USA > Alabama > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 14
USA > Georgia > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 14
USA > Mississippi > History of Alabama, and incidentally of Georgia and Mississippi, from the earliest period. v. 2 > Part 14
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CHAPTER the Baton Rouge and Mobile districts were included, for they XXVIII. once belonged to French Louisiana. Spain met these argu- ments, by assuming the positions, that, just before the close of the American revolution, she became herself engaged in a war with England; that she took from Great Britain, by conquest, the Baton Rouge district, and that of Mobile, which was then a part of West Florida ; that, in 1783, Great Bri- tain confirmed these to her by treaty ; that, since then, she (Spain) had always considered these districts as a part of Spanish West Florida ; that Bonaparte only ceded to the United States Louisiana, not embracing, of course, the Baton Rouge and Mobile districts.
1805 August 12
The people of the Mississippi Territory, believing that the American government was right in this controversy, were impatient to occupy the rich lands in the Baton Rouge dis- trict, and were loud and open in their denunciations of the Spaniards. Border troubles commenced. Lieutenant John Glasscock, a subject of Spain, placed himself at the head of twelve Spanish light-horse, crossed over the line, two miles, into the Mississippi Territory, seized William Flannagin and his wife, and forcibly carried them fifteen miles, into Spanish territory. Here, finding that they were not the persons whom the authorities wanted, he turned them loose, to make 'their way back on foot, having retained their horse. This first open violation of American rights was followed up by one more serious. Many citizens of the Union had settled al- ready in the Baton Rouge district, while others lived near the line, ready to' enter it when a suitable opportunity offered.
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Among the most conspicuous of the latter class were Nathan CHAPTER Reuben and Samuel Kemper, sons of a Baptist preacher, who XXVIII. emigrated from Loudon, Virginia, to Ohio. They came to the Mississippi Territory in 1803, and established themselves at and near Pinckneyville, within a few miles of the Spanish line. Men of strong frontier sense, with a pleasing appear- ance and fine address, the Kempers were well suited to the times, and were dreaded by the Spaniards. They had ac- quired lands in the Baton Rouge district, under Spanish grants, which they knew would enrich them, could the coun- try once be occupied by Americans. Beginning to exert their influence, with an end to the expulsion of the Spaniards, Governor Grandpre determined to seize and imprison them. He despatched a company of kidnappers to the house of Nathan Kemper. They arrived there at 12 o'clock at night. 1805 September 3 They were Lewis Ritchie, Minor Butler, Abraham Horton, James Horton, Dr. Bomer, Henry Flowers, Jr., and - McDermot, who were in disguise, and were citizens of the Mississippi Territory, but accomplices in the schemes of Grand- pre. Seven negroes were also in company with them. The party were armed with guns and clubs, and provided with ropes. They forced the door, entered the room in which Reuben Kemper was sleeping, dragged him from his bed, beat him with clubs, and then tied him. Some of them, at the same time, dragged Nathan Kemper from the bed, in which he was sleeping with his wife, who received some blows from their clubs, in the scuffle, one of the kidnappers crying out, "If she utters another word, I will kill her !"
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
Nathan was also severely beaten, and well secured with cords. The brothers begged to know what they had done. A voice answered, "You have ruined the Spanish country !" The party gagged them, by placing large sassafras roots in their mouths. Then, tying a line around their necks, they were made to run before the horses of the kidnappers, and were conducted to the Spanish line. At the same time, a branch of this party had entered the tavern of Samuel Kem- per, at Pinckneyville, the proprietor of which they seized, beat with clubs, gagged and pinioned. In running along, by the side of a horseman, this prisoner, unable to keep up, fell September 3 to the earth, and was cruelly dragged an hundred yards, by 1805 a rope around his neck. He, too, was conducted to the Span- ish line, where all three of the unhappy brothers were deli- vered to Captain Solomon Alston, who conveyed them, with a guard, to the Tunica Landing, where they were placed in a boat, also guarded, which was ordered to transport them to Baton Rouge. In the meantime, a Dr. Towles, who had been visiting a patient, hearing of the outrage early in the morning, galloped his horse to Point Coupee, informed Lieu- tenant Wilson, the commandant at that place, who, with a file of soldiers, rescued the Kempers and captured the Spanish guard. They were all sent to the town of Washington, and the affair was legally investigated by Judge Rodney, and the parties were discharged. It, however, created much excite- ment, and Governor Williams formed a strong patrol, com- posed of two companies, at the head of which was Colonel John Ellis. After some sharp correspondence between the
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governor and Colonel Grandpre, the people became quiet, and border troubles ceased for a while. However, this shame- ful treatment of American citizens produced some excitement in Washington city, and John Randolph, of the committee of foreign relations, reported a bill, for the raising an army to repel and punish Spanish aggressors. But the friends of Jefferson's administration refused to adopt it .*
Nothing but an Indian trail led from the Oconee to the Alabama river, at Lake Tensaw. The houses of accommoda- tion were few, kept by Indians and half-breeds, and were of the most indifferent kind. None of the rivers were provided with ferry-boats, nor were the creeks bridged. The Federal Government, desiring to open a better avenue to the new country, obtained, from a delegation of thirty Creek Chiefs and warriors, then at Washington city, the right of using a horse-path through their country, along which the Chiefs agreed to establish ferries and bridges, and to open good houses of accommodation. The Cherokees, at Tellico Block- October 7 house, granted the right for a mail route, from Knoxville to New-Orleans, by way of the Tombigby. The United States also acquired more territory from the Chickasaws, who ceded July 23 about three hundred and fifty thousand acres, lying in the bend of the Tennessee, a very small portion of which, in the shape of a triangle, fell into Alabama, and was afterwards formed into the county of Madison. At Mount Dexter, the November 16
CHAPTER XXVIII.
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1805 November 14
* American State Papers, Boston edition, vol. 5, pp. 103-124. Also historical MS. notes, in the possession of Mr. E. T. Wood, of Mobile.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
Choctaws ceded to the government five millions of acres, commencing at the Cut-Off, at a point half way between the Alabama and Tombigby, running north to the Choc- taw corner, west to Fulluctabuna Old Fields, thence across the Tombigby to the Mississippi settlements, thence south to Ellicott's line, and east along that line, back to the Cut-Off .*
Thus the whole southern portion of the present State of Mississippi was thrown open to the Americans. The new purchase was soon formed into three counties-Marion, Wayne and Greene. A population from Georgia and Ten- nessee poured into the magnificent forest north of the Ten- nessee, about " Hunt's Spring," which had been obtained from the Chickasaws, as just mentioned. The population of the Mis- sissippi Territory had much increased, Natchez had become a large town, where boats going down and up the great river landed and traded, while the crews engaged in fights, drunkenness, gambling, and all kinds of debaucheries. It was the greatest thoroughfare in the whole forest world, and was decidedly a most abandoned place.
The subject of education was not neglected, and Jefferson College had been established at Ellicott's Spring, in the vi- cinity of the town of Washington. Many improvements, in the way of houses, farms and new towns, gave the terri- tory an air of civilization.
* Indian Affairs and Land Laws.
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CHAPTER XXIX.
THE ARREST OF AARON BURR, IN ALABAMA.
AARON BURR-a descendant of a learned ancestry, a native CHAPTER of New-Jersey, a graduate of Princeton, a whig colonel of XXIX. the Revolution, a lawyer of ability, a leading member of the New-York Legislature, a States' Attorney-General, a Senator of the United States, a Vice-President of the Union-at length found himself nominated, by the republican party of New-York, as a candidate for the office of Governor of that State. Among his most formidable enemies was Alexander Hamilton, whom he, not long after, killed in a duel. The 1804 July 11 tide of public opinion set strongly against him, in conse- quence of this unfortunate affair, and he was swept into exile upon the sea-coast of Carolina. He, however, returned to Washington, and presided over the Senate, until the expira- 1805 March 4 tion of his term of office, as Vice-President.
A warrant, for the killing of Hamilton, in the hands of the of- ficers of justice, prevented Burr from returning to New-York. He bad, likewise, become unpopular with the friends of Jefferson, with whom he had been a close competitor for the Presidency. Of course, he had no friends among the prominent federalists,
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CHAPTER against whom he had always acted. These things combined XXIX. to make him long for brighter prospects, in the South-West. In 1805, he travelled through Kentucky and Tennessee, en- joying the society of Clay and Jackson, besides that of many other distinguished persons. From January until August of the following year, his hours were passed in Wash- ington and Philadelphia, consumed in revolving schemes, the consummation of which, he believed, would elevate him above his fallen condition.
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Burr had purchased a portion of the lands granted by the King of Spain to Baron Bastrop, which lay between the Sabine and Natchitoches. His designs appear to have been the colonization of these lands, the expulsion of the Span- iards, the conquest of Texas, and, ultimately, of Mexico. To effect these things, it was necessary to raise a large armed force, in the West. He believed, also, that a war would soon ensue between the United States and Spain, and he expected, in that event, to co-operate with General Wilkinson, who had charge of the Western and Southern army. Upon his death- bed, Burr denied that he had any intention of dismembering the Union, and, as he had then arrived at the age of eighty, and outlived both his descendants and his reputation, it would seem that there was no inducement to conceal any act of his life.
1806 Summer
Burr again made his appearance in the Western country, where his plausibility captivated the people, who made active preparations to carry out his designs. Boats were constructed and stored with provisions and concealed arıns. General
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Wilkinson was suspected of having countenanced his enter- CHAPTER prise. Rumors had reached President Jefferson, that Burr XXIX. was raising troops for the purpose of dismembering the Union. He caused him to be arrested at Lexington, where Clay appeared in his defence. Burr was discharged, for the want of sufficient evidence to convict him. Then, descend- 1806 December 6 ing the Cumberland river, and the Mississippi, with thirteen boats and sixty men, he was met, some miles above Natchez, by Colonel F. L. Claiborne, whom the Governor of the Mississippi Territory, influenced by the proclamations of Jefferson, had des- patched, at the head of a detachment of two hundred and sev- enty-five men, for the purpose of arresting him. Burr surren- dered his boats and men, and proceeded, with Claiborne, to the 1807 January town of Washington, once more a prisoner of the United States. The people, generally, sympathized with himn, and thought him much wronged. He was honored with balls and parties in Adams county. IIe found no difficulty in giving bonds, in the sum of ten thousand dollars, for his ap- pearance at court. When it convened, he appeared, with his counsel, and demanded a release from his bonds, as the Attor- ney-General stated that he was satisfied his offences did not come within the jurisdiction of Mississippi, and insisted on his being sent to a competent tribunal. The motion of the At- torney-General was sustained, and Burr's application for a discharge was overruled by the Judges. The next morning the prisoner did not make his appearance in the court room, and it was soon ascertained that he had fled. A troop of .cavalry was despatched in pursuit of him, while the governor
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CHAPTER XXIX.
distributed proclamations over the country, which promised a reward of two thousand dollars for his apprehension. His destinatich was unknown. ¥ * * *
During a cold night in February, two young men-Nicho- las Perkins, a lawyer, and Thomas Malone, clerk of the court-were sitting in their cabin, in the village of Wakefield, Washington county, Alabama. Before them was a back- gammon board, and they were absorbed in the playing of that game. The hour was ten o'clock. The distant tramp of horses arrested their attention. Two travellers presently rode up to the door, one of whom inquired for the tavern. It was pointed out to him, and then he asked the road to Colo- nel Hinson's. Perkins informed him that the route lay over difficult paths, the place was seven miles distant, and a danger- ous creek intervened. The fire, being replenished with pine, now threw a light in the face of the traveller who propounded these questions. His countenance appeared to Perkins ex- ceedingly interesting. Ilis eyes sparkled like diamonds, while he sat upon his splendid horse, caparisoned with a fine saddle and new holsters. His dress was that of a plain farmer, but beneath his coarse pantaloons protruded a pair of exquisitely shaped boots. His striking features, with the strange mixture of his apparel, aroused the suspicions of Perkins, and, no sooner had the two travellers ridden from the door, than he said to Malone, with the most earnest ges- ticulation, " That is Aaron Burr. I have read a description of him in the proclamation. I cannot be mistaken. Let us
1807 February 18
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follow him to Hinson's, and take measures for his arrest." Malone declined to accompany him, remonstrating, at the same time, upon the folly of pursuing a traveller, at such a late hour of the night, and upon the basis of the merest conjecture. Perkins now rushed to the cabin of Theodore Brightwell, the sheriff, and awoke him. Presently these men were seen riding off with a rapid pace. The night was bitter cold, and the pine trees of the forest sadly moaned.
The travellers strangely made their way to the residence of Hinson, where they arrived about half past eleven o'clock. The moon had just risen, and enabled the lady of the house, whose husband was absent, to see that they were travellers, by their saddle-bags and tin cups, as she timidly peeped through a small window. She made no answer to their " halloo," but quietly closed the window. The strangers alighted and went into the kitchen, where a cheerful fire was yet burning. Perkins and the sheriff soon came in sight of the house. The former, recollecting that he had already been seen at Wakefield, thought it politic to remain in the woods, until Brightwell could go in the house, make the necessary discoveries, and return to him. Mrs. Hinson was a relative of the sheriff, and, recognizing his voice, felt relieved, by his appearance, from the fears she had felt, in consequence of the strangers having come at such a late hour of the night. Brightwell repaired to the kitchen, and discovered one of these men sitting by the fire, with his head down, while a handkerchief partially concealed his face. His companion had gone to the stable, to assist a negro in taking care of the
CHAPTER XXIX.
1807 February 18
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CHAPTER horses. It was not long before they went into the main XXIX. building, where the hostess had hastily prepared supper. While the elder traveller was eating, he engaged her in a sprightly conversation, in which he often thanked her for her kindness. At the same time, he cast the keenest glances at 1807 February 18 the sheriff, who stood before the fire, evidently with the en- deavor to read his thoughts and intentions. After he had finished his supper, he arose from the table, bowed to the lady, walked back to the kitchen and took his seat by the fire. Mrs. Hiuson then turned to his companion, and said, _ " Have I not, sir, the honor of entertaining Colonel Burr, the gentleman who has just walked out?" He gave her no an- swer, but rose from the table, much embarrassed, and also repaired to the kitchen. Her question had been prompted by Brightwell. In the morning, after breakfast, the elder traveller sought an interview with the lady, took occasion February 19 again to thank her for her hospitable attentions, regretted the absence of her husband, inquired the route to Pensacola, and rode off with his companion.
Perkins remained at his post in the woods, shivering with cold, and wondering why Brightwell did not return to him. His patience at length became exhausted, and, believing the person he was pursuing to be really Burr, he mounted his horse, and rode rapidly to the house of Joseph Bates, Sr., at Nannahubba Bluff. Procuring from that gentleman a negro and a canoe, he paddled down the river, and arrived at Fort Stoddart at the breaking of day. Rushing into the fort, and acquainting Captain Edmund P. Gaines with his suspicions,
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the latter made instant preparations to take the road. After CHAPTER a hasty breakfast, about the rising of the sun, Gaines, placing XXIX. himself at the head of a file of mounted soldiers, rode off 1807 February 19 with Perkins. About nine o'clock that morning they met the two mysterious travellers, on the descent of a hill, near a wolf- pen, at the distance of two miles from the residence of Hin- son. The following conversation immediately ensued :
GAINES .- I presume, sir, I have the honor of addressing Colonel Burr.
STRANGER .- I am a traveller in the country, and do not recognize your right to ask such a question.
GAINES .- I arrest you, at the instance of the Federal Go- vernment.
STRANGER .- By what authority do you arrest a traveller upon the highway, on his own private business ?
GAINES .- I am an officer of the army. I hold in my hands the proclamations of the President and the Governor, directing your arrest.
STRANGER .- You are a young man, and may not be aware of the responsibilities which result from arresting travellers.
GAINES .- I am aware of the responsibilities, but I know my duty.
The stranger now became exceedingly animated, and, with much eloquence and force, denounced these proclamations, as documents which had emanated in malevolent feeling, without any just foundation, and endeavored again to frighten the young officer from discharging his duty, by ingeniously ani- madverting upon the great liabilities which he was about to
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CHAPTER assume. But Gaines sternly replied, "My mind is made up. 1
XXIX.
You must accompany me to Fort Stoddart, where you shall
1807
February 19 be treated with all the respect due the ex-Vice-President of the United States, so long as you make no attempt to escape from me." The stranger, for a moment, gazed at him with earnestness, apparently surprised at the unusual firmness which the young officer exhibited. He then assented, by a gentle motion of his head, wheeled his horse around, and took the road to the fort, riding by the side of the captain. His tra- velling companion rode back towards Wakefield, with Bright- well, the sheriff, who was in company with the two travellers when they were met by Gaines .*
The party reached the fort in the evening, and Colonel Burr, being conducted to his room, took his dinner alone.
* It remains a mystery, to this day, why Brightwell did not keep his promise with Perkins, and I can only account for it by supposing that he became fascinated with Colonel Burr, was sorry that he had sought to arrest him, and was now conducting him to Mrs. Carson's ferry, upon the Tombigby, on the route to Pensacola. Burr had seen Colo- nel Hinson at Natchez, who had invited him to his house, should he ever pass that way. When he escaped from Natchez, he was secreted, from time to time, at the houses of his friends, and he was hastening to Hinson's, with whom he had intended to pass a week. But when he found him absent, and himself discovered by Brightwell, who probably informed him of the intentions of Perkins, he determined to fly to Pensacola, and there take a ship for Europe. He intended to enlist wealthy and influential persons, both in England and France, in the scheme of making the conquest of the North American Spanish posses- sions, now that he had so signally failed to accomplish it in the United States.
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Late in the night, he heard a groan in an adjoining room. CHAPTER He arose from a table, at which he was reading, opened the XXIX. 1807 door, entered the room, and approached the bedside of Geo. February 19 S. Gaines, the brother of the commandant, who was sick. He was kind to the sufferer, felt of his pulse, said he had tra- velled much and knew something of medicine, and offered his services. They now entered into an agreeable conversation. Burr asked the Choctaw factor many questions about the Indians, and their commerce. The next day he appeared at the dinner table, and was introduced to the wife of the com- mandant, who was the daughter of Judge Harry Toulmin. In the evening, he played chess with that accomplished lady, and, during his confinement at the fort, was often her com- petitor in that intricate game. Every night he sought the company of the invalid, who became exceedingly attached to him, and who felt deep regret on account of the downfall of so interesting and so distinguished a character. Often and often did the good heart of George S. Gaines grieve over the adversities and trials of this remarkable man, as they dis- coursed together. In all their conversations, maintained every night, the impenetrable Burr never once alluded to the de- signs which he had failed to carry out, to his present arrest, or to his future plans.
In the meantime, Captain Gaines had been untiring in his exertions to fit out an expedition, for the conveyance of his distinguished prisoner to the federal city. At length he 1807 placed Burr in a boat, along with a file of soldiers, and he About the po. riod of March 5 was rowed up the Alabama river, and then into Lake Tensaw. VOL. II. 12
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CHAPTER XXIX.
Passing some houses on the banks, several ladies wept, upon seeing the ex-Vice-President a prisoner, and one of them named a son for him. Everywhere, in the South-West, the ladies were attached to the man, and suffered their feelings to become enlisted in behalf of his unfortunate enterprises. It is a prominent and noble trait in the female character, to ad- mire a man of daring and generous impulses, and to pity and defend him in his adversities !*
1807 About the pe- riod of March 6
Arriving at the Boat Yard, Burr disembarked, and was delivered to the guard which was so long to be with him, in dangers and fatigues. It consisted of Colonel Nicholas Per- kins, of Tennessee, who had, as we have seen, been the cause of his arrest, Thomas Malone, formerly a clerk in the land office, at Raleigh, North-Carolina, but who, at this period, was a clerk of the court of Washington county, Alabama, Henry B. Slade, of North-Carolina, John Mills, a native of Alabama, John Henry, of Tennessee, two brothers, named McCormack, of Kentucky, and two federal soldiers. With the exception of the two soldiers, Perkins had chosen these men, on account of the confidence which he reposed in their honor, energy and fidelity. He had been placed over them by Captain Gaines, who entertained a high opinion of his bravery and capacity. Perkins took his men aside, and obtained from them the most solemn pledge that they would
* Burr was not only popular with the ladies, but the most prominent men in the South- West favored his enterprise, as they had long been anxious for the expulsion of the Spaniards.
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not suffer the prisoner to influence them, in any manner, in CHAPTER his behalf; to avoid which, they promised to converse as little XXIX. 1807 as possible with him, upon the whole route to Washington. About the pe- The character of Burr, for making strong impressions in his riod of March 6 favor, upon the human mind, was well known to Perkins.
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