Iberville's Gulf Journals

Introduction: Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville and the Competition for Empire / Tennant S. McWilliams

Contents Acknowledgments ix: Introduction 1 Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville and the Competition for Empire Iberville's Gulf Journals 17 First Voyage to the Mississippi 19 The Journal of the Bodine Second Voyage to the Mississippi 106 The Journal of the Renommee Third Voyage to the Mississippi 157 The Journal of the Renommee Bibliography 180 Index 188 Acknowledgments EZf I am grateful to the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris and to the Library ofCongress for making available to me microfilm copy of historical material necessary in the preparation of this book. Some years ago the American Council of Learned Societies provided funds for me to do nothing but study the French in America during the period 1698 to 1763. Out of the money not spent on travel or on the purchase of documents during that year of study I still had some A.C.L.S. funds; on these I was permitted to draw to pay for microfilm of documents in Paris Archives, among which were the films of the three Gulf Journals which lberville had dictated on the occasions when he returned to France during the years 1699-1702. In addition Birmingham-Southern College gave me several grants of money to provide time for me to study further about the culture of the French on the Gulf Coas~ and in the Lower Mississippi Valley. Rucker Agee, my friend for many years, repeatedly encouraged me in my writing by his enthusiasm about my subject; and I am deeply indebted to him, the donor, and to Ruth Spence, the curator of the Rucker Agee Map Collection housed in the Birmingham Public Library. Richebourg G. McWilliams, Jr., has assisted in my search for maps of the Gulf Coast and has obtained for me valuable information on the history of the Choctawhatchee Bay area. Jay Higginbotham, of Mobile, kindly helped me locate maps. Frances White-Spunner, of the Mobile Public Library, was always helpful and persistent in searching for books I needed. Dr. William Thomas, Professor pf Geology, first mentioned mud lumps to me, which led me to write the proof that there never was a barrier of "petrified trees" blocking the mouth of the Mississippi River. Burk McWilliams, as a geologist, assisted me greatly by drawing maps which clarified certain areas of the Mississippi Delta, and also provided photography and information about mud lumps. Amelia Walston of Birmingham and Janet Bolton of Mobile have been most skillful as typists for me, and have always been kind indeed. Monique Cesari Martin and Mrs. David Vest, being French ladies, guided me through several French passages difficult for them and certainly for me. William Livingston, Circulation Librarian at Spring Hill College, showed great kindness to me. Dr. Howard H. Creed graciously agreed to go by and examine for me the configuration ofthe Old Pass at Destin, Florida. Margaret Hughes, formerly head of the BirminghamSouthern College library, and Viola Harper, Reference Librarian of the University of South Alabama library, have both been important to me in my research. James M. Babcock, one-time chief of the Burton Collection of the Detroit Public Library, made it possible for me to obtain microfilm ofthe Edith Moodie English translation of lberville's Gulf Journals, which I collated with my own English translation . The reference librarians at Florida State University, Tulane University, and the University of Southern Illinois, Edwardsville , most pleasantly gave assistance during my research. Dr. John Francis McDermott, whom many consider the dean of American scholars in Mississippi Valley French culture , has been a good and encouraging friend ever since I began to do research and to write in this field. Dr. Douglas F. Munch photographed several ofthe illustrations appearing in this book, and I appreciate his enthusiastic and capable assistance. Finally, I am very grateful indeed to Tennant S. McWilliams for writing an introduction for "Iberville's Gulf Journals." R.G.M. Avertissement au Lecteur I have tried to avoid destroying the tone of Iberville's dictation. There are a few long and awkward sentences in the French text which I have translated without improvement. Many proper nouns are spelled in several different ways just as they appeared in the manuscripts of the Journals. R. G. M. Introduction c::zJ Pierre LeMoyne d'Iberville and the Competition for Empire TENNANT S. McWILLIAMS Europe...