Revisit the history of one of Shreveport's bravest souls.

In this portrait of Father Jean Pierre, one of the Shreveport martyrs who perished in the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1873, readers will step inside mind of a hero. This book includes a collection of his original letters (from their original French translations) written between 1854 - 1870, describing local conditions in Shreveport, commentary on the Civil War and Reconstruction, Catholic-Protestant relations, as well as many other observations on events of the era. Father Jean Pierre established the first formal education in Shreveport, the first formal library for making books and learning available, and led the city's relief efforts in the epidemic. Ultimately, he laid down his own life for the people of the city by volunteering to remain in the most fever-stricken parts of the city .