Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1803-1840 - by Kathleen M Byrd (Paperback)

About the Book

"Kathleen Byrd's study chronicles the development of Natchitoches, Louisiana, from 1803 to 1840. During this period, Louisiana became part of the United States, transforming Natchitoches from a small, insignificant, predominately French settlement of farmers and Indian traders into a vital frontier town and federal outpost. Later, after the federal government reduced its presence, the town became an important jumping-off point for settlers heading west. Not long after the Louisiana Purchase, the United States sought to establish its dominance on the border with Imperial Spain, resulting in the creation of three governmental institutions in Natchitoches: Fort Claiborne to provide a military presence on the frontier to protect American territory from the menacing Spanish just to the west; an Indian Agency to handle government interactions with regional tribes; and a trading post to create economic ties with the Indians. This heavy governmental presence and its associated activities characterized Natchitoches until the early 1820s when the United States removed these entities. Afterward, Natchitoches became an important regional trading center and a supply depot for settlers heading west into Texas. Natchitoches continued to prosper until the formation of a sand bar north of the town began to divert the flow of the Red River into a channel away from the settlement. Later, the removal of the Great Raft, which had impeded river transportation north of Natchitoches, opened the area upriver from Natchitoches to settlement, further weakening the town's importance. While examining Natchitoches's various transformations, Byrd analyzes the confrontation between the Spanish and Americans on the frontier. She also explores the interactions of American settlers with the various Native American tribes in the region, using observations by the Indian agent John Sibley as a key source. Other primary sources include governmental reports, travel accounts, diaries, memoirs, newspapers, and personal letters. Written with general readers in mind, Byrd's account of early Natchitoches synthesizes its intriguing history, making its story available to a broader audience"--

Book Synopsis

Kathleen M. Byrd's Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1803-1840 is an examination of one French Creole community as it transitioned from a fur-trading and agricultural settlement under the control of Spain to a critical American outpost on the Spanish/American frontier and finally to a commercial hub and jumping-off point for those heading west. Byrd focuses on historic events in the area and the long-term French Creole residents as they adapted to the American presence. She also examines the effect of the arrival of the Americans, with their Indian trading house and Indian agency, on Native groups and considers how members of the enslaved population took advantage of opportunities for escape presented by a new international border. Byrd shows how the arrival of Americans forever changed Natchitoches, transforming it from a sleepy frontier settlement into a regional commercial center and staging point for pioneers heading into Texas.

Review Quotes

"Byrd reminds readers that the dynamic story of Louisiana extends into the state's northwestern regions. . . . The book includes a lively narrative with abundant images and maps, making it a good selection for all readership levels. Recommended."--CHOICE

"A much-needed narrative of Natchitoches and its surroundings in the immediate decades after the Louisiana Purchase. Byrd deftly shows this was no insignificant outpost, but one at the complex crossroads of political, national, economic, and cultural identities, alliances, and whims--with the future of the area, Louisiana, and United States up for grabs."--Kent W. Peacock, director, Creole Heritage Center, Northwestern State University of Louisiana

"A unique synthesis, both social and material, drawing on a wide range of hard-to-find primary data. This new regional narrative will be indispensable to all those who research Louisiana's historic past."--Kevin C. MacDonald, director, Institute of Archaeology, University College London

"In 1803, the Natchitoches region abruptly became part of the rapidly expanding Anglo-American world. The period that followed saw immense cultural change, and the Latin-dominated town of Natchitoches became an American border town. This period saw changes in the diverse cultures of the Red River region, including expansion into Texas, and reflects the complex nature of frontier history. Byrd has captured this complexity and leaves us with a broader perspective of American culture."--Hiram F. "Pete" Gregory, professor of anthropology at Northwestern State University of Louisiana

About the Author

Until her retirement, Kathleen M. Byrd was the director of the School of Social Sciences at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches. She has also served as the state archaeologist for Louisiana.