the eastern boundary ofLouisiana. He was authorized to seize as far east as the PerdidoRiver.[RL30172]1812 Amelia Islandand other parts of east Florida, then under Spain: Temporary possession wasauthorized by President James Madison and by Congress, to prevent occupation byany other power; but possession was obtained by General George Mathews in soirregular a manner that his measures were disavowed by the President.[RL30172]181215 War of 1812:On June 18, 1812, the United States declared war against the United Kingdom.Among the issues leading to the war were British impressment of Americansailors into the Royal Navy, interception of neutral ships and blockades of theUnited States during British hostilities with France. [RL30172]1813 West Florida(Spanish territory): On authority given by Congress, General Wilkinson seizedMobile Bay in April with 600 soldiers. A small Spanish garrison gave way. ThusU.S. troops advanced into disputed territory to the Perdido River, as projectedin 1810. No fighting.[RL30172]181314 MarquesasIslands (French Polynesia): U.S. forces built a fort on the island of Nuku Hivato protect three prize ships which had been captured from the British.[RL30172]1814 SpanishFlorida: General Andrew Jackson took Pensacola and drove out the Britishforces.[RL30172]181425 Caribbean:Engagements between pirates and American ships or squadrons took placerepeatedly especially ashore and offshore about Cuba, Puerto Rico, SantoDomingo, and Yucatan. Three thousand pirate attacks on merchantmen werereported between 1815 and 1823. In 1822, Commodore James Biddle employed asquadron of two frigates, four sloops of war, two brigs, four schooners, andtwo gunboats in the West Indies.[RL30172]1815 Algiers: TheSecond Barbary War was declared against the United States by the Dey of Algiersof the Barbary states, an act not reciprocated by the United States. Congressdid authorize a military expedition by statute. A large fleet under Captain StephenDecatur attacked Algiers and obtained indemnities.[RL30172]1815 Tripoli:After securing an agreement from Algiers, Captain Decatur demonstrated with hissquadron at Tunis and Tripoli, where he secured indemnities for offenses duringthe War of 1812.[RL30172]1816 SpanishFlorida: United States forces destroyed Negro Fort, which harbored fugitiveslaves making raids into United States territory.[RL30172]181618 SpanishFlorida First Seminole War: The Seminole Indians, whose area was a haven forescaped slaves and border ruffians, were attacked by troops under GeneralJackson and General Edmund P. Gaines and pursued into northern Florida. Spanishposts were attacked and occupied, British citizens executed. In 1819 theFloridas were ceded to the United States.[RL30172]1817 Amelia Island(Spanish territory off Florida): Under orders of President James Monroe, UnitedStates forces landed and expelled a group of smugglers, adventurers, andfreebooters. This episode in Florida's history became known as the AmeliaIsland Affair.[RL30172]1818 Oregon: TheUSS Ontario dispatched from Washington, which made a landing at the mouth ofthe Columbia River to assert US claims. Britain had conceded sovereignty butRussia and Spain asserted claims to the area.[RL30172] Subsequently, Americanand British claims to the Oregon Country were resolved with the Oregon Treatyof 1846.[RL30172]18201829182023 Africa: Navalunits raided the slave traffic pursuant to the 1819 act of Congress.[RL30172][Slave Traffic]1822 Cuba: UnitedStates naval forces suppressing piracy landed on the northwest coast of Cubaand burned a pirate station.[RL30172]1823 Cuba: Brieflandings in pursuit of pirates occurred April 8 near Escondido; April 16 nearCayo Blanco; July 11 at Siquapa Bay; July 21 at Cape Cruz; and October 23 atCamrioca.[RL30172]1824 Cuba: