Action Around Apalachicola Bay-- Part 3: Why Was Forbes Mad?

At Prospect Bluff, George Woodbine conscripted John Forbes' agents, William Hanby and Edmund Doyle, along with 25 black slaves, to help build and manage their fort.  With Doyle and Hanby preoccupied, the British and their allies looted the Forbes store.

The former slaves were recruited into the Colonial Marines, and 300 of Forbes' cattle were confiscated to feed Creek and Seminole Indians., who were starving because Andrew Jackson's  forces had burned their villages and crops during the Creek War of 1813.

Woodbine's actions at Prospect Bluff convinced Forbes' partners, James and John Innerarity, the firm would fare better with the Americans than the British.  For the rest of the war, they aided Americans by sharing crucial information they gleaned from their vast trading network that extended from Amelia Island to Pensacola and New Orleans.

--Brock-Perry

USS Revenge, Perry's Lost Ship-- Part 2: Seizing the Diana From the British

In 1809, Oliver Hazard Perry took command of the ship.  With the passage of the Non-Intercourse Act on 1 March 1809, most restrictions to commerce with foreign countries were removed, with the exception of France and Britain.  The Revenge began cruising as far south as the tip of Florida and north to New England.

In 1810, the Revenge entered Washington Navy Yard for needed repairs.

July 1810 found the ship cruising off Charleston, S.C. when it was ordered to Amelia Island, Florida, then part of Spanish Florida.  It was to attempt to free an American ship, the Diana, which had been seized in Spanish waters and placed under British colors.

Despite the presence of two British warships in the area, Perry boarded the Diana, seized it, placed a prize crew on board and sailed away.

The Gallant Perry  --Brock-Perry

HMS Sappho-- Part 2: Battle With Gunboat No. 168

The Sappho was commissioned in 1807.  On March 13, 1812, it fired shots at U.S. Navy Gunboat No. 168at Fernadina, Florida, several months before the War of 1812 was declared.  The Sappho had intervened at Fernadina to enable the loyalist merchant vessel Fernando (or Fernandeno) to leave the port of Fernadina, Florida.

This was a very mismatched battle with the Sappho having a huge gunnery edge and Gunboat No. 168 soon drew out of range.  With the 168's withdrawal, several other merchant ships were able to escape from Fernadina.

With U.S, President James Madison and Georgia Governor George Matthews approval, a group calling themselves the Patriots of Amelia Island had seized the island and Fernadina and at first raised their flag, but then the American one.

American gunboats under the command of Commander Hugh Campbell helped maintain control of the island and locked down the port, causing the Sappho's intervention.

--Brock-Perry

The War of 1812 in Florida-- Part 8: Occupation of Fernadina

On 15 May 1812, the British brig HMS Sappho fired on Gunboat No. 168 which had fired on a loyalist merchant vessel in Fernadina to prevent her from leaving.  Outgunned, the American gunboat withdrew from the area and this enabled other vessels to escape.

Spanish pressure caused the American government to withdraw its support and the Patriots withdrew from Amelia Island and Fernadina in 1813.  To prevent this from happening again, the Spanish erected Fort San Carlos on the island in 1816.

--Brock-Perry

The War of 1812 in Florida-- Part 7: The Patriot War

The beginning of the so-called Patriot War, with the complete approval of U.S. President Madison happened on March 13, 1812 when Georgia George Matthews insurgents known as the "Patriots of Amelia Island" seizing Amelia Island and Fernadina on Amelia island in Spanish Florida.

They raised the Patriot flag, but soon replaced it with the flag of the United States.

American gunboats, under the command of Commodore Hugh Campbell maintained control.

--Brock-Perry

The War of 1812 in Florida-- Part 5: George Matthews, Georgia Governor

From the New Georgia Encyclopedia.

In the last post I mentioned a General George Matthews leading the capture of Fernadina and Amelia Island.  I looked him up and he had an interesting career and life.

Born in Virginia, he was a veteran of the American Revolution and colonel of the 9th Virginia whose members were all either killed or captured at the Battle of Germantown in Pennsylvania.  After that, Matthews spent time as a POW until September of 1781 when he was released and rejoined Washington's Army and posted to Georgia and South Carolina.

While there, he bought a sizable tract of land in Georgia and became quite wealthy and involved in politics, eventually serving as state legislator, member of Congress and governor.

More to Come.  --Brock-Perry

The War of 1812 in Florida-- Part 4: Capture of Fernadina

Fernadina, on Amelia Island, just south of the St. Marys River was an important port.  General George Matthews sent nine ships to protect American interests there.  The  small Spanish force commanded by Don Jose Copens was forced to surrender on March 17, 1812.

An agreement was signed to allow Fernadina to be a free port, open to all, but should war begin between the U.S. and Britain, British ships could not trade there.

--Brock-Perry