- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- [Letter], 1800 July 18, Fort Wilkinson, [Georgia] to Governor James Jackson / Benjamin Hawkins
- Creator:
- Hawkins, Benjamin, 1754-1816
- Date of Original:
- 1800-07-18
- Subject:
- Seminole Indians--Warfare
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- official reports
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- Copy of a letter dated July 18, 1800 from Benjamin Hawkins, Agent to the Creek Indians, to Georgia Governor James Jackson concerning the war between the Seminoles and Spanish. He relates information about Spain retaking Fort St. Mark's from William A. Bowles and his allies. Vicente Folch is mentioned.
Digital image of original manuscript, scanned by the University of Georgia Libraries in 2000, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- krc018
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc018
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc018#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_krc018/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Keith Read, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 2 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Keith Read, box 12, folder 31, document 01.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Copy of a Letter from Benjamin Hawkins To Governor Jackson Dated
18th July 1800 Fort Wilkinson
I informed your Excellency [deleted text: [illegible text] ] [added text: in my ] last by [unclear text: Tarvin ] of the unexpected surrender of the Fort St Marks to Bowles and his Part [added text: i ] zans. As soon as this shameful transaction was made known to the Officers of his Catholic Majesty in Pensacola. "They unanimously determined in a commencement of War. That his Excellency Don Vicente Folch should form an expedition for the purpose of retaking that fort, and for its better success he should command it in person. To this effect seven vessels of War and two merchantmen armed were put in readiness and on board of them were embarked the troops and stores that were thought necessary for the undertaking, this force sailed on the
17th June."I have been informed by two runners to our cheifs [chiefs] from the Simenolies who were at or near St Marks on the arrival of this force that the expedition has succeeded. One of them a Cussetah reports "that the fleet approached off the mouth of the Appalatchee & one ship of War sailed up and began to cannonade the fort. That on the appearance of this force Genl [General] Bowles opened the stores, invited the Indians to take all the goods they could Carry off and to clear themselves. this they did and he and his Partizans quit the Fort and retreated to Micco Sooke-" the other a Che-au-hau reports "That he and his companies were encamped a little on this side of the fort of St Marks. That nine sail of Spanish Galleys
Page: [2]
were seen coming up the river; at sight of which Bowles began to put what goods and ammunition he could in a small vessel and set out up the river, and his sword man took the keys opened the Stores to the red people and told them to take anything they could carry off; but in the height of their plundering the [unclear text: galleys ] marched [unclear text: sop ] so fast, firing a number of balls which hit and knocked down some of the wall & sunk a small vessel lying under them, that the plunderers were alarmed and fled. Genl [General] Bowles he pushed up the river in his small vessel; but being discovered and pursued by a galley he and his Indians quit her and went on shore, and the Galley captured the vessel. He further states that Bowles wanted the Cheauhau Indians to fire on the Spaniards which they refused to do" --
I have the Honor to be &c &c [et cetera et cetera]
[Signed] Benjamin Hawkins
His Excellency James Jackson Govr [Governor] of Georgia