La Salle and the discovery of the Great West ... Twelfth edition ... with additions

Front matter

LA SALLE AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE GREAT WEST. I'.Y FRANCIS PARKMAN,^ AUTHOR OF " PI07NEERS OF FRANCE IN THE NEW WORLD," " THE JESUITS IN NORTH AMERICA," " THE OLD REGIME IN CANADA," AND " COUNT FRONTENAC AND NEW FRANCE UNDER LOUIS XTV ' TWELFTH EDITION. REVI8ED, WITH ADDITIONS. fLonUon: MACMILLAN AND CO. 1885. TO THE CLASS OF 1844, HARVARD COLLEGE, THIS BOOK IS CORDIALLY DEDICATED BY ONE OF THEIR NUMBER. "When the earlier editions of this book were published, I was aware of the existence of a collection of documents relating to La Salle, and containing important material to which I had not succeeded in gaining access. This collection was in possession of M. Pierre Margry, director of the Archives of the Marine and Colonies at Paris, and was the result of more than thirty jrears of re search.

With rare assiduity and zeal, M. Margry had explored not only the vast depository with which he has been officially connected from youth, and of which he is now the chief, but also the other public archives of France, and many private collections in Paris and the provinces. The object of his search was to throw light on the career and achievements of French explorers, and, above all, of La Salle. A collection of extraordinary richness grew gradually upon his hands. In the course of my own inquiries, I owed much to his friendly aid j but his collections, as a whole, remained inac cessible, since he naturally wished to be the first to make known the results of his labors. An attempt to induce Congress to furnish him with the means of printing documents so interesting to American history was made in 1870 and 1871, by Henry Harrisse, Esq., aided by the American minister at Paris ; but it unfortunately failed.

In the summer and autumn of 1872, I had nu merous interviews with M. Margry, and at his desire undertook to try to induce some American book seller to publish the collection. On returning to the United States, I accordingly made an arrange ment with Messrs. Little, Brown, & Co., of Boston, by which they agreed to print the papers, if a certain number of subscriptions should first be obtained. The condition proved very difficult; and it became clear that the best hope of success lay in another appeal to Congress. This was made in the following winter, in conjunction with Hon. E. B. Washburne, Colonel Charles Whittlesey, of Cleveland, 0. H. Marshall, Esq., of Buffalo, and other gentlemen interested in early American his tory. The attempt succeeded. Congress made an appropriation for the purchase of five hundred copies of the work, to be printed at Paris, under direction of M. Margry; and the three volumes devoted to La Salle are at length before the public.

Preface

OF THE FIRST EDITION. The discovery of the " Great West," or the valleys of the Mississippi and the Lakes, is a por tion of our history hitherto very obscure. Those magnificent regions were revealed to the world through a series of daring enterprises, of which the motives and even the incidents have been but partially and superficially known. The chief actor in them wrote much, but printed nothing ; and the published writings of his associates stand wofully in need of interpretation from the un published documents which exist, but which have not heretofore been used as material for history. This volume attempts to supply the defect. Of the large amount of wholly new material employed in it, by far the greater part is drawn from the various public archives of France, and the rest from private sources. The discovery of many of

PREFACE.

OF THE FIRST EDITION. these documents is due to the indefatigable re search of M. Pierre Margry, assistant director of the Archives of the Marine and Colonies at Paris, whose labors as an investigator of the maritime and colonial history of France can be appreciated only by those who have seen their results. In the de partment of American colonial history, these results have been invaluable ; for, besides several private collections made by him, he rendered important service in the collection of the French portion of the Brodhead documents, selected and arranged the two great series of colonial papers ordered by the Canadian government, and prepared with vast labor analytical indexes of these and of supple mentary documents in the French archives, as well as a copious index of the mass of papers relating to Louisiana.

It is to be hoped that the valuable publications on the maritime history of France which have appeared from his pen are an earnest of more extended contributions in future. The late President Sparks, some time after the publication of his Life of La Salle, caused a collection to be made of documents relating to that explorer, with the intention of incorporating them in a future edition. This intention was never carried into effect, and the documents were never used. With the liberality which always distinguished

PREFACE.

OF THE FIRST EDITION. XIII him, he placed them at my disposal, and this privi lege has been kindly continued by Mrs. Sparks. Abbe Faillon, the learned author of " La Colonie Francaise en Canada," has sent me copies of vari ous documents found by him, including family papers of La Salle. Among others who in various ways have aided my inquiries are Dr. John Paul, of Ottawa, 111. ; Count Adolphe de Circourt, and M. Jules Marcou, of Paris; M. A. Gerin Lajoie, Assistant Librarian of the Canadian Parliament; M. J. M. Le Moine, of Quebec ; General Dix, Minister of the United States at the Court of France ; 0. H. Marshall, of Buffalo ; J. G. Shea, of New York ; Buckingham Smith, of St. Augus tine ; and Colonel Thomas Aspinwall, of Boston. The smaller map contained in the book is a por tion of the manuscript map of Franquelin, of which an account will be found in the Appendix.

The next volume of the series will be devoted to the efforts of Monarchy and Feudalism under Louis XIV. to establish a permanent power on this continent, and to the stormy career of Louis de Buade, Count of Frontenac. Boston, 16 September, 1869. PAOB CONTENTS. Introduction xxiii

Chapter I

1643-1669. CAVELIER DE LA SALLE. The Youth of La Salle. — His Connection with the Jesuits. — He goes to Canada. — His Character. — His Schemes. — His Seigniory at La Chine. — His Expedition in Search of a Western Passage to India 1 CHAPTER H. 1069-1671. TLA BALLE AND THE SULPITIANS. The French in Western New York. — Louis Joliet. — The Sulpitians on Lake Erie. — At Detroit. — At Saut Ste. Marie. — The Mystery of La Salle. — He discovers the Ohio. — He descends the Illinois. — Did he reach the Mississippi 1 12

CHAPTER IIL

1670-1672. THE JESUITS ON THE LAKES. The Old Missions and the New. — A Change of Spirit. — Lake Superior and the Copper-mines. — Ste. Marie. — La Pointe. — Michillimackinac. — Jesuits on La*e Michigan. — Allouez and Dablon — The Jesuit Fur-trade CONTENTS. XVI

CHAPTER IV.

1667-1672. FRANCE TAKES POSSESSION OF THE WEST. PAGE Talon. — Saint-Lusson. — Perrot. — The Ceremony at Saut Ste. Marie. — The Speech of Allouez. — Count Frontenac .... 39

CHAPTER V.

1672-1675. THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI. Joliet sent to find the Mississippi. — Jacques Marquette. — Depart ure. — Green Bay. — The Wisconsin. — The Mississippi. — Indians. — Manitous. — The Arkansas. — The Illinois. — Joliet's Misfortune. — Marquette at Chicago. — His Illness. — His Death 48

CHAPTER VI.

1673-1678. LA SALLE AND FRONTENAC. Objects of La Salle. — Frontenac favors him. — Projects of Frontenac. — Cataraqui. — Frontenac on Lake Ontario. — Fort Frontenac. — La Salle and Fe'nelon. — Success of La Salle. — His Enemies 73 CHAPTER VH. 1678. PARTY STRIFE. La Salle and his Reporter. — Jesuit Ascendency. — The Missions and the Fur-trade. — Female Inquisitors. — Plots against La Salle. — His Brother the Priest. — Intrigues of the Jesuits. La Salle poisoned. — He exculpates the Jesuits. — Renewed Intrigues CONTENTS. XVII CHAPTER VIH. 1677, 1678. THE GRAND ENTERPRISE. PAGE La Salle at Fort Frontenac. — La Salle at Court. — His Memorial. — Approval of the King. — Money and Means. — Henri de Tonty. — Return to Canada ... 108

CHAPTER IX.

1678-1679. LA SALLE AT NIAGARA. Father Louis Hennepin. — His Past Life; his Character. — Embarkation. — Niagara Falls. — Indian Jealousy. — La Motte and the Senecas. — A Disaster. — La Salle and his Followers . . . 118

CHAPTER X.

1679. THE LAUNCH OF THE " GRIFFIN." The Niagara Portage. — A Vessel on the Stocks. — Suffering and Discontent. — La Salle's Winter Journey. — The Vessel launched. — Fresh Disasters 131

CHAPTER XI.

1679. LA SALLE ON THE UPPER LAKES. The Voyage of the " Griffin." — Detroit. — A Storm— St. Ignace of Michilliniackinac. — Rivals and Enemies. — Lake Michigan. — Hardships. — A Threatened Fight. — Fort Miami. — Tonty's Misfortunes. — Forebodings 138 CHAPTER Xn. 1679, 1680. LA SALLE ON THE ILLINOIS. The St. Joseph. — Adventure of La Salle. — The Prairies. — Famine. — The Great Town of the Illinois. — Indians. — Intrigues. — Difficulties. — Policy of La Salle. — Desertion. — Another Attempt to poison him 151 b CONTENTS. PAGE 225

CHAPTER XIII.

1680. FORT CRivECŒUR. Building of the Fort. — Loss of the " Griffin." — A Bold Resolution. — Another Vessel. — Hennepin sent to the Mississippi. — Departure of La Salle . . 107

CHAPTER XIV.

1680. HARDIHOOD OF LA SALLE. The Winter Journey. — The Deserted Town. — Starved Rock. — Lake Michigan. — The Wilderness. — War Parties. — La Salle's Men give out. — 111 Tidings. — Mutiny. — Chastisement of the Mutineers 17B

CHAPTER XV.

1680. INDIAN CONQUERORS. The Enterprise renewed. — Attempt to rescue Tonty. — Buffalo. — A Frightful Discovery. — Iroquois Fury. — The Ruined Town. — A Night of Horror. — Traces of the Invaders. — No News of Tonty 188

CHAPTER XVI.

1680. TONTY AND THE IrOQCOIS. The Deserters. — The Iroquois War. — The Great Town of the Illinois. — The Alarm. —Onset of the Iroquois. — Peril of Tonty. —A Treacherous Truce. — Intrepidity of Tonty. Murder of Ribourde. — War upon the Dead 201

CHAPTER XVLI.

1680. THE ADVENTURES OF HENNEPIN. Hennepin an Impostor. — His Pretended Discovery. — His Actual Discovery. — Captured by the Sioux. — The Upper Mississippi CONTENTS. XIX PAGE 241 203 CHAPTER XVI11. 1080, 1081. HENNEPIN AMONG THE SIOUX. Signs of Danger. — Adoption. — Hennepin and his Indian Relatives. — The Hunting Party. — The Sioux Camp. — Falls of St. Anthony. — A Vagabond Friar. — His Adventures on the Mississippi. — Greysolon Du Lhut. — Return to Civilization . .

CHAPTER XIX.

1681. LA SALLE BEGINS ANEW. His Constancy. — His Plans. — His Savage Allies. — ne becomes Snow-blind. — Negotiations. — Grand Council. — La Salle's Oratory. — Meeting with Tonty. — Preparation. — Departure . .

CHAPTER XX.

1681-1682. SUCCESS OF LA SALLE. Jis Followers. — The Chicago Tortage. — Descent of the Mississippi. — The Lost Hunter. — The Arkansas. — The Taensas. — The Natchez. — Hostility. — The Mouth of the Mississippi. — Louis XIV. proclaimed Sovereign of the Great West .... 275

CHAPTER XXI.

1682, 1683. ST. LOUIS OF THE ILLINOIS. Louisiana. — Illness of La Salle. — His Colony on the Illinois. — Fort St. Louis. — Recall of Frontenac. — Le Febvre de la Barre. — Critical Position of La Salle. — Hostility of the New Governor. — Triumph of tlie Adverse Faction. — La Salle sails for France CONTENTS. XX PAGK 307

CHAPTER XXII.

1680-1683. LA SALLE PAINTED BY HIMSELF. Difficulty of knowing him. — His Detractors. — His Letters. — Vexations of his Position. — His Unfitness for Trade. — Risks of Correspondence. — His Reported Marriage. — Alleged Ostentation. — Motives of Action. — Charges of Harshness. — Intrigues against him. — Unpopular Manners. — A Strange Confession. — His Strength and his Weakness. — Contrasts of his Character CHAPTER XXTIL 1684. a new enterprise. La Salle at Court. — His Proposals. — Occupation of Louisiana. — Invasion of Mexico. — Royal Favor. — Preparation. — A Divided Command. — Beaujeu and La Salle. — Mental Condition of La Salle. — His Farewell to his Mother 322

CHAPTER XXIV.

1684, 1685. THE VOYAGE. Disputes with Beaujeu. — St. Domingo. — La Salle attacked with Fever. — His Desperate Condition. — The Gulf of Mexico. — A Vain Search and a Fatal Error 344

CHAPTER XXV.

1685. LA SALLE IN TEXAS. A Party of Exploration. — Wreck of the "Aimable." — Landing of the Colonists. — A Forlorn Position. — Indian Neighbors. — Friendly Advances of Beaujeu. — His Departure. — A Fatal Discovery 35fl

CHAPTER XXVI.

1685-1687. ST. LOUIS OF TEXAS. The Fort. — Misery and Dejection. — Energy of La Salle. --His Journey of Exploration. — Adventures and Accidents. — The Buffalo. — Duhaut. — Indian Massacre. — Return of La Salle. CONTENTS. XXI PAGE — A New Calamity. — A Desperate Resolution. — Departure for Canada. — Wreck of the " Belle." — Marriage. — Sedition. — Adventures of La Salle's Party. — The Cenis. — The Camanches. — The Only Hope. — The Last Farewell 368

CHAPTER XXVLI.

1687. ASSASSINATION OF LA SALLE. His Followers. — Prairie Travelling. — A Hunters' Quarrel. — The Murder of Moranget. — The Conspiracy. — Death of La Salle. — His Character 390 CHAPTER XXVHI. 1687, 1688. THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY. Triumph of the Murderers. — Danger of Joutel. — Joutel among the Cenis. — White Savages. — Insolence of Duhaut and his Accomplices. — Murder of Duhaut and Liotot. — Hiens, the Buccaneer. — Joutel and his Party. — Their Escape. — They reach the Arkansas. — Bravery and Devotion of Tonty. — The Fugitives reach the Illinois. — Unworthy Conduct of Cavelier. — He and his Companions return to France .... 410

CHAPTER XXIX.

1688-1689. FATE OF THE TEXAN COLONY. Tonty attempts to rescue the Colonists. — His Difficulties and Hardships. — Spanish Hostility. — Expedition of Alonzo de Leon. — He reaches Fort St. Louis. — A Scene of Havoc. — Destruction of the French. — The End 438

Appendix

. I. Early Unpublished Maps of the Mississippi and the Great Lakes 449 II. The Eldorado of Mathieu Sagean 458 INDEX