[Illustration: CELEBRATION OF OPENING OF THE MUSEUM AT FORT JESUP—1959.] NO MAN’S LAND _A History of El Camino Real by Louis Raphael Nardini_ [Illustration: Publisher Logo] PELICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY NEW ORLEANS—U. S. A. © Copyright 1961 by Louis R. Nardini Printed in the United States of America by the American Printing Co., New Orleans _To Orine Inez_ ACKNOWLEDGMENT In acknowledging the sources of information and the assistance of the many persons I consulted in the preparation of this book, the author wishes to thank the following: The staffs of the Sabine Parish, the Natchitoches Parish and the Northwestern State College Libraries—with especial thanks to Miss Catherine Bridges who so patiently and ably assisted me in gathering data for this writing. Acknowledgment is gratefully and appreciatingly given to those excellent authors and their publishers listed in the bibliography at the back of this book, for it was through their talent and efforts that a whole new experience was opened to me. I must remember too my History Teacher, Mrs. Lucille Roy Caffery, who so thoroughly planted in my mind the desire to read and study History, for it was she who told me, “It is the History and the Present which foretells the Future.” I am likewise grateful to Miss Margie Harrison and Mrs. Mabel Fletcher Harrison who corrected and typed this book and to Mrs. Bernice A. Authur of Many, La., who also assisted in the typing of this manuscript. Louis R. Nardini PREFACE There are two ways to write the history of an area. First, the actual-fact-data way, which gives dates, important events and the names of the leaders. But this does not fully explain the reasons for their occurrence, nor show the effect of mass participation. It omits many of the names of others involved in the incident or incidents, so that a clear picture of all the people involved is lacking. Even while one is reading, he is conscious of a mass effect and realizes that a sort of team is present. He then stops and asks himself, “Who were the others?” The second way is to combine the legends and folklore with the actual fact-data of an area and to use reason and imagination—to seek out the names of others connected with the adventure. Those who went their way, but most important, those who remained to establish, fortify and settle, and by their so doing, give permanence and purpose to the area.