Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-10-27


ed to take different position. Sau.e TINA
after, there was a report, t.idt = .ieet uns
der English colorS were actually cruising
OFF the mouth of the Miss ssilpi, and thls
increased the alarm. Mr. Barr Was 10
| a fact or not, that this fleet WAS therei A
| do not know. Such vas the report and
it was brought up by a packet which comes
up weekly from The Baiize. 1t was not said
TO be fleet OF merchantmen but of ships
| Of war. The report was, 1 believe, Oh the
counting-house books. MIR Bradford, tina
printer, also made q communication 10 me
ON the 9Th OF January, which produced y
considerable effect. He informed me that
he had spent some time in the city ul tYash=
llngton and Philadelphia and from Philax
ldelphIa he had travelled to Pittshurg; and
from thence proceeded to New Orleans
| that he had seen a number of men under
arms at the mouth OF Cumberland river;
two gun boats building, which the men ~
work on board told him would be delivered
up by Col Lyon to Col Burr; besides d NUNS
Der OF small arms and 80 FOUNDER, ready
70 go aboard, and that this fioti,la was to be
under the command of Capt Talbot. MIR
1M}tae. Did this information reach Gen
Wilkinson A Yes. told him OF il, NV
self. The communication was made in the
company of Mr. Haynes and Maj Spence.
MIR Wirt. What was the situation Of New
Orleans at that time Was il in IA conli-
tion TO DEFEND itself against any attack by
sea! A 1t was in very defenceless cons
dition. Mr. WtckhGM. Were these rus
mors before Gen Wilkinson's arrival az
New Orleans, or afterwards? A After.
wards Gen Wilkinson made to me full
communication of all he knew; dare say,
a week before it was known to the public,
lie Showed me the cyphered letter FROM
Gen Dayton, with his signature Joit, This
enabled me the sooner to get my naval pre-
parations ready. Mr. Hay. Did Gen w.
give you this information under injuuctions
10 keep it secret, until the proper time
should come for divuiging it !? a He did i;
until he could obtain more complete inforS
nation from some of Col Burrs agents then
in town. Mr. Hoy. Was Col Freeman then
at New Orleans! a He was
MIR Uirt. What was the strength of the
garrion in New-Orleans? a In the upper
fort there were Founders and one "a
FOUNDER Al! the guns in the lower fort
were dismantled In the upper fort thera
were men and corpora's guard, ! am
sure there were not more than guns
there. Mr. Wirt. What was the nunbrr
Eof regular men in garrion, 4 1t was q
small garrison. Generally, there were
parts of companies of regulars there,
What was the precise number Of men do
not recoilect. Mr. Hay. Did not thost,
who were responsible for the safety of N.
Orleans suspect many OF disaff ction? A
did suppose, that there were many In and
near New-CrIears who were inim;cal to
the government of The United States.-Mr
Ufrt. Suppose an attack had been made
BY a feet from below and an army from
above, would the people of the city have
resisted with proper spirit? a thought,
Sir, that the people were not as patriotis
as they OUCH, tohave bcen. Many endeavors
ed to discourage t!,e belief, that there was
any danger of an attack,
Cross Eramined Mr. Efckham. Did
Gen Wilkinson show you the oyphered let
ter! n Yes, in manuscripr. q hid he
show Won the translation? a lie d,d. q
Was it Gen Wi,kinson's copy 4 so IN.
dcrstood it. Q As q copy of the whole
otthe letter? A Yes; as The true copy OF the
whole otthe ietter, received by gen W.lkiDs
son thro' Mr. Swarlwout. Z DiGyOu say
there were companies of regulars at ii.
Orleans \ ] sand they were mex foil,
y Was there any alarm, before Gen Will
kinson GOT down ? A None tbat heard
ct. MIR Wckham. Did you SUSPECT ,he
people of New. Orleans 70 DC dIsa fected
because they would not believe these IA,
! morS y No, not ioT that reason. ] bee
lieved them disafiected, for other reasons,
Mr. HfckhGm. Whilst these run.ors pre-
vailed, did the ordinary commerce of I'm
I fiat-bottonled boats coming down tie river
continue 4 il did. Q Did the mailsar.
! rive as usual A They we're not REGULAR
IN January, though some OF my letters were
detained, and then determined to comy
municate with the government by water,
/ Q Did you obey any orders from Gen VIII
knson No; our service was quite dis
tinct. But had orders to cooperate with
| gen Wilkinson and he might send the
squadron to what point he pleased, Q VINO
gave you the orders to spprfhend col BurrI
/ n they were from government and think
from gen Wilkinson. My orders from tho
government have been published, and /
suppose col Burr may have seen them in
Natchez. The original orders are at nv
lodgings Here Mr. Hay produced copy Of
these orders Mr. Burr That is not tho
order, of commodore Shaw, which was
+, published at Natchea A (Having read
Ito The very same, sir, Der6atin. O
q Did you not see an order in the newspag
perz, directing my boats to be DESTROYED,
&c. a ] did not, sir. These orders
q Chose IN his handy were put Oh toe customs
> house books. Mr. RHrr. Was there any
t qualification eli atfacfed" IN the order
p tnat wss published a There was. O
Was it not an order, to attack and destroy
lWituOut ANY qualification A On NO II