.SWANTONI INDIAN IIJIP.KS OK T 1 1 K I.OWKK !\I ISSISSI I'j'l VAI.IJ'.V 245 



Miul one lu'^rrn. mikI wiiiiiidcd nil (illic(>r," Iml llicy wri-c sli.irply rci'iilscd liy .Mr. 

 de Lussor. Slu'lls were tlirown nil tliri)Uj,'li 11k> '2'2{\,'' but prodiict'd no grt'iit 

 result, and (he iMioiny WDUndcd (wo uf our soldiors.'' However, on the 24tli, 

 tliey lioislcd .1 white Haj;.'' I'errier at once raised a similar one at tiie head 

 of his treuih, and soon after an Indian was seen aiti)roaching with two calumets 

 in his hand. 



The jieneral sent his interpreter to receive him, and when the envoy came 

 before him. he aslcetl for peace, t>fCerinfr to surrender all the negroes whom they 

 still had in the fort. Perrier replied that he wished the nejiroes, but he also 

 required that the chiefs should come to cimfer with him. The deputy replied 

 that the chiefs would not come, but that if the jj;eneral had anything to com- 

 municate to them, he might advance to the head of the trench, and the head 

 chief would on his side advance to the edge of the fort. Perrier told him to 

 go at all events and get the negroes, and that on his return he would announce 

 his intentions. 



He returned with this reply and in half an hour brought IS negroes and 1 

 negress.' On restoring them to the general, he told them that the Sun would 

 not come out, yet that he asked nothing except to make i)eace; but on condition 

 that (he army should at once retire; that if it adopted this course, he pledged 

 his word that his nation 'would never commit any hostility against the French, 

 and that he was even ready, if desired, to go and restore his village in its old 

 site. The general replied that he would listen to no proposition till the chiefs 

 came to meet him, that he assured them tlieir lives, but that if they did not 

 come to him that very day there should be no quarter for anycme. 



The envoy returned with this message, and after a time canu' back to say that 

 all the warriors with one accord refused to let the Sun come out ; that this 

 excepted, they were disiiosed to do anytliing required. The cannon had just 

 arrived, tlie general replied to this Indian that he held to his first proposition, 

 and ordered him to notify his people that if they allowed a single cannon to 

 be fired he would put all to the sword, without sparing even the women and 

 children. This ni.in soon returned with a Natche named St. Come,^ a son of 

 the woman chief, and who consequently would have §uccee<led the Sun. This 

 Indian, who had at all times been quite familiar with the French, told Mr. 

 Perrier in a very resolute tone, that inasmuch as peace had been concluded he 

 ough( to dismiss his troop.s, that he was very sorry for what his nation had 

 done against us, but that all should be forgotten, especially as the prime mover 

 in all the mischief had been killed in the first siege during the Choctaw attack. 



Perrier expressed his pleasure at seeing him, but insisted absolutely on seeing 

 the head chief also ; that he would no longer be trifled with, and that no 

 Natche must again think of coming to his presence except in company with 

 the Stm, as he would fire on anyone advancing to make new proposals; that he 

 accordingly permittefl him to return to his fort, but that if the head chief did 

 not come forth as soon as he got in, he would reduce the fort to ashes with his 

 bombs. St. Come at once took leave of him, and in half an hour was seen 

 coming forth w'ith the Sun and another called the Flour chief. The last was 



" Gayarre says two officers, " A sergeant and Do Layc, one of the militia officers." — 

 Hist. Louisiana, i, 446. 



^ From one fioldpiece and the mortar. — Il)kl. 



<^ An outpost of the Natchez was captured this day after two assaults. Mining opera- 

 tions were pushed rapidly. — Ibid. 



''Because the French were preparing to storm. — Ibid. 



' Gayarre^ says nineteen and one negress. and adds that sis others were reported 

 to be absent from the fort on a hunting excursion at the time. — Ibid. 



'Referred to in connection with the obsequies of the Tattooed-serpent. This name 

 was evidently adopted into the tril)e from that of (heir second missionary, killed by 

 the Chitimacha. See p. 192. 



