Chalmette, the Battle of New Orleans and the Pirate Jean Lafitte

New Orleans is such a historic city, every where you go there is another story and another moment in history.  Just south of New Orleans is Chalmette and the Chalmette Battlefield, the source of one such story.  Not far from Chalmette, are the small town of Jean Lafitte and the Jean Lafitte National Park both named for the pirate-patriot Jean Lafitte and the source for yet another story. 

The city of Chalmette is where, during the War of 1812, the Americans defeated the British and saved New Orleans in - the Battle of New Orleans.

The Battle of New Orleans had no influence on the signing of the Treaty of Ghent which ostensibly ended the War of 1812.  The treaty was signed on 24th of December, 1814, but news of the signing would not reach America until February, after the Battle of New Orleans.

Grossly outnumber the Americans, under the command of Major General Andrew Jackson, set up there defenses behind the Rodriguez Canal (on the grounds of the Chalmette Plantation) and won a decisive battle.      

With the defeat of the British, Jackson became a national hero and paved his path for "Old Hickory" becoming our 7th President of the United States.

As you walks along the now dry Rodriguez Canal one has to imagine that the earthen works that back up the canal were much larger at the actual time of the battle; for they are said to have been a major obstacle against the British who lacked ladders to both forge the canal and climb over the earthen works.  

The "sky-blue" painted cannons are the actual colors used by the army to identify army cannons, while the red cannons like-wise are colored to identify them as navy cannons.   

Major General Jackson was supported in his efforts by the unseemly pirate-patriot character named Jean Lafitte.

A bit of a contradiction in terms, Jean Lafitte was said to be - a ruthless pirate who together with his two brothers plundered the seas south of New Orleans and was said to be the richest man in America at the time.

Despite his pirating ways, he excluded American ships from his plunder. 

He was also a "true American" - a patriot who turned a down a purported $30,000 offer from the British to utilize his fleet of 500 ships and 5000 sailors.

Further, he was a patriot who boldly (despite outstanding rewards for his arrest) "raided the Louisiana Governors' home" in order to alert the Governor of the British planned attack. 

He was a defender of America who added his sailors in support of Major General Jackson's Army at Chalmette.

For his patriotic efforts Jean Lafitte received a full pardon from, then President, James Madison.

In order to really appreciate the beauty of the Jean Lafitte National Park one would need to walk along its many trails and spend more time either I or most tourist are willing give to such an adventure.  I myself found more enjoyment in reading and hearing of the exploits and life of the remarkable Jean Lafitte and taking few pictures along the way.