Relations with Spain. CHARLES LE JEUNE, being duly sworn, declares that he has resided in Pensacola since November, 1817; since which he has frequently seen in this town or its vicinity parties of upwards of a hundred Indians encamped; that these parties were armed either with rifles or with the arms that were furnished them by the English; that although he cannot state that these parties had received ammunition from the Spanish Government here, he nevertheless can and does state that the said parties were provisioned from the King's stores by Prieto, King's storekeeper; that, previous to November, 1817, the Government was regularly in the habit of giving out ammunition to the Indians from a store which was expressly for that purpose here; that, on the day that Major Youngs attacked the Indians near this town, there was a considerable number encamped near the water side in town, who, upon hearing the report of fire-arms, crossed the bay in their own boats, and in other larger boats belonging to others. CARLOS LE JEUNE. Q. Have you not, between that period and the approach of the American forces under Major General Jackson, repeatedly seen divers parties of hostile Indians in this town or its neighborhood? A. I have. Indeed, between the said month of November and the time that the hostile party surrendered to Major Youngs, there were more or less in town; sometimes in numbers considerable, sometimes fewer. WILLIAM COOPER, being duly sworn, declares that he has resided in Pensacola since November, 1817; during which period he has frequently seen in town and its vicinity several parties of Indians; saw one in particular with some sheet lead, and has heard that the Indians had intro- Q. How or by whom were those Indians subduced some clothes in town that looked like Amer-sisted; and from whom or by what means did ican manufacture; states also that Tapaulca was they procure ammunition and other warlike a Red Stick chief, and had been frequently about stores or weapons? Pensacola for several years past. WILLIAM COOPER. Q. Have you seen in said town or its vicinity, within or since that period, any Indians? A. I have. Q. How many did you see at any particular time? A. About the latter end of that Spring I saw in town from fifty to sixty Indians; but few of these were armed, because they were prohibited coming into town armed. I suppose their arms were left in their camps in the neighborhood. Q. How did these Indians subsist themselves, and how did they procure ammunition? A. Probably from the Government here; of this, however, I am not certain. Q. Did you see any horses, cattle, or other plunder, brought into this place by the Indians? A. No. Q. How many Indians were in Pensacola and its neighborhood at the time that Major Youngs attacked a party near this town? A. Of all descriptions, viz: men, women, and A. I have understood and do believe that they were fed by the Government here; as to ammunition, &c., I cannot state how they procured supplies, except it might have been from the stores about town. PIERRE SENAC, being solemnly sworn, declares as follows: That he has resided in the town of Pensacola constantly since the month of November last past; that, since that time, and until the arrival of Major Youngs near this town, there were always considerable numbers of hostile Indians in or near the town; that, on many occasions within that period, he has seen from one hundred and fifty to two hundred Indians here; that their forces were regularly provisioned from the King's store here; that he has seen large quantities of sheet lead in the possession of the Indians, and considers it as greatly resembling the lead aprons of cannon; that the Government must have furnished the lead in question, as there were no other means here of getting such lead, and Relations with Spain. arms. that the said lead was run off into balls, which dians set out, and states that they had their this deponent saw; that, on the day Maj. Youngs attacked a party of Indians near this town, there were then in town a considerable number more, who were sent across the bay in boats provided for that purpose by the Spanish Governor. Deponent further states that, about the first of March last past, three considerabie parties of hostile Indians-one party under the command of Leon Lesassier, another under the command of Arnaud Gilmer, (both lieutenants in His Catholic Majesty's service,) and the third commanded by an Indian chief-retired out of this town, and went down towards the neighborhood of Barancas, where provisions and ammunition were regularly supplied them by the Spanish Government; that the said Indians were armed with guns which they had received from the English during the late war, and that they remained encamped within from one to three leagues of Barancas for the space of nearly a month; that these Indians, besides being armed with guns, had also tomahawks, which deponent understood and believes were furnished by John Innerarity; and that, when the Government caused the said parties to be thus assembled and equipped, they were collected at Barancas for the purpose, as deponent conceives, of eluding the vigilance of such individuals in Pensacola as would not concur in such measures. Deponent further states that, since the said month of November last past, he has seen brought in here by the Indians a quantity of cottonade and women's clothing, brought or said to have been brought from the American frontier; that these things were publicly sold in this town, notwithstanding it was notoriously known here that those articles and property had just been taken from those whom the Indians had killed on the American frontier. P. SENAC. Attest: J. ROBINSON, Sworn to and subscribed before me, this 19th day of September, 1818. M. MCKENNEY, SEN., J. P. No. 37 g. JOSE ESTEVAN CARO. Sworn and subscribed before me, at Pensacola, 10th September, 1818. H. YOUNG, Capt. Top. Eng. No. 37 h. CHARLES BARON, a resident of Pensacola, being sworn, states that, about the latter end of April or beginning of May, 1818, a party of Indians, amounting to near one hundred, were in Pensacola with a quantity of plunder which, it was generally believed, was taken at the time Stoke's family were murdered on the Escambia. The Indians sold this plunder openly to the inhabitants of Pensacola, and the deponent could not learn that the Spanish authorities at Pensacola made any inquiries respecting it. The deponent further states that, at several times in the present year, (1818,) he saw parties of Indians furnished with provisions and ammunition from the King's stores; but he does not recollect the dates of these transactions. The deponent further states that he has frequently heard Spanish officers at Pensacola justify the conduct of the Indians towards the United States, manifesting in their conversation a decided hostility towards the Americans. CARLOS BARON. General Jackson to the Secretary of War. HEADQ'RS, DIVISION OF THE SOUTH, Fort Gadsden, March 25, 1818. SIR: At seven o'clock P. M., on the 9th instant, I reached Fort Scott with the brigade of Georgia militia, nine hundred bayonets strong, and some of the friendly Creeks who had joined me on my march a few days before, where, finding but one quart of corn per man and a few poor cattle, which, added to the live pork I brought along, would give us three days' rations of meat, determined me at once to use this small supply to the best advantage. Accordingly, havJOSE E. CARO, a citizen of Pensacola, being ing been advised by Colonel Gibson, Quartersworn, states that, early in the present year, master General, that he would sail from New (1818,) a party of hostile Indians were in Pen- Orleans on the 12th February, with the supplies, sacola, their numbers not known, but probably and being also advised that two sloops, with profifty; that, on hearing of the approach of the visions, were in the bay, and an officer had been American army under General Jackson, the despatched from Fort Scott, in a large keel-boat, Governor of Pensacola furnished those Indians to bring up a part of their lading, and deeming with provision and ammunition, and sent them that the preservation of those supplies would be in public boats across the bay; the deponent to preserve the army, and enable me to prosecute saw the rations issued and the party embarked. the campaign, I assumed the command on the The deponent further states that, subsequent to morning of the 10th, ordered the live stock this, he saw three parties of hostile Indians fur- slaughtered and issued to the troops, with one nished with provisions, the ostensible object of quart of corn to each man, and the line of march which was to enable those Indians to march to to be taken up at twelve, meridian. Having to the interior and give themselves up, but it was cross the Flint river, and it being very high, very generally believed that those Indians had combined with some neglect in returning the no such intention. The deponent saw those In-boats during a very dark night, I was unable to Relations with Spain. move from the opposite bank until nine o'clock on the morning of the 11th, when I took up my line of march down the east bank of the river for this place, touching the river as often as practicable, looking for the provision boat which was ascending, and which I was fortunate enough to meet on the 13th instant, when I ordered an extra ration to the troops, they not having received a full one of meal or flour since their arrival at Fort Early. On that day my patroles captured three prisoners, and found some hidden corn. On the morning of the 14th I ordered the boat down the river to this place, whilst I descended by land, and reached here, without interruption, on the morning of the 16th. The eligibility of this spot as a depot determined me, and I immediately directed my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Gadsden, of the engineer corps, to furnish a plan for and superintend the erection of a fortification. His talents and indefatigable zeal displayed in the execution of this order induced me to name it Fort Gadsden, to which he is justly entitled. nations to yield us all facilities to reduce them. Under this consideration, should I be able, I will take possession of the garrison as a depot for my supplies, should it be found in the hands of the Spanish garrison, they having supplied the Indians; but if in the hands of our enemy, I will possess it for the benefit of the United States, as a necessary position for me to hold, to give peace and security to this frontier, and put a final end to Indian warfare in the South. Finding it very difficult to supply Fort Crawford, on the Conecuh river, by land, I have ordered the supplies for that garrison by water, and written to the Governor of Pensacola that if he interrupts them during the present Indian war, I shall view it as aiding our enemy, and treat it as an act of hostility; and stated to him the propriety, under existing circumstances, of his affording all facilities to put down their own as well as our enemies, and that our Governments, whilst negotiating, can take this subject under consideration; but, in the mean time, our provisions must pass to Fort Crawford without interruption. On my arrival here, I immediately despatched the boat to the bay for the balance of provisions In mine of the 14th February, from Hartford, known to be there, and to ascertain whether the I informed you of the measures adopted to proflotilla in charge of Colonel Gibson had reached cure supplies, and in my last of the 26th, from there; and which returned on the 19th, with the Fort Early, I informed you of their situation. To unpleasing intelligence that nothing had been those communications I beg leave to refer you. I heard of the flotilla from New Orleans since it have only to add, that I left Fort Early for Fort was seen passing Fort Bowyer. I immediately Scott, and subsisted my troops on ground peas, put the troops on half rations, and pushed the corn, and some pork, that I could occasionally completion of the fort for the protection of the procure from the Indians, with some pork that I provisions; in the event of their arrival, intend-had on foot, the whole subsistence for man and ing to march forthwith to the heart of the enemy, and endeavor to subsist upon him. In the meantime, I despatched Major Fanning, of the corps of artillery, to take another look into the bay; whose return, on the morning of the 23d, brought the information that Colonel Gibson, with one gunboat and three transports, and others in sight, were in the bay. On the same night I received other information that no more had arrived. I am, therefore, apprehensive that some of the smaller vessels have been lost, as one gunboat went to pieces, and another, when last spoken, had one foot water in her hold. All of the vessels had been spoken after the gale which dispersed them. A north and northwest wind has prevailed for six days, but has fortunately changed this morning. I am now awaiting a boat from the bay, (which is expected to-day,) to complete eight days' rations for my troops, upon which I mean to march. horse not costing five hundred dollars. Of all the supplies purchased for the relief of Fort Scott, and the support of the Georgia militia, not one pound was received until I passed Fort Scott. I said in my last that blame rested somewhere; the cause of those failures will in due time be a subject of investigation, and Colonel Brearly has been arrested on the application of Gen. Gaines. By some strange fatality, unaccountable to me, the Tennessee volunteers have not yet joined me. They promptly left their homes, and through the inclement weather reached Fort Mitchell, where I had ordered them supplies, and where Colonel Hayne, who led them, met my instructions to pass by Fort Gaines, where he would get a supply of corn that would enable him to reach Fort Scott: but the idea of starvation had stalked abroad; a panic appears to have spread itself everywhere, and he was told that they were starving at Forts Gaines and Scott, and was induced to pass into From information received from Pensacola and Georgia for supplies. His men and officers, as New Orleans, I have no doubt but that St. Mark's reported to me, were willing to risk the worst is in possession of the Indians. The Governor of consequences on what they had to join me; of Pensacola informed Captain Call, of the first however, they have been marched from their infantry, (now here,) that the Indians had de-supplies, to a country stripped of them, when manded arms, ammunition, and provisions, or the possession of the garrison of St. Mark's of the commandant, and that he presumed possession would be given from inability to defend it. The Spanish Government is bound by treaty to keep the Indians at peace with us; they have acknowledged their incompetency to do this, and are consequently bound by the law of nature and every consideration should have induced his advisers to have urged him on to secure the supplies in the bay, and preserved themselves and Fort Scott from starvation. I have a hope that they will join me before I reach St. Mark's, or the Mickasuky towns; this would be desirable, as the troops ordered from New Orleans to protect the supplies have not reached the bay, and leaving Relations with Spain. garrisons at Forts Scott and Gadsden weakens my force much, the whole effective strength of the regulars being but three hundred and sixty privates. deem it politic and advisable to send to Washington John Blunt and his Indian comrades, who have acted as pilots to me during the late campaign. John Blunt is a Tuckabatchee Indian, In mine of the 26th ultimo, from Fort Early, I has long been friendly to the United States, and, informed you that despatches received by Gene- in consequence of his opposition to the Red Stick ral Gaines on the 19th ultimo from the command-party during the Creek war, has drawn down ing officer at Fort Scott induced him to set out upon himself their vengeance during the late that night for Fort Scott, to prevent its abandon- contest. His settlement being in an exposed sitment, &c. In his passage down the Flint river uation on the Appalachicola river, he was early he was shipwrecked, by which he lost his assist-attacked by the Seminoles, his property destroyed, ant adjutant general, Major C. Wright, and two and his family rifled from him. Alone he essoldiers, (drowned.) The General reached me caped, and fled to Fort Scott, where, joining the six days after, nearly exhausted with hunger and American standard, he has proven himself a most cold, having lost his baggage and clothing, and zealous. friend and faithful pilot to this period. being compelled to wander in the woods four and In justice to him, I am bound to state that, to his a half days without anything to subsist on, or correct knowledge of the country, and zealous any clothing except a pair of pantaloons. I am attachment to the cause in which we were enhappy to have it in my power to say that he is gaged, am I measurably indebted for the success now with me at the head of his brigade in good of the present campaign. health. The great scarcity of subaltern officers in the 4th and 7th regiments of infantry has induced me to appoint several young men (present) as second lieutenants in those regiments, who, from personal knowledge and good recommendations, I have no doubt will prove themselves worthy; and trust the measure will meet the approbation of the President. A list of their names, and the regiments to which they are attached, will be furnished the adjutant and inspector general by my jutant general. I have the honor to be, &c. A. JACKSON, Maj. Gen. Hon. JOHN C. CALHOUN. Mr. Hambly accompanies John Blunt. Mr. Hambly is a Spanish subject by birth, and has long been a resident as a trader on the Appalachicola river. In consequence of his attachment to the American cause, and his active exertions to check the hostile feelings of those Indians disposed to war against the United States, he drew down upon himself and family their vengeance. He was forcibly taken from his home at an early period of the war; his property, goods, and nead-groes taken from him, and he violently transported from Mickasuky, Suwanee, and St. Mark's, until finally relieved by Captain McKeever, of the American navy. Since which period, he has been attached to my army as Indian interpreter. You will find him an honest and faithful friend to our Government, and valuable for the information which he can afford of Spanish policy and intrigue. He is well acquainted with all the transactions of foreign agents in this country, of their practices, &c., and how far encouraged by the Spanish authorities, &c. P. S.-Since writing the above, I have the pleasure to inform you that the boat from the bay has arrived with provisions, also Colonel Gibson and Captain McKeever of the navy. I shall move to-morrow, having made the necessary arrangements with Captain McKeever for his co-operation in transporting my supplies around to the bay of St. Mark, from which place I shall do myself the honor to communicate to you. Should our enemy attempt to escape with his supplies and booty to the small islands, and from thence to carry on a predatory warfare, the assistance of the navy will prevent his escape. General William McIntosh, commanding the friendly Creeks who had been ordered to reconnoitre the right bank of the Appalachicola, reported to me on the 19th instant that he had captured, without the fire of a gun, one hundred and eighty women and children, and fifty-three warriors of the Red Ground chief's party, with their cattle and supplies; the chief and thirty warriors making their escape on horseback; ten of the warriors, attempting their escape after they had surrendered, were killed by the General. No. 39. A. J. General Jackson to the Secretary of War. HEADQ'RS, DIVISION OF THE SOUTH, Fort Montgomery, June 2, 1818. SIR: The Seminole war having terminated, I With respect, your obedient servant, The Hon. J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War. General Jackson to the Secretary of War. Camp near St. Mark's, April 8, 1818. SIR: I wrote you from Fort Gadsden, communicating the embarrassments under which I had labored previous to my arrival at that post, and my determination, being then in a situation to commence active operations, to penetrate immediately into the centre of the Seminole towns. My army marched on the 26th ultimo, and on the 1st of April was reinforced by the friendly Creek warriors under General McIntosh, and a detachment of Tennessee volunteers, commanded by Colonel Elliott. On the same day, a mile and a half in advance of the Mickasu kian villages, a small party of hostile Indians were discovered Relations with Spain. judiciously located on a point of land projecting into an extensive marshy pond-the position designated, as since understood, for the concentrating of the negro and Indian forces to give us battle. They maintained for a short period a spirited attack from my advanced spy companies, but fled and dispersed in every direction upon coming in contact with my flank columns, and discovering a movement to encircle them. The pursuit was continued through the Mickasukian towns, until night compelled me to encamp my army. The next day detachments were sent out in every direction to reconnoitre the country, secure all supplies found, and reduce to ashes the villages. This duty was executed to my satisfaction; nearly three hundred houses were consumed, and the greatest abundance of corn, cattle, &c. brought in. Every indication of a hostile spirit was found in the habitations of the chiefs; in the council-houses of Kenhagee's town, the king of the Mickasukians, more than fifty fresh scalps were found; and in the centre of the public square, the old Red Stick's standard, a red pole was erected, crowned with scalps, recognised by the hair as torn from the heads of the unfortunate companions of Scott. As I had reason to believe that a portion of the hostile Indians had fled to St. Mark's, I directed my march towards that fortress. As advised, I found that the Indians and negroes combined had demanded the surrender of that work. The Spanish garrison was too weak to defend it; and there were circumstances reported, producing a strong conviction in my mind that, if not instigated by the Spanish authorities, the Indians had received the means of carrying on the war from that quarter; foreign agents, who have been long practising their intrigues and villanies in this country, had free access into the camp; St. Mark's was necessary as a depot to insure success to my operations. These considerations determined me to Occupy it with an American force. An inventory of the Spanish property, munitions of war, &c., has been taken and receipted for, and the commandant and garrison furnished with transportation to Pensacola. My correspondence with the Spanish commandant, the evidences under which I acted, and a detailed account of my operations, will be furnished you as early as practicable. Success depends upon the rapidity of my movements; and to-morrow I shall march for the Suwanee river, the destroying the establishments on which will, in my opinion, put a final close to this savage war. Captain McKeever, of the navy, cruising at my request on this coast, has been fortunate enough in securing Francis, or Hillis Hadjo, the great prophet, and Homathlemico, an old Red Stick. They visited his vessels, under an impression that they were English, from whom, as they stated, supplies of munitions of war, &c., under late promises, were expected. Arbuthnot, a Scotchman, and suspected as one of the instigators of this savage war, was found in St. Mark's; he is in confinement until evidences of guilt can be collected. With respect, &c. A. JACKSON, Maj. Gen. In these towns I found many indications of a hostile spirit. On a red pole, in the centre of the council-house of Kenhegee's town, more than fifty fresh scalps of all ages, from the infant to the aged matron, were found suspended. In addition to this, upwards of three hundred old scalps were found in the dwellings of the different chiefs settled on the Mickasuky pond. Those barbarians who have escaped death have fled. From information communicated by the Governor of Pensacola to two of my captains, (Gordon and Call,) I was induced to believe that they had fled to St. Mark's for protection. The Governor stated that the Indians and negroes had demanded of you large supplies of munitions of war, with a threat, in the event of a refusal, of taking possession of your fortress. He further expressed an apprehension that, from your defenceless state, they were already in possession of St. Mark's. The wife of Chenubby, a noted chief, now a prisoner in my camp, informed me that the hostile Indians and negroes obtained their supply of ammunition from St. Mark's. To prevent the recurrence of so gross a violation of neutrality, and to exclude our savage enemies from so strong a hold as St. Mark's, I deemed it expedient to garrison that fortress with American troops until the close of the present war. This measure is justifiable on the immutable principle of self-defence, and cannot but be satisfactory, under existing circumstances, to His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain. Under existing treaties between our two Governments, the King of Spain is bound to preserve in peace, with the citizens of the United States, not only his own subjects, but all Indian tribes residing within his territory. When called upon to fulfil that part of the treaty in relation to a savage tribe who have long depredated, with impunity, on the American frontier, incompetency is alleged, with an acknowledgment that the same tribe have acted in open hostility to the laws, and invaded the rights of His Catholic Majesty. As a mutual enemy, therefore, it is expected that every facility will be afforded by the agents of the King of Spain, to chastise these lawless and inhuman savages. In this light is the possession of St. Mark's by the American forces to be viewed. I come not as the enemy, but as the friend of Spain. Spanish rights and property will be respected. The property and rights of Spanish subjects will be guarantied them. An inventory of all public property, munitions of war, &c., |
