Wikimedia Commons/William S. Soule
Joutel’s Desperate Trek Through Caddo Territory After La Salle’s Murder
When La Salle was killed by his own men in Texas in 1687, Henri Joutel faced a grim task. He led six loyal survivors northeast through unknown lands, crossing into what’s now Arkansas on June 30.
For weeks, they trekked across Caddo territory, meeting tribes who showed them how to hunt bison and shared sacred pipe rituals.
Joutel kept detailed notes of rivers, landmarks, and Caddo customs as they pushed toward safety…