USA > Alabama > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period, v. 1 > Part 16
USA > Georgia > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period, v. 1 > Part 16
USA > Mississippi > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period, v. 1 > Part 16
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1716 July 20
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majesty's commission, from carrying a sword or any other CHAPTER weapons, either by day or night, on Dauphin Island, or at any V. other settlements where there is an actual garrison, under the penalty of three hundred livres fine, to be applied to the erection of a church on Dauphin Island; and in default of payment the offender shall be confined in prison for the space of one month, and the penalty shall be greater for each repe- tition of the offence. We grant to all gentlemen the privi- lege of wearing a sword after having proved their nobility, and presented their titles to the secretary of the council for examination, and not otherwise, under the same penalties. We grant, also, to all civil and military officers, actually serv- ing in the country, permission to wear a sword, ke."
Thus, while this ridiculous governor was establishing him- self in a court of heraldry, in a miserable cabin of palm logs on Dauphin Island, and pronouncing upon titles of nobility, Bienville was in the interior of the immense wilds of Louisi- ana, establishing trading posts and advancing the interests of the colony. Cadillac, whom the excellent commissary, In- clos, pronouneed to be "an avaricious, cunning and obstinate man, who kept for himself everything which the court sent to the savages," was fast losing ground with the authorities in France. Crozat, in one of his last communications to him, used this language : " It is my opinion that all the disorders of which M. Cadillac complains in the colony proceed from the mal-administration of M. Cadillae himself." The Minister 1 added this postscript : " Messis. Cadillac and Duelos, whose characters are utterly incompatible with each other, and who,
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CHAPTER
V.
1716
at the same time, lack the intelligence necessary to the per- formance of their duties, are recalled, and their places are filled by others." It was unjust that Duclos should have been made to lose his station because his views of colonial policy clashed with those of the Governor.
April 23
The King of France had ordered Bienville to form several establishments upon the Mississippi, and to commence with that among the Natchez, with eighty soldiers. As soon as possible he began the construction of large canoes to be used as transports. Cadillac refused to place at his disposal the number of soldiers designated by his majesty, and Bienville, when all things were ready, departed with only thirty- four soldiers under the command of Richebourg. To these were added fifteen sailors. Bienville advanced to a town of the Tonicas, eighteen leagues below Natchez, and there learn- ing from Father Davion, still a missionary among those peo- ple, that they were not to be trusted and would probably become allies of the Natchez, he established himself tempo- rarily upon an island in the Mississippi, where he erected three barracks, which he enclosed with piles. His object was to obtain possession of the persons of those Chiefs and promi- nent warriors of the Natchez, who had recently murdered some Frenchmen, in consequence of the refusal of Cadillac to smoke with them, which they viewed as a declaration of war. Ile intended, after he had made an example of a few Chief -. and had intimidated the common people, to proceed to their towns and there construct a fortification in obedience to the orders of his King. Father Davion further informed Bienville
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that the Natchez Chiefs did not suspect that the murders CHAPTER which they had committed were known to the French au- v. thorities, and were anxious to keep them concealed. Bienville then despatched messengers up the river, who were instructed to pass by the Natchez during the night, and proceed towards the Wabash settlements, and inform all Frenchmen, whom they met descending, to be upon their guard, for that he was stationed at the Tonicas, and that he was preparing to be re- venged upon the murderers of the Frenchmen, which would possibly produce a serious war with that tribe.
Three Natchez, who were sent by their Chiefs to Bienville, arrived with the pipe of peace, but the latter declined to receive it, and stated that the messengers might smoke with his soldiers, but that he would only smoke with the Great Sun Chiefs, for he was the Great Chief of the French. He affected indifference about establishing a trading post among them, and intimated an intention to give the Tonicas the benefit of his merchandize, as the Natchez Chiefs had exhibit- ed such a want of respect and friendship, in not coming them- selves to greet him.
The three savages speedily returned home with this startling message, and with a French interpreter, who could further explain the reply of Bienville. One morning, Bienville saw four magnificent canoes descending the river, and bearing towards the island. Eight warriors stood erect and sung the pipe-song, while three Chiefs, in each canoe, sat under im- mense umbrellas. They were the Natchez Chiefs, allured thither by the snare which the royal lieutenant had laid for
1716 April 27
-
May 8
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CHAPTER them. Concealing one half of his soldiers, and advancing. V. with apparent friendship, he conducted them within his rud- military works, which they entered singing the song of peace. and holding the pipe over his head. Afterwards, they passed their hands over his stomach without rubbing, and then over themselves. Bienville refused the pipe with contempt, and desired, first, to know the nature of their visit. Much discon- certed, the Chiefs went out and presented their pipes to the Sun. The High Priest, with his arms extended and his eyes fixed upon the bright luminary which he daily worshipped. invoked it to soften the temper and change the resolution of 1716 the stern Bienville. Again entering the works, he presented the pipe to Bienville, who scornfully refused it. At that mo- ment the Chiefs were seized, ironed, and placed in the prison. At night, Bienville informed the Grand Sun, and his brother -. the Angry Serpent and the Little Sun, whom he had caused to be separated from the others and brought into his presence. that nothing would satisfy him but to be placed in possession of the heads of the Chiefs who advised the murder of the five Frenchmen, and of those who executed the horrid deed : that he knew that they were not concerned in the transaction themselves, and, consequently, he did not desire to take their lives, unless they failed to comply with his demands. 112 May 9 gave them until morning to determine upon his requisition. and by daylight the three brothers appeared before him, and implored him to remember that no one now remained in their town of sufficient authority to chop off the heads of the mien whom he demanded, and requested that the Angry Serpent
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might be permitted to return home to accomplish the dan- CHAPTER gerous mission. Bienville refused, but sent the Little Sun in V. his place, with an officer and twelve soldiers, who conveyed him in a canoe within six miles of Natchez, where he was placed on shore. The Little Sun returned to Bienville, with 1716 May 14 three heads, two of which the French commander recognized as those which he had demanded. The other head was that of an innocent person, the brother of one of the mur- derers, who had fled to the forests. Bienville expressed his deep regret to the Chiefs, that they had thus caused an inno- cent person to suffer, and assured them that nothing would compromise his resentment but the possession of the head of the Chief, White Earth. Notwithstanding the Little Sun had acted with so much promptness, and had brought with him a Frenchman and two Illinois Indians, whom he found tied to stakes in one of the Natchez towns, ready to be burned to death, yet Bienville caused him to be ironed and remanded to prison with the others. The next day he despatched to the May 15 Natchez, the High Priest of the Temple, and two Chiefs of War, for the head of White Earth. They were conducted by a detachment, almost to their villages. In the meantime, by a confession of the imprisoned Chiefs, Bienville ascertained that the English had been encouraged, and the Frenchmen had been killed, at the instance of White Earth, Grigars, and two Chiefs and two warriors then in his custody. The Indians whom he had sent to the Natchez, having returned withont the head of White Earth, who had made his escape, and the inundations of the Mississippi having caused much sickness on
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CHAPTER the island, Bienville determined to end the affair by a treaty V. with the Chiefs, who willingly acceded to his terms, and were grateful that he had spared their lives. They bound them- selves to kill White Earth whenever he could be captured -- to restore all the goods which they had seized-to cut the thousand five hundred piles of acacia wood, thirty feet long and ten inches in diameter, and to deposit them at the spot. at Natchez, where it was contemplated to erect a fort-and to furnish the bark of three thousand cypress trees, for covering the houses, by the end of July .*
1716 June 3
Adjutant Pailloux departed, with two soldiers, to the towni of the Natchez, with the Chiefs and other warriors ; Bien- ville, however, retained the Angry Serpent and his brother. the Little Sun, as hostages, and also kept the four murderers. who now rent the prison with their doleful death-songs and loud speeches of defiance. Pailloux, upon arriving among the Natchez, found them assembled in council, and learned. with pleasure, that they were satisfied with the compact which their Chiefs had made with Bienville. He selected au eminence, near the Mississippi, advantageously situated for that purpose, for the site of a fort. In the meantime, Bienville had been visited, at the island, by nine old Natchez men. who came with much show of solemnity, and invited him to sinoke the pipe of peace with them, which he now no longer
June 8
.
,
* Histoire de la Louisiane, par Charles Gayarre, vol. 1, pp. 114-1:1 Journal Historique de l'Etablissement des Français a la Louisiane, just Bernard de la farpe, pp. 115-128.
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refused to do. He sent them home with the Little Sun and CHAPTER four soldiers, who conveyed, in a large canoe, axes, spades, v. 1716 June 9 pickaxes, nails and other irons, to construct the fort. The next day, the soldiers, at the island, struck off the heads of the two warriors. Afterwards Captain Richebourg was June 11 obliged to depart for Mobile, on account of sickness, A. number of Canadian voyageurs, whom Bienville detained at the island, while on their way from the Illinois country, with peltries and supplies for the people of the lower part of Louisiana, now that the difficulties with the Natchez had ended, were permitted to proceed down the Mississippi; the June 12 royal lieutenant caused them to take with them the two Chiefs, whose heads he ordered to be struck off twelve leagues below, which was faithfully executed.
The Natchez, directed by the French officer and . assisted by a few soldiers, labored upon the fort and ditches with great assiduity, and soon brought the works to a state of completion. Bienville had arrived a few days before, in August 3 company with the Angry Serpent, whom he had retained about his person until every seeming obstacle was overcome. Before the gate of the fort, six hundred Natchez warriors appeared, unarmed, and joined three hundred women in a August 25 dance in honor of Bienville; afterwards the Chiefs crossed the threshold and smoked the pipe of peace with him. Such was the end of the first Natchez war.
Leaving Pailloux in command of the post at Natchez, Bienville descended the Mississippi, and sailed to Mobile for October 4 the purpose of reporting to Governor Cadillac. Here he
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CHAPTER received a packet from the Marine Council, in which he w V. ordered by the King of France to govern as chief of t !: colony, until L'Epinay, the successor of Cadillac, shon arrive. He was thus saved the disagreeable necessity of reporting to his old enemy, who had, in advance, denouund his conduct to the Minister, as fraught with cruelty and t !. deepest treachery towards the Natchez Chiefs. We are In : prepared to defend Bienville from these charges, although his course was approved by the government and by all ti. colonial authorities, with the exception of Cadillac and l. junto.
The King of France, acceding to the request of Crozet allowed one hundred salt-makers to be sent annually : Louisiana, who, after laboring there for three years, were :. receive land. He also consented to send thither eight con . panies of soldiers, with permission to two, out of ch : company, to settle in the country, together with a hundre ! hospital girls, annually, to increase the colonial populat .. .. The King refused to adopt the suggestion of the Curate Lt Vente, of permitting Frenchmen to marry Indian womer.
For the payment of the colonial expenses, for the Ve ... 1716, now nearly brought to a close, Duelos, the cut missary-general, required of the French government an appropriation of the following amounts:
A governor, -
- 6000 livres. A commissary, - -
6000 A royal lieutenant, - 2000
- An adjutant, - - - 900
THE FRENCH IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.
239
Four captains of companies, 4800 livres.
CHAPTER V.
Four lieutenants,
- 3600
Ensigns,
- -
2400
A secretary, -
-
-
1000
A store-keeper, -
- 800 66
A surgeon, - -
800
A chaplain, -
800
Incidental expenses,
80,992
110,092 livres. *
* Histoire de la Louisiane, par Charles Gayarre, vol. 1, pp. 148-152.
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THE FRENCH IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.
CHAPTER VI.
THE INDIA OR MISSISSIPPI COMPANY.
CHAPTER VI.
1717 March 9
L'EPINAY, the new governor, and the fourth which had been placed over the colony of Louisiana, Hubert, the new com- missary-general, three companies of infantry and fifty colo- nists, arrived from France, on board three vessels, which be- longed to Crozat. Among the colonists were Roi Dubreuil. Guennot, Trefontaine and Massy, men of worth and intelli- gence, who had formed themselves into an association to settle some portion of the almost boundless country of Louisiana.
To prevent the struggle for power which had never failed to display itself between the former governors, commissarie- and officers of the colony, the King of France, by written instructions, defined the duties of each. He declared that all military regulations, and the "dignity of command," shouldi pertain to the governor alone: but in the building of public houses and fortifications, the marching of expeditions, and the means of raising funds, he was to confer with the commissary, whose joint views were to be presented for the ratification of his majesty. The administration of the funds, provisions.
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merchandize and everything which related to the ware-houses CHAPTER was confided to the commissary, who, however, could make VI. - no bargain or sale without the consent of the governor. The administration of the hospitals was also confided to the com- missary, with the supervision of the governor. The admin- istration of justice was committed to the commissary in his function of first councillor and chief judge. The affairs of the police, and the power of conferring grants of land were given jointly to these officers. Letters patent established a Supreme Council of Louisiana, the meetings of which, his majesty authorized to be held, either at Fort St. Louis, of Mobile, or upon Dauphin Island. The King granted to Bien- ville, for his numerous services, the Island of Come, not as a fief, but in villanage, and instructed L'Epinay to present him with the cross of St. Louis. These marks of favor did not reconcile Bienville, who considered himself, beyond all others, entitled to the government of Louisiana. Consequent- ly jealousies and disputes soon created a disagreeable and un- happy state of things, arraying the friends of Bienville on one side, and those of the governor and commissary, on the other. As Crozat attempted to bribe Cadillac, in order to at- tain his most vigorous and successful exertions in advancing his commerce, so, for the same end, he entered into a contract with L'Epinay, engaging to give him two thousand livres a year, and divers other advantages. The great monopolist had designed to establish a large contraband trade, with the Span- ish possessions, if he could not carry on a legitimate one. But, he succeeded in neither, and next, turning his attention to a
14
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THE FRENCH IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.
CHAPTER commerce with the various Indian tribes upon the Mississippi,
VI. Alabama, Tombigby and their tributaries, he found that so far from being remunerated, he had to encounter the heaviest 1717 August losses. At length, aware that he had assumed a burthen be- yond his strength, he humbly offered to return to the King that charter, the extensive privileges of which he had once imagined would make him the richest man in the world! October 27 The proposition was accepted, and the Council of State trans- mitted orders to L'Epinay to transfer the colonial government to Bienville, and to return to France. The gubernatorial career of the former gentleman was of short duration, and remark- able for nothing, except a proclamation, in which he forbade the sale of brandy to the Indians-at that period, a very unpopu- lar measure.
During the five years of the existence of the colony, under the charter of Crozat, commerce and agriculture had not pros- pered, yet the population had slowly increased, and now numbered about seven hundred souls. The colonists, also. possessed some four hundred horned cattle. The inhabitants had devoted themselves to a trade in provisions and Indian slaves, and to a commerce with the Spaniards, who, despite of the watchfulness of Crozat's agents, had managed to carry off, annually, about twelve thousand piastres.
The Marine Cabinet of France, composed of De Bourbon and D'Estrees, came to the conclusion, that as the enterprise which Crozat had assumed, had proved itself of too gigantic a character for any one man, and as it would not be proper for the King to take charge of Louisiana, and embarrass himself by
-
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THE FRENCH IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI.
entering into its thousand cares and commercial details, it CHAPTER would better comport with the welfare of France and her VI. colony, to turn the latter over to the management of an asso- ciation of men. Accordingly, the Western or India Company, with a capital of one hundred thousand livres, was allowed to take the unhappy people of Louisiana under their charge, and to expose them, once more, to an arbitrary and grinding mo- nopoly. The members of this company were not required to be solely subjects of the King of France, but might be for- eigners. The charter, which was registered in the Parliament, 1717 September 6 at Paris, gave this company the exclusive privilege of carrying on all commerce in Louisiana, for the long period of twenty- five years. It also gave them the exclusive privilege, ex- tending from the 1st January, 1718, to the 31st December, 1742, of purchasing beaver skins from Canada-the King reserving the right of regulating their price, and of determin- ing the quantity to be sold. The company possessed the power of conferring grants, making war or peace with the Indians, establishing forts, levying troops, appointing govern- ors, or other officers for the colony, upon the recommendation of the directors of the company ; building vessels of war, cast- ing pieces of artillery, and of nominating the inferior judges, and all the other officers of justice, the King reserving to himself only the right of appointing the members of the Supreme Council.
It was further provided by the charter that the military officers could enter into the service of the company without losing their rank in the army or navy, but they were not allow-
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CHAPTER ed to seize, either in the hands of the directors, or in those of VI. its cashier or its agents, the effects, shares, or profits of the stockholders, except in case of failure or open bankruptcy or death of said stockholders. The merchandize of the company was to be free from all charges either of entry or departure, and to those portions of the territory where they made per- manent improvements, the company was to have durable rights, which were to extend also to the mines, which they might discover and work. The only thing which savored of 1717 September 6 liberality towards the inhabitants, was their exemption from taxation during the existence of the charter. The ecclesiasti- cal jurisdiction was still to form a part of the diocese of Quebec, while the company was to build churches and pay the clergy. It was to transport to the colony, during the term of its charter, six thousand whites, and three thousand negroes ; but it was prohibited from sending negroes or whites to the other French colonies, without the permission of the Governor of Louisiana. The directors were to be appointed by the King, for the first two years, and after- wards they were to be elected every three years, by the stockholders, each of whom had a vote for every fifty shares. In short, the India Company was granted all manner of powers and privileges.
A celebrated Scotchman, named Law, who was now director of the Bank of France ; D'Artaguette, receiver-general of the finances of Auch ; Duche, receiver of those of Rochelle ; Mo- reau, commercial deputy of the city of St. Malo; Piou, deputy of the city of Nantes ; and Costaignes and Mauchard,
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merchants of Rochelle -- were nominated by the King of CHAPTER France as the first director- for the colony of Louisiana, under VI. the new charter. The company then sent over three compa- nies of infantry, and sixty-nine colonists. The three vessels, which bore them, arrived at Dauphin Island, and the inhabi- 1718 February 9 tants were revived with pleasing anticipations of better times. -
especially as the great and good Bienville, whom they almost idolized, was made governor, with a salary of six thousand livres. He, who had been twenty years in this wild and in- hospitable country, and who, amidst the deepest gloom and the greatest suffering of the colonists, had never once left them, but had sustained them with his fearless spirit, mighty arm and benevolent heart,-was eminently deserving the high post to which he was now elevated. The first thing he did was to seek a suitable place for the location of the principal settlement of the colony. He selected the site of New-Orleans, which had long been a favorite point with him, as we have seen. He proceeded there with fifty persons, carpenters and galley-slaves, whom he set to work to clear away the woods and erect houses. Ile next sent a detachment of fifty soldiers, under Chateaugné, to build a fort upon the bay of St. Joseph, situated between Pensacola and St. Marks,-which being completed, De Gousy was left there in command. From him, Captain Roka, a Spaniard, induced twenty-five soldiers to desert and flee to St. Augustine. The post of St. Joseph was soon abandoned by the French, who had no right to settle any part of Florida, and it was immediately occupied by the Spaniards.
March
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CHAPTER VI.
1718 April 28
August 25
In the vessels which arrived on the 9th of February, came Major Boisbriant, who had paid a visit to France, and who was now commissioned a royal lieutenant, with a salary of three thousand livres. D'Hubert was retained as commissary-gen- eral with a salary of five thousand livres. These vessels were succeeded by another, having on board sixty passengers for the grant belonging to Paris Duvernet, which embraced the old Indian village of Pascagoula, where they were presently located. Three more ships arrived at Dauphin Island, which brought out Richebourg, now Chevalier of the order of St. Louis ; Grandval, intended to act as major of Mobile ; Lieu- tenants Noyan and Meleque, and Daniel, major of New-Or- leans. At the same time there arrived forty commissioners, with Le Gae, sub-director ; seventy persons for the grant of Houssays, and sixty for that of La Harpe.
It was wisely determined to encourage agriculture, as the best means of increasing the wealth and importance of Louisi- ana ; and for that purpose, extensive grants of land were made to the richest and most powerful persons of the kingdom of France. . Four leagues square were ceded to the Scotch finan- cier, Law, on the Arkansas river, where he was to settle fifteen hundred Germans, whom he was to protect by a small body of cavalry and infantry. ' The other persons to whom grants were made, likewise bound themselves to furnish a certain number of emigrants. But the experiment did not succeed. These great proprietors did send to Louisiana a few colonists, but a majority of them fell victims to the climate, and those who survived did not devote themselves to any useful occupa-
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