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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