The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935 Page: 125
312 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Silent Years in Texas History
dated September 6, 1704, Bienville informs the French Minister
that word has just been received of the death of Juchereau de St.
Denis, who died during the preceding autumn (1703) in the
region of the Missouri. He never came to Louisiana."
It was the son, Louis de St. Denis, sometimes called Louis
Juchereau de St. Denis, who came to Louisiana down the Missis-
sippi from Canada, probably with Tonty, in 1700. Almost from
the day of his arrival he became an active and important member
of the colony. D'Iberville must have recognized at once the natural
ability of the young Canadian, because, when the new fort built on
the Mississippi early in 1700 was completed, he left his brother
Bienville and M. de St. Denis as joint commanders of the important
post.7
Just when he became commander of the fort of San Juan on the
Mississippi, situated about 40 leagues west of Mobile, is not known,
but he was its commander by 1705, according to his own statement
made in Mexico City on June 22, 1715.8 It is from the declaration
made at this time that we gather much information about his
activities in Texas from 1705 to 1715. He declared that he had
been among the Tejas Indians ten years before. If we are to
believe his statements made under oath, he went at that time
(1705) from Mobile to the Chactaws, a populous tribe, according
to St. Denis, numbering about 18,000 members. After a visit
with them he went to the Natches, a nation that lay 30 leagues
west quarter northwest from the Chactaws and consisted of 11
pueblos, all of whom had sworn allegiance to his most Christian
Majesty the King of France. From the Natches he traveled 40
leagues in a southwesterly direction to the Nachitos. This nation
also traded with the French ever since 1701, the chief article of
exchange being salt. According to St. Denis the salt secured from
these Indians was whiter and purer than the salt that came from
France. The Nachitos were neighbors of the Asinai, with whom
they traded also. It was thus through the Nachitos that the French
traders introduced their merchandise among the Tejas in the early
years. After a short stay with the Nachitos St. Denis went on to
Margry, D6couvertes et Etablissements des Francais, IV, 399. The data
for this sketch is found scattered throughout this volume of Margry.
'Ibid., IV, 399.
sDeclaracion de St. Denis y Medar Jalot sobre su viaje hasta el presidio
del Capitan Diego Ramon, in San Francisco el Grande Archive, VIII, 27-32.125
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 38, July 1934 - April, 1935, periodical, 1935; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117143/m1/139/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.