The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-04-10
DOMESTIC.
LATEST FROM EAsr-FLoR1pA.
CHARLES ToN


In addition to the, Information which we
have heretofore received from that quarter,
we learn by Captain Baker, of the Loueiy
Less, that the Revolutionists having posses
sed themselves of Amclia-Island, LETT $50
men Tor Its protection, and proceeded to
take possession of three small Fortresses e.
rected on the River St. Johns. During
these operations, the Patriots had added
considerably to their force, and immediately
afterwards pushed for ST. Augustine.
captain Baker left Amelia Island on Fri
day evening last, where some officers had
arrived, giving information of the troops
having taken possession of the town of st.
Augustine, and summoned the garrison to
surrender, which twas supposed they would
do on the following day. The U. States
brig ptren, and the gun-boats, had sailed
| from Amelia the former to cruise off ST.
Augustine bar, and the latter, from their
light draft OF water, would cross it. The
Revolutionlsts,in conjunction with the Uni
TED States troops, were commanded by Gen.
Matthews and Col. Smythe. Capt. Baker
was four days at Amelia Island, and was an
eye witness to what passed during the tax
ing possession OF it. He computes the num-
Der OF Spanish RevoluiionIsts and Ameri-
cans, at about 500; the force opposed to
theuLat st. Augustine does not exceed eco.
1t appears to be the orders Of the Commo-
dore CAMPBELL, to accept the possession
OF those different places from, the hands of
the Spanish Revolutionists. Capt. Baker
Informs us, that all the inhabitants of Ame-
ia, excepting those who arc deeply COZ
cerhed in British trade, rejoice at the chan
ges which have, and which are likely to
take place IN that quarter.--Iines.
The most conspicuous leaders among the
kcvolutioniSts, were Messrs MINTosH,
ASHLEY, and Cook, Spanish subjects, but
not Spaniards by birth and Messrs. EoAG,
Marshall of the District of st. Mary's
CLARKE, Postmaster at St. Mary's, and
YOUNG, ship-carpenter at that place,
were also active leaders in the cause.
Two battaliops of Gen. FLoYD's tlivi-
sion or Georgia militia, under the command
OF Col. SMYTHE, of the u. ). army, were
expected at Amelia the day after the Ri
stns-Sum sailed /; when the is. treops
then at that place, consisting of one compa-
| ny OF ritiemen and a small detachment Of
| lying artillery and dismmDted cavalry, a
mounting in all to about 100 men, were to
proceed on for St. Johns, under the orders
OF Gen. Mathews, who is acting as com
mander III chief of the naval and military
torces ot the y. 5. i'll that quarter, and v ho
mas taken possession OF Florida, through the
agency OF the Revolutionists as he SAYS. I'M
der the express orders of the government
OF the United States
-Four gun-boats sailed from Amelia for
ot. Johns or st. Augustine, the beginning
| or the last week, to Cooperate with the Re
voiutionists who had gone agains- those p!a-
ces.
temporary custom house had been o.
pened at Amelia lsand, by Mr. LEWIS
deputy collector at ST. Mary's, ard several
small vessels had been cleared out in BAL
last coast-wise ; but it was not the inten-
ton OF Gen. MATHEWS to allow any If the
goods lying at that place to be introduced
INTO the y. >. until the terms of capitu!aLion
mentioned IN the subloined letter, had re-
ceived the Sanction,of The President Of the l.
States
We have been favored with the following
copy OF Commodore CAMPBELL's Letter to
the Spanish Commandment, alluded to in o.,r
former publication-Don JUsTo LoPEz,
had requested Commodore CAMPBELI in
case it was his intention to act offensivev a |
ganst East Florida, to take possession of
Ameiia-lsland i'll the name of the United
states. Ill which case he offered to surren-
DER IT to hiIp--to which request lie receives
the following reply -
United States Gun Goat NO 16A
March II, 1912.
SIR waited until this late hour for an
answer from General MATHEWS, in which |
have been disappointed, and beg that this |
~ ~" "ppitSS iVi hOl iiic \ ing an ear |
lier reply to your letter by Mr.. ATx1NsoN |
now beg leave to irfCrm you, that the a. |
mcrcan naval force near Amelia, is not m /
tended to act in the name the u. states.
but to aid III support Of a large proportion
OF your country men in arms, who have
thought proper TO declare themselves indie |
pendent, and are now IN the act Of calii,r =. |
YOU to JOIN in their undertaking. You will
readily conceive. sir. the task imposed on !
me ; yet Batter myself that it will be &C
comp.ished without the eFusinn Of human
blood. while the arm OF humanity and pyo- |
teo'IDn will be extended to objects thus
deserving,
have the honor to De, with great res
poet, sir,
Your most obsdient servant
(Signcd) HUGH 9. CAMPBTLI.
Dan JaSto Lcfez, C2m.UaH,Iahf NJ -.4Qrlia.
Charic8f0n Couier.1
Ertfrcf. IF n letter 10 nm, Ruff. Eso
boefnaafer ~ Cincinnati, datcd Ghaynfe
fo57l (beiow moWih # tie Ua6ash, J 5rd
1hdrch. 1872
" I embrace tdis moment u nv STOPPING nc
!lis place, tn inf4rm yot that the Indi:nsare
embodied about 200 uiics from This place, 60
amount of rear f5UC, wiki hostile intent
principally Of the KIrNapco tribe and stray
glers headed BY tlic Kich lpco chief. ecvc-
raj corps " volunteers marched from this
place Oh sunday last. u l.cep a good iook ous
Tor them. There are fcw in the vicin,t,