The Western Country in the 17th Century

Book excerpt: This book, which was first published in 1947, comprises the memoirs of Antoine Lamothe Cadillac and Pierre Liette, two French officers who, during the late 1600’s and early 1700’s, lived peaceably with the Indians in the valley of the Mississippi from the Ohio River to north of Lake Superior. Antoine Laumet de la Mothe, sieur de Cadillac (1658-1730) rose from a modest beginning in Acadia in 1683 as an explorer, trapper, and a trader of alcohol and furs. He achieved various positions of political importance in the colony. He was the commander of Fort de Buade, modern-day St. Ignace, Michigan, in 1694. On July 24, 1701, Antoine de La Mothe-Cadillac, helped by Alphonse de Tonti, founded Fort Pontchartrain and the parish of Sainte-Anne on the straits (“le détroit” in French), which would become the future city of Detroit. In 1702, Cadillac requested the monopoly of all fur-trading activities and the transfer to his authority of the Amerindian tribes in the area of the straits. He became a shareholder in the “Company of the Colony.” After return to the straits, he helped in welcoming and settling the native tribes formerly installed at Michillimakinac. Pierre-Charles de Liette (c.1672-1729) was an Italian who moved to French North America and enrolled there as French soldier. Born PierCarlo Di Lietto, he served as aide to Henri de Tonti, as commandant at Fort Saint-Louis and Chécagou, and as a captain in the colonial regular troops from 1687-1729. From 1702-1711 De Liette remained the only representative of the French government among the Indians in the Illinois area, mainly because of his knowledge of their language. He was in charge of mediation between the Miami and Illinois tribes and was successful even with countering the English trade ventures in the area. De Liette fought bravely against the Fox tribe and in 1725 was named Commandant of the “Illinois country” while in charge of the Fort de Chartres.