Relations with Spain. susceptible of, to barely suggest, as a reason for I have the honor to be, &c. WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 1805. SIR: Finding you had left this when I returned from Natchez, Mr. Shields follows with my orders to Captain Sparks, commanding at the fort. Enclosed is a copy of my letter to him, indicative of the wish of the Executive of this Territory on the occasion, which I trust will be compatible with the civil authority. I am, &c. part of them went to the house of Samuel Kemper, broke into his room, and took and tied him also; and the two parties met again near the line, and went in company on the high road till they got a few feet below the line, where Captain Alston, with a party of twelve men, lay in wait, and marched out of the bushes and took possession of the Kempers; at the instant, all the other party dispersed and run off. Alston and his party then conducted the Kempers down to a boat, and ordered six of his men, to wit, WilBayou Tunica landing, and put them on board of liam Barker, Charles Stewart, John Morris, John Ratcliff, George Rowe, and Adam Bingaman, to take them down to Baton Rouge. On their way down, when they got opposite the American garrison at Point Coupée, the boat was taken by Captain Wilson, the Kempers released, and the Spanish subjects made prisoners. It appearing, on examination of the Kempers, that the six persons last mentioned had not acted above the line, they were liberated, as will appear by a document I enclose. None of the Spanish subjects that were active in the outrage above the line were taken into custody; but if they had been in custody, they would have been detained for trial. I request that they may all be delivered over to And, indeed, it was so evident that the party beJudge Rodney, or some justice of the peace, to below the line were acting confederate with those examined as to any offences they may have committed within the limits of this Territory, or that may be cognizable by the civil authority thereof. The Spanish subjects, to the number of six, as I am informed, should they be discharged by the civil authority, I request that you will cause them to be escorted by a sufficient guard, to the line dividing this Territory from that possessed by His Catholic Majesty, there liberated, and suffered to pass into his jurisdiction. Judge RODNEY. ROBERT WILLIAMS. WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 1805. SIR: I have received your letter of the 20th instant, informing me of the arrival of the prisoners from Point Coupée, at Fort Adams. As to the Kempers, I presume they will be dealt with as the law will authorize; and my hope is, that they may be bound to their good behaviour, and to keep the peace, as well towards the citizens of the United States as the subjects of His Catholic Majesty. Accept my best respects, &c. ROBERT WILLIAMS. Capt. RICHARD SPARKS, Military Commandant at Fort Adams. TOWN OF WASHINGTON, Sept. 30, 1805. DEAR SIR: On the 25th or 26th of this instant, I made examination into the truth of the outrage committed in this Territory, at and near Pinckneyville, on the night of the 3d of this instant, on the persons of Reuben, Nathan, and Samuel Kemper. This outrage appears to have been committed by a combination of persons, some residing above, and some below, the line of demarcation. Among them was a Doctor Bonner, a Henry Flower, son of Doctor Flower, and a Mr. McDer mot, who were active above the line, and are said to reside below. The party, composed of twelve white men and seven negroes, first assaulted and broke the house of Nathan Kemper, and seized and tied him and his brother Reuben; then a above, had they not been the subjects of a Gov- THOMAS RODNEY. P. S. Justice Baker was also directed to re quire bail of Reuben, Nathan, and Samuel Kemper, respectively, to keep the peace, especially towards the subjects of the King of Spain, and to do no injury to any one below the line of demarT. R. cation. Documents relative to the detention of public buildings at New Orleans, &c. Extracts of letters from General James Wilkinson to the Secretary of War. NEW ORLEANS, December 27, 1803. Our troops are not yet in quarters, but continue to occupy the redoubts which surround the town, under their tents, which has occasioned great discontent and produced much sickness; nor have we been able to get possession of a single storehouse or magazine for the reception of our tools, implements, stores, baggage, and provisions. I am now working on a partition of the barracks, to separate our troops from those of Spain, and hope I shall be able to get our men under cover tomorrow; but I am reduced to the painful necessity, after waiting thus long, to hire stores for the reception of our provisions, hospital stores, ammu Relations with Spain. ted States took leave of the Commissioners of Spain, and I numbered twenty-five Spanish officers at the audience. nition, arms, and other articles, which expense should, in my judgment, be charged to the French Republic, and therefore a separate account wil be kept of it, and all other expenses which may accrue in consequence of the incomplete execu- Extract of a letter from Lieutenant Colonel Constant tion of the treaty. NEW ORLEANS, March 2, 1804. It pains me still to be obliged to write you from this place, but the causes which have prevented my departure still exist. The Prefect of France and the Spanish troops are still in town, and the magazines and store-houses still in their possession, while we are obliged to pay rent for our own accommodation. My patience is nearly exhausted, and I shall not be detained many days longer, unless something very unexpected should occur to make it my duty. We have appearances of the Prefect's intention soon to depart, though they are contradicted by other circumstances. As to the Marquis de Casa Calvo, and the Spanish officers generally, they indicate no intention whatever of moving.. Governor Folch sailed three days since for Pensacola, but he was not accompanied by any troops; it is now said that they will follow him in a few days. Yet I suspect the Marquis de Casa Calvo will keep a detachment here for his accommodation. You have, under cover, a list of guards, which the Spaniards mounted in the city yesterday, but you must not believe that this singular spectacle is permitted by my consent. A return of guards mounted in New Orleans by the troops of Spain, March 24, 1804. Sergeants. Corporals. Privates. 1. Marquis de Casa Calvo 1 2. Governor Salcedo 3. Intendant Morales 4. Auditor 5. Magazine 6. Hospital 7. Dragoons of Mexico 1 9 9 3 1 6 NEW ORLEANS, April 15, 1804. I have the satisfaction to inform you that about three hundred Spanish troops embarked for Pensacola on the 8th instant, but I am informed that twelve or fifteen officers, and between sixty and one hundred men, will continue in this city. They have delivered up the barracks, but occupy the hospital and several detached buildings. The Prefect made his congé to our Commissioners on the 12th instant, but is still in town exercising his prefectorial and commissarial functions, yet I look daily for his embarcation. The arrival of our ordnance stores from Fort Adams commenced a few days since, but we have as yet neither stores nor magazines for their reception, these being still occupied by the French and Spanish Governments. NEW ORLEANS, April 25, 1804. The Prefect of France embarked on the 21st instant. Yesterday the Commissioners of the Uni Freeman to General Wilkinson, dated NEW ORLEANS, July 14, 1804. On the 9th instant, sir, the powder magazine, opposite to this city, was delivered to me. Extract of a letter from General Wilkinson to the Secretary of War, dated NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 16, 1804. We did not until this day receive the orders of the French and Spanish Commissioners for the delivery of the posts in upper Louisiana. Documents relative to the conduct of the Spaniards in Louisiana; establishment of new posts; reinforcements, and reports of a repossession of that country. Extract of a letter from Captain Turner to General James Wilkinson, dated NATCHITOCHES, Aug. 1, 1804. Since I last wrote, nothing of much importance has transpired. Our neighbors still keep up that sort of conduct towards us, which a state of war alone would justify. Every person who goes from here is strictly examined and searched, and all letters found in their possession are broken them big with treason, stratagems, and crimes. open and perused with an expectation of finding Copy of a letter from the same to the same, dated NATCHITOCHES, Oct. 15, 1804. The Spaniards are undoubtedly meditating mischief in this quarter; their emissaries have been at work among the Indians and negroes. The night before last, nine of the latter run off for Nacogdoches, who, it has been ascertained, have been persuaded so to do by a Spaniard, inhabitant of Nacogdoches, telling them that, on their arrival there, they would be made free. Upwards of thirty are at this moment known to have been in the plot of elopement; and intelligence of the extent and nature of the plan is momently coming to light. To-day it is discovered that four of the nine have returned, to rouse and stimulate their confederates and others who were not implicated; an Indian boy, who was in one of their cabins, gives the intelligence. He says those who returned were instilling into the others, that, since the plot has been discovered, it should stimulate them to be more determined, &c. &c. The whole district is in the most alarming state, and inevitable ruin to it, and perhaps all Louisiana, must be the consequence, unless prompt measures are taken to stop the infamous proceedings of the infernal Spaniards. I received a message, the other day, from the Cousadee or Alabama Indians, informing that other Indians, stimulated by the Spaniards, had desired them to move over the line, (they living Relations with Spain. James Wilkinson, dated FORT CLAIBORNE, (Natchitoches.) May 3, 1805. Within these two days I have received infor on this side the Sabine, within the district of Ope- Extract of a letter from Captain Turner to General lousas,) and informed them that they wished them to join a war against the Americans; upon refusing, they threatened to cut them off wherever they should meet with them. Further, that a great council was about to be held, to which all the Indians were invited, and the Spaniards were to have large presents there for them. This intelligence has, within a few days, been corroborated by a white man living near the Sabine, whom the Indians, being friendly towards, desired to quit, as shortly depredations were to commence on the American frontier. mation that the Spaniards have absolutely established themselves, both at Matagorda, and the Orcoquisas. They came by sea, and immediately dian chief of the Choctaws, who says that a warcommenced fortifying. The informer is an Inrior of his nation, who has been hunting with the Caraukuas, on the bay of St. Bernard, has returned loaded with Spanish presents and caresses, and says that the commanding officer told him Extract of a letter from Doctor John Sibley to the Sec- that he and his people had better abandon the retary of War, dated NATCHITOCHES, May 1, 1805. The Choctaw chief, at the same time, reported to me, that a party of his people had lately returned from a hunting voyage on the bay of St. Bernard, and that they there fell in with two parties of Spanish troops, who had lately arrived there by water, and had their shipping then lying there; that they were building two forts, and had got them considerably advanced; one of them at the mouth of Trinity river, at the Oekekesaws, the other, further to the westward, near the Caraukuas; they did not know by what name they called the place, but I take it to be Matagordo: that the Spanish officer at Oekekesaws had commissioned one of his hunters as a chief, and told him the Americans holding this country were all wind; that, if they were wise, they would abandon us and attach themselves to them, (the Spaniards,) for their old friends would not forsake them; but that they were advancing against the Americans, and should soon build a fort in Opelousas, and another at Attakapas, and one at or near Natchitoches, and proceed on towards New Orleans; and that the officer told him he was in want of spades to go on faster with the works; and that, if the Indians would come in among the Americans and buy what they could and bring to him, he would give them a horse for each spade they would bring. This hunter, on his arrival at Bayou Chero, at the Choctaw village, finding the chief absent, sent off a runner to notify him of it, and to be on his guard against the Americans, for all Louisiana would soon belong again to Spain. Mr. Fulsome, who I occasionally employ as an interpreter, was present when the chief received this message, and came in with him to me, who likewise said that there was, at the same time, a Spaniard in the Choctaw camp asleep, and that after the runner had delivered his message, he (Fulsome) awakened the Spaniard, and asked him if he knew anything of a Spanish force having arrived at the Oekekesaws, and he said he had heard so. An American gentleman, a Captain Fristo, of Tennessee, was with me a few hours ago. He is lately from Nacogdoches, and informs me that he understood the same when he was at that place. Americans, and come under the protection of the Spaniards, who would never forsake their old friends; and bid him witness their present proceedings, giving to understand that it was only preparatory to their taking possession of the country again, which would not remain long in the hands of the Americans, as they meant to edge themselves along till they got to Orleans; that the warrior appeared to believe what was told him, and had returned with different ideas respecting the Americans than he possessed before. The informer further says, that the Spanish troops were in want of spades, and told this Indian, and those who were with him, that if they would bring some from this place, or Opelousas, he would give them a horse for every one delivered. Extract of a letter from Doctor John Sibley to the Secretary of War, dated NATCHITOCHES, May 31, 1805. I sent Mr. Fulsome to bring in the chief and the party of Choctaws, who had lately returned from the bay of St. Bernard, and had given an account of the posts of Matagordo and the Oekekesaws being lately taken possession of. Mr. Fulsome found them and brought them in. He can give no certain account of any troops being at Matagordo, but he was at the Oekekesaws, and saw them; they were building a fort: but a small number of soldiers. The chief says, the Spanish offieer advised him and all his nation to come to them; that their great father over the water had not forgotten them, and gave them not only his He says the party he hand but his whole arm. saw came there by land: but the evening he left the place, he saw a vessel in the bay, that the officer said was coming to them with a reinforcement. He likewise says, he heard they intended to build forts soon at Opelousas, Attakapas, and Natchitoches, but he did not hear the officer say it. Extract of a letter from Dr. John Sibley to the Secretary of War, dated NATCHITOCHES, July 2, 1805. A man by the name of St. Prie arrived here yesterday from the Spanish country. He speaks French: I have had some conversation with him. He says that there are five hundred families arrived at St. Antonio, settlers, with a con Relations with Spain. siderable reinforcement of troops; and that one hundred soldiers were coming to Nacogdoches; fifty of whom were to be there by the 15th inst. Extract of a letter from the same to the same, dated NATCHITOCHES, August 8, 1805. Great pains are certainly taken by people living here, and strangers passing through the country to and from toward Mexico, to freshen and keep alive the report and belief, that this part of the country is not long to remain in the hands of the United States. other to be divided between Nacogdoches and Adeis. The white men employed by the Indian agent are now with me, and relate the following: At about six days' march nearly south west from here, they came in sight of a sort of stockade, as well as they could judge from the distance they saw it. They were discovered by the garrison, and a number of horsemen (to the amount of at least fifty) immediately sallied from out or near the picket work in line, and gave them chase. As they approached they formed a half circle, in order to enclose them. They, the Americans, escaped The day before yesterday the Baron Bastrop, to the woods, which were within a league; the an intimate acquaintance of the Marquis de Casa Spaniards continued the pursuit about fifteen Calvo, passed through this place from Orleans on miles. They imagined the fort or picket work to his way to Mexico; on that way he took great be about one hundred and twenty miles from this pains to circulate the report, and to tell all the in-place, and is situated in open ground in the bottom habitants he spoke with, that the country would ere long be again under the Government of Spain, &c. He speaks French, English, and Spanish. Assurances of that kind, from a character like the Baron, make a strong impression upon the minds of the uninformed inhabitants. Extract of a letter from Captain Turner to General FORT CLAIBORNE, (NATCHITOCHES,) of a prairie, at the confluence of the Trinity and Snow rivers, about twenty miles from the sea. They were further informed that the place where the fort is was called Orcoquisas. Extract of a letter from a Mr. Johnson, son of a Colonel Johnson, of Kentucky, to Dr. Sibley. NACOGDOCHES, Oct. 3, 1805. I have chosen this method of informing you of the receipt of a letter from Mr. Barr, but a few minutes since, which mentions, that he will be here the day after to-morrow, accompanied by the new commandant, who had under his charge two companies of one hundred and ten each. The one is to be stationed at the Trinity until further orders, the other is for this place, with orders to make it a place of defence. Colonel Freeman. About a month ago Mr. Shabus, of this place, received a letter, dated St. Antonio, from Padre Puellet, telling him that the Commandant General, Mr. Grimare, direct from the Court of Spain, was expected in August at the Rio Grand, where a great number of the people of the province of Texas was to meet him; that he was accompanied by seven companies coming to St. Antonio, which place he was to make his residence, and Extract of a letter from Captain Bowyer to Lieutenant that Captain Amangual was to be stationed with his full company* at Nacogdoches. Mr. Shabus OPELOUSAS, Oct. 13, 1805. received a passport from the Governor of St. An- Yesterday Judge Collins waited on me and intonio, and a letter from the Bishop, requesting him formed me that the minds of the citizens of the to come on immediately to make preparations for district were considerably agitated on a report the Commandant General. Said Shabus says that being in circulation that a number of Spanish he, (the Commandant General,) was high in the troops have taken post on the Kelqueshoes, some confidence of the Court of Spain, and sent on ac-distance on this side the Sabine. Report says count of the limits. Six hundred families coming from Spain to settle Matagordo had put into the Canary islands. Extract of a letter from the same to the same. NATCHITOCHES, FORT CLAIBORNE, September 30, 1805. The new Governor, Antonio Cordero, has arrived at St. Antonio. Two men have just arrived from Nacogdoches, one of whom says he saw a letter from Mr. Barr to Davenport, written at St. Antonio, saying that he was waiting to set out with the Colonel, who was to take the command at Nacogdoches. He was to have two companies with him, one of which was to reinforce the Orcoquisas, and the "A full company consists of a captain, lieutenant, commandant, and one hundred and fifteen." the number does not fall short of eight hundred. I have no idea the force is as strong as reported; but that there are some Spanish troops in that quarter I have not the smallest doubt. Some time before Capt. Stille left Attakapas, he had certain information that a regular patrol was kept up on the Sabine, and were relieved weekly from the post of Nacogdoches. Since then I have been informed (how truly I cannot say) that two of the inhabitants of this country are prisoners at that post. Extract of a letter from Governor Claiborne to the NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 30, 1805. Six hundred troops have arrived at Pensacola from the Havana; and it is reported that the garrisons of Mobile and Baton Rouge are to receive considerable reinforcements. A Governor Gen Relations with Spain. eral for the province of Texas has arrived at St. Antonio; he is a Brigadier General, and said to possess military talents. A fort is erected on Trinity river, and about two hundred men (the greater part cavalry) are there stationed. Documents to show that the settlement of Bayou Pierre, on the Red river, at which a principal aggression took place, was originally made by France, while possessing Louisiana, and came to the possession of Spain only by the general delivery of Louisiana to her, and as a part of it. CAMPTI, IN THE DISTRICT OF NATCHITOCHES, Sept. 14, 1805. Personally appeared before me, John Sibley, one of the magistrates for the county of Natchitoches, Mary Pulogia Grappe Fontineau, aged 46, who, being duly cautioned and sworn, deposeth and saith, that she believes she was born at the ancient Caddo village, where was an establishment of French inhabitants and some soldiers; and that she perfectly recollects descending the river with her father. She was then six years of age; and that her mother remained behind, to collect some debts, and came down about six weeks after; and that she had always understood her family had lived there for a considerable number of years; and that there were a number of French families who had lived there for many years. FONTINEAU, Veuve. Sworn to before me, JOHN SIBLEY, J. P. I, John Horn, being duly sworn as interpreter, declare that the above declaration of Mary Pulogia Grappe Fontineau is truly interpreted as above written, J. HORN. NATCHITOCHES, Sept. 15, 1805. Personally appeared before me, John Sibley, one of the Justices of the Peace for the county of Natchitoches, Julien Besson, an inhabitant of Campti, in said county, aged 57, who, being duly | sworn, deposeth and saith, that he well recollects being carried from Natchitoches, by his father, to the ancient Caddo village, commonly called, by the course of the river, about one hundred and seventy leagues above Natchitoches, on Red river; and that, at that time, there were living several French families and some soldiers: the number of soldiers he does not remember, but only that it was a sergeant's command, (which sergeant was then his father;) and that his father, by order of the then French Governor General of Louisiana, built a small fort at said place, erected a flag staff, on which the French flag used to be hoisted the name of the fort was called St. Louis de Carloretto; and that, from the appearance of the place, and everything he had heard and understood about it, the establishment had been made for a considerable number of years before he went there, which is more than fifty years ago; and that he lived there fourteen or fifteen years, during all which time there was continued a detachment of French soldiers there, with a number of French families, who continued to cultivate corn, tobacco, and garden vegetables; and that he recollects two small pieces of cannon being there, and one of them bursting by firing; and he believes the other slipped into the river, by an excavation of its bank, as it lay near the edge of the bank; and that he recollects there being some mill-stones there, but has no remembrance of seeing them in use. And, at the same time that he lived at the above-mentioned place, some French families were settled at the Yattasse point, so called, being a part of what is now called the Bayou Pierre settlement; and that the same place has continued to be occupied by French families ever since, and which is now under the jurisdiction of the Spanish GovYattasse point used to be a place of great deposit ernment, in the province of Texas; and that said by Indian traders, before Louisiana was ceded to Spain: and further, that he has knowledge that to France, planted several crops of corn more some French hunters, while Louisiana belonged than fifty leagues above the ancient Caddo village, on Red river, at or near the mouth of Boggy river, (or the Vassures, as it is called ;) and that doned about thirty-eight years ago; and he bethe settlement at the old Caddo village was abanlieves the cause of their removal was, having large families of children growing up; and, after the cession of Louisiana to Spain, the settlement did not appear to augment, and the families were desirous their children should have the benefit of a better society: but that the country is exceedingly pleasant and fertile, and capable of becoming a rich and populous settlement. And further the deponent saith not. JULIEN BESSON. Sworn before me, at Natchitoches, the 16th of September, 1805. JOHN SIBLEY, J. P. I, the subscriber, being duly sworn as an interpreter of the French language, do hereby certify that the above or foregoing deposition of Julien Besson, is truly interpreted. J. HORN. NATCHITOCHES, Sept. 16, 1805. Personally appeared before me, John Sibley, one of the Justices of the Peace in said county, Louis Lamalaty, Esq., of Campti, in said county, who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that he is now sixty-six years of age; and that he was born at the place now called Natchitoches. Although he was never at the place where the ancient Caddo village was, he was in the constant habit of seeing the French inhabitants, and the soldiers who were then living and stationed there, and has no more doubt of the fact than though he had seen it; he saw Mr. Grappe and his family when they returned from there; and further, that he has knowledge of the ancient French establishment at Yattasse point, in the vicinity of Bayou Pierre; and that these French families lived there before Louisiana was ceded to Spain; and that Mr. Verge lived there for a number of years; and that said place was usually a place of deposit for |