BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY


the morrow, but the order was not executed." On the 23d a battery
of three 4-pounders was planted within 180 fathoms of Fort de la
Valeur.b Afterward the trench was opened 15 yards farther and 2
mantelets placed there and a gun charged with grape. Word was
then sent to the Natchez that unless they surrendered the prisoners
they held the fort would be reduced to powder, and the latter replied
by sending out the wife of the Sieur Desnoyers with their proposals.
She was retained, however, and no answer sent. They immediately
opened fire upon the Natchez fort, but it was returned with such
good effect that the cannoneer and 3 men of the battery were
wounded.' The same day the Choctaw informed their allies that
they desired to withdraw. These disheartening circumstances, added
to the fact that ammunition was beginning to fail, determined the
French to withdraw to the bank of the Mississippi, and an officer
and 2 engineers were sent to select a position. At the same time it
would seem that the Natchez themselves were grown weary of the
war and of being closely immured for such a long period.l While
the cannonade just referred to was still in progress a white flag had
been hung out from Fort de la Farine and after the French had
ceased firing Ette-actal, the Indian, spoken of elsewhere in connec-
tion with the burial of the Tattooed-serpent, came out.e On behalf
of the Natchez he offered to release all the prisoners in their posses-
sion, provided that the French would withdraw to the bank of the
river; otherwise they threatened to burn them to death. Moved by
a desire to save the lives of these latter, as well as by the increas-
ing difficulties of his own position, the doubtful reliability of his
troops, and disquieting rumors of Choctaw treachery and the ap-
proach of English and Chickasaw forces, De Loubois decided to
accept these terms, and on the following day, February 24, the
batteries were dismantled, while on their side the Natchez liberated
the captives, both white and colored, even sending in some of the
latter who would have preferred to remain., Two negroes who
were recognized as having taken part in the attack of the 22d were
bound, and a third, resisting arrest and springing into the river to
escape, was shot." The French losses in this campaign were 15 men
out of 500."
 A few nights after this took place, Charlevoix says the night of
 the 28th to 29th, but he is usually one day later in his dates than the
 a Charlevoix, Hist. Louisiana, vi, 08.
 bThe Claiborne Journal says 80 yards, evidently wrongly.
 SCharlevoix, Hist. Louisiana, vi, 08; Ms. in Claiborne, Hist. Miss., I, 40-47.
 d Charlevoix, Hist. Louisiana, vi, 99; Ms. in Claiborne, Hist. Miss., I, 47.
 SDu Pratz, Hist. de La Louisiane, IIi, 290.
 SIt appears from authorities given above, however, that a few negroes were kept, see
 p. 245; also Gayarre, Iist. Louisiana, 1, 434-435.
 9 Journal in Claiborne, IIist. Miss., I, 47,
 Gayarr6, Hist. Louisiana, i, 432,


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