Chapter IV - Fort Orleans.
A.D. 1719
Fort Orleans — Mr. de Bourgmont [1] Visits the Padouca — They promise to live in peace with the Frenchmen — Mr. De Bourgmont goes to New Orleans — Fort Orleans is burned, the garrison is massacred
About the year 1719 Mr. de Bourgmont, governor of Louisiana and Illinois visited the Osage in their principal villages, which stood at a point 18 miles from the confluent of the Osage into the Missouri. [2] He was delighted with them, and describes them as stout, well made people, and great warriors. He tells us that they were good friends of the French and always willing to fight the Spaniards. As these last were trying to extend their command from Santa Fe to the valley of the Missouri, the French government in order to be ready to check their inroads in that territory which they did claim, built a fort in 1722 on a small island just above the junction of the Osage with the Missouri, and called it Fort Orleans. Here they placed a strong garrison, and gave the command of it to Mr. de Bourgmont.
The different nations living in the valley of the Missouri from Fort Orleans, up to the country of the Padouca, were generally on good terms with the French, but the Padouca we’re not, these rather would sympathize with the Spaniards, and were most always at war with the other Indians because they would not join with them in their raids against the French settlements.
Mr. de Bourgmont, knowing that, as long as the Padouca were his enemies, there would be neither security for his colonies, nor safety for his trading posts, thought it would be of the greatest greatest importance to make, if possible, a reconciliation between all the different nations and tribes living along the Missouri River. To this effect he organized a large expedition made up of several companies of French soldiers, as well as of native recruits, taken from most all friendly Indians, and had a body of 64 Osage under four of their own chiefs to act as pilots. To convince the Indians that his expedition was a peaceful one, he took with him a large amount of goods to be distributed among them as presents.
1724
They started in the spring of 1724. The appearance of the Osage at the front of this small army contributed very much to make this expedition a success. The Padouca well, knowing how brave the Osage were, would by no means show hostility to them, especially, on an occasion like this. And for this reason, they came forward to meet them with signs of great cordiality. The Chiefs of the Padouca can all in one body to receive Mr. de Bourgmont, and after a general shaking of hands and smoking the calumet by turn, the big chief complemented, Mr. de Bourgmont, thanked him for his coming to visit their town, and declared that he was now burying his tomahawk in the ground forever! And that henceforward he and his braves would live in peace with all of their neighbors, nay, would assist the French and as much as they would be able.
Mr. de Bourgmont was very pleased with the reception given him, felt very happy for the good success he met with, and opening the boxes he had brought, distributed the goods with them, giving to the Padouca the largest to share. Now having attained the object he had in view, he returned with the whole party to Fort Orleans on the 5th of November.
Business of importance calling him to New Orleans, by the spring of 1725 Mr. de Bourgmont left for that city, interesting the care of the fort to a brave garrison, full confident that he did not need to be uneasy about it’s safety, after so many marks of friendship, he had received from the Padouca. But the fact proved that he had not a sufficient knowledge of the Indian character. Hardly had he gone but few weeks when Fort Orleans was burned to the ground, and the whole garrison was massacred. How did it happen? By whom was it done? Why? To these questions no answer has yet been given!
From that time the colonists saw evidently that no reliances could be placed on Indian promises. Not withstand the efforts of some malevolent parties to show, that the Osage were responsible for the loss of Fort Orleans and the slaughter of its garrison, nothing of the kind could ever be proved against them, and they continued to enjoy the confidence of the French government.
People, however, did not consider it safe to establish the new settlements west of that point, for most all the different tribes who had promised to live in peace again at war, one against another and the Padouca were in fact, masters of the west. from that time up until the end of this century, hardly a mention of the Osage is to be found in any public record.
A.D. 1719
Fort Orleans — Mr. de Bourgmont [1] Visits the Padouca — They promise to live in peace with the Frenchmen — Mr. De Bourgmont goes to New Orleans — Fort Orleans is burned, the garrison is massacred
About the year 1719 Mr. de Bourgmont, governor of Louisiana and Illinois visited the Osage in their principal villages, which stood at a point 18 miles from the confluent of the Osage into the Missouri. [2] He was delighted with them, and describes them as stout, well made people, and great warriors. He tells us that they were good friends of the French and always willing to fight the Spaniards. As these last were trying to extend their command from Santa Fe to the valley of the Missouri, the French government in order to be ready to check their inroads in that territory which they did claim, built a fort in 1722 on a small island just above the junction of the Osage with the Missouri, and called it Fort Orleans. Here they placed a strong garrison, and gave the command of it to Mr. de Bourgmont.
The different nations living in the valley of the Missouri from Fort Orleans, up to the country of the Padouca, were generally on good terms with the French, but the Padouca we’re not, these rather would sympathize with the Spaniards, and were most always at war with the other Indians because they would not join with them in their raids against the French settlements.
Mr. de Bourgmont, knowing that, as long as the Padouca were his enemies, there would be neither security for his colonies, nor safety for his trading posts, thought it would be of the greatest greatest importance to make, if possible, a reconciliation between all the different nations and tribes living along the Missouri River. To this effect he organized a large expedition made up of several companies of French soldiers, as well as of native recruits, taken from most all friendly Indians, and had a body of 64 Osage under four of their own chiefs to act as pilots. To convince the Indians that his expedition was a peaceful one, he took with him a large amount of goods to be distributed among them as presents.
1724
They started in the spring of 1724. The appearance of the Osage at the front of this small army contributed very much to make this expedition a success. The Padouca well, knowing how brave the Osage were, would by no means show hostility to them, especially, on an occasion like this. And for this reason, they came forward to meet them with signs of great cordiality. The Chiefs of the Padouca can all in one body to receive Mr. de Bourgmont, and after a general shaking of hands and smoking the calumet by turn, the big chief complemented, Mr. de Bourgmont, thanked him for his coming to visit their town, and declared that he was now burying his tomahawk in the ground forever! And that henceforward he and his braves would live in peace with all of their neighbors, nay, would assist the French and as much as they would be able.
Mr. de Bourgmont was very pleased with the reception given him, felt very happy for the good success he met with, and opening the boxes he had brought, distributed the goods with them, giving to the Padouca the largest to share. Now having attained the object he had in view, he returned with the whole party to Fort Orleans on the 5th of November.
Business of importance calling him to New Orleans, by the spring of 1725 Mr. de Bourgmont left for that city, interesting the care of the fort to a brave garrison, full confident that he did not need to be uneasy about it’s safety, after so many marks of friendship, he had received from the Padouca. But the fact proved that he had not a sufficient knowledge of the Indian character. Hardly had he gone but few weeks when Fort Orleans was burned to the ground, and the whole garrison was massacred. How did it happen? By whom was it done? Why? To these questions no answer has yet been given!
From that time the colonists saw evidently that no reliances could be placed on Indian promises. Not withstand the efforts of some malevolent parties to show, that the Osage were responsible for the loss of Fort Orleans and the slaughter of its garrison, nothing of the kind could ever be proved against them, and they continued to enjoy the confidence of the French government.
People, however, did not consider it safe to establish the new settlements west of that point, for most all the different tribes who had promised to live in peace again at war, one against another and the Padouca were in fact, masters of the west. from that time up until the end of this century, hardly a mention of the Osage is to be found in any public record.
Some Reference Information:
Notes from the Above:
(1) Étienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont – French Explorer (1679-1735)
(2) Andreas, A. T.; History of the State of Kansas, 1883 reprint 1976 2 vol.
https://archive.org/details/historyofstateof00andr/page/n3/mode/1up
Transcribed by: Christopher Hunt
Notes from the Above:
(1) Étienne de Veniard, Sieur de Bourgmont – French Explorer (1679-1735)
(2) Andreas, A. T.; History of the State of Kansas, 1883 reprint 1976 2 vol.
https://archive.org/details/historyofstateof00andr/page/n3/mode/1up
Transcribed by: Christopher Hunt
