Title: The La Salle Expedition on the Mississippi River : a lost manuscript of Nicolas de La Salle, 1682 /
Authors: La Salle, Nicolas de.; Foster, William C., 1928-
Publisher: Texas State Historical Association,
Year: 2003
Subjects: La Salle, Robert Cavelier,; La Salle, Nicolas de Diaries.; Indians of North America Mississippi River Valley History; Explorers Mississippi River Valley Biography.; Explorers France Biography; Mississippi River Valley Discovery and exploration French.; Mississippi River Valley Description and travel.; Mississippi River Valley History; Canada History
Abstract: The La Salle Expedition on the Mississippi River presents the definitive English translation of Nicolas de La Salle’s diary account of René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle’s 1682 discovery expedition of the Mississippi River from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. This previously unknown manuscript copy was discovered recently in the collection of rare books in the Texas State Archives. It provides the most complete and authoritative account available of this historic North American adventure and territorial claim. By careful cross- document analysis, Foster projects an extended expedition chronology that adds about two weeks to the journey, corrects the date that La Salle’s claim was announced, and revises erroneous interpretations made by most contemporary French and American scholars. The work includes maps prepared by the noted Southwest cartographer John V. Cotter.
Contents: Introduction -- The Nicolas de La Salle journal -- Appendices. Appendix A: Official report of the taking possession of the Acansa country ; Appendix B: Official report of the taking possession at the mouth of the sea or the Gulf of Mexico ; Appendix C: La Salle's 1681 Mississippi River expedition itinerary.