Home of Denis-Nicholas Foucault, Vieux Carré, Nouvelle-Orléans, Lousiane
June 26, 1769
It says something substantially important about what Louisiana was becoming that the three, extremely different men(1) gathered within this simple, but airy parlor were in fact half of the Supreme Council of Louisiana, rulers, such as they were, of the sprawling colony which for the moment was in the process of becoming much more. For now, however, the mood that hung around these men like a fog was black and depressed. Foucault spoke first. "The Spanish are coming--no matter what they say, they will not spare us, I know this. We three and the others have led a rebellion, a revolution, against the Spanish crown. This is treason. We will hang for our crimes."
The leader of the militia that had forced the governor from the city, Pierre Marquis, looked at Foucault bitterly. "Then what do you suggest we do? Surrender? Invite O'Reilly to dinner(2)? No." Marquis, a tall, well-built man, stood, towering over the other five. The shadows cast by the candle flames danced over his face, making something blunt and bony soft and mysterious, filled like the bayou with the vast unknown. He spoke again, his voice, like the shadows, dancing into the hearts and minds of his fellow councilmen. "No. We know these marshes, these bayous, as well as the Indians. We will move into the marshes these nights, and find the Spanish, and kill them. No longer will our lives and our land be subject to the whims of crowned heads an ocean away!" His voice had risen to a roar, and now dropped to a whisper. "Will you fight with me?" He stared at the others, suddenly fearful that they would not. But, the others stood, each nodding their assent.
The Free State of Louisiana was founded on this day in a shabby house along the Vieux Carré(3).
Notes
(1) To wit: Denis-Nicholas Foucault, High Commissioner of Louisiana; Nicolas Chauvin de Lafreniere, Attorney General of same; Pierre Marquis, leader of the rebel militia; and the three missing members, Joseph Milhet, Joseph Villere, and Balthasar Masan, all wealthy merchants and all of whom had gone to three of the four corners of the world to seek help.
(2) Which, funnily enough, they did OTL. This is our first PoD: Pierre Marquis is more realistic than IOTL, knowing that they have to fight if they want to live.
(3) And we're off! As I said, this is only our first PoD. You'll see what I mean next time!
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Do comment and criticize. I know it's not much, but hopefully it's a good taste of what's to come!