Early History of Louisiana – the Pelican State

By James S. Zacharie, 1885

The history of Louisiana, often called the Pelican State, is a tapestry woven with threads of exploration, colonization, conflict, and resilience. Like Paris to France, the city of New Orleans holds a pivotal position, with its narrative intrinsically linked to the broader story of Louisiana. This article explores the early history of Louisiana, charting its course from initial European encounters to its eventual statehood within the United States.

Early Encounters: Spanish Explorations

The first recorded instance of Europeans navigating the waters of Louisiana and the mighty Mississippi River dates back to 1536. A desperate band of survivors from the ill-fated expedition led by Panfilo de Narvaez sought escape westward, hoping to reach the Pacific Ocean after failing to conquer Florida and discover gold. Narvaez’s claim extended west to the "River of Palms," believed to be the Colorado River.

Despite Narvaez’s failure, the allure of the New World persisted. In 1537, Hernando de Soto, a veteran of Pizarro’s conquest of Peru, secured permission from King Charles V to conquer Florida at his own expense. Landing in Florida on May 31, 1539, De Soto and his well-equipped army faced relentless challenges. It wasn’t until two years later that they reached the Mississippi River. In May 1542, Hernando de Soto succumbed to illness near the mouth of the Red River. Legend holds that he was buried in the depths of the Mississippi. The remnants of his expedition, enduring immense hardship, finally reached the Gulf of Mexico in July 1543. Thus, the discovery of the "Father of Waters" is attributed to the Spanish, with no further recorded European visits for the next 130 years.

French Exploration and Claim

The narrative shifts in 1673 when Father Jacques Marquette, a French missionary monk, and Sieur Joliet, from Picardy, France, embarked on an expedition from the French territories of Canada. With a small crew, they entered the upper Mississippi River, journeying south to a point beyond the mouth of the Arkansas River before returning.

A more decisive moment arrived in 1682. Robert Cavalier de la Salle, hailing from Fort Frontenac on Lake Ontario, descended the Mississippi River accompanied by Chevalier Henry de Tonti, an Italian officer. Under the patronage of King Louis XIV, La Salle reached the mouth of the Mississippi on April 9, 1682. Here, he erected a cross, and in the presence of a notary, formally claimed the territory for France, naming it "Louisiana" in honor of the French monarch. The early history of Louisiana was about to enter a new chapter.

Colonization Attempts and the Founding of New Orleans

In January 1699, France initiated a formal colonization effort, dispatching an expedition of 300 men to Louisiana. Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville led the expedition, accompanied by his brothers Sauvolle and Bienville, all sons of Charles Le Moyne. They landed on the Bay of Biloxi and constructed a fort. In February, Iberville and Bienville, accompanied by Father Athanase, who had been with La Salle, explored the Mississippi River. They ascended to the village of the Bayagoulas, where they received letters and relics of La Salle and Tonti. Continuing onward, they named Pointe Coupee and reached the mouth of the Red River. Upon their return, they navigated Lakes Maurepas and Pontchartrain, naming them after French dignitaries. On December 7 of the same year, another fleet arrived, carrying letters appointing Sauvolle as the first Governor of the Colony and Bienville as the first Lieutenant-Governor.

Sauvolle died of fever in 1701 and was succeeded by Bienville. On September 14, 1712, King Louis XIV granted Anthony Crozat a 15-year charter, granting him exclusive commercial rights over the entire Province, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes and from the Allegheny Mountains to the Rocky Mountains. Crozat was obligated to send two shiploads of colonists to Louisiana annually and, after nine years, to assume the costs of colonial administration, including the army, in exchange for the right to nominate officers for royal appointment.

However, Crozat’s colonial venture proved unsuccessful, and in 1717, he voluntarily surrendered his charter back to the King. On August 13, a Council of State convened at Versailles, under the Duke of Orleans, Regent of France during the minority of Louis XV. It was decided that the colonization of Louisiana, being a commercial undertaking, should be entrusted to a company. The Parliament of Paris subsequently granted a charter on September 16, 1717, to the "Company of the Indies" (sometimes called the Mississippi Company). This company received the exclusive right to trade with Louisiana for 25 years, administer the colony, appoint officers, and maintain an army. The driving force behind the company was John Law, a Scottish financier residing in Paris.

The company received all lands, coasts, harbors, and islands in Louisiana, with the condition of presenting each new King of France with a gold crown weighing 30 marks. Louisiana was promoted as a paradise, rich in resources and precious metals. This led to a surge of investment in the company’s shares, fueled by expectations of high dividends. However, mismanagement, disease, and conflicts with Native Americans caused the scheme to collapse. The "Mississippi Bubble" burst, resulting in widespread financial ruin. On November 15, 1731, the Mississippi Company, after 14 years of unsuccessful colonization, surrendered its charter to the King.

The founding of New Orleans marks a significant event in the early history of Louisiana. In 1718, Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, sailing along Lake Pontchartrain, discovered Bayou St. John. Ascending the bayou, he camped on the Metairie Ridge. The area between the headwaters of Bayou St. John and the Mississippi River was chosen as the site for the future city. At that time, the area was covered in dense forest, prone to flooding, and riddled with ravines and stagnant pools. Bienville and 50 soldiers began clearing the land, encountering only an elderly Native American woman who prophesied the rise of a great white city.

Bienville chose the location strategically, hoping to create a capital with both lake and river access. Two city plans were created, one in 1719 by Louis Henri De la Tour, Chief Engineer of the Province, and the other by Adrien de Pauger, a royal engineer. The land was divided into 66 squares of 300 feet each, separated by streets and subdivided into 12 lots. These lots were distributed among the residents. In 1719, a flood forced the inhabitants to abandon the fledgling city.

In 1722, New Orleans officially became the colony’s capital. At that time, it consisted of approximately 200 inhabitants, about 100 log cabins, a large wooden warehouse, a few houses, and a storehouse that served as a chapel. The city was surrounded by a ditch and a palisade. In 1727, Governor Etienne de Perier constructed a levee, 1800 yards long and 18 feet wide, to protect the city from the annual floods of the Mississippi River.

From French to Spanish Rule

The colony of Louisiana remained under French control until 1762, when King Louis XV ceded it to Spain in return for their alliance during the French and Indian War. Spain accepted the cession and sent Antonio de Ulloa as Governor. However, the colonists vehemently opposed Spanish rule, and De Ulloa never formally took possession, departing with his troops after only raising the Spanish flag at Fort Balize.

King Charles III of Spain, upon hearing of the situation, decided to take the colony by force. In 1769, General Alexander O’Reilly led a second expedition, consisting of 24 warships and a large number of troops, to take possession of the country. On August 15, 1769, the French Governor, Charles Aubrey, met the new Spanish Governor, Alejandro O’Reilly, to arrange the formal transfer of the colony. They agreed that the ceremony would take place on August 18.

On August 17, the Spanish fleet arrived in New Orleans. Preparations were made for landing, and on August 18, French troops and militia lined up in the public square to greet the Spanish forces. The Spanish troops, numbering approximately 2,600, landed in impressive formation. Artillery and cavalry followed, creating a formidable display of power. The ships fired salutes, and the bells of the town rang out.

General O’Reilly was received with full honors. He met with Governor Aubrey near the French flag. O’Reilly presented his credentials and the orders for the transfer of the colony, requesting Aubrey to read them aloud. Aubrey then addressed the colonists, informing them that Louisiana was now under Spanish rule and absolving them of their oath to the French King. Aubrey handed O’Reilly the keys to the town. The French flag was lowered, and the Spanish flag was raised in its place. The French and Spanish troops shouted "Viva el Rey!" The procession moved to the Cathedral, where a Te Deum was sung.

Spanish Louisiana

In 1794, the Spanish Governor, Baron de Carondelet, fortified New Orleans. The fortifications, designed to protect the city from external threats and control the population, included five forts and a large battery. Collot, a French General, described the fortifications as relatively small and strategically flawed, suggesting they were more for internal control than external defense.

Return to France and the Louisiana Purchase

By the Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800, Spain agreed to cede Louisiana back to France. Fearing British seizure, France kept the treaty secret. France then sold Louisiana to the United States, appointing Laussat as Prefect to oversee the transfer. On November 30, 1800, Spanish and French commissioners met in the City Hall. Laussat presented the order from the King of Spain for the delivery of the colony and his credentials from the French Government. The keys of New Orleans were handed to Laussat, and the Spanish commissioners declared the French in possession of Louisiana. The Spanish flag was lowered, and the French flag was raised.

The Louisiana Purchase and American Possession

Napoleon Bonaparte, concerned about British ambitions, authorized the sale of Louisiana to the United States. The treaty was signed in Paris on April 30, 1803, with the United States paying 15 million dollars for the territory. On December 20, 1803, the French Prefect, Laussat, ordered the militia to assemble in front of the City Hall. The American Commissioners, William Claiborne and James Wilkinson, arrived with their troops. The commissioners presented their credentials, and the treaty of cession was read aloud. Laussat proclaimed the delivery of the Province to the United States and handed the city’s keys to Claiborne. Claiborne assured the people of their rights and protections under the new government. The French flag was lowered, and the American flag was raised, marking the end of French rule and the beginning of American control.

Louisiana as a Territory and State

President Thomas Jefferson appointed William Claiborne as governor. In 1804, Congress divided Louisiana into two parts: the District of Louisiana and the Territory of Orleans. In 1812, Congress called a Constitutional Convention. On April 8, 1812, Louisiana was admitted into the Union as the 18th state.

Statehood and Beyond

William Claiborne became the first governor of the new state. The War of 1812 saw a British expedition against New Orleans, resulting in the Battle of New Orleans, a decisive American victory. The early history of Louisiana culminated in statehood, but its journey was far from over. After the war, trade revived, sugar cultivation expanded, and immigration increased. The state prospered until the Civil War.

On January 26, 1861, Louisiana seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States of America. In April 1862, Union forces captured New Orleans. Except for New Orleans and its immediate vicinity, the state remained in Confederate hands. After the war, Louisiana faced a period of political instability. In 1879, a new constitution was adopted, leading to a period of stability and renewed prosperity. The early history of Louisiana shaped its unique culture, diverse population, and enduring spirit.

The early history of Louisiana is a testament to the enduring power of exploration, the complexities of colonization, and the resilience of its people. From its initial encounters with Spanish explorers to its eventual statehood within the United States, Louisiana’s story is a rich and fascinating chapter in American history.