Duncan Lamont Clinch-- Part 3: Successful Military Career

From John Horse.com

Duncan Clinch entered the Army in 1808 and rose quickly through the ranks and became famous in Florida, becoming one of the region's most prosperous planters and biggest slaveholders.

He had been orphaned as a youth and had inherited $1200, quite a fortune back then.

In 1808, Congressman Thomas Blount selected him as one of two young men to receive a commission as first lieutenant in the U.S. Army.

After the Battle of Negro Fort, he was breveted to brigadier general and led over 700 men against the Seminole Indians at the Battle of Withlacooche during the Second Seminole War.

On April 26, 1836, he tendered his resignation to President Andrew Jackson who tried to get him to reconsider, but to no avail.  Clinch resigned on September 21, 1836.

--Brock-Perry

Duncan Lamont Clinch-- Part 1

Troops attacking Negro Fort, which I wrote about the last two weeks, were led by Duncan Clinch.

From Good Old Wikipedia.

Born April 6, 1787, Died October 28, 1849.  American Army officer.

Also fought in the First and Second Seminole wars and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.  Born in North Carolina.

While in command of American forces in southern Georgia, he was ordered to attack the Seminoles and blacks who were at what was known as Negro Fort.  A shot from one of the gunboats assisting him, entered the magazine, causing a huge explosion and killing hundreds inside the fort.  This action led to the First Seminole War.

During the Second Seminole War, Clinch served with Major Francis L. Dade.

--Brock-Perry

Fort Gadsden-- Part 10: The Single Deadliest Cannon Shot in American History

The attack on Negro Fort had begun.  The two gunboats opened fire and got the fort's range in four shots.  The fifth shot was a "Hot Shot" one that had been heated and was fired from Gunboat #154 and scored a direct hit on the entrance to the gunpowder magazine and Negro Fort was blown to pieces.  It is regarded as perhaps the single deadliest cannon shot in American history.

An estimated 270-320 men, women and children were instantly killed.  Bodies and parts of bodies were found in the tall pine trees surrounding the fort..

The fort was abandoned for two years after that.

Brock-Perry

Fort Gadsden-- Part 7 The British Post on the Apalachicola

From Explore Southern History.com "Fort Gadsden Historic Site" by Dale Cox.

The Battle of Negro Fort took place on July 27, 1816.  It was a brief battle, but resulted in the deaths of 270 men, women and children.

The current Fort Gadsden was originally built by British Major Edward Nicholls (often misspelled Nichols).  It was a very strong fortification built at Prospect Bluff which had been used as an outpost by the British firm of Forbes & Co.

The fort was originally usually referred to as the British Post on the Apalachicola and consisted of an earthwork battery on the river, a strongly-built octagon magazine and arsenal, all surrounded by a palisade and entrenchments.

--Brock-Perry

Colonial Marines-- Part 2

Colonial Marines were offered their freedom for service.  Of course, former slaves being armed and opposed to the United States posed a huge threat to the slave-holding areas of the country.

After the War of 1812, the Florida post of Colonial Marines was paid off and disbanded.  Some moved to Bermuda but others continued to live around the former post leading to the Battle of Negro Fort in July 1816.  Negro Fort was on Prospect Bluff on the Spanish side of the Apalachicola River.

--Brock-Perry