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It was a blow which staggered the Chickasaws. They sent deputation after deputation to Bienville, praying his good offices in favor of peace. After a year's hostilities and losses had somewhat mitigated the resentment of the Choc- taws, Bienville was able to bring them to terms and persuade them to smoke the pipe of peace with their adversaries. The re- conciliation proved a mere truce, however, and Bienville's hope of uniting the two powerful tribes for the French died away.
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In the summer of 1703-1704 ships came from France, fetching everything that a growing colony could need ; emi- grants, money, soldiers, missionaries, provisions, a commis- sary, clothing, live stock, and most important of all, under charge of two Gray Sisters, twenty-three young girls, to be married to worthy young men.
The emigrants received their allotments of lands along the river; the cattle were set at large, the goods and provisions stored in the magazines, and the outstanding accounts of sol- diers, and their employés, paid.
All seemed to bid fair for the happiness and prosperity of Mobile. But the last ship, touching at Havana for live stock, brought yellow fever into the colony. The plague raged pitilessly ; priests, sailors, soldiers, and the new emi- grants sickened and died of it. The place was almost de- populated ; and, most grievous and serious of all to Bien- ville and to the colony, was the loss of the brave, loyal, efficient Henri de Tonty.
Dissensions. 1706 .- Almost as fatal as the epidemic were the discords that broke out among the officers of the colony. The priest De la Vente,* and the royal commissary, De la Salle, t were barely installed in their positions, when they began to chafe and fret under the authority of the young commander. Their criticism of him and their opposition to him produced a bitter and active animosity, which inflamed the whole garrison into partisanship. Accusations and recrim- inations passed from side to side. Letters were written to France by De la Salle and De la Vente, charging Bien- ville with illicit trade with the Spaniards and unlawful use of the royal stores and provisions. Bienville retaliated with
* Louisiana belonged to the diocese of Quebec. On the 20th of July, 1703, Saint Vallier, Bishop of Quebec, formally erected Mobile into a parish, uniting it to the Seminary of Foreign Missions in Paris and Quebec, which agreed to supply it with clergy. Rev. Henry Roulleaux de la Vente was appointed parish priest, Rev. Alexander Huve, curate .- Colonial Church in America, Shea.
De La Salle, son of a naval officer at Toulon, was not related to the great explorer
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general charges of incompetence, untruthfulness and mischief- making.
As the years passed without a vessel coming from France, Chateauguay, " the sea courier," of Mobile, and his trans- port were kept busy plying between Mobile, Cuba, St. Do- mingo and Vera Cruz, bringing provisions and carrying the mail for both the French and Spanish establishments. Pensa- cola caught fire and burned to the ground, and the vice ad- miral's ship sank to the bottom at her moorings, which re- duced the Spaniards to greater misery and dependence on Bienville than ever before, and as they were once more threat- ened by the English Indians, Bienville himself had to lead a company to their relief.
Government's Dissatisfaction with Bienville. 1708 .- The repeated letters from the priest and commissary reiter- ating their charges against Bienville made at last an im- pression on the government. Jerome de Maurepas was now Compte de Pontchartrain and Minister of marine, having succeeded to his father's position and title. The confidence which he felt in Iberville extended to Bienville only so long as Iberville lived. After the death of his brother, the young governor found out that he was to be judged without favor, and that from Pontchartrain all that he could expect was strict justice.
Bienville Dismissed. 1708 .- After three years of wait- ing, a ship with the sorely needed supplies arrived from France. By it Bienville also received a letter dismissing him from office, informing him of the charges against him. A new governor, M. de Muys, was sent out, and a new com- missary general, M. Diron D'Artaguette. De Muys died at Havana, on his way to the colony.
De Muys was not only to supersede Bienville; he was, with D'Artaguette, also to institute a strict inquiry into his conduct, and if the charges against him were found true they were to arrest him and send him prisoner to France, on a
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lettre de cachet .* The captain of the ship was given an order to take charge of Bienville, conduct him to France, and deliver him up to the commander of the first port at which he landed.
Bienville demanded that some one be put immediately in his place, that he might return to France and answer the charges against him. D'Artaguette, however, concealing the harsh orders given him and DeMuys, insisted that he should remain at his post until the king appointed another governor. He made an examination into Bienville's administration, and wrote a report to the Minister of Marine, not only exonerat- ing him from charges against him, but praising him highly for the ability with which he had met and overcome his diffi- culties. Far from Bienville and his brothers making money out of the colony, they were all poor, not having for several years received a cent of their salary.
Three years again passed after the last vessel and no re- lief came from France. The colony made brave efforts to be independent of the mother country. A brisk little trade in peltry, bears' grease and other forest produce sprang up between it and Florida and the West Indies and Central America. Massacre Island throve and prospered with the sure persistency of a port town. Inhabitants drifted to it from the fort, from the country, and dropped upon it from vessels. Houses were built, stores opened, trees set out and gardens planted, until, as Bienville said, it was a pleasure to see it. And the property accumulated was considered so valuable that the loss inflicted by a raid from an enterprising British privateer was estimated at £50,000.
Up the river, affairs were not so flourishing; provisions and clothing became exhausted, and what was worse the supply of gunpowder threatened to give out-a timely loan from St. Domingo alone preventing this calamity. With the
* Lettre de cachet," a warrant for the arrest of a person under the old regime (government) ot France.
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able-bodied men always under arms, and with no oxen to assist in tilling the ground, dependence had to be placed on the Indians for bread food. Successive overflows destroyed the corn crops of these, and the garrison was often reduced to acorns for nourishment. In 1711 the fort itself stood under water, and spies brought word that the English Indians were purposing to profit by the high water and make an attack by the way of the river on the French settlement. They had already made an attack on the Tohomes and Mobile villages, but had been driven back.
Removal of the Fort .- In this extremity a council of officers decided, for better protection, to concentrate forces and means and bring the two posts closer together by re- moving the fort colony nearer to Massacre Island. A new fort was built nearer the mouth of the river and the garrison removed to it, the colonists following and settling around ; but very much discouraged at the loss and trouble of the change.
During the summer months, in order to spare his store of provisions, Bienville allowed his unmarried men of good character to live among the neighboring Indian tribes. It was a privilege they eagerly sought, and one which made rare returns of frolic and pleasure, particularly when the visit was to the gentle Natchez or to the Colapissas living on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The days were filled with long fishing and hunting excursions with all their whole- some and exciting adventures, the nights with jollity and fun with the young folks around the camp fires, under the green leaves. Once a violinist was taken along, and the pretty In- dian girls were taught to dance the stately gavotte and cotil- lon, and to sing the sprightly French songs, the woods peal- ing with merriment. It was not always easy for the Frenchmen to return at Bienville's summons, and the Indians were as sorry. as they over the parting .* The good fellowship which
* A young ship carpenter, named Pennicaut, one of Bienville's followers who ob. tained this privilege summer after summer, has written a most charming description of his adventures among the Indians.
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resulted from this friendly commingling of his men with the natives, and his stern punishment of any offence of his men against hospitality, were the chief reasons of Bienville's good reputation among the Indians and of his safety among them. For almost at any time, had they wished it, they could have combined and swept him and his colony out of existence.
QUESTIONS.
Give an account of Bienville's charge. Bienville's life and character. Fort St. Louis de la Mobile. Spaniards at Pensacola. Indian troubles. Epidemic. Dissensions. Charges against Bienville. Why was Bien - ville dismissed? By whom succeeded? What instructions were given De Muys and d'Artaguette? What of the investigation into Bien- ville's conduct?
CHAPTER XI.
LOUISIANA CHARTERED.
Crozat's Charter. 1712 .- The reason why Pontchartrain did not send relief to the colony was that the financial condi- tion of France was extremely depressed. The many wars and extravagant expenditures of the court during the long reign of Louis XIV* had brought the country almost to bank- ruptcy. All the executive branches of the government suf- fered for want of money. Public expenses were lowered in every way, and France's great glory and pride, her colonial establishments, were cut down with a mere pittance. As for Louisiana and the mouth of the Mississippi, Pontchartrain saw that he must abandon them, unless he could find some one who would assist him in the responsibility of providing for their needs.
After two years' negotiation the Sieur Antoine de Crozat, a capitalist and favorite of the court, was induced to become
. Louis XIV, called the "Grand Monarque," gave his name to the 17th century in France. He reigned seventy-two years ; died in 1715, and was succeeded by his great-grandson, Louis XV. The Duke of Orleans, nephew of Louis XVI, was re- gent during the minority of Louis XV.
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the chartered owner of the colony for fifteen years, for what profit he could draw out of the monopoly of its trade.
Lamothe Cadillac. 1710 .- Lamothe Cadillac was named governor. One of the most prominent French pioneers in America for twenty years ; indefatigable, shrewd and clever, he would have been an excellent governor but for his obstinate adherence to his own opinions and opposition to the opinions of others.
Bienville again petitioned to be allowed to return to France, or to his old position in the navy. But his wisdom in managing the Indians made his presence a necessity in the colony. Pontchartrain ordered him to remain, and as- signed him to the command of the Mississippi, with head- quarters at Natchez, where a fort was to be built (called Rosalie, after the Countess of Pontchartrain).
Bienville, who, with his brothers, Canadian friends and kinsmen, had been supreme for so long a time in the colony, did not welcome in a kindly spirit the new governor put over them. Cadillac, on his side, was resentful, arbitrary and domineering to the Canadians.
It was not long before the settlement was in a state of petty warfare, worse even than in the time of De la Salle and De la Vente. Cadillac stood at the head of one cabal, Bienville at the head of the other, and the aggressive enmity of both fell short only of personal conflict.
Crozat, to make sure of Cadillac's zeal, gave him an interest in his trading profit. But the efforts to develop a lucrative trade in the colony were a dismal failure. St. Denis was sent to Mexico with packs of goods; ships were loaded for the Central American ports ; trading posts and magazines were established at Natchez, and at all the principal stations along the river .* To force the colonists to buy of him, no vessels
* Under St. Denis a trading post was established on Red river, on the site of the present town of Natchitoches. St. Denis explored Red river much further and ad. vanced on a tour of exploration as far as Rio Bravo del Norte, to observe the movements of the Spaniards, to see whether they had advanced over that river into Louisiana. He found that they had formed a settlement on the western side of the
1
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or goods but those of Crozat were allowed to enter the prov- ince. Prices were put up to suit Crozat's desires, And as much as possible, all the expenses of the colony were paid in merchandise at these exorbitant prices. The inhabitants were forbidden to sell anything out of the province, and pro- hibited even from owning a sea-going vessel. The peltry of the Canadian trappers was bought at the lowest of prices, which, as there was no competition, were fixed by Crozat's commissioners ; and he obliged them to receive pay in his merchandise also at his own valuation.
Under the circumstances it is not surprising that huge stores of goods rotted in the various warehouses before find- ing a purchaser. As for the commerce with Mexico and the Spanish posts, upon which Crozat's greatest expectation had been based, it was destroyed by recent prohibitive measures of Spain against French trade. *
In the Crozat charter the king had agreed to provide for the garrison as usual. But neither pay nor uniforms arrived for the soldiers, who, naked and destitute, and not able to buy except from Crozat's stores, began to desert to the Eng- lish in Canada. To the sum of discord and distress and de- sertion were added Indian troubles.
First War of the Natchez. 1716 .- In January, 1716, news came to Mobile that the Natchezt were raising the hatchet against the French. They had pillaged Crozat's
Bravo and erected a fort called Presidio of St. John the Baptist; no settlement had been made by them east of that river, but they claimed jurisdiction to that river under the name of province of "Texas," signifying friends, because the Indians were friendly.
About the same time a small settlement and trading post was established on the Yazou, on Sicily Island and high up on the Ouachita (Monroe). Charleville, one of Crozat's traders, penetrated into the Schawanese tribes, then known as the Chou- anoes, as far as the Cumberland river. His store was situated on a mound near the present site of Nashville. The same year also French posts and missions were es. tablished upon the upper tributaries of the Sabine, also a little settlement was made thirty miles west of the present Nacogdoches.
* According to a clause in the treaty of Utrecht (which ended the War of the Suc. cession), Spain closed her American ports to French goods, and gave trading privileges to England.
t The reason of the outbreak seemed to be the neglect of Cadillac, who, in a voy - age up and down the river, refused or slighted the offered calumet of the Natchez. The Natchez suspiciously concluded that war was Intended and struck the first blow.
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storehouse, killed his commissioners, and were putting to death all Frenchmen caught traveling up and down the river. Nothing could be more disastrous to the colony. There was no nation so important to it as the Natchez, none with whom it was so necessary to keep on good terms. But since they were in revolt it was equally necessary to subdue them promptly and in an impressive manner.
The difference between Crozat and Bienville had deterred the latter hitherto from taking up his position at the projected fort. Now he hastened in every possible manner to get to it at once. But he could obtain from Cadillac only a force of forty-nine men. With these he started, and by April arrived at the village of the Tunicas, about fifty miles below the Natchez.
As he had not force enough to war, he saw himself obliged to gain his point by subtlety. He learned that the Natchez had assassinated another Frenchman coming down the river from the Illinois, and were lying in wait at the same place for fifteen more who were expected. He was warned, also, by the French missionary against the Tunicas, who had re- ceived presents to kill him. Concealing his anxiety at this last information, and his knowledge of the state of affairs among the Natchez, he assembled the Tunica warriors and gave out to them that his mission was to make a trading es- tablishment among the Natchez, but as his men were much fatigued with the voyage, he was going to camp on an island a third of a league below, to rest for some time, and that they would do him a favor by sending some of their tribe to announce his arrival to the Natchez.
This was done at once. He proceeded to the island, where he immediately erected an intrenchment and the necessary shelters for his men. A few days later three Natchez ar- rived, sent by their chief to present the calumet to Bienville. He waved it aside, saying that they could get some of his soldiers to smoke it, but that for himself, being a great chief
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of the French, he would only smoke a calumet presented by a Sun chief. The next day the three warriors returned. Bienville sent with them a young Frenchman, who spoke their language perfectly, to whom he explained everything to say to the chiefs, and all the answers necessary to induce them to come to the island. The same day he sent one of his bravest and most adroit Canadians in a pirogue, to slip by the Natchez during the night and hasten up the river to warn the fifteen men coming down from the Illinois. He gave him, to place in different points of the river, a dozen great sheets of parchment on which was written in large characters: " The Natchez have declared war against the French, and M. de Bienville is camped at the Tunicas."
In about a week there were seen approaching the island four pirogues, in each of which were four men erect, chant- ing the calumet, and three sitting under parasols, with twelve swimmers round about. It was the Natchez Suns coming to fall into the trap prepared for them.
Bienville ordered one-half of his men not to show them- selves, but to keep under arms near by. The other half were to stand unarmed around his tent, and when the boats landed were to take the arms of the savages as they stepped ashore; and he charged them to let only the eight chiefs he named enter his tent; the rest were to remain seated at the door. The eight chiefs entered, holding their calumet, which they presented to Bienville. He pushed it aside with contempt and asked them what satisfaction they were going to give him for the five Frenchmen that they had assassinated. They hung their heads without answering, at which Bien- ville made a sign to have them seized and conducted to the prison he had prepared for them. They were put in irons. In the evening bread and meat were presented to them. They refused to eat. All sang their death song. The next morning he persuaded them to send one of their number to the village for the heads of the assassins, Five
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days later the little Sun returned, fetching three heads. Only two were identified as belonging to the guilty parties. Bienville threw the rejected head at the feet of the Suns and reproached them for sacrificing an innocent man. The chiefs confessed that the head was that of a warrior who had taken no part in the killing of the Frenchmen, but that being the brother of one of the murderers who had escaped, he had been put to death in his place. Bienville kept his Natchez visitors prisoners a month while awaiting the capture of the third criminal. The great Sun fell ill. His irons were re- moved, and he was taken into Bienville's tent, and treated with great kindness.
The river began to rise and the water stood over the island ; the tents had to be raised on scaffoldings. As many of his men fell ill, Bienville concluded to make terms without wait- ing further. The Natchez agreed to put the escaped assassin to death when they found him, and consented to Bienville's executing two of the warriors captured in the Sun's party, as it had been proved that they had a hand in the killing. They pledged themselves also to furnish timber and assist in build- ing the fort for the French at their landing, and henceforth to observe a loyal peace with them. They were released and restored to their villages.
Fort Rosalie. 1716 .- In the course of the month a solid, handsome fort was constructed according to agreement. Bienville put his lieutenant, De Pailloux, in command and . returned to Mobile.
Cadillac Recalled. 1716 .- On his arrival in Mobile, Bienville found that Cadillac had been recalled, and that he himself had been put in command until the arrival of the new governor, De l'Epinay.
De l'Epinay. 1717 .- De l'Epinay was an old lieutenant of marine who had seen considerable service in Canada. Crozat not only gave to him, as to Cadillac, an interest in the profit of his charter, but agreed to pay him two thousand
٠
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livres a year additional, if, as the governor, he would strictly and severely execute the ordinance protecting his monopoly of trade.
De l'Epinay was accompanied by a new commissary, Hu- bert. On the vessel that brought them came also a band of emigrants and three companies of soldiers. Bienville was maintained in his same position, and received as recognition of his past services the Cross of St. Louis. But his disap- pointment at not succeeding Cadillac was great. He thought that his services entitled him to the first place in the colony, and he resented the belittling of himself and his Canadian fellow pioneers in favor of strangers to Louisiana.
The secret dissatisfaction soon broke out into open contest. Hubert, the new commissary, sided with De l'Epinay, and the usual accusations were banded from one side to the other. De l'Epinay was charged with tyrannical conduct, scandal- ous morals, withholding the presents sent to the Indians for himself, and illicit trading. Bienville was accused of being a paid pensioner of the Spanish government. It was a libel which he never forgot nor forgave.
Crozat Gives up His Charter. 1717 .- Crozat, finding out at last there was no trade to be had with Spanish ports, and not enough in the colony in spite of all his protection to pay him for his expenditures, prayed the king to be relieved of his charter. His prayer was granted; and Louisiana and Canada, by another charter, were made over for twenty-five years to a company called the Company of the West and of the Indies. The president of the company was the famous John Law .*
* John Law, a Scotchman, was one of the most celebrated financiers who ever lived. A friend and protege of the regent, Duke of Orleans, he was allowed to ap- ply his theories to the amelioration of the national debt of France. He opened a bank called the Bank of France, which operated most successfully in re-establish - ing credit and reducing the interest on the debt. By degrees Law, extending his schemes, took into it the entire colonial interests of France in one comprehensive company, the stock of which, under his manipulations, rose to a fabulous height ; to fall again to the lowest depths. The Company of the Mississippi, as it came to be called, met at first with a most glittering success, and its failure involved the bank - ruptcy of Law and the greatest ruin in France. In Louisiana it was, on the whole,
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QUESTIONS.
Give an account of the Crozat charter. Disputes between Bienville and Cadillac. Cadillac's efforts to secure trade. St. Denis' explora- tions (see note). First war of the Natchez. Terms of peace. Build- ing of Fort Rosalie. Who succeeded Cadillac? Who was De l' Epinay? Who was John Law?
CHAPTER XII.
THE COMPANY OF THE WEST.
The Company of the West by its charter acquired for twenty-five years the exclusive monopoly of the trade of Louisiana, with the absolute ownership of any mines that might be discovered in the country, the title to any lands they improved, and the right of granting concessions to its stockholders, upon condition of settlement and improvement. They were given all the forts, magazines, guns, ammunition, vessels, provisions, etc., in the colony, with all the merchan- dise surrendered by Crozat. They were empowered to raise troops, fit out ships of war, cast cannon, make war or peace with the Indians, and nominate governors and officers (to be commissioned, however, by the king). On its side, the com- pany obligated itself to build churches, provide clergymen, and to bring into the colony during the term of its charter six thousand whites and three thousand blacks. The first direc- tors of the company, six in number, were to be named by the king; afterwards they were to be elected every three years by the stockholders .*
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