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Show 210 LlFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAPTER VII. Colonel 'Nicholls arrives at Pensacola, and issues a proclama~ tion to the southern inhabitants.-Attack on Fort Bowyer, and loss of the Hermes.-Jacksort determines to reduce Pensacola.-Dcmands of the governor an explanation of his cOJH.luct ; his answer.-Enters, and takes possession of Pensacola.-Conduct and perfidy of the governor.-De· struction of Barrancas Fort.-Our troops return to :Mobile. -Expedition against the Indians.-Go.neral Winchester arrives, and Jackson proceeds to New Orleans. c 11 A p. WHETHER a force. were thus concentratin~ to act Vll. defensively against an invading enemy, or were mtend· ...,...,....._ ed to attack and break down their rallying point in the 1814. Spanish territory, whence they had it in their power to make sudden inroads on any part of our coast, as yet all was conjecture. It was a trait in Jackson'~ c~C· ter to lock closely in his bosom all his determmatJOns; it ;vas only to a few, on whom he reposed with unl~· mitedconfidence, that any intimation was given ofh!S intentions. The idea could scarcely be entertained, that at this time any hostility was meditated against Pensa· cola. The frequent applications he had made ~o the war department, to be indulged in the execuum! of this purpose, without having obtained any direcuons or permission to do so, had placed a veto on the. pr~~ ject, unless he should venture to assume and nsk 1 on his own responsibility. LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 2 11 It was impossible that he should remain long in C~i(rp· doubt, as to the course best calculated to assure defence,~ or as to the ulterior objects of the enemy. Colonel 1814. Nicholls, with a small squadron of his Britannic majes-ty's ships, arrived, the latter part of August, and took Colonel up his head quarters with governor Manrequez. He ~.:~~~!1 ~t was an lrishmaa, sent in advance by his royal mas- Pensacola ter, to sow dissensions among our people, and draw to his standard the malcontents and traitors of the eountry. His proclamation, issued to the western and southern inhabitants, full of well-turned periods, false statements, and high sounding promises, it was hoped would lead them to the belief, that their govern-ment was forging for them chains ; that it had not to redress any injuries of its own, but through the mere dictum of the French emperor, declared war against a power, the freest, the happiest, the most moral and re-ligious on earth. He stated, that he was at the head of a force amply sufficient to reinstate them in those liberties and enjoyments, of which they had been be-reaved, by the designs of" a contemptible few." That those disposed to imbrue their hands in the blood of their countrymen might not quietly rest, doubting of the assurances given, he concluded by tendering, as security for all he had said and promised, " the sacred honour of a British officer.* Perhaps he could have vouchsafed nothing, that tl1e American people would not have sooner relied on : it was a pledge in which past experience had told them tl1cy could not in safe-ty confide. To them it was a matter of surprise, lll Sec note .<\. |