Catahoula News Booster, July 22, 2020, Page 7A A long journey; an American flag Stanley Nelson

More than 200 years seans began their long trip ago, General Andrew Jack- home, reaching Nashville 14 son’s Tennessee volunteers days later. Colonel Doherty, and Colonel Ferdinand Clai- the regiment commander, borne’s Mississippi militia congratulated the men on raised the first American flag their “safe return and happy ever to fly over Concordia situation,” adding that they Parish. had beheld part of the “im- Events leading up to mensity of country.” the ceremony had begun Col. Gilbert Christian Rus- months earlier when Pres- sell, who led the Tennesse- ident Thomas Jefferson di- ans to the Vidalia ceremony, rected 500 mounted infantry would go on to a long military be raised in Tennessee. The career. In 1809, he would volunteers were ordered have a minor role in a trag- to travel to Natchez to join ic American story involving forces with General James Meriwether Lewis, one-half Wilkinson’s regular troops of the Lewis & Clark team and Col. Claiborne’s Missis- that explored the American sippi militia. west following the Louisiana The President also indi- Purchase. Lewis was a good cated that additional Tennes- friend of Col. Russell’s. see men forming a second When the flag-raising detachment would be need- ceremony at Vidalia was be- ed by early December. ing held, Lewis & Clark were ON MARCH 9,1804, the formal transfer of Upper Louisiana as an American possession In Tennessee, in the Mis- encamped at Camp Dubois sissippi Territory and through- was held in St. Louis. U.S. Captain Amos Stoddard represented of the U.S. (Credit: Ford P. along the Illinois shore up- out the young United States, Kaiser. "Transfer of Louisiana," in James W. Buel, ed., Louisiana and the Fair. 10 vols. St. river. They were waiting for there was fear the Spanish Louis: World's Progress Publishing Co., 1904, Library of Congress) word of completion of the might force a war over the of volunteers departed “on some, ill from the more than living on the Concordia shore A document filed at legal transactions between issue of the Louisiana Pur- their way to Natchez and two-week journey, were hos- were waiting. Together, they the Concordia Parish Clerk the U.S. & France for posses- chase of 1803. Spain had yesterday proceeded on pitalized. Dr. John W. Tullock, stood in the brilliant sunlight of Court’s office in Vidalia sion of Louisiana before they ceded Louisiana to France in their march.” The soldiers tra- the physician at Fort Dear- of a clear, cold day to officially records that on Thursday, could begin their explora- a secret treaty. When France versed the Nashville to Nat- born, nursed the men back welcome Concordia into the January 12, 1804, Spain tion of the west. It was a fair agreed to sell Louisiana to the chez Road, later to be known to health. arms of a democracy. relinquished possession morning at Camp Dubois, the U.S. for $15 million, Spanish as the Natchez Trace. Noto- Representing the Spanish of the post. Because of river was rising and, wrote officials were outraged. rious criminals such as Sam FLAG-RAISING was American-born Stephen the secret treaty in which Captain William Clark, “Large Tennessee Governor Mason and Little Harp were Minor, the commanding of- Spain had previously giv- sheets of ice are attached to John Sevier reported to Sen. terrorizing travelers along the Though disappointed ficer at the Post of Concord en France the Louisiana the bank.” George Campbell on Novem- road during that period but they wouldn’t be fighting in (Vidalia) during the final Territory, the transfer doc- A few years later in 1809, ber 7, 1803, that the Legisla- stayed clear of this heavily New Orleans, the men were days of Spanish rule. Jose ument reads: “I, Don Ste- Meriwether Lewis, prone to ture was taking measures to armed and untested military in good spirits. A few would Vidal, who established and phen Minor, Captain in the depression and a binge drink- raise the troops, but worried: force. be given the opportunity named the Concord post in Royal Army of His Catholic er, arrived at Fort Pickering at “The season of the year, com- As the men marched to raise the American flag 1798, and for whom Vidalia is Majesty, by virtue of the Memphis in poor mental and ing on cold, and many of the southward, The Tennessee across the river in Concordia, named, had departed a few power given me...have this physical health and drinking men bare of clothing, I submit Gazette published a letter located in Louisiana and now weeks earlier in route to his day delivered the said Post heavily. Col. Russell was the to your consideration wheth- from a Natchez man on Dec. a part of the United States. homeland in Spain. of Concord, with all of its commander at the fort. He er it might not be proper to 14 which heralded a change Col. Christian Gilbert Rus- The ceremony at Vidalia dependencies, to Major took his old friend under his order the troops one month’s of events: “The Spanish have sell and a company of Ten- was brief. After the Span- Ferdinand L. Claiborne, a wing, took away the alcohol pay in advance.” no intention of throwing dif- nesseans along with a com- ish flag was lowered, the citizen of the Mississip- and persuaded Lewis to rest. While the first detach- ficulties in the way of our pany of Mississippi militia American flag was slowly pi Territory of the United A few days later, sober ment of 500 was being or- possessing New Orleans, but under Captain Newell were raised over Concordia to the States, and authorized as but apparently still unwell ganized and preparing to on the contrary, every prepa- given the honors. salutes of the soldiers. This Agent of the French Repub- mentally, Lewis left the fort in march, General Jackson, ration is making at that place These two companies, flag (which flew over the lic, by full power from the route to the nation’s capital who commanded in Ten- for our reception in a friendly led by Major Ferdinand U.S. from 1795 to 1818) had Colonial Prefect Commis- at Washington bringing with nessee, awarded a contract manner.” Claiborne, head of the Mis- 15 stars and 15 stripes, the sary of the French Govern- him his exploration docu- for the construction of 28 sissippi Territory militia and only time in American histo- ment for the reception of ments. At an inn along the flatboats to transport the FEASTS & TOASTS brother of Mississippi Terri- ry that a flag had more than the said Province of Louisi- Natchez Trace, Lewis killed second detachment. Secre- tory Governor William C.C. 13 stripes (for the original 13 ana from Spain...” himself, or as some believe, tary of War Henry Dearborn In Natchez, the Mississip- Claiborne, Natchez Mayor colonies). General Wilkinson had was murdered. in early December ordered pi Territory militia trained and Samuel Brooks, and a group previously written Ma- the construction of several awaited arrival of the Tennes- of Natchez citizens, ferried THIS DAY jor Claiborne on Jan. 3: “I PATRIOTIC DUTY ferry-boats “large enough to seans for the march to New across the Mississippi at Nat- DELIVERED have declined sending a convey four or five horses Orleans, but before the first chez where a few of the folks garrison to that (Concord) Historian Samuel C. Wil- at one time and convenient companies arrived, the U.S. THE AMERICAN flag is raised over Lou- Post; and as Governor Clai- liams (“Tennessee’s First light boat of the batteaux peacefully took possession of isiana during a ceremony in New Orleans on borne has informed me it Military Expedition, 1803, kind for the conveyance of New Orleans. From Washing- March 10, 1804, two months after Tennesse- was his purpose to invest Tennessee Historical Maga- foot passengers.” ton, the territorial capital six ans and Mississippians raised the flag over you with authority for the zine, October 1924) wrote Colonel George Doherty, miles east of Natchez, Judge Concordia in January. The New Orleans’ Civil Government of the that because the Tennes- Thomas Rodney on Dec. 23 place, I have to request a Revolutionary War veteran, ceremony was held at what is today known seans’ time in Natchez and wrote his son in Delaware: that you will be pleased to was named the command- as Jackson Square. (Credit: “Hoisting of the Vidalia in 1803-04 was a er of the first detachment “Yesterday the two first com- take charge of the public American Colors Over Louisiana,” Thure de “bloodless” campaign, it of 500 troops. A second de- panies of Tennessee Horse property there, which by has been forgotten. But Thulstrup) tachment of 1,500 was being arrived at Fort Dearborn, a the treaty may come into he wrote the effort must raised when these troops mile from town,” while an- the possession of the Unit- be remembered: “The vol- prepared for the journey other “company of Tennes- ed States; and particularly unteers did an important south. see Troops came in this after- that you will take mea- service, thought to be es- noon and say the remainder sures to secure the public sential...” Tennessee earned ON THE MARCH of the 500 now on the way buildings from waste and the title -- “The Volunteer will be here tomorrow.” injury.” State” -- partly “by reason In late November, the Rodney later wrote that However, there were of their efforts” and Tennes- men of the first detachment, Mississippi Territory Acting no public buildings for see should not forget this. coming from different -ar Governor Cato West “upon Major Claiborne to pos- And neither should Con- eas of Tennessee, passed hearing of our getting quiet sess on behalf of the U.S. cordia forget. through Nashville. The Ten- possession of Louisiana, gave Vidal’s private residence These 500 Tennesseans, nessee Gazette wrote: “They a public entertainment and had served as the govern- said Williams, “represented are now encamped at Gol- invited the...(mayor of Nat- ment house. the first expedition carried gotha about six miles from chez), the Tennessee officers Claiborne served as on by the military forces of this town (Nashville), and will and a number of other gen- civil and military comman- Tennessee after the State march tomorrow under the tleman to his feast, where we dant of the post for a year, was admitted to the Union command of Col. Doherty, drank a number of patriotic while Samuel Wooldridge (in 1796).” from Holston, and Majors toasts and spent the day with was named civil com- The Tennesseans, and Hall and Witherspoon of great accord and pleasantry.” mander on Jan. 25, 1805. the Mississippians, con- Mero District. They are well Most of the Tennesseans ducted patriotic business equipped and in high spirits.” arrived in the Mississippi Ter- RUSSELL & LEWIS when they raised the flag On Dec. 7, the paper ritory capital of Washington of freedom over Vidalia on reported the last company in good condition, although On Feb. 1, the Tennes- Thursday, January 12, 1804.