Armand Broussard

Broussard was born in French Acadia in 1750, a time of increased conflict with local Native American tribes such as a Mi’kamq in modern day Canada.[1] His childhood was complicated by the backdrop of the Seven Years War, making the British Empire an enemy from his youth.[2] At the age of five, his father was captured by the British. He visited his father in a refugee camp along with his mother and his siblings, and his father and a few other prisoners of war managed to escape a few days after their visit. One theory among historians is that the family all smuggled dining utensils into the fort in order to help their father dig his way out.[3]

One should note that the stakes were incredibly high, as the family could all be forcibly relocated within the British Empire had Broussard’s father not escaped. In 1755, the British had already started relocating families and would relocate 7,000 French Acadians over the next twenty-three years.[4] Though Broussard’s father was able to raid British provisions for another five years, the family was forcibly relocated to New Orleans, Louisiana at the age of ten.[5]

While the French Governor in Louisiana had provided the family with a parcel of land, the French ceded their territory to the Spanish within a year of the Broussard family’s arrival.[6] Riots broke out in New Orleans and the new Spanish Governor allowed the Broussard family to keep their promised land as a peace concession.[7] It appeared that Armand’s family was finally able to catch their breath as the American Revolution loomed ahead.

As soon as he was of age, Armand enlisted in the Attakapas Militia in Louisiana. While little is known of his war record, he fought against the British and likely elevated his status in the New Orleans area through his bravery. Armand married at the age of twenty-one, but his wife died shortly after giving birth to a son.[8] Armand remarried quickly and entered the cattle driving profession. He and his fellow French Acadian wife had 13 children in addition to Armand’s son Joseph from his first marriage.[9]

Despite his impoverished youth, Armand Broussard became incredibly successful, as he has a house still standing today in rural Louisiana. Broussard undoubtedly became patriotic, as he fought the British one last time before he passed away in the name of the United States. He served as a private in a Louisiana Militia in the Battle of New Orleans during the War of 1812, at the age of fifty-eight.[10] Despite the humble and violent start to his life, he rose to success and served his country throughout his life.