Timber pirate facts for kids
A timber pirate was a person who illegally cut down trees and stole wood. This was a type of piracy that happened on land, often near rivers or lakes where wood could be easily moved. These pirates would steal valuable lumber, which was wood used for building and other purposes.
The Story of Timber Pirates
Early Days: The Timber Rebellion
The idea of "timber pirates" likely started around 1853. This was during a time called the Timber Rebellion. During this time, people who broke the law, mostly from the western Great Lakes region, stole lumber that belonged to the government in Michigan.
When the government found out, they took back the stolen wood. The people who had stolen the wood, known as timber pirates, became angry and fought back. In a serious event, these pirates gathered together and burned several boats filled with the wood they had stolen.
To stop the rebellion, the United States Navy sent a warship called the USS Michigan. The ship's operations led to many rebels being captured. This successfully ended the main revolt.
However, timber pirates continued to operate in the Great Lakes for several years after that. At the same time, similar pirates were also active on the northern Mississippi River. The American navy also carried out another mission against timber pirates in the Calcasieu River area of Louisiana.
Later Years
In the early 1900s, people who illegally cut down trees in New Mexico were also called timber pirates. This shows that the problem of stealing lumber continued in different parts of the United States.
