The swamps of Barataria below New Orleans bore many strange legends and tales. Some said that the men of the swamps were pirates and smugglers. Others argued that it could not be true because their leader was none other than the ever-reputable, true gentleman Jean Lafitte. He lived a secret life behind the facade of his blacksmith's shop in the Vieux Carre, and he remained the bitter enemy of Governor Claiborne until the famous Battle of New Orleans, in which the pirate-turned-hero joined Gen. Andrew Jackson to protect the city from the invading British. Combining tales of pirates, mystery, battle, true events, and real people, this story is a thrilling chapter from American history.