Draught of the River Missis[s]ippi from the Balise up to Fort Chartres

Pittman, Philip, active 1760-1770

1770

map

Mississippi River
Fort de Chartres Site (Ill.)

1770-1779

This is the most important description of old and new settlements along the Mississippi River Valley in English in the 18th century by a soldier who volunteered to bring new knowledge to the British command in North America concerning Louisiana, all readers having to the time of publication of this new book depended far too long on out of date sources. Pittman himself had noted that “Louisiana is no longer the same as in the time of Pere Hennepin, and all other authors that I have read on this subject rather abound with Indian stories and talks, than with useful information”. He was in St. Louis two years after its establishment and observed its progress directly. He mapped the region thoroughly for his government as Ross had done, to Fort Chartres.

From: The present state of the European settlements on the Mississippi : with a geographical description of that river illustrated by plans and draughts / by Captain Philip Pittman.

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UMSL MERC RARE F352 .P685 1770

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