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Yankee doodle war of 18125/15/2023 They pictured Jackson as a tyrant, the city poorly defended and the people ripe for revolution. The Spaniards were more than willing to give aid and comfort to the enemy. On the barren waste of Pea Island Admiral Cochrane and General Keane received visits from numerous influential Spaniards from New Orleans. Most of the Baratarians were sent to the Bayou St. John. But Laffite must have exerted his utmost charms for, when he departed, he carried with him Jackson's permission to muster himself and his men into the service. ![]() The conference was held behind closed doors and what went on was never disclosed. Then, as a last resort, Jean Laffite presented himself before Jackson. The General brushed their arguments aside. Having publicly declared them to be "hellish banditti" and condemned the British for trafficking with them, how was he now to do an about-face and accept them into his army? Livingston pleaded with him so did Governor Claiborne and the local judge. But the General proved a stumbling block. They were experienced fighters, of which Jackson could not have too many, and they had volunteered their services. What is more, they were equipped, well disciplined and ready for action.Ī problem of immediate importance was the disposition of Laffite and his fellow Baratarians. P354 had completed their long and arduous trip down the Mississippi. But best of all was the arrival of Major General William Carroll with his 2,000 Tennessee militiamen who at last ![]() On December 20 Coffee's vanguard, 800 in number, responding to the urgent summons of his chief, arrived from Baton Rouge and encamped several miles to the north of the town. The 7th U. S. Infantry he kept with him in the city. ![]() At Fort St. Charles, across the Mississippi, he posted the 44th U. S. Infantry and a detachment of regular artillery, 800 men in all. ![]() At the fort itself he stationed a detachment of regulars. The review over, Jackson ordered Major Plauché and his men to the Bayou St. John to watch the northern approach to the city. A general holiday was declared and people of all classes, regardless of race and color, joined forces in strengthening the fortifications. Military bands stirred the emotions of the populace and appealed both to the Americans and the French by playing "Yankee Doodle," "The Marseillaise" and The "Chant du Depart," while the belles of the town displayed their charms on balconies and at windows and waved encouragement to the military with their lace handkerchiefs. The war spirit was now running high in the city. It was Sunday and the historic Place d'Armes was thronged with people who had turned out to view the spectacle and hear an address from Livingston. Their organization was Jackson's own idea and it had not been without opposition from persons disturbed over the arming of former slaves. The free men of color had fought in Haiti and then fled the island and found refuge in Louisiana. On December 18 the General held a grand review of the battalion of uniformed companies, the pride of New Orleans, under the command of Major Jean Plauché, and D'Aquin's free men of color led by white officers.
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