Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

From the Richmond Enquirer, Oct.

NARRATIVE OF THE EXPEDITION TO AMELIA ISLAND

[BY one Concerned]

Part the First--From the commencement of the enterprize to the capture of Fernandina.

(concluded)

Rendered confident by these assurances, Col. Posey left New-York the 4th of May, 1817, with the most sanguine hopes of success, and upon the determination of attacking Amelia Island so soon after his arrival in Savannah, as fifty men could be procured for the service. Delayed by contrary winds, he did not reach Savannah until about the 20th of May, when he immediately entered upon the objects of his mission with the utmost zeal and industry. Several merchants were found in that city willing to risk a small capital in the expedition, provided they could be satisfied that it would meet with support in the wealthy cities of the north. Col. Posey frankly disclosed to them the nature and amount of the resources which might be expected from that quarter, and they at length agreed to furnish him with thirty thousand dollars. With a part of this sum he immediately set about to procure provisions, arms and clothing for 100 men and by dint of incessant application found himself in a condition to commence active operations about the 18th of June. Every thing was provided but troops...and they, he was induced to believe, might be had in sufficient numbers at any time. Prudence forbade him to attempt to raise those until the last moment of his departure. In this stage of his preparations, he heard of the arrival of Gen. M'Gregor at Charlesion, S. C. and ere long received a letter from the General, requesting his attendance in the city. He instantly complied with the request; and was not a little surprised to discover, upon a conference with the General, that he had come on to Charleston, utterly destitute of resources for the expedition; and was informed that it would be necessary to draw upon the funds in Savannah for the purchase of a vessel in Charleston, which might be supplied with a few guns, and would serve as a transport. The General accordingly was furnished with 17,000 dollars out of the 30,000 raised in Savannah, through the agency of Col. Posey, and after purchasing a vessel to answer his purpose, and appointing a place of rendezvous for the troops, about 50 miles distant from Amelia Island, Col. Posey was sent back to Savannah, with orders to be at that place with as many men as he could collect by a certain day, at which time Gen. M'Gregor would meet him in the armed brig which he had purchased, and with 100 men. On the 25th of June, General M'Gregor arrived at the place appointed with about 60 souls, including officers and men, and the crew of the brig, where Col. Posey had been waiting for him several days, with 40 or 50 officers and privates, most of whom were sailors, taken from the shipping at Savannah. On the 27th of June, the whole force proceeded for Amelia, the General by sea in his brig, and Col. Posey in open boats through what is called the Inland Passage. It was supposed that they would probably arrive before Amelia at the same time, and thus make a combined attack upon the works at Fernandina. The General, favored by a fair wind, arrived off Amelia bar on the 28th of June, where he continued waiting for the arrival of Col. Posey until the 29th. Impatient of longer delay, on that day at 3 P. M. he landed on the enemy's shore, about four miles from the town of Fernandina, With a force of 54 men, officers and privates; and after marching three miles up the sea beach unmolested, crossed a deep morass, in reach of the guns from one block house, and presented himself upon an eminence in rear of the town and within musket shot of the lines which had been erected for its defence. Not a gun had been fired by the enemy during his approach to this position, and his farther progress was arrested by the appearance of a flag of truce, which had been sought out by the commandant, Morales, to propose terms of capitulation. These were soon entered into, and so minutes after he had placed himself before the town, the Patriot flag was seen waving over a fort which contained 10 or 12 guns, and was garrisoned by 54 regular troops, independent of 20 or 30 citizens, who had armed themselves for the defence of the place!