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Show 20 MASSACRE Orders were then issued to Commodore Patterson, directing him to carry out the directions of the Secretary of \Var. IIc at that time commanded the American flotilla lying in "Mobile Bay," and instantly issued an order to Lieut. Loomis to ascend the Appalachicola River with two gun-boats, "to seize the people in BLoUNT's Fom•, deliver them to their owners, and destroy the Fort." On the morning of the 17th Sept., A. D. 1816, a spectator might have seen several individuals standing upon the walls of that fortress watching with intense interest the approach of two small vessels that were slowly ascending the river, under full-spread canvas, by the aid of a light southern breeze. They were in sight at early dawn, but it was ten o'clock when they furled their sails and cast anchor opposite the Fort, and some four or five hundu·ccl yards distant from it. A boat was lowered, and soon a midshipman and twelve men were observed making for the shore. They were met at the water's edge by some half dozen of the principal men in the Fort, and their errand demanded. The young officer told them he was sent to make A1' BLOUX'l''S Folt1'. 21 demand of the Fort, and tl1nt its inmates were to be given up to the "slaveholders, then on board the gun-boat, 1vho claimed them as fugitive slaves,,, 'rho dcmancl was instantly rejected, ancl tlw midshipman and his men returned to the gun-boats and juformccl Lieut. Loomis of the answer he had rcccivccl. .As the colored men entered the Fort they related to their companions the demand tl10t bad been made. Great was the consternation manifcstccl by the females, and even a portion of tbe sterner sex appeared to he distressed at their situation. Thi" was observed by an old patriarch, who bad drunk tho bitter cup of servitude, one who bore on his person the visible marks of the thong, as well as the brand of his master, upon his shottldcr. IIe saw his friends fauJtcrcd, and he spoke cheerfully to them. IIc assured them that they were safe from the cannon shot of the enemy-that there were not men enough on boarcl the vessels to storm their :Fort, and finally closed with the cmpl10tic declaration: " Give me liberty or give me death F' This saying was repeated by many agonized fathers and mothers on that bloody day. A cannonade was soon commenced upon the Fort, but without much apparent effect. The shots were |