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Florida. Nearly the whole of the Creek towns were destroyed.

$ 7. But hardly was the Indian war at an end, before new troubles sprang up in this quarter, and general Jackson was forced to encounter a much more formidable enemy. After concluding the treaty with the Creeks, Jackson moved his head-quarters to Mobile, where, on the 27th of August, he received information by express from Pensacola, that three British vessels had arrived there on the 25th, which, on the following day, had disembarked an immense quantity of arms, ammunition, munitions of war, and provisions ; and marched into the Spanish fort between two and three hundred troops. He was likewise informed that thirteen sail of the line, with a large number of transports, bringing 10,000 troops, were daily expected.

On the receipt of this information, Jackson immediately dispatched an express to the governor of Tennessee at Nashville, requesting that the whole of the quota of the militia of that state should be organized, equipped, and brought into the field, without delay, and his adjutant-general, then in Tennessee, was instructed to make the necessary arrangements for immediately provisioning and bringing the troops to headquarters.

The three vessels which had arrived at Pensacola, joined by another, soon after sailed from that port for Mobile, and on the 15th of September appeared off Fort Bowyer. The town of Mobile, where general Jackson had his head-quarters, is situated on the west side of the Mobile river, at its entrance into the bay of the same name. Mobile bay is about 30 miles long, and of considerable breadth ; but its entrance is only 5 miles broad, and is completely commanded by Fort Bowyer, which is situated at the extreme point on the east side of the bay. The fort was occupied by a small garrison, commanded by major Lawrence, of the 2d infantry.

The British squadron, consisting of two ships and two brigs, appeared in sight about noon of the 15th, standing directly for the fort. At 4, in the afternoon, the battery was opened upon them ; the firing was immediately returned from all the vessels. A force of 110 marinas, commanded by colonel Nicholls, 200 Creek Indians, headed by captain Woodbine, of the British navy, and about 20 artillerists, had been previQusly landed in the rear of the fort, and opened a fire upon it from a twelve-pounder and a howitzer, but they did no execution, and were soon silenced by a few shot. The action continued without intermission on either side for nearly three hours, when three of the vessels wire compelled to retire. The commodore's ship, which mounted 22 thirty-two-pound carronades, having anchored nearest the fort, had her cable cut by the shot, and was, so much disabled that she drifted on shore, within 600 yards of the battery, when, the other vessels being out of reach, such a tremendous fire was opened upon her, that she was set on fire and abandoned by such of her crew as survived.' Out of a crew of 170 men, the commander and 20 men only escaped. On board of the other • ship, 85 were killed and wounded ; one of the brigs also was very considerably damaged; but her loss was not ascertained. The effective force in the fort was about 120 men ; their loss was only four killed and five wounded. During the hottest part of the action, the flag-staff being shot away, the flag was immediately regained under a heavy fire of grape and cannister, hoisted on a sponge staff, and planted on the parapet. The land-forces retreated by land to Pensacola, after having re-embarked their pieces.

$ 8. A short time previous to this attack, a proclamation was issued by Edward Nichols, commanding his Britannic majesty's forces in the Floridas, and dated head-quarters, Pensacola, addressed to the inhabitants of Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In this address, the natives of Louisiana are called upon to assist the British forces in liberating their paternal soil from a fruitless, imbecile government; to abolish the American usurpation, and put the lawful owners of the soil in possession. The inhabitants of Kentucky and Tennessee are told that they have too long borne with griev. ous impositions ; that the brunt of the war has fallen on their brave sons; and they are intreated to be imposed on no more, but either to range themselves under the standard of their forefathers, or observe a strict neutrality, If they complied with either of these offers, the address assured them, that whatever provisions they sent down should be paid for in dollars, and the safety of the persons bringing it, as well as the free navigation of the Mississippi, guaranteed.

The proclamation then calls to the view of the men of Kentucky the conduct of those factions which hurried them into this cruel, unjust, and unnatural war, at a time when Great Britain was straining every nerve in defence of her own and the liberties of the world ; when she was expending millions of her treasure in endeavouring to pull down one of the most formidable and dangerous tyrants that ever disgraced the form of man. When groaning Europe was in her last gasp, when Britons alone showed an undaunted front, basely did

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these assassins endeavour to stab her from the rear; she has turned on them renovated from the bloody but successful struggle. Europe is happy and free, and she now hastens justly to avenge the unprovoked insult. Shew them," continued Nichols, “ that you are not collectively unjust leave that contemptible few to shift for themselves; let those slaves of the tyrant send an embassy to Elba, and implore his aid; but let every honest, upright American spurn them with merited contempt. After the experience of 21 years, can you any longer support those brawlers of liberty, who call it freedom, when themselves are no more free than their impostors? Be no longer their dupes, accept my offers, and all that is promised you in the proclamation, I guarantee to you, on the sacred word of a British officer.'

A greater degree of ignorance of the nature of the people addressed, was perhaps never displayed, than was manifested in this proclamation. Nichols himself was enabled to take a pretty favourable view of its reception a few days after it was issued, as he headed the land forces employed against Fort Bowyer.

$ 9. Previous to the attack upon Mobile, Nichols had held out the most seducing offers to induce a band of lawless men, who had formed an establishment on the island of Barrataria, to enter into the British service in the operations planned against Lower Louisiana. But although these men were acting in the most lawless manner, and though they were actually proscribed by the American government, they would not consent to act the part of traitors. Instead of accepting the British offers, they procrastinated their answer, and immediately dispatched the intelligence to New Orleans.

The Barratarians principally consisted of the officers and, crews of French privateers, who, on the capture of Guadeloupe, the last of the French West-India islands, had repaired to Carthagena, and accepted commissions from the new government which had been established there. For the convenience of disposing of their prizes, these men resorted to Barrataria, and formed establishments in the island of Grand Terre, and other places along the coast of Louisiana to the west of the Mississippi, whence, it is said, they preyed indiscriminately upon the commerce of all nations, not excepting even that of the United States, in whose dominions they had thus unwarrantably settled themselves. The chief intercourse of the Barratarians was with New-Orleans, almost all their prize goods being smuggled into that port.

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In the year 1813, this lawless colony excited the attention of the government of Louisiana, and a company was ordered out to break up the establishment. But this small force proved quite ineffectual : the whole party were surprised and captured before they reached the settlements of this resolute set of men. The naval force, however, being considerably strengthened in the summer of 1814, a new expedition was fitted out. On the 11th of September, commodore Patterson left NewOrleans, with a detachment of 70 of the 44th regiment of infantry, commanded by colonel Ross, and being joined by the schooner Caroline at Placquemine, and the gun-boats at the Balize, on the inorning of the 16th made the island of Barratara, and discovered a number of vessels in the harbour, some of which shewed Carthagenian colours. As soon as the squadron was perceived, the Barratarians formed their vessels, ten in number, into a line of battle near the entrance of the harbour; and Patterson also formed his vessels into a line of battle, consisting of six gun-boats, a tender, and a launch; the schooner Caroline drawing too much water to cross the bar. On the approach of the squadron, however, the Barratarians abandoned their vessels, and took to flight in all directions in their small boats, having previously fired two of their best schooners. The launch, with two gun-barges and the small boats, were immediately sent in pursuit, and all the vessels in the harbour were taken possession of, and the establishment or shore completely destroyed.

Ø 10. The unprecedented conduct of the governor of Pensacola, in harbouring and aiding the British and their Indian allies, and in allowing them to fit out expeditions against the United States from that port, had been forcibly remonstrated against by general Jackson, but hitherto without effect. Haying been reinforced by about 2000 Tennessee militia, which had marched to Mobile through the Indian country, Jackson, therefore, advanced towards Pensacola to demand redress. He reached the neighbourhood of that post on the afternoon of the 6th of November, and immediately sent a flag to communicate the object of his visit to the governor ; but it was forced to return, being fired on from the batteries. Jackson then reconnoitered the fort, and finding it defended by both English and Spanish troops, determined 10 storm the town, and accordingly made the necessary arrangements for carrying his determination into effect the next day. '

The troops were put in motion for the attack early on the 7th. Being encamped to the west of the town, Jackson calculated that the attack would be expected from that quarter.

To cherish this idea, part of the mounted men were sent to show themselves on the west, while the remainder of the troops passed in the rear of the fort, undiscovered, to the east of the town. When at the distance of a mile, the town appeared in full view. The troops, principally militia, with a few regulars, and some Choctaw Indians, advanced with the most undaunted courage, although a strong fort appeared ready to assail them on the right, seven British armed vessels on the left, and strong block-houses and batteries of cannon in front. On entering the town, a battery of two cannon was opened on the centre column, composed of the regulars, with ball and grape, and a shower of musquetry from the houses and gardens. The battery was immediately stormed, and the musquetry was soon silenced by the steady and well-directed fire of the regulars.

The governor now made his appearance with a flag, and begged for mercy, offering to surrender the town and fort unconditionally. Mercy was granted, and protection given to the citizens and their property, although the officer commanding the fort refused to give it up, and held it till near midnight, when he evacuated it with his troops. The British moved down to the Barrancas, a strong fort commanding the harbour, and, finding that Jackson had gained possession of the town, next morning spiked and dismounted the cannon, and blew up the fort, just as the American troops were preparing to march and storm the place.

The British then withdrew to their shipping, and general Jackson, having accomplished his object, evacuated the town, and returned to the American dominions.

§ 11. The dangers impending over New Orleans, from the threatened expedition of the British, now rendered the presence of general Jackson highly necessary at that city. He arrived there with his troops on the 2d of December, and immediate measures of defence were adopted, by embodying the militia, repairing the forts on the river, &c.

A few days after Jackson's arrival, the British feet made their appearance in the Bay of St. Louis, and on the 12th, the fleet appeared in such strength off Ship island, as to induce lieutenant Jones, who commanded the American flotilla of gun-boats, to retire higher up the lake, to take a position to defend the passes to New Orleans. On the 13th, the American schooner Seahorse, which had been sent by the commodore that morning to the Bay of St. Louis, to assist in the removal of some public stores, was attacked by three of the enemy's barges. These were driven off, but being reinforced VOL. IV.

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