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Show LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. first importance; still, until the town and its fortresses .._V.,I.I..._ ,were secure d , 1. t was .I mproper to W·Iu 1 d ra w to so great 1814. a distance. Notwithstanding the assurances given, tl1at all dif· ferences would be accommodated, and every thing insisted on agreed to, Fort St. Michael was still withheld. Captain Dankins was ordered to take post on Mount St. Bernard, form his batteries, and reduce it. He was in a situation to act, when the commandant, colonel Sotto, ordered his flag taken down, and the fort to be surrendered. It is curious to observe the treachery of the Spa· Conduct niards, and the unpardonable method they took, to in· d;dof~~~- d~lge their rancour and spleen. Previously to. s~iking Span;ards.his colours, the commandant had asked permiSSIOn to fire his guns ; to this there could be no objection, and the indulgence was extended ; but, faithless and cow· ardly, he levelled and fired his pieces, charged with grape, at a party of dragoons and Choctaw Indians, who were at a small distance, which killed three horses, and wounded two men. Such unpardonable conduct, independent of other wrongs and injuries, already noticed, .might have justified any treatment ; the destruc· tion of the garrison would not have been an unmerited chastisement. The general was on his way to Mount St. Bernard, where his artillery was planted, when he received intelligence of what had been done. He de· !ermined no longer to confide in persons, whose only object seemed to deceive, but to make the sword the arbiter between them. His cromon were already turn· ed towards the fort, and the resolution taken to batter it down, when it was announced by major Piere that LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. the capitulation had been agreed on, al1d a surrender CHAP. would be made in half an hour. He "again forbore VII . to obey that impulse their unwarrantable conduct had~ so J.U S tl y exc1. te d , an d de' spatc h ed captam. Dankm. s, to IS\4. insi~t on an immediate delivery ; with directions to carry it by storm, if the demand were not instantly complied with. Difficulties promised thus peaceably to terminate. The day being far spent, and the general greatly indisposed, no step could be taken to obtain possession of tl1e Barrancas, until the next morning. On the credit of the governor's promises, made first on tl1eir entrance into the town, the principal part of the army had been ordered a short distance out. Understanding, at St. Bemard, that what had been required would be done, and that no further delay would be me~, the .general ~ad set out to the encampment, leaving maJor Piere behmd, with a sufficient force to preserve the town in safety a11d quietness. He was astonished early in the morning, to learn that captain Dankins o~ reaching St. Michael, the preceding evening, had been threatened to be fired on by colonel Sotto : possession, however, had been yielded, on being made to under~ d, that if the fort were not delivered instantly, and Without :urther parley, it would be carried forcibly, and ~e garrison put to the sword. A capitulation was Signed : Pensacola, and the different fortresses were to be retained, until Spain coulc~ better maintaii~ her authority ; while the rights and privileges of her citizens were to be respected. Every thing was in readmess, on the followmg day, to march, and take possession of Barrancas fort. The r. g |
