USA > Louisiana > History of Louisiana, from its first discovery and settlement to the present time > Part 6
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1755 .- This action being considered by the British government as the commencement of hostilities by the French, troops were immedi- ately sent from England, under the command of General Braddock, and three different expedi- tions were planned : the first against Fort Du- quesne, the second against Niagara and Fort . Frontenac, and the third against Crown Point and Ticonderoga ; but before the preparations for these enterprises could be completed, another, previously concerted, was carried into execution against the French on the borders of Nova Scotia.
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After the cession of this province to the Eng- lish, its limits continued to be unsettled, the com-
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NOVA SCOTIA SUBDUED BY THE ENGLISH. 113
missioners appointed to determine them not hav- ing been able to come to any agreement, in con- sequence of which the French proceeded to erect forts on the territory in dispute, and placed garrisons in them. The expedition to which we have alluded consisted of more than three thou- sand men, and its operations were first directed against Beau Séjour, the principal post held by the French in that country. At the river Mus- saquach, which the French considered as their western boundary, some slight works had been thrown up, with the intention of disputing its passage. After a short resistance, however, they gave way, and the river was passed. Beau Séjour capitulated, and the English acquired- complete possession of Nova Scotia.
This country having been originally settled by France, its inhabitants were chiefly of that na- tion. It had been stipulated in favour of the colonists, that they should be permitted to retain · possession of their lands on condition of taking the oath of allegiance to their new sovereign. This, however, they refused to do, unless they were permitted to qualify it with a proviso, that they should not be required to bear arms in de- fence of the country. The commanding officer of the British forces agreed to this ; and, though
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it was afterward disallowed by the crown, the inhabitants still continued to consider themselves neutral : they did not all, however, practically observe neutrality, for three hundred of them were captured with the garrison of Beau Séjour. - The English were now perplexed how to se- cure their conquest. To leave the French inhab- itants there would, they feared, compromise the safety of the country in the approaching con- test ; while to banish them with the liberty of choosing their future residence, might be the , means of adding to the strength of the enemy in Canada. They adopted, therefore, the cruel resolution to remove them from their homes, and disperse them through the other British colonies ; adding to this severity the injustice of depriving them of their property, which, with the excep- tion of their money and household furniture, was declared forfeited to the crown. To prevent their return, they burned their dwellings and laid waste their lands, reducing the entire population to a state of want and wretchedness in conse- quence of the misconduct of a few.
Thus driven from their homes and scattered about in strange lands, the unhappy sufferers · turned their thoughts to Louisiana, where they might, at least, live among their own country-
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DEFEAT OF BRADDOCK.
men ; and, after encountering much fatigue and danger, the greater part of them finally succeed- ed in getting there. Kerlerec, the governor of the colony, assigned to them large tracts on the Mississippi, furnished them with implements of agriculture, and allowed each individual, for the first year, the pay and rations of a soldier.
Meanwhile the expedition commanded by Braddock proceeded against Fort Duquesne. He was a brave soldier, but haughty and obstinate, and held both the Provincials, as they were call- ed, and the Indians in too much contempt to listen to the counsels of the one, or to have any fear of the other. The consequence was, that, spurning all advice, he persisted in advancing according to European tactics, until he found himself at- tacked to the greatest disadvantage by the ene- my, so that in a short time a great number of his soldiers, and all his principal officers, with the ex- ception of Washington, who acted as his aid, were killed, and he himself, after having had three horses shot under him, received a mortal wound. The defeat was complete, and his army entirely routed.
The northern expeditions were not more suc- cessful; so that it was deemed prudent to abandon the enterprises against Forts Frontenac and Niag-
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ara. The other against Ticonderoga, conducted by General Johnson, fell in with a body of French commanded by Baron Dieskau, who was taken prisoner after a severe engagement, though the French still remained masters of the fort.
1756 .- Montcalm, who succeeded Dieskau, took and destroyed the fort at Oswego, and cap- tured several vessels on Lake Ontario. The fol- lowing year he laid siege to Fort William Henry, which surrendered in six days. But the success which had attended the French arms was now destined to receive a check. A change of ad- ministration in England brought William Pitt into power, and he immediately took vigorous measures for the prosecution of the war. The naval force was actively engaged in intercepting the supplies sent from France; and so great a number of additional troops were sent from Eng- land, that, with the Provincials, they formed an army of fifty thousand men. Louisburg soon fell into their power; Fort Frontenac was also taken ; and these advantages were followed by others still more important.
1758 .- General Forbes, supported by Wash- ington, advanced to the attack of Fort Duquesne. The Indians, who had hitherto remained faithful to the French, deserted them on the approach of
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CAPTURE OF QUEBEC.
the enemy, and the garrison, too feeble to defend the post against so formidable a force, set fire to it the evening before the British arrived, and, escaping down the Ohio in boats, made their way to New-Orleans. The English rebuilt and garrisoned the fort, giving to it the name of Pitt, in honour of the minister who had enabled them to gain it. It has since, under thé name of Pitts- burg, attained a more peaceful celebrity. The possession of this important place proved a death- blow to the power of the French, throwing all that vast country into the hands of the English, and removing all apprehensions of the Indians, most of whom willingly went over to the victors.
1759 .- The English could now concentrate all their forces against Canada. Cape Breton was already in their possession, and in the spring of 1759, Wolfe, with eight thousand men and a for- midable train of artillery, arrived before Quebec. The gallant Montcalm was intrusted with its de- fence. The city was taken, but dearly purchased by the loss of Wolfe, who was mortally wound- ed, and expired just as his army raised the shout of victory. The less fortunate Montcalm was also slain, and welcomed a death that saved him from seeing the surrender of Quebec. In Sep- tember of the following year the English had
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assembled a force before Montreal too formida- ble to be resisted ; the governor capitulated ; and all the other fortified posts in Canada were given up, on the condition that the garrisons should be sent to France, and the religion and property of the Canadians respected.
Thus was overthrown that colossal power which France, at such cost and labour, had been so long rearing. The chief causes of this event may be found in the superior population and re- sources of the colonies of England, and in her immense naval strength : an advantage in distant war not to be counterbalanced by scarcely any combination of numbers, discipline, courage, and military talents, on the part of an inferior mari- time power.
Louisiana alone remained to France; and, though divided and dismembered, still possessing the elements of future greatness. But France could not then appreciate its value, and disre- . garded as worthless this poor remnant of her once splendid possessions.
1761 .- The conquest of Canada and of the Indian allies of France withdrew the war from America, but it continued to rage in Europe un- til 1762, when a treaty of peace was signed at Paris, by which France ceded to Great Britain
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CESSION OF CANADA TO ENGLAND.
all the conquests inade from her by that power on the Continent of North America, together with the river and port of Mobile, and all the territory to which she had any claim on the left bank of the Mississippi, reserving only the island of New-Orleans. And it was agreed that, for the future, the boundary between the dominions of the two crowns, in that quarter of the world, should be a line drawn along the middle of the Mississippi, from its source as far as the River Iberville, and thence along the middle of that river, and of the Lakes Maurepas and Pont- chartrain.
The loss of the other French possessions in- creased the population of Louisiana. Numbers of the Canadians, unwilling to live under the dominion of the English, withdrew to Louisiana, where the Acadians had already found a home. Some settled in their neighbourhood; others fixed themselves in Attakapas ; and others in Opelou- sas. These hardy sons of the North, active, industrious, and brave, gave a new impulse to their Southern brethren. Another accession, though of a different character, added still farther to their numbers. Many Indians, friendly to France, and living at Baton Rouge, Natchez, and Mobile, finding these places given up to the
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English, left them, and came to New-Orleans. Kerlerec, gratified by this evidence of their at- tachment, granted them lands on the west side of the Mississippi. The King of France, how- ever, disapproved of this measure, fearing, prob- ably, that it would give offence to England ; recalled Kerlerec, and sent him to the Bastile. The vexation occasioned by this unjust imprison- ment was supposed to have hastened his death, which happened soon after his release.
1764 .- This year the French king issued an order banishing the Jesuits from all his domin- ions, and ordering their property everywhere to be confiscated and sold : the sale of their pos- sessions in Louisiana produced the sum of one hundred and eighty thousand dollars.
The financial affairs of the province were not at this moment in a very prosperous condition. The government had issued such a quantity of bills that they became utterly worthless ; and the people, believing that this had been done not so much for the public benefit as for the ad- vantage of some few individuals, had little faith that the mother country would ever redeem them. This was a serious disadvantage to the trade of the colony.
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CHAPTER X.
Louisiana ceded to Spain.
1765 .- WHILE Louisiana was lamenting the loss of Canada, and still more deeply her separ- ation from the cantons on the eastern shore of the Mississippi, she was doomed shortly to undergo a severer mortification.
Spain had avoided engaging in the late con- flict between France and England, until, becom- ing alarmed at the increasing power of the Brit- ish in America, and fearing for her own posses- sions there, she resolved on taking part in the contest, and early in the year 1762 declared war against Great Britain. The consequences of this step were very serious to her ; for before the end of the year she suffered several severe losses, and the important city of Havana, commanding in a great measure the Gulf of Mexico, was taken from her.
This career of conquest, which seemed to threaten France and Spain with the loss of all their colonies, was arrested by overtures for peace, which terminated in the Treaty of Paris, restoring
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Havana to Spain, though to regain it she was obliged to cede the Floridas to England.
By a secret article of this treaty, Louis XV. had engaged to compensate Spain for the loss of the Floridas, by giving up to her all that remain- . ed to France of Louisiana. This arrangement was for some time kept secret from the people of that colony ; and when at length the rumour of it reached them, they refused to believe it. They could not conceive that France should volunta- rily resign a country possessed of such immense natural advantages ; and which, having now sur- mounted the first difficulties of colonization, was just rising into importance. But they were not permitted to deceive themselves long. The royal letter making known the fact of the cession was published by D'Abbadie, the successor of Kerle- rec, and the colonists were thrown into utter de- spair.
Employments of every kind were suspended ; the most respectable people from all parts of the country hastened to New-Orleans; and nothing but the cession was thought of. A meeting of the principal inhabitants was called, and Lafrenière, the attorney-general, in an eloquent speech rec- ommended to them to carry their complaints to the throne itself. The proposal was eagerly
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FAILURE OF MILHET'S MISSION. 123
adopted ; and Jean Milhet, the richest and most influential merchant of the city, was intrusted with this important mission.
Bienville was still living in France: he was now eighty-seven years old ; but he had not for- gotten Louisiana, the land of his adoption, and the country to which the energies of his youth had been devoted. To see her on the point of being given up to strangers was a deep affliction to him, and he earnestly united his efforts to hers to prevent it. He accordingly presented Milhet to the Duke de Choiseul, who was at that time all-powerful with the king, though without know- ing that this minister himself was the chief promo- ter of the cession. The duke received them gra- ciously, and listened attentively to all they had to say, but with consummate art defeated all their efforts. Milhet was unable to obtain an audience of the king, and his mission wholly failed.
Another disappointment was involved in this. For some time past Louisiana had been experi- encing very serious evils from a depreciated paper currency. Labour, commerce, and agri- culture were all suffering from this cause, and France alone could repair the evil. The citizens of Louisiana, entertaining no doubts of the suc-
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cess of their application, had also commissioned Milhet to seek for relief from their pecuniary difficulties.
Three years had now passed away since the Treaty of Paris, and two years since D'Abbadie had received orders to surrender Louisiana to any Spanish officer who might be empowered to take possession of it, but as yet no such officer had appeared. Could it be possible that the Spanish king had relinquished his claim ? Such, at least, was the hope cherished by the people of Louisiana, till at length Milhet returned and informed him of his failure.
1766 .- Any lingering hopes they might still have entertained were dissipated by the recep- tion of a letter from Don Antonio de Ulloa to the Superior Council, announcing his arrival to take possession of the colony in the name of Charles III., by whom he had been appointed its gov- ernor. But the Louisianians, irritated by their repeated disappointments, and more than ever determined not to submit to the dominion of a - foreign power, resolved on resistance. Lafreni- ère, the attorney-general, excited them to take this resolution ; and, to encourage them in it, he quoted the example of the Burgundians, who, when summoned to acknowledge Charles V., to
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RESISTANCE OF THE LOUISIANIANS. 125
whom Francis I. had surrendered their province as the price of his liberty after the battle of Pavia, thus replied : "We are a part of France; and the territory of France is inalienable." Finally, Lafreniere pointed them to the English colonies at the North, then preparing to begin their strug- gle for independence.
His address greatly increased the irritation of the people, and five hundred of the most respect- able citizens immediately signed and presented a petition to the Superior Council, that they would require Don Ulloa and his troops to quit Louisi- ana; not doubting they had a right to take this step, as the Spanish commander had as yet ex- hibited no credentials.
Aubry, who, in consequence of the death of D'Abbadie, temporarily held the office of gov- ernor, endeavoured to calm the excited passions of the people; but he only succeeded in render- ing himself odious. They were indignant that a French governor should think of submitting to an insolent stranger, who had come to demand a transfer of their allegiance, so far as it ap- peared, without any authority for doing so. Don Ulloa had already landed at New-Orleans with two companies of infantry, but had refused to communicate his credentials to the council, in-
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
asmuch as he had shown them, he said, to Aubry, the French officer commanding at the Balize, and had received from him the surrender of the country. Aubry, indeed, confirmed this statement ; but this did not all prove satisfactory.
In this state of things, the reception of Don Ulloa was, as might have been expected, by no means cordial Still he was permitted to remain without being molested, and even to explore and examine the country. He inspired no fear, and was treated with indifference.
1767 .- This year the yellow fever showed it- self for the first time at New-Orleans. It was attributed by the citizens to the arrival of the Spaniards, and this greatly increased their ill- will towards them; until, at last, the Superior Council consented to the wishes of the people, who, from the continued refusal of Don Ulloa to show his credentials, were more than ever con- vinced that Spain had ceased to think of claim- ing Louisiana, and insisted that he should, with- out delay, be expelled from the country. Meas- ures were accordingly taken to carry their deter- mination into effect ; and the council required of Don Ulloa either to produce his credentials from the king his master, that they might be duly re- gistered, and promulgated through the province,
INSULT OFFERED THE SPANIARDS. 127
or to quit it within a month; and the citizens took up arms to enforce the demand.
It is difficult to comprehend the obstinacy of this man, who chose rather to leave the country than present the required proofs of his mission. He had not sufficient force to enter into a contest with the inhabitants, and therefore he determined to withdraw with his troops, and embarked on board a Spanish vessel that was preparing to sail the next day. That evening a wedding feast was given by one of the principal merchants of the town. The jovial party did not break up until it was late ; and as the young men were re- turning to their homes, they noticed the vessel on board which the Spaniards were, lying in the stream. Excited by wine, some of the wildest among them proposed to give their friends a parting cheer ; and rushing to the levee, singing and shouting, they jumped into some boats that lay near, rowed to the vessel, and cutting her cables, she drifted down the stream, followed by the shouts and hurrahs of these hairbrained youth. This foolish frolic was probably one of the causes which led to the sacrifice of some of the most valuable citizens of Louisiana.
Soon after the departure of Don Ulloa, an as- sembly of the people was convened to deliberate
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
on the mode of presenting to the King of France another supplication in their behalf; and at this meeting Saint Lette, a merchant of Natchitoches, and Le Sassière, a member of the Superior Coun- cil, were chosen to offer the petition. These . commissioners were detained three months at sea by unfavourable winds, and did not reach Paris until after a representation had been re- ceived there from the court of Madrid, detailing all the circumstances, and complaining of the conduct of the people of Louisiana towards the Spaniards.
1769 .- Bienville's long and useful life had come to a close, and Choiseul was still in the ministry. He received Saint Lette, who had been his schoolfellow, with much kindness, but would not listen to his petition ; assuring him that it was too late, and that the King of Spain had already sent out a force sufficiently powerful to put down all opposition, and take undisputed possession of the country. He sought to requite his friend for the disappointment he had experi- enced by giving him a lucrative office.
The last act of the French administration in Louisiana was to relieve the country from its financial difficulties. All the paper-money, now reduced to two thirds of its original value, was
O'REILLY ARRIVES AT NEW-ORLEANS. 129
redeemed; and, as there were no means for the immediate payment of the debt, an annual in- terest of five per cent. was allowed on it.
The return of Le Sassière had destroyed all hopes from the mother country ; vague and alarming rumours respecting the Spaniards were in circulation, and the inhabitants knew not what to expect. About this time a letter was received from Bordeaux, stating that France was determined to retain Louisiana; but the hopes thus raised soon vanished; for on the 27th of July information reached New-Orleans that the captain-general, O'Reilly, was at the entrance of the Mississippi with a frigate and twenty- eight transports, having on board four thousand nine hundred men, and a quantity of arms and ammunition. This news, as may readily be sup- posed, spread consternation through the town. Some few of the most determined talked of re- sistance; but it was too evident that any such attempt would be useless, and that there was no alternative but submission. They made choice, therefore, of three representatives, Lafrenière, Grandmaison, and Marent, to signify to the Span- ish commander the submission of the colony ; accompanied by a request, however, that those who wished to leave the country should be al-
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA. .
lowed two years to dispose of their property. O'Reilly received the deputies with affability ; assured them that he should cheerfully comply with all reasonable demands; that those who were willing to remain should enjoy a mild and paternal government ; and, in regard to past of- fences, the perfidious commander added that he was disposed to forget them, and had come, not to punish, but to pardon.
This declaration somewhat calmed the excite- ment of the people, and they prepared to receive the Spanish general with decent respect.
The next day he landed at the head of his troops, and they marched in battle array to the parade-ground, where Aubry, with the French garrison, was waiting to receive them. The white flag of France, which was waving on a high pole, was now slowly lowered, and that of Spain hoisted in its place, while the troops of both nations kept up an irregular discharge of small arms. Thus ended the dominion of the French on the shores of the Mississippi, where they had ruled for seventy years ; and Louisiana became a dependancy of Spain,
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CHARACTER OF O'REILLY.
CHAPTER XI.
Conduct of O'Reilly .- Villeré .- Acts of the Spanish Govern- ment.
1769 .- THE new Spanish governor was by birth an Irishman, who, going to Spain with a body of Irish troops, had been so success- ful in gaining the king's favour that he load- ed him with honours and benefits. He was a small man, and as mean in disposition as in stat- ure : thin and lame, but with something striking, though disagreeable, in his appearance. He was vindictive in his character, and his ambition knew no bounds. For some unknown reason, he enter- tained a violent hatred against the French, which led him to acts of unexampled barbarity. He came to Louisiana with the title of governor and captain-general ; and being clothed with unlimit- ed power, he abused his short-lived authority in every possible manner. He took upon him the state of a sovereign; had his throne, his levees, his guards, who constantly attended him ; and he did not want for courtiers.
His first public act was to take the census of
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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.
the city. This was soon done, as the town con- tained only 3190 inhabitants. He next ordered the arrest of Foucault, intendant of the colony, Lafrenière, the attorney-general, Noyant, his son- in-law, and Boisblanc, both members of the Su- . perior Council. They were attending the levee of the tyrant, when, requesting them to step into an adjoining apartment, he delivered them over to a party of soldiers, who immediately put them in irons. A few days after, Marquis, Doucet, Petit, Marent, Caresse, Poupet, and the two Mil- hets were added to the number of prisoners.
Villeré was now the only victim wanting ; and he was the most important one, as he had been at the head of all the most violent measures. It was no easy matter for O'Reilly to get him into his power, as, on hearing of the submission of New-Orleans, he had retired to his plantation in the Parish of St. Charles, in the midst of friends who detested the Spaniards no less cordially than he did himself. He was, however, on the point of taking refuge with the English at Manchac, lest he might implicate his neighbours, when he . received a letter from Aubry, assuring him that he might return to New-Orleans without danger, and that he would be security for his safety. The motives that could have induced this officer thus
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