The New Hampshire Gazette

The marauding business which the infamous Gen. Bowles has pursued, for several years past, on the southern frontiers of the United States, has received a powerful check; in the following intelligence, we perceive a severe blow given to the ambitious schemes of this unprincipled invader.

From Philadelphia, August 12.

We have the pleasure of seeing, in the last Georgia Papers, accounts of the expulsion of the Renegado General Bowles, from the position which he had lately taken in the Spanish Territories in Florida. The particulars that have reached us are as follow:

Savannah, July 24.

We are informed by an indisputable authority, that the Governor of the province of West-Florida, Lieut. Col. Don Vincente Folch at the head of an expedition composed of nine galleys, retook, a few days since, the fort of St. Mark on Apalachicola, sunk a small vessel, and captured another, in which the English adventurer and notorious vagabond, William Augustus Bowles, after finding the Chehaw Indians inclined to favor the interest of Spain, had made his escape up the waters of that river. Also, that the officers, who so shamefully surrendered that strong fortification to the crazy whims of the renowned director general of Muskogee, are placed under arrest, to be tried by a regular court martial. And that the Spaniards are in full hopes of putting out of the world that common enemy of peace, (Bowles) by the offer of great presents to the Indians who shall deliver him dead or alive, in Pensacola or St. Augustine."

Louisville, (Georgia) July 22.

Copy of a letter from Col. Hawkins, to his Excellency Governor Jackson, dated Fort Wilkinson. July 18, 1800.

I informed your Excellency in my last by Tarvin, of the unexpected surrender of the Fort of St. Mark's to Bowles and his partizans. As soon as this shameful transaction was made known to the officers of his Catholic Majesty in Pensacola, they unanimously determined in a council of war, that his excellency Don Vicente Folch, should form an expedition, for the purpose of retaking that fort: and for its better success; he should command it in person. To this effect even vessels of war, and two merchantmen, armed, were put in readiness, and on board of them were embarked the troops and stores that were thought necessary for the undertaking--this force sailed on the 17th June.

I have been informed by two runners to our Chiefs, from the Seminoles, who are at, or near St. Mark's on the arrival of this force, that the expedition has succeeded. One of them a Cuetah, reports, "that the Fleet appeared off the mouth of Apalachicola. and one ship of war sailed up and began to cannonade the fort; that on the appearance of this force, general Bowles opened the stores, invited the Indians to take all. the goods they could carry off, and to clear themselves--this they did, and he and his partizans quitted the fort, and retreated to Miccosukee." The other, a Chehaw; reports, "that he and his party were on this side of the fort of St. Mark's that nine sail of Spanish galleys were seen coming up the river, at sight of which, Bowles began to put what goods and ammunition he could in a small vessel, and set out up the river; and his second man took the keys. opened all the stores to the red people, and told them to take any thing they could carry off; but in the height of their plundering, the galleys approached so fast; firing a number of balls which hit and knocked down one of the wall, and sunk a small vessel lying under them, that the plunderers were alarmed and fled.-

Gen. Bowles pushed up the river in his small vessel, but being discovered, and pursued by a galley, he and his Indians quitted her, and went on shore, and the galley captured the vessel.

He further states, that Bowles wanted the Chehaw Indians to fire on the Spaniards, which they refused.

I have the honor to be, with sincere regard and esteem, Sir, your Excellency's most obedient servant,

BENJAMIN HAWKINS.

His Excellency James Jackson,

Governor of Georgia.