Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Relations with Spain.

States' clothing, shipped in a vessel in the employ of the Spanish Government, to that post, I now enclose, with his reply. The Governor of Pensacola's refusal of my demand cannot but be viewed as evincing a hostile feeling on his part, particularly in connexion with some circumstances reported to me from the most unquestionable authority. It has been stated that the Indians at war with the United States have free access into Pensacola; that they are kept advised from that quarter of all our movements; that they are suplied from thence with ammunition and munitions of war; and that they are now collecting in large bodies, to the amount of four or five hundred warriors, in that city; that inroads from thence have lately been made on the Alabama, in one of which eighteen settlers fell by the tomahawk. These statements compel me to make a movement to the west of the Appalachicola; and, should they prove correct, Pensacola must be occupied with an American force, the Governor treated according to his deserts, or as policy may dictate. I shall leave strong garrisons in Fort St. Mark's, Fort Gadsden, and Fort Scott; and in Pensacola, should it become necessary to possess it.

in friendship, I entered the fort by violence. Two light companies of the 7th regiment of infantry, aud one of the 4th, under the command of Major Twiggs, were ordered to advance, lower the Spanish colors, and hoist the star-spangled banner on the ramparts of Fort St. Mark's. The order was executed promptly. No resistance was attempted on the part of the Spanish garrison. The duplicity of the Span ish commandant of St. Mark's, in professing friendship towards the United States while he was actually aiding and supplying her savage enemies, throwing open the gates of his garrison to their free access, appropriating the King's stores to their use, issuing ammunition and munitions of war to them, and knowingly purchasing of them property plundered from the citizens of the United States, is clearly evinced by the documents accompanying my correspondence. In Fort St. Mark's, as an inmate of the family of the Spanish commandant, an Englishman, by the name of Arbuthnot, was found. Unable satisfactorily to explain the objects of his visiting this country, and there being a combination of circumstances to justify a suspicion that his views were not honest, he was ordered into close confinement. The capture of his schooner, near the mouth of Suwanee river, by my aid-de-camp, Mr. Gadsden, and the papers found on board, unveiled his corrupt transactions, as well as those of a Captain Ambrister, late of the British colonial marine corps, taken as a prisoner near Bowlegs' town. Those individuals were tried, under my orders, by a special court of select officers, legally convicted as exciters of this savage and negro war, legally condemned, and most justly punished for their iniquities. The proceedings of the court-martial in this case, with the volume of testimony justifying their condemnation, present scenes of wickedness, corruption and barbarity, at which the heart sickens, and in which, in this enlightened age, it ought not scarcely to be believed that a Christian nation would have participated; and yet the British Government is involved in the agency. If Arbuthnot and Ambrister are not convicted as the authorized agents of Great Britain, there is no room to doubt but that that Government had a knowledge of their assumed character, and was well advised of the measures which they had adopted to excite the negroes and Indians in East Florida to war against the United States. I hope the execution of these two unprincipled villains will prove an awful example to the world, and convince the Government of Great Britain, as well as her subjects, I trust, therefore, that the measures which have that certain (if slow) retribution awaits these been pursued will meet the approbation of the unchristian wretches, who, by false promises, President of the United States. They have been delude and excite an Indian tribe to all the hor-adopted in pursuance of your instructions, under rid deeds of savage war. a firm conviction that they alone were calculated to insure" peace and security to the southern frontier of Georgia."

Previous to my leaving Fort Gadsden, I had occasion to address a communication to the Governor of Pensacola on the subject of permitting supplies to pass up the Escambia river to Fort Crawford. This letter, with a second from St. Mark's, on the subject of some United

It becomes my duty to state it as my confirmed opinion that, so long as Spain has not the power or will to enforce the treaties by which she is solemnly bound to preserve the Indians within her territory at peace with the United States, no security can be given to our southern frontier, without occupying a cordon of posts along the seashore. The moment the American army returns from Florida, the war hatchet will be again raised, and the same scenes of indiscriminate murder with which our frontier settlers have been visited will be repeated. So long as the Indians within the territory of Spain are exposed to the delusions of false prophets, and the poison of foreign intrigue; so long as they can receive ammunition, munitions of war, &c., from pretended traders, or Spanish commandants, it will be impossible to restrain their outrages. The burning of their tow s, the destroying of their stock and provisions, will produce but temporary embarrassments; resupplied by Spanish authorities, they may concentrate or disperse at will, and keep up a lasting predatory warfare against the frontiers of the United States, as expensive as barassing to her troops. The savages, therefore, must be made dependant on us, and cannot be kept at peace without being persuaded of the certainty of chastisement being inflicted on the commission of the first offence.

The army will move on the 7th from hence, crossing the Appalachicola river at the Ochesee bluff, about thirty miles above.

ANDREW JACKSON.

No. 55.

Relations with Spain.

General Jackson to the Secretary of War.
HEADQ'RS, DIVISION OF THE SOUTH,

Fort Montgomery, June 2, 1818.

and the surrender of Fort Carlos de Barancas again demanded; the favorable positions obtained were pointed out, and the inutility of resistance urged. Anxious to avoid an open contest, and to save the effusion of blood, the same terms previously offered were again tendered. These SIR: In a communication to you of the 5th were rejected, and offensive operations recomof May, I detailed at length the operations of menced. A spirited and well-directed fire was my army up to that period. Leaving a strong kept up the greater part of the morning, and garrison of regulars in Forts Scott and Gadsden, at intervals during the afternoon. In the everesumed my march, with a small detachment ning a flag was sent from the Spanish comof the 4th regiment of infantry, one company of mandant, offering to capitulate, and a suspenartillery, and the effectives of the Tennessee vol- sion of hostilities was granted until eight o'clock unteers, the whole not exceeding twelve hun-next day, when the enclosed articles of capitdred men, to fulfil my intentions, communicated ulation (marked C) were signed and agreed to you, of scouring the country west of the Ap- to. The terms are more favorable than a conpalachicola river. On the 10th of May, my quered enemy would have merited; but, under army crossed that river at the Ochesee village, the peculiar circumstances of the case, my oband, after a fatiguing, tedious, and circuitous ject obtained, there was no motive for wounding march of twelve days, misled by the ignorance the feelings of those whose military pride or of our pilots, and exposed to the severest of pri- honor had prompted to the resistance made. vations, we finally reached and effected a pas- The articles, with but one condition, amount to sage over the Escambia. On my march, on the a complete cession to the United States of that 224 of May, a protest from the Governor of Pen- portion of the Floridas hitherto under the gov sacola was delivered me by a Spanish officer, ernment of Don Jose Mazot. remonstrating in warm terms against my proceedings, and ordering me and my forces in- Pensacola and its dependencies are contained in The arrangement which I have made to secure stantly to quit the territory of His Catholic Ma- the general orders, marked D. I deemed it most jesty, with a threat to apply force in the event of advisable to retain, for the present, the same a non-compliance. This was so open an indication of a hostile feeling on his part, after having tomed, until such time as the Executive of the government to which the people had been accusbeen early and well advised of the object of my United States may order otherwise. It was neoperations, that I hesitated no longer on the measures to be adopted. I marched for and en- of the United States, to check the smuggling cessary, however, to establish the revenue laws tered Pensacola with only the show of resist-which had been carried on successfully in this ance, on the 24th of May. The Governor had previously fled to Fort Carlos de Barancas, where, it was said, he had resolved upon a most desperate resistance. A correspondence ensued between us, (accompanying this, marked A,) detailing at length my motives for wishing and demanding that Pensacola and its dependencies be occupied with an American garrison. The package marked B are documents substantiating the charges, in part, against the conduct of the Spanish Governor, having knowingly and willingly admitted the savages, avowedly hostile to the United States, within the town of Pensacola.

American merchant to an equal participation in quarter for many years past, and to admit the

a trade which would have been denied under the

partial operations of the Spanish commercial

code.

Capt. Gadsden was appointed by me collector, and he has organized and left the department in the charge of officers on whom the greatest confidence may be reposed.

Though the Seminole Indians have been scattered, and literally so divided and reduced as no longer to be viewed as a formidable enemy, yet, as there are still many small marauding parties The peaceable surrender of the fort of Baran- supposed to be concealed in the swamps of the cas was denied. I marched for and invested it Perdido, Choctawhatchy, and Chapouley who on the evening of the 25th of May, and on the might make occasional and sudden inroads on our same night pushed reconnoitering parties under frontier settlers, massacreing women and chilits very guns. On the morning of the 26th, adren, I have deemed it advisable to call into sermilitary reconnoissance was taken; and on the same night, a lodgement was made, under a fire from the Spanish garrison, by Captain Gadsden of the engineers, aided by Captains Call and Young, on a commanding position, within three hundred and eighty-five yards of the Spanish works, and a nine-pounder mounted. A how itzer battery was simultaneously established on the capitol, and within seven hundred and sixty The Seminole war may now be considered as yards of the fort. At daylight on the 27th, the at a close, tranquillity again restored to the southSpanish garrison opened their artillery on our ern frontier of the United States; and, as long as batteries; a parley was sounded, a flag sent in, la cordon of military posts is maintained along

vice for six months, if not sooner discharged, two companies of volunteer rangers, under Čaplains McGirt and Boyles, with instructions to scour the country between the Mobile and Appalachicola rivers, exterminating every hostile party who dare resist, or will not surrender and remove with their families above the thirty-first degree of latitude.

Relations with Spain.

the Gulf of Mexico, America has nothing to apprehend from either foreign or Indian hostilities. Indeed, sir, to attempt to fortify or protect an imaginary line, or to suppose that a frontier on the thirty-first degree of latitude, in a wilderness, can be secured by a cordon of military posts while the Floridas lay open to an enemy, is visionary in the extreme.

Under this firm belief, I have bottomed all my operations. Spain had disregarded the treaties existing with the American Government, or had not power to enforce them; the Indian tribes within her territory, and which she was bound to keep at peace, had visited our citizens with all the horrors of savage war; negro brigands were establishing themselves when and where they pleased; and foreign agents were openly and knowingly practising their intrigues in this neutral territory.

The immutable principles, therefore, of selfdefence justified the occupancy of the Floridas, and the same principles will warrant the American Government in holding it until such time as Spain can guaranty, by an adequate military force, the maintaining her authority within the colony.

A topographical sketch of the country from the Appalachicola to Pensacola accompanies this. Captain Young will prepare, as soon as practicable, a topographical memoir of that part of the Floridas in which my army has operated, with a map of the country.

Captain Gadsden is instructed to prepare a report on the necessary defences of the country, as far as the military reconnoissance he has taken will permit, accompanied with plans of existing works, what additions or improvements are necessary, and what new works should, in his opinion, be erected to give permanent security to this important territorial addition to our Republic.

As soon as this report is prepared, Captain Gadsden will receive orders to repair to Washington city with some other documents which I may wish to confide to his charge.

[blocks in formation]

"The noted Woodbine, of infamous memory, arrived here from Nassau, with a view, as was having left the cause, he was disappointed, and said, to join the patriots; but his friend McGregor embarked with McGregor, who sailed a few days since for Nassau, to commence some new expedition, which, it is generally supposed, will be to the bay of Espiritu Santo, or bay of Tampa, in latitude 28 degrees 18 minutes north, and longitude 76 degrees 30 minutes west. This is an extensive bay, and capable of admitting ships of any size, contiguous to which are the finest lands in Florida, which Woodbine pretends belong to him by virtue of a grant from the Indians. He says he has surveyed the whole of the Gulf of Mexico, and Tampa bay is the only place into which large ships can enter."

No. 57 a.

[Extracts from Message of 26th March, 1818.] Extracts of a letter to the Secretary of State, dated DECEMBER 24, 1817.

after they had got to sea, General McGregor and family were put on board the schooner with Woodbine, and steered for New Providence."

"My informants, I have no doubt, are possessed of as much information of the views and plans of McGregor and Woodbine as any person in the United States." "They sailed from Amelia in September, in company with a schooner belongAt the close of a campaign which has termi-ing to Woodbine, he being on board. Some time nated so honorably and happily, it gives me pleasure to express my approbation generally of the officers and soldiers of every species of corps which I have had the honor to command. The patience with which they endured fatigue and submitted to privations, and the determination with which they encountered and vanquished every difficulty, are the strongest indication of the existence of that patriotic feeling which no circumstances can change, and of that irresistible ardor in the defence of their country which will prove her strength and bulwark under any exposure. I should do violence to my feelings if I did not particularly notice the exertions of my Quartermaster General, Colonel George Gibson, who, under the most embarrassing circumstances, relieved the necessities of my army, and to whose exertions I was indebted for the supplies received. His zeal and integrity in this campaign, as well as in the uniform discharge of his duties since

"From what has been written, it may readily be supposed that my friends had an oppportunity of learning something of the plan of the future operations of McGregor and Woodbine, and they believe it to be as follows: Woodbine persuaded McGregor that he could find friends and funds in New Providence, and that a British regiment had lately been disbanded there; that they would pick up as many of the soldiers as possible, and, with what negroes and others they could gather, would make a tolerable force. They were then to sail for Tampa bay, a fine harbor to the northwestward of Cape Florida, where they were to be joined by 1,500 Indians, already engaged to Woodbine, and invade Florida from that point; they were then to march across, and attack St. Augustine."

No. 57 b.

Relations with Spain.

stand by whose authority, and for what purpose,

Instructions for sailing in Tampa bay, in McGre- the accused came into the country?

gor's handwriting.

Answer. I have frequently heard him say he came to attend to Mr. Woodbine's business at the bay of Tampa.

[Enclosed in letter of December 24, 1817.] The vessels must be at Tampa bay, commonly called Espiritu Santo. I calculate to be at Tampa bay by the latter end of April, or 1st day of May, 1818. There are three bars: the northernmost bar is best, having five fathom_ water; keep on the larboard shore going in. There is a small sandy key between the northern and middle channels; upon this sandy key there will be a flag-say that I came on Woodbine's business? staff, and, on hoisting your signal, you will be answered by the Florida flag, and a pilot will

From the examination of JOHN J. ARBUTHNOT, a witness on the part of the prosecution:

"And that the prisoner stated to him that he had come to the country on Woodbine's businesss to see the negroes righted."

come off.

No. 57 c.

Question by the prisoner. Did you hear me

Answer. I did.

From the examination of PETER B. COOK, a witness on the part of the prosecution:

"The prisoner told the witness that he had been a lieutenant in the British Army, under

Extracts of a letter to a gentleman in the District of Colonel Nicholls. The prisoner was sent by

Columbia.

BALTIMORE, July 30, 1817.

He

Allow me now to relate, in detail, the particulars of my intercourse with General McGregor whilst in this city, in regard to his objects. declared his object to be, in the first place, to take possession of Amelia; thence to wrest the Floridas from Spain, when he should immedi ately call on the inhabitants, by proclamation, to designate some of their most respectable fellowcitizens to form a constitution on the model of some of the adjoining States; that, so far as it might depend on him, he would encourage the existing disposition of the people in that section to confederate with the United States; leaving it to the will and policy of this [our] Government, and to political circumstances, as they might arise, to indicate the most favorable time for their admission into the Union.

No. 57 d.

From G. McGregor to the writer of the above, dated

NASSAU, December 27, 1817. "You know my objects." "On the other side, you have the extract of a proclamation about to be published by the person in charge of making the settlement. I leave this to-day for England, to arrange my private affairs, which, from the many years that I have been in South America, have not improved by my absence; my family remain here until my return."

No. 57 e.

Extract from Proclamation. "Inhabitants of the Floridas! I expect soon to see General McGregor among you again. He was animated by a sincere wish for your happiness, and only desired to see you free from the yoke of Spain, in order that you might legislate for yourselves."

No. 58.

Extracts from the minutes of the proceedings of the court-martial in the trial of Ambrister.

From the examination of JOHN LEWIS PHENIX, a witness on the part of the prosecution: Question by the court. Did you ever under15th CoN. 2d SESS.-66

Woodbine to Tampa, to see about those negroes
he had left there. The prisoner told the witness
that he had written a letter to Governor Came-
March; and also told the witness that he had a
ron for ammunition for the Indians, some time in
and that he expected a captaincy."
commission in the patriot army under McGregor,

No. 59.

Ambrister's memorial to the Duke of York. BAHAMA ISLAND:

To His Royal Highness Frederick, Duke of York, Commander-in-chief, &c., the memorial of Robert Christie Ambrister, of the Island of New Providence, gentleman, humbly showeth: That your memorialist, a British subject, and son of James Ambrister, Esq., lieutenant colonel, and commanding the militia of New Providence, having served for nearly four years past as midshipman in the British navy, on board His Majesty's ships Sparrow, Captain Edward Burt, Rhodean, Captain George Mowbray, Reindeer, Captain J. P. Douglass, and Bramble, Captain William P. Poyson; from which last-mentioned ship he obtained his discharge in England in 1813, and returned to the island of New Providence, where his friends reside; that Major Nicholls, of the royal marines, having shortly after arrived at the said island of New Providence, in His Majesty's ship Hermes, in company with His Majesty's ship Carron, for the purpose of raising recruits for a corps denominated the corps of colonial marines, destined to serve during the American war in such parts of the Indian territory bordering upon the United States of America, or in the States themselves, as circumstances should render it necessary, your memorialist applied for, and obtained, a commission of auxiliary second lieutenant in that regiment, which he immediately joined, and proceeded, under the command of the said Major Edward Nicholls, to Appalachicola, from whence he proceeded to the Creek nation, where he served until those forces were disbanded upon the termination of hostilities with the Americans, when he returned to the said island of New Providence.

And your memorialist further showeth, that

Relations with Spain.

having been assured by the said Major Nicholls, at the time of his accepting the above-mentioned commission, (a copy of which he begs leave to annex,) that he had no doubt but he would be placed upon half-pay when his services were no longer required, your memorialist is desirous either of obtaining half-pay, or of being more actively employed, and of obtaining a commission either in one of His Majesty's West India regiments, or in such other of His Majesty's regiments as to your Royal Highness shall see fit.

Your memorialist, therefore, humbly prays your Royal Highness to take into your consideration this his memorial, and he shall ever pray. ROBERT C. AMBRISTER.

No. 60.

Ambrister's commission as auxiliary second lieu

tenant.

By the honorable Sir Alexander Cochrane, Knight of the Bath, Vice Admiral of the Red, and Commander-in-chief of His Majesty's ships and vessels employed, and to be employed, on the North American station, &c., to Mr. Robert C. Ambrister, hereby appointed auxiliary seccond lieutenant of the corps of colonial marines to be raised upon the continent of North America:

tempt, which we have stopped. On 1st December I marched with thirty men to go against them. After seven days' march we arrived at the fort; and, after our men got rested I went against it. We had an engagement for four hours, and seeing that we could do no good with them, we retreated and came off. The balls flew like hail stones; there was a ball that had like to have done my job; it just cleared my breast. For six days and six nights we had to encamp in the wild woods, and it was constantly raining night and day; and as for the cold, I suffered very much by it; in the morning the water would be frozen about an inch thick. There was a boat that was taken by the Indians which had in it thirty men, seven women, and four small children; there were six of the men who got clear, and one woman saved, and all the rest of them got killed; the children were taken by the heels, and their brains dashed out against the boat. We have got Mr. Hambly and Doyle prisoners, and we are going to send them to Nassau to stand their trial, as they have caused all this disturbance. Hambly told me that it was published in the American newspapers that they were to take possession of the nation in March; and if that be the case, you will see us sooner than you expected. If they should come when the vessel is away, we shall have to take to and run in our canoes, as we have some very fine ones here. One knows not hardly what to do for those dd puppies, as we may call them, for they are no better.

Whereas I have thought fit to send a detachment of the royal marine corps to the Creek nations for the purpose of training to arms such Indians and others as may be friendly to, and willing to fight under the standard of His Majesty, I do, by these presents, constitute and appoint dd lies. But Arbuthnot has threatened my We find that what I have mentioned is all you an auxiliary second lieutenant of such corps life once or twice; but, on my return, I will puaof colonial marines as may be raised upon the continent of North America, to hold such local ish him by the law. You must excuse my bad rank while actually employed upon the said con-writing, as I am in a hurry. Give my love to tinent, until further orders. You are therefore your mother and your sister, and Mrs. Roberts, carefully and diligently to discharge the duty of and all inquiring friends. I have nothing more auxiliary second lieutenant, by exercising and to say at present, as times will not admit. well-disciplining both the inferior officers and I remain yours, forever, marines of the said corps; and I do hereby command them to obey you as their second auxiliary lieutenant. And you are to observe and follow such orders and directions from me, or any other of your superior officers, according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the trust hereby reposed in you.

Given under my hand and seal, at Bermuda, this 25th day of July, 1814, in the fifty-fourth year of His Majesty's reign.

[L. S.] ALEXANDER COCHRANE. By command of the Vice Admiral:

W.BALHETCHET, Secretary.

No. 61.

P. B. Cook to Elizabeth A. Carney.

SUWANEE, January 19, 1818. MY DEAR AMELIA: I have embraced this opportunity of writing you, hoping to find you well, as it leaves me at present; and I am very sorry to inform you of the times at present. We are threatened every day by the dd Americans; not threatened only, but they have made an at

PETER B. COOK.
[Addressed on the back to]
Miss E. A. Carney, Nassau, N. Providence.
No. 62.

A. Arbuthnot to W. Hambly.

OCHLOCHNEE SOUND, May 3, 1817.

SIR: On my return here this day, I received a letter signed by you, and dated the 231 March last. As you have taken the trouble of advising me, you will, of course, expect my reply; and I embrace the opportunity of doing it at length. First let me premise, sir, that when you lived at Prospect Bluff, a clerk to Messrs. Forbes & Co., you did not consider Cappachimico, McQueen, or any other of the chiefs of the Lower Creek nation, as outlaws. Does the man whom the attachment of Cappachimico has saved from the hands of retributive justice presume to call him an outlaw? For shame, sir! The most hardened villain would not thus calumniate the saviour of his life. Your generous friend, sir, and the other chiefs, have called me to this coun

« AnteriorContinuar »