USA > Alabama > Alabama history > Part 2
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1714
Bienville built Fort Toulouse (too looz') to control the Creek and Alabama tribes, with whom English traders had been tampering. This fort occupied a commanding position four miles below We tump' ka, on the neck of land between the Coosa and Talla- poosa rivers. It protected French interests for fifty years. In 1735, he built Fort Tom bec'be near Jones's Bluff to protect French interests among the Chickasaw Indians.
When Crozat learned of the failure of the great business schemes for which he had undertaken the management of the colony, he surrendered his charter to the king.
1718
9. Bienville in Command .- Bienville was then re- stored to command. In March, 1718, he founded
.
23
MOBILE UNDER FRENCH RULE
New Orleans, and five years later made it the capital of the colony.
The population of Mobile increased slowly. The climate was too warm for European laborers. Ships now and then brought in negroes, and through their labors the colony began to prosper. When Crozat surrendered the colony, it was chartered to the West- ern or India Company. Trade had been very much hampered by the laws of Crozat, and it was still further hampered by the provisions of the India Company. Prices were fixed. Goods were smuggled into the Spanish trading-post at Pensacola. The English traders also invaded French territory, car- ried on a large trade with the Indians, and fanned the fires of Indian hatred against the French. In spite of these drawbacks, the colony began to pros- per, but just at this time John Law's* "Mississippi Scheme" collapsed and brought distress and ruin. Bienville was recalled to France under the charge that he was responsible for the troubles of the colony. Before leaving for France he issued the "Black
*John Law, a brilliant Scotch adventurer and gambler, in- duced Philip, Duke of Orleans, to establish the Royal Bank of Paris. With the profits from the issue of paper money he paid the enormous debt of France. Immediate success attended the venture. Law then formed the West India Company for trade and colonization in Louisiana. Marvellous stories of gold and silver and profits induced speculation. Shares of the stock rose to forty times their cost. Great fortunes were made; but no gold-laden ships returned to France. Public confidence was shaken, and panic swept away fortunes. Law fled from the country, and became an outcast. Suffering and dismay spread throughout France and her colonies upon the bursting of this "Mississippi Scheme."
24
ALABAMA HISTORY
Code." This code contained many orders about gov- erning the negroes, forbade any but the Catholic re- ligion in the colony, and forced all Jews to leave.
1726 1733 May 26, 1736
10. End of French Rule .- Perier (pa re a') was appointed governor in 1726. The colony began to thrive again, but Perier's eight years of rule were not satisfactory. Bienville was sent back from France to take command. His plans for aiding the struggling colony failed; he was defeated in a second attempt to conquer the Chickasaws; finally he became so much discouraged that he asked to be recalled to France. In a dignified letter to the minister at home he expressed the hope of better fortune to his successor than had fallen to himself. Fair and firm in all his dealings with the Indians, he won their love and respect. For thirty years he governed the colony, loved it always, and wept when in his old age it was ceded to Spain. He died in France in 1768, honored and beloved.
1762
With changing fortune but with gradual growth Mobile passed twenty years after the retirement of Bienville. In 1762, France secretly ceded to Spain the Island of Orleans and all of her Louisiana terri- tory west of the Mississippi river. Nearly four months later, by the Treaty of Paris, Mobile fell to Great Britain.
Feb. 18, 1763
11. Under British Rule .- After the Treaty of Paris, Mobile became the base of supplies for British control of the eastern half of the Mississippi valley. From Mobile many expeditions were sent out to ex- tend British influence. These expeditions were sent against the French and against the Indians under
1
25
MOBILE UNDER BRITISH AND SPANISH RULE
Pontiac who were stubbornly resisting English rule. The English did not complete the occupation of the eastern Mississippi basin until Major Robert Farmer and Captain Stirling drove the French across the Mississippi river into the village of St. Louis.
George Johnstone, the first English governor of West Florida, changed the name of Fort Conde to Fort Charlotte. He did this in honor of Queen Char- lotte, the wife of George III of England. In 1765, the English began the purchase of lands from the Indians. This opened West Florida and the whole southwest territory to white settlement. Trade in- creased; agriculture and general business flourished in spite of storms, sickness, and other disasters. The people were pleased with their new masters.
In 1779, England declared war against Spain. Galvez (gäl' vath), the young Spanish governor of Louisiana, made a dash upon the English forts in the south, and captured them one after another before the British could interfere. Mobile fell into his hands in 1780, and the following year he captured Pensacola, the capital of West Florida. Thus England lost possession of the Gulf coast.
12. Under Spanish Rule .- Mobile remained a Spanish stronghold for thirty-two years. Spanish commanders succeeded one another so rapidly as to unsettle the people. Spain declared war against France to check the efforts of French agents who were trying to stir up trouble in the Spanish colonies of America. She invited the annexation of Kentucky, made extensive land-grants, and claimed 32° 28' north latitude as the northern boundary of her terri
1765
1779
Mar. 4, 1780
1794
26
ALABAMA HISTORY
-
tory between the Chattahoochee and the Mississippi. The United States claimed down to 31°, and taking advantage of Spain's troubles with Napoleon Bona- parte, pressed the claim so strongly through Thomas Pinckney at the Treaty of Madrid that Spain yielded.
1795
1799
Spanish authorities at Mobile and Pensacola placed many obstacles in the way of the American engineer, Andrew Ellicott, who had been sent to run the boundary line of 31°, and his survey was not completed until 1799. Ellicott's Stone, set up below St. Stephens, marked the dividing line between Spanish and American territory. Americans living above 31º north latitude suffered great inconvenience and expense because of heavy duties on freights passing through mouths of rivers under Spanish control; prices were increased about fourfold by freights and double duties.
The United States claimed the Perdido river as the eastern limit of the Louisiana Purchase .* Spain claimed that Mobile had been completely ent off from Louisiana by the Treaty of Paris, and that she held the city by right of conquest from the British in 1780. General James Wilkinson moved against it with American troops and captured it. The stars and stripes floated from its fort, and since that time it has remained under American rule. A year before this, Mobile county had been formed out of Washing-
Apr. 15, 1813
*In 1803 the United States bought from France all her pos- sessions in America. The territory sold to the United States was known as the Louisiana Purchase.
27
MOBILE UNDER AMERICAN RULE
ton county by proclamation of David Holmes, gov- ernor of Mississippi Territory.
13. Under American Rule .- For more than a hun- dred years Mobile had been the center of colonial life. It had sent out explorers, traders, warriors, and missionaries. As soon as it was attached to the United States, it began to grow in importance. The British envied its transfer to the United States and plotted with Spain for its recapture. An English fleet, supported by a land force, was driven back from Fort Bowyer (bo' yer) on Mobile Point by Major Lawrence.
General Jackson stormed and captured Pensacola from the combined forces of England and Spain. Two months later he won the battle of New Orleans, defeating with a small force the large British army under General Packenham (pak' en ăm). After this the British captured Fort Bowyer, but peace had been declared by the Treaty of Ghent (gent), and the Britons were recalled to their island home.
Mobile was chartered as a city by the legislature of Alabama, December 19, 1819. Its favorable position on Mobile Bay gave it the advantages of both river and ocean trade.
14. Mobile as a Commercial Center .- The rich lands bordering the Alabama and Tombigbee rivers and their tributaries were early occupied by intelli- gent, thrifty planters, who conducted business through commission merchants and agents in Mobile. Happy negroes labored for the production of corn, cotton, pumpkins, melons, fruits, potatoes, peas, pindars, and everything else that a soil and climate
1814
Jan. 8, 1815
Dec. 19, 1819
1
28
ALABAMA HISTORY
of rare excellence could produce. Cotton was the king of products; it meant cash. Steamers that plied the beautiful rivers carried regularly to Mobile loads of cotton and other products of the fields, and re- turned with sugar, coffee, clothing, and other neces- saries and luxuries for the planters. Other towns and cities might check for a time the passage of products, but sooner or later Mobile received them or shared in their profits.
15. Mobile as a Social Center .- Mobile was a bril- liant social center. Its beautiful old Southern homes offered a Southern welcome to visitors. The Christ- mas season was especially . attractive. Planters would gather there at that time to make settlements and arrange for supplies for the ensuing year. Families from the country went there to enjoy the holiday festivities. The city attracted the beauty and chivalry, the virtue and intelligence of the land. A half century shed its glories on this happy state of things; but they were destined to cease.
SUMMARY
The French planned by colonies along the Mississippi to squeeze the British out of America, and to establish a great French empire in America. La Salle named the southern por- tion of this region Louisiana in honor of Louis XIV of France. Iberville founded the colony of Louisiana by settlements at Biloxi and at Fort Louis de la Mobile. New Orleans was founded by Bienville, who, except during the governorships of Cadillac, L'Epinay, and Perier, was in command of the colony from 1701 to 1743. British successes in the French and Indian wars lost to France all her possessions in America. Louisiana east of the Mississippi, except New Orleans and the Isle of Orleans, fell to the British. Galvez captured Mobile for Spain, and General James
1
1
29
MOBILE UNDER AMERICAN RULE
Wilkinson wrested it from Spain for the United States. The English tried to recapture it in the War of 1812, but failed. It became a great commercial and social center.
QUESTIONS
1. Why was settlement of the Gulf coast delayed? 2. Tell of La Salle's explorations and plans. 3. Give an account of the settlement at Biloxi; at Twenty-seven-mile Bluff; at Mobile. 4. What troubles did the colonists have with the Alibamons, and how were these troubles settled? 5. Describe the work of the missionaries. 6. Give an account of the colony under Cro- zat. 7. What forts were built and for what purposes? 8. Sketch the work of Bienville. 9. What was the "Mississippi Scheme" and what was its effect upon the colony? 10. When and how did French rule close? 11. Give an account of Mobile under British rule; under Spanish rule; under American rule. 12. Describe Mobile as a commercial center; as a social center.
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CHAPTER III
ALEXANDER McGILLIVRAY (1746-1793)
1. Alexander McGillivray's Father .- Lachlan Mc- Gillivray (mak gil' i vra) ran away from his wealthy Scotch parents and came to America when he was sixteen years old. He had heard so much about Indian adventures and the sights in the New World that he wanted to come over to see for himself. He landed at Charleston with less than fifty cents in his pocket, but with a happy spirit and a healthy body. Falling in with traders, he engaged as a driver of pack horses, and went at once into the heart of the Indian country. Given a knife, he exchanged it for a few skins, and thus laid the foundation of the im- mense fortune which he afterward made.
Captain Marchand (mar shon'), one of the French commanders at Fort Toulouse, had married Sehoy', a Muscogee princess of the tribe of the wind. Their descendants became celebrated in the history of the Southwest. Their daughter Sehoy was first married to a Too kå bat'cha chief, and had a daugh- ter named Sehoy. She afterward met and married Lachlan McGillivray, and their children were Sophia, Jeannet, and Alexander. Sophia married Benjamin Durant, the noted athlete. Jeannet married LeClerc Milfort, who was the warrior bold to lead the Crecks in battle. After the death of Jeannet, he returned to
1746
.
[31]
32
ALABAMA HISTORY
France, wrote a history of his stay among the Creeks, and became a general under Napoleon Bonaparte.
Lachlan McGillivray sided with the British dur- ing the Revolutionary War. When it closed he placed a vast amount of money and movable prop- erty on board a vessel and returned to Scotland, leav- ing his family to their fate in America. He had hoped that his family would be permitted to hold his negroes and two valuable plantations, but the Ameri- cans sold them and put the money in the publie treasury.
2. Early Life of Alexander .- Alexander was natu- rally of a bright mind, and he took a classical course in a school at Charleston. On returning home he became the chief of the Upper Creeks. He was the shrewdest man of his time in making treaties with the English, Spanish, and Americans. He began his public acts in 1776 at Cow e' ta on the Chattahoochee, when he presided over the grand council of the nations. Two years later the British made him a colonel, and associated him with Colonel Tate at Fort Toulouse, hoping thereby to keep the Creeks hostile to the Americans.
The indefinite treaties between England, France, Spain, and the United States caused many troubles along the borders. Georgia, by grant from the king of England, claimed the territory from the Savannah river to the Mississippi. It procured from the Cherokees and Creeks a cession of lands among the headwaters of the O co' nee river. A majority of the Creeks declared the cession unfairly procured, and refused to agree to it; in fact, the Upper Creeks
1776
1783
33
ALEXANDER McGILLIVRAY
opposed every measure which the Lower Creeks wanted.
3. Partner of Panton .- McGillivray became a silent partner in business with William Panton, who opened stores at St. Augustine, St. Johns, St. Marks, Pensacola, Mobile, and Chickasaw Bluff. Under Panton's influence McGillivray, as emperor of the Creeks and Seminoles, signed a treaty with Spain, became a Spanish agent, and promised to keep open the breach between the Creeks and Georgians. He baffled the United States commissioners in the treaties which they tried to make at Galphinton, and later at Cus se' ta. He advised the Indians not to accept the treaty of Rock Landing by which the Georgians claimed the Oconee lands. At the same time, to compel Panton and the Spaniards to pay him a larger salary, he made them believe that he would make a treaty with the United States. The reasons he gave were that he could expect more favors for his people and that he could recover his father's estate, which he valued at more than a hundred thousand dollars.
4. Treaty Made in New York-Upon the invita- tion of Colonel Marinus Willett, a United States secret agent to the Creeks, MeGillivray and thirty chiefs visited General Washington in New York City. They were cordially received along the route, and upon entering the city they were met by the Tammany Society in full Indian uniform. With bands playing and flags flying they were escorted to the Federal Hall, where Congress was in session. They were taken to visit the President, the secretary
1
34
ALABAMA HISTORY
of war, and the governor of the State. A grand en- tertainment given at the city tavern closed the day.
The honors and the feasts were so much enjoyed by McGillivray and the chiefs that they forgot their promises to their friends at home and concluded a treaty. The Oconee lands were surrendered. The Creek territory was not to be occupied by American settlers, the Creeks and Seminoles were to accept the protection of the United States, and were not to make treaties with any State or the individuals of any State. The Creek nation was to take possession of goods then stored in warehouses in Angusta, Georgia, and was to receive fifteen hundred dollars every year.
By a secret treaty with Washington, the Creek trade after two years was to be carried on through ports of the United States; a hundred dollars and a handsome medal were to be given every year to cach of the chief's of the Oc fus' kees, Cowetas, Tal- lasses, Tookabatchas, Cussetas, and Seminoles.
McGillivray was made agent of the United States, with the rank of brigadier-general, on a salary of twelve hundred dollars a year. Creek youths, not more than four at one time, were to be educated in the North at the expense of the United States.
The Spaniards tried to win MeGillivray back to them by making him superintendent-general of the Creek nation with a salary of thirty-five hundred dollars a year.
5. William Augustus Bowles .- William Augustus Bowles was a noted rival of Alexander McGillivray. Hle wandered into the Creek country, learned the
1790
35
ALEXANDER McGILLIVRAY
Creek language, married a chief's daughter, and ac- quired great influence. As the tool of Lord Dunmore, governor of the Bahamas, he tried to check the busi- ness undertakings of Panton, Leslie and Company, and to lessen the influence of McGillivray. Among the Creeks he was very popular. Aided by bad associates, he spread evil reports of McGillivray. He declared that McGillivray had sold his people first to the Spaniards and then to the United States. He was forced to leave the country by order of Colonel Milfort, who threatened to cut off his ears if he were not gone in twenty-four hours after receiving the order.
2001240
Bowles then became a pirate to hunt down the vessels of Panton. He captured some of them loaded with arms and general merchandise, and ran them up into bayous, and spent days in drunken sprees. He distributed the goods in the vessels among his roguish company of whites and Creeks.
6. McGillivray's Cunning and Deceit .- The New York treaty was not approved by the Indians and many of them lost faith in MeGillivray, but his con- ning could not be matched. He had Bowles arrested and transported to Madrid. He deceived Panton, Spain, and the Federal government, and kept on good terms with them all. Professing faithfulness to the United States, he assisted Spanish agents in opposing American settlements and obstructing American engineers in establishing the Creek and Georgia boundary line. At one and the same time he was the agent and a brigadier-general of the United States on a salary of twelve hundred dollars a year,
1792
36
ALABAMA HISTORY
the agent of Spain on a salary of thirty-five hundred a year, the partner of Panton, and the emperor of the Creek and Seminole nations. His frequent visits to New Orleans threw him constantly with Governor Ca ron'de let, whose orders to expel Americans from the Creek country no doubt pleased McGillivray, the "Talleyrand* (tal li rand') of Alabama," as the his- torian Pickett calls him.
The Federal government never restored his father's estate, and his Indian notion of morality made him think that he was doing right to deceive the United States and thus get back some of the money which he felt was justly due him.
Hle naturally liked the British and Spanish better than the Americans; but he foresaw the future great- ness of the United States, and he sided with that country, which was rapidly spreading its authority over the western continent.
7. Kindness and Hospitality .- The rascality of traders and agents often brought terror and blood- shed. Families and companies of traders and trav- ellers were massacred.+ Sometimes by accident one or more members of the attacked party escaped. Me-
*Talleyrand was a wily French politician and diplomat in the time of the Bourbons and Napoleon.
¿Colonel Pickett says that in 1788 Colonel Kirkland, of South Carolina, with his son, nephew, and several others, stopped at the home of McGillivray on their way to Pensacola; that MeGil- livray sent a servant with them as they left his house that the Indians might know they were friends; that a Hillabee Indian, a white man, and a negro murdered them in camp at night in what is now Conecuh county, on the bank of the stream which has ever since been called Murder Creek.
37
ALEXANDER McGILLIVRAY
Gillivray was ever kind to the distressed, and his sisters and servants took part in several thrill- ing rescues and frequently gave protection to un- fortunates.
McGillivray kept open house to friends and foes; but since he was selfish and dishonestly ambitious,
Murder Creek
he used this hospitality as a means of advancing his own interests.
8. Death and Burial .- McGillivray died in Pensa- cola and was buried in that city with masonie honors in the beautiful garden of William Panton. Ilis Indian subjects were deeply saddened by his death, and grieved that so distinguished a chief should
Feb. 17, 1793
38
ALABAMA HISTORY
sleep his last sleep in the soil of the Seminoles. His remains were afterwards removed to Aberdeen, Scotland.
SUMMARY
Lachlan McGillivray, a Scotch youth, became a trader among American Indians; married Sehoy, the daughter of Captain Marchand and Sehoy, the Muscogee princess. Their three chil- dren, Sophia, Jeannet, and Alexander, were noted in history. Alexander was the greatest diplomat of his day. As chief of the Upper Creeks and powerful by his influence among the British, Spanish, and Americans, he had much to do with treaties, land sales, and other business between the Indians and the nations that had colonies in the southern part of the country. He was a great statesman, a great merchant, a great mason, and the close friend of William Panton.
QUESTIONS
1. Describe Lachlan McGillivray as a youth; as a business man; as a friend of the British. 2. Whom did he marry, and who were his children? 3. Sketch the early life of his son Alexander. 4. In what way was Alexander McGillivray honored in 1776? 5. How was he courted by the British, Spanish, and Americans? 6. What resulted from indefinite treaties? 7. What were McGil- livray's relations with William Panton? 8. Describe his visit to New York along with other chiefs. 9. Give the terms of the treaty concluded in New York, and of the secret treaty with President Washington. 10. What troubles did he have with Wil- liam Augustus Bowles? 11. What deceit did he practice, and for what reasons? 12. Describe his hospitality and kindness. 13. Give an account of his death and burial.
CHAPTER IV
WEATHERFORD AND PUSHMATAHA
(1780-1826) (1765-1824)
1. Parentage of Weatherford .- Sehoy, the daugh- ter of Sehoy Marchand and the Tookabatcha chief, had some romantic experiences. She was a beautiful girl, and bore the beloved family name from mother and grandmother. She married early, as beautiful maidens usually do. In her time the English held Fort Toulouse, and Colonel Tate, the British officer in command, married her. After awhile he deserted her, leaving her the mother of several children, but still young and beautiful.
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