Indian Tribes in Louisiana in 1803 Submitted for the LAGenWeb Archives by: Gaytha Carver Thompson, Jan. 1998. ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives http:/www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ************************************************ TIPS FOR SEARCHING RECORDS ON THE INTERNET Netscape & Ms Explorer users: If searching for a particular surname, locality or date while going through the records in the archives or anywhere....try these few steps: 1. Go to the top of the report you are searching. 2. Click on EDIT at the top of your screen. 3. Next click on FIND in the edit menu. 4. When the square pops up, enter what you are looking for in the FIND WHAT ___________blank. 5. Click on DIRECTION __DOWN. 6. And last click on FIND NEXT and continue to click on FIND NEXT until you reach the end of the report. This should highlight the item that you indicated in "find what" every place it appears in the report. You must continue to click on FIND NEXT till you reach the end of the report to see all of the locations of the item indicated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Source: The Territorial Papers of The United States, Vol IX, The Territory of New Orleans, 1803-1812. For sale by the superintendent of Documents, Washington D.C.....Price $2.50 (cash) The Louisiana State Courier, Jan 1985 Compiled by: Annette Carpenter Womack, editor Used by permission of author. No changes were made when typing this document. All spelling is as shown. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- AN ACCOUNT OF THE INDIAN TRIBES INHABITING LOUISIANA 1803 DANIEL CLARK TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE (NA:SD {*72}, Consular Letters, New Orleans:ALS NEW ORLEANS 29 September 1803 Sir: Herewith I forward you the answer to the Query respecting the Indian Nations in Louisiana, and by consulting the Map already forwarded you, their Position will be easily perceived. I am collecting further information respecting the Nations in the Provinces bordering on & to the West of Louisiana Which you will shortly receive. I now take the Liberty of drawing on you in compliance with the Presidents directions for the Sum of $290 expended for the public account as per Statement inclosed No 1, and can assure you that it cost me considerably upwards of double the Sum to obtain the various details which I have forwarded, but which as I could not make a specific charge for each article, I have often not charged at all. The Sum of $150 as charged in the account was paid to obtain permission of various possessors of manuscript Surveys to copy the, and to the Clerks in the Offices for permission to consult the Maps in the Archives for the purpose of forming a more correct one than has hitherto appeared, which is now in great forwardness, and when executed will be sent to you. The sum of $100 was a gratuity to the Clerks of the Customhouse for collecting & classing the articles of importation & exportation for three successive Years, which it is not usual to do here in the form in which I obtained it, and was consequently a wok of time & labor, which I should have translated and forwarded you as I did the first, had I not been prevented by Sickness, the 40$ making the remainder of this account were paid to the Clerks of the Public Offices for their assistance in taking copies of the accounts of Expenditures &c &c which I have already forwarded you, and I enter into these explanations as the nature of the case would not admit of asking for receipts to serve as Vouchers for my account which I flatter myself you will approve of, and direct my draft on you for the amount to be duly honored. I have further drawn a separate draft on you for $111 62/100 pr acct No 2 for supplies furnished to a detachment of the Troops of the U.S. at the request of the Officer who commanded the, and to a Courier for carrying a Packet to General Wilkinson on the Service mentioned in my Letter of the 1st of June, 72 and should it not be in the regular way to have drawn on you for these Sums I take the Liberty of requesting you will direct the proper Officer to discharge their amount. I now inclose you a sketch {*73} of the Neighborhood of New Orleans including the major part of the Sugar Plantations & Saw mills, remarking for your Government, that the first Row of Trees parallel with the River includes all or nearly all the Land now under cultivation, and from it you will judge of the Portion that remains waste in the Island of Orleans and opposite Bank of the Mississippi what is called Prairie is a reedy marsh almost impassable by man or Beast in is present State, but which with Care and attention might be turned to account if our Population were greater, or Lands scarcer or dearer than they are now. I find on enquiry that no Treaties have ever been entered into by Spain with the Indian Nations to the West of the Mississippi, and they too on those concluded with the Creeks, chactaws &c as abrogated since the Treaty of San Lorenzo with the U.S., which will free us from any trouble with respect to the Stipulations contained in the Sixth article of the late Treaty between us & the French government. It has not, nor will it be possible to prepare the Indians for the Change about to take place, otherwise than by sending Agents among them who understand their Languages, as they rarely come to Orleans, and the Jealousy of the Spanish Officers who flatter themselves with the hope of retaining the Western Bank, of the Mississippi would be an insuperable obstacle & prove too dangerous a measure for those who might be concerned in it, to attempt to put it in Practice at the present Moment. Some Presents will be necessary to keep them in Peace and well disposed towards us; and though the Sums destined for this purpose will not indubitably equal those applied by Spain to that Service, yet being more economically expended & more faithfully applied to the use intended will produce a more favorable effect than has ever been experienced by the Government of the country. I have the Honor to remain with respect Sir Your most obedient & most humble Servant DANIEL CLARK THE HONBLE JAMES MADISON [Endorsed] Daniel Clark 29 Septr 1803 recd 8 Novr [Enclosure] An Account of the Indian Tribes in Louisiana Indians (*74) The Indian Nations within the Limits of Louisiana are [as well as I can learn] (*75) as far as known as follows & Consist of the numbers hereafter Specified.-- On the Eastern Bank of the Mississippi about 25 leagues above Orleans the remains of the Nation of Houmas or red men which do not exceed 60 persons-- there are no other Indians settled on this side of the River either in Louisiana, or West Florida tho' they are at times frequented by parties of wandering Chactaws-- On the west side of the Mississippi are the remains of the Tounicas settled near & above pointe Coupee on the River consisting of 50 or 60 persons-- In the Atacapas On the lower parts of the Bayou Teche at about 11 or 12 leagues from the sea are two villages of Chitimachas at about 100 souls. The Atacapas properly so called dispersed throughout the district and chiefly on the Bayou or Creek of Vermillion about 100 Souls-- Wanderers of the tribes of Bilexis & [Chactos] Choctaws on Bayou Crocodile which empties into the Teche, about 50 Souls-- In the Opelousas to the N.W. of Atacapas. Two villages of Alibamas in the Centre of the District near the Church Consisting of 100 Persons-- Conchates dispersed through the Country as far West as the River Sabinas and its neighborhood about 350 persons-- On the River Rouge At Avoyelles 19 Leagues from the Mississippi is a village of the Biloxi nation and another on the Lake of the Avoyelles, the whole about 60 souls At the Rapide 26 leagues from the Mississippi is a Village of Chactos of 100 Souls and another of biloxes about 2 leagues from it of about 100 more; About 8 or 9 leagues higher up the Red River is a Village of about 50 souls' all these are occasionally employed by the settlers in their neighborhood as Boatmen;-- About 80 Leagues above the Natchtoches on the red River is the nation of the Cadoquias, called by abbreviation Cados, they can raise from 3 to 400 Warriors, are the friends of the whites and are esteemed the bravest & most Generous of all the Nations in this Vast Country, they are rapidly decreasing , owing to intemperance and the numbers annually destroyed by the Osages & Chactaws-- There are besides the foregoing at least 4 to 500 families of Chactaws who are dispersed on the West side of the Mississippi, on the Quacheta & red Rivers, as far West as Natchitoches, and the whole nation would have emigrated Across the Mississippi had it not been for the Opposition of the Spaniards and the Indians on that side who had suffered by their aggressions-- Between the Red River & the Arkanzas there are but a few Indians the remains of Tribes almost extinct--On this last river is the nation of the same name Consisting of about 260 Warriors they are brave yet peaceable & well disposed and have always been Attached to the French & espoused their Cuase in their Wars with the Chicasaws whom they have always resisted with success. They live in three Villages, the first is at 18 leagues from the Mississippi on the Arkanzas River, & the others are at 3 & 6 leagues from the first. A scarcity of Game on the Eastern side of the Mississippi has lately induced a number of Cherokees, Chactaws, Chicasaws & to frequent the neighborhood of arkanzas, where game is still in abundance; they have Contracted Marriages with the Arkanzas & seem inclined to make a permanent settlement & incorporate themselves with that Nation--the number is unknown, but is Considerable and is every day encreasing-- On the River St Francis, in the neighborhood of New Madrid, Cape Gerardeau Reviere a la Pomme, & the environs, are settled a number of Vagabonds, emigrants from the Delawares, Shawnese, Miamis, Chicasaws, Cherokees, Piorias and supposed to Consist in all of 500 families, they are at times troublesome to the Boats descending the River, and have even plundered some of them & Committed a few murders--[they were Attracted to this Country by the Spaniards some years ago when their views were hostile to our Country--the whole of these Indians are drunkards] They are attached to liquor, seldom remain long in any place, Many of them speak English, all understand it & there are some who even read & write it-- At St Genevieve in the Settlement among the Whites are about 30 Piorias Kasknskies & Illinois, who seldom hunt for fear of the other Indians, they are the remains of a nation which 50 years ago Could bring into the field 1200 Warriors-- On the Messouri and its waters are many & numerous nations, the best known of which are. The osages situated on the River of same name on the right bank of the Messouri at about 80 leagues from its confluence with it, they Consist of 1000 Warriors who live in two settlements at no great distance from each other-- they are of a gigantic Stature and well proportioned, are enemies of the whites & of all other Indian Nations & Commit depradations from the Illinois to the Arkanzas, the Trade of this nation is [exclusively granted to Mons Auguste Chouteau of St Louis and he had 2000 P Annum allowed him for some years for keeping a small Garrison to protect the trade in their County,] said to be under an exclusive grant they are a Cruel & ferocious race and are hated & feared by all the other Indians--the Confluence of the Osage river [with the Messouri is about 80 leagues from the Mississippi--E 25 *{76} 60 Leagues higher up the Missouri and on the same bank is the River Kanzas and on it the nation of same name, but at about 70 or 80 leagues from its mouth-- it Consists of about 250 Warriors who are as fierce & Cruel as the Osages & often molest & ill-treat those who go to trade among them-- Sixty Leagues above the River Kanzas, and at about 200 from the mouth of the Messouri, still on the right bank, is the Riviere platte or shallow River remarkable for its quick sands and bad navigation, and near its Confluence with the Missori dwells the nation of Octotactos, Commonly called Otos, consisting of about 200 Warriors among whom are 25 or 30 of the nation of the Messouris who took refuge among them about 25 years since-- Forty Leagues up the River Platte you Come to the nation of the Panis composed of about 700 Warriors in 4 neighbouring Villages they hunt but little and are ill provided with Fire Arms, they often make War on the Spaniards in the Neighborhood of Santa Fe from which they are not far distant--At 300 Leagues from the Mississippi & 100 from the River platte on the same bank are situated the Villagees of the Mississippi and the easy Communication by Navigable Rivers to within a small distance of the Messouri, are plentifully supplied with fire arms, and are thus rendered independant of the traders from the Ilinois whom they frequently plunder--they are greater Rogues & Villans that the other nations on this river & full as cruel--] they consisted in 1799 of 500 Warriors, but are said to have been almost cut off last year by the small pox-- At 50 Leagues above the Mahas and on the left bank of the Messouri dwell the Poncas to the number of 250 Warriors possesing in Common with the Mahas the same language ferocity and Vices, their trade has never been of much Value and those engaged in it are exposed to pillage & ill treatment.-- At the Distance of 450 Leagues from the Mississippi, and on the right bank of the Missouri, dwell the Aricaras to the number of 700 Warriors and 60 Leagues above them the Mandane nation consisting of about 700 Warriors likewise, these two last Nations are well disposed to the Whites; but have been the victims of the Sioux or Mandowessies who being themselves well provided with fire Arms have taken advantage of the defenceless Situation of the others & have on all Occasions murdered them without mercy-- No discoveries [have ever been made] have been accurately detailed on the Messouri beyond the Mandane nation, tho' the traders have been informed that many large navigable Rivers discharge their Waters into it far about in and that there are many numerous Nations settled on them-- The Sioux or Mandowessies who frequent the county between the North Bank of the Messoui & Mississippi and [trade on this latter with the English from Michelimacanac] are a great empediment to trade & Navigation, they endeavour to prevent all Communication with the nations dwelling high up the Messouri, to deprive them of Ammunition & arms & thus keep them subservient to themselves; in the Winter they are Chiefly on the Banks of the Messouri and Massacre all who fall into their hands There are a number of nations at a distance from the Banks of the Messouri to the North & South who are but little known in this country. Returning to the Mississippi & ascending it from the Messouri, about 75 leagues above Mouth of the latter, the River Moingona or Riviere de Moine enters the Mississippi on the west side, and on it are situated the Ayoas a nation Originally from the Messouri speaking the language of the Otatactas and Consisted of 200 Warriors before the small pox lately raged among them.-- The Sacs & Renards dwell on the Mississippi about 300 leagues above St Louis and frequently trade with it--they live together and Consisted of 500 Warriors--their chief trade is with Michilimacenac & they have always been peaceable & friendly.--The other nations on the Mississippi higher up are but little known to us The Nations of the Messouri, [are] tho' cruel, treacherous & insolent [only because they know the weakness of the Spaniards and will be easily] may doubtless be kept in order by the [Americans] U.S. if proper regulations are adopted with respect to them [* a respectable Military post kept for some time at St Louis & on the Missouri to shew them that we have it in our power to protect ourselves & injure them if their conduct should call for Punishment] [Endorsed] An account of the Indian Tribes inhabiting Louisiana. Recd in D. Clark's 29 Septr 1803. *72 - NA (SD, Consular Letters, New Orleans), concerning Spanish restrictions on the navigation of the Mississippi. *73 - Not found *74 - This word is in Madison's hand. *75 - All bracketed portions are crossed out in the original. *76 - The significance of this symbol, superimposed upon the above paragraph, is unknown. # # #