172 standing. From that moment I ceased to communicate with the person then in authority in Augustine, because I believed it to be a gross insult offered to the honour and integrity of our government. The President's sentiments upon this point I solicited, but never received them: probably it was improper I should. I have the honour to be, &c. D. B. MITCHELL. Mr. Monroe to Governour Mitchell. Department of State, SIR, I have had the honour to receive your letter of the 19th ultimo, from Milledgeville, acknowledging the receipt of mine of the 6th of July, and communicating the state of our affairs with the Spanish authorities in East Florida, at the time you left Savannah. The President finds with regret, that the governour of East Florida has declined entering into an engagement with you, to secure from molestation or harm, such of the inhabitants as had been encouraged by governour Matthews, in a mistaken view of his powers, to engage in certain revolutionary measures there; and also, that at the time when a fair and just provision in their favour was under discussion, he had made an attack on the troops of the United States, under the command of colonel Smith, who had been necessarily advanced for the safety and protection of these people. It appears also, that in the same spirit the governour of East Florida had excited the Indians to commit acts of hostility against the United States, and that that there was serious cause to apprehend, that under his influence, the combination of the Indian tribes against us would be increased, and their aggressions be proportionably more extensive and injurious. The conduct of the governour of East Florida, has excited much surprise, more especially when the liberal and friendly conduct of this government towards Spain is taken into consideration. As soon as it was known that general Matthews had transcended his powers, the President revoked them and committed them to you, with authority to restore the territory to the governour of the province, on the condition, that satisfactory assurance should be given you, that the people who had acted at his instance, on the faith of the United States, should not be punished or mo lested for it. It was hoped and presumed that this condi tion would have been promptly acceded to, or rather that a just policy would have anticipated it. It was impossible to foresee that the frank and liberal proposal of the United States, to restore the territory to the Spanish authorities, after disavowing the conduct of their own officer, and displacing him, whereby the authority of Spain would have been confirmed over it, under their sanction, would have been met by acts of direct and open hostility. The wrongs heretofore received from Spain, with which you are well acquainted, independent of other considerations, of sufficient weight in themselves, would have justified the United States in taking possession of that province, as an indemnity to our citizens. These wrongs have been borne, in the expectation that the motive could not have been mistaken, and that the period was not remote, when the Spanish authorities, by whomsoever wielded, reciprocat ing a similar sentiment towards this country, would make ample reparation for them. To abandon the people who had relied on the faith of the country, however improperly pledged, to the resentments of the Spanish authorities, which evidently awaited them, while the government of Spain made no recompense to the United States for losses, or atonement for insults, would have been inconsistent with the sympathies due to their situation. To do it after the outrages more recently received, which you have communicated, without a satisfactory arrangement, would be still more reprehensible. On a full view of your conduct in this important and delicate transaction, I am happy to communicate to you the entire approbation, and the thanks of the President. In accepting the trust, you gave a proof of patriotism, and the discharge of its duties has been distinguished by the abilities and judgment, which the nature of the case required. That more precise instructions were not given you, for the reinforcement of the troops under the command of colonel Smith, in case the Spanish authorities should refuse to give you the satisfactory assurance desired in favour of the people in East Florida, to whom the pub VOL. IX. 23 lick faith had been pledged, proceeded from a hope and belief, that that contingency would not happen, and a confidence, if it did, that your judgment, looking distinctly to the nature of your trust, and its duties, would supply the omission. The President is aware that your duties in the office of chief magistrate of Georgia, which will now become more active, will render it difficult, if not impossible for you in future, to execute those with which you have been charged in regard to East Florida. Willing to relieve you from that burden, he proposes to transfer the powers lately committed to you, to major general Pinckney, with whose situation and functions, they have a convenient relation. I have therefore to request that you will have the goodness to communicate with him on the subject, and to furnish him with such information as may be useful to him. I have the honour, &c. JAMES MONROE. Governour Mitchell to Mr. Monroe. Milledgeville, October 13, 1812. SIR,-The affairs of East Florida have assumed, within a few weeks past, a very serious and alarming aspect. As I had the honour to state to you, in a former letter, the governour of St. Augustine has succeeded, in stirring up the Seminolie Indians (a part of the Creeks) to a state of openly hostility with us. They have broke up the settlements on St. Johns, have driven off the peoples' slaves, and stock of every description, and destroyed what they could not carry off. They have also, a part of them, gone into Augustine, and colonel Smith's letter, a copy of which is enclosed, will inform you of their object there. Colonel Smith had determined, under the discretionary orders which I had given him, in consequence of his men having become sickly and the departure of the volunteers, to remove to a healthy position on the St. Johns, and only a few days before he began to put that determination into execution, his party, escorting the provision waggons, was attacked by a motley set of black and red savages. Colonel Smith is now, however, both in a secure and healthy situation, but his force is weak, when every man, under his command, is fit for duty. Under the present circumstances, if colonel Smith was withdrawn or compelled to retire from the province, it would be attended with the most fatal consequences to Georgia, and indeed nothing short of the whole military strength of the state, being brought to act against the Indians and negroes, would, in my opinion, save her from the very worst evils imaginable. To reduce the state to such a situation cannot, I am certain, be either the intention or the interest of the general government, and I shall therefore confidently hope, that the Secretary at War will be required to order the United States commanding officer in Georgia to order all the disposable force here under colonel Smith. Could a company of artillery be possibly spared, they would be of vast importance to his command. Whatever additional force may be ordered, I hope and trust it will be under an officer inferior in point of grade and date of commission to colonel Smith, for he has borne the brunt for a long time, and in justice to his feelings and merits, he is entitled to command the troops that may be in that province until the business is settled. By next mail I expect to have it in my power to send you some documents from the Indians themselves, that part of them who profess friendship for the United States. I am, sir, &c. &c. D. B. MITCHELL. Colonel Smith to Governour Mitchell. Depot, Davis's Creek, 20 miles north of St. Augustine, September 22, 1812. SIR,-The period has at length arrived when it is absolutely necessary to order a respectable reinforcement to aid me in the reduction of St. Augustine, and the destruction of all the Indian settlements in this province, or that we should be withdrawn; the latter would be to me the most painful movement of my life, and I hope your excellency will order the force necessary to effect the former as soon as possible. The escort with the provision waggons, under the com. mand of captain Williams, was attacked on the 12th instant, by a party of Indians and negroes from St. Augustine, to the number of fifty or sixty. Captain Williams's command consisted of a non-commissioned officer and nineteen privates, besides drivers. Captain Fort, of the Milledgeville volunteers, was with the party. The attack was made at the 12 Mile Swamp, between 8 and 9 o'clock at night, and lasted about twenty-five minutes. The result was unfavourable to us, having lost our waggons; had both the officers, and six privates wounded (captain Williams in eight places, and I fear mortally) and the noncommissioned officer killed. Captains Williams and Fort acquitted themselves highly to their honour, and would have been victorious, beyond a doubt, if either of them had escaped for a few minutes, as an order had been given to charge, and the enemy began to give ground. The Indians fled the second fire, yelling like devils. I would have made an effort to take St. Augustine immediately, but my detachment is so reduced by disease, that I cannot furnish the necessary camp guards. I expect to remove to a healthy situation on the St. Johns in a few days, and if the volunteers (gone at present against the Lotchaway towns) will consent to serve to the fall of St. Augustine, I will procure, without delay, the necessary transport and supplies, and invest it closely the moment that three or four hundred additional men can be raised for that service. The volunteers have been very unhealthy, as many as one hundred and five on the sick list at a time, and I am fearful, I shall not be able to get more than one hundred and twenty of my detachment on their legs in time. Captain Neeley died on the 20th instant; his men have acted like veterans; without shoes or indeed clothing of any kind, they have always been ready for any duty they were ordered on. They would be infinitely more serviceable if they could be clothed. I hope your excellency will devise some plan by which they can be supplied, as the laws of the United States do not provide for clothing volunteers. The following is the plan I have in view, if a reinforce. ment is sent on: My detachment, one hundred and twenty.; volunteers, one hundred and fifty; then wanting three hundred, making five hundred and seventy, to be disposed of |