I have set the dial for our Georgia history wayback machine to Thursday, Nov. 12, 1811 and our landing spot is a section of town locals would have known then as âupper townâ or Yamacraw. We find ourselves sitting in one of the many taverns in the area which were popular with sailors from all over the world looking for a drink or two and other âentertainmentsâ after spending several weeks at sea.
Suddenly an American sailor stands and brags in a loud voice that he has just signed on with the crew of âLa Vengeance,â a French privateer. The man boasts he is excited at sharing the spoils of privateering, but he is instantly met with shouts of indignation as many of the American sailors felt the man should not be joining a foreign crew taking the spoils of a war where the United States was not involved. In 1811, a state of war existed between France and Great Britain. Both governments would grant permission to private ships to wreak havoc with the enemy incl