The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-05-08
EEiE EN0UiisIzR.
~ EAST FLORIDA a.,
- r-r'''a
RICHMOND, MAY 8, 1919.

IL E.fST FLORIDA sc.
We are favored with, the following Ex
tract OF letter from respectable Citizen
of Richmond (now to the Southwart!,) adj.
dressed to his friend in this City---dated
co. Lhc4f ID, ,d.hril &c..
We advanced to small town on the
Aitanlahaw river just above it's junction " ith
the sea, and here were stopped, not being
able to SO on by land upless in a very circui-
tous route to st. Mary's, and the ONLY pos
sibie chance is in an open boat in which the
mail is carried, 4 considerable distance be-
tween SO and 90 miles; and this kind OF
travelling, you know, would not answer mr.
purpose but fortunately we fell in with s,
were introduced to Mai Isaacs of the u. S.
Army, nov aid to Gen. Mathews the agent
{ condfHonal, sue freSun'e, Of the u. States,
on his way to Washington to procure the
rules and regulations for the government OF
the Territory. He is polite, intelligent
man, and afforded us every information: his
recital afforded much qualification and was
as follows: The whole province had been
subjugated by the Patriots and delivered o.
yer to the Agent of the U. States, except the
fort OF Augustine, which still held out, but
was closely eii,ironed by the besiegers, and
all communication cut off by land, and by
water aiso by our Gun-boa, S, except it was
Afforded by the Spaniards and they were
ordered NOT to MODEST them but no aid from,
that quarter has been Afforded There had
been some viilainois attempts by some inha-
oitanes OF our country toget in some sup
pines, II VIII not call them Citizens but
| hesc attempts werefruit less, and ten Hhsls
| II rum had fallen into the hands of the Pa
| riots, who have also ventured up under the
discharge OF cam n and driven off 5 O head
| 'f Cattle belonging 10 the Spanish Comman-
| Ter. There had only been two negroes kill
! ed, and one or two horses. / understand
that the Patriots are well disciplined and
4 conduct themselves in a manner highly no.
norabie to the cause in which they are en-
gagged: their Commander is Col. Min
t"sh, a native OF this state, who from adj
verse fortune removed to that country six
or eight years ago and has become xtreme-
ly veal H.: the Spanish Commander issu-
ed proclamation with promise of pardon
TO all VINO would resign their arms and gn
home, except Mlntosh, But it did not avail
they increased instead OF diminishing
| here are about $50 men in the Fort $50 OF
them who have absContled from
TINS state and are now trained to the use
OF ar-ns) IT'S said that with the excep
ton OF these last who are Influenced by o.
her causes the Commander keeps his men
IN awe by threats that if one of them at
te,nPts to neglect'his duty, he Will turn HIS
guns upon the town (wh CHI is just by the forty
and destroy their families who reside there
and 1t any attempt be made to remove their
| ianilies, that death shall be the conse-
quencc. The Patriots intended on the e.
vening Of the 18th Curreat TO make some
! movements by advancing in different drec-
| IONS, not to endanger their men :. they
| Gould at any moment take possession of the
t'wn, but humanity has prevented the cxpe-'
r'ment as the inhabitants must inevitably
tail victims. 4 learn that the Patriots. on
! ther march from st. Mary's to Augustine,
preserved the greatest order; no depreda-
lions were permitted or attempted on the
property of the Inh ibitaIts. ~
| "Out OF So vessels, loaded and cleared
mere, out TWO were able to escape the EN-
| Dargo-these were small and to."ed out
ne rest were kept by the wind Which blew
Almost hurricane and AHEAD II have ne
yer been 30 much convinced of the utility o.
the Gun-boat system till visited this south
ern Country: the many bars and necks OF
ldnd running out into the arms of the sea, @
yer winch fhey can pass but which are i'm
passablc tor large Vessels renders them for
! nldabie to orr enemies making nroads ON
cur towns. You would be astonished in ma
ny piaces-only a few miles across and per-
haps 100 round by water from this to Sa.
va nah IA miles, but by water ia"
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