The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-07-02
HISTORICAL FORT
BEING DEVASTATED
Reposes on a High Bluff Near
Epes
WAS BUILT BY BlENVILlt
Erected to Avenge the Slaughter of
His French Comrades by
the Natchez-Bult
in 1895.
BY CHARLES JOSEPH WISE.


Two hundred years ago, in the territory
now known as West Alabama and wnere
the iron horses pass by. the Indian piled
his canoe with out molestation.
Right on the Tombigbee river, about one
mile from Epes station, IN Sumter coun-
ty, we find a historical spot.
Here are the outlines of Fort "Tombee-
be-" built by M. de Lusser a lieutenant
of Bienville, assisted by a company OF
soldiers and artisans ana many Choctaw
Indians, about June, 1875. Although with
out care and after the lapse of nearly
two centuries this fort is plainly discerni-
Bile, and nearby are seen small mounds
which are said to be the graves of sol
diers killed in battle belonging to the
army of Bienville. Some of these also
probably contain the remains of Indian
prisoners who died.
Built on High Bluff.
This fort was built on the highest lime
stone bluff that could be found, and just
below it. on the south side, is a deep RAJ
vine, which assisted in making 1t impreg-
nable. 1t covers about I'VE acres, now
ONCl 6iOWD Will Wttuo titcS.
1t is now in order for us to review his
tory and find out the cause that prompt
ed the building of this fort.
The following historical information was
obtained from Pickett's history of Ala
bama:
The young and gifted LaSalle, a native
of Rome, in France, educated as a Jesuit
went to Canada to acquire fortune and
fame by finding an overland passage TO
China. Becoming fired at the discovery
which Marquette had made, he returned
to France and obtained a royal commits
sion in the year 1918 for perfecting the ex-
ploration of the Mississippi, for which he
was granted monopoly in the trade of
the skins of the buffalo.
Sailing back to Canada with men and
stores, and accompanied by the Chevalier
Fonti, an Italian soldier, who acted as
his lieutenant, LaSalle proceeded by way
of the lakes upon his important enter
prise. consuming over two years in ex-
ploring those vast sheets of water, in
building forts and collecting furs. He at
length rugged small barge, in which he
descended the Mississippi to its mouth.
Here, upon small marshy elevation. in
full view of the sea, he took formal and
ceremonious possession in the name of
the King of France.
The country received the name of Louis
vile, in honor of Louis XIV, who then
occupied the French throne but the at
tempt to give the rive the name of Cor
bert in honor of his minister OF finance
did not succeed, and 1t retained that by
which the aborigines had designated it,
On April 8, 1852 the territory in which
Jones bluff now stands was discovered
and acquired by France.
Leaves Tont in Command.
Leaving the Chevalier Tonti in COM
mand of Fort st. Louis. which IaSalle
had established In the country of Illinois,
the latter returned to France where the
report of his discoveries had already
given rise to much excitement and joy
The government Immediately furnished
him with a frigate and three other ships
upon which embarked two hundred and
eighty persons, consisting of priests, gen.
tlemen, hired mechanics and agricultural
emigrants. for the purpose of forming a
colony al the mouth of the Mississippi
Having crossed the Atlantic and being
unable to find from the gulf the entrance
to that river. he was forced to dsembarlS
upon The coast of Texas
Failed to Find Settlement.
After establishing a fort here, LaSalle
and party started out to find his settle.
ment at the mouth of the Mississippi.
DtliS dSdil UNSUCCESSFUL he ueItTfnlneQ
to cut his way through to Canada by land
After three months wanderings he was
murdered by two of his companions in the
prairies of Texas. The few colonists LETT
upon the coast of Texas all persisted OBJ
scurely except the brother of LaSalle and
six others. who made their way to Can
ada.
Such was the melancholy termination
OF the first attempt to colonize Louisiana
| 70 10 Ia yf1,A tod
the fort at Jones' bluff. At the time
Louis XIV. of France was engaged in
war with William III. of England. which
had extended to their respective colonies
in North America. In consequence of
these troubles further efforts to colonize
the Mississippi were not attempted until
after the peace of Ryswick. By the
terms of the treaty each party was to