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Daily National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
On July 17, US gunboats under Sailing Master Loomis retaliated against an ambush at Fort St. Mark, Appalachicola, where midshipman Loughborough and three seamen were attacked by shore forces, resulting in deaths and the fort's destruction by hot shot, killing or wounding its garrison of Indians and runaway negroes.
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We learn that on the 17th July, two U. S. gun boats, commanded by sailing master Loomis, appeared off fort St. Mark, built by the famous col. Nicholls. at Appalachicola; midshipman Loughborough and three seamen rowed up the bay in a boat to procure water. After proceeding some distance they were beckoned by a negro on the shore in a manner that appeared to be friendly and when they had approached him they received a heavy fire of musketry, which killed and wounded all the party but one, who escaped by swimming to the opposite side of the bay. One of the seamen, who was wounded, was dragged from the boat and burnt alive by these cannibals, after having first tarred his body. In revenge for this outrage, the gun boats opened their fire upon the fort, which in a little time was blown up by the first hot shot that was discharged. All the garrison, which was a motley collection of Indians and runaway negroes, and was commanded by one of the latter were killed or wounded by the explosion -the wounded (about 12 in number) were taken by a detachment of troops and friendly Indians under command of Col. Clinch. It is said one hundred British uniforms were discovered in the fort, packed up in hogsheads. The number of men in the fort, when the attack commenced, is supposed to have been 300.
It is a happy thing for the adjacent American as well as for the Spanish territories, that this band of brigands has been exterminated. Appalachicola has long been a receptacle for all the runaway negroes of Georgia, Tennessee, the Mississippi Territory and Pensacola; and for the hostile and outcast Indians of the Creek and Seminole tribes.
The hot shot which proved so fatal to the slaves of col. Nicholls was directed by. sailing master Basset, at the distance of two miles from the fort, and is another proof of the unrivalled skill of Americans in the use of fire arms: he was highly extolled by col. Clinch's Indians, who gave him the title of the Little War Captain ; these people were lost in astonishment at the wonderful effects of the cannonade.
About 3000 stand of arms were found in the fort, part of which have arrived at the Bayou St. John in the Gen. Pike.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Appalachicola, Fort St. Mark
Event Date
17th July
Key Persons
Outcome
midshipman loughborough and three seamen attacked; all but one killed or wounded, one seaman tarred and burnt alive. fort blown up; all 300 in garrison killed or wounded, about 12 wounded captured. 100 british uniforms and 3000 stand of arms found.
Event Details
Two US gunboats under Loomis appeared off Fort St. Mark; boat party of Loughborough and three seamen ambushed by negro on shore while procuring water, fired upon, one escaped. Gunboats fired hot shot directed by Basset, exploding fort and destroying garrison of Indians and runaway negroes commanded by a negro. Wounded taken by Clinch's troops and friendly Indians.