Note 51 — Chapter I

The commanders of the post in the early days of the colony have been generally spoken of as governors. Gayarré (i. 162) says, “The government of Louisiana was for the second time definitely awarded to Bienville.” He was, as we have seen, lieutenant du roy. As such he was at the head of the colony for many years, and he still held this title when he was by letter ordered to assume command after La Mothe left and until L’Epinay should arrive (Margry, v. 591). In 1716 he was “commandant of the Mississippi River and its tributaries” (Journal historique, etc., pp. 123, 141). His power as commandant-général was apparently for a time shared with his brother Sérigny. In a despatch dated Oct. 20, 1719, quoted by Gayarré, he says, “Mon frère Sérigny, chargé comme moi du commandement de cette colonie.” M. de Vallette Laudun, in the Journal d’un voyage (Paris, 1768), on the 1st of July, 1720, says, M. de Bienville “commands in chief all the country since the departure of his brother, Monsieur de Sérigny.” In 1722 Bienville applied for the “general government” (Margry, v. 634).