The Port Gibson reveille., 1903-10-22


French Army in I746 soon gaining iieutenan-
cy; In r74s he was wounded at the siege Of Macs
tricht; after several more years In the French
Army In France he removed in 1881 TO the French
colony Of Louisiana as Lieutenapt in Corps Of
Marines during the reign Of Louis XIV Being an
army engineer Of ability he constructed many Of
the forti6cations in Upper and Lower Louisiana.
When Louisiana was transferred to Spain the
chevalier soniat du Fossat, like many French
men Of that day. became soidierof Spain with
out forfeiting his callc allegiance as the heroic
Gaivez had served In the French Army without
losing his Spanish patriotism. chevalier soniat
du Fossat was Aieade under the Spanish Gov
ernor. On retiring from the government service
nc engaged in indigo culture on his plantation
below New Orleans, which later was made ia
nous by the battle Of New Orleans. He died in
1894, the founder Of the American soniats. This
extract is taken from the chevaiier soniat du
Fossatt's "Brief History Of louisiana" written
in 1891, and translated Gn Ioo3) from the French
by his distinguished descendant, Charles T. Son
lat Of New Orleans. who found the manuscript in
the Chateau du Fossat When speak Of Match
ez prior to 1904 we mean the Natchez District or
Natchez Country which included the present
counties Of Adams. Jefferson and ciaiborne.l
JAMES F. MccALEB. NJ. b.
Nalchez is post Of no great conse-
quence. II was established in the early
days OF the colony by the French, who
caused Il to flourish bui the avidity OF
Commander, by the name Of Chapas,
led on by The destruction OF The very M
merous and extraordinary tribe which
inhabited that part Of the colony. The
Natchez was a very powerful nation. Il
worshipped the Sun; and guarded the
sacred fires, like the Romans. II was
governed by chiefs named "Suns," who
were despots, governing from father to
son, from time immemorial. They drew
their nobility from the feminine side,
thereby assuring their chiefs from one
and the same blood. The custom, pre-.
vailing among them, as we'll as among
the nations of the East Indies, was 70
bury with The chiefs, their wives aud
servants. The Naichez were obedient
and obligiug TO the French, who, at the
slightest command, would obtain much
help from them Bul the Commander
abused OF their kindness to such an ex
tent that they rebelled, aud murdered
the Commander and all the European
inhabitants. That massacre would have
been carried out through the entire col
ony had not Naichez woman, IN love
with a Frenchmar, changed he sticks
or marks designating the day fixed for
a general massacre, aud agreed upon by
ali the other nations. The warning Civ
en- by The Indian woman upset and con
fused the conspiracy. The massacre
commenced al Nstchez few days be-
fore The one adopted by the other tribes,
and il gave a chance to the Europeans
to be on their guard. The Frenchmen
,r.Iued, aud attacked the post and made
fearful massacre. anuihilaling that
iIibe. II existed only 10 name after
wa,us. The French then established a
fort 10 protect the navigation Of the riv-
er.
The conduct OF the French towards
the Natchez indisposed All other tribes
against the white men. The Chicka-
SAWS declared cruel warfare against
them. constantly killing all who wsn
de,ed away from the tort I; and, under
such conditions, all cultivation OF The
soil had to be suspended. The treaty
OF London msde the English masters OF
that part OF the Natchez. They estab-
lished plantations and made the post
the bulwark of their possessions. In the
last war the Americans took possession
Of II and sometime after the English re-
took it; and finally the Spsniards cap.
tured 1t, and pretend 10 keep it, not.
withstanding the treaty of Versailles
which ixes the American possessions II
the lhirty.6rst degree OF latitude. The
post Of Nstchez Is situated on the 33rd
degree Of latitude, and Is distant about
$50 leagues from the mouth Of the Riv.
er. II is established on an elevation oil
T4o feet above the level of the River,
aud as soon as that height Is reached,
there are to be found immense plains,
which the French, the English and the
American cultivate, under the banner
OF Spain. Tha, government maintains
there a garrison somewhat sufficient lc
protect its holdings IN that Province
The products of the soil are excellent
tobacco, food plants OF all kinds, ever
grapevine, II cultivated, would yield
abundantly. Before concluding the de-
scription Of this post, il would be prop
er 10 chronicle a particular inciden
which occurred At the time Of the mas
: sacre. The Iudian woman who had adj
vised her lover TO fee, also told him t.
let his Commander know what wa.
about 10 take place. The Commandei
took very little notice Of The warning
and through an fuexcussble lack OF fore
sight disdained the advice given him
The Indian woman perceiviug with re-
grel the inevitable loss OF her lover, re-
pealed her entreaties, and hes fully be
lieving her, and DESTROYS of saving his
countrymen, presented himself again
before the Commander, who, annoyed
bv The remonstrances OF the soldier
caused him 10 be placed in irons. Soon
after, that unfortunate being and all