One of the few of Jean Lafitte’s ships to visit south Louisiana that we know by name was the Hotspur, which sailed up the Mermentau River in November 1820 to refill its water casks.
Fifteen-year-old cabin boy Charles Cronea thought he had been ill treated by the captain, Jim Campbell, and jumped ship there. Young as he was, Charlie had already begun to collect tales of adventure that would make...