The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-08-17
NEWS OF THE CITY.
Whit the Democrat Reporters Saw
and Heard Yesterday.
OLD SPANISH FORT.
Its Historic Associations Discovery
Of Bayou st. John-Jacksons
Arrival in New Orleans.

tEAnlyS to the enterprises vi tHHt sHeigPItG UlLt-
zen. Mr.. Schwartz, FOR furnishing tile agreea-
bio md quick transit Of his admirably con
Quoted road, are conscious On mindful Of the
interesting historical associations which sur
round this old FORT
10 refresh their memories, and to discharge
duty to the ancient actors Iii our states
drama, even If such performances extend no
further than TINT 80 faithfully rendered -
the Heroes of the Covenants by old Mortality
We undertake this desultorv sketch. 5M@.a.
Tbe traditions Of this old fort embrace the
whole history of the foundation and SETTLE
meut OF New Orleans. Beginning with the
landing of BienvlIle at the mouth Of the bayou
which he named ST. Jean, and his resting his
wearied followers on the high ground on
which the remnant of the fort now stands,
nreparatory To his ascent OF the bayou, In pur-
s,ljt of the shortest line between Lake Pontct-
artrain and the Mississippi river at the west
f,rn terminus Of which line he first conceived
and executed the design Of establishing
great commercial city, the future entrepot of
the Mississippi valley, and tracing down
through the century and half which
had passed since the execution Of this saga
i cious design OF the great Frenchman, the most
vivid and interesting incidents ofthat history
will be found to group around this old fort.
It was indeed the initial point Of Bienville's
great enterprise. His ambition could not be
satiatied with the feeble and dscouraging
efforts made by the first settlers ut East 3D.
loxi, now Ocean Springs. lie was not Of the
nature To cit quietly down and await 10 be
starved Id that poor and desolate spot when
the banks of the Mississippi and the high
lands OF the bayous flowing from 1t we're 90
easily attainable. And 50, selecting
the most active and enterprislng Of
his followers, he worked his way In barges
10 and through the Bayou ut. John aud dis
covered an easy passage to the high grounds.
within mile and d half Of the main current
of the Mississippi It was here the fret huts
were erected OF the future great city. When
the decline OF the river within tts banks
opened to settlement the rich plain Of the
ntluyion 1t was occupied with q thin line Of
hutH which then, reversing the present coil
tour Of the city, extended al right angles
FROM the river to the bayou. 1t was through
the bayou all the travel and commerce. OF the
little settlement was conducted. The only
ports with which such communications were
then maintained were those OF the Bay oi
81. Louis and Biloxi, where the parent colo
! nies still fingered In q depleted and half
starved condition, awaiting relief from old
i France. A brilliant success crowned the
design Of Bienville, and the settlement de-
VplUDau Into quite u pEBIeublOHB toWil H1iaeI
him and his French successors. And when.
as d result OF European wers and cntangle-
ments, France lost her hold upon her colony.
and Spain assumed dominion, 1T cannot be de-
q MED that her governors proved fully equa! TO
the task of completing, aud, indeed, EXPAND
b inty the scope of Bienvilla's enterprise. These
old Spanish governors We're really great men
They had their bigotries and their inordinate
pride and hantaur, but they were also men OF
large views, Of great energy and high sense
Of duty to their nation and their offices.
No greater names iii our history can be
found than those OF De ulloa, GaiveH ana
cruelties to the old French settlers and Gre
ules, was vigorous and faithful protector
and promoter Of the interests and prosperity
OF the colony. 1t was De Uioa who directed
and executed the building ot the Fort st.
John, OF which the foundations and walls now
remain, inclostng the hotel and promenade
grounds, to which our people now resort for
enjoyment and recreation He was tho same |
who, as Vice Regent of Mexico, designed the
powerful fortress which defends the entrance
to the harbor of Vera Cruz and which was
named after him. Carondelet conceived and
accomplished the still greater enterprises OF
constructing the canal from the head OF Bayou
sc. John to the Old basin. for 50 long period
the central locality Of the old city.
During the Spanish dominion the fort at the
mouth Of the bayou was kept in good cond- |
tion and repair aud well fortified. It was re-
garded as the principal protection of the city |
against any sudden assault and raid Of the
lUulHDH OF OF tine pirates WHO tHtH ttnDnlluehl
In the Gulf Of Mexico, and frequently raided
the young colonies which could be reached by |
their cruisers. Thus the old fort was always I
garrisoned and held ready to defend the only /
practicable approach to the city at that time. 7
After both Spanish and French dominions
had ceased In Louisiana. and the stars and
stripes waved over the old structure Of DE
Utloa. Andrew jackson and his staff, hurrying |
from Pensacola and Mobile, after the brilliant |
campaign against the Creek Indians and the
conquest Of Florida, found the Spanish Fort,
with Its very ancient guns IN position ana an
effective garrison OF artillerists, prepared to |
repel an invader far more formidable than the |
Indians and freebuoters OF the Spanish main. |
The British cruisers were then engaged in the |
close survey of all the approaches 70 the city.
preparatory to the great expedition when
had been long contemplated against the city, |
and which. a few months subsequently, mad 7
SO disastrous a conclusion.
Jackson and his staff reached the old fort
In schooners and barges, bringing their
horses with them Cotfees brigade OF mount
ed ritiemen had been sent by land around the
lakes 10 join the little army then concentrat-
ing In New Orleans.
On the arrival of the General and staff at
the old fort, they We're welcomed by salute
Of artillery and BY the cordial greeting Of the
artilleristS, young volunteers OF the very
best class, who had been thoroughly trained
by regular officer of the army Capt Shaw.
His leutenants were two stalwart and IA
NOUS Democrats, Peter X. Wagner and Mich
olas Sinnott They We're giants in physique
ana lndonltabie IN spirit, courage and hate of
the British. Living to great age the charac-
taristics OF these Veterans are familiar to the
middle-aged Of our population. Peter X.
Wagner was Of the strong Old Dutch race
which settled Pennsylvania, ard his youth and
manhood had been passed in printing Office
In Baltimore, where his brother owned a
newspaper which obtained great celebrity in
the stormy times preceding the war with
Great Britain. 1t is an interesting coinci-
dence that it was in the defense Of this Office
against a mob that Gen. Harry Lee the father
Of Robert Z. Lee, and Gen. Lingan, the grand
father OF Col. Lingan OF this city, received the
Injuries which resulted in the immediate
death of Gen. Lingan and shortened the
days of that great soldier, Light Horse
Harry. Before, however, this distressing &C.
currenee Peter X. had emigrated to this city,