The La Salle Expedition (1685-1687)
Debbie Marez
Texas A&M San Antonio

In 1682 La Salle and his crew set sail with the intentions of discovering unfounded territory and claiming said land for France. Immediately after setting sail La Salle’s excursion befell a number of hardships to include: his four ship fleet had to turn back for repairs, “later, a hurricane scattered the fleet and a Spanish pirate ship captured the fleet’s smallest ship” (52). Adversity also hit when he was left with fewer than 400 men, women, and children after desertions occurred after making port to reprovision in Saint-Domingue. Overall, it may appear that La Salle was ill prepared for such a voyage given that from the start the expedition was plagued by misfortune, including dissension among the leaders, loss of the ketch Saint François to Spanish privateers, defections, and, finally, La Salle's failure to find the Mississippi. It seems that La Salle lacked the leadership qualities needed to have a successful expedition attributable to his faults of character and his lack of experience.
La Salle and his men experienced Countless hardships during the expedition nothing seemed to work in his favor. “When the French naval commander decided to take his ship home, a significant number of expedition members chose to abandon the venture, including the sole engineer in the company” (52). Vessels were lost by piracy and shipwreck, while sickness took a heavy toll of the colonists. Finally, a gross miscalculation brought the ships to Matagorda Bay in Texas, 500 miles west of their intended landfall. According to the text there were many misfortunes that befell the expedition, it seems that La Salle’s expedition was doomed from the start. I believe that if La Salle knew more about the land and was better equipped to shape a colony things may have worked for him. For instance the first settlement turned out to be unhealthy and exposed to attack. When La Salle thought he discovered a better location a number of the weaker members died during the first few months. Also the company was ill equipped to farm under such conditions, and the first crops were lost. Furthermore the Karankawas, who were considered hostile by La Salle kept the settlement under siege.
De La Teja states that La Salle was “arrogant and abusive toward his men, he forced them to carry their own supplies so that the few horses acquired from the Indians could transport his and his brother’s trade goods and personal possessions” (54). By January 1687, the original 400 had been reduced to a mere 40, including some women and children, and under constant attack by the Karankawas. On March 19th 1687, La Salle was ambushed and killed by his own men. One can assume that he was murdered by his own men for not being the explorer and leader they thought he was. He was reckless, self-serving, and temperamental which eventually caused his demise.
Spain learned of La Salle's mission in 1686. Concerned that the French colony could threaten Spain's control over