USA > Missouri > A history of Missouri from the earliest explorations and settlements until the admission of the state into the union, Volume I > Part 30
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tary of the ambassador at St. Petersburg, died about the end of the 18th century. He never was in Louisiana, and it is not at all probable that he wrote anything about Louisiana. Dumont de Montigny, however, resided in Louisiana twenty- two years; was stationed on the Yazoo; accompanied La Harpe up the Arkan- sas, and it is said was fond of a good story, which is evident from the account he gives of Bourgmont's expedition. Boucher de la Richardiere, in his Biblio- theque, says that the "Memoire Historique sur la Louisiane est un peu super- ficielle." These memoirs were published in Paris in 1753.
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the king. Of course, they greatly pleased the court, and they were taken to the Bois de Boulogne, where they hunted stags in their way. In Paris they danced their Indian war dances at the Italian theater. The Indian chief's daughter was baptized at Notre Dame, and after this married the sergeant Du Bois, who was made an officer and commandant of the Missouris. Much benefit was expected to result from the conversion of the daughter of the great chief of the Missouris, and her marriage to a Frenchman. She received numer- ous presents from the ladies of the court and from the king him- self. Nor were her Indian companions forgotten; they all received fine blue coats trimmed with gold, and lace hats. They were all well satisfied, and, returning to Le Orient, embarked for home. As for the commandant, Dumont de Montigny tells us that he remained in France, where he was made a knight of St. Louis, and afterward married a rich widow. The voyage of Monsieur and Madame Du Bois and their suite of Missouri Indians was very prosperous, and all arrived in good health at New Orleans. While there they were enter- tained at the expense of the Company of the West, and were also furnished a boat with soldiers and boatmen to carry them back to their village. "What a joy," says Dumont de Montigny, "for these Indians to see once more their countrymen, they had given up for lost, and see them return rich and loaded with presents. On their arrival, there were dances and games in all the villages. Madame Du Bois remained in the fort, but went from time to time to visit her family, either because she did not love her husband or that her own people's way of living suited her better than that of the French. The boat which had brought her had scarcely left when the Indians massacred Sieur Du Bois and butchered the whole garrison, not one escaping ; after which Madame Du Bois returned to her people and to her former mode of life, so that the post no longer exists."
The satirical character of Dumont de Montigny's account is apparent, and when we compare it with the various letters and docu- ments published by Margry,48 we also readily perceive how easily history may be perverted. The suggestion to establish a post on the Missouri was first made by Sieur Presle, a "habitant d'isle Dauphine." In a letter dated 1718 he recommended that Sieur de Bourgmont, who, he says, had lived for fifteen years among the
48 6 Margry, Relations des Francais avec diverses peuplades du Missouri, p. 385.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
the king. Of course, they greatly pleased the court, and they were taken to the Bois de Boulogne, where they hunted stags in their way. In Paris they danced their Indian war dances at the Italian theater. The Indian chief's daughter was baptized at Notre Dame, and after this married the sergeant Du Bois, who was made an officer and commandant of the Missouris. Much benefit was expected to result from the conversion of the daughter of the great chief of the Missouris, and her marriage to a Frenchman. She received numer- ous presents from the ladies of the court and from the king him- self. Nor were her Indian companions forgotten; they all received fine blue coats trimmed with gold, and lace hats. They were all well satisfied, and, returning to Le Orient, embarked for home. As for the commandant, Dumont de Montigny tells us that he remained in France, where he was made a knight of St. Louis, and afterward married a rich widow. The voyage of Monsieur and Madame Du Bois and their suite of Missouri Indians was very prosperous, and all arrived in good health at New Orleans. While there they were enter- tained at the expense of the Company of the West, and were also furnished a boat with soldiers and boatmen to carry them back to their village. "What a joy," says Dumont de Montigny, "for these Indians to see once more their countrymen, they had given up for lost, and see them return rich and loaded with presents. On their arrival, there were dances and games in all the villages. Madame Du Bois remained in the fort, but went from time to time to visit her family, either because she did not love her husband or that her own people's way of living suited her better than that of the French. The boat which had brought her had scarcely left when the Indians massacred Sieur Du Bois and butchered the whole garrison, not one escaping ; after which Madame Du Bois returned to her people and to her former mode of life, so that the post no longer exists."
The satirical character of Dumont de Montigny's account is apparent, and when we compare it with the various letters and docu- ments published by Margry,48 we also readily perceive how easily history may be perverted. The suggestion to establish a post on the Missouri was first made by Sieur Presle, a "habitant d'isle Dauphine." In a letter dated 1718 he recommended that Sieur de Bourgmont, who, he says, had lived for fifteen years among the
48 6 Margry, Relations des Francais avec diverses peuplades du Missouri, P. 385.
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BOURGMONT'S COMMISSION
Missouris, that is to say, as early as 1702-3, be employed to establish commercial relations "with a nation of small men, with large eyes, dressed like Europeans, living in very good houses about six hun- dred leagues from the Panis," who, according to his letter, were always "occupes a de beaux ouvrages" and supposed to be Chinese. It was Sieur Presle, perhaps a stockholder in the Company of the Indies, who called attention to Bourgmont as one familiar with Indians on the upper Missouri. Very likely in consequence of the Spanish encroachments on this river, the Company of the Indies acted upon these suggestions and appointed Sieur de Bourg- mont, then in France, to establish a post on the Missouri, and Bourgmont's commission, preserved by some singular accident, is now in the archives of the Missouri Historical Society.49 De
49 The commission is written on parchment, and translated, reads as follows: "Commission of Captain of Infantry
in Louisiana, for the Sieur de Bourmont.
THE DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY OF THE INDIES TO THE SIEUR DE BOURMONT, Greeting: Taking into consideration the services which you have rendered to the King and to the Company in the country of Louisiana both by the discoveries which you have made and by your acts of war which have caused the French nation to be respected and honored amongst the savages, and wishing to show you our satisfaction in giving you among the troops which are or may afterwards be sent to the said country a rank above that which you have until the present held,
FOR THESE CAUSES, and other good considerations, we, in virtue of the power accorded by His Majesty, have named you, commissioned and estab- lished you, name, commission, and establish you to take and hold the rank of captain in the troops of infantry that the Company sends or will send in future to the colony of Louisiana, from the day and date present, (taut amsi ?) (the same as if?) you held the chief command under the authority of the com- mandant-general of the colony and of other superior officers (of the service ?). We have given and give power, commission, authority special mandamus. We give order to the Sieur de Bienville, commandant-general of the colony, and in his absence to whoever shall be in command, to receive you into service rec- ognizing (manuscript blurred) quality of captain and to ( -?- ) which he belongs to obey and hear all that you shall order for the glory of the name of His Majesty and the good of the service of the company and the advantage of its commerce in the said colony of Louisiana. THESE LETTERS are the ( ? ) of the company in the faith of what you have done, sealed in presence with the seal of the company and countersigned by the Directors of the same. Done at Paris, in (the hotel ?) of the Company of the Indies, the 26th day of the month of July, 1720.
(There are eight signatures, two of which cannot be entirely deciphered.
Mouchard, . Fromaget (?), Lallemant de Bet,
Corneau, Castanies, D'Artaguette, Remy (?)
By the Company for (duplication ?) Delaloe (?) "
Gayarre, volume i., p. 233, says : "I have already said that Law, who was
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
Bourgmont agreed to accept the position upon the approval of the Council of Regency, his appointment to be dated August 12, 1720, a portion of his salary to be paid prior to his departure, and on his arrival in Louisiana he further to receive "une gratification de 2000 livres au merchandise." In his memoir De Bourgmont 50 says that he has rendered great services to the king in Canada and Louis- iana, for which he has never been paid, "ne se recompensant point pas d'argent," and that he merits the Cross of St. Louis for the labors and dangers he has undergone and endured in executing various and important enterprises, and expresses the hope that, if he shall be so happy as to execute successfully the trust reposed in him by the Council of Regency, and to establish peace among the savage nations of the country between Louisiana and New Mexico, and thus open a route to the commercial enterprise of the French by building a fort on the Missouri, letters of nobility may be awarded to him.
The Council of Regency approved the commission given by the Company of the Indies to Bourgmont, and ordered him to depart on the first vessel going to Louisiana, and to establish a post on the Missouri. On arriving in the colony, he was ordered to report to Governor Bienville, and the governor and the council were instructed to facilitate his expedition up the Missouri, by promptly furnishing everything necessary for his voyage and establishment. Arrived in the Illinois country, he was further instructed to obtain orders from Monsieur De Boisbriant, first lieutenant of the king, in that portion of the colony, as to where to establish the post on the Missouri, and in what manner to conduct affairs with the Indians. It was pro- vided that Boisbriant's reports should be in writing, in duplicate, one copy to be transmitted to the Council of Regency. The principal object of De Bourgmont's expedition was stated to be to draw near the Spanish possessions, to ascertain what trade might be estab- lished with them, and in the meantime to provide for the establish- ment of a fort and defense in case of rupture with Spain. It was suggested that great care must be exercised in making a selection of director-general of the Royal Bank of France, was also appointed director- general of the Mississippi Company. The other directors were D'Artaguette, receiver-general of the finances of Auch; Duche, receiver-general of the finances of La Rochelle; Moreau, deputy representative of the merchants of St. Malo; Piou, also the commercial representative and deputy of Nantes; Castaignes and Mouchard, merchants of La Rochelle."
It will be observed that the name in this commission is spelled "Bourmont." 50 6 Margry, p. 388, "Demands du Sieur De Bourgmont."
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OBJECT OF EXPEDITION
a site for this establishment, as upon this would depend greatly the success of the enterprise. The importance of forming an alliance with the Padoucahs was also urged upon De Bourgmont, and De Boisbriant was ordered to encourage the visit of some of the principal chiefs of the Indians to France with De Bourgmont, in order to give them an idea of the power of France - "pour leur donner une idée de la puissance des Français." Finally, if De Bourgmont faithfully carried out these instructions within two years the council agreed to allow him to return to France to enjoy the benefits of the "grâces que luy ont esté promises par S. A. R.," but it was required that he must secure and bring with him a certificate from De Boisbriant and the council of the colony that he had solidly established a post on the Missouri, made peace with the Padoucahs and other savage Indians now at war with the allies of France.51
De Boisbriant on August 20, 1723, wrote Bienville that he had ordered De Bourgmont to go to the upper Missouri, and that he had furnished him twenty soldiers to establish a little post, "un petite poste," and a small assortment of merchandise to make presents to the savages, for "you know," he says, "these savage nations are not accustomed to receive large presents, and are content with small ones." De Boisbriant did not believe that De Bourgmont would be able to make peace with the Padoucahs, nor did he consider this a great evil, "grande mal," because such a peace, in his opinion, would not be of long duration, the nation of the Missouris being always in confusion and embroiled, "vos nations du Missoury se brouilleroient infailliblement après," in order that they might receive presents to be reconciled.52
In January, 1724, De Bourgmont wrote the Council of Louisiana from Fort Orleans, referring to a prior letter dated November 27, 1723, that owing to the advanced season and drifting ice he was not able to proceed up the Missouri from his establishment to visit the Padoucahs, but that he was only waiting the opening of navigation to proceed. He also informed the Council that he was much sur- prised to learn that the Hotos (Otoes) and Ayovois (Iowas) had made an alliance with "our enemies," the Sioux and the Renards (Foxes); that these Hotos and Ayovois professed to be friendly, but that he declined to receive them until they made a full explanation; that he
51 6 Margry, Instructions derniers au Sieur De Bourgmont, p. 389.
62 6 Margry, p. 391, Envoi de Bourgmont sur le haut du Missouri.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
reproached them and menaced them in order to impress upon them the enormity of their offense, which so impressed them that they wept, and promised to break off this alliance. He advised the Coun- cil that these two nations allied with the Mahas and Panimahas, together with the Sioux, would make it impossible to maintain a fort on the upper Missouri, and expressed doubt whether even M. De Broisbriant could maintain his post, that is to say, Fort de Chartres, against the Indian tribes thus formed into a confederacy. In this letter, also, he laments the fact that he has not sufficient merchandise to enable him to form an alliance with all these nations, who had only seen one Frenchman in their villages in the last five years, and impresses upon the Council the absolute necessity of bringing into the country sufficient merchandise to buy the beaver skins and other furs of these Indians. He further says that he has put off a meeting of all these nations in council until the end of March next, so that "apres calumet chanté" - they may go with him to meet the Padoucahs. 53
When De Bourgmont began his march from Fort Orleans, in June, 1724, to visit the Canzés (Kansas) and Padoucahs, he divided his expedition into two detachments. The Canzés then had their principal village on the south bank of the Missouri, not far from the mouth of the Kansas river, and the Padoucah villages were some one hundred and fifty miles southwest. De Bourgmont's report is the first detailed official document from a district now within the limits of Missouri, made by a recognized official. This report gives us some glimpses of western Missouri as it then appeared. One detachment of Bourgmont's force proceeded by bateau up the river, starting from the fort on Sunday, June 25, 1724, under command of St. Ange, ensign of the troops at the fort. Of these troops, Du Bois was sergeant, Rotisseur and Gentil corporals. The names of the eleven soldiers of this detachment, not without interest to us now, were: La Jeunesse, Bonneau, Saint Lazare, Ferret, Derbet, Avignon, Sans-Chagrin, Poupard, Gaspard, Challons, and Brassieur. With these soldiers were five Canadians, named Mercier, Quesnal, Rivet, Rolet, and Lespine, and also two engagés of Sieur La Ren- audiére, named Toulouse and Antoine.
On Monday, July 3d, the other detachment, under the personal command of Sieur De Bourgmont, marched by land up the river.
53 6 Margry, p. 397, Bourgmont rompt la ligue des Octotatas.
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MARCH FROM FORT ORLEANS
With this detachment were Sieur La Renaudiere and De Bellerive, cadet with the troops, D'Estienne, Roulot, and Derbet, soldiers, a drummer, D'Hamelin by name, a Canadian, De Gaillard, an engagé of Sieur La Renaudiére, and Simon, a servant of De Bourgmont, together with one hundred Missouris under the command of eight war chiefs, and the great chief of the nation, and sixty-four Osages under command of four war chiefs. In his report De Bourgmont states that on the first day his detachment crossed two small creeks, and after marching six leagues (eighteen miles) went into camp at four o'clock. It was a very hot day, "grande chaleur," he says. . The next day he started at four o'clock in the morning, marched until 10 o'clock, rested until three o'clock, then started again and marched until six o'clock, making six leagues this day. It was hot again, but the air was fine and the corps, De Bourgmont says, passed several small rivers, "marched on beautiful roads and over beautiful prairies bordered with little hills, among nut trees full of nuts, scattered along the brooks and valleys," and he further records that he saw troops of deer, and all this on July 4, 1724. The Indians killed twenty roebucks, some bears, and quail. On the next day he marched six leagues farther, also passing many brooks, groves of trees on the right and left, the wind blowing briskly from N. and N. W. The day following he crossed another little river early in the morning, and at eight o'clock marched through the woods, and during the day came to a beautiful river, on the borders of which he made a halt. This day the party encountered some Canzés Indians who had been sent by their chief to advise De Bourgmont that he expected him on the high prairie, and after a short march he met the grand chief of this tribe, accom- panied by six war chiefs and many other Indians. They received the French with great rejoicing, smoked the calumet with them, as well as with the Osages and Missouris. They remained for some hours on the prairie, then the French fired their guns and marched westward with them. On this day the detachment made five leagues, and De Bourgmont in his report says that the wind changed north, and that it became cool. On July 7th, De Bourgmont, still marching through the prairies and through woods, up and down hills (no doubt the river hills bordering the Missouri) where the road was bad for his horses, about noon reached the banks of the Missouri, where, on the opposite side, was located the village of the Canzés. This day he covered seven leagues.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
On Saturday, July 8th, early in the morning, De Bourgmont crossed the river in pirogues, the horses swimming and the Indians going over on a raft. After the French left the boats, as they entered the village of the Canzés, they discharged their guns and were joyfully received by the great chiefs of the tribe, and all the other Indians. De Bourgmont remained in camp here until July 24th, was entertained with many speeches and great hospitality, presented with two horses, and invited to the cabins of the various chiefs. All his followers also received many marks of esteem. On the day of his arrival in the village a messenger from St. Ange reported that, owing to the fact that many of his men were attacked by fever, he was greatly delayed in his voyage up the river, and requested that provisions might be sent him. Provisions were sent, and St. Ange was urged to hasten his movements, so that the whole corps could start to visit the Padoucahs. In the meantime De Bourgmont sent word to the Otoes of his arrival among the Canzés, and a delegation of these Indians forthwith came to visit him. While in camp among the Canzés two enslaved Padoucahs, whom De Bourgmont intended to return to this tribe, died, and De Bourgmont himself was taken by the fever. The Canzés were unremitting in their hospitality, and daily asked De Bourgmont and the other French to participate in their numerous festivities. They surrendered other enslaved Padoucahs to him. In his report, De Bourgmont complains that the days were hot and the nights cool, but the pirogues of St. Ange made slow progress in coming up the river, and the Indians began to be impatient because the merchandise which was carried in these pirogues did not arrive. Many of the Indians who accompanied De Bourgmont were also attacked with intermittent fever, and Bourgmont himself was bled five times in one day. But he gave his Indian escort medicine which had a beneficial effect on them. Incidentally we are also told that these Indians made wine out of wild grapes, and that the French found it very good.
At last St. Ange arrived with his pirogues of merchandise, but many of his men were sick with the fever, "des fièvres chaudes." The first day after his arrival the goods were unloaded, and some of them were divided into suitable packages as presents for the Canzés. The next day De Bourgmont distributed these presents with an appropriate speech, and also invited them to accompany him on his expedition to the Padoucahs. The Canzés, however, were not sat-
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PEACE WITH THE PADOUCAHS
isfied with the amount of merchandise that had been given them. De Bourgmont replied firmly that this was all he had for them. Then, after much negotiation and after Bourgmont threatened to go with- out them, the Canzés finally agreed to accompany him, he also adding something to their presents. Having sent his sick slaves and peltry to Fort Orleans, on the 24th of July he began his march to visit the Padoucahs, leaving the Canzés village at six o'clock in the morning " tambour battant, drapeau déployé," with arms and baggage and in battle array. On this march southwest he was accompanied by three hundred Canzés under two great chiefs and fourteen war chiefs, followed by three hundred women and five hundred children and more than three hundred dogs, the latter carrying "une partie de leurs équipages." This was the actual count of Sieur La Renaudiére, who stood on the road-" s'est posté sur la chemin." After marching in the same direction for six days, De Bourgmont became very sick, owing to the great heat, and, being unable to ride on horseback, was carried by the Indians in a kind of litter. His illness continued, and, becoming more aggravated, he was compelled to return to Fort Orleans, where he remained until September 20th. Then he returned to the Canzés village, going in a pirogue up the river. While there he called a grand council of the principal chiefs of the "Missourys, Othos, Ayoois and Canzés," to urge upon them an alliance with the Osages, Panimahas and Illinois, and having secured their assent by the distribution of liberal presents, he set out again to visit the Padoucahs. This time, after marching about twenty leagues, he reached the "grande rivière des Canzés" (Kansas river), and on his march to this river crossed a number of smaller streams, all emptying into the Missouri. Marching about one hundred miles farther southwest, he reached the village of the Padoucahs, and after great festivities, mutual rejoicings and the distribution of many presents with many speeches, it was sup- posed a firm peace and alliance between the Padoucah and the other Indian nations and the French was established. Bourgmont reported that these Padoucahs are very numerous, have a knowledge of silver and money, and trade with the Spaniards. Having thus accomplished his mission, he resumed his march back, and on November 5th, reached Fort Orleans, where "le Te Deum fut chanté en l'honneur de la paix des Padoucas," all of whch is duly recorded by Bourgmont.54
On the November 15th, St. Ange, as major; La Renaudiére, as 54 6 Margry, p. 448. Conseil General des Nations etc.
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HISTORY OF MISSOURI
"ingénieur pour les mines"; Du Bois, sergeant ; Delachenaie, Jeanty, Ferret, La Forge, Darbes, J. Bonneau, Henri de Chateauneuf, and Quesnal de Pichard, the last two signing by their "marque ordinaire," certify that they accompanied De Bourgmont on his first and second march to the Padoucahs, and that he established and made peace with these Indians and the Indian nations allied with France. This certificate evidently was attached to the report, to comply with the stipulation made by the Council of Regency when Bourgmont received his commission, as heretofore set forth. To secure, however, a dele- gation of Indians from the various tribes to go to France was a more difficult task, although he also successfully accomplished it. At a grand council of the Missouris, Osages, and Otoptata,55 - a name by which the Ayoois were also known, this subject was discussed and various speeches made, all duly reported by Bourgmont. The Missouris and Osages agreed to send a delegation to France with him, but the Otoptata declined to do so -" nous ne voulons risquer qu'un de nos gens." So Bourgmont secured his Indian delegation and departed from Fort Orleans for France. What reception he and his Indians received in France Dumont has told us, also that the Indians returned home. Bourgmont remained in France, where no doubt he received his promised reward and in addition, according to Dumont, married "a rich widow," although when the great chief of the Canzés offered him his thirteen-year-old daughter in mar- riage he excused himself, maybe diplomatically, by saying that he was already married, and that under the law of France a French- man could not marry more than one woman, 56 which, he tells us, "greatly astonished" the chief. Dumont's final statement that Fort Orleans was destroyed by the Indians and all the garrison massacred seems to be a mistake, for on September 30, 1726, M. Perier was instructed to abandon the fort on the "Rivière du Mis- soury" if the expense appeared to him useless, and to turn the place over to the missionaries there.57 No further mention is made after this of Fort Orleans, which, instead of having been tragically destroyed by the Indians, seems simply to have been abandoned. Probably it rotted down or was washed away by the turbulent and restless river, together with the island on which it is supposed to have been erected.
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