“Four gun boats...”

Date

4-2-1812

Newspaper

Savannah Republican

Page and Column

Page 3, Column 2

Newspaper Location

Savannah, Georgia

Serial Number

721

Abstract

Information on American forces at Amelia island, Georgia. possible source for felt reports on January 23 and February 7, 1812. Names mentioned are Hugh G. Campbell and Don Justor Lopez.

Transcript

CHARLESTON, March 30. Four gun-boats sailed from Amelia for St. John's, or St. Augustine, the beginning of the last week, to cooperate with the Revolutionists who had gone against those places. A temporary custom-house has been opened at Amelia-Island, by Mr. Lewis, deputy-collector at St. Mary's, and several small vessels have been cleared out in ballast coastwise; but it was not the intention of gen. Matthews to allow any of the goods lying at that place to be introduced into the U States until the terms of capitulation mentioned in the subjoined letter, had received the sanction of the President of the U States. We have been favored with the following copy of commodore Campbell's letter to the Spanish commandant, alluded to in a former publication. Don Jasto Lopez, had requested Commodore Campbell, in case it was his intention to act offensively against East Florida, to take possession of Amelia-Island in the name of the U. States, in which case he offered to surrender it to him-to which request he received the following reply:-- United States' Gun-Boat, No. 164, March 17, 1812. SIR-I waited until this later hour for an answer from gen. Matthews, in which I have been disappointed, and beg that this may be an apology for not making an earlier reply to your letter by Mr. Atkinson. I now beg leave to inform you, that the American naval force, at Amelia, is not intended to act in the name of the U. States, but to aid in support of a large proportion of your countrymen in arms, who have thought proper to declare themselves independent, and are now in the act of calling on your to join in their undertaking. You will readily conceive, sir, the task imposed on me; yet flatter myself that it will be accomplished without the effusion of human blood, while the arm of humanity and protection will be extended to objects thus deserving. I have the honor to be, with great respect, sir, your most obedient servant. HUGH G. CAMPBELL. Don Justo Lopez, Commandant at Amelia.

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