Harrison County, Missouri - Chapter 3: Explorations, 1921

DISCOVERY OP THE NEW WORLD - EARLY DELUSIONS - SPANISH EXPLORERS - PONCE DE LEON - HERNANDO DE SOTO - CORNADO - SPANISH TREATMENT OF THE INDIANS - FRENCH EXPLORERS - MARQUETTE AND JOLIET - LASALLE - HENNEPIN - FRENCH CLAIM POSSESSION - FIRST SETTLEMENT AT STE. GENEVIEVE - OTHER SETTLEMENTS - FRENCH AND SPANISH RIVALRYTRADERS - DE BOURGMENT - FORT ORLEANS.

When the new world was discovered and had wonderfully revealed itself to the adventurers and daring men of the Old World, the enterprise of Europe was startled into action. Those valiant men who had won laurels among the mountains of Andalusia, on the lields of Flanders, and on the battlefields of Albion, sought a more remote field for adventure. The revelation of a new world and a new race, and communication between the old and the new, provided a field for fertile imagination. The fact was as astounding to the people then as it would be to us should we learn that Mars is peoples and that communication could be established between that planet and the earth.

The heroes of the ocean despised the range of Europe as too narrow, offering to their extravagant ambition nothing beyond mediocrity. Arftbition, avarice, and religious zeal were strangley blended, and the heroes of the main sailed to the west, as if bound on a new crusade, for infinite wealth and renown were to reward their piety, satisfy their greed, and satiate their ambition.

America was the region of romance where their heated imagination could indulge in the boldest delusions, where the simple ignorant native wore the most precious ornaments, the sands by the side of the clear runs of water sparkled with gold. Says the historian of the ocean, these adventurous heroes speedily prepared to fly by a beckoning or a whispering wheresoever they were called. They forsook certainties for the lure and hope of more brilliant success.

To win provinces with the sword, divide the wealth of empires, to plunder the accumulated treasures of some ancient Indian dynasty, to return from a roving expedition with a crowd of enslaved captives and a profusion of spoils, soon became ordinary dreams. Fame, fortune, life and all were squandered in the visions of wealth and renown. Even if the issue was uncertain, success greater than the boldest imagination had dared was sometimes attained.

It would be an interesting story to trace each hero across the ocean to the American continent, and through the three great gateways thereof, through which he entered the v.'ilds of the great west. The accounts of the explorations and exploitations into the great west read like a romance. The trials through which the explorers passed were enough to make the stoutest hearts quail and to test the endurance of men of steel.

Juan Ponce de Leon, an old comrade of Christopher Columbus in his second voyage across the Atlantic, spent his youth in the military service of Spain, and shared in the wild exploits of predatory valor in the Granada. Pie was a fearless and gallant soldier. The revelation of a new world fired within him the spirit of youth and adventure. He was an old man, yet age had not tempered his love of hazardous enterprise to advance his fortune by conquest of kingdoms, and to retrieve a reputation not without blemish. His cheeks had been furrowed by years of hard service, and he believed the tale which was a tradition credited in Spain by those who were distinguished for intelligence of a fountain which possessed the virtue to renovate the life of those who drank of it or bathed in its healing waters. In 1513, with a squadron of three ships fitted out at his own expense, he landed on the coast of Florida, a few miles north of St. Augustine. Here he remained for many weeks, patiently and persistently exploring and penetrating the "deep, tangled wildwood," searching for gold and drinking from the waters of every stream, brook, rivulet and spring and bathing in every fountain. The discoverer of Florida seeking immortality on earth, bereft of fortune and broken in spirit, found the sombre shadow of death in his second voyage in 1521. Contending with the implacable fury of the Indians, he died from an arrow wound received in an Indian fight. He was laid to rest on the island of Cuba.

Thus began the Spanish claim to that vast territory west of the Mississippi, which included the Louisiana Province from the Mississippi west to the Rocky Mountains (including Missouri).

Heniando De Soto, who had been with Pizarro in his conquest of Peru in 1533, inspired with the same hopes and ambitions as Ponce de Leon, and undismayed by his failure, and inspiring others with confidence in his plans, collected a large band of Spanish and Portuguese cavaliers. In 1538 his splendidly equipped six or seven hundred men, among whom were many gentlemen of position and wealth, set sail in nine vessels for the wonderful Eldorado. In addition to his men, he carried three hundred horses, a herd of swine, and some bloodhounds. It would be interesting to follow this expedition in its hazardous wanderings, but to do so in this sketch would be going "far afield." His route was in part through the country already made hostile by the cruelty and violence of the Spanish invader, Narvaez. On April 25, 1541, De Soto reached the banks of the great Mississippi, supposed to be near the Lower Chickasaw Bluffs, a few miles below Memphis, thus achieving for his name imm.ortality.

Here he crossed the river and pursued his course north along its west bank into the region in our own State now known as New Madrid. So far as the historian can determine, he was the first European to set foot on Missouri soil, and thus he strengthened the claim to the vast wilds of the far west. He reached a village called Pocaha, the northernmost point of his expedition, and remained there forty days, sending out various exploring parties. The location of Pocaha cannot be identified.

The country still nearer to the Missouri was said by the Indians to be thinly inhabited, and it abounded in bison in such numbers that maize could not be cultivated. We have in this story no further interest in De Soto's exploration and wanderings, save to say that the white man, with his insatiable greed, injustice, and cruel adventure, was made known to the red man of the far west. Because of the white man's traits, a hatred arose on the part of the Indians, which by succeeding outrages ripened in after years to a venom that cost the lives of thousands of harmless settlers. Other explorations followed in succession, and though the experiences would read like a romance, the scope of this work precludes an account, even of the wonderful exploits of Coronada about the same period. Upon the result of these expeditions Spain based her claims of the Louisiana Province, afterwards acknowledged by European precedent, to be justly founded.

Coronado. - The expedition consisted of three hundred Spanish adventurers, mostly mounted, thoroughly armed, richly caparisoned, and well provisioned. They started their march with flying colors and boundless expectations. The Vice-roy of Mexico, from whence they started, accompanied them for two days on the march. Never had so chivalrous adventurers gone forth to hunt the wilderness for kingdoms. Every officer seemed fitted to lead an expedition wherever danger threatened or hope lured. More young men of the proudest families of Spain, than had ever before acted together in America, rallied under the banner of Coronado.

An Indian slave had told wonders of the seven cities of Cibola, the land of buffaloes that lay at the north between the oceans and beyond the deserts. He represented this country as abounding m silver and gold beyond the wildest dreams. The Spaniards, in what was then called New Spain, trusting imphcitly in the truth of this story and hundreds of others equally mythical, burned with ambition to subdue the rich provinces. Several historians who were participants in this expedition have preserved the events of the adventurous march, and it would seem that with so much written evidence based on what the participants of the expedition saw and experienced, at least the course pursued, the routes followed, and the distances traveled by Coronado and his army, ought to be free from doubt. This, however, is far from being the case, and the entire matter is left largely in doubt.

It seems to be well authenticated, however, that Coronado entered Missouri in the southern part, but how far north he went we do not know. Some have claimed, and with some reason, that he reached the Missouri River in the central part of the State.

Coronado and De Soto both treated the Indians with barbarous cruelty. Their great hopes of limitless riches and conquered province became as ashes in their hands. Their men, after long marches for months through the wilderness, became tattered, disgi-untled and surly. They were burdens upon the red men whom they visited in the different villages, and consumed their maize. The Indians were distrustful and suspicious, and an inborn hatred for the white man insistently grew in their breasts, and was handed down by tradition with growing rancor, to future generations. The fabled cities of Cibola were found to be miserable mud huts. Indian guides lured themi from place to place with wonderful stories in order that the white men might be held from their own country.

It is related that a heroic young Zuni brave represented that he was not a Zuni, but an enemy of that tribe, and belonged to the country of Quivera far to the north. In a glowing word picture he described his country and insisted that; the Spaniards visit there, in these words: "Come with me, O mighty chief, to my country, watered by the mighty river Quivera, wherein are fishes as large as the horses you ride, and upon whose currents float large and beautiful boats with many colored sails, in which rest the lords of the country at east, on downy couches and canopies rich with gold. Come, see our gardens of roses, where our great ones take their siesta under the spreading trees that pierce the very heavens in their towering height. There gold and silver are but as stones on a rocky way. Precious jewels and riches beyond the dreams of avarice, 0 mighty chief, is yours for the asking. What you can take is but as a cup of water from the great lake. Come, 0 mighty chief, and follow me, for I will guide thee to the land of riches and plenty."

Tradition has it that Coronado, arriving near the Missouri, the Zuni brave said to him, "I have lied to you. I am a Zuni. I vntnessed your cruelties to my people, and I have brought you here. I hope you will perish before you reach your home. I am satisfied, and now I am ready to die."

The French claim to the Louisiana Province was based on the discoveries of Marquette and Joliet in 1673. Marquette was of the patrician "Marquettes of Laon," thought to have been descendants of Celtic nobles whom Rome, in her wise policy, attached to her standard by leaving them in possession of their ancestral territory, but nominally dominated by the "eternal city."

Father Marquette was twenty-nine years of age when his feet first touched American soil. From all the contemporary accounts of the expedition it is evident that Father Marquette was its leader, its very soul. But as an ecclesiastic he could not take command of an army, however small ; as an ambassador of Christ to foreign heathen nations, he could not act as the agent of a king of France. It was accordingly arranged that Sieur Joliet, a native of Canada, should command the expedition, and that Marquette should accompany it as its missionary. The choice of Joliet was a wise and happy one.

They left the connecting strait between Lakes Michigan and Huron on May 17, 1673. In the language of Marquette, "We were embarking on a voyage the duration of which we could not foresee. Indian corn, vvith some dried meat, was our only provisions. With this we set out in two bark canoes. M. Joliet, five other men and I firmly resolved to do all and suffer all for a glorious enterprise."

On June 17, 1673, they, with their attendants in two bark canoes, reached the upper Mississippi. They followed in their frail barks the swift current of the river to the mouth of the Illinois, and thence into the mouth of the Missouri, called by Marquette, Pekitonoui, that is. Muddy Water.

Shea in his "Discovery of the Mississippi Valley," says that Petitonoui, or "Muddy Water", prevailed until Marest's time (1712), when it was called Missouri from the name of a tribe of Indians known as Missouris, who inhabited the country at its mouth. More than 100 years after DeSoto discovered the Mississippi the claim of the French was founded. Until 1762 these two great nations contended for the right of sovereignity of the wilderness west of the Mississippi.

The limits of this work forbid following the varying fortunes of any of the explorers, and reference is made to them sufficient only to show the claims of France and Spain to that expanse of territory of which the present Harrison County was a part.

Continuing these references we must advert to La Salle. On July 14, 1678, with Tonti, an Italian, and about thirty other men, he arrived in Quebec. In September, he sailed from Rochelle, France, and was joined by Louis Hennepin, a Franciscan friar. After leaving Frontenac, in November, 1678, they spent about eighteen months among the Indian tribes exploring the northern lakes and rivers. They experienced many hardships. After returning to Canada for additional supplies. La Salle, with about twenty Frenchmen, eighteen Indian braves and ten Indian women, descended the Illinois to the Mississippi, Avhich they reached on February 6, 1662. On April 5th, La Salle accomplished the purpose of his expedition, which was to discover the three mouths of the Mississippi through which its great volume of water is discharged into the Gulf of Mexico.

By ceremony of great pomp, La Salle took possession of the country in the name of Louis XIV of France, in whose honor the country was named Louisiana. And here on an elevation La Salle, amid the solemn chants of hymns of thanksgiving, planted a cross with the arms of France; and in the name of the French king took possession of the river, of all its branches, and of the territory watered by them. The notary drew up an authentic act, which all signed with beating hearts. A leaden plate upon which were the arm.s of France and the names of the discoverers, was, amid the rattle of musketry, deposited in the earth. The plate bore this inscription, "Louis le Grand Roi de France et de Navarre, Regne; le Neuvieme Auril, 1682." Standing near the planted cross. La Salle proclaimed with a loud voice, that in the name of the most high, mighty, invincible and victorious Prince, Louis the Great, by the grace of God, King of France and Navarre, fourteenth of the name, this ninth day of April, 1682, he took possession of the country of Louisiana, comprising almost indefinite limits and including, of course, the present territory of Missouri.

The colonial policy of the Spaniards was not based on theory or fancy, although at this period, less enlightened than the French, they had the advantage of larger experience. The English by reason of their indomitable perseverance and fixedness of purpose had, in these respects, an advantage over their rivals. Yet the French, by their superior attitude in assimiilating with the savages, and adroitness in winning confidence, had a clear advantage over both.

The only settlements at that time in what is now Missouri, were Ste. Genevieve and St. Louis. There were at least five settlements in what is now Illinois. These settlements were situated along the east bank of the Missouri to search for silver, and although they failed, they did a great of the Missouri River to the mouth of the Kaskaska. They were Kaskaskia, with a white population of about 400; Prairie View Rocher, with about fifty inhabitants; Fort Chartres, about 100; Philippe, about twenty; Kahoki, about 100, making a total of 670 whites. The negro population was about 300, which brings the total up to nearly 1,000.

Early in the eighteenth century the French sent men into what is now Missouri to search for silver, and although they failed, they did a great deal of exploring in this region. Again the French settlers in Kaskaskia, and other Illinois settlements, which were established in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, soon made their way on hunting and exploring expeditions up the Missouri. Naturally this activity on the part of the French aroused the fears of the Spanish at Santa Fe, which resulted in their fitting out an expedition in 1720 for exploration. This expedition is popularly known as the "Great Caravan." It consisted of a large number of soldiers, artisans, and farmers, together with their families, flocks and herds.

But Houck in his "History of Missouri", says that recent investigations seem to make it clear that there were not more than fifty soldiers in the expedition, and while there may have been helpers they were not intending settlers. However that may be, the expedition failed completely, owing to an attack made by hostile Indians. Only one man belonging to the ill-fated expedition escaped with his life to relate the story of the disaster.

It is claimed that this attempt of the Spanish to establish a post on the Missouri in 1720, led directly to the founding of Fort Orleans by the French in 1723.

Da Bourgmont, who previously spent some years trading with the Indians along the Missouri, was captain and commandant of Missouin in 1720. The exact site of Fort Orleans cannot be definitely determined. It has been claimed that it is on the south bank of the Missouri near what is now Malta Bend in Saline County. Recently the ruins of an old fort, and the remains of French weapons, have been unearthed near Malta Bend. These finds are taken by some as evidence supporting the claim that Fort Orleans was on the south bank of the Missouri at that point.