The Capture of the Bravo was a naval battle between United
States Revenue Cutter Service cutters and one of Jean Lafitte's
pirate ships. In early 1819 the two ships USRC Alabama and USRC
Louisiana were finished being built in New York and fitted with
one pivot gun each. The sister ships cost $4,500 apiece and were
sent to the Gulf of Mexico to conduct counter piracy patrols.
Alabama was assigned to the Mobile Squadron and Louisiana
assigned to the New Orleans Squadron. Sometime in August 1819,
Alabama was temporarily assigned to New Orleans to help thwart
the pirate incidents in those waters with the Louisiana. On
August 31, the two ships were sailing the Gulf off southern
Florida when they sighted the schooner Bravo. The Americans gave
chase and eventually came within range. Bravo resisted and a
brief gunnery duel occurred, then the Americans boarded the
enemy. The pirates were captured. Jean La Farges commanded the
suspected privateer, he was a lieutenant of Jean Lafitte.
Apparently no letter of marque was