TX, LA Scholars, historians:

[fiddle mike]

The following appears on the website for the Buccaneer Days festival, at Corpus Christi (kind of a big deal, in these parts).

1812   Pirate Jean Lafitte and his men aided General Jackson’s troops in the defense of New Orleans in the Civil War of that year. Because of that aid, President James Madison gave Lafitte a full pardon for his crimes of piracy.
1821   It is said that following this presidential pardon, Pirate Lafitte moved his pirate band to Texas and established headquarters on the present site of Corpus Christi

[Jack]

I understand Lafitte tired of legal trade and returned to piracy.  I thought it was Galveston Island, however.

[fiddle mike]

I understand Lafitte tired of legal trade and returned to piracy.

I believe that is true and that he is supposed to have moved to Galveston.  While there are tales of Lafitte's treasure being buried on Padre Island, the idea of him headquartering at Corpus Christi is pure fabrication.

Notice any other errors from the website?

[Jack]

"Pirate Jean Lafitte and his men aided General Jackson’s troops in the defense of New Orleans in the Civil War of that year. Because of that aid, President James Madison gave Lafitte a full pardon for his crimes of piracy."


Civil War???????

[fiddle mike]

Civil War???????

  Yeah, I was thinking the war of 1812 is called, well... "The War of 1812".

The Battle of New Orleans was Jan 8, 1815.

[Rocketman]

Civil War???????

  Yeah, I was thinking the war of 1812 is called, well... "The War of 1812".
The Battle of New Orleans was Jan 8, 1815.

There was another, lesser known, Civil War, fought some 50 years prior to the better known "War between the States".  The "War between the Parishes", as it was known, was fought exclusively in Louisiana, and was triggered by what many citizens regarded as an unfair tax on hurricane drinks and Mardi Gras beads.  As this threatened to shut down the entire economy of New Orleans, Orleans Parish rose up against the oppressor.  As other parishes picked sides, usually based on how much they enjoyed a good party, tensions rose until the not-as-famous-as-the-truly-famous battle of New Orleans.  The actions of Jean Laffitte led to a pardon from a president of a country that didn't exist at the time, but still seems to have made the former (and future) pirate quite happy.
After the pardon, Jean Laffitte settled in south of Houston, and buried all his treasure in my backyard.  If you will all pardon me, I've got to go buy a shovel.

[The preceding paragraphs are documented fact.  Any "historical record" that disputes it is fabricated and part of a grand conspiracy to confuse the common man into buying an iphone, going in on a timeshare, and then die of an over-hyped disease before he gets to enjoy it.]

We now return to your regularly scheduled inanity.

[fiddle mike]

I am aghast!  I might have expected such an outrageous fabrication from coonass, but not from a Texan!

[junior]

everthing is big in texas......................... even the tall tales