Christophe Vuillaumes efterslægt - Christensen, Erichsen ...

I remain, with great respect, &c., C. J. INGERSOLL
Aaron Burns to Thomas Wattson, dated at CURAÇAO, September 26, 1822.
SIR: It falls to my part to inform you that every thing relating to the expedition is entirely destroyed. I will
endeavor to give you all the particulars relating to this unfortunate expedition, and every transaction that has
come within my knowledge shall be fully related.
We left the capes of Delaware on the 11th of August; on the 13th arrived at Barnegat; after cruising twenty
four hours off that place for our consorts, and not finding them we proceeded on our passage for St. Barts.
Nothing of consequence happened on our passage, except a little assumption on the part of Mr. Reid, which
was highly resented by some of the passengers; they supposing him not vested with such high authority as he
assumed. On the 8th of September we arrived at St. Barts; we found Captain Gould, who is deeply concerned
in the expedition, and who had been waiting some days for our arrival, he having arrived from New York in
the schooner Selina, Captain Sisters; you have doubtless heard the General mention his name. He came on
board, and desired us to come into port, which was immediately done after consulting with General Holstein,
who advised to that effect. At that place all the chief officers went on shore, where there was nothing but
disputations between them and Mr. Reid, as they wished to take part of the cargo to raise funds. Four days after
arrived schooner Andrew Jackson, Sanderson, from New York. After lying here five days we were ordered off
by the Governor, who repeated his order, declaring he would fire into us if we did not immediately obey the
order. We left the principal officers on shore, and made sail for the Five Islands, at which place we arrived in
two hours, it being only ten miles distant; both schooners from New York anchored there also, and a sharp
built brig called the Endracht, formerly the American privateer Saratoga, which had been bought at St. Barts
by Captain Gould for the expedition. In the afternoon all the officers who were compelled to leave St. Barts
came on board. While at the Five Islands, nothing but the most violent disputes and contention was visible
among the principal persons, and at last it was concluded to put all the military stores on board the brig
Endracht, which was done, she being a very fast sailer. Several reports were current at this place, viz: that the
inhabitants of St. Barts intended to rise and come against us; next, that several French men of war were
cruising off for us, they having understood that the expedition was intended against St Martin‘s and
Guadeloupe. We all got under way immediately; the schooner Andrew Jackson proceeded to St. Barts, after
having put all her military stores on board of the other brig, together with her passengers, to about thirty people
in number, (the sharp brig, or Endracht, had in all about sixty in number,) all of the vessels doing the same; the
rest, three in number, immediately put out to sea, as I thought with an intention to proceed to Crabb Island, to
windward of Porto Rico, where the General repeatedly declared that every thing was in readiness to prosecute
the expedition; but after being at sea about six or eight hours, Mr. Irvine and the Captain of the brig came on
board, and declared that they had determined to proceed to Laguyra, instead of Crabb Island, the General
having raised their expectations to the highest pitch in respect to procuring several hundred men at the latter
place; they then discovered they had all been deceived, and that he had been guilty of the basest deception in
holding out to them ideas which he never expected himself to be realized. We accordingly steered for Laguyra,
but we got separated; some time after, Mr. Reid wished to go on board the other brig on some business, and I
endeavored to come up to her, in which I succeeded; he went on board, and returned soon after, apparently
very much alarmed, as he declared that they had threatened to detain him on board, and, with much uneasiness
in his looks, also said they were desirous of sending a part of the passengers on board, to which I was strongly
opposed. I then hailed the brig, and told them the decided course I should pursue; that if it was l to save the
lives of the passengers, I would do a in my power to assist them; if, on the contrary, it was only a wish to get rid
of some of them, that I would not take them on board; but would at any rate stay by them, and render them all
necessary assistance; on which the French passengers in the other brig declared, unless I hove to they would
fire into me, and they had actually their muskets ready; on which I was compelled to heave to, and take some
of them, but not until Mr. Irvine had come on board and said that their determination was to fire unless their
demand was complied with. Those who had declared their determination to fire were nearly all French, to
whom the General always appeared particularly partial; their determination was not only to fire into the brig,
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