USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume II > Part 24
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Says Claiborne, the Mississippi historian: "The French, under concessions granted by the king, had, at the time of the massacre, several extensive and well improved plantations around Natchez, particularly on St. Catharine's, extending from the present Wash- ington road down said creek, on both sides, to the Woodville road. There was a plantation near the mouth of Cole's creek, one or two on Bayou Pierre, and at Walnut Hills, and quite a settlement around Fort St. Peter, on the Yazoo. Nearly all the occupants perished at the time of the massacre. The few that escaped made their way to New Orleans. And it is remarkable that their claims, which were unquestionably valid, and would, doubtless, have been recognized by either the Spanish or British government, were never presented."
The historic massacre began on Monday, Nov. 29, 1728, about 9 o'clock in the morning, and was a complete surprise to the French. The year 1729 had been a tranquil and comparatively prosperous one. Gov. Périer, and the king's commissary, De la Chaise, were working in harmony for the advancement of the colony, and every- thing betokened a continuance of peaceful conditions. True, Périer, ever since his arrival in the colony. had felt that the dis- tant settlements needed further protection against their savage neighbors, but as his repeated representations on this subject to the company had been disregarded, he was not provided with the troops asked for, and no steps had been taken to supply this detect in the colonial administration. "In 1729," says Gayarre, "the French settlement at Natchez was under the command of an officer called Chopart, Chepart, or Etcheparre. He was rapacious. haughty and tyrannical, and by repeated acts of oppression and injustice had made himself odious to those over whom he ruled." Such was the nature of his conduct that he had even been sum- moned to New Orleans for trial, and had been found guilty of an abuse of power. He was allowed. however, to return to his post, with the distinct understanding that he would amend his ways. This he seems to have done, as far as the whites were concerned, but his treatment of the Indians became even more insolent and cruel. Gayarre says that he was no doubt aware of certain instruc- tions given to Perier by the company, "in which the wish was expressed that the Natchez. to prevent further collisions. should be induced, if possible, to remove farther off, and he acted accordingly. and heaped every sort of outrage and insult upon that devoted race, to force them to abandon the spot they had occupied for so many centuries. Seeing that by such means he did not obtain the object he had in view. he went still further. One day he sum- moned to his presence the Great Sun, and told that chief that he, Chopart, had received orders from Gov. Périer to take possession of the beautiful village of the White Apple, which was situated 6 miles from the French fort, and there to establish a plantation and to construct certain buildings; wherefore, it was necessary that the Natchez should remove to some other place, which they might occupy without prejudice to the French. This intimation
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was given in an abrupt manner, without the slightest attempt at conciliation. It was the tone of an eastern despot speaking to a slave."
If, as is probable. negotiations had already been entered into between certain confederate tribes to make a joint attack on the French-the uprising to take place on a certain day and all to share in the distribution of the rich booty obtained-this design was no doubt hastened by the unjust and ill-advised demand of Chopart, and the Natchez were further tempted to anticipate the day set for the general uprising when they became aware of the arrival at the post of a number of richly laden boats for the gar- rison and colonists. There have been numerous accounts of the causes leading up to this celebrated massacre at the Natchez, but the foregoing embodies the generally accepted facts. One of these accounts, that of the English trader and writer, Adair, who lived much among the Chickasaws, seems to possess certain elements of probability. He says: "Some of the old Natchez Indians who formerly lived on the Mississippi, 200 miles west of the Choctaws, told me the French demanded from every one of their warriors a dressed buckskin, without any value for it, i. e., they taxed them ; but that the warriors' hearts grew very cross, and loved the deer skins. As those Indians were of a peaceable and kindly disposi- tion, numerous and warlike, and always kept a friendly intercourse with the Chickasaws, who never had any good will to the French these soon understood their heart-burnings, and by the advice of the English traders, carried them white pipes and tobacco in their own name and that of South Carolina-persuading them with earnestness and policy to cut off the French, as they (the French) were resolved to enslave them in their own land. The Chickasaws succeeded in their embassy. But as the Indians are slow in their councils on things of great importance. though equally close and intent, it was the following year before they could put their grand scheme into execution. Some of their head-men, indeed. opposed the plan, yet they never discovered (revealed) it. But when they went a hunting in the woods, the embers burst into a raging flame. They attacked the French. who were flourishing away in the great- est security, and. it is affirmed, they entirely cut off the garrison and neighboring settlements, consisting of 1.500 men, women and children-the misconduct of a few indiscreet persons occasioned so great a number of innocent lives to be thus cut off."
On the morning of the 29th, the day of the massacre, the wily savages had taken steps to scatter themselves widely throughout the settlements, so that on one excuse or another Indians were present in the home of every Frenchman. The Great Sun, accom- panied by a strong band of nobles and warriors, succeeded in gain- ing entrance to the fort by means of a strategem. and once well within the inclosure. each Indian suddenly fired upon his man. This was the signal agreed upon and the general massacre began. Father le Petit. whose account of the uprising is perhaps as accu- rate as any, says. "First they divided themselves and sent into
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the fort, into the village, and into the two grants, as many Indians as there were French in each of these places; then they feigned that they were going out for a grand hunt and undertook to trade with the French for guns, powder and ball, offering to pay them as much, and even more, than was customary, and in truth, as there was no reason to suspect their infidelity, they made at that time an exchange of their poultry and corn for some arms and ammunition, which they used advantageously against us. They (the French) had been on their guard against the Tchactaws (Choctaws), but as for the Natchez, they never distrusted them. Having thus posted themselves in different houses, provided with the arms obtained from us. they attacked at the same time each his man, and in less than two hours they massacred more than 200 of the French. The best known are Father du Poisson, M. de Chopart, commander of the post : M. du Codere, commander among the Yasous; M. des Ursins ; Messieurs de Kolly and son, Messieurs de Longrays, des Noyers, Bailly, etc. These barbarians spared but two of the French, a tailor and a carpenter, who were able to serve their wants. They did not treat badly either the negro slaves or the Indians who were willing to give themselves up; but they ripped up the belly of every pregnant woman, and killed almost all those who were nursing their children, because they were disturbed by their cries and tears. They did not kill the other women, but made them their slaves. . During the massacre, the Sun, or the great chief of the Natchez, was seated quietly under the tobacco shed of the company. His warriors brought to his feet the head of the commander, about which they ranged those of the principal French of the post, leaving their bodies a prey to the dogs, the buzzards, and other carnivorous birds. The Tchactas and the other Indians being engaged in the plot with them, they felt at their ease, and did not at all fear they would draw on themselves the vengeance which was merited by their cruelty and perfidy." Kolly and son were the owners of a large concession on St. Catharine's creek, often referred to as the "grant of the Maloins," and had only recently arrived at the Natchez to inspect their concession when they met the common fate during the massacre. The Sieur des Noyers was the director of a second large grant on St. Catharine's, known as the "Terre Blanche" concession, and had come down from the Yazoo on the morning of the massacre, accompanied by M. du Codere, com- mandant at the Yazoo post, and the Jesuit father, Du Poisson, from the Arkansas post. So sudden and unexpected had been the attack of the Indians that practically no resistance was offered by the French. Only one act of effective resistance is noted by Gov. Périer in his despatches. In the house occupied by La Loire des Ursins were 8 men, who defended themselves against the Indians with the courage of desperation. "They made the house good against the Indians during the whole day. Six of them were killed and when night came the remaining two escaped. When the attack began, La Loire des Ursins happened to be on horse-
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back, and being cut off from his house by the intervening foes, he fought to death, and killed 4 Indians. The people who were shut up in the house had already killed 8. Thus it cost the Natchez only 12 men to destroy 250 of ours, through the fault of the com- manding officer, who alone deserved the fate which was shared by his unfortunate companions." Following the massacre the In- dians gave themselves up to the wildest carousing and rejoicing, and the feasting, drinking and dancing lasted far into the succeed- ing night. They believed the French were everywhere being ex- terminated by their allies, and that they had nothing more to fear from the dreaded whites. They fired all the houses and buildings of the French in their midst and destroyed the fort.
As soon as the Natchez recovered from these first excesses, however, they took steps to patrol the river and cut off any ves- sels which might make their appearance. They also instigated the Yazoo Indians to follow their example and massacre the French at Fort St. Claude. On the day of the Natchez massacre, a band of Yazoos were present by design or accident and witnessed the bloody affair. Shortly after, accompanied by a number of Natchez warriors, they started upstream to cover the intervening distance of 120 miles to the Yazoo post. On the way they espied some travelers on the bank, who proved to be French. One of their number was a Jesuit father, who at the very time of the attack engaged in celebrating a mass. Strange as it may seem, despite the murderous volleys poured in upon them. the whole party made their escape to their boat, only one of the men being slightly wounded. On Dec. 11 the Yazoos treacherously fell upon and slew the good Jesuit father, Seoul, in the vicinity of the Yazoo post, and followed up their detestable work on the following day by surprising and murdering the whole of the little garrison of 17 men at Fort St. Claude. In the absence of Dn Codere at the Natchez, the Chevalier des Roches commanded the Yazoo post at this time. The few women and children present at the settlement were spared.
The few fugitives who escaped the general massacre at the Natchez were not long in spreading the news among the lower settlements. One Ricard was the first fugitive to reach New Orleans, and a few others arrived there on Dec. 3. The fears of the colonists were greatly aroused, as they lived in daily expectation of a general uprising of the Indians. Gov. Périer at once took steps to apprise the settlers on the river of their danger, and to have them construct fortifications at convenient distances, to which they might retire with their families and their possessions in case of necessity. Alto- gether, 8 of these little forts were constructed between New Orleans and Natchez at this period. New Orleans was also placed in a better condition of defense. a force of negroes being set to work to build a line of intrenchments around the city. A force of 150 men, divided into four companies, was raised in New Orleans, and other companies of planters were formed from the settlers on the river. An expedition, composed of soldiers and planters, com-
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manded by the Chevalier Loubois, was directed to rendezvous at the Tunicas, thence to proceed with all possible haste to attack the Natchez in their strongholds, and above all, to effect the rescue of the captive women and children. A vessel was also sent to France to acquaint the government with the perilous condition of affairs and to ask for additional troops. The friendly coopera- tion of the Tunica Indians and of the powerful Choctaws was secured, and aid was also received from some of the lesser tribes. The Chickasaws were hostile and constantly harassed the French on the river, as their vessels passed up and down, but fortunately none of the other tribes arose. One act of Perier's attests the panic fears of the colonists and government at this juncture. The gov- ernor was weak and cruel enough to order a force of negro slaves from the neighboring plantations to secretly attack and utterly destroy the little village of the Chouachas, just above New Or- leans, composed of only about 30 warriors. This was to serve as an example to the other small Indian tribes, and also to excite lasting enmity between the red and black men.
A force of Choctaw allies, led by the brave Le Sueur, seems to have moved with much more celerity than the French force gather- ing under Loubois on the river. This band of Choctaws arrived at St. Catharine's creek on Jan. 27, 1730, and without waiting for the arrival of the little French army, fiercely assailed the Natchez, who were still celebrating their recent victory over the French. Nearly 100 of the Natchez were slain or captured, and many of the captive women, children and negroes were recovered. The Natchez sought refuge and were closely invested within their two forts, which were well built and protected by palisades, the method of construction having been learned from the French. Early in February the French forces under Lubois arrived and, after in- trenching themselves, instituted a scientific siege, aided by a few pieces of artillery. Meanwhile, another force of Choctaw allies had posted themselves between the Natchez and the Yazoo, to prevent the Natchez from sending their prisoners to their allies on the north. Siege operations, varied by occasional attacks, sorties and parleys, which occasioned some loss of life on both sides but resulted in no decisive advantage, continued until the 26th. A truce was then'arranged and a treaty was concluded, whereby the Natchez agreed to surrender to the Choctaws the prisoners in the forts and the spoils in their hands, in consideration of the raising of the siege and the withdrawal of the French to the banks of the Mississippi, the Natchez to retain quiet possession of their lands. Neither side appears to have acted in good faith. The Natchez surrendered their prisoners on the 27th, but the French and Choc- taws immediately resolved to recommence the siege. On the night of the 28th the Natchez secretly deserted their forts with such of their possessions as they could carry, and leaving behind the beauti- ful country they had occupied for so many centuries, fled across the Mississippi and intrenched themselves in the neighborhood of the Red river. It is probable that some also sought refuge at this
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time among their Chickasaw allies, while other small war bands roamed about and did what damage they could to the French. The Tunicas proved the most useful friends to the French, and a small band of them followed the retreating Natchez, harassing them greatly. It is even related that the French permitted the Tunicas to burn with much cruel ceremony at New Orleans a captured Natchez woman. In retaliation, the Natchez shortly after attacked and burnt the chief village of the Tunicas, killing the old chief of the tribe and many of its members. After the departure of the Natchez, the French reoccupied the territory on the Mississippi, and a new fort was constructed of brick, garrisoned by 100 men under the command of the Baron of Cresnay, who was also made senior captain of all the troops of the colony. The poor captives recovered from the Natchez were finally returned to New Orleans, where they were most tenderly cared for at the public expense.
A desultory warfare was carried on against the Natchez through- out the summer of 1730. mostly by the Indian allies of the French. In August additional troops arrived in the colony from France. under command of Périer de Salvert, the governor's brother. Périer was now in a position to carry on an effective campaign against the Natchez, and aimed at nothing less than the entire destruction of the tribe which had proved so troublesome to the colony. By 'the end of the year everything was in readiness, and the little army, consisting of 650 white soldiers, marines, regulars and militia, started for the general rendezvous at the mouth of the Red river. Here it was joined Jan. 4, 1731, by Perier in.person. He had also succeeded in enlisting for the expedition about 350 Indian allies, chiefly recruited from the Tunicas. Ascending the Red and Black rivers, the enemy was finally discovered in a well fortified posi- tion near the present town of Trinity, Catahoula parish, La. After a siege lasting several days the Natchez sued for peace and sur- rendered their fort. Périer captured at this time over 400 prisoners, including the women and children. Among the number was the Great Sun of the Natchez. St. Cosme, and 45 warriors. The cele- brated "Flour Chief" had slipped through his hands, together with about 150 of the warriors. Satisfied with the results achieved, the expedition returned to New Orleans with their prisoners. The latter were shipped to Santo Domingo and sold as slaves, the pro- ceeds being turned into the colonial treasury to assist in paying the expenses of the war. The Flour Chief and his band continued hostilities in the interior, but were decisively defeated during the succeeding summer by St. Denis near Natchitoches.
If not exterminated the Natchez nation was now widely scat- tered. It had sustained severe losses and was no longer in a posi- tion to wage independent warfare against the French. Some had early sought refuge among the Chickasaw nation and the scattered remnant of the harassed tribe now sought a haven in the same quarter. Nor had the French entirely escaped their further ven- geance. In the numerous campaigns, the French were forced to wage against the formidable tribe of the Chickasaws during
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the next decade or two, the Natchez were doubtless only too glad ' to assist their friends. Certain it is the Chickasaw wars proved long and costly, and French arms gained little prestige therefrom. The enormous additional expenses incurred played an important part in hastening the downfall of the French regime in Louisiana.
Natchitoches, the seat of government for the parish of the same name, strange as it may seem, is older than the city of New Or- leans. Early in the history of Louisiana there was a spirited rivalry between the French and Spaniards as to which nation should occupy the region between the Red and Sabine rivers. About the close of the 17th century the Spaniards established a post at Adayes (or Adaise), on the east side of the Sabine, and in 1714 Gov. Cadillac sent St. Denis to establish a post at some point on the Red river. Martin says that the expedition of St. Denis was "for the double purpose of finding a vent for Crozat's goods, and checking the advances of the Spaniards, who were preparing to form settlements in the neighborhood of Natchitoches."
St. Denis left a few settlers at Natchitoches, but it was not until 1717 that a permanent fort was erected there. Dumont describes this fort as "a square palisade, where a little garrison was kept as a barrier against the Spaniards." A Catholic mission was estab- lished about the same time. The people, few in numbers, were not able to employ a resident priest, and for some years they were attended by Father Margil and other missionaries. Father Stanis- laus came in 1765, and the humble mission developed into the cathedral church of St. Francis, which to-day is one of the historic Catholic landmarks of the nation. During the French and Spanish domination Natchitoches was an important trading post. The Spaniards from west of the Sabine would come with pack mules heavily laden with peltries, dried buffalo tongues, silver from the Mexican mines, etc., to exchange for dry-goods and other neces- sities. In 1824 Isaac Wright began running a steamboat between Natchitoclies and the settlements further down the river and this added to the importance of the town as a commercial center. With the establishment of Shreveport and the advent of the railroads some of this trade was deflected from Natchitoches, but being located in one of the richest sections of the state, the town has continued to prosper. The Natchitoches of today is one of the leading cities of the state, though there are 16 Louisiana cities larger in point of population, according to the census of 1900. It was incorporated as a city by act of the legislature on July 5, 1872, and the first meeting of the city council was held on July 22, 1872. with E. L. Pierson as mayor. Natchitoches is the site of the State Normal School and it is the episcopal city of the Catholic diocese of Natchitoches. St. Joseph's college was established here by Bishop Martin in 1856. Located at the junction of the Texas & Pacific and the Louisiana & Northwestern railroads, it is a good shipping and distributing point, and further transportation facilities are provided by the Red river steamers. Natchitoches has fine public buildings, good schools, 2 banks, 2 newspapers, a number
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of fine mercantile establishments, a large cotton compress. cotton- seed oil mills, large lumbering interests, brick and ice factories, an opera house, good hotels, well paved streets, waterworks, etc., and in 1900 reported a population of 2,388. A comparison of its growth with that of other cities of its class during the decade from 1890 to 1900 shows that few cities in the state made greater gains, and it is almost certain that the census of 1910 will show Natchitoches to occupy a higher position than 17th in the list of Louisiana cities.
Natchitoches Parish, one of the richest and most populous in the state, was first organized as one of the 12 counties, and in 1807 it became by act of the territorial legislature, one of the 19 original parishes of Orleans territory. When the Province of Louisiana was divided into districts in 1723, the name of "Natchitoches Dis- trict" was given to this region-from the tribe of Indians whose hunting grounds lay along the highlands on both sides of the Red river-and when the parish was created the name was retained by the territorial authorities. As originally organized it embraced all the territory in the ecclesiastical parish of St. Francis, was 120 miles long by 70 broad, and included the present parishes of Caddo, Claiborne, Webster and Bossier, and parts of Lincoln, De Soto, Bienville, Winn and Grant.
It is believed that the first white men to visit the Red river valley were De Soto and his followers, who are supposed to have passed down the stream from some point in what is now the State of Arkansas in 1542. More than a century elapsed before the valley was claimed by the French and explored from the south soon after the settlement of the colony at Biloxi. The town of Natchitoches (q. v.) was settled early in the 18th century. Penicaut says that in 1718 the Brossart brothers, merchants of Lyons, France, came over to Louisiana with the intention of founding a settlement among the Natchitoches Indians on the Red river. The early settlements flourished, and many times during the early years of the province when supplies failed to arrive from France, the colo- nists out on the Red river were able to send food and other neces- sities to their brethren in New Orleans. Some of the first to receive land grants in the Natchitoches district were Louis Latham, who settled at Los Tres Llanos, and Pierre and Julien Besson, who located at Ecore Rouge, 6 miles above Natchitoches. Athanase Poisot claimed land at a place called Three Cabins under a deed from the Indians made in 1784. In 1785 the population of the district was 756. Two years later Gov. Miro granted lands there to François Bossier. Nanet Larnodier, François and Alexis Grappe and a few others in order to promote the settlement of the district. Other early settlers were the Prudhommes, Ronbieus. Lacours, Cloutiers, Metoyers, Laurents, Martins and the Crows, the last named family locating a claim on the Sabine river in 1797.
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