J O T T I N G S O F L O U I SI A N A eg g —fin; I L L U S T R A T ED H I ST O R I CA L SKET CH O F T H E MO ST I L L U ST R I O U S L A N DMA R KS W O R L EA N S N E , A nd the O nly R em a ining Bu ildings of Colon ial D a y s . n nl f f h T hey do ot o y orm par t, o the H istory of t e ” U i ed S a es but al o f F ranc and S ain . n t t t , s o e p E . WI L L I S J . R O U SS L N w r a L a e O le ns , . - r (C o p y rig htc d J a nu a ry 3 d , “ r i 5 0 en P c e , C t s . 1 0 5 9 . E BR O P U BL I S H E M N DO L A S . R S , E nnw O R L A N S , L A . POETICAL J OTTING S or H E H I S O T T R Y or L O U I S I A N A . BY CH AR LES U A YA R R E ' The follow ing quota-tie ns are taken from the History of Louisian a b a G a arr e y Ch rles y e, the eminent writ r and historian , and will no doubt prove to be a very appropriate preface to this work as “ it a - will dmit a basis of comparison for Louisiana as it is to day . A fter a masterly and graceful preliminary the learned historian said : “ I am willing to apply that criterion to Louisiana , considered both physically and historically ;I am willing that my native . State , which is but a fragrant of what Louisiana formerly was , should stand and fall by that test , and do not fear to approach I with her the seat of j udgment . am prepared to show that her d history is full of poetry of the highest order , and of the most varie I “ i h . and w t nature have studied the subj ect con amore , . such I reverential enthusiasm , and may say with such filial piety , that it has grown upon my heart as well as upon my mind . To support the assertion that the history of Louisiana is eminently poetical , it will be sufficient to give you short graphical descriptions of those interesting events which constitute the annals . Bright gems - r they are , enriching her brow , diadem like , and worthy of that sta which has sprung from her forehead to enrich the American con ” stellation in the firmament of Liberty . H ERNANDO De SOTO . l 1 3 st . 5 39 On the of May , , the Bay of Santa Spiritu , presented . a curious spectacle . Eleven vessels of quaint shape bearing the broad banner of Spain , were moored close to the shore ;one thousand men of infantry and three hundred and fifty men of the cavalry , fully equipped , were landing in proud array under command of Hernando De Soto , one of the most illustrious ' one companions of Pizarro in the conquest of Peru , and reported ” of the best lancers of Spain . >l< >I< >l< >x< Among his followers are gentlemen of the best blood of Spain and of Portugal . >k >l< Chi c k es aw s Now he is encamped in the territory of the , the most ferocious of the Indian tribes . And lucky was it that De Soto was as prudent as he was brave , and slept equally prepared ' for the defence and for the attack . Hark in the dead of a 3 ’ W i h h the i of N in the of inter s n g t , w en cold w nd the orth , month 1 5 41 January , , was howling through the leafless trees , a simul taneou s u the o howl was heard , more hideo s far than v ice of the a fir brands . m e tempest The Indi ns rushed i petuously with , and the thatched roofs which sheltered the Spaniards are soon on fire , threatening them with immediate destruction . The horses rear a nd a e ing plunging in wild ffright , and breaking loos their lig a the e i i ments , undaunted Spa niards , half nak d , struggl ng aga nst the devouring element and the unsparing foe ;the deep toned “ ” h and o S t . s uts of Jago Spain to the rescue , the demon like k ; over thr ew of the I a shrie s of the red warriors the final ndi ns , i t u the hot pursuit by the l gh of the flaming village , form a pict re t highly exciting to the imagination , and cold, indeed , mus be he who does not take delight in the strange contrast of the heroic r of h . th n t r in f warfa e c ivalry on one side , and of e u tu o ed co age o r ” man in his savage state on the othe . It would be too long to follow DeS oto in his peregrinations th a and during two y ears rough part of Al bama , Mississippi f . o o s i Tennessee At last he stands n the banks the Missis ipp , near the spot Where now flourishes the Egyptian named city of . C Memphis He rosses the mighty river , and onward he goes , up to the White River, while roaming over the territory of Arkansas . Meeting with alternate hospitality and hostility on the part of the a es nt Indi ns , he arrives at the mouth of Red River , within the pr e h limits of the State of Louisiana . There e was fated to close his ” adventurous career . FATH ER M AR'U ET T E AN D J OLIET . One hundred and thirty years had passed away since the r DeS oto L ouisiana w 1 thou t appa ition of on the soil of , any further “ n attempt of the white race to pe etrate into the fair region , when, n t 7c of 1 673 u o he July , , a small band of E ropeans and Canadians reached the Mississippi , which they had come to seek from the distant city of 'uebec . That band had two leaders , Father e oli et e Marqu tte , a monk , and J a m rchant , the prototype of two i n great sources of power , religion and commerce , which , the course u of time , were destined to exercise such infl ence on the civilization ' b the of the Western territory , traversed y mighty river which they had discovered T hat humble monkish gown of Father ’ ’ Marquette concealed a hero s heart , and in the merchant s breast there dwelt a soul that would have disgraced no belted knight . BER T AV ALI ER D L - SALLE R O C e a . Seven years since the expedition of Marquette and Joliet had n r C - rolled by whe Robe t avalier de La Salle , in the month of 4 1 682 . January , , feasted his eyes with the far famed Mississippi For his companions he had forty soldiers three monks , and the ” C . hevalier de Tonti N a ' F ontena c Brought into contact with Count , who was the c Governor of Canada , he communi ated to him his views and projects for the aggrandizement of France , and suggested to him the gigantic plan of connecting the St . Lawrence with the Missis ” s ipppi by an uninterrupted chain of Forts . >I< a 1 5 th 1 678 On the of September , , proud and erect with the c e S onsciousness of success , La Sall tood again in the walls of t he 'uebec , and stimulated by cheers of the whole population , u he immediately entered into the exec tion of his projects . Four 1 682 -in y ears after , , he was at the mouth of the Mississippi , and ‘ the name , (as appears by a Notarial Act still extant) of the most a n e puiss nt , most high , most i vincibl and victorious Prince , Louis G r n the eat , Ki g of France , took possession of all the country wh'i h ' h’ ” e e had discovered . >x< >1< To - relate all of the heart thrilling adventures which occurred to “ La Salle during the four years which elapsed between the of ' tha t opening and conclusion expedition , would be to go beyond f . t the limits which are allotted to me Su fice it to say , tha at this - day , to overcome the one hundredth part of the difficulties which ” he had to encounter , would immortalize a man . IB I A I I ERV LLE N D B ENV LLE . “ e d I I I A few years after the death of La Salle , which occurr 1 687 n t , by the hands of brutal compa ions , within he limits of 42 Texas , a French Ship of guns , the Pelican , commanded by n 5 2 Iberville , after sinking an E glish vessel of guns in a naval N ew battle , on the coast of England , and whipping two other 42 vessels of guns each in the same fight , in the beginning of March , 1 69 9 , entered the Mississippi , accompanied by his brother , Bien ville , and Father Anastase , the former companion of La Salle i n his expedition down the river in >x< >l< 1 703 In war had broken out between Great Britain , France a nd f Spain , and Iberville , a distinguished o ficer of the French N avy , was engaged in expeditions that kept him away from the c .