"I have a company of men, brave, disciplined, armed and true to the death. Will the State accept of their services against the enemy or not?"
With these bold words Jean Lafitte, pirate king of the Louisiana bayous, offered his services to the United States against the British in the War of 1812.
It was to be a fortunate union for the Americans, but particularly for young Barnaby Winn, ship's boy aboard the U.S. naval schooner Carolina. Otherwise Barnaby might never have come to know so well the legendary Lafitte, or his henchmen, M. Chighizola, René Beluche, and Nez-Coupé (Cut-Nose) or dignified M. Picot and his daughter, petite Suzanne.
Captured by Lafitte when pirate guns struck the Carolina, Barnaby quickly came to admire this frequent visitor to the Picot plantation where Barnaby was held.
When Barnaby returned to his ship, word came that British troops were fast approaching New Orleans. General Andrew Jackson was forced at last to accept Lafitte's offer of men, arms and ammunition.
The month that followed was filled with fighting. But with the New Year came victory. The Americans had won and Barnaby, with men such as Jean Lafitte, would forever be a part of the victory at New Orleans.
We Were There books are easy to read and provide exciting, entertaining stories, based upon true historic events. Each story is checked for factual accuracy by an outstanding authority on this particular phase of our history. Though written simply enough for young readers, they make interesting reading for boys and girls well into their teens.
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