Object Record
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Metadata
Title |
Richmond Enquirer January 20,1818 |
Object Name |
Newspaper |
Description |
Framed in a dark wood frame with linen matting. The word "repertory" is hand written at the top of the page. Penciled in top right corner 113, Amelia Isl, Aury. The left hand columns are advertisements. The following is a synopsis of the articles on the right of the page. Richmond Enquirer January 20, 1818 Amelia Island A message dated January 12 from J. C. Calhoun to the President of the U. S. sending copies of orders from the Secretary of War to Major Bankhead in relation to taking possession of Amelia Island. A message dated December 22, 1817 on the U. S. Ship John Adams off Amelia from J. D. Henley, Capt. in the Navy and commander in chief of naval forces of the U. S. off Amelia, James Bankhead, Major 1st battalion Artillery, commander land forces to General Aury, Commander in Chief of the forces at Fernandina. The message informs Aury that orders have been received to take possession of Amelia Island and the Post of Fernandina. Aury is asked to evacuate his troops and told they will be at liberty to depart and take such property as belongs unquestionably to them. Public property left by General McGregor is to be left in the same condition it was taken. Property belonging to inhabitants of Amelia Island must be restored to them. Should Aury refuse to give peaceable possession of the island, he is warned the consequence will rest with him. A message dated December 22, 1817 and the 8th of the Independence from Aury, Commander in Chief to Commodore J. D. Henley, Major Bankhead and others. The message acknowledges receipt of the above message commanding Aury to evacuate so that U. S. troops may take possession. Aury states that as the republic under his command, Mexico or any other South American country are not at war with the U. S., he found the message surprising. He states that the island is not now and has not been the possession of the U. S. Aury refers to a treaty of October 22, 1795 as setting the boundary between the U. S. and Florida. He goes on to say that he is more surprised to receive this message from a county which purports to support the right of nations and the cause of liberty. "Who is to judge" what property is unquestionably theirs as the U. S. cannot provide a competent tribunal. The only law the U. S. has at its disposal is force which Aury refers to as "repugnant". He further argues that property taken by force belongs to the captors and asks if the U. S. is now acting on behalf of the King of Spain. Aury requests that this letter be shown to the President of the U. S. so that he may reconsider. He states his esteem for the people of the U. S. and his desire that things not be carried to extremes. A message dated December 23, 1817 on the U. S. Ship John Adams off Amelia from J. D. Henley, Capt. in the Navy and commander in chief of naval forces of the U. S. off Amelia, James Bankhead, Major 1st battalion Artillery, commander land forces to General Aury, Commander in Chief of the forces at Fernandina to General Aury, commander in chief of the forces at Fernandina. Henley and Bankhead state their duty to fulfill the orders of the President of the United States. They say that the President has expressed the desire that blood not be shed so they welcome Aury's willingness to leave without resistance. They state again their commitment to re-take public property. They plan to land forces and hoist an American flag today. After sailing into the harbor, they will await Aury's indication that troops may land. A message dated July 17, 1817 written at the War Department from George Graham to Officer commanding at Charleston, S. C. Graham informs the commanding officer at Charleston of the occupation of Point Petre and the St. Mary's River by military and naval force and requests his full cooperation with the commanding officer. He urges that peace and tranquility be maintained in the face of disturbance between Spanish loyalists and Patriots. The officer is instructed to prevent violation of U. S tax laws and in particular prevent the introduction of slaves in the U. S. All vessels freighted with slaves are to be prohibited from entering the St. Mary's river. Extract of a letter from George Graham, acting secretary of war to Major James Bankhead, Charleston, S. C. dated November 12, 1817. The letter instructs the immediate return to Point Petre. Troops will be reassigned from Forts Moultrie and Johnson. Troops will be under the command of Captain Wilson and Captain Hook. All troops will amount to 200 men and be under the command of Bankhead until General Gaines arrives. A payment of $5000 has been made to the quarter master for provisions for the troops. Bankhead is told to bring salted meat, flour and hard bread and to prepare to feed 250 men for at least 30 days. A message dated November 12, 1817 written at the War Department from George Graham to Major James Bankhead, Commanding at Charleston, S. C. The letter states the understanding of the President of the U. S. that those taking possession of Amelia Island have acted without the sanction of any Spanish colonies or any other government. Further that the occupation is unfriendly and incompatible with the interests of the U. S. Therefore orders have been issued to take temporary possession of Amelia Island. Land forces under Major Bankhead and naval forces under Captain Henley are to work together to this end. The President hopes that bloodshed will be avoided and that the forces will be sufficiently imposing to encourage abandonment of the island by the occupiers. The property of private citizens is to be respected and returned to the state it was found in when McGregor invaded the island. The cannons in particular are not to be removed. If Henley and Bankhead judge their forces to be insufficient, they are to request of General Floyd, commander of the militia of Georgia a force of up to 500 men and wait for the arrival of General Gaines to Point Petre. Bankhead is to take with him from Charleston the heavy cannon he deems necessary in the event of resistance. Graham requests a response to this letter from Bankhead as no response was received to a July 12 letter to him from Graham. A message dated December 24, 1817 written from Fernandina, Amelia Island from James Bankhead, Major 1st battalion military S. D. commanding detachment U. S. troops to George Graham, Esquire, Acting Secretary of War. The message contains copies of General Aury's recent correspondence and states that the American flag was raised here yesterday. While it will take several days for Aury to withdraw, in the interest of maintaining peace, all his black soldiers have been ordered to board one of the ships in port. Bankhead states that the island is currently populated by supporters of Aury and those drawn here by the desire to evade U. S. revenue laws. Bankhead will keep his entire force in place until the island can be "evacuated by this band of negroes and privateersmen." A message dated December 27, 1817 written from Fernandina, Amelia Island from James Bankhead, Major 1st battalion artillery and commanding this post to the here unnamed Secretary of War. Bankhead is sending a second copy of Aury's correspondence and informing the secretary that there is dispute over property between Aury's troop and the citizens of the island. An absence of authority is blamed. General Gaines has arrived at Fernandina and Bankhead thinks he will be able to take action regarding vessels arriving at Fernandina which need to pay revenues on their cargos. Aury's departure has been delayed by the poor condition of his vessels and slow progress to ready them. Although Bankhead has removed all black and French troops to a ship, he states many others capable to violence remain. He waits for instructions from the Secretary of War and says that Gaines will leave the day after tomorrow. A message dated January 13, 1818 from the Navy Department from B. W. Crowninshield to the President of the U. S. carrying orders to Captain John H. Elton and Commander John D. Henley regarding the surrender of Amelia Island. A message dated July 16, 1817 from B. W. Crowninshield to Captain John H. Elton, Commanding the U.S. brig Saranac, New York. Elton is commanded to take the Saranac to the St. Mary's River. The recent occupation of Amelia Island by an officer of the Spanish Revolution has caused concern about smuggling of slaves and other illicit trade into the U. S. Bankhead is to detain any vessel in the area suspected of holding slaves or intending to smuggle. Ships with papers are not to be detained. The importation of slaves is the restrained. Frequent communication is requested and additional naval forces are offered to this end. An additional message in smaller print dated November 14, 1817 from the Navy Department is the last entry on the page. The message instructs the commander of the Ship John Adams upon the orders of the President to proceed to the St. Mary's River taking with him the U. S. brigs Enterprise and Prometheus and the schooner Lynx if they are ready to sail. The commander will find the brig Saranac commanded by Captain John H. Elton and gunboat No. 168 commanded by Lieutenant Commander R. M. McCall already in St. Mary's. They will be under his command. The removal of those who have taken possession of Amelia Island is the purpose. Temporary possession of the island will be by the U. S. The message ends mid-sentence. |
Object ID |
2019.052.001 |
Date |
1/20/1818 |
Caption |
Richmond Enquirer top |
Search Terms |
Enterprise Gunboat No. 168 Invasion of Amelia Island Lynx Occupation of Amelia Island Point Peter (Point Petre) Prometheus Saranac St. Marys River (Riviere Ste. Marie) |
Collection |
AIMH |
People |
Aury, Louis Bankhead, James Calhoun, John C. Crowninshield, Benjamin Williams Elton, John H. Gaines, Edmond Pendleton Graham, George Henley, J. D. MacGregor, Gregor McCall, R. M. |