Old Hickory (1939)

Allan Cavan: Adjutant General Robert Butler

Quotes 

• Jean Lafitte : [ironically enough, friendly introducing himself after sneakingly forcing his way into the office with a gun]  General Jackson.

  Andrew Jackson : Who are you, sir?

  Jean Lafitte : [smilingly]  Captain Jean Lafitte, at your service.

  Andrew Jackson : [immediately enraged]  Lafitte? The pirate?

  Jean Lafitte : I've been called worse names.

  Andrew Jackson : Not as bad as some of the names I could call you. So, you take advantage of a time like this to rob and plunder, huh?

  Jean Lafitte : You are mistaken, mon General. I come here at considerable risk to myself to offer you the services of my men.

  Andrew Jackson : Your men? Your thieves and cutthroats.

  Jean Lafitte : My men are fighters; you need them, every one. The enemy has landed.

  Andrew Jackson : You lie, Lafitte. My scouts haven't seen any redcoats.

  Jean Lafitte : Mine have; they're only 9 miles from the city.

  Colonel Ed Livingston : [bounding into the office along with General Butler and an Aide]  General Jackson, General Jackson!

  Aide with Message : The enemy is at Villa Rose Plantation, sir.

  Adjutant General Robert Butler : They're bringing up their batteries from the fleet.

  Andrew Jackson : By the eternal, they'll never sleep on American ground!

  Jean Lafitte : If I may suggest, my men are sea fighters, gunners. We ask nothing better than a chance to blow the enemy's batteries off our soil.

  Andrew Jackson : *Our* soil. What claim have you to any part of it? An outlaw, pirate!

  Jean Lafitte : Yes, General, an 'outlaw' if you will; but first, an American.

  Andrew Jackson : You know, Lafitte, I'm gonna give you a chance to make good on that. Colonel Livingston, see that orders are issued commisioning Jean Lafitte as a colonel in the United States militia.

  Colonel Ed Livingston : But Andy, he's a...

  Andrew Jackson : You heard what he said: he's an American! Butler, muster every man in New Orleans who can shoot a gun. Livingston, commandeer those cotton bales; take 'em to lie in a fire.

  [they salute and promptly leave] 

  Jean Lafitte : Mon amie?

  [cheerily tosses the long rifle back to the guard from whom he stole it] 

  Jean Lafitte : Mercie!