No matter how many historical names or monuments the present-day citizens of New Orleans would like to OBLITERATE as they anticipate their upcoming TRICENTENNIAL, one thing is for certain, their City of New Orleans was FOUNDED IN FEBRUARY, 1718, by expeditions of Europeans who began their journey at DAUPHIN ISLAND. In fact, the crescent in the Mississippi River where New Orleans was established was known to the indigenous people for centuries as a portage place where you left the river if your journey was taking you to the mouth of Mobile Bay.
from A HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION OF NEW ORLEANS (1717-1722) : "Since time immemorial, the present site of Louisiana’s capital [New Orleans] had been a camping-ground for Indians going from the Mississippi to the mouth of the Mobile River. As soon as the French had settled on Massacre Island, that site became the customary landing-place for travelers on the Father of Waters."
from NEW ORLEANS, 1718-1812: AN ECONOMIC HISTORY:
"In February, 1718, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, Governor of Louisiana, set out to select a place on the banks of the Mississippi River for a new settlement. Departing in small vessels from Dauphin Island, at the entrance of Mobile Bay, his party of several score navigated the shallow waters of the Gulf without difficulty, passed the bar, took soundings of the Mississippi, and began the tedious ascent of the river. The marshlands, the high-pitched cries of the wild birds, the glare of the low horizon- all of this was familiar to Bienville from a prior journey. Moving slowly against the rapid current, deftly avoiding the swirling debris of unknown northern storms and floods, the convoy for many days sought out a suitable tract of land on which to establish a settlement some one hundred miles from the Gulf, where the winding river changes from its east- southeastern course, turns almost due north and then jogs back to the southeast, a likely spot was found on the east bank of the elbow of the jog."
"The locale was wet, heavily forested, and, even then, clouded by mosquitoes, but it had certain advantages over other possible sites. The terrain was generally higher than it was along most of the river and only a narrow strip of land, traversed part way by a bayou, separated the site from Lake Ponchartrain. Access to the spot- named New Orleans- from the Gulf was afforded by Lakes Borgne and Ponchartrain as well as by the river. Indeed, it was thought that the lake route would be paramount. Bienville left fifty men to clear the land and build some houses and returned temporarily to Dauphin Island."
"The development of New Orleans proceeded fitfully. Although the earlier headquarters of the colony at Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, and Old and New Biloxi were recognized to be inadequate as ports, there was considerable reluctance to move the colony's administration center to the Mississippi River..."
http://dauphinislandhistory.blogspot.com
from A HISTORY OF THE FOUNDATION OF NEW ORLEANS (1717-1722) : "Since time immemorial, the present site of Louisiana’s capital [New Orleans] had been a camping-ground for Indians going from the Mississippi to the mouth of the Mobile River. As soon as the French had settled on Massacre Island, that site became the customary landing-place for travelers on the Father of Waters."
from NEW ORLEANS, 1718-1812: AN ECONOMIC HISTORY:
"In February, 1718, Jean Baptiste Le Moyne, Sieur de Bienville, Governor of Louisiana, set out to select a place on the banks of the Mississippi River for a new settlement. Departing in small vessels from Dauphin Island, at the entrance of Mobile Bay, his party of several score navigated the shallow waters of the Gulf without difficulty, passed the bar, took soundings of the Mississippi, and began the tedious ascent of the river. The marshlands, the high-pitched cries of the wild birds, the glare of the low horizon- all of this was familiar to Bienville from a prior journey. Moving slowly against the rapid current, deftly avoiding the swirling debris of unknown northern storms and floods, the convoy for many days sought out a suitable tract of land on which to establish a settlement some one hundred miles from the Gulf, where the winding river changes from its east- southeastern course, turns almost due north and then jogs back to the southeast, a likely spot was found on the east bank of the elbow of the jog."
"The locale was wet, heavily forested, and, even then, clouded by mosquitoes, but it had certain advantages over other possible sites. The terrain was generally higher than it was along most of the river and only a narrow strip of land, traversed part way by a bayou, separated the site from Lake Ponchartrain. Access to the spot- named New Orleans- from the Gulf was afforded by Lakes Borgne and Ponchartrain as well as by the river. Indeed, it was thought that the lake route would be paramount. Bienville left fifty men to clear the land and build some houses and returned temporarily to Dauphin Island."
"The development of New Orleans proceeded fitfully. Although the earlier headquarters of the colony at Dauphin Island, Mobile Bay, and Old and New Biloxi were recognized to be inadequate as ports, there was considerable reluctance to move the colony's administration center to the Mississippi River..."
http://dauphinislandhistory.blogspot.com
posted by robertoreg at 8:56 AM
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