"How would you rate Jean Lafitte's pirates?" Topic

From what I've read, pirates were terrifying to unarmed sailors and civilians but didn't have the stomach for a stand up fight with regular soldiers. How would they have stood up to British Regulars in the open? I assume their gunnery skills were good. How about their small arms skills?

I'vd imagine they would be competent but with effectively poror morale with little stomach for casualties.

They would not have even attempted to stand up to British regulars in the open. That is not what Pirates of any manner do.
They were fine behind breastworks.

I would rate them as militia.

Dominic You, Lafitte's brother, was indeed an excellent gunner at New Orleans but I agree with Winston that they would not stand up to British regulars in the open. Like most of the American militia they fought well when behind a redoubt wall. As gunners, I would rate them 3 out of 5 but their morale at 1 or 2. As infantry 2 with morale at 1 or 2.

If they ever got close enough to British Regulars to melee, I would rate them a bit higher. Also, I would put pirates in the same category as Cossacks and Indians ie rarely would these groups make a frontal attack on regular troops, particularly artillery, but attacking from the flank or rear in melee they were deadly.

General Jackson refused to employ these pirates up to the last minute because he did not trust them. He was finally persuaded only because Lafitte promised a huge supply of gunpowder and shot for Lafitte's guns and those of the other artillerists including the U.S. navy.

Lafitte's Baratarian's would have run like scalded cats at the first British volley on an open field. You must remember pirates were raiders and marauders, not drilled and trained soldiers. Line Jackson was a solid defensive work by the day of battle, January 8, 1815. To Iron Duke the only thing that kept Jackson from stretching Jean Lafitte's neck on a gallows was to give Jackson all the powder he wanted and then some. Salut y'all!

Bruce the Texas Grognard

I would rate them higher as artillerists. Remember they were the scourge of the Gulf, taking numerous ships in their voyages. 4/5 for their skill with cannon. Militia rating for close combat

The British sent envoy's to Barataria to separate the pirates from the Americans. Lafitte chose to remain loyal to the United States despite the governor of Louisiana raiding Barataria earlier in the month.

The US Artillery battery located in the middle of the defensive line at New Orleans did most of the damage against the British. While the pirates had more knowledge of handing the artillery than the average militia, they probably were not the most disciplined either.

They do make a great story to the whole campaign.

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