Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1812-04-24

gustine Tor Nassau, with the same informa-
ton.
Opinions were various NJ Amelia, whe-
Their the Revolutiouists would or would nor
be able TO gain possession of Augustine
il was said that there were three or four
hundred regular Soldiers in the fortress,
and that there we're besides many of the in.
habitants who would oppose them On
the other hand, they and their friends,
spoke with the greatest confidence of sue.
cess.--In their progress towards St. Au-
gustine, the Revolutionists took a small
fort near St. Johns, in which there were
6 guns and about 40 soldiers, but they had
previously evacuated it, and retreated to.
wards ST. Augustine.
The most conspicuous leaders among the
Revolutionists, were Messrs. M'rntosh,
Ashley, and Cook, Spanish subjects, but
not Spaniards by birth and Messrs. Hoag,
Marshall OF the district of st. Mays;
Clarke, Post-Mastev at St. Mays aud
Young, a ship. carpenter at that place, we're
also active leaders in the cause.
Two battalions of Gen. Floyd's division
OF Georgia Militia, under the command of
Col. Smythe, of the u. States army. we're
expected at Amelia the day after the Rising
Sun sailed when the u. States troops then
at that place, consisting of one company Of
rilemen and a small detachment of flying
artillery and dismounted cavalry, amount-
ing in all TO about 100 men, we're to pro.
coed on for St. John's. under the osders of
Gen. Mathews, who is acting as m
der in chief ofthe naval and military forces
of the u. States in that quarter, and who
has taken possession Of Florida, through
the agency of the R~evolutionists, az he
says, under the express orders Of the 60.
vernment Of the u. States.
Four guu.boats sailed from Amelia fos
ST. Johns. or St. Augustine. the beginning
OF the last week, to cooperate with the
Revolutionists who had gone against those
places.
A temporary custom. house had been o.
pened at A melia. island. by Mr.. Lewis, de-
putty collector at ST. Mays, and several
small vessels had been cleared out in ballast
coast.wise ; but II was not the Intention of
Gen. Mathews to allow any of the goods
living at that place to be introduced into the
u. States until the terms of capitnlation
mentioned in the subjoined letter, had re.
ceived the sanction of the President Of the
u. States.
We have been favored with the following
copy of Commodore Campbelps Lcttcrsto
the Spanish commandment. alluded to in our
former paublication-Don Justo Lopez,
had requested Commodore Campbell, in
case it was hi. intention to act Extensively
against East Florida, to take possession of
Amelia Island in the name of the United
| States, 10 which case he offered to surrcn.
der it to him-to which request he receives
the following reply:-
United States Gun Boat No. 164.
March II, 1915.
.Siy,-I waited until this late hour for N
answer from Gen. Mathews, IN which I
have been disappointed, and beg, that this
may be an apology for not making an earlier
reply to your letter by Mr.. Atkinson. I
now beg leave to inform you, that the A.
merican naval force near Amelia, is not in-
| tended to act in the name Of the u. States,
but to aid in support of q large proportion
Of your country men IN arms, who have
thought proper TO declare themaelves indie.
pendent, and are now in the act of calling
on you to join in their undertaking. You will
readily conceive, sir, the task imposed on
me ; yet A latter myself that it viii be ac-
complished without the eausiou of human
blood. while the arm of humanity and pro-
lection will be extended to objects thus de-
serving.
have the honor to be, with great res
pect. sir, your most obedient servant
(Signed) HUGH G. CAMPBELL.
Don JJusto Lopez, Commandanf at Amelia.
Extract Of a letter fran Fernand;no (Ame-
liza Lland) March 81, 1912.
"In my last l gave you a hint OF what