History of Louisiana, from its first discovery and settlement to the present time, Part 7

Author: Bunner, E
Publication date: 1842
Publisher: New York, Harper and brothers
Number of Pages: 534


USA > Louisiana > History of Louisiana, from its first discovery and settlement to the present time > Part 7


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133


ARREST OF VILLERÉ.


to betray his countryman, and lend himself as an instrument of revenge to a vile adventurer, have never been clearly ascertained; but his name has ever since been held in execration in Louisiana ; and there were none found to lament his fate, when, on his return to France, he perished by shipwreck. The vessel in which he had embark- ed with his troops was lost in the Gironde, near the tower of Cordovan. She was richly laden with a cargo consisting of furs, indigo, and a million of dollars in specie. Only the captain and four of the crew were saved.


But to return to Villeré. On the faith of this promise he came to New-Orleans, and fearlessly presented himself before the governor. But he had no sooner entered the house and begun to mount the stairs, than the guards stationed there descended each one step as he ascended one, with the design of closing in after him. He stopped for a moment on the second step : he was a man of uncommon strength, and there were as yet but two soldiers behind him. It was but for a moment he hesitated ; with a disdainful smile he surveyed the living chain forming around him, and came into the presence of the governor with the air rather of a superior than of a culprit. O'Reilly, hardened as he was in cruelty, seemed


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


to feel some compunction at the thought of mur- dering such a man.


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Villeré was accompanied by a friend who was willing to share his danger. This was an old Swedish officer who had fought under Charles XII., and at the battle of Pultowa had received eleven wounds, all in facing the enemy. At the sight of this venerable old man, whose gray hairs seemed to give a sanction to the rebellion, O'Reilly flew into a violent passion, and ex- claimed, "I ought to hang you also on the high- est gibbet that can be found." " Do so," replied the old soldier; " the rope cannot disgrace this neck ;" and, baring his bosom, he exhibited the scars of his wounds, when the tyrant shrunk from the sight, and the old man was released.


Villeré was sent a prisoner on board of a ves- sel at anchor in the Mississippi. He had been there but a short time, and was in the cabin quietly conversing with the captain, when a boat passed with a female in it : she was in tears, and he recognised her as his wife. She had heard of his danger, and was then hastening to join him at New-Orleans. His first impulse was to make himself known, and the sympathizing captain offered to hail the boat; but Villeré, recollecting. himself, prevented him. "No," said he; " the


135


· DEATH OF VILLERÉ.


sudden shock of seeing me in this situation would kill her ;" and he remained calmly watching the boat as it bore her from his sight. But the effort to repress his feelings had been more than he could · bear; the blood rushed to his brain ; and, seized with sudden phrensy, he flew to the deck and attacked the Spanish guards. The captain fol- lowed in haste, and called to the guards not to injure him; but it was too late: he had already received their bayonets in his body, and only recovered his senses to know that he was dying.


The captain, finding all assistance useless, could only offer to fulfil his last commands. " Promise me, then," said Villeré, " that you will give these blood-stained garments to my chil- dren; and tell them it is my last command that they never bear arms for Spain, nor against France." The captain did as he was requested, and the children of Villeré faithfully obeyed the dying injunction of their father. Louisiana grate- fully remembered the devotion of her martyr, and, when she recovered her liberty, chose his son for her governor.


These circumstances have been variously re- lated by historians, but this account was received


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from the daughter of Villeré, a respectable old lady, still living in 1840 near New-Orleans.


The other prisoners were immediately brought · to trial. The charge against them was founded on a law of Alphonso XI., punishing with death and confiscation of property all persons guilty of rebellion against the king or the state; or, in other words, all who should take up arms for their rights and liberties; and accomplices were subject to the same penalties.


Foucault and Brault maintained that they owed no account of their conduct but to the King of France, whose subjects they had never ceased to be. The first was sent to Paris, the second acquitted.


The other prisoners also pleaded, but to no purpose, the incompetency of the tribunal before which they had been brought. In vain did they allege that they could not be declared rebels against Spain for anything they might have done while the French flag yet waved over the colony ; that they owed no submission to Spain till her representative had exhibited his credentials ; and that the prince who did not yet protect had no - right to punish them.


Six victims had been chosen by O'Reilly to serve as an example to the province; but Villeré


137


EXECUTION OF LAFRENIERE, ETC.


having been assassinated, he contented himself with condemning five to death. The testimony of two witnesses against each of the accused was necessary to give a colour of legality to their condemnation ; and these were easily found. Lafrenière, Noyant, Marquis, Joseph Milhet, and Caresse were sentenced to be hung, and their property confiscated. The unfortunate. Louisi- anians vainly implored of the inexorable O'Reilly a delay that would enable them to have recourse to the royal clemency. The only favour he could be prevailed on to grant was the substitution of shooting for hanging.


On the 28th of September, the day appointed for the execution, all the troops were drawn up under arms on the levee and in the public square; the gates were closed, the posts all re-enforced, and a strong patrol paraded through the de- serted streets ; the inhabitants having all retired to their houses the evening before, that they might not witness the death of their friends. The five victims were led out into the small square in front of the barracks, where they met their fate with the utmost courage and resignation.


It was attempted to blindfold them, when Marquis, a Swiss captain in the service of France, indignantly opposed it. " I have," said he,


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" risked my life many a time in the service of my adopted country, and have never feared to face my enemies." And then, addressing his companions, " Let us," he exclaimed, "die like


brave men : we need not fear death." Coolly taking a pinch of snuff, and turning to the Span- iards, he said, " Take notice, Spaniards, that we die because we will not cease to be French. As for myself, though a foreigner by birth, my heart belongs to France. For thirty years I have fought for Louis le bien-aimé, and I glory in a death that proves my attachment to him. Fire, executioners !"


However much these unfortunate men might have erred in rashly resisting an authority which they certainly had reason to believe legitimate, they appear to have been actuated by the purest motives, and their unhappy fate increased the aver- sion of their fellow-countrymen to the Spaniards. The treacherous conduct of O'Reilly made him an object of detestation, and rendered it much more difficult for Spain to conciliate her new subjects.


The other six prisoners, Boisblanc, Doucet, Ma- rent, Jean Milhet, Petit, and Poupet, were sen- tenced, the first to imprisonment for life, and the . others for a term of years. They were sent to Havana, and confined in the dungeons of the Moro Castle.


139


CHANGE IN THE GOVERNMENT.


The next act of O'Reilly was to change the form of government. France, by a special arti- cle of the treaty, had stipulated that the admin- istration should be carried on in the same man- ner as it had been before. But to this it was ob- jected that the Superior Court having set the ex- ample of revolt, its dissolution had become both legal and necessary.


Under the dominion of France the administra- tion of Louisiana consisted of a governor, an in- tendant, a commissary, and a comptroller. In 17.19 a Superior Council had been created, com- posed of two lord-lieutenants, four counsellors, an attorney-general, and a recorder; and in this body the directors of the Mississippi Company were also entitled to a seat. Several judges had likewise been appointed. The governor was, ex officio, president of the council.


This organization was set aside by the Span- iards, and in place of it they established a Cabildo, or Grand Council, with the governor at its head, and consisting of six régidors, two alcaldes, a re- corder, and a procurator-syndic-general, the office of the latter being to act in behalf of the people, and to protect their rights and interests. This officer and the alcaldes were chosen by the Cabil- do on the first of January in each year. The prov-


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


ince was governed by the captain-general, the governor, an intendant, two auditors, one for civ- il and one for military affairs, and the requisite . number of inferior officers.


The crown appointed to all offices where the salary was more than three hundred dollars, except that the governor and the intendant were allowed to choose their own subordinates. The governor was supreme judge in all civil and criminal matters ; the intendant had the same , power over all fiscal and maritime affairs; and the vicar-general over everything relating to ec- clesiastical concerns.


Each parish was provided with a civil and military commandant, who ranked as a captain, and whose duties were to maintain order and support the police; to decide all suits in which the sum in question did not exceed twenty dol- lars ; to arrest white persons accused of crimes, and, as the governor might direct, either release them, or send them to the town for trial ; and to take cognizance of and punish all offences among the slaves ; besides which, he kept the records of the parish as notary.


The laws of Castile were substituted for those of France, but the change was less apparent than it would have been had they not both emanated Som the Roman code.


141


O'REILLY'S NEW REGULATIONS.


A corps of volunteers was raised, which was called the regiment of Louisiana. Nuzaga re- ceived the temporary command of it, and he chose natives of Louisiana for his officers ; these readily accepted their commissions, as the pay allowed by Spain was higher than that of France.


On his return from a tour along the upper part of the river, where he was received by the inhab- itants with a cold submission, O'Reilly published several regulations respecting unoccupied lands. To every family desiring to settle in the province he granted six or eight acres on the river, with the ordinary depth of forty acres; but they were required to construct at their own expense the levees, dikes, and roads ; nor was any one allow- ed to dispose of his lands until he had made these improvements. To furnish a revenue to the city of New-Orleans, a tax was laid on buildings, and especially on taverns, coffee-houses, billiard- rooms, boarding-houses, and slaughter-houses, . . and also on spirituous liquors.


To rescue Indian prisoners from torture and death, the inhabitants were authorized to buy them, and employ them on their plantations as slaves. There were already a number of them in the province in this condition ; and the rights of their masters were recognised by the new government.


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


But these regulations, notwithstanding their prudence and utility, had but little effect in at- taching the French to their new masters. The greater part of the rich planters, the merchants, and the mechanics, had already retired to St. . Domingo, and the emigration still continued. . To preserve the country from utter depopulation, O'Reilly issued orders that no more passports should be granted. Who would have then im- agined, that in twenty years from that time the colonists of St. Domingo would come in crowds to seek an asylum in Louisiana ?


1770 .- During this year O'Reilly departed for Spain, and the province was annexed to the captain-generalship of Cuba. Nuzaga, who suc- ceeded to the government, endeavoured, by a truly paternal administration, to heal the wounds which had been inflicted by O'Reilly. It has been said that the King of Spain disapproved of the conduct of the latter, and forbid him the court ; but of this there appears to be no proof. On the contrary, it is certain that in this very year he was appointed inspector-general of all the troops in Spanish America ; and three years later we find him occupying the important post of military governor of Madrid. In 1775 he was intrusted with the command of an expedi-


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HEROIC CONDUCT OF YOUNG MARENT. 143


tion against Algiers, where he was completely defeated, with a loss of fifteen thousand men, a great part of his artillery, provisions, &c. Then, and not till then, public indignation was roused against O'Reilly ; but Charles, who still regarded him with favour, to save him from the fury of the populace of Madrid, conferred on him the cap- taincy of Andalusia.


The Louisianians confined in the castle at Havana owed their liberation to the filial affec- tion of the heroic son of Marent, who, on being presented to the king by the French ambassador at Madrid, threw himself at his feet, and en- treated that he might be permitted to take his father's place. This noble conduct recalls to our recollection the old Indian warrior who offered himself as a sacrifice for his son. Boisblanc, Doucet, Milhet, Marent, Poupet, and Petit re- turned no more to Louisiana : part of them set- tled in France, and the others in St. Domingo.


Foucault was sent by the French government to the Bastile; but this seeming severity must have been only for a pretence, as he was in a very short time set at liberty, and sent to the Isle of Bourbon as commissary intendant.


The colony now began to flourish ; money was abundant, and agriculture improving, Its com-


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


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merce, however, was not sufficiently extended, being confined to six ports in Spain ; viz., Ali- cant, Barcelona, Carthagena, Corunna, Malaga, and Seville. At a later period two French ships were allowed to participate in it. But the Eng- lish settled on the Mississippi carried on an im- mense contraband trade with the planters on that river, all whose wants they supplied on credit ; Nuzaga conniving at a course of things so ad- vantageous to the colony.


1772 .- This year the country was visited by a tremendous hurricane, which raged for four days. It spared New-Orleans, but did great mischief to the plantations. The mulberry-trees were af- fected by it in a very singular manner : their leaves were all killed, but they budded again, blossomed for the second time, and produced an- other crop of fruit. The next winter the orange- trees were destroyed for the third time.


1773 .- While Louisiana belonged to the French, it formed a part of the diocese of Que- bec, but was now attached to that of Cuba ; and a priest and two nuns were sent by the gov- ernment at Madrid to instruct the youth of the province in the Castilian language, the only thing under the name of education that Spain ever encouraged there. Nuzaga continued to


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145


WISE CONDUCT OF NUZAGA.


manifest the greatest solicitude for the welfare of the people committed to his care. He became the arbitrator of their disputes, and endeavoured to render justice to all, interposing his friendly offices between debtors and creditors, and mas- ters and slaves. A number of the latter had es- caped to the cypress swamps, whence they issued at night to commit depredations on the planta- tions. He issued a proclamation, offering pardon to all who would return to their masters, and promising they should not be punished. But soon after this he left Louisiana, universally re- spected and regretted.


CHAPTER XII.


Galvez .- War with England .- Mira .- St. Domingo.


1777 .- GALVEZ, the next governor, although a young man, displayed no less solicitude for the welfare of the colony, and prudence in mana- ging its affairs, than had Nuzaga. He allowed French ships to come from the West India Isl- ands to Louisiana in ballast, and return loaded with the produce of the country, which they paid for either in silver, bills of exchange, or negroes


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


shipped direct from Guinea, no others being per- mitted to be brought ; as the spirit of insurrection, which had already shown itself at St. Domingo, might, it was feared, be communicated to the black population of the colony, if slaves from those islands were introduced. Vessels belong- ing to the colony were authorized to load with Eu- ropean goods from Campeachy and the Island of Cuba, and to export their own produce to France and the United States, while all the ports of Spain were open to them. Still farther to en- courage commercial enterprise, the duties on to- bacco were reduced, and furs admitted duty free ; though, when re-exported to other countries, they became subject to a moderate impost.


These regulations increased the commercial prosperity of the country, and encouraged immi- gration. Several families from the Canary Isl- ands settled at Terre-aux-Bœufs, at Galveston, at Valenzuela, and on the La Fourche and Amity Rivers. The expenses of their voyage were paid by the government, who farther supplied each family with a quantity of land, a cottage, imple- ments of agriculture, cattle, and provisions. Sub- sequently a colony from Malaga settled on the banks of the Tèche River, under the same advan- tages extended to them by the government.


147


AMERICAN REVOLUTION.


They attempted the cultivation of hemp and flax, though without success, either owing to want of skill, or that the climate and soil were unsuited to their growth.


The pope had interdicted a book written by Mercier, author of the Tableau de Paris ; and the King of Spain forbade its being read by his sub- jects of Louisiana. It was entitled " The Year 2440 : A Dream, if ever there was one." The History of America, by Robertson, was also in- terdicted.


The greater part of the Northern Continent was at this time convulsed by the war of Amer- ican independence ; but Spain having hitherto re- sisted the efforts of France to draw her into the contest, Louisiana continued to enjoy undisturb- ed repose. The desire of recovering Jamaica, Gibraltar, and the Floridas, was a powerful in- ducement to her to join the confederacy against England; but fear of the effects which the inde- pendence of the United States might have on her own colonies, made her prefer endeavouring to effect her objects by pacific rather than by war- like means. She offered, therefore, to mediate between the contending powers. France readily accepted the proposition ; but the English min- ister evaded any explicit declaration, though in


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


general terms he stated that nothing would be · more gratifying to his sovereign than to conclude a peace on honourable terms under the auspices of his Catholic majesty. In consequence of these professions, the Spanish minister proposed a truce for a term of years ; and that a congress of plen- ipotentiaries from the belligerent powers should assemble at Madrid, to adjust the conditions of a permanent treaty, into which deputies from the United States should be admitted, as the repre- · sentatives of a sovereign nation. No direct ac- knowledgment of their independence was to be required ; but the fact was to be understood, and they were to be considered as wholly separated from the British empire.


The negotiation being protracted to a great length, Spain employed the interval in preparing for hostilities, and finally pressed her mediation in a manner that rendered it necessary either that it should be accepted or peremptorily declined. The cabinet of St. James, no longer able to equivocate, now declared that the independence of the colonies could not be assented to, and upon this the King of Spain no longer hesitated to take part in the war.


1799 .- On the departure of the Spanish min- ister from London without soliciting an audience


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GALVEZ ATTACKS THE ENGLISH POSTS. 149


of leave, the British government issued letters of marque and reprisal against the vessels and sub- jects of Spain. A powerful Spanish fleet had been getting ready while the negotiations were . pending, and it was now despatched to co-op- erate with that of France, and assist the Ameri- cans. Although Spain had not yet formally ac- knowledged their independence, nor were their ministers accredited at her court, she had resolv- ed to employ her arms in their favour, and sent to notify Galvez, the governor of Louisiana, of her intention to commence hostilities.


The news was received with the utmost satis- faction. The governor himself was inclined to favour the American cause, and the French pop- ulation were rejoiced at the opportunity thus pre- sented of avenging the injuries of the last war. Galvez had no difficulty in collecting an army. The Cabildo, indeed, remonstrated against his proceedings, but his ardour to engage in the con- test made him deaf to all their representations ; and, having assembled a body of fourteen thou- sand men, he advanced to attack the English col- onies. He obtained possession of Baton Rouge and Fort Bute, on the Iberville, and followed up these successes by the capture of Natchez and the forts on the Amity. This expedition was


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


celebrated in French verse by Julian Poydras, who had the honour of seeing his little poem pub- lished at the expense of the government; but it was not of a character to ensure immortality ei- ther to his hero or himself.


In the midst of the rejoicings excited by these victories, one of those dreadful hurricanes that from time to time devastate the country was sent to repress the exultation of the inhabitants, and was followed by a still more terrible scourge- the smallpox. The young were chiefly marked as its victims, and lamentation and grief were spread over the colony.


1780 .- Galvez, however, still persevered in ' his warlike career. He was only waiting for a re-enforcement from Havana to leave New-Or- leans at the head of a still more powerful force than had accompanied him on his last expedition. But he had now to contend with the elements. Having set sail with his troops for Mobile, he en- countered a furious tempest, in which one of his sloops of war was driven ashore. Still he suc- ceeded in effecting a landing on the shores of the bay, and Fort Charlotte fell into his hands. The capture of Pensacola was yet wanting to com- plete his conquests ; but this place was defended by a force superior to his own. He proceeded,


CAPTURE OF PENSACOLA BY GALVEZ. 151


therefore, to Havana, to obtain such additional troops as he needed. But, as he was returning, several of his transports having foundered in a vio- - lent storm, and the others being driven out of their course, he was compelled to put back. In Feb- ruary he sailed again, with a fleet consisting of one ship of the line, two frigates, and several transport ships, having on board fourteen hun- dred well-appointed troops; and nine days after he landed on the Island of Saint Rosa, where he constructed a fort. Espeletta, with the troops from Mobile, and Miro, with those from New-Or- leans, soon joined him. Irazabel, however, who commanded the fleet, refused to cross the bar of the Bay of Pensacola, when Galvez ordered Cap- tain Rousseau to attempt it with a brig, a schoon- · er, and a gunboat, being himself on board of the brig. The bar, notwithstanding the fire of the English batteries, was safely passed, amid the acclamations of the army ; and all the other ves- sels, except that of the admiral, followed the ex- ample.


Evacuating Pensacola, the English retired to Fort George, threatening Galvez that, if he at- tempted its capture, they would immediately set fire to it. The fort, however, was besieged ; and, being well provided with batteries, Campbell, the


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HISTORY OF LOUISIANA.


English commander, defended himself for some time with great bravery ; but his powder maga- zine blowing up, a great part of the walls were thrown down, and he capitulated. Thus the whole of Florida, and eight hundred prisoners, fell into the hands of the Spaniards.


1782 .- Another hurricane was experienced this year, occasioning great destruction ; and af- terward the Mississippi was swollen to a height never witnessed before. All the high grounds not reached by the inundation, in the Attakapas and Opelousas, were covered with immense herds of deer, seeking refuge from the waters.


The services of Galvez were amply rewarded. For the capture of Baton Rouge and Natchez, he had conferred on him the rank of brigadier gen- eral ; for the taking of Mobile, that of major-gen- eral ; and the conquest of Florida raised him to the dignity of captain-general of Louisiana and West Florida, with the brevet of lieutenant-gen- eral of the armies of the king, and the cross of the order of Charles III. Thus Louisiana was made a captaincy-general, while New-Orleans be- came the see of a coadjutor of the Bishop of San- tiago de Cuba, in favour of Father Cerillo, who was consecrated bishop in partibus of Tricala.




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