Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-05-27
OCCUPATION OF MOBILE.
addressed to the Editors Of the Nation.
al Inteiigencer

HdaTeSsed TO me .EdHors q the Nation.
al Intelhgencer
NOBLE, AfrH Is, 1915.
Mobile i. now in the possession of
the American government. The Anne.
rican flag was placed on the ramparts OF
Fort Charlotte, QoFmerly Fort .Conde)
: on the 18th Of the present month. The
Spanish garrison might have held ont
considerable time, bat, destitute of pro.
visions, resistance was hopeless. An
ample supply of both provisions and am,
munition bad been forwarded from Pen.
sacola but Gen Wilkinson had taken
care to stop II in the bay of Mobile -
The mode in which he has conducted
the business Of occupying this place, has
been attended with the most salu:ary eff.
iccts. II was. characterised by secrecy
and efficiency; and, in consequence of
this, not life has been LOST, nor an atom
of property endangered The Spanish
soldiers were furnished with provisions
out OF the American stores, and accom-
modsted with vessels in tie employ of
the United States, Set sail for Pensacola.
Detained, however. by contrary winds,
they were unable TO get out of the bay,
and having expended their small stock
Of food they have been obliged to v turn,
in order to obtain from the American &C.
neral fresh supply.
In the transfer of government in this
town, scarcely any restraint Of personal
liberty has been experienced.
One fugitive from justice was indeed
arrested, and a Spanish. subject, whose
bshaviour lad been extremely violent
aud outrageous on the eve Of the change,
was taken into custody but even he, on
sae appearance of Judge Toulmin, was
speedily relieved on entering into recog
nIzance to keep the peace and TO be OF
good behaviour. The judge, lately so
much the object OF persecution, on ac-
count of bis zeal to save this town from
illegal violence, was imme diasely on the
transfer of jurisdiction, selected, as It's
said, by the unanimous sentiment OF the
people ofthis place, to represent them
il the territorial legislature.
Gen. Wilkinson is busily occupied in
securing the territory Of which he has
taken possession. He proposed guard,
ing the pass at the mouth OF the bay by a
battery, to be erected at Mobile point,
and left town on "Wednesday for the pur'
pose Of examining the pass and deter
mining on the scite. He likewise pro-
poses stationing body Of troops at the
Perdido. But with all these precautions,
so extensive is the country and so tx.
posed are the settlements up the river,
that, if the SpaDiards are bent on hestiIi-
ties, and can obtain the assistance OF the
Indians, there is no possibility of giving
security to the Inhabitants, without We
ry considerable addition to the present
military establishment in this quarter -
That the Governor Of Pensacola will re-
gard the occupation OF Mobile as an hos
tile act, there is every reason TO believe
and late accounts from that place assure
US, that he has sent messenger with
dispatches into the Creek nation to In.
vite the Indians down, for the purpose
of joining him in war against the a.
nerican people. II is also said th't he
has Just received fifteen hundred barrels
Of Rour, without which indeed invitations
to the Indians would be productive OF
little effect Having lately received
re nforcement of colored troops from
tho HAVANA, his whole force is said 10
amount to 1900, though confess that !
am inclined to believe that this estimate
is considerably exaggerated, nor am
absolutely certain that overtures have
becn made to the Irdians-though the
manner in which the account comes
seems to render it highly probable.
Hitherto, indeed, the conduct OF the
Spaniards tow ards Indians applying tor
arms and ammunition, has, generally
speaking, been prudent and pacific
iris eenduct may have been the result
Of pacific principles and friendly disPo.
sition., and l hope it has been-but II
may also have been the result OF neces-
SHY. inasmuch as they had really nothing
20 give-or il may have been the efie't
Of policy-ot guarded caution not 10
cxlite an alarn in the Americas nation
until they we're prepared to Meet 1t. a
mercantile house in Pensa'
cola has certainly given the weight OF It's
influences to maintain a pacific tempsra'
mong the Indians, and a perseverance III
those Industrious and civilized habits so
wisely introduced by the government Oh
he United States.
What effect will attend the exertions
now ascribed to the governor Of Pensa' !