Shane K. Bernard's Teche examines this legendary waterway of the
American Deep South. Bernard delves into the bayou's geologic
formation as a vestige of the Mississippi and Red Rivers, its
prehistoric Native American occupation, and its colonial settlement
by French, Spanish, and, eventually, Anglo-American pioneers. He
surveys the coming of indigo, cotton, and sugar; steam-powered
sugar mills and riverboats; and the brutal institution of slavery.
He also examines the impact of the Civil War on the Teche,
depicting the running battles up and down the bayou and the
sporadic gunboat duels, when ironclads clashed in the narrow
confines of the dark, sluggish river. Describing the misery of the
postbellum era, Bernard reveals how epic floods, yellow fever,
racial violence, and widespread poverty disrupted the lives of
those who resided under the sprawling, moss-draped live oaks lining
the Teche's banks. Further, he chronicles the slow decline of the
bayou, as the coming of the railroad, automobiles, and highways
reduced its value as a means of travel. Finally, he considers
modern efforts to redesign the Teche using dams, locks, levees, and
other water-control measures. He examines the recent push to clean
and revitalize the bayou after years of desecration by litter,
pollutants, and invasive species. Illustrated with historic images
and numerous maps, this book will be required reading for anyone
seeking the colorful history of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast. As a
bonus, the second part of the book describes Bernard's own canoe
journey down the Teche's 125-mile course. This modern personal
account from the field reveals the current state of the bayou and
the remarkable people who still live along its banks.
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