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THE REFLECTOR
MILLEDGEV1LLE, GEORGIA, TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1819.
NO. 3.
INOLE AVAR.
Bl'THN’OT .V: AMBR18TEK.
[CONCLI’OED.]
C. Jlmbrister to governor
dated Mirth mil. 1818.
requested, particularly by
efs, to acquaint your excel-
Americans have commeuc-
itli them a long; time since,
need some distance in their
are still continuing; to ad-
thev (the chiefs of Florida)
atedly to vmir excellency,
cr received one answer.—
Mr. Arbuthnot lias never dc-
pers to your excellency.—
to state to you, that they
made the defence marked M, which is at
tached to these proceedings.
The court was then cleared, and the pro
ceedings read over by the recorder, when,
after due deliberation on the testimony
brought forward, the court find the prison
er. Robert C. Ambrister, guilty of so much
of the specification to the first charge, as
follows, viz. “ and did excite them to war
with the United States, by sending their
warriors to meet and fight the American
army, he being a subject of Great Britain,
which government was at peace with the
United States, and all her citizens;” but
not guilty of the other part of the specifi
cation ; guilty of the first charge; guilty
of the specification of the second charge,
and guiltv of the second charge; and do,
therefore, sentence the prisoner, Robert
iC. Ambrister, to suffer death, by being
of the court concurrin
y out of ammunition, mus t
ging your excellency will be | -sAof* two-tlnrd
nd them the articles above- 1 taerem.
ith a few cannon, as the A- One of the members of the court reques-
d their boats so strong, that 1® rec'»nsitlt»rati,#n of lii> v te on the
cannot penetrate their sides. { sentence, the sense ol the court va» taken
( the vessel, who will come thereon, and decided in the i.Ti. oiative,
have given orders to make | wllen tlle v,,te was again taken, and the
cy acquainted with the time I C0U! 'f sentenced tiie prisoner to receive lit •
l sail for this place. Your *7 stripes on his bare back, and be coutin-
11,1 hope, be good enough toj ftt ' with a ball and chain to hard labor, tor
ee regent acquainted with twelve calendar months.
* • ■ EDMUND P. GAINES,
Major-ge.iM In brevet, President of tuc court.
J, M.
Defence M.
Fort St. Vlarks. April 28th, 1818.
The United States of America,
and ask tor assistance
re pressed me very hard to
our excellency's mind, and
nd them down what news
ting them and the country,
a great satisfaction to them,
onor to be, &r.
BERT C. AMBRISTER.
ey beg your excellency will
hms as possible. That vour
the only dependance they
u the prince regent told them
em every assistance that laid
R. C. A.
D
uited States of America, 1
vs V.
:rt Christy Ambrister, j
sped
cliar;
Robcr
Who, being arraigned befor
Court Martial, upon the followin
es, to wit :
1st. Aiding, and abetting, and comfort
ing [the Indians] ; applying them with
the means of war, he being a subject of
Great-Britain, at peace with the United
C. Jlmbrister to governor States, and lately an officer in the British
c. Suhwaknee, 20t/i March. cu '?jJ* ,al "““'ines ..
fort St. Maries. , Cha.-ge 2d Leading and commanding
J k i? • «« i „ii 1 the Lower C r**ek I.kIihiis i:i carrying on
equested by V rancis and .ill • . . .. .. , w . . J °
fs, to acquaint your excel- j 'var aga.nst the L "de. States.
v are at war with theAmeri- . n '. tl,e . h,st ‘ lur f ,,1? D r,so,, «' “* tllP
* . , ,, . r: . bar pleads not guiltv. and, as to tbeso
le been sometime back. That .' . , ", •• . ....
corn! charge, he pleads guilty, and justili-
cation. The prisoner at the bar feels
It appears, from the evidence and plead
ing of the prisoner, that he did lead'and
command within the territory of Spain,
(being a subject of Great-Britain) the In
dians in war against the United States,
those nations being at peace. It is an e-
rablished principle of the laws of nation •
that any individual of a nation making
war against the citizens of any other na
tion, they being at peace, forfeits his a !e-
giance, and becomes an outlaw and pirate.
This is the case of Robert C Ambrister,
clearly shewn by the evidence adduced.
The Commanding General orders that
Brevet Major A. C. W. Fanning, of the
corps of artillery, will have, between the
hours of eight and nine o'clock A. M. A.
Arbuthnot suspended by the neck with a
rope, until lie is dead, and Robert C. Atn-
brister to be shot to death, agreeable to the
sentence of the court.
John James Arbuthnot will be furnished
with a passage to Pensacola, by the first
vessel.
The special court, of which Brevet Ma
jor-General E. P. Gaines is President, is
dissolved.
By order of Major-General Jackson.
ROBERT BUTLER, Adj. Gen.
OFFICIAL nocuMEvrs.
1/.TTEHS rHOMliKV. 'OIV-V TO I lli. Will i) 1 PART Vt EXT
Ifeatl-Quartcrs, Fort Scott, Gto. Dec. 1. Irtl7
Sir.— I had the honor to recive, oil tii«
26th ultimo, your communication of the
30th October.
I am very linppv to find that the Presi
dent approves of my movement, but 1
much regret that Ids just expeditions, as
to the effort there was reason to believe
would be produced on the minds of the In
dians bv 1 his movement, have not been re
alized. 1 am now quite convinced, that
tiie hostility of these Indians is, and has
long since been, of so deep a character, as
to leave no ground to calculate upon their
tranquility, or the future security of our
frontier settlements, until the towns south
and cast of this place shall rece ve a sig
nal proof of our ability and willingness to
retaliate for every outrage It is now my
painful duty to report an aft’air of a more
serious and decisive nature than has here
tofore occurred, and which leaves no doubt
‘at distress for want of am- ■
The Indians now remaining upon the
Chatahoocliie, I have reason to believe, are
well disposed. One ol the new settlers,
however, has recently been killed, but it
has been clearly proved, that the murderer
’ ad belonged to the hostile party. The
’riemllv chiefs in the neighborhood, when
apprised of the murder, assembled a party
ami sent in pursuit of the offender, and
followed iiim to Flint river, on the route
to Mickasukee, whither he escaped. On-
ishajo, and several other friendly chiefs,
have offered me their services, with their
warriors, to go against the Seminoles. 1
have promised to them notice of the time
that may be fixed for my departure, and
then to accept their services The enclo
sure, No. 1. contains the substance of
what I have said to the chiefs who have
visited me ; several of whom reside snatn
of the Spanish line, and west of the Ap-
palnchicola river. It was expected by the
chiefs, that l should communicate to th
my views and wishes. I felt authorized to
say but little, and I deemed it tiecessar
in what I should sav, to endeavor to coun
teract the erroneous impressions by whicl
they have beer, mislead by pretended Bri
tish agents.
I hope the President ' ill see, in what 1
have said, nothing to ins pprove I feel
persuaded a report of the vaiious ta'ks
which I received from the chiefs, would
shew the propriety of what I have said t"
them. Such a report I have not a mo
ment’s time now to n: .lie. The Indians
are at this moment In ing it oor camp from j
the opposite line of 'lie river.
No. 1.
Chiefs and warriorsThe President of
the United States has been informed of the
murders and thefts committed by the hos
tile Indians in this part of the country.—
lie has authorized general Jackson to ar
rest. the offenders, and cause justice
to be done. The Indians have been
required to deliver up the murderers of
•ur citizens, and the stolen property :
but they refused to deliver either. They
have iuid a council at Mickasukee,in which
they have determined upon war. They
have been at war against helpless women
and children ; let them now calculate up
on fighting men. We have long known
:1s, arms, &e. and have wrote •
not several times, but they
ver delivered them to your
r ou will oblige them much j
ow whether he did or not.
Americans and Indians will |
I have sent a party of
'hem. They beg on me to
excellency's mind to lay the
i country before the prince
It for assistance.
‘peeling them, veur excel-
faror to let us know by the
jty, that I may make them
have given directions to the
our excellency know when
sail for this place. I hope
will be pleased to send
nitinn. I expect, if they
some very shortly, that t.he
march through the country,
further to add.
ir, your most obedient ser-
ERTC. AMBRISTER
E
Jlmbrister to Peter B. Cook.
,tli of the River.
The boat arrived Imre about
[hursdav: The wind has
*r since I have been down,
the vessel is in a bad con-
‘i 11 manage to have it done
wind, 1 am in hopes will
orning, when I will get un
make all possible dispatch,
'id Lewis pilot me safe. If
don’t conduct themselves
Id use rigorous means with
re of Mr. Jerrv: I found
dien I came. Keep a good
ave sent two kegs of powder
lead.
Yours, ^'c. R. C. A,
sday, 3 o'clock.
isi ner.—Did you not fre-
e say that l would have no
il the Indians in exciting
yh the U. States ?
t recollect.
not acquainted with Lewis
:ve you not heard him ex-
ainst me, in consequence
lim to pilot me to St.Marks?
r did.
know of my sending troops
fight against the U. States ;
been constantly with you,
uld have had an opportunity
there had been any sent
grateful to this honorable court for thei.
goodness in giving him a sufficient time t .
deliberate, and arrange his defence on the
above charges
.• .i . ,< . 'mi nit'ii• r uB.VC
.' ‘''I* "ccessity id an immediate applica-, 1(mt we hatl enemies east of tl
non ot lore?, ami active mea-tir e-mi ou
>art. A large nartv of Seminole Indians,
on the Stub ulf. formed an ambuscade up
on the Appal chicola river, a mile below
, . , .. . the junction of the Flint and Chatahoocliie,
I lie prisoner at the bar, here avails , n .,eked „ ll0 „f „„ r boat# ascending near
himself ol the opportunity o stating to t)u , sl|()re< am i killed, wounded and took
this court, that, inasmuch as the testuno-1 t ,. r ,, art 0 f the detachment, run
ny which was introduced in this case, was I,
very explicit, and went to every point the I \y Scott of t
prisoner could wish, he has nothing fur
ther to offer in his defence, but put- him
self upon the mercy of the honorable
■ouit. ROBERT C. AMBRIS TER.
itsirignfPO men, commanded bv lieut. K.
7th
not: they might have been
y knowledge.
on, a witness on the part
on,being duly sworn, says,
jin the end of March, or
* prisoner took possession
Chance, With an armed
j, and stated his intentions
rks. On his way thither,
learned from some Indi-
not had gone to St. Marks,
him to return. The wit-
, that, while the prisoner
(lie h id complete command
who considered him as
The prisoner took the car-
up towards Suwany, which
ith other articles, nine kegs
500 pounds of lead,
on both sides being closed,
a allowed until 6 o’clock
make his defence,
owed the prisoner for the
his defence, having expir-
ught before the court, and
HEAD qu ARTERS. DIVISION Of tiie south,
adjutant general's office,
Camp 1 miles north ol St. Marks,
April 28th, 1818.
GENERAL order.
\t a special court martial, commenced
on the 26th inst. at St. Marks, and con
tinued until the night of the 28th, of
which brevet Major General E. P. Gaines
is President, was tried A. Arbuthnot, on
the following charges and specifications,
viz :
Charge 1st—Exciting and stirring up
the Creek Indians to war against the Uni
ted States and her citizens, he, A. Arbuth
not being a subject of Great Britain, with
whom the United States are at peace.
Charge 2d—Acting as a spy ; aiding,
abetting, and comforting the enemy, and
supplying them with the means ol war.
Charge 3d—Exciting the Indians to
murder and destroy Wm. Hambly and
Edmund Doy le, confiscate their property,
and causing their arrest, with a view to
their condemnation to death, and the sei
zure of their property, they being citizens
of Spain, on account of their active and
zealous exertions to maintain peace be
tween Spain, the United States, and the
Indians.
To which charges the prisoner pleaded
net guilty.
The court, after mature deliberation on
the evidence adduced, find the prisoner,
A. Arbuthnot, guilty of the first charge,
and guilty of the second charge, leaving
out the words “ acting as a spy and,
after mature reflection, sentence him, A.
Arbuthnot, to be suspended by the neck,
until he is dead.
Was also tried, Robert C. Ambrister, on
the following charges, viz.
Charge 1st. Aiding, abetting, and com
forting the enemy, and supplying them
with the means of war, he being a subject
of Great-Britain, who are at peace with
the United States, and late an officer in
the British colonial marines.
Charge 2d. Leading and commanding
the lower Creek Indians in carrying on a
war against the United States.
To which charges the prisoner pleaded
as follows : to the first charge, not guilty ;
to the 2d charge, guilty, and justification.
The court, on examination of evidence
and on mature deliberation, find the pris
oner, Robert C. Ambrister, guilty of the
1st and 2d charges; and do, therefore,
sentence hint to suiter death, by being shot.
The members requesting a re-consider-
ation of the vote on this sentence, and it
being had. they sentence the prisoner to
receive fifty stripes oil his bare hack, and
be confined with a ball and chain, to hard
labor, for twelve calendar months.
The commanding General approves the
finding and sentence of the court in the
case of A. Arbuthnot, and anproves the
finding and first sentence of the court in
the case of Robert C. Ambrister, and dis
approves the re-consideration of the sen
tence of the houorablo court in this owe.
infantry. There
were also on board, killed or taken, 7 wo
men, the wives of soldiers. Six men of
(lie detachment only escaped, four of whom
were wounded. They report that the
strength of the current at flip point of at
tack had obliged the lieut. to keep his boat
near the shore ; that the Indians had form
ed along the bank of the river, and were
not discovered until their fire had com
menced ; in the first Volley of which
I.ic-ut. Scott and his most valuable men
fell.
The lieutenant and his party had been
sent from this place some du\s before, to
assist maj t Muhlenberg in ascending the
river with three vessels laden with milita
ry stores, lirmight from Montgomery and
Mobile. The majo-,instead of retaining the
party to assist him, as I had advised, (see
the enclos ire No. 2.) retained only about
20 men, and in their place put a like num
ber of sick, with the women, and some
regimental clothing. The boat thus laden
was detached alone for this place. It is
due to major Muhlenberg to observe, that,
at the time lie detached the boat, I have
reason to believe he was not apprised of
anv lucent hostilities having taken place
in this quarter. It appears from I'.ieut.
.Scoti's letter, received about the hullr in
which he was attacked, (enclosure No. 3)
that he had been warned of the danger.
Upon the receipt of this letter, I had two
lioflts fitted out with covers and port holes
for defence, and detached captain Clinch,
with an officer and forty men, with an or
der to secure the movement of lieut. Scott,
ai\d then to assist major Muhlenberg!
The detachment embarked lute in the
evening of (lieoUth and must have passed
the’scenc of action below at night,and some
hours after the affair terminated. I have
not yet heard from captain Clinch. I shall
immediately strengthen the detachment
under major Muhlenberg with another
boat, secured against the enemy’s fire.—
He will, therefore, move up with safety,
keeping near the middle of tiie river. I
shall moreover take a position, with my
principal force, at the junction of the ri
ver, near the line, and shall attack anv
vessel that may attempt to intercept our
vessel and supplies below, as I feel per
suaded tile order of the president, prohi
biting an attack upon the Indians below the
line, has reference only to the past, and
not the present or future outrages, such as
the one just uow perpetrated, and such as
shall place our troops strictly within the
pale of natural law, where self-defence is
unctioned by the privilege of self-preser
vation. The wounded men who made
their escape, concur in the opinion, that
they had seen upwards of 500 hostile In
dian warriors, at difterent places below the
point of attack. Of the force engaged they
differ in opinion ; but all agree that the
number was very considerable, extending
about 150 yards along the shore, in the
edge of a swamp of thick woods. I am
assured by the friendly chief, that the hos
tile warriors of every town upon the Cha-
lahoocliie prepared canoes, and pushed off
down the river to join the Seminoles, as
u m as the account of my movement from
; th® Alabama reached them.
I have ju-t now received Mr. Graham"#
letter of the 2d inst. The views of th#
President, so far as may depend on ine,
shall be scrupulously observed. 1 should
instantly discharge the Georgia militia,
were I not strongly impressed with a be
lief, that such a step . would hazard _ the
-afety of the frontier settlements. The
Seminole Indians, however strange and
absurd it may appear to those who under
stand, little of their real character and ex
treme ignorance, entertains notion that
they cannot be beaten by our troops. They
confidently assert, that we never have
beaten them, or any of their people, ex- t
cept when we have been assisted by the
red people.
This will appear the less extraordinary
when it is recollected that they nave h.tlc
or no means of knowing the strength j..d
resources of our country; they haw not
travelled through it; they read i eitiier
books or newspapers, nor have they oppor*
tuui ties of conversing with persons able to
inform them.
I feel warranted, from all I Know of
these savages, in saying, they do not be
lieve we can beat them.
This error of theirs has led them, from
time to time, for many years past, lo mas
sacre our frontier citizens, often the unof
fending mother and babes. I felt myself
fully authorised to adopt tne only mea
sure- which Infigexi erience has proved to
be adequate, to put a stop to these outa
ges. I was pleased u ith the pro pec i of
being in.-t- uniental in effecting an object
ol so much importance to our exposed
frontier settlements, and which I felt, and
still feel, persuaded would in the end ben
efit the Indians.
The steps I have taken are known to
the department of war. You can more
readily conceive, than I describe, the mor
tification and disappointment I have ex
perienced in being compelled to suspend
or abandon my measures, at a moment
when the loss of It. Scott and his party
had given the enemy an occasion for tri
umph, and a certain prospect of increas
ing his strength, by enlisting against us all
who had before wavered or hesitated.
Permit me then to repeat niy request
that 1 may be permitted to return.
There is little ground to apprehend that
we shall find it necessary to follow the
Indians far beyond the national boundary.
They arc now to lie found in very consid
erable parties iki our side of the line.
i have not a doubt of the necu. ,itv of
sending tu Flint river, by way of Hartford,
the detachment of militia under General
Glascock.
My endeavors to put the detachment in
motion will delay my own movement un
til the 17th inst a 1 which time 1 shall re
sume my march to Point Petre.
An opinion preiails among the well in
formed of this part of the country (who
have by some means unknown to ine been
advised of our intention to take Amelia
Island) that our troops there will meet
with no opposition—Should this lie the
case, I shall return to fort Scott without
delay, t have the honor to be, &c.
E. P. GA INKS, maj. gen. comd.
Hon. J. C. Calhoun, sec. of war.
liver; we
likewise knew we had some friends; but
they are so mixed together we cannot
wavs distinguish the one from the other.
The president, wishing to do justici
his red friends and children, ha- given
order- for the bad to be separate^ from the
good. Those who have taken up a ms a-
ga.ost him. and such as have listened to
the bad talks of the people beyond the sea,
must go to Mickasukee A Suwany, where
we wish to find them together. But all
those who were our friends in the war,
will sit still at their homes in peace. We
will pay them for what meat they have to
sell us. We will be their friends, and.
when thev are hungry, we will give them
meat. The hostile party pretend to cal
culate upon help from the British ; they
may as well look for soldiers from the
moon to help them. Their warriors were
beaten, and driven from our country, by
American troops. The English are not
able to help themselves; how then j Extract of a Ut;erfromt,'cn- Gainei to the r-n-rfaJ.
slii tild they help the old red sticks, w hom I Ulf v '' ir - doted Head quarters, Hartford, iieo.
they have ruined by pretended friendship, j 9 < 1818 -
No 2. Sir-—I had the honor to receive, on my
Fort Scott, Nov. 1817.—Sir. The! wa y to this p!uce, the 5th instant, bv ex-
waters having risen sufficiently high to 1 l ,rss9 ^ om f" rt Hawkins, your verv ,,c.
enable you to ascend the river with all the! ce table letters of the 9th and lGtli of task
vessels. I wish you to do so, though it j month.
should take longer than I had anticipated. | The instructions they contain shall he re-
You can avail yourself of the aid of lieut. garded with the attention which theii im-
Scott’s detachment, to expedite your' portance demands.
vcment hither. Keep your vessels near j I received by the same express, several
to each other; ami. should you meet any .reports up to the21stDecember, from It.
insuperable obstacles, endeavor to apprise col. Arbuckle.and maj >r Muhlenberg, cop-
urn thereof, and you shall have additional I > cs o! which 1 enclose herewith, No 1.2.
relief. Wishing to see you soon, with 3. and 4.
your fleet, I remain, with great regard, By these reports it appears, that thtt
vour obedient servant, E. P, GAINES, principal force of the enemy (between 800
’To major Muhl nberg. and 1200) has been assembled on the
No. 3. Appalachicola, with a view to cut oft - our
S/tanith Bt .JT. .Vo-ember 28, 1S1”. supplies ordered Up that river, and that th&
Sir,—Encmsed ;,ou will receive major j detachment, with the vessels, has suffered
Muhlenberg’s corn;, iiwcution, which he severe annoyance, and some loss.
directs me to furwani .to you bv express | I do not apprehend that we shall lose a
from this place. Mi HamUv inf unis me, j vessel, or that any serious consequences
that the Indians are assembling at thejunc- j to the troops at fort Scott, will result from
tion ol the river, where they intend to j the delay and difficulty of obtaining -up-
make a stand against those vessels coming plies bv that channel ; the supply of flour
up ihe river. Should this be the case I am is more than sufficient for the present
not able to make a stand against them.— | month, and there is likewise a considvra-
M v command does not exceed 40 men,ami i ble supply of corn at the fort, and beet 4
one hall ick, and without arms. I leave cattle in the neighborhood. Of salted
this immediately. I pork, there can be but little, until the ar-
I am respectfully, vour obedient ser- rival in the river of thirty thousand
vant, R. \\. SCOTT, It. 7th inf'y.
Note.— The bearer of this is entitled to
three dollars on delivering this letter. The
Indians have a report here, the Indians
have beaten the white people.
//. Q. Fort Hawhins, Geo. December !5, 1817.
Sir.—1 arrived at this place the dav be
fore yesterday morning. In the afternoon
ot the same clay I received the detachment
of Gent i. militia, under brigadier gene
ral Glascock.
They look well, and are ready to march;
but the inattention on the part of the con
tractor’s agent to the requisitions for a
supply of rations, will, I apprehend accor
ding to custom, delay the movement of the
inilitia, until some part of the frontier set
tlements suffer I y the Indians, who, I have
no doubt, will detach considerable parties
for this pwpose, as soon as they find them
selves unable to succeed in any attempt a-
gainst the regular troops at Fort Scott;
and 1 think it cannot be long before thev
are convinced of this. But although 1
consider the regular troops secure in the
positions they occupy, yet I am satisfied
their numbers will not warrant their being
detached, or leaving their places of de*
feace, except to a vtjy small extent.
tiuus, and with every other requisite sup
ply, ordered in the early part of last month
Ironi Mobile, and which may be brought
up the river in the covered ball-proof bo’ats
which have been prepared for the purpose.
But, to guard against every untoward ob
stacle in that quarter, I have ordered sup.
plies from this place and fort Hawkins,
part of which are now on the way, and
will be deposited at a work now construct-
ing by the detachment under gen. Glas
cock, on Flint river, at the Chehaw village
sixty miles above fort Scott, whence the
supplies will be taken in ball-proof boats,
and I have strong ground to believe they
will be at fort Scott by the 24th of tile
present month, at which time I calculate)
upon being able to concentrate my force,
and shall lose no time in attempting a deci
sive blow, which I trust will terminate
the war.
I have received information that a party
of Indians entered the settlement near
Tra2?r’s Hill, a few days past, killed a
woman, and took oft' some three or four
negroes. I had previously ordered a de
tachment of artillery from Amelia Island
with two companies of the militia taken
from gen. Floyd’s duisiou, to take post
at Trader 5 * Hill, far the defence of that
