The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1807-01-22

marched from this city on our arrival al the
rapids of the Red river, we received orders from
the general that none but our troop Of d'ago ms
was required To come on and that the ref ~ isht
return, the Spaniards having principally recrof-
fed the Sabine; on our arrival at Natchitoch.s,
the head quarters OF the army, we fpent fomc
time in making the necefIary arrangements for
an expedition to the banks the Sabine, viii, h
the Spaniards declared they would oppofe, to
the utmof of their power in a few days we
fet out, our force confaed of between 5 and
600 regulars, company of mounted infantry,
and our company of Dragons. The mounted
inf'ntry, commanded by major We!ih, kept
or S miles in the advance, our troop imme-
diately in the advance of the regulars, and the
baggage in the rear Of the whole in this order
we moved on not making more than or 20
miles day !; on the third days march, we were
met by Spanlh officer with EFFORT, hearing
difpate hes from the commander of the Spanfh
forces, Rating that he would con6der our adj
vances an ACT of hoaility towards his govern
ment, and was bound to oppofe as with force.
knew not what reply the general made, how
ever we proceeded on as before, keeping our
felves in a complete Fate C readiuefs, for all
attack by the Spaniards, who were then fad
TO be three times our number 70 confident
was the general Of an engagement, that he
thought proper to lay down the line of battle
by general order; we met with no oppoliti-
or and enc amped on the banks of the Sabine,
two or three miles above the Spanifh camp,
which had been moved over on the oppoGte
iide, whence we awaited their operations for
two or three days; at length a communication
took place between the general and the Spanifh
commandant, between whom it was agreed,
that the Spanifh forces fhoald retire feventy or
eighty miles beyond the Sabine, and that the
Tvn,N - H. IL.
toches, there to await the termination of the
negotiation now pending between the United
States and Spain. After this understanding
took place, feyeral of our troops, with myfelf,
paid vift to the Spanlh camp, where we were
treated by the governor and officers with every
attention their number as far as could learn,
was about 1900, all mounted their drefs and
equipment would be great curiolity to Penn
fylvanan their arms conlilt cf fufee carried
acrofs the PADDLE before them, a fword about
two feet long, piftol faftened to their PADDLE
behind, Il fpear with handle eight or ten feet
long; they have kind Of ihield, made of raw
hides which they hold in their left hand and
wear on their breaft occafionally, each folder
has from five to eight horfes or mules, when
one is broke down they take another they in
formed us, they had loh upwards of three
thoufand horfes and mules Gnce they fet out on
the expedition.
"Wtre it not necefIary to preferve what
we confider our territory inviolate from the en-
croachments of a foreign power, the part in
contention is not worth the trouble and ex-
pence this campaign has incurred the land
at leaft, what feen, is worth little or nothing
on our difcharge, the u. S. troops were i'm
mediately ordered TO Orleans to fortify that CT
ty, and put it in fate of defence, from which
l conceive fomething curiousis fill expected"
aurora.