In June 1716, at the advice of Jumao, Alonzo decided to stealthily follow a Portuguese merchant ship. Soon, Jumao insisted that Alonzo recruit a new crew for the journey, and become more experienced in sailing. Then Levasseur told Alonzo to meet him near the west of Haiti, to test Alonzo's wisdom. Discouraged, Alonzo began to chase after Levasseur and soon caught up with him. Levasseur refused however, and left afterward. Alonzo argued that they should sail together, and claim the greatest prizes. After sinking the brig, Levasseur informed Alonzo that the path he chose would lead to pain and misery, and that it was the end of their partnership. Pleased with a new ship, Alonzo decided to attack the brig he'd avoided earlier, though Levasseur advised him not to, warning him about Benjamin Hornigold's rules, but Alonzo ignored him and attacked the ship regardless. Levasseur agreed and led Alonzo past a British brig, and told him to sink two gunboats and take the schooner, the Wanderer, for his own. There, Alonzo asked him for a bigger ship, feeling disappointed with his own vessel's size. Life as a pirateĪfter battling a British gunboat, Alonzo reached Scorpion Reef to meet Levasseur. Levasseur recruited Alonzo and Jumao, gave Alonzo the command of a gunboat called the Serpent, and told him to meet him at the Scorpion Reef. While sailing near Devil's Rock, the schooner was attacked by the French pirate Olivier Levasseur, also known as La Buse. While he was imprisoned aboard Barnes' ship, Batilla discovered another prisoner, an escaped slave named Jumao. Alonzo's crew was killed and Batilla himself was put in irons, in order to be hanged later as an example for the other pirates. In June 1716, he boldly attacked a merchant schooner captained by a Templar named Barnes. Not wanting to come back to France, Batilla deserted after the war and recruited four other sailors in order to plunder merchant ships in the Caribbean Sea. In battle, he distinguished himself by being an expert marksman and the first to board the enemy ships, killing half a dozen British sailors by himself. Serving in the fleet of Admiral Jacques Cassard, Batilla participated in the Battles of Montserrat and Antigua in the Caribbean. Born to a French woman in late 17th century, Alonzo had become a wanted criminal who joined the French Navy under an alias in 1711 in the port of Toulon, in order to escape his pursuers.
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