Terry, You are not the first to confuse Lafitte with Lafayette. In fact, every time I visit the beach at Galveston, I say, "Lafitte, we are here." <g>
The truth is, Lafayette was a wannabe who was more important as a symbol that France stood beside us during the revolution than as a general. Benedict Arnold, once he changed sides, constantly tried to get his British superiors to attack the Americans any time Lafayette had a command, knowing that he, Arnold, could outfight him any day of the week. But, since the British held Arnold in contempt, they paid no attention to his ideas and sent him south to fight the Swamp Fox, Marion, as played by Mel Gibson. <g> Arnold didn't think much of Marion either and sent him running in a couple of battles, but they were minor affairs compared to the main event Washington and Lafayette were fighting.
The British were fairly well doomed at New Orleans once they chose Packenham for their general. Wellington wanted to get rid of him on the continent, so he sent him to the backwater instead of somebody who knew what he was doing. |
