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diff --git a/old/55055-8.txt b/old/55055-8.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d22737b..0000000 --- a/old/55055-8.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6388 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of No Man's Land, by Louis Raphael Nardini - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: No Man's Land - A History of El Camino Real - -Author: Louis Raphael Nardini - -Release Date: July 6, 2017 [EBook #55055] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NO MAN'S LAND *** - - - - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, MFR and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net; print -source courtesy of Ron Box - - - - - - - [Illustration: CELEBRATION OF OPENING OF THE MUSEUM AT FORT - JESUP--1959.] - - - - - NO MAN'S LAND - - - _A History of El Camino Real - by - Louis Raphael Nardini_ - - [Illustration: Publisher Logo] - - PELICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY - NEW ORLEANS--U. S. A. - - - © Copyright 1961 - by Louis R. Nardini - - Printed in the United States of America - by the American Printing Co., New Orleans - - - _To - Orine Inez_ - - - - - ACKNOWLEDGMENT - - -In acknowledging the sources of information and the assistance of the -many persons I consulted in the preparation of this book, the author -wishes to thank the following: The staffs of the Sabine Parish, the -Natchitoches Parish and the Northwestern State College Libraries--with -especial thanks to Miss Catherine Bridges who so patiently and ably -assisted me in gathering data for this writing. Acknowledgment is -gratefully and appreciatingly given to those excellent authors and their -publishers listed in the bibliography at the back of this book, for it -was through their talent and efforts that a whole new experience was -opened to me. - -I must remember too my History Teacher, Mrs. Lucille Roy Caffery, who so -thoroughly planted in my mind the desire to read and study History, for -it was she who told me, "It is the History and the Present which -foretells the Future." - -I am likewise grateful to Miss Margie Harrison and Mrs. Mabel Fletcher -Harrison who corrected and typed this book and to Mrs. Bernice A. Authur -of Many, La., who also assisted in the typing of this manuscript. - - Louis R. Nardini - - - - - PREFACE - - -There are two ways to write the history of an area. First, the -actual-fact-data way, which gives dates, important events and the names -of the leaders. But this does not fully explain the reasons for their -occurrence, nor show the effect of mass participation. It omits many of -the names of others involved in the incident or incidents, so that a -clear picture of all the people involved is lacking. Even while one is -reading, he is conscious of a mass effect and realizes that a sort of -team is present. He then stops and asks himself, "Who were the others?" - -The second way is to combine the legends and folklore with the actual -fact-data of an area and to use reason and imagination--to seek out the -names of others connected with the adventure. Those who went their way, -but most important, those who remained to establish, fortify and settle, -and by their so doing, give permanence and purpose to the area. - -By using the second method, the writer believes he has given a true -history of the locality of which he writes, because he has used the -actual-fact-data of the area, and added to it the economic and social -life of the people involved, especially of those who remained to become -inhabitants. - -To write a history of such an area as that which includes Natchitoches, -El Camino Real, Los Adais and the Neutral Strip, one must be blessed -with the knowledge of several languages, and feel that he can comprehend -the nature of the people, who for nearly three and one half centuries -have passed before him, from the time of Cabeza De Vaca in the year 1530 -to the establishment of Fort Jesup by General Zachary Taylor in 1823. -One must specially be familiar with the Adais Indians, who were a branch -of the great Caddo Federation of Indians and their Nation when Cabeza De -Vaca visited the Adais. - -At Los Adais an incident occurred which changed the social life of the -wilderness frontier. Two sets of Latin eyes met; in them reflected -desire, passion, and love. Out of the distance, on a pine-scented wind, -came the singing voice of a Spanish serenader, accompanied by the soft -music of a string instrument, a bright sun to cause light on shade and -in the shade Spanish and French lips met and arms entwined. - -A half-naked savage lurks in the shadows nearby. Entranced by the magic -of this moment, he speaks and the spell is broken. To the Senorita in -Spanish and to the Frenchman in French; "Come, it is time to go." What -kind of Indian is this, who speaks both French and Spanish fluently? -Only Dachiacoin of the Adais could do this and because of it he ranged -far and wide in both the French and Spanish Territories. Dachiacoin had -this to say to Padre Certa, "A man needs only one wife, the right one -for him, and the woman needs only one husband, the right one for her." - -For over fifty years Los Adais was the Capital of the Texas Country and -the end of El Camino Real. Here anything was expected to happen and -usually did. - -El Camino Real, The Royal Road, The King's Highway, The Contraband -Trail, The Old San Antonio Trace, The Old Texas Trail, and, lastly, -Louisiana Highways 6 and 21 through Texas. This Southland's busiest -highway served the outlaw, the murderer, the slave trader, and the -priest, as well as the sinner. Regardless of which direction one -traveled he had to pass the Adais and the Neutral Strip--this area so -filled with love, hate, jealousy, generosity, selfishness, prosperity, -and despair. If at all this be possible, then this was El Camino Real, -Los Adais and the Neutral Strip. - - -_Because_: - -The Buffalo migrated southward through Texas and then to Louisiana, -following the same trail in the winter of each year. Then the powerful -Caddo Nation split and each group followed a leader. The Adais came to -settle along this Buffalo Trail near Spanish Lake. El Campti originated -the meeting place on the great Sand-bar near Campti, Louisiana, so that -each fall of the year all tribes of the Caddo Confederacy could come and -trade. Francois Hidalgo desired to establish Missions and settlements to -bring more freedom and prosperity to his people and to bring the -teaching of the Catholic Faith to all savages of the Tejas country. He -wrote a letter to the French Governor of Louisiana, using the pretext of -trade as bait. - - -_Results_: - -The Trading Post at Natchitoches established; the Missions established. - -The French Post St. Jean Baptiste, the Spanish Presidio, Del Neustra -Senora del Pilar de Los Adais. Both Nations now had to maintain these -outposts to prevent encroachment from the other. - - -_Effected_: - -The desire of both Nations to populate this Frontier. When Mexico won -her independence from Spain the Neutral Strip was formed. This lawless -unpoliced strip of land became the back door of the United States. -Because of this ruthless lawlessness Fort Jesup was established. - -The independent spirit of the settlers along the El Camino Real and -their desire for freedom resulted in the establishment of the State of -Texas. - - -As I lolled one summer's day beneath an oak near the ruins of Post St. -Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches and closed my eyes to give my fancy free -play, I thought I heard sounds of all kinds, sounds that had undoubtedly -resounded down the years. Could that squealing be the swine of the De -Soto adventurers or the shriek of automobile tires coming to a braked -stop? Is that rumble I hear that of thundering herds of buffalo or the -approach of a diesel locomotive with its long train of cars? Those -drums, are they the drums of the Caddo Indians or the drums of a -marching high-school band? The whistling roar that reaches my ears, is -it a jet plane or the swishing, whistling wings of diving ducks? - -Awakened to reality I began the research and study that enabled me to -write this book. - - - - - CONTENTS - - - Page - Preface IX - Chapter I El Camino Real 1 - II Some Early History 4 - III Dachicoin--A Noble Indian--Los Adais, 1723 33 - IV St. Denis and the Spanish 42 - V Doctors and Early Medicine--1722 to 1744 45 - VI Romance at Los Adais 51 - VII Incidents of the Years, 1735-1742 60 - VIII The Three Cabins 63 - IX After St. Denis 74 - X After the Louisiana Purchase 80 - XI The Devil's Play Ground 83 - XII Satan's Agent--John A. Murrell 89 - XIII The Break-up of the Neutral Strip 92 - XIV The Filibuster of 1812-1821 95 - XV Fort Jesup 103 - XVI Texas and Independence, 1831-1836 116 - Addenda Land Grants 129 - St. Denis' Family Tree 137 - Baptismal Records of Natchitoches, 1734-1740 138 - Soldiers in Natchitoches--1742 141 - Merchants, Farmers, Traders in Natchitoches, 1742 142 - Reference Bibliography 145 - Personalities 149 - - - - - LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS - - - Celebration of the Opening of the Museum at Fort Jesup, - 1959 Frontispiece - Map Showing Locations of Members of Caddo Indian Federation XV - Map of El Camino Real from Mexico City to Natchitoches XVI - Hinta-sak--a Caddo house 8 - Hinta-sak--top view showing construction 9 - Plan of Fort at Natchitoches, 1733 17 - Plan of La Presidio Nuestra Senora de los Delores, 1716 19 - Mission of San Miguel De Cuellar De Los Adais, 1717 21 - Map Showing Location of Mission and Presidio of San Miguel De - Cuellar De Los Adais 22 - Plan of Presidio De San Antonio De Bexar 24 - Plan of Fort Del Pilar De Los Adais 26 - La Presidio Nuestra De Senora Del Pilar De Los Adais 28 - Map of Natchitoches by Breutin, 1722 30 - Map Showing Neutral Strip 87 - Map of Fort Jesup Defense Area 102 - Map of the Buildings of Fort Jesup 107 - Map of Area Around Camp Sabine, 1836 113 - Old Ambroise Sompayrac House at Natchitoches 124 - - - WRAP AROUND - Opposite Page - Fort St. Jean Des Natchitoches 116 - Old Kitchen at Fort Jesup 117 - Officers' Quarters at Fort Jesup--Reproduction 132 - Original Plans of Fort Jesup 133 - Officers' Quarters--Another view 133 - - [Illustration: LOCATIONS OF THE CADDO FEDERATION OF INDIANS.] - - [Illustration: EL CAMINO REAL--NATCHITOCHES TO MEXICO CITY] - - 1. Mission San Maria de Los Delores 1698. - 2. Mission San Francisco Solano 1700. - 3. Presidio San Juan Bautustia _near_ 1685. - 4. Mission San Bernardo 1690. - 5. Mission San Jose 1722. - 6. Mission San Exavier Naxere 1722. - 7. Presidio San Antonio de Bexer 1722. - 8. Mission Yo Juan 1709. - 9. Mission de Bucareli 1714. - 10. Mission San Francisco 1690. - 11. Mission San Maria 1690. - 12. Mission San Francisco 1690. - 12.a. Mission Guadlupe 1716. - 13. Presidio de Los Texas 1716. - 14. Mission Conception 1716. - 15. Mission San Jose 1716. - 16. Mission de Los Delores 1717. - 17. Mission de San Miguel Cuellar de Los Adais 1717. - 18. Presidio Neustra del Pilar de Los Adais 1721. - 19. Post St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches 1714. - - - - - I - EL CAMINO REAL - - -Each fall of the year the buffalo came out of the Great Plains through -Oklahoma and into Texas. At the Trinity River in Texas many of these -herds turned eastward to cross the Sabine River into Louisiana, to -travel ever eastward and to cross the Red River in the Natchitoches -area. The buffalo, being a heavy beast, left a well-marked trail from -the Trinity River to the Red River in the Natchitoches area. The buffalo -trail now became part of the Caddo Indian Trail system. And later it -became El Camino Real. - -In Spanish, the words "El Camino Real" mean "The King's Road." That is -the exact translation of these words. In Spain, even before the time of -the discovery of America, there were several roads or highways listed as -El Camino Real. All roads leading to the city in which the King of Spain -resided were known as El Camino Real. Actually, the meaning to the -Spanish people of the words "El Camino Real" meant _The Road to the -King_, hence El Camino Real, _The King's Road_. So here in America when -Mexico was conquered and settled by the Spaniards and Mexico City came -into being, expeditions were sent out to conquer this new land for the -King of Spain. In all directions from Mexico City, Ranchos, Missions and -Presidios were established and all roads leading from these -establishments back to Mexico City--to the Viceroy, who was the direct -representative of the King--were called El Camino Real because these -roads led to the Viceroy who was actually the King and Ruler of this New -Country. - -This El Camino Real, which we in Louisiana and Texas are interested in, -began in Mexico City and ended at the "Old Darkey" Statue, at the North -end of Front Street in the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Some say -that El Camino Real begins in San Antonio, Texas, and ends in -Natchitoches, Louisiana. I believe this is wrong because the very name -of the Road, "El Camino Real, the Road to the King," bears out my -theory. I will explain: if one left Natchitoches (I speak of the time -when Louisiana was under Spanish domination) and wished to go to the -King by El Camino Real, or to the one who directly represented the King -in this new country, he would have had to travel to Mexico City and -there tell his troubles to the Viceroy, the direct representative of the -King of Spain. This would have been between the years 1762 when France -gave Louisiana to Spain, and ten years later when Los Adais was -abandoned and the site of government moved to Natchitoches, thus filling -in the last gap on the Road now known as El Camino Real, (the section of -road from Los Adais near Robeline, Louisiana to Natchitoches). Until the -year 1762 Los Adais was the site of Government of the "Tejas," or "Texas -Country." This area extended from the Presidio Del Norte, as the French -called this Spanish Outpost on the Rio Grande River, or El Presidio San -Juan Bautista, as it was known to the Spanish. Now, let us pick up the -traveler again who had business with the King, past Los Adais, -Nacogdoches, San Antonio, the Presidio Del Norte, Saltillo and Queretaro -and then to Mexico City and the Viceroy, whose word was final on all -matters concerning the Government and the people, and, of course, that -covered everything. - - - The Caddo Federation of Indians - -The southeastern part of Oklahoma, the southwestern part of Arkansas, -the Northwestern half of Louisiana and the Northeastern part of Texas -was Caddo land, and claimed by the Caddos as their hunting ground. The -Caddos were traders and developed trade-routes. Many of the highways of -today follow the Caddo trails of yester-year, such as El Camino Real, -that portion from the Trinity River in Texas to Natchitoches, Louisiana. - -When the Caddo Nations split they settled themselves as follows: - - 1. The Attaquopois, at the confluence of the Kiamechi River and the - Red River in southern Oklahoma. - - 2. The Caddoquopois or Caddo proper remained on the Red River near - Fulton, Arkansas. - - 3. The Peticaddo on Caddo Lake hear Shreveport, Louisiana. - - 4. The Koasatti near Coushatta, Louisiana. - - 5. The Destonies on Saline Bayou near Winnfield, Louisiana. - - 6. The Yatasse on Nantanchie Lake near Montgomery, Louisiana. - - 7. The Natchitoches on the Red River at Natchitoches, Louisiana. - - 8. The Adais near Robeline, Louisiana, on a large lake now called - Spanish Lake. - - 9. The Ais at San Augustine, Texas. - - 10. The Nacogdoches at Nacogdoches, Texas. - - 11. The Hasinai consisting of four tribes on the Trinity River in - Texas, referred to by the Spanish as the Tejas (some historians - classify them as Caddos. They spoke the Caddo language). - -The Ais Indians had as their neighbors to the west the Hasinai -federation of Indians which was composed of four tribes: The Nacogdoches -at Nacogdoches; the Bidais, the Nasoni and the Nabidache, the latter -three were located on the Trinity River. - -Such was the situation when the first aliens came in contact with the -Caddos. - - - - - II - SOME EARLY HISTORY - - -In his book, "La Relacion que Dio Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca delo -Acaescido unlas Indias", De Vaca writes in the year 1530 that "we were -among the Adayes (Adais), the others were Juan Castillo, Andrea Dorantes -and Estabancio of Azmor who was a slave of Dorantes." These four -survivors were of 300 of the Panfilio Narvez expedition that went into -Florida in 1528. - -Narvez's expedition, beaten by the Apalache Indians, unable to return to -their ships, killed their horses, ate the meat, used the hides to make -bellows and water casks; they forged their armor and weapons to make -tools and nails, then constructed four boats. They skirted the coasts of -Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, foraging for food. During a storm -the boats were wrecked, four survived to become slaves of the coastal -Indians. - -De Vaca and his companions became traders and medicine men. Meanwhile -they learned to live off the land as the Indians did. They planned and -successfully escaped.... And now they were among the Adais seeking -directions. They were the first white men to travel westward over the -Buffalo Trail. They wandered ever westward and finally found a Spanish -patrol from Mexico. - -De Vaca was the only one of the three hundred to return to Spain and -even before he published his book in 1542, he had inspired the Hernando -DeSoto expedition into Florida with his story of the City of Cibola, a -city built entirely of gold. - -Hernando DeSoto, the Golden Eagle, led the next expedition into Florida. -Continuously harassed by the Appalachie tribes of Indians of the -southeastern states he crossed the Mississippi and now in the year 1540 -he marched into Louisiana, pillaging, raping and destroying. He was -assisted by these trusting Lieutenants: Don Luis Moscoso, Don Juan de -Anasco, Don Baltazarde Gallegardo, Don Juan Labillo, Don Carlos -Chinquez, Juan de Quizman, Don Vasco de Procello, and Don Diago Vasquez, -and these Captains: Espilando, Gallegardo, Maldamando, and Luis Fuentes. -The Chronnicalor, Gonzado Quadrado Charmillo de Zafra who wrote (From -the translations of B. F. French): - -"We marched one day west from the Rio de Cannis in all this cold country -this Wednesday, March 21, 1541, at the end of the day we came to a place -called _Toalli_. All the Indians have houses built so, the houses are -built of reeds in a manner of tules and daubed with mud which show as a -mud wall, they are very clean and have a small door; when you shut it up -and build a fire within it is as warm as in a stove."[1] - -Don Luis De Moscoso and a scouting party traveled westward over the -buffalo trail as far as the Trinity River before returning to the Adais. - -For the next hundred and forty years this area was devoid of white -explorers. - -By early 1682 Cavalier Robert de LaSalle had begun descending the -Mississippi River accompanied by Henri De Tonty, the "Iron Hand", and a -party of other Frenchmen. - -April 9, 1682, LaSalle discovered the mouth of the Mississippi River and -established a plaque there, claiming all land drained by this river for -the King of France, Louis XIII. He named this land LOUISIANA in honor of -King Louis and Queen Anna. - -Returning up the Mississippi near a location in the Illinois country at -Starving Rock in that same year he established Fort St. Louis and left -Captain Henri De Tonty in command. - -LaSalle went to France and received assistance so that he could return -and establish a settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi River. -Through erroneous navigation the expedition missed the mouth of the -Mississippi River and traveled westward, landing at Matagorda Bay, and -in the Texas country established another Fort St. Louis in 1685. - -LaSalle, realizing that this area was not suitable for colonization, -began land excursions in an attempt to reach Canada. - -Father Joutel's diary reveals that in January, 1687, he was with -LaSalle, and a scouting party, were among the Nakassa Indians which -resided on Nakassa Lake.[2] - -In 1682 at Quaerataro, Mexico, The College of the Holy Cross was founded -by Priests; Father Francois Hidalgo, Father Jose Diaz, Father Felix -Isadore Espinosa, Father Nunez, Father Antonio de San Buenaventura -Oliverez, Father Francisco Marino, Father Juan Parez, Father DeVaca, -Father Salazar, Father Massinettes and Father Margil de Jesus, the last -named, Father Margil de Jesus, being chosen as President of the College. -These priests, so as to distinguish their work from the work of others -called themselves _Zatachinies_, their purpose being to prepare others -for frontier missionary duties. By 1684 they had succeeded in -establishing missions south of the Rio Grande. - -The most northern Spanish presidio at that time was Fort San Juan -Bautista, located on the south bank of the Rio Grande near present day -Eagle Pass, Texas. The land of the Coahuile Indians extended from -present day San Antonio southward into the Monte Clova-Saltillo area of -Mexico. The Matagordo area on the Gulf Coast was included in the land of -the Coahuile. - -Aside from the duties of the Spanish missions to spread the Catholic -faith, they were also, in reality, observation and trading posts of the -Spaniards. From one of these missions it was learned from an Indian who -came to trade, that other white men had come out of the sea in large -houses that floated on the waters of the gulf and had settled on the -coast land. - -On March 20, 1689, LaSalle was assassinated by some of his own men on a -tributary of the Trinity River. Father Joutel reported the men -responsible for the assassination were in turn killed by the Indians. -The remnants of the party returned to Fort St. Louis and finding it -deserted, retraced their journey into the Trinity River area. - -Alonzo DeLeon and Captain Flores were leading a scouting patrol when -they found Santiago Grislet, Jean Lavaschevque and two very young boys, -the Tulon brothers, Roberto and Pedro. This Spanish patrol searched for -the next two months for other Frenchmen, but not being successful, -returned to Mexico. - - - 1689. - -Juan Jarri had, during the absence of LaSalle, deserted Fort St. Louis -and had risen to a lordly position among the tribes of the Coahuile -Indians. During the search by DeLeon and Flores he had been shifted from -tribe to tribe so that the Spanish Patrol failed to capture him. The -Spanish now realized that this one Frenchman had the power to upset the -semi-peacefulness of the Spanish frontier. The College of the Holy Cross -was desiring to extend its Missionary work north of the Rio Grande. - -Don Alonzo DeLeon, now the Spanish Governor of the Coahuile Territory, -led an expedition to establish three missions among Hasinai Indians -south of the Trinity River. He now also found himself in pursuit of a -party of Frenchmen (Father Joutel's party). - -Henri De Tonty at the Fort St. Louis near Starving Rock in the Illinois -country, realized something was amiss and came in search of LaSalle. It -is interesting to note how De Tonty, in all this vast country of the -southern United States area chose the exact direction in which to -travel. Probably the Caddo federation of Indians had trade agreements -with the Indian tribes as far north as the Illinois and even further -north among the Ouisconsins, to the west they traded with the Hasinais -who in turn traded with the Coahuile Indians. - -The Amole root (a species of the Yucca plant) was supplied to the -Hasinais by the Coahuile Indians. The Caddos traded for this root, which -had cleansing properties such as soap and when boiled in water this -liquid was used for bathing purposes, it left a pleasant odor on the -body of the user. - - [Illustration: Hinta-Sak: A home of the Adais Indians. - - This drawing of a Caddo hinta-sak, or house, was made from the - description of an eye-witness, Gonzado Quadrado Charmillo, one of - the chroniclers of the De Soto expedition which visited the El - Camino Real area in 1540. - - This Indian home was that of the Adais tribe near Robeline, La. of - the Caddo Federation. It was made of cypress poles and cane - interlaced with vines and daubed with a mixture of mud and moss. The - roof was covered with alligator skins which had been treated with - bees-wax to make it more impervious to rain. The broad leaves of the - cat-tail plant were inserted in the mud to prevent erosion from - rain. Thus the Spanish called the place toai_l_le, a deprecatory - description of a house built of tules. (Drawing by the author)] - - [Illustration: _Top view of hinta-sak showing frame work and - construction (Drawn by the author)_] - -The Jumas, traders of the Caddo Indians, were also linguists and it -would not have been impossible for them to distinguish the difference of -the French and Spanish languages. The same Jumas of the Caddos traveled -all of the Caddo trails. The Old Buffalo Trail extending from the -Trinity River in Texas to the Red River in Louisiana was now considered -part of the Caddo trail system. - -In 1690 in the early spring De Tonty, "The Iron Hand," was among the -Adais Indians and the Natchitoches Indians. He, too, went as far as the -Trinity River in Texas, but there his guides refused to go further; he -gave up his search for LaSalle. In the same year the Joutel Party found -the Buffalo Trail beginning at the Trinity River. There among the -Hasinai they learned of the Frenchman with the iron hand. They followed -the Caddo trail and finally came in contact with De Tonty among the -Arkansas Indians. Strangely enough, De Tonty actually came within one -days march of finding the Joutel Party. - - - 1690-1691 - -From the missions south to the Trinity River came the report of two -French patrols in the vicinity of the Hainais which also coincided with -the report of Don Alonzo De Leon. - -Late in 1690 the Don Domingo Teran Del Rios' expedition left Mexico, and -scouted the complete area of the Caddo and Hasinai Federations of -Indians; Teran listed the four tribes of the Hasinai as Bidia, -Nabadache, Nadaco and the Nacogdoches. Of the Caddos were the Ais, the -Adais, the Natchitoches, the Koasatas; he missed the Pedicaddo but -listed the Caddoquopois near present day Fulton, Arkansas. He was the -first white leader to sight Lake Bistineau. It is believed that the -location Father Massinetes, who was with this expedition, established -was La Mission Loretteto, near present day Ringgold, Louisiana. - -For the reason Teran had not contacted any Frenchmen in all the -territory and much to the disappointment of the members of the College -of the Holy Cross, all missions north of the Rio Grande were withdrawn. - -Padre Francois Hidalgo, being determined to establish missions north of -the Rio Grande and among the Texas Indians, which were called by the -Spaniards the Federation of Hasinai Indians, secured the support of the -College of the Holy Cross to appeal to the Viceroy of Mexico. They only -succeeded in obtaining permission to establish a mission at their own -expense south of the Rio Grande but in an area visited by the Hasinai -Indian traders. On November 7, 1698 Father Francois Hidalgo, assisted by -Father Salazar, established the mission Maria de Los Delores, ten -leagues north of Lampassas and ten leagues west of the Rio Sabinas. -(Note: this Sabine River is not to be confused with the Sabine River -which is the boundary between Louisiana and Texas). - -From this outpost mission Francois Hidalgo conceived the idea of a -"Chain of Missions" to extend to the very eastern edge of the Texas -Indians' territory. He had at his disposal the reports of Father -Massinetes and those of Teran and DeLeon. He knew that the land with its -fertile soil and the enormous growth of forests, together with an -abundance of wild game of the forests and fish of the lakes would supply -many families of the frontier settlers with food and shelter. These -families, who at this time were no better off than when they left Spain -to settle in Mexico, would welcome such an opportunity. - - - 1700 - -From the Journal of Father Paul De Ru. February 1, to May 8, 1700. - -"Iberville, having founded the Fort at Biloxi, ascended the Mississippi -River. At the village of the Tensas Iberville became ill but sent -westward St. Denis and Bienville with nineteen other Frenchmen, two of -whom were the Tulon brothers, Roberto and Piedro;[3] at the village of -the Tensas was a Wichita Indian whose tribe had settled near the -Tensas." This Indian declared he had visited a Spanish mission in the -Texas Country (The mission Maria de Los Delores). The Indian was -immediately employed by Bienville as a guide. - -On April 20, 1700 the St. Denis-Bienville party reached the Yatasee -village on Nantanchie Lake near present day Montgomery, Louisiana (See -Location 5 on map). - -The Frenchmen were among the Natchitoches Indians (Location 8 on map), -on May 8, 1700 for on this day Bienville departed with Father Paul De Ru -leaving St. Denis to scout the locations of the Caddo Indians. -Bienville, having secured pirogues from the Natchitoches Indians, -returned by water down the Red River to the Mississippi and back to -Biloxi. St. Denis soon followed and brought with him a number of the -Natchitoches Tribe of Indians, who settled on the north shore of Lake -Pontchartrain. St. Denis settled near by at Fort Louis. - - - 1701-1707 - -During these years Father Hidalgo and Father Salazar were trading and -preaching to the Indians at Mission Maria de Los Delores. Father Hidalgo -traded with the Indians for gold; Anya, who was then the Governor of -Coahuile, was aware of this. There are several historical records -referring to the raiding of the Hidalgo mission in search of gold. -Hidalgo at first did turn the gold over to the government, part of which -was to be given to the College of the Holy Cross. A Captain Hernandez -was broken in rank when he gave Hidalgo a receipt for the gold. Padre -Hidalgo realized that very little, if any, of the gold was reaching the -King of Spain. - -Anya conceived the idea of cutting off the supplies of trade goods to -the mission so that the Indians would then have to come and trade at the -Presidio San Juan Bautista. Captain Hernandez upon the urgence of the -Priests of the College was restored to rank. Father Hidalgo, realizing -that no one would actually know how much gold he was accumulating, began -to hoard the gold. - -Allarge Bejoux, operating from a location near present day Pointe -Coupee, had cut a road or trail overland northwestward to intersect the -Buffalo Trail west of the present town of Many, Louisiana, and had by -the year 1708 established trade agreements for horses with the Ais -Indians (See Location 10 on map). Francois Hidalgo through his trade -with the Indians of different tribes soon learned of this. - - - A Legend of the Flores Family - -Hidalgo and Salazar with assistance had solicited the aid of the Flores -families of Saltillo, some of whom were merchants and others owners of -landed estates. The merchants supplied the mission de Los Delores with -trade supplies. - -Through Bernardino, Sub-chief of the Hasinai Indians, Hidalgo learned of -a meeting place called Campti, where each Fall of every year all of the -tribes of the Caddo Federation of Indians gathered for sports and -trading purposes. (Campti was the name of the Chief of the Natchitoches -tribe who had organized this meeting, held on a great sand-bar near -present-day Campti, Louisiana). These meetings were of a secret nature -and not sanctioned by the Spanish Government, and the tradition of their -occurrence had remained with the Flores family. Hidalgo prevailed on the -Flores family, who knew the value of land and what it could produce for -settlers, to assist him by sending men to go on a trading expedition to -the Campti. Bernardino was to act as guide. - -Ramone Flores and a cousin, Joseph Colliea, were designated by the elder -Flores to go and assist the Spanish priests. These two made four trips -in the Fall of the years 1708, 1709, 1710 and 1711 to the Sand-bar near -_Campti, Louisiana_. - - - The Letter - -Francois Hidalgo committed an action which might well be considered -treason by the Spanish Government. He wrote three letters of the same -content, all dated January 17, 1711, addressed to the Governor of -Louisiana. Only one reached its destination. In mid-summer of 1713 the -Governor of Louisiana, La Mothe de Cadillac, had the letter in his -possession. (There is always an incident in history which incites a -chain reaction in such a way that a new era begins, always resulting in -the establishment of new frontiers. The Hidalgo letter was such an -incident). - -One must surmise how such a letter could travel through nearly a -thousand miles of wilderness and reach its destination. The whole new -frontier of El Camino Real hinged on this accomplishment. - -The contents of the letter showed that Father Hidalgo had first-hand -knowledge of the land of the Hasinai and the Caddos as well as the -waterways of the adjoining area. He wrote that the French traders were -to ascend the Mississippi to the confluence of the Red River, then -ascend the Red River to the tribe of the Natchitoches Indians, thence to -travel westward over the Buffalo Trail to the Hasinai Indians and there -procure guides to the Hidalgo Mission. - -Father Hidalgo could have acquired knowledge of the Caddo area from the -reports of De Leon, Teran and Father Massinetes, but he would have not -had the knowledge of the waterways, which could have only been obtained -from the Natchitoches Indians who may have come to the Campti from their -location on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain; information was given -to Flores and Colliea and passed on to Hidalgo. - -The letter was an invitation "to come and trade" with the Hidalgo -mission, the word "trade" being used as bait could have come from two -sources, that of Bejoux to the Ais and that of Flores and Colliea. It is -possible that Hidalgo wrote the letters very early in the year so that -one could be sent to the Ais Tribe ahead of the arrival of Allarge -Bejoux. The later two letters were carried in the Fall of the year by -Flores and Colliea, who in turn gave the letters directly to a -Natchitoches Indian who had come to the Campti, but who was living on -the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Several historians say that St. -Denis had the letter in his possession before it was presented to -Governor Cadillac. St. Denis through his association with the -Natchitoches Indians, who were settled near his Fort Louis, would have -been the most logical Frenchman to receive the letter. Then, too, St. -Denis, while vying with Cadillac to be sent as the leader on the trading -expedition to the Hidalgo mission, had stated that he and Jules Lambert, -who was at that time in the Illinois country, had been on a trading trip -to the Natchitoches Indians in the summers of 1710 and 1712. Here, then, -is another possibility that St. Denis may have received the first letter -sent by Francois Hidalgo by an Indian messenger to the Ais, and who was -instructed to give the letter to the first Frenchman who came to trade -in his area. - -The letter had the desired effect; St. Denis was appointed to lead the -expedition. Cadillac chose wisely because St. Denis was an educated man, -and was a third generation Canadian and, further, he understood the ways -of the Indians. He was a linguist and could speak many Indian dialects, -and also speak, read and write in Spanish. - -The trading expedition, consisting of Indians of the Natchitoches tribe, -left Biloxi in mid October, 1713. Among the Indians were the White -Chief, his son, Koanan, and two daughters, one called _Quilchil_, "the -pretty weaver," and the other called _Olchogonime_, "the good girl." - -The Jean Penicaut narrative is an actual eye witness account of St. -Denis' journey to Natchitoches and on to Mexico. The party consisted of -nearly forty Indians and twenty-three Frenchmen, two of whom were St. -Denis and Penicaut, and several French traders, Pierre Largen, Jean -Lagross, Roberto Talon, Pedro Talon, Lafrinaries, Allarge Bejoux, -Labinaries, Enrique Lantillac; Medar Jalot, who was valet and doctor to -St. Denis; the two Barberousse brothers were hunters for the party's -food; _Rambin_ was a tailor. Soldiers in the party included Lt. -Phillippe Blondell, De Lery, De Muy, Williard Anvillaries, De Beaulieux, -De Voixant, Frainbouis, and Lavasseur, who was also a map maker. - -Leaving Biloxi, the party traveled what was then known as the Iberville -passage, crossing Lake Pontchartrain and through Manchac Pass to Lake -Maurepas, then into Manchac Bayou and a short portage to the Mississippi -River; ascending the Mississippi to the confluence of the Red River at -Baton Rouge, then ascending the Red River to a point opposite the -present day town of Colfax. Here the stream divided and Penicaut wrote, -"we took the left and larger branch of water." After some distance -upstream he describes the Ecore de La Croix, which must have been the -high bluffs near Chopin, Louisiana. - -On November 25, 1713, the St. Denis party arrived among the Natchitoches -Indians, living on an island that the river formed by dividing into two -branches and flowing around it. - -St. Denis spent the first few weeks cultivating the friendship of the -Indians. Trade was vigorous and profitable, he sent at least twice back -to Biloxi for more trade goods. He had traveled at least once as far as -the settlement of the Nacogdoches Indians before deciding on an exact -location for a trading post. In early Spring of the following year two -block houses were erected in the Natchitoches Village, one to store the -merchandise and the other to house the ten Frenchmen who were to remain -in Natchitoches while the others went west in search of the Hidalgo -mission. - -While St. Denis was among the Hasinai Indians, an incident happened -which causes one to wonder at the foresightedness of Francois Hidalgo. -Among the Indians was an Indian maid named Angelica who had received -instructions at a Spanish mission and who spoke Spanish fluently. She -became the interpreter between St. Denis and Bernardino, Chief of the -Hasinai. Bernardino, with some of the members of his tribe, acted as -guide, for St. Denis, but instead of bringing the Frenchmen to the -Hidalgo mission, they were led to Presidio San Juan Bautista on the -south bank of the Rio Grande River on July 19, 1714. Surely these -Indians would have known where the Hidalgo mission was located; the -leading of the Frenchmen to the Spanish post was just as Hidalgo would -have wished, or planned. - - [Illustration: PLAN OF FORT NATCHITOCHES] - - Plan du Fort des Natchitoche. - A. Church. - B. Home of the Commandante. - C. Gunpowder and arm storage. - D. House of the priest, and where records were kept. - E. Barracks of the militia. - F. Guardhouse. - G. Dining hall for soldiers. - H. Houses of domestic servants and kitchen. - I. Privy. - -There was quite an uproar at Post Du Nord, as the French called the -Presidio San Juan Bautista. The French trade-goods were confiscated, and -St. Denis was confined to the area inside the presidio. Somehow St. -Denis found out about the plans of the Spanish priests to establish -missions to the east, and sent word back to Bienville. The Frenchman -knew that very often presidios followed the establishments of missions. -Bienville was informed by St. Denis that this land belonged to the -French. - -Claud De Tisne was dispatched to Natchitoches to build a Fort in 1716, -Post St. Jean Baptista Des Natchitoches, naming the post after the title -given by St. Denis when the two block houses were built in the spring of -1714. - -St. Denis remained in the custody of the Spanish from 1714 until -February 17, 1716, when he arrived at Presidio San Juan Bautista. When -the Don Domingo Ramone expedition left Saltillo, Mexico, St. Denis was -selected as guide, along with several other Frenchmen, Medar Jalot, the -two Talon brothers, Pierre Largen and Jean Lagross. The other Frenchmen -who were with St. Denis had previously returned to Natchitoches, -undoubtedly carrying messages for St. Denis. Medar Jalot declared later -that he had delivered messages four times for St. Denis, thus the French -had been kept well informed of the goings-on of the Spanish. - -St. Denis while on this adventure married a Spanish wife, Manuella -Sanchez Ramone, daughter of the Alverez, Don Diego Ramone at the Spanish -Presidio. He left her at the presidio, which was also her home, and -returned to Natchitoches. - -The Ramone expedition established the following Missions: - - San Francisco de Los Delores on the Neches River, La Purisima - Conception on the Angelina River, Mission San Jose, North of - Nacogdoches, and Mission Neustra Senora de Guadelupe at Nacogdoches. - -All of these were established in 1716. - - [Illustration: LA PRESIDIO NUESTRA SENORA DE LOS DELORES - - La Presidio Nuestra Senora de Los Delores was erected by Domingo - Ramone in the summer of 1716. It was later repaired by the Marquis - De Aguayo in 1722. The plan of the fort is the work of Aguayo. The - fort overlooked Los Torres, or Mill Creek, near the intersection of - the lower Douglas Road and the road from Douglas to Wells just west - of Nacogdoches, Texas. This presidio was erected and garrisoned to - protect the three Missions in the near Nacogdoches vicinity. - - La Presidio Nuestra Senora de Los Delores was abandoned in 1731. - (Drawing by the author).] - -In 1717 father Margil de Jesus and Father Francois Hidalgo established -two missions further to the east, La Mission Nuestra de Los Delores -among the Ais Indians, near the present day city of San Augustine, -Texas, and on the first day of St. Michael the Archangel, September 29, -1717 established La Mission de San Miguel Cuellar de Los Adais, among -the Adais Indians, one mile north of present Robeline, Louisiana. - -At this moment Father Francois Hidalgo's vision had come into -being--after twenty-five years of dreaming, he had established his chain -of missions to the very end of the Texas Country. - -With the establishment of this last mission among the Adais Indians just -fifteen miles away from the French post at Natchitoches, both the French -and Spanish realized that each must maintain settlements so as to hold -the territories thus far gained. - -War broke out between France and Spain in 1719 and in that same year -Phillipe Blondell from the French post among the Natchitoches Indians, -raided the mission among the Adais and allowed one prisoner to escape -after making known to him that the French were coming in multitudes to -drive the Spanish back. This caused a withdrawal of all Spanish Missions -in the Texas area as far as San Antonio. - -Every country has its "man of the minute", and this country of New Spain -was no exception. He offered his wealth and abilities to restore the -Texas missions and to re-occupy the Texas country. The new governor of -Coahuile and the Texas region was the Marquis de San Miguel de Aguayo, -his title was Don Joseph de Alzar, Knight Commandante de Aragon, -Governor and Captain General of the Provinces of Texas-New Phillippines -and of Coahuile, New Kingdom of Estrandura--and he had earned every one. - - [Illustration: LA MISSION DE SAN MIGUEL DE CUELLAR DE LOS ADAIS - - The Mission de San Miguel de Cuellar de Los Adais was founded by - Padre Margil de Jesus and Padre Francois Hidalgo on September 29, - 1717. September 29 was also the Feast Day of St. Michael the Arch - Angel and the Mission was named for him. - - The site of this Mission is one-half mile northwest of Robeline, - Louisiana, on a hill which overlooks a small valley, and across the - valley one-half mile north of another hill was the Presidio de - Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Los Adais. - - Fra Jose de Solice visited the Adais area in 1767 and kept a Diary - of his visitation in which he noted that the Mission Records showed: - 256 Baptisms, 64 Marriages and 116 Burials. - - In this Diary were listed the names of families he visited in the - Adais area: Bano, Cachon, Flores, Bustamenta, Garcia, Solice, - Martinez, Sanchez, Rodriguez, Sanchon, Mora, Benetis, Cartinez, - Carlos, Vega and La Lima, y Barbo, Cazorla, Fuente, Gallerado and - Gonzalez. Cardova, Duro, Mancheca, Solice, Mercado, Guerra, and - Bautimino.] - - KITCHEN - PRIESTS' HOME - STORE HOUSE - MISSION - - [Illustration: Explanation of map of: La Mission San Miguel de - Cuellar de Los Adais and Mission established September 29, 1717; Del - Presidio de Neustra Senora del Pilar de Los Adais, presidio - established November 1721. - - PLAN. This presidio shown on this map of 1722 was the Capitol of the - Providence of Texas and is located at 32 degrees and 15 minutes - latitude and 285 degrees and 52 minutes longitude. The scale, Toise, - one Toise equals six feet. The present day location is one mile - north of Robeline, Louisiana, just one quarter mile west of Highway - Six from that point.] - - Camino del Bayuco, road to Bayuco. (Bayuco, a house of - Entertainment--A Night Club of that period.) - Camino de los Ais, road to the Ais tribe of Indians at San Augustine, - Texas. This was the dry weather trail and passed through - Marthaville, Belmont, Zwolle and Ebarb, Louisiana. - Camino de la Laguna, road to swampy lake area, Spanish Lake. - Camino del Bano, road to Rancho Bano, allotted to the Mission, also a - part of El Camino Real. - Arroyo de Chacon, small river of Chacon, named after Chacon who had - settled on the Creek--Winn Break today. (Chacon is also a - Spanish dance which had its own music set to special tempo.) - -By the middle of October, 1720, the Aguayo expedition was well on its -way to the Los Adais area, with three thousand nine hundred fifty horses -and six hundred mules, loaded with powder, shot, food, clothing and six -cannons, five hundred eighty-four men _AND_ two hundred thousand -piastres to build presidios on the frontier. - -Aguayo, while en-route to Los Adais, received word the war between -France and Spain had ended and there would be no war on the frontier, -never the less, Aguayo established the missions and the Presidio San -Antonio de Bexar at San Antonio. At the tribe of the Adais he began -proceedings to establish a presidio there. France, too, had their "man -of the minute" in the person of St. Denis. - - [Illustration: LA PRESIDIO DE SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR - - La Presidio de San Antonio de Bexar, established by Aguayo in 1722, - was located at San Antonio, Texas. - - The work of Aguayo in establishing the presidios along El Camino - Real gave permanence and protection to the Spanish settlers who were - to follow, from San Antonio to the Adais in Louisiana, seeking a new - kind of freedom. Their source of food and other essentials was so - far away that they learned to live "off the land", and became - dependent on no one. As far as they were concerned the head of the - Spanish Government was so far away he was only a figure of speech to - them. This freedom was bred into their descendants--the seed cast by - Francois Hidalgo, fortified by Aguayo, nourished by El Camino Real - and the Neutral Strip was to blossom into the State of Texas at San - Antonio.] - - [Illustration: PLAN OF FT. DEL PILAR DE LOS ADAIS] - - 1. House of the Governor. - 2. Church, which was enclosed within the Presidio. - 3. Houses of the Soldiers stationed there. - 4. Powder Magazine. - 5. La Mission San Miguel de Cuellar de Los Adais. - 6. Priests' home. - 7. Dwellings of the Adais Tribe of Indians. - 8. The Rancho of La Lima, possibly the first merchant and Indian - trader of the Spanish in this area. - -With St. Denis came the balance of power, which is necessary on any -frontier. The Spanish had the French out-numbered ten to one, but they -also knew that the tribes of the Caddo Federation favored St. Denis and -the French. The gold piasters were of special attraction, as they would -have been in any locality, to St. Denis, who was an accomplished trader. -Aguayo was quick to realize that the Spanish must trade with the French -for food and their very existence. He turned a deaf ear to Captain -Reynaud, St. Denis and Bienville, who was now the Governor of Louisiana, -and their protests concerning the building of a presidio at Los Adais, -and on October 12, 1721 celebrated the rebuilding of the mission. On -November 1st in the same year was celebrated the re-establishment of La -Presidio de Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Los Adais--the Presidio housing -the Governor of all the province of Texas. - -In 1722 St. Denis was made Post Commandante of Fort St. Jean Baptiste -des Natchitoches and all of the Red River Territory. - -Breutin's map of 1722 of the Natchitoches area, shows the names of -inhabitants who owned land: Durion, Derbonne, Duplisses, Marachal, -Lebrun, Boquet, Prudhomme, LaFleur, Roland, St. Denis, Dauphine, -Rondain, Frainbouis, Rambin, Robert and Frainaries. - -Other known inhabitants of the Natchitoches area were: Redot, Lieutenant -of the Company of the West; Marley Dupuy, Ensigne; Medar Jalot, St. -Denis' valet; Pierre Cotolleau, farmer; Pierre Fausse, Farmer; Francois -Berry, soldier; Francois Lemoine, soldier; Estinne LeRoy, soldier; -Pierre DuBois, blacksmith; Marainne Benoist, housewife; Louise Francois -Gillot, housewife; Pierre Dupuy, called Gaupillion, to distinguish him -from Dupuy the ensigne; Jeanne Grinot, housewife; Collette de Poissot, -housewife; Marie Cathern de Poutree, housewife; Martine Bonnet, -housewife; Antoniette Audebrands, housewife; Pierre Marineau; Sieur De -Champingnole, sergeant; Lieutenant Maillard; Louis Reclos, soldier; -Emanuella Sanchez Ramone, wife of St. Denis; Sieur Barme, storekeeper; -and Jean Lagross and the two Barberousse brothers who had settled near -Campti, establishing a trading post among the Yatasee Indians, which had -moved from Nantanchie Lake in 1722. - - [Illustration: LA PRESIDIO NUESTRA DE SENORA DEL PILAR DE LOS ADAIS - - Established in November 1721 and completed early in the Spring of - 1722 by the Marquis de Aguayo. - - Knights in Armour are usually associated with the European countries - and the valiant deeds accomplished by such men, but here on this - tiny hill among the Adais Indians two Knights met, The Marquis de - Aguayo, a Black Knight of the Argonne, and Louis Juchereau de St. - Denis, who had previously received The Order of the Cross of St. - Louis delivered to St. Denis by D'Artagnan, a direct envoy of the - King and Queen of France. Thus, two Knights met at the Adais, supped - and visited, each recognized the abilities of the other, each having - received the highest honor which could be bestowed by their - respective King. - - _Camino de Los Ais_ - _Camino de la Lag_ - _Camino de Natchi_ - - 1. Governor's House. - 2. Church. - 3. Soldier's Barracks. - 4. Guardhouse. - 5. Stables. - 6. Mess Hall. - 7. Kitchen. - 8. Privy. - 9. Powder Magazine. - 10 and 11. Water wells. - - This Spanish Fort was erected in the shape of a hexagon. Aguayo had - six cannons and building the Fort in this shape permitted the - greatest amount of cannon fire in all directions. One will notice - that on the hilltop, the site of this Spanish presidio, several - hundred yards in all directions there is an absence of large trees - and that those that are growing are second and third-growth trees. - The reason is that Aguayo followed the same methods a trained - military officer would have done. He would have cleared the Land of - all trees and undergrowth for at least three hundred yards in all - directions, so that should an attack occur, the enemy would not have - the benefit of any kind of natural cover. The shoulder guns of that - period had a fairly accurate killing effect for a distance of 150 - yards. Therefore the Musketeer in the presidio would have some extra - 150 yards in which to sight the enemy, take aim and fire. This - presidio is unique in this respect: It stood for nearly fifty years - as a frontier command-post and never once had to defend itself. - - This plan of the Presidio at Los Adais, showing the effectiveness of - a hexagon shaped fort with cannon spaced to give the maximum - protection to the fort, was submitted to Aguayo to his superiors at - Mexico City in 1722. - - The Presidio Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Los Adais has a very unique - history, it stood guarding a frontier against another nation and - among the Indians, who were at that time, considered savages, for - nearly fifty years, yet this fort never had to defend itself against - any hostile demonstration.] - - [Illustration: _Carte des Natchitoches_ - _J.F. BREUTIN. 1722._] - -Pierre Largen was trading among the Peticaddos and the Caddoquopois. - -La Petit was among the Peticaddos on Caddo Lake near Shreveport, he had -the year previously established a trading post there. - -Jean Lagross, who had also married an Ais maiden, had a trading post -among the Ais Indians on the Angelena River near the present town of San -Augustine, Texas. He was not molested by the Spanish because of the -marriage he was considered a member of the Caddos of which the Ais was a -tribe. - -In 1723 St. Denis sent Lieutenant Antoine Layassard to establish Post Du -Rapides near present Alexandria. The year previously LaPerrier and his -two daughters had been assassinated at the rapids portage by a band of -roving Indians, and Post Du Rapides was established to protect travelers -en-route to Post des Natchitoches. - -In this same year, 1723 St. Denis received reinforcements, Doctor -Alexander, Lt. Basset, Lt. Renault de Hautrive and Paul Muller. Michael -Robin, a Notary for the Company of the West was also in the group. - -Augayo, tiring of the frontier, left for the interior of Mexico. He -appointed as Lieutenant Governor of Los Adais, Lieutenant of the King, -Almazon, who immediately set up a new trade restriction, forbidding -fraternalization and trading of any sort with the French. It was during -the tenure of Almazon that a land grant was issued to Juan Sanchez -comprising one square league of land (the grant was an area now -consisting of high ground astraddle Toplecot Creek in the Allen area -between Robeline and Powhattan, Louisiana). Almazon allotted land to -Cadet Chacon. There was also land allotted for the support of the Adais -mission called Rancho Bano. Manuel Guiterez, who had wed Maria Garcia, -also received an allotted land grant. The last three allotments of land -were in the immediate Robeline township area. - -St. Denis could see permanence in this establishment of farms in the -Adais area. The presidio there now had a fighting force of one hundred -men-at-arms, many of which were well-mounted and excellent cavalry men. -He could to a certain extent visualize a self supporting Spanish -frontier if the farmers' production of crops were successful. The -Spanish would need only slight assistance from the Indian farmers with -the sale of their produce to the Spanish. - -St. Denis retaliated by inviting all of the chiefs of the Caddo tribes -of Indians to come to the Post St. Jean Baptiste to receive presents, -knowing that all of the chiefs would bring their families and a number -of followers and that many would have to pass the Spanish presidios on -their way to Natchitoches. He was successful in working out a trade -agreement with all of the tribes to buy their entire surplus food -supply. - -This alliance of the Caddo federation with the French restored the -balance of power on the Spanish-French frontier. St. Denis assured the -Caddo chiefs that each year such presents would be available as long as -the alliance was kept. - -This one move by St. Denis brought safety to the French of the area. -Thus any unpleasantness which arose thereafter was confined to verbal -statements or letter writing. - - - - - III - DACHICOIN--A NOBLE INDIAN - LOS ADAIS, 1723 - - -Dachicoin had only two years before he reached the considered age of an -adult, which according to the Adais law was sixteen. He had ignited the -council-fire of the Adais and was demanding audience. The Elders came -and seated themselves in their proper places and bade him speak. - -He brought to the attention of the Adais how nice the Spanish or French -treated an Indian of position in any Indian tribe--they dared not molest -this Indian or any of his family. Also, the Indian of position seemed to -get a better deal in the matter of trade-goods. "If we make all the -Indian adult males of the Adais an officer or man of position then the -whole tribe will benefit by it. I wish first to test this and, if I am -successful, then I demand to be made a _conachas_".[4] Dachicoin -explained his proposed test to the Elders. - -Dachicoin went to the Natchitoches Post and demanded of Sieur Barme, a -merchant of certain trade-goods, a supply of such goods, saying that he -would bring all the profit back to the merchant in return for which he -expected something that he could trade for himself at profit. Sieur -Barme saw possibilities in Dachicoin because he agreed to the Indian's -terms. Sieur Barme did not overlook the fact that the Indian spoke to -him in French. Later he found out that the Indian also spoke Spanish. -Dachicoin was made a _conachas_ among the Adais. - -When Dachicoin was fifteen years old the Spanish priests came to the -Adais. Even at this young age he must have realized that a new way of -life was beginning among the Adais, and decided to follow the new trend -by working with the Spanish priests, guiding them among the tribes of -the Caddos and commuting back and forth with them to the Natchitoches -post. Soon he mastered the Spanish language. When he was sixteen and had -successfully filled the agreement of his first test with Sieur Barme, -the Natchitoches merchant, three other men, Lotbotiniere, Lagross and -Largen, saw the possibility of profit in the use of Dachicoin. One or -the other of these traders was continuously traveling back and forth to -the Hasinai Indians who lived deep in the Tejas Country. So Dachicoin -began a tutorship with the traders, and at the same time began to master -the French language. - -In 1719 Dachicoin, because he could understand French, heard of the salt -shortage at the new post at New Orleans. By this time the young Indian -trader had acquired five horses as his part of profit while trading with -the Hasinai Indians. He went to Sieur Barme and asked for ten knives, -explaining that he wished to trade the knives to the Destonies for salt, -this salt would be taken to New Orleans and traded for more knives which -would be returned to Sieur Barme. He would replace the ten knives and -the other remaining knives would be divided equally between himself and -the merchant. He would leave two horses with Sieur Barme as security. -Dachicoin then went to Largen, who had dug-out canoes. He wished use of -the largest one, explaining his intention to Largen, and leaving one of -his horses with him as security. In return for the use of the canoe -Dachicoin would take some of Largen's merchandise of furs to New Orleans -and trade the furs for knives, all Largen needed to do was to say how -many knives he expected in trade for the furs--of course this service -would be free for the use of the boat. The Indian then went to -Lieutenant Blondell, the Post Commandante, and told him his intentions, -wondering if the officer had letters he wished to be delivered to his -French superiors, saying that he would deliver the letters which at the -same time would explain to the officials at New Orleans that Dachicoin -was a high-ranking Indian of the Adais tribe. "This will be important in -my getting a fairer trade for salt and other merchandise", he said. "I -would also like for you to request Quitlami, Son of Koanan, who is -called the White Chief of the Natchitoches Indians by the French, to -insure safe passage among the Indians I might encounter because Quitlami -will have the arm band of the Son of a Chief and I the arm band of a -conachas of the Adais. These marks of distinction will be observed by -those tribes who are not on friendly terms with the French, but who -would not wish to arouse an undesirable antagonism between two tribes -such as the Adais and the Natchitoches. The letters will safe-guard us -from white men who might be inclined to forget the _calumet_ of the -French and the Caddos of whose Federacy we are members. For this service -I will expect a French soldier's coat, one of the things I most desire -in life. I will leave two horses at your disposal as a guarantee of my -return and my true intention to serve the French. Because of my -association with the Caddo Federacy I can be of many uses to the -French." The Commandant was no fool. He quickly realized the importance -of Dachicoin, and agreed to his wishes even paying Quitlami's expenses -in the form of presents from the company merchandise. - -To the average reader it would seem that Dachicoin was risking five -horses which were of more value on this frontier than the supposed -profits of this particular trading trip, but Quitlami revealed to -Lotbotiniere that Dachicoin distributed these horses in good hands and -those people were obligated to take as good care of them as if the -horses belonged to them. Thus Dachicoin was assured of the good care of -his animals with no expense to himself. - -The canoe or dug-out of Largen was a four-place canoe, which is a boat -that required four men to paddle it and would at the same time, besides -the human cargo, carry fourteen hundred pounds of freight. Thus equipped -Dachicoin and Quitlami set out from Natchitoches to the Distonies on -Saline Bayou in Natchitoches Parish, where he traded five of the knives -for two hundred gourds of salt, each gourd contained approximately one -pound of salt. From Natchitoches he carried the furs of Largen and small -gourds of finely chopped matot, ground leaves of the Sassafras tree. -This spice was an excellent trade goods of the Natchitoches tribe. The -spice, however, was sent by Blondell and was to be exchanged for some -personal things for the Commandant. He did, however, pay for Dachicoin's -coat out of his own merchandise. Because of the success of the trading -trip Dachicoin's name became popular along the frontier. His character -was such, that his word was his bond. He never bought any trade goods -outright to sell them for a profit as did the French traders. Always he -asked for goods on consignment. It was a familiar sight at Natchitoches -and at Los Adais to see Dachicoin arrange what he had received for a -consignment into three piles--one pile represented the cost of trade -goods and one the profits. The one who supplied the merchandise could -take his choice of two of the piles, the other went to Dachicoin for his -labors. - -Dachicoin had taken for his wife, a squaw of the Hasinai said to be a -daughter of Bernardino, Chief of that tribe. Upon returning to the -Adais, Dachicoin spoke to Largen, who was at the time at the Adais, -explaining to him that he wished to be blessed in marriage by a priest -just as white men and women were when priests married them. Largen -explained to Dachicoin that if he were married by the Church it would be -contrary to the beliefs of the Caddos. (The Caddos believed in -separations or divorce--that a squaw or man being dissatisfied could -separate, the squaw taking the male children and the man the female -children. These separations occurred quite often among the different -tribes of the Caddos.) At this Dachicoin replied, "A man will have need -for only one woman if she is the correct woman for him and a woman needs -only one man if he is the correct man for her, my squaw and I understand -these things and I, Dachicoin say that it can be no other way." Pierre -Largen sponsored the wedding at the Los Adais Church. It is said that -Father Margil De Jesus performed the ceremony. - -The squaw, or shall I say wife of Dachicoin, was allowed by her husband -to ride a horse instead of walking as most Indians required their squaws -to do, and, not only that, but to add to her comfort she was seated on a -good Spanish saddle, and even had a pack horse to carry such things that -a squaw was required to carry. This caused much dissatisfaction among -the other squaws and the Indian men alike. - -Dachicoin lit the Council Fire of the Adais and when enough of the tribe -had gathered, spoke to them. "You of the Adais are cooking in metal pots -that I, Dachicoin gave to you. Because all that I have also belongs to -my squaw, then she too gave the pots". There was no one to criticize her -then, for it is a law of the Caddos that no other person can be -concerned in the private affairs of a Caddo family unless invited to do -so. If one violates this law then he is to be punished by the elders. -"If there are any more envious remarks about my squaw I shall see that -the law is fulfilled. What I have said shall now be forgotten, it must -not occur again." - -At the Natchitoches council fire he berated the Natchitoches in much the -same way. Such was the power of Dachicoin that he could demand the -obedience of two tribes of Indians. - -In 1722 St. Denis returned to Natchitoches replacing Captain Reynaud as -Commandante. He, too, was quick to learn the importance of Dachicoin. - -In 1723 St. Denis received a demand from Bernardino of the Hasinai for -the ransom of a Frenchman. He then sent the small, tin box containing -papers of the French officer. St. Denis recognized the name of the -officer, a man who once had fought a duel with him. This French officer, -Belle-Isle, with St. Denis had attended the Royal School in Paris. They -had always seemed to be at odds with each other, and now St. Denis was -being asked to pay ransom for him. But St. Denis was not one to hold a -grudge, and he knew that Belle-Isle had the makings of a good French -officer. He could not bring himself to believe that there was a -possibility of Belle-Isle being a deserter and had somehow become a -slave of the Indians. Too, he realized the possibility of the Spanish -rescuing him, and from gratitude Belle-Isle might have been inclined to -offer his services to Spain. St. Denis personally knew French officers -in the service of Spain, but now he had the problem of going behind the -Spanish Fort at Los Adais to rescue Belle-Isle. - -St. Denis sent for Quitlami and had him go to the Adais and bring -Dachicoin back with him. When the two Indians returned he sent for -Lagross, Largen and Lobotiniere for a conference. All were given the -details about Belle-Isle. - -The ransom was to be ten French rifles with 100 shots and enough powder -to fire those 100 shots for each rifle. This was an impractical and -dangerous form of ransom because if the party delivering the rifles -should be intercepted by the Spanish they would have grounds to think -that the French were trying to supply the Indians with fire arms to be -used against them, which could create a disastrous incident on the -frontier. - -Dachicoin asked if he might speak, and without waiting for a reply, -asked St. Denis if he would settle with Bernardino for two rifles and -the requested powder and shot. St. Denis would be glad to agree to such -a settlement, but continued Dachicoin, "why not turn this trip for -ransom into profit?", which caused a raising of eyebrows. All those -present were traders and the word "profit" was music to their ears. -Dachicoin explained, "Bernardino is a trader and a clever one, and also -the father of my squaw. If I go as a member of the ransom party my squaw -must also go as she will wish to see her father again. Also this party -will need someone to cook for them, she can do that. Bernardino has sent -five of his braves and ten extra horses. He fully expects each of those -ten extra horses to have something on them. We must send five men to -accompany the Hasinais; to send less would show carelessness, to send -more would show we were afraid, five men to ride five of the horses sent -by Bernardino. We must fix a box of wood the size of one which would -contain ten rifles, but instead of rifles it will contain lengths of -cane filled with the seeds of watermelons, squash, gourds, corn and -beans. The Hasinais are farmers, but because they move around for place -to place, staying in one place only long enough to raise and harvest a -crop; they are often short of seed, we will also send salt, honey, -pecans, hickory nuts, walnuts; these are the things that we have plenty -of. In return we will ask for the Frenchman and horses and some amole -root.[5] The last two things are the cheapest trade-goods of the -Hasinais. Bernardino has often admired my French coat and has often -tried to trade me for it, but I explained to him that it would be too -small for him. If M. Rambin can make a coat the size of the one that -would fit M. Largen, then Bernardino would try to trade for it -especially if Largen pretends he does not wish to trade for the coat. We -will have to explain to Bernardino that we have no extra rifles -available but the one I am carrying. The other rifle mentioned will be -given to me when I return as payment for my assistance in this trip. My -squaw will have among the things necessary for her to take some of the -knives from the company store, each of us will also have some knives to -trade. We will trade for horses and the amole root and anything else -that Bernardino has. Quitlami must tell Bernardino that the coat that M. -Largen is wearing is magic and is Largen's trading coat. That when -Largen has it on he always makes more profit on his trades. That it -would be a great service to the Natchitoches and the Adais if Bernardino -could trade Largen out of the coat. So far no one has been able to do -this." - -The trip from Natchitoches to the Hasinais was roughly about 360 miles. - -Immediately on the arrival of the party Bernardino brought the slave -Belle-Isle forward and demanded the rifles when he was told that there -was only one rifle and it belonged to Dachicoin. He was furious and -threatened to kill the slave on the spot. Dachicoin explained that there -were many other trade goods of value and things that the Hasinais -needed. Largen was not then wearing the coat made by Rambin the tailor. - -In true Caddo fashion Bernardino either spit upon or kicked the trade -goods offered for Belle-Isle (this was characteristic of the Caddos, any -trade goods was treated in such a way as to cheapen it in the eyes of -the one offering it for trade. Those things that they wanted most they -spurned the most). Each time Bernardino spit on the trade goods, Largen -in turn spit upon Belle-Isle, meanwhile telling him in French that this -was necessary. Largen picked up a bundle and went into the Hinta-sak of -Bernardino. Quickly Quitlami went to Bernardino and explained to him -about the coat of Largen. When Largen came back he was strutting and -showing off the coat. He explained the designs on the coat, the hawk on -one side was an emblem of the Caddos. He was a Caddo because he had -taken an Ais Squaw. The Fleur De Lys because he was also French. Twenty -buttons, more buttons than on any French or Spanish officer's coat -(Rambin had surely done his best work here). Bernardino began wanting to -trade for the coat but Largen would hear none of it. Finally Bernardino -offered the slave for the coat and explaining that if the slave was a -Frenchman and Largen was a Frenchman then they were brothers--surely a -brother would give a coat to save his brother's life and if they did not -come to an agreement about the coat then the slave was sure to die. -Largen then surprised Bernardino by saying he would give the coat if the -Chief would given ten horses to the slave and ten horses to him and then -trade horses for the other trade goods along with the amole root and -some wolf hides. This Bernardino agreed to. - -St. Denis was awakened by the sound of thundering hooves. Lobotiniere -called to him. St. Denis wiped his eyes as he witnessed the success of -the trip--eighty horses, many of them loaded with hides and other -merchandise. - -After all settlements were made among those who participated on the -trip, Belle-Isle told St. Denis of his misfortune. The ship he was on -left France in 1718. After they had entered the Gulf of Mexico a storm -came up and the ship was blown off course. Then scurvy broke out aboard -ship. Finally land was sighted. The ship's captain, believing that the -ship was at a point east of Biloxi, put ashore those who were not yet -affected, instructing them to go west overland where they would be sure -to find the French. However, it must have been west of the Mississippi -instead of east of it. Belle-Isle related, "there were five of us, all -died except me. In the distance one day I saw a camp fire and went to -it. The Indians took me captive and made me a slave. I was with them -eighteen months when Bernardino bought me from them. Bernardino could -understand a few words of French. He sent the tin box to you. You know -the rest. Bernardino, however, did treat me very well". (Belle-Isle was -indeed lucky; that ship and its entire crew were never heard of again). - -I suggest a toast to Dachicoin, who thought like a Frenchman, spoke like -a Spaniard, had all the cunning of an Indian, and the honesty of a -Pilgrim. Such was the importance of Dachicoin. - -By the year 1740 Belle-Isle had become a power in politics at New -Orleans. - -In 1737 the Natchitoches tribe was able to ship 350 head of horses to -New Orleans as part of its surplus trade-goods, and all because of -Dachicoin, a _conachas_ of the Adais. - - - - - IV - ST. DENIS AND THE SPANISH - - -In 1724 St. Denis and Almazon affixed the Arroyo Hondo as the boundary -between the French and the Spanish. There was also an agreement to allow -the French traders, who were to go to the Upper Caddos during the wet -season, to pass through the Los Adais area. In this same year Jean -Muller was permitted to establish La Post du Bayou Pierre[6]. - -By 1725 St. Denis had won the Spanish commandant over to his point of -view and persuaded him to allow free trade in the area. The French were -also allowed at Los Adais on Sundays to attend religious services. (The -French, up until a few years later, were without the services of a -priest at Natchitoches). - -Word reached the Viceroy in Mexico City that Almazon was too lenient -with the French and that he was actually encouraging open trade with -them. In 1730 Almazon was replaced by Don Juan Antonio de Bustillio y -Zavalles, who was quick to realize that La Presidio de Los Adais was -entirely dependent on the French for its very existence. He sent a -letter to the Viceroy to that effect, further advising that the Spanish -settlers of the area scarcely produced enough crops to sustain -themselves and their families. Zavalles was an experienced military -officer and understood the importance of maintaining a modicum of -friendship on the frontier with the French and the Indians. Zavalles in -1730 issued a land grant to Juan de Mora.[7] - -In 1730 Natchitoches welcomed the arrival of its first French priest, -Father Vietry. - -In April of 1731 Zavalles received an urgent message from St. Denis -saying that the Natchez Indians were on their way to attack the French -Post and asked for assistance. Zavalles sent fifteen men, which may just -have been enough to help St. Denis gain a victory over the Natchez -Indians. One Spaniard lost his life in the battle. - -Zavalles was criticized by his Spanish superiors at San Antonio and -Mexico City for assisting the French, but Zavalles reasoned that if the -French Post had fallen to the Natchez Indians nothing would have -prevented the Natchez from attacking the Spanish presidio. There was -also the possibility of the Caddos aligning themselves with the Natchez. -Such a procedure had often happened among warring Indian tribes against -the white man. It is far better, if a battle is to be fought, that it -take place in foreign territory. He reasoned that even if the French -lost, there would be other Frenchmen to return and settle the land. If -the Spanish had gained control of the Adais-Natchitoches frontier their -dominance would not have been for long. As a result of this assistance -of the Spanish, food and trade-goods from the French became more -plentiful and cheaper in price. - -Manuel de Sandoval in 1734 replaced Zavalles as Governor of Los Adais. -After a few months on the frontier he left and assigned Jose Gonzales as -Governor of Los Adais. Zavalles in the meanwhile was being prosecuted at -San Antonio de Bexar because of his leniency with the French. An -investigation of the conditions on the Spanish frontier proved that -Zavalles was correct in his actions. His rank and prestige were -restored. St. Denis took advantage of the unrest of the Spanish, and in -the midst of protests and letter writing, he moved the Post St. Jean -Baptiste "one pistol shot" distance to the west bank of the Red River. - -Jose Gonzales was commandante of an ill-equipped presidio, the crops -were failures and the French had control of the food, but the Spanish -always had time for fiesta. And the French came to visit and trade. Much -to the discomfort of Gonzales, fraternization became the order of the -day. - -It was the year 1735, when Chamard erected his home and added a chapel -so that civil marriages could be blessed by the priests from Los Adais -on their monthly visits. Natchitoches was quite often without the -services of a priest at this time. Chamard came to the Natchitoches area -in 1730 as an agent and notary for the Company of the Indies. Chamard -was a very devout Catholic and was a leader in rebuilding the church -which had burned in 1734. He set an excellent example on the frontier -for those who were not inclined to attend religious services regularly. - - - - - V - DOCTORS AND EARLY MEDICINE--1722 TO 1744 - - -Medar Jalot had some learning under the direction of Dr. Ambroise -Benoist Gendron of Quebec, Canada. Jalot became a member of a party -under the guidance of Henri De Tonty (The Iron Hand) that left Quebec in -1710. They came to Biloxi via the Great Lakes, the Illinois River, the -Mississippi River, Lake Manchac and Lake Pontchartrain. Jalot was with -the St. Denis expedition to Mexico in 1714 as the valet to St. Denis, -and in 1722 was listed in the Natchitoches census. Jalot, although not a -doctor by title, served the Natchitoches Post in that capacity because -of his skill in treating wounds and body sores. Jalot also had knowledge -of many Indian remedies for the sicknesses of the country. - -It was the custom at this time for Kings to issue certificates to men of -the medical profession, designating them as _Docteur du Roi_, Doctor of -the King. Doctors who would accept such a commission for frontier duty -would receive a year's salary in advance, clothing, a chest of medicine, -an allotment of paper, note books and the personal best wishes of the -King. The physician would then in turn be obliged to render his services -free to the militia and others connected with the service of a post and -the Indians of the surrounding area. The post of his designated-location -would place at the doctor's disposal, an office, lodging and food at the -officers' table. Transportation was obligingly supplied by the King, "a -one way ticket." - -To the young Doctor who had thus qualified himself this would seem to be -a golden opportunity. Dr. Le Beau was the first to arrive at the -Natchitoches post. He was the first Doctor to realize that this golden -opportunity did not supply medium-of-exchange. The post personnel, their -wives and children were exempt from payment for his services. All of the -inhabitants and their families supplied the post with food and produce, -so they were also exempt as were the Indians. The doctor knew that he -would have to wait two years before he would receive his next salary -from the King. He could receive payment for his services to the Spanish -at Los Adais, but traffic with the Spanish was forbidden. He was soon to -realize that the first year's pay that had been issued would only buy -three pairs of pants at Rambin's Tailor shop ... and that Rambin was -making his livelihood by redoing old clothing rather than tailoring new -garments. Too, he was duty bound to stay one year in the service to -fulfill his obligation to the Crown. By not doing so he was subject to -arrest. Needless to say, after his year was up Dr. Le Beau resigned his -commission and struck out on his own. - -In 1727 Dr. Alexander was the next "Docteur du Roi" to arrive in -Natchitoches. He was killed in a duel by Captain Jentzen, a Swedish -officer in the service of the King of France. - -In 1730 Dr. Godeau arrived with a King's Commission. He wed the Widow -Brossilier, and adopted his two-year-old stepdaughter. The Widow -Brossilier had land, and so this doctor became a farmer and notary, with -his medical profession becoming a sideline. - -The people of the Natchitoches area did not like the idea of having to -pay for doctor's services. Doctor Godeau had, after his first year -resigned his commission, and now could charge legally for his services. -They waited but no new Docteur du Roi arrived. - -Dr. Godeau was at the Natchitoches Post at the time of the Natchez -Indian attack. In this two-months war on the Natchitoches frontier the -Doctor won the friendship of the fifteen Spaniards who assisted in the -defense of the French Post. In 1733 Dr. Godeau travelled to the Adais -Post on Saturdays and Sundays to render his services to the Spanish, and -to attend mass on Sunday. Thus, in the Robeline area was set up the -first form of medical clinic in all the territory later comprised in the -Louisiana Purchase. The Spanish had money to pay for professional -services which naturally attracted men of any profession. - -The people's voice must have been heard, for the Good King Louis XV sent -in 1737 Dr. Tontin. By this time King Louis must have decided that it -was easier to send new doctors each year as soon as they were qualified -_medecins_. He realized that the "one way ticket" was just another way -to populate Louisiana with learned men. Doctor Pain (or Payne) was sent -in 1738, Doctor Jaubaer in 1739, and Doctor Bonnafons in 1740. - -So now it was Dr. Bonnafons' turn to match his wits with this French -frontier. In sizing up his predicament Dr. Bonnafons found that the -recognized occupations listed on the post roster as ones that were to -obtain free medical service were: Trappers, Traders, Commercial Hunters -and Fishermen, Druggists, Farmers, Blacksmiths, Store owners, Tailors, -Bakers, Carpenters, Gunsmiths, Butchers, Soldiers and the Indians. The -good commandante, Louis Juchereau de St. Denis, saw to it that all of -these men obtained their just share of the Post business. I feel sure, -too, that the doctors, Pain, Jambare and Tontin advised Doctor Bonnafons -what to expect. This doctor, however, had the wits to fit the occasion. -He demanded of St. Denis that because the office space inside the fort -was too small, that a building be erected outside the fort for his home -and office. He showed the commandante that according to the rights -enumerated in his commission that the Post Commander must furnish him -with these suitable conveniences. St. Denis complied with the doctor's -demands. - -Dr. Bonnafons became a barber and for this privilege he paid a license. -Being a barber he was allowed to sell drugs. The druggist was part of -the Grocery Guild, so that he was now qualified to sell "stuffs" (bolts -of uncut cloth). Sieur Ignace Antee, a farmer and part-time cobbler, was -encouraged to erect a lean-to on the opposite side of the doctor's -building. Because he had assisted Laignon and Antee to erect their -lean-tos, Dr. Bonnafons considered himself a carpenter. He informed -Jacques Turpeax, a soldier and baker at the Natchitoches Post, that he -would purchase the surplus bread which was baked and not used by the -militia, thus furnishing quick lunches for weary, hungry travelers. -Because the Doctor was in the grocery business, he could sell wine which -went well with the cheese brought to the French Post by the inhabitants -of Campti. - -One must realize that we are at a time between the dates 1740 and 1744, -because St. Denis died in 1744, and that the location of Dr. Bonnafons' -building would have been near the new fort which had been erected by St. -Denis "one pistol shot to the west" from the location of the Fort St. -Jean Baptiste as shown on Breutin's Map of 1722. This placed the new -fort in the environs of what was later the American cemetery. As to the -location of Dr. Bonnafons' building we have this clue. In his ledger he -states that he obtained land adjoining his from Duplessis. On Breutin's -map the Duplessis land would have been in the vicinity of the south bank -of Bayou Amulet near G. W. Black's Grocery and Market. Also, in this -same area along Bayou Amulet the traders coming to Natchitoches tethered -their mules. - -Having obtained this land adjoining his building, Dr. Bonnafons erected -a blacksmith shop for Jean Baptist Marin. As the doctor's business grew, -so did the buildings and the good doctor had his eye out for more -business and reasoned that "where their is a demand, there should be a -supply". - -About 20 years preceding Dr. Bonnafons' arrival in Natchitoches, some of -the farmers had obtained slaves from New Orleans. The slaves, coming -directly from Africa, believed in voodoo, and for a generation had sold -their charms, amulets, love potions and cure-all charms to the Indians, -as well as the white inhabitants. - -Dr. Bonnafons, being a druggist and grocer was allowed, according to the -Drug Guild, to sell notions. So he added a trinket department to his -store which had such items as earrings, necklaces, mirrors and of course -the voodoo charms. Bonnafons reasoned that the local natives and -inhabitants might just as well have the imported kind from New Orleans -where the voodoo charm-makers were more skilled and the charms had more -power. He reasoned with himself that according to law, slaves were not -allowed to have money or engage in a business which would supply them -with money. So he decided to put them out of business. Naturally Dr. -Bonnafons told his customers that he did not believe in voodoo, that he -was a doctor and that only a doctor could cure illnesses--that the -charms were just novelties and that some people bought them in -ignorance. - -Commercial traders with the Indians who bought such trinkets from Dr. -Bonnafons at a discount were Jean Camion, Nicholas and Jean Lassard, -Pierre Gaigne, Lantallac, Nicholas Tibaud, Francois Gueno, De Lima of -Los Adais, Francois Moreau, Jean Robalet, Louis Barme, Joseph Le Douc, -Jean Baptiste Derbonne, Le Bomme, Henri Vidol and Pierre Bossier. By -supplying these traders Dr. Bonnafons became the first wholesaler of -merchandise in the Natchitoches section. - -As the following bill testifies, Dr. Louis Bonnafons served the -Natchitoches area well. The bill concerns the services rendered to -Pierre Fausse's young son. - - 1. Pour _6_ bouttiles de quillendive[8] per l'order du chirurgiens. - 2. Pour _6_ denier (6 articles of merchandise.) - 3. Pour 12 boutilles d'eau de vie. (Brandy used as a sedative to - settle nerves and upset stomach.) - 4. Pour _6_ bouttiles de medecine laxatif (laxatives). - 5. Pour le cerceuil de defuma. (For making the coffin.) - -The child was given 6 bottles of nausea medicine, 12 bottles of brandy -(that is, if the child was given all of the brandy--he may have had help -in disposing of this medicine) and 6 bottles of laxatives. This was -enough of such medicine to kill any patient. Dr. Bonnafons, being the -doctor in attendance, would also be the first to know of the child's -death. Thus being a carpenter he was also a cabinet maker which made him -a coffin-maker. Thus Dr. Bonnafons was also an undertaker. - -From Dr. Louis Bonnafons' ledger, covering a six-year period from 1741 -to 1747, come these names and families: Joseph Lattier, soldier; Claud -Bertrand, soldier; Jean La Berry, soldier; Louis Juchereau de St. Denis -family; Antoine Chesneau family; Michel Chesneau family; Pierre Baillio, -soldier; Vencient Perrier family; Remi Possiot family; Louis Rachal -family; Gaspard Barbier, brother of Madam Cheveret--"bought violin sold -to me by Bartholmey Rachal"; Joseph Robideux (Robeaux), one powder horn; -Jean Baptiste Gonnin, carpenter; Francois Gurno, carpenter; Pierre -Allarg, carpenter; Pierre Mercer, farmer; Andre Barringer, farmer; Remi -Possiot, soldier; Fancois Langlois, soldier; Edwardo Lattier, -soldier-farmer; Louis Badin, farmer; Andries Rambin family; Louis Rambin -family; Madam de La Chaise. There were many more, but to list them would -be a repetition of names mentioned earlier in this book. - -Dr. Louis Bonnafons died in 1759. He never married. His ledger brings -out but one important fact: Natchitoches and El Camino Real area has -always had possibilities for the right sort of man. Likewise, these -so-called, one-stop, shopping centers are nothing new to our country. -Too, during this early period of the Natchitoches community there was a -form of socialized medicine, which proved even at this early period a -doctor could not exist by merely depending on his chosen profession for -a livelihood when controlled or limited by the state. - - - - - VI - ROMANCE AT LOS ADAIS - - -There was quite a stir on the fine spring morning of April 8, 1735 at -Los Adais. Senorita Victoria Gonzales, daughter of the Lieutenant -Governor of this Spanish presidio, had eloped with a Frenchman, Jean -Baptista DerBonne, assisted by two other Frenchmen of the Post St. Jean -Baptiste des Natchitoches after the High Mass that Sunday. Governor -Gonzales, holding office during the absence of Governor Manuel de -Sandoval, and Reverend Padre Ignacio Certa were talking when word of the -elopement was brought. A searching party was immediately organized but -was unsuccessful in capturing the culprits. - -The next day Gonzales wrote a letter to his superiors, stating the above -details and adding that, even though DerBonne was a French officer and a -gentleman, he had refused permission for the marriage. He was so -infuriated that he disowned his daughter, thereby wishing to show to the -officials over him that he had nothing to do with this matter. However, -he did suspect Padre Certa and his brother-in-law Juan de Mora, because -both had intervened in DerBonne's behalf. He also added that de Mora was -in jail and at present he had not decided what to do with him. He -received word that the party arrived in Natchitoches at midnight, and -Father Pierre Vietry, a priest of the Jesuit Order, had married Victoria -and DerBonne immediately, thus violating the laws of the Catholic Faith. -He wrote: "As you know the banns of betrothed have to be announced at -three Sunday Services before the wedding. I am told that the elopers -traveled by pirogue, going from arroyo to arroyo and finally reaching -the Red River and then on to Natchitoches, which explains why our land -searching-party did not find them. Padre Vallejo of the Mission Margil -de Los Adais is going to Natchitoches to request wine so necessary in -the procedure of the Mass. I am sure Victoria will accompany him back to -Los Adais to get her things and the family blessing. Now that she has -been married by the Church there is nothing I can do. She is seventeen -and of marriageable age." - -The two nationalities had much to say to each other about this wonderful -new topic of conversation. The Spanish would give credit to Victoria for -planning the whole thing, after all a woman of Victoria's intelligence -must have planned it because certainly a Frenchman could not have had -the head for such clever thinking--DerBonne was just the lucky one who -won her heart. The French would say that DerBonne was a sly one, that he -had stolen Victoria from under their very eyes. The stupid Spanish -bachelors, allowing such a pretty prize as Victoria to slip away from -them. And so the talk went, but there has to be a formula for each and -every elopement that is successful. - -Now in this case, take three bayous, a little river and a larger river, -mix with one uncle, a willing duenna, two willing assistants, two -understanding priests, a friend. Add a handsome French officer, a -beautiful senorita and an irate father. Then allow a certain amount of -time for observation to turn into fascination, watch closely as -fascination develops into desire and desire materializes into love, then -you will have the correct ingredients for a successful elopement. So -explains the material gathered from John Eskew, Belisle, J. Fair Hardin, -Ross Phares and Poitre-Babinsik. All of these authors have shed some -light on this incident. - -Now, as a certain character would say, let's add up the facts. - -Jean Baptist Der Bonne or Derbonne as the French would write it, was an -officer at the French Post, Jean Baptist Des Natchitoches. The Spanish -Post, Del Presidio Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Los Adais, was roughly 17 -miles due west. The dividing boundary was the Arroyo Hondo, a small -stream that ran roughly north and south midway between these two -outposts. True, both nationalities respected this boundary to a certain -extent, that is they visited openly but hid their trading with each -other. - -The Spanish had use of the good Doctor Payne (Pain), the post Doctor at -Natchitoches, in return the Spanish Fiesta was open to all. If a -Frenchman visited the Spanish Church for Mass or Confession he was very -welcome. - -Father Ignacio Certa admitted in one of his letters that he had spoken -to Gonzales in behalf of Der Bonne. Certainly this priest must have -approved of the Frenchman or he would not have intervened for him. - -The foster brother of Gonzales's wife, Juan de Mora, was a very good -friend of Der Bonne because he helped and was put into prison because of -the incident. Even this imprisonment was a sham, as de Mora could have -gone to the post at Natchitoches a guest of DerBonne. He could have left -immediately after the two eloped and with a fast horse, reached -Natchitoches well ahead of any searchers. I believe de Mora remained at -Los Adais and allowed himself to be imprisoned so that his -brother-in-law, Gonzales, might save face with his superiors in Mexico -and the Tejas country. There are no records revealing a trial or -punishment of Juan de Mora. One thing is certain, there was a food and -clothing shortage at Los Adais and de Mora was one of the Spaniards who -was on very good terms with the French officer, DerBonne. And DerBonne, -being an officer, would have enough influence at the French post at -Natchitoches to assist the Spanish traders in getting more reasonable -bargains when purchasing food and clothing there. Too, DerBonne being a -French officer, as a side line, also was a trader among the Indians and -certainly with the Spanish. Now that the Frenchman had taken a Spanish -wife and she being the daughter of Gonzalez, the Gonzalez family would -certainly profit by this marriage. The deals, however, having been -transacted through DerBonne and de Mora and both men now being of the -Gonzalez family would leave the Lieutenant Governor in the clear as far -as his superiors were concerned. - -The duenna (chaperone) of Victoria Gonzalez must have assisted the two -lovers, reasoning that the duties of a duenna, are to look after her -charge's morals and religious training and to teach her things she must -know concerning her social standing and her responsibilities to her -family in respect to marriage. A duenna, therefore accepted or rejected -those who wished to court her charge. Quite often the duenna had to be -won as well as the young senorita. The chaperone's duty was to channel -her young charge's affections and thoughts toward the suitor considered -most able to support the young lady in the manner to which she was -accustomed; but the duenna would also observe the suitors that the -senorita liked best, and by elimination, to these she thought most -suitable, certain privileges would be allowed. In this case the suitor -was DerBonne. Now came the time for observation to turn into -fascination. To watch closely as fascination develops into desire, and -then when desire materializes into love, arrangements must be made so -that the wedding can be solemnized. The duenna or chaperone was also a -match-maker. - -Now for allowing those certain privileges. At a fiesta at Los Adais, -DerBonne and Victoria danced, and after a while walked out into the -patio for a breath of fresh air. The man, being a gentleman, would not -on first meeting attempt to guide his companion to a darkened shadowy -spot for closer conversation. The duenna naturally followed and observed -at a discreet distance. She would locate herself at such vantage point -where she could see and yet not be seen. - -At Church on Sunday, DerBonne having received an invitation from de -Mora, with de Mora advising DerBonne to be there early, arrangements -were made so that DerBonne sat next to Victoria, with the duenna on one -side of the couple and de Mora on the other. Perhaps at sometime during -the services of the Mass the duenna suggested a walk in a certain -direction, making sure that DerBonne overheard the suggestion intended -for Victoria. Just to be sure, immediately after the Church Services de -Mora would suggest a stroll before eating the noon meal, and, as if by -chance both parties met at some point on a secluded footpath, the young -couple would find that for the moment they were alone and unobserved, -while the elderly couple was engaged in some topic of conversation. Now -for a quick embrace and kiss while the old duenna was not looking. To -these well planned, or chance meetings as the young couple thought, -surely fate was lending a helping hand. So fascination turns into desire -and desire into love. Now to ask for her hand in marriage (the old -duenna and de Mora must have felt proud of themselves.) DerBonne asked -the father, Jose Gonzalez, but the irate father refused. Then the -priest, Father Ignacio Certa, interceded on behalf of DerBonne. Another -refusal as the obdurate father explained that the Spanish authorities -would not permit such a thing on the frontier. After all, the Spanish -and the French were rivals here, and such a marriage might even lead to -war among the two nationalities at these outposts of empire. - -DerBonne was well aware of the dire consequences that might result from -the marriage and without a doubt had discussed the situation with his -Commandante, St. Denis. Now, Louis Juchereau de St. Denis was one of the -slyest and most commercial-minded men who ever trod the soil of -Natchitoches, certainly the most adventurous. Without accusing him of -entering into a conspiracy, he evaluated the circumstances concerning -this elopement, and weighed the risks of the outcome. - -First, DerBonne was a good French soldier and officer and if he were to -get married this would bring about family ties on the frontier, which -would keep him in the Natchitoches district (quite often when a -soldier's enlistment expired he left the Natchitoches area for greener -pastures). DerBonne would settle land nearby so that his wife to be -would be near her own people. Eventually when his enlistment expired, -the French would have an experienced officer in this area without having -to pay for his services. DerBonne was also a trader, and his supplies -were furnished by the store at the Natchitoches post and St. Denis -received a commission on all merchandise sold at the post as well as on -all trade merchandise sent back to New Orleans. This marriage between -DerBonne and the daughter of a high ranking official at Los Adais would -naturally bring on better trade relations, even if it was to be effected -in a slightly underhand way. - -Secondly, St. Denis understood the love of a Spanish parent wishing to -see his offspring happily married. He probably thought of his own -marriage to Manuella and how her family risked all their worldly -possessions and position of office to protect his marriage into the Don -Diego Ramone family. The Spanish, to be sure, had their faults, but also -they must be commended for their forgiving and understanding nature when -the welfare of their families was concerned. In this respect Jose -Gonzalez, the Lieutenant Governor of Los Adais, would be no exception. -He knew that this man would have to do a great deal of letter writing -and pretending but in the end would be a forgiving father-in-law. St. -Denis, after weighing the risks, secretly consented to lend his support -to this marriage. Even if the risks had been greater St. Denis would -have given his consent because his whole life, if one studies it -carefully, was full of risks and intrigue. One more incident would have -made no difference to him. The fact is that he probably enjoyed the -entire situation, for this affair would bring a new topic of interest -and conversation to the dull life of the frontier. - -The whole procedure of the successful elopement suggests the cool, -calculating mind of one such as St. Denis possessed, not the flustrated -mind of a young lover. - -Let us examine the water-route that these two elopers traveled: The -Arroyo Adais, a small stream of water that ran near the Presidio De Los -Adais and then into the Bayou Mayoux. This bayou ran into La Petite -Rigolet (Little River, as it is known today) in turn ran into Bayou -Pierre, which drained into Red River (just above Grande Ecore) flowed -past the French fort at Natchitoches. The distance traveled would be -about twenty-four miles. - -Governor Gonzalez's letter states that DerBonne and two Frenchmen ran -off with his daughter. These two Frenchmen would have to be hand-picked -men capable of carrying out an assignment without a flaw. Men who could -stand the rigors of twenty-four miles of continuous paddling, part of -the time being in the black of the night, men who could be trusted to -keep their mouths shut, and above all men who were not afraid of danger -for which there would be no profit to them and certain imprisonment if -they were caught. Evidently the post at Natchitoches had two such men. -However, their names are not mentioned. So by process of elimination of -the known inhabitants of Natchitoches at this time let's see if we can -determine who these two men were. But first, one most important point -that should be brought out, because as they were to travel by water -there could be no risk of a drowning, especially of the girl--if this -were to happen war would certainly follow. The inhabitants of -Natchitoches in 1736 were: St. Denis, Commandante, his wife, Manuella -and his children; Pierre Largen, trader, married to an Ais Indian -maiden; Lt. Basset next in command; Lobotiniere, trader and farmer, -married; Duterpints, soldier and baker for the post; Jean Lagross, -trader and merchant, settled across the river from Campti; Dr. Payne -(Pain), Doctor and Notary, married; Jean Baptista Deherbonne (BerBonne, -Derbon, Derbonne); Lt. Gautren, married; Lafreniere, soldier; Joseph La -Duc, soldier; Prudhomme, planter and trader, married; Sieur Barme, store -keeper, married; Jacques De La Chase, government storekeeper, married; -P. Duplessis, Notary, married; Father Pierre Vietry, Jesuit Priest; -Sieur Bacque, farmer, married; Pierre Mercer, farmer; Andre Berrange, -farmer; Antoine Germaine, soldier; Juan Biseros, merchant, married; -Antonio Charbonnet, merchant; Gilbert Maxent, merchant; Pierre Gaignie, -trader, married; Nicholas Tibaud, trader; Paul Muller, soldier; the two -Barberousses, hunters contracted to supply meat for the Post; -LaRenaudiere, a miller; Rambin, a tailor, married; the Dupress brothers, -hunters and trappers; DeLame, storekeeper and trader; Jean Layssard and -Nicholas Layssard, brothers, soldiers and traders; Lantallic, farmer and -trader; Sieur Badin, farmer, trader and storekeeper; Francois Lemoine, -soldier in love with Victoria Emanuella Garcia; Sieur Jambare, doctor. - -According to a 1735 census there were only 32 people at Natchitoches, -however, this must have meant the personnel of the Post St. Jean -Baptist. It will be noticed that there were many traders listed, -undoubtedly many of these were also soldiers, but not listed as -soldiers, because a soldier's pay was so small, and that they were paid -only once a year, if at all. Many of them drew from the Army Post -Exchange and sold this merchandise either to the Indians or the -Spaniards, who seemed to have many gold coins, but there the army post -had nothing to sell them. The reason being that Los Adais was too remote -from its base of supplies. - -Of all the names listed, the two most likely to have assisted DerBonne -would have been Francois Lemoine and Jean Lagrosse. I give these -reasons--Francois Lemoine was young, strong and ablebodied or he would -not have been a soldier. He was in love with a Spaniard, Victoria -Emanuello Garcia. Therefore, if someone was willing to break the barrier -between the two nations he might profit by assisting and observing the -outcome. Jean Lagross, Indian trader had married a Caddo maiden of the -Ais tribe. By so doing he was recognized as a member and friend of the -Caddo federation of which the Adais Indians at Los Adais was also a -tribe of this federation. This being the case the Adais would not take -part in a search for a member of their own nation if their assistance -was requested by the Governor of the Spanish Fort. Lagross had been with -St. Denis during his stay in Mexico, he had a good knowledge of the -Spaniard's abilities, and too, Lagross had many friends among the -Spanish. Being a trader he had traveled this water route many times. His -skilled hands would surely be the ones to steer the pirogue safely back -to Natchitoches. - -The good friends, St. Denis and Manuella, would have met the boat when -it arrived at Natchitoches. Manuella would not have missed this wedding -for anything. After all Victoria was of her own people and who in -Natchitoches could best represent her. - -Now for the part of Gonzalez's letter stating that a priest could not -marry a couple without the proper notices of the betrothal being read on -three consecutive Sundays. This is true in most cases, but, there is an -old saying that the French always had a way for everything, and so in -this case they had a way which was recognized by the Church. Due to the -shortage of priests in Louisiana there was a ceremony of marriage called -"jumping the broom" and in the eyes of witnesses this was considered a -just and true marriage. The couple vowed that the wedding would be -solemnized as soon as a priest was available (Quite often in recent -years this procedure was looked upon as a joke but in the year 1735 in -Louisiana it was no joking matter). Here, too, a time element was -necessary. Possibly somewhere en-route to Natchitoches this party pulled -the boat onto the bank long enough to make a broom of switch cane and -the two witnesses, Lagrosse and Lemoine, watched as DerBonne and -Victoria jumped the broom. This was necessary. You will note that the -wedding took place after mid-night or right at mid-night, the beginning -of another day. When the couple told Father Vietry that they had jumped -the broom yesterday they did not lie, they had witnesses to prove it. -Father Pierre Vietry had no choice but to marry them. - -Just so you do not get the wrong impression of Jose Gonzalez you should -know that in his letter he states that Padre Vallejo was going to -Natchitoches the next day and that Victoria would return with him to -receive blessings of her family. Later maps of Natchitoches show that -DerBonne owned more land than St. Denis, the Commandante of the -Natchitoches Post. Gonzalez could have refused Victoria her dowry -because she eloped. Either she got the dowry or DerBonne was an -excellent trader. With twenty eight known competitors in the same -profession, I believe he got the dowry, and Papa Gonzalez saved face and -his position by the elopement happening as it did. And, too, I believe -Jose could have written that letter before the elopement and put down -the facts just as they occurred. - -In July of the same year Francois Lemoine married Victoria Manuella -Garcia. And so ... the Arroyo Honda barrier came down. - - - - - VII - INCIDENTS OF THE YEARS, 1735-1742 - - -In 1735 Justine de Louche was the first to settle in the area of -Cloutierville, Louisiana. - -In 1736 Manuel Flores and Carlos Bustimento demanded the same privileges -allowed Sanchez, that the Spanish Governor of Los Adais give them title -to their land. This was granted and soon to follow were grants to -Solice, Toro, Rodriguez, Martinez and Garcia. These family men soon -became independent and also became traders among the Indians. - -In this same year Benites Franquis de Lugo replaced Sandoval as Governor -of Los Adais. An old enemy of Sandoval, he placed him under arrest and -stripped the ex-governor of his wealth and rank. He was charged with -deserting the post at Los Adais and going to live at San Antonio de -Bexar, thereby neglecting the duties of his office; and for recognizing -the Arroyo Hondo boundary instead of the west bank of the Red River, -thus allowing the French to build a new fort on that side of the Red -River. - -The friends of Sandoval appealed to the Viceroy to send witnesses to Los -Adais to investigate the charges of Governor Lugo. - -In 1737 Fernandez de Jauregui y Urritgua, who was at that time Governor -of Nueva Leon, a region which adjoined the Coahuila and Tejas country, -came to Los Adais as a _visatador_ (witness). He questioned the -population, visited the post at Natchitoches and made inquiries there. -Lieutenant Gonzalez explained the conditions of the presidio, the -shortage of manpower and food and how nearly all the necessities -necessary to sustain life had to be obtained from the French. - -Urritgua left Prudincio de Orbito as temporary governor, arrested Lugo, -sent a message back to the Viceroy clearing Sandavol of all charges and -requesting that the prisoner be restored to his position. In the same -year San Antonious Bazaterra was sent as Governor of Los Adais and all -of the Texas Region. Bazaterra was a merchant from Saltillo in Mexico, -and he used his new position to transport his personal merchandise to -the Adais frontier. He demanded that the Spanish cease trading with the -French. - -In April, 1738, he detained and arrested Jean Lagross, a French trader -en-route to the Upper Caddos on the big bend of the Red River. According -to the Arroyo Hondo agreement between Sandavol and St. Denis, the French -traders were to be allowed to pass through the Spanish held Adais land -during the wet season. Jean Lagross had a passport to that effect, but -Bazaterra refused to recognize the passport and had Lagross' merchandise -burned in front of witnesses. - -Word of his action soon reached St. Denis and messages were sent to Los -Adais, to San Antonio and to Mexico City, by means of Indian carriers. -Bazaterra was accused of trouble making and charged with making advances -toward Lagross' wife, who, although an Indian, had been legally wed to -Lagross at La Mission Senora de Guadelupe at Nacogdoches. Therefore she -was a French woman and had been recognized as such by the French at -Natchitoches and by the Spanish at Los Adais since her wedding. St. -Denis also reminded the Spanish officials that due to the fact that -Lagross had taken an Ais maiden for his wife, in the eyes of the Caddo -Federation of Indians, Lagross was a Caddo according to the Indian's -viewpoint, therefore, this injustice could lead to serious trouble if -the Frenchman were not compensated for his loss. Much to the -disappointment of Bazaterra, he was ordered to pay Lagross for his -merchandise out of his own pocket. "Such", remarked St. Denis, "is the -power of the pen". - -Bazaterra, however, in spite of his difficulties, piled up the -equivalent of forty thousand dollars during his nearly four-year tenure -as Governor on the Adais frontier. It must be said on his behalf that he -was an excellent tradesman. St. Denis admitted that he was glad to see -him leave. - -In 1741 Thomas Phillip Winthuisin replaced Bazaterra as Governor of Los -Adais. The new governor was a civilian and lacking in the knowledge of -the military. This in itself presented a dangerous situation on the -Adais frontier. The inhabitants requested that a man of the military be -sent to Los Adais. - -And in 1742 the talk of the year was how two ex-French soldiers, -Lavespere and Brossilier, maintained _travasser_ (a kind of flat boat) -service from New Orleans to Natchitoches, bringing additional medical -supplies to Dr. Bonnafons. These two men had rigged their boat with -pulleys which enabled them to pull the boat through the shallow places -in the river at low-water stage. - - - - - VIII - THE THREE CABINS - - -Jose Guiterez, a _mestizo_ (a person of mixed Indian and Spanish blood) -was returning from Natchitoches after having visited the store of Dr. -Bonnafons. As he descended the trail down the side of Grand Montania he -allowed his horse to pick its way. At the foot of this high hill a small -creek flowed called the Arroyo Hondo and at the bank of the small creek -he must rest his animal for a while before continuing on to his home -near the Presidio de Los Adais. The spring of the year 1742 had been a -very trying and wet year, the Arroyo Hondo would be wider now because of -so much rainfall. He always felt good when he reached this small -rivulet, considered the half-way distance from Los Adais to -Natchitoches, for in his mind he felt he was more than half-way home. - -As Guiterez rested he thought of his horse, a beautiful stallion. He -often wondered if the Indian who had traded the mare, which was with -foal at the time and later delivered this colt, envied him now because -of the trade. Certainly many of the French officers at Natchitoches and -Los Adais had tried to buy the animal, but Jose would always refuse to -consider even talking of a trade or sale. Not only because he was such a -fine animal, he loved the horse, _El Trumpitero_, named so because of -the shrill whinnies the horse voiced when a female of his species was in -his vicinity. And Jose had reaped generous profits in stud fees. The -horse had made quite a name for himself and for his owner, Jose -Guiterez. - -The year before the young Spaniard had been sent to the Presidio de San -Antonio de Bexar to deliver a message from the Governor, Winthusin, to -the alvarez of San Antonio de Bexar asking his opinion about paying the -French trader, Jean Lagross, for goods that had been confiscated by the -former Governor of Los Adais, Bazaterra, after he had granted a passport -to the Frenchman to travel through the Spanish territory when going to -trade with the Caddos on upper Red River. - -The alvarez at San Antonio de Bexar did not see the situation as clearly -as did the Governor of Los Adais and was inclined to advise against -paying Lagross. He first asked Guiterez's opinion concerning the -contents of the message because he was the only one present who would -know some of the events that led to the new Governor of Los Adais' -request. Guiterez explained to the alvarez that this particular -situation was important because the French trader had married an Ais -Indian maiden, therefore, in the eyes of all of the Caddo tribes he was -considered a Caddo and the whole Caddo Federacy might take offense if -the goods were not paid for; that on the Adais frontier it was necessary -to maintain friendly relations with the French in order to purchase -much-needed food supplies for the Spanish troops at el Presidio de Los -Adais. Jean Lagross was one of the Frenchmen with the Ramone Domingo -expedition that established the Spanish missions as far as the -Nacogdoches Indians, and from that year, 1716, he had traded among the -Indians of this frontier. For the last twenty-five years he had been -known favorably in all this country. - -"This is no ordinary French trader but one who is loved by the Spanish, -French and the Indians, it is best to pay him for his merchandise." - -El Trumpitero had carried his master to San Antonio de Bexar and back to -Los Adais in less than three weeks, a distance of over a thousand miles. -Another time the horse went to Natchitoches and back to Los Adais for -medicine for a sick soldier, over thirty miles, in five hours. Because -of his horse Guiterez had become the official messenger of Los Adais, -which had by now realized the importance of his horse. The children at -Los Adais greeted the horse and waved at him as if the animal was a -human being. Jose and his horse were such a common sight at Natchitoches -even inside the post. - -On each occasion when he arrived at Natchitoches he always felt obliged -to go by the house of St. Denis, whose wife was Spanish, and tell her of -the news at Los Adais. He was likewise welcomed at the house of Jean -Baptist DerBonne who had wed Victoria Gonzalez, the daughter of a past -governor of Los Adais. Another hospitable friend, Francois Lemoine, was -a cousin of Louis Juchereau de St. Denis of the Lemoyne family as were -Iberville and Bienville. This young French soldier had married Victoria -Emmanuella Garcia, the daughter of a Spanish sergeant of the Presidio at -Los Adais. Thus Jose Guiterez was most welcome at these three homes of -Frenchmen in Natchitoches. Aside from bringing news to these three -Spanish ladies, they in turn found out through Guiterez what the needs -of the women of Los Adais were and then purchased these necessities for -them from the stores at Natchitoches because trade between the two posts -was forbidden. As a result the Spanish women at Los Adais did their -trading through the Spanish women at Natchitoches, which custom -continued even when trade between the two posts was not forbidden. - -As Jose sat on the bank of the Arroyo Hondo admiring his horse, he -leaned against the trunk of a tall, slender tree and began to think -about his future. For a long time he had felt that there was something -lacking in his life but he had not been able to put his finger on the -cause of his unrest. He questioned himself about his status in life, -concerning his accomplishments and his ability to support himself and -his parents, and came to the conclusion he needed a wife and property of -his own--either a farm or a business of some kind. He knew that his -parents did not need support from him and that his older brothers -actually operated the small rancho and farm--they were all married and -therefore would continue to remain on the family estate. According to -the custom of the times, the oldest brother would inherit the estate, -that is the profits from the operation of it. He, Jose Guiterez, decided -he would strike out for himself, perhaps engaging in some kind of -business for he did not like rancho or farm work. Being a soldier had -too many disadvantages. True, in the end after an enlistment period, a -soldier was given a certain amount of land, farm animals and equipment. -He could get them from his own family if he needed them. Being a settler -on a frontier was just as important as being a soldier, each in his own -way was serving the purpose of making the frontier secure. - -There was a chatter of birds in the tree tops just above his head which -broke his train of thought and brought him back to reality. As he looked -upward Jose marvelled at the size and the straightness of the trees from -which the chatter of the birds had come. Then he noticed how nearly all -the trees were of uniform size, straight, and all nearly sixty feet -high. Here was definitely cabin material and even in this small grove -there were enough such trees to make several cabins. Odd, he thought, he -had passed this place many times and did not notice the surroundings as -he did this day. As his thoughts raced ahead he remembered that he had -stopped to rest, almost always everyone else who passed this way also -stopped. Here would be the place to establish some sort of tavern, wine -shop or eating place. Why, he wondered, had not someone thought of this -before, to erect such a place here on the Arroyo Hondo where people must -pass and where they always stop to rest a while. Jose reasoned that the -wine shop, tavern and inn, must be available for the French, Spanish and -Indian trade, and regardless of what would be traded to him, whether -furs or trade goods, sooner or later he could turn them into gold and -silver. Now, for obtaining the land. The east side of the Arroyo Hondo, -where he intended to establish this new business, belonged to the -French. According to an agreement between St. Denis and Governor Almazon -in 1724, the dividing line between the French and Spanish would be the -Arroyo Hondo instead of the west bank of the Red River as previously -claimed by the Spanish. To acquire this deed would require some tact. -First, he would get the land and then a wife who could be able to help -him operate his business. Which nationality owned this land on the east -bank of the Arroyo Hondo made no difference. Jose decided that he would -get a grant-title from both representatives of their respective -governments. It would be interesting to see if he, a Spaniard, might -obtain a land grant from the French, too, and if this could be done, it -would be quite a feather in his hat, making him more popular among his -Spanish friends. - -The grove of trees and the slight rise of the earth there formed a sort -of flat shelf. The land was about ninety _toises_ (540 feet) square and -extended from the Arroyo Hondo to the base of Grand Montania, and the -trail leading up the face of Grand Montania divided the land. This was a -good feature and he would ask for all land on each side of the trail so -that no one else could come in and establish another business near this -resting place and be his competitor. - -Guiterez was excited. Even he, with no experience in the operation of -such a tavern, could see the immediate success of it. - -El Trumpitero with a loud whinney announced the presence of other horses -in the vicinity, and, as Jose looked across the Arroyo Hondo, he could -see a small pack train composed of eight horses and three riders. As the -train neared and the animals began to ford the stream he recognized the -party of Jean Lagross with his Ais squaw wife, Isobel, and their -daughter, Francine Manuella, named "Manuella" to honor Madam St. Denis, -who was her godmother. - -Because of so much rainfall the water of the stream was swift and deep, -and Jose rode El Trumpitero out to the ford to offer assistance to the -party if needed. - -One thing that both the French and Spanish had learned from the Indians -was the maintenance of markers on fordable streams such as the Arroyo -Hondo. Slender, cypress poles were placed in a line and at intervals -across the stream, each pole was painted in rings of green, yellow and -red; the red being at the top of the pole. By looking at the poles and -their markings the depth of the water could be ascertained. The markers -were on each side of the crossing marking the now submerged trail. This -ford crossing of the Arroyo Hondo was only about sixty feet from bank to -bank, but on occasion it could be very dangerous if one were not careful -and allowed the current to get the upper hand. The water at this time -had risen past the red markings on the poles, denoting the stream to be -nearly six feet deep and warning that fording it would be dangerous. -Jose had noticed the markings and this was the reason that he rode his -horse part way out into the water. - -Jose shouted across to Lagross to have the women mount the largest -horses, and in the meantime he cast his long rawhide rope to Lagross. -The rope was put around the lead-horse's neck and other rawhide ropes -were placed around the other horses' necks and attached to the packs. In -this manner the single file of horses and their burdens crossed the -Arroyo Hondo without mishap. - -As is common in the Los Adais-Natchitoches area in the month of March, -rains can come suddenly and frequently and this day was no exception. -While the party was crossing the stream, a cold, peppering shower began -which turned into a steady downpour. Immediately the two women began -unpacking one of the horses. This pack contained several hides sewn -together, the four corners were attached to four nearby grouped trees, a -long pole was quickly cut and placed beneath this square of hides and a -shelter was completed, the pole raising the center of the square about -the four corners and causing the rain to run down the sides. - -Meanwhile, Lagross and Jose had gathered firewood, being careful to -split the branches to expose the dry inside halves of the wood. Soon a -warm, drying fire was going. Jose whistled and El Trumpitero came to the -shelter and Jose removed from the saddle bag two bottles of wine, some -cheese and a loaf of brown, hard bread. - -Guiterez spoke as he passed one bottle of the wine to the two women, -"For you Senora and Senorita, one bottle of the priests' wine, which is -the reason I am here. I had gone to the Post Jean Baptiste des -Natchitoches to get wine for the priests, Father Certa and Father -Balligo. The bread from the good miller, Sieur Le Renaudiere, baked by -Jacques Turpeaux, was sold to me by the good Doctor Bonnafons at Sieur -Barme's Store; I bought the cheese, which was brought to Nachitoches by -Joseph Lattier, from the two Barberousses who have a trading post among -the Yatasse Indians at El Campti. It is wonderful the Lord has granted -man the power to prepare food in such a way that it is preserved for -future consumption, here we sit on the Arroyo Hondo and enjoy a meal -just as if we were sitting in our own homes." - -While they were eating Guiterez had become conscious of the beauty of -Francine Manuella. She seemed to have inherited all the beauty of both -the Indian and French races. Here thought Jose is the woman for me, this -one I intend to make my wife. Jose thought of the dowry and wondered if -Lagross had provided such for his daughter. He knew this young maiden -would be the ideal helpmate in his future business because she could -speak French, Spanish and the Caddo languages. - -Jose decided that he would make his intentions known to Lagross. Both -the Lagross and Guiterez families had known each other for many years, -and he felt that there was at least a bond of more than business, so he -decided to ask Lagross' assistance in obtaining this land east of the -Arroyo Hondo. He began explaining his idea to the French trader about -building a kind of trading post, and eating place which would have -accommodations to sleep weary travelers. Lagross liked the young -Spaniard's idea and told him so, but, said Lagross, "one would need a -wife to make such a venture complete." At this Jose made his intentions -toward the trader's daughter clear by stating that he wished perhaps -that he might have permission to pay court to his daughter. Lagross did -not seem surprised of Guiterez' intentions, as many had asked for his -daughter. "My daughter," said Lagross, "has had many suitors, some -offered marriage and some only a proposition. You understand how some of -the French and Spanish regard a half breed woman, however, those who -offered a proposition now wear the mark of the short leather whip she -always carries. As for my permission to pay court to my daughter, that -is entirely up to her, she is certainly old enough to be married, -according to other young women her age in this area. Many fathers of -young girls are now pampering a grandchild. Francine is a very -head-strong woman and it will take an unusual man to win her hand." - -Meanwhile Francine, listening to this conversation, was amused, and -first inclined to be angry, but then she thought, Jose offered marriage, -not just a proposition as many had done. Guiterez cut quite a figure, -either astride El Trumpitero or afoot, so this man might be just the one -for her, but she wondered if his talk about the Three Cabins was not -just so much talk. - -"Jose Guiterez", said Francine, "Jose Guiterez, a _mestizo_, a half -breed, wishes the hand of Francine Manuella Lagross, who is also a half -breed; Guiterez who talks big and has nothing to offer a wife but an -assumption of what he intends to do; my father who sits there agreeing -with him while he drinks the Priests' wine and talks about me as though -I were some sort of trade-goods; my mother sits there nodding her head -in agreement, as if she would be glad to get rid of me; all of you -talking as if I would have nothing to do with the situation. Do you -think, Jose, that you can offer my father and mother wine, bread and -cheese, that would be sufficient to win me as a wife? I notice that El -Trumpitero does not have a whip mark on his hide, that the bit in his -mouth is not the cruel Spanish bit used by the dragoons; you do not have -the sharp Spanish spurs on your boots, do you think you can bend me to -your will as you have El Trumpitero?" "Ha," she laughed, "that would be -something to see. Now, mestizo, I have a proposition. The moon will be -full tonight. If on the third full moon from this one, there are three -cabins here on the Arroyo Hondo, then I will be your wife. If not I will -have El Trumpitero, the horse I will ride when I leave here, you can use -mine. You see, I know you have no money, no land to sell and no possible -way to stock such a building with trade-goods and in the meantime you -will not have El Trumpitero which is the only thing of value you do -have; now Senor Jose Guiterez what do you say to that?" - -"Well," said Guiterez, "for so small a woman you certainly have a large -mouth, but first I must do this." He quickly grabbed Francine and put -her across his knee as one would do a spoiled child and spanked her -soundly. "First," he said, "for talking so to her parents and second, -that she should show more respect to the man she is going to marry; -third, he was holding her to her proposition; fourth, that if, when she -was released, she struck him with her whip, he would use the whip on her -so thoroughly that she would not be able to sit down for the three moons -which she had previously mentioned." Lagross roared with laughter as his -squaw whispered to him that Francine had finally met her match. - -The rain had ceased and the group headed for Natchitoches, Francine -astride El Trumpitero and Guiterez astride the horse of Francine. Not -much was said until the train had reached the top of the steep hill -called Grand Montania. Jose remarked that the horse of Francine had -probably had the same temperament as her owner and she undoubtedly bit -and kicked. Francine, not without a retort, stated that M. St. Denis -could not grant land to a Spaniard, he would be a fool if he did, El -Trumpitero was as good as hers right now. Guiterez said he had one thing -that Francine had overlooked when she stated her proposition and that -she was as good as married to him right now. So the two passed the time -on the way to Natchitoches arguing with each other. - -At Natchitoches Guiterez went to Sieur Barme's Store and obtained more -wine for the priests at Los Adais. He then went to see St. Denis and -told him of the occurrences of the day, and his intentions. St. Denis -said, "I have no authority to do this other than to a Frenchman." "Now," -said Madame St. Denis, who had evidently been eavesdropping on the -conversation, "since when has M. De St. Denis ever questioned the word -'authority', especially in such a matter advantageous to the French as -well as the Spanish, not to mention the extra profits in commissions to -be received from trade goods sold Guiterez at this prospective trading -post." "Madame," said St. Denis, "you underestimate me. I merely stated -that I did not have the authority, I did not say that I would see that -Guiterez did not get the land. Now go quickly and send someone to fetch -Sieur Barme." When Sieur Barme arrived St. Denis explained all to him. -"Now", said St. Denis to Barme, "I will sell to you 10 arpents of land -at the base of Grand Montania this side of the Arroyo Hondo for ten -percent of the first year's profits of the first year that this new -trading post is in operation. I will sell this land to you in the name -of the King of France, what you do with this land is your business. Now, -Senor Guiterez wishes to buy some land, on this land he intends to build -a trading post called The Three Cabins. If you wish to sell this land to -Senor Guiterez for ten percent of the profits of his first year's -business, you would be in accord with the law to do so. As far as -merchandise for this said trading post I am sure your store could supply -the necessary merchandise. As for payment, I am sure Senor Guiterez can -be trusted, and as for security there would be the dowry given by Jean -Lagross. If you are in agreement I will send for the Notary and draw up -the papers. In the meantime you can issue a bill of sale to Senor -Guiterez for the land." Addressing Guiterez, "Senor, you now own 10 -arpents of land, but building the three cabins in the allotted time will -take some doing. In the meantime you have many friends here at -Natchitoches and I will see that they know about your problem." - -Back at Los Adais Guiterez obtained an interview with the Governor, -Winthuisin, to ask for permission to establish the Three Cabins on the -French side of the Arroyo Hondo. The Governor at Los Adais agreed to -Guiterez' request. Almazon had settled the question that the Arroyo -Hondo was the boundary between the territories of France and Spain, and -any Governor could give away land which did not belong to his country. -Guiterez now had the sanction of both the French and the Spanish. When -he explained all the details to his family and his many Spanish friends, -all turned to with willing hands and the wilderness of the Arroyo Hondo -rang with the echoes of many axes. Indians and Frenchmen from -Natchitoches brought food and extra assistance. In less than the first -moon two of the cabins were completed. Guiterez had Father Certa at Los -Adais begin reading the banns for matrimony, and on the fourth Sunday -Francine came down the steep trail of Grand Montania and looked at The -Three Cabins finished and stocked with trade goods. - -As the two left The Three Cabins to go to Los Adais to be wed, Guiterez -said to Francine, "Remember when you are estimating my values, I told -you I had one thing that you had forgotten to name, that one thing was -friends." "So you have", said Francine, "but did you not wonder where so -much food came from to feed those who were building the three cabins, I -am not without friends", and she smiled, "so, my high and mighty -Guiterez, I think we are going to make a good match. Many of our friends -think so too. Doesn't the female bird always help her mate build the -nest? Look behind you at all those people coming to our wedding, they -are your friends as well as mine". Guiterez gazed at Francine admiringly -and said, "there is a blessing in rain in more ways than one." - - - - - IX - AFTER ST. DENIS - - -In 1743 Justo Bonev y Morales was sent to replace Winthuisin as -Governor. Morales, a Knight of the Order of Santiago, was a man -befitting the ideals of St. Denis, who was now a Knight of the Order of -St. Louis. These two visited often, two knights on a tiny western -frontier. By now the French and Spanish had intermarried frequently so -that the Arroyo Hondo barrier stood in name only. - -On June 11, 1744, St. Denis died. Morales came to offer his condolences -as did many from Los Adais. Indians and slaves alike bowed their heads -to the memory of this man. - -Governor Morales, in keeping with the false cold front of diplomacy, -wrote his superiors, "St. Denis is dead, thank God, now we can breathe -easier". - -Captain Caesar de Blanc, a son-in-law of St. Denis, was appointed Post -Commandante at Natchitoches and in the same year, 1744, Governor Morales -was replaced by Francois Garcia Larios. These two men had no outstanding -quarrels, for during these four years both the French and the Spanish -prospered, crops were favorable and the trail from Los Adais was -traveled daily by each of the nationalities. The Natchitoches area was -prosperous and shipped to New Orleans, tobacco, cattle, horses and other -farm products. Even those farmers at Los Adais were selling to the New -Orleans market. Young Gil Y. Barbo was importing wild cattle and horses, -obtained from the plains of Texas, driven over El Camino Real to the -Adais-Natchitoches frontier, and on to New Orleans. - -There was a working agreement between Juan de Mora and Lt. Derbonne, now -retired from the French army and a civilian, farmer, trader and exporter -of note in the Natchitoches post area. - -In 1748 Pedro del Barrios Jacinto y Esprilla, an Alcolade of the Santo -Hernando of all New Spain, was appointed the new Governor of Los Adais. -The humdrum life of the frontier was too much for the new Governor so he -gave up his position to Jacinto de Barrios y Gauregui in 1750. Barrios -remained as governor until 1759, having had the fortitude to be Governor -of Los Adais for a longer span of time than any of his predecessors. By -now third generation Spaniards were being born on the Texas frontier -from San Antonio De Bexar to Los Adais. These people were experiencing a -new freedom not felt anywhere else in New Spain. They now regarded this -land of Texas as their own. The seat of government was too far away to -exercise a cloistered, ruling hand over them. - -In 1759 Angle de Martos y Navarette replaced Jacinto Barrios as Governor -of Los Adais. Navarette was a merchant and began to liven the frontier. -Up to this time the French were supplying the area with all needed -material, but when the new Governor came, fine Spanish lace, woolens and -linen, finer than any which had previously been offered for sale on the -frontier, and nails, which had always been scarce on the frontier, -became plentiful. - -In 1762 Louis XV gave Louisiana to his cousin Charles III of Spain. - -In 1762 Caesar De Blanc was replaced at Natchitoches by Adrian Francois -Le Doux as Post Commandante. He was in turn replaced by Angelus La -Perrier in 1764. Perrier was the Commandante who received the first -Catholic nuns to arrive in Natchitoches; thus 1765 marked the date of -the beginning of formal scholastic training in the area. - -Through his merchandising endeavors on this French-Spanish frontier -Navarette had amassed for himself an estimated eighty thousand dollar -fortune. In 1767 Don Hugo O'Connor was appointed Governor of the Adais -and Texas country, and in November of that year, on the seventh day, -Commandante La Perrier had the sad responsibility of turning over the -Natchitoches Post to Don Antonio Ulloa representing the Spanish -Government. In this same year O'Connor received a visitor, Padre Jose de -Solice, who kept a diary of his visitation which was translated by -Reverend Peter T. Forristal and was published as one of the preliminary -studies of the Texas-Coahuila Historical Society. - -Father Solice records the work of the priests of the Mission de Los -Adais. There were 256 baptisms, 64 marriages and 116 burials. At the -Natchitoches Post he found records of 20 baptisms, 13 marriages and 15 -burials. (Natchitoches was quite often without the services of a priest -and the padres of Los Adais supplied their spiritual needs). - -Also, in 1767 Athanase De Mezieres, a Frenchman, was appointed -Commandante of Post St. Jean Baptiste Des Natchitoches. - -In 1770 Baron de Ripperda was appointed Governor of Los Adais and it -befell his duty to see to the evacuation of Presidio Senors del Pilar de -Los Adais. The Spanish authorities decided that now that the Louisiana -Territory was entirely under Spanish jurisdiction, this presidio was no -longer necessary.[9] - -Ripperda issued orders that all settlers and army personnel were to be -ready in three days to leave the area. Many of the farmers fled to the -Natchitoches area with their families and worldly goods. - -With Natchitoches now the seat of Government of the Texas area westward -to San Antonio, El Camino Real was lengthened at least fifteen miles in -extent from Natchitoches to Mexico City. De Mezieres had under his -jurisdiction an area extending from Post Du Rapides (Alexandria) to the -Ataquapois in Oklahoma southward to San Antonio. - -The inhabitants of Los Adais and those residing around the missions in -the Nacogdoches area were rebellious and Baron Ripperda extended his -ultimatum to five days. - -Antonio Gil y Barbo and Gil Flores became the heroes of the evacuation -of Los Adais, some five hundred men, women and children moved to the -vicinity of San Antonio. The former inhabitants of El Camino Real were -not happy. They longed for the fertile soil and forests which abounded -in wild game of the East Texas and West Louisiana area. Flores and y -Barbo were sent with a petition to the Viceroy of Mexico. The two -returned with the news that the people would be allowed to settle in a -new area. They moved to a settlement on the Trinity River at Robbins -Crossing, the present day location in Madison County, Texas. - -Floods and the danger of hostile Indians soon forced the settlers to -seek a new environment. They moved eastward to Nacogdoches under the -leadership of y Barbo. There in 1779 was established the Town of -Nacogdoches. - -Y Barbo and a party of followers went back to Los Adais and dug up four -of the six cannon buried there just prior to the evacuation of the area. -They returned to Nacogdoches and re-established La Presidio de Neustra -Senora de Los Delores de Nacogdoches and in the same year Antonio Gil y -Barbo was appointed Commandante of the Presidio. - -At Natchitoches in 1773 Commandante De Mezieres kept contact with all of -this vast area by assigning traders to establish trading posts among the -different Indian tribes and suppliers were assigned to each trader: - - Pierre Bison was sent to the Calcasieu Indians, the supplier was Reme - Poissot; - Louis Pablo Villeneuve De Blanc to Caddoquopois, Bisadorewas to supply - him; - Jose Antonio Bonetis was sent to Atachapois, this man was an - independent trader; - Pierre Blot was sent to the Nacogdoches Indians and Joseph Blancpain - was to supply him; - Caesar Barme was sent to the Yatasses near Campti, Louisiana; - -Nicholas Chef was an independent trader to the Tokawanes; these were in -an area fifty miles northwest of the present-day city of Fort Worth, -Texas. It was one of the most remote trading posts from Natchitoches and -De Mezieres assigned a supply-patrol of the militia at the Natchitoches -Post to supply the necessary trade goods. Sergeant Joseph Trichell, who -had been assigned to the Natchitoches Post in 1749, was to command the -patrol which consisted of Corporal Nicholas Tournier and an accountant, -Nicholas Le Noir. Four musketeers, Francois Hugue, Louis Moinet, -Nicholas Pent and Andries Compiere. Domingo De Soto was to act as -interpreter. - -This patrol was responsible for the arrest of four Englishmen who had -crossed the Mississippi River and were trading among the Tokawanes. The -four men were William Warden, John Cross, John Hamilton and Jerome -Matalinche. - -De Mezieres was vexed with Sgt. Trichell for allowing the Englishmen to -sell all of their trade goods to the Indians and threatened him with -imprisonment, but Trichell explained that the Indians would have gone on -the war path if they had not been allowed to trade for the English -merchandise. Trichell countered with the fact that all of the profits of -the English traders were now in his hands and that there was no -difference if De Mezieres had the trade-goods or the profits. De -Mezieres paid the Englishmen in French and Spanish coin equal to the -original cost of the merchandise, and this same patrol was ordered to -escort the Englishmen fifty miles east of Natchez before setting them -free. The Englishmen were charged with the Patrol's expenses. - - Luis de Quindise was an independent Spanish trader and was sent to the - Adais Indians. - Pierre Dupain was sent to the Peticaddo; - Andre D'Hutrive was sent to the Bidias on the Trinity River; - Alexis Grappe was sent to the Ais and Guierlero Lestage was to supply - him. - -In 1770 DeMezieres following St. Denis' method of keeping peace with the -Indians, invited the Chiefs to come and stand before him at Post Du -Natchitoches to receive presents in the name of the King of Spain. Along -El Camino Real traveled such great Chiefs as: - - Tinhioune, Chief of the Caddoquopois. - Santo, head Chief of the Bidias and Don Melchor, otherwise called - Gorgorritos, a sub Chief of the Bidias. - Quirotaches, Chief of the Nacogdoches Indians. - Christobal, Chief of the Taouaizes. - Vigotos, head Chief of the Hasinai Federation of Indians. - -Thus, by gaining the friendship and allegiance of the most important -Indian Chiefs of the territory, DeMezieres established an easy feeling -between the Indians and the Spanish Government. - -As of February 16, 1776 DeMezieres sent this Census Report to Unzaga, -Governor at New Orleans: - - 113 homes; 105 heads of families with 86 women; 77 youths able to bear - arms; 106 infants; 34 unmarried women; 84 bachelors and non residents - engaged in hunting and fishing and trade with the Indians; 2 male and - 2 female free people of color; 2 male and 1 female mulattos; 410 - Indian and negro slaves (men, women and children); 277 pieces of fire - arms; 1258 head horses, 842 head cattle, 3000 head sheep and goats and - 783 hogs and 481 mules. There was shipped from Natchitoches: 1000 head - horses; 100 mules; 9 quintals of indigo; 15 fenegas of indigo seed; - 30,000 packages of tobacco; 120 buffalo hides; 36,000 deer hides; 5000 - ambrias of bear oil; 5000 pounds of tallow, quantities of bacon and - meats, both salted and dried. - - - - - X - AFTER THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE - - -In 1802 Louisiana was ceded back to France by Spain by the Treaty of -Ildefonso. On May 2, 1803 Livingston and Monroe signed with -Barbe-Marbois the purchase treaty which was dated back to April 30, -1803; thus Louisiana became a possession of the United States. - -Spain did not approve of the sale of Louisiana and decided to reclaim -all of the land originally occupied prior to the time when Louisiana was -ceded to Spain. - -There was a movement of Spanish soldiers under the command of General -Hurrera as far as Nacogdoches and from there patrols were sent across -the Sabine River. - -Fort Claiborne, established in 1805 at Natchitoches by orders of General -Wilkinson, was occupied by several companies of the Second Infantry of -the United States Army under the command of Major Porter. - -Dr. John Sibley had been appointed Indian Agent for this area of the -Southwestern Frontier by Governor Claiborne. Dr. Sibley had been keeping -an account of the Spanish patrol movements east of the Sabine River -through contact with the Indians of the area. On February 2, 1806, he -sent a letter to Major Moses Porter at Fort Claiborne saying that there -was a detachment of Spanish militia encamped at Juan Mora's Lagoon, also -known as Conichi Ranch, one league east of Los Adais on Bayou Dupont. - -Lt. Piatt was sent with a letter to Nacogdoches, demanding that all -Spanish patrols east of the Sabine River retire immediately to the west -bank of that stream. - -Captain Edward D. Turner left for the Los Adais area with a detachment -of soldiers on February 5, 1806. The Spanish patrol was contacted and -Captain Turner delivered the ultimatum of Major Porter that it retire to -the west bank of the Sabine River.[10] - -This document from the U. S. Army records shows the result of that -meeting: The beginning of the Neutral Strip. - - At the Adais - February 6, 1806. - -I, Joseph Maria Gonzalez, commandante of his most Catholic Majesty's -troops on this side of the Rio Sabinas, hereby having agreed with -Captain Edward D. Turner, Captain in the United States Army, to return -all troops of his Catholic Majesty's to the other side of the said Rio -Sabinas, as soon as my horses will permit it or in five days, or at the -most six, and to make my march this day and I also oblige myself to not -send any more patrols on this side of the Rio Sabinas. - - Signed: Ensign Joseph Maria Gonzalez - Witness: John V. Duforest (Interpreter) - -The above document was the result of an agreement establishing a -no-man's land between the Arroyo Hondo and the Sabine River, which -neither the United States Government nor the Mexican Government would -use, until a final settlement could be reached between the two said -governments about a boundary. This agreement was made by two young -officers representing their respective countries, both willing to fight -for their countries, but both having the intelligence and initiative to -declare a stalemate to prevent a war. - -This forty mile wide strip of land became known as the Neutral Strip, -and in it gathered the lawless of both countries. Even so, from within -this lawless area were to come men who would strike the first blow for -Texas independence. - -In 1807 several slaves of Louis Derbonne and other planters owning land -adjoining the Neutral Strip, fled into the Neutral Strip and from there -they went to Nacogdoches and on to Trinidad de Salcedo on the Trinity -River, where they were given refuge by the Spanish Government. - -On September 5, 1807, Don Manuel de Salcedo, Governor of Texas at -Nacogdoches, received a letter saying: - - The planters of the Natchitoches area are threatening to organize a - force of 250 men to go after slaves known to be in the Texas area of - Nacogdoches and at Trinidad de Salcedo unless the slaves are returned. - -The letter reminded the Spanish Governor of Article XX of the treaty -between the United States and Mexico which said fugitive slaves must be -returned to their owners. The letter was signed by Judge John Carr, and -Justices Rouquier and Paillette. - -The above letter and a letter from Governor Claiborne brought about the -desired results. The governor might have been influenced by the -knowledge of the Phillip Nolan filibustering expedition in 1800 which -spent itself at Waco-Texas vicinity. Nolan had for several years -traveled westward from the Alexandria, Louisiana area and established a -trail straight westward into the Texas-San Antonio area, where he was -trading for and capturing wild horses and cattle. This trail later -became known as Nolan's Trace. - - - - - XI - THE DEVIL'S PLAY GROUND - - -When Generals Wilkinson and Herrera agreed to the boundaries set by -their two junior officers, Turner and Gonzalez, they created a back door -to the United States of a forty-mile-wide strip which was to become one -of the most lawless places that ever existed within the confines of the -United States. - -Every outlaw and murderer made this Neutral Strip his destination, The -Free State of Sabine, it was called. Neither Spain nor the United States -wished to have the responsibility or the expense of policing this outlaw -state, although the southland's busiest road cut through the center of -it. But traffic was heavy just the same. Many found that the only safe -way to cross the strip was to travel in force, therefore, either at -Natchitoches or on the west side of Sabine River, the travelers waited -until a large enough group was gathered to guarantee safe travel. - -The outlaws of the Strip dealt in horse stealing, cattle rustling, -counterfeiting, or any other form of crime that might strike their -fancy. There is no definite data or history of the goings-on inside the -area, but many men who lived in, or traveled through the district -recorded their experiences in diaries and stories or just handed down -hearsay tales of the happenings in this lawless land. There, a person's -security was strapped at his hips or carried in his hands in the form of -pistols, long rifles or knives. Even the long, rawhide whip was -considered a deadly weapon in the hands of an expert. - -Los Adais was a waystation and on the bulletin board appeared one day a -word with a new meaning, Sabina 28, the same sign appeared on the -Rendezvous Oak at Natchitoches. To the average citizen it meant nothing, -but to those in the know it meant slaves would be for sale at a point -near Pendleton at the ferry on Sabine River on the 28th of that month. - -With the discovery of a new way to granulate sugar and with the -invention of the cotton gin, the land around Los Adais and Natchitoches -became highly productive when planted in sugar cane and cotton and more -slaves were needed, but the United States had forbidden their -importation. - -To Jean Lafitte, the pirate, the Sabine River with the protection of the -Neutral Strip, became the back door to the United States. Slaves for -wagon loads of food were commonly exchanged, according to the statements -of a Mr. Tulley at Los Adais and Mr. Gunlineau at Natchitoches. Lafitte -needed food for his pirate operations. Up the Sabine River the boats -were pulled, poled or paddled by the slaves to be sold. From the Los -Adais and Natchitoches areas came wagon loads of food, smoked hams, kegs -of salted bacon, cornmeal, kegs of molasses, wine, corn whiskey, dried -beans, peppers, tobacco, sweet potatoes and gourds of honey, with spiced -cake sent by hopeful wives to the pirates so that their husbands might -make more profitable deals. - -Back on the same wagons came the slaves, bolts of cloth, jewelry and -perfume (Lafitte's storehouses was filled with goods from every Spanish -and British ship that he could capture). Everything was legal as far as -the bills of sale went. A certain honest merchant in New Orleans, with a -good reputation and scruples, signed blank bills of sale, to be filled -in by Tulley and Gunlineau. - -This may seem rather crude to the average reader--the smuggling of -slaves and the ladies sending spiced goods to the pirates on the Sabine -River. At this very time the United States was confiscating where it -could slaves that had been smuggled in, selling them and giving the -informers half of the proceeds of the sales. Nothing was said about -putting the slaves on a boat and returning them to their homeland. -(Question: Are there very many people today who try to beat the Income -Tax?) There was some good to come out of all this. Lafitte assisted the -United States in the defense of New Orleans in the war of 1812, -furnishing men, ammunition and food. Where did he obtain the food? From -the Los Adais and Natchitoches area. Lafitte, Tulley and Gunlineau were -merely supplying the demand for a necessary merchandise and certainly -the slaves were better off because of it. - -Noah Smithwick, who had visited the Strip, wrote of the murders, -robberies and numerous violations of law there. He gives us one tale -that falls in line with the demand and supply of the times. Because the -man he wrote about was still alive he calls this character, John Doe. -Doe was a counterfeiter of money, especially the Mexican silver dollar. -The people at that time had no "jingling" money for their pockets and -Doe supplied this demand, with a silver-coated copper coin. Because of a -slight flaw in the press the coins were easily identified and called -Doe's dollars. - -An Indian approached Doe one day and handed him one of the counterfeit -dollars requesting that Doe put a new skin on it. Doe obliged by giving -the Indian a new counterfeit dollar for the old one, explaining to the -Indian that dollars were like snakes, they always shed their skins. -Doe's dollars, although not recognized outside the Strip, were regarded -as legal tender therein. - -It was said that Doe's dollars were of more handsome design than the -original Mexican Eagle Silver Dollar. - -Doe, however, minted pure silver dollars of the same design. He mixed -enough of these with the bogus dollars so that on occasion when a dollar -was questioned and the dollar tested, it was found to be of pure silver. - -Doe, like all counterfeiters, wished to extend his operations but he -wandered out of the Strip on the American side and was arrested. - -Every old place has its ghost story and "Spanish Town" is no exception: - - [Illustration: THE NEUTRAL STRIP - (shaded area shown) - - 1. Spanish Town and Scuffelville. - 2. Half-way-house or Twenty-mile-house, near Many, La. - 3. Kisatchie Caves, near Kisatchie, Louisiana. - xxxx. The Sabine Trail, from Montgomery to the Half-way-house near - Many. The Planters on Red and Cane Rivers used this road when - going to the Sabine River to trade for Slaves. - - Nolan's Trace, cut across the southern part of the Strip from Point - Coupee. Phillip Nolan blazed this Trail and used it to trade for - horses in the Texas area. - - This Lawless Strip of land lasted from 1806 to 1821. It was often - referred to as "The Free State of Sabine". - - Note: - - I show Cane River on this map. However at the time of the beginning - of the Strip, Cane River was Red River. I show Red River as it is - today, to show the locations of the Towns, whose People were - involved in trade in the Neutral Strip. - - By the year 1821, the Red River had begun to change its course to - the Rigolett de Bon Duex, which was a Bayou extending from a point - just above Natchitoches to Colfax, La. Thus you see the actual water - ways as they are today. (Drawn by the author)] - -A young Spaniard had successfully traveled the Strip, bringing with him -wealth and many fine cloths. He settled at Spanish Town and became the -target of every single maiden there. Mariea Guiterriz, who had many -suitors, won his heart. Anyone attempting to pay court to her ran the -risk of losing his life in a duel with other jealous suitors. -Immediately after the wedding at the reception a disappointed lover -insulted the groom. Swords flashed, Mariea rushed between the duelists, -a sword stabbed her--not a serious wound all were assured but infection -set in and she grew worse. An old Indian gave some herbs to the young -Spaniard with instructions how to use them to stop the infection. "Boil -these herbs together over a small fire, the odor of the brew will change -and when the odor is this", the Indian allowed the Spaniard to smell the -brew, "remember the odor because now will be the time to soak the -poultice with the solution", then the Indian was gone. - -The young husband followed the instructions and Mariea began to improve, -but the herbs ran out and the Indian could not be found. Mariea sickened -again. The Spaniard went to the creek banks and the marshy places -searching for the herbs, building countless tiny fires, brewing grasses -and leaves, trying to re-discover the combination of herbs that would -produce the exact odor he was seeking. - -Mariea's infection worsened and she died. The young man's mind, not able -to grasp the reality that his love had gone, became affected. His brain -ceased to function past the last day that he had left her, assuring her -that this would be the day that he would discover the correct blend of -the herbs. From that time on, fires, tiny fires could be seen on the -creek banks in the swamps and on the hillsides--a lover, true and -devoted, still seeking the odor that would save the life of his beloved -wife. - -The crazy Spaniard, they called him, and those who came in contact with -him, those who knew the details of his sad story, made the Sign of the -Cross when he passed and silently said a prayer for him. - -Night and day he searched for the elusive odor, always searching. Those -of his age, grew old and died, and so did their sons and grandsons, but -the legend lived on. - -Some say they can still see him in his never-ending search, smartly -dressed as he kneels by a tiny fire, others say he is old, dirty, ragged -and ugly; but all say there is no need to be alarmed because this ghost -walks with God. - -If some day or night you see a tiny fire with a shadow kneeling by it, -then you, too, are walking with God, because you, too, are one possessed -of devotion and love. - - - - - XII - SATAN'S AGENT--JOHN A. MURRELL - - -One of the many buried treasures of the Sabine strip is claimed to -belong to John A. Murrell, who possessed a brilliant mind which he used -to break all the Commandments that God gave Moses on Mount Sinai. He was -the type of man who could recite to another the entire books of the Old -and New Testaments then shoot him down in cold blood. - -John A. Murrell was born about the year 1800 in Williams County, -Tennessee. His father was a Methodist Minister and his mother, a -mountain woman, who at that time operated a wayside tavern. Through the -teachings of his father he learned the Gospel and through the teachings -of his mother he learned to steal. Murrell, well equipped with the -knowledge of the good and the bad often passed as a preacher. In this -guise he made his appearance in the Neutral Strip. - -About the year 1825 Murrell went about preaching the Gospel and at the -same time was organizing a band of outlaws. At Los Adais which was now -called Spanish Town, at Twenty Mile House or Midway Station near Fort -Jesup, in the hidden caves near Kisatchie, he established his -headquarters and from these places he ranged out of the Strip to preach -to the more populated communities. - -Murrell could mimic the voices of many people and was an excellent -actor. In each community where he preached he adapted their tone of -voice and mannerisms. One of his favorite gospels was the one he called -"Directions". As he addressed his audience he may have been standing in -the pulpit of a church, or atop a stump or standing in the bed of a -wagon, wherever a crowd gathered Murrell felt that he should preach to -them. - -"Directions," he would shout, "always when one begins a journey, he has -a destination. The road to this destination is similar to the Road of -Life, often along this road one has to inquire about directions, and it -is so through the Journey of Life, one must follow directions laid down -by the Church and the Ministers, they are the sign posts that point the -way. Quite often a man while traveling this road, decides to take a -short cut, instead of following the Good Book as laid down by the -Church, these short cuts become his mis-deeds or his sins. - -We shall assume that this Bible is the Book of Judgment and in it will -be the names of every living person on the face of the earth. By each -name there are two columns, one for his assets or his good deeds of life -and the other column for his mis-deeds, which we shall call his -de-sets." - -From here on Murrell becomes the actor in what he called, The Drama at -the Gates of Heaven. - -"Batiste had made the journey through life and was knocking on the Gates -of Heaven, a voice from within asks, who knocks? Batiste answers and -gives his full name. The voice is that of St. Peter who looks up -Batiste's record of life in the Book of Judgment. Then St. Peter -explains to Batiste, we take out the pages which contain your assets and -place them on one side of the scales of justice and on the other side we -place the pages of your de-sets. If your assets out-weigh your de-sets, -then naturally you can come in, as we place your assets and de-sets upon -the scales we will review them." - -(Now Murrell becomes the comic for the benefit of his audience). "Right -here Batiste on May 25, you done de-setted enough to carry over on the -next three pages. Boy, you was really de-setting that day. - -Here, we see your Pastor found you hunting on Sunday and you had a nice -bag of squirrels, the Pastor spoke to you about it and you gave the -excuse that you had your days mixed up. Again he caught you fishing on -Sunday and a nice bunch you had too, you gave the excuse that you had -your days mixed up again. - -Now, if you had given the Pastor some of those squirrels or fish, then -those de-sets of that day would have turned into assets. But all along -the Road of Life you gave the excuse that you had your days mixed up. -'Now,' said St. Peter, as he looked at the scales, 'because you had your -days mixed up you now have your directions mixed up. You all done come -the wrong way', and he shut the door in Batiste's face. Batiste begged -for another chance but this could not be, as you know you can only -travel the Road of Life once." - -Along the Neutral Strip the inhabitants catered only to hard money, that -is gold and silver coins, and Murrell asked that fees for his service be -paid in coin. - -Murrell would place a set of balancing scales where everyone could see, -on one side he placed the Bible, then he said, "this Bible will -represent the Book of Judgment and I place it on this side of the -scales, it will represent your mis-deeds or de-sets. Now, we are all -going to stay here until you people give enough to tip these scales to -the asset side." While the collections were being made, Murrell would be -expounding of the good things he intended doing with the money, he even -had a few henchmen in the audience to begin the contributions and to -urge the others to do the same. - -Murrell becomes another legend of Los Adais and of his hidden treasures, -it is believed that he had many hidden treasures which he called large -banks and small banks. - -No one is certain how Murrell's death came about. Murrell's gold and -silver, and he must have had much of it, with nearly a decade of -preaching, lying, robbing and murdering in the strip, could have been -the cause. - - - - - XIII - THE BREAK-UP OF THE NEUTRAL STRIP - - -There were rumors in 1806 that Aaron Burr was attempting to organize the -settlers of the Neutral Strip and that an actual Free State of Sabine -was to be established, Breastworks at Sabine-Town and a Block House with -two companies of the United States militia were established near the -confluence of Bayou Negrett and the Sabine River on the El Camino Real. - -The establishment of the Block House by General Wilkinson resulted in -the Spanish bolstering their strength in the western part of the Neutral -Strip by giving presents to the Indians and thereby establishing an -Indian barrier in the area. - -The gifts amounted to two thousand seven hundred-nine pesos from the -Mexican Government to be given at Nacogdoches. The Indians received -muskets, lead, powder, shot, knives, razors, scissors, combs, mirrors, -glass beads, war paint, copper and iron pots, ribbons, coats, bells, -needles, belt buckles, ramrods, cotton goods and rum. The Indians asked -for tobacco which was not available, but five hundred eighty-nine pounds -of tobacco twists were smuggled from Natchitoches through the Neutral -Strip to Nacogdoches by orders of Manuel de Salcedo, the Governor. -Although trade was forbidden on El Camino Real by the Spanish from -French Louisiana there was a continuous stream of contraband goods being -smuggled into Texas. The "Contraband Trail" ran parallel to the El -Camino Real about four miles distant from the El Camino Real, but -crossing it intermittently in areas that were uninhabited. - -The Americans retaliated by supplying the Takuays and the Towanoni with -articles of trade and a blacksmith shop so they could sharpen the knives -and scissors obtained as presents from the Spanish. - -Outlaws left the Neutral Strip to raid isolated farms and plantations. -Slave stealing and cattle rustling were not overlooked. The citizens -complained to the United States Government. - -Lieutenant Augustus McGee and Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike were ordered to -disperse the bandits of the Neutral Strip. The orders of General Hampton -expressed a desire for cooperation from the Spanish at Nacogdoches. A -detachment under Captain Bernardino Mantero was sent from Nacogdoches to -assist Captain W. H. Overton, who was at that time the senior officer at -Fort Claiborne, issued orders for the clearance of the strip on March 5, -1812. The military only succeeded in destroying the hideouts which were -occupied by the bandits by burning everything in sight. The bandits knew -every sneak trail of the Neutral Strip and were successful in avoiding -the policing parties. - -By the year 1821 the Anglo-American Civilization had crossed in -substantial numbers the Mississippi River in two main divisions, -Louisiana and Missouri. - -General Edmund Pendleton Gaines considered that the most vital and -important area of the southwest was: "The Southern section of the -Western Frontier, from the mouth of the Sabine River eastward to the Red -River and thence to the Mexican boundary at a point where the western -boundary intersects the Sabine River." - -General Jackson had transferred General Gaines, at that time commanding -the Florida frontier, to the western frontier in 1817. General Gaines -was aware of the constant unrest of the so-called "neutral strip," known -as "The Free State of Sabine" and _No Man's Land_. - -The proclamation of the Treaty of Washington in 1821 fixed the western -boundary of the United States as the Sabine River, thus the agreement -with the Mexican Republic transferred the Neutral Strip to the United -States. - -General Gaines was aware of the feeling of those settlers from the -Sabine River westward along El Camino Real to the Rio Grande near Eagle -Pass, Texas. These were Spaniards that had felt the freedom of being so -far from their government's head in Mexico City. They, with the -Anglo-American settlers, wanted a different kind of freedom, not -allegiance to Mexico or to the United States. Thus, the Fort -Jesup-Natchitoches and El Camino Real Area on the eastern end from -Nacogdoches and San Augustine was ripe for the filibusterers. - -There were many in this area, Gaines was certain, who did not recognize -the Treaty of Washington, Frenchmen of the fifth and sixth generations -who had settled this area, likewise the Spanish, and the Indians for -countless generations before either of the other two nationalities. - -"This land 'tis mine--'tis yours--'tis mine," said the French and the -Spanish. "The land is mine," stated the United States, "we bought it -from the French." The Indian declared, "'tis mine, was so even before -either the French or Spanish came." The settlers questioned which -government will recognize our claim to the homesteads, the land grants, -"this is mine by right of occupation." - -There were the half-breeds, descendants of a French or Spanish father -and an Indian woman. These were demanding their birthright. And they -held sway over many Indian tribes. They were intelligent, they could be -friendly, or a ruthless enemy. But the United States' ownership backed -by the Army soon restored peace and order to No Man's Land. - - - - - XIV - THE FILIBUSTER OF 1812-1821 - - -Don Jose Bernardo Maxmilliano Gutierrez de Lardo, often called Bernardo, -was a merchant and blacksmith at Revilla, a village near the junction of -the Rio Salado and the Rio Grande. He was a follower of Padres Miguel -Hidalgo y Castillo and Jose Maria Morelos, who were encouraging a revolt -among the Indian and Indian halfbreeds called _mestizos_. - -Gutierrez with Captain Jose Manchaca, a Texas rebel and a deserter from -the Royalist Army of Mexico, and ten others left Revilla with thirty -thousand dollars in Mexican silver. Their objective was to reach -Natchitoches, a border town on the Neutral Strip. The money was for -organizing a filibuster campaign into Texas. They were pursued by the -Royalists and were caught up with near the village of Bayou Pierre (a -village at that time located on a road between the present-day Pleasant -Hill and Lake End on Red River). Gutierrez and Manchaca escaped but lost -the silver, finding refuge at a small trading post at Campti, Louisiana. -When they arrived in Natchitoches and began recruiting men for the -filibustering campaign they found many ready and willing to participate. -The merchants, sensing enormous profits, offered every assistance. - -Captain Manchaca went immediately into the Neutral Strip to solicit -recruits among the bandits, or anyone else who desired to join the -filibusterers. - -Gutierrez wrote a letter to James Monroe, Secretary of State in -Washington, explaining that although Texas was not yet a Republic the -people of that area had all the necessary qualifications for becoming a -nation, that it would be to the advantage of the United States and the -people of the future Republic of Texas for them to seek assistance where -they could find it. It would, therefore, be advantageous to the United -States, should their undertaking be successful in overthrowing the yoke -of the Mexican Government, and Texas become a Republic. - -Gutierrez secured letters of recommendation and two hundred dollars from -Dr. John Sibley and departed immediately for Washington where he met -with officials and made requests for men, money, munitions and other -supplies necessary for the filibustering campaign. Gutierrez brought out -the importance to the United States of the Texas commerce. The proposal -was dropped by the officials when Gutierrez insisted that he be in -command of the expedition. However, Monroe did see the advantage of the -United States having a Republic to the west to help guard the border, as -at that time the United States was having difficulties with Spain and -England, and because of the Florida question. Therefore the Secretary of -State did offer encouragement to Gutierrez. - -Don Jose Alvares de Toledo was at the same time in Washington seeking -assistance for a revolution in Cuba, which if successful, would result -in the establishment of an Antillean Confederation of the Islands. This, -too, met with the approval of Monroe, but again he offered only -encouragement and no assistance. Don Luis de Onis, the Minister from -Spain, having learned of Toledo's plans, conspired with Diago Correga to -do away with Toledo. Toledo, because of his failure to get the necessary -assistance he desired, cast his lot with Gutierrez. He cultivated the -friendship of General Ira A. Allen, who was looked upon with disfavor in -the State of Vermont. Allen helped Toledo and Gutierrez by gaining the -confidence and support of those who were interested in such an -adventure, namely: Samuel Alden, a young adventurer; Aaron Mower, a -printer by trade; Evariste Calvettes, a Frenchman of unusual but -intriguing reputation, and William A. Prentis, a merchant who interested -Henry Adams Bullard in the adventure of the filibuster campaign. This -group of men, with several others departed for Natchitoches. Gutierrez -in Natchitoches had enlisted under his banner, the aid of Lieutenant -August McGee, who resigned at Fort Claiborne to join the filibusterers; -Samuel Kemper, a well-known figure in the politics of Florida; Rubin -Ross, an ex-sheriff from Virginia; Henry Perry of the Army -Quartermaster; Joseph B. Wilkinson, son of General James Wilkinson; J. -McClanahan; Rubin Smith; James Patterson; A. Cole and Alexis Grappe, -traders who had many contacts in Texas as far as San Antonio de Bexar; -and James Gaines, brother of General Gaines. The merchants in -Natchitoches hired some of the local youths, Tenoss Moinet, two -Prudhommes, Henry Derbonne, Jose Benetis, Anthony Dubois, Peter Dolet, -Michael Chesneau, Andrew Chase, Stephen Wallace, Matthew Bonnette, -Walter Young, Joseph Ruth and Chesneau Tontin to go along to protect -their interests and to bring back the contraband which they were sure -would be obtained on such an expedition. - -William Shaler arrived in Natchitoches almost on the heels of Gutierrez, -a special agent sent by the Secretary of State Monroe to assist the new -so called Gutierrez-McGee expedition. Shaler's letters to Monroe give an -excellent account of the organization and execution of this expedition. -Shaler, who had been trained as a military man, contributed greatly to -its efficiency. - -Samuel Davenport of the firm of Davenport and Barr, licensed traders, -established themselves in the Soledad building in Nacogdoches. Davenport -wrote to Don Manuel de Salcedo, Governor of Texas at Nacogdoches, from -Natchitoches, "John Adair was gathering troops in Rapides (Alexandria, -Louisiana) 500 men were being gathered along the Mississippi River and -at Natchez. Captain Jose Manchac has gathered over a hundred men out of -the Neutral Strip and they are now camped on the west bank of the Sabine -River." - -A letter was sent from Washington to the district judge notifying him -that the United States would not sanction an organization of men on its -land which would constitute an act of aggression against the government -of another country. Judge Carr's answering letter dated July 22, 1812, -stated that he was aware that some sort of movement of aggression was -being talked about in the Natchitoches Area, but that to his knowledge -there were no men grouped east of the Sabine River congregating with -filibuster intent. - -"Young men in groups of two, five, ten or fifteen arrive here in -Natchitoches every day, many are from our immediate local area, they are -mild-mannered and quiet and cause no disturbances, they purchase -supplies at the local stores and when questioned about their -destination, they declare that they are going on a hunting trip. I have -no grounds with which I can detain such a small party of men, for to be -sure groups fewer than fifteen or twenty cannot be classed as a -filibustering party. If rumors are true and there is a location on the -west bank of the Sabine River where men are gathering with the intent of -invading Texas, that area is out of the jurisdiction of any one person -representing our local or federal government." - -On August 8, 1812, the campaign began with a total strength of one -hundred eighty men. - -At Nacogdoches was the proof that the people of the area, according to -the statements of the traders Smith, Grappe, Patterson and McClanahan, -were ready for a rebellion against the Spanish Government. At -Nacogdoches on August 11, 1812, when the attack began, the filibusterers -met only token resistance and one hundred ninety of the inhabitants -joined the patriots. The easy fall of Nacogdoches was a shot in the arm -for the filibusterers. Fifty of the Spanish soldiers joined with the -rebels. A mule and horse train with booty of wool, hides and Spanish -silverware, estimated to be valued at one hundred thousand dollars, was -sent to Natchitoches to be exchanged for the necessary provisions to -conduct the campaign. Henry Perry of the army quartermaster was there to -receive the merchandise. Now he had something to work with. Supplies -which could not be obtained in Natchitoches were purchased in Natchez, -Mississippi. The merchandise was brought over the old Natchez-Vidalia to -Natchitoches Indian trail (highway 84 today) which had its share of -bandits and land-pirates. - -Gutierrez was an old hand at spreading propaganda and at Nacogdoches the -"rebels" paused long enough to make use of the talents of Aaron Hower, -the printer. The news of the fall of Nacogdoches would be sure to bring -volunteers from the Natchitoches-Neutral Strip area. On September 1, -1812, circulars were found as far as San Antonio, announcing that the -filibusterers army had reached a thousand in number of well equipped -men, and that more volunteers were arriving every hour from ten to one -hundred in number to join Gutierrez, and that they now had cannon which -had been taken from the Spanish in Nacogdoches. - -Governor Salcedo, who had previously sent a message asking for -assistance, received news that no help could be sent because the -"Patriot Army" in Mexico was marching on Camargo and Nueva Santanadar -(this was a group of rebel followers of Padres Castillo and Morelos). -The propaganda news leaflets and the news from Mexico caused Salcedo to -withdraw all outlying Spanish detachments and concentrate them at San -Antonio de Bexar. At this stage of the campaign the McGee-Gutierrez army -numbered no more than seven hundred men. - -Now, Salcedo's military ability began to show. He needed a day or two so -that the troops in the west under General Herrera could reach San -Antonio. He left La Bahia (now Goliad, Texas) without defense and spread -his troops along the Guadelupe River twenty-eight miles north and east -of San Antonio. The filibusterers could not overlook the opportunity of -taking a defenseless town. La Bahia fell without a struggle and the -filibusterers were jubilant. Meanwhile the Spanish forces met, forming a -total strength of nearly nine hundred men. Over fifty of the Spanish -soldiers with the filibusterers deserted and returned to the Royalist -troops, explaining they had been captured and were finally able to -escape. - -Up to now McGee had been in charge of the filibusterers and Gutierrez -was the commander in name only. There was friction between McGee and -Gutierrez, and at the same time Toledo was vying for the position of -commanding them. Samuel Davenport, the unfaithful Indian Agent of -Salcedo, who had joined the filibusterers, suddenly decided he had some -important, unfinished business and departed for Nacogdoches. A day or so -later Rubin Ross left to contact Indians encamped on the Sabine River -with the intention of joining the filibusterers. McGee died at La Bahia -under mysterious circumstances. Gutierrez claimed that McGee took poison -to keep from being shot. Davenport stated that McGee was sick when he -left for Nacogdoches, and Rubin Ross declared McGee was in good health -two days prior to his leaving Davenport, and that at no time was he -aware that McGee was sick. - -When Ross contacted the Caddo Indians on the Sabine River Chief Tohois -refused to fight under any flag other than that of the United States. -Groups of the Alabamas, Choctaws, Conchattas and Attapaws on learning of -the refusal of Tohois also refused to assist in the cause. However, -nearly a hundred of the warriors did join with Rubin Ross. - -The second attack of the Royalists was also a disappointment to Salcedo -and the Spanish forces retired to San Antonio. On March 19, Ross -returned with nearly two hundred Indian, Spanish and American volunteers -and the march on San Antonio began. They met no opposition until they -reached Rosillo, about eight miles from San Antonio; there, Samuel -Kemper and Rubin Ross led a vicious charge and the main force of the -rebel drive carried well into San Antonio. - -The Spanish were defeated and surrendered unconditionally. Atrocities -followed under the orders of Gutierrez who had declared himself -President of the New Republic of Texas. Several of the Spanish officers -were killed, their clothing stripped from their bodies and left exposed -to the elements. The Americans were enraged by this action. After going -to the scene of the atrocity and burying the dead, many followed the -example of Warren D. C. Hall, deserted the filibusterers and left for -their respective habitats. - -A Junta was called after the arrival of Henry A. Bullard and James B. -Wilkinson; Major James Perry and Captains Kemper and Ross threatened to -leave with the Americans unless Gutierrez was ousted and Toledo named -leader of the New Republic.[11] - -The battle on the Madina River was the downfall of the filibusterers. -The Spanish gathered their forces under the command of Colonels Joquine -de Arrendondo y Miono and Ignacio Elizondo.[**or Elinzondo, see below] -After the battle the victors were lenient with the many Americans they -had captured. Colonel Elinzondo issued a horse and rifle to each along -with a passport for safe conduct back to the Sabine River. The Indians -were included with the group freed, but with instructions to return to -their tribes and never take up arms against the Spanish again. - -It is interesting to note that many of these Americans were later -successful in attempting to make the Texas area a Republic. On September -28, 1813, the first blow for Texas independence failed, but it had been -proved, however, that the Spaniards north of the Rio Grande were -influenced by the freedoms of the American traders along El Camino Real. -They had been forced to provide for themselves from the fruits of the -land, thus becoming independent in their own right. The easy fall of -Nacogdoches was outstanding proof of their feelings. - - [Illustration: FORT JESUP DEFENSE AREA] - - - - - XV - FORT JESUP - - -It seems odd that all that had happened in the nearly three hundred -years preceding was merely a prelude to a settlement on a vital point, -this one hill top in Sabine Parish. - -The Caddo Nation of Indians was first to recognize the importance of -this land extending from San Antonio to Natchitoches and settled it. -What these Indians did not settle or cultivate they commercialized, and -they established trade routes there. - -Cabeza De Vaca and his companions came in 1530. They claimed no land but -were searching for a way out. - -Hernando De Soto in 1541 came, but by the time he had reached the Adais, -he, too, was searching for a way out. He claimed no land. - -Robert de La Salle came down the Mississippi River in 1682 and claimed -all land drained by that River for the King of France. In the history of -a country there is always one man who has the imagination to see its -possibilities and the ability and push to realize his ambitions. Such a -man was La Salle. - -La Salle's second venture to the mouth of the Mississippi River resulted -in failure. He came by sea, missed the mouth of the Mississippi River -and settled on the coast of Texas where he later was killed. La Salle's -expedition, however, aroused the Spanish of Mexico, who then began to -extend their operations further to the north. - -Padre Hidalgo's letter and St. Denis' answer resulted in the settlement -of El Camino Real from San Antonio to Natchitoches. Here, then, was cast -the first seed, in form of settlers, who learned to live as the -Indians--free as the wind, this newly found freedom had been felt by -settlers and their descendants for over a hundred years. - -The land of Sabine, "'tis mine," said the Americans, "by right of -purchase"; "'tis mine," said the Spanish, "by the claim of Domingo Teran -Del Rio of 1690." - -And so the Neutral Strip was established. Each nation begrudging the -other every inch of it. A lawless land which must now be policed for the -good of both nations. - -The southwestern border of the United States was established by the -Adams-Onis Treaty at Washington on February 22, 1821, as being the -Sabine River; Adams representing the United States and Onis representing -the New Republic of Mexico. - -Would the settlers of the Neutral Strip and those from the Sabine River -to the Rio Grande recognize the treaty of Washington? The -Gutierrez-McGee filibuster expedition had proved that these people -wished a new freedom. Not that of the United States or that of Mexico. -Many men had cast their eyes toward the land of Texas, there was so much -of it for the taking. But the Indians were not just sitting on the -sideline observing what was happening, they were pressing for their -rights, too, against any and all nations. Surely they realized their -prize possession was slowly slipping from them. The Indians recognized -no treaty among the white men. Only the agreements with the whites which -concerned their welfare were of importance to them. - -Many young adventurers of all nationalities and from all walks of life -had come into the area and found the excitement to their liking. They -would align themselves with the side which offered them the most -advantageous opportunities. - -General Edmund P. Gaines found himself in a predicament when he received -orders on Dec. 21, 1819, to establish a new command post near the border -of the Sabine River. He was ordered "to establish a new post in a -location that will protect our southwestern border as well as all of the -inhabitants within the boundaries of the United States in your area." - -In the Southwest area he had federal troops under his command; at New -Orleans, 96 men under Major Many; at Baton Rouge, 212 officers and men; -at Fort Claiborne, Natchitoches, 56 men under the command of Major -Coombs; and, at Camp Sabine, on the Sabine River, 105 men under the -command of General Wilkinson. - -On November 15, 1820, Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor and four -Companies of the 7th United States Infantry had established Fort Selden -on the south bank of Bayou Pierre on the highest hill in the area, one -and one-half miles from the confluence of Bayou Pierre with Red River, -six miles north of Natchitoches and three miles west of Grand Ecore. -Taylor named the Fort, "Selden," in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph -Selden, who fought in the American revolution and who was at that time -stationed in the Arkansas Territory. - -From the vantage point of Fort Selden on Bayou Pierre there was a -one-mile view of the channel of the bayou. There was flat-boat traffic -on the bayou to the town of Bayou Pierre and on northward to the Petit -Caddos in the vicinity of the present day city of Shreveport. Taylor was -in position to control the water traffic on the bayou.[12] - -At Fort Selden Lieutenant Colonel Taylor received this message: - - Special Order No. 19. - Headquarters West Dept., - Fort Selden, Red River, - March 28, 1822. - - Lieutenant Colonel Taylor with the troops under his command, will as - soon as possible, occupy the position at Shields Springs, 25 miles - south southwest of this place, where he will canton the troops in huts - of a temporary kind. The buildings will be constructed by the troops. - Supplies necessary, will be sent by the Quartermaster. - - Lieutenant Colonel Taylor is charged with the south western frontier - of Louisiana. To defend and protect its inhabitants, as well as those - of the frontier. - - Signed: Edmund P. Gaines - Commanding General of The - Southwest Frontier. - - Order No. 20 - Headquarters, West Dept. - Fort Selden, Red River, - March 29, 1822. - - The General congratulates the Troops on the prospects of their - immediate occupation of an eligible position near the National - Boundary. - - Signed: Edmund P. Gaines, - Commanding General, - Southwest Frontier. - -These two orders confirmed a previous order issued to Taylor by Gaines -in November of 1821 while he was in Arkansas--an order to explore the -vicinity of Natchitoches and the Neutral Land and to locate a site for a -cantonment of a permanent nature, which would be nearer the Louisiana -and Texas boundary. - - [Illustration: MAP of the BUILDINGS of FORT JESUP - Explanation of the Map of Fort Jesup. 1831. - - In 1831 Fort Jesup had reached maximum in size and no new buildings - were added after this date. The scale of the map thus shown, is 132 - feet per inch. - - A. Dragoon Stables. - B. Stable. - C. Blissville. - D. Soldier's Quarters--3rd Inf. - E. Officers Quarters--3rd Inf. - F. Mess House--3rd Inf. - G. Officers Quarters No. 1. - H. Officers Quarters No. 2. - I. Officers Quarters No. 3. - J. Store House. - K. Powder Magazine. - L. Guard House. - M. Adjutant's Office--3rd Inf. - N. Quarter Master's Office. - O. Quarter Master's Office. - P. Commissionary Store. - Q. Soldier's Quarters 6 Buildings. - R. Cottage. - S. Officer's Quarters--7th Inf. - T. Officer's Quarters. - U. Adjutant's Office. - V. Hospital. - W. Kitchens to Soldier's Quarters. - Y. Soldier's Quarters. - X. Band's Quarters. - Z. Officer's Quarters. - P. Parade Grounds. - - - - - El Camino Real. - - Note: Today's Museum is a replica of one of the buildings listed as - Z and Kitchen is original of those listed as W.] - -Lieutenant Colonel Taylor selected the site and then wrote to General -Gaines informing him of his selection--on a hill which was the division -between the watersheds of the Red River and the Sabine River. He went as -far as he could to the west to establish a permanent command post. Camp -Sabine on Sabine River which was established by General Wilkinson was -not considered a permanent position, but only an encampment for the -benefit of the United States Police Patrol established in the Neutral -Strip to police the Sabine River border and to look after the safety of -the settlers within the area known as The Neutral Land. - -General Wilkinson and his detachment were never entirely successful in -quelling the activities of the lawless element. Federal troops stationed -at Sabine Town or Camp Sabine or Sabine Block-house (all one and the -same site) had some 5000 square miles of territory to patrol. A patrol -at that time would have consisted of ten mounted men and one officer. -There were approximately 112 men and officers at Camp Sabine, and the -detachment post would have consisted of ten patrols. If all were in -activity at the same time each patrol would have had 500 square miles to -patrol, which, of course, was an impossible task. At this time there -were about 50 men and officers in Natchitoches at Fort Claiborne and -even the two combined groups would not have been adequate for policing -such an enormous area. The outlaws knew this and in the Neutral Strip -the lawless roamed and pillaged at will and remained hidden in its -thousands of hills and hollows. - -It is interesting to note that at the time of the battle of New Orleans -in 1815 General Jackson thought the Neutral Strip frontier so important -that he did not withdraw the troops from that post to assist in the -battle with the British. - -In 1822 when Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor established a cantonment -at Jesup at Shields Spring by the order of General Edmund Pendleton -Gaines, on the highest hill between the Sabine River and the Red River, -he had taken into consideration the claim of Cavalier Robert de La -Salle, when in 1682, this Frenchman claimed all the land drained by that -river for the King of France. With the Louisiana purchase, which -consisted of all land claimed by France west of the Mississippi River, -this would include the site of Cantonment Jesup on that hilltop. The -rainwater falling on the western slope would drain into the Mississippi -River via Bayou Adais and Bonna Vista into Bayou Dupont to Little River -to Bayou Pierre to the Red River and thence into the Mississippi River. -Waters falling on the western slope would find the way to the Sabine -River via Phillips Bayou to Bayou LaNann, thence to the Sabine River. -Thus, the establishment of Cantonment Jesup at this particular spot had -argumentative value in favor of the United States against any outcome of -the melting-pot development which could arise west of the Sabine River. - -By November 9, 1822, the Quartermaster General's report stated that the -Federal militia was consolidated and located at the Garrison Post at -Baton Rouge, three hundred fifteen officers and men of the First -Infantry; and at Cantonment Jesup, one hundred forty-one officers and -men of four companies of the seventh Infantry under the command of -Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor. - -1822 marked the end of the detachment at Sabine Town, Fort Selden on -Bayou Pierre, near Grand Ecore, Louisiana and Fort Claiborne at -Natchitoches, Louisiana. - -When Mexico won her independence in 1821 the Empressario System was -continued and by the end of the year 1823, Stephen Fuller Austin had -executed the grant which had previously been given to his father, Moses -Austin, in which nearly three hundred American families were allowed to -settle in the Texas area. Colonel James B. Many, Commandante at -Cantonment Jesup, was there to greet the emigrants on their way to -Texas. The same year General Gaines decreed that Cantonment Jesup would -be known as Fort Jesup, and made it a permanent establishment of the -Army of the United States Government, which resulted in a more thorough -settlement of the Sabine area known as the Neutral Strip. - -Shawneetown, two miles to the west of Fort Jesup on El Camino Real, came -into existence to supply the evil demands of the immediate -area--gambling, horse-racing and other auxiliaries of dis-order. - -The twenty-five-mile house, or Midway House, two miles east of Fort -Jesup on the road to Natchitoches was a wayside tavern and Inn. - -By 1826 the Mexican Republic had forbidden further immigration into -Texas--the direct result of a contract which had been acquired by Hayden -Edwards to establish eight hundred families in the Nacogdoches area. -Here Edwards organized the short-lived Republic of Freedonia which -resulted from the Freedonia Rebellion. Edwards was driven out of the -Nacogdoches area and his contract revoked. - -In this same year a letter, originating at Fort Jesup, to the Governor -of Louisiana, appeared in the Natchitoches Courier, one of the two -newspapers published at Natchitoches at that time, answering the -President of the United States, who wanted to know about the possibility -of establishing steam navigation on the Red River above the Town of -Natchitoches. A duplicate of the original, which sent to the President, -was placed at the disposal of the Natchitoches Courier. Colonel James B. -Many at Fort Jesup wished the local citizens of the area to know that -the personnel at Fort Jesup was useful in ways other than military. - - The Natchitoches Courier - Fort Jesup - Natchitoches, Louisiana - March 13, 1826 - - Captain Berch and Lieutenant Lee with a detachment of men from Fort - Jesup, have been up the Red River examining the great rafts of debris - which block the channel of Red River. This detachment returned a few - days ago after an absence on that duty of about two months. We have - conversed with these scientific and learned gentlemen on the subject - of their excursion, the object of which was to ascertain the - practicability of opening steamboat traffic through or around these - obstructions. - - They report that in a distance of one hundred miles above the Town of - Natchitoches, there are 181 log jams, ranging from ten yards in length - to a distance of one-half mile. To clear these obstructions would be a - tremendous and expensive task. - - I wish to be remindful that in as much as the Sabine River which lies - west of this place, usually maintains enough water to afford its usage - by steamboats. In these trying times such as exists between ourselves - and our neighbors to the west, I think it advisable that such an - excursion be made up the Sabine River, for military if not to mention - commercial purposes. - - Signed: Colonel James B. Many, - Commander of the Southwest - Teritory, Fort Jesup, - Natchitoches, Louisiana.[13] - -In the same newspaper on this date appeared the advertisement: "Just -arrived on the Steamship-Packet, _Superior_, Captain Alex Le Sardo, -Master." - -And in the same paper on the same date was an advertisement of John -Baldwin's Store on El Camino Real: - - "Liquors--Maderia, Teneriff, Malaga, Claret wines, Cognac, Brandy, - Holland and English Gins, West Indian Rum, Old and Common whiskey, - coffee and tea. Loaf lump and brown sugar. 100 sacks of salt. Boots, - Shoes and Headwear. Cravats, Shawls, Collars and Cuffs (In Sets), - Handkerchiefs and Lace. Belts, Ribbons and Buckles. Full and half - cotton and wool hose. Mosquito bars. English gingham. Satins--black - and blue. Bleached and unbleached cotton shirting. Modes de Fasion - Casimers, Fancy Calicoes, Superior, friction-matches. Arm and Leg - Garters. - - Medicines 1/2 bbl. of hops, Jujube and Pectoral pastes, Swain's - Panacea, Stillman's Sasparilla pills, Liverwort, Arrowroot, Horehound, - Southern Cough drops, New England Cough Syrup, Oldridge's - Balm-Columbia, Lavender Water and Rose Water. - - Ready to wear trousers and overcoats from $1.00 to $25.00. Tobacco for - chewing and smoking. Extra sweet Havana cigars. - - Exquisite Organdies and Embroideries. - - Harness Buckles and Pistols. Also Suspenders and Corsets, $1.00 each. - -John Baldwin with his wife and two daughters must have established their -store prior to 1826. The location of the Baldwin Store marked the site -of the later town of Many, Louisiana, which derives its name from -Colonel James B. Many. Baldwin's Store, Tavern, Inn and Blacksmith Shop -comprised the area of the Stille home and the present sites of the -Sabine State Bank & Trust Co., and The Peoples State Bank in Many. - -During this period Manuel and Jose Chellettre operated the "Two -Brothers' Freight Line" between Natchitoches and Nacogdoches. Also at -this time the firm of Barr and Davenport had a freight line service -between the same two destinations. - -The newspaper also listed the names of the steamboats which were vying -for the Natchitoches-Texas trade: _The Florence_, _The Superior_, _The -Alexander_, _The Chesapeak_, _The Courtland_, _The Eliza_, _The Governor -Shelby_, _The Hornet_, _The Kiamechi_, _The Plaquemine_, _The Raven_, -_The Teche_, _The Telegraph_, _The Shepardess_ and _The Arkansas_. - -Henry Stoker, having received a government land grant, had by now -established his home, and he enlarged his holdings by trading eleven -horses for land belonging to several families of the Adais Indians who -were living near his homestead. - -Fort Jesup during its existence trained such men as Second Lieutenant -Phil Sheridan, Lieutenant Thomas Lawson, Captain Bragg, Lt. L. B. E. -Bonneville, Lt. James E. Goins, Captain Davie E. Twiggs, Capt. J. -Hardee, and Lt. Rufus Ingalls. These men during the war between the -states, became generals either for the North or the South. Lieutenant U. -S. Grant, who was stationed at Camp Salubrity near Grand Ecore, was -often a visitor at Fort Jesup. - - [Illustration: Map of Area Around Camp Sabine--1836] - -Such important men as David Crockett, James Bowie, Stephen F. Austin and -Sam Houston; and such famous scouts as Ben S. Lilly and "Big Foot" -Wallace visited there. Because they were welcomed and entertained at -Fort Jesup, accusations were made by the Spanish that Fort Jesup was a -meeting place for those planning the overthrow of the Mexican -government. And this may very well have been true, for supplies -necessary for the conduct of the war for Texas independence undoubtedly -passed through Fort Jesup. - -There is evidence that the United States did render secret support to -the fighting Texans in their struggle for independence. This fort at -such a strategic location could have blocked revolutionary movements in -this frontier area if it had chosen to do so. Because of this Fort Jesup -became recognized as the heart of the Texas-Mexican revolution. The -garrison at Fort Jesup assisted by checking the border Indians of -Louisiana, Arkansas and northern Texas, who may have otherwise aided the -Mexican forces against the retreating Sam Houston just before the Battle -of San Jacinto. - - - The Gaines Military Road, 1827-1828 - -The Military Road or The Gaines Military Road, sometimes referred to as -General Jackson's road, connected the two most remote western outposts -of the United States' army, Fort Jesup and Fort Towsin. This last was -located at the confluence of the Kiamechi River of Oklahoma and the Red -River. The military road was nearly three hundred miles long. - -In 1831 Fort Jesup came under the command of Brevet Brigadier General -Leavenworth, with six companies of the Seventh Infantry. In 1832 the -garrison was increased to two hundred ninety-six men and officers, and -Colonel James B. Many again assumed command. - -It was during the command of Gen. Leavenworth that some of the settlers -or squatters that had moved into the area, some within a half-mile -distance of the Fort, made themselves objectionable by selling whiskey -to the personnel at Fort Jesup. In order that the sale of whiskey near -the fort might be stopped the following order was issued: - - Order No. 69 - - To all whom it may concern: - - Having received instructions from General Leavenworth to take - possession for the United States, for the purpose of supplying fuel - for the garrison, of all public land within three miles of the - flagstaff of Fort Jesup; all persons having a "donation or - pre-emption" claim are hereby ordered to vacate the said premises - immediately, or at the earliest possible date, otherwise they will be - dealt with according to the law. - - Signed: Francis Lee - Acting Assistant Quartermaster - U. S. Army - - Fort Jesup, Louisiana, 7th November, 1831. - - - - - XVI - TEXAS AND INDEPENDENCE - 1831-1836 - - -James Bowie, David Crockett and Sam Houston were entertained at Fort -Jesup by Colonel Many while en-route to cast their lot with the Texans. -To greet these men in Nacogdoches were Thomas J. Busk, Frost Thorn, -Adolphus Sterne, Charles S. Taylor, Henry Raguet, Doctor Irion, John -Drust and William C. Logan, all of whom were to have a hand in winning -the Texas independence. - -The municipality of San Augustine was organized in 1833, and was the -first town in Texas to be laid out on the American plan of forty-eight -blocks, consisting of three hundred fifty-six feet with streets forty -feet wide, and two lots in the center for the Courthouse. - -The history of San Augustine dates back to the very earliest Texas -history, with its location astraddle the El Camino Real, previously the -Buffalo Trail and then part of the Caddo Indian trail system. Cabeza de -Vaca passed this spot and later a scouting party of the Hernando de Soto -expedition. The Ais (Ayist) Indians were there to greet the Domingo -Teran Del Rios Expedition and then the Domingo Ramone Expedition. The -Ais Indians of San Augustine were the first Texas Indians to establish -trade agreements with the French, when in 1708 the Frenchman, Bejoux, -began trading with them for horses. - -San Augustine became a most important port of entry, second only to -Galveston. It may very well be called the Cradle of Texas Independence -for it is said that any man entering San Augustine, be he French, -Spanish or American, became a Texan. Ninety percent of the men who -engaged in the strife for Texas independence had walked the streets of -San Augustine. - - [Illustration: Fort St. Jean Baptiste Des Natchitoches. - - Restoration of Colonial Natchitoches, Inc. - BUTLER & DOBSON, AIA - ARCHITECTS NATCHITOCHES - - This interpretation of how Fort St. Jean Baptiste looked was drawn - by the architects, Butler and Dobson of Natchitoches, for the - Committee for the Restoration of Colonial Natchitoches, Inc. - - It is my sincere hope that this restoration will be executed by the - year 1964 when Natchitoches will in that year celebrate her 250th - anniversary. - - To the Frenchmen of that period, the title, Fort St. Jean Baptiste - des Natchitoches, meant that the Fort or Post was named for St. John - The Baptist and that its location was among the Natchitoches - Indians. - - It was this Fort which St. Denis defended against the Natchez - Indians in 1731.] - - [Illustration: Old Kitchen of Fort Jesup--only remaining building of - the original fort] - -The progress of the struggle for Texas independence was watched with -keenest interest throughout the United States, but the interest south of -the Mason-Dixon line was greater as most of the Texas settlers came from -the Southern states. - -Louis Cass, the Secretary of War, on January 23, 1835, sent instructions -to Major General Edmund P. Gaines, ordering him to move to a position -nearer the western frontier of Louisiana, and to assume personal command -of the troops near the Mexican (Texas) border. Blockhouses were erected -to protect the supplies of the personnel of the camp. General Gaines -took personal command of the troops there. - -The Red River by the year 1835 had changed its course and taken the -Bayou Rigolet de Bon Dieux as its main channel, leaving Natchitoches -high and dry except during the spring and winter months. The river port -of Grand Ecore then became the most important shipping port for the -southwestern area of Louisiana and eastern Texas. The Texas trail now -by-passed Natchitoches some four miles to the west, connecting it with -Grand Ecore. - -General Gaines wrote of the decaying condition of the buildings at Fort -Jesup, and acquired a twenty-five thousand dollar appropriation for -their repair through the help of Thomas S. Jesup, Quartermaster General -of the United States, who had been given the honor of having Fort Jesup -named after him. - -General Gaines possessed a war-like nature and he nourished the idea of -annexing Texas in one blaze of glory for himself. Further, he knew that -President Andrew Jackson wanted Texas as a part of the United States. - -Gaines, in a letter to Cass, stated that B. F. Palmer and William -Palmer, living near Fort Jesup, had informed him that a Spaniard had -arrived at the house of one of their neighbors, saying he had been -commissioned by Santa Anna to go among the Caddos and other upper Red -River tribes of Indians and stir them up into attacking the upper -settlements of Texas. Gaines had sent Lieutenant Bonnel with Eusebia -Cartinez, to gain the good will of the Caddos without success. But they -were successful among the Indians further to the west of the Caddos. -They learned that Manuel Flores, who had established at Spanish-Town -between Fort Jesup and Natchitoches, won alliances with the Caddos. - -Enclosed in the letter were communications from Henry Raguet, Chairman -of the Committee of Vigilance at Nacogdoches and A. Hotchkiss, Chairman -of a similar committee at San Augustine, both declaring that Indians had -moved into the area along El Camino Real and requesting an -investigation. - -Cass was informed that the Alamo had fallen and many of the troops, -including Fannin, were killed near Goliad on the Madina River and that -Sam Houston was in full retreat toward the Louisiana border. - -Gaines now received orders to use his own judgment about the affairs on -the frontier, and that if he had to go into the Texas territory to -insure the peace of the frontier, he could go no further than -Nacogdoches. - -Gaines was still at Sabine Blockhouse when word came that on April 18, -1836, Sam Houston had defeated Santa Anna at San Jacinto Bay. Thus -Gaines' chance for glory was gone. However, he must be credited with a -timely move, when a few weeks before he had ordered troops to -Nacogdoches, thus spoiling the counterpunch attempted by Santa Anna to -stir up the Indians. This, without a doubt, quelled the prospective -uprising of the Indians. - - - TREATY WITH THE CADDO INDIANS - -In June, 1835, Colonel Many sent a contingent of soldiers to the upper -Red River country to lend assistance in the signing and execution of the -treaty between the United States and the Caddo Indians. At the Caddo -Indian Agency house, located on a bluff overlooking Bayou Pierre, nine -miles south of the present-day city of Shreveport, was drawn an -agreement with the Indians, dated July 1, 1835: - - The Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors of the tribes of the Caddo Nation of - Indians, agree to cede and relinquish to the United States all land - contained in the following boundaries: Bounded on the west by the - North-south line which separates Louisiana and the United States from - the Republic of Mexico and on the west by the Red River in the - Territory of Louisiana and Arkansas. - - The Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors agree to relinquish their possession - of the land and agree to move out of the boundaries of the United - States at their own expense, and never to return to live, settle, or - establish themselves as a nation or a community. - - In consideration the Caddo Nation will be paid $30,000 in goods and - horses as agreed upon and $10,000 to be paid per annum in money, each - year, for the four years following. Making a whole sum of $80,000, - paid and payable. - - In Testimony Whereof, the said Jehiel Brooks, Commissioner, the - Chiefs, Headmen and Warriors of the Caddo Nation, have hereunto set - their hands and affixed their seals. - - Signed: Jehiel Brooks - - Tarshar His X Mark - Tasauninot His X Mark - Saliownhown His X Mark - Tennehinun His X Mark - Oat His X Mark - Tinnowin His X Mark - Chowabah His X Mark - Kianhoon His X Mark - Tialesun His X Mark - Tehowawinow His X Mark - Tewinnun His X Mark - Kardy His X Mark - Tiohtow His X Mark - Tehowahinno His X Mark - Tooeksoach His X Mark - Tehowainia His X Mark - Sauninow His X Mark - Saunivaot His X Mark - Highahidock His X Mark - Mattan His X Mark - Towabimneh His X Mark - Aach His X Mark - Sookiantow His X Mark - Sohone His X Mark - Ossinse His X Mark - - In the Presence of: - - Thomas J. Harrison, Capt, 3rd Regt Inf. - Commander of Detachment from Fort Jesup, Louisiana. - J. Bonnell, 1st Lieut, 3rd Regt Inf., - Fort Jesup, Louisiana. - G. P. Frile, 2nd Lieut, 3rd Regt Inf., - Fort Jesup, Louisiana. - D. M. Heard, M. D., Acting Assistant Surgeon, - U. S. A., Fort Jesup, Louisiana. - Isaac C. Williamson, Citizen. - Henry Queen, Citizen. - John P. Edwards, Interpreter. - -Other Recommendations: - -Articles supplementary to Treaty, whereas: The said Indian Nation gave -to Francois Grappe and his three (3) sons, then born and still living -named, Jacques, Dominique and Balthazar, in the year 1801, one league of -land to each, according to the Spanish custom. This being a total of -four square leagues of land. - -Larken Edwards, being old and unable to work and having been a steadfast -friend of the Caddo Indians, was also given at the request of the -Indians, land which now comprises most of the area of present day -Shreveport, Louisiana. - -On May 14, 1837, the following ad appeared in the Red River Gazette, a -Natchitoches newspaper: - - A. W. P. Ussery has the pleasure to inform friends and the public that - he has taken the Fort Jesup Hotel and is now ready for company. He has - a commodious house and stable and a delightful situation. In addition - to the comforts of the well regulated house, the weary traveler will - be regaled at night and morning by the delightful music of the Fort - Jesup Band. - -With the ability of Texas to maintain her independence, Fort Jesup -settled down to the humdrum existence of a peaceful, frontier post. In -the summer of 1838 the garrison was reduced to two companies of men and -officers. In 1840 the third infantry members at Fort Jesup were ordered -to Florida. This left one company of fourth infantry at Fort Jesup. - -Texas threw open its doors to immigrants and daily these passed through -the Fort Jesup area, to travel El Camino Real westward. Many, however, -stopped in the Natchitoches-Sabine country. Texans knew that immigrants -represented power, power to resist Mexico. - -This peaceful existence was not to last long. There was talk of the -annexation of Texas by the United States which Mexico did not want. For -as long as Texas was a Republic there was a possibility that Mexico -might recover this prize possession, a possession which also included -the present states of New Mexico and a part of Wyoming. - -As early as 1843 the United States was contemplating acquiring Texas as -a state. In the meantime they had purchased the territory of New Mexico, -Utah, Nevada and Wyoming from Texas which did not set well with the -Republic of Mexico. There was a kind of cold friendship existing between -the United States and Mexico. - -Late in 1843 General Zachary Taylor was ordered to the Texas-Louisiana -frontier, thus early in 1844 there came to Fort Jesup the Army of -Observation. - -Camp Salubrity was established three miles west of Grand Ecore on the -Texas Road May 18, 1844, where the fourth infantry companies were -encamped. One of the young officers was Lieutenant U. S. Grant. - -On May 18, 1845, General Taylor at Fort Jesup received a letter marked -"Confidential" from Secretary of War, Marcey. This secretly and -officially marked the beginning of the disposition of troops and the -laying of plans for the war with Mexico. Marcey wrote, "I am directed by -the President to cause forces now under your command and those which may -be assigned, to be put into position where they may most promptly act in -the defense of Texas." - -At Fort Jesup under the command of General Taylor were seven companies -of the Second Dragoons and eight companies of the Fourth Infantry. Four -companies of the Fourth Infantry were stationed at Camp Salubrity. - -Texas expressed a desire at the July 1845 session of the Texas Congress -to become a State of the Union. - -General Taylor at Fort Jesup received instructions to place the Troops -under his command in the Army of Observation in such locations that -would be most advantageous to render support to Texas if such an -occasion should arise. - -The Mexican conflict seemed inevitable and Taylor ordered Camp Salubrity -abandoned and the Companies of Infantry there boarded steamboats at -Grand Ecore for New Orleans along with three companies of the four -companies of the 4th infantry which were stationed at Fort Jesup. - -This July 1845 Report from Fort Jesup explains the removal of the Troops -from Fort Jesup and those who remained: - - July 17, 1845, The 3rd Infantry under the command of Lt. Col. - Hitchcock left this post for the point of embarkation for New Orleans. - - July 25, 1845, The 2nd Dragoons under the command of Colonel Twiggs - left this post for Texas Via the Texas Trail. On this day Lt. Zill P. - Inge assumes command at Fort Jesup. - - There remains at this Post, and all present accounted for the - following: One Company of the 4th infantry and one company of the 2nd - Dragoons. The names of these men appear on the July 31, 1845, Daily - Report. - - Conally Triche. - George S. Darte. - Quims Tomas. - James Huntly. - William Story. - James Welsh. - Francis Shaw. - Samuel Tacker. - George Waggoner. - Andrew Munscle. - John A. Goddard. - Benjiman Peterson. - David S. Barslette. - John McDormott. - Joseph McGee. - Richard Goldring. - Samuel H. Jordan. - James Conway. - Ferdinand Turkels. - Thurman Patterson. - Michael Sheridan. - William H. McDonnald. - Isaac Curry. - John L. Creps. - John B. Hickey. - John Murphy. - Paul Spencer. - Hugh McHugh. - John R. Bloomer. - William Horton. - Cazimiery Rosinowski. - George Cassody. - Ames W. Grimes. - Reubin W Brenner. - William Hearne. - John B Rezzer. - Alexinder Silves. - James Sheene. - Charles W Williams. - John Adams. - William Bayer. - James Heath. - Michael O'Keefe. - William R Smith. - John Mitchele. - John W. Conway. - William Stansbury. - Jeremiach O'Leary. - William Bailey. - James Long. - Edward Harrington. - Patrick Connally. - Thomas Kelley. - Peter Savage. - William Ashton. - Stephen Turner. - Joseph A Jinkins. - Patrick Maloney. - George Holmes. - Louis H Tucker. - John Hamilton. - James Horton. - James Foley. - Horice Clark. - William Howe. - Isaac Trotter. - William McGill. - Berman Wellenbrook. - William Taylor. - Edward Melton. - Gregory Bishop. - John Goodele. - Robinson McClellan. - Michale Ryan. - Archibald Turner. - Samuel Turner. - John Freeman. - George Hendricks. - Hamilton Taylor. - James Doughtry. - Asa Freleigh. - William Pully. - Francis Gillam. - William R Keeper. - Henry Burrows. - Joseph R Steward. - John Dorian. - Frederick Leach. - William Turner. - Alexander Cody. - William A Burks. - John Hunter. - Phillip Hoffman. - Richard A Banks. - Patrick Bigland. - Charles W Livingston. - -These men comprise the 1st Company of the 2nd Dragoons and One half -Company of the 3rd Inf. and one half Company of the 4th infantry. Most -of them were sick at the time of the dispersement of the troops at Fort -Jesup. - -Signed: - 1st Lt Zill P Inge - 1st Co 2nd Dragoons. - Fort Jesup, La. - -July 31 1845. - -On November 29, 1845, the Adjutant General ordered that Fort Jesup was -no longer required as a military post, all military supplies, buildings -and land be disposed of. - -Thus Zachary Taylor when a Lt. Col. executed the order to establish Fort -Jesup and 23 years later as a Brigadier General executed the order to -abandon it. - -Ironic as it may seem, Fort Jesup brought law to a lawless land. It was -a buffer zone through which passed softly, those intent on a new kind of -freedom. It was the mould which shaped the southwestern section of these -United States. - - [Illustration: Old Ambroise Sompayrac House - Natchitoches chief depot for trade with Mexico, early 1800's - Washington St. at Pavie on River ... demolished in 1900.] - -If one must in a few words offer a summation of all that has passed -before.... Then. - - This tiny spot, in Louisiana's vast domain, - High on a hill-top, a memory to remain. - Redbuds and Dogwood, bring spring's tender smile, - To a land so fertile, it rivals that of the Nile. - Yonder, the Red's mighty currents roll. - Gleaming, sparkling, rivaling Hidalgo's Gold. - - In a grove, where the stately Pine trees tower, - Blending with the Oak, the Ash and wild Flower, - Quickly, their lips meet and arms entwine, - Secluded they are, by the Rattan-vine, - This love doesn't any boundary know. - The Savage speaks, 'tis time to go. - - They match wits, the Hidalgo and the Fleur de Lys. - Fiesta and Fandangero, invited, they all come to see. - This Wilderness Road, which both Friend and Enemy Travel - This intricate-mess, shall two men unravel - From Crescent-City to Natchitoches and on to Mexico, - Past Los Adais and Presidios, must Saint and Sinner go. - - This Land--'tis Mine, 'tis Yours, 'tis Mine. - To the Stars and Stripes the Savage states, 'twas Mine. - To his God, Ayandt Daddi, in a blanketed-blue sky, - He looks and he questions, "Whither goest I?" - To his people, his eyes reflect his fears, - Caddo generosity paid, with "A Trail of Tears." - - - - - ADDENDA - - - - - LAND GRANTS - - -In 1816 the United States Land Office sent representatives to -Natchitoches, although previously representatives had been in -Natchitoches in 1806 to register land claims within the Neutral Strip -area. Proof was demanded of people settling land in the Neutral Strip, -referring to either French or Spanish grants. - -In 1730 Zavallez, then Governor of Los Adais, granted three square -leagues of land to Manuel Sanchez on Los Pedro Creek (Bayou Pierre), the -grant was listed as La Nana de Los Rio Pedro. (Note: The wife of St. -Denis was a Sanchez, her mother being Maria Esperrillo Sanchez before -her marriage to Don Diago Ramone). The Sanchez Grant is also referred to -as Los Tres Llanos (Three Plains) was approved again in 1742 by Governor -Larros in the name of Governor Winthusin. The son of Manuel Sanchez was -eighty two years of age when in 1832 a clear title was issued by the -United States Land Office. The Sanchez family had lived on the land 102 -years before they obtained a clear title to it. - -Juan de Mora was granted one league square of land on Bayou Dupont at -Los Adais by Zavallez which is the land located in an area known today -as "Fish Pond Bottom." - -Testimony of Gregoria Mora before the land office officials shows: "This -is a receipt of tithes I collected on land west of the Calcasieu River, -West of Bayou Kisachey and west of Arroyo Hondo. Also west of Bayou -Pedro (Bayou Pierre) dated in Nacogdoches, Feb. 27, 1797, and signed by -Jose Maria Guadiana (Rubric) - - Owner of Land _Location_ - - Pablo Lifita Los Pedros Creek - (Bayou Pierre) - Andres Balentine " - Jose Lavina Los Cebellas Prairie - Pedro Dolet Los Adais Creek - (Winn Creek) - Antonio Dubois " - Francisco Prudhomme In village of Adais - Indians, one mile - north of Robeline - near site of the - Presidio de Los - Adais. - Francisco Morban (Der Bonne) Dorango Creek (west - of the village of - Allen and three - miles northwest of - the village of - Shamrock) - Widdow of Tontin Bisson On Topolcot Creek - at Allen site, near - Leroy Anderson - Plantation - Manuel Prudhomme On Lago Ocosa Near - Cypress, Louisiana - Marfil On Lago de Los - Adais (Spanish Lake) - Francois Rouquier West of Lago Tierre - Noir (Sibley Lake) - Santiago Wallace (Englishman) On San Juan Creek - (Bay St. John in - the Lake Charles - area) - Jose Piernas At Santo Maria - Adelaide (vicinity - of Zwolle, - Louisiana) - - - Claim of Pedro Dolet, Frenchman (Pierre Dole) - -On December 29, 1795, I, Jose Cayetano de Zepede, executor to Los Adais -and by request of Antonio Gil y Barbo Governor of Texas at Nacogdoches, -went with my assistant, Don Jose de La Vega to a place at Los Adais, -where a petitioner had built a home there. I granted this land. - - He pulled up Grass, - Planted Stakes, - Threw dust into the air, - -To show his possession. - -I have granted this land and designate the aforesaid tract of land as -"San Pedro de Los Adais." - - Signed: - Don Luis de La Vega. - Vincente Del Rio - Jose Cayeleno de Zepeda - Executor - - - Claim of Edward Murphy - -Don Edwardo Murphy, petitioner from the post at Natchitoches, states -that on a creek La Petit St. Jean and Reo Hondo I find advantageous to -collect my cattle, I humbly ask of you to give me possession of this -land. - -Nacogdoches, October 17, 1791. In consequence of petitioner and that the -land solicited is in the province of Texas and vacant I do grant in due -best form and that it may so appear. - - Signed: - Antonio Gil y Barbo - -(Note: This tract of land was in the area of southwest from the Country -Club of Natchitoches on Highway 1 North). - - -Claim of Edward Murphy for the Firm of Murphy, Smith, Barr and Davenport - - Edward Murphy, Leander Smith, William Barr, Samuel Davenport. - (District Judge William Murray heard the plea of the Firm of Murphy, - Smith, Davenport and Barr). - -August 1, 1798, Don Jose Guadiana, Governor at Nacogdoches, granted to -Don Edward Murphy a grant of land named "La Nana Prairie" located seven -leagues east of the Rio Sabinas on the road to Natchitoches, 144 -sections of land astraddle El Camino Real (a 12 square mile land grant, -extending eastward from Bayou Lana and could have very well taken the -townsite of Many, Louisiana. Murphy transferred this land to the above -mentioned firm, November 3, 1798). - - - Claim of Michel Crow - -Michel Crow, son of Isaac Crow, who wed the widow Chabineau of the Post -at Natchitoches, bought the land of Miguel Viciente which has been -granted to Miguel Viciente in 1769 by Governor Hugo O'Connor, who was at -that time Governor of Los Adais and all of the Texas country. The grant -was listed as San Miguel de Los Rio Patrice and was located on the -Sabine River and Patrice Creek in the northwest portion of Sabine -Parish. - -One incident in which an arrest and the results of which served as -evidence in favor of the victim occurred while Lieutenant Zebulon M. -Pike was in command of a police patrol of the Neutral Strip in 1806, -when he arrested Michel Crow and brought him to the post at -Natchitoches, accusing him of contraband operations to and from the -Texas country. Captain Bernardino Mantero, leading a Spanish patrol with -the assistance of Lieutenants Pike and McGee, came to the ranchero of -Michael Crow and upon questioning Crow's wife and her two sons, learned -of the actions of Lieutenant Pike previously. Captain Mantero went to -Natchitoches and declared that Crow was innocent of such charges and -that the unfortunate Crow was only engaged in farming and ranching; -further the Spanish did not have Crow's name on the list of traders in -contrabrand known to the Spanish at Nacogdoches, thus, when Michel Crow -registered his claim for land, he had proof of the length of time he had -resided there taken from the arrest papers. - - - Claim of the Heirs of Widow Tontin - -In 1791 Anthanase De Mezieres granted to Julian and Pierre Bisson land -called Ecore Rouge (Red Hill) located at the present day hamlet of Allen -between Robeline and Powhattan, Louisiana, one hundred ninety square -arpents of land on each side of Topelcot Bayou. The widow Tontin, nee -Possiot, wed Julian Bisson (Note: The store at Allen and the home of -Leroy--Dobber--Anderson are located atop Ecore Rouge). - - - Claim of the Heirs of Anthanase Poissot - -In 1792, Anthanase De Mezieres, Governor of the Texas region at -Natchitoches Post, granted land to Anthanase Poissot in recognition of -his claim of having bought the land of La Tres Cabanes (Three Cabins) -from Chief Antoine of the Hyatasses (Yatassee Indians) on Bayou Pierre. - - [Illustration: An exact reproduction of one of the officers' - quarters at Fort Jesup which now houses the relics pertaining to the - fort. - - Fort Jesup, originally "Cantonment Jesup," was established in the - spring of 1821, by Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Taylor, who was - executing the orders of Major General Edmund Pendleton Gaines. - Taylor had under his command four companies of the United States 7th - Infantry. - - On November 29, 1845 the Adjutant General ordered that Fort Jessup - was no longer required as a military post and that all military - supplies, buildings and land be disposed of.] - - [Illustration: Original plans of Fort Jesup] - - 1. Mess Hall - 2. Enlisted Men's Quarters - 3. Officers' Quarters - - [Illustration: Officers' Quarters--another view.] - - - Claim of the Firm of Murphy, Smith, Davenport and Barr - -The Los Ormegas Land Grant of Jacinto Mora contained two hundred seven -thousand three hundred sixty acres bordering on the east bank of the -Sabine River and astradle El Camino Real. The grant was issued by Jose -Cayeleno de Zepeda, Governor at Nacogdoches and was sold to the above -mentioned firm in 1805. The land was transferred under the title of -Santa Marie Adelaide Ormegas, but was not recognized by the United -States Government until 1842. - - - Claim of the Heirs of Pierre Gainnie (Pedro Gane) (Pier Gagnier) - Hipolite Bordelon Francois Grappe (Francisco Grebb) (Franquis Grebbe) - -These three men bought the land of the Chescher Indians (The area -comprises the Mibermel Ranch near Powhattan, Louisiana, and the area of -Three League Bayou or Nine Mile Bayou). - -This grant was recognized by Anthanase DeMezieres of the Post at -Natchitoches. - - - Families of the Neutral Strip (1805) - -Records of Diago Maria Morfil, representing the Spanish of that area, in -lieu of Jacinto Mora, directive of the Governor at Nacogdoches of the -Texas Region, presented this record of families considered under the -jurisdiction of Presidio Neustra Senora Del Pilar de Los Adais to the -United States Land Agents in 1816: - - Don Marcelo de Soto, farmer, wife, Dona Maries Baillio, Frenchwoman, - two sons, two daughters, resided on Los Pedro Creek (Bayou - Pierre). - Pedro Lafita, Spanish, wife, Louise Gainnie, Frenchwoman, resided on - Bayou Los Tres Leagues. - Luis Beltran, Frenchman, resided on Rio Hondo (Young's Bayou) or Bayou - La Jeune. (Unmarried) - Vincente Rolan, Frenchman, wed Melanie Vascoque, Frenchwoman, residing - on Bayou Durange. (This bayou drains Cypress Swamp and empties - into Topelcot Creek, also known as Cypress Swamp, Hall Break - area, north of Marthaville, Louisiana). - Don Antainse Possiot, Frenchman, wed to Juanna Elena Pabi, - Frenchwoman. Note: This is the Anthanase Poissot who bought - land from the Chescher Indians on Three League Bayou, which - extended westward to Bayou Pierre. - Michael Rambin, Frenchman wed to Theresa Baillio (Theresa Baillio, - sister to Maria Baillio who wed Marcelo De Soto) resided on - Los Pedros Creek (Bayou Pierre). There was one hired hand on - this farm, Jose Crafon, Spanish. - Jean Balbado, Frenchman wed to Lenore Tessier, Frenchwoman, resided on - Arroyo Hondo (Hagewood or Coldwater vicinity between Robeline - and Natchitoches, Louisiana). - Jean Tessier, Frenchman and widower, resided in the same area as - above. - Louis Fortin, Frenchman, wed to Manuella Aragon, Spanish, resided on - land of Francois Prudhomme which was among the Adais Indians, - at Los Adais. - Francisco Prudhomme, Frenchman wed to Anne Marie Rambin, Frenchwoman, - two sons and seven daughters. Prudhomme in 1805 was 74 years - old. This land among the Adais Indians was granted to - Prudhomme by DeMezieres in 1771. Francois Prudhomme was a - trader among the Indians and at the same time had a Spanish - co-partner, Antonio Gil y Barbo, who traded among the Spanish - along El Camino Real. Manuel Flores was another partner of - Prudhomme, also Miguel Viciente who later sold his grant to - Isaac Crow. It is very likely that Viciente at his out of the - way home on Sabine River was a trader in contraband - merchandise supplied by Prudhomme. The trail leading from - Sabine River and the home of Miguel Viciente on Bayou San - Patrice and eastward to the Red River via Converse, Pleasant - Hill and to Bayou Pierre was a contraband trail. In 1723 Paul - Muller established Post du Bayou Pierre, with contraband trade - with the Spanish as his aim. Post du Bayou Pierre developed - into the Town of Bayou Pierre. This trail was traveled by - Gutierrez and his followers when they were pursued by the - Royalists, Spanish Troops. Post du Bayou Pierre, The Town of - Bayou Pierre, King Hill and Jordan Ferry are all one and the - same. - Pierre Dole (Pedro Dolet or Peter Dolet), Frenchman mentioned earlier - wed Dona Rose Duprez, Spanish woman, resided on Bayou Adais - (Winn Creek, west of Robeline, Louisiana). - Andria Valentine (Andria Balentine) Frenchman, wed Angela Molis, - French woman, resided on Bayou La Jeune (Youngs' Bayou) near - Coldwater vicinity. - Elina Wales, widow, American, three sons, Jacob, Thomas and Benjamin, - resided on Bayou La Jeune. - Jacinto Gane (Jacinto Gannie, Gainnie, Gagnier), evidently a son of - Pierre Gainnie, resided on land grant mentioned before. - Bacitio Gane of the same family mentioned above, Frenchman, wed Marie - Lafita, Spanish woman. - Miguel Viciente, Spanish, mentioned before, wed Elena Roubeaux French - woman, is the same land grant sold to Isaac Crow, which was - being claimed by his son, Michel. - Pedro Roblo, Pierre Roubeaux, Frenchman, wed Magdelina Baptiste, - Spanish woman, resided on Durango Creek. - Francisco Moran, Frenchman, wed Anna Maria, an Apache mestizo, the - word mestizo in Spanish refers to a half-breed offspring of - Spanish and Indian parents. Moran was an Indian trader for - Anthanaze De Mezieres and operated along El Camino Real with a - certified passport. He was said to speak French, Spanish and - thirty-eight Indian dialects. He often accompanied DeMezieres - as an interpreter. He asked for and received three acres of - land on El Camino Real in the vicinity of Robeline, Louisiana. - In 1805 Moran was seventy-eight years old. - Santiago Christine, Frenchman wed Marie D'Ortigeaux, French woman, - resided on Bayou Pierre. - Antonio Rocquier, Frenchman, wed Marrianne, an English woman. This - grant by De Mezieres has already been mentioned as to - location. - Michel Crow, Englishman, wed Margarita La Fleur (LaFleur-Flores) - Spanish woman, resided, as before mentioned in the claim of - the firm, Murphy, Smith, Barr and Davenport. - -In 1806 the following had applied for homesteads and received quarter -sections of land: William Eldridge, George Mac Tier, Manuel Flores, John -Cartez, Asa Becherson, Stephen Wallace and Seaborne Maillard. - -Peter Belieu, who had been living on Bayou Pierre for fifty years, -declared squatters' rights, as did Walter Weathersby, Francois Dubois, -David Chase, Jean Pierre Grappe, Joseph Teanriz, Mickel Chasneau, -Benjamin Boullett, William Cockerville, Denise Dies (Diez). - -In the area of Cypress, Flora Provincal and Kisatchie, Louisiana, the -land was granted by Athanase De Mezieres in 1771-1776, to: Pierre Joseph -Maises, at Cypress, Louisiana, on Lago Acasse; Baptiste Prudhomme, also -near Cypress; Madam Marie Palagie on Drunkard's Bayou near Flora, -Louisiana; Thomas Vascoque near Provincal, Louisiana; Joseph Procell, a -Spaniard, west of Bayou Derbonne, west of Melrose, Louisiana; Pierre -Sanscalier on Bayou Kisatchie near Kisatchie, Louisiana, who used the -fresh spring water of Kisatchie and made the finest corn whiskey on the -whole Neutral Strip; and, Leander Lasso on Petite Bayou Pierre, south -and west of present-day Cloutierville, Louisiana. - -Within the area of present day Sabine Parish were these settlers in -1805: Joe Leaky, John Wadell, Christopher Anthony, Thomas Hicks, Jacob -Winfree, Jose Rivers, Peter Patterson, David Weathersby, David Walters, -John Gordon, Benjamin Winfree, James Kirklin, Andres Galinto, Jose -Procell, James Denny, Manuel Bustamento, John Yocum, Jessy Yocum and -Michel Crow. E. Dillon, A. Davidson, Barbe, Beebe, Cartinez, Slocomb and -Addington. - - - - - FAMILY TREE OF ST. DENIS - (Born Sept. 17, 1676, Died June 11, 1744.) - - - Jean Juchereau wed Marie Langlois. - Son - Nicholas Juchereau de St. Denis wed Theresa Giffard. - Son - Louis Juchereau de St. Denis wed Emanuello Sanchez de Navarro Ramone. - Children were: - Marie Rose Juchereau de St. Denis wed Jacques De La Chaise. - Louis Charles Juchereau de St. Denis wed Marie Barbier. - Marie des Delores Simone de St. Denis wed Cesair de Blanc. - Child, Louis Charles de Blanc. - Louise Margarite Juchereau de St. Denis.--Died young. - Marie Patronille Feliciane Juchereau de St. Denis wed Athanase - DeMezieres. There was one child, Louise Feliciane - DeMezieres, who may have wed a Prudhomme.[14] DeMezieres' - second wife was Pelagie Fazenda, whose name is noted on - several birth records as a Godmother. - Marie des Neiges Juchereau de St. Denis wed Manuell Antoine de Soto - Bermuda. - Children were: - Marie Manuello de Soto wed Augustain Le Noir. - Ludoric Joseph Firmin de Soto. - Marie Joseph de Soto--died young. - Joseph Marcel de Soto wed Marie Ballio. - S. Antoine Gertrudes de Soto wed Manuell Flores. - Emanuello Marie Anne de Soto wed Joseph Rambin. - - - - - BAPTISMAL RECORDS OF NATCHITOCHES - 1734 TO 1740 - - - _Child_ _Parents_ _Godfather _Godmother - (Parin)_ (Marin)_ - - J. Avanboite. J. Avanboite. Francois Godeau. Rose De St. Denis. - Marie Badin. - - 1735 - - J. Dupree. J. Dupree. J. Dupree. L. Riotou. - Anna Maria - Phillipo. - H. Triche. J. Triche. A. Gonzales. E. S. De Navarre - (Madam St. Denis) - Lorette Grenot. - Neona Bautimino. L. Bautimino. L. J. De St. E. S. De St. - Denis. (Louis Denis. (Madam St. - Jauchero) Denis) - Theresa Navarre - A. Lage. A. Lage. A. Dupin. Anna Verger. - Maria De La Chase. - A. Prevot. Nicholas Prevot. J. Bossier. Ananise Chaneau. - (Madame Chmard) - Yevonne Dubois. - J. Leroy Lise Francis M. de St. Denis. Madam de St. - Gillot. Denis. - Silveran Leroy. - J. Rachal. Pierre Rachal. P. Cussin. Jeanne Piquerey. - Marie Anna - Benoist. - - 1736 - - M. V. Prudhomme. J. B. Prudhomme. G. Chevert. Marie - Victoria-Gonzalez - Derbonne. - Celest Mestier. - Theresa J. Levasseur. G. Chevert. Theresa Barbier. - Levasseur. - M. F. Bourdon. - J. B. Brevel. J. B. Brevel. J. B. Prudhomme. Marcel Bacques. - A. Tvianac. - M. Chevert. G. Chevert J. B. Prudhomme. Marainne Bacques. - Y. Mestier. - R. Dupree. J. Dupree. Rime Avare. H'Elane Dubois. - Theresa Barbier. - (Second wife of - Dupree). - - 1737 - - Ann Lage. Justine Lage. A. Lage. M. de La Chase. - F. Buart. - M. F. Gauthier. J. Gauthier. R. Dubois. Marie Francine - Renaudier. - Manuello Lorenzo - Devaca. - M. L. Manne. Francisci Manne. J. B. Derbonne. Marie Gonzales - Derboune. - Joan Derbonne. - N. Prevot. Nicholas Prevot. P. Prevot. Zelia Prevot. - Yevonne Dubois. - - 1738 - - R. Possoit. R. Possiot. H. Riche. A. Dumont. - A. M. Phillipi. - M. R. Boisselier. J. Boisselier. J. McCartey. E. Santhez y - Navarre. - C. Labarre. - L. Rondin. J. Rondin. Luis Goudeau. J. Piguery. - (Doctor) - E. Flores. - C. F. Lavasseur. J. Lavesseur. F. Manne. J. U. Garcia. - M. F. Bourdon. - M. F. Chevert. G. Chavert. G. Barbier. M. F. Bourdon. - Th. Barbier. - J. B. Trichelle. L. Trichell. J. B. Derbonne. A. DeManche. - M. Demonde. - - 1739 - - H. M. S. Brevel. J. B. Brevel. L. Goudeau. J. Piguery. - A. Tvianac. - J. B. Prudhomme. J. B. Prudhomme. F. Daicdeau. Donna Girtrudus - Gonzalez. - Celest Mestier. - J. Rachal. P. Rachal. J. Rondin. E. Rachal. - M. A. Benoist. - F. Rambin. Andres Rambin. Louis Rambin. Marie Cathern de - (Grandfather Poutree - also) (Grandmother) - Zelia Prevot. - E. Verger. J. Verger. L. DeMalathe. M. A. Rousseau. - A. Demont. - L. Lager. J. Lager. L. DeMalathe. M. Flores. - F. Buard. - L. DeMatlathe. L. DeMatalathe. Manuel Flores. Th. Flores. - M. Flores. - E. Trechelle. H. Trichell. L. J. de St. E. Sanchez de St. - Denis. Deni. - M. Charles. - E. Possiot. R. Possiot. S. J. Maderne. M. Buard. - A. M. Phillipi. - P. DeLuche. J. DeLuche. P. Fausse. J. Grenot. - M. DeLuche. M. Benoist.[15] - (Melanie Benoist) - M. LeRoy. Siveran LeRoy. G. Bosseau. M. de La Chais - Lise Francis - Guillot. - - 1740 - - A. Prudhomme. J. Prudhomme. L. J. de St. Donna E. Sanchez - Denis. de St. Denis. - C. Mestier. - H. D. Marine. J. A. Marine. H. Trechelle. M. Dumont. - G. O. L. Perot. - E. Vidol. E. Vidol. J. DeLuche. M. Benoist - DeLuche. - C. Lavespere. - H. L. Lavespere. H. Lavespere. L. J. de St. M. Derbonne. - Denis. - C. Brossilier. - M. Leroy. Siveran LeRoy J. DeLuche. M. H. Guillot. - L. S. Guillot. - Note: Margarite LeRoy who was Christened in 1739 wed Louis Rachall, a - French Soldier, in 1757. She was 17 years old. Her Sister Marie who was - Christened in 1740 wed Jean Baptiste Le Campti who was also a French - Soldier, in 1758. - M. J. Levasseur. J. Lavasseur. J. B. Derbonne. M. V. Gonzalez. - M. F. Bourdon. - C. Hernandez. G. Hernandez. P. Renaudier. M. F. Renaudier. - J. Renaudier. - M. F. Possiot. R. Possiot. L. J. de St. M. Sanchez. - Denis. - A. M. Phillippi. - - - - - SOLDIERS IN NATCHITOCHES--1742 - - - Louis Juchereau De St. Denis, Commandante. - Captains: Cesar De Blanc also a son-in-law of St. Denis. Cesar Borme, - Jean Gainard, Baltazar Villars and Louis Pablo Villenfev. - Lieutenants: Jacques De La Chase, Bernardo Dortolen, (Dortigeux), - Jacques Terpeux, Vincent Perrier, Jean Baptiste Derbonne, and - Jean Baptiste De Duc, Anthanase DeMezieres and Philippe - Coubiere. - Sergeants: Gureilleon Lavespere, Michael Gallion, Joseph Lattier, - Joseph Trichell (Trichel), Nicholas Tournier, _Guiellerno - Lestage_, Alexis Grappe, Remi Possiot, Louis Possiot, - Bartholme Rachal and Angelus Challettre - (Schellette--Chellette-Schellet) Alarge Chabineux. - Corporals: Antonio Le Noir, Jean Dubois, Antonio Distin, Jean Dupuy, - Allarge Dupuy, Nicholas Pent, Christopher Perault, Felix - Jeanot and Olivere Fredieu and Entoine Desadier. - Musketeers: Louis Moinet, Francois Hugue, Bartholme Monpierre, Andries - Compiere, Pierre Renaudiere, Luis Antee (also Town Crier), - Regimigo Tontin, Marino de Muy, Domingo St. Primo, Everiste - Possiot, Gaspard Toil, Antonio de St. Denis, Louis Bertrand, - Jean Prudhomme, Henri Barbarousse, Louis Pierre La Cour, - Armand Beaudoin, Pierre Baillio and Jean and Nicholas Layssard - (brothers who were the sons of Antoin Nicholas Layssard who in - 1723 established "Post Du Rapides" The town of Colfax - Louisiana is on the Land Grant of Jean and Nicholas Layssard - who had established a trading post in that area in 1747), - Siveran Le Roy, Francois Beaudoin and Andries La Cour. - - - - - MERCHANTS, FARMERS AND TRADERS IN NATCHITOCHES--1742 - - - Traders - -Pierre Bisson, Joseph Blancpain, Jean Basquet, Pierre Blot, Jean Chapuis -(Traded as far west as New Mexico, Jean Chapuis Jr., the son, later -became known as the Father of Oklahoma he developed the largest chain of -Trading Posts which was never equalled. The territory covered the -Missouri River Area, the upper Red River Area and as far west as the -Colorado River). Pierre Gaignee (Gainnie) (Gane) (Gainiee) (Gaignie) had -a trading post on Bon Dieu Falls which was at that time on Rigilet de -Bon Dieu was later called Creola Landing and now Montgomery, La. - - - Merchants - -Sieur Barme, Nicholas Fazinda, Antoin Rambin (Tailor Shop), Louis Lemee, -Estabin Pavie, Dominec Mancheca (Tavern Owner), Michel de Chasne, Louis -Bonnafons, Luis Caesar Barme, Mathais La Courte, and Pierre Joans. - - - Horse Traders - -Nicholas Chef, Nicholas La Mathie, Brognard, D'Autherive, Duviviere, -DuBuche and Pierre DuPain. - - - Farmers - -Jacques Bacquet, Ezeb Mercer, Charles de Blanc, Gailier Gallion, and -Jean Baptiste Brevel. And Soldier-Farmer, Pierre Brosset. - - - Soldier Farmers - -Bartholme Charbonet, Louis Moinet, Andries La Cour, Bernardo Dartigo, -Jean Baptiste Derbonne, Guiellerno Lestage, Remi Poissoit, Angelus -Chellettree, Joseph Lattier and Alexis Grappe. - -Priests at Nachitoches were Father Vitree and Dagobare. - - - Merchants at Los Adais - -Antonio Flores, Edwardo Nugent, Jose LaLima, Luis De Qundise and Joseph -Antonio Bonetis. - - - SOLDIERS AT LOS ADAIS--1742 - - Jose Maria Gonzalez, Captain and Commandante second to Governor. - Captain Eucibia Luis Cazrola. - Lieutenants: Bernardo Dortolan, Franciscio Garcia and Ensigne, - Jauquine Cardova. - Soldiers: Jose Duprez, Hortego Cardova, Geronimo Gallardo, Thoribolo - de La Fuentes, Fernando Rodriguez, Franciscio Uque, Antonio y - Barbo (Father of Gil y Barbo), Luis Garcia, Antonio Barbarjo - De Vargez, Estaban Bonites, Elonzo Bustimento, Pedro Chacon, - Greganzoto Martinez, Surrento Flores, Felix Solis, Luis Solis - and Phillippe Hernandex. - - - Farmers - -Durango y Oconna, (Ocon) Sanchez, Alberto Cartinez, Jose Guierre, -Manuello Flores, Gregory Procell and Salvadore Bano, Sanchez, Juan De -More, Pedro Pasquell, Gaspardo Conterio, Patrice Lopez, Cadet Toro, -Mechell La Rouex and Antonie Sepulvado. - - - - - REFERENCES - - - _Baptismals and Death Registers, 1704-1740_, Cathedral Archives, - Mobile, Alabama. - _Concessions_, Louisiana Historical Society Library, Tulane Library, - New Orleans. Transcripts. - _French MSS., Mississippi Valley, 1676-1869_, Louisiana Historical - Society Library, Tulane Library, New Orleans. - _Notes and Docquements Historiques de la Louisiane_, Tulane Library, - New Orleans. - Hennepin, Louis A., _Description of Louisiana_, Paris 1683, edited and - translated by J. G. Shea, New York 1880. - Joutel, _A journal of the last voyage performed by Monsr. De la Salle_ - to the Gulf of Mexico to find the Mouth of the Mississippi - River, Written in French by M. Joutel, a commander in the - expedition. Caxton Club, London, 1896. - Kelerec, _Report of 1758_, New Orleans Library. - LePage du Pratz, _Historie de la Louisiane_, 3 vols Paris, 1758. - _The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents_, edited by R. G. Thwaites, - 71 vols, Cleveland 1896-1901. - _Colonial Records of North Carolina_, edited by William L. Saunders, - 10 vols, Raleigh, N. C. 1896-1901. - La Harpe, Bernard de, _Journal Historique de l'Establissement des - Francais a la Louisiane_, Nouvelle-Orleans 1831. New Orleans - Library. - Le Gac, Charles (Director of the Company of the Indies) _Memorie - d'apris les Voyages sur la Louisiana_, la Geographie, La - situation de la Colonie Francois ou 25 Anust 1718 au 5 Mars - 1721 et des moynesd de l'ameliorer, 1722. Boston Public - Library. - Blanchard, Rufus, _History of Illinois_, Chicago 1883. - Breese, Sidney, _The early history of Illinois_, from its Discovery by - the French, in 1673, until its concession to Great Britain in - 1763, including the Narration of Marquette's Discovery of the - Mississippi, Chicago 1884. - Bunner, E., _History of Louisiana from its first discovery and - settlement to the present time_, New York 1841. - Bureau of American Ethnology, Bulletin 43, _Indian Tribes of the Lower - Mississippi Valley_ Adjacent to the Coast of the Gulf of - Mexico, Washington 1911. - Speed, Thomas, _The Wilderness Road_. A description of the route of - travel by which the pioneers and early settlers first came to - Kentucky. In Filson Club Publication, No. 2, Louisville, - Kentucky. 1886. - Thwaites, Ruben Gold, Wisconsin, _The Americanization of the French - Settlements, American Commonwealths_, Boston and New York - 1908. - B. F. French, Editor, _Historical Collections of Louisiana_, 5 parts, - New York 1869-1875. - B. F. French, _Historical Collections of Louisiana and Florida_, New - Series, 2 vols 1869-1875. - Gayarre, Charles, _History of Louisiana_, The French Dominion, 4 vols, - New Orleans 1885. - Gayarre, Charles, _Histoire de la Louisiane_, 2 vols, Nouvelle Orleans - 1846-1847. - Gayarre, Charles, _Louisiana, Its History as a French Colony_, New - York, 1852. - Hienrich, Pierre, _La Louisiane sous la Compaignie des Indies_, - 1717-1731. - _Louisiana Conservationist_, January 1957, A map drawn by Simon Le - Page du Pratz of the Lower Mississippi Valley, showing the - location of numerous Indian Tribes. - Delisle's _Map, 1718_, New York Public Library. - _Fleur de Lys and Calumet_, by Richebourg Gaillard McWilliams. - _Analysis of Indian Village Sites from Louisiana and Mississippi._ - Anthropological Study No. 2. By John A. Ford. - _Cavalier in the Wilderness._ By Ross Phares. - _Alexandria and Old Red River Country_, by Harry and Elizabeth Eskew. - _A History of the Red River Watershed_, by J. Fair Hardin. - _Northwestern Louisiana_, by J. Fair Hardin. - _History of Sabine Parish_, by John G. Belisle, Many, Louisiana, 1912. - _History of Louisiana_, by Alcee Fortier, 4 vols. - _A History of Louisiana_, by Charles Gayarre, 4 vols. - _History of Natchitoches, Louisiana_, by Milton Dunn (Louisiana - Historical Quarterly, 111 (January 1920) Pages 26-56). - _Our Catholic Heritage in Texas_, by Carlos E. Castaneda, 7 vols. - _French Civilization and Culture in Natchitoches_ (Peabody College - Bulletin No. 310 Nashville 1941) by Portre-Bobinski. - _Natchitoches the Up-to-Date Oldest Town in Louisiana_, by Clara - Mildred Smith and Portre Bobinski, New Orleans 1936. - _Natchitoches, Oldest Settlement in the Louisiana Purchase_, published - by The Association of Natchitoches Women, 1958. Printed by the - Natchitoches Times. - _Ride the Red Earth_, by Paul I. Wellman. - _A History of Louisiana_, by Elizabeth Grace King and J. R. Ficklen. - _Commerce of Louisiana During the French Regime_ by Surry. - _History of the Caddo Indians._ A Thesis by William B. Glover of the - University of Texas 1932. - _The History of Louisiana Agriculture_, by Williamson. - _Historical and Biographical Notes_ by B. F. French. Published by J. - Sabine 1869. - _Pichardo's Limits of Louisiana and Texas._ 4 vols by Charles W. - Hackett. Published by the University of Texas Press 1941. - _Louisiana and Florida_ by B. F. French. - _Discovery and Explorations of the Missisisppi_, by John G. Shea, - Published by Clinton Hall, New York City, 1852. - Source Material on the _History and Ethnology of the Caddo Indians_, - Louisiana State University Press. - _Mississippi Provincal Archives_, 3 vols French Dominion by Albelt - Godfrey Sanders, M.A., Millsaps College, published Jackson, - Mississippi, Department of Archives of History 1932. - Athanase DeMezieres Books 1 and 2 of the _Louisiana and Texas Frontier - 1768 to 1780_. By Herbert Eugene Bolton. Published by The - Authur H. Clark Co., Cleveland, 1914. - _The Sword was their Passport_, by Harris Gaylord Warren. Published by - the Louisiana State University Press. Baton Rouge, La. 1943. - - - - - PERSONALITIES - - - (The names with stars are descended from early ancestors mentioned in - the text or listed in the early records of El Camino Real area) - -Here are some short biographies of individuals who have each in his or -her own way contributed to the progress of our El Camino Real upper -territory. - -Many of them are descendants of the earliest settlers, and their -families have been in Louisiana for nearly 250 years. Very few in -Louisiana can claim such distinction, for even the founders of New -Orleans came later. - -The families of others written about here settled in this area years -afterward, some in modern times. But they have adopted the land as their -own and are just as proud of its history and traditions as the "old -timers." - -All have, by living up to the standard of older days, added to the well -being of the community and improved it socially, economically and -politically. They have made it attractive to tourists and visitors, and -new permanent residents find it a most attractive place in which to -live. The people of today who live along El Camino Real are worthy of -their sires. - - - Clifton Robert Ammons - -Clifton Robert Ammons of Many, La., wed Ethel Jeanne Matherne of Houma, -La. Their children are: Robert Dale, L.S.U.; Dianna Drew, Centenary -College; Kenneth Ellis, Larry Wayne and Suzanne Jeanne. Mr. Ammons truly -exemplifies our modern-day citizen of the El Camino Real area. He is a -Farmer and Stockman, a School teacher and State Representative of Sabine -Parish. The Toledo Bend Dam, one of his pet projects, shall some day -prove its value to this Louisiana and Texas area. Mr. Ammons' work with -the F.F.A. is second to none other in the State. He is truly an -excellent community worker. - - - Bernice C. Arthur - -Bernice C. Arthur, owner of the Many Insurance Agency, wed Miss Helen E. -Fuglaar of Alexandria, La. Their children are Thomas C. and James R.. -Mr. Arthur is a descendant of the families Roberds and Dollarhide who -had settled near Sabine Town in 1829. Camp Sabine, Sabine Town and -Sabine Blockhouse were one and the same--Camp Sabine established by Gen. -Wilkinson in 1811, Sabine town by the settlers and Sabine Blockhouse by -Gen. Gaines in 1828. - - - John Milton Belisle - -John Milton Belisle for 30 years was editor and publisher of the Sabine -Index at Many, La. He was a member of the Town Council for 4 years, -Mayor of Many for 16 years and State Representative for 8 years. He was -the son of John Graves Belisle who wrote the first History of Sabine -Parish. John Milton wed Alice Wagley of Many. Their daughter, Hanna -Jane, wed W. Carlie Brumfield. Their children are Alicia and Juliannah. - - - Jack and Albert Bell - -Jack and Albert Bell own and manage the Bell Brothers General Store at -the corner of Texas and Clark Streets in Robeline, La. This business -location is on what was at one time the Joe Robeline farm which -pre-dates the founding of Robeline, La. Joe Robeline had a Way-Station -at this location during the Neutral Strip period. - -Jack Bell wed Carolyne Elizabeth Powell of Pleasant Hill, La. Their -children are Roy Patrick and Don Gregory. Mrs. Jack Bell is a teacher at -the Robeline Elementary School. - -Albert Bell wed Mildred Marie Tooke of Homer, La. They have one child, -Judieth Carrol. Mrs. Albert Bell is the Home Economics Teacher at the -Robeline High School. - - - Lloyd Vernon Blunt - -Lloyd Vernon Blunt wed Miss Lynn L. Haynes. They own and operate the L&L -Cafe in Many, La., which is located on the main street of Many. This -street is a portion of El Camino Real. Their children are: Mary Joan who -wed Harold Lloyd Southards, and Lloyd Wallace who is in the U. S. -Marines. Mr. Blunt is a Marine veteran of the Nicaraguan campaign. Mr. -and Mrs. Blunt are natives of Virginia and have become a very definite -asset to the El Camino Real area of Many, La. - - - Sidney Williams Bright - -Sidney Williams Bright, Co-owner of Bright and Son Laundry and Cleaners -at 224 Amulet St. in Natchitoches, La., wed Beatrice Williams of -Bronson, Tex. Their children are: Sidney Williams, Jr., who wed Etheline -St. Andre (their children are Elizabeth Ann, Rhonda Jean and Sarah Lou); -Mary Francis Bright wed Stephen Melou Brown, Jr. (their children are -Stephen Melou III, Cheryl Anne and William Dudley). Mr. Bright, Sr., -originally was a native of Hemphill, Tex., where he was at one time -Clerk of Court for Sabine County. - - - Joseph Frederick Brosset* - -Joseph Frederick Brosset, Overseer on the Bayou Camite Plantation at -Derry, La., wed Eva Moreau. Their children are (a) Mary Jo, wed to -Doctor Elwin Adams of Belmont, La.; (b) Lester Roy, Lt., U. S. Army; (c) -Billy Jean, wed Lawrence M. Carnahan, Jr. - - - Mrs. Eli Houston Butts* - -Mrs. Eli Houston Butts, neé Eleanor Irene Lovell, route 2, Colfax, La., -is a typist, clerk and saleswoman for Blair Products. Children are -Bonnie Lynn and Marilyn Louise. Mrs. Butts is a descendant through the -Baillio Chellettre family to Jean Layssard, who was a son of Etoinne -Layssard who established Post Du Rapides in 1723, the beginning of -Alexandria, La. The present Town of Colfax, La., is on the French land -grant of Jean Nicholas Layssard. - - - James Coco - -James Coco, Mortician and manager of the First National Funeral Home at -Natchitoches, La. He wed Clara Belle Stringer of Midland, Texas. Their -children are: James Gary, Lucy Dolores, Charles Anthony and Elizabeth -Anne. - -Mr. Coco is a son of Albert F. Coco and Rhoda Escude. - -Albert F. Coco is a descendant of Dominic Baldonide who came to America -with Lafayette to fight with the American Revolutionary Army. After the -Revolution he migrated to Pointe Coupee, La. and from there to the -Alexandria area near Marksville, La. - -There are several versions of how the name Baldonide changed to Coco. -This is not unusual in this section of Louisiana. For example: LeBrun, -nickname for Jean Bossier; Duprez, nickname for Francois Dion Derbonne; -and Dauphine, nickname for Charles Bertrand. - -These above three nicknames are now family names in the central -Louisiana area. - - - Fred Litton Cooper - Mrs. Dottie Dee Cooper - -Fred Litton Cooper, owner of Cooper's Pharmacy at Robeline, Louisiana, -wed Miss Dottie Dee Scarborough. There are two children: Norman Otto who -married Doris Jordan of Robeline, and Margaret Sue who wed Aubry Ralph -Barnette of Robeline. Mr. Cooper is by far the leading historian of the -Robeline area. He and Mrs. Cooper have kept alive the value of Robeline -historywise. Cooper's Pharmacy is a must-stop for all tourists who -travel into Robeline. - -Mrs. Dottie Dee Cooper is a member of the N W P H N (Association of -Natchitoches Women for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches). She -has taken upon herself to be the Official Greeter for tourists who visit -this section. - -In relating the history of the Robeline vicinity Mrs. Cooper has the -statements of these historians to refer to: John Belisle's History of -Sabine Parish as well as earlier authorities. - -Cabeza De Vaca in his book written in 1540, declares that he was among -the Adais Indians in 1530. De Vaca, a survivor of the Panfillio Narvez -expedition into Florida in 1528. De Vaca spelled the name Adais. (Atyas) -exactly as later Spaniards spelled the name. - -B. F. French in his interpretations of early Spanish documents, placed -the Hernando De Soto expedition among the Adais Indians. French -translated the writings of Gonzado Quadrado Charmillio who was the -Chronnicalor for the De Soto expedition. Charmillio wrote: "This -Wednesday, March 21, 1540 we came to a place called Toalli." - - - Lloyd Earl Dean - -Lloyd Earl Dean, Stockman, Planter and Co-owner of the Boyce Gin Co., at -Boyce, La. Mr. Dean resides on the Dean Plantation south of Colfax, La. -He wed Sarah Florence Beall of Pineville, La. Their children are Sarah -Frances, William Burkett, George Carlton and Albert Lloyd. - -Mr. Dean is a son of Garland Carlton Dean and Leona Creed. Garland -Carlton Dean is a son of Albert Allen Dean and Clara Price. Albert Allen -Dean founded Fairmount Landing on the Red River between Colfax and -Boyce. Shipping ledgers now in the possession of Lloyd Earl Dean show -that the Fairmount Landing did business with the Steamboats _Garland_, -_Valley Queen_, _Laura Lee_, _Keokuk_, _Peninah_, _Halliette_, _Jesse K. -Bell_, _G. W. Sutree_, _Decotah_, _E. B. Wheelock_, _The John D. Scully_ -and the _Nat F. Dortch_. With Steamboat Captains John J. Dodd, F. T. -Aucoin, H. J. Brinker, G. Scully, S. J. Bozaman, A. G. White, William -Gillin and James T. O'Rey. - -Albert Allen Dean was the steamboat agent for the Red River and -Coastline Steamship Co., The Red River Packet Co., and the T&P Railway -Company which had the Steamboats _E. B. Wheelock_ and the _C. W. -Sutterlee_. - -Lloyd Earl Dean traces his ancestry to Abraham Alexander who signed the -"Mecklinburg Declaration" of North Carolina just prior to the -Declaration of Independence. - -The Dean family dates back to 1608, the birth date of Nathanial Dean who -came to America on the ship _Paul_ in 1635. - - - Alvin J. DeBlieux, Sr.* - -Alvin J. DeBlieux, Sr., owner of the New Drug Store at corner of St. -Denis and Second Sts., and DeBlieux's Drug in Broadmore Shopping Center, -wed Miss Anette Block of Bunkie, La. Their children are Alvin, Jr. and -Margaret Ann who wed Robert Ross Anderson of Chicago, Ill. Mr. DeBlieux -is a fifth generation Natchitochan. His great-great grandfather settled -land on the east bank of Red River opposite the Bluffs at Grand Ecore, -La. - - - Jack Lestan DeBlieux* - -Jack Lestan DeBlieux, Planter, Stockman and Agent 1 of the Enforcement -Division of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, wed Eloise Adkins -of Coushatta, La. Their children are: Freddy, Barry Freeman, Molly Darla -and Dan David. The Gaines Military Road from Fort Jesup to Arkansas -borders the DeBlieux property. The River-crossing was just arear of the -DeBlieux residence. Jack Lestan's ancestors saw the coming of Yankee -Gunboats up the Red River. - - - Mrs. Lawrence Cleveland DeLatin* - -Mrs. Lawrence Cleveland DeLatin, neé Florence Adeline Case, owns and -manages Florence's Beauty Shop at 575 West Main Street, Many, La. She -was born in Palatka, Florida. Mr. DeLatin is a descendant of Durango y -Oconna (Ocon), who, after having served his required tenure as a Spanish -soldier, acquired and settled land in the Robeline area. There are many -descendants today branching from Durango Oconna. - - - Mrs. Percy Roberts Dillon* - -Mrs. Percy Roberts Dillon, neé Caroline Eloise Brook. From her marriage -are these children: Percy Roberts, Jr., wed Kathleen Lambert, their son -is Michael John; and Rilla Diana wed Garland Carlton. - -Mrs. Percy Roberts Dillon is a Beautitian and owns and manages the -Petite Beauty Shoppe at 435 San Antonio St., which is a portion of El -Camino Real and is the Main Street in Many, Louisiana. - - - Mrs. Herbert Dorfer, Ph.* - -Mrs. Herbert Dorfer, Ph., neé Ada Trichel of Fairview Alpha, La., taught -school in Natchitoches Parish for 25 years before studying and becoming -a pharmacist. Her business establishment, Campti Drug Store, is on -Edenborne Street. Her children by her first marriage are Blanche -McElwee, who wed Dr. A. L. Hushey of Opelika, Ala., and Ray McElwee who -wed Rosemary Peters of Austin, Texas. - -Edenborne Street in Campti, La., is named for a famous steamboat -captain. - - - Exchange Bank & Trust Co. - -The Exchange Bank and Trust Co., at the corner of Front and St. Denis -Streets in Natchitoches, La., will have at this printing ended its 70th -year of continuous service in Natchitoches. This bank at its beginning -occupied two other locations on Front St., and in September 1892 the -Exchange Bank erected and moved into the building which is the present -location of the bank. In the span of 70 years of service there have only -been four Presidents: Dr. J. W. Cockerham, J. Henry Williams, Arthur C. -Watson and at present Mr. Harold Kaffie. In 1826 this street corner was -called "Lescal's Corner" because of Lescal's Dance Hall and Theater. -This theater thrilled the local citizens with such plays as: Romeo and -Juliet, Macbeth, and Bewick and Graham. - - - Ambrose Charles Flores* - -Ambrose Charles Flores wed Dovie Lea Frye of Minden, La. Their daughter, -Dolores Ann, wed Aubrey Randall Word and they reside in Shreveport. The -Flores family has been connected with the El Camino Real from the very -beginning of its occupancy by the Spanish. There were very few -expeditions from Mexico City which did not contain a Flores as a member. -Ambrose represents the 10th generation of Flores in the Robeline area. - - - C. B. Funderburk - -C. B. Funderburk is owner and manager of the Starlite Motel, Highway 171 -south, Many, La. He wed Miss Mahalia Eunice Johnson of Chopin, La. Their -children are: Jacquelyn, who wed Guy Cheek; Jeryl D., who wed Suzane -Chaput of Portland, Maine; Larry Don, who attends Many High School; and -Mary Jane, who attends Many elementary school. C. B. is a fifth -generation descendant of A. Taylor who settled near Kisatchie, La., in -the Neutral Strip. - - - Mr. and Mrs. Clive Glover - -Miss Estelle McLean of Goldonna, La., wed Clive Glover of Natchitoches, -La. Mrs. Glover owns and manages Glover's Gift Shop which is located on -the south end of Front Street, the oldest street in the original -Louisiana Purchase, at 459 Jefferson and Front Streets. Mr. Glover is a -Master Plumber and contractor. He is a descendant of Colonel Caspari, -who when a State Representative acquired and established Northwestern -State College. He built the Tap--a railroad from Natchitoches to -Cypress, La. - - - Joseph Jesse Grappe* - -Joseph Jesse Grappe, owner of Value Pak Grocer at 1200 Washington St., -wed Exie Borland of Dodson, La. Their children are Bennie Evon, wed to -Robert Wayne Womack; Robbie Jean, and Shirley Ann, who wed James -Buckley. Mr. Grappe, a descendant of Pierre Batiste Grappe, who was a -French soldier at Natchitoches in 1741. Jesse represents the eighth -generation of Grappes in the Natchitoches area. Fishing is his favorite -sport. - - - Hon. Lloyd James Harrison* - -Lloyd James Harrison, Mayor of Montgomery, La., a merchant and planter -and a historian in his own right, wed to Miss Gussie Teddlie. He is a -descendant of Mrs. T. O. Harrison, who when the Yankee gunboats were -firing on Creola Landing, walked out on her porch and waved an apron. -Admiral Porter, admiring such bravery, ordered the cease-fire signal to -be given. - - - Loyd Bernard Harrison - -Loyd Bernard Harrison, Science-Agri. instructor at Colfax High School, -wed Doris Olene Jones. Their children are: Loyd Bernard, Jr., Janis Cay, -Melvin Lee and Connie Suse. Mr. Harrison is also a Planter and Stockman -as were his ancestors. He is a descendant of the Harrisons who were very -active in the readjustment period after the Civil War. At that time the -town of Montgomery was known as Creola Bluff Landing on Red River. Many -of the fine families of this section of Grant Parish are descendants of -those inhabitants of Creola Landing. - - - Thomas James Harrison* - -Thomas James Harrison, Gen. Manager of the W. T. McCain Consignee -Distributor of Esso Products at Montgomery, La., wed Marion Blanche Wood -of Mansfield, La. Their children are: Tommy Rey, Ronnie Lee, Johnnie -Payne and Donnie Wayne. He is a 5th generation descendant of Thomas J. -Harrison, Capt. 3rd Inf. Reg., which was stationed at Fort Jesup. - - - Thomas Ortenburger Harrison* - -Thomas Ortenburger Harrison, barber of Montgomery, La., wed Mabel Clair -Fletcher. Their children are: Margie Dorothy, librarian, and Thomas O., -Jr. who wed Paula Gilbert of Minden, La. Their child, Jennifer Harrison. -T. O. Sr. is a barber on Caddo street in Montgomery, and raises fox -hounds as a hobby. He is a descendant of Thomas J. Harrison, a signer of -the Caddo Indian Treaty, July 1, 1835 who was a captain of the 3rd Inf. -of Fort Jesup. - - - Mrs. Earl Hernandez* - -Leona Mai Sampite, is a home economics teacher at Cloutierville, La. She -wed Earl Hernandez. She is a descendant the Delouche, Guillot, Benoist -and Perrier families. Jean Delouche, father of Justine came to Louisiana -from LaVendee, France in 1712. By previous marriage Mrs. Hernandez's -children are: Joseph Stanley--Louis Henry--and William Rachal, Jr. -Joseph wed Doris Ann Brosset: Louis wed Lorinne Bryant and William wed -Marcelle Marlick. - - - Edmond Prudhomme Hughes* - -Edmond Prudhomme Hughes, is the owner and manager of Hughes -ready-to-wear, at the corner of Front and Horn streets in Natchitoches, -La. He wed Martha Lawton. Their children are: Julie, Martie and Jill. -This business location, now famous for the iron lace front and iron -spiral stair case in the rear of the building was erected 108 years ago -by Gabriel Prudhomme after having assembled the materials in Europe. -Natchitochans of a 100 years ago knew this location as "La Mason de -Faseion", and it still is that today. Mr. Hughes is a descendant of an -early family in this Natchitoches-El Camino Real area. - - - Mrs. Maxie Mae Jinkins* - -Mrs. Maxie Mae Jinkins, neé Maxie Mae Welch of Robeline, La., owns and -manages Murphys Cafe at 1215 Washington Street in Natchitoches, La. She -wed Harrison Jinkins and from this union these children:--Mar Jo who wed -Hulom Jennings (they have one child, Scott Benjamin)--Judith -Charlene--Joseph Andrew--Hannah Maudine--Monita--La Faune--Charles Ray -and Wafa Dean. - -Mrs. Jinkins is a descendant of Joseph Maxim Welch who maintained a -stagecoach station in the Robeline area and who maintained stagecoach -service from Natchitoches to Fort Jesup and Baldwin's store. All -locations were along El Camino Real. The site of Presidio de Los Adais -was owned at one time by this family. - - - Dr. Edward Everette Jordan* - -Edward Everette Jordan, M.D., retired, wed Ruby Dee Burson of Bienville, -La. Their children are: Edward Eugene who wed Elaine Hammond (their -children are Eugenia and Elizabeth Anne)--Elizabeth Dixon Jordan wed -Robert L. Hibbs--Everette Neil Jordan wed Doris Jene Tinsley (their -children are Janet and Robert Edward). Doctor Jordan is a descendant of -Hanna Dixon and Eugene Erasmus Jordan who helped the wounded soldiers of -the Battle of Mansfield. They had settled Jordan Ferry for which this -location in now known. - - - Kaffie & Frederick, Inc. - -Kaffie & Frederick, Inc., formerly H. Kaffie and Bros. and S. & H. -Kaffie, at 758 and 759 Front street in Natchitoches, La., will in 1963 -celebrate their one hundredth anniversary as a firm in business on Front -street. The original location was in the vicinity of the Old Darky -Statue. It was from this point that the establishment saw the arrival -and the retreat of the Union Soldiers after the Battle of Mansfield in -1864. The present building was erected in 1883 by the same firm of -contractors who built the old Court House on Second street. At the rear -of the present location was a camp ground provided by Kaffie for those -who came to Natchitoches to sell their farm produce, and camp-fires -burned day and night. The firm of H. Kaffie and Bros. was some 70 years -ahead of the modern method of a business establishment providing parking -space for its customers. - - - Frank Marion Kees, Jr. - -Frank Marion Kees, Jr. served as Mayor of the City of Natchitoches, La. -for twelve consecutive years. He refused to run for the fourth term, -deciding instead to become President of Timberline Mfg. Inc. which he -was a coorganizer. This manufacturing company is at present producing -several designs of chairs. Timberline has again commercialized -Natchitoches as did Anthanase DeMezieres 200 years ago when he assigned -traders to the different Indian tribes. Following those same Indian -trails, which are our State Highways today, the Timberline salesmen have -customers in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma and -Texas. - -Mr. Kees has served as president of the Central Louisiana Council of -Mayors and also the State Municipal Association of Mayors of Louisiana, -thus bringing added prestige to our Natchitoches area. How true is this -quotation by Mr. Kees: "The rocking chair is the worlds first -tranquilizer." Mr. Kees wed Helen Myrtle LeBlanc of Opelousas, La. - - - Mrs. W. M. Knott - -Much of the credit for the establishment of the Fort Jesup Museum goes -to Mrs. W. M. Knott of Many, Louisiana. The building was erected -according to the plans of the officers quarters during the time of -military occupancy. Mrs. Knott's knowledge of landscaping is seen on the -grounds which encompass this building. She is an excellent historian, -and was a member of the Research Committee which set the markers for El -Camino Real and the Old Natchitoches-to-Natchez Trace. The people of -Sabine Parish can well be grateful that they have in their midst such a -gifted personality. - - - Luddie Lavespere* - -Luddie Lavespere, owner and operator of Lavespere's Garage, Service -Station, Grocery and Cafe on Highway 1 at Cloutierville, La. He is the -son of Eugene Armours Lavespere and Carline Antee. There is one sister -who wed Sullivan LeCaze. Henri Lavespere is listed as an agent of the -Company of the West and in association with St. Denis at Natchitoches. -Luddie Lavespere represents an 8th generation descendant in the -Cloutierville-Natchitoches area. - - - Samuel LeCaze, Sr.* - -Samuel LeCaze, Sr., Merchant, Planter, Stockman and Banker of -Cloutierville, La. He wed Mazie Vercher. Their children are: Mildred who -wed Kenneth David McCoy, their son Kenneth David Jr., Samuel LeCaze, Jr. -wed Marie Anita De Louche. - -The names LeCaze and Vercher date back to 1728 when these two French -soldiers were sent to Post Du Rapides which was the French army post -near present Alexandria, La. - - - Samuel LeCaze, Jr.* - -Samuel LeCaze, Jr., owner of the LeCaze Estate General Store of -Cloutierville, La. He is a successful Merchant, Planter and Stockman. At -present he is President of the Natchitoches Parish Fair Association. In -1958 he was chosen Parish Farmer of the Year and placed third among the -Louisiana farmers. He was the state's Cattleman father of the year in -1960. Samuel, Jr. wed Marie Anita Delouche. Their children are: Linda -Carol, Randall Steven and Tina Jeanine. Mrs. LeCaze is a descendant of -Justine Delouche who came to the Cloutierville area in 1735. Samuel is a -descendant of the French soldier, LaCaze, of Post Du Rapides of 1728. - - - Henry Howard Lemoine* - -Henry Howard Lemoine, Planter and Stockman, Route 2 Natchitoches at -Clarence, La., wed Iola Jackson of Coushatta, La. Their children are: -Linda Gail and Henry Howard, Jr. Both attend St. Mary's School at -Natchitoches, La. The Lemoine Family of the Ark.-La.-Tex. area had its -beginning with Francois Lemoine (LeMoyne)--the name being spelled both -ways on very early Natchitoches records. This family is that of -Iberville and Bienville who were brothers of the LeMoyne family. -Francois Lemoine being a nephew, just as was Louis Juchereau De St. -Denis whose mother was a LeMoyne or Lemoine. Francois Lemoine is listed -as a soldier in Natchitoches in 1723. Thus Henry Howard Lemoine, Sr. -represents a 9th generation descendant in our Natchitoches-El Camino -Real area. - - - Henry Oscar Lestage, Jr.* - -Henry Oscar Lestage, Jr., member of the law firm of Lestage & Arnette -and City Judge of City Court of Jennings, La. Wed to Juliet Xavier -Barfield. Their children are: (a) Henry Oscar III wed Anne Scates -Warton--one child, Henry Oscar IV. (b) Daniel Barfield, medical student, -LSU. (c) David Ramsey, JHS (d) Richard Butler 5th grade. Mr. Lestage's -maternal grandmother was Aimie Barberousse. This branch of the family -tree dates back to 1713 in the Natchitoches area. A descendant of one of -the two Barberousse brothers who were with St. Denis when the Post Des -Jean Baptiste Des Natchitoches was founded in the spring of 1714. - - - William Tell (W.T.) Lestage* - -William Tell (W.T.) Lestage, owner and manager of Lestage's Hardware and -Appliances, Campti, La. He represents a 9th generation descendant in the -Campti-Natchitoches area. Mr. Lestage wed Mary Catheryn Marcelli of -Campti. Their children are: Catheryn Ann, who wed John Edward O'Shea of -Tullos, La.; William Tell, Jr., and Robert Frank. Guierlero is Spanish -for William. Guierlero Lestage was listed as a Natchitoches soldier in -1746. - - - George Washington Lucius - -George Washington Lucius, Planter and Cotton Gin owner, wed Milinda -Youngblood. His children were: Mecie Lucius, who wed Tal C. -Gibson--Mattie Lucius who wed J. Henry Cain--James W. Lucius who wed -Sarah Pharis--Rupert L. Lucius who wed Laona Stone. Mr. Lucius was for -many years Secretary and Treasurer of the Masonic Lodge at Fort Jesup, -La. All of his children have added greatly to the economic welfare of -Sabine Parish. - - - Christopher C. McCaa* - -Christopher C. McCaa wed Eunice La Cour of Natchitoches. They own and -operate McCaa's Grocery at the junction of the Allen Road with Highway -6, one mile north of Robeline, La. This is just three tenths of a mile -from the site of El Presidio Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Los Adais. Mrs. -McCaa is always ready to assist visitors to the Los Adais area. This -location was at one time a stage coach station on El Camino Real between -Natchitoches and Fort Jesup. - -Mrs. McCaa's family name, La Cour, appears very early in Natchitoches -history. La Cour one of the fourteen French soldiers sent by St. Denis -in 1723 to establish "Post du Rapides" which was the beginning of -Alexandria, Louisiana. This post was established at the request of -D'Artagnan, who was a direct envoy of King Louis XV, to Louisiana, and -who later became known in French folklore as one of the Three -Musketeers. - - - Arthur R. McClery - -Arthur R. McClery, owner and manager of the P&C Drug at 116-122 Tuline -street in Natchitoches, La., wed Theresa Hawkins of Parksdale, Ark. -Their children are: Barbara Joan who wed Moreland Book (their children -are Tina and David McClery Book), Patrica and Charlotte McClery. -According to Breutin's map of 1722, the P&C Drug is located on the old -original El Camino Real which entered Natchitoches on this street. This -land was originally owned by Marichel and after the Louisiana Purchase -the land was sold to Trudeau from whom Trudeau street is named. Mr. -McClery has been one of the most successful men in Natchitoches, and has -helped in the modern development of the Natchitoches-El Camino Real -area. - - - Giles W. Millspaugh - -Giles W. Millspaugh, owner of Millspaugh's Drug at 576 Front St., wed to -Ella Keener Charleville of Grosse Tete, La. Children are Giles W. -Millspaugh, III, who wed Zora Lee Holloman, and Lelia Elizabeth who wed -Floyd Allen Horton of Eunice, La. Mr. Millspaugh, a historian in his own -right, has in one corner of his drug store, a history of Natchitoches in -photographs and sketches. A must-stop for all who travel El Camino Real -and who visit Natchitoches. Giles is Natchitoches' Front street -historian and coin stamp collector. Mrs. Millspaugh, III, is from -Winnfield, La. - - - Carson Meade Nardini, Sr.* - -Carson Meade Nardini, Sr. of Alexandria, La. wed Pauline Marie Rand of -Alco, La. Their children are: Joseph Hall, Carson Meade, Jr. and Alice -Nanette. C. M. Nardini on his paternal grandparent's side is a -descendant of Rouquier, Ballio, Chellettre, and Antoine Lassard who -established Post Du Rapides. His is a descendant on his maternal -grandparent's side of Rachal and Chellettre. His children represent 9th -generation descendants in the Natchitoches-Alexandria area from 1723 to -the present day. - - - Louis Raphael Nardini, Jr.* - -Louis Raphael Nardini, Jr., U. S. Army, being a descendant on his great -grandmother's side of Possiot, is also a lineal descendant of Louis -Badin. He represents an 8th generation descendant in the Natchitoches-El -Camino Real area. - - - NATCHITOCHES BROADCASTING CO. - Norman Fletcher-Hillman Bailey, Jr. - -Located on the second floor of the Prudhomme-Hughes building is the -voice of the Cane River area, K. N. O. C., the Natchitoches Broadcasting -Co., owned and managed by Norman Fletcher and Hillman Bailey, Jr. Mr. -Fletcher was educated in the Natchitoches Parish School System and is a -graduate of Northwestern State College in History and Journalism. He was -selected as the Jaycee's of Natchitoches Man of the Year in 1958 and the -Natchitoches Chamber of Commerce's Man of the Year in 1960. He is the -first person to serve three consecutive years as President of the -Chamber of Commerce in Natchitoches. - -Mr. Hillman Bailey, Jr., President of the Natchitoches Broadcasting Co., -a graduate of L.S.U. and a member of Delta Sigma Phi. - -Mr. Bailey wed Terisa Zaunbrecher of Rayne, La. Their children are: -Kathleen, Karl and David. Mr. Bailey is a descendant of Louis Chachere, -an early settler of Opeolousas, La., and a descendant of the Bourbon -family line. - - - Rollie Edwin Patrick - -Rollie Edwin Patrick wed Miss Pearl Byrd of Florien, La. Their children -are: Gerold E., who wed Bobbye Ruth Gregg of Charleston, S.C., Hubert -Leroy who wed Marcie Ann Koch of Seattle, Wash.; Martha Ann, Periodical -Librarian at McNeese College; Doris Lynelle, student at McNeese, and -Betty Carolyn, Many High School student. Mr. Patrick's Service Station -at the corner of San Antonio St. and the Shreveport Highway is an -information stop for all tourists. - - - The Perrier Family* - -Of the union of Casimere Perrier and Marie Antoinette Rachal was Oscar -Perrier, and of the union of Alexander Vercher and Natilie Gallion was -Octavie Vercher who wed Oscar Perrier. Their children are: Oscar Joseph, -Jr., James, Ruby John, Mable and Florence and Earney Grace, who wed -James Mancheck of Nacogdoches, Tex. Their children are: Marlyn Ann, -Janet Kay and Tammey Nell. The name "Perrier" is associated with -Louisiana History as early as 1713--in the Illinois Country, at Natchez -and New Orleans. - - - Elmer Lawrence Poche* - -Elmer Lawrence Poche, Cloutierville, La. owns and manages Poche's Garage -and Service Station, Highway 1, at Cloutierville. He married Alice -Brosset. Their children are: Elmer Lawrence, Jr., U.S.N.; Clara Calest -who wed Donald Vercher (they have one child, Stephen Donald); Lynn Dale -at N. S. College and Pauline Fay at Cloutierville High School. Mr. Poche -is a descendant of the Lavespere family, and Mrs. Poche is a descendant -of the Pierre Delouche family. They are 8th generation descendants in -the Cloutierville-Natchitoches area. - - - William A. Ponder - in memoriam - -Taken from the monument of William A. Ponder, Fort Jesup, La. - -"An extract from the resolution passed by the Democratic Central -Executive Committee of the Parish of Natchitoches April 7, 1890, to-wit: - -Resolved, that, whether as Chairman of this Committee, Member of the -Legislature or Constitutional Convention, soldier or citizen, he was -true to every trust, zealous in every duty, honest in every conviction, -and he has left the legacy of an honest name. Unsullied by even the -breath of calumny. Conspicuous in council for wisdom and moderation, -farseeing and sagacious in the shaping of policies, courageous in the -defense of the right--knowing no fear except to do wrong--he was once a -safe leader and a successful public man. - -To these characteristics he added those of a model Christian gentleman, -a steadfast friend, kind father, loving husband and a pure exemplary -life." - - - James Woodrow Prudhomme* - -James Woodrow Prudhomme, owner and manager of Sport-A-Pak on Highway 6 -at the junction of the Grand Ecore-Campti, Highway. This business -establishment dispenses all the necessary needs of the hunter or -fisherman. Mr. Prudhomme is a 12th generation descendant of the -Prudhomme listed on Breutin's map of 1722 of the Natchitoches area. -James Woodrow Prudhomme wed Beatrice Thadis Black of Natchitoches. Their -children are: James Larry, who attends N.S.C., and Catherine Diane who -attends St. Mary's Academy. - - - Ray Joseph Raines - -Ray Joseph Raines, owner and manager of Raines General Store at -Marthaville, La. wed Lillie Mae McCartney. Mr. Raines is a great nephew -of J. J. Raines who founded Marthaville, La. His maternal grand father -was John Spicher, a mess officer of the 7th U. S. Inf. who established -Fort Jesup. Mr. Raines spear-headed the drive which successfully -resulted in the establishment of the Marthaville Hospital, a community -project. - - - Stephen Clyde Rambin* - -Stephen Clyde Rambin, owner and manager of Steves Texaco Service Station -and Garage, Highway 1 at Powhattan, La. His father was Frank Louis -Rambin and his mother Zelia Possiot. The family name, Rambin, is -mentioned with St. Denis in 1713 and the Possiot name appears on -Breutin's map of 1722. Stephen represents the 10th generation of the -Rambin-Possiot union in the Natchitoches-Powhattan area. The Rambin -family is well represented in the entire Ark.-La.-Tex. section. - - - Mrs. Elaine R. Smith* - -Mrs. Elaine R. Smith, neé Elaine Russell of Cypress, La., is Deputy -Clerk of Court in Natchitoches, La. She is wed to Ellis Smith of -Natchitoches, La. Mrs. Smith is a descendant of Thomas Vascoque, who is -mentioned on another page. She is also a descendant of Armand who is -mentioned in DeMezieres' report of 1769 on the merchants in -Natchitoches. - - - Riley John (R.J.) Stoker - -Riley John (R.J.) Stoker, Principal of Pleasant Hill High School, wed to -Bernice Williams of Fair View Alpha, La. They have one daughter, Revicca -Ann who attends Louisiana Tech. Mr. Stoker is a fourth generation -descendant of Henry Stoker who settled on land two miles from the -present site of Fort Jesup in 1818. He gained extra land by trading -ponies to the Indians. This Stoker, a leading member of the Citizens -Committee, a vigilantes organization, assisted greatly in quelling the -banditry of the Neutral Strip. He later supplied Fort Jesup with farm -produce. - - - John Coleman Tarver* - -John Coleman Tarver, honorable Mayor of Many, La. wed Thelma Mayer of -Woodward, Oklahoma. Their children are: Joan Tarver, who wed Wayne Dew -of Natchitoches, La.; and Mike Thayne, senior at Many High School. Mayor -Tarver owns and manages Tarvers' Grocery located on El Camino Real, -which is Highway 6 east to Fort Jesup. Mr. Tarver is a descendant on his -great grandmother's side of A. Cole who is listed in the 1806 period as -being a settler in the Neutral Strip. Cole is also listed as a -participant in the Guitreez-McGee Expedition to Texas in 1812. - - - Thomas Lester Ward - -Thomas Lester Ward, owner of Ward's Esso Service Station and Garage at -Robeline, La., wed Ellen E. Valentine of Jena, La. They have one son, -Thermon Lester Ward who is an Electrical Engineer at Fort Worth, Texas. -Mrs. Ward was an Elementary School Teacher at Jena and at Robeline. -Ward's Service Station and Garage is located on El Camino Real in the -Town of Robeline, La. - - - Mrs. Kent Wardlow* - -Margaret Veuleman wed Kent Wardlow, President of the Bank of Montgomery, -a member of the F.D.I.C. Their children are: Mary Ellen and Jennifer -Ann. Mrs. Wardlow is a descendant of F. Veuleman who bought land from -the firm of Smith, Baar, Davenport and Murphy in 1821 and marks the -first purchase of land in what is presently the town of Many, La. - - - Jack Eazel Whitley - -Jack Eazel Whitley, owner of Whitley's General Store at Robeline, La. He -married Ruby Alberta Nelson. There are these children: Ruby Marjorie who -wed Stanley Ford Harvey of Shreveport, La. (they have one child, Stanley -Ford, Jr.); Jack Eazel, Jr. wed Mary Alletta Coats of Marthaville, La. -(their children are: Patricia Ann and David Van); Albert Jean, who wed -Glenda Finell of Orange, Texas. (They have one child, Cynthia Jean); and -Ruby Marjorie is a school teacher in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Jack -Eazel, Jr. is a dental technician in Shreveport, and Albert Jean is a -chemist in Orange, Tex. - -The father of Mr. Whitley, Sr., Andrew Jackson Whitley, owned the first -butcher shop in the Robeline area. - -Mr. Whitley Sr.'s second wife is Miss Ethyl Bates of Provencal, La. Mrs. -Ethyl Bates Whitley taught school in Sabine Parish for a number of -years. - - - Mrs. Irma Sompayrac Willard - -Irma Sompayrac Willard, neé Irma Rosalind Sompayrac, married David Milne -Willard, Jr. of New York. - -Their son: Daniel D. M. Willard, Lt. Cdr. U.S.N., married Suzanne -Johnson of Arlington, Va., and their children are: Alice Darby, David -Milne III, and Richard Briand of Virginia Beach, Va. - -Among forbears who served in the development of Natchitoches and of the -state are Hon. Alexander E. Sompayrac who cast the deciding vote to -abolish the Louisiana Lottery. His great-grandfather of Tarn, France, -familiar with America through overseas trade and as a French naval -officer, brought three sons to New Orleans via the West Indies. Ambrose -married Desiree Josephine Briant, (daughter of a planter there and -Colonel of a Regiment of French Dragoons, and Marie Mozard). Settling in -Natchitoches about 1800, he bought new wireless telegraphy stock, using -it in his cotton business. His place became a depot for trade with -Mexico. - -On the maternal side Alexandre Deblieux, dissenting from Napoleon, -brought his sons from Provence and opened law and commission offices in -New Orleans and Natchitoches where he planted cotton. One of his sons -helped organize the first public parish school board. He married -Euphrosine Tauzin of the Chamard family. His son married Julie, a -daughter of Lestan Prudhomme, Sr. of the lines of Lambre, LeRoy, -Philippe and Possiot. Mrs. Willard is the Supervisor of Art Education -for the State of Louisiana. - - - Mrs. Lee Terry Williams - -Mrs. Lee Terry Williams, neé Anna Louise Stille. Her home is located on -the site of the John Baldwin Store of the 1826 period. On her father's -side, Mrs. Williams is a lineal descendant of Princess Pocahontas and -John Rolfe of early Virginia history. Through the families of Rolfe, -Bolling, Mactin, Dr. W. B. Smith, Joseph Denning Stille, Sr., and Joseph -Denning Stille, Jr., who was the father of Mrs. Lee Terry Williams. - - - Dr. William Kenneth Wimberly - -Dr. William Kenneth Wimberly, dentist of Campti, La., wed Miss Bell -Russel of Peason, La. Their daughter, Lynnie Ruth who is at present -attending Natchitoches High School, was selected and honored as the -Sweetheart of the Aircraft Carrier, Ranger. This old expression -describes Dr. Wimberly perfectly: "a gentleman faultless in his carriage -and deportment." - - - Marshall Ellis Winn - -Marshall Ellis Winn, Planter and Rancher, Route 2 Robeline, La., wed -Sadie Lenora Nims of East Orwell, Ohio. Their children are: James Jerold -and Willard Allen, who wed Jacquelyn Beaver of Leesville, La. Their -children are: Jacquelyn Ann, who attends Northwestern State College at -Natchitoches, and Jimmy Jerold who attends High School in Alexandria. -Mr. Winn was active in the organizing of the R.E.A. in Natchitoches and -the adjoining Parishes. For 19 years he served as a Board Member in that -organization. - -Mrs. Sadie Winn taught in public schools 31 years at Robeline, La. Part -of Mr. Winn's estate is part of Rancho Bano which was land allotted to -the Mission, San Miguel de Cuellar de Los Adais, the profits of which -were to support the Mission. - - - Glen Lawrence Wyatt - -Glen Lawrence Wyatt, owner and manager of G. L. Wyatt's Esso Station at -St. Maurice, La., wed Audrey Adams of Verda, La. Their one son, George -Miller, wed Sherley Anne Tacker of Segreves, Tex. When St. Denis and -Bienville in 1700 were among the Yatasee Indians on Nantanchie Lake they -would have also visited the Destonies Indians on Saline Bayou and then -while en-route to the Natchitoches Indians, would have passed within 200 -yards of Mr. Wyatt's business establishment. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt are -historians of this area. - - - - - Footnotes - - -[1]The Red River near Natchitoches had an unusual cane growth and was - later referred to as Rio Cannis by later Spaniards. The Adais lived - on Spanish Lake as it was later called. This lake had an unusual - heavy growth of cat-tails which resembled the Tules of Spain. - _Toalli_, a slang, Spanish expression referring to houses built of - tules. The mud and reed houses so described were typical of the - Caddo Indian Federation of which the Adais was a tribe. The Caddo - home or _Hinta-sak_ was built so. The Adais were about a day's march - from the Red River-Natchitoches area, fifteen miles which was the - usual distance foot soldiers traveled in that length of time. - -[2]Nakassa Lake is located in the southern part of Natchitoches Parish. - -[3]These were the same two brothers which were captured by DeLeon and - Flores, and been put on a Spanish ship to be returned to France. The - ship was captured by the French and these two were with Iberville - when he landed at Biloxi. - -[4]An official of rank next only to the chief. - -[5]The amole root is a species of the yucca plant. When boiled in water, - that water used for bathing had the same property as soap and left a - fragrant odor on the body of the user. - -[6]The present day location is in the King Hill area, which now - comprises part of the Simp Russ plantation between Lake End and - Ajax, La. - -[7]This land grant was where what is commonly called the Fish Pond - Bottom by present day inhabitants of the Robeline area. It was - referred to later by Dr. John Sibley, an Indian Agent in 1807, as - Lagoon de Mora in a letter to Major Porter, Post Commander of Fort - Claiborne in Natchitoches. - -[8]This medicine became popular among the doctors at that time according - to the reference of an old book at the office of the late Dr. J. N. - Brown of Campti, Louisiana. _Quillendive_ meant seeds of certain - plants, not just one particular plant or herb. When administered, - the medicine caused nausea. - -[9]This Spanish Fort had stood for 48 years amid what was considered a - hostile area, yet in all that time it never had to defend itself. - This belies the statements or propaganda of the French referring to - the cruelties and unjust rule of the Spanish against the Indians of - the area. Had such been so, certainly the Indians would have risen - in open rebellion. - -[10]At this point one must understand the claims of the United States - concerning the Louisiana Purchase. The United States claimed the Rio - Grande as the boundary of the land previously owned by France - because of La Salle's settlement at Fort Louis on Matagordo Bay in - 1685. The Spanish claimed the land as far as the west bank of the - Red River, basing their claim on the Domingo Teran del Rios' - expedition of 1690. Both the Spanish and the United States' officers - involved in the meeting in the Adais area were aware of the claims - of their respective countries. - -[11]John Quincy Adams remarked of the Filibusterers: "The main actors - cross and double-cross one another so frequently that suspicion and - doubt hang over their hands like a black cloud over their actions." - -[12]Red River at this time was blocked by log jams as far as Fort Towsin - in Arkansas. Bayou Pierre was the water route as far as the vicinity - of Shreveport. - -[13]If the address of Natchitoches, Louisiana, appearing as the address - of Fort Jesup seems strange, it must be remembered that at that time - Natchitoches was the nearest Post-office. - -[14]Pierre Subastion Prudhomme. - -[15]Note: the above is that of the Justine DeLuche Family. The Child P. - DeLuche being named Pierre after Pierre Fausse who was the Godfather - and perhaps also the Grandfather. - - - - - Transcriber's Notes - - ---Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook - is public-domain in the country of publication. - ---Corrected obvious typos; retained inconsistent spellings (especially - names) that may represent different documentary sources. - ---In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by - _underscores_. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of No Man's Land, by Louis Raphael Nardini - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NO MAN'S LAND *** - -***** This file should be named 55055-8.txt or 55055-8.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/5/0/5/55055/ - -Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, MFR and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net; print -source courtesy of Ron Box - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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