Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 18

Author:
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co.
Number of Pages: 472

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Fort Chartres was rebuilt in 1756, and wus designed to be the strongest fortifiention on the continent. it iras in the form of a polygon, the sides of which were 420 feet in extent, containing commandants' and conimissaries' houses, magazinr, guard bousr and two rows of barrucks, all constructed of soliil masonry A hundred years after its construction, its massive ruins coubl be seen, overgrown with trees and vines almost impenetrable to the traveler. For many years Fort Chartres was the most celebrated fortress in all the Mississippi Valley, anil wos the center of wealth and fashton of the West. The lust French commandant irhu had his headquarters here was M. de St. Ange. tin the surrender of the French posts in the West to the British, in July, 1765, Sı. Ange evacuated Fort Chartres and retired, with his company of twenty men, to St. Louis, on the west side of the Mississippi, into territory which had been ceded to Spain. St. Louis was founded in 1164 A detachment of British troops tuok possession of the evacuated fort, BI1] Capt Sterling, British Commandant in Illinois, made it his hewelquarters. In 1769, the post was in charge of Lieut. John Wilkins, who granted sereral large tracts of lundI to British traders in ilint vicinity. Some of the French population took the oath of allegiance to the governinent of Great Britain, and continued to occupy their aucient possessions in and around Kaskaskia. Cahokia und Prairie du Rocher; others reinoved to the Spanish territory on the a est side of the Mississippi.

DESTRUCTION OF THE NATCHEZ.

The nation of the Natchez lind their rillages on the banks of the Lower Mississippi, along the wuost fertile plains of the Southwest. They were s more highly civihzed people than the generality of American Indians, and, in their manuers and customs, resembled the Aztees of Mexico. The French had a post at Natchez, and the settlements in that vicinity, on the Yazoo and Washita Rivers, contained about seven hundred inbuhitants. In the year 11 !!! 4, the Natchez, excited by the eneroschments of the French, and the at- tempt of ono Chopart to fake forcible possession of the site of their principal vilinge for a plantation, decided, in council with the Chickasairs and Choc- tau's, upon a general massacre of the French inhabitants. On the morning of the 28th of Norember, lius, the work of blood hegan, and before noon nrarly ørery Frenchman in the colony was murdered. Scarcely enough surstred to carry the tidings of ilestruction to New Orleans.

The news spreail terror and dismay in the city: each house uns speedily supplied with arts, and the place fortified by a ditch. The citizens, at that time, numbered about four thousand, hesiile two thousand negro slaves. The French forces were assembled on the bank of the river and placed itt- iler command of fol. Lubois. The famous explorer, Le Sueur, was then in New Orleans. lle immediately repaired to the country of the Choctaws, iron them to his aid, and was followed nerosx the country by seven hundred warriors, arriving first at the village of the Natchez. On the morning of the 2th of January, 1830, the Choctaws ninde an attack upon the Natchez ril- Inge, nud, losing only tivo of their men, brought eff sixty scalps and eighteen prisoners.

1.u bois arrived on the 8th of Februser, and completed the work of de- striction. some of the surviring Natchez fled for protretiun to the neighbor- ing tribes; the reuniuder crossed the Mississippi; both parties were pur- sued und their places of refuge tuken. Their chief-Great Sun-and some four huvudreit prisoners irere sold as slaves among the Spaniards The notion of the Natchez was thus entirely exterminated

The Company of the Indies, haring found that the cost of defending Louisiana excerilrd the return from its commerce, sought u calth hy con- qitrat ur tratho ou the coasts of Guinea and Ilindostan, und solicited leare in surrender the Mississippi wilderness to the home gorernment. Arcord. ingly, wu tho 10th of April, 1182, the jurisdiction of the colouy reverted to the Crown of France, Thr company bad held possession of Louisiana fourteen years. In 1736, Birnrille reappeared to assuine cominanul for the Kiug.

201

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF INDIANA .- CONTINUED.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE: CHICKASAWS.

To secure the eastern valley of the Mississippi, and to protect the cou. nection between the Illinois country und Nen Orleans, it heenme areessury In subiuo the Chirknsiws, who had mier licen the dreaded enemies of the French. D' Artagnello, q yunng nad chiralrons ofbeer irho held command in Illinois, summoned the files In meet in council af Fort Chartres, nud Ihr friendly chiefs, with Chienga, chief of the Illinois, ut Their head, descended to New Orleans niid presented the jupe of pearo to the Governor. When il u as decided to commence the enmpnign against The Chickasawrs, Bienrille gave orders for the nludy forer of the rolony at the South, with D' Artaguette old bis common], bi meet him on the 10th of May, 1736, in the country of the enemy. For Anthe cause, The Ino branches of the urro) failed to form u minetin at the appantel Inmue D'Arlagnelle, nith Father Senul, nDel Morgan de Yanrennes | from the whil French post nomed in honor of him ou the Wubosh , Ins Lientenant, Arru rdl an the 9th, The evening before the line ejquantel, and sh thing auftly into the country af the Chickogans, nuallel in coucealmewi the arrival uf Themille ut the place of rendezrons, among the sources of The Yallubnehn, Meantime, Bienville, with his southern forces, reinforced by about twelve hundred Choclaws, who had joined his stand- ard, uns an the march, but did pol or tive al the place appointed till the 24th of May, ffern days after the ujqouteil time. "On his nrrivol, ho campeil within o leogne af tho great village of the Chickasaws. Withoul seeking fur that bronch af the army under D'Artaguette, be ndranced, in the morning befire day, lo surprise the enemy, which be filed in ilo, tho wary Chniekd. snus being nhi the watch in u stiangly infrenchel furtification. The English Ing usred over their Got, nud English Inders hod assisted thew i pre- poring their detruses. The l'rench under lirarillo innde tiro allempls 10 blorin the log citadel, lui were cach Ingo repulsed with heavy losses. On the 20th, the Gunl referat logon ; on The 20th, Bienvilly dismissed his Choe- law ullles; und, throning his cannon into the Tumbighee, be and his porly ingluriansly flunted ihnen the river, und landed about the first of June on the Boyxu St. Juliu.

D'Arlugnelle, meuptime, hu'l hevn whining among the sources of the Y'allnhushn for The oriny from below Ne hnul wuitel Ira durs after Ibo appointed mur. His impatient allies thicutened desertion, aud of length he Vinseuleil lo hu nttnek Ths mumsmes were wisely planbed. Que fort was onyriet, mund the P'hehasgas driven from the cahjus which it protected. Al the third, he rreun ed first che wantol mul Ilgu auother, and in tho mument nf tielors uus dikilled The lundiaus trom Illinois irere dismnayed and fluit precipitnich. Vensis, a Ind only sisiven, conducted the relreal, the enemy al his heels for luculy. ure Iragnes. Hr muiched all That ilistance without food, ubilo the men curried such of the wounded as could endure the fnligin

The uuhopjo D' Artaguelle Iny nellering in his blood, oud by his side lay ofbris of las tinvest Irhope. "The desmit, Senol, might bare fled, but he remmued In receive Ihv Inst sigh of the unnoted, regardless of danger, mindful nuly of duty The brave Vincennes, too, refused jo dy, und sbareit the rajdinity of his gallant lowler. According to the Indiau custom, their isininils sore stranched ml food was set before them. A los, when Bien- ville hud retreated, thu thickasons brought the raptives to lhoir lodges ; snel chile one uns sparel be velle the Tragedy, the brave and galloal D'Arla- goelle, tho faithful Spunt, hine to his mission, amit Vincennes, whose nulne mill Io perpolunted us long us the Wabash shall flou by the dwellings of civilized turn-these with the ird of the captives irere bound to the sinke, unul beither rator uor foty ruald sure them frinu dleath by a slow and fortui. ing firy. Vincennes ecastel out fill his Inut breath to eshort bis comrades in be faithful to their vondiry nud their religion.

Although the Thicknomirs sued for peace, which was granted theus in 17111, they remained the mudisputed musters of their territory.

During the period of Freuch rule in louisiaun, the population protully never exceeded Ien thous gul, including whiles oud bineks. Within that portion of it now mehpledd in ludinny, trading posts were established ul The principal Minin villages which stond au the head woters of the Magice. The Wen villagey situated ut Quintenbu, on the Wabash, and the lioukeshow villages nl l'uet Vincennes ull of which were probably visited by I reuch traders anel misonneries before the che uff the seventeruth century.

Oulside of luchiune in the wust territory claimed by the Trench, many sel tleuruts ol cansideralde muporinote hadd sprung up. Biloxi, on Molale Big, hud locu founded by D'ihertille, in In9, Antoine de Lauvotre Cidil- Ine hud Growled Definit in 1701, and New Hrleaus had been foundeil by Bienville, moler the surfaces af The Mississippi Company, in 1718. In the Ilmais congiry, also, consplorable settlements had been muitode, so that in 1740 they ruthraced nue hundred nwl forly French families, about six hun- liau of the country, at the enst side of the Mississippi, there were fire ,lis. liuel weplements, unk their respeelite villages, viz .: Cahokia, near the mouth of Cahokia P'revk nud about five unles below the present cily af $1. Loms: $ Platip, about fort-five toiles bebuwr C'abokio, and four miles nuove Tarl Churires, Tort Chartres, Anche miles above Kuskaskin ; Ruskaskin, siluuled on The Kaskn-kin Biver, five mule, nbore ils confluence with the Vispa, nud Fronte du Rocher, urur Fort Chartres, To these must be Thre, with the exception of St. Louis, ure ninong The oldest French tonus in the Mission Valley. Knihuskin, in its hest days, was a low'u of your Lien or Three thousand inhabitnots After il posseil from the crown of France ils prapuintivu for many years did not exceed linern hundred. Undler British rule, in 1773, the jepolitan hid derrensed to Gor hundred and fifty As Larly 14 1721, Iby ,lewnits hud ralablished n college aud a inonastery in finis.

THE FRENCH AND INGLISH COLONIES.

The first French Bil lughsh colonies in North Amerien nere planted very nearly ul the antue period The French mule Their frel selllement ul Port loyal, Noru Scutym, in 1003. This was followed by the lomvling of Quebre, in IGUS The ard jemunuent laglish settlement in America was intile ut Jamr-Inuovo, Virginia, 10 100 This Iniler selitement, together ninh the colony u bich landedon the oulein portion of the coulinent, al Nyumuuuh Rock, in 120, anschilibel in tre the successful viral of oll The others in competing for duinunan in the mus territory extending from the Atlantic lo the I'neifie Dersu, uiel from Hudson's Bis an the warth to Mexico atul Cen- tral Amerien on the Faith

In the colamization of the Wist, the Trench luul o buudred yeurs the start of the English roloutes east of the Alleghour Muuntains, oud during three. fourths of this period hol mole The most strennous efforts to udruuce aud consolidate their nilerons within thuis inst region of country, sho richest and trust beautiful porling af North Amerien. They foited in the under- lakiug, nud but for fruces of their work uaw remain in the great vulley of The Mississijga, orluile the deserwlanty of the English colonists hare puy- sessed themselves of the country and built up within its borders the great mul prosperous sisterhund of Western Sotry, couldining more thon teu mill. ious of people miul representing thousands of millions of property, with cities il' Immay cammerer uwl manufnelmes ibdning the laud all over, with railroads, Telegraph», public schools and churches, mul orery element of progressne civilization.

We shull gire u briel skelch of The conBiel heltreeu the English mul the French, which finally resulted in the overthrow of the Freuch Colonial Emu- pire in North America, aud of the beginning of the English selllements wesl of the Allegheny Monmains.

CONI'LA'T BETWEEN THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH

lu 1753, the first netnul confiof nroso belirreu Louisinna und the Atlantic Colonies. A jealonuy and rivahy hul for a long period existed. From the marliesl nibent of the lesnit Fathers up to the period of which ur speak, The great ambition af The Proneh bml been, not alone to preserre their pas- sessians in the Wea, but by erery possilto means to prevent the slightest nitempi of the I'nglish casi of the woounining to extond their settlements lowid the Mississippi, France was resolved on retaining possession of ily great territory which hyr missionaries hind iliscorered und revealed lo the uurhl French commandants had arowed their purpose of seizing erery Englishmon fonmil within the Ohio Valley.

The colonies of New York, Pennsylvania und Virginia u ore most affected by the encroachicals of France in the extension of ber ilominion, and par- tienlurly in the great scheme of uniting Canada with Louisinun Fo entry om this purpose the French had taken possession of a Imel of country elnimed by Virgium, and had commenced a line of forts extenuling from the Jukes lo the Ohio River

Virginia was not only ulive lo her own interests, but allentire to the viral importance of an immediate oud effectual resistance on the girl of all the English colonie- to the nelual and contemplated encroachments of The French, In 1748, Gar. Dinwiddie, of Virginia, seul George Washington-they n young man, just of uge-lo demand of the French Comunuihni on reason for inrading British dominions, while n solid peace subsisted." Washington -surmounting all the dilliendties of & winter journoy urer mountains and through forests-mel the French Commonmlanl, Gardeur ile St. Pierre, on thu heuil iraters uf ihr AllegheGy, und, haring communicated jo hits the ohjeel of his journey, Permived the insolent onsirer that the French wonhl not ilis. cuss the Innfter uf right, but would make prisoners of orery Enghshminn fond Trading on the Ohio mul its waters, The country, he said, hefouged to the I'reneb, hy virine of Ihn discoveries made by LaSalle, and they would nul trithdran from il

In January, 1501, Washinglun returned lo Virginia, and made his reporl In the Governor' ml Conneil. Forees u ere al oner raised, unil Washington, ns Lieutenant Colonel, irns dispatebeil, at the head of 150 men, to The foiks of the Obio, with orders " lu finish the forl | Fort Pitt) already begun by the Ohio Company, aud to winke prisoners, kill or destroy all who interrupted the linglish settlements "

In lus march through the forests of Western l'enneyirobin, Washington, Through tho uid of friendly holiuns, discovered the Freorh concealed mong the Forka, and as they run to sieze their nrens, ordered bis men to tre oyou them, nl the same hme with Ins own muskel setting the exnumple Au oclien Insting about u quarter of an hour cusuel. Ten of the Frenchmien uero killed-mmong them, Inmonville, the commander of tho arniy -- and twenty- Que nece mude prisoners.

"The dead were scalped by the Indians, and the chief, bearing u scalp und n hatchet, wseal to all the Tribes of the Miumis, invoking their great war-chief und braves lo go hond in howl irith the Six Nations in nlliame with the English, But The French being soon reinforced by superior numbers, Wash- mugloy nos cionpelleit to full hack upon Fort Necessity, a rude stocknile al Great Mewlowvy

Hu The ill of Inly, Monsieur de Villiers confronted him with GIMI Freuch oil 100 todiana-n vostly superior force-and Washington wns compelled lo secopt terms of enpimintion . aud un the Fourth of July the English garrison was wirbdrann from tho basin of the Ohio,

The allack of Washington upon Jumsourille aroused the indiguntion of France, unil war ires huw imminent beliveen the tin untions. In Mny, 175G, wymi uns formally deelnred.

The yigual nud unforlimuule ilefent of Gen. Braddock near Fort du Quesue, un the bruks of the Mohougabeln, occurred Jnly V, 175h, und from shut period until tho victory of Gen. Wolfe at Quebee, on the 13th of September, 1759, various engagements und luken ploce, with various fortunes, between the English ouil Ihr French, und their Indian alleg.

Itu the &th of Septemiler, 17G0, Montreal, Detroit und all Cumula nere gnen up to the English.

Ou the Truth of February, 1763, the treaty of Paris was conchuled, lo winch Great Britain becnine possessed of all New France nud all thins portiun of the Province of Louisiman lying on the east side of the Mississippi, except the islnad and town of Nen Orle ins, which renmined to the French

The frenly af l'uris had been signed, though ml formully concluded, on the 3d uf November, 1762, Ou the sime duy, France, in u scerel Irenly, ceded lo Stoin all her possessions ou the west side of the Mississippi, thelud- iug the whole country to the head waters of the Great River nud'u est to the Rocky Mountains.

Thus i'ne the great l'rorivee of Louisiana divided belu en L'oglund und Spolu, And the founuion of France in America, which bil Insted nearly a buwlrel years, passed nuns

CONFLICT BETWEEN THE BRITISH AND THE INDIANS.

Although The Indiany of the Northwest seemed generally satisfied with the subjugation of the Freuch, aud the English traders were gruulnally in- urensing their Irathe among them, yel some of thetu were seerelly apposed to the British taking possession of The country, Among these iros Ponline, Q hstinguished (fawn cluef. During the year 1761, this noted chief organized a powerlul Indlinh confederacy, consisting of the Offunas, Chippewas, l'al- lonullomies, Snes, Foxes, Meuomluces, Miamis, Shawnees, Wyoudids nud wine uther Iriley, tho object of which iras to erush, at a single hlmir, the English pourer in The Wesl.

Karly in the spring of 1703, they were ready to mako a simultuneons nllack ou all the British posts anil trading establishments in the country worth- uesi of Ihr Alleglony Mountains,

The ulluck was made in the month of May, the ludinne, without much opposition, tubing possession of the English posts nt Muckinuw, Green Day, Si, Joseph, Duintenon, Minmis, Sandusky, Presque Isle, Lebanf und Veunngu. A small number of English traders about these posts were killed ; some es- cupeil ; others u ere laken prisoners by the ludiuns wod remotued in captivity until they were rausojued or released, on the return of peace

The dules of The surrender of these posis were as follows.

The post of St. Josephi, garrisoned by fourteen meu, under comminwl of Lieutenant Schlusser, was surprised aud captured by a party of Follonalto. mies, May 24, 1763,

Furt Minutis, with a garrison of nine soldiers, commanded hy Fusiga Halmes, capitulated May 27, 1713.

Tho small garrison ul Quintenon, Lieul. Jenkins, commander, surrembered Joue 1, 1746, The French traders living in the vienunity ut this post received the English prischers into their houses.

The British garriyons of Detroit and Fort T'in successfully resisted the alineks af the enemy, hul the latter sprend devastation and death along the western frontiers of New York, Pennsylvania, Muryland nud Virginia, Upunnl of three hundred persons were killed oud laken prisoners. For one hundred miles iu brendlh, and three hundred in length, the people ghan- iloucdl their planiniions onil fed to the thicker settlements, where Ihy houses were slocknieil.

A leller, Anted Fort I'in, May 31, 1708, says, "1 buve just been nt Forl Cumberland severol days, hint the Indians boring killed nine people there, moile mie think il prudeul lo remore from those parts, from which i snpjtoyo ucar five hundredl fomilies Luve run away within Ihls week It was a mnost melancholy dight to see unch numbers of poor people, nhu hul alumnuloneil Their selflements in snel consternation and hurry that they hind scarcely nhything with them but their children."

Il lins heen estimated Ibat in this aflack upon the frontiers, nemly twenty Thousund prople nere lef ileatitule of their habitations.

The guruson ul Maokiunw, cousinling of mue men nuil tiro suballeins, Iindler The command of Major Gaherington, nus cupinied hy the Snes and Chyprirus, on the birthday of George 111, June 4, 1768. The forl enelosed mu arey of phant bare acres, within which space wore tho houses of abit thirty Frebel families. Four hundred Inulinn warriors, eneampeit in front of the fort, wlopted the following straingein for ils cuptmo: They engageil in their favorite guinr of ball, as if only to amuse Thenisolres, As the game beenme animinted in freut of the pickels, the ball, apparently by necident, was occasionully thrown over tho slockade into the furl. The hulinns neuld run in uud get it, and port of the garrison went oul to witness the pragress of the pony. Soon the ludinns begun to run in mul ont freely without exeil- ing suspicion of thoir desigu. This artifice uns repented sor eral times, And, finally, ne the ball nos thrown orer the pickels, tho hulinny rushed into the enclosure and look possession of the fort, making n furious allnek upon the soldiers, all of whom were killed, sealped or taken prisoners

In Miny. Ponline, at the hond of about four hundred narriry, appe ired before Detroit, then under command of Major Gladuyu. Pretending In desiro a friendly council within the fort, of which ho might tuke their aru father, the king of England, by the hand, tho wily chief sought lo Inke the place hy strategy. He had got shou ufles moule, writh which his warriors nere nmmeil, nud, with these concenleil nuder their hlunkris, they were lo ehler, mint, al n signal from their lemler, allsek aud kill the British officers The straingem Irus revealed by au Indinu woman in timo to frustrate their designs. As soon as they had passed The enclosme, on being ejerted floor Ihr greleudrd council, they garo tho waren hoop und fired upon the garrisen. On the comtuon There was living on ohl Euglish wohin und her fun sony. These They murdored, and repaired lo llog Islmuil, ond there minssacred n lisehinged Sergeant amt his family

Sti ernl nflemuls followed to carry the fort by storm. A enel, lowled with flaming mnienut, was backeit up against the prokels, Thu Iniliuns attempted lo srl line to the chapel by diselinrging bluzing arrows upon its rauf. At mothor time they endearored lo muke n brench by cutting uwny the pickels. Miyor Gladiryn allowed them to proceed with this work, mul, after they hnil eftreted n norran phasage al which they attempted In rush in, they were miet of This breneb by n deailly fire from n bross fonr. pomuler discharged rapidly in their front, by which they were suddenly nuil disastrously repulseil, They never again nilempleil n elose siego of the fort, Though ilor. ing the months of May, June, July nud Angust They hejd if no closely IL ested that the garrison isere compelled to subsist ou half rutions.

During the early' part of the summor, some of the budlinus employed theu. selres in nlereepling vessels sent up with supplies alul reinforcements for the garrison, but, although Their oflocks were very annoying, They filel lo accomplish much damage A guybont nos kepl lying in Irnul of the fort, and ouo rrssel, which the indiaus had captured ou the opposite side, by the shrewd management of the commander, was hinned suddenly into the rus- reut, nud, foaling under The protection of the gunhost, eluiled its pursuers.

A vessel, laden with arms audl provisions, arrived at the garrison on the 13th uf June, 1763, nud nas folloiseil late in July by a lert uf gunboats, høring on board three hundred regular troops under connuand of Card, Pal- yell. Suon after his amiral, Capl. Dalyell, with a strung force, went up the river to allack the lodiaus in their coupe, and un grent bnifle iras fought ut & pluce since known us " Bloody Bridge,"'in which the loss ins grent an both sides, bul The l'uglish unde good their retrent In the forl.

During the months of June uud July, 1769, Fort Fill wis closely lic. sieged hiy the Shawnee nud Delnware warriors. Tho garrison undler Capl. Error defemled Themselves till they were reinforceil by ahoui fire hondred men under commuml of Cul. Hlouquel.

"The British being determined le resort to strong niensures against the hostile Indians, in May, 1764, Gen. Brudstreet, ul The head of Three thiut- sanil nieb, nas ordered to proceed against tho Wynudlots, Ollawas, Chappe- wus and other tribes living bear the borilera of Lakes Erie, Huron and Michi- gal. About the same Time, another strong force, under compound of Col: Bonquel, uns onlered lo march ogninist the Delawares, Shaunces und other hostile Inches inunbiting the country northuard of the Ohlo Bliver. While Geb. Bradstreet was ou bis way from Niugura to Detroit, he was wel by dele. gales learing overtures of pence frou many uf The tribes of the Northrest ; mi, soon after his urrivol of Detroit, ull the tribes about thul region con- eluded Trentties of peace with the English. The Chief, Puntine, han erer, losk no part in theve pacife negolinlious. lle retired to the thuois country, where he unx assassinated in the yeur 1167.

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Illustrated Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana, Part 18

Author: Publication date: 1876 Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co. Number of Pages: 472

Author:
Publication date: 1876
Publisher: Baskin, Forster & Co.
Number of Pages: 472