Interview of James Campbell-Privateer Submitted By: Linda Hawkins (linhawk@cyberg8t.com) USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ========================================================================= Typed copy of a manuscript by Ken Mirabeau B. Lamar Reproduced from the holdings of the Texas State Archives Austin, TX. Information derived James Campbell. now residing on the Galveston Bay 10th June 1855 1 Born in Ireland, Derry County, came to the United States at 4 years of age- Raised in Baltimore until 21 years old- was of age in 1812- Shipped himself in the Service as sailor in the War of 3812, in Com. Perry's squaremast - was transferred to the Constitution and Constellation in Boston ultimately.- 18 months in the Constitution- balance of his time in the Constellation.-Was in the Constitution when she captured the Guerrero- sunk the Guerrero. 2 Returned to Boston- refitted the Constitution- then Joined the Con- stellation- 3 weeks after made cruise of three months; but found nothing that was willing to fight.- After this cruise the vessel lay in port until Campbell's turn of service expired- he was then honor- ably discharged.- He then shipped with Captain Rapp in the Hotspur - Rapp was on furlough and obtained a privateer's Commission in the Mexican service.- Comodore Patimore was commadore- Rapp was capt. of a U.S. vessel - in New Orleans- Campbell shipped with him in the U.S. service- Rapp applied for a furlough- Patimore granted it- Rapp then obtained a privateer's Commission in the Columbian service and took command of the Hotspur.- The Hotspur was a Columbian vessel.-This was in New Orleans - 3 Sailed from the Levee in the Hotspur-passed thc Balise 25 day of May- got back again 29 June after getting a damn bad whipping- On leaving the Balise, they discovered a?l sail off of Cape Catorich- The Hotspur made sail in pursuit- night came on thick and hazy, lost sight of them- Hotspur sheered off for Moroe Castle, Cuba-to inter- sept them, supposing they, were boring thither- On the 3rd day after losing sight of the 11 vessel, reached Moroe Castle, but nothing of them were seen- run colors in, and the Castle gave the Hotspur a shot- lay in 1-1\2 gun shot of the Castle all night to intercept what- ever vessel might attempt to enter. Next morning, the Spanish vessels- Casador and Consalado- 22 guns 4 the latter and 21 the other.- These vessels were in port, and on their sailing out they came down upon the Hotspur- they had the windward,and the Hotspur could not escape. Rapp,seeing his predica- ment would have avoided the conflict, but the other vessels came down upon him. Rapp counseled with his officers, and the word was fight- Hotspur was a good vessel, but had only 7 guns, 120 men; Casadora had 180- Consalado 220- the latter came upon the Hotspur, grappled her, the Casadora came on the bow, gave a raking fire and grappled on the other side- The sea was smoothe. Hotspur had to fight both.-She took the deck of the Casadora: but had to relinquish it to meet the Consalado- close fighting on both sides with pistols, ??? ,guns, and all kind of weapons; the contest was fierce- the deck of 5 of all the vessels were strewed with dead- after 20 minutes, Hotspur cut the grapples of the Consalado, her masts, rigging all being cut to pieces she drifted a stern- but still kept up a galling fire on the Hotspur broadsides- while the Hotspur still engaged with the Casadora which was still hanging on with her grapples- Hotspur fin- ally cut her grapples- and finding herself free, hoisted sail and shot ahead of both, much crippled and many of her men dead,- The Casadora was too much crippled to pursue; but the Consalado, having repaired some of damages, took after the Hotspur, and a running fight ensued for two miles, of the fiercest kind, but the Hotepur escaped, 8 o'clock night, and returned to Balise when she arrived 29th June with most of her crew killed- (only 14 remained unwounded). 6 The deck of the Consalado was literally covered with the dead- they had to walk on the bodies The Hotspur buried her dead, landed her sick and wounded at the Balise, all except 4 who were so badly off that they could not be landed; and were taken to Galveston, whence the Hotspur proceeded from the Balise. Campbell was one of these four wounded- The Hot- spur was unable to go to sea, and had to lay outside of the Bar at Galveston, (drawing too much water) 51 days.- Rapp stuck to his craft; got carpenters from N.O. repaired i; ' went on a new cruze, and his after history is not known.- Campbell, after recovering from his wounds, went to New Orlean; where he met with Aury and Minta. He was introduced to both; liked them and 7 agreed to sail with them.- (Aury and Min had come to New Orleans during the cruze of the Hotspur; and hence Campbell found them there when he first left the Hotspur.- They were not at Galveston when the # Rapp retreated there after his fight at the Moro Castle.) Campbell having joined Aury and Mina in New Orleans, they now sailed for Galveston- the Hotspur had gone in the meantime- bring- ing with them Cargo supplies of ammuntions, arms, provisions, etc. remained from five to six weeks, when Lafitte made his first ap- pearance at the Island.- Aury and Mina sailed for Santander- Campbell did not accompany them; but becoming attached to Lafitte, and Lafitte with him he remained on the Island with Lafitte. 8 Campbell was now placed in command of Schooner called Concord, 120 tons, 5 guns, and 75 men all told.- Campbell ran down the gulf, took five prizes lOO,OOO $ in cash and the same amount in dry goods, and returned in 6 weeks.- Sailed again a second, took a guina-man, 308 slaves, brought them to Galveston, where Guy Champlain bought 200 of them.- He was a planter on the Mississippi and noted dealer in smuggling articles.- About this time Capt. Juana came from N.O. with a schooner and wanted Lafitte to commission him. Lafitt(e) had no confidence in him and refused a commission; but being after- wards prevailed upon by Campbell and others, he finally agreed to commission Juana; and did so; 9 stating to Juana at the same time, that he had but little confidence in him; and that if he ever committed depredations upon any other than Spanish vessels, he would most assuredly hang him if ever caught. Juana took his commission and sailed the next day. In a few weeks tidings were brought to Laffitt(e) that Juana had sailed to the Balise, was stealing negroes on the coast, rob(b)ing plantations and committing all kinds of depredations upon the American citizens,- The U.S. officers pursued him in gunboats, and pushed him so closely that Juana and his crew had to abandon their vessel by jumping in the mud flats, where fourteen of them perished; of those (who) got out of the mud, all perished except Juana and 4 others.- 10 These made their appearance at Bolivar Point, where Lafitt(e) found them in a state of starvation. They were immediately ironed; a gallows was erected at Campeche Point where Juana was hung; and the four men were delivered to the Lynx, U.S. man-of-war,and taken to N.O. where they were tried and executed. While this was going on, a man named Capt. Marott came from N.O. with a Schooner, which he sold to Lafitte, and afterwards was placed command of it, and he and Campbell sailed together on a cruise about Mantanzas, and after several unsucsesful sallies, succeeded in capturing a vessel with 40 negroes and some goods on board- which they sent into Galveston, while they continued their cruze. They captured 2 other prizes of comparable value. 11 consisting of dry goods- plate silver and gold watches, amounting to one hundred thousand dollars. With this they made to for Galveston. On arriving there Marott, who had at the capture taken possesion of the plate and watches, did not give them in the list of captured articles. This attempt to swindle was reported to Lafitt(e), who arraigned Marott. Marott said that the boxes containing those things had fallen overboard in attempting to transfer them from one vessel to another. This Campbell contradicted, having himself seen the boxes placed aboard Marott's vessel. On being reprehended by Lafitt(e) for his conduct, -Marott spit in Lafitt's face. Lafitt(e) made a grab at him: but failed to get hold of 12 of him. Several present were for hanging Marott; but Lafitt(e) opposed this, and contented himself with challenging Marott. Campbell was Lafitt's second.- The parties met on the south end of Pelican Island. Marott stripped himself of all his clothing except his pantaloons, tied a handkerchief around his wa(i)ste and another around his head, and then marched to his stand, pistol in hand, not however to fight, for his courage had oosed out like Bob - at the end of his fingers; and he signified to his second,- Shebal- that he would prefer to make the amends honorable, rather than that the matter should proceed, as he felt himself to be in error, and was ready to restore the secreted Boxes. Upon this, Lafitt(e) caught him by the shoulders, turning him right face, gave him a kick and dis- missed him.- So ended the affair. 13 After the dismissal of Marott, Campbell set out on another cruize, the last he made.- He ran down the gulf, around Cuba, then to the Trinidad, and thence to the Isle of Pines, where he got information of there being there 800negroes, guarded by a barrax of 50 men. Campbell played about until dark when he anchored near the beach, and manned with 90 all told, three leagues to the Barrax, which he surrounded, having a skillful pilot who knew the premises, and aft- er some severe skirmishes and much confusion, he succeeded in cap- turing 140 negroess but before he could make them secure and reach the beach, he was hotly pursued and a running fight was kept up until he reached his vessel, bearing off with him (as already said, 140 of the negroes. 14 He concluded to make another turn round the Gulf before return- ing to Galveston. =========== Correction- Before this adventure, Campbell had captured a small vessel, on the south side of Cuba, at a small place (Batacano) or some such Spanish name.- It was from the pilot of this vessel that he learned of the 800 negroes at the Isle of Pines; after the cap- ture of the 140 of the same, he placed them in this captured vessel and sent them to Galveston; while he concluded to make another turn round the gulf before returning to Galveston. _________________ He ran to the Island of Muger (Mujeres) for wood and water; run down to Sisal, Campeche, made several small prizes, amounting in all to 40 or 50 thousand dollars. This was late in the fall, and it was time for the northers to commence, which makes the gulf rough he accordingly sailed for Galveston, pretty well satisfied with his cruzes made the west and .. 15 the wind and tide high- let go anchor t having one of his captured vessels in tow, and a fine prize she was, being laden with provisions, much needed at the Island. He became,that night, rest less and unable to sleep, both on account of the threatening aspect of the weather and a sort of indefinable presentiment of evil Clark was second officer in command and had charge of Deck from 4 to 6. and Cox. second S.t. from 6 to 8.- During both watches, Camp bell was frequently up and down from anxiety.- The night was dark insurrection took place headed by Duval, First Lieut. Go back a little in the narrative - from page 13 16 About three months after the dismissal of Marott, Lafitt(e) recived orders from the U.S. Government to leave the Island.- This was in 1821. In the latter part of April(probably), Captain, now Comodor Karney, commanding the Brig Enterprise, arrived at Galves- ton, with orders from the Government to Lafitt(e) to evacuate Gal- veston. Lafitt(e) had no alternative, and prepared to leave. In a short time. Not long after the dismissal of Marott a Brig appeared off the Bar at Galveston for 4 days. Lafitt(e) supposing that it might be a Spanish man-of-war sent Campbell to reconnoitre it. Campbell hovered around it during the night and discovering it to be an American vessel, went on board it the next morning. It was the Enterprise commanded by Captain, now Comodore Karney. After con- versing 17 awhile with the commander, Campbell was about to leave, when Karney invited him to remain until after dinner when he would accompany him. Campbell remained, and after dinner he and Karney went to the Island. Karney domiciled with Lafitte' and was extremely friendly and polite. He remained there two weeks, when one day he was in- vited by Lafitte to visit his vessel. Here they spent several hourss and before leaving the vessel. Karney signified for the first time to Lafitt(e) , that he was bearing dispatches to him from the U.S. Govt.- Lafitt(e) manifested his readiness to receive them and to offer any explanation which might be desired of him. The Document was a lengthy one, and being read by one of the subordinates of Karney, it concluded with these words as nearly as now remembered- "and it is the desire of the American Government that you evacuate the Island at the expiration of three months." Lafitt(e) bowed politely and said that he would do it. It was 18 done accordingly. In three months from that time Lafitt(e) with three vessels anchored over the bar were ready for his final depar- ture, having already laid in ashes the little village on the Island, which had grown up under his possession of it. The houses were de- stroyed at the Request of the U.S.Government. While Lafitte was thus anchored off the Bar, Campbell went on his last cruize, leaving Lafitt(e) behind with the understanding that they were to meet at the Isle of Muger tMujeres) at a par- ticular day. Lafitt(e) sailed soon after Campbell left.His his- tory after this is known only through the information of his first Lieutenant, Wm Cochran, who gave the information to Campbell in 1836.- Lafitt(e) sailed to the Southard and made the Cape Cartouch, dividing the Honduras and Mexico, met a large ship and made up to her for action.She had 14 guns and made a severe fight. Lafitte 19 was badly wounded in the action and lost several men. He captured he,' and after holding her 24 hours the supercargo ransomed her for one hundred thousand dollars. her cargo being estimated by the invoice, at three times that sum. Cochran being 1st Lt. , Lafitt(e) put him in command of the captive vesse, as prize mast- er. Lafitt and Cochran now ran to Veracruz, and ran off and on wa[ting for the ransome which was to be paid in 24 hours. At the expiration of the 24 hours, two men-of-war came out, not with the ransom, but to make fight. A long and bloody engagement followed resulting in the loss of the prize vessel, the death of various of his men, and a sever wound inflicted on Lafitt himself. 20 Lafitt finally cut the grapples of Spanish vessel, and his escape. The Spanish vessel was too crippled to pursue.- Lafitt beat up to Venezuela, where he died of his wounds. His Lieutenant Cochran was captured in the fight; and after being detained as prisoner for sometime, the sudden revolution affected by Iturbide effected; and Cochran being liberated in consequence, remained in the country, and was afterwards made commander of a Mexican man-of-war.- In 1836, during the revolt of Texas, he made his appearance at Red- fish Bar; and invited an interview with his old friend Campbell, who was now a peaceful and loyal Texan. Campbell at first hesitat- ed ; but being assured no treachery was meditated , he went; and it (was) during this friendly interview, talking over the past, that Cochran narrated to Campbell the fate of Lafitt. Cochran soon after sailed to Vera Cruz and died of Yellowfever. 21 We have said that Campbell sailed 4 days before Lafitt's final departure, with the understanding that they would meet at the Isle of Mugers. They never met again and the reason was as we have al- ready stated, the death of Lafitt. Campbell instead of sailing dir- ect to the Isle of Muger , cruzed about Cuba, Vera Cruz, Trinidad, making a few insignificant reprizals, and among them a vessel which he captured in the port of Batacoune (small port in Cuba), from the pilot of which he learned that there were 800 negroes at the Isle of Pines; he made there; anchored near the shore and proceeded to the Barracks about 3 leagues in the interior, where the negroes were guarded by 40 or 50 soldiers- He surrounded the barracks and suc- ceeded in capturing 140 negroes, which he conducted to his vessel. having to make a running fight all the way, being 22 closely pursued and fiercely assailed.- He sent them to Galveston in the vessel which he had captured at Cuba, with instructions that they should be kept there until his return or subject to his order. His vessel and negroes were never afterwards heard of. He then pro ceeded to the Isle of Muger to Join Lafitt according to arrangementes; but not finding hlm there, he started back to Galveston to see about his negroes. On returning, he fell in with a good large vensel laden with provisions; captured it and took it on to the west end of Galv eston, where the crew composed of all nations with only 19 Americans, broke out in insurrection under 1st. Lieutenant Duval; who wanted to get control of the vessel and the prize. A bloody fight ensued. Duval was killed. Clark was wounded. Cox, the 3rd Lt. was killed. Campbell, after this, having but few men left, was forced to burn the vessel and its cargo; sailed to Galveston Bar. Here he made signals for a pilot; none came; he sent Clark; he and his men were detained; soon after a vessel came under calling toward him; and he believing them enemies, cut cable set sail ahead of them. They pursued. Campbell was wrecked 10 miles east of the river M this side of the Vermillion Bay.- Here he 23 He took his goods up to Culquishu; sold a few, but was robbed of the most of them.Remained there a while, went to N.O.- took goods to Pascagola- returned to New Orleans.- Went up the Red River- harried (tarried?) on the Red River and in 38 settled where he now resides. Lived a while on the Trinity, sold out, went to N.O., and then came to his present residence.. ===================== Long wanted Campbell to destroy his commission from Lafitt and take one from himself. The vessel that chased him when he stranded and lost his cargo near the Vermillion Bay was sent out by Long with Milam and Austin in it with orders to make prisoner of Campbell, and take charge of his prize.- Milam told Campbell this aterwards, but said he had no intention of executing it, as Campbell had no connection with Long, at least ways not in his service, nor having his vessel. =end=