Article Title: Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman, Fort Wilkinson. Bowles is still at large in Spanish
Florida. A British ship stuptified the Spanish at Pensacola by seizing a prize from the harbor.
Author:
Published in: Connecticut Gazette and the Commercial Intelligencer
Place of Publication: New London, CT
Publication Date: 9/9/1801




Extract of a letter from a gentleman dated, Fort Wilkinson, on the Frontiers of Georgia, the 27th July
1801, to a correspondent in Philadelphia.
" I left Col. Hawkins' establishment near Tookaubachie, on the 19th inst. The Col. was in very ill
health being much afflicted with the gout. He being one of the Commissioners lately appointed to
treat with the southern Indians, had just received notice to be at S. W Point, state of Tennessee, on
the first of August, to meet with the other Commissioners, Gens. Davie and Wilkinson, and intended
setting off for that purpose on the 22d, three days after I left him.
" Bowles's vessel which arrived from Providence in April, was before it had finished discharging its
cargo, compelled to cut cable and clear itself. He still continues to give the Indians assurances, or
rather to make them promises, that his other vessels will shortly arrive. He and his associates are in
a state of starvation, and still keep on the Spanish side of the line.
" About the last of June a British ship of war, sailed over the bar of Pensacola Bay, took a brig laden
with flour, fired at the Fort at the Barrancos, and sailed over unmolested with its prize. The
consternation of the Spaniards in the town of Pensacola on this occasion was great; some fled to the
fort, whilst others were preparing to take to the woods.
" The Indian reports at Cowetuhtallauhaffee were that the firing of cannon had been heard towards St.
Marks and St. Augustine, which gave hopes to some of them, that Bowles's vessels had arrived ; but
the large majority of the nation are of opinion that they had better mind their farms and hunting, and
leave the white people to fight their own battles.
" They continue to make settlements nearer the state of Georgia ; this year they are making corn at
several places on the Flint river, which several years ago through dread of the white people, they had
deserted, and which in consequence of the fertility of the soil and the good understanding that has
subsisted between them for a few years past, they have been induced to settle.
" The Citizens of Georgia are very anxious for an extension of Territory. The magnetic charm of the"
promised land," has drawn to the frontiers, people from allsorts of the United States, some of whom
this year have had the boldness to violate the intercourse laws, by planting on the Indian side of the
line, which must be immediately put a stop to, or we shall forfeit the friendship of these injured
people."