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THE HERO OF CAT ISLAND ? The old Couevas Homestead /l* f- u on Cat Island which was,built around 1812 and stood for over a ? rl hundred years before it burned down.
-i -	?(Photo Courtesy Zoe Posey of New Orleans)
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CAT ISLAND ?, e"; Couevas Street in Biloxi and a ieldorn visited tomb in Biloxi?s Old French Cemetery are all that-are left tp remind us of Jean Couevas, who is honored in American history , as the Gulf Coast's. Hero of the War of 1812.
*? Jean Couevas lived on Cat Island ivhen the British landed on neighboring Ship Island to attack New OfleAns with the greatest amphibious invasion force. ever launched by' a?foreign foe against American Soil. It was Jean?s stubborn cour-fege ln> a cruicial moment of decision that saved us from losing^ pot only the Battle of New Or-; leans,1 but actually the? entire half! pi 'our present nation, then known ai^v.the. Louisiana Purchase. Here Js; the story.'
k?The -Couevas family owned Cat1 Island on which they raised- beef cpttle for market. The British, of fourse; with 10,000 troops to feed *oon ^discovered the- nearby existence;. of the Couevas -tattle' and1 sent ashore a party to- pommandeer it-In?the ensuing, skirmish Jean
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man who undoubtedly ' owned no allegiance to the United States, promptly ministered to his wound. Then they courteously offered him his freedom, full compensation for his cattle and all damage done, complete protection for all Couevas property and future favors when their occupation was final. All he had to do?they suavely summarized?was instruct their pilots how to negotiate the safest and shortest water route to New Orleans. The unthinkable alternative ? they sweetly insinuated?was continuance of his incarceration and further confiscation of his cattle and property should he be so foolish as io refuse.
To the utter astonishment of the assembled Gold Braid Jean em-chaticall.y refused. And so it was that in the crowded cabin of a British man-of-war the British invasion suffered its first defeat to a lone enemy who was not even an American.	v
For the personal courage of this
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one Gulf Coast citizen in the War of 1812 definitely delayed the enemy from attacking New Orleans 1 before it was ready?from suddenly appearing on its outskirts and finding it unprepared and unable (to put up that brilliant defense which, ready and waiting nearly two weeks later, decisively turned into an overwhelming victory the several Battles of New Orleans.
When the British,'shattered and beaten, came back to their base
wasTghot in- the leg 'and taken!at Ship Island they released Jean
prisoner by the British.
-However, when the1 British commanding officers ? discovered the prominence of the Couevas family
Couevas before sailing for home still not realizing how his one man resistance had contributed to their defeat.
ind.thff possibilities of this French-Copyright 193S by R?y M. Thompson