The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-05-01


camp OF the insurgents. At Lows Inn, Bells
Hner lit may be proper to observe to you
here, that on leavingt tins place at / o o'clock,
"A. NJ. the gun boats OF the u. =. wer, bcat-
ing up the harbor, and before our arrival at
Lows we plainly perceived there were Sc
veral OF them anchored near to or opposite
to this town. We were met at the landing
by a guard, and conducted by John MIN,
tosh and Wm Ashley, with a bandage over
our eyes, about SO yards into a small hut,
where Lodk. Ashley, and Gee. Cook shortly
after joined us.
On inCuiring for Gen. Mathews, we were
informed that he had not arrived, and that
they were OF opinion he would not be there,
and we were therefore required to treat with
them, which we refused as having no au-
thority to that effect from, you. We deter
mined TO wait one hour for the Ceneral-a-
much conversation passed, but being unoffi-
cial as not embraced in your instructions, it
viii be unnecessary to detail. We only OBJ
serve, that wc-wcre often pressed to surren-
der the place, to save the eifusion of blood.
and accused OF having treated them with
disrespect. On our positive refusal to treat
with them, they threatened to march imme-
diately to, Amelia. .nt,.,
Gen. Mathews having arrived with Col.
lsaacs, we We're lett with those gentlemen
to make our communication, and your letter
y On our proposing to Gen. Mathews the
first srticle of your Instructions, whether
he was authorised by the government of the
y. ,. to take possession, by force of arms, of
the Province, he declared he was not, but
had authority To receive it from the local au-
thorities of the country, and as such he
had received it from the Patriots.
YOU. then, General, consider the ground
we are now on. as part OF the territory of
the u. States
do from Roses Bluff.
Are the U. States land and naval forces
authorized to cooperate with, the party
now preparing to attack Amelia Island?
They are not, and will give them no as
sistance.
Should we repel these people, do you con-
slider yourself authorized by your govern
ment to take possession of Amelia Island by
force of armse
l have orders from my government to
take possession, should there be any appear
ance of the British sending a force to take
1t; and have now positive information that
they are going to send black troops.
Ii the United States force will fire a sin
gle gun OH Amelia Island we can surrender
with honor to so superior a force, but we
never can submit to those men who we aye
able 20 repel.
You must settle that among yourselves, as
the United States Gun Boats will no. fire on
you OF interfere in it unless some British YES
sci should assist, and they have then orders
| to fire on them land | am informed that you
! have been supplied with arms and ammuni-
| ton by some of the vessels now in your har-
| Dor.
| We have right, sir, to call on the Bri-
| fish as our allies to give us assistance in
our own ports or to take arms and ammu-
milton even by force from them which we
| have done.
They have no right to interfere in the bu-
siness at all, and if they do as 1 understand
Is their intention, the gun boats have or
ders to IRE into them.
| We consider, sir, that the u. States have
already shown hostility by the entry of their
| gun boats into the waters of Amelia at
this time, evidently with the intention of O.
| verawing the town.
You will consider it as you think proper :;
| 1t is the business of my government.
| We are desired, General, to inform you
| that number of the citiZ ems of the United
States have joined the party now going to
attack Amelia and. are now here, and to
request of you to restrain them.
do not know OF any, have no control O.
yer them, and you should apply to the au-
! thorities inthe state of Georgia.
We have informed you, sir, that there are
| such-Finding that the purport of our mis-
ston could not be fulfilled, we returned with as
much dispatch as possible, having received
the letter now handed you from the insur.
gents who were preparing to embark :on our
| arrival here found flour of the u. States gum
| boats still at anchor, three of which were
| within. short pistol shot of the shore, and
| abreast OF the guard. with springs on their
| cables their guns pointed Immediately on
the gnard. with tompions out, matches light
| ed. and the men at their quarters. This
unprecedented conduct on the part of THE u
). Forces had the intended effect, as we
| found our men dispirited, many of them had
lett their quarters, and every effort to in
duCe them to return proved Intellectual al
| though you know, sir, that when we left this
place at 10 o'clock, previous to the arrival
OF the gun boats, they were determined ne
yer to submit to the insurgents, and never
mad been in higher spirits or mustered stron-
ger.
We have the honor 70 be, reoectfully.
l. your most obcdicnt servant.
(oisncd) y. II. YOUNG,
GEORGE ATKINSON.
10 Don JJsTo LoPEz, commandment of
Amelia Island.
No. ID. from l.. Ashley to Messrs. Akin
son and foung-informs them that in con-
sequence of their equivocal and evasive
conduct, the negotiations are at an end !;
charges them on the peril Of their lives to
return to the island ana publish to the inha-
bitants that he would that day land on the
| island, that he wo'ld not fire gun unless
fired IN. in which Coco M ,,,o,,ti