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Show 228 LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. CHAP. that he had no agency in the transaction of which he VII. complained and assured him of his perfect willingness ~ ' . to receive any overtures he mtght be pleased to make. 1814· This was joyful tidings; and no time was to be lost, in meeting the offer. If negotiation should place in his hands the different fortresses, before information of it was had by the British shipping, lying in the bay, the outward channel would be effectually stop· ped, and the means of their escape entirely cut off. Major Piere was accordingly sent off, at a late hour of the night, to detail to the governor the reasons which had rendered the present descent proper ; and to insist on the conditions already noticed, as alone calculated to assure safety to the United States, and give protection to the province of East Florida. He was particularly instructed to ·impress on his consideration, that a re-surrender would be made, so soon as Spain, by the arrival of a sufficient force, could protect her territory from the inroads of a power, at war with the United States ; and which, through an opening thus afforded, was enabled, ·and had already done her considerable injury. In his communication to the governor, he remarks, " I come not as die ene· my of Spain; not to make war, but to ask for peace; to demand security for my country, and that respect to which she is entitled, and shall receive. My force is sufficient, and my determination taken, to prevent a future repetition of the injuries she has received. I demand therefore the possession of the Barrancas, and ' ' . . If od1er fortifications, with all your mumtwns of war. delivered peaceably, the whole shall be receipted for, and become the subject of future arrangement, by our LIFE OF GEN. JACKSON. 229 respective governments; while the property, laws, and CHAP. re It.g J.O n of your C.i t.i zens w1" II b e respected . B ut 1·r ~ VII. taken by an appeal to arms, let the blood of your sub- 1814• jects be upon your own head!• · I will not hold myself responsible for the conduct of' \ny enraged soldiers. One hour is given you for delib.eration, when your determination must be had." The council was called, die propositions considered, and the conclusion taken, d1at they could not be acceded to. As soon as die answer was received, showing that nothing peaceably could be done, Jack~ son resolved to push his army forward ; and, immediately commencing his march, proceeded to the accomplishment of his object, determined to effect it, in despite of danger, and the consequences. Early on the morning of the 7th, the army was in motion. To foster the idea, that he would march and reach the town along the road, on which he was encamped, a detachment of five hundred men was sent forward, with orders to show themselves in this dir~ction, ~nd amuse and deceive d1e enemy ; while, urgmg rap1dly on, with the strength of his army, he :•a~ gaining it at a different and unexpected point. ~his stratagem succeeded : the British, looking for h1s appearance where the detachment was seen, had formed their vessels across the bay and were waitino- 1" ' b us approach, with their guns properly bearing : nor had they ~ intimation to the contrary, t~ntil our troops were deserted upon the beach, on the east side, where they w~re at too great a distance to be annoyed from ?n~:,~~my the flottlla ; and whence, pushing forward, they w~re ~~~.:;•.kes presently in the streets, and covered by the house~ sion of ·- · }Jensacola |
