The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-25

and from thence to France, where, laying his dis
coyeries and plans before the French government,
through the aid of the Prince Of Cont and the mar
qus dc Seignela (son Of the great Colbert he OBJ
tanned a small squadron, with which he lntenasd 70
enter the Mississippi, and on its banks commence
colony. From the very defective knowledge thsn
gained OF the northern part of the Mexican SulI,
and either latitude or Longitude Of the mouth OF the
river, La Sales squadron fell to the WESTWARD OF
the object and finally landed on the coast OF lex
as.
u II Is impossible TO read, without deep regret 1ou-
tells relation of La Saile's last voyage Inc aruor,
industry, intelligence, and bravery WIN which tha'
| generous man pursued his discoveries anu plans,
with the immense consequences OF those discoveries
and plans, rendered abortve as to himself ny acci-
dent, must excite the sympathy OF every heart mat
can feel for virtue in misfortune. Had La sale
succeeded IN entering the Mississipp, his nnderta-
king would, in all human probability, have been
/ crowned with complete success.
I When the squadron reached in sight OF the coast,
| II was the opinion Of La Sale himself thai ne was
west of the msuth of the Mississippi, but has pilot
was of different opinion; and unfortunately me a!,
ter prevailed, and the squadron continued 10 sail
westward; and
\ 1855, February l6-La Sale landed with the
i persons designed to form colony, near the mouth
Of Guadaloupe river, and built fort The fatal
error made in regard to position was soon discover
ed and rendered ireparabe by the desertion OF the
/ squadron. To found colony in new country,
demands concentration OF talents few men ever
possess. For the successful accomplishment OF
such design, La Sale had many OF The most re-
quisite qualities rendered, however, imperative by
one defect--a stiffness which rendered him unsocial
and disagreeable to his officers, ard prevented the
formation Of attachment and popularity amongst the
| colonsts. That he was highly respected, was
shown in the tragic sequence.
After landing, however, he found himself in
country uninhabited by any civilized nation, which,
with the ordinary formalities, he took possession of
in the name Of the King of France, and, as far as
first possession, and of precedent set by European
nations like occasions, could valid title,
Louisiana became colony Of France Common
ced in misfortune, fatality seemed to impend over
the whole enterprise. The commander of the royal
i vessel which brought out the colony deserted him,
and La Sale lost of his own vessels by ship
wreck. INSTRUMENTATION prevailed, and every day
the situation Of the coonists on desoate shore be-
came more desperate. La Sale sent out party to
search for the great river, but before any effective
information could be obtained, the noble commander
fell by assassination.
| La Sale had with him brother, who bore the
name of Cavalier, priest named Father Anasasius,
and an officer of the name of Joute who, despairing
Of colonial success after the murder of their COM
mander, projected and accomplished their escape,
with some others, who finally reached some recently
formed French settlements on the Arkansas.
/ After their return to France, both Anastasus and
Joute published accounts of the expedition; the lat
ter much the most circumstantal and satisfactory.
! Joute relates that he was but few PAGES from La
Sale when he received the fatal shot from man Of
the name of Duhaut; that himself Anastasius, and
| nj. Cavalier, concerted and effected their escape;
not, however before the murderers Of La Sale had
been destroyed by each other
| Shortly after the death of La Salle and the re-
treat of his brother, the residue Of the colony was
captured ty Spanish detachment from the prov
nce of New Leon sent for that purpose and the set
| element broken up There are, it is SAID and most
probably with truth, many of the existing nhabit-
| ants of New Leon who derive their descent from
| the French of La Sae's colony.
| Twelve years again elapsed before another at
| tempt was made by the French government TO take
possession of the regions contiguous to the lower
| Mississippi. At length the original design was re-
vived, and in 1893 squadron was sent out to the
Gulf of Mexico, commanded by dIberville and his
brother Benve. The choice of the latter officer
was fortunate; to his genius talents md conciato
| ry manners France stood indebted for the success
which crowned the expedition, undertaken with
very inadequate means.
| In the autumn of 1893, the little feet touched at
ST. Domingo; and on January 26, 1899, reached and
anchored in the fine bay of Pensacola; but the Span
| iards had anticipated the French NM d'lbervlle
and Bienvle found the dacent shore in possession
| of Spanish colony, commanded by Don Andre de
la Role, and proceeded westward Alter examn-
ing the coast from Dauphin island outside of the
bay Of Mobile, to the mouth Of he mississippi the
two French commanders finally placed the cradle of
their colony at Biloxi bay on April 18th, 1899. On
the first day of May, the year. Iberville sailed
for France leaving M. de Bienvile to command the
colony; but returned the same year to Louisiana
and resumed the government.
| 100, May.-Benvlle, by order of Iberville, as
cended Red river to Natchiioches; found the Nat
chitoches and Yaassee nations of Indians in posses
sion of the country; but could neither find nor hear
of any Spanish establishment in that quarter Same
year, May %, M. d'lbervie sailed for Europe
leaving the command to Benvle. A garrison was
built this year on the Mississippi at or near where
Fort St. Philip, at Plaquemine bend, now stands.
An officer named ST. Denis was sent TO explore the
country Of Red river remained six months in and
near the Yatassee village, without learning of the
existence of any Spanish establishment in that re-
eion The Yaassee village was situated in the set
tlement of Bayou PIERRE about forty milss north
westward of Natchitoches
17l2-The King Of France, by letters patent,
coded the civil jurisdiction of Louisiana to Crozat