USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
Flanders' Administration .- On June 8, 1867, Gen. P. H. Sheri- dan, commanding the 5th Military District, wrote to Gen. Grant as follows: "Gen. Flanders assumed the duties of his office this morning. He is a man of integrity and ability, and I now feel as though I was relieved of half my labor. As it has heretofore been, there was no security, and I feel as the people of the whole state
434
LOUISIANA
feel, that we have got rid of an unprincipled governor (Gov. Wells) and the set of disreputable tricksters he had about him. Nothing will answer here but a bold and strong course, and in taking it I am supported by every class and party."
The student of history 40 years later will hardly agree with. Gen. Sheridan's statements that he was "relieved of half his labor," or that his "bold and strong course was supported by every class and party." During the brief period that Mr. Flanders occupied the governor's chair, he was only a nominal executive, the real governor being Gen. Sheridan. In fact the military reconstruction of the state had been commenced under the acts of Congress two months before the removal of Gov. Wells and the appointment of Flanders. On April 10, 1867, Sheridan issued orders giving specific directions for the registration of voters, and a board of registers was appointed for the parish of Orleans. On July 31 the registration was stopped by Sheridan's order. The number of voters registered was 127,639, of whom 44,732 were whites and 82,907 were negroes. In September an election was held for dele- gates to a constitutional convention and resulted in 75,083 votes being cast in favor of the convention and 4,006 against it, many of the white people refusing to vote. Civil officers were removed by wholesale and without compunction. The president of the United States finally became dissatisfied with Sheridan's "bold and strong course," and on Aug. 17, 1867, relieved him of the command of the 5th district and ordered him to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in spite of the protestations of Gen. Grant that he had "performed his duties faithfully and intelligently, and that his removal would be looked upon as an effort to defeat the laws of Congress." Gen. George H. Thomas was assigned to the command of the district, but on account of his health was allowed to remain in the De- partment of the Cumberland, and Gen. Winfield S. Hancock was appointed in his stead. Gen. Hancock did not arrive in New Or- leans until Nov. 28, the temporary command of the district in the meantime devolving upon Gen. Joseph A. Mower, who continued Sheridan's policy and removed a number of civil officers, among them Lieut .- Gov. Voorhies and Sheriff Harry T. Hays of Orleans parish. Gen. Grant at last ordered him to suspend further re- movals until the arrival of Gen. Hancock. If Gov. Flanders had more to do with the affairs of state during this period than merely signing his name now and then to some executive document, it does not appear in the records. The creature of the military power, he was expected to do its bidding, and he did not disap- point the expectations. Gen. Hancock assumed command of the district on Nov. 29, and soon afterward issued his Special Order . No. 203, in which he said: "The true and proper use of military power, besides defending the national honor against foreign na- tions, is to uphold the laws and civil government, and to secure to every person residing among us the enjoyment of life, liberty and property." He reinstated several of the officers removed by Sheridan and Mower, among them Lieut .- Gov. Voorhies. Shortly
435
LOUISIANA
after Gen. Hancock took command of the district, Gov. Flanders . resigned and in Jan., 1868, Joshua Baker was appointed military governor by Hancock. (See also the articles on Reconstruction and Constitutional Conventions.)
Flatcreek, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of Winn parish, is situated on Beech creek about 7 miles west of Thalia, the nearest railroad town.
Flatwoods, a post-hamlet in the northwestern part of Rapides parish, situated on a branch of Cypress bayou, about 5 miles north of Poe, the nearest railroad town.
Floods .- (See Levees, Mississippi River and Jetties.)
Flora, (R. R. name Weaver's Mill), a post-village and station in the southeastern part of Natchitoches parish, is on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 10 miles south of Natchitoches, the parish seat.
Florence .- (See Sicily Island.)
Florien, a village in the southern part of Sabine parish, is a station on the Kansas City Southern R. R. about 10 miles south of Many. It has a money order postoffice, express office and tele- graph station, and in 1900 had a population of 90.
· Flournoy, a village in the southwestern part of Caddo parish, is on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas R. R., about 10 miles south- west of Shreveport. It has a money order postoffice, express office and telegraph station, and is a trading center for the neigh- borhood.
Floyd, the seat of justice of West Carroll parish, is located in the southeastern part of the parish on Bayou Macon, and was selected as the parish seat when old Carroll parish was divided into East and West Carroll in 1877. It was named for James Floyd, who settled on a section of land in the vicinity in 1803. Floyd is one of the smallest parish seats in the state, having a population of only 176 in 1900. It is also without direct railroad facilities, Floyd Station on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., being about 3 miles west of the town. Notwithstanding its small popu- lation and lack of railroad facilities it is a place of considerable activity, as it has a large cooperage establishment, a sawmill, four general stores, a money order postoffice, good schools, churches, a large river trade, etc.
Fluker, a money order post-village in the northwestern part of Tangipahoa parish, is situated on the main line of the Illinois Cen- tral, R. R., about 7 miles north of Amite, the parish seat, in a large truck farm and berry district. In 1900 its population was 40.
Flynn, a post-hamlet in the southern part of St. Landry parish, is about 3 miles northwest of Geneva, the nearest railroad station.
Folsom, a post-village in the northwestern part of St. Tammany parish, is located a short distance east of the Tehefuncte river and about 12 miles northwest of Covington, the parish seat. It is the terminus of a branch of the New Orleans Great Northern R. R., that connects with the main line of that system at Florenville
436
LOUISIANA
Junction, has some lumber interests, an express office, a good re- tail trade, and in 1900 reported a population of 70.
Fontainebleau, Treaty of .- (See Treaties.)
Forage Crops .- The fertile soils of Louisiana are splendidly adapted to the growing of forage crops of many varieties. Ac- cording to the U. S. census report for 1900, nearly 3 per cent of all the land under cultivation in the state for the year 1899, was given over to the raising of forage, the total acreage devoted to all crops amounting to 3,421,751, of which 97,136 acres were given over to forage.
Among the grasses are the following: A fox-tail grass (Setaria glauca), which grows luxuriantly in the southern and middle sec- tions; the Japan clover (Lespedeza striata) flourishes throughout the northern and middle portions; the so called carpet grasses, known among the creoles as Gazon, are to be found in great abundance in the south and central parts of the state; the Ber- muda grass, grows extensively all through the state ; the Crab grass (Pancum sanguinale), also flourishes all over the state; the tall meadow oat grass (Arrhenathirum avenaceum), and the Rescue grass (Bromus Shraderi), are also extensively grown throughout all portions of the state. The following new and imported grasses have also been cultivated with success: Hairy Oat (Avena Sterilis), Bromus pinnatus, grown chiefly in the winter; Japanese rye, grown through the fall, winter and spring; Phalaris coerules- cens, a meritorious summer grass, and Pancium palmeri, a summer grass of wonderful growth.
Red Clover can be successfully grown upon any of the fertile lands of the state, provided the seed be sown in early fall, but the crimson clover is of a more certain growth, and is better adapted to the lighter soils of the state. When sown in the early autumn it almost invariably yields a fine crop of hay during the next spring.
Alfalfa can be readily grown upon either the alluvial or the best uplands of the state. If it be sown in September or October, at the rate of about 15 lbs. to the acre, upon well drained, deeply ploughed, and thoroughly pulverized soil, and a good stand be obtained it should be ready for harvesting early in the following March, to be followed by six or seven cuttings during the summer and fall. It produces a hay rich in albuminoids, which is relished by stock, grows continually during the summer and winter, and is the sole forage crop in the state which will afford a cutting of green matter every day in the year. It is easily cured and always finds a ready market. Several thousand acres have been sown in alfalfa in the last few years in the state, and the acreage is an- nually increasing.
Cowpeas of both the bunch and running varieties are profusely grown throughout the state. When the berries are desired for feed the former variety is employed, when hay or soil improvement is the desired end in view the latter subserves the purpose. They
.
437
LOUISIANA
make a most excellent soil restorative, and any system of crop . rotation that omits them is a most flagrant error.
Spanish peanuts are now largely used both as feed for stock and soil improvers. Among the other forages which have been grown with more or less success are : Red top, on damp low soils ; English blue-grass, on rich soil; Kentucky blue-grass, on soils containing an abundance of lime: velvet bean, in all parts of the state; Soja beans, do well in the light soils of the eastern and northern por- tions of the state; Vetches, have given only fair results ; saccharine sorghums, when planted in early spring afford two or even three abundant crops each year; the non-saccharine sorghums, of the yellow and white milo maize and the African millet varieties, also do well throughout the state: the Pearl millet, used largely for soil restoring in the fall and spring: the German and Golden Won- der millet have been successfully grown throughout the South, as have the numerous wild salt and prairie grasses. Corn stalks are extensively used for feed by stock raisers, 85,158 tons being so consumed in 1899.
Forbing, a post-village and station in the southeastern part of Caddo parish, is situated on the Kansas City Southern R. R., about 9 miles south of Shreveport, the parish seat.
Ford, a post-hamlet in the northern part of Webster parish, is on Bayou Dorcheat, about 5 miles east of Cotton Valley, the near- est railroad station, and 15 miles north of Minden, the parish seat.
Fordoche, a village in the southwestern part of Pointe Coupée parish, is situated on the Bayou Fordoche and the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 25 miles northwest of Baton Rouge. It has a money order postoffice, express office, telegraph station and telephone fa- cilities, and in 1900 its population was 160.
Foreman, a post-hamlet in the southeastern part of East Baton Rouge parish, is on a tributary of the Amite river, about 5 miles northeast of Kleinpeter, the nearest railroad station.
Forest, a town in the eastern part of West Carroll parish, is on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern R. R., about 8 miles north of Floyd Station. It has a money order postoffice, express office, telegraph and telephone facilities, and does some shipping. Its population in 1900 was 64.
Forest Hill, a village in the southwestern part of Rapides parish, is a station on the St. Louis. Watkins & Gulf R. R., about 16 miles southwest of Alexandria, the parish seat. It is situated in the pine belt, has some lumber industries, a money order postoffice. express and telegraph service, and is a trading center for that part of the parish. The population in 1900 was 100.
Fort Adams .- This military post was erected by Gen. Wilkin- son in 1799, shortly after the evacuation of the Natchez district by the Spanish. The site chosen was at the first highland point on the Mississippi above the Spanish line of demarcation. After Wilkinson's arrival at Natchez in Aug., 1798, he consulted Gov. Sargent about the propriety of remaining at Natchez or descending
438
LOUISIANA
the river, and was advised "to take post at or near some heights, elevated 300 feet above the Mississippi, commanding the river and called Loftus cliffs." These heights, known during the French period as Davion's Rock, and called by the English Loftus heights, were not quite 7 miles above the line. The fort comprised a strong earthwork, magazine and barracks, and was built under the imme- diate supervision of Maj. Thomas Freeman, who had been previously employed in surveying the boundary line, under Com- missioner Ellicott. It was named in honor of President Adams, and the historic old location is now the seat of the little town of the same name in Wilkinson county, Miss.
Fort Assumption .- (See Chickasaw Bluffs.)
Fort Balise .- The original fort of this name was built by the French in 1722. It was named from the French word "balise," meaning beacon, because the French had set up a seamark for guidance of ships seeking the mouth of the river. The south- east pass was the only practicable entrance for vessels drawing 14 feet, and to preserve it as well as to improve it, a mole built of piles was thrown up which preserved the channel from the ex- treme point of mainland to the sea. Here in the above year the French established a water battery, a military post, store houses, a powder magazine and chapel, on the bank formed by these piles. They usually maintained a garrison of 50 men, as well as pilots and a few sailors, at the post. The spot as originally occupied by the French was the little flat island called by them Toulouse, about a half mile in circumference, and their buildings were erected at the extreme edge of the gulf shore beyond the bar. The magazine, and part of the fortifications, were swept into the river, and in the year 1768 a new Balize was established by Don Ulloa. and chiefly used as a pilot station. It is the site of the present village of Balize, but by reason of the enormous sedimentary deposit from the Mississippi river, Balize is some 3 or 4 miles from the sea shore and the mouths of the river.
Fort Baton Rouge .- During the control of West Florida by Great Britain this was the most important English post on the Mississippi river. The English had cleared the channel of the Manchac in 1765, and thus established a safe and convenient means of reaching the Mississippi from Mobile by the inside passage. Baton Rouge was selected as a highly defensible location, and here they caused some strong works to be constructed. Says Gayarre : "The fort was surrounded by a ditch, 18 feet wide and 9 in depth ; it had, besides, very high walls, with a parapet protected by che- veaux de frise, and (in 1779) a garrison of 400 regulars and 100 militiamen, and was supplied with thirteen pieces of heavy artillery." On May 8. 1779, during the progress of the American Revolution. Charles III of Spain formally declared war against Great Britain. The conquest of the Floridas was one of the ob- jects held in view, and she clearly perceived the importance of adding them to her possessions before the end of the struggle between the colonies and the mother country, July 8, 1779, Spanish
439
LOUISIANA
subjects in America were anthorized to participate in hostilities. (See Spanish Conquest.) Gov. Galvez raised a force, marched against the English posts, and when he arrived within a mile and a half of Baton Rouge, he halted his army, and proceeded to mount his artillery, preparatory to an assault. The guns were ad- vantageously posted where they were screened from the enemy, and some of his Indians, militia and negroes were disposed in a wooded spot near the fort, with orders to make a feigned attack in order to draw the enemy's fire. On Sept. 21 Galvez opened with his batteries on the fort and an artillery duel ensued which lasted until half past three in the afternoon, when a flag of truce was sent out with an offer to capitulate. Galvez demanded the un- conditional surrender of Baton Rouge and of Fort Panmure at the Natchez, together with the dependent districts, and these terms were finally accepted. Lieut. Dickson and his regulars were al- lowed to march out with the honors of war, delivering up their arms and flags and becoming prisoners of war. The militia and free negroes within the fort were not held, but were sent to their homes under parole. Galvez at once sent a captain and a detach- ment of 80 men to take possession of Fort Panmure, 130 miles distant, and upon his withdrawal to New Orleans with his prisoners, he left his subordinate, Carlos de Grandpré, in com- mand of the conquered region, with headquarters at Baton Rouge. The post at Baton Rouge was destined to remain for 30 years longer under Spanish dominion and control, and was constantly garrisoned by her troops. True, after the Lousiana cession of 1803, the United States government persistently asserted its claim to all the gulf coast region east of the Mississippi to the Perdido, but for diplomatic reasons took no active measures to occupy the region of West Florida until the Baton Rouge revolution of 1810 forced President Madison to take decisive measures looking to the assertion of United States sovereignty. In 1710 the fort at Baton Rouge was commanded by the young Lieut. Louis de Grand- pré, son of the gallant old creole colonel, and had a garrison of probably less than 50 men. The full details of the capture of the fort may be found under the title West Florida Revolution. Shortly after this, acting under orders from the president, W. C. C. Clai- borne, governor of the Orleans Territory, took possession of the province of West Florida, including the fort at Baton Rouge.
Fort Beauregard, an earthwork on a hill overlooking the town of Harrisonburg, in Catahoula parish, was erected by the Con- federates in the early part of the war. Early in May, 1863, the Federal gunboats commanded by Commodore Woodworth ascended the Ouachita river and at 2 a. m., on the 10th. anchored a short distance from the fort and sent a flag of truce demanding an unconditional surrender. At that time the fort was garri- soned by about 400 men under Lient .- Col. George W. Logan, who replied that he would "hold the fort forever." After a steady shell- ing of the fort until 6 p. m. the gunboats withdrew, having done no injury except slightly damaging the parapet and destroying
+
440
LOUISIANA
one house in the town. A second effort of the fleet to pass the fort was attended by no better success, but a land expedition from Natchez, Miss., under Gen. Crocker, approached the fort on Sept. 4, 1863, and Col. Logan, having only 40 effective men, evacuated the fort, saving all the property he could and destroying the re- mainder.
Fort Bute was one of the three posts maintained by the British on the lower Mississippi (the others being located at Baton Rouge and Natchez) after their acquisition of the region east of the Mississippi, known as West Florida. Early in 1765, Col. Taylor, commanding the British troops in West Florida, began the work of clearing out the channel of the Iberville river (Bayou Man- chac), in order to complete the famous inside passage from Mo- bile to the Mississippi, thereby avoiding contact with the French at New Orleans, and affording an easy means of communication with the upper posts on the Mississippi. To protect the men en- gaged in this work, a little stockade, called Fort Bute, was built on the Manchac, and a small garrison was maintained there. When Gov. Galvez started on his career of conquest against the British, in 1779, Fort Bute proved to the initial point of attack. After a fatiguing march of 115 miles from New Orleans, the little army of invasion came in sight of the flag of Fort Bute on Sept. 6. Lieut. Dickson, commanding the British, had previously withdrawn with most of his force to the more defensible position of Baton Rouge, and only a little garrison of 23 men was left to man the fort. Gal- vez assaulted on the 7th, and the post was taken after a nominal resistance. One private was killed, 6 escaped, and the others became prisoners of war.
Fort Charlotte, (see Fort Louis de la Mobile.)
Fort Chartres, on the east bank of the Mississippi about a mile and a half from the river bank, and 25 miles above the village of the Caskasquias, was built by the French under de Boisbriant in 1720. It was located in the so-called Illinois district, and was deemed one of the strongest French posts in North America. Its form was quadrilateral, with four bastions, built of stone, and well cemented with lime. Each side was 340 feet in length, the walls were three feet thick and 15 feet high. Within the walls were spacious stone barracks, a large magazine, well, etc. The cornices and casements, port-holes or loops, were of solid blocks of stone. The post was for many years the headquarters of the commandant of Upper Louisiana, and also served as a base for the numerous trading and exploring expeditions which ascended the Missouri, as well as the upper Mississippi and its branches. Its establish- ment was followed by the erection of numerous other trading posts and settlements on the banks of the Mississippi and the Mis- souri. The villages of Prairie du Rocher, St. Philippe and Cahokia were built in the immediate vicinity of the post. The Sulpicians erected a water mill for grinding corn and sawing lumber at Cahokia, and a large warehouse was established at Fort Chartres by the Company of the Indies. The post was ceded to the British
1
441
LOUISIANA
by the Treaty of Paris, 1763, but, on account of the hostility of the Indians, it was not until the fall of 1755 that Maj. Farmar. in command of the 34th regiment, went up the Mississippi to the Illinois country, and, in conjunction with an expedition from Pitts- burg, finally effected the occupation of the famous fort. Mean- while, Nyon de Villiers, commandant at the Illinois, grew tired of waiting for the arrival of the British garrison, and in the sum- mer of 1764, descended the river to New Orleans, accompanied by 6 officers, 63 soldiers, and 80 inhabitants, including the women and children. In 1770 the river broke through its banks, and two years later, two of the fort's bastions fell into the water. It was then allowed to fall into decay, and is now only known as one of the picturesque ruins on the Mississippi.
Fort Conde, (see Fort Louis de la Mobile).
Fort De Russy, a Confederate fortification, was located on the right bank of the Red river, about 3 miles northeast of Marks- ville. In April, 1863, the garrison there was commanded by Col. Aristide Gerard of the 13th Louisiana, who was ordered by Gen. Taylor to evacuate the fort and, if possible, save all guns and stores. Col. Gerard was afterward tried by a court-martial for not having "used proper diligence and obedience to said orders, but did destroy a considerable of government property, etc," but was acquitted, released from arrest and returned to duty. Capt. John Kelso was sent with the gunboats Cotton and Grand Duke to remove the property, and on May 4, 1863, a spirited fight took place near the fort between his vessels and a Federal gunboat. In the action the Cotton was disabled, with a loss of 14 men in killed, wounded and missing, and 7 men were wounded on the Grand Duke. The property was removed, however, and the Federal advance up the river was delayed for 48 hours.
As an incident of Gen. Banks' Red River campaign the follow- ing year, the fort was attacked on March 14, 1864, by the Federal forces under Gen. A. J. Amith, and after a heroic resistance of two hours the garrison of 350 men surrendered to vastly superior numbers.
Fort Dout .- This was one of the far western barrier posts es- tablished by the French, to maintain its territorial claims to the region west of the Sabine, and also to prevent Spanish aggression. It was located near the source of the Sabine, and was maintained until Louisiana changed masters. (Stoddard's Louisiana, p. 31).
Fort Iberville (known also as Fort Maurepas), an early French post, named in honor of its builder, the founder of Louisiana, was not advantageously located and had only a brief existence. On the occasion of d'Iberville's second return to Louisiana in 1700, he was informed by Sauvolle and Bienville that an English armed vessel, under command of Capt. Bar, had sought to ascend the Mississippi river, but had been induced to turn back. This in- formation greatly alarmed Iberville, and he immediately departed from Biloxi for the Mississippi on another voyage of exploration. On his way up the river he selected a site for a fort some 54 miles
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.