placed upon the breastwork in the third embrasure from the river, drew,
from the fatal skill and activity with which it was managed, even in
the heat of battle, the admiration of both Americans and British; and
became one of the points most dreaded by the advancing foe.

Here was stationed Lafitte and his lieutenant Dominique and a large band
of his men, who during the continuance of the battle, fought with
unparalleled bravery. The British already had been twice driven back in
the utmost confusion, with the loss of their commander-in-chief, and two
general officers.

Two other batteries were manned by the Barratarians, who served their
pieces with the steadiness and precision of veteran gunners. In the
first attack of the enemy, a column pushed forward between the levee and
river; and so precipitate was their charge that the outposts were forced
to retire, closely pressed by the enemy. Before the batteries could meet
the charge, clearing the ditch, they gained the redoubt through the
embrasures, leaping over the parapet, and overwhelming by their superior
force the small party stationed there.

Lafitte, who was commanding in conjunction with his officers, at one of
the guns, no sooner saw the bold movement of the enemy, than calling a
few of his best men by his side, he sprung forward to the point of
danger, and clearing the breastwork of the entrenchments, leaped,
cutlass in hand, into the midst of the enemy, followed by a score of his
men, who in many a hard fought battle upon his own deck, had been well
tried.

Astonished at the intrepidity which could lead men to leave their
entrenchments and meet them hand to hand, and pressed by the suddenness
of the charge, which was made with the recklessness, skill and rapidity
of practised boarders bounding upon the deck of an enemy's vessel, they
began to give way, while one after another, two British officers fell
before the cutlass of the pirate, as they were bravely encouraging their
men. All the energies of the British were now concentrated to scale the
breastwork, which one daring officer had already mounted. While Lafitte
and his followers, seconding a gallant band of volunteer riflemen,
formed a phalanx which they in vain assayed to penetrate.

The British finding it impossible to take the city and the havoc in
their ranks being dreadful, made a precipitate retreat, leaving the
field covered with their dead and wounded.

General Jackson, in his correspondence with the secretary of war did not
fail to notice the conduct of the "Corsairs of Barrataria," who were, as
we have already seen, employed in the artillery service. In the course
of the campaign they proved, in an unequivocal manner, that they had
been misjudged by the enemy, who a short time previous to the invasion
of Louisiana, had hoped to enlist them in his cause. Many of them were
killed or wounded in the defence of the country. Their zeal, their
courage, and their skill, were remarked by the whole army, who could no
longer consider such brave men as criminals. In a few days peace was
declared between Great Britain and the United States.

The piratical establishment of Barrataria having been broken up and
Lafitte not being content with leading an honest, peaceful life,
procured some fast sailing vessels, and with a great number of his
followers, proceeded to Galvezton Bay, in Texas, during the year 1819;
where he received a commission from General Long; and had five vessels
generally cruising and about 300 men. Two open boats bearing commissions
from General Humbert, of Galvezton, having robbed a plantation on the
Marmento river, of negroes, money, &c., were captured in the Sabine
river, by the boats of the United States schooner Lynx. One of the men
was hung by Lafitte, who dreaded the vengeance of the American
government. The Lynx also captured one of his schooners, and her prize
that had been for a length of time smuggling in the Carmento. One of
his cruisers, named the Jupiter, returned safe to Galvezton after a
short cruise with a valuable cargo, principally specie; she was the
first vessel that sailed under the authority of Texas. The American
government well knowing that where Lafitte was, piracy and smuggling
would be the order of the day, sent a vessel of war to cruise in the
Gulf of Mexico, and scour the coasts of Texas. Lafitte having been
appointed governor of Galvezton and one of the cruisers being stationed
off the port to watch his motions, it so annoyed him that he wrote the
following letter to her commander, Lieutenant Madison.

_To the commandant of the American cruiser, off the port of Galvezton_.

Sir--I am convinced that you are a cruiser of the navy, ordered by your
government. I have therefore deemed it proper to inquire into the cause
of your living before this port without communicating your intention. I
shall by this message inform you, that the port of Galvezton belongs to
and is in the possession of the republic of Texas, and was made a port
of entry the 9th October last. And whereas the supreme congress of said
republic have thought proper to appoint me as governor of this place, in
consequence of which, if you have any demands on said government, or
persons belonging to or residing in the same, you will please to send an
officer with such demands, whom you may be assured will be treated with
the greatest politeness, and receive every satisfaction required. But if
you are ordered, or should attempt to enter this port in a hostile
manner, my oath and duty to the government compels me to rebut your
intentions at the expense of my life.

To prove to you my intentions towards the welfare and harmony of your
government I send enclosed the declaration of several prisoners, who
were taken in custody yesterday, and by a court of inquiry appointed
for that purpose, were found guilty of robbing the inhabitants of the
United States of a number of slaves and specie. The gentlemen bearing
this message will give you any reasonable information relating to this
place, that may be required.

Yours, &c.

J. LAFITTE.

About this time one Mitchell, who had formerly belonged to Lafitte's
gang, collected upwards of one hundred and fifty desperadoes and
fortified himself on an island near Barrataria, with several pieces of
cannon; and swore that he and all his comrades would perish within their
trenches before they would surrender to any man. Four of this gang
having gone to New Orleans on a frolic, information was given to the
city watch, and the house surrounded, when the whole four with cocked
pistols in both hands sallied out and marched through the crowd which
made way for them and no person dared to make an attempt to arrest them.

The United States cutter, Alabama, on her way to the station off the
mouth of the Mississippi, captured a piratical schooner belonging to
Lafitte; she carried two guns and twenty-five men, and was fitted out at
New Orleans, and commanded by one of Lafitte's lieutenants, named Le
Fage; the schooner had a prize in company and being hailed by the
cutter, poured into her a volley of musketry; the cutter then opened
upon the privateer and a smart action ensued which terminated in favor
of the cutter, which had four men wounded and two of them dangerously;
but the pirate had six men killed; both vessels were captured and
brought into the bayou St. John. An expedition was now sent to dislodge
Mitchell and his comrades from the island he had taken possession of;
after coming to anchor, a summons was sent for him to surrender, which
was answered by a brisk cannonade from his breastwork. The vessels were
warped close in shore; and the boats manned and sent on shore whilst the
vessels opened upon the pirates; the boat's crews landed under a galling
fire of grape shot and formed in the most undaunted manner; and although
a severe loss was sustained they entered the breastwork at the point of
the bayonet; after a desperate fight the pirates gave way, many were
taken prisoners but Mitchell and the greatest part escaped to the
cypress swamps where it was impossible to arrest them. A large quantity
of dry goods and specie together with other booty was taken. Twenty of
the pirates were taken and brought to New Orleans, and tried before
Judge Hall, of the Circuit Court of the United States, sixteen were
brought in guilty; and after the Judge had finished pronouncing sentence
of death upon the hardened wretches, several of them cried out in open
court, _Murder--by God_.

Accounts of these transactions having reached Lafitte, he plainly
perceived there was a determination to sweep all his cruisers from the
sea; and a war of extermination appeared to be waged against him.

In a fit of desperation he procured a large and fast sailing brigantine
mounting sixteen guns and having selected a crew of one hundred and
sixty men he started without any commission as a regular pirate
determined to rob all nations and neither to give or receive quarter. A
British sloop of war which was cruising in the Gulf of Mexico, having
heard that Lafitte himself was at sea, kept a sharp look out from the
mast head; when one morning as an officer was sweeping the horizon with
his glass he discovered a long dark looking vessel, low in the water,
but having very tall masts, with sails white as the driven snow. As the
sloop of war had the weather gage of the pirate and could outsail her
before the wind, she set her studding sails and crowded every inch of
canvass in chase; as soon as Lafitte ascertained the character of his
opponent, he ordered the awnings to be furled and set his big
square-sail and shot rapidly through the water; but as the breeze
freshened the sloop of war came up rapidly with the pirate, who, finding
no chance of escaping, determined to sell his life as dearly as
possible; the guns were cast loose and the shot handed up; and a fire
opened upon the ship which killed a number of men and carried away her
foretopmast, but she reserved her fire until within cable's distance of
the pirate; when she fired a general discharge from her broadside, and a
volley of small arms; the broadside was too much elevated to hit the low
hull of the brigantine, but was not without effect; the foretopmast
fell, the jaws of the main gaff were severed and a large proportion of
the rigging came rattling down on deck; ten of the pirates were killed,
but Lafitte remained unhurt. The sloop of war entered her men over the
starboard bow and a terrific contest with pistols and cutlasses ensued;
Lafitte received two wounds at this time which disabled him, a grape
shot broke the bone of his right leg and he received a cut in the
abdomen, but his crew fought like tigers and the deck was ankle deep
with blood and gore; the captain of the boarders received such a
tremendous blow on the head from the butt end of a musket, as stretched
him senseless on the deck near Lafitte, who raised his dagger to stab
him to the heart. But the tide of his existence was ebbing like a
torrent, his brain was giddy, his aim faltered and the point descended
in the Captain's right thigh; dragging away the blade with the last
convulsive energy of a death struggle, he lacerated the wound. Again the
reeking steel was upheld, and Lafitte placed his left hand near the
Captain's heart, to make his aim more sure; again the dizziness of
dissolution spread over his sight, down came the dagger into the
captain's left thigh and Lafitte was a corpse.

The upper deck was cleared, and the boarders rushed below on the main
deck to complete their conquest. Here the slaughter was dreadful, till
the pirates called out for quarter, and the carnage ceased; all the
pirates that surrendered were taken to Jamaica and tried before the
Admiralty court where sixteen were condemned to die, six were
subsequently pardoned and ten executed.

[Illustration: _Death of Lafitte, the Pirate._]

Thus perished Lafitte, a man superior in talent, in knowledge of his
profession, in courage, and moreover in physical strength; but
unfortunately his reckless career was marked with crimes of the darkest
dye.

[Illustration]




THE LIFE OF CAPTAIN ROBERTS.


Bartholomew Roberts was trained to a sea-faring life. Among other
voyages which he made during the time that he lawfully procured his
maintenance, he sailed for the Guinea cost, in November, 1719, where he
was taken by the pirate Davis. He was at first very averse to that mode
of life, and would certainly have deserted, had an opportunity occurred.
It happened to him, however, as to many upon another element, that
preferment calmed his conscience, and reconciled him to that which he
formerly hated.

Davis having fallen in the manner related, those who had assumed the
title of Lords assembled to deliberate concerning the choice of a new
commander. There were several candidates, who, by their services, had
risen to eminence among their breathren, and each of them thought
themselves qualified to bear rule. One addressed the assembled lords,
saying, "that the good of the whole, and the maintenance of order,
demanded a head, but that the proper authority was deposited in the
community at large; so that if one should be elected who did not act and
govern for the general good, he could be deposed, and another be
substituted in his place."

"We are the original," said he, "of this claim, and should a captain be
so saucy as to exceed prescription at any time, why, down with him! It
will be a caution, after he is dead, to his successors, to what fatal
results any undue assumption may lead; however, it is my advice, while
be are sober, to pitch upon a man of courage, and one skilled in
navigation,--one who, by his prudence and bravery, seems best able to
defend this commonwealth, and ward us from the dangers and tempests of
an unstable element, and the fatal consequences of anarchy; and such a
one I take Roberts to be: a fellow in all respects worthy of your esteem
and favor."

This speech was applauded by all but Lord Simpson, who had himself
strong expectations of obtaining the highest command. He at last, in a
surly tone, said, he did not regard whom they chose as a commander,
provided he was not a papist, for he had conceived a mortal hatred to
papists, because his father had been a sufferer in Monmouth's rebellion.

Thus, though Roberts had only been a few weeks among them, his election
was confirmed by the Lords and Commons. He, with the best face he could,
accepted of the dignity, saying, "that since he had dipped his hands in
muddy water, and must be a pirate, it was better being a commander than
a private man."

The governor being settled, and other officers chosen in the room of
those who had fallen with Davis, it was resolved not to leave this place
without revenging his death. Accordingly, thirty men, under the command
of one Kennedy, a bold and profligate fellow, landed, and under cover of
the fire of the ship, ascended the hill upon which the fort stood. They
were no sooner discovered by the Portuguese, than they abandoned the
fort, and took shelter in the town. The pirates then entered without
opposition, set fire to the fort, and tumbled the guns into the sea.

Not satisfied with this injury, some proposed to land and set the town
in flames. Roberts however, reminded them of the great danger to which
this would inevitably expose them; that there was a thick wood at the
back of the town, where the inhabitants could hide themselves, and that,
when their all was at stake, they would make a bolder resistance: and
that the burning or destroying of a few houses, would be a small return
for their labor, and the loss that they might sustain. This prudent
advice had the desired effect, and they contented themselves with
lightening the French vessel, and battering down several houses of the
town, to show their high displeasure.

Roberts sailed southward, captured a Dutch Guineaman, and, having
emptied her of everything they thought proper, returned her to the
commander. Two days after, he captured an English ship, and, as the men
joined in pirating, emptied and burned the vessel, and then sailed for
St. Thomas. Meeting with no prize, he sailed for Anamaboa, and there
watered and repaired. Having again put to sea, a vote was taken whether
they should sail for the East Indies or for Brazil. The latter place was
decided upon, and they arrived there in twenty-eight days.

Upon this coast our rovers cruised for about nine weeks, keeping
generally out of sight of land, but without seeing a sail; which
discouraged them so, that they determined to leave the station, and
steer for the West Indies; and, in order thereto, they stood in to make
the land for the taking of their departure, by which means they fell in,
unexpectedly, with a fleet of forty-two sail of Portuguese ships, off
the Bay of Los Todos Santos, with all their lading in for Lisbon;
several of them of good force, who lay there waiting for two men of war
of seventy guns each for their convoy. However, Roberts thought it
should go hard with him but he would make up his market among them, and
thereupon he mixed with the fleet, and kept his men concealed till
proper resolutions could be formed; that done, they came close up to one
of the deepest, and ordered her to send the master on board quietly,
threatening to give them no quarter, if any resistance or signal of
distress was made. The Portuguese, being surprised at these threats, and
the sudden flourish of cutlasses from the pirates, submitted without a
word, and the captain came on board. Roberts saluted him in a friendly
manner, telling him that they were gentlemen of fortune, and that their
business with him was only to be informed which was the richest ship in
that fleet; and if he directed them right, he should be restored to his
ship without molestation, otherwise he must expect instant death.

He then pointed to a vessel of forty guns, and a hundred and fifty men;
and though her strength was greatly superior to Roberts', yet he made
towards her, taking the master of the captured vessel along with him.
Coming alongside of her, Roberts ordered the prisoner to ask, "How
Seignior Captain did?" and to invite him on board, as he had a matter of
importance to impart to him. He was answered, "That he would wait upon
him presently." Roberts, however, observing more than ordinary bustle on
board, at once concluded they were discovered, and pouring a broadside
into her, they immediately boarded, grappled, and took her. She was a
very rich prize, laden with sugar, skins, and tobacco, with four
thousand moidores of gold, besides other valuable articles.

In possession of so much riches, they now became solicitous to find a
safe retreat in which to spend their time in mirth and wantonness. They
determined upon a place called the Devil's Island upon the river
Surinam, where they arrived in safety, and met with a kind reception
from the governor and the inhabitants.

In this river they seized a sloop, which informed them that she had
sailed in company with a brigantine loaded with provisions. This was
welcome intelligence, as their provisions were nearly exhausted. Deeming
this too important a business to trust to foreign hands, Roberts, with
forty men in the sloop, gave chase to that sail. In the keenness of the
moment, and trusting in his usual good fortune, Roberts supposed that he
had only to take a short sail in order to bring in the vessel with her
cargo; but to his sad disappointment, he pursued her during eight days,
and instead of gaining, was losing way. Under these circumstances, he
came to anchor, and sent off the boat to give intelligence of their
distress to their companions.

In their extremity of want, they took up part of the floor of the cabin,
and patched up a sort of tray with rope-yarns, to paddle on shore to get
a little water to preserve their lives. When their patience was almost
exhausted, the boat returned, but instead of provisions, brought the
unpleasing information, that the lieutenant, one Kennedy, had run off
with both the ships.

The misfortune and misery of Roberts were greatly aggravated by
reflecting upon his own imprudence and want of foresight, as well as
from the baseness of Kennedy and his crew. Impelled by the necessity of
his situation, he now began to reflect upon the means he should employ
for future support. Under the foolish supposition that any laws, oaths
or regulations, could bind those who had bidden open defiance to all
divine and human laws, he proceeded to form a code of regulations for
the maintenance of order and unity in his little commonwealth.

But present necessity compelled them to action, and with their small
sloop they sailed for the West Indies. They were not long before they
captured two sloops, which supplied them with provisions, and a few days
after, a brigantine, and then proceeded to Barbadoes. When off that
island they met a vessel of ten guns, richly laden from Bristol; after
plundering, and detaining her three days, they allowed her to prosecute
her voyage. This vessel, however, informed the governor of what had
befallen them, who sent a vessel of twenty guns and eighty men in quest
of the pirates.

That vessel was commanded by one Rogers, who, on the second day of his
cruise, discovered Roberts. Ignorant of any vessel being sent after
them, they made towards each other. Roberts gave him a gun but instead
of striking, the other returned a broadside, with three huzzas. A
severe engagement ensued, and Roberts being hard put to it, lightened
his vessel and ran off.

Roberts then sailed for the Island of Dominica, where he watered, and
was supplied by the inhabitants with provisions, for which he gave them
goods in return. Here he met with fifteen Englishmen left upon the
island by a Frenchman who had made a prize of their vessel; and they,
entering into his service, proved a seasonable addition to his strength.

Though he did not think this a proper place for cleaning, yet as it was
absolutely necessary that it should be done, he directed his course to
the Granada islands for that purpose. This, however, had well nigh
proved fatal to him; for the Governor of Martinique fitted out two
sloops to go in quest of the pirates. They, however, sailed to the
above-mentioned place, cleaned with unusual despatch, and just left that
place the night before the sloops in pursuit of them arrived.

They next sailed for Newfoundland, arriving upon the banks in June,
1720, and entered the harbor of Trepassi, with their black colors
flying, drums beating, and trumpets sounding. In that harbor there were
no less than twenty-two ships, which the men abandoned upon the sight of
the pirates. It is impossible to describe the injury which they did at
this place, by burning or sinking the ships, destroying the plantations,
and pillaging the houses. Power in the hands of mean and ignorant men
renders them wanton, insolent and cruel. They are literally like madmen,
who cast firebrands, arrows and death, and say, "Are not we in sport?"

Roberts reserved a Bristol galley from his depredations in the harbor,
which he fitted and manned for his own service. Upon the banks he met
ten sail of French ships, and destroyed them all, except one of
twenty-six guns, which he seized and carried off, and called her the
Fortune. Then giving the Bristol galley to the Frenchman, they sailed
in quest of new adventures, and soon took several prizes, and out of
them increased the number of their own hands. The Samuel, one of these,
was a very rich vessel, having some respectable passengers on board, who
were roughly used, and threatened with death if they did not deliver up
their money and their goods. They stripped the vessel of every article,
either necessary for their vessel or themselves, to the amount of eight
or nine thousand pounds. They then deliberated whether to sink or burn
the Samuel, but in the mean time they discovered a sail, so they left
the empty Samuel, and gave the other chase. At midnight they overtook
her, and she proved to be the Snow from Bristol; and, because he was an
Englishman, they used the master in a cruel and barbarous manner. Two
days after, they took the Little York of Virginia, and the Love of
Liverpool, both of which they plundered and sent off. In three days they
captured three other vessels, removing the goods out of them, sinking
one, and sending off the other two.

They next sailed for the West Indies, but provisions growing short,
proceeded to St. Christopher's, where, being denied provisions by the
governor, they fired on the town, and burnt two ships in the roads. They
then repaired to the island of St. Bartholomew, where the governor
supplied them with every necessary, and caressed them in the kindest
manner. Satiated with indulgence, and having taken in a large stock of
everything necessary, they unanimously voted to hasten to the coast of
Guinea. In their way they took a Frenchman, and as she was fitter for
the pirate service than their own, they informed the captain, that, as
"a fair exchange was no robbery," they would exchange sloops with him;
accordingly, having shifted their men, they set sail. However, going by
mistake out of the track of the trade winds, they were under the
necessity of returning to the West Indies.

They now directed their course to Surinam but not having sufficient
water for the voyage they were soon reduced to a mouthful of water in
the day; their numbers daily diminished by thirst and famine and the few
who survived were reduced to the greatest weakness. They at last had not
one drop of water or any other liquid, when, to their inexpressible joy,
they anchored in seven fathoms of water. This tended to revive exhausted
nature and inspire them with new vigour, though as yet they had received
no relief. In the morning they discovered land, but at such a distance
that their hopes were greatly dampened. The boat was however sent off,
and at night returned with plenty of that necessary element. But this
remarkable deliverance produced no reformation in the manners of these
unfeeling and obdurate men.

Steering their course from that place to Barbadoes, in their way they
met with a vessel which supplied them with all necessaries. Not long
after, they captured a brigantine, the mate of which joined their
association. Having from these two obtained a large supply, they changed
their course and watered at Tobago. Informed, however, that there were
two vessels sent in pursuit of them, they went to return their
compliments to the Governor of Martinique for this kindness.

It was the custom of the Dutch interlopers, when they approached this
island to trade with the inhabitants, to hoist their jacks. Roberts knew
the signal, and did so likewise. They, supposing that a good market was
near, strove who could first reach Roberts. Determined to do them all
possible mischief he destroyed them one by one as they came into his
power. He only reserved one ship to send the men on shore, and burnt the
remainder, to the number of twenty.

Roberts and his crew were so fortunate as to capture several vessels and
to render their liquor so plentiful, that it was esteemed a crime
against Providence not to be continually drunk. One man, remarkable
for his sobriety, along with two others, found an opportunity to set off
without taking leave of their friends. But a despatch being sent after
them, they were brought back, and in a formal manner tried and
sentenced, but one of them was saved by the humorous interference of one
of the judges, whose speech was truly worthy of a pirate--while the
other two suffered the punishment of death.

[Illustration: _Captain Roberts' Crew carousing at Old Calabar River._]

When necessity again compelled them, they renewed their cruising; and,
dissatisfied with capturing vessels which only afforded them a temporary
supply, directed their course to the Guinea coast to forage for gold.
Intoxication rendered them unruly, and the brigantine at last embraced
the cover of night to abandon the commodore. Unconcerned at the loss of
his companion, Roberts pursued his voyage. He fell in with two French
ships, the one of ten guns and sixty-five men, and the other of sixteen
guns and seventy-five men. These dastards no sooner beheld the black
flag than they surrendered. With these they went to Sierra Leone,
constituting one of them a consort, by the name of the Ranger, and the
other a store-ship. This port being frequented by the greater part of
the traders to that quarter, they remained here six weeks, enjoying
themselves in all the splendor and luxury of a piratical life.

After this they renewed their voyage, and having captured a vessel, the
greater part of the men united their fortunes with the pirates. On board
of one of the ships was a clergyman, whom some of them proposed taking
along with them, for no other reason than that they had not a chaplain
on board. They endeavored to gain his consent, and assured him that he
should want for nothing, and his only work would be, to make punch and
say prayers. Depraved, however, as these men were, they did not choose
to constrain him to go, but displayed their civility further, by
permitting him to carry along with him whatever he called his own.
After several cruises, they now went into a convenient harbor at Old
Calabar, where they cleaned, refitted, divided their booty, and for a
considerable time caroused, to banish care and sober reflection.

According to their usual custom, the time of festivity and mirth was
prolonged until the want of means recalled them to reason and exertion.
Leaving this port, they cruised from place to place with varied success;
but in all their captures, either burning, sinking, or devoting their
prizes to their own use, according to the whim of the moment. The
Swallow and another man-of-war being sent out expressly to pursue and
take Roberts and his fleet, he had frequent and certain intelligence of
their destination; but having so often escaped their vigilance, he
became rather too secure and fearless. It happened, however, that while
he lay off Cape Lopez, the Swallow had information of his being in that
place, and made towards him. Upon the appearance of a sail, one of
Roberts' ships was sent to chase and take her. The pilot of the Swallow
seeing her coming, manoeouvred his vessel so well, that though he fled
at her approach, in order to draw her out of the reach of her
associates, yet he at his own time allowed her to overtake the
man-of-war.

Upon her coming up to the Swallow, the pirate hoisted the black flag,
and fired upon her; but how greatly were her crew astonished, when they
saw that they had to contend with a man-of-war, and seeing that all
resistance was vain, they cried out for quarter, which was granted, and
they were made prisoners, having ten men killed and twenty wounded,
without the loss or hurt of one of the king's men.

On the 10th, in the morning, the man-of-war bore away to round the cape.
Roberts' crew, discerning their masts over the land, went down into the
cabin to acquaint him of it, he being then at breakfast with his new
guest, captain Hill, on a savoury dish of salmagundy and some of his
own beer. He took no notice of it, and his men almost as little, some
saying she was a Portuguese ship, others a French slave ship, but the
major part swore it was the French Ranger returning; and they were
merrily debating for some time on the manner of reception, whether they
should salute her or not; but as the Swallow approached nearer, things
appeared plainer; and though they who showed any apprehension of danger
were stigmatized with the name of cowards, yet some of them, now
undeceived, declared it to Roberts, especially one Armstrong, who had
deserted from that ship, and knew her well. These Roberts swore at as
cowards, who meant to dishearten the men, asking them, if it were so,
whether they were afraid to fight or not? In short, he hardly refrained
from blows. What his own apprehensions were, till she hauled up her
ports and hoisted her proper colors, is uncertain; but then, being
perfectly convinced, he slipped his cable, got under sail, ordered his
men to arms without any show of timidity, dropping a first-rate oath,
that it was a bite, but at the same time resolved, like a gallant rogue,
to get clear or die.

There was one Armstrong, as was just mentioned, a deserter from the
Swallow, of whom they enquired concerning the trim and sailing of that
ship; he told them she sailed best upon the wind, and therefore, if they
designed to leave her, they should go before it.

The danger was imminent, and the time very short, to consult about means
to extricate himself; his resolution in this strait was as follows: to
pass close to the Swallow with all their sails, and receive her
broadside before they returned a shot; if disabled by this, or if they
could not depend on sailing, then to run on shore at the point, and
every one to shift for himself among the negroes; or failing these, to
board, and blow up together, for he saw that the greatest part of his
men were drunk, passively courageous, and unfit for service.

Roberts, himself, made a gallant figure at the time of the engagement,
being dressed in a rich crimson damask waistcoat and breeches, a red
feather in his hat, a gold chain round his neck, with a diamond cross
hanging to it, a sword in his hand, and two pair of pistols hanging at
the end of a silk sling flung over his shoulders, according to the
custom of the pirates. He is said to have given his orders with boldness
and spirit. Coming, according to what he had purposed, close to the
man-of-war, he received her fire, and then hoisted his black flag and
returned it, shooting away from her with all the sail he could pack; and
had he taken Armstrong's advice to have gone before the wind, he had
probably escaped; but keeping his tacks down, either by the wind's
shifting, or ill steerage, or both, he was taken aback with his sails,
and the Swallow came a second time very nigh to him. He had now,
perhaps, finished the fight very desperately, if death, who took a swift
passage in a grape shot, had not interposed, and struck him directly on
the throat. He settled himself on the tackles of a gun; which one
Stephenson, from the helm, observing, ran to his assistance, and not
perceiving him wounded, swore at him, and bade him stand up and fight
like a man; but when he found his mistake, and that his captain was
certainly dead, he burst into tears, and wished the next shot might be
his portion. They presently threw him overboard, with his arms and
ornaments on, according to his repeated request in his life-time.

This extraordinary man and daring pirate was tall, of a dark complexion,
about 40 years of age, and born in Pembrokeshire. His parents were
honest and respectable, and his natural activity, courage, and
invention, were superior to his education. At a very early period, he,
in drinking, would imprecate vengeance upon "the head of him who ever
lived to wear a halter." He went willingly into the pirate service, and
served three years as a second man. It was not for want of employment,
but from a roving, wild, and boisterous turn of mind. It was his usual
declaration, that, "In an honest service, there are commonly low wages
and hard labor; in this,--plenty, satiety, pleasure and ease, liberty,
and power; and who would not balance creditor on this side, when all the
hazard that is run for it at worst, is only a sour look or two at
choking? No,--a merry life and a short one, shall be my motto!" But it
was one favorable trait in his character, that he never forced any man
into the pirate service.

The prisoners were strictly guarded while on board, and being conveyed
to Cape Coast castle, they underwent a long and solemn trial. The
generality of them remained daring and impenitent for some time, but
when they found themselves confined within a castle, and their fate
drawing near, they changed their course, and became serious, penitent,
and fervent in their devotions. Though the judges found no small
difficulty in explaining the law, and different acts of parliament, yet
the facts were so numerous and flagrant which were proved against them,
that there was no difficulty in bringing in a verdict of guilty.




THE LIFE OF CHARLES GIBBS.


_Containing an Account of his Atrocities committed in the West Indies_.

This atrocious and cruel pirate, when very young became addicted to
vices uncommon in youths of his age, and so far from the gentle reproof
and friendly admonition, or the more severe chastisement of a fond
parent, having its intended effect, it seemed to render him still worse,
and to incline him to repay those whom he ought to have esteemed as his
best friends and who had manifested so much regard for his welfare, with
ingratitude and neglect. His infamous career and ignominious death on
the gallows; brought down the "grey hairs of his parents in sorrow to
the grave." The poignant affliction which the infamous crimes of
children bring upon their relatives ought to be one of the most
effective persuasions for them to refrain from vice.

Charles Gibbs was born in the state of Rhode Island, in 1794; his
parents and connexions were of the first respectability. When at school,
he was very apt to learn, but so refractory and sulky, that neither the
birch nor good counsel made any impression on him, and he was expelled
from the school.

He was now made to labor on a farm; but having a great antipathy to
work, when about fifteen years of age, feeling a great inclination to
roam, and like too many unreflecting youths of that age, a great
fondness for the sea, he in opposition to the friendly counsel of his
parents, privately left them and entered on board the United States
sloop-of-war, Hornet, and was in the action when she captured the
British sloop-of-war Peacock, off the coast of Pernambuco. Upon the
return of the Hornet to the United States, her brave commander, Capt.
Lawrence, was promoted for his gallantry to the command of the
unfortunate Chesapeake, and to which he was followed by young Gibbs, who
took a very distinguished part in the engagement with the Shannon, which
resulted in the death of Lawrence and the capture of the Chesapeake.
Gibbs states that while on board the Chesapeake the crew previous to the
action, were almost in a state of mutiny, growing out of the non payment
of the prize money, and that the address of Capt. Lawrence was received
by them with coldness and murmurs.

After the engagement, Gibbs became with the survivors of the crew a
prisoner of war, and as such was confined in Dartmoor prison until
exchanged.

After his exchange, he returned to Boston, where having determined to
abandon the sea, he applied to his friends in Rhode Island, to assist
him in commencing business; they accordingly lent him one thousand
dollars as a capital to begin with. He opened a grocery in Ann Street,
near what was then called the _Tin Pot_, a place full of abandoned women
and dissolute fellows. As he dealt chiefly in liquor, and had a
"_License to retail Spirits_," his drunkery was thronged with customers.
But he sold his groceries chiefly to loose girls who paid him in their
coin, which, although it answered his purpose, would neither buy him
goods or pay his rent, and he found his stock rapidly dwindling away
without his receiving any cash to replenish it. By dissipation and
inattention his new business proved unsuccessful to him. He resolved to
abandon it and again try the sea for a subsistence. With a hundred
dollars in his pocket, the remnant of his property, he embarked in the
ship John, for Buenos Ayres, and his means being exhausted soon after
his arrival there, he entered on board a Buenos Ayrean privateer and
sailed on a cruise. A quarrel between the officers and crew in regard to
the division of prize money, led eventually to a mutiny; and the
mutineers gained the ascendancy, took possession of the vessel, landed
the crew on the coast of Florida, and steered for the West Indies, with
hearts resolved to make their fortunes at all hazards, and where in a
short time, more than twenty vessels were captured by them and nearly
_Four Hundred Human Beings Murdered_!

Havana was the resort of these pirates to dispose of their plunder; and
Gibbs sauntered about this place with impunity and was acquainted in all
the out of the way and bye places of that hot bed of pirates the Regla.
He and his comrades even lodged in the very houses with many of the
American officers who were sent out to take them. He was acquainted with
many of the officers and was apprised of all their intended movements
before they left the harbor. On one occasion, the American ship
Caroline, was captured by two of their piratical vessels off Cape
Antonio. They were busily engaged in landing the cargo, when the British
sloop-of-war, Jearus, hove in sight and sent her barges to attack them.
The pirates defended themselves for some time behind a small four gun
battery which they had erected, but in the end were forced to abandon
their own vessel and the prize and fly to the mountains for safety. The
Jearus found here twelve vessels burnt to the water's edge, and it was
satisfactorily ascertained that their crews, amounting to _one hundred
and fifty persons had been murdered_. The crews, if it was thought not
necessary otherways to dispose of them were sent adrift in their boats,
and frequently without any thing on which they could subsist a single
day; nor were all so fortunate thus to escape. "Dead men can tell no
tales," was a common saying among them; and as soon as a ship's crew
were taken, a short consultation was held; and if it was the opinion of
a majority that it would be better to take life than to spare it, a
single nod or wink from the captain was sufficient; regardless of age or
sex, all entreaties for mercy were then made in vain; they possessed not
the tender feelings, to be operated upon by the shrieks and expiring
groans of the devoted victims! there was a strife among them, who with
his own hands could despatch the greatest number, and in the shortest
period of time.

Without any other motives than to gratify their hellish propensities (in
their intoxicated moments), blood was not unfrequently and unnecessarily
shed, and many widows and orphans probably made, when the lives of the
unfortunate victims might have been spared, and without the most distant
prospect of any evil consequences (as regarded themselves), resulting
therefrom.

Gibbs states that sometime in the course of the year 1819, he left
Havana and came to the United States, bringing with him about $30,000.
He passed several weeks in the city of New York, and then went to
Boston, whence he took passage for Liverpool in the ship Emerald. Before
he sailed, however, he has squandered a large part of his money by
dissipation and gambling. He remained in Liverpool a few months, and
then returned to Boston. His residence in Liverpool at that time is
satisfactorily ascertained from another source besides his own
confession. A female now in New York was well acquainted with him there,
where, she says, he lived like a gentleman, with apparently abundant
means of support. In speaking of his acquaintance with this female he
says, "I fell in with a woman, who I thought was all virtue, but she
deceived me, and I am sorry to say that a heart that never felt abashed
at scenes of carnage and blood, was made a child of for a time by her,
and I gave way to dissipation to drown the torment. How often when the
fumes of liquor have subsided, have I thought of my good and