Chapter I: Preface

The discovery of the "Great West," or the valleys of the Mississippi and the Lakes, is a portion 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but printed nothing; and the published writings of his associates stand wofully in need of interpretation from the unpublished documents which exist, but which have not heretofore been used as material for history.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 these documents is due to the indefatigable research of M. Pierre Margry, assistant custodian 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 department 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 supplementary 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 him, he placed them at my disposal, and this privilege has been, kindly continued by Mrs. Sparks.

Abbe Faillon, the learned author of "La Colonie Francaise en Canada," has sent me copies of various 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, Ill.; 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; O. H. Marshall, of Buffalo; J. G. Shea, of New York; Buckingham Smith, of St. Augustine; and Colonel Thomas Aspinwall, of Boston.

The map contained in the book is a portion of the great 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.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

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.

CHAPTER II. 1669-1671. LA SALLE 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?

CHAPTER III. 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 Lake Michigan.--Allouez and Dablon.--The Jesuit Fur-Trade.

CHAPTER IV. 1667-1672. FRANCE TAKES POSSESSION OF THE WEST.

Talon.--St. Lusson.--Perrot.--The Ceremony at Saut Ste. Marie.-- The Speech of Allouez.--Count Frontenac.

CHAPTER V. 1672-1675. THE DISCOVERY OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

Joliet sent to find the Mississippi.--Jacques Marquette.--Departure.-- Green Bay.--The Wisconsin.--The Mississippi.--Indians.--Manitous. --The Arkansas.--The Illinois.--Joliet's Misfortune.--Marquette at Chicago.--His Illness.--His Death.

CHAPTER VI. 1673-1678. LA SALLE AND FRONTENAC.

Objects of La Salle.--His Difficulties.--Official Corruption in Canada.-- The Governor of Montreal.--Projects of Frontenac.--Cataraqui.-- Frontenac on Lake Ontario.--Fort Frontenac.--Success of La Salle.

CHAPTER VII. 1674-1678. LA SALLE AND THE JESUITS.

The Abbe Fenelon.--He attacks the Governor.--The Enemies of La Salle.--Aims of the Jesuits.--Their Hostility to La Salle.

CHAPTER VIII. 1678. PARTY STRIFE.

La Salle and his Reporter.--Jesuit Ascendancy.--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.

CHAPTER IX. 1677-1678. THE GRAND ENTERPRISE.

La Salle at Fort Frontenac.--La Salle at Court.--His Plans approved.-- Henri de Tonty.--Preparation for Departure.

CHAPTER X. 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.

CHAPTER XI. 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.

CHAPTER XII. 1679. LA SALLE ON THE UPPER LAKES.

The Voyage of the "Griffin."--Detroit.--A Storm.--St. Ignace of Michillimackinac.--Rivals and Enemies--Lake Michigan.--Hardships. --A Threatened Fight.--Fort Miami.--Tonty's Misfortunes.-- Forebodings.

CHAPTER XIII. 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.

CHAPTER XIV. 1680. FORT CREVECOEUR.

Building of the Fort.--Loss of the "Griffin."--A Bold Resolution.-- Another Vessel.--Hennepin sent to the Mississippi.--Departure of La Salle.

CHAPTER XV. 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.--Ill Tidings.--Mutiny.--Chastisement of the Mutineers.

CHAPTER XVI. 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.

CHAPTER XVII. 1680. TONTY AND THE IROQUOIS.

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.

CHAPTER XVIII. 1680. THE ADVENTURES OF HENNEPIN.

Hennepin an Impostor.--His Pretended Discovery.--His Actual Discovery. --Captured by the Sioux.--The Upper Mississippi.

CHAPTER XIX. 1680, 1681. 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 XX. 1681. LA SALLE BEGINS ANEW.

His Constancy.--His Plans.--His Savage Allies.--He becomes Snow-blind. --Negotiations.--Grand Council.--La Salle's Oratory.--Meeting with Tonty.--Preparation.--Departure.

CHAPTER XXI. 1681-1682. SUCCESS OF LA SALLE.

His Followers.--The Chicago Portage.--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.

CHAPTER XXII. 1682-1683. ST. LOUIS OF THE ILLINOIS.

Louisiana.--Illness of La Salle.--His Colony on the Illinois.--Fort St. Louis.--Recall of Frontenac.--Le Fevre de la Barre.--Critical Position of La Salle.--Hostility of the New Governor.--Triumph of the Adverse Faction.--La Salle sails for France.

CHAPTER XXIII. 1684. A NEW ENTERPRISE.

La Salle at Court.--His Proposals.--Occupation of Louisiana.--Invasion of Mexico.--Royal Favor.--Preparation.--The Naval Commander.--His Jealousy of La Salle.--Dissensions.

CHAPTER XXIV. 1684-1685. LA SALLE IN TEXAS.

Departure.--Quarrels with Beaujeu.--St. Domingo.--La Salle attacked with Fever.--His Desperate Condition.--The Gulf of Mexico.--A Fatal Error.--Landing.--Wreck of the "Aimable."--Indian Attack.--Treachery of Beaujeu.--Omens of Disaster.

CHAPTER XXV. 1685-1687. ST. LOUIS OF TEXAS.

The Fort.--Misery and Dejection.--Energy of La Salle.--His Journey of Exploration.--Duhaut.--Indian Massacre.--Return of La Salle. --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.

CHAPTER XXVI. 1687. ASSASSINATION OF LA SALLE.

His Followers.--Prairie Travelling.--A Hunter's Quarrel.--The Murder of Moranget.--The Conspiracy.--Death of La Salle.--His Character.

CHAPTER XXVII. 1687, 1688. THE INNOCENT AND THE GUILTY.

Triumph of the Murderers.--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.

CHAPTER XXVIII. 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.

APPENDIX.

I. Early unpublished Maps of the Mississippi and the Great Lakes. II. The Eldorado of Mathieu Sagean.

INDEX