The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-01-07

u ~
New Orleans, hut It came too late
through the negligence of the druukel
captain OF the boat on which II hal
been sent. Hence Major Loub0is sav
that he would be obliged to retrea
from the place to the river, a dtstanct
of more than nine miles, In order Il
secure his army against the Choctaw'
u they should finally prove hostlle, .
he feared they would. This led him
to grant better terms to the besieGec
than he would otherwise have done
He had, however, the good fortune e
rescue from their hands about seventy
women and children ignOminIously
retained In slavery by the barbariaus,
who on that condition accepted Z
peace which necessity compelled the
French to grant them aud which went
into effect at once. This ended this ex.
petition aud we may learn from this
90 from other similar events how fre-
quently great events hold by mere
thread. Such is the order OF Provl-
tlence against which Il Is useless to
rebel. b A few quarts Of powder more
or ), less in these delicate conjunctures
would without doubt have placed the
colony in a far different position from
what II Is to-day. @
Tho Natchez now changed their
quarters and fortified themselves else.
where. For long time tho colonists
did not know where they we've conceal.
ed, but dually one OF their slaves
betrayed the savages aud revealed the
place OF their retreat, which was 30 or
35 miles from Natchez, on the other
side of the stream on the Ouachita,
their ordinary hunting grounds. The
coionists had need to be constantly on
their guard FOR the savages, who had
collected at their new fort, and COM
mitted many disorders before they
were dislodged.
NJ, Perior Saivere, brother Of our
Governor (Btenville). had arrived from
France In May, 1880, with body OF
200 marines, and:preparations were now
made to besiege the Na,chex, who had
az I have stated, taken refuge In the
new fort on the Ouachita, having aban-
doned the one where they had been
besleged the previous year by MsJor
Lubois. The troops set out from New
Orleans and found themselves at the
mouth OF Red river ON January !, 1881.
They numbered about GOO regulars,
commanded by NJ. Perier In person,
and 200 militia, led by NJ. Renac. The
marines, with about 200 savages, gath~
cred from several petty tribes In the
vicinity, were commanded by NJ. Pc
rier Salvere. M. Raymond st. Martin
de Zedrriqurlery, captain OF the militia
was appointed commissary to tho
army. When they reached the Qua
chita they lined both banks for fear Of
an ambuscade and Travelled for several
days within nine miles Of the fort on
Bayou Fincas without being discover
ed. They finally came on a canoe con-
timing several men and women, Of
whom they killed the greater part, but
some escaped and gave the alarm TO
those in the fort. The troops encainp.
ed near by, and on the next day at 10
o'clock came in sight Of the fort. They
formed reserve corps beyond the
reach ofthe guns and at once discharg-
ed some shells and surrounded the
fort. The following morning they Or
ganized a body of eighty dragons,
composed of the inhabitants of Point
Coupee. commanded by M. DeL.age,
who began opening trenches under
cover OF four mattresses and facines.
The others kept up a continued fire,
and though the savages made several
sorties they were repulsed with great
loss. Tho besiegers continued to throw
shells and small bombs into the fort,
which greatly inconvenienced tho saw
ages. Seeing the trenches progressing
rapidly they asked for pariey and to
be conducted to the commanders
camp by a detachment Of whites TO
protect them from the insults OF tho
other savages, which was accorded
them. Flnnci.omme, one of their
chiefs, q half breed of French and
Natchez parentage came 10 the reserve
corps hut as he proposed conditions
which NJ. Perier did not judge proper
to accent he returned to the fort in
order to consult with the other chiefs
on the terms OF NJ. Perier, who re-
quired that they should surrender at
discretion. Seeing themselves still
more closely pressed on all sides by
our fire and by the shells, etc., which
were thrown among them and that
the trenches had advanced several feet
they at different times sent from five
to six hundred OF their men and three
chiefs, known as the Great Sun;
ENn,por Chief and Eranchonno WIN