CHAPTER IV THE JOURNAL OF M. DABBADIE, 1763-1764 THE FRENCH DO EVERYTHING TO ASSIST THE BRITISH - TALKS WITH JOURNAL OF DABBADIE, 1763-17641 Journal de Mr Dabbadie Commissaire General de la Marine, Ordonnat a La Louisianne il arrive ici differens Chefs des nations Sauvages [juillet, 1763] Je Vis Pendant le Courant de ce mois les chefs des differentes nations Sauvages, les Bilaxis, les chetimachas, les houmas, les Chactas, Les arkanças, et les Natchés, toutes ces [Translation] Journal of M. Dabbadie, commissary general of the marine and ordonnateur of Louisiana. There arrive here different chiefs of the savage nations the Choctaw, the Quapaw, [July, 1763] I saw during the course of this month the chiefs of several savage nations: the Biloxi, the Chitimacha, the Huma, and the Natchez - all these nations, 1 Extracts of this very interesting journal are printed in De Villiers du Terrage's Louisiane française, 177 et seq., but upon comparison with the original, his transcript proved very faulty and there appeared to be many editorial modifications. The journal is most important for the history of the whole Mississippi Valley, but it is impossible to publish in this place more than those extracts which concern the Illinois country. The only insertions are the dates in brackets, which have been taken from omitted portions. 162 nations amies et attachées aux françois venoient a la nouvelle Orleans S'eclercir des Bruits qui Couroient Parmi elles Sur la Cession d'une partie de La Louisianne aux Anglois et disoit on aux Espagnols.1 J'envois a la Mobile pour Tremsporter ici L artrie ordres dans les Postes Pour L'Evacuation Je fis Passer a La Mobile un batteau fretté Pour Commencer L'Evacuation et l'Enlevement de L'artillerie. Les ordres furent donnés dans les differens Postes Pour qu'on Si disposat a L'Evacuation, nos pres dépeches pour les islinois Partirent le 15 par le Nare La jeanne qui des arkançois devoit aller a pied aux ilinois.2 Nouvelle des ilinois Aoust 1763. Le 2 de ce mois nous aprimes par les lettres des ilinois tous les détails des mouvemens des Sauvages Contre les anglois qui les ont attaqué et defes au détour M1 de Neyon envoya a ce sujet une grande Relation [Translation] friends of, and attached to, the French, came to New Orleans to be informed concerning the rumors current among them of the cession of part of Louisiana to the English, and, it is said, to the Spaniards.1 I send to Mobile to have transported here the artillery; orders to the posts to be evacuated I sent to Mobile a chartered bateau to commence the evacuation and to remove the artillery. Orders were given in the different posts that preparations be made for the evacuation. Our first dispatches for the Illinois were sent on the fifteenth by the nare [?] La Jeanne; who will go from the Arkansas to the Illinois by foot.2 News from the Illinois August, 1763 The second of this month has brought us by letters from the Illinois all the details of the movements of the savages against the English. They have attacked and defeated them by trickery. M. de Villiers sent a long account of this to M. de Kerlérec which he promised me. It was 1 Since Spain was not ready to take over Louisiana immediately, its cession by France was kept secret for some time, Even Dabbadie remained in doubt until September 9, 1764. See post, 198. Villiers du Terrage, Louisiane française, 156. 2 Translation very doubtful. a Mr de Kerlérec qu'il m'a Promis Le Bruit Etoit Commun ici que cette relation êtoit exagerée qu'on vouloit Se faire Valoir et Prolonger son Sejoûr dans le poste. depart d'un Convoy Pour les Ilinois il partit dans les 1 jours de ce mois cinq Batteaux qui Portoient avec Le Duplicata de Nos Pres dépeches nos Seconds et differens approvisionnem[ent] qu'on jugea necessaire aux ilinois. M' de Cabaret Capne des nlles compes destiné a remplacer aux Arkanças Le S Moncherveau partit en même Tems Pour Se rendre a Sa destination. Mr de Cabaret va Commandt aux Arkanças representation Pour diminuer la garnison des Postes Le 8 je fis a Mr Le Gouverneur les representation Suivantes. L'intention de le Cour êtant devacuer les Postes d'en diminuer les garnison et de les reduire a l'absolû necessaire j'observé Par l'Etat de Revüe qui m'avoit êté envoyé des ilinois qu'il restoit dans ce Poste 196 hommes de garnison que dans le plus fort de la guerre il n'y avoit jamais eu que 100 hommes Departure of a convoy for the [Translation] current rumor here that this account was exaggerated and that he wished to make himself of value and to prolong his sojourn in the post. There set out on the first days of this month five bateaux which carried the duplicates of our first dispatches, our seconds, and the supplies of various kinds, which are judged necessary for the Illinois. M. de Cabaret goes as commandant to the Arkansas M. de Cabaret, captain of the new companies, destined to replace M. Moncherveau at the Arkansas set out at the same time to reach his destination. Representations to diminish the garrisons at the posts On the eighth I made to the governor the following representations. Since the intention of the court was to evacuate the posts, to diminish the garrisons, and to reduce them to what is absolutely necessary, I observed from the condition of the review that had been sent to me from the Illinois that there remained in that post one hundred and ninety-six men in garrison, where in the de garnison au plus on eut Egard à mon observation et j'Ecrivis avec Mr Le Gouverneur une lettre Commune Pour Renvoyer ici 96 hommes et des officiers a proportions, mais Mr de Kerlerec en donnant cet ordre voulut y ajouter la restriction de laisser M1 de Neyon le Maitre de garder Cet exedent de troupes en cas qu'il le Jugeat necessaire attendû les mouvemens des Sauvages, comme je n'Etois Pas aussi Persuadé que lui que ces mouvemens exigeassent une garnison aussi nombreuse je trouvé la restriction tres inutile il êtoit bien plus aventageux de songer a diminuer les dépenses Excessives de ce poste. je fis la même Observation au sujet des Natchés dont la garnison êtoit de 36 hommes, on decida que cette garnison seroit reduite à 15 hommes seulement, j'etois d'avis qu'on Evacuat Ce poste dont les Bâtimens Licités tombent entierement en ruine et Ceux des fortifications ne sont Pas beaucoup meilleurs, en prenant ce parti on Craignoit quelques impertinances de la part des chic. [sic] qui pourroient Bruler le reste de Ces ouvrages et les reproches qu'auroient Pû faire les anglois a Ce Sujet, jaquiessai a ces raisons on Je demande L'Evacuation des [Translation] height of war there were never more than one hundred men at the most. Regard was paid to my observations and I wrote, with the governor, a common letter with orders to send back here ninety-six men and officers in proportion; but M. de Kerlérec in giving this order desired that there be added to it the restriction permitting M. de Villiers to retain this excess of troops in case he judged it necessary on account of the movements of the savages. Since I was not so persuaded as he that these movements demand the maintenance of such a garrison, I think the restriction is very useless. It would be much more advantageous to consider the restriction of the excessive expenses of this post. I made the same observation on the subject of the Natchez, the garrison of which was thirty-six men. It was decided that this garrison be reduced to fifteen men only. I was of the opinion that they should evacuate this post, the lawful buildings of which are entirely fallen in ruins and the fortifications of which are not much better. If this advice is followed there are feared some impertinences on the part of the Chickasaw I demand the evacuation of the S'en tint au per avis les ordres furent donnés, en Consequence je fis monter deux batteaux aux Natchés qui devoient Tremsporter L'artrie du fort et les autres Effets du Roy a La pointe Coupée, on devoit Seulement reserver au fort 2 pieces de Canons. Le senau le Bilbao ayant déchargé les Effets du Roy il sort [sic] tirant d'eau ne permetant Pas de L'Envoyer a La Mobile. Je decidé de le garder ici Jusqu'a de nouveaux Arrengemens. Nolles des ilinois Janvier 1764. Le 5 il arriva un Batteau des ilinois le détail des Lettres de M1 de Neyon Sur les dispositions des Sauvages au sujet des anglois.1 sur les Nolles que j'ai reçû de la Cour Par le Vau Particulier le Contant freté Pour le Roy arrivé ici le [blank in MS.] xbre pour faire [Translation] who might burn the rest of these works, and the consequent reproach which the English might make. I consented for these reasons. The first opinion was maintained, and orders were sent. Consequently I sent two bateaux to the Natchez to transport the artillery from the fort and the other property of the king to Pointe Coupée. Only two pieces of cannon are to be kept at the fort. When the vessel Bilbao unloaded the king's goods, it drew too much water to send it to Mobile; so I kept it here until the new arrangements. News from the Illinois January, 1764 On the fifth, there arrived a bateau from the Illinois commanded by M. de Girardot: see the details in the letters of M. de Villiers on the dispositions of the savages towards the English.1 In consequence of the news which I have received from the court by the special vessel, Le Contant, chartered for the king, arriving 1 Printed ante, 49. |