Celebration of the Opening of the Museum at Fort Jesup,
1959 Frontispiece
Map Showing Locations of Members of Caddo Indian Federation XV
Map of El Camino Real from Mexico City to Natchitoches XVI
Hinta-sak—a Caddo house 8
Hinta-sak—top view showing construction 9
Plan of Fort at Natchitoches, 1733 17
Plan of La Presidio Nuestra Senora de los Delores, 1716 19
Mission of San Miguel De Cuellar De Los Adais, 1717 21
Map Showing Location of Mission and Presidio of San Miguel De
Cuellar De Los Adais 22
Plan of Presidio De San Antonio De Bexar 24
Plan of Fort Del Pilar De Los Adais 26
La Presidio Nuestra De Senora Del Pilar De Los Adais 28
Map of Natchitoches by Breutin, 1722 30
Map Showing Neutral Strip 87
Map of Fort Jesup Defense Area 102
Map of the Buildings of Fort Jesup 107
Map of Area Around Camp Sabine, 1836 113
Old Ambroise Sompayrac House at Natchitoches 124
WRAP AROUND
Opposite Page
Fort St. Jean Des Natchitoches 116
Old Kitchen at Fort Jesup 117
Officers’ Quarters at Fort Jesup—Reproduction 132
Original Plans of Fort Jesup 133
Officers’ Quarters—Another view 133
[Illustration: LOCATIONS OF THE CADDO FEDERATION OF INDIANS.]
[Illustration: EL CAMINO REAL—NATCHITOCHES TO MEXICO CITY]
1. Mission San Maria de Los Delores 1698.
2. Mission San Francisco Solano 1700.
3. Presidio San Juan Bautustia _near_ 1685.
4. Mission San Bernardo 1690.
5. Mission San Jose 1722.
6. Mission San Exavier Naxere 1722.
7. Presidio San Antonio de Bexer 1722.
8. Mission Yo Juan 1709.
9. Mission de Bucareli 1714.
10. Mission San Francisco 1690.
11. Mission San Maria 1690.
12. Mission San Francisco 1690.
12.a. Mission Guadlupe 1716.
13. Presidio de Los Texas 1716.
14. Mission Conception 1716.
15. Mission San Jose 1716.
16. Mission de Los Delores 1717.
17. Mission de San Miguel Cuellar de Los Adais 1717.
18. Presidio Neustra del Pilar de Los Adais 1721.
19. Post St. Jean Baptiste des Natchitoches 1714.
I
EL CAMINO REAL
Each fall of the year the buffalo came out of the Great Plains through
Oklahoma and into Texas. At the Trinity River in Texas many of these
herds turned eastward to cross the Sabine River into Louisiana, to
travel ever eastward and to cross the Red River in the Natchitoches
area. The buffalo, being a heavy beast, left a well-marked trail from
the Trinity River to the Red River in the Natchitoches area. The buffalo
trail now became part of the Caddo Indian Trail system. And later it
became El Camino Real.
In Spanish, the words “El Camino Real” mean “The King’s Road.” That is
the exact translation of these words. In Spain, even before the time of
the discovery of America, there were several roads or highways listed as
El Camino Real. All roads leading to the city in which the King of Spain
resided were known as El Camino Real. Actually, the meaning to the
Spanish people of the words “El Camino Real” meant _The Road to the
King_, hence El Camino Real, _The King’s Road_. So here in America when
Mexico was conquered and settled by the Spaniards and Mexico City came
into being, expeditions were sent out to conquer this new land for the
King of Spain. In all directions from Mexico City, Ranchos, Missions and
Presidios were established and all roads leading from these
establishments back to Mexico City—to the Viceroy, who was the direct
representative of the King—were called El Camino Real because these
roads led to the Viceroy who was actually the King and Ruler of this New
Country.
This El Camino Real, which we in Louisiana and Texas are interested in,
began in Mexico City and ended at the “Old Darkey” Statue, at the North
end of Front Street in the City of Natchitoches, Louisiana. Some say
that El Camino Real begins in San Antonio, Texas, and ends in
Natchitoches, Louisiana. I believe this is wrong because the very name
of the Road, “El Camino Real, the Road to the King,” bears out my
theory. I will explain: if one left Natchitoches (I speak of the time
when Louisiana was under Spanish domination) and wished to go to the
King by El Camino Real, or to the one who directly represented the King
in this new country, he would have had to travel to Mexico City and
there tell his troubles to the Viceroy, the direct representative of the
King of Spain. This would have been between the years 1762 when France
gave Louisiana to Spain, and ten years later when Los Adais was
abandoned and the site of government moved to Natchitoches, thus filling
in the last gap on the Road now known as El Camino Real, (the section of
road from Los Adais near Robeline, Louisiana to Natchitoches). Until the
year 1762 Los Adais was the site of Government of the “Tejas,” or “Texas
Country.” This area extended from the Presidio Del Norte, as the French
called this Spanish Outpost on the Rio Grande River, or El Presidio San
Juan Bautista, as it was known to the Spanish. Now, let us pick up the
traveler again who had business with the King, past Los Adais,
Nacogdoches, San Antonio, the Presidio Del Norte, Saltillo and Queretaro
and then to Mexico City and the Viceroy, whose word was final on all
matters concerning the Government and the people, and, of course, that
covered everything.