At a Council held in the Council Chamber at
Pensacola on Wednesday the 18th day of March 1778—
His Excellency laid before the Board the following Letters from New orleans &C which had been just received by Express Containing farther Intelligence respecting the proceedings of the Rebels in the Mississippi and the same being read were all ordered to be entered on the Minutes as follows
Letter from Mr William Wilton to His Excellency Governor Chester dated N Orleans 8th March 1778—
Sir/
I embrace this opportunity by a Canoe to the Honble. John Stuart Esqr with Letters to inform you that I arrived here Yesterday in the afternoon where I found every thing in the greatest Confusion many Planters Totally ruined by the Rebels taken their Negroes &C they have sent down the River and is in this Town about Sixty and many others on Board the Ship1 with property taken at Manchack &C. as well as from many other Plantations, whose Negroes there are in this Town I cannot learn only some belonging to Mr Comyn2 Poussett3 &C Your Negroes and Mr Livingstons4 are said all to be taken by Elliot5 which have Joined Willings6 Party at Manchac, they are now a Searching all the Plantations for Negroes &C They have a large property on Board the Ship which is on ground about three Miles below Manchac which they propose assoon asthey can get her off to bring to this Town and Sell the Negroes &C the whole Number is about Two hundred Men & Boys the greatest Banditti that was ever seen and them divided into three Parties about Thirty or Forty on Board the Ship & about fifty in this Town the remains on Board the Brig7 they have taken about nine Leagues below the Town of New orleans and at the Spanish side of the River They are now bringing her up to this Town She belongs to John Campbell laden with Lumber and Bound to the West Indies. These Rebels may with a Small party soon be dispersed and taken as they are the greatest part of them Joined Willing since his coming in this River.
I waited on the Governor8 yesterday but did not deliver your Letter or let him know I was any ways concerned in the Ship as you directed The Governor asked me many Questions whether you had heard any thing of it at Pensacola I told him I believed you had but only believed they were a Small Robber Party but of little Consequence and that I believed You relied if they attempted to take any thing from Manchack as it was under your Guns you would give Protection; to that he answered he could not interfere with asit was out of his Dominions it is thought here he will Suffer all the property taken to be sold here at Publick Vendue, there have been Numbers of Negroes taken from his side of the River. Pollock9 has declared himself Agent for the Congress—As Mr Campbell has sent down to Mr Stuart very full accounts of the whole Transactions with the Capitulation of the Inhabitants of the Natchez with Willing I refer you to these accounts which you may relie on to be facts I shall inform Captain Ferguson10 of the Situation of the Rebels on this River and that depend with great Secresy—and Should I have any thing further relating to the Province shall not fail of Acquainting Your Excellency with it by the first Conveyance I am [&c.]
Wm Wilton
Copy of an anonymous Letter11 to Mr John Campbell Merchant at N orleans dated Point Coupeé 1st. March 1778.
Dear Campbell
You have no doubt heard of the decent of the Americans and that they have carried every thing before them with fire and Sword by what I can learn. Mr. Willing left Philadelphia with 27 Men & that he hath been reinforced on the Rivers to the Number of a hundred or thereabouts—The Natchez declared for the United States almost to a Man. Harry Stuarts House has been plundered and he himself narrowly Escaped, being at Manchack. The Vessel at Manchack was taken
by Surprize12—Negroes and every thing Else, belonging to Comyns have been taken. But Bowker13 is Spared—The half of Castle's14 Negroes are Seized as the property of Smith. The houses of Walker and Alexander15 are burned to the Ground and as many of their Negroes as could be Catched are in their Possession. They are now gone down towards Batton Rouge—We understand from the French People that their Intention is to plunder and destroy all the way down to Manchack those whom they do not Consider as their Friends They have Got a Black list containing the names of Persons who are to be destroyed. I have learned the names of many, Alexander, Dunbar,16 Rob Ross, Taylor,17 Poussett, Williams18 and in Short all Royalists & Scotchmen—They ought to be now at Poussetts and his House will Probably be burned his Negroes have been removed to a Place of Safety—After leaving Manchack the Amit [Amite River] and Lakes are their next objects and they Come to Orleans by the Bayou of St. John's where they expect to sell their Booty after which they return up the River—This is the Plan they have given out tho' it may not be their real Intentions—I have fortunately fallen in with Mr Alexander here who had he been catched was to have been cut into a hundred Pieces—so they declared at the Fort here—We want your advice what is best to be done in the present Emergencies perhaps you can procure Permissions for us from the Governor to Settle with our Negroes here for a Season. I believe we shall save the greatest part of them—We have received much Friendship and Hospitality from the people here—Mr Willings Party is considered by every Body here as a Band of Robbers & Plunderers. Their Chief Aim is to Seize Negroes and other property without Inquiring your Principals—whether for or against them Three Companies of men upon the River would have prevented all this & I do not see what is to prevent their being Subdued even Yet. Alexr Ross will be Fleed alive if they Catch him and I'm told that Dunbars Principal Crime is having harboured him in his House at Baton Rouge & a Supposition, that they were Connected together in the Plantation
To Mr John Campbell
N Orleans— |
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To John Stuart Esqr.
Dr Sir—
You must long before this heard of the Party of Americans that is come down the River we were here uncertain of their Numbers until1 Two days ago. their friends gave out that there was at least 2000 Men; as those Stories may be carried to you Morgan19 Jointly with me have Employed the Bearer to whom we promised 30 Dollars. The Party is Commanded by a Mr. Willing and a Lieut: McIntyre20 They left Fort Pit the beginning of January last being then only 35 Men but recruited as they came down and before they got to Natchez was above 100—the People there Capitulated—a Copy you have Inclosed21—and many Joined them—and some they pressed finding themselves growing Strong—they did not Treat the Inhabitants below with the same lenity for they took all the Negroes and Property of those who they knew to be Friends to Government & have now in this Town at least 150 or Two hundred Negroes Governor Chesters among the Number—Eighteen men took the Ship at Manchack22 and then went to your Brothers but he luckily made his Escape to the Spanish Fort where he is now in Safety tho' they offered 500 Dollars too for his Head to the Corporal which he Refused. The small Party was Magnified in a Written Account sent by a Mr Livingston to a Mr Jones from 18. to 180 Rifle men which he said he saw himself at Mr Carpenters.23 this tho' under Mr Livingstons hand we know to be False. Mc.Intyreis now here & has been down at the Rivers Mouth where he took a Brig of Mine24—Captain Willing is bringing down the Ship; their whole numbers does not exceed 200 Men & on the least resistance most of those will disperse nor do they by their own Accounts expect any Reinforcement sooner than May—if then if the Atalanta25 will come into the River She will save the Vessel yet—The Spanish Governor to do him Justice has given a Friendly Protection to all those that came to the Spanish Territories I am [&c.]
Dond. Campbell—
Copy of Mr Wm. Wiltons Letter to the Honble.
David Hodge Esqr. dated N Orleans 8th. March 1778—
Dr Sir—
I embrace this opportunity of informing you that I arrived here last night where I found every thing in the greatest Confusion. almost all the Planters Robbed of their Negroes,
there is about 60 in Town and it is imagined will be put up to Publick Sale Many more is on Board the Ship26 which is aground about a League below Manchack Willing and about 30 Men is Trying to get her off. their party would be easily taken they have taken a Brig27 belonging to Mr John Campbell about Nine Leagues below the Town and at the Spanish Shore—all the Governors and Mr Livingstons Negroes are said to be taken by Elliot who have joined the Rebels. in Short every thing here is in the Greatest Confusion, all the Property it is said to be on Board the Ship taken from Manchack except some Indigo Swanson28 and others have taken to the Spanish Fort. The whole Number of Rebels is about Two hundred men and must have joined them since their arrival in this River they are now Divided into three Parties about 30 or 40 on Board the Ship some at New orleans and the remainder on Board Campbells Brig below the Town to bring the Brig to New Orleans. Pollock have declared himself Agent for the Congress
I waited on the Governor Yesterday but did not deliver the Governors Letter as the Ship was not come down. it is thought if they do not get her off that they will set her on Fire. I did not acquaint the Governor what I came for here or that I had the least concern in the Vessel The Governor Ask'd me many Questions whether they had heard of the Americans being in the Mississippi. I told him we had that a Small Robbing Party had taken a Ship at Manchack, but the Governor paid but little regard to it I believed that if it was true that his Fort at Manchack would protect the property there being within the reach of his Guns He gave for answer that he had nothing to do with it every one here thinks he will Suffer all the property to be sold. As Mr Campbell is Just going to send off a Boat with Letters to Mr Stuart with the Capitulation of the Inhabitants of the Natchez I refer you to these Letters which you may rely on for Truth I am &C.
P S I shall send down a Canoe to Capt. Fergusson at the Balise informing him of all Particulars here if I can get a Man I can trust; I expect the mate of the Ship here, if he arrives Shall send him.
Copy of a Letter from Lieutenant Burdon of His Majestys Armed Sloop the West Florida to His Excellency Governor Chester dated in the Lake Pontchartrain 3d March 1778—
Sir.
I have just received an Account that the Rebels are coming through the lakes by the Person I had wrote to you I had sent up to enquire & I hope he will arrive safe with Letters from People that are true. You may depend upon him, I hope to have the Florida Sloop in the Lakes by tomorrow or next day. They have an intention to attack me but I hope I shall give them play till I shall hear from you or Capn Lloyd for I shall not come out of the Lakes till I am obliged to fly I am &C
Geo Burdon
P S. I shall put the people to allowance but I hope by the Florida I shall receive Provisions29
Letter from Mr. Philip Moore to His Excellency Governor Chester dated Batton Rouge 24th February 1778—
Sir
Notwithstanding I have not the honor of your Excellencys acquaintance Yet my Zeal for His Majestys Service prompts me to inform you of the following Intelligence. Yesterday a negroe of Mr Watts returned here from Manchack and brought up Accounts, that the Rebels were there, that they had taken Possession of the Ship Rebecca Cox, that he saw Several men on Board her & in Town with Rifle Guns and Blanket Coats, that they had been hunting for Mr Henry Stuart who had fortunately Fled to the Spanish Fort with all the Negroes of Manchack that they (the Rebels) came the night before the last the Negroe was not acquainted with their Numbers, but Imagined they were about Twenty five, & that they intended to take the Ship down the next day when they were to be joined by the rest of their Party. This fellow has been Cross Examined and Persists in the same Accounts—Soon after the above a White man that lives on Mr Henry Stuarts Plantation at Point Coupeé arrived from thence with accounts that a Party of about three or four hundred men had destroyed every thing about the Plantation. besides Capn Cox Ship there are Several other Vessels in the River, if the Rebels have force Sufficient they will undoubtedly take them but it is to be wished that they will be Stoped by some of His Majestys Ships before they get far out of this River I have a Vessel here which I am Trading with Provisions for Governor Tonyn, which I expect every moment will fall into the hands of the Enemy as there is no Force assembled here to oppose them.
Your Excellency will be pleased to Excuse the Inaccuracy of this Letter as I have been upon the Watch all night I have the Honor to be [&c.]
Philip Moore—
Thomas Gibson the man who brought all the said Letters (except the one (No 5) from Lieut: Burdon which came by Henry Smith through the lakes) being then called before the Board Gave the following Information upon Oath
West Florida Information upon Oath of Thomas Gibson Mariner belonging to the Brig Neptune John Knowles Master now laying in the River Mississippi taken at Pensacola before His Excellency Peter Chester Esquire Captain General and Governor in Chief of His Majestys Province of West Florida & Ca. in Council
This Informant saith That Wednesday the fourth day of this Month he being on Board the Brig Neptune John Knowles Master then laying about Eleven Leagues below New Orleans laden with Lumber and outward Bound to Jamaica a Party of the Rebels in Number about Forty Commanded by McIntyre & Harrison30 (two of their officers boarded the said Brig Neptune and Seized her that on Seizing her they took the Master (John Knowles, three Passengers, to Wit, Mr. John Priest Capn Benjamin Hodgson & Mrs. Hamilton this Informant and the rest of the People out of her & put them on Board their Batteau and canied them up to New orleans—where the Passengers were set ashore—and the Brigs Seamen ordered with their Chests &C to Mr Pollocks the Rebel Agent where their said Chests were Examined—That the Rebels wanted to detain the Seamen offering them great Encouragement if they would enter in their Serviceand go on Board the Shipwhich they had taken but their Seamen all refused and put themselves under the Spanish Governors Protection That this Informant understood while he was at New orleans that the Governor had assigned the Rebels Quarters in a large Old House on the other side the River opposite to the Town That he Saw Several Negroes at Orleans which the Rebbels had Seized on the English Settlements on the River and he understood there were near Two hundred Negroes in all. That those he said were going in droves along the Streets (and as he was told) to Mr Pollocks House there to be Vendued for which itwas said he had the Governors Permission That he also heard the Spaniards had bought Several of the said Negroes very Cheap That he left New orleans on Sunday the Eight Instant in a Small Canoe & came to the Bay of Mobille & thence in an open Boat to this place, where he arrived late last night And this Informant farther saith That as they were Rowing up to New Orleans from the Brig at the time she was taken the Rebels in the Batteau told him that they Intended to go to Mobille and thence (if Strong enough in Numbers) to proceed to Pensacola—And farther Saith not
Sworn in the Council Chamber
at Pensacola on Wednesday the
18th. day of March 1778 before
His Excellency in Council |
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Attestr. Richd Combauld D Cler Concii
The advice of the Board being then desired upon the Papers before them
The Board unanimously recommended to His Excellency that Joseph Nunn and Thomas Lloyd Esquires Commander of His Majestys Sloops of War Hound and Atalanta now lying in this Harbour be requested to Assist at the Board and that the said Several Papers be laid before them These Gentlemen being accordingly sent for came into Council and the Several Letters abovementioned together with the Information being read to them The Board advise the Governor to request of Captain Nunn that he do proceed Immediately to the River Mississippi and Join the Sylph in Protecting this Province from the farther Incursions of the Rebels and that either the Hound or the Sylph be requested to go as high up the River as Manchack in order to dislodge any of the Rebels who may remain there & to intercept such of them as may attempt to Escape up that River And that Captain Lloyd be requested to remain here with the Atalanta for the defence and Protection of the Province until1 such further Intelligence can be obtained of the Strength and designs of the Enemy as may Render that measure unnecessary
Whereupon His Excellency wrote the following Letters to the said Gentlemen31
Sir/
The proceedings of a party of the Rebels under the Command of a Mr. James Willing Joined by a large Body of Banditti who have plundered the Inhabitants of the Province on the River Mississippi and carried their Negroes and Other property to New Orleans to be disposed of there as Communicated to You this day in Council Renders it necessary that some reinforcement Should be Immediately sent to His Majestys Sloop of War Sylph Captain Fergusson now lying in the said River—And the Inclosed Extracts of a Letter from Lord George Germain to me dated the 25th. January 1776. together with the Copy of his Lordships Letter to the Lords of the Admiralty dated Whitehall 22d January 1776 as likewise the Inclosed Extracts of Lord George Germains Letters to me of the 7th February & 2d July 1777. authorizeing me to make the Application in Cases of like Emergency32—It becomes my Duty to apply to you which I now do by the advice of His Majestys Council to proceed Immediately to the River Mississippi and Join the Sylph in Protecting this Province from the farther Incursions of the Rebels. It has been further recommended to me by the Council to request that either yourself or Captain Fergusson would proceed with one of His Majestys Shipsashigh up the Mississippias Manchack in order to dislodge any of the Rebels who may remain there and to Intercept such of them asmay attempt to Escape up that River and the other to be Stationed in such part of the said River as you may think most advantageous to His Majestys Service—
I have not the least Doubt that your Great Zeal for His Majestys Interest will induce you to Cooperate in any measure that can tend to the preservation and Security of West Florida and am upon this Occasion to thank you for Your Chearfull Compliance with such propositions as have been already made to you this day in Council I have the Honor to be [&c.]
Council Chamber Pensacola
18th March 1778 . . . . |
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Pr. Chester
It was also recommended to His Excellency that the Commanding Officer of the Troops be requested to send one hundred men if to be Spared from the necessary Duty of this Garrison to reinforce those already in the lakes—to Cooperate with the party of Rangers & Indians sent to the Nitabanie33 and upon receiving certain Intelligence that the Rebels are not in Force to proceed to take Possession of the Settlement of Manchack and also to keep up a Correspondence with His Majestys Ships in the River Mississippi and Lieut: Burdon of the West Florida in the Lakes.
Lieutenant Colonel Stiell34 being then requested to attend at the Board His Excellency made the above requisition at the same time desiring his Opinion thereupon to which the Lieut: Colonel replied that in his Opinion not One man could at this time be spared from the defence of this Garrison on account of the extensive line he had to defend and if they could be spared the Fort at Mobile ought to be the first reinforced—That his orders on leaving England were Expressly to defend Pensacola but should His Excellency think proper to give him any orders on the Subject he should conceive it his Duty to obey them. Upon which representation of Lieut: Colonel Stiell and the Captains of the Garrison having Unanimously given it as their opinion to His Excellency a few days ago that no Troops could be Spared from the Strength of this Garrison The Governor did not think proper to give Lieutenant Colonel Stiell any Positive orders for that purpose at present.
The Board farther advised that application be made to Colonel Stuart the Superintendant to send a Party of such Rangers as could be spared and a Body of Indians under the Command of a Captain to the Natchez and that Colonel Stuart be offered a Guard or Centries at his House for his Protection from the Troops in Garrison in Lieu of the Rangers he may send off
And then the Board adjourned to Six oClock this evening.