Historical Collections Of Louisiana

Excerpt from book: ears of the commandant, he made them draw lots to settle it. In fact, had there arrived at the time as many girls as there were soldiers and workmen on the island, not one would have remained without a husband. CHAPTER VI. SECOND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COLONY AT OLD BILOXI. After this vessel, loaded with young women, there arrived several others, among the rest one called "The Two Brothers," commanded by the Sieur Feret. All brought troops and mechanics, so that Dauphin Island soon became too small to hold all that were sent there. This induced the commandant, who had been very long in the province, and knew better than any other the most suitable places, to select a wider and more spacious ground to form a new settlement. This new post was a bluff or little mountain on the main land, at a place to which the name Old Biloxi was given, because it had formerly been a village of Indians who bore that name. To go and prepare at this place suitable and necessary dwellings for the colony to be transported there, the commandant selected the Sieur de Valdeterre, to whom he gave his orders. He sent with him some workmen and a company of stout German soldiers. They embarked on the vessel " Two Brothers," with the provisions, tools and utensils necessary to form that establishment. They had only thirty- eight leagues to go by sea to reach Ship Island, but on theway the vessel touched, and was on the point of being lost, so that to save her they had to throw overboard all her cannon. After much trouble and loss they got off, and went and anchored inside of Ship Island, a good league and a half from the shore, not being able to get any nearer for the sandbanks, which run very far out, and over which there is only water enough for common boats. As soon as she had anchored, they let do...