The John Gwinn Papers-- Part 1

The John Gwinn papers are at the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division.

Spans dates  1815 to 1864 with most dates from 1825 to 1849.

It includes 900 items.

Official correspondence includes  orders to duty, general orders, circulars, regulations,  as well as letters received and drafts of letters sent.

The letters document the Navy's peacetime mission of protecting American commerce and interests at home and overseas.

Gwinn commanded the Vandalia (sloop-of-war),  and Potomac (frigate), Home Squadron and the Pensacola, Fl., Navy Base, 

At home he protected American commerce from aggression and piratical acts.  Abroad, he commanded the USS Constitution, the Mediterranean Squadron and, again protected American interests.  Because of political unrest in Italy,  the American consul wrote him asking for  protection of American citizens and their interests.

--Brock-Perry

Action Around Apalachicola Bay-- Part 9: It's a Race to New Orleans Where Jackson Wins That Big Victory

After their defeat at Fort Bowyer, the British retreated to Pensacola, and Jackson determined to push them out of that place, even though it was technically neutral.  His forces reached Pensacola on November 6, 1814.  After the Spanish rejected his flag of truce,  he defeated the small garrison the next day in a brief skirmish.  One thing about Jackson, he never let a little thing like neutrality stop him.

In the meantime, the British pulled out of the city, destroying Forts Michael and Barrancas on the way.

Jackson  went back to Mobile, where he confirmed that the British force was heading for New Orleans.  Now that he was sure that Mobile was not the target, he  rode with his officers to New Orleans in ten days, with his army following later.  Partly because of the warnings of James Inneraritys, he arrived in New Orleans shortly before the British fleet.

He took command of the local militia, prepared the defenses and led his troops to that outstanding victory  at the Battle of New Orleans in January 1815.  (See the header at the top of the blog.)

--Brock-Perry

Action Around Apalachicola Bay-- Part 8: Warning Jackson

WARNING JACKSON ABOUT NEW ORLEANS

Unknown to the British, an American merchant in Havana, Vincent Gray, had learned the invaders planned to  capture cotton bales stored at New Orleans and sell the stolen goods in Liverpool.  Under international law at the time, officers could profit from prize money received for items seized  in war.  It is estimated that 4 million pounds worth cotton, sugar, hemp, tobacco and ships could be seized  at New Orleans, far more than was available in Mobile.

Gray overheard conversations with Nicholls, commander of the Royal Marines, and learned the first British attacks would be on Pensacola and Mobile.  Alarmed at the rumors he was hearing, Gray wrote three letters of warning, that he sent to Secretary of War James Monroe, Gov. William Claibborne of Louisiana and the Forbes partner in Mobile, James Innerarity.

Although his loyalties were torn, James Innerarity  knew the British might loot his stores as war prizes, and decided that the American defenders needed to be warned of these planned attacks.  James requested an interview with Andrew Jackson, and showed him Gray's letter.  By this stroke of fortune, Jackson learned of the British attack on New Orleans four months before the invasion began which gave him time to prepare.

--Brock-Perry

Action Around Apalachicola Bay, Florida-- Part 6: The War Comes to the Gulf Coast

In July 1814, a second British fleet anchored at Havana, Cuba,  and the Royal Marine commander, Lt. Col. Edward Nicholls, attempted to persuade the Spanish governor general, Ruiz Apodaca, , to allow British troops to defend Florida against the Americans.  Spain was neutral in the conflict, and although Apodaca  did not protest British troops on the Apalachicola River, he demanded the British stay out of Pensacola.

Nicholls departed for Apalachicola in August , only to find Woodbine had left Prospect Bluff for Pensacola in an effort to get fresh provisions for his Indian and black recruits.  Nicholls followed immediately to Pensacola., and was given permission to occupy Fort St. Michael (former Fort George and Fort San Miguel depending on who had control of it).

However, he alienated Spanish citizens by taking military control of the town and recruiting slaves into the marines.

News of the British advances along the Apalachicola River reached Andrew Jackson, and he moved his headquarters to Mobile on August 21, 1814.  That city was defended by the newly-built Fort Bowyer located on a sand spit east of the entrance to Mobile Bay (present side of Fort Morgan).

--Old Secesh

Action Around Apalachicola Bay-- Part 5: The Creek War and the Battle of Horseshoe Bend

Angered that they were turned down by Spanish governor Gonzalez Manrique. they turned to John Innerarity at the Forbes store  in Pensacola.  Innerarity feared that an Indian war was about to begin and showed them only empty barrels and turned down their request for guns and gunpowder

However, Governor Manrique decided to help the Creeks and  provided Chief Peter McQueen with 1,000 pounds of gunpowder.  An attack on Fort Mimms caused the United States to declare war on the Creeks.

Alarmed that the Creeks would become a dangerous threat if the British armed them, Andrew Jackson's Tennessee volunteers marched to the Alabama River from Nashville and defeated the Creeks at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend on March 27, 1814, and forced the Indians to ceded half of their territory to the Americans.

With some justification,  hostile factions among the Creeks and Seminoles blamed Forbes & Company for their lack of firearms and gunpowder that led to their defeat and loss of land.

--Brock-Perry

Action Around Apalachicola Bay-- Part 4: It Was a British, American and Spanish Thing

According to their British charter, the Forbes Company could operate under the flag of any country.  James and and John Innerarity had already obtained Spanish citizenship by residence without giving up their British, and thereby  were able to trade freely in Florida,

After the United States annexed Mobile in 1813, the Inneraritys applied for U.S. citizenship.  U.S. General James Wilkinson quartermaster purchased tools, bricks, lumber, food and office supplies from the company.  Through these favorable associations, the senior Forbes partners were becoming even closer to  Americans and more suspicious of British intentions.

The War of 1812 was already being fought between Nova Scotia and Washington, and now Forbes ships plying between Nassau and London were in jeopardy.

In July 1813, several delegations of Creek Indians, who were hostile to American encroachment, had arrived in Spanish Pensacola seeking gunpowder and firearms.  Led by Chiefs Peter McQueen and High Head Jim, about 300 men requested arms from the governor, Gonzalez Manrique, who refused their request.

--Brock-Perry

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

The Fort Mims Massacre

From Jan. 7, 2020, News Maven Fort Mims' Massacre, Battle of New Orleans , & General Andrew Jackson" by Bill Federer.

Five hundred men, women and children were massacred at Fort Mims, Alabama, just north of Mobile, on August 30, 1813, by Red Stick Creek Indians.

There is a historical marker there that reads:

"FORT MIMS--  Here in the Creek Indian War 1813-1814 took place the most brutal massacre in American history.  Indians took the fort with heavy loss, then killed all but 36  of some 550 in the fort.  Creeks had been armed  by British in Pensacola in this phase of the War of 1812."

The Indians had been incited to riot, attack and pillage by a foreign power.

Rumors circulated that the British would pay cash for American scalps.

--Brock-Perry

West Florida's William King-- Part 2: Military Governor

William King was with Andrew Jackson during his controversial invasion of the Spanish colony of West Florida and occupation of Pensacola. Jackson interpreted the surrender of the Spanish governor there as giving the United States control over all of West Florida.

 Jackson then appointed King as the military governor and charged him with enforcing Spanish laws and protecting Spanish people and property.  In addition, King oversaw the dispersal of Tennessee and Kentucky militia.

However, Jackson's invasion of West Florida was a serious threat to U.S. negotiations with Spain to get all of Florida and President James Monroe wanted West Florida restored to Spanish control as soon as possible.  King served at his post until relieved by Edmund P. Gaines.

William Gaines was discharged from the Army in June 1821 and died in January 1826.

Fort King in Florida was named for him.

--Brock-Perry

3rd U.S. Infantry

I was unable to find out much about Duncan Clinch's service during the War of 1812, but he commanded a company in the 3rd U.S. Infantry so what they did, he probably did.

Wikipedia says that during the War of 1812 they served in Canada, Chippewa and Lundy's Lane.  They are the regiment known as the "Old Guard" famous for their guarding the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery..

They were in the Seventh Military District as well which was headquartered in New Orleans.  They participated in fighting against the Creek Indians and in Jackson's capture of Pensacola.

--Brock-Perry

200 Years Ago: American Capture of Pensacola, Florida

NOVEMBER 7TH, 1814: Troops under Major General Andrew Jackson take Pensacola, Florida, from agarrison of British and Spanish troops.  Jackson did this without authorization, but American troops occupied the town for the remainder of the war.

--Brock-Perry

Jackson County, Florida, in the War of 1812

From the June 14, 2012, Jackson County (Fla) Times" by Sid Riley.

A British force of 4,000 occupied Pensacola, Florida in 1814 and then was reinforced by another 4,000 troops just before the army moved out to attack General Jackson at New Orleans.

Local historian Nadine Strickland researched and found that four War of 1812 veterans are buried in Jackson County.

1.  ISAAC AUSTIN ADAMS--  1st Lt., 4th US Artillery.  Died 1829.  Grave #8 at Riverside Cemetery in Marianna.

2.  HOMER VIRGIL MILTON--  Colonel, 3rd Infantry, born 1781, died 1822.  Grave #11, St. Luke's Episcopal Church Cemetery.

3.  JESSE ROBINSON--  Captain, 2nd Georgia Artillery.  Born 1759, died 1854.  Grave #15, St. Luke's Episcopal Church Cemetery.

4.  J.G. STRICKLAND--  (I wonder if any relation to the historian)  Private, 1st Georgia Militia, buried at Cow Pen Pond Cemetery, Grave #18.

You Don't Think of Florida Much When the War Comes Up.  It Wasn't Even a State Yet.  --Brock-Perry