The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-04-21
ANDREW JAoKsoN's WAR WITH
SPAIN.

In the spring Of 1918 Andrew Jackson
had some war experience with Spain,
and Spanish authorities had with him.
Our government had not declared war
but Jackson had been ordered down
with force to chastise the Indians who
had been numbering the settlers of
Georgia and Alabama.
These Indians, Seminoles and fugitive |
Creeks and run away negroes did not
care to meet Jackson and as usual took
shelter in the Spanish territory of
Florida, where many Of them belonged.
Their chief was Billy Bowlegs, and he
was abetted by the Spaniards. The
Spanish officials in those days were as
now, quite diplomatic and polite. Of
course they regretted, and all that, but
these willy savages were uncontrolla-
BILE. These had been their excuses be-
fore Jackson came.
In those days news went slow and
Jackson did not waste two or three
months to write to and hear from Wash
ington as to following the Indians into
Florida. This was not Jackson's way.
He determined therefore to attend to
Billy Bowlegs and his murderous mar.
auders without delay, and this was, or
should be in the interest of Spain too.
So jackson concluded it was his duty to
settle with and quiet these enemies to
accommodate Spain as well as Uncle
Sam. Then if Spanish officials assist, all
right, if they refuse, it will show they
are allies of the savages.
jackson wrote to the government at
Washington what he was about to do,
and then marched intoSpanish territory
without waiting to hear from the Wash.
ington authorities. He made for st.
Marks, the nearest Spanish fort, and
then sent word to the Spanish govern
ment that the wicked Indians had en-
tered st. Marks and compelled the
feeble garrison to supply them with arms
and ammunition, and Therefore, "To
prevent the recurrence of so gross a
violation of neutrality, and to exclude
our savage enemies from 80 strong a
place l deem it expedient to garrison
the fortress with American troops until
the close of the present war"
The Spanish governor was taken
aback, and wrote long reply in Span
ish saying he would write to his govern
ment and gee. This meant a delay of
six months or year. Jackson couldn't
| Gno,,iuh nd xuou n Nuai nu
man. With him it was business He
got the letter in the morning of April Z,
1915 and before noon Spain's flag was
hauled down and the American flag
flung to the breeze. The governor
4 protested in Spanish marched
away with his garrison.
General Jackson, with his usual
prompttude chastised the Indians with
his usual success. But he found the
Spanish officials we're aiding the Indians
and here is his own account of the way
he attended to them:
Il received information that 800 In
; dians had collected in Pensacola, were
fed by the governor, and that party
: furnished by the governor had Issued
: . forth and in one nighthad slain eighteen
r OF our citizens, and that another party,
with the knowledge Of the governor,
I went out publicly, murdered a Mr..
Stokes and his family and in open day
returned to Pensacola and sold the
booty, among which was the clothing OF
Mrs. Stokes"
D Jackson did not hesitate for here was
a casus belli. He at once levied war
! against Spain. Says he:
with general detachment of regu.
: lars and 900 Tennesseeans l marched for
Pensacola.
: "While on my march thither | was
met by protest of the governor Of
Pensacola ordering me out of the
Floridas or he would oppose force to
force and drive me out of the territory
of SpMn."
Jackson saw in this proof positive Of
: the treacherous lying of the governor in
saying that the Indians were too strong
for his weak garrison. He marched or
to Pensacola forthwith and took formal
Q possession of it in the name of the
United States!
The governor fed to Fort Carlos dc
Barrancas There he thought himself
safe for he never imagined that even
. such high.handed person as Jackson
4 would dare try to take by force the fort
! ! ofa power that was or was pretending
!, to be at peace with the United States
, But Jackson followed on.
); 81 demanded possession of the fort to
g be held by American troops until 9
Z guarantee could be given for the safety
3 of the frontier. This was refused.
81 approached the Barrancas with one
9-pound piece and five S-inch howitzers
f They opened their batteries upon me
' 1t was returned spiritedly.
"Ihe white flag went up in the even
ing. had my ladders re 'dy to go ovel
d the walls. believe the garrison dis
covered this and surrendered, fearing 9
night attack"
Spain was now powerless and hel
savage allies soon yielded to Jackson'f
sharpshooters. The real war with Spair
was over, and the Indian war was soor
over.
The dinlomatic war had IN follow In