re: What obscure piece of Louisiana history do you know?

That's OK. Her daughter-in-law owns a flower shop in Natchez on Franklin st. I spoke to her at length , I know who lives in the old family home, I know why Alice faded into obscurity.

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In 1798 the current Duke of Orleans and future French King Louis Phillipe, was entertained in New Orleans and Mandeville along with his brothers the Duke de Montpensier and the Comte de Beaujolais in a manner so decadent that the stories still survive(although just second-hand accounts remain). When they were hosted by Bernard Marigny de Mandeville at his plantation Fontainebleu, it was recounted that Marigny de Mandeville had Gold serviceware made for the occasion that was later thrown into the Mississippi River as it "could never serve a more noble purpose". 100 dollar bills were also have been said to serve as cigarette lighters after the dinner. He also brought the game of "craps" to America which is a shortened form of crapauds, which of course means frog and is a pejoritive reference to the French. Bernard knew how to party. I find him fascinating. The only reason the Garden District is where it is today is because Marigny refused to honor the original deal that would have sold his tract of land in the Marigny to the English Speaking White settlers of New Orleans, forcing development of the Livaudais Plantation instead. He instead sold the Marigny land to his half sister, herself a creole black offspring from his father, and her other friends who were free gens de couleur. Good stuff. The first true OT baller.

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If you visit his tomb in St. Louis No. 1, there are always dice lying around.

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I know why Alice faded into obscurity.

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Do tell... I'd love to know.

According to DIL. She had received a lot of negative publicity and was constantly bombarded and it was too much for her to handle.

Well, that makes sense. I had actually thought about trying to contact her myself.

You are welcome to talk to her. She was most happy to share info. She said there was a lot more available at the Adams County courthouse. It is a fascinating story and they are so forthcoming I was blown away and actually had chill bumps as I talked to her.

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One other thing she wants to Post here a and is taking steps to do so

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tell her to start a new thread instead of getting lost in this one

I can't even begin to explain ow humbled I was to be having a conversation with living, breathing history.

The USS Barataria was a Civil War steamer that sunk in the mouth of the Amite River by Lake Maurepas
LINK

Gotcha. Cool stuff.