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SPAIN IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLBY, 1785-1794
Delavillebeuvre to Carondelet May 7, 17H 1Ta
No. 4.
I went to the Choctaws where I found the chiefs still in the same frame of mind. They seemed to be flattered that the fort should be built, saying to me that they had thought up to now that I had bluffed them, but that now they were pleased to see that it was not so and that they hoped that everything I had promised them on your behalf would go through, especially the food. They are in a most, wretched condition this year. They have not one grain of corn to go to Mobile. At the time of the presents they reminded me of the rice which you had sent for them to Fort St. Etienne, but the commandant told me when I passed there that he had given it to his troops because it was rotting. I merely answered them that they were to blame for not having come to get it when I told them about it. They told me that they believed that I was bringing them your orders to get their present at Mobile, since this year it was not given to them at Tombecbe. They said that when they were at Nogales they had been promised it would be given them when the strawberries ripened, and that the promise made to them had not been kept. I replied to all this that the wav was the cause, but that I was expecting your orders any day for them to start on their way, and that in the meantime they should sow their corn.
The Chickasaws have gone to get their presents at the Ecors a. Margot, and according to what I was told by a Chickasaw half-breed who arrived here yesterday, even the old women went. There have remained only Payemingo and some warriors of his village who are soon to leave for the hunt in the direction of Kentucky. According to wliat the half-breed said, everything is quiet in those parts.
Long before my arrival, Payemingo sent a message to the Choctaws to induce them to fight the Kickapoos for the benefit of the Americans. He told them that they wbuld be given presents and munitions in Kentucky. Some of the savages from the Large and Small Part actually left, because they are their common enemies, but most of them quit. I reproached them with that., especially the chiefs; telling them that they should support the Spaniards, who were always full of kindness towards them, and not the nations which do nothing for them. It does not seem to me that they are very much disposed to make war, but if it were absolutely necessary, they would doubtless be found willing. However, Ogoulayacabe?s harangue to the Choctaws at the assembly called by Fnvre at Boukloucoulou, in connection with the letter which the commissioner sent to that nation in the care of
"? Iil? (FithcIi).
PROBLEMS OF F110NTI15R DEFENSE, 1702-1794
281
Mad Dog, has had a very bad effect, as I believe he told you before my arrival. What is sure is that the Chickasaws do not want to go to war. When I see him, which will be doubtless at his return soon,
I expect to speak to him about it and to tell him that, if he does not want to go to war, he should not turn the others away from it.
As the Choctaws had stolen some horses from the Talapoosas when
they came back from Nogales, the latter came to Tombecbe^tojjjiea]_______
three belonging to Favre. As I presumed this might very well have been done at the instigation of the American commissioner, I sent a special message to the Chevalier de Villiers to have him give them up just as I had theirs given back to them. I asked him to speak to all the chiefs of that nation in order to make them prevent their warriors from coming to the Choctaws and to avoid robberies, which might have ultimately dire consequences and cause bad feeling between them.
I also asked him to inform me as to the steps which the American commissioner was taking in connection with the Choctaws so, that we should be able to ward off their blows by being informed of them in time. I also requested him to maintain a correspondence with me. This doubtless will be very useful to the King?s service.
Although I am sure that you know that two American armies have left to march against the Northern Nations, I thought it necessary to tell you about it. A Choctaw who went hunting in these parts, said he had seen them but they told him that they were not marching against the Spaniards witli whom they were friends; and that it was true they had been on the verge of declaring war against them but now they were at peace.
The letter which I wrote to Sieur Favre, in accordance with your orders, dated December If, ?93, and which I had given to Sieur Parant, so that he might have a savage take it to the nation, arrived only day before yesterday. The delay occurred because the savage who was carrying it kept it all this time while he went hunting so that Favre, not having received it, has not made the census which you ordered me to have him take. At the present time it is too late. Nor had he built any barracks to house the troops and shelter their effects. However, after he received the letter which I wrote to him when I arrived at Mobile, he built a shed, where the five men who came up with me are living and where the others may stay when they come.
The seventeen Negroes and one white man, whom Monsieur Djaise sent up with me, have just finished cutting the lumber for the fort. They do not know what to do now, and Sieur Djaise is not here yet.
I would have had the soldiers clear a place for the fort if I did not believe that Mr. Djaise should do it for himself, but as I have no orders about this I am afraid of causing the King unnecessary expenditures if the contractor does not do it.