© 2012 by Donald E. Pusch. Some rights reserved. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-NoDerivative Works 3.0 United States License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

Iberville’s Canadians: Lists of theCanadians Participating in Iberville’s

Second Voyage to Louisiana, 1699–1700 *

by Donald E. Pusch

“Sa Majesté a . . . donné les ordres pour faireembarquer sur ces bastimens les Canadiens . . .estant persuadée qu’il pourra les employerutilement pour son service.”

(An extract from Iberville’s sailing instruction)

* Originally published as “Founders of Louisiana: The First Two Ship Lists of 1699” in MississippiValley Mélange, vol. 7, ed. Winston De Ville (Baton Rouge: Claitor’s Publishing Division, 2012), 2–31.

2

Iberville’s Canadiansby Donald E. Pusch

or the history of the French Province of Louisiana, and especiallythose portions of the province lying along the northern littoral ofGulf of Mexico, there are few events of more significance than

Iberville’s three campaigns there between 1698 and 1702. Each abuilding block in the establishment of the colony, the campaignsproduced substantive results, including the rediscovery of the mouth ofthe Mississippi, further coastal and inland explorations, the erection ofFort Maurepas on Biloxi Bay, Fort La Boulaye on the lower MississippiRiver, Fort Louis at the mouth of the Mobile River, and the founding ofthe original Mobile settlement. Most important was the establishment ofactual colonists on the soil and the firm assertion of French claims to theregion.

The second of the three voyages—and the focus of the documentspresented in this article—is important in large measure because of thesubstantial number of Canadians it brought to the nascent colony. Also,these were not mere recruits but seasoned veterans, many of whom hadbeen on previous campaigns with Iberville in Canada. Their provenability to work together, to endure hardship, and to follow orders suitedthem ideally for Louisiana, where all of these qualities would be neededfor their survival and for that of the colony.

The ships involved in the campaign included the frigate Renommée,commanded by Iberville himself, and a flûte (a type of well-armed cargoship) called the Gironde, commanded by the Chevalier de Surgères. Therewere also two smaller craft (felouques) taken on the campaign, but thesewere carried on board, being unsuitable for high-seas navigation andintended primarily for use in the colony. Also carried on board weresupplies for the garrison at Fort Maurepas: clothing, trade goods,foodstuffs, and munitions, including ten iron cannons and 6,000 poundsof gunpowder.1

The campaign originated in the fall of 1699 at Rochefort, where theships were fitted out and modified for the voyage. After departing portthere, Iberville took his flotilla up to the roadstead off La Rochelle,

F

3

waiting there for the arrival of the écrivain Raucour, who had beenselected to manage and distribute the munitions, provisions, andclothing being delivered to Fort Maurepas.2 According to a report madeby Iberville after his arrival in the colony of Saint-Domingue—thecampaign’s intermediary destination—the Renommée and the Girondeweighed anchor and set sail from La Rochelle the morning of September17.3 The Atlantic crossing was apparently uneventful, and the shipsarrived off the Saint-Domingue port of Cap-Français the evening ofDecember 11. Following a short layover to take on additional provisions,wood, and water, the two ships departed for the Gulf of Mexico, arrivingin Biloxi Bay on January 8, 1700.4

Iberville spent only five months in the colony, all devoted to histwo primary objectives: to make further explorations and observationsand to assert French claims to the region. His personal excursions inlandwere fairly limited, due in part to persistent health problems. He did,however, ascend the Mississippi as far as the Tensas village aboveNatchez and the Pascagoula River as far up as one of the villages of thePascagoula tribe. In asserting French claims—and especially claims likelyto be disputed by the English—Iberville, in conjunction with youngerbrother Bienville, reconnoitered the lower Mississippi, selected a suitablelocation on the east bank on which to erect a fort, and oversaw theconstruction there of a small stockade, Fort La Boulaye.5 Building andmanning this post represented France’s first effort to control—albeitnominally—access to the river and was the first tangible assertion thatthe river and its watershed were permanent French possessions.

The responsibility for much of the work accomplished betweenIberville’s arrival in the colony on the second voyage and his return thereon the third was shouldered by those of Iberville’s lieutenants whostayed in the colony during that interval. The most prominent amongthese were his two younger brothers, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne deBienville and Antoine Le Moyne de Châteaugué, and relatives PierreDugué de Boisbriand and Louis Juchereau de St. Denis.6 Theseindividuals, supported by their fellow, newly-arrived Canadians, plusvarious freebooters, voyageurs, soldiers, and sailors, continued the workbegun on Iberville’s first campaign and not only held the colony together

4

through the first critical years but laid the foundation for its furtherexpansion.7

On May 27, 1700, anxious to return to France to report thecolony’s achievements and to make preparations for his third campaign,Iberville boarded the Renommée and the next day set sail for France,8leaving the now replenished Fort Maurepas in the able hands of hislieutenant, the Sieur de Sauvolle, and the newly established Fort LaBoulaye in those of his brother Bienville.

The names of the Canadians recruited for Iberville’s secondcampaign are presented here in two pay lists, both from the ArchivesNationales d’Outre Mer (ANOM). From these, it is possible to gleaninformation about the group as a whole and, in a few cases, informationabout individual Canadians. Their voyage to Louisiana began in thecolony of Terre-Neuve (Newfoundland), at the post of Fort Louis dePlaisance on the west coast of the Avalon Peninsula. It was fromPlaisance that Iberville had launched raids on the English settlements tothe east in 1696 and 1697, and no doubt many of the Canadiansrecruited for service in Louisiana had participated in those raids or inIberville’s naval exploits on Hudson’s Bay, and they would have beenfamiliar with his leadership style.9 That familiarity was likely a majorinfluence on those who cast their lot with him on the second Louisianacampaign.

The heading on the first list suggests that the Canadians traveleddirectly from Plaisance to France, but, in fact, they were transported firstto Quebec, taken there by Iberville’s brother, Joseph Le Moyne deSérigny.10 From there they were re-embarked for Rochefort. Fromcorrespondence between the minister of the marine and Bégon, theintendant at Rochefort, it is known that the Canadians were in France asearly as January 1699,11 perhaps as early as December 14, 1698.12 Theship on which they traveled to France is not known with certainty (atleast to this writer); however, the cargo ship (flûte) Gironde, which wouldlater accompany the frigate Renommée on Iberville’s second campaign,had sailed from Rochefort, bound for Quebec on or about June 16,1698,13 accompanied by the frigate Poly. The two arrived in Quebec theend of August.14 Once the Canada-bound cargo was offloaded and thepassengers disembarked, all haste was made to turn the ships around for

5

the return voyage. The Poly and the Gironde arrived back at Rochefort thefirst week in December 1698.15 This timetable exactly matches theCanadians’ appearance at Rochefort and strongly suggests that they weretransported to France on one or both of these ships.

The second-campaign Canadians, once arrived in France, werequartered at either La Rochelle or Rochefort. Both pay lists were drawnat Rochefort, the first on May 5 and the second on August 25; however,the minister, in writing to Iberville on August 5, 1699, indicates that theCanadians were at La Rochelle.16 Since they were being paid, it is likelythey were put to use somewhere within the Rochefort-La Rochelle area,both ports falling under the authority of Intendant Bégon.

From an examination of the pay lists, it is readily apparent that thetwo do not exactly match. This is due, in part, to the illness, death, ordesertion of some members of the group, as evinced by the marginalannotations on the second pay list. It is noted, for example, that one ofthe officers, Major Caumont, had fallen ill and was replaced by FrançoisMaltot; Joseph Chainier died after arriving in France and was replaced byFrançois Clavery; and Antoine Duclos deserted and was replaced byClemont Begon. It is also noted that several names appearing on the firstlist are missing from the second; these include Pierre Couraille, AnthoineDilagny, Jean Gautier, Charles La Barre, Jean and Pilippes La Briere,Jean La Topinne, Joseph La Vergne, Jean Leblanc, and Simon Lespine.Likewise, the second list includes several individuals not named on thefirst. These were apparently Canadians who did not travel to France withthe group shown on the first list. They include the three replacements,Maltot, Clavery, and Begon, plus Antoine Dalmas, Luc Dauriue,17

Nicolas La Toupine, Charles Marquis, Jean Migneron, and PierreVenard.18 (Although Iberville’s two brothers, Bienville and Châteaugué,were present on the second campaign, their names do not appear oneither list, as the two were not considered to be “recruits” as were theother Canadians.)

Most of the individuals named on the second pay list arrived safelyin Louisiana, a fact confirmed by the existence of a roll prepared whenIberville departed Biloxi Bay for the return voyage.19 There were,however, fatalities during the campaign, including four Canadians whoall died on New Year’s Eve 1699, just as the Renommée and the Gironde

6

were passing from the Caribbean into the Gulf of Mexico. Those knownto have died during the campaign include Antoine Baussi dit Marsie (diedDecember 31, 1699),20 Nicolas Prevost (died December 31, 1699), JeanTrepanier (died December 31, 1699), François Faux (died December 31,1699), Paul Dusheron (died March 25, 1700), Guillaume Brussard (diedMarch 26, 1700), and Matté Leonnard (died May 1, 1700).21

In addition to the Canadians who died during the campaign, therewere others whose status changed after arriving in Louisiana. Three weredismissed in March 1700 and were paid only for three months service inthe colony. These were Joseph Gaulin, Louis Larrivée, and Jean Saucié.22

Two others became members of the Renommée’s crew for the returnvoyage. These were Jean La Loire and Joseph Bonhomme, who signedon as seamen on April 16 and May 23, 1700, respectively.23

Several of the second-campaign Canadians are of some renown,and first among these was the young captain of the Canadians, LouisJuchereau de St. Denis. When Iberville departed Biloxi Bay in May 1700,he placed Bienville in command of Fort La Boulay. The following year,when Bienville moved up to the command of Fort Maurepas, heappointed St. Denis to replace him in the former post. Although heserved well there, St. Denis is best known for his later exploits intoSpanish Texas and for his founding of the western-most French post ofSt. Jean-Baptiste des Natchitoches.

With an eye on profiting from his contacts on the Texas frontier,St. Denis formed a trading company in 1717 with four other Canadians,among whom were second-campaign compatriots, Jean-BapatisteBaudreau (listed by his alternate name, Graveline, on the two pay lists)and Joseph Chauvin. His dabbling in commerce continued into histenure as commandant of the Natchitoches post, a position he held forsome twenty-four years. He died in office there on June 11, 1744.24

Another person of note, also listed as a captain of the Canadians,was Pierre Dugué de Boisbriand (sometimes Boisbriant, Boisbrillant, orBoisbrilliant). In 1702, he was appointed aide-major to Bienville and senton a number of campaigns in support and defense of the colony. Hereturned to France in 1717 but came back to the colony the followingyear and was elevated to the position of commandant in the Illinoiscountry. There, he supervised the building of Fort de Chartes. On

7

Bienville’s recall to France in 1724, Boisbriand served as acting governoruntil the arrival of Perier in 1727. He returned to France in 1729 anddied there seven years later on June 7, 1736.25

Of all the Canadians on Iberville’s second campaign, the two withperhaps the most intriguing life experiences were the Talon brothers,Pierre and Jean. They had first come to the Gulf Coast with theirparents, Lucien Talon and wife Isabelle Marchand, prospective Louisianacolonists whom La Salle would mislead—in error or by intention—tothe shores of Matagorda Bay in 1685. While there, Pierre, eldest of thetwo, was placed among the Cenis (Caddo) Indians to learn theirlanguage, and he was absent from the Matagorda Bay settlement when itwas overrun by the Karankawa in 1688. Four of his siblings were lessfortunate: Jean Talon, two other brothers, and a sister were takencaptive.26 The latter three were rescued by the Alonso de Léonexpedition in June 1690; Jean, by the Terán de los Ríos expedition in Julyof the following year.27 Eventually, Pierre, Jean, and their three othersiblings were reunited and taken to Mexico City. Although their statusfor several years is unknown, in 1696, Spanish authorities made thedecision to send them on to Spain. They were then separated andembarked at Veracruz on two different ships. The one carrying the threeolder boys, Pierre and Jean included, was overtaken and captured by aFrench squadron in the Antilles in January 1697.28

When Pierre and Jean Talon arrived in France, there wasconsiderable interest in learning of their experiences and benefiting fromtheir knowledge, both of the Indians and of Spain’s activities in Texas.There was even an attempt by the minister of the marine to link up theTalon brothers with Iberville prior to his first Louisiana campaign.Before that could happen, however, Pierre and Jean were (for unknownreasons) given passage out of Rochefort on the Gironde, which, aspreviously mentioned, set sail for Quebec with the frigate Poly on orabout June 16, 1698, bound for Quebec. The two arrived there the endof August. Thus it was that the two Talon brothers made their way backto Canada. Why they then elected to join Iberville’s second-campaignCanadians is open to speculation, but perhaps their worldly experiencesamong the Caddo and the Karankawa, their time at the Spanish court in

8

Mexico City, and their high seas escapades made it impossible for themto resist the allure of yet another great adventure.

The known whereabouts of the Talon brothers becomes a bit dimfollowing the 1699–1700 campaign, but it is known that Pierre, andpossibly Jean as well, were later in the employ of St. Denis,accompanying him—as guides, but possibly also as interpreters—on his1714 trek to the Rio Grande.29

Several others among the second-campaign Canadians, althoughnot major historical figures, are of considerable interest to genealogistsand family historians, having put down roots in what would become thestates of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, and starting families whosedescendants are, today, counted in the hundreds, perhaps thousands.These include Joseph La Pointe, Jean Saucier, Pierre Alain, GilbertDardonne, Claude Trepagnier, and the previously mentioned JosephChauvin and Jean-Baptiste Baudreau (Graveline). Doubtless, there aremany others who are worthy of mention but whose stories are either lostto the historical record or have not yet been adequately researched. Inany case, these men—and, indeed, all the Iberville Canadians—deserveto be recognized for their contribution to the founding of the provinceof Louisiana and the proud history of the Gulf South.

Presented in the following pages are three documents of interest forthe second campaign. The first two are the pay lists previously discussed.The third, included here for reference, is a translation of Iberville’sinstruction for the second campaign. That instruction is accompanied bya letter of transmittal to Iberville from Minister of the MarinePonchartrain, dated September 22, 1699. This letter, secretive andintended only for Iberville, provided guidance the Crown wantedconveyed to him concerning the English but which, for political reasons,could not be included in his official instruction.

At this time, England and France were not officially at war, butLouis XIV was not averse to causing problems for England, especially inthe colonies. Minister Ponchartrain puts the matter rather bluntly in hisletter, giving Iberville a free hand to use the Canadians to attack Englishsettlements—or to use the Canadians to support Spanish attacks againstthe same—provided the Canadians appeared to be acting on their own,without official direction or permission. This is a telling instruction.

9

Although Frenchmen, the Canadians—Iberville included—were viewedas a slightly different breed: French subjects to be sure, but ones whosedeeds could be disavowed when politically expedient. That attitudecharacterizes, to a great extent, the degree to which bold actions andindependent enterprises were tolerated in Louisiana and came tocharacterize her pioneering Canadians.

10

The First Pay List, May 5, 1699[“Estat des Canadiens passez de Plaisance en france et de leursappointements et solde par mois,” Rochefort, May 5, 1699. ANOM, Col.C13C 2, fol. 15r–16v. Translation by the author from Library of Congressmicrofilm.][fol. 15r:]

Report of the Canadians who took passage fromPlaisance to France and their monthly salaries and pay

FirstlyOfficers

To the Sieur St. Denis, captain of the Canadians at 50 livresper month...................................................................................... 50 livres

To the Sieur Boisbrillant, ditto ......................................................... 50To the Sieur Caumont, major........................................................... 50

CanadiansTo Joseph Lapointe at 40 livres per month...................................... 40To Ignaçe Lapointe, ditto ................................................................. 40To Jacques La Brie, ditto................................................................... 40To François Poudrier, ditto .............................................................. 40To Paul Dusheron, ditto ................................................................... 40To Joseph Chauvin, ditto.................................................................. 40To Jean Baptiste Graveline, ditto..................................................... 40To Anthoine Moransy, ditto............................................................. 40To Jean Leveillier, ditto ..................................................................... 40To Charles Lamotte, ditto................................................................. 40To François Faut, ditto...................................................................... 40To Allexis François, ditto.................................................................. 40To Anthoine Lucas, ditto.................................................................. 40

670 livres

11

[fol. 15v:]

From previous page ............... 670 livres

To Claude Trepagnier at 40 livres per month.................................. 40To Charles Renau, ditto .................................................................... 40To Joseph Bourboniere, ditto........................................................... 40To François Montreuil, ditto ............................................................ 40To François St. Marie, ditto.............................................................. 40To Nicolas Provost, ditto.................................................................. 40To Jean Laloire, ditto......................................................................... 40To Jacques Chauvin, ditto................................................................. 40To Ignaçe Laval, ditto........................................................................ 40To Jean Trepagnier, ditto .................................................................. 40To Maruiçe Crespaud, ditto.............................................................. 40To Lafontaine Couilliart, ditto.......................................................... 40To François Hamel, ditto.................................................................. 40To Guillaume Brossard, ditto........................................................... 40To Jean Pierre, ditto........................................................................... 40To Pierre Alin, ditto........................................................................... 40To Leonnard Mat, ditto..................................................................... 40To Jacques Ras, ditto ......................................................................... 40To François Lasolais, ditto................................................................ 40To Joseph Chainier, ditto.................................................................. 40To Jean Talon, ditto........................................................................... 40To André Roy, ditto .......................................................................... 40To Denis Durbois, ditto.................................................................... 40To Estienne Lashambre, ditto.......................................................... 40To Jean La Briere, ditto..................................................................... 40

1670 livres

12

[fol. 16r:]From previous page ............. 1670 livres

To Jean La Topinne, ditto................................................................. 40To Jean Baptiste Turpin, ditto.......................................................... 40To Pierre Larrivée, ditto.................................................................... 40To Louis Larrivée, ditto .................................................................... 40To Mathieu Bellefonds, ditto............................................................ 40To Joseph Gaulin, ditto..................................................................... 40To Charles La Barre, ditto ................................................................ 40To Philippes Minet, ditto .................................................................. 40To Charles Le Vasseur, ditto ............................................................ 40To Charles Laroze, ditto ................................................................... 40To Philippes La Briere, ditto ............................................................ 40To Joseph La Vergne, ditto .............................................................. 40To Simon Lespine, ditto.................................................................... 40To Jean Soçier, ditto .......................................................................... 40To Marc Berrishon, ditto .................................................................. 40To Louis Baudouin, ditto.................................................................. 40To Joseph Robitaille, ditto................................................................ 40To Claude Francoeur, ditto .............................................................. 40To Sebastien Charpentier, ditto ....................................................... 40To Jean Gautier, ditto........................................................................ 40To Anthoine Duclos, ditto ............................................................... 40To Anthoine Roussin, ditto .............................................................. 40To Joseph Bonhomme, ditto............................................................ 40To Jean Leblanc, ditto ....................................................................... 40To Anthoine Dilagny, ditto .............................................................. 40To Pierre Couraille, ditto .................................................................. 40To Gilbert Dardenne, ditto .............................................................. 40To Pierre Talon, ditto........................................................................ 40

Total 2790 livres

Drawn at Rochefort, May 5, 1699[Illegible signature]

13

[fol. 16v:]

[Written vertically]

May 5, 1699

Rochefort

Roll of the Canadians, with their monthly pay, who took passage fromPlaisance to France in order to serve on the ships that will go toMississippi during the current year 1699.

14

The Second Pay List, August 25, 1699[“Rolle des officiers majors Canadiens et Canadiens qui sont dans le portde Rochefort et doivent s’embarquer sur la fregatte du Roy laRenommée . . . ,” Rochefort, August 25, 1699. ANOM, Col. C13C 2, fol.17r–20v. Translation by the author from Library of Congress microfilm.]

Monsieur de La Touche

August 25, 1699 Rochefort

Extract of the funds necessary for 4 months of advanced pay to 2Canadian officers and 63 Canadians who will embark on the frigateRenommée in order to go to fort de Maurepas la Baye de Biloxy on theMississippi River,30 from the first of September until the last ofDecember 1699.

To Wit:

To 2 officers at 50 livres each per month....................................... 100To 63 Canadians at 30 livres each ................................................. 1890

_________Total per month ...................................................... 1990

4_________

And for 4 months ................................................... 7960 livres

Tendered by order of September 1, 1699

[fol. 17v: blank]

[fol. 17r: This page, a summary, precedes the actual role of names.]

15

[fol. 18r:]

Remit the first of themonths of September,October, November,and December

Roll of the Canadian officers and Canadians who arein the port of Rochefort and who will embark on thefrigate of the king the Renommée, commanded byMonsieur d’Iberville, to take passage to Fort deMaurepas on the Mississippi River, who will receive,for their monthly pay beginning September 1, 1699,the amounts shown below.

at 50 livresat 50 livresNone, unless this onebe, that is to say,Canadian

First: Officers

To Sieur de BoisbriandTo Sieur de St. DenisTo Sieur de Maltot in the place of Sieur de Caumont,

sick

Canadians

To Jozeph La Point at 30 livres per month,thus ................................................................. 30

To Ignace La Point, ditto .................................. 30_________

60 livres

[fol. 18v:]From previous page ................. 60 livres

To Jacques La Brie at 30 livres per month ....... 30To François Poudrid, ditto ............................... 30To Paul Du Chiron, ditto.................................. 30To Jozeph Chauvin, ditto.................................. 30To Jean Baptiste Graveline, ditto..................... 30To Antoine Baussi dit Marsie, ditto ................. 30To Jean L’Eveillé, ditto ..................................... 30

16

To Charles La Motte, ditto ............................... 30To François Faux, ditto..................................... 30To Alexis François, ditto................................... 30To Antoine Lucas, ditto .................................... 30To Claude Trepanier, ditto ............................... 30To Charles Renaud, ditto .................................. 30To Jozeph Bourbonniere, ditto ........................ 30To François Montreuil, ditto ............................ 30To François St. Marie, ditto.............................. 30To Nicolas Prevost ............................................ 30To Jean Laloire, ditto......................................... 30To Jacques Chauvin, ditto................................. 30To Ignace Laval, ditto........................................ 30

_________660 livres

[fol. 19r:]From previous page ............... 660 livres

To Jean Trepanier at 30 livres per month ........ 30To Maruice Crepaut, ditto ................................ 30To Pierre Couillard dit Lafontain, ditto ........... 30To François Amil, ditto..................................... 30To Guillaume Brussard, ditto ........................... 30To Jean Pierre..................................................... 30To Pierre Alain, ditto......................................... 30To Leonnard Matté, ditto ................................. 30To Jean Jacques Ros, ditto................................ 30To François Lasolaye, ditto .............................. 30To Pierre Talon, ditto........................................ 30To Jean Talon, ditto........................................... 30To André Roy, ditto .......................................... 30To Gilbert Dardonne, ditto .............................. 30To Denis Durbois, ditto.................................... 30To Estienne La Chambre, ditto........................ 30To Jean Baptiste Turpin, ditto.......................... 30

17

In the place of JozephChesnier, dead

ditto Antoine Duclosewho deserted

To François Clavery, ditto ................................ 30To Clemont Begon, ditto .................................. 30To Pierre Larrivée, the elder, ditto................... 30

_________1260 livres

[fol. 19v:]From previous page ............. 1260 livres

To Louis Larrivée, the younger, ditto.............. 30To Mathieu Bellefonds, ditto............................ 30To Jozeph Gaulin, ditto .................................... 30To Philippes Minet, ditto .................................. 30To Charles Le Vasseur, ditto ............................ 30To Charles La Roze, ditto ................................. 30To Jean Saucié, ditto.......................................... 30To Marc Berrichon, ditto .................................. 30To Nicolas La Toupine, ditto ........................... 30To Louis Baudouin, ditto.................................. 30To Jean Migneron, ditto.................................... 30To Jozeph Ropitaille, ditto................................ 30To Claude Francoeur, ditto .............................. 30To Sebastien Charptenier, ditto ....................... 30To Antoine Roussin, ditto ................................ 30To Jozeph Bonhomme, ditto ........................... 30To Antoine Dalmas, ditto ................................. 30To Piere Venard, ditto....................................... 30To Charles Marquis, ditto ................................. 30

Spaniard returned

with Monsieur d’Iberville_________1830 livres

18

[fol. 20r:]

From previous page ............. 1830 livres

and who is going back with him to Mississippi

To Luc Dauriue31 at 30 livres per month,thus ................................................................. 30

_________1860 livres

Sum total of the said month of September, eighteenhundred sixty livres, thus ........................... XVIIC LX livres

For the months of October, November, andDecember of the present year, the sum of fivethousand five hundred eighty livres,

thus ................................................... VG VC IIIIXX livres

None for this one And for the year one thousand seven hundred, thesum of twenty-five thousand three

[fol. 21v:]hundred twenty livres, thus ................XXIIG IIIC XX livres

Grand total of the content of the current roll:Twenty-nine thousand seven hundred sixty livres,

thus ...............................................XXIXG VIIC LX livres

I certify the contents of the current roll to be true.[Drawn] at Rochefort, August 25, 1699.

[Signed:] Diberville

[One other illegible signature (Duguay?)]

19

Iberville’s Instruction, September 2, 1699[Minister to Iberville, Fontainebleau, September 22, 1699, letter-bookcopy. ANOM, Col. B 20, fol. 276r–81v. The first folio of this documentis a letter of transmittal. The remainder contains the king’s instruction toIberville for his second campaign to the Mississippi. Translation by theauthor from Library and Archives Canada microfilm.]

[fol. 276r:]

Concerning the [war] ships that the said Sieur d’Iberville commands32

To Sieur d’Iberville

Fontainebleau, September 22, 1699

You will find attached the instruction that the king ordered me todispatch to you concerning the voyage you will make to the Mississippi.I turn now to what it contains, and I do not doubt that you will executeit with all the exactitude possible.

You will find nothing in this instruction that concerns thesettlements (établissements) that the English or the French refugees mighthave made on the coast of Florida.33 However, I must explain to youthat His Majesty does not want you to attack English [war] ships thatyou find in these waters. All the same, he would not be of a mind tooppose you in regard to [destroying] the settlements they might havemade on this coast. He does not want you to attack them overtly, but hewill not disapprove of your finding the means to have them destroyed,whether by the savages or by the Canadians, as if [they had acted] bythemselves without the appearance of your acknowledgment, or

20

[fol. 276v:]

[destroyed] by the Spaniards, while having them assisted by theCanadians and by the savages. But observe with care to act in this so thatit can not appear that you have orders or permission to do it. And it isnecessary, as well, that you leave this letter in France in the hands ofsomeone trustworthy. I am strongly persuaded that you will find themeans to execute that which I am explaining to you by this letter in sucha way that no complaints will come of it, and you can be persuaded thatI am working with pleasure to promote your services to His Majesty andto draw from him favors for you.

Monsieur Du Guay34 sent me an account that you remitted to himof the expenses and of the result of your Hudson Bay enterprise in 1695.I do not object to it at all. I have the papers that concern this affaire and,moreover, it seems to me that my father had charged Monsieur Bégon35

to finish it. I am writing about it to Sieur Bégon, and it will be necessaryfor you to charge someone at La Rochelle to conclude it with him.

[The letter is unsigned.]

Memoir to serve as an instructionto Sieur d’Iberville, capitaine de frégate légère,

[fol. 277r:]

commanding the Renommée

The discovery that the Sieur d’Iberville made of the mouth of theMississippi River36 and the confidence that His Majesty places in himprompts him [the king] to choose him again to command the [war] shipsthat he [the king] wants to send to this country in order to perfect andassure himself of the possession of the outpost (établissement) he madethere. His Majesty approved the choice he made of the officers henominated to command at the fort he built, and he will find attachedorders to confirm to them the command of it, while waiting for him [the

21

king] to know more specifically what there will be to do for this country.He also set their salaries so they will have reason to be content.

He [Iberville] was informed of the orders that have been given toSieur Du Guay to have embarked, on the frigate that he commands andon the flûte that will accompany it, the munitions necessary for this fortand for one year of provisions at its garrison [along] with hardes andhabits for those who will compose it.37

His Majesty considers it necessary to charge an écrivain principal

[fol. 277v:]

de marine 38 with these munitions, provisions, and clothing (hardes) and toleave him at this fort to distribute them. He chooses for this purposeSieur de Rocour to whom he wants him [Iberville] to give all the helpand protection of which he [Rocour] will have need in order to be ableto perform his functions.

His Majesty has also given orders to have embarked on these shipsthe Canadians who have heretofore served with him [Iberville] inHudson’s Bay and who are currently at La Rochelle, being persuadedthat he will be able to employ them profitably for his service.

He [the king] does not doubt that all will be embarked when he[Iberville] will receive this memoir. Thus, he desires that he set sailimmediately.

In case he cannot be given, at Rochefort, all the wine necessary forhis campaign due to the poor quality of this year’s [wine] and that it isjudged appropriate for him to have some taken on at Madeira or in oneof the Azores islands, His Majesty sees fit that he go there, but he

[fol. 278r:]

recommends, in this case, to stop and linger there only as long as will benecessary to take on the wine that he will need.

He will go, afterwards, to the roadstead of Biloxi without landingon the coast of St. Domingue or elsewhere unless being forced there bythe winds or other unforeseen needs.

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As soon as he will have arrived before this fort, he will go ashore inorder to have an accounting made to him by Sieur de Sauvole,39 whocommands there, of all that has happened in this country since he[Iberville] left there. And in case, on the understanding that the saidSieur Sauvole will have gained of the surrounding areas, he judges itappropriate to relocate this fort to a place more suitable, he will take his[war] ships there after having embarked all that will remain at this fortand have it entirely destroyed.

His Majesty prescribes to him nothing on the manner ofconstructing this new fort nor on the augmentations to make to the oneof Biloxi Bay, if he judges it appropriate to conserve it, leaving it entirelyup to him. The intention of His Majesty is to have a full understandingof this country, to be informed of plantings that can be

[fol. 278v:]

made there, of goods that can be drawn from it, and of those [goods] ofthe realm that can be consumed there. As the said Sieur de Sauvole willhave, without doubt, executed the orders that he [Iberville] gave to himto inform himself of it and that he will be able to stay in this countrylong enough to verify the knowledge that he will have acquired, HisMajesty hopes that, at his [Iberville’s] return, he will put him [the king] ina position to decide with certainty on the courses of action that will betaken in order to extract from these settlements all the use that one canexpect. One of the great purposes that was, heretofore, imparted to HisMajesty, when he was engaged to have the mouth of the Mississippidiscovered, was to extract the wool of the buffalo (bœufs) of his country.It is necessary that he [Iberville] arrange to bring [back] several of theirhides in order to test them and to make sure of the various uses that canbe made of them. And, as it would be necessary to domesticate theseanimals in order to be able to use their wool, it is necessary that hearrange to get some of their young, which he will bring near the fort,where a pen (parc) will be made to enclose them. It would even be

23

[fol. 279r:]

desirable that he were able to bring some of them to France, whileobserving that there be some males and females, but more of the latterthan of the others.

Although the pearls that were given to him by the savages do notappear of high quality (d’une belle eau) or of a fine shape, it is notnecessary to pass up researching them with care. He might find othersof them, and His Majesty desires that he brings [back] as many as he can.It is also necessary that he assure himself of the places where fishing canbe done, that he observes the fishing firsthand, and that he makes themost exact notes he can on what can be observed about this fishing.

His Majesty was assured that this country was covered with verybeautiful mulberry trees, and as it is the usual nourishment of silkworms, he wants him to consider if enterprises could be make of them[and] if, in this case, the women and children of the savages could beapplied and what could be done for this. He will consider carefully thenature of the wood of the country in order to know how it could be

[fol. 279v:]

used, whether in furniture or in the construction of building and ships.Finally, His Majesty wants him to consider carefully all that this countryproduces and for him to bring with him the greatest quantity possible ofits yield in order to see, in France, the use that can be made of it andwhat measures can be taken to draw off as much as can be consumed.

But the great undertaking is the discovery of mines. Those that theSpanish have on the same latitude and in lands of the same quality canmake us believe that there are some in the area of the Mississippi.

In case he finds some of them, as there is cause for hope, he willtake material from them in order to bring it to France in the greatestquantity possible in order to make several assays of it. He will takepossession of these mines in the name of His Majesty and will draw uppapers (actes) as authentic as will be possible and will even have themauthorized by the savages on the land where he will find them, and he

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will consider, at these places, what there would be to do in order to

[fol. 280r:]

employ these savages and their families and what it would be necessaryto give them in payment for the work in order to engage them in it.

He will apply himself very forcefully to gain full knowledge of theneighboring coast of the Mississippi and will explore (découvrira) east andwest as far as he can, while observing, however, not to go at all up to theplaces where the Spaniards are established, so as to avoid making themjealous. He will correct the maps that have been made of it and will, atthe same time, be observant of the dangers on this coast in order toavoid them and of what can be observed in order to navigate there withcertainty.

He was informed that his Majesty permitted the said Sieur Lesueurto embark with him in order to go back up the Mississippi as far as theSioux country (pays des Sioux), where there is a village (établissement). HisMajesty also had him given written permission to take eight or tenCanadians of those he brought with him. But in case others of themcame from Canada, he can be permitted to engage a greater number bymutual agreement and without obligating anyone.

[fol. 280v:]

He will give to Sieur Lesueur the orders he will judge appropriate inorder to make observations along the river and will order him to sendthem to the secretary of state having the department of the Marine40 atthe first opportunity he will have.

After having gained full knowledge of this country, just as it isexplained to him above, His Majesty prefers to permit him to add to thiswhatever he will judge appropriate. He will choose one hundred goodmen among the Canadians, freebooters, seamen, and soldiers who areunder his command, as many from those who are currently in thecountry there as from those who will be on his [war] ships, in order toremain at this fort until the following year under the command of theofficers that he has proposed and of whom His Majesty has confirmed

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the choice, and will leave them the provisions that Sieur Du Guay hadembarked on his [war] ships, which His Majesty expects to be sufficientthroughout the course of the year 1700, and even for part of 1701,because of the vegetables and fresh meat that this country will furnishthem and of those that Sieur Du Casset41 sent there from [the line isunfinished].

[fol. 281r:]

He will have the officers of the fort’s garrison recognize Sieur deRoucour, écrivain principal of the Marine, who will perform the functionsof commissaire and will explain to Sieur Sauvole that the intention of HisMajesty is that he gives to him all the protection and help that he willneed in order to perform his functions and that he has him enter intothe councils, where His Majesty wants him to occupy second place.

He will establish, likewise, for chaplain in the fort, the Jesuit whowill have served in the same quality on the frigate Renommée and willbring back to France the chaplains that he left there.

And after having executed all the contents in the presentinstruction, His Majesty desires that he return to France with all thehaste of which he will be capable.

He [the king] does not believe that the Spaniards want to attemptanything against this settlement, [it] not appearing to him that they havecause to complain about it. However, he is quite pleased to say to him[Iberville] that he wants him carefully to avoid having any business withthem. And in order not to give them any cause for complaint, he does

[fol. 281v:]

not even want him to post himself at Pensacola if they were to withdrawfrom it.

But, in case the Spaniards have, since the departure of the said Sieurd’Iberville, attacked the fort of Biloxi, and even that they have taken it,His Majesty wants him to see to reassembling the French who might beamong them, or scattered along the coast, in order to gather them at thefort, which he will build anew. He forbids him to use any act of violence

26

(voie de fait) against them, reserving for himself [the king] to deal with it ashe will judge appropriate. However, if these Spaniards attack him, he[the king] prefers that he repel force with force and that he does all thatthe rules of a good and just defense can permit.

As it is the duty of His Majesty to avoid carefully all that might posesome obstacle to the execution of the orders for which the said Sieurd’Iberville is responsible, His Majesty does not want him to ask thesalute of any [war] ship of any nation whatsoever. He does not want himto salute them either. However, if he will find some Spanish or Englishfleet (escadre) where there were flags of general officers, His Majesty seesfit that he salute them.

[The document is concluded with a small, illegible signature orinitial. This apparently represents the signature of the king, Louis XIV,but as the instruction is a letter-book copy, the signature is not in theking’s hand.]

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End Notes

1 Minister to Iberville, Versailles, June 15, 1699. ANOM, Col. B 20,fol. 262r–63r. Also, Minister to Du Guay, Marly, August 26, 1699.ANOM, Col. B 20, fol. 266v–68r.

2 Raucour is the same individual whose named appears as Rocouror Roucour in Iberville’s sailing instruction (translated at the end of thisarticle). Various other spellings have been found, including Ricour,Raucoüart, and Ricoürt.

3 Iberville to Minister, on board the Renommée at Le Cap (Cap-Français), December 19, 1699. Transcript in Pierre Margry, Découvertes etétablissements des Français dans l’ouest et dans le sud de l’Amérique septentrionale(1614–1754) . . . , part 4, Découverte par mer des bouches du Mississipi etétablissements de Lemoyne d’Iberville sur le golfe du Mexique (1694–1703) (Paris:Jouaust, 1880), 358–60, citing Archives du Ministère de la Marine,Campaignes, vol. 1699–1700. Attempts were made to locate the sourcedocument—thought to be part of AN, Marine B4 20—and to verify thesailing date; however, the document could not be found. Several writershave given the date of sailing as October 17, 1699, but have cited nosource. The matter requires further investigation.

4 Iberville to Minister, Bayogoulas [village], February 26, 1700.ANOM, Col. C13A 1, pp. 225–40.

5 Iberville’s activities on the campaign are detailed in “Journal duvoyage du chevalier d’Iberville sur le vaisseau du Roi la Renommée, en1699, depuis le cap Français jusqu’à la côte du Mississipi, et son retour,”undated [but likely written after Iberville’s return to France using hisown ship’s log for reference.] Margry transcript, 4:395–431, citing Dépotde la Marine. An English translation of this document is in RichebourgGaillard McWilliams, trans. and ed., Iberville’s Gulf Journals (Tuscaloosa:Univ. of Alabama Press, 1981), 106–156. McWilliams, however, workedfrom a supposed copy of the version that Iberville sent to the minister ofthe marine; he cites this copy as Bibliothèque Nationale, MSS. fr., N.A.9296, microfilm.

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6 All of these individuals, with the exception of Bienville, came tothe colony on the second campaign. Bienville came on the first. Forfurther information on the four, see their biographical sketches in GlennR. Conrad, ed., A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography. (New Orleans:Louisiana Historical Association, 1988).

7 The work that took place following the second voyage, includingthe building of Fort Louis at the mouth of the Mobile River and thefounding of the original Mobile settlement, is addressed in detail in JayHigginbotham, Old Mobile: Fort Louis de la Louisiane, 1702–1711(Tuscaloosa and London: Univ. of Alabama Press, 1991).

8 “Journal du voyage du chevalier d’Iberville sur le vaisseau du Roila Renommée, en 1699 . . . ,” entry of May 27, 1700. Margry transcript,4:431. According to the journal entry of April 15, 1700, the Gironde haddeparted on April 3. Margry transcript, 4:424.

9 These campaigns are detailed in Alan F. Williams, Father Baudoin’sWar: D’Iberville’s Campaigns in Acadia and Newfoundland, 1696, 1697 ([St.John’s:] Department of Geography, Memorial Univ. of Newfoundland,ca. 1987).

10 “Memoire de ce quil faut faire cette annee pour la bayed’hudson,” 1698. (The author was apparently Champigny, intendant ofNew France.) ANOM, Col. C11A 16, fol. 156r–57v. The document setsthe number of Canadians transported to Quebec at sixty-five, four shortof the number on the first pay list. The document solicits commissionsfor three: Caumon Le Gardeur, Boisbrillian de Duguay, and St. Denis.

11 At that time, direction was given to Intendant Bégon to keep theCanadians in France. Marcel Giraud, A History of French Louisiana, vol. 1,The Reign of Louis XIV, 1698–1715, trans. Joseph C. Lambert (BatonRouge and London: Louisiana State Univ. Press, 1974), 34–35.

12 Sérigny himself was in France by that date. Minister to Sérigny,Versailles, December 24, 1698. ANOM, Col. B 20, fol. 138v–39r.

29

13 Minister to Iberville, Versailles, June 25, 1698. ANOM, Col. B 20,fol. 121r–22r. Also, Lettre du Roy à M. de Contré, Versailles, May 28,1698. ANOM, Col. B 20, fol. 105r–6r.

14 Champigny to Minister, Quebec, October 14, 1698. ANOM, Col.C11A 16, fol. 102r–126r.

15 Minister to the Marquis de Contré Blenac, Versailles, December10, 1698. ANOM, Col. B 20, fol. 137r–27v.

16 Minister to Iberville, Versailles, August 5, 1699. ANOM, Col. B20, fol. 264r–65r.

17 The name may be Daurine, or possible even Daurive. The écrivainwho drew this document made little or no distinction between the lettersn, u, and v. On the second pay list, this individual’s name appears underthe heading, “Spaniard returned with Monsieur d’Iberville . . . .”According to a letter written to Iberville by Minister Ponchartrain, thisSpaniard was brought back from San Luis Potosi on Iberville’s previousvoyage. Ibid.

18 Several of the names on the original lists appear without properdiacritics, for example, Begon instead of Bégon, La Barre instead of LaBarré, Maltot instead of Maltôt, etc. These have been left unchanged inthe translations except for the given name Francois, which has beencorrected to François. Also, in some instances, the given names Pierreand Jean-Baptiste were abbreviated in the original lists; these have beenspelled out in the translation.

19 “Rolle des officiers majors, off[icie]rs mariniers, matelots,Cannadiens, flibustiers, ouvriers et mousses [et] soldats qui sont dans lagarnison du fort de La Baie de Bilocchi au Missisipi passés en reveüe levingt cinq[uiè]me mai 1700,” drawn at the Fort of the Bay of Biloxi, May26, 1700. ANOM, Col. C13A 1, pp. 255–60.

20 This individual’s name appears as “Anthoine Moransy” on thefirst pay list.

30

21 “Rolle des officiers marin[ie]rs, matelots, Canadiens, flibustiers,ouvriers et soldats qui sont morts au fort de Biloxy,” Rochefort, October18, 1700. ANOM, Col. C13A 1, pp. 267–68.

22 “Etat des fonds à remettre pour le payement des officiers majors,officiers mariniers, matelots, Canadiens, flibustiers, ouvriers et moussespour les services qu’ils ont rendus ou qu’ils rondront la presente année1700 au fort de la Baye de Biloxy ou ils sont en garnison,” drawn atRochefort, October 19, 1700. ANOM, Col. C13A 1, pp. 269–79.

23 Ibid.24 For St. Denis: A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, 449. In regard to

Baudreau (Graveline) and Chauvin, see Marcel Giraud, A History ofFrench Louisiana, vol. 2, Years of Transition, 1715–1717, trans. Brian Pearce(Baton Rouge and London: Louisiana State Univ. Press, 1993), 188.

25 Conrad, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, 263–64.26 Robert S. Weddle, Wilderness Manhunt: The Spanish Search for La

Salle (Austin and London: Univ. of Texas Press, 1973), 252–53.27 William C. Foster, Spanish Expeditions into Texas, 1689–1768

(Austin: Univ. of Texas Press, 1995), 44–45, 62–63.28 Weddle, Wilderness Manhunt, 253–54.29 Foster, Spanish Expeditions, 112.30 Biloxi Bay opens onto the Gulf of Mexico, not the Mississippi

River.31 See note 17.32 This line is not part of the original cover letter but was added to

the letter-book copy to describe the document.33 This speculation that French refugees might be encountered on

the coast of Florida (the upper Florida Gulf Coast) has to do withFrench Protestants (Huguenots), many of whom fled France followingthe revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. Some were welcomedinto the English colonies in America.

31

34 Henry-Jules Du Guay was commissaire général at Rochefort. MichelVergé-Franceschi, La Marine française au XVIIIe siècle (Paris: Sedes, 1996),422.

35 Michel Bégon was intendant at Rochefort. Ibid., 413.36 Strictly speaking, Iberville did not “discover” the mouth of the

Mississippi. That honor belongs to the explorer René-Robert Cavelier,Sieur de La Salle. Iberville was, however, the first European to locatesuccessfully and to enter the mouth of the river from the Gulf ofMexico, something that La Salle had failed to do.

37 The terms hardes and habits can both be translated as clothes,although the former is more descriptive of old or used clothes.

38 The grade of écrivain principal was a mid-level office in theadministrative corps (corps de plume) of the French navy between thehigher grade of écrivain général and the lower grade of écrivain ordinaire.Vergé-Franceschi, La Marine française au XVIIIe siècle, 213.

39 Sauvole had been on Iberville’s first Louisiana campaign and hadbeen left behind as commander at the newly built Fort Maurepas, wherehe died in August 1701. Conrad, A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography, 719.

40 That is, the ministry of the Marine.41 Jean [dit Jean-Baptiste] Du Casse, governor of the French colony

of Saint-Domingue, 1691–1700. James S. Pritchard, In Search of Empire:The French in the Americas, 1670–1730 (Cambridge: Cambridge Univ.Press, 2004), 436.