Chickasaw Indian Village

"Along the Natchez Trace Parkway, within the city limits of Tupelo, Mississippi is an exhibit shelter that tells of Chickasaw Village life in the early 1700s. There are foundations there that show the size and shape of both summer and winter homes and of a fort the group would use in times of danger.

"One threat to the Chickasaw came from the French following the Natchez Indian's massacre of French troops at Fort Rosalie in 1729 and the subsequent annihilation of the Natchez Tribe by the French. A few Natchez Indians took refuge with their friends the Chickasaws.  

"Ackia was a fortified Chickasaw Indian village, located within the city limits of present day Tupelo, Mississippi. Bienville had returned from France and he decided to annihilate the Chickasaws because they sheltered the escaped Natchez Indians and because the Chickasaw were allies with the British and constantly threatening communications between French colonies in Louisiana and those in Canada. Bienville lead a French and Choctaw army up from Mobile while d'Artaguette brought an army down from the north. D'Artaguette got to the Chickasaws first, and the Chickasaws killed him. Then along came Bienville. Though Bienville survived, the Chickasaws forced him and his troops back to Mobile.

"Join us next time and look at more of the battle. For Natchez Trace a road through the wilderness, I'm Frank Thomas."

For more about Natchez Trace: A Road Through the Wilderness, visit eddieandfrank.com