Yazoo Tribe
The Yazoo were a tribe of the Native American Tunica people historically located on the lower course of Yazoo River, Mississippi. It was closely connected to other Tunica peoples, especially the Tunica, Koroa, and possibly the Tioux.
Nothing is definitely known concerning their language, believed to be related to Tunica, a language isolate. In 1699 Father Antone Davion, of the Quebec Seminary of Foreign Missions, established a mission among the Tunica. He also reached out to allied tribes, such as the Taensa. The Yazoo, however, like the Chickasaw were under the influence of the English traders from Carolina. In 1702 they aided the Koroa in killing Father Nicholas Foucault and three French companions. The seminary temporarily withdrew Father Davion from the area.
In 1718 the French established a fort near the village of St. Pierre to command the river. In 1722 the young Jesuit Father Jean Rouel was given the Yazoo mission, near the French post. He remained there until the outbreak of the Natchez War in 1729.
The Yazoo and Koroa joined with the Natchez in attacking the French. On 28 November, the Natchez attacked Fort Rosalie, killing more than 200 people, including the Jesuit Father Paul Du Poisson. They carried off as captives most of the women and children. On learning of the event, the Yazoo and Koroa, on 11 December 1729, waylaid and killed Father Rouel and his black slave. The next day they attacked the neighboring post, killing the whole garrison. The tribes buried Father Rouel's body. His bell and some books were afterward recovered and restored by the Quapaw. Father Stephen Doutreleau was attacked on 1 January 1730, but escaped.
The Natchez War was a disaster for French settlements in Louisiana. They allied with the Choctaw and in retaliation, defeated the Natchez and the Yazoo. Some Natchez and Yazoo refugees took shelter among the Chickasaw. The Chickasaw captured many other Yazoo and sold them into slavery to Carolina-based traders.
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“It appeared that he had once represented his tribe at Augusta, and also once at Washington, where he had met some Western chiefs. He had been consulted at Augusta, and gave advice, which he said was followed, respecting the eastern boundary of Maine, as determined by highlands and streams, at the time of the difficulties on that side. He was employed with the surveyors on the line. Also he called on Daniel Webster in Boston, at the time of his Bunker Hill oration.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)