Christophe Vuillaumes efterslægt - Christensen, Erichsen ...

effect; General Ducoudray in particular asserting, as we were informed, that Commodore Daniels, with his
squadron, would co-operate in the attack. In consequence, on the 13th of August last, two vessels, the Andrew
Jackson and the Selina, both schooners, sailed from New York, having on board a number of passengers,
principally Americans and French, all of whom we believe (and in our own particular case do assert) were
under the persuasion that our operations were to be conducted under the Colombian flag; the cargoes
consisting of muskets, sabres, saddles, powder, lead, and provisions, in packages of various sizes, having been
shipped as merchandise for St. Thomas's or St. Barts. On leaving this port. we proceeded directly to the spot
appointed as the place of rendezvous between our vessels and a Colombian twenty two gun brig, which we had
been taught by the agents of General Ducoudray to expect to fall in with off Barnegat - on board this vessel,
which he asserted would sail from Philadelphia with men, arms, &c., it was our expectation to be transferred.
After cruising some time on the above mentioned ground without falling in with any such vessel, we
proceeded (as had been preconcerted) to the second point of rendezvous, St. Barts. It may not be amiss, in this
place, to remark, that a sail appearing in sight which was mistaken for our expected consort, a flag was
displayed at the mast head which we have since discovered to have been an assumed one, but respecting which
we were at the time kept in ignorance whether it was a private signal or the Colombian flag, though we
generally supposed it to be the latter. The Andrew Jackson being a dull sailer on a wind, and the weather
proving adverse, our consort, the Selina, parted company, taking on board some of our principal officers, with
intention to make the best of their way to St. Barts, to expedite some preparations making in that place. About
this time it became known to some individuals that our destination was Porto Rico, though the same was not
generally understood until about the time that we arrived at St. Barts; no suspicion being yet entertained that
we were deceived respecting the expected succors and the protection of the Colombian flag. On our arrival at
St. Barts, we learned that, instead of the Colombian brig, a vessel had arrived from Philadelphia, called the
Mary, with men and arms; and that in consequence of the non-performance of General Ducoudray's
engagement, a vessel had been purchased in St. Barts, which had been few days previously taken by a patriot
privateer from the Spaniards. The Andrew Jackson did not enter the harbor of St. Barts, but lay on and off for
three days at the expiration of which time she received orders to make sail for Five Islands, where, on our
arrival, we found lying in a small bay three vessels, the Mary, Selina, and Endracht, (as she was then called)
being for some reason unknown to us, under Dutch colors.
At this place we first saw Mr. Irvine and General Ducoudray, and several persons to whom he had, as we
understood, given commissions; but of what description we know not, as we, the subscribers, never received
any, nor saw one, until after our arrival at Curaçao. The Governor of St. Bartholomew's, as we were informed,
suspecting something of an improper nature in the expedition, had ordered these three vessels out of port; in
consequence of which, but few of the soldiers there enlisted had been taken on board. The latter part of the day
of our arrival at Five Islands was occupied in transferring the passengers, arms, munitions of war, and part of
the stores, from the three vessels last mentioned into the newly purchased brig Endracht, and on the following
morning the Endracht, Mary, and Salina weighed, and set sail (as was believed) for Crabb Islands and St.
Thomas's, there to take on board troops which had been previously raised; the Andrew Jackson entering the
harbor of St. Barts to dispose of the remainder of her cargo; from and after which time we saw nothing more of
her or of the Selina. On the same day, at sea, to our utter astonishment, we were informed by the captain of the
Endracht (though the same was probably already known to some of the senior officers) that we had been
deceived by General Ducoudray with respect to the existence of any Colombian commission for the vessels;
on which the determination was, we believe, pretty general to leave the expedition on the first opportunity.
About this time a council of the higher officers was held, in which it was determined that we should
immediately proceed to Laguyra, to obtain the requisite commissions and a reinforcement of men; but this
resolution was rendered impracticable by the discovery that the vessel was in danger of sinking; the guns were
immediately thrown overboard, and the upper masts and spars sent down to ease the vessel; and the same
evening, it coming on to blow hard, she was so damaged, and made so much water, that the master determined
to enter the port of Curaçao, stating that an attempt to enter that of Laguyra in our crippled state would
unavoidably subject us to capture, as that place was in a rigid state of blockade. In consequence of the warped
and colored representations of some interested person, a totally undeserved stigma has attached to the
character of the Americans engaged in the expedition, by the assertion that they wished to fire into an
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