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SPAIN IN THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY, 1765-1794
"All the Indians in the river villages received me very well, and were pleased to see the project of this fort carried out. They had been in doubt about it up to now because of the delays, but I gave them the reasons thereof, and they were not surprised. They told me that they hoped that everything that I had promised them on your behalf would be fulfilled.
It seems that the message which Mad Dog, or rather the American commissioner, sent to the Choctaws and Chickasaws has had no effect, since neither of them wanted to go there, and up to this date the nation is quiet. I am leaving the 22nd of this month to assemble the chiefs and to address them for the purpose of quieting their minds and preventing them from stirring themselves the way they do every spring, and inducing them at the same time to fight for us against the vagabonds if necessary. This the Chickasaws do not want to do. They say that the Spanish chiefs have always told them that, if they waged war on white men like themselves, they would not want them to mix up in it for fear of shedding their blood, but that they should remain quiet and watchful. They also said that they were surprised that the governor of Natchez should send them a war message. This is what Ogoulayacabe said in the gathering which Favre called at Bouctoucoulous, and I believe they have been informed of this. I think that the Choctaws will pay no attention to these proposals.
A group from the village of Calanbatia in the Small Part has killed two Osages, and a large number of people from the same part are forming other war parties against the Osages.
After the assembly which I am going to call in the nation, I shall inform you as to the result through a messenger whom I shall send from Natchez. Beyond a doubt they will ask me when their presents will come, and I cannot tell them, since I do not know anything about it. However, I shall tell them that I think it will be next spring, as you promised them, or had Monsieur De Gayoso promise them. God have you in His holy keeping.
At the Fort of the Confederation, Slst of April, 179k.
Juan Delavillebeuvre (Rubric)
P. S. As I left my manscript in town for fear of accident, I cannot follow my numbers. I have written you two letters from Mobile. This is No. 3.
To the Baron de Carondelet, Governor general.
PROBLEMS OP FRONTIER DEFENSE, 1792-1794
271
Carondelet to Delavillebeuvre Apnl S3, 179k 1,8
New Orleans, April S3, 179k I have received your letter of March 28, which you sent me from Tombecbc. I was quite pleased to learn from it that there is nothing new in the nation. I hope that everything will go well despite the great delay suffered by our expedition on account of contrary winds. The major was stopped almost fifteen days both at the Bayou and at the Pass Christian.
I have seen here Turner Brashears, Franchimastabe?s confidant, and I gave him a present of 150 piastres. I also gave- him a barrel of salt, one arroba of sugar, and a half arroba of coffee for the great chief. He seemed to me to be quite in favor of the new fort at Confederaction and promised to do his best to prevent the Choctaws and the Chickasaws from going to greet Seagrove.	,
I have made strong complaints to the Congress against this commissioner, who has proved to be a zealous partisan of the French by inducing the Creeks not to go to St. Augustine where they had been called by the government to oppose the French and the American bandits who were to attack Florida, against the express prohibition of Congress. I also complained of his having made insulting state-: ments in full assembly against the governor of St. Augustine and the Spanish government, and of his allowing the American flag to be displayed on the council house at Tuquebatche. i The said Seagrove wanted to induce indirectly the Indians of the American party to commit hostilities against our settlements and to steal horses there, but I do not think that he will succeed. How-: ever, you will do well to keep on your guard, because he is planning these projects to prevent the construction of the fort.
As the presents are to come up just about the same time as yourself, I did not deem it necessary to give you anything. However, I approve your taking a piece of limbourg cloth and twelve shirts to , Fort TombecW.
^ I am informed from Jamaica that Genet?s coup against Louisiana* ? which failed only because of lack of money, would have plunged us , into all the horrors which have destroyed the Cape and the other
?	French colonies, and that the said Genet, who has disappeared with
24,000	piastres, may very well have taken the route to Ohio to joie Clark, so that we should keep a very strict watch on the latter?s movements. Consequently, I urge you to examine all the strangers who will come into the nation and to question all the Indians coming from
?? BL. A Pinart tranierlpt