Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1812-10-05
At sted by WM. holland, See'y Con.


At 'sted by WIN. holland, See'y Con.
@
MILLEDGEVILI,E, g. Sept. Is.
One Of the volunteers from this place
arrived here yesterday direct from the
camp in East Florida, having been dis
charged in consequence OF Ill health
Tie following letter was received by
one Of the editors from an sficer ofthe
detachment.
East Florida, Mczv Switzerland,
81. Johns, Sent. I'd. 1917.
We are on the east side of the Saint
Johns, 90 miles froc, Augustine, and 90
miles up TIE rivor. There has nothing
We, been done aud Of course not much
can be said However, we are nov un-
der orders to march into the Indian ma
tion, which is about three days march,
and the only thing which decays our ex.
petition is the w.nt Of a few rack hors-
o. and guides. We apprehend consi.
derabls difficulty in obtaining them, for
We have never received any assistance
from the inhabitants of this country, and
if the whole world were drained to the
dregs,. there could never be found such
another collection as the constituted au-
<horiiies of this province, mean the
Ps!rioss-althouyh we protect their
lives and property. they would willingly
receive every soldiers knapsack in the
detachment !or quart of milk Unless
We take by force both men and horses,
We shall have 70 fack ourselves.
Owe have 10 lament the increase OF
sickness in our camp, which augnents
daily, The Indians nave contnltted
many acts of savage cruelty, and are en-
coaraged no doubt by the unfeelng
Dons. Col. Smith still remains in camp
before Augustine, nnmolested, but an
attack has been expected the sickness
of his troops it i, thought will compel
him TO retire shortly. | am anxious to
see this province in the possession OF the
United States, but hope they will have
nothing to do with the Patriots"
"A letter from another officer OF the
detachment states, that from 80 to 40 of
their number were sick ofinflammatory
complaints, and capt Coleman, OF Nor
gan was quite ili-taat the Patriots had
hired two Yankee privatcers TO block
ade the port Of Augustine, and that the
garrison was supposed to have very
short supply of provisions
One of the early adventures in the
revolution of East Florida, writ sto his
friend in this place under date OF the 81
September, as follows:
"Our prospects are most gloomy
All of our men IN authority have sought
shelter in Georgia, ,nd the Jew remain
ing inhabitants are left Without any go
yernment but that Of arms Surround
sd by Spaniards ard Indians, we still
hold on with weak and prec@rious gar
rison, expecting succor unless 1t spec
dily arrives We must ali abandon the
pfoyince. no longer Look up to our
chiefs for relief. They have given such
examples of timidity, that the people
arc generally driving their Cattle over
the ST. NJ ,ry's, and the resources ot ex-
istence will soon be deficient. l wish
to God an end could be put 10 our trou-
bles In some way. am almost ready
20 set Are 10 ray own h>use and SO Oh
BY the light to some other country.
"The operations of colonel Newman's
nen have been paralizcd for the want OF
cava,sY. Colonel Smith is on" main
stay but I atm in daily fear, from the
scarcity of provisions, that he Will be
compelled To retreat. The necessi'ies
Of Augustine would have been 'ues as
10 have forced it to surrender neiofe
now, if the ferry had been blockaded /;
ct present, Indians, cattle, and all sup
.plies pass and repass freely.
1t was stated By Us few weeks ago,
that a reouisition for about one thousand
of the d!aftsd militia OF TINS state hao
been made BY the general government
and that it wa, expected they would be
S,ordered into service very soon ne
sreouisition has certainly been MADE, ana
nothing but the illness OF the governor
and hardness of the brigadier-generals
in furnishing returns have prevented
their taking the6eld. Four companies
Twill be ordered to Savannah and an en-
hire regiment to ST. Mary's lmmsaia's'
Ily after they are organized.
The Creeks, we understand, have sen'
, depu,ation to the Lotchvsy or semi
pole Indians, demanding reParahon io'
kheir late outrages on our frontier con-
kisnouS n Florida. and have sworn their
determination in case of refusal. a
ouncil composed of the chiefs OF oo'h
3 larties is to be held al Sta MARKS inc
9Th Of this month, to discuss che SUD-
Is ect.