert mission to France.

Mississinewa 1812 - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Mississinewa 1812 event that is held every October in Marion, IN.

Music - Music or lyrics (or both) to old period songs.

New Boston - Given to any post that has to do with the annual Fair at New Boston event that is held every Labor Day Weekend near Springfield, Ohio.

Press Gang - Content and images from the Acasta's Press Ganging activities at events.

Real Crew - Posts with this label are either written by or about REAL historical members of the crew of the Acasta between 1797-1815.

Red Box - Content and images having to do with the "Red Box' game.

Signal Flags - These posts involve images and information having to do with this means of communication during the War of 1812. Sometimes they even involve fun messages to be decoded!

Tall Ship - Posts with this label contain information about or images of tall ships.

The Doctor - Posts with this label are either written BY or about Acasta ship's surgeon Albert Roberts

Toasts - information pertaining to the Daily Royal Naval Toasts given at dinner.

Vassermann - Posts with this label are either written BY or about the Surgeon's personal servant James Vassermann.

Video - Any post with a video or a link to a video in it can be found here.

Wedding - These image heavy posts are all about the Doctor's 1813 style wedding.

AQUATIC MONSTER

MUCH conversation and interest have recently been excited at New York, by the description of an aquatic monster seen in the Atlantic, by the captain, passengers, and crew of the ship Niagara. The relation appeared so fabulous, that it received little credit, until the principal persons made affidavit of what they had been eye witnesses to. The following is the substance of the depositions, as they appear in the New York papers :

Affidavits.

"G. Bailey, late master of the ship Amsterdam packet, Wm. R. Handy, late master of the ship Lydias, and Adam Knox, late master of the schooner Augusta, all belonging to New York : Have deposed before me, Wm. Bleecker, notary public, that they were passengers on board the ship Niagara, which arrived at New York from Lisbon, on the 26th April ; that on the 8th April, being in lat. 43º 49', long. 48º at meridian, saw a large lump on the horizon, bearing N.W. distant six or eight miles, which they supposed to be the hull of a large ship, bottom upwards when within gun-shot of it, discovered that it had motion; and on a nearer approach, found it to be a FISH, apparently tuo hundred feet in length, about 30 broad, and from 17 to 38 feet high in the centre: its back appeared covered with a shell, formed similar to the planks of a clinker-built vessel near the head, on the right side, was, a large hole or archway, covered occasionally with a fin, which was at times eight or ten feet out of water: these deponents intended to have sent the boat to make farther discoveries, but were deterred by perceiving that the monster was moving, and that he occasioned a great rippling and current in the sea, which would, had it approached much nearer, have endangered the boat and the vessel. At one time, they approached within thirty yards of it."

From: Page 47 of The Naval Chronicle, for 1813; VOL. XXX. (From July to December.)