Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-10-03


meiia Island, over which he was commits
sioned evil and military governor
Before Coionci POssv parted from tie
general. he WAS informed by him, that he
hat al has oispOsal funds To the amount
OF siAty iliousand dollars, which should
be applied 10 The purchase ot an armed
vessel of Considerable strength, and 10
The procurement of arms and muuiiinns
OF war; that marty individuals of large
capital, had PROMISED hin, their support,
BY Which, iieans he should be able 10 III
out an expedition competent 10 the re-
duction of both the Flori,!us; that as soon
as the Colonel could collect sufficient
force, he should take possession of Anne
liza Island, where he would be Immediate
u joined by the General himself with
powerful fethtOrcements. Not being a.
bic To procure an immediate passage 10
Savannah from the cities OF Baltimore or
Philadelphia, Col Posey touui il neccs-
sary TO proceed Us far DIS Newly DIRK i'm
which place he met With several gentle
men OF respecta biiify, WHO expressed the
greatest pleasure al hearing that he and
other young Americans mad engaged in
this MISUNDERSTANDING that they were
only waiting tor thai event To embark "A
considerable capital IN il themselves;
that brig ct rs guns belonging To one of
"
York, should be immediately prepared
for sea, completely manned and placed
Tor SIX months at the entire disposai of
the leader ct the expedition; that in 3
weeks from that time 1.-The 2d of May.)
tins vessel would be ready TO sail, and
should carry With her 200 land troops
completely eq,i,pped and provisIoned tor
two months, park OF artillery, consist
ing OF one howitzer, nine Founders, and
Que Twelve, and a full supply of amniuni-
ton.
Rendered confident by these assuran-
ces, Col Posey left New Y ork on the 4ti
OF May, 1917, with the most sangulnc
hopes OF success, and with the deicrmin-
alton OF attacking Amelia Island so soon
after hisarrivai al Savannah, as fifty men
| could he procured for the service De-
layed by contrary winds, he did not
| reach Savannah until about the 2Oth of
| May, when lie Immediately entered upon
| the ODje1t l. oi his mission " ith the utmost
zeal and Industry. Several merchants
we've iodnd All thai city willing To risk Il
| small cdpiial Iii the expeditions, provided
| they could lac satisfied that 1t would m Ell
| WIN support ~ the more wealthy cities
! OF the north. Col. Posey frankly discio-
| sed 10 them the nature and amount Ell the
| resources, winch mIghtbe expected from,
/ y -
| furnish him with thirty thousand dollars
| Nitha part o! this sum, he immediately
| sci about 10 procure proyisIonS, arms,
! and clothing tor 100 men, and Dy dni
| oi incessat application, found himself IN
| condition 10 commence active operate
OnS about The 18th Of June. Every thing
WA provided but troops, ami they, he
| WAS induced Ia beheve, might De had IN
| SufhcieDt numbers al any tiuie. Prudence
| ioruad hiin 10 atiehpt To raise those un-
III Tie last moment of his departure in
ihis stage OF Ills preparations, lie heard of
tue arrival OF Gen. MGregor at Charles
| ton, ;. &. and very soon received letter
from The General, requesting his attend
ance IN that City. lie instantly compli-
Ell with filis request aud was not little
| surprised 10 discover, upon conference
win the General, That he had come or to
Charleston, ntt1rly destitute of resources
Tor the expedition and was intorme ed
tIat Itwouid be necessary Ia draw upon
tile funds i'll Savannah for the purchase
OF vessel In Charleston, which might be
supplied with few guns, and would
serve as transport. ] lie General ac-
cordingiy was furnished with ) II 900 out
of tie > 10000 raised III Savannah, inro'
the agency of Col. Posey, and after pur-
chasing a vessel TO answer Ills purpose.
the troops, about 30 niles distant from
Ameila Island, Cot. posey was sent back
TO Savannah, with orders to be at that
place Witiias many men as he could col
! iect ny certain day, at winch time Gen
| MGregor would meet him in the armed
brig winch lie had purchased, and with
one hundred Men. On The both of June.
Gen. MGrcSor arrived at the place APP
pointed with about sixty souls, including
officers and men, and the crew of lie brig.
where Col. PoSey bad been waiting Tor
hun tor several days, with forty OF fifty
ofGcers and prNdtes most of whom
were sailors, taken from The shipping at
| Savannah.
On the 27i! Of June, The Whole of this
force proceeded Tor meta, Tue General
by sea IN hls brig, aud Col. Posey III open
boats through what is called the Inland
Passage. 1t was supposed that they
would probably arrive before Amelia at
the same time, and thus make Il combined
attack upon the works at Fernandina.-
The General faN ored by fair wind arri-
| we'd OF Amelia bar OH the 2Stli of June,
! where he continued waiting for the arr
! val of Col. Poscy until the both. Impa-
tent OF longer delay, on that day al 3 L.
| Nj. he landed OH The eDemy's shore about
tOnr miles from the town of Fernandina
with force Of 81 men, officers and pri-
| Wales and after marching three miles up
! tie sea beach unmOlesied, crossed a
! deep mOrass, 10 reach of The guns from
one bloc house, and presented himself
upon All emlnenCe IN rear Of the town
| and wflIln musket shot olihe lines which
had been erected for lis defence. Not "a
gun had been fired by tia enemy during
| bus approach TO this position, and his