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GEOEGIA AND GEORGIANS 481
Indians, these marauding expeditions had increased. In 1817 a band
of Indians had stolen several hundred head of cattle from settlers in
Camden, living just over the border line; and at Clarke's Mills, on the
St. Mary's, some of these Indians, after murdering a woman and two
children, had set fire to the dwelling and fled.
But, in addition to this catalogue of complaints, the whole of upper
Florida had become an asylum for lawless characters, runaway slaves,
free-booters, murderers and criminals of every type, who, by crossing
the border line into Florida—still a province of Spain—eluded the
arresting officers. Efforts had been made to obtain a surrender of these
criminals; but the Seminole Indians among whom they had taken-refuge
refused to surrender them to the Federal authorities. Says Prof.
Brown: * " Neg'ro slaves, escaping from American masters, had fled to
the Spanish province in considerable numbers and a body of them had
taken possession of a fort on the Appalachicola River, which had been
abandoned by the British. To add to the disorder of the province, it
was frequented by adventurers, some of them claiming to be there in
order to lead a revolution against Spain, some of them probably mere
free-booters. The Spanish authorities at Pensacola were too weak to
control such a population, and Americans near the border were anxious
for intervention. The negro fort was a center of lawlessness, and some
American troops marched down the river, bombarded it, and by a lucky
shot blew up its magazine and killed nearly 300 negroes. Trouble arose
with the Indians also, and Fowltown, an Indian village, was taken and
burned.''
According to this same authority, a British officer, Colonel Nichols,
at the head of a small force, had remained in Florida for some time,
following the close of hostilities with England, and had done a number
of things to stir up the Indians there against the Americans across the
border. Maj.-Gen. E. P. Gaines, in command of a body of United States
troops, marched to the Flint River, under orders from General Jackson;
and, on arriving there sent a friendly message to the Indian chief. But
these overtures were treated with silent contempt. Thereupon a detach
ment of troops was dispatched to the opposite side of the river, where
a fusillade at once began, the Indians firing upon the soldiers, who, in
turn, fired back, until the Indians, retreating,, fled into the interior.
Four warriors were left behind on the field. Having resolved upon a
pursuit of the savages, General Gaines ordered Colonel Arbuckle, with
300 Georgia militia, to overtake the Indians. These, hiding themselves
in the swamp, fired upon the Georgians, not one of whom, however, was
hurt. But a subsequent ambush was more successful. At this time,
1,000 Indians, under cover of the trees, attacked a passing boat, with the
result that every man on board was either killed or taken prisoner. On
one occasion the Indians penetrated as far as Fort Scott, where several
persons were murdered, and it was even feared that the savages might
try to reach Fort Gaines. Neither of these strongholds was any too
securely garrisoned. General Gaines was a desperate fighter, but was
not equal to the performance of miracles. His force was small and his
supplies were limited. Altogether, the situation was ominous of danger.
* "Life of Andrew Jackson," p. 89.
Vol. I—SI'