Natchez Fort

Natchez Fort (1770-1771) - A French Colonial period Natchez Indian fort established in 1770 near the present-day town of Sicily Island, in Catahoula Parish, Louisiana. Named Natchez Fort after the Natchez Tribe. Captured and destroyed by the French in early 1771. Also known as Fort Des Natchi. Battleground Plantation House in 2020. History Natchez Fort was the site of the last major battle between the Natchez Indians and the French in January 1731. The preluded to the battle started with an escalating series of events and the deaths of two of the Natchez leaders of the ruling class, the Tattooed Serpent in 1725 and Little Sun Chief. Both of these rulers were stalwart allies of the French and their deaths allowed British influence to create anti-French feelings. When the French demanded the Natchez abandon a complete village in November 1729 so they could create a French tobacco plantation the Natchez rose up and massacred the garrison of nearby Fort Rosalie killing some 229 French men, women, and children and capturing a number of French women, children and a number of African slaves Fearing French retaliation for the massacre, the Natchez built two European-style palisaded forts at their Grand Village near the destroyed Fort Rosalie. In these forts, they mounted cannon taken from Fort Rosalie. The French and their Choctaw allies took their time in approaching the Natchez forts because of the cannon fire, The Choctaw began to negotiate separately with the Natchez and they struck a deal whereby the Natchez surrendered all the French captives including the slaves, and shared the plunder from Fort Rosalie. In return, the Natchez were permitted to slip away on the night of 25-26 Feb 1730. Natchez Indian Fort Plan (extract) after the Arrival of the French in January 1731. The Natchez Fort is in the lower center while the French Siege Compound is on the left. Map Legend * A - Natchez Fort * B - Fortified Cabins * C - French Headquarters * D - French Canon & Mortar Battery * E - Forward Positions * F - Baron's Trench * G - Positions of Indian Allies * H - Crenay's Quarters * I - Outpost * K - Deverges Trench * L - Settler's Position * M - Outpost The Natchez traveled to the site of their Natchez Fort (about 35 road miles today) and from there conducted guerrilla warfare against the French and their Indian allies during the rest of 1730. French army reinforcements arrived in New Orleans on 16 Sep 1730 and the French Governor of Louisiana, Entienne Perrier, organized a retaliatory expedition against the Natchez that departed New Orleans on 7 Dec 1730. The expedition reached the Natchez Fort on 20 Jan 1731 and established a siege compound southwest of the fort. A siege battery with cannons and wooden mortars to lob grenades into the fort was put in place and the siege began on 21 Jan 1731. The wooden mortars were effective but fragile and several broke their bands. The French attacked with musketry, grenades, and artillery fire. They began constructing a trench toward the fort and in the process took over an outer redoubt that was enfilading their works and connected it to the trench head. The battle lasted from the 21st to the 25th of January. On the 25th, 45 men and 450 women and children surrendered along with the wife of the Great Chief and her family. On the 26th and 27th, the expedition worked to demolish the fort and burn the remains. An unknown number of Natchez escaped during the battle primarily under the cover of heavy rainstorms that lasted for three days. Some suggest that the number could have been in the hundreds. The captives were all sent to the same prison in New Orleans where many died. The remainder were sold into slavery in St. Domingo. Current Status Natchez Fort Site Archeological Site 16CT18. {"selectable":false,"height":"-500","width":"-500"} Location: Near 769 Ditto and Gamble Road, about 3.2 miles north of the town of Sicily Island. Maps & Images Lat: 31.89586 Long: -91.64034 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: 72' GPS Locations: 31.89586, -91.64034 Fort site coordinates 31.89766, -91.64096 GNIS Coordinates See Also: Fort Rosalie Fort Valeur Fort Farine Sources: Jones, Dennis, Editor's Introduction, Louisiana Archaeology: Bulletin of the Louisiana Archaeological Society (LAS), No 41, 2014, New Orleans, pages 1-16. Green, John A., Facsimile Reprint of (Governor Perier's Expedition Against the Natchez Indian by John A. Green, the Louisiana Historic Quarterly Vol. 19, No. 3, July 1937) Louisiana Archaeology: Bulletin of the Louisiana Archaeological Society (LAS), No 41, 2014, New Orleans, pages 17-64. USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) Database Entry: 551563 Links: Wikipedia - Natchez Revolt Visited: 3,5 Nov 2020