the command of brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls on Vincent island, I proceeded with him to Prospect Bluff, where I learnt that brevet Captain Woodbine had proceeded to Pensacola in H.M. sloop Sophie, for the purpose of communicating with and assisting a party of friendly Indians, driven by the Americans into the Spanish territory near that place. On my return from the Bluff, I found a vessel had arrived from Pensacola, hired by Captain Woodbine to bring the arms, ammunition, and every thing from the depot at the Bluff to Pensacola, having leave to that effect from the governor.
“Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls then proposed immediately re-embarking the detachment for the purpose of proceeding to that place: I expressed a doubt that the governor would allow them to land, but the Lieutenant-Colonel’s orders directing him to assist the Spanish nation, should they require it, which it appeared they were about to do, as they were threatened with an attack from the Americans; I assented to re-embark the marines and proceed to that place; acquainting him at the same time with my firm determination, in the event of not receiving a request from the Governor to land them, immediately to return to the anchorage off the Apalachicola, as I had promised the Captain-General, at the Havannah, not to land on Spanish territory without being requested to do so.
“On the 21st August I left Apalachicola, and arrived at this anchorage on the 23rd; having fallen in with, off the bar, and brought with me H.M. sloop Sophie. I fortunately found that a letter from the governor had been sent to me, requiring the naval force might be brought down, as he was threatened with an attack by the Americans: on the next morning I waited on the governor, when he requested me to disembark the detachment, ammunition, &c. which I immediately complied with. The fort San Miguel, the only one near the town, was put into the hands of Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls; and the British colours were hoisted in conjunction with the Spanish, which he informed me was done with the governor’s approbation.
“You will have received from Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls, the details of the previous proceedings of Captain Woodbine, and every other information relative to the Indians. On the 29th August, I directed Captain Lockyer of H.M. sloop Sophie, to proceed to Barataria, (taking with him an officer belonging to the detachment, the bearer of letters from Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls) to communicate with that people, and in the event of his finding them disposed to co-operate with H.M. forces against the enemy, to hold out to them that they should be considered as British subjects, and have lands assigned them in H.M. colonies, and to deliver to them a letter containing proposals to that effect, on the condition of their armed vessels being put into my hands until the pleasure of the commander-in-chief should be known[1]. Since we arrived here we have been completing the squadron in water and provisions.
- ↑ Lafitte, the commandant of the Baratarian freebooters, received with
