Debow's Review Article in 1850

This article appeared in DeBow's Review in 1850. It was written at Oak Grove on Bayou Black on Nov. 14, 1849.

TERREBONNE PARISH This parish, as its name indicates, is blessed with a fruitful soil, and embraces in its settlement and cultivation many things that are interesting and attractive. It contains a dense population of Americans and French, though the latter predominate; the former commencing with a settlement made by a few persons in 1828, have increased rapidly, and present in their improvements and character the same features which distinguish them in the older sections of the country. It embraces the latitude of 29o 40'. There is something rather unique in the location of this parish. Here is a large district of country lying south of the Mississippi river from Donaldsonville, the inhabitants principally settled and living on several large bayous, which traverse it, and running into waters connected with the Gulf of Mexico. The cultivatioin of the soil is continued along these bayous to some distance, the plantations being of considerable depth until they reach the tide-water toward the sea, when they become "beautifully less," and the tillable soil is confined to a skirt of a few hundred yards width between the morass in the rear, and the bayou in the front. It is not more than a day's travel from the source of any of these bayous to a point where traveling by land is impossible, and the appearance of the high sea-grass and wet marsh, proclaims the infeasibility of culture. The jurisdiction of this parish extends to several of the islands skirting the Gulf of Mexico, from whence the sea is viewed in its splendor, with its waves perpetually beating against their base. In writing a brief description of this country, we would say something of its appearance. And to do this we would institute a comparison, not an unworthy one, of the parish of Lafourche Interior, which we pass in reaching it from the Mississippi river. In the latter parish we are impressed with the magnificence of wealth which exists; the eye ranges abroad on scenes of cultivated districts where nearly every thing of forest growth is removed, which would prevent the highest tillage. The dwellings are commodious, and in some respects princely, and the inhabitants known for their hospitality and refinement --- but there is the absence of that which gives to the Terrebonne a rural aspect, which is not inconsistent with the highest cultivation. The difference is clearly marked in traveling down the Terrebonne road, and in other highways of the parish, observing the plantations which skirt the route, the groves of orange, and other evergreen shades, which environ the dwellings and dot the plantations, which give an air of calmness and beauty. This has its origin, no doubt, in the newness of the country --- it may have been an accidental arrangement, it certainly is a great relief to the vision, and combines in a high degree the useful and ornamental. Though this parish is of recent settlement, yet the industry of the planter is clearly manifest. Along the several bayous there are many extensive plantations, highly cultivated, neatly arranged, possessing all the traits which manifests the aptitude of the southern planter in the adaptation of his energies to the soil and climate. Though there are many who cultivate the soil, who do not cultivate the sugar-cane (the chief product here), yet with those who have dembarked in this culture, there are many establishments of wealth and renown, whose large estates are beautifully embellished by industry and taste, and who pursue planting as both profitable and pleasurable. To illustrate the character of a people as it relates to agriculture and a desire for domestic comfort, we show their tact and disposition in the practical operation of those measures which tend to produce them. We look at the handsome acres cut deep in furrows to sow the seed of a future crop, or at the rich products of the soil.

We notice the pastures which abound for the good of cattle, the improvements about the dwelling for the comfort of a family, and the "quarters" where reside the strength in the maintenance of his house and the honor of its name. These we find arranged and fixed after proper models coincident with the sound views of an enlightened and beneficial system, and when continued under this government will bring an adequate reward. Though we do not propose to furnish a model for the emulation of others. yet this country certainly merits a description. The hand of the Creator and the industry of man have made it a beautiful country, and the light should not be hid under a bushel. Commencing with the plantation of Col. Winder, on the Terrebonne bayou, the first nearest the parish line, which is a mile and a half from the town of Thibodeaux, on the Lafourche, to some distance below the plantations of Wm. Bisland, deceased, a distance of thirty miles or more, there is a continuous line of plantations and French agricultural villages - fence joins to fence and plantation to plantation. In passing this road, during fine weather, scenes of lively, interest present themselves continually to the eye and mind, either among the Americans or French, all busily performing their allotted duties, and joining in the bustle of life. The houses are neatly built and with respect to comfort; and the orange and oak, and various kinds of evergreen foliage, set off the yards and present an air of comfort and tranquillity to all around. The quarters manifest comfort in their arrangement, and bespeak the kind feelings of the proprietor for his slaves.

The sugar-houses are commodious, and the ground is under that cultivation which is most practicable to yield the richest returns. On the route down the Terrebonne lies the neat village of Houma, the seat of the courts of the parish, and which contains all the requisite buildings, which are of brick, for the administration of justice. The town contains several stores, and is the residence of ten or fifteen families. Here is exhibited to notice an improvement of much importance to this portion of the State, when it shall be fully carried into execution. It is a canal a mile in length, which connects the bayou Black with the Terrebonne.

There is another canal eight miles below Houma, several miles in length, first from the Terrebonne to Lake Long, and then through a skirt of land to Field's Lake, and then to the La Fourche, which presents a convenient way of transportation of produce and of travel from the Terrebonne to Field's Mills. on the La Fourche, where steamboats regularly ply to and from New Orleans. These are fragments of what is called the Attakapas and Barataria Canal, connecting the Attakapas country by Bayou Black, and rendering it a far better outlet for their produce than now exists, and nearer by one-half the distance to New Orleans.

This no doubt would have been soon completed under the administration of our late engineer, had not death so soon deprived us of his useful services. It will, no doubt, when completed, confer a great benefit on this country, and to Attakapas particularly, which suffers much inconvenience, during the summer and fall months, for lack of navigation in its streams.

From the Terrebonne bayou we will pass to the Grand Calliou bayou, and dilate a few moments on its merits and character. This bayou is much shorter than the other bayous of the parish we reach tide water soon and it is the only bayou of any importance not remotely affected by the Mississippi water, and may be considered, on this account, rather as a prong of the sea. On the first plantations of the Calliou it is but a dry bayou in some seasons of the year, serving, however, the very useful purpose of a drain to carry off the rains which fall in the vicinity; further down it assumes the appearance of a large bayou. It is much under the influence of the tides, and on this account is destitute of the matted grass-vine which is disagreeable and inconvenient in other bayous. If admissible, we would enter into some minutia in a description of a few plantations on this route. "Woodlawn" does not belie its name. From the first glance we have of it in the beautiful lawn gently sloping to the bayou, on both sides, the soil carpeted with suitable grass for purposes of pasturage, interspersed with shade trees, presents a rich appearance. The pasture grounds extend the whole length of the plantation, two miles long and several hundred yards wide, embracing quite 200 acres in all, exhibiting a front view from the dwellings, though there is a large body of land beyond, used for farming purposes. There are in this plantation 1,500 acres under fence, 800 in cane. It is in depth more than a mile. There are near 100 miles of ditching on this place. It combines all the qualities of a Tennessee farm in relation to raising stock of all kinds, and pastures, with every quality which characterizes a sugar-planting interest There are 300 slaves on this plantation. 

The quarters are very comfortable houses, supplied with every necessary of life, arranged in proper method, and several rows of shade trees run continuously between these two rows of buildings, presenting in a high degree an aspect of comfort.

Dulac, situated at or near the mouth of the Calliou, the last plantation on this route to the sea coast, commands the admiration of all. The land being narrow, on account of its proximity to the marsh, the plantation is proportionably long, seven or eight miles. Several bayous lie contiguous, and the tide water passes through the ditches, but does not interfere with cultivation. Very beautiful scenery is spread out before the eye here. A lake and sea marsh in one direction, which extends nearly to the limit of vision. Large live oaks line the shore of the bayou, a shell road running along it: the rural residence of the hospitable and intelligent proprietor; the garden of tropical evergreens and fruits; the quarter romantically situated near the bayou; the bridge which spans the bayou - these views, connected with the influence of the sea air, which comes fresh from the Gulf, makes one feel, indeed, " There is not in this wide world a valley so sweet."

We will next speak of an important section of country bordering Bayou Black. This bayou has its origin near Thibodeaux, Lafourche, and its general bearing is toward the Attakapas country. It contains more tillable land than any other in the parish, and the lands are considered of unsurpassed fertility. They have been of later settlement and have the advantage of being new. Though a great portion of this bayou a few years past was new, and the wild deer, and bear, and some say buffalo, prowled unmolested among its solitudes, yet, as if by magic, the wilderness has become transformed and the bayou become thickly inhabited, and the refinements and blessing of society become established along its banks. We notice large plantations, fine dwellings,with the yards and gardens arranged with taste and comeliness. There is heard the sound of the steamboat bell announcing an arrival from New Orleans. and we see schooners loading with the sweets of the sugarcane for a distant city. There are many plantations on this route which would vie in improvements and appearance with the older sections of this country. We would mention a few of the many that are on this bayou, viz., W. J. Minor. Tobias Gibson's plantations. Dr. Knight, Judge Baker. and W. Robertson, of Virginia.

What impresses one as novel and interesting, is the rapidity with which improvements have been made, and which is more clearly observable on the lower portion of the bayou: the transition from dense forests and dreary solitudes to large cultivated fields. and rich pastures, and improvements. which display taste and energy and wealth, have been so sudden and vet so substantial. We notice one which derives its name from a solitary and venerable "live oak," fronting the handsome dwelling, and which produces a sage contrast in its towering and brawny limbs to the various neat evergreen hedges and orange trees land bananas, which decorate the yard, and are not far from its vicinity. This is a new place. in cultivation five years, and yet, such is the congeniality of the climate, that taste and fondness for ornamental improvement and horticulture, abundantly repays the devotee. There are in this tract 2000 arpents, 400 in cultivation, with the area rapidly extending. There are near 75 slaves who make 350 hogsheads of sugar. The quarter is situated a short distance from the road of the bayou, near a shady grove. As is usual, a cook house forms one of the buildings in the quarter, where abundant and well prepared food is supplied to the blacks. The sugar house is a large and beautiful building, with all the modern improvements of railroads, etc., for expediting the work of sugar making. The saw-mill, a very necessary appendage to a large plantation, lies far in the back ground, to make it convenient. to the cypress swamp to which it lies contiguous. This place is the property of Tobias Gibson. Esq.

The nearest land route from Attakapas to New Orleans, is by this bayou, and is often traveled. Drovers, with herds of cattle from the prairies, frequent this route. The outlet of this bayou, for navigation purposes, is toward the Attakapas; but should the canal, of which we have spoken, be completed, then there will be a nearer and safer route. There are many planters on these various bayous who are the owners of smaller estates than those we have mentioned, and they are numerous, and add to society the benefit of intelligence with pleasant intercourse. Great improvements are in progress in the parish with respect to schools and churches, and the advancing state of learning and morality will insure to both success with those who wish well for the character and prosperity of the country. There are a large brick school house in Houma, a Catholic church, and a Methodist church newly built. There is likewise another Protestant church, belonging to the methodists on Bayou Black, and recently completed. The slaves are not debarred from a participation in religious duties. It is considered by some their duty to have their slaves taught religious duties, by a competent instructor, on their own plantations. The example set by such men as Thomas Pugh, Dr. Kitteridge, W. Pew, Thomas Bibb, and George S. Guion, in the parish of Lafourche, Int., and K.H. Cage, Dr. Danks, and Tobias Gibson, in this parish, practical men, who see its benefits cannot be gainsaid. By a proper inculcation of moral and religious duties, the slave is a better servant, and it has a bearing upon an immortal destiny.