WILLIAMLCLEMENTS
LIBRARY OF
AMERICAN HISTORY
UNIVERSITY/MICHIGAN




MEMOIRS and ADVENTURES
O F.
Captain Matthew Phelps :
FO R MERLY OF
HARWINGTON IN CONNECTICUT,
N. O. W. R. E. S I DE N T IN
NEW HAVEN IN VERMONT.
Particularly in two Voyages,
From Connecticut to the River Miſſiſſippi,
From December 1773 to October 1780.
Heaven from all creatures hides the book of fate,
All ºut the page preſcrib'd their preſent ſtate.
Porº.
Happy the man whoſes a Gºd employ'd
ºn all the good and ill that chequers life.
Cowper.
Compiled from the original journal and Mº-
nutes kept by Mr. Phelps, during his Voy-
ages and Adventures, and revised and
corrected according to his present
recollection.
By ANTHONY HASWELL.
From the prºſ of
ANTHONY BASWELL,
ºf Beºgros, in Vermºnt, tºº.
-

T6 rº E LOVERS ºr
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY,
THROUGHOUT THE
UNITED STATES IN GENERAL,
And to the Subscribers for the
MEMOIRS and ADVENTURES
olº
CAPTAIN MATTHEW PHELPS,
IN PARTICULAR,
This Volume is humbly and gratefully de-
dicated,
By their devoted Fellow Citizen,
The Compiler.
Friends and Patrons,
IV a country rapidly advancing in its pre-
gress to eminence, like that which we have
providentially the lot to inhabit, it must
be reckoned among the number of the most
desirable of things, correctly to inform the
mind, to give a right bias to the under-
standing, and to prºvent vicious propensi-
º, -


iv
FOR this the sages of our country,
while its independence was yet in embryo,
wrote, for this the statesman studied, and
for this the soldier of freedom conquered.
MOWING in the humblest sphere, yet
feeling the influence of this sentiment, and
solicitous to contribute his mite to the ad-
vancement of the beneficial design ; the
compiler, with great diffidence, admits the
appearance of the annexed Memoirs.
IAWG EAWIOUS novels doubtless Agºve
their usefulness in society, but where the
story is artless, the narrative fact, and
the adventurer our neighbor, the entertain-
ment is more rational, and the incidents
more interesting.
THIS marrative is meant to relate, free
from exaggeration, the vicissitudes of an
eventful period, in the life of an American
citizen, during which he was thrice reduc-
ed from competency to real indigence, yet
under the exercise of reason, and resigna-
tion to the will of the supreme disposer of
events, rose above depression, and pro-
gressed the fourth time, to a desirable in-
dependence. -
THAT its influence on community may
be beneficial, and the compiler escape the
sensure of an indulgent community, is the
&ºest ambition of A. HAswitz.

NºNº NºNºNº Nº.
MEMOIRS AND ADVENTURES
or
Captain Matthew Phelps.
Nº Nº.
Turne is perhaps as great advanta-
ges reſulting to ſociety, from the publica-
tion of the lives of men, eminent for the
exerciſe of thoſe virtues and accompliſh-
ments which dignify the juſt and ad rin the
exemplary, as from any ſpecies of writing
extant in the world. And even in the re-
cords of a common life, diſtinguiſhed for
no very ſingular acts of greatneſs perform-
ed by the relater, nor remarkable for any
inſtances of providential occurrence, ſtrik-
ingly diverſe from thoſe which form the
general lot of man, yet if a true and con-
ciſe hiſtory of thoſe viciitudes to which
all are more or leſs liable, isjudiciouſly ar-
B

t; Memoirs and Adventures ºf
ranged, accompanied with ſeaſonable re-
flections and a detail of practical improve.
ments; both profit and entertainment may
be found in the reſult. -
GREAT charaćters are generally for-
med by the conſcientious diſplay of pro-
priety of condućt, amidſt the multiplicity
of the common events of life; and from
viewing the trials of our fellow men, and
obſerving their condućt under them, from
taking a ſurvey of their mercies and en-
joyments, and beholding their diſtreſſes and
deliverances, faithfully detailed to us in
hiſtory, the mind of the attentive reader, al-
moſt imperceptibly, imbibes the ſentiment
of the adventurer, emulates his virtues,
and gains additional fortitude, to combat
with its own difficulties. Man from re.
viewing the exploits of man, learns like
the brave to act, the wife to think ; hence
he derives ſupport & is enabled to bear the
reverſes of life with equanimity of mind,
and by it the religioniſt is led to eye the di-
ºne head, in the operations of nature, a-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 7.
midſt all the varying ſcenes of life, and to
sheriſh hope in every poſſible dilemma.
UN pea Theſe impreſſions, impelled by
the earneſt ſolicitations of numerous
friends, and ſuperinduced by the deſire of
aſſiſting an induſtrious and ſomewhat needy
friend, in the line of his profeſſion, the ſub-
ject of the following narrative has conſen-
ted to the compilation of the hiſtory of his
early life, and of two voyages made by him
from Connecticut to the Miſſiſſippi, with
intention of ſettling and reſiding there.
The whole narrative is taken from the
original minutes and journal of Captain
Phelps, kept by him during his voyages
and travels, and recently corrected and re-
viſed, according to the beſt of his preſent
recolle&tion. He claims no merit from
the compoſition, and expects no emolument
whatever from the ſale of the work : the
worldwill therefore acquit him from, or
rather not impute to him the charge of av-
arice or oſtentation. That the ſtory may
prove conſoling to ſome under the preſſure

8 Memoirs and Adventures of
of misfortune ; that it may be the means
of rendering rational gratification to ma-
ny, and of inducing more to feel what
wretches feel, and to drop the tear of ſym-
pathy on woes that know no remedy, ex-
cept the ſolace of celeſtial love, is his ſincer-
eſt wiſh; and with this wiſh he cheerfully
ſubmits it to its fate.
Sººººººº-
CHAPTER II.
º
An account of the adventurer’s parentage,
birth and early life.—His marriage, &
progress in life, until he formed the re-
solution ºf making a voyage to the Mis-
sissippi.
Matthew PHELPS the hero of
the enſuing narrative was the ſon of Lieu-
tenant Samuel Phelps, of the town of Har-
wington, in the ſtate of Connecticut: His
mother's maiden name was Ruth Phelps,

Captain Matthew Phelps. 9.
daughter of Mr. Samuel Phelps, of Wind-
for, in the ſame ſtate.
It was the pleaſure of the ſupreme dif-
poſer of events to take from the hero of our
narrative the maternal care of his amiable
and reſpected mother, attoo early a period
to leave on his mind a laſting impreſſion of
her worth, or of his own irreparable loſs, as
ſhe died when he was only four years of
age : nor was he long permited to enjoy the
advantages of paternal love, for previous to
his attaining his eighth year, his father was
likewiſe ſummoned to quit the world.
Thus diveſted of his natural guardians
he became the charge of one and of another
of his relations, as his neceſſities required
or as their humanity prompted, and to the
honor of his relations he now with grateful
recolle&tion declares, that he never wanted
for a comfortable home, or a decent ſup-
port among them, during his early child-
hood or minority. It was perhaps the caſe
however, that from an early imbibed ſenſe
of the *attending the want of
2

10 Memoirs and Adventures of
a ſtated home, and from its having a pecu.
liarly operative power on his mind, that
before he attained his twentieth year, he
married to Miſs Jeruſha, daughter of en-
ſign Abel Phelps of Goſhen.
Mr. Phelps on his ſettling in life began
to conſider ſeriouſly upon the moſt prudent,
honorable, and beneficial mode of ſupport-
ing himſelf and family, and on the moſt
advantageous method within his power to
adopt, of providing for his offspring, if
Providence ſhould be pleaſed to favor his
union with an encreaſe.
With Mrs. Phelps he got but a trif.
ling matter of property, except a decent
ſupply of furniture for his houſe, but out
of his father’s eſtate he received a ſmall ca-
pital of about one hundred and fifty pounds,
and the reſult of his contemplations, on the
ſubject of future proviſion for his family
was, that he adjuſted his little concerns at
the place of his uſual reſidence, and remov.
ed to Norfolk, where he entered into trade
in a ſmall way on the money his father left

Captain Matthew Phelps. 1.
him, and by application to his buſineſs
maintained his family with tolerable de-
cency for ſome time.
Mrs. Phelps proved to be a moſt ami-
able and agreeable partner, a loving and
deſervedly beloved helpmeet in the toils of
life, and to the heightening of their mutual
affection, ſhe preſented her huſband with
a lovely daughter, in about two years from
the time of their marriage, and a ſecond
endearing pledge in two years after the
birth of the firſt.
Thus happily enjoying life, and in the
poſſeſſion of treaſures of love equally engag-
ing as tender, Mr. and Mrs. Phelps experi-
enced connubial felicity perhaps ſeldom ex-
ceeded on the theatre of common life. But
alas ! how unſtable are earthly poſſeſſions,
how fleeting human joys : Heaven, whoſe
councils are inſcrutable, whoſe dealings
are founded in infinite wiſdom, and unerr-
ing juſtice, ſaw fit to remove from them, in
an affecting manner, their youngeſt child
by death. The lovely babe was found, a

#2 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
Hifeleſs corpſe, by the ſide of its tender pa.
rents, upon their awakening in the morn-
ing, having died in the bed, apparently
without a ſtruggle, and probably without a
groan : the verdićt of a jury of inqueſt in
the caſe was, that its death was occaſioned
by a fit in the night.
Thus the tendereſt objećt of delight to
the eyes of the afflićted parents, having
been loaned to them, juſt long enough, as
it were, to exhibit its attraštive charms in
the moſt engaging view, and to rivet their
affections to it in the cloſeſt manner, was
taken from them without a moment’s warn-
ing. But happily the impreſſions of early
imbibed religion, bowed the minds of the
parents, ſubmiſfive to the divine will, and
on the death of their infant the ſorrow.
ing pair conſoled themſelves in hope, that
the lovely babe was called by mercy’s voice
to enjoy the preſence of a heavenly parent.
THIS affecting event made ſo laſting
an impreſſion on the mind of Mr. Phelps,
as ſtill to remain preſent to his view, and

Captain Matthew Phelps. 13
as he frequently relates, often does it occa-
fion the ſerious contemplation, that God is
juſt, that he has a ſacred right to rule, that
his paternal care arranges bleſtings and diſ-
penſes woes, and that it is the indiſpenſible
duty of dependent man, never repining but
forever praiſing, to know that God is God,
and to be ſtill.
Mrs. Phelps had a third child, a ſon,
in about two years after the death of her
infant, to whom they gave the name of Lu-
man. Soon after the birth of this child
Mr. Phelps was ſeized with a dangerous
diſeaſe, under which he laboured for along
time, and by which he was brought, appa-
rently, to the very brink of the grave. In
the mean time his buſineſs, which required
a greater degree of perſonal attention than
he was able to beſtow upon it, gradually
declined, and occaſioned a degree of anx-
ious ſolicitude about the proſpects of fu-
ture ſupport for his wife and tender off.
spring. His diſorder at this time took the
*PPearance of a ſettled conſumption, and
his life was for ſometime deſpaired of. In

1} Memoirs and Adventures of
this ſituation it appeared to Mr. Phelps and
his phyſicians, that a ſhort voyage might be
beneficial to his health, and after a little
confideration he determined on trying the
experiment.
At the time of Mr. Phelps' making this
concluſion, there was much talk about the
goodneſs of the country near the Miſſiſſip-
pi, and a number of people from Connec-
ticut were preparing to make a voyage this
ther. Mr. Phelps therefore, having con-
cluded on making a voyage to ſea, was not
very long in determining to make the Miſ.
fiſſippi his object ; as in caſe of the recov-
ery of his health, and the country anſwer.
ing his expectations, he had but little doubt
of its being advantageous to him to remov;
thither with his family.
HAvrn c matured the buſineſs in his
own mind, he communicated his deſign to
Mrs. Phelps, who, ſenſible of the affection
of her conſort, not only for herſelf but for
her offspring, cheerfully left the reſult to his
ſuperior opportunity and abilities, and af.

Captain Matthew Phelps. º
estionately engaged to embrace his views,
and to acquieſce in his deciſions.
In conſequence of this agreeable coin-
sidence of views, Mr. Phelps finally deter-
mined on viſiting the Miſſiſſippi, as ſpee-
dily as poſſible, to view the country, and
to condućt as future circumſtances may in
his judgment require, with reſpect to pur-
chaſing there, or removing his family, pro-
vided he ſhould derive advantage, with re-
ſpect to his health, from the proſecution of
his projected voyage.
*-ººººº-
CHAPTER III.
*** *** **, **
- - - - -
*** *** *** ***
Mr. Phelps sets sail for the Mississippi-
Singularities recorded on the voyage—
Distresses near the Dry Tortugas—Safe
arrival at New Orleans.
Ma. Phelps having fully matured his
deſign of immediately proceeding to th;

16 Memoirs and Adventures of
Miſſiſſippi, left Norfolk and proceeded to
Newhaven, where he took ſhipping, have
ing engaged a paſſage on board a veſſel
commanded by one Captain Porter, of Sto-
nington, with whom Mr. Thomas Fanning
then ſailed as mate. In this veſſel they left
Newhaven on the 17th of December,
1773, proceeded to Newlondon to obtain a
clearance, and left Stonington the laſt day
of December.
At this time and place, Mr. Phelps
ſays, in his journals, they firſt heard of the
deſtruction of the Eaſt India company's
tea, from on board the ſhips freighted out
by that wealthy corporation, on their own
account, and which had then but recently
arrived at Boſton : a circumſtance deemed
worthy of record only on account of its be-
ing made, in the courſe of events, the
foundation (at leaſt oftenſibly ſo) of the re-
volutionary war, which ſpeedily after enſu-
ed, between Great Britain and America,
and which, after an eight year's ſcene of
blood and ſlaughter, terminated to the hon-
or of the United States, and in the moſt

Captain Matthew Phelps. lº
complete degradation of Great Britain,
that ſhe ever experienced ; as it eventua-
ted in the diſmemberment of the empire,
by freeing the colonies from the arbitrary
controul of the mother country, ſo called,
and in the erection of an independent ſov-
reignty, under the denomination of the
United States of America.
WF now have ſet our hero afloat on the
ocean, and ſhall henceforth follow his jour-
nal and minutes, as ſpeaking perſonally.
Althouch from never having croſſed
ſalt water before, everything was new to
me, and many occurrences appeared at
the time to be well worthy of remark, yet
on reviewing my journal at this diſtance of
time, and reflecting how common the reci.
tal of intereſting events on ſea voyages has
of late years become, related by more ac-
compliſhed narrators, and more accurate
obſervers than ſo inexperienced a ſailor as
myſelf; I ſhall omit many things, on the
firſt part of my journal, and barely relate
the progreſs we made at the commence-

18 Memoirs and Adventures of
ment of our voyage. Suffice it therefore
to ſay, that in ſeventeen days after we left
Stonington, we made the Abacco Key, or
as ſome navigators call it Key Weſt, or the
Hole in the Rock; and in a few days after
reached New Providence, where we put in
to obtain a pilot, the navigation from
thence to Cape Florida being eſteemed dan-
gerous, and our Captain, mate and ſeamen
being ſomewhat unacquainted in thoſe ſeas.
For two days after we left New Provi-
dence we were favoured with pleaſant fail-
ing and a tolerably fair wind, but after
that we lay for four days wind-bound,
ſcarcely making a league ahead, the wind
for a great part of the time being ſeverely
tempeſtuous, and the ſea exhibiting ſcenes,
by night and day, calculated to convey to
the mind of a young ſailor ſome idea of the
hardſhips and dangers of a ſeafaring life.
On the fifth day the tempeſt having
ſubſided conſiderably, and the wind coming
fair we proceeded, and in croſſing the gulf
ſtream took up the wreck of a ſchooner,

Captain Matthew Phelps. Hº
laden with Weſt India goods, but having
no perſon dead or alive on board of her.
This ſchooner it appeared, had beaten in
her keel and become a wreck, during the
prevalence of the tempeſt, thro' which we
lay wind bound ; but providentially, as
we were afterwards informed, the people
at the time of her bilging, eſcaped in their
boat, and reached a ſmall rocky iſland in
the Gulf, on which they effected a landing,
and being diſcovered by our pilot in his
return, were by him taken off and conveyed
in ſafety to Newprovidence.
In the Gulf of Florida we ſailed in com.
pany, for one day, with a veſſel from Con-
nečticut, like our own, and bound as we
were, to New Orleans. She was com-
manded by a Captain Goodrich of Weath-
ersfield. With this veſſel we meant to
have failed in company, but after keeping
with them through the day, we unfortunate.
ly parted from them in the courſe of the
night following. I mention our ſeperation.
from Captain Goodrich as an unfortunate
circumſtance for us, for the incident was

20 Memoirs and Adventures of
owing to the miſtake of our navigators,
while they by more ſkillful management,
as we afterwards found, kept on their
courſe without accident, eſcaping the dan-
gers we encountered, and the horrors to
which we were ſubjećted.
Althouch ſtriking accounts of ſcenes
of danger exhibited on the ſea, are ſo fre-
quently met with in the hiſtory of maratime
affairs, as ſcarcely to excite expreſſions of
furprize at the preſent aera, or occaſion
the riſing of thoſe emotions of terror in the
landſman’s mind, which were wont former-
ly to be excited, yet I muſt here introduce
to the courteous reader an account of inci-
dents that for a ſhort period ſeemed to
threaten a final end to my journal, & to the
further proſecution of the deſigns of myſelf
and ſhipmates, by plunging us altogether
into a watery grave.
It was about eleven o’clock, the night
after we parted with Captain Goodrich,
when we were ſailing under the agreeable
preſſure of a four knot breeze, our veſſeſ

Captain Matthew Phelps. 2}
ſuddenly ſtruck upon a reef and remained
firmly fixed for one ſea, but was fortunately
cleared by the next. On this alarming
ſhock all hands were inſtantly upon deck;
every heart palpitated with terror, and eve-
ry countenance exhibited diſmay; at leaſt
ſuch was their ſituation in my view, while
the colle&tive circumſtances exhibited to
my mind a ſcene of horror, of which, till
that moment, never did I form any adequate
conception,
THERE were forty ſix perſons on board
beſides the ſhip's company; all of them
totally unuſed to ſuch ſcenes of diſtreſs, and
many of them trembling and weeping under
the moſt painful apprehenſions;...indeed of
the paſſengers in general it might truly have
been ſaid, that diſmay appeared to fly from
face to face, and terror to be flaſhed from
eye to eye, while to augment our diſtreſs and
anxiety, a violent quarrel commenced be.
tween the Captain and mate about the pro-
per method of managing the veſſel, in ſo
very unuſual and apparently critical a ſit-
uation.
22 Memoirs and Adventures of
THE occaſion of this quarrel was, that
as ſoon as the veſſel cleared the rock, the
mate argued, that as the night was dark,
our ſituation alarming, the navigation ap-
parently dangerous, and all hands unuſed to
the ſeas we were in, it would be prudent to
lower the ſails, caſt anchor, and lay too un-
til day light; but the Captain in a peremp-
tory manner refuſed his aſſent. The mate
in pathetic terms however, continued to
maintain his opinion, adducing every argu-
ment the nature of the caſe could warrant,
or humanity dictate; dwelling particularly
on the circumſtance of there being ſo great
a number of lives and ſo much valuable
property expoſed; but the Captain after a
number of haſty obſervations and pation-
ate replies, ſwore by God that he would
have no anchor out. In the midſt of this
paſſionate rant the veſſel again ſtriking and
clearing as before, Mr. Fanning once more
calmly, but earneſtly, remonſtrated with
the Captain, on the apparently encreaſing
perils of our ſituation, the folly of riſking
life and property, when by no means impel-












Captain Matthew Phelps. 23.
led thereto by any exiſting neceſſity, and
the impoſſibility of the veſſel's ſuſtaining
many more ſuch ſtrokes as ſhe had already
received; but all his arguing was in vain,
the Captain remained inflexibly bent upon
keeping under way, and in a rage ſwore,
that not a rag of fail ſhould be lowered, or
an anchor caſt, let the conſequence be what
it would.
In this ſtage of the diſpute however,
the veſſel receiving a ſeverer ſhock than
any ſhe had experienced before, and provi-
dentially again clearing, the Mate reſolute-
ly aſſumed the command of her, ord-
ered the ſails down in a moment, and the
anchors out, and forbid any hand or paſ.
ſenger on board paying the leaſt attention
to the command of the Captain, ſhould he
madly order the veſſel under way again be-
fore morning ; at the ſame time pledging
himſelf to the whole company to become
perſonally reſponſible for all conſequences,
and aſſuring them that he believed ſhip-
wreck and death would be inevitable, in
caſe of inattention to his orders.

24 Memoirs and Adventures of
Upon receiving theſe welcome ord-
ers, the fails were down and the anchors
out in a few minutes, notwithſtanding the
unreaſonable paſſion of the Captain, who
even foamed with rage, and amidſt his vi.
olent ravings ſwore, that he would, imme-
diately on recovering the command of his
veſſel, run her into Pennſacola, and ſwear
piracy againſt the whole ſhip's company,
including every paſſenger on board. All
hands, however, viewing life to be immedi-
ately at ſtake, conceiving the proceedings
of the mate to be founded on propriety,
and the paſſion of the Captain to be equally
unſuitable as unreaſonable, took their di-
rections fully from the mate alone, and our
veſſel happily rode ſafe at her anchorage
through the night.
In the morning when we came to ſee
our ſituation, we were even more affected
with a ſenſe of the dangers from which we
had eſcaped, than we had previouſly been
during the night; for it was now made ev-
ident to us, that in the courſe we were
ſteering we ſhould have been in a few me-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 25
ments precepitated on the dangerous rock-
ey ſhoals called the Dry Tortugaſſes, from
which we were then ſcarcely fix hundred
yards diſtant, and even where we lay we
were ſurrounded with rocks and ſhoals, to
extricate ourſelves from which, without
injury to the veſſel, appeared almoſt im-
practicable.
Upon aſcertaining the perils of our
ſituation, we flung out our boat, and after
ſome time ſpent in endeavoring to find a
ſafe paſſage out from among the ſurround-
ing difficulties, we at length aſcertained by
founding, that there was but one paſſage
we could poſſibly improve, and even in
that we ſhould have but ſix inches ſpare
water. It will, perhaps, be ſcarcely worth
while to mention, that the paſſion of our
Captain had by this time ſubſided, and that
on reſuming the command, we by his ord-
er wore ſhip immediately, for the paſſage
alluded to, and under the favor of divine
providence, eſcaped from the perils that
had environed us about during the night.
D

26 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
Nothing further worthy of notice oc.
curred on our paſſage to New Orleans, at
which port we arrived in a ſhort time af.
ter, our paſſengers in general being in uſu-
al health and good ſpirits, and myſelf in
much better ſtate than when I left home.
Here having accommodated ourſelves with
boats ſuitable to the river navigation, we
quitted our veſſel, and ſat out on our pro-
greſs up the Miſſiſſippi, myſelf with ſeveral
others deſigning to view the country near
the Big Black, a river which falls into the
Miffiſſippi from the Northweſtward, about
fifteen leagues above the Natches, or one
hundred and twenty leagues above New-
Orleans. -

Captain Matthew Phelps. 27
CHAPTER IV.
The adventurer's reflections on his voyage
and its probable consequences. His
progress up the Mississippi. Cordial
reception of himself and company by
some great land speculators.-He pre-
pares to return to his family.
Time reader will readily conceive that
the mind of ſo young a ſailor, or rather ſo
inexperienced an adventurer as myſelf,
muſt have been greatly agitated at various
periods of our voyage. Sometimes I ra.
ther regretted the having undertaken ſo
lengthy, ſo important, and in my view ſo
perilous an enterprize, and often would my
heart feel a momentary depreſſion, from
the reflection that my wife and tender in-
fants would probably have to endure ſimi-
lar or perhaps ſuperior trouble, ſhould I
proſecute my deſign to effect, and at ſome
future period attempt to remove them to

28 Memoirs and Adventures º/
the Miñiflippi. But inſtantly a counter
current of thought would recur, from re.
Pećting on its being my indubitable duty
to do the beſt I could for the promotion of
the temporal intereſt of my family ; that
while with ſuitable views I followed the
beſt dićtates of my judgment, I had reaſon
to expect the bleſſings of heaven on my
exertions ; and to relieve my mind the
idea would often occur, that ſo perilous a
paſſage as we had met with, was perhaps
but ſeldom known.
ON indulging in this train of thought
I always gained additional confidence, and
with renewed ſpirits, I was enabled to pro-
ceed, and in a few days after our arrival
at New Orleans to ſet out on my Miſſiſſip.
pi navigation.
IN our progreſs up the Miſfiſſippi we
did not encounter any difficulties of conſe-
quence, or meet with any fingular acci.
dent, except that one night while our boats
lay at their ſhore faſts, and the people en-
camped at a ſhort diſtance, a large tree fell

Captain Matthew Phelps. 29
acroſs one of the boats and ſtove her ſo
completely to pieces, that the boat with
the whole of her lading was completely
loſt.
IMME prA rely on reaching the Big
Black, the place of our deſtination, I ſat
about ſurveying the country as critically as
my health would admit and my abilities al-
low ; in order finally to fix my determina-
tion, to purchaſe here and attempt, by the
permiſſion of providence, the future remo-
val of my family, or ultimately to abandon
my deſign, and return home with all conve-
nient expedition.
Ox making the propoſed inſpection,
my determination to remove thither with
my family became completely fixed. The
foil appeared to me to be remarkably
good, the ſituation of the place delightful,
the eaſe of tranſportation of produce to
market very apparent, and the probability
of New Orleans forever forming a mart
of trade, ſufficient for the country around,
ſcarce admitted of * in my mind.
2 -

50 Memoirs and Adventures of
It is true that the reputed unhealthineſs of
the climate, compared to that of Connect.
icut, was a conſideration that ſometimes
gave me a conſiderable degree of uneaſi-
neſs; but the ſuperior proſpect of ſoon be:
coming poſſeſſed of a deſirable competence,
the uncertainty there was whether the cli-
mate would not agree with our conſtitu-
tions, and above all the reflection that God
decrees the lot of all his creatures, ſuiting
of his mercies to their various needs, and
circumſtances, preponderated over all other
conſiderations, and made me determine to
purchaſe a ſmall plantation, to return im-
mediately, and by the favor of Heaven to
remove my family thither as ſpeedily as
poſſible.
I Accor DIN cºy began to put my de-
ſign in execution without delay ; I ſecur-
ed a tract of land that ſuited me, by paying
to a reſident fifty dollars to relinquiſh his
poſſeſſion in my favor which by the
cuſtom of the country enſured a title to
me, and having engaged a man to take care
ºf all affairs in my abſence, and to keep

Captain Matthew Phelps. 3).
poſſeſſion until my return, I prepared im-
mediately for my voyage home, and in a
few days quitted my new plantation, to re-
viſit my family, being in a much better
ſtate of health than when I left them.
WHILE I was at my new ſettlement, a
certain man of the name of John Storrs ap-
plied to me for a little aſſiſtance. He had
then but lately reached the Big Black, af.
ter a tedious route from Virginia, in com-
pany with his ſon, a young man of nine-
teen or twenty years of age : they had ex-
pended their laſt ſhilling on the tour, hav.
ing nothing left them but an axe and a gun,
and were then ſo debilitated by the fever
and ague as ſcarcely to be able to crawl.
Pitying his diſtreſſes I aſſiſted him to ſuch
neceſſaries, as my abilities allowed at the
time, and as his diſtreſſed circumſtances
required, taking the promiſe of father and
ſon, in caſe they recovered, to repay me by
working on my place; which they faith-
fully performed in my abſence, and as it
ultimately proved, never did charity more
cordially return to cheriſh the heart of the

32 Memoirs and Adventures of
donor, than did the benevolence I beſtow-
ed on this Mr. Storrs and his ſon : but of
this in the ſequel.
I sm A LI, not, I hope be cenſured, for
introducing a remark,(rather extorted from
me by experience,) that more views than
one ſhould be taken of every deſcrip-
tion of men, rightly to aſcertain their true
chara&ter. In order to know that of the
ſet of men called land ſpeculators, at leaſt
two ſituations, viz. a proſperous and diſ-
treſſed ſtate, if not requiſite to aſcertain,
are certainly calculated to place their cha-
racters in different colours; at leaſt it ap-
peared ſo to me, as far as my knowledge of
them extended. Theſe different ſituations
I conceive, are calculated to reverſe their
pictures, and exhibit the value of their
friendly offers in different points of light.
To illucidate this point a little, it will
not, I hope, be deemed altogether uninter-
eſting to introduce a ſhort recital, to which
in the advanced part of my journal I have
adverted. In doing this I have not the re-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 33
moteſt intention to injure the feelings of
any perſon breathing, or to impair the cha-
racter of any family; my intention being
barely to give a ſlight relation of facts, to
put future adventurers on their guard, and
to teach them circumſpection.
At a place called Ellis's Cliffs, on the
banks of the Miſſiſſippi, which we paſſed
on our way to the Big Black, there then
lived one Mr. John E–, who probably
from having heard of the purchaſes made
by our company, and a rumour of our in-
tended ſettlement, and being a great land-
holder in thoſe parts, came to ſee us. His
manners were eaſy, and his treatment of
every one, but particularly, as I was led to
conceive, of myſelf; was ſo open and friend-
ly, as to raiſe in my mind the higheſt ideas
of his general philanthropy. We talked
over with him the hardſhips of our voyage,
the tender emotions that the idea of expoſ.
ing our wives and children to ſimilar perils
occaſioned to ariſe in our minds, and the
unavoidable labour and fatigue that firſt
fetiers muſt endure in clearing their farms;

34. Memoirs and Adventures of
and
and the converſation of Mr. E.
his family was at once ſo encouraging and
ſo tender, as to animate our hopes and en-
gage our affections deeply.
HE expatiated on the general fertility
of the ſoil, the agreeable temperature of
the climate, the preſent goodneſs of the
markets, and the proſpect of their natural
encreaſe: He entered on the topic of en-
couragement due from land holders to firſt
ſetlers, the probability of their meeting
with it, and the almoſt abſolute certainty
there was of their riſing to independence,
by a very moderate ſhare of economy and
induſtry : in ſhort in the whole of his de-
portment and converſation, he evinced ſo
much feeling and apparent ſympathy, that
I concluded he would be, in every exi-
gence, the adventurous farmer's friend,
and the ſuffering wanderer's ſure ſupport.
UN per theſe pleaſing impreſſions I
viſited him at his plantation at the Cliffs,
and ſpent ſome time in company with him
and one Mr. T J , who was like.

captain Matthew Phelps. 35
himſelf a great land ſpeculator, and who
joined with Mr. E.
me various advantages, in caſe of my re-
turning with another company of ſettlers.
, in propoſing to
Thus I have exhibited one view of
the character of theſe gentlemen, drawn
from their behaviour to me when fortune
did not frown. I was in tolerable circum-
ſtances, and they offered me very great
things; I wanted not their aid and they
proffered me their friendſhip extenſively :
So that after paſſing ſome time with them
very agreeably, I left them under a ſtrićt
engagement to call at the Ellis's Cliffs
- again, and ſpend ſome with them, if ever
providence ſaw fit to order my return and
I really imagined we had reaſon to bleſs
the diſpoſer of events, that men ſo benevo-
lently inclined, and ſo abundantly able to
relieve the diſtreſſed, and ſtrengthen the
hands of the induſtrious ſetler, were prov-
identially ſo advantageouſly ſituated to fur-
ther ſuch benevolent deſigns,

36 Memoirs and adventures of
Upon my quitting this circle of appa-
rent hoſpitality, Mr. E. and his father
and mother, waited on me down to my
boat, renewing their ſolicitations, and ex-
torting from me repeated aſſurances, that
on my return with my family I would call
on them and make their houſe my home,
until we ſhould be perfectly recruited, af-
ter our propoſed voyage, if providence ev-
er enabled me to proſecute my deſign to
effect. And in theſe promiſes I was really
ſincere, not doubting, but that let my cir-
cumſtances be as they may, I ſhould find a
hearty welcome, and meet with every aid
that refined ſenſibility could afford.
ALAs how falſe are appearances I
was in no want and they proffered me pa-
tronage and aſſiſtance; I appeared in de-
cent circumſtances, and they treated me
like a friend and a gentleman: But in the
courſe of providence, as the ſequel of my
journal will diſcloſe, the ſcene was to ſhift,
and with the ſhifting of the ſcene, their
ideas of patronage, and deſigns of affiſt-
ance were to change likewiſe.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 37
cHAP. v.
º
Mr. Phelps sets out on his return.-Meets
several of his former companions at
Wew Orleans,—ſs suddenly seized with
the fever and ague.-After some diff.
culty procures a passage to Charleston.
- Meets with unexpected benevolence
from Mr. Boyd, supercargo of the vessel.
-Arrives safe at Charleston.—Engag.
** a passage to Wewyork.-Mr. Boyd's
disinterested benevolence.
Havis G, as mentioned in the
Proceeding chapter, adjuſted all my little
** at my new plantation, I quitted
it with intention of teturning immediately
home, and without meeting with any oc.
*ence worth mentioning, arrived ſafe at
New Orleans about the 10th of June 1774.
On the very day of my arrival here I went
on board of a ſhip to engage a paſſage, and
tº my inexpreſſible joy met with ſeven of
E.

38 Memoirs and Adventures of
the companions of my former voyage, whe
Hike me having ſettled buſineſs in this
quarter to their minds, were ready to re-
turn home, to bring their reſpective fami-
lies to their new plantations, under the
pleaſing expectation of thus advancing their
intereſts,
Art ER joyful ſalutations and recipro-
cal friendly enquiries, we ſeverally related
our adventures to each other, to mutual
entertainment and gratification, and there
being no veſſel ready for ſailing, bound to
any part of the United States, we took
lodgings together that night, and, like
long ſeperated friends, ſpent our time in
harmony and joy, anticipating many happy
future ſcenes, and univerſally determining
to proſecute our voyage home, and con-
templated return, as ſpeedily as circum-
ſtances would admit.
ALAs, how totally ſhort fighted is man,
how ineapable of exploring a future period,
how abſolutely, “the poor penſioner of an
hour.” how eſſentially dependent on the

Captain Matthew Phelps. 3.9
mercies of a moment. The very next day
after this joyful meeting, I was ſeverely
ſeized with the fever and ague, and in four
days time became ſo completely enervated
as not to be able to riſe or ſtand alone.
In this diſtreſſed condition I remained
twelve days, when by means of medicine
taken for the purpoſe, my fits were broken,
and although the diſorder had reduced me
to the borders of the grave, I reflected on
the benefits experienced from my former
voyage, and determined upon attempting
to return to my family immediately ; and
my companions being about to engage a
paſſage for themſelves on board of a veſſel
bound for Charleſtown, South Carolina,
commanded by a Captain Young, with
whom one Mr. Boyd ſailed as ſupercargo,
I ſent by them to engage a paſſage for me
in the ſame veſſel, as the idea of being keſt
behind, ſeemed equally intolerable for me
to endure, as the moſt violent pangs of
my diſorder.

40 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
Mr. Boyd was among the number of
thoſe in whoſe breaſts Jehovah had been
pleaſed to implant the true principles of
benevolence ; but the danger of my caſe
appeared to him, according to the repre-
fentation of my old friends and com-
rades, to be ſo imminent, that he refuſed
to receive me on board, fearing that I
might ſuffer for want of conveniencies or
neceſſary medical aid upon the paſſage, or
perhaps die at ſea.
He however, very politely, came to
fee me, evidenced the greateſt humanity in
his whole deportment, and endeavoured to
encourage me to hope for happier ſcenes;
but finding my unconquerable anxiety and
earneſt deſire to return to my family, and
the almoſt equal anxiety of being accom.
panied by my old friends and former ſhip-
mates,his feelings became ſenſibly intereſt-
ed, he pitied me on account of my debility
and impatience, and after conſidering all
matterstenderly and carefully,he concluded
to take me on, and accordingly, with moſt
endearing tenderneſs, he conveyed me ims

Captain Matthew Phelps. 41
mediately on board the veſſel in his own
boat.
Nº. 1 THER did the benevolence of this
worthy man ſtop here, for he procured
medicines, cordials and neceſſaries, for my
uſe on the voyage, and ſo carefully and be-
neficently attended to me on my paſſage,
that when I reached Charleſtown, my
health was in a deſirable degree reſtored,
and I was able on my arrival to attend to
the buſineſs immediately, of obtaining a
paſſage from that port to Newyork.
In this buſineſs we ſoon ſucceeded, and
engaged a paſſage on board a veſſel com.
manded by a Captain Hunt, who had in
charge a packet containing the reſult of the
conſultations of the ſouthern ſtates, with
reſpect to joining their northern brethren
in ſupport of their chartered rights, in de-
fence of their liberty and property, againſt
the oppreſſive and unconditional demands
of Great Britain, then recently announced,
by the declaration of their parliament,
E 2

º Memoirs and Adventures of
that they of right poſſeſſed the power to
bind the colonies in all caſes whatſoever.
HAv ING thus ſecured a paſſage, I had
one important buſineſs to ſettle, viz. to
make every return and acknowledgment
to my humane benefactor Mr. Boyd, that
the ſcope of my abilities would allow ; and
indeed, from a ſenſe of my incapacity as
to the poſſeſſion of adequate ability, or ſuf-
ficient pecuniary reſources, I felt great
embarraſsment in my mind ; but herein I
was ſoon relieved, by a new and unex-
pećted diſplay of the genuine philanthropy
of his mind, and the tenderneſs of his
heart, for on enquiring into the ſtate of my
affairs, and finding I was low in caſh, he
not only entirely diſmiſſed every idea of
compenſation, but preſented me with a few
neceſſaries for my new voyage, and gave
me two dollars for fear of exigencies ; lay-
ing me under ſolemn obligation to pay him
by relieving the diſtreſſes of any fellow man
I may meet with, if providence ſhould be
pleaſed to bleſs me with the means, and
preſent objects to my view, in the courſe of
my paſſage through life.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 43
CHAPTER VI.
º
Mr. Phelps leaves Charlestown for Wew.
ºrk. Singular accident and happy re-
lieſ from dangers near Cape Hatteras
–Safe arrival at New-York—Sets out
for home, and is retarded by sickness at
Bridgefield–Humanity of a new friend,
-
recorded in honor to human nature—
Safe arrival at home.
It got to be the fore part of July,
before Capt. Hunt was ready to ſail for
New-York. There were on board our veſ.
ſel ſeventy perſons, including paſſengers,
and we ſet fail with lighthearts, and agree-
able contemplations, many of us having
been long ſeperated from our families. Our
joy was however very ſoon turned into the
moſt ſingular anxiety, and apprehenſion,
from the circumſtance of a watery grave
appearing to moſt of us to be our inevita-
ble deſtiny. -

44. Memoirs and Adventures ºf
WHEN we left Charleſtown bar, the
weather was uncomfortable, the wind was
high, and the ſky dark and cloudy. This
weather continued for four days after, in all
which time we had not been able to take
an obſervation. The wind continuing all
the time extremely high, we run on at a
great rate, till at length bets began to be
laid among the ſailors that we ſhould ſee
New York light houſe in the courſe of the
aext night. With theſe pleaſing contem-
plations we proceeded, until about four
o'clock in the afternoon, when our helmſ-
man ſuddenly cried out breakers ahead,
which ſounded and reſounded fore and aft
in a moment.
Upon this alarm being given, every
man’s attention was inſtantly turned to the
objećt of our dread, which had by this
time become very viſible, and the horrors
of which were momently encreaſing, while
we were approaching the tremenduous
ſcene, under the prefing impulſe of a nine
knet breeze.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 45.
The deck was crowded in an inſtant,
and terror was feated on every countenance ;
our fate appeared almoſt inevitable, and a
total impoſſibility of calculating where we
were, the clouds preventing our taking an
obſervation, added to our horror; the white
caps as the Sailors called them, ran fear-
fully high, the ſprays of the breakers, occa-
fioned by the daſhing of the ſwelling waves
againſt the rocks, almoſt reached our veſſel,
while the rocks themſelves did not appear to
be more than 200 yards diſtant from us, at
the time we were enabled to wear ſhip and
bear away from the tremendous ſcene of
danger.
IMMEDIATELY upon clearing the rocks
our ſeamen made the moſt critical obſerva-
tion poſſible, as to the occaſion of our riſk,
and to decide where we were, and the re-
fult was that we diſcovered ourſelves to be
juſt of Cape Hatteras,inſtead of being near
Newyork, and now it was that we firſt per-
ceived that the traverſe of our compaſs was
impeded, and that the cauſe of our decep-
tion & almoſt of our deſtruction, was a hea-

A6 Memoirs and Adventures of
vy cheſt of blackſmith's tools ſtanding a-
gainſt the binnacle, on the removal of which
the needle traverſed as uſual.
HAPPY in our very providential ef.
cape, and in the removal of our dangerous
cauſe of deception, we with great joy, and
I truſt with many truly grateful hearts, left
Cape Hatteras ; and without meeting with
any adventure worthy notice, we reached
our deſtined port, Newyork in five days
after our deliverance at the Cape. Mean-
while my health continued to mend, and
my ſpirits to rife, by the deſirable proſ-
pećt augmenting, of being ſpeedily ena-
bled, through the favor of providence
to embrace my dear family. In Newyork I
made no ſtop, but immediately ſat out by
Jand, on foot for Norfolk, in Conne&ticut.
THE ways of God are inſcrutible, and
the deſtiny of man forever hidden from his
own eyes—I was not yet uninterruptedly
to enjoy the fruition of my wiſhes, but for
a ſhort ſeaſon to endure again the inquie-
tude of anxious hope delayed; for the next

Captain Matthew Phelps. 47
day I was again ſeized with the fever
and ague, and was obliged to lay by at
Ridgefield, to await the iſſue of my diſtreſs.
ful viſitation. The mercy of God was
however once more ſtrikingly diſplayed in
my preſent affliction, for I was overtaken
with it at the houſe of a Mr. Stebbins, with
whom I had formerly had ſome acquaint-
ance-
To this worthy friend, as he eventual-
ly proved, Irelated my eventful, and diſ.
treſſing ſtory, at intervals, as my ſickneſs
permitted, and God had been pleaſed to
endow his mind with genuine philanthro-
py, and kindly to attune it to the offices of
ſympathy and humanity. He attended to
my narrative with intereſting engagedneſs,
commiſſerated my variety of diſtreſſes,
fighed for my misfortunes, and with the
tender exertions of his amiable wife and
engaging family, did everything to allevi-
ate my afflictions, both of body and mind;
and finding that my anxiety once more to
embrace my family, was difficult to allevi-
ate, and diſtreſsful to bear, Mr. Stebbins

48 Memoirs and Adventures of
fat out himſelf on a journey to Goſhen, to
inform my brother of my return, and of my
very diſtreſſed ſituation ; and like my other
worthy friend, Mr. Boyd, refuſed to re-
ceive any other recompence for his kind at-
tention, and chriſtian like benevolence, ex-
cept the rich enjoyment of his excellent
mind, in contemplating a chriſtian duty
ſentimentally diſcharged, and the ſublime
felicity of cheriſhing a fellow creature, on
whom the hand of Heaven had laid a grie-
vous burthen.
My brother returned with Mr. Steb-
bins as ſoon as poſſible, and my diſorder
having ſomewhat abated, he ſat immediate-
ly about the humane buſineſs of conveying
me by eaſy ſtages to my family; to whoſe
very anxious expectations, and tender em-
braces, I was returned the firſt of Auguſt,
1774, after an abſence of ſomewhat more
than ſeven months, and after experiencing
a ſeries of events in ſickneſs and in health,
by ſea and land, but rarely to be met with
in the records of life, in an equal ſpace of
time.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 45
It will perhaps be excuſeable in me
here, to ſuggeſt, that the man who has
never been ſeperated from all he holds dear,
croſſed in his operations for their good,
and obſtructed in his deſign of reviſiting
them, could poſſibly conceive my preſent
felicity. My family appeared more at-
tractive to me by far than I ever remem-
bered them to have done before. My wife
in particular, ſeemed more tender, reſpect-
ful and engaging than formerly, and in the
midſt of grateful ſenſibility, I almoſt doubt-
ed at times, whether the ſcene of bliſs was
real or viſionary to add to my felicity, my
wife preſented for my tender embrace, the
moſt lovely little daughter that ever my eyes
beheld ; which was born in about four
months after my departure.
Thus was the munificence of provi-
dence prepared to huſh my ſorrows and fill
my cup with bleſſings; and it only ſeemed
to remain for me to be duly ſenſible of the
goodneſs of God, and ſuitably to acknowl-
edge the juſtice and mercy of his diſpen-
£ations. F
5& Memºirs and Adventures of
CHAPTER VII.
The adventurer's dilemma about prosecuting
his design of removal to the Mississippi–
*elinguishes his design und purchases a
right of land in Newbury (Vermont, 9–
Is obstructed in his progress thither by
a failure of the Snow–Settles in West.
field (Massachusetts.)--Again attempts
to proceed to the Mississippi–Prevention
by the ice in Connecticut River–Sails
from Middletown for the Mississippi.
Time time had now arrived when
the quarrel between Great Britain and the
American colonies began to approach a fe-
rious criſis, and an immediate war appeared
inevitable. The propriety therefore of
removing my family to ſo remote a coun-
try, where the probability was that war
would be additionally horrid, from the Bri.
tiſh, Spaniſh and American intereſts prob-
ably jarring, and the Indians being im:
proved by either or each of them, as occa-









Captain Matthew Phelps. 51
flon may offer. Theſe contemplations and
others nearly ſimilar, rendered the buſineſs
of removal to the Miſſiſſipi, at that time, an
extremely ſerious matter,and deeply engag-
ed the conſideration of myſelf and others.
For myſelf, after arguing the matter
pro and con, mentally, for ſome time, I ul-
timately determined to give up the deſign
for the preſent, rather chooſing to riſk the
loſs of my property, and ſubmit to the diſ.
appointment of my hopes at the Miſſiſſippi,
than to expoſe the lives of a wife, and riſing
family, the welfare of whom was apparent-
ly dearer to me than my own exiſtence.
Having therefore from imperious ne-
ceſſity relinquiſhed my favorite deſign, Ire-
flected what was the next beſt ſtep for me
to take, to forward the intereſt of my fami.
ly; and I at length came to a determina-
tion to purchaſe a right of land in the Co-
hooſe country, ſo called, in the ſtate of Ver.
mont; where, from the reputed goodneſs
of the land, the convenience of water carri.
age, and the wholeſomeneſs of the climate,

52 Aſſemoirs and Adventures of
great encouragement ſeemed to offer. On
theſe accounts, and the low price at which
land was offered there, I was induced to
cloſe a bargain in January 1775, and I then
prepared with all poſſible expedition to put
my deſign into immediate execution, viz.
to move directly on to my new land, and
ſettle down as a Vermont farmer.
WITH this intention I quitted my re-
ſidence in Connecticut, in February, and
with my houſhold furniture and effects got
as far as Weſtfield, in the ſtate of Maſſa-
chuſetts. But here the immediate execu-
tion of my ſecond deſign was firmly inter-
dicted, by the operations of nature, for the
very night we reached Weſtfield, the ſnow
went off ſuddenly, and there happening to
be no more, or at leaſt none of any conſe-
quence the remainder of the winter, our
journeying further was totally prevented.
I therefore relinquiſhed my ſecond plan as
I had previouſly done my firſt, and there
happening to be a ſmall farm then for ſale in
the neighborhood which had the appearance
st anſwering my end, I bargained for it, and
Captain Matthew Phelps, 53
rather againſt my will became a ſettler in
Weſtfield, Maſſachuſetts, inſtead of Newbu-
ry in Vermont.
In this new ſituation however, I con-
tinued but a very ſhort time, for in the
Oćtober following, finding myſelf not ſitu-
ated to my mind, and perceiving that Mrs.
Phelps was equally as diſſatisfied as myſelf,
with reſpect to reſidence and future prof-
pects, if we continued in Weſtfield ; I de-
termined to ſell my place immediately.
This deſign I accordingly accompliſh-
ed, and finding that a number of my old
acquaintance and former neighbours, had
got over their apprehenſions, in a great de-
gree, which they had entertained in com-
mon with me, about the conſequences of
removal to the Miſſiſſippi ; and ſeveral fami-
lies being abſolutely preparing to embark
for Weſt Florida, I converſed freely with
Mrs. Phelps on the ſubject, and finding her
to be not only willing but anxious to ac-
company them, I determined once more to

F 2

54. Memoirs and adventures of
riſk conſequences, and providence permit.
ing, re-viſit the Miſſiſſippi, and my planta-
tion on the Big Black, as ſpeedily as poſſi-
ble.
WITH this deſign I quitted Weſtfield,
and in company with a number of the in-
tended emigrants, went to Middletown, in
Connecticut, where we chartered a veſſel,
commanded by a Captain Eggleſton, on
board of which we ſhipped our effects, and
determined on the time of embarking our
families; but the night previous to the day
fixed upon for embarking, Providence in-
terdicted our views, and fruſtrated our in-
tentions, for Connecticut River cloſed over
ſuddenly, and was not again open until
ſpring, ſo that I was conſtrained to take up
my abode, for that winter, among my old
friends, at the place of my nativity, viz, at
Harwington. -
Our deſire of removal ſeemed rather to
encreaſe than diminiſh however, by the ve.
ry frequent interruptions we met with in re-
gard to its execution ; and therefore early

Captain Matthew Phelps. 55
in the ſpring we left Harwington, and went
to Middletown, to embrace the earlieſt op-
portunity to proſecute our voyage. At
this time there happened to be no veſſel go-
ing to Weſt Florida immediately, which
induced us to take lodgings for a few
weeks, and we were accordingly accommo-
dated, at the houſe of one Captain Gilbert,
until a veſſel was ready : and even
when that event tranſpired, I felt the
placidity of my mind in a great meaſure
diſturbed, and my impatience checked, by
a new and very ſerious conſideration; Mrs.
Phelps was in a delicate ſituation, and the
adventuring on ſo long a voyage was there-
by rendered peculiarly undeſirable ; as the
probability was, that with a favorable paſ.
ſage we could not expect to be at our jour-
ney's end, but a very few days, before ſhe
would want ſkilful aid, and the ſociety and
attention of kind friends. -
THE very ſingular compoſure of Mrs.
Phelps's mind however, her unſhaken for-
titude, and firm reliance on the diſpenſa-
tions of a beneficent providence, was a ſo-

56 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
lace to my cares; and having been accuſ.
tomed to hope for happier changes, and
more propitious turns after my various
ſcenes of trial, I ſat ſail from Middletown,
upon the firſt of May 1776, and left Say-
brook bar upon the fifth, hoping for the
favour of providence, and ultimate ſucceſs
in the fertile country, towards which our
views were once more turned, and on
ſucceſs in which the future expectations of
myſelf and family ſeemed to be wholly de-
pendent.
-
--tºº-
CHAPTER VIII.
*** ***.*.*.*.*z.
-
*** *** *** ***
They leave Saybrook—Are chaced by and
get clear of a British sloop of war—Ar-
rival and relief at Newprovidence—At
Cape Florida and Cape St. Blas–Mrs.
Phelps happily relieved.
I HE war between Britain and Ameri.
ea now raged violently, and as we had fail.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 5:
ed without clearance from any cuſtomhouſe,
we were terribly afraid offailing in with the
ſhips of force of any nation, but eſpecially
of the Britiſh, left we might be treated as
ſmugglers or pirates.
Scancery however had we cleared
Saybrook bar, when we perceived a large
veſſel, which we ſoon diſcovered to be a
Britiſh ſloop of war, making for us under
a heavy preſs of fail. On making this un-
welcome diſcovery, we immediately hoiſt-
ed every yard of canvas we could ſpread,
and putting away before the wind, diſtanc-
ed our purſuer a little, and by great exer-
tion, the wind all the time favoring us, we
kept out of reach of her guns until night
when by darkening our lights and ſhifting
our courſe we happily eluded her vigilance,
and in the morning found that we had loſt
fight of her entirely.
During this chace the whole train of
my diſaſters came into my mind, pourtray-
ed in hedious colouring ; but as I perceived
so trait of blame, or occaſion for reflec-

53 Memoirs and Adventures cy
tion on myſelf, for having purſued an un-
adviſeable plan, or adopted an unwarranta-
ble meaſure, I regained a deſirable placidi-
ty of mind, amidſt our uncomfortable proſ.
pects, and was enabled calmly to acquieſce
in the deciſion, and ſubmit to the diſpoſal
of the ſupreme ruler of events; viewing
his providence beneficent, operating uni-
verſally and not partially ; and conceiving
of every thing as being ordered in infinite
wiſdom . I attended to the calls of duty
with alacrity, reſolving by divine aſſiſtance,
to meet every diſpenſation in the preſent in-
ſtance with calmneſs and philoſophy, let
the event terminate as it would.
By carefully indulging in this train of
refle&ion, the effects of undue depreſſion,
and an unſuitable degree of anticipation of
evils, was conſtantly warded off from my
mind, and in the preſent inſtance, the hap-
pyeſcape from our enemy, and the agreeable
circumſtance of being favored with a fair
wind, occaſioned a revival of my warmeſt
Ropes, and my mind obtained renewedly a de-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 5&
firable confidence in the diſpoſals of provi-
dence.
We now had very little diſtreſs on
board except the ſeaſickneſs of our new ſai-
lors, which in ſome of our families was ve-
ry afflićtive, altho' calculated in nature gen-
erally, to be of but ſhort duration.
ON the firſt of June we lay too, off New
Providence, where being much in want of
neceſſaries, we ſhould gladly have entered,
but were prevented by reaſon of its being
a Britiſh port, and our veſſel perfectly defi-
cient in reſpect to papers. We kept our
ſtation therefore for ſome time, and at
length a pilot came on board to condućtus
in. With this man our captain held a con-
ference, and finding him to be an intelli-
gent, and apparently an honeſt man, he
made him acquainted with our circumſtan-
ces, having previouſly laid him under the
obligations of honor not to betray us,
and requeſted from him a ſupply, as far as in
his power, of ſuch things as we ſtood in need
of.

63 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
Ir is with pleaſure I mention that this
man proved humane, friendly and honora.
ble. He kept our ſecret faithfully, brought
out a pilot to conduct us to Cape Florida,
the navigation being difficult, and to add to
the weight of our obligation to him, he
brought out in his boat a quantity of freſh
fruit, and various other articles of which
we ſtood in great need, and ſupplied us
with them upon reaſonable terms.
On the 15th of June we anchored of
Cape Florida, where we left our pilot.
Here we drank water out of the well known
by mariners by the name of Hyde's well,
and reported to have been dug by the no-
ted pirate Captain Hyde, during the period
of his marauding in thoſe ſeas. We like-
wiſe importuned the Captain to permit us to
bring the water caſks on ſhore and fill them.
at this well, but he refuſed, alledging that
it would be uſeleſs trouble as we had water
enough : but from this imprudent deciſion
of his we afterwards ſuffered very ſerious
diſtreſs.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 6 L
At Cape Florida we found fifteen or
twenty ſmall veſſels, lying in a beautiful
little harbor, but on ſhore we found no in-
habitants. The veſſels were pilot boats,
wreckers, and Turtlers.
HAv ING quitted Cape Florida,and left
our pilot there, as before mentioned, we
proceeded on our voyage, juſt time enough
to ſave our diſtance, and eſcape the enemy ;
for as we were afterwards informed, in a-
bout three hours after our departure a Brit-
iſh cruiſer arrived, who finding the courſe
we had taken, took our pilot aboard and
purſued us, but the pilot eſcaped from their
tyranny, by taking an opportunity to jump
overboard and ſwim on ſhore, at night and
thus we happily eluded their vigilance.
Soon after quiting Cape Florida we
were becamed, and lay for many days
ſcarcely making any way ahead, and from -
this circumſtance we had great occaſion to
regret the overſight of the captain in not
obtaining water at Cape Florida, for on the
G.

62 Memoirs and Adventures of
9th of July our ſupply was ſo ſcanty, that
we were put on ſhort allowance, being re.
ſtricted to one quart per day for cooking
and every other neceſſary uſe. -
In theſe afflictive circumſtances, few
who have not experienced ſimilar diſtreſſes,
could rightly judge of the weight of our
trouble. Our women and children were
forely oppreſſed by it, and indeed very near
periſhing : while to add to my particular
weight of care, Mrs. Phelps grew hourly
apprehenſive of her fickneſs coming on, and
the time that would put a period to our pre-
ſent diſtreſs was known to God alone. I
however, in this caſe, as in every other in-
flance, received the greateſt ſupport from
the ſingular conſtancy of ſpirit, the happy
equanimity, and admirable compoſure of
mind,of my dear & amiable companion, and
our ſufferings for want of water were reliev-
ed on the 14th of July, when we made Cape
Blaze, as our ſeamen called it, probably
Cape St. Blas, on which we landed, dug a
well, and obtained a fupply of water, bu
-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 63
the place being barren, afforded us no oth-
ºr refreſhment whatever.
-
In ten days after leaving Cape Blaze, I
had to encounter the moſt diſtreſſing anxie-
ty, and experience the keeneſt ſenſibility,
that had yet fallen to my lot, in the courſe
of my eventful progreſs. Mrs. Phelps was
feized with the diſtreſs which I had ſo long
both expected and dreaded, and the peculi.
ar inconveniencies of our ſituation on ſhip-
board, together with her want of many ne-
seſſaries, and accuſtomed ſkilful attend-
ance occaſioned me to endure greatpurtuba.
tions of mind ; but by the tender attention
and care of her female friends on board,
aided by the munificence of Providence,
ſhe was comfortably attended and relieved,
and made me the joyful father of a deſira-
ble ſon in the Gulf of Mexico, to whom
our ſailors, from the place of his nativity,
gave the name of Atlantic, which Mrs.
Phelps and myſelf likewiſe adopted.
Upon this long dreaded event termina.
ting thus happily, I paſt in retroſpective

§4. Memoirs and Adventures of
view the fingular providences of God dit.
played towards me : the remarkable lights
and ſhades, mercies, and afflićtions with
which the ſcene abounded, and the evi-
dent predominance of mercy, throughout
the whole, when viewed collectively, ap.
peared aſtoniſhing, and I felt ſenſibly im-
preſſed with the hope that good was yet in
ſtore for me, and that the meaſure of my
fufferings in this diſaſtrous voyage was
well nigh full. Alas! little did I think
that I had yet, as it were, but barely taſt-
ed the chalice of its miſeries, and that I was
defined ſoon to drain it to its very dregs.
ºsºsº.

taptain Matthew Phelps. º
CHAPTER IX.
º
ºr adventurer reaches the Big Black-
Disresses of himself and companions,
and various seperations on the passage
—Buries his daughter Abigail and his
son Atlantic.—His reception at the E!.
His’s Cliffs.-Buries Mrs. Phelps.
ON the 30th of July, being the ſixth
day after Mrs. Phelps's joyful delivery, to
our inexpreſſible ſatisfaction we made the
mouth of the Miſſiſſippi. There was no
and in fight however, and our courſe be-
fore entering the mouth was different from
that which it was neceſſary to take, in order
to ſtrike the Engliſh channel, ſo called.
Being ſenſible that we were now in
the mouth of the river, by obſerving the
colour of the water, and other circumſtan-
ces, which my former voyage enabled me
to remark, I mentioned my conjectureste
G 2.
65 Memoirs and Adventures of
-* Banks, at the mouth of the Engliſh
the Captain, and requeſted him to order
ſome of our water caſks to be filled, from
the water along ſide, for fear of being again
driven out to ſea, by adverſe winds or ſome
other untoward accident. But he laughed
at me for my folly, and aſſerted that we
were not within a day’s fail of the mouth of
the river.
In this opinion of the Captain's I
found moſt of the navigators on board who
had kept a reckoning, coincided; but at
length one of them catching hold of a buc-
ket threw it over to fill, to convince me of
my ſuppoſed miſtake, when to their fur-
prize they found it much better than any
we had on board, although ſomewhat
brackiſh.
On making this agreeable diſcovery, we
finiſted our courſe and took in ſome water;
ſoon after which we made the Belees or
shannel of the Miſſiſſippi, as our ſailors
called them, or La Baſize, as called by the
Spaniards, which are ſeven low iſlands, or






Captain Matthew Phelps. 67
mud banks, on one of which a pilot houſe
is erected, from whence they keep a good
look out, and generally diſpatch a boat to
viſit every veſſel that heaves in fight. Our
veſſel being from thence diſcovered, a pilot
came off to condućt us into the channel,
and within about five leagues from the ſpot
where we took water, we landed on hard
ground, at a plantation on the bank of the
Miſſiſſippi, where we obtained neceſſary re-
freſhment after our long toil and fatigue;
having effected which we proceeded with.
out further delay to New Orleans.
AFTER recruiting our ſtrength a little
at New Orleans, and procuring neceſſary
boats, &c. to facilitate our further progreſs,
we prepared for our river navigation ; an
undertaking which proved, as we expected,
a work of great teil and fatigue, againſt a
ſtiff current and various caſual obſtructions.
But the collected impediments that occurred
as they reſpected the very difficult naviga.
tion. I found to be vaſtly lighter than the
ſickneſs and incidental calamities, under
which we were deſtined to labour.

68 Memoirs and Adventures of
Having thus made the courteous rea.
der acquainted with the voyage of our
company, until its ſeperation became in-
diſpenſably neceſſary, it may not be amiſs
in this place to mention, that although all
my fellow paſſengers were originally dear
to me, and rendered additionally ſo by a
mutual interchange of friendly offices upon
the voyage, yet there were among them
two families to whom, from peculiar inti-
macy, I felt more particularly attached.—
With theſe families mine had formed one
meſs on the paſſage, and with them we
embarked in one boat for our intended
voyage to the Big Black.
These families were Mr. Joſeph Leon-
ard, with a wife and ſix or ſeven children,
and Mr. Joſiah Flowers with his wife and
one child, both families from Springfield,
Maſſachuſetts.
At the time of our ſetting out from
New Orleans Mrs. Flowers was taken ſick,
but by cheriſhing her in the beſt manner
in our power, we laboured on with her un-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 69
till we reached Point Copee, viz. until the
ſixth of September, when her decline and
approaching diſſolution became ſo evident,
that we were obliged to leave Mr. Flowers
and family there, and proceed in our boat
without them : And here I am conſtrain-
ed to add, Mrs. Flowers died in about a
fortnight after.
By recording the mournful incidents
of the laſt paragraph, I have ſomewhat anti-
cipated my own regular journal ; I muſt
therefore recur back to mention, that we
quitted New Orleans on the 18th of Au-
guſt, and on the 21ſt my eldeſt daughter
Ruth was taken with the fever and ague.
On the 27th I was taken myſelf, being
then at the Manſhack, at which place the
Spaniards had poſſeſſion on one ſide that
river and the Britiſh on the other, each par-
ty occupying a ſmall fort, good neighbor-
hood at that time exiſting between them,
as the agitation of the revolutionary war
had not yet reached thoſe remote depend-
ºn Cies.

70 Memoirs and Adventures of
My own attack of the ague proving ex-
ceedingly ſevere, and the trouble I endured
on account of the diſtreſs of my children
and Mrs. Flowers being very great, I at
times felt exceedingly diſcouraged; but the
ſovereign arbiter of fate was pleaſed to
give me needed ſupport, and to enable me
to move forward to more diſtreſsful ſcenes,
and to the endurance of a vaſtly ſuperior
weight of trouble.
On the 3d of September, by having
bled freely the day before, I found I had
broken my fits, and was enabled to afford
my companions a little more aſſiſtance, than
I had been capable of doing for a few days
previous, in the fatigues of our voyage.
On the 4th, my daughter Abigail, the
child born during my former inauſpicious
voyage to this quarter, was taken ſo vio-
lently, as to engage my attention exceed-
ingly.
On the 6th, my youngeſt ſon, Atlantic
and Mrs. Phelps were likewiſe ſeized, and
Captain Matthew Phelps. 71
swing to the ſevere indiſpoſition of its
mother, I had but little hopes of the life of
the infant.
This day paſſing Point Copee, where
we left Mr. Flowers and family, as before
mentioned, we proceeded on a few leagues
in our boat, but on the 7th my other ſon
Luman, was ſo violently ſeized, that for me
to proceed any further immediately, was
morrally impoſſible, and my friend Leon-
ard was obliged to quit us, about five
leagues from where we had left Mr. Flow-
ers and family, and procuring neceſſary aſ.
fiſtance, went on in the boat alone ; but his
progreſs was likewiſe providentially check-
ed at the Natches, where he was obliged to
lay by, on account of the ſickneſs of his
aimiable wife, and where he buried her, as
my friend Flowers had previouſly done
his agreeable partner at Point Copee.
It may not here be improper to ob.
ferve, that the Reverend Mr. Smith, a re.
ſpectable and pious clergyman, from Gran.
ville, in the ſtate of Maſſachuſetts, in a


72 Memoirs and Adventures of
boat with Major Timothy Dwight, a wor-
thy and deſerving character from North-
ampton, and the aimiable Mrs. Lyman,
with her family, relict of General Lyman
of Maſſachuſetts, (who accompanied me
out in my firſt voyage) having been among
the number of our paſſengers, occupied
one boat, and paſſed us at Point Copee,
when we ſtopped to leave the diſtreſſed
Mrs. Flowers, at which time we learned
that Mrs. Lyman was likewiſe very ſick.
THE Rev. Mr. Smith was among the
number of thoſe who dignified the clerical
order, he had a wife and large family with
him, all reſpected by our whole comany :
his charaćter was excellent; he was pious
without ſuperſtition, and charitable with-
out oftentation ; he was our adviſer in times
of calm, our conſoler in ſeaſons of peril,
and his attention to concerns of eternity,
was manifeſted at ſuitable opportunities
throughout our voyage, to the great com-
fort of our company in general –But God
whoſe counſels cannot err, ſaw fit to ar-
reſt and call him from terreſtrial ſcenes, in

€aptain Matthew Phelps. 73
a few days after his arrival at the Natches.
At the ſame place his eſteemed companion
Major Lyman likewiſe quitted mortal life,
and the amiable Mrs. Lyman ſurvived
them only long enough to reach her late
huſband's plantation, on the Big Black, and
after a few days reſidence there, died, and
was buried by the ſide of her deceaſed huſ.
band and ſon.
In emain ed in the ſituation in which
my friend Leonard left me, from the 7th to
the 10th of September, when ſome of my
family appearing a Hittle recruited, and ha-
ving put my ſon Atlantic to nurſe, in or-
der to wean him, I proceeded with much
labour and fatigue to Captain Mc"Intoſh's
about ſeven leagues on my way, but here
I was again ſeized with a fever and ague,
ſo that we were all incapable of helping our-
ſelves, except in the intervals between our
fits.
In this very diſtreſſing ſituation we lay
without ſenſible alteration, from the 10th
H

ºA. Memoirs and adventures ºf
to the 16th, when my daughter Abigail, the
child born during my other voyage, as
mentioned in the former part of the narra-
tive, and by that incident ſeemingly great-
ly endeared to me, was removed from us
by death, and having no man in company
with me, I was obliged to inter her remains
the next day, with my own hands, as de-
cently as I could.
On the 18th Ruth and Luman’s fever
left them, and feeling ſomewhat better my-
ſelf, I went and fetched my ſon Atlantic
from the nurſe, determining to put forward
again as ſoon as poſſible.
THE execution of this deſign was
however impeded a few days by the contin-
ued ſickneſs of my whole family, and my
own increaſing weakneſs.
On the 23d my ſever abated, but the
encreaſing ſickneſs and dangerous ſtate of
my infant prevented my proceeding.
On the 26th, it pleaſed the ſovereign
- Captain Matthew Phelps. 75
diſpoſer of events to remove him from me
by death; and I once more had to dig the
grave, and inter the remains of an infant
peculiarly dear to me, by the ſide of his
once lovely ſiſter.
Soon after I had performed this mel-
ancholly office my friend Flowers, with his
child, came on to Capt. M'Intoſh's, in a
ſmall boat, and after conſoling me in as
friendly a manner as poſſible, and receiving
from me reciprocal condolence, he propo-
ſed that we ſhould again unite our ef.
forts, and proceed in a larger boat than his,
once more in company.
ALMost worn to a ſkeleton by ſickneſs
and uncommon fatigue, and deprived of
the main ſtay, under providence, of my
conſtancy of mind amidſt ſufferings, viz.
the innocent ſmiles and prattle of my in
fant offspring, and the endearing council
and animating fortitude of my amiable
conſort, by reaſon of her extreme debility,
I felt more near to ſinking under the weight
of my burthen of ſorrow, apparently, than














76 Memoirs and Adventures of
ever recollected to have previously done.
But reflecting on all her excellence, and
realizing the apparent neceſſity there was
of conveying her to a peaceful, comfortable
home, I procured a ſuitable boat, conclud.
ing to put forward with my friend Flowers,
and we accordingly once more embarked,
on the firſt of November, although Mrs.
Phelps was then perfectly unable to help
herſelf, or to afford me the leaſt conſolation
or aſſiſtance, except what I derived from
her exemplary patience and pious reſigna-
tion.
St Rucci, ING forward amidſt fingular
adverſiry, yet buoyed above the gulf of deſ.
pondency by the prevalence of hope, that
in the courſe of providence, brighter ſcenes
would ſpeedily ſucceed the preſent gloomy
appearances ; I exerted every nerve, and
improved every poſſible advantage, in or-
der to reach the Ellis’s Cliffs, mentioned in
the former part of my journals: where un-
der the firmeſt aſſurance of meeting with
every aſſiſtance that it was in the power of
man to afford, I waited on my old friend

Captain Matthew Phelps. 77
º but alas! I was ſo emaciated by ſick-
neſs, or impoveriſhed by misfortune, or
both, that he did not know me, neither
could I engage him, amidſt my ſevere diſ.
treſs, to afford me the leaſt aſſiſtance. Quit-
ting this greatland ſpeculator and pretend-
ed philanthropiſt therefore, in the ſevereſt
diſguſt, we proceeded forward, and the
next day reached the Natches.
On the twelfth of November I reached
the Petit Gulf, ſo called, where I was
again compelled to let my friend Flowers
proceed alone, being once more obliged to
lay by: for the dear companion of my ear-
ly joys, the partner of my choice, and gen-
tle foother of my anxious care, was now
apparently approaching ſwiftly to her diſſo-
tion.
Even now the ſcene is preſent to my
view, and operative on my mind: and ever
will be ſo till the receding traces of recol.
lection evaniſh from my brain, and nature
fails within me: My lovely ſpouſe lived
H 2
78 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
only until the evening of the fourteenth,
when ſhe calmly and with chriſtian reſign-
ation breathed her laſt, evidencing her firm
hope of a happy exchange of being, and
leaving me no cauſe of mourning but for
myſelf.
Once more in honor to humanity I
think it a duty incumbent on me to make a
pleaſing entry on my journal. At the time
of Mrs. Phelps's deceaſe, I was at the plan-
tation of a Mr. Alſton, commonly called
Phil. Alſton, where the reſidents poſſeſſed
in reality thoſe ſentiments, and practiſed
thoſe principles of philanthropy, formerly
converſed upon at the Ellis's Cliffs. They
did every thing in their power to conſole
me, and interred in the moſt decent manner,
the mortal part of her, whom I eſteemed
lovely in life, and amiable in death.






Captain Matthew Phelps. 79.
ELEGIAC MONODY
Inſcribed to the Memory of
Mrs. JERUSHA PHELPS,
At the requeſt of Mr. PHELPS.
Oh! vain is firmneſs Grief ſuſpends my
breath
And ſwelling fighs their feeling tribute pay,
Yes, dear Jeruſha, lovely e^en in death,
Remembrance ſtirs, and tears will force
their way.
When in the morn of life our cares came
On,
How didſt thou ſhare, and ſharing foothe
my pain,
How true a help-meet ! and thy duty done,
And proſpects loſt, how didſt thou riſe
again.
Beauteous as good ſhe glad’ned every eye,
But charms of form like meteors fleet away,
Virtue of heart, effulgent from the ſky,
Liv’d in her life, nor ever knew decay.
Virtue, and worth, and dignity, and grace,
Shone in thy conduct, harmoniz'd thy ſoul,

80 Memoirs and Adventures g/
No toil, no terror, kept thee from thy
place,
Each part correót, and unifon the whole.
My babes yet ſparºd, through thy diſcern-
- ing love,
Their worth, their manners, and attractions
gain'd,
In charms alluring progreſs and improve, -
To virtue tutor’d and from vice reſtrain'd.
Lamented ſhade from realms of endleſs
Joy,
where the dear cherubs we deplor’d re-
ſide,
Deſcend, if ſuch may be thy bleſt employ,
And guard my heart from every worldly
pride.
Father of All, extend thy gracious power,
Forgive my tears, my murmuring thoughts
controul,
Grant me, like her to meet my mortal hour,
To yield my body and reſign my foul.

captain Matthew Phelps. ºl
CHAPTER X.
***
- -
-
a was a wº
* *
*
-- - -
º
º
*** *** ***
After the interment of his wife, Mr.
-Phelps proceeds on his voyage.—Stops
to recruit his strength at the Grand
Gul/-Arrives at the mouth of the Big
Black. Loses his two children and the
whole of his effects in that river.
Upon this melancholly event (the
death of Mrs. Phelps) tranſpiring, few of
the ſons and daughters of affliction, who
have not experienced an equal ſcene of vi-
ciſtude, will form an adequate conception
of the ſtate of my mind, or conceive an
idea of my ſincere and unaffected ſorrow.
The world appeared to me almoſt a dreary
waſte, and the ſcene of life as if nearly di-
veſted of all its decorations. She who had
been my comforter in every diſtreſs, my
councillor in every dilemma, my nurſe in
fickneſs, the ſweetener of my joys in health,
was in an affecting manner taken away,

32 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
juſt at the cloſe of our diſtreſsful tour,
“And left the world to wretchedness and
ºne.” -
But I was ſupported under it, by him
whoſe hand conducted the inflićtion, and
enabled to ſuſtain yet more ſurpriſing, ſo-
lemn and unexpe&ted bereavements; fro
a participation in which, infinite mercy had
ſeen fit to preclude her. But to proceed
with my journal.
FEE LING impelled by various neceſſi-
ties to finiſh my tedious and melancholly
voyage, I ſat forward immediately after
Mrs. Phelps's interment, for my plantation,
and the next day reached the Grand Gulf,
where meeting with an old acquaintance
who reſided there, I was conſtrained to tar-
ry for a few days to recruit my ſpirits and
regain my ſtrength a little, as well as to
afford refreſhment to my two dear remain-
ing little ones, who had great need of ſuch
a ſolace, after ſo ſevere a ſeries of toil, and
to adminiſter to their comfort appeared to
me now to be the principal buſineſs of my
life.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 83
On the 2d of November Ileft my kind
friends and hoſpitable entertainers at the
Grand Gulf, and on the 24th reached the
Big Black river, on the banks of which, at
a ſmall diſtance from its confluence with
the Miſſiſſippi, lay the place I had bargain-
for, and paid the advance neceſſary to fe-
cure poſſeſſion.
I was at this time in a ſmall boat, ha- -
ring with me one Abraham Knap,
whom I had hired to affiſt me, and a lad
of about fourteen years of age ; for ſick-
neſs andfatigue, had ſo far debilitated me,
that I had become totally incapable of pro-
ceeding alone. And indeed with their aſ
fiſtance I was able to proceed but ſlowly,
the boy being incapable of managing an oar
to good effect againſt the man, and my
weakneſs preventing me from working to
any conſiderable advantage, in the boat.
In this dilemma therefore, upon mak-
ing the mouth of the Big Black, I went on
ſhore with the boy, having a long rope to
ſerve for a taw line, in our bands, and by
84 Memoirs and Adventures of
pulling along upon the ſhore, while Knap
remained in the boat to ſteer, we made way
ſlowly.
THz river was at this time extremely
high and rapid, and to add to our difficul-
ty, juſt after we had entered it, we came to
a large willow tree, which grew nearly
horrizontally out from the bank into the
river, and the head of the tree being confid-
erably emerged in the water, a large quan-
tity of flood traſh had conſequently collect-
ed around it, and occaſioned a whirlpool of
conſiderable violence to ſet under the body,
between the head of the tree and the bank,
a ſpace of thirty ſix or forty feet.
º
-
StrLL is this dreadful pool, with all
its horrors quite recent to my view, and
never can the leaſt trace of it be eraſed
from my remembrace, untill the flurid tide
of life ſhall ceaſe to flow, and my enfeebled
ſenſes quit their frame. When we came to
this tree before mentioned, myſelf and the
boy were employed as before deſcribed,
and Knap was ſteering in the boat. My












Captain Matthew Phelps, 85
ovely ſurviving children, viz, a girl in her
tenth, and a boy in the fixth year of his
age, were ſitting on a bed in the bow of the
boat, when, ſhocking to relate the boat was
ſucked into the whirlpool, that ſat und un-
der the body of the tree, and the ſtern funk;
Knap perceiving the effect of the pool, and
unable to counteract it, jumped overboard,
and being a good ſwimmer cleared the head
of the tree. I prevented the inſtant ſink-
ing of the boat, by running around a tree
with my rope, and making it faſt.
It is not in the power of language to
expreſs, or of the human capacity to
conceive, an adequate idea of my feelings
at this trying moment. I however had the
precaution to take a double turn with the
rope, around the tree, to faſten the boat
ſecurely, and then fled toward it, reflect.
ing on the moſt probable means of extricat-
ing my children from their apparently im-
pending fate. -
THE reſult was 1 ran out on the tree,
and cautioned my daughter to fit ſtill

I

36 Memoirs and Adventures of
in her place, until I had helped her brother
on to the tree, to ſave his life if poſſible,
the length of the boat rendering it neceſſa-
ry for them to venture into the water and
come one at a time, as 1 could not quit my
hold on the tree left we ſhould all periſh
together, never in the courſe of my life
having been capable offwimming a ſtroke;
I had proceeded ſo far as to be attempting
to put myſelf in a condition to receive
them, when, dreadful to relate, the water
gaining greater force, by reaſon of the
additional weight of my body on the trunk
of the tree, or from ſome ſecret cauſe in
nature, the roots began to give way from
the bank,
O wif A T a dreadful ſcene enſued the
tree was ſwept away in an inſtant by the ra.
pid current, the boat broke from her faſt-
ening, filled, and turned bottom upwards,
while I clung to it for a few moments, and
heard my dear babes, for the laſt time call-
ing daddy, daddy, as ſupplieating aſſiſtance
from an earthly parent, when their heaven-
ºr father had called them home to him-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 87
ſelf, and bid the rolling billows waft them
into peace.
My lovely babes ſank both together tº
the ſhades of death, while I was preſerved
almoſt miraculouſly, by being enabled to
ſwim ſeveral rods, a ſkill that I had nev-
er before, nor have at any time ſince, been
capable of exerting; and what rendered
this incident the more remarkable was,
that I was enabled to ſwim after having
funk twice, as my companions related, and
as I perfectly well remember, having re-
tained my ſenſes, and powers of reflection
through the whole tremendous ſcene.
Nº Nº.

*8. Memoirs and Adventures of
CHAP, XI.
º
-----
Mr. Phelps briefly states his feelings on
the heavy bereavement he had sustained.
—He sends his companions away, by the
course of the river, to the Grand Gulf, to
obtain assistance, and find the bodies of
his drowned babes, if possible.
I NOW viewed myſelf as being com-
pletely ſtripped of all that had formed the
baſis of my hapeineſs, or given energy to
my hopes in life, as far as appertained to
family expectations or temporal enjoyment.
Immediately upon touching ground with
my feet I looked around with anxious ſo.
licitude, while diveſting myſelf of my out-
ward garments, that I might fly to the
relief of my children, or obtain their bo.
dies iſ poſſible. But alas ! the lovely babes
were gone, forever gone, never more to
cheer my widowed heart by their endear-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 89
ing prattle, never more to bleſs my eyes
by a diſplay of their engaging lovelineſs.
The whole appeared to me like a moſt
horrid terrifying dream, and although all
hope of affiſting my dear infants, was mo-
mently chaſed from my mind, yet ſtill it
would recur, and guide my aching eyes in
every poſſible direction ; but every view
was equally obſcure, every conceivable
idea of affording them aſſiſtance, or even of
regaining their dead bodies, was rendered
equally futile.
I aſked the lad who was with me a
train of queſtions, as I have reaſon to con-
ceive without regularly attending to his
anſwers: I interrogated him with great
earneſtneſs over and over again, to obtain
every iota of information with reſpect to my
dear drowned babes, with as much appa-
rent ſolicitude, according to my preſent
conception, as if the reſtoration of my hap-
pineſs depended on remembering the little
incidents of his melancholly recital. The
I 2.

30 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
ańićted ſympathizing youth could only in-
form me, that when the boat broke from
her ſhore faſt,and filled, he obſerved me to
catch hold of her, and that ſhe dragged me
a ſhort diſtance and I quitted my hold and
ſunk; that in a few moments roſe and in.
ſtantly funk again, on which he gave me
over for loſt, but that I almoſt inſtantly roſe
the ſecond time, and to his great ſurprize
and joy I then ſtruck out, and ſwam for
the ſhore. That he likewiſe obſerved the
bed on which my dear children were, was
drawn into the current, when the boat fil-
led; and ſinking by degrees as it wet, parti-
cularly on the ſide on which the children
fat, they ſlipped off into the water,locked in
each other’s arms, ſtill calling upon me for
help, and met their melancholly fate toge-
ther. He thought he obſerved the hand or
foot of one of them, riſe juſt above the fur.
face of the water, a moment or two after
they ſank, but of this he was not certain,
nor could he relate a ſingle circumſtance
ºlore,

Captain Matthew Phelps. $1.
Brºoke I had extricated myſelf from
the water, Knap, who was providentially a
good ſwimmer, had reached the ſhore with-
in about thirty rods of the place where he
threw himſelf overboard, and was haſtening
to my aſſiſtance at the time he perceived me
to ſink the ſecond time; but on obſerving
that I roſe, and ſwam towards the ſhore,
he kept his place on the bank, looking out
carefully, in order to afford every poſſible
aſſiſtance.
Upon my gaining the bank he came
immediately to me, and with the lad ſaid
everything that feeling hearts could ſug.
geſt, to alleviate my diſtreſs : I however
requeſted them to ſpend no thought on me,
but prooceed with all poſſible expedition to
the plantation from whence we laſt came,
which was but about a league and a half
below, to get aſſiſtance, if neceſſary, among
my friends there, and find the bodies of
the lovely little ones if poſſible. Indeed
could I have obtained anything that once
belonged to them, it appeared to me, in
the firſt moments of my bereavement, I

92. Memoirs and Adventures of
ſhould have enjoyed a melancholly but in-
valuable pleaſure, in contemplating to
whom it had once belonged, and reflecting
on the early graces of its owner.
Since RELY pitying my bereaved ſtate,
and anxious to do every thing poſſible to
adminiſter in the leaſt degree to my com-
fort or mental ſatisfaction, Knap and the
boy, with tender emotions quitted me, to
gratify my wiſhes ; apparently apprehen-
five what the conſequences of leaving me
alone might be, and affectionately advi-
fing me to take all neceſſary care of myſelf.
and be as calm as poſſible. And here I
muſt again, with gratitude acknowledge,
that the merciful diſpoſer of events, buoy-
ed up my mind above deſpondency, and
gave me, bleſſed be his name, ſtrength to:
ſupport my load, and powers of mind ſepe-
rior to diſtraction.
In the feeling language of the Poet,
I was enabled to ſay,
PEACE, peace, my fond fluttering heart,
Unſeemly repining give o'er,

Captain Matthew Phelps. 93
The pleaſures of life muſt depart,
Human beings muſt trouble endure.
In this valley of folly and fin,
Though delights may embelliſh the way,
They are all, like the joys of an inn,
Too tranſient to court us to ſtay.
My children, my babes, how they grew
How their welfare engag’d my fond care :
How alterºd, alas ! is the view -
O ſhield me my God from deſpair.
My ſpouſe, and my family, all
Have paſt the impervious gloom,
How welcome to me were the call
To cloſe all my woes in the tomb.
Yet let me not ſinfully figh,
Or grieve as in proſpect forlorn,
We enter on life when we die :
Death bids an immortal be born.
As the traveller longs for his home,
When his buſineſs is finiſh’d abroad,
Olet me not ſenſeleſsly roam, -
But with confidence reſt upon God.

94. Memoirs and Adventures of
CHAPTER XII.
º
Mr. Phelps sets out to cross the woods,
alone and uncloathed.—Being chilled,
Åe is seized with a fit, and incapacitat.
ed from proceeding.—Two friends, from
the plantation he was steering for, find
him and afford him relieſ.—He gets safe
to the plantation, and parts with Knas
and the boy.
As ſoon as my companions had left me
I ſat off to go acroſs the woods, the ſhort-
eſt way to the plantation to which I had
directed them, being only about a league
in diſtance; but in the agitation of my mind
I had aeglected to put on my clothes. In
this deſtitute ſituation therefore I had not
proceeded above a mile, when being ex-
tremely enervated by ſickneſs, and ex-
hauſted by fatigue and ſtrenuous exertions
during the late ſcenes of diſtreſs, a moſt
ſevere fit of the ague came on me, and I

Captain Matthew Phelps. 95
was forced to fit down, faint and almoſt
frozen, by the ſide of a fallen tree, over
which I was unable to croſs: and now I
ſeriouſly expected nothing leſs, but that on
this ſpot the ſcene of human ſufferings
would cloſe with me.
I Howev ER determined to do every
thing in my power to invigorate circula-
tion ; and rationally concluding that no-
thing but motion or immediate human aid
could preſerve my life, I exerted myſelf to
riſe, repeatedly, but my ſtrength failed me,
being unable now to ſtand alone.
Concºup1Nc from hence that my fate
was inevitable, I endeavoured to bring my
mind to a calm acquieſcence in my appa-
rently approaching deſtiny, and anticipated
the idea, that I ſhould ſoon be re-united,
through infinite mercy, to the ſociety of the
dear companions of my former joys, and
ſharers in my ſorrows, and I addreſſed my-
felf, in mental cogitations, to the throne of
grace, for pardon and acceptance,

96 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
HUMBLING myſelf therefore before the
Supreme Diſpoſer of events, I endeavored
ſuitably to acknowledge all his goodneſs,
the deliverances his mighty arm had
wrought in my behalf, the juſtice of my
chaſtiſement, and the ſovereign right Jeho-
vah had to deal with all his creatures as
ſeemed beft to his divine preſcience, and in
theſe meditations had obtained a deſirable
placidity, when I perceived two men com.
ing through the woods towards me, whom
I ſoon perceived to be friends from the
plantation to which I was endeavouring to
ſhape my courſe, when my fit came on,
viz. Mr. Ira Whitmore, and Mr. Nathan-
el Hull.
When theſe kind friends had thrown
ſome of their clothes over me, had chaſed
my benumbed limbs, and refreſhed me
with ſome cordials they had brought,
with them, they enquired tenderly into the
cauſe of my being in ſuch lamentable cir-
cumſtances, alone and diveſted of cloath-
ing, and I made known to them my ſad ſto-
ry, as conciſely and regularly as I could :

Captain Matthew Phelps. 97
after which I begged of them to pay no fur-
ther attention perſonally to me, for that I
was now ſo refreſhed, that I was confident
I could reach the plantation without further
aid, and it would therefore be the greateſt
charity they could exhibit toward me, for
them to proceed immediately after Knap
and the boy, and aſſiſt them in their at-
tempts to recover, if poſſible, the bodies of
my children; of thoſe engaging little ones
with whom I had quitted their plantation at
the Grand Gulf but the morning of the
day before.
They tenderly inſiſted for a while upon
not leaving me, urging that the moſt evi-
dent duty in the preſent inſtance, muſt be
attention to my perſon, and that Knap & the
lad would be able to obtain aſſiſtance, and
to do everything in the caſe, that their uni-
ted efforts could poſſibly effect. Finding
however that my anxiety to have them pro-
ceed immediately after Knap and the boy,
agreeable to my directions, was uncon-
querable; Finding likewiſe that I was
K.

38 Memoirs and Adventures of
greatly refreſhed by their timely attention
and tenderneſs, and perceiving my confi.
dence, that I could proceed to the planta-
tion without difficulty alone, they left me,
agreeably to my wiſhes, and I was enabled
to ſtruggle ſucceſsfully againſtimpediments,
and to get in without further aſſiſtance.
But here, with due deference to ſuch
of my readers as may be incredulous with
reſpect to ſuch communications, I feel con-
ſtrained to recite a ſingularineident, which
at the time made a deep impreſſion on my
mind, affecting me with admiration and
ſurprize, and which I never ſince have
been able ſeriouſly to refle&t upon, without
ſenſible emotion, from a recolle&tion of the
ſingular circumſtances with which it was at-
tended.
WHEN we had all returned in ſafety to
the plantation, the family informed me, that
the dreams of ſeveral of their number, the
night after I left them, had been ſo ſtriking
and unuſually diſtreſſing, and withal ſo fre-
quently repeated, that they had ſuffered ve-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 99
ry great anxiety in their minds on my a C-
count, fearing that ſome further affliction
might have overtaken me. When they
aroſe in the morning one related a dream
that myſelf and children were deſtroyed by
ſome dreadful accident, another that we
were drowned, or expoſed to the moſt im-
minent dangers in the river, a third that he
had diſcovered and relieved people in the
wilderneſs, when they were juſt on the
point of ſtarving or periſhing, and indeed
all of them had been more or leſs exerciſed
with diſtreſſing ideas, during their night vi.
ſions, and had paſſed ſome melancholly pe.
riods, agreeable to their mutual relations in
the morning.
As theſe dreams were probably occa-
ſioned in part by our having converſed ſo
recently on the difficulties of our voyage.
which I had related to them in full ; ſo
their minds were moſt probably tenderly
affected with a knowledge of the diſtreſſes
had previouſly endured: but however that
may be, the two men whom I have before
mentioned, were induced to take ſome lit.

100 Memoirs and adventures ºf
tle matters for refreſhment with them, and
ſet out to explore the pathleſs wilderneſs, to
fee if they could be of ſervice to any human
being in diſtreſs, and in this philanthropic
excurſion, it was the pleaſure of that infi.
nite ſource of munificence, whoſe mercy
“tempers the wind to the ſhorn lamb,” to
direct their ſteps to the obſcure ſpot where
I lay fick and ſuffering, and where I ſhould
doubtleſs have terminated my then wretch.
ed life, had not the ſecret impulſe of the
great alwiſe, conducted them thus ſtrange.
ly to my aid. But this is a digreſſion from
ºny narrative.
KNAP and the lad proceeded on to the
plantation, keeping the couſe of the river,
and by the aſſiſtance they obtained, took up
the boat, which had been drawn into an
eddy, and likewiſe a few trifling articles
that floated up, but it was not in their pow-
er to make any diſcovery of the bodies.
HERE therefore their ſervices to me
were at a cloſe, and at this place I parted
with them, having nothing left wherewith

Captain Matthew Phelps. 10]
to recompence them for their toil; provi-
dence having been pleaſed to diveſt me of
every means of rewarding them for their
kindneſs, or paying them for their labour.
But he who endows virtuous ačtions
with the balſamic quality of proving its
own beſt reward, Ihumbly truſt recompenc.
ed their ſervices, and amply repaid their
kindneſs, in the happifying cogitations of
their benevolent minds.
-oºººººº-
CHAPTER XIII.
flºº
Mr. Phelps visits his former plantation
and finds his title forfeited.—Is assisted
by his friend Storrs.-Prospers in Aus.
bandry on a new plantation.—The reve.
lutionary war distresses the settlers.
ON the 26th of November I parted from .
*y worthy friends at the Grand Gulf, and
K 2

102 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
with a grateful ſenſe of their friendſhip and
favours, proceeded on my journey by land,
to the plantation for which I had been ſo
long and ſo affiduouſly ſtriving, viz. my old
ſettlement on the Big Black, where I arriv-
ed on the 29th. But even here I found diſ.
treſs prepared to chaſten me, had not far
ſuperior affliction previouſly fallen to my
lot, and almoſt wholly engroſſed my atten-
tion : for the man to whoſe care I had en-
truſted my concerns in this quarter, I had
the mortification to find, had, during my
abſence, baſely deſerted his truſt, ſo that
the title to my land had, according to the
uſuage of the country, reverted to another,
and ſtrangers had become, rightfully as it
reſpected them, poſſeſſed of the property
in the ſoil which once veſted in me, and
conſequently the labour which I had be:
flowed on it was rendered of no avail to ne,
and the money I had paid for the reverſion
of the title of the former poſſeſſor, was
completely loſt.
AND here I am again able to record the
hiſtory of a tranſaction, which, as it reflects

Captain Matthew Phelps. 103
honor on the human charaćter, I do with
the greateſt pleaſure.
It happened, as mentioned in chapter
IV, that when I was formerly at the Big
Black, I had befriended a man of the name
of John Storrs, who with his ſon were then
fick, and in exceedingly low circumſtanc-
es. As ſoon as this man heard of my re-
turn he came to me, and in a frank and cor-
dial manner invited me to make his houſe
my own, until providence, more propitious
to my views, ſhould be pleaſed in the
courſe of events to enable me to turn myſelf
to advantage.
It being the caſe with me at that time
not to poſſeſs whereon to lay my head, the
reader will readily conceive, that I receiv-
ed this proffered friendſhip of Storrs with.
out heſitation, and I have the ſatisfaction of
recordingtothe honor of ſo ſincerea friend,
that nothing within the reach of his
intereſt, opportunity, and abilities, was
omitted by him, to render my life perfectly
eaſy to alleviate the diſtreſſes of my mind,

104. Memoirs and Adventures of
or to afford me conſolation under the ſevere
inflictions of providence.
After I had reſided at the houſe of
this worthy and grateful friend for a week,
he informed me, that by the continued fa-
vor of providence, on the unremitting in-
duſtry of himſelf and ſon, he had gained a
deſirable competency, and was now ena-
bled to live comfortably. That to me
as an agent in the hand of God, he held
himſelf indebted for his all. That himſelf
and ſon had faithfully performed the labour
ſtipulated for at the time I kept them from
ſuffering, as ſoon after the recovery of their
health as they could poſſibly make it con-
venient, and that he never ſhould realize
the true value of intereſt in the courſe of
life more ſenſibly than at preſent, from its
enabling him, to make a return for a debt
of gratitude, in ſome degree, to the very
man, who under providence, had ſaved his
life. This he begged it as a favor, I
would permit him to do, in as ample a
manner as his circumſtances would admit,
and as my neceſſities required, and further,

Captain Matthew Phelps. 105
that I ſhould never think of making him
compenſation, until it pleaſed God to bleſs
the labour of my hands, and enable me to
do it without injury, or even without in-
convenience to the courſe of my affairs.
He accordingly upon theſe principles,
aſſiſted me in procuring a ſettlement, upon
which there had previouſly been ſome im.
provement made, and ſupplied me with a
cow, a pair of ſteers, a horſe, neceſſary
farming utenſils, and ſeventy dollars worth
of ſtore hogs, which he drove on to my
place, ſituated within about three quarters
of a mile of his own.
Thus being enabled once more to en-
ter into life, in a country luxuriant beyond
any other that I had previouſly been ac-
quainted with, I ſofar recovered my health,
as to be able to begin to do a little on my
place in the month of January 1777, altho'
I continued very feeble. Yet, bleſſed be
God, my ſpirits never became completely
funk, deſpondency was never ſuffered to
becloud or derange my faculties; as my

106 Memoirs and Adventures of
health encreaſed therefore, my aſſiduity
augmented, and I began to conceive the
agreeable idea of doing well through the
ſeaſon, but about the beginning of June I
was again ſeized with the fever and ague,
which continued to diſtreſs me until the firſt
of Auguſt.
PRovior Nice was nevertheleſs propi,
tious to me with reſpect to my crops, and
likewiſe with reſpect to the reſtoration of
my health ſeaſonably to ſave them; and my
drove of hogs likewiſe doing remarkably
well, I was enabled, after diſpoſing of my
pork, and ſuch other produce as I could
conveniently ſpare, to pay my friend Storrs
not only for the articles he ſupplied me with,
but likewiſe for my board, during the time
that neceſſity compelled me to take up my
abode at his houſe.
Thus notwithſtanding all my former
reverſes, I once more began to realize the
proſpect, that if my health was reſtored,
and my induſtry obtained a common bleſſ.
ing, I ſhould ſoon ſee the time, when by

Captain Matthew Phelps. |Oº
the divine favor I ſhould again poſſeſs a
competency of this world’s goods, and have
ing endured much myſelf in the ſchool of
adverſity, might be enabled to aid the nee-
dy and relieve the diſtreſſed, whenever
providence preſented opportunities to my
view, and impreſſed my mind with a ſenſe
of duty.
But here again I had a ſtriking diſplay
of the precarious tenure of human enjoy-
ments, the futility of the ſchemes of man,
for on the ſeventh of March, 1778, the diſ.
treſſes of the revolutionary war began to
afflict our remote ſettlements, and on a ſud-
den put a ſtop to the efforts of honeſt induſ.
try, and agricultural enterpriſe among us.
The firſt introdućtion of this diſtreſſing
calamity, was communicated to us by the
arrival of one James Willing, formerly of
Philadelphia, with a ſmall body of Ameri-
can ſoldiers in our quarter. -
This man having, as it was reported,
run through a handſome intereſt in Phila-

108 Memoirs and Adventures of
delphia, in a ſeries of gambling, extrava-
gance and debauchery, and being conſe-
quently obliged to apply to his friends for
freſh ſupplies, they had, through the influ-
ence of Mr. Robert Morris, as it was be-
lieved, furniſhed him with a commiſſion in
the army, at once to rid themſelves of an
incumbrance which they deemed too heavy
for them longer to ſuſtain, and to oblige
the country to contribute to the ſupport of
a ſpendthrift, of whoſe too profligate man-
ners they had become heartily tired.
W having thus obtained a commiſ.
ſion, and being entruſted with the com-
mand of a few meth, was ordered into our
remote regions, to conciliate the affections
of the ſettlers, and check the progreſs of
the Britiſh trade, which was then flouriſh-
ing in that quarter.
AND here I muſt beg the indulgence
of my readers for making a trifling digreſ.
ſion, by venturing to remark, that to the
villainy of officers on the frontiers or exte-
rior poſſeſſions of a country, the fomenting

Captain Matthew Phelps. 105
and continuance of wars is often owing,
and perhaps even the enſuing diſtreſſes of
the interior, in a very conſiderable degree.
That therefore the greateſt care ſhould be
taken, in the ſelection of men, whoſe com-
mands are to lead them to the greateſt diſ-
tance, and who conſequently muſt be at the
furtheſt remove from ſeaſonable inſpection,
and neceſſary controul.
How far this obſervation appears to be
applicable to Willing, at leaſt in my eſtim-
ation, and according to my account of him,
the reader will be enabled to decide after
peruſing the next chapter.

* 10 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
CHAP. XIV.
*** *** *** **
--------
*** *** *** ***
Captain Willing’s arrival at the Watches.
–The inhabitants take an oath of neu.
trality.—Willing’s success in recruit.
ing.—Takes a British armed ship near
Manchac.—Plunders the inhabitants.-
His party cut off at the Watches.—The
inhabitants set up the British standard.
—Repair old forts.-A British Captain
jackson arrives to take the command
of ſort Penmore, at the Matches.—Bio-
graphical sketches of the life of Captain
jackson.
As ſoon as Willing came into our vi.
cinity he began to ſound the diſpoſition of
the inhabitants, and to endeavor to engage
men for the American ſervice. He had
blank commiſſions with him for ſubordinate
officers, which he filled up as occaſion re-
quired, and our ſettlers being well diſpoſed
to the American cauſe, almoſt univerſally,

Captain Matthew Phelps. | | ||
he met with ſo great ſucceſs in recruiting,
that in the ſettlements of our vicinity he
enliſted about eighty hunters. -
Tºrs Willing was a man of ingenuity
and addreſs, he offered recruits the moſt en-
couraging terms, and had he poſſeſſed mo-
Fality and integrity equal to his ſubtlety, he
might certainly have rendered the cauſe of
liberty eſſential ſervice in the Miſſiſſippi
Country.
In the addreſſes of Willing to the ſet-
tlers, he plead the cauſe of America with
ſuch perſuaſive eloquence, and repreſented
the juſtneſs of their warfare, the bravery of
their ſoldiers, and the moral certainty of
their ultimate ſucceſs, in ſo engaging a
point of view ; that backing his perſuaſive
rhetoric with the moſt folemn aſſurances,
that five thouſand American troops were
on their way to this quarter, to eſtabliſh a
territorial boundary and protect the ſettlers
againſt the indians, Britons and Spaniards,
or any of them, ſhould they dare to make
any intruſions, he prevailed on the ſettlers

112 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
very generally, to take an oath of ſtrićt neu-
trality, they being, as before obſerved, with
very few exceptions, friendly to the cauſe
of liberty.
WILLING having enliſted about an
hundred men in our vicinity, and commiſ.
tioned officers to command them, proceed-
ed to Manchac, and practiſed his eloquent
harrangues and ſpecious pretences there, as
he had fomerly done with us, and with a-
bout equal ſucceſs. At this place he, by a
ſtratagem, made himſelf maſter of an Eng-
liſh armed ſhip, which he took down to
New Orleans, and there ſold to the Span-
iards; and (as it was reported and believed
among us) ſoon waſted the whole avails, or
at leaſt all that he could retain to himſelf,
in a ſeries of extravagance and debauchery.
At length running ſhort of means to
ſupport himſelf in his wild career, he be-
gan to diſplay the real vileneſs of his cha-
racter, by the execution of a moſt deteſta-
ble buſineſs. This was no other than go-
ing to Manchac, with two ſubalterns, and

Captain Matthew Phelps. | 13
about thirty five or forty men, of his origin-
al party, where they plundered the honeſt
ſettlers without diſtinction ; thus by prov-
ing themſelves no better than a banditti of
robbers, they did incalculable injury to the
American cauſe.
WEALTH acquired by plundering, is
generally ſquandered with an unthriſtineſs
and ſpeed equal to the celerity of its acqui-
ſition. This was the caſe with the booty
obtained at Manchac ; it laſted the free-
booters but a little while, when ſuppoſing
the people there to be leſs wealthy, and
leſs upon their guard than we were at the
Natches, they determined to pay us the
ſame compliment they had paid to them,
and to enrich themſelves upon our ſpoils.
Having however received timely in-
formation of their infamous deſign, we
turned out in our own defence, and imme-
diately concerted meaſures for their ſuita-
ble reception. We formed an armed aſſo.
ciation of about five hundred men, and de-
K2

114 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
termined to ſtand firmly upon the defenſive,
let the conſequences be what they would.
In a ſhort time after this aſſociation
was formed, agreeably to our information
previouſly received, the banditti from near
Manchac, arrived in our vicinity, but
kept on the other ſide of the river.
OUR aſſociated company had taken
their ſtand at the landing, where the party
muſt neceſſarily croſs, in order to avoid the
impetuous current of the river; and with
regularity and good order awaited their
arrival. At length they appeared, and
ſent a flag acroſs which we received in a
friendly manner, and held a parley with
them, by which we agreed, that if they
came as friends we would receive them
cordially, if not, we would not permit them
to land. That if they meant peace and
good neighbourhood, they ſhould fire three
guns immediately on the return of the flag,
which we would anſwer with an equal
number in caſe we inclined to receive them,
for that the alſociated volunteers would not

Captain Matthew Phelps. 115
permit hoſtile operations of any kind at the
Natches, without the full and free conſent
of the ſettlers; but on the contrary if any
ſuch meaſures were attempted, they would
hold themſelves totally abſolved and exon-
erated from their oaths of neutrality.
AFTER ſome little time had paſt, and
they had apparently holden a ſhort conſul-
tation, on our ultimatum conveyed to them
by the return of their flag of truce, they ad-
vanced to their boat, and agreeably to our
wiſhes fired the three guns as propoſed,
which in a few moments we anſwered by
an equal number, and then conceiving fur-
ther precaution unneceſſary, we diſmiſſed
our aſſociated companies from their mi-
litary arrangement, and took our ſtations
promiſcuouſly, on the bank, to wait the ar-
rival of the American troops, ſuſpecting no
deceit, and totally unable, in a regular Way
to repel an invader, except that our guns
were loaded.
This remiſineſs of ours we ſoon per-
ceived to be ill judged, and to our injury

H 16 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
we found, that no dependence whatever
could with ſafety be placed in the pledged
honor of a banditti of villains.
Accor DIN c to our expectation, on the
ſignal of peace agreed upon being anſwered
by us, their little corps began to embark ;
when, as we were afterwards informed, the
lieutenant who commanded them, one Har-
riſon, upon taking up a bottle, drank to this
ſentiment, “I’ll reign king of the Watch-
as bills this might or be in Žell.”
WITH this apparent determination he
ſat out, and came over, with a company of
thirty five men, commanded by himſelf
and one Ellis, who was a ſubaltern under
Willing. Whether he had conſulted Ellis
and his company on the beſt mode of con-
dućt for anſwering his ends, and laid any
previous plan for ſubduing of us, is uncer-
tain; but if he conceived us to be ſuch daſ.
tardly paltroons as to fly at their bare ap.
pearance, like ſheep before a dog, the e-
vent proved his fatal miſtake, and ended
in the complete releaſe of the ſettlers, in

Captain Matthew Phelps. 11;
their own view and the view of juſtice, from
their previous oath of neutrality, taken in
good faith, and religiouſly obſerved, until
perfidy and freebooting was cauſed glaring.
ly to appear to abſolve them.
When this deteſtable banditti had ar-
rived within 300 yards of the ſhore, we diſ.
tinctly heard Harriſon order one Canady,
who had formerly been a reſident at the
Natches, and who was now among his
crew, to load the ſwivel that was in the bow
of his boat with ball, and to put in thirty
five muſketballs. Not even yet ſuſpecting
his daring, villainous and fooliſh intention,
however, we ſtill kept our irregular ſitua-
tion, ſtanding or ſitting on the banks, until
he ordered Canady to fire.
On this we ſtarted, handled our arms,
and told Canady he was a dead man in an
inſtant if he obeyed, but the villain Harri-
ſon preſenting a piſtol to his head, and
threatening to blow his brains out direct-
ly, if he did not immediately fire, Canady

#18 Memoirs and Adventures of
complied, and wounded a number of our
company.
Upon this murderous buſineſs being
proſecuted, we inſtantly returned their fire,
irregularly from all quarters, killed Harri-
ſon, Ellis, Canady, and five others, and
wounded a number more, their boat being
as full of bullet holes as could well be ; al-
moſt every one making ſo ſure of his mark,
that perhaps not a man of them would
have eſcaped but for their lying down in
the bottom of the boat. The ſurvivors, on
the boat ſtriking our ſhore, begged for
their lives, and were taken priſoners by
our party, and ſpared, notwithſtanding their
villainous intentions.
This moſt deteſtable buſineſs being
thus far ſettled, we held a conſultation upon
the preſent unhappy aſpect of our affairs,
and the condućt if had now become neceſ.
ſary for us to º : the reſult of which
was, that under the direétion of a Britiſh
magiſtrate who reſided among us, who ſtill
retained his commiſſion, and had not taken

captain Matthew Phelps. 115
with us the oath of neutrality to the Unit-
ed States, we would form ourſelves into a
garriſon, acknowledge ourſelves Britiſh
ſubjects, and turn out as univerſally as ne-
ceſſary, to protect ourſelves and the ſettle-
ment: the proceedings of the banditti un-
der Willing and Harriſon, having abſolved
us from the obligations, under which we
had formerly lain.
Having come to this concluſion, we
choſe our officers, and became regularly
embodied, turning out occaſionally by
guards and patrols, to inſpect and defend
the ſettlement, viewing our ſituation as
confiderably expoſed. The firſt military
operation of conſequence which we per-
formed, was fixing up an old fort at the
Natches, called fort Penmore, where we
entered on regular garriſon duty,and on the
firſt of April we raiſed a corps of volun.
teers, and marched to the relief of the in-
habitants of Manſhac, or Manchac, who
were ſtill oppreſſed by the marauding of
Willing and the reſidue of his gang,
who fled atour approach. Here werepair.

120 Memoirs and Adventures of
ed another old fort, which we left well gar-
riſoned in a few days after, by a party of
aſſociated ſettlers.
Tirus were the Americans diveſted
of the friendſhip of the ſettlers on this im-
portant frontier, by the villainy of this un-
principled little band of wretches; whereas
had their affairs been fortunately entruſt-
ed to the care of men of principle, inſtead
of mere fortune hunters, uſeful friends might
have been ſecured, and many valuable
lives conſequently ſaved.
THE progreſs of our ſettlements being
thus unhappily diſturbed, and the frequen-
cy of alarms rendering the uſual courſe of
induſtry unproductive, and the ſituation of
the farmer on frontiers ſo peculiarly ſituat-
ed as ours, dangerous ; I determined to
quit it and join the garriſon, in ſome ſta-
ion or other, and began to think ſeriouſly
what meaſures to adopt, at once to ſerve
the public and ſecure myſelf from perſonal
loſs. I was however prevented for ſome
time, from proſecuting any deſign whatev-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 121
er to effect, being again viſited by a ſlight
touch of the ſever and ague. Through
the goodneſs of providence, I was ſoon re-
ſtored to health, and immediately put my
deſign in execution, of quitting my planta-
tion for the preſent, and joining the garriſon
at Fort Penmore.
HERE it will be neceſſary for me per-
haps, to make a ſlight digreſſion, in order
to bring my readers to an acquaintance
with a new eharacter, who in the ſucceed-
ing pages of my adventures will be found
to fill an important place, and to have a
hand in many ſingular tranſactions.
THE perſon I mean was one Michael
Jackſon, with whom I firſt became acquain-
ted, or rather of whom I firſt obtained a
knowledge, when only in my eighth year,
at Harwington in Connecticut. This man
came to the houſe of my father, and ſoon
after his arrival a number of purſuers like-
wife came, who laid claim to the horſe on
which Jackſon had rode, and ſecured him
as a horſe thief.
M
122 Memoirs and Adventures of
JAckson however found means to c.
lude the vigilance of his keepers, and fled
from Connecticut to South Carolina,
where he followed his old courſe of villai-
my, and was again taken as a horſe thief,
when, to avoid an infamous puniſhment, he
enliſted into the American army during the
war.
BE INg a fellow of conſiderable addreſs,
a tolerable ſcholar, and withal an active
man, he ſoon obtained a ſergeant’swarrant,
and was detached on the recruiting ſervice
to enliſt men for the army of the United
States. This however was too good an
opportunity to play the villain, not to be im-
proved by ſo unprincipled a fellow, and ac-
cordingly he decamped with the money en-
truſted to his care, and making his eſcape
from the territory of the United States, he
applied to Charles Steward, ſuperintendant
of Indian affairs, for the Britiſh, from
whom he received a warrant to recruit for
the Britiſh ſervice, with a promiſe that on
his enliſting a company it ſhould be entruſt-
rô to his command,



Captain Matthew Phelps. 123
Jackson, as before obſerved, being an
artful and plauſible fellow, ſoon colle&ted a
company of refugees, and received a com-
miſſion as captain in the indian department,
and was ſeat to take the command of fort
Penmore at the Natches, until the arrival
of Captain M'Gillivray. It ſo happened
that Captain M'Gillivray was ſpeedily or-
dered on command to his old indian ſtation,
and thus Jackſon was left to command the
fortreſs, in the garriſon of which I had vol-
unteered. By reaſon of my being a New-
England man, Jackſon quickly introduced
converſation, and by his own account I ſoon
recolle&ted him, and remembered his old
adventure, as a horſe thief, at my father's
houſe, which altho' it by no means prepoſ.
feſted me in favor of my commander, I ſtill
hoped might in the courſe of events prove
in no wife detrimental to my intereſt.
How it eventually proved, the ſequel of
my journal, will inform the reader.
At the time of my entering the fortreſs
although I was not deſtitute of property,
yet, as I had not an opportunity to turn any

124. Memºirs and Adventures of
thing into caſh, I was hard put to it for
that neceſſary article, indeed I had none :
but having concluded in my own mind
to ſupply the garriſon with ſome neceſſa.
rics, at once to adminiſter to the advance.
ment of my own intereſt, and to the comfort
of my fellow ſoldiers, I borrowed a dollar of
a Britiſh ſergeant, and having purchaſed
the neceſſary ingredients, I brewed a bar.
rel of good beer, and ſold it out at a rea-
fonable rate, and yet to exceeding good
advantage, to the gariſon ; encouraged by
the ſucceſs of this firſt eſſay, and from my
very trifling outſets, I was ſo ſucceſsful,
and ſo well reward for my induſtry, that I
was enabled by the middle of May, having
thea been in the fort but a few weeks, to
purchaſe and bring up the river, on my
own account from Manchac, a pucheon of
rum, a puncheon of Molaſſes, a tierce offu.
gar, and a barrel of coffee.
On my return to the fort, I regularly
enliſted as a corporal and futtler for a few
months, during which time I followed my
ºuttling trade to exceeding good advantage,

Captain Matthew Phelps. 125
and as I had reaſon to think to the univer-
ſal ſatisfaction of both officers and men.
Norting of importance tranſpired
from the time of my return from Man-
chac, and enliſtment into the garriſon, as a
corporal, until the twentieth of Auguſt;
when at the requeſt of Capt. Jackſon, our
commanding officer, I went with a ſcout-
ing or reconnoitering party about thirty
leagues up the river, paſſing the Grand
Gulf about five leagues, but without mak-
ing any diſcovery on our progreſs up the riv-
er. On returning down again, we obſerv.
ed from the Petit Gulf, lying on the Span-
iſh ſide of the river, three very large floats,
and an equal number of large batteaux,
from which they had landed a great num-
ber of people, ſuppoſed by us to be near a
thouſand.
AT beholding this fight I was much re.
joiced, not doubting but that they were the
advance of the expected American army,
ºf whom I confidently expected, that the
M 2 -

126 Memoirs and adventures of
propriety of their conquêt would correà:
the errors of Willing's banditti, and re-
move the ſtigma from the character of my
countrymen. Faithfully attentive to my
duty however, as a Britiſh ſubject, I with
all poſſible expedition returned to the for.
treſs, to acquaint Captain Jackſon with the
diſcovery we had made, and was requeſted
by him to return immediately to the party,
with a flag of truce, hold a parley with
them, if poſſible, whoever they may be, or
whatever may be their deſigns, make e.
very obſervation neceſſary, and return to
the garriſon as ſpeedily as poſſible with the
reſult. As I was exceedingly fatigued,
however, from the laborious tour we had
juſt compleated, and feeling really unable
to undergo the hardſhips of an immediate
repetition of my toil. I made a repreſenta-
tion of my caſe to the commandant, and at
my requeſt the care of the buſineſs was
ontruſted to another perſon.
THE perſon entruſted with this com-
mand immediately proceeded up the river,
with a flag, and on croſſing over to the

captain Matthew Phelps. 127
party whom we had diſcovered, as before
mentioned, near the Petit Gulf, found them
to be a Col. Gilyar, and a Doctor Farrow,
citizens of the United States, and conſid.
erable landholders in Manchac, &c. with
their dependants, families, and ſlaves.
Thoſe gentlemen related, that having heard
of our engagement of neutrality, they had
determined to remove with their connec-
tions, on to their Miſſiſſippi poſſeſſions;
but on arriving in the vicinity, and finding
that we had abandoned our neutrality and
had again become Britiſh ſubjects, they
were fearful of the conſequences of croſ.
fing over to the Britiſh poſſeſſions, with
their families and effects, leaſt being de-
fenceleſs Americans, they may ſail a prey
to an unexpected enemy. That for this
reaſon they had preferred to keep on the
Spaniſh ſide, as harmony at preſent exiſted
between the United States and Spain.
OUR flag made them acquainted with
the villanies that had been practiſed upon
us, by Willing's party, with the pillaging
of Manchac, and with the deſtrućtion of the

128 Memoirs and Adventures of
party under Harriſon and Ellis, at the Naº.
ches, by the aſſociated volunteers; engag-
ing at the ſame time to make a juſt and fa-
vorable return for them to Captain Jackſon,
the commandant at Fort Penmore, who he
did not doubt would treat them reſpectful-
ly. This duty the officer of the flag boat
faithfully performed, and Captain Jackſon
finding them to be inoffenſive ſettlers, im-
mediately diſpatched a ſecond flag to them,
with the moſt ſolemn aſſurances, that they
ſhould be ſafe in paſſing our fort and ſettle-
ment, and that every neceſſary act of
friendſhip ſhould be extended to them, that
the ſituation of the garriſon would admit :
And under the faith of theſe friendly offers
they paſſed fort Penmore the firſt of Sep-
tember.
On the 27th of September I was again
ſent up the river to make diſcoveries, if
any thing new or intereſting to the garriſon
had taken place, but returned without ef.
feeting anything on the fourth of October.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 129
On the 23d I was again ſent on com-
mand with a number of batteaux to Man-
chac, to bring up ſome additional troops
for fort Penmore, having liberty from the
commandant to bring up any quantity of
ſtores for my own benefit, in the public
boats; which liberty I improved to good
advantage, and found my intereſt hand-
ſomely and conſtantly augmenting.
Thus without any ſpecial alteration
things went on until the 17th of December,
when the time of my enliſtment having paſt,
and two months over, I diſpoſed of all my
ſtores on hand, and determined to cloſe my
accounts with the garriſon, and go down to
New Orleans to procure a ſupply of goods
for myſelf, to diſpoſe of in the moſt advan-
tageous manner poſſible, either at Man-
chac, the Natches, or elſewhere, as provi-
dence may favour my views. Determin-
ing however to keep near the garriſons un-
tiltranquility ſhould be reſtored to our ſet-
tlements.

130 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
CHAPTER XV.
º
Captain jackson's conduct on being in.
formed by Mr. Phelps of his intention
to quit the garrison.— Mr. Phelps per-
sisting in his design, Captain jackson
refuses to give him a discharge, and con-
ſines him, under a charge of insult to his
commander, and of premeditated deser-
* 2012.
Having firmly reſolved immediately
to quit the fort, on the 25th of December,
1778, I applied to the commandant, and
made him acquainted with it, ſtating that I
had ſerved my time of enliſtment out, and
ſhould be glad to have him attend to a final
adjuſtment of my accounts, as ſoon as he
could make it convenient, and furniſh
me with a regular diſcharge from the gar-
riſon.
I thouch t the commandant treated
my application rather fingularly, yet as he

Captain Matthew Phelps. 13.
was not void of politeneſs in his addreſs at
that time, I ſuſpected no intentional injury
from him. He however declined acceding
to my wiſhes of furniſhing me with an im-
mediate diſcharge; alledging that he did
not know how he could ſpare me from the
garriſon ; that although his wiſhes were by
all means to oblige me, and affiſt me in the
advancement of my intereſt; and however
far he was from being capable of forming
any deſign to oppoſe my inclination, yet as
the garriſon were peculiarly attached to,
and accommodated by me, as I was in the
- way of advancing my intereſt rapidly, and
was at all times ſervicable in raiſing re-
cruits, and attending to extra duties, by
which the intereſt of the garriſon had been
really promoted, he expreſſed his wiſh that
I would not infift upon a diſcharge at preſ.
ent, nor think of quitting them, if I could
poſſibly accommodate my mind to the idea
of ſtaying. -
Captain Jackſon further ſtated his will
lingneſs, to releaſe me from all garriſon du-
ty, and conſent to my following my buſineſs

132 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
ſolely for the advancement of my own inter-
eſt, drawing pay on my enliſtment as uſual,
but that he had much rather not have it ſaid
that I had obtained a diſcharge at preſent,
as perhaps it mighthave a bad effect in ren-
dering ſome other members of the garriſon,
who were pretty nearly ſimilarly ſituated,
uneaſy with their condition.
ON refle&ting upon this condućt of Cap-
tain Jackſon afterwards, I did not much like
it, as from the account of him which I have
preſented to my reader, it will be eaſily
conceived that I had not the moſt exalted o.
pinion of his honor or probity. I could
not really perceive how it was in his pow-
er to injure me, yet I ſentimentally diſap-
proved of his mode of reaſoning, and conſe-
quent proceedure. I thought that honor
and politeneſs ought to have dictated to
him to have granted my requeſt, and then
to have urged his friendly remonſtranc-
es, with reſpect to my leaving the garriſon.
WITHour paying any attention to his
requeſt therefore, having fully made up my

Captain Matthew Phelps. 133
-
mind to quit the fort, I put all my affairs in
order, and on the firſt of January 1799,
having bought me a boat and hired hands
to aſſiſt me down the river to New Or-
leans, I prepared for immediate departure.
The reader may perhaps blame me
for introducing here an occurrence which
whether deſigned as a forewarning of dan-
ger to me or not, I ſhall not preſume to de-
termine; but of this I am certain, that it
put me on my watch, and I believe occa-
fioned me to meet the ſerpent-like venom
with which I was immediately purſued,
with greater conſtancy of mind than per-
haps I ſhould otherwiſe have done. And
indeed ſometimes in the courſe of life, I
have thought it right to pay a little attention
to the cogitations of the mind, during our
hours of ſleep. To dream of ſurrounding
danger, of ſeaſonable exertion, and conſe-
quent relief, or of ſinking from fright or
want of activity into inextricable difficulty,
may put the mind by reflection, into ſuch a
frame as to be Fº for exertion ſhould

134. Memoirs and Adventures of
unfortunate events occur. Yet I am per.
ſuaded that a ſuperſitious regard to dreams
has a tendency at all times to enervate the
underſtanding, and miſlead the judgment.
A dream I had the night before my diffi.
culty with Captain Jackſon however, con-
tinued ſo ſtrongly to impreſs my mind, and
after the train of my conſequent ſufferings
commenced, ſo frequently appeared to me
as diſtantly typical of their malevolence,
and ſerpent like venom, that I ſhall preſume
to relate it.
I dreamt that in preparing to leave the
fortreſs, and its environs, I got on a deſcent
of ground, ſtrewed almoſt over with locuſ
poles, and other perplexing impediments
to my paſſage; where to add to my difficul-
ty, I was attacked by ſnakes of various de-
ſcriptions, the conquering or eluding of the
venom of which, was a matter of extreme
difficulty and apparent danger. In this
ſituation I thought my exertions were ren-
dered the more indiſpenſibly requiſite, from
my obſerving a child ſurrounded by the

Captain Matthew Phelps. 13
5
ſame reptiles, unable to extricate himſelf,
and piteouſly imploring my aid.
Use ºn on forcibly by the combined
impulſes of ſelf preſervation and humanity,
methought I exerted all my abilities, both
of body and mind ; and contending with
unabating ardour, by the favor of provi-
dence eſcaped unhurt from the attacks of
the venomous affailants,
The effect this dream had on my mind,
if any, was to render me peculiarly atten-
tive to incidents immediately enſuing, cir-
eumſpect in my deportment, and watchful
to guard againſt the effects of open or ſe.
cret malice.
As from the former behaviour of Cap.
tain J. I thoºt it would be in vain to apply
to him again for an immediate adjuſtment
of my affairs, and as I had determined if
proſpered, to reviſit the fort again ſoon, jet
me ſettle where I would, I concluded not
to trouble him at preſent about the buſi-
neſs, but leave it to a future opportunity.

136 Memoirs and Adventures of
As a compliment due to his ſtation howev.
er I waited on him, juſt to bid him good
bye, when to my utter aſtoniſhment he
dropped even the guiſe of politeneſs, or
common civility, treated me in the moſt
harſh and ungenerous manner, and on my
perſiſting upon leaving the fort immediate.
ly, he ſwore by God, that I ſhould not
igo.
“You have,” ſays he, “ been contin-
ually running about ever fince we have
been upon the ground, and have done no
kind of duty in the fort.” I replied, that
I had attended to every kind of duty in the
garriſon, and had acted in every grade
from a corporal to a ſubaltern, and under-
gone fatigue at all times cheerfully, as far
as it was ſuſtainable by a man of my conſti-
tution. That his anger and indecency
were alike unaccountable to me, for ſo far
from aſking a favor of him, I had even de-
ferred inſiſting upon my juſt right. That
a diſcharge was in every view at my option
and not at his, as I had ſerved now two
months more than my enliſtment ſpecified.
Captain Matthew Phelps. 137
That if he impolitely refuſed to give me a
written diſcharge, he had nothing but deſ.
potiſm to plead for endeavoring to prevent
my improving a natural right, to judge for
myſelf as to the moſt prudent method of
advancing my intereſt, and to follow the
dićtates of my judgment, when and where
I pleaſed. This, Sir, ſaid I, is my abſolute
right, and I ſhall aſſert it immediately, at
all hazards, whether you come to a ſettle-
ment with me or not.
* Damn a ſettlement with you,” ſays
he, “I’ll make no ſettlement with you, ex-
cept it be by way of a court martial for
your inſolence. I’ll bring you up with a
wet ſail for your impertinence ; you £hall
be immediately arraigned before a court
martial and broken and whipped, for inſul-
ting your commander, and for intentional
deſertion.”
Irritated beyond meaſure at his info-
lence and injuſtice, I told him to impede
my progreſs at his peril ; that I would









N2

* 33 AMemoirs and Adventures of
leave the fortin an inſtant, and had no ap-
prehenſion whatever from his bluſtering, not
fear of any fort from his threats. I ſhould
indeed no further altercate with him, but
would apply to his ſuperiors for juſtice;
and that in one minute I ſhould quit the
fort, never again to return to his com-
mand.
Upon this I turned away and pro-
ceeded to the gate of the fort the comman-
dant following me, while my mind revolv.
cd on the imperiouſneſs of Jackſon, and
aſſimilated it to the venom of the ſnakes
I had encountered in my ſleep. When I
had got to the gate Jackſon ordered the
centinel on duty to ſtop me, and calling to
the ſergeant of the guard, ordered him to
turn out a file of men, to ſecure me in the
guard houſe, and at his peril to fee me
forthcoming whenever I ſhould be order-
ed before a court-martial, which ſhould be
holden, with all convenient ſpeed, for the
purpoſe of making me an example to the
garriſon, for mutinouſly inſulting the com-
mandant, and for premeditated deſertion.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 139
It was impoſſible in the nature of things
but that theſe imperious orders of my in-
ſolent oppreſſor ſhould be immediately 9.
beyed ; unable therefore to oppoſe him,
ſingly and unarmed, I was conſtrained to
ſubmit to the execution of his degrading
orders, and was for the firſt time in my life
conducted as a priſoner to the guard houſe.
I was however decently treated by the
ſergeants on guard, in their ſucceſſion, as
they liberated me from cloſe confinement,
taking my parole from day to day : and as
I had the ſatisfaction of knowing that the
venom of the ſnake (to follow the meta-
phor of my dream) was exerted towards
me without a cauſe, ſo I conſoled myſelf
with the idea, that if ever I could have the
buſineſs inveſtigated before Jackſon's ſupe-
riors, I could eaſily prove his villany, and
ſhould undoubtedly obtain juſtice in the
caſe.
THERE were at this time four cap-
tains in the ſort, one of whom and all the
ſubalterns except one, being fond of un-
controuled command, approved of the ty-
140 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
ranny of Jackſon, exerciſed towards me,
and were, I found, firmly reſolved to ſup-
port him in his wickedneſs; the other two
captains, one lieutenant, and by far the
greateſt part of the non-commiſſioned offic-
ers and ſoldiers were in my favor.
CHAP. XVI.
sº sº sº.º.º.
- - - - -
*** *** ** ***
The adventurer's reflections in his conſºne-
ment.—He is brought before three lieu-
tenants, sitting as a court martial, de-
nies their authority, and pleads his right
to a general court martial,—He is dis-
missed from arrest.—Finds numerous
friends ready to assist him ºf necessary.
Denise this very extraordinary arreſt
I could not help reflecting, on the viciſh-
tudes of life which providence allotted to
me the endurance of : I revolved in my
mind the principles by which I had been
univerſally actuated, and from a conviction


Captain Matthew Phelps. 141
of conſcious reëtitude, I experienced the
fincereſt pleaſure, being fully perſuaded that
my aim was juſt although in the iſſue many
operations had proved unfortunate. Icon.
ſoled myſelf therefore, under my preſent
oppreſſion, with the refle&tion, that I had
conducted rationally and righteouſly; that
at preſent, as through the whole courſe of
my adventures, I was under infinite obliga-
tion to the diſpoſer of events, and regulator
ºf iſſues, for ſuſtaining my heart, and pre-
ſerving my ſpirit from deſpondency, and
for keeping me from conducting unworthi-
ly in the viciſhtudes alloted to my endur-
ºn Cº- -
For theſe ineſtimable favours I endeav-
ored to be gratefully thankful, to acknow-
ledge with humility the mercy of the di-
vine ſuperintendant, and to ſeek for wiſ-
dom, calmly and determinately to purſue
the paths of reëtitude : the reſult of which
ſeries of cogitation I felt was, that my
mind attained a deſirable ſtability, and my
confidence in the juſtice of my cauſe, and
sonſequent determination to reſiſt my deſ.

142 Memoirs and Adventures ey
potic oppreſſors, became apparently as un-
ſhaken as ſtability itſelf.
On the twelfth of January I was formal.
ly ordered from my confinement, and
brought before what my enemies were
pleaſed to call a court martial. This ſham
tribunal, the offspring of millitary intoler.
ance, and no doubt deſigned to terrify me
into unconditional ſubmiſſion, was compoſ-
ed of the three lieutenants who approved
of the tyrannical and improper proceedure
of the commandant; of whom my moſt in-
veterate enemy, of the name of Pentacoſt,
was feated as preſident. Such was my lot
however, that I was conſtrained to ſtand
arraigned before this viperous triumvirate,
and the preſuming Preſident aſked me,
what plea I meant to make to the charges
exhibited againſt me, viz. the heinous of
fences of mutiny and premitated deſertion.
A conſciouſneſs of my innocence, ad-
ded to what little knowledge I had obtain-
ed of military rights, ſupported me at this
time, and I replied to the queſtion of Pen-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 143
tacoſt, that my term of enliſtment having
long ſince expired, mutiny could not be
laid to my charge, as I was not a member
of the garriſon, nor ſubject to the controul
either of them or the commandant; and
that for the ſame reaſon the charge of deſer-
tion could not apply. That I was howev-
er willing to be interrogated as to every
inſtance of my condućt, from the formation
of the garriſon to the preſent hour; but that
I ſhould account only to thoſe who were
duly conſtituted, and inveſted with author-
ity, to interrogate not only me but my in-
famous oppreſſors, and to renderjudgment
and award recompence accordingly. That
if they were ſuch a body it was a matter
utterly unknown to me, and I was therefore
under the neceſſity of enquiring by what
authority they ſat in thoſe ſeats. They
replied, that by virtue of the appointment
of the commandant they convened there to
try me, according to the uſual mode of
courts martial. I rejoined, that they had
neither of them, in the preſent inſtance,
any more right in thoſe ſeats than my
horſe. That I had been guilty of no crime,

144 Memoirs and Adventures of
and even if I had they could not be erected
into a tribunal competent to the buſineſs of
taking cognizance of it ; for that having
aćted as a ſubaltern, and done more imper-
tant duty than all of them put together, I
had a moſt undoubted right, if accuſed of
any crime, to the benefit of a general court
martial. That to the authority of ſuch a
court alone I ſhould ſubmit, and that I had
no doubt but that, before ſuch a court, I
ſhould obtain juſtice even againſt their ſu-
perior officer.
Upon my making this ſpirited remon.
ſtrance, my enemies appeared confiderably
diſconcerted, and after laying their heads
together a few moments, they told me !
might leave the court. With this permiſ.
ſon I immediately complied, and my pre-
tended judges did not ſo much as order a
guard to attend me.
On my way when retiring from court,
I met Captain M*Intoſh, who coincided in
judgment, and abetted the deſpotiſm of
Jackſon. He accoſted me with inſolence,

Captain Matthew Phelps. 14.5
and told me, that they had determined I
ſhould yet be broken and whipped. To
this venom of the ſerpent I made no anſwer,
but paſſing him with the contempt he de-
ſerved I kept on my way, and was ſoon af-
termet by the two captains who were my
friends, and ſeveral of the ſoldiers. The
ſoldiers told me it was the determination
of a great majority of the garriſon that I
ſhould not be injured, even though a gene-
ral mutiny alone could prevent it, as they
very univerſally knew my cauſe to be juſt,
and my ſufferings the effect of malice
and tyranny.
ALTHough I felt highly gratified and
honored by this inſtance of very polite at-
tention, I did not think it by any means
expedient, to intereſt the feelings of my
friends of the garriſon very intimately, in
the cauſe ; I therefore deſired them to in-
form the ſoldiers univerſally, that it was my
particular requeſt that they would by no
means do or ſay any thing that might irri-
tate theirofficers, or bring on themſelvesthe
O

146 Memoirs and Adventures of
imputation of diſreſpect or mutiny, as ſuch
condućt might involve them generally in
ſerious and diſtreſſing inconveniencies, and
by no means render me any eſſential ſer-
vice. But that if affairs were carried to
extremity, and contrary to all rational uſ.
age, and law civil or military, they ſhould
attempt to whip or otherwiſe puniſh me, I
would then thank my friends of the garri-
ſon, of every grade, for their determined in-
tervention, when they perceived me likely
to be overcome : As I had moſt ſolemnly
and ſeriouſly made up my mind, to die in
the cauſe, rather than ſubmit to the unjuſt
controul of the infamous Jackſon and his
partizans.

Baptain Matthew Phelps. 147
CHAPTER XVII.
Mr. Phelps engages a friend to procure
him arms and ammunition.—He guits
the fort.—Reaches the Byapierre river,
& projects the building of a boat.-His
progress therein is retarded by the ar-
rival of a party at the Byapierre River,
from the ſort.—Accounts of various and
suddeº revolutions in the garrison at
fort Penmore...— He returns to the fort.
–Very narrowly escapes being taken.—
—Revolutions in the ſort continue.--jack-
son's perſºdy.-Another narrow escape.
–Sets out with a party for the Ameri.
can camp--Adventures of two days.
N
Soon after parting with the kind friends
mentioned in the latter part of chapter
fifteen, I met another confidential friend,
whom I engaged to equip my horſe for me,
and leave him at a place agreed upon, with
a good muſket, a cartouch box, well ſup-

148 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
plied with ball cartridges, and a pair of piſ.
tols, with a ſufficiency of powder and
ball : I likewiſe requeſted him to procure
my ſword for me, of which I had been di.
veſted on being confined, to leave it for
me at the block houſe outſide of the fort,
and in the mean time I would take a little
refreſhment, preparatory to my intended
departure.
Accor DIN c to my requeſt my friend
procured me every article in the beſt poſi-
le order, and I took with me the avails of
my property, nearly in full, having turned
my effects generally into caſh previous to the
commencement of Jackſon's unprecedent-
ed outrage, and of my equally ſingular ar-
reſt. No obſtruction was offered, and
I quitted the fort as I then expected for
the laſt time, determining never again to
enter it but seem conſtraint, unleſs provi-
dence ſhould pleaſe to order that I ſhould
there attend an inveſtigation of matters,
and ſhould open the way in that place for
the obtaining of juſtice from my enemies,
reſtitution for the loſſes, and ſatisfaction for

Captain Matthew Phelps. 149
the inſults and indignities they had forced
me to ſuſtain, with an adjuſtment of my acº .
counts which Jackſon had ſo villanouſly
refuſed to attend to.
I HAD proceeded but a ſhort diſtance
from the fort before I met with two of the
ſubalterns who had ſat on my pretended
trial, and as this was an event the termina-
tion of which may be ſerious, I turned my
horſe on one ſide of the path, faced them,
brought my gun to a defenſive poſi-
tion, and kept thus prepared until they had
paſſed me; which however they ſaw fit to
do without offering me any inſult, but on-
the contrary, with paying me the common
compliment of goodbye, which unmeaning
ſalutation I did not ſee cauſe to anſwer.
After this I rode on without interruption,
and free from apprehenſion, yet the roads
being bad, I only reached Boyd's Creek,
(about thirty miles north of the fort) the
next day, and the day after reached the By-
apierre River, about fifteen miles further,
in the ſame direction: Here I engaged
O 2

150 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
workmen to build me a boat, with all poſſi.
be expedition, deſigning to proceed in her
in Penſacola, and obtain redreſs of my ae:
cumulated injuries if poſſible.
My troubles however were not yet to
end, nor had the malevolence and cauſeleſs
enmity of my viperous enemies even
reached its height. It was the twelfth of
January when I left the fort, and I reached
the Byapierre River on the fourteenth here
| immediately begun upon my boat, and
was progreſſing rapidly, but after a few
day’s operation upon her, 1 received au-
thentic information, that I was proclaimed
a deſerter, by the infamous Jackſon, that a
party from the ſort had arrived in the vi.
cinity in queſt of me, and conſequently that
it would be beſt for me to be vigilantly up-
on my guard to prevent ſurprize.
fºr pra'ſ ety upon receiving this
unwelcome but ſeaſonable information,
put myſelf into the beſt poſition for reſolute
defence, and in a very few hours after a ſer-
geant and three men came to the place

Captain Matthew Phelps. 15i
where I was, attending to the buſineſs of
my boat, and advanced within an hundred
yards of me. Unwilling to proceed to ex-
tremities until I ſhould be fully juſtified by
circumſtances, or impelled by the laſt ne-
refity, I put myſelf in a defenſive attitude,
challenged my purſuers, and demanded
their buſineſs and intentions with reſpect
to me,
The men appeared friendly and ſever-
ally pledged their honor not to touch me,
as they believed my cauſe to be juſt, and
the proclamation of the officers who had
ſent them after me, to be the offspring of in-
juſtice, and the reſult of tyranny : they
however aſſured me that I was by no means
ſafe in my preſent ſituation, as the rancour
of Jackſon and his party was implacable,
and parties in various directions were out
with orders to take me dead or alive.
The ſergeant obſerved that he well knew
what the conſequence of a diſobedience of
thoſe orders would be, as it reſpected him-
ſelf, ſhould Jackſon retain the command,
and the incident of our preſent interview

I52 Memoirs and Adventures of
come to his knowledge ; yet, as he had
reaſon to hope that was not the caſe, and as
he believed my arreſt would be an act of ty.
ranny and injuſtice, and my death at their
hands nothing ſhort of murder, he was de-
termined to leave me unmoleſted and riſk
the conſequences : At the ſame time ex-
preſſing a hope, that I would ſoon obtain
redreſs from the commandant at Penſacola,
not only of my own injuries, but thoſe of
the garriſon at fort Penmore.
RELYING on their profeſſions of friend.
ſhip, I ſhook hands with them and enter-
tained them cordially asfriends; after which
they let me know that a ſurpriſing revolu-
tion of affairs had taken place and con-
ſtantly agitated the garriſon ſince I quit-
ted it. That the villanous diſpoſition and
dark deſigns of Jackſon, begun with me,
and extended to others, had raiſed violent
parties, which Jackſon endeavouring to
ſubdue by brutal force, had ſo irritated my
old friends Capt. Lyman and Capt. Hutch-
ins, that having ſecured the confidence of
the greateſt part of the garriſon, Capt.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 153
Lyman aſſumed the command of the fort,
and iſſued an order of arreſt againſt Jackſon
and his aſſociate officers.
THAT the humanity of Captain Lyman
had however induced him to permit the ar-
reſted officers to remain priſoners at large
on parole, with the privilege of retaining
their ſide arms, until a ſtatement of all af.
fairs could be made out to diſpatch with
them to Penſacola : but that a night or two
after this generous permiſſion was granted,
and before the requiſite ſtatement could be
made, Jackſon, with a party of his adher-
ents ſecured the centries, beat ſuddenly to
arms in the night, overpowered Lyman’s
party, regained poſſeſſion of the fort, confi-
ned Captain Lyman in his own houſe,
placing two centinels at his door, and ſent
of Captain Hutchins, to Penſacola, to be
there tried on a charge of mutiny.
That the deſpot Jackſon, finding his
conduct towards me, had been the princi.
pal ſtimulous to Captain Lyman’s reſent-
ment, and that of the whole party, and

154 Memoirs and adventures of
moſt probably being fearful that my arrival
at Penſacola may ruin him, had immediate.
ly on regaining the command, diſpatched
parties in different directions in purſuit of
me, with promiſe of great reward for ap-
prehending and returning me to the fort,
or for aſcertaining to the ſatisfaction of the
commandant, that I had been killed in the
attempt to take me.
THAT they had determined not to injure
me, on their firſt ſetting out, and had been
the more firmly fixed in that determination,
by the circumſtance of ſeeing a perſon of
information the day before, who informed
them, that in a few hours after they left the
fort, Captain Lyman found means to eſcape
from his confinement, ſhewed himſelf to
the garriſon, and claimed the command as
his right ; that much the greateſt part of
the garriſon had declared for him, and he
regained the command without bloodſhed,
after making an agreement with Jackſon
and his aſſociate officers, that they may re-
main, diſarmed, and ſubject to his com-
mand, in the fort, 'till the pleaſure of their

Captain Matthew Phelps. 155
ſuperiors, at Penſacola could be known, or
may retire from the fort, and live peaceably
until diſpatches from thence on the ſubject
ſhould arrive.
THAT Jackſon and his party chufing to.
retire, were allowed by Captain Lyman
the poſſeſſion of their ſide arms, and being
ſoon after joined by about thirty privates,
who had eluded the vigilance of Captain
Lyman, and deſerted from the fort, during
the agitation of theſe ſwiftly ſucceeding
ſcenes, Jackſon, with their aid, took poſ.
ſeſſion of ſome ammunition and artillery
that was out ſide of the fort, at the outer
guard houſe, and had ſecured themſelves at
the landing, about half a mile from the fort,
where they kept regular guard, and declar-
cd they would try by court martial and
whip every ſoldier they caught out of the
fort, who would not join their party.
Thus in the courſe of a few days the
Britiſh intereſt at the Natches became com.
pletely deſtroyed, the moſt important con-
cern of each party being to guard vigilant-

156 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
ly againſt the ſubtlety and power of the
other.
Having as critically as poſſible aſcer-
tained the validity of theſe accounts, I be-
gan ſeriouſly to confider the peril of my pre-
ſent ſituation. My boat had been begun
but a few days and could not be finiſhed for
ſome time; my enemies were implacable,
and capable of every poſſible degree of
baſeneſs or cruelty, as I apprehended; and
I was moreover induced to vigilance in ef-
feeting a ſpeedy eſcape from the confines
of their power, as I had no doubt they
would urge their myrmidons to murder me
if poſſible.
I n Esſº a rep but a few hours in mak.
ing a determinarion what courſe to take;
when diſmiſſing the workman from further
preſent attention to my boat, I took my
horſe, and on the 24th of January again re-
turned to the fort, and claimed the protec-
tion of Captain Lyman, (who I found in
poſſeſſion of the fort) until ſuch time

Captain Matthew Phelps. 157
as I could ſend to Penſacola, and get our
ſtrange diviſions adjuſted.
The next night after my arrival at the
fort, I rode out about three miles to ſee a
friend, and to do a little buſineſs : but I
perceived here to that my enemies were
exceedingly alert, and would ſpare no
pains to effect their malicious deſigns with
reſpect to me : for the night after I left the
fort, their patrols were out in ſearch after
me, from their poſt at the landing : they
even found out to what particular houſe I
had had oceaſion to go, patroled around it
until day break, and then entered and
ſearched it very carefully; but happily I
viſited my friends in the night and returned
to the fort again before daylight; thus de-
feating their malicious deſigns, and ſecur-
ing my life for that time.
Our enemies being reſtleſs in their fit-
uation, and knowing that ſomething muſt
be done without delay, as their finances
were very low, and their reſources ex-
P

158 Memoirs and Adventures of
tremely precarious, or indeed being totally
deſtitute of thoſe of a pecuniary fort while
ſhut out from the garriſon, now projected
and executed a plan which, at the firſt look
ſeemed threatening to us, as being in ap-
pearance calculated to end in our complete
overthrow. This was no other than ſend-
ing runners to the neighbouring indian
tribes, who were in treaty with the Engliſh,
to inform them, that the rebels (as the Bri-
tiſh termed the Americans) had got poſſeſ.
fion of fort Penmore, and unleſs the indi-
ans without the leaſt delay, joined their ef.
forts to thoſe of the few Britiſh troops who
had poſſeſſion of a ſmall breaſt work at the
landing, their towns would be deſtroyed,
and their country ravaged, perhaps in a
day, or even an hour's time.
This was a deep laid ſcheme, and our
little garriſon was thrown into conſterna-
tion by it, for on the ſecond day after we
were informed of it, we perceived our ene:
mies were joined by about five hundred
Chaćtaw warriors, immediately on the arri-
wal of whom, the party under Jackſon turned

Captain Matthew Phelps. 155
their artillery and exultingly fired into the
fort with grape ſhot, hoping to bring us to
ſubmiſſion on their own terms. Providen-
tially however, the head men of the indiana
were obſerving and inquiſitive; though the
exertion had been great, and the ſurprize
of the indians equal to their exertions, yet
perceiving the ſame colours flying, and the
fame uniform worn in and out of the fort,
they aſked ſuch queſtions as ſoon gave
them a tolerable knowledge of the ſtate of
our affairs. They therefore began to check
Jackſon's party for firing, enquiring what
they meant or expected to gain by it; ob.
ſerving, that they did not act like indians,
but like bad men, old women and ſilly
children, in quarrelling without a cauſe,
and fighting without a proſpect of national
advantage. That is ſuch a caſe indians
would not lift the hatchet, and accordingly
the warriors quitted their party.
IMMEDIATELY on this event's tranſpir-
ing, the principal indian chief and three or
four others ſhewed themſelves to our cen.
tinels, and by ſigns claimed admiſſion into

169 Memoirs and adventures of
the fort. Without heſitation their requeſt
was granted, as ſoon as it was made
known to the commandant, and on their
making the enquiry, Captain Lyman, in a
few words, and in the moſt friendly manner
explained to them, the origin and progreſs
of our difficulties, and the villainy of our
opponents; and the indian chief was ſo well
convinced of his honor and integrity, as
well as of the juſtice of our cauſe, that he
gave us the firmeſt aſſurances of his friend-
ſhip, accepted of ſome little tokens of mu-
tual reſpect from us, and immediately on
his return to the warriors, they quitted
the ground and went immediately home.
AFTER the indians were gone, the vil-
lanous Jackſon and his party ſent a flag up
to the fort, propoſing to hold a parley, for
the accommodation of all the difficulties
exiſting between us; and as our affairs
were intricate and perplexing, and Cap-
tain Lyman was anxious that his condućt
should not only be juſt, but that it ſhould
appear ſo, to whoever may ultimately have
the ſettlement of the buſineſs entruſted to

Captain Matthew Phelps. 161.
them, was induced to liſten to their re-
queſt and accordingly Captain Lyman,
Lieutenant Carter and myſelf, repaired to
the place appointed, taking every neceſſary
precaution to prevent ſurprize, where we
held a conference with three of them.
The reſult of this buſineſs was, that an
agreement was formed to the following ef.
fect. That everything diſagreeable ſhould
be laid entirely aſide, until an adjuſt-
ment could take place, according to the
arrangments that may be made, by our ſu-
perior officers at Penſacola; to the com.
mandant at which place, it was further a-
greed, a full ſtatement ſhould be made, of
all difficulties then or formerly exiſting :
which ſtatement ſhould be immediately
drawn up, mutually agreed to in full, ſign-
ed by each party at this treaty, and for-
warded with all convenient ſpeed.
TH at the whole party, myſelf included,
ſhould return to the font, and harmoniouſly
ſubmit to the command of captain Lyman,
P 2

# 62 Memoirs and Adventures of
and that at roll call that night, the com-
mandant ſhould make known the articles
of agreement, to the aſſembled and united
garriſon.
IN THE whole of this tranſaction I ſuſ.
pe&ted them of perfidy, and placed very
little dependence on their pledge of hon-
or : but captain Lyman having greater
confidence in Jackſon and his party than
I had, and Lieutenant Carter ſeeming
to be convinced that it was the only
way to bring our quarrels to a cloſe, I ac-
ceded, and thus the infidious reptiles ob-
tained a footing among us, and the rep-
preſentation agreed on was diſpatched to
Penſacola immediately.
IT providentially happened that I
had ſome buſineſs to tranſact, at a ſmall
diſtance from the ſort, and accordingly
lodged out of it, the night but one af.
ter the day of our accommodation: and
happy was it for me that I did ſo, for to:
ward morning I was awakened at the place
where I had gone upon buſineſs, by a ſud

Captain Matthew Phelps. 163
den call, and on opening my eyes per-
ceived a ſoldier ſtanding at my bed ſide,
who informed me, that he had been ſe-
cretly, and at the riſk of his life diſpatch-
ed to me by captain Lyman, to inform me
that it was requiſite to take the moſt ſea-
ſonable and immediate care of myſelf, for
that the villain Jackſon, agreeably to my
fears, had raiſed a new mutiny in the gar-
riſon, beaten to arms in the night, on the
night I left the fort, and had reaſſumed the
command, and confined him once more in
the block houſe as a cloſe priſoner, under
the guard of a ſergeant and ſix men. That
the daring villain Jackſon looking on the
quarrel he had fomented with me as a
black implication againſt him, had diſ.
patched a ſergeant, with fix of his moſt deſ.
perate partizans, with orders to take me,
dead or alive, but no doubt with hopes
that I ſhould be killed in the iſſue.
In this critical and ſtrangely fluctuating
ſituation of affairs, I deliberated but a ſhort
time what courſe to take. I had become
acquainted with the circumſtance that an

164 Memoirs and Adventures of
American ſpy, from a detachment of the
continental army commanded by a general
or Col. Clark, then on the Miſfiflippi, and
lying with his troops, as it was currently
reported and believed, a ſmall diſtance a-
bove the Natches, had been in our vicinity
for ſome days, and that he had ſet off but
the day before to return to his boat and pro-
ceed up the river to the American camp,
with the intelligence he had collected, rel-
ative to the ſituation of our fort and depen-
dencies. -
I found means to communicate to
my friends in the fort, my information
on the ſubject, and likewiſe that I intend.
ed to follow the ſpy, and proceed in his
boat, if practicable, to join the American
party, or obtain their protection until the
affairs of our quarter ſhould become more
ſettled than at preſent. By return of my
meſſenger I received information that fix
of them would leave the fort that night.
and join me at a certain place, agreed on, -
and that fix others would take the ſame

Captain Matthew Phelps. 165
route and wait for us at a certain place
farther on in our intended courſe.
Accor DING to this appointment my
friends of the firſt party joined me the next
morning at the place agreed on, and we
proceeded in company, as ſpeedily as con-
venient, to the ſecond rallying point, where
we expected to meet our other friends,
but in this expectation we were diſappoint-
ed, as they were not there, neither was
there any perceptible marks of their hay-
ing been there.
THIs diappointment was not a little
perplexing to us all, but by no means
thinking it ſafe to make a halt, from a thor-
ough knowledge of the daring ſpirit and
rancour of our opponents, we left ſecret
tokens agreed upon previouſly, to direct
our friends in caſe they ſhould live to come
to the place, and with great exertion
and fatigue travelled on about twenty
miles further, when we halted for the night,
on a ſequeſtered ſpot, a little on one ſide of
a ſmall indian patch.

166 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
AFTER taking a little refreſhment we
prepared for repoſe, keeping two centinels
awake for the ſafety of our company, and
for the purpoſe of keeping a little fire, and
paſſed the night in tolerable compoſure,
only that in the courſe of it we were once
alarmed with the appearance of a phenom-
enon for which none of our little compa-
my had philoſophy enough to account, even
to their own ſatisfaction. The circumſtan-
ges of the caſe were theſe.
It was about ſeven o'clock when wº
took up our camp for the night, and as
near as I could calculate it was a little
over half the period of our third relief, of
two hours each, or between twelve and one
o'clock, at night, when our centinels awa-
kened us with the information that a ſhort
time before they perceived a bright light
to ſpring up, at a ſhort diſtance on the other
ſide of the little indian path before men-
tioned, which they had obſerved ſometimes
to encreaſe and ſometimes to diminiſh,
but generally to preſerve the ſame appear-
ance which it then did.

eaptain Matthew Phelps, 16;
- On receiving this intelligence we all
got up, and after making the moſt critical
obſervation we could, from our ſituation,
we came to the concluſion, that it muſt in
human probability be a party of indian
warriors or hunters, a party from the fort
in purſuit after us, or our friends whom
we expected from the fort, following our
route, according to the ſecret tokens we
had left. To aſcertain which of the three
deſcriptions applied to them, appeared to
be a defireable buſineſs to us all, yet by
ſome means it ſeemed to be the wiſh of
the whole company, myſelf excepted, to
leave the inveſtigation of the buſineſs until
the morning. In a word there appeared to
be an uncommon reluctance prevalent in
our little ſquad, to admit of any ſeperation,
as the place we were in was eſteemed a
good one in caſe of unexpected attack.
Not fully according with them in ſent-
iment however, and being unable to bear
a ſtate of anxious ſuſpence, I took my muſ.
ket and piſtols, and having agreed upon an
arrangement of our little force, in caſe of

168 Memoirs and Adventures of
neceſſity, as well as upon the ſignal to be
given, in caſe I wiſhed for their advance,
or thought their affiſtance indiſpenſibly ne:
ceſſary, ſomething againſt their wiſhes I
ſat out, to make what diſcoveries I could in
the buſineſs alone.
THE light which had attracted our at-
tention, appeared, at the time of my ſtart-
ing, to be about three quarters of a mile
diſtant from us, and though it ſhifted its
ſituation a little in my opinion, as I approa-
ched, yet it pretty uniformly retained a
ſimilarity as to brightneſs and extenſion,
until I had paſſed it a few rods, to view it a
little more diſtinctly from a ſmall eminence
that I perceived, and then it ſuddenly and
entirely diſappeared.
On this event tranſpiring I took a cir-
cular direction, cautiouſly drawing nearer
to the ſpot, but I perceived no light, nor
heard any noiſe, that indicated the exiſt-
ence of either friend or enemy ; on this
I then crept up to the identical ſpot from
whence I conceived the light to have ariſ-

Captain Matthew Phelps, 16s
en, but no traces of fire or of light, of foe
or of friend could be perceived : I then
returned to my comrades, and by their ac-
count found, that the light had vaniſh-
ed from their view, as nearly as I could aſ:
certain, at the ſame inſtant it did from
mine, and had not afterwards afforded a ſin-
gle gleam.
In the morning we viſited the ſpot
from whence the lumiuous exhalation had
ariſen during the night, but could find no
traces of indians or ſoldiers, of friends, or
foes ; neither could we perceive the leaſt
deſign of fire, or token of illumination, of
any kind whatever,

170 ºfemoirs and Adventures of
CHAPTER XVIII.
º
Progress through the woods,-7%ay ſail in
their attempt to overtake the spy's boat.
—Determine still to attempt to proceed
ºp to the American station.—Proceed
on to the Byapierre river.—A messen-
ger from the fort comes to them with in-
telligence from Captain Lyman.
Os account of being obliged to take a
circuitous route, thro’ the woods, inſtead
of following the open road, we did not
reach Boyd's Creek until night the day af.
ter we left the fort. Here we put up for
that night and took the ſame precaution as
the night before, every one being in good
health and ſpirits, and ſuffered no inconve-
nience or ſurprize. The next morning we
took an early breakfaſt at our camp at
Boyd's Creek, and about 11 o'clock reach.
ed the plantation of Mr. Alſton, at the Pet-
it Gulf, where for a few moments I viſited

Captain Matthew Phelps. 171
the ſpot that contained the remains of my
moſt reſpected and endeared partner, but
our anxiety to get on, and if poſſible elude
the vigilance of our infuriate purſuers, pre-
vented our taking any refreſhment here,
although our ſtock of proviſions wasfo ſcan-
ty, that we had made but a ſlender repaſt at
Boyd's Creek, in the morning. Mr. Al-
ſton helped us to a ſmall boat, capable of
carrying two men and the packs of the com-
pany, to go up the river, to the plantation
were we expected to make our next ſtand,
it being our determination at that time to
reach the American camp, make our ſitua-
tion known, and obtain their protection as
neutrals, until the return of eur meſſengers
from Penſacola.
HAvi Nc diſpatched our boat from the
Petit Gulf, we proceeded onward from
Mr. Alſton’s plantation, and ſoon entered
on a piece of flowed ground, through which
we muſt inevitably paſs, in order to reach
the plantation where we had propoſed to
make our next ſtand. This flowed ſpot
was as we found, about eight miles in ºx.’

172 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
tent, and we ſeverely regretted, ſoon after
entering it, our imprudence in not taking
"refreſhment at Mr. Alſton's, as our faſting,
under the great fatigue we had to encountet,
was extremely painful.
I HAp my horſe with me, and rode,
but the others went on foot, and in our
courſe through the flowed ground, occa-
fioned by the river being atthat time exceed-
ing high, I found travelling to be ſo te-
dious and uncomfortable a taſk, that had
not the hope of thereby eſcaping theim-
placable mºve and revenge of the de-
teſtable Jackſon and his partizans, ſup:
ported me, I ſhould have been well nigh
fainting under its toils. The water was up
to the ſkirts of my Saddle, for a great
proportion of the way, and once I was
obliged to ſwim my horſe above fifty
rods, and ſeveral times a ſhorter diſtance,
carrying my gun and ammunition at ſuch
times, in my hands raiſed above my head.
In this tedious manner we progreſſed
- - -

Captain Matthew Phelps. 173
my companions on foot were conſtrained
to keep even pace, although in ſomewhat
more comfortable circumſtances, as by
crawling round on the cane hills they in a
great meaſure avoided the water : ſo ted-
ious was our progreſs, that by the time we
had got half through the flowed ground, we
were obliged to encamp for the night on a
cane hill, and to pick up traſh of one kind
or other to keep a fire, to preſerve our be-
numbed limbs from the effects of the froſt
and cold, which was ſo intenſe that the wa-
ter ſkimmed over with ice, although it
was then the 7th of February ; at which
time, in that climate, the weather general-
ly becomes mild, and vegetation commen-
ces.
A Bout noon the next day we got thro'
to a friend’s houſe, and obtained refreſh-
ment and a ſmall ſupply of neceſſaries for
the furtherance of our tour. Here after
our immediately preſſing wants were re-
lieved, feeling our minds active, and the
urgency of our affairs rather encreaſing
Q 2

474. Memºirs and Adventures of
than liminiſhing, we held a conſultation on
the important queſtion, what was in the
next place beſt to be done, to further out
important deſign, and provide in the moſt
eligible way for our future ſafety and the
reſult of our deliberation was, that we
would go down to the Byapierre river, to
the place where my unfiniſhed boat lay,
finiſh her with all poſſible expedition, and
then proceed up the Miſſiſſipi, until we
ſhould reach the American ſtation, having
now loſt all hopes of overtaking the ſpy, as
his boat paſſed the point at Boyd's Creek,
above three hours before our arrival.
Cox ºf Nurse our courſe through the
woods therefore, as had been uſual for us,
in order to avoid the purſuit or even the
probability of any one's obtaining informa.
tion of our route, we progreſſed onward to
the Byapierre river, where my unfiniſhed
boat lay, where we obtained decent refreſh-
ment, and ſpent the night at the houſe of a
friendly entertainer, and put ourſelves into
the beſt poſſible poſture of defence, by dry-
ing our ammunition, ſcouring our arms,
Captain Matthew Phelps. 175
and keeping a regular watch as heretº-
fore.
Phºtºs few men who have hºt exper
rienced the trial, can fully conceive of the
anxiety that agitated our minds at this pe.
riod; but conſcious of our innocence,and of
the juſtice of our cauſe, and at the ſame
time fully convinced of the bravery and
mutual attachment of our little band of
friends, we ſlept ſecurely until about mid-
night, when our centinel hailed a man that
approached his ſtand, and whom he ſoon
perceived to be a ſoldier. The centry
giving the alarm we inſtantly flood to our
arms, and having brought the man to a par-
ley were happy to find, that it was a friend.
ly ſoldier from the garriſon, ſent as an ex-
preſs by Captain Lyman to me, with intel.
ligence of the ſituation and occurrences
ſince our departure.
He was conſtrained unhappily to in.
form us that the humane and brave, though
credulous Captain Lyman yet remained a
priſoner in the guard houſe, and the deſ.


176 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
potic Jackſon preſerved the command.—
That our expected comrades, according
to agreement, left the fort, and within a
ſhort period after were ſtrenuouſly purſued
by two detachments from Jackſon's party,
headed by Lieutenant Pentacoſt and Lieu-
tenant Holmes, who while ſeperate, were
not able to overtake them.
THAT meeting at a certain point how-
ever they had agreed to join their forces,
and make one more vigorous puſh, which
they accordingly did, and the two lieuten-
ants having in their zeal got a ſhort dif-
tance in advance of their company, over-
took the deſerters, and preſſing upon them
with their fuſees preſented, ordered them
to lay down their arms or they were dead
men, and at the ſame inſtant firing, but in
the hurry of their zeal without eſte&t, they
cloſed on them, again reloading, and call-
ing on their party to come on.
At this moment one Felt, a bold and
judicious fellow in the company of our
friends, conceiving all to be loſt unleſs he

Captain Matthew Phelps: 177
would reinſpire them with magnanimity,
ſprang forward, and ſnatching up a muſket
which one of his companions had thrown
away in his flight, advanced upºn their
purſuers, calling on his comrades to ſup-
port him. Lieutenant Pentacoſt ſnapped
his rifle at Felt but it miſſed fire, and Felt
in return fired on him, and lodged the
whole contents of his muſket in his body,
being within a few paces of him ; the ball
paſſing through his bowels lodged in his
arm on the oppºſite ſide ; then cocking his
piſtol, Fºltſprung upon Holmes the other
Lieutenant, in a moment, who finding his
men did not advance to ſupport him, and
perceiving his life in the power of a deſpe-
rate fellow, dropped his ſword, and order-
ing his men to halt, offered to twome to an
accommodation of difficulties.
Fett and his men gladly acceded tº
the propoſition, and Holmes pledged his
honor, that he would return directly to the
fort with his party, and not give informa-
tion of the route of Felt and his friends to
any others they may meet from the fort,

178 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
Felt on his part acceding to the propoſi.
tion, that they ſhould advance unmoleſted
to adminiſter the offices of humanity to the
wretched Pentacoſt, and to take him back
to the fort with them if poſſible : Felt to re-
tain Pentacoſt’s rifle and ammunition on-
ly. Thus the captivation or deſtruction
of Felt and his friends was, under Provi-
dence, happily averted by his perſonal in-
trepidity, and thus they parted; our friends
joyful and light hearted, the Jackſon party
encumbered with the body of the mortally
wounded Pentacoſt, who lived in terrible
diſtreſs eight days, and then died in the
moſt excruciating torture.
THE expreſs likewiſe informed, that on
the return of Holmes to the fort, with the
dying Pentacoſt, the commandant immedi-
ately iſſued a proclamation for our imme-
diate apprehenſion, with the offer of one
hundred dollars for my perſon or head, and
fifty for each or either of the others ; and
that an hundred men part by water and
part by land were out in ſearch after us in
various dire&tions; to put us more ſtrictly

Captain Matthew Phelps. 179
an our guard againſt whom, the benevo-
lent Captain Lyman had requeſted him to
find our route and overtake us if poſſible,
and communicate to us a circumſtantial ac-
count of every affair of conſequence that
had transpired ſince we left the fort.
-ººkºłee-
CHAPTER XIX,
º
--~~~~~-----
Zºe Adventurer and his friends are joined
by the express—Mr. Phelps and the
express set out to meet Felt and his par-
ty.—Adventures at a house they visited.
–They meet their friends.-Hold a new
consultation and alter their plan of pro-
seedure-—Drop down the river to Man-
chac, and put themselves under Spanish
protection.
A. LTHOUGH human calamity had
never in the courſe of my life been a grat-
ification to my feelings, yet in the preſent

136 Meñºs and adºñtures ºf
inſtance, I could not but rejoice at the fate
of Pentacoſt: it appeared indeed to our
whole company, to be ſo fighteous a diſ.
penſation, as to gain our hearty acquieſe.
ence, and even ſeemed to recompence our
toil, and alleviate the ſenſation of our fa-
tigue; and our pleaſure was agreeably
heightened in the preſent inſtance, by the
determination of the expreſs to ſhare our
toils, and ſubmit to our fate. We looked
upon this event as fortunate, as it added
one more hardy and reſolute ſoldier to our
little number. -
We now held another ſhort conſulta.
tion upon the moſt eligible mode of pro-
ceedure in our preſent circumſtances, the
reſult of which was, that our newly acquir.
ed friend and myſelf ſhould go in ſearch of
our old comrades Felt and his party, both
on account of relieving their neceffities,
and augmenting our own force. We ac-
cordingly returned about ſix miles back, to
the houſe where we obtained refreſh-
ment after we left the water ; on coming to
the houſe and endeavoring to get infor-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 181
mation, we met with a magiſtrate and two
men in company with him, all of whom
were enemies to us, and who were poſſeſſ-
ed of the information brought to us by our
friendly expreſs, they even related in our
hearing, the rencountre between Felt and
Pentacoſt, the conſequent death of the lat-
ter, and the reward offered by Captain
Jackſon for the apprehending myſelf and
the whole party.
DURING the converſation of theſe gen-
tlemen among themſelves, and with us, we
kept our flation at the door, chooſing at all
times to be in a ſuitable ſituation to pre-
vent ſurprize yet not in any way intimating
that their diſcourſe intereſted us one way
or the other ; but the magiſtrate at length
becoming inquiſitive as to the buſineſs of
my companion, at ſo great a diſtance from
the fort, and enquiring whether he had
a paſs or not, I handled my arms and told
him that I had one for him. At this
manoeuvre the magiſtrate and his friends
ſeemed to be ſomewhat diſconcerted, but
- R

182 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
they immediately declared that they did
not mean to interfere, in the buſineſs, or to
offer us any interruption. While this con-
verſation was paſſing, we caſt our eyes a-
round, and at a ſmall diſtance perceived
Felt and his comrades advancing. On
this pleaſureable diſcovery, we proceeded
a little way toward them, and calling to
them, made ſigns to have them join us
without apprehenſion, which to our mutual
joy and ſatisfaction they did immediately.
To thoſe who have experienced equal-
ly trying ſcenes, and been ſurrounded by
equally threatening appearances, it would
be needleſs to attempt a deſcription of the
joy we reciprocally felt at this agreeable
meeting : We embraced each other with
ardour, each of us feeling as it were addi.
tional vigour and reſolution, by the happy
junction of Friend with Friend : and anx.
ious to have our friends at the Byapierre
participate our joys, we proceeded with:
out further delay to the place of their en-
campment, where we renewedly ſenſated
the ſweets of joy and gladneſs, and again

Captain Matthew Phelps. 183
ſolemnly pledged ourſelves to defend each
other to the laſt extremity.
By this laſt acceſſion of friends our
number was augmented to fourteen, and
by their unanimous earneſt requeſt, I took
the lead of them, and preparatory to our
further progreſs reviewed our arms, and
thoroughly funned our powder. Having
attended to this neceſſary buſineſs, I ad-
dreſſed my companions, and aſſured them
that I would riſk my life for them in every
neceſſary inſtance, and expected in return,
that each of them would riſk his life for
me, and for each other. That let us be
oppoſed by any force whatever, it would
be beſt to depend on the juſtice of our
cauſe, and our own reſolution, and for ev-
ery individual to determine by no means
to ſhrink from danger, or to deſert his
poſt, butto contend until death, as nomer.
cy could be expected from our bloody min-
ded purſuers, in caſe of our being over-
Corºlº-

184, Memoirs and Adventures ºf
FRom the whole tenor of the accounts
brought by our expreſs from Capt. Lyman,
it appeared evident to our whole company,
that it would be highly imprudent to delay
our further progreſs, until the completion
of my boat; that being a buſineſs which
neceſſarily would require a confiderable
length of time, while our enemies were
ſearching for usin every direction, by land
and by water, and in the common courſe
of events would ſpeedily become acquain-
ºted with our reſidence and intentions, and
be able to overpower and take us priſon-
ers, or murder us.
In this dilemma therefore we again
held a general conſultation of our whole
party, and the reſult was, that it was deem-
ed moſt adviſeable to purchaſe a boat im-
mediately, and inſtead of purſuing further
our original intention, of proceeding up
the river to join the Americans under Gen-
eral Clark, to fall down the river, as far as
Manchac, and put ourſelves under the pro-
tection of the Spaniards. This plan, how-
ever imminently dangerous, was deemed

taptain Matthew Phelps, 185
by our company in general, to be the moſt
feaſible and eaſy of execution of any in our
power to deviſe, and therefore, without
unneceſſary delay, we ſat about the buſi-
neſs of putting it into immediate opera-
tion, one and all firmly determining to
gain our point or periſh in the attempt :
And the firſt ſtep neceſſarily undertaken,
was to proceed up the river to the Big
Black, a tedious rout often leagues, being
the neareſt place where, in probability, we
could obtain a boat that would anſwer our
end, and neceſſary ſupplies for our ex-
tremely hazardous and precarious expedi-
tions
In the execution of this deſign it was
unavoidably the caſe, that we muſt paſs
cloſe by fort Penmore, and even within hail
of the centinels; we had no doubt but that
our enemies would be vigilant, and that
purſuers both by land and water, acting
under the influence of promiſed rewards,
would be watchful by night and by day,
but we conſidered our caſe deſperate, and
R 2

135 Memoir, and ºanna, ºf
conceived we had no alternative . paſs
them we muſt, and the only probable way
of eſcape, in our view was, by ſuperior
management and care to elude their watch-
fulneſs. -
For theſe reaſons we were conſtrained
to move only in the night, and before day to
feek for ſome fºug cove into which to draw
our boat, and lay ſtill until dark again.
And even when ſcreened by the viel of
night, we were often conſtrained to float fi-
lently along with the current, not ſpeaking
a word, or venturing to move an oar, for
fear of our purſuers by water, of whom we
at ſeveral times came clearly and diſtinctly
within hearing, And indeed, the firſt
night after we left the mouth of the Big
Black river, while drifting ſilently with the
ſtream, we paſſed a number of boats, oc.
cupied by nearly fifty of our purſuers, and
juſt before day we dropped down in ſafety
by fort Penmore, and heard their centries
diſtinčtly proclaim all's well.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 187
Providence was pleaſed however to
ſhield us from aſſault, and even from diſco-
very, and we reached Manchac without en-
countering further difficulty, where we put
ourſelves under the protection of the Span-
iards, who had a poſt eſtabliſhed there, and
occupied a ſmall fort on one ſide of the
Creek or River at that place, the Britiſh
holding a ſmall fort on the other ſide, the
two forts being within one hundred rods of
each other.
The river here mentioned is called the
Iberville, which running from the Miſſiſſip.
pi empties into Mobile Bay, and divides
the iſland of New Orleans from the main.

188 Memoirs and adventures ºf
CHAPTER XX.
Captain Phelps waits upon Colonel Dixon,
tha British commandant at Manchac.–
Is politely received and afterwards dis-
patched with letters from Colonel Dix-
on to the commandant of fort Penmore,
at the Natches.—His reception there,
by some of his old enemies.
THE diſtra&ted ſituation of the Britiſk
garriſon at the Natches, having come to
the knowledge of the Engliſh command-
ant at Manchac, Col. Dixon ; to whom
likewiſe a repreſentation of my trouble and
proceedure, as well as the proceedure of
my comrades, had been officially commu-
nicated, both by Captain Lyman and Cap-
tain Jackſon, who had ſo often ſuperceded
each other in the command of fort Pen-
more ; the Col. immediately on hearing
of our arrival in the vicinity, ſent a flag and
alinguiſt to the Spaniſh commandant, re-
qeſting that I might be permitted to wait

Captain Matthew Phelps. 189
on him, to unravel if poſſible the miſtery of
thoſe unhappy proceedures, and to lay o-
pen to his view the path of duty requiſite
for him to purſue in the caſe : This re-
queſt was accompanied by a moſt ſolemn
aſſurance, that I ſhould be allowed one
hour, free from moleſtation or impediment
of any deſcription, to return.
Wºrm the conſent of the Spaniſh Com-
mandant I immediately waited on Col.
Dixon, and without diſſimulation or con-
cealment of any kind, frankly and fully
recounted to him every event, with what I
conceived to have been the cauſe of its ori-
gin, progreſs, conſequences and iſſue, as
critically and impartially as I could : And
I had the ſatisfaction to find, that he poſ-
ſeſſed a heart of tender ſenſibility, a ſpirit
ſuperior to the countenancing of injuſtice
in any ſhape whatever, and that to the vi-
gilance of the ſoldier he joined the honor
and probity of the gentleman.
In the courſe of converſation the Col.
enquired after Felt, who to prevent being

R90 Memoirs and Adventures of
taken killed Lieutenant Pentacoſt. I in.
formed him that he was on the Spaniſh ſide
of the Iberville ; you are I ſuppoſe a friend
to him, ſaid the Colonel ; I told him that I
was, for I well knew him to be a faithful
and brave ſoldier, and one who would be
willing to appear and anſwer for his con-
dućt before a regularly conſtituted court
martial, or board of enquiry at any time:
It is my duty ſays he to apprehend him if
he comes within the Britiſh lines, and to
bring him to trial before a court martial
immediately; how far his conduct on in-
veſtigation, may appear juſtifiable, is not
for me at preſent to decide : but as the af.
fairs of fort Penmore are about being put
in a train of enquiry immediately, & to be
ſearched into and adjuſted as ſpeedily as
the nature of the caſe will admit, it is per-
haps beſt for him to remain where he is, at
Ieaſt for a few weeks, as he may not at pre-
ſent be able to avail himſelf of important
circumſtances, that the inveſtigations of a
few weeks may produce in his favor.

Captain Matthew Phelps. 19.
After this converſation, and having
received from Col. Dixon the firmeſt aſſur-
ances that my accounts with the garriſon
ſhould be honorably adjuſted,as far as docu-
ments could be found to authenticate them,
I agreed at his requeſt, once more to viſit
fort Penmore, to aſſiſt in the adjuſtment of
its difficulties, and, if practicable, to bring
the villain Jackſon and his myrmidons to
juſtice. With this pleaſing expectation I
took charge of the Colonel's letters for
the garriſon at the Natches, and received
from him a permit to viſit that fortreſs and
return, agreeably to my own pleaſure, free
from moleſtation. I then returned to the
Spaniſh commandant,to give him my ſincere
thanks for his polite attention to myſelf and
friends, as well as to inform my comrades
of the agreeable change in the aſpect of af.
fairs at the Natches, and then immediately
prepared for the buſineſs of returning once
more to the place, where I had experienced
ſo many ſcenes of inſult, danger and per-
plexity ; with my hopes and expectations
anxiouſly excited, that I ſhould ſoon ob-

192 Memoirs and Adventures of
tain my right, and behold the inſolence of
my haughty oppreſſors humbled.
THE RE happening at this time to be
no poſſibility of obtaining a paſſage, in any
convenient boat, as none was immediately
going from Manchac to the Natches, I en-
gaged as a hand, on board of a batteaux,
and undertook the laborious buſineſs of
helping to row up the river ; my anxiety
being great to face my enemies as ſoon as
poſſible,and as far as lay in my power to ac-
cellerate the buſineſs of calling them to juſ.
tice, and obtaining a righteous retribu-
tion. In this arduous buſineſs therefore I
cheerfully engaged and proceeded : and on
the fifth of April reached the Natches, af.
ter encountering a ſeries of fatigues on our
paſſage, that it often appeared to me, no
leſs ſtimulous than the expectation of ſo
fingular advantages in the reſult, as thoſe
for which I was laboring, could have enabled
me to endure.
On my arrival at my old ſtation, or ra.
ther on our firſt ſtriking the ſhore, I obſer-

captain Matthew Phelps. is 3
ved ſeveral of the ſubalterns who had join-
ed with Jackſon and aided him in his deſ.
potiſm, ſtanding upon the bank. Captain
Foſter, who had been appointed by Col.
Eixon to take the command at Fort Pen-
more, being abſent from the garriſon, on a
little tour into the country, at the time of
my arrival, theſe gentry come down to the
batteaux, to enquire into our buſineſs:
their villanous countenances appeared to
be ſomewhat changed, and they cordially
enough offered me their hands, aſking me
how I did, what news I had brought, and
whether I had any letters for Captain Foſ.
ter; which if I had any, they ſaid they
would undertake to deliver to him as
ſpeedily as convenient.
Disp Arn Inc to ſhake hands with men
who had uſed me ſo unworthily, and be.
ing much leſs inclined to truſt them with
my diſpatches, or indeed with any concern
whatſoever, I cooly replied that I had no
pleaſurable news for them, and that with
reſpect to my letters for Capt. Foſter, i.
S

194 Memoirs and Adventures of
ſhould take due care to deliver them my-
ſelf—Finding that Capt. Foſter was not
in the fort, I left theſe gentlemen therefore,
without ceremony, and went to my old
quarters, where I was received with a hear-
ty welcome, and related the ſcenes I had
paſſed thro’ fince we parted, with much
pleaſure. After which my friends inform-
ed me that Colonel Dixon ſent on Capt.
Foſter to ſupercede the villain Jackſon, in
the command of fort Penmore ; but that
Jackſon, finding juſtice likely to overtake
him, decamped ſecretly, carrying with him
all the property of the garriſon that he con-
veniently could, and was probably returned
to his old trade of horſe ſtealing, which per-
haps would cloſe a race of wickedneſs by
a death of infamy. That Captain Foſterim-
mediately on taking the command of the
fort liberated Captain Łyman, and order-
ed Capt. Mackintoſh to be arreſted, and
ſent to Penſacola for trial, under va.
rious charges, where no doubt he would
be broken and diſgraced, as the proof a
gainſt him was apparently ample.
Captain Matthew Phelps. 195
-
Thus after a ſhort race of unparallel-
led effrontery, oppreſſion and cruelty, the
Jackſon banditti were overtaken by juſtice,
which threatened their honors and their
lives, and relieved from their oppreſſion
the worthy charaćters who had long been
inſulted by their intolerance and tyranny.
Mr Phelps is again confined and releas.
ed by his old enemies, in the absence of .
Captain Foster. Captain Foster’s recep-
tion of him on his return.-Ae is seized
with the pleurisy, and narrowly escapes
with life.-Visits the garrison, and
finds his enemies all sent off-0ccur-
rences on his voyages to and from Wew
ºr leans.—Sells his effects to a villain,
principally for continental Money.
After a little converſation with my
good friends as mentioned in the cloſe of


196 Memoirs and Adventures of
the laſt chapter, I retired to change my
dreſs a little, in order to appear in charac.
ter, if Capt. Foſter ſhould return, or in
caſe buſineſs ſhould demand my attention :
but, while I was buſy in that operation, a
new ſcene of ſurprize and trouble ſeemed
to be opening upon me; this was no other
than the arrival of a ſergeant and fix men
from the fort, who entered the houſe with
fixed bayonets, and produced their orders
to take me priſoner, and convey me im-
mediately to the guard houſe.
WITH out offering the leaſt reſiſtance I
immediately attended the guard to the
place appointed for my confinement, where
I found ſome of my old enemies, the ſubal-
terns before mentioned, who exultingly
told me, that Capt. Foſter being abſent
from the garriſon, on a ſhort tour into the
country, they had taken care to provide
ſtrong quarters for me, ſuch as a mutinous
deſerter ought to have, where Imuſt remain
until a court martial ſhould ſit to render
me juſtice, or at leaſt until Capt. Foſter's
return. -

captain Matthew Phelps. 197
To this inſult I replied, that my buſi-
aeſs was with Capt. Foſter alone.—That I
preſumed my diſpatches were of ſuch a na-
ture as would obtain juſtice for me, both
as it reſpected them and their ſuperiors:
that they muſt detain me therefore at their
peril, as I ſhould not ſubmit to any of
their inſults with impunity, not having for
months paſt been a member of the garriſon,
or juſtly under the controul of its com-
mandant. Upon this they withdrew for a
ſhort time to hold a conſultation, as I ſup-
poſed, for on their return they ordered ths
guard to releaſe me unconditionally.
On the evening following Captain Foſ.
terreturned and I delivered him my letters
from Col. Dixon. This gentleman I found
to be worthy the commiſſion he bore; he
manifeſted the greateſt readineſs to adjuſt
my account, and to give me every poſſible
aſſiſtance in the recovery of my rights : I
tarried with this worthy gentleman a few
days, in the fort, when having buſineſs in
the country, I rode out to a place called
S 2

198 Memoirs and Adventures of
the Jerſey ſettlements, on the Homochea--
ter Creek, about five leagues to the ſouth-
ward of the Natches, where I was ſeized
with the pleuriſy, very ſuddenly and fe-
verely, and lay dangerouſly ſick, my life
being many times deſpaired of, from the
14th of April until the beginning of June.
As ſoon as the ſituation of my health
admitted, which was in the beginning of
June, I paid another viſit to fort Penmore,
where I received a hearty welcome, and
was moſt cordially received by the whole
garriſon, which was then freed from the
deteſtable group who had given me ſuch
a ſeries of trouble ; Captain Foſter baying,
by orders from Penſacola, put the whole of
them under arreſt, and ſent them down to
that place for trial.
HAvi Nc adjuſted my affairs at fort
Penmore, I made another journey to the
Byapierre River, and once more contracted
for the finiſhing of the boat which had been
ſo frequently an object of my care, and for
her delivery with tackle, apparel and furn-

Captain Matthew Phelps. 193
iture complete, at the Natches ; which
contract was duly executed, and on the
17th of July I reviſited my friends at fort
Penmore, as I then conceived to take a fi-
nal leave of them, but in the courſe of
events it proved otherwiſe.
On the 21ſt of July, my ſtrength being
reſtored ſufficiently, as I conceived, to en-
able me to ſteer my boat, and concluding
it would be both for the advancement of
my health and intereſt to go down the river,
I employed the hands neceſſary to affiſt me,
and without meeting with any accident, in
a few days after reached New Orleans; have
ing been from the firſt of January to the
laſt of July, combating afflićtions, generally
harraſſed with care, ſubjected to almoſt in-
credible fatigue, and afflićted with ſickneſs
as ſevere as human nature appeared capa.
ble of ſupporting, Yet on a review of the
whole, I felt ſolemnly impreſſed with the
perception, that I had great reaſon to adore
the divine power that had ſuſtained me, to
bleſs the hand which under its chaſtening
ſtrokes extended mercy, and had rendered

206 Memoirs and Adventures of
me reward in the iſſue in deſpite of all my
enemies.
I HAp, as has been previouſly mention.
ed, entertained an idea, before I viſited the
city of New Orleans, of ſetling as a trader
in the vºtinity of the Natches, or ſome
other eligible ſituation that ſhould offer,
but on my reaching that place, the rumour
of war being about to be declared between
the Spaniards and the Britiſh, was ſo riſe,
and apparently ſo well founded, that I was
deterred thereby from putting my deſign
into immediate execution : I therefore
purchaſed a load of neceſſaries for the gar-
riſon, and determined once more to viſit
my friends at fort Penmore.
WITH this intention I ſat out on my
return to the Natches the laſt day of July,
and on the eighteenth of Auguſt arrived
there ſafe, in tolerable health and ſpirits,
my barge being the laſt boat the ſpaniards
permitted to paſs, as the war between them
and the Britiſh was formally declared at
New Orleans in a few days after we left it,

Captain Matthew Phelps, 201.
and on the eighth of September following
the Spaniards inveſted the Engliſh forts in
theſe quarters, but allowed the garriſons,
in every inſtance to capitulate and ſurrend-
er on honorable terms; permiting the fol-
diery to retire with the honors of war, and
without moleſtation, to any Britiſh poſt
they may chuſe, and allowing the ſetlers
eight months to diſpoſe of their property,
in caſe they did not incline to reſide there
and become. Spaniſh ſubjects.
On the capture of fort Penmore by the
Spaniards, I once more determined to turn
all my effects into caſh, and immediately
to return to Conneéticut, if pračticable, to
await the return of more tranquil ſceness
In proſecuting this deſign to effect, I went
down again to New Orleans, in the fore
part of December 1779, the coldeſt ſeaſon.
being then paſſing that ever had been ex-
perienced in thoſe parts.
THE fatigue and hardſhips I endured,
during this uncomfortable voyage, occa-
Roned me another ſhort but diſtreſſing fit of

202 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
-
ſickneſs, but under the favor of providence
I again recovered, and completed the ſale
of my effects, all but about one hundred
dollars worth of peltry, which I determined
to take home with me. I diſpoſed of my
property to one Callahan, then lately from
South Carolina, for two hundred dollars,
hard caſh, and twelve hundred in Conti-
mental bills. From my entire confidence in
the faith of Congreſs ſolemnly pledged on
the face of which, and from the behaviour
and aſſurances of the villain with whom iſ
traded, reſting firmly perſuaded that they
were equal to the ſilver and gold, and con-
cluding that on arrival in the United
States I could obtain my caſh on the bills,
at fight.
Having agreed with Callahan to de-
liver my barge at the Natches, I immedi-
ately returned to that place, carrying a
Spaniſh permit, and without meeting with
any adventure worth recording, I quitted
it on the 9th of May 1780, probably for the
laſt time, and again returned in ſafety to
New Orleans; at which time I found the

Captain Matthew Phelps. 203
villain Callahan was in priſon in that city,
having been arreſted at the ſuit of the Uni-
ted States, by one Mr. Oliver Pollet, or
Pollock, as agent in their behalf, on the
sharge of having deſerted his truſt, as a
purchaſing commiſſary in the ſouthern de-
partment of the Continental Army, and
embezzled the public property to a very
large amount.
Having finally adjuſted all my affairs
at New Orleans, I ſat ſail for the Havan-
na, on the 21ſt of June 1780, and with-
out meeting with any occurrence pecu-
liarly worthy noticing, reached that port
on the 21ſt of July following. On our ar.
rival at the Havannah, we found a moſt
dreadful putrid fever prevailing, generally
denominated the goal fever, which was
making the moſt alarming ravages, eſpe-
cially among the European reſidents, and
with this dreadful diſorder I was ſeized on
the 30th of July, and lay for ſeveral days
in ſo diſtreſſed a ſituation, that not the leaſt
hopes of my recovery ſeemed to be ration-
ally entertained. Some humane friends

204 Memoirs and adventures of
however, to give me the benefit of a purer
air than the city afforded, had me tenderly
removed into the country, and the advan-
tages were ſo great and ſudden, that on
the fixth of Auguſt I was able to ride a
little to take the air, and in a few days af.
ter was reſtored to a tolerably comfortable
ſtate, although I have no reaſon to think
that I ſhall ever to the day of my death get
entire relief, from the effects of my laſt moſt
diſtreſſing ſickneſs, at the Havanna.
THE ravages of this dreadful viſitation,
of ſickneſs, among the reſidents at the Ha-
vannah were ſo extenſive, that there died
of the European troops, in the courſe of
twenty five days, upwards of fifteen hund-
red men.
ON the 4th of Auguſt a Spaniſh fleet
of ſeventeen ſail of the line came in to the
Havannah, and on the 13th an American
packet arrived with diſpatches for the Go-
vernor. This laſt was an incident which
gave me much ſatisfaction, as my long
indulged hopes ſeemed in a fair way to be

Captain Matthew Phelps. 305
realiſed, by my obtaining a ſpeedy, and
dire& paſſage home to my native land. I
aecordingly engaged a paſſage immediate-
ly, my health being every day evidently on
the advance, and on the 12th of September,
ſat ſail with great joy from the Havannah.
On the night of the 20th we fell in with
two Britiſh frigates, which lay with their
fails down, but which, on perceiving us,
hoiſted fail and crowed hard upon us, our-
veſſel lying cloſe haul upon the wind in or-
der to keep her courſe. -
FINDING that our purſuers gained up-
on us, however, in this mode of ſailing,
our Captain gave orders for putting away
before the wind ; on this they fired upon
us, but without effect, and we had the ſat-
isfaction to perceive that we beat them by
crowding ſail and running before the wind,
altho' they raiſed their ſky ſweepers as our
ſailors termed them, and ſpread every yard
of canvas they could expect to be of the
heaſt advantage. The chace continued the
T
206 Memoirs and Adventures of
Who's day following, during which they
fired many guns at us, but without effect.
Happily for us we were able to lay our
courſe the whole day, under the general
prevalence of an eight or nine knot breeze,
and about 11 o'clock at night by darkening
our binnacle, we got clear of them entirely.
On the 24th we made Cape Henlopen,
and on the 27th arrived ſafe at Philadel-
phia, where I had the unhappineſs to find
that my paper money paſſed at ſo low a rate,
as but little more than to diſcharge the ex-
pences incurred upon my paſſage, and on
my reaching Harwington, viz. on the 11th
of October, I had not quite the value of a
hard dollar of my paper money left.
BE IN c thus for the third time redu.
ced from an agreeable competence to a diſ.
treſſing ſtate of penury, I revolved in my
mind what was the beſt ſtep in exiſting cir-
cumſtances, for me to take.—I contemplat-
ed on all the viciſłitudes through which I
had recently paſt, calculated on the ſyſtem
of probabilities, and contingencies, and en-


Captain Matthew Phelps. 207
deavoured to inveſtigate the point wherein
I had been to blame, and how it would be
poſſible to avoid ſuch mis-carriages in fu-
ture, but in vain: I could not perceive
wherein I had been criminally remiſs, or
fooliſhly credulous:–The faith I had re-
poſed in my country, was predicated on
the fullneſs of its promiſe, and I knew of no
words more binding than thoſe inſerted
on the face of the bills I had taken.—in-
ſtead therefore of repining or deſpairing, I
fat myſelf ſeriouſly to contemplating ſome
advantageous proceſs, and providence vºs
pleaſed to finile once more, on my humble
attempts, and perſevering endeavors.
Nothing better offering however I
hired myſelf out by the month, and endeav-
ored to earn my wages by advancing the
intereſt of my employer.- I had becn in
better circumſtances, had hired men to
ſerve me, and expected or wiſhed from
them ſuch a deportment, and the tables be-
ing now turned, I reſolved as far as provi-
dence enabled me, to let my employer feel
the advantage of that aſiduity, manifeſted by

208 Memoirs and Adventures ºf
ºne, which I had expected from others; as
far as my health and ſtrength enabled me
to do it.
In the courſe of my ſervices in this ca-
pacity, it was my lot to become acquainted
with the widow Thankful Moore, to whom
I was married in January 1781, and ſoon
after removed to Norfolk, where I endeav-
ered to ſupport myſelf, by honeſtlabor; and
bleſſed be the providence that munificent-
ly ſupplies the wants of all, that hears the
youngravens of the valley when they cry,
and tempers the wind to the ſhorn lamb,
had abundant reaſon to be grateful for
mercies received.
My wife had four children by a former
huſband, one of whom was married at the
period of our union ; the other three, be-
ing two boys and a girl lived with º
until of age to chooſe themſelves guar-
dians, when the oldeſt boy choſe me, but
as I intended ſhortly to remove into Ver
mont, the other two, at my requeſt and ad-
-
wise, choſ, a different guardian, as they had

Captain Matthew Phelps. 299
landed intereſt which would require the at-
tention of a friend on the ſpot.
In 1788 I proſecuted my deſign of re-
moval to Newhaven in Vermont, to effect;
and ſoon after our arrival at our new reſi-
dence, my wife's unmarried daughter fol-
fowed us, and was joyfully received ; ſhe
lived with us until ſhe married, and having
retained the affection of her mother and my-
ſelf, and engaged the reſpect of her neigh-
bours, I have the pleaſing hope impreſ.
fed upon my mind, will paſs a life of domeſ.
tic tranquility, and enjoy the bleſfings of
mediocrity and contentment.
By my preſent wife I have had three
children, two of which (a ſon and a daugh-
ter,) are now living, and in the view of a
partial friend, at leaſt, appear as deſirable as
children ofcommon life in general, and ex-
cite as pleaſing hopes in the minds of their
parents. In addition to the common en-
joyments reſulting from the poſſeſſion of a
tolerable competency, I have to acknowl-
T 2

º Memoirs and Adventures ºf
edge ºn any tokens of reſpect from commu-
nity.—I have paſſed through various
grades of military honor, as an officer in
the militia, and although the imbecilities of
age have induced me to reſign my com-
miſſion, a grateful ſenſe of the honor con-
ferred will forcyer remain engraven on my
remembrance, as a highly valid depoſit.
Heaven has been pleaſed to ſmile propitious
on my labors, and to give to my decline
of life a ſufficiency of worldly goods, to ad-
miniſter to my comfort and that of my fam-
ily, and I have only to hope, that the vici-
tudes and afflićtions of life, may lead me
fenſibly to feel and duly to acknowledge, the
benificence of the great ruler of events, and
induce me ſuitably to relieve the neceſſities
of thoſe, who may be doomed to ſtruggle
under diſtreſſes ſimilar or ſuperior, to thoſe
under which I have been ſubjected to ſuf.
ſering, and from which I have been happi-
y relieved. -

_
--- -
A P P E N /) A Y
TO THE
Memoirs and Adventures of
C A P T A I N P H E L P. S.
-º-º-º-º-
Havºc gone through with the detail
ºf thoſe adventures in the Miſſiſſippi coun-
try, which immediately concerned myſelf,
and related the principal occurrences of
my life until my ſettlement in the town of
Newhaven, State of Vermont, or rather to
the era of the publication of this volumn,
I feel impelled from the reſpect I ſhall ev.
er bear to the memory of ſeveral deceaſed
friends, mentioned in the courſe of theſe
memoirs, and from regard to thoſe whe
ſurvive, to recite a few incidents rela-
tive to ſome of them, which by direct in-
formation came to my knowledge, after
eur ſeparation.
At the time that I returned to the
Natches, with letters from Col. Dixon tº

( 3 )
the newly apppointed Commandant at Fort
Penmore, Capt. Foſter ; Felt, as I before
mentioned, was with the Spaniſh Com-
mandant at Manchac, his family reſiding
at the Natches. When the proſpect of
war immediately commencing between the
Britiſh and Spaniards,appeared inevitable,
the garriſon from Manchac proceeded up
the river, as far as Baton Rouge, where
they erected a ſmall fortification, at which
ſtation Col. Dixon retained the command,
until the Spaniards came and inveſted it.
At this time Felt accompanied the Span-
iards in their expedition, and after the fur-
render of the garriſon at Baton Rouge, was
ſent by the Spaniſh Commandant, in com-
pany with a meſſenger from Col. Dixon, to
Capt Foſter the Commandant at Fort Pen-
more, at the Natches, with orders for them
to ſurrender that fortreſs likewiſe to the
Spaniards on their arrival, the Britiſh force
being vaſtly inferior to the Spaniſh then in
that quarter. Theſe orders were complied
with, and the Spaniards took poſſeſſion of
both poſts, the Engliſh garriſons being
removed to Penſacola.

{ 3 )
Some time after I left the Miſſiſſippi,
met with my old friend Capt. Lyman,
from whom I received information, that
ſoon after the furrender of Fort Penmore
by the Britiſh troops,to the Spaniards, him-
ſelf and a number of Americans deterºined
to return home iſ poſſible, or at leaſt to put
the fort into the poſſeſſion of the American
troops, which lay a ſmall diſtance up the
river, if practicable, in order probably to
reap emoluments from the public property
in the garriſon.
To effect this deſign they artfully fe-
ºnented uneaſineſs, and ſecretly planted the
ſeeds of diſaffection, which by careful cul-
ture they matured to the growth of a gene-
ral inſurre&tion of the inhabitants, and a re-
volt from the newly eſtabliſhed Spaniſh
government, in the neighborhood ºf Fort
Penmore.
To prote& themſelves againſt the Span.
ſh ſoldiery, and carry their project into
effect, the more ſecurely, they conveyed
intelligence of their proceedure to the

( 4 )
American commander, with whom they
concerted a plan to take fort Penmore
from the Spaniards by ſtratagem, in which
if they ſucceeded they would immediately
hoiſt the Britiſh ſtandard, and then he
ſhould come down, and make a vigorous
ſham attack upon the fort, after which they
would ſurrender the fort to him, and the
garriſon ſhould be allowed to retire with
their effects, &c. to ſuch place as they may
shuſe.
To further their deſign, and make up by
artifice for their deficiency of ſtrength and
want of permanent reſources, they were in-
defatigable in their ſchemes and exertions
to intercept ſupplies and intelligence in its
way to the fort. In this ſucceeding ſo far
as to take an expreſs with letters from one
Captain M'Intoſh, a reſident in the vicini-
ty, who was a diſcerning man, acquainted
with military matters, and a decided friend
to the Spaniſh cauſe, they, by cunning ma-
nagement, and by ſecuring the meſſenger
in their intereſt, ultimately made the name

( 5 )
of Mackintoſh effect the reduction of the
fortreſs,
This buſineſs they effected as follows.
They opened and deſtroyed the letter from
Captain Macintoſh, and under his ſigna-
ture, ingeniouſly imitated, they ſent to the
ſpaniſh commandant ſuch accounts relative
to the ſtrength, reſources and intrepidity of
the revolters, as very much ſurpriſed him.
This ſurprize of the commandant, howev-
er, was not communicated to Captain
M'Intoſh,but juſt ſuch an anſwer fabricated
under the ſignature of the commandant, as
his original letter would in probability have
produced.
Thus they proceeded, the expreſs for.
warding their views, and conſtantly favor.
ing their deſigns, and delivering his diſ.
patches into their hands; until at length,
under the ſignature of M'Intoſh, they in-
formed the ſpaniſh commandant, of the
alarming and unfounded fact, that the fort
was compleatly undermined, and that a
mere ſtep, a ſingle point only exiſted, be-

( 6 )
tween the whole garriſon and inevitable
fate, as the train was laid, the execution of
the buſineſs fixed for a certain hour, and the
moment ſwiftly approaching. Nothing in
nature being, in his view, capable of avert-
ing the horrid ſeene, but an immediate,
and unconditional ſurrendery of the fortreſs
to the inſurgents.
THE commandant ſurprized beyond
meaſure at the unexpected tidings, yet
firmly relying on the approved integrity,
ſoldierſhip, and diſcernment of his friend
M'Intoſh, on receiving the ſummons, im-
mediately marched out his little gar-
riſon, who were permited by the revolters
to retire to Baton Rouge.
THE point thus far gained, ºyman
raiſed the Britiſh ſtandard, and looked
with impatience for the arrival of the Ame-
rican party, but unfortunately for the re-
volters the Americans did not come down,
according to agreement, but for what rea-
ſon their deſerted expectants never knew.
The conſequences of this failure, were pe.

( ; )
euliarly fatal to the party, as the depth of
their ſtratagems were ſoon fathomed, their
weakneſs diſcovered, and the Spaniards and
Indians combiaed for their deſtruction,
were preparing to come againſt them in
great force.
Thus circumſtanced, the unfortunate
Lyman and his party, conceived they had
but one courſe to take; they prepared what
proviſion they conveniently could, and with
a number of pack-horſes, make their eſcape
into the cane foreſts, and accompanied, ma-
ny of them by their wives, children and ne-
groes, determined to explore their way, if
poſſible, to Georgia, through wilds of he-
dious length, and dangerous paſſage; and
over many a region till then untrodden by
the foot of man.
THE undertaking of this journey was
indeed an act of deſperation. Its diſtance
in a direct line, was many hundreds of
miles, but it was rendered additionally te-
dious, by the exiſting neceſſity of avoiding
U
( 3 )
the country of ſeveral inimical tribes of in-
dians, whoſe territory intercepted their di-
rect courſe.
THE circumſtances of this diſtreſsful
tour were affecting beyond conception.—
Perſons yet living in Springfield and its
vicinity, who endured the perils of the
journey, could fill an intereſting volume,
with the account of their extraordinary
perils, ſufferings, and eſcapes, during their
progreſs thro’ the deſert, in the courſe of
which almoſt all their women, children, and
negroes died.
[THE compiler had entertained hopes
that in this place he would have been ena-
bled, by the aſſiſtance of perſons to whom
he had written, to have inſerted a particu-
lar account of the fingular perils of this
very eventful journey, but he has been diſ.
appointed with reſpect to receiving re-
turns, and can therefore only ſlightly
glance at a few ſtriking incidents, as they
have been related to him, according to his
beſt recollection. - -












( 9 }
[A Monic the adventurers in this trying
ſcene, there were a great number of wo.
men, of whom three only ſurvived its perils
and fatigues : One of whom was the wife
of a Doctor Dwight, formerly of North-
ampton. This amiable and great ſpirited
lady, with three lovely children, if the
compiler’s memory is retentive, accompa-
nied her huſband in his flight, and often aſ-
terwards related the affecting incidents of
their journey, in terms that would have af.
fe&ted any heart, capable of heaving a ſigh
for the diſtreſſes of ſuffering humanity.
- [Mrs. Dwight uſed to relate, that after
the proviſions they brought with them from
fort Penmore were expended, they lived
adventitiouſly, upon ſuch creatures as they
could catch, and upon the roots, herbs and
wild fruits of the woods. That ſome.
times the indians they fell in with, would
plunder them of their pack horſes and ſuch
other effects as they could handily get hold
of, and in other inſtances furniſh them with
neceſſaries to keep them from ſtarving, but
th?' generally it was neceſſary to keep a

( 10 )
watch at night, to guard againſt pilferers.
In the courſe of their journey they by ſome
means loſt their compaſs, and had to per-
form great part of the requiſite travel, by
obſerving the fun, the courſe of the ſtreams,
the moſs on the trees, and the directions
of the indians.
[Mrs. Dwight uſed to relate that they
met with ſerious obſtructions by rivers
that ſometimes croſſed their way, and for
the croſſing of which they had to conſtruct
floats, by picking up logs and binding
them together by barks or withes. At a
certain time, in the courſe of their perilous
tour, ſhe uſed to relate, they came to a ri-
wer that was exceedingly rapid, and nearly
or quite half a mile acroſs. This was a ſe-
riºus impediment, and they fought long,
but ſought in vain, for ſome poſſible means
of effecting a paſſage over. At length ex-
hamſted with fatigue, and worn out with
reiterated affilićtions, and the torture of
hunger and thirſt, it became the general
voice of the company to remain where they

( 11 )
were, and riſk their preſervation to a bene-
ficent providence. -
[To this propoſition however, there
was one man in the company ſtrenuouſly
objećted; urging the probability of finding
a canoe, or ſome means of aſſiſting the
company, on the other ſide, if only a few
of them could get acroſs and make ſearch.
He profeſſed himſelf yet unwilling to give
up hopes of ſucceſs, and ſaid if any one or
more would join in the attempt, he would
take one of the pack horſes and riſk his life
freely for the general good. He repeated
his generous offer, but no one inclined to
join him ; at length Mrs. Dwight told him
ſhe would venture, and the Doctor rouſed
by her intrepidity ſaid, that he would not
ſuffer his wife to riſk her life for the good
of the company, through perils that he
dare not encounter : He therefore joined in
the enterpriſe, and the two men, accompa-
nied by our heroine, each mounted on a
horſe, ſat off to ſwim acroſs the river.
U 2

12 )
[Tº current was ſo rapid that the
horſes were carried conſiderably down the
river before they got halfway over, where
they found a flat reef, over which the wa-
ter was ſcarcely belly deep to their horſes,
on to which they got, and gave a huzza,
to raiſe the ſpirits and hopes of their con-
panions. After this the men proceeded
acroſs the ledge, which was generally flat,
and conſiderably even. When they came
to the farther ſide of the ledge they found
it apparently perpendicular, and the water
many fathoms deep : Mrs. Dwight was
not looking on the men at the moment the
horſes reached the edge of the rock, but
hearing them plunge off ſhe looked, and for
ſome moments could perceive nothing ei-
ther of them or their riders, but at length
they aroſe, and ſhe followed their example
a few moments after, there being no poſſible
mode of prevention ; and clinging faſt to
the neck of her horſe, was like them, for a
few moments, emerged ſeveral feet under
water. The horſes ſoon after this, con-
veyed them in ſafety to the wiſhed for
ſhore.

( 13 )
[On their reaching the ſhore, they ſat
themſelves diligently to work to effect the
deſign of their crofling if poſſible, and after
a laborious ſearch they found an old indian
canoe, ſo much impaired by time as to
be almoſt totally unfit for uſe, but with
which, to the great joy of their compan-
ions, they by ſtopping its cracks with ſome
of their remaining rags, and by conſtantly
bailing, made a ſhift to recroſs the river,
and in the courſe of the day to get over the
whole of their company, by three at a time.
Thus the heroic confidence of an amiable
woman was rendered effectual, in the diſ.
penſations of providence, to the ſavingofthe
lives probably, but certainly to forwarding
the deſigns of a whole company, and effect-
ing their deliverance from the diſtreſſes
with which they were oppreſſed.
[AT another period of their tour, this
intelligent lady uſed to relate, it was her
lot to be enabled to ſave the lives of the
whole company. They had often ſhe ſaid,
been oppreſſed with hunger, and endured
its ravages, with much greater fortitude

( 14 )
than they ceuld their entire deprivation of
water. They had been ready at times to
devour everything that it was poſſible to
chew; in one emergency ſhe mentioned
their taking a large turtle, which they caſt
into the fire and feorched a little, and fed
out among them, a few mouthfuls at a
time, and which as ſhe expreſſed herſelf,
were the moſt delicious morſels ſhe had ever
taſted. Yet when they became utterly de-
prived of drink, their former ſufferings va-
niſhed. This calamity had, at a certain
period, afflicted them thirty fix hours, in
the courſe of which they loſt ſeveral of their
company. On the morning of the ſecond
day, perceiving no ſigns of relief, and fear-
ing they could in no wife live through the
day without it, they erected a ſmall camp
for a rallying point, where they left Mrs.
Dwight and one or two others, to anſwer
ſignals occaſionally, and ſat out in various
directions to find water ; in the afternoon
however, all aſſembled, every party alike
unſucceſsful, every hope alike fruſtrated :
To go forward was deſpair, to return im-
poſſible, to continue where they were cer-

( 15 )
tain death. But here providence was
pleaſed to evince the potency of feeble
means, under the direétion of infinite mu-
nificence.
DON the whole company dropping into
depondence, Mrs. Dwight once more took
the lead : She told her friends ſhe yet hop-
ed water may be found nearby, for which
ſhe was now reſolved to hunt; and if ſhe
failed, as they had done, ſhe would then
proceed onward and not drop until ſtrength
entirely failed her. With this determina-
tion ſhe ſat out, accompanied by three or
four men and women, and having travelled
until they were nearly exhauſted, they
came to a ſpot at the foot of two adjoining
hills, of conſiderable height. The fur-
face of the ground was apparently ſpungy,
and eaſy of impreſſion to the foot ; Here
Mrs. Dwight informed her friends, that ſhe
conceived they muſt find water or die, and
to effect it they muſt exert themſelves in
digging, in which arduous buſineſs they en-
gaged inſtantly, with ſuch implements as
their forlorn ſituation afforded, and in a

( 16
ſhort time perceived encreaſing ſigns of
moiſture, and a ſlow dropping in of water.
With gratitude and joy they hailed the
happy omen, ſent word to their deſponding
friends, and redoubled their exertions.
[THE ſympathetic reader will readily
conceive that the company ſpeedily arrived
and joined with energy in the arduous la-
bor of their female deliverer. The Dr.
however requeſted a ſtrong guard to be pla-
ced around to keep away every one, until
by bathing the temples, the palms of the
hands, &c. they could bear as refreſh-
ment, without fatal conſequences, a few
drops at a time. With their horſes alſo,
who ſeemed as if they would tear up the
very earth, and deſtroy every thing that
obſtrućted their paſſage to the well, they
were conſtrained to condućt prudentially,
and to ſupply them with water, of which
they ſoon obtained a ſufficiency by ſlow de-
grees.
[AL Most naked and perfectly Indian-
iſed, the ſurvivors of thoſe toils reached

( 17 )
&eorgia, and by various routes returned tº
their homes : But here the heroine who
had ſurmounted ſo many troubles, dangers
and diſtreſſes, ſunk under a new burthen ;
Her endeared conſort being caſt away and
drowned on a voyage to Nova Scotia, Mrs.
Dwight ſickened and was removed, in ven-
eration of her virtues we would humbly
truſt, to realms where tears are wiped from
every eye, and heaven inſpired graces
meet their due reward.]
Once more to recur to my narrative.
To ſhew the inſtability of human enjoy-
ments,and the viciſhtudes of life in a ſtrong
point of view, has engaged many an abler
hiſtorian than I can pretend to be ; I ſhall
however venture to record a ſingular in-
ſtance, which by the relation of my old
friend Captain Lyman, came to my knowl-
edge. -
A Mong thoſe concerned in the revolt
and capture of Fort Penmore, there was
one Col. Hutchins, who ačted a conſpicu-

( 18 )
sus part, and perhaps was more influential
than any other perſon in effecting the buſi-
neſs. This man was ſuppoſed to be a con-
fidential friend, by the Spaniſh command.
ant, was admitted into his privy council at
times, when he could get undiſcovered to
the fort, and by that means promoted its
capture, by ſubſtantiating the pretended
communications from Mr. Mackintoſh,
of the ſubſtance of which he was conſtantly
apprized. But finding that the Americans
had failed to take the fort, and that to conceal
his treachery was impoſſible, he followed
the example of Lyman and his party, by e-
ſcaping into the cane foreſts with a number
of pack horſes, and about twenty men.—
Receiving information however that the
Indians were in the Canes in ſearch of
them, ſtimulated by the Spaniſh proclama-
tion offering a handſome reward for their
ſcalps; they took the track of Lyman and
his party, aiming to make their way, if
poſſible, through the woods to Georgia,
leaving their families and the reſidue of
their effects behind them. Hutchins in
particular left an excellent plantation, un-

{ 19 )
der geod improvement, and tilled by twen-
ty ſlaves, with nearly ſeventeen hundred
head of neat cattle, and abundance of o-
ther ſtock-This great poſſeſſion was con-
fiſcated except ſufficient barely to ſupport
his wife, and the unfortunate party on the
firſt or ſecond night after they quitted the
canes, was overtaken by the indians, and
all but two killed. Hutchins and only one
more eſcaped under favor of the night,
each of thern with a gun, and who, when
they reached Georgia, had not ſo much as
the collar of a ſhirt hanging on them, and
whatever became of him afterwards Capt.
Lyman could not inform.
AND here with real grief I feel myſelf
conſtrained to add, that the once enterpri-
zing ſoldier, and amiable gentleman, Cap-
tain Lyman, unable to bear the diſtreſſing
reverſes of his fortune with fortitude, to
ſtem the torrent and riſe ſuperior to its
force; from depreſſion of ſpirits became
ſubject to intoxication, and when I laſt ſaw
him was an object of pity.
V

( 20 )
To return to the hiſtory of my friend
Felt, I muſt mention, that Capt. Lyman in-
formed me further in reſpect to him, that
when the revolt happened, Felt was peace-
ably at home with his little family, having
no connection with it. The Spaniards ha-
wing imprudently offered a reward for en-
emys' ſcalps to the indians, diſtur-
bed the repoſe of Felt and other ſettlers,
as they ravaged the country extenſively,
at times, and butchered the inhabitants of
the diſtrićt without diſtinction, who did
not fly to the forts. In the courſe of one
of their depredatory excurſions they beſet
the houſe of Felt, in which at that time was
himſelf, his wife, three children, and a
young man whom he had hired to work on
his place. - -
My valiant friend exerted himſelf to
the utmoſt to protect his dear little family,
but in vain, altho’ he repelled their attacks
and drove them from before his houſe.-
Bent on his deſtruction, a number of the
ſavage aſſailants retired to the back of his
houſe, where ſheltered by a corn crib

( 21 )
from the fire of their brave oppoſer and his
friend, they ſecurely plotted, and began
to execute the dreadful buſineſs of their
meditated deſtrućtion. In the firſt place
they kindled a fire back of the corn houſe,
and climbing up threw flaming brands
over upon the houſe, until they ſat it on fire,
at the ſame time keeping a number of
markſmen ſecreted around, to kill any one
that ſhould attempt to eſcape from the fire.
In this cruel manner the family of Fett
was deſtroyed, and at this time Felt and his
companion were likewiſe killed. By the
information of the indians who ſurvived
however, as the inhabitants afterwards re-
lated. Felt and his comrade did not die in
the houſe. They ruſhed forth with in-
trepidity and ſought deſperately with the
indians, with the butts of their guns after
diſcharging them; which account was cor-
roborated by the circumſtance of their muſ.
kets being found, at ſome diſtance from
the houſe, with the butts of them conſider-
ably battered.

( 22 )
BRAvery however was overcome by
favage ferocity, and both Felt and his man
were killed and ſcalped, and their bodies
thrown into the flames, with thoſe of the
women and children. The memory of
this brave and unfortunate man, will be ev.
er a ſubject of reſpe&t with me ; he was to
me a tried and faithful friend, a worthy
and deſervingman, and an approved and va-
liant ſoldier.
IN this ſcene of devaſtation and indian
barbarity, it was likewiſe the lot of my old
friend Leonard, and two of his ſons, to be
maſſacred; the reſidue of his family eſca.
ped by being at the Natches.—My other
boat companion, Mr. Flowers, as I have
been lately informed, married again and has
vecome a man of very great intereſt.
( 23 )
Account of the Mississippi and countries
adjacent, from various authors, and
from Captain Pºe/ps’ observations, dur-
ing his residence in that quarter.
THE adventures of Capt. Phelps have
ing been principally in the Miſſiſſippi coun-
try, a ſhort geographical and topographical
account of that place, (at preſent the theme
of ſo great ſpeculation and political enqui-
ry) extracted from the firſt authors within
the knowledge of the compiler, and from
the adventurer’s communications, will be
attempted.
THE Miſſiſſippi when firſt diſcovered
by adventurers from Canada, was called
Colbert ; by ſome northern Indians, it is
called Meact-Chaffipi, meaning The an-
ºn father of Rivers, from which by cor-
ruption the name Miſſiſſippi has been form-
ed.
This famous river the Miſſiſſippi, is
navigable upwards of 2000 miles, to the
falls of St. Anthony, in latitute 45d., the




V 2,

( 24 )
anly fall we know in it, which is 16 degrees.
of latitude above its mouth ; and even a-
bove that fall, our author tells us, there
is thirty fathom of water in the river, with
a proportionable breadth. About 1000
miles from its mouth it receives the river O.
hio, which is navigable 1000 miles farther,
ſome ſay 1500, nigh to its ſource, not far
from Lake Ontario in New-York; in all
which ſpace there is but one fall or rapide in
the Ohio, and that navigable both up and
down, at leaſt in canoes. This fall is 300
miles from the Miſſiſſippi, and 1300 from
the ſea, with five fatham of water up to it.
The other large branches of the Ohio, the
river of the Cherokees, and Wabache, af:
ford alike navagation, from Lake Erie in
the north to the Cherokees in the ſouth, and
from thence to the bay of Mexico, by the
Miſſiſſippi: not to mention the great river
Miſſouri, which runs to the northweſt
parts of New-Mexico, much farther than
we have any good accounts of that conti-
ment. From this it appears, that the Miſ:
fiſſippi affords the moſt extenſive naviga-
tion of any river we know ; ſo that it may

( 25 )
juſty be compared to an inland ſea, which
ſpreads over nine tenths of all the eonti-
ment of North America.
The Miſſiſſippi indeed is rapid for
1200 miles, as far as to the Miſſouri, which
makes it difficult to go up the river by wa-
ter. For that reaſon the French have been
uſed to quit the Miſſiſſippi at the river
St. Francis, from which they have a nigh-
er way to the forks of the Miſſiſſippi by
land. But however difficult it may be to
aſcend the river, it is, notwithſtanding, of.
ten done; and its rapidity facilitates a de-
ſcent upon it, and a ready conveyance for
thoſe groſs commodities, which are the
chief ſtaple of North America, from the
moſt remote places of the continent above
mentioned: And as for lighter European
goods, they are more eaſily carried by land,
as our Indian traders do, over great part of
the continent, on their horſes, of which this,
sountry abounds with great plenty.
On the Baliſe, or banks formed by the
euze and ſand of the Miſſiſſippi, is a fort,

( 26 )
ying in 29d N. L. and 380d 30 minutes
of longitude. In going up the river, the
firſt remarkable place is the English Reach,
where there are two forts, one on each
ſide; which can ſtop any ſhips, as they can
go up the channel but one at a time, and
can neither caſt anchor or come on ſhore
to moor. Ships are obliged to wait here
for a wind to carry them up to New Or-
leans, as the bend is ſo great that the wind
which before was fair, here comes ahead.
Immediately above this Reach lies New
Orleans.
DESCRIPTION OF LOUISIANA,
Louis IANA is bounded by the Miſſiſſip.
pi, on the eaſt : by the Gulf of Mexico,
on the weſt and runs indefinitely north.
Under the French government Louiſiana,
included both ſides of the Miſſiſſippi, from
its mouth to the Illinois, and back from the
river, eaſt and weſt indefinitely.
The Miſſiſſippi, on which the fine coun-
try of Louiſiana is ſituated, was firſt diſ.
covered by Ferdinand de Soto, in 1541.

( 27 )
Monſieur de la Salle was the firſt who tra.
verſed it. He in the year 1682, having
paſſed down to the mouth of the Miſfiſfip-
pi, and ſurveyed the adjacent country, re-
turned to Canada, from whence he took
paſſage to France. -
FRoºf the flattering accounts which he
gave of the country, and from the conſe-
quential advantages that would accrue from
ſettling a colony in thoſe parts, Louis XIV.
was induced to eſtabliſh a company for the
purpoſe. Accordingly a ſquadron of four
veſſels, amply provided with men and pro-
viſions, under the command of Monſieur de
la Salle, embarked with an intention of
ſettling near the mouth of the Miſfiffippi;
but he unintentionally failed a hundred
leagues to the weſtward of it, where he at-
tempted to eſtabliſh a colony, but through
the unfavorableneſs of the climate, moſt of
his men miſerably periſhed, and he himſelf
was villanouſly murdered, not long after,
by two of his men. Monſieur Iberville ſuc-
ceeded him in his laudable attempts. He
after two ſucceſsful voyages, died while

( 28 )
preparing for a third. Crozat ſucceeded
him ; and in 1712, the king gave him. Lou-
iſiana. This grant continued but a ſhort
time after the death of Louis XIV. In
1763, Louiſiana was ceded to the king of
Spain, to whom it now belongs.
Tº is country is interfected by a nun.
ber of fine rivers, among which are the St.
Francis, which empties into the Miſſiſſippi
at Kappas Old Fort, navigable about two
hundred and fifty or three hundred miles;
its courſe is nearly parallel with the Miſſis.
fippi, and from twenty to thirty miles diſt.
ant from it ; the Natchitoches, which emp-
ties into the Miſſiſſippi above Point Cou-
pee; the Adayes or Mexicano river, emp-
tying into the gulph of Mexico—and the
river Rouge, on which, it is well known,
are as rich ſilver mines as any in Mexico.
This is ſuppoſed to be one principal reaſon
why the excluſive navigation of the Miſſis-
ſippi has been ſo much inſiſted on by
Spain.

( 29 )
Louisian A is agreeably ſituated be.
tween the extremes of heat and cold ; its
climate varies as it extends to the north.
The ſouthern parts, lying within reach of
the refreſhing breezes from the ſea, are not
ſcorched like thoſe under the ſame lati-
tudes in Africa , and its northern regions
are colder than thoſe of Europe under the
ſame parallels, with a wholeſome ſerene
air. To judge of the produce to be expec.
ted from the ſoil of Louiſiana, we ſhould
turn our eyes to Egypt, Arabia Felix,
Perſia, India, China, and Japan, all lying
in correſponding latitudes. Of theſe, Chi-
na alone has a tolerable government; and
yet it muſt be acknowledged, they all are,
or have been famous for their riches and
fertility. From the favourableneſs of the
climate, two annual crops of Indian corn
may be produced; and the ſoil, with little
cultivation, would furniſh grain of every
kind in the greateſt of abundance. The
timber is as fine as any in the world, and
the quantities of live oak, aſh, mulberry,
walnut, cherry, cypreſs, and cedar, are aſ-
toniſhing. The neighborhood of the Miſ-

( 30 )
ºffippi, beſides furniſhes the richeſt fruits
in great variety; the ſoil is particularly a-
dapted to hemp, flax, and tobacco; and in-
digo is at this time a ſtaple commodity,
which commonly yields the planter three
or four cuttings a year. In a word what-
ever is rich and rare in the moſt deſirable
climates in Europe, ſeems to be the ſponta-
neous production of this delightful coun-
try. The Miſſiſſippi and the neighbouring
lakes furniſh in great plenty ſeveral forts of
fiſh, particularly perch, pike, ſturgeon and
eels.
In the northern part of Louiſiana, forty
five miles below the mouth of the Ohio riv-
er, on the weſt bank of the Miſſiſſippi, a ſet-
tlement is commenced conducted by Col.
Morgan, of New Jerſey, under the patron-
age of the Spaniſh King. The ſpot on
which the city is propoſed to be built, is
called New Madrid, after the capital of
Spain, and is in the north latitude 36 d.
30 minutes. -

( 31 )
THE limits of the new city of Madrid
were to extend 4 miles S. and 2 W. from
the river; ſo as to croſs a beautiful, living
deep lake, of the pureſt ſpring water, 100
yards wide, and ſeveral miles in length,
emptying itſelf, by a conſtant, rapid and
narrow ſtream, through the center of the
city. The banks of this lake, which is
called St. Annis, are high, beautiful, and
pleaſant , the water deep, clear and ſweet,
and well ſtored with fiſh ; the bottom a
clear ſand, free from ſhrubs or other veget-
ables. On each ſide of this delightful
lake, ſtreets were to be laid out one hund-
red feet wide, and a road to be continued
round it of the ſame breadth, and the trees
are ordered to be preſerved forever, for the
health and pleaſure of the citizens. A
ſtreet one hundred and twenty feet wide
on the bank of the Miſſiſſippi was laid out :
and the trees were directed to be preſerved -
for the ſame purpoſe.
According to projection, 12 acres in
a central part of the city were to be pre-
W

( 3.2 )
ferved in like manner, to be ornamented,
regulated, and improved, by the magiſtra-
cy of the city for the public walks, and for-
ty acres for other public uſes, and twelve
acres for the king's uſe. We do not hear
that this ſcheme is proſecuting, and con-
clude it is given up. The country in the
vicinity of this intended city, is repreſented
as excellent, and in many parts beyond de-
ſcription. The natural growths the ſame
as near the Natches, with one or more
grape vines running up almoſt every tree,
aud the grapes yield from experiment,
good red wine in plenty and with little
labour. In ſome of the low grounds grow
ſurprizingly large Cypreſs trees. The cli-
mate is ſaid to be favorable to health, to the
production of fruits, and to the growth of
garden vegetables. The meadows are fer-
tile in graſs, flowering plants, ſtrawberries,
and briar berries, and when cultivated,
produce good crops of wheat, barley, in.
dian corn, flax, hemp, and tobacco, and are
eaſily tilled. Iron and lead mines, and
ſaltſprings, it is aſſerted, are found in ſuch
plenty as to afford an abundant ſupply of

( 33 )
thoſe neceſſary articles. The banks of the
Miſfiffippi, for many leagues in extent,
commencing about twenty miles above
the mouth of the Ohio, are a continued
chain of limeſtone. A fine tract of high,
rich, level land lies ſouth weſt by weſt, and
northweſt of New Madrid, about twenty
five miles wide, and extends quite to the
river St. Francis. -
DESCRIPTION or NEW ORLEAN3.
New Orleans the metropolis of Louiſi-
ana, was regularly laid out by the french in
the year 1720, on the eaſt ſide of the river
Miffiſſippi, in latitude 30 deg. 2 min, north,
and longitude 89 deg. 53 min. weſt, eigh-
teen miles from the Engliſh Reach, and
105 miles from the Baliſe, at the mouth of
the river. All the ſtreets are perfectly
ſtrait but too narrow, and croſs each other
at right angles. There were in 1783 elev.
en hundred houſes in this town, general-
ly built with timber frames, raiſed about
eight feet from the ground, with large gal-
leries round them, and the cellars under
the floors level with the ground; any ſub-

( 34 )
terraneous buildings would be conſtantly
full of water. Moſt of the houſes have
gardens. In March 1788, this town by a
fire was reduced in five hours to two hund-
red houſes; it has fince been rebuilt. The
fide next the river is open, and is ſecured
from the inundations of the river, by the
raiſed bank, generally called the levec,
which extends from the Engliſh Reach to
the upper ſettlement of the Germans, a
diſtance of more than fifty miles, with a
good road all the way. There is reaſon to
believe that in a ſhort time New Orleans.
may become a great and oppulent city; if
we conſider the advantages of its ſituation,
but a few leagues from the ſea, on a noble
river, in a moſt fertile country, under a de-
lightful and wholeſome climate, within two
week’s ſail of Mexico, and ſtill nearer the
French, ſpaniſh and britiſh weſt india in
ands, with a moral certainty of its becom-
ing a general receptacle for the produce of
that valuable country, on the Miſſiſſippi,
Ohio, and its other branches; all which
are much more than ſufficient to enſure
the future wealth, power and proſperity of
( 35 )
this city. The veſſels which ſail up the
Miſſiſſippi haul cloſe along ſide of the bank
next to New Orleans, to which they make
faſt, and take in or diſcharge their cargoes
with the ſame eaſe as at a wharf.
LE BAT on Roug E, is about twenty ſix
Reagues diſtant from New Orleans. Here
ſtood a famous Cypreſs tree, ſo large that a
ſhip carpenter offered to make two petty-
augres, one of fixteen and one of fourteen
tons out of it. One of the firſt adventurers
happening humourouſly to obſerve that it
would make a good walkingſtick, &cypreſs
being a red wood the place from that time
obtained the name of Le Baton Rouge.
–AT forty leagues from New Orleans
lies Point Coupee, or the Cut Point, ſo
called from a large elbow being formed
there by the Miſſiſſippi, forming almoſt a
a circle, open only about one hundred toiſ.
es.” This paſſage is ſaid to have been diſ.
covered by two men, who in coming down
the Miſſiſſippi were ſtopped at this place by
the running of an exceeding high ſea in the
* A raise is 6 fºe: A incºs.


V -
2

( 36 )
river, a ſhort diſtance a head. One of
them took his gun, and travelling down
this paſſage, then a little rivulet of not more
than a foot deep, and perhaps four or five
feet wide, ſoon perceived himſelf in a ſpa-
cious opening, near a great body of water,
which he conceived to be a lake, when on
looking round, to his great ſurprize, he
obſerved a place on the banks of the Miſſiſ-
ſippi, which he well knew, and from
which a few minutes before, he had con-
seived himſelf to be ſeveral leagues diſ-
tant. He ran and acquainted his compan-
ion who could not believe it poſſible, but
accompanied him with pleaſure in order to:
aſcertain the fact ; fully convinced that
there was no miſtake in the caſe, they went
back to their pettyaugre, and by exertion,
in cutting away a few roots, and clearing
a Way obſtructions, they puſhed their pet-
tyaugre through the rivulet, the water of
the river preſſing after, and aſſiſting their
exertions ſo effectually, that in about an.
hour they found themſelves in the Miſſiſſip-

( 37 )
pi, ten leagues further down than they
were at the time of ſtarting.
This paſſage ſoon became the main
bed of the river, and the old channel is
now dry. At Point Coupee the river is,
on both ſides, lined with inhabitants. At
twenty leagues diſtance from Point Coupee
lies the Red River, and thirty leagues fur-
ther up lies the military poſt at the Natches,
in 32 deg. odd minutes, north latitude,
The fort at this place is ſituated on a hill,
two hundred feet perpendicular above low
water mark, commanding an extenſive
view in every direction, and to the weſt-
ward bounded only by the horizon ; the
foundation of the fort being higher than the
trees on the weſt ſide. Forty leagues high-
ºr up than the Natches, the Yazoo comes
in from the North-Eaſt, which terminated
the extent of our traveller’s tour in that
Country.
A gou ºr two-thouſand families of White
people inhabit thoſe parts of this territory
where the indian claim has been extin.

( 38 )
guiſhed, chiefly at the Natches and Yazos
river, on the banks of the Miſſiſſippi, and a
conſiderable number on the Tombigbee
river, and ſcattered among the Creek na-
tion of indians. This territory lying be-
tween the thirty firſt and 35th degree of
north latitude, is not ſubječt to the ex-
tremes of heat and cold ; the climate is
temperate and delightful through the year,
and except in low ground and in the neigh-
bourhood of ſtagnant water, is very health-
ful. White froſt and ſometimes thin ice
have been ſeen as far ſouth as the thirty
firſt degree of latitude, but ſnow is ſeldom
ſeen in theſe parts. It is ſaid that the land
is well ſupplied with excellent ſpring wa-
ter, is delightfully variegated, as to mea-
dow and upland, flowery and timber pro-
duce, with pleaſant rivulets, delightful ſit-
uations for ſettlement, and pure ſtreams.
IN aſcending the Miſſiſſippi there are
cxtenſive natural meadows, with a proſpect
of the Gulf of Mexico on each ſide, to the
diſtance of thirty two miles, thence twen-
ty miles to the ſettlements, the banks ºr

( 39 )
How and marſhy, generally overflowed, and
covered with Palmeto buſhes, and thick
woods, ſeemingly impenetrable to man and
beaſt. Thence to the Engliſh Reach, at
the bend of the river, the banks are well
inhabited, and from thence to New Orleans,
which is eighteen miles further : the whole
of which diſtance there is an excellent road
for carriages.
From New-Orleans, the capital of
Louiſiana, there is an eaſy communication
with Weſt-Florida, by Bayouk Creek,
which is a water of Lake Ponchartrain,
navigable for veſſels drawing four feet wa-
ter, ſix miles up from the lake, to a landing-
place two miles from New-Orleans. For
nearly 50 miles, as you proceed up the riv-
er, both its banks are ſettled and highly
cultivated, in part by emigrants from
Germany, who furniſh the market with
indigo of a ſuperior quality, cotton, rice,
beans, myrtle wax, and lumber. In 1762,
ſome rich planters attempted the cultivation
of canes and the making of ſugar, and e-
rected mills for the purpoſe. This ſugar

( 49 }
was of an excellent quality, and ſome of the
crops were large ; but ſome winters prov-
ing ſo ſevere as to kill the canes, no de-
pendance can be placed on the eulture of
that article.
THE ſettlements of the Acadians, which
were begun in the year 1763, extend on
both fides of the river, from the Germans,
to the river Ibberville, which is 99 miles
above New-Orleans, and 270 from Penſa-
cola, by way of lakes Ponchartrain and
Maurepas. -
At Point Coupee, 35 miles above the
Ibberville, are ſettlements extending 20
miles on the W. ſide of the river, which, 30
years ago, had 2,000 white inhabitants, and
7,000 ſlaves, who were employed in the
cultivation of tobacco, indigo, Indian
corn, &c. for the New-Orleans market,
which they furniſhed alſo with poultry,
and abundance of ſquared timber, ſtaves,
&c.
MR. Hutchins, from his perſonal knowl-

( 41 )
edge, deſcribes the country on both fides
of the Miſſiſſippi, between the latitudes
30 and 31, bordering on Georgia, as fol.
lows:
“ALT Houch this country might pro-
duce all the valuable articles raiſed in other
parts of the globe, ſituated in the ſame lat-
itudes, yet the inhabitants principally cul-
tivate indigo, rice, tobacco, Indian corn,
and ſome wheat; and they raiſe large
ſtocks of black cattle, horſes, mules, hogs,
ſheep, and poultry. The ſheep are ſaid to
make the ſweeteſt mutton in the world.
The black cattle, when fat enough for ſale,
which they commonly are the year round,
are driven acroſs the country to New-Or-
keans, where there is always a good mar-
ket.
THIs country is principally timbered
with all the different kinds of oak, but
moſtly with live-oak, of the largeſt and beſt
quality; uncommonly large cypreſs, black
walnut, hickory, white aſh, cherry, plum,
poplar trees, and grape vines; here is found

( 4.2 )
alſo a great variety of ſhrubs and medici.
ºnal roots. The lands bordering the riv.
ers and lakes, are generally well wooded,
but a ſmall diſtance from them are very ex-
tenſive natural meadows, or ſavannas, of the
moſt luxuriant ſoil, compoſed of a black
mould, about one and half feet deep, very
looſe and rich, occaſioned in part by the
frequent burning of the ſavannas; below
the black mold is a ſtiff clay of different co-
lours. It is ſaid this clay, after being ex-
poſed ſometime to the ſun, becomes ſo hard
that it is difficult either to break or bend it,
but when wet by a ſlight ſhower of rain, it
#lackens in the ſame manner that lime does
when expoſed to moiſture, and becomes
looſe and moulders away, after which it is
found excellent for vegetation.
AFTER paſſing the thirty firſt degree of
North latitude, you enter what is called
the Natches country. The ſoil of this
country is ſuperior to any lands on the bor-
der of the Miſſiſſippi, for the production of
many articles. Its ſituation being higher
affords a greater variety of ſoil, and it is in
( 43 )
a more favorable climate for the growth of
wheat, rye, barley, oats, &c. than the
country lower down and nearer to the ſea.
Captain Phelps mentions but one experi-
ment made in the raiſing of wheat while he
was in that country, when on ſowing half
a buſhel the produce was ſixteen buſhels,
and the quality excellent. By carefully ob-
ſerving the practice of roping, he is of the
opinion that good crops may be generally
enſured. The ſoil alſo produces in equal
abundance, Indian corn, rice, hemp, flax,
indigo, cotton, potherbs, pulſe of every
kind, and paſturage. And the tobacco
made here, is eſteemed preferable to any
cultivated in other parts of America.
Hops grow wild, and all kinds of Europe-
an fruits arrive to great perfection : no
part of the known world is more favorable
to the raiſing of every ſort of ſtock. The
riſing grounds are covered with graſs and
herbs of the fineſt verdure, and are well
adapted to the cultivation of vines; Mul-
berry trees are very numerous, and the
winters ſufficiently moderate to preſerve

X
( 44 )
The ſilk worm. Clay of different colours,
fit for glaſs works and pottery, is found
here in great abundance, and alſo a varie-
ty of ſtately timber, fit for houſe and ſhip
building, &c.
THE diſtrict of the Natches, as well as
all along the eaſtern bank of the Miſſiſſippi,
to the river Iberville, was ſetling very faſt,
by emigrations from the northern ſtates,
till the capture of the Britiſh troops on the
Miſſiſſippi, in the year 1799, as recorded
in Phelps Narrative, Put an entire flop to
It.
From fort Roſalie to the Petit Goufre,
or Petty Gulf, as termed by Capt. Phelps,
is ten leagues and a half There is a firm
rock on the eaſt ſide of the Miſſiſſippi for
near a mile, which ſeems to be of the na-
ture of lime ſtone. The land near the riv-
er is much broken and very high, with a
good ſoil and ſeveral plantations on it.
From the Petty Gulf to Stoney river is a
league and a half. From the mouth to
what is called the forks of the river is com-

( 45 )
ºuted to be ſeven leagues. In this diſtance
there are ſeveral quarries of ſtone, and the
land has a clay ſoil, with gravel on the fur-
face of the ground. On the north ſide of
this river the land in general is low and
rich; that on the ſouth ſide is much high-
er, and broken into hills and vales, but
here the low lands are not often oyerflow.
ed; both ſides a, e ſhaded with a variety
of uſeful timber. At the fork the river
parts almoſt at right angles, and the land
between and on each ſide of them is ſaid to
be clay and marl ſoil, not ſo uneven as the
and on the river lower down. From Sto.
ney river to the Big Black is ten miles.
This river, at the mouth is about thirty
yards wide, but withia from thirty to fifty
yards, and is ſaid to be navigable for ca-
noes thirty or forty leagues. About a
mile and a half up this river, on the right,
the lands are high and much brokea. A
mile and a half further, the high lands ap-
pear again to the right, where there are fe-
veral ſprings of water, but none have yet
been diſcovered on the left. About eight
miles further there are high lands near the


( 46 )
river on the left, apparently the ſame as
runs from the Yazoo cliffs. Six miles fur.
ther the land is high on both ſides of the ri-
ver, for two or three miles, but broken and
full of ſprings of water. This land on the
left was choſen by General Putnam, Capt.
Enos, Mr. Lyman, and other New Eng.
land adventurers, as a proper place for a
town, and by order of the Governor and
Council of Weſt Florida, in 1773, it was
reſerved for the capital. The country is
very fit for ſettlement, for four or five miles
above, being rich, on both ſides the river,
and neither ſo much drowned or ſo broken
as lands lower down. About ſix miles
and a half further there is a rapid water,
ſtones and gravel bottom, 160 yards in
length ; and in one place a firm rock almoſt
acroſs the river, and as much of it bare,
when the water is at a moderate height, as
confines the ſtream to nearly twenty feet,
and the channel is about four feet deep.
From the Big Black river to the Yazoo
Cliff is ſorty miles. From this Cliff the
highlands lie north caſtward, and ſouth-

( 47 )
foutheaſtward, bearing off to the river, full
of cane and rich ſoil, even to the very high-
eſt ridges. Juſt at the ſouth end of the
Cliffs the land is low, where the water of the
Miſſiſſippi, when high, flows back, and
runs between the bank and high land,
which ranges nearly northerly and ſouth-
ſouth-eaſterly to the Big Black, occaſioning
much wet ground. From the Cliffs to the
Yazoo river is ſeven miles and a half.
The mouth of this river is upwards
of one hundred yards in width. It runs
from the north eaſt, and glides through a
healthy, fertile, and pleaſant country, great-
ly reſembling that about the Natches, par-
ticularly in the luxuriancy and diverſity of
its ſoil, variety of timber, temperature of
climate, and delightful ſituation. It is re-
markably well watered by ſprings and
brooks; many of the latter, afford us con-
venient mill ſeats. Further up the river
the canes are leſs frequent, and fmaller in
fize, and at the diſtance of twenty miles
there are ſcarcely any. Here the country
X 2.

as )
is clear of underwood, and well watered,
and the ſoil very rich, which continues to
the Chaćtaw and Chickeſaw towns, on the
eaſtern and north weſtern branches of Ya-
zoo river. Theſe branches unite fifty miles
from the Miſſiſſippi, following the courſe of
that river; the navigation to their junc-
tion, commonly called the fork, is practica-
ble in very large boats in the ſpring ſeaſon,
and with ſmaller ones a conſiderable way
further, with the interruption of but one
fall, where they are obliged to make a
ſhort portage, twenty miles up the North-
weſt branch, and ſeventy miles from the
Miſſiſſippi. The country in which the
Chaćlaw and Chickeſaw towns are ſituated,
is ſaid to be as healthy as any part of the
continent, the natives ſcarcely ever being
ſick. Such of them as frequent the Mińſ.
ſippi, leave its banks as the ſummer ap-
proaches, leaſt they might partake of the
ſevers that ſometimes viſit the low, ſwampy
lands bordering upon that river. Wheat
it is ſaid yields better at the Yazoo than at
the Natches, owing probably to its more
northerly ſituation. One very conſiderable
( 49 )
advantage will attend the ſettlers on the
river Yazoo, which thoſe of the Natches
will be deprived of without going to great
expence, that is, the building with ſtone,
there being great plenty near the Yazoo,
but none has yet been diſcovered nearer to
the Natches than the Petty Gulf, a diſtance
of about thirty one miles, and between this
place and the Baliſe there is not a ſtone to
be ſeen any where near the river.
Though the quantity of good land on
the Miſſiſſippi and its branches, from the
Bay of Mexico to the river Ohio, a diſtance
of nearly one thouſand miles, is vaſtly great,
with many conveniences attending it;
ſo likewiſe we may eſteem that in the neigh-
bourhood of the Natches, and of the river
Yazoo, lies the flower of it all.
A Bout a mile and a half up the Yazoo
river, on the N. ſide, there is a large creek
which communicates with the Miſſiſſippi,
above the river St. Francis, about loo
leagues higher up, by the courſe of the riv-
ºr. It paſſes through ſeveral lakes by the


( 50 )
way. At the diſtance of about 12 miles.
from the mouth of the river Yazoo on the
S. ſide, are the Yazoo hills. There is a
cliff of ſolid rock at the landing place, on
which are a variety of broken ſea-ſhells,
and ſoºne entire. Four miles further up, is
the place called the Ball Ground, near
which a church, fort St. Peter, and a French
ſettlement, formerly ſtood. They were
deſtroyed by the Yazoo Indians in 1729.
That nation is new entirely extinct.”
º
Capt. Phelps's description of the Missis-
sippi from his personal observations, with
remarks on the manners, and customs of
the inhabitants, nature of soil, &c.
N deſcribing the Miſſiſſippi from its con-
fluence win the ocean, from my own
obſervation, I ſhould ſay, that the land
from the mouth up to New-Orleans, lies.
low and marſhy, the channel is about a
mile in width, with a heavy current and
little or no tide. New-Orleans is 35
leagues from the mouth of the river.











( 51 )
In proceeding up the river to Manchac,
and even much farther upon the weſt ſide,
the banks appear fluſh on the river, and
deſcending back, ſo that the water, which
in its annual inundations leaves the river,
is not returned into it again. The natur-
al reaſon for this is, that the ſand and ooze,
which the freſhets convey down, naturally
and ſpeedily produces canes on the banks,
which ſtopping the thickeſt of the leaves,
ſand, &c. and admitting the waters thus
ſtrained to deſcend its oval banks, on to
the face of the country, the waters are col-
lect in lakes, or run off in rivulets in vari-
ous directions, but never reenter their ori-
ginal ſource. The banks of the river in
this part of the country are ſo curiouſly
ſloping toward the land, and fluſh on the
water, that by opening ſmall ſluices to
the depth of twelve or 15 feet, and let-
ting the water into a flume for 200 yards,
there is generally fall enough to carry a
mill for four or five months in the year.
The river is ſo crooked that it is ſcarcely poſ.
ſible in any part of it that I ſaw, to ſail more
than five leagues, without having the wind

( 52 )
some a head, if it continues in any ſteady
direction. The ſhore is ſo bold that you
can come to the bank, make faſt, and ſtep
on ſhore, generally, without any difficulty.
The country is ſecured from inundation
by building levees, or mounds, called
dykes.
THz ſpring freſhets generally come
down the firſt of March, and prevail until
the firſt of July, the inundation of the Miſ.
ſouri begins in a few days after, and holds
up until about the firſt of Auguſt, during
which time the preſſure of the waters of
that river is ſo great, as to obſtruct the
whole current of the Miſſiſſippi, and driv-
ing over from the weſt to the eaſt bank,
progreſſes along the caſt bank for ſome diſ-
tance before it mingles with the current of
the Miſfiffippi, as is clearly aſcertained by-
the colour of the water.
This principal ſtreams that enter the
Miſſiſſippi from the eaſt, according to my
information, are the Illinois, the Ohio, the
Yazoo, Big Black, Byapierre, Boyd’s creek,









( 53 ) -
and Homocheater or Hammachitta. Frena
the weſt the Oſark, which is very large, the
Red River, which flows from the ſeat of
the mines in Mexico, the waters of which
are very red, nearly the colour of a poliſh-
ed brick, but when ſettled the taſte of it is
agreeable. The River of the Arcanſas,
River St. Francis, the Miſſouri, and the
River of Salt.
The RE are ºf h of various kiads in
the Miſſiſſippi, and Big Black, (with which
rivers I was particularly acquainted) the
principal of which were the Cat fiſh and
Sheeps Head, very large and good. There
are likewiſe Alligators or Crocodiles in
theſe rivers, formed ſomewhat like our ev.
its, and generally from ten te eighteen feet
in length, but they are not an animal capa-
ble of creating terror, being eaſily deſtroyed
or avoided by the inhabitants.
ONE peculiarity, of theſe creatures
which fell within my obſervation, was their
incapacity to bear exceſſive cold. I had
feen in paſſing up the Big Black, at times,

( 54 )
thirty or forty of theſe creatures, ſleeping
on the ſhore, or funning on old logs, and
generally killed a number, on the tails of
which the inhabitants make an agreeable
repaſt; but in going up the river after the
hard winter of 1779 and 1780, I ſaw but
one live one, while the ſhores were lined
in a manner with dead ones, and the air
perfectly tainted. The land on the eaſt ſide
of the river is flat, up to the Baton Rouge,
or riſing of eighty leagues, and on the weſt
ſide nearly three hundred leagues, or to
the Ozarke river.
THE ſoil is rich, and bears three diſ.
criptions, firſt the lower or flowed land,
which is a deep and luxuriant ſoil, and
produces good indigo and rice, the plain
or cane lands, which are excellent for to-
bacco, cottou, &c. and the hill land, which
is excellent for corn, and for wheat, if at-
tended to by roping according to the prac-
tice in ſome parts of Europe, or indeed
for any produce requiſite for the comfort or
convenience of man, as far as I ever knew
them to betried; except the common fort of

( 55 )
potatoes, which run exceedingly to vines;
and conſequently form but little root.
-
The IR neat cattle are ſo abundant that
it is not uncommon for one planter to
have from 1000 to 2000 head; horſes very
plenty, ſheep ſcarce and unprofitable, their
wool being of no account; poultry in great
abundance. There is likewiſe great plen-
ty of excellent fruits, in continued ſuc-
ceſſion from April until November ; viz.
Strawberries, Mulberries, Apples, Peach.
es, Plumbs, Grapes, Sour Oranges, &c.
OF wild animals, I obſerved the Buffa-
lo, Bear, Wolf, Panther, Deer and Poſſum,
which latter was a ſurprizing ſpecies of an-
imals to me, as, when purſued, they recei-
ved their young into a falſe belly, and
ſought their ſafety by hiding. Among the
wildfowl I obſerved the Turkey, Turkey
Buzzard, wild geeſe, ducks, pidgeons, par-
oquets and various kinds of northern birds
of paſſage. Of the reptile kind there are
the rattle ſnake, the copper head, or rattle
Y
-

( 56 )
ſnake’s mate, ſo called, the black ſnake and
the ſtreaked ſnake, but the country is not
much infeſted by them.
THE inhabitants at the Engliſh Reach,
at New Orleans, and generally on the Span-
iſh ſide of the Miſſiſſippi, ſpeak French,
and are of a ſwarthy complexion. Their
nobility are fond of dreſs, and courteous to
ſtrangers; their diet is generally foups and
friccafees, made principally of vegetables,
their uſe offleſh bearing but ſlight compar-
iſon tothat of the Engliſh people. The
commen people, are low bred, and very ig-
norant, and their mode of living but little
ſuperior to that of the negroes, who are
very nemerous, and their allowance a buſh-
el of rice or corn per month, with ſuch veg-
etables or other things as they can pick
up for themſelves, their dreſs a breech
cloth or ſhort petticoat only. The inhab-
ſtants of Weſt Florida, were principally
from the American States, are a robuſt well
made people, and ſubject to the laws of
England.

( 57 )
THE climate is temperate, being only
light froſts, generally in December and
January. The fields beautifully cloathed
with flowers, and the fruit-trees boom
the beginning of February, and ſtrawber-
ics are frequently gathered by the begin-
ing of April.
Tºp Miſſiſſippi is excedingly crooked,
many points or projections into it being
occaſioned by the collection of ſand & cº-
annually brought down by the inundations.
At the place where the Hammachitta ſits
in there is a point formed, around which it
was ſeven leagues from the indention of
one ſide to that of the other, and only a-
bout forty or fifty feet acroſs. When we
came to this place, in our progreſs up the
river, the water was very high, ſo as to o-
verflow the banks a little ; there were ſeven-
ty of us, with eleven boats in company, and
being loath to make ſo long a tour when
the croſs paſſage of a few feet might ef-
fect the ſame purpoſe, we took firſt our
ſmalleſt boats and drew them acroſs, and
then our largeſt, until we groſſed with them

( 58 )
alſ, in proſecuting which buſineſs we made
fo deep a channel, that the water would
have been up to a man's armpits; when I
returned to this place ſix weeks after.
wards, the channel of the river was through
this paſſage, and when I left the country
there was an iſland of an hundred acres for.
med in the old channel. Another ſingu-
lar curve in the Miſſiſſippi is formed at
Point Copee, around which in was three
days row, and a man might walk acroſs in
half an hour.
The Red River, and the Miſſouri, are
at their junction with the Miſſiſſippi, nearly
as large as that river. Both theſe rivers,
as before mentioned, are from the weſt.
The government of Louiſiana, by a Vice
Rey, upon the plan of the Spaniſh monarchy,
was ſaid to be extremely deſpotic. One
fingular incident occurred during my refi-
dence there, which if true as related,
would illuſtrate this point ſtrikingly. The
Spaniards work their mines by ſentencing
culprits to them, who are condemned for
trifling offences, to labor in them during
( 59 )
life; there were two brothers by the name
of Bearfield, reſidents in the Weſtern part
of the government, one of whom com-
plained to the Commandant, that the o-
ther had ſworn to lay violent hands on him,
the commandant : upon this accuſation the
two brothers were arreſted, and without
further proceſs received from him a ſen-
tence to work in the mines. This aw-
ful ſentence the commandant juſtified by
the following curious mode of arguing ;
that if the information was true, the in.
tended aſſaſſin ought to ſuffer, if falſe, the
complainer ought to be puniſhed ſeverely;
that as the buſineſs would be difficult to
inveſtigate, and the quarrel of the brothers
was ſo violent as to denote them to be both
bad men, it was beſt to prevent either of
them from injuring the government.
As far as my information extended the
manners of the people were in general
rough, as their government was vigorous
and deſpotic. But I ſhān forbear more
particular obſervations, from a conſcious-

Y 2

( 66 )
aeſs of my inferiorty to many viſitants to
this fruitful and beautiful country, and
who will doubtleſs give a full and correct
hiſtory of it, at no very diſtant period, to
the world.
I sh A L1 cloſe my narrative by mention-
ing the names in general of my fellow paſ-
ſengers, and denoting as far as my infor-
mation extends, thoſe who are alive and
thoſe who are dead out of their number.
I made my firſt voyage in a veſſel owned by
Denniſon and Smith, of Stonington, com-
manded by Capt. Porter of Lebanon, with
whom Mr. Thomas Fanning ſailed as
Mate, both of whom are dead. The veſ-
ſel was worked by two of Captain Porter's
ſons, and one other ſailor.—Paſſengers
Thaddeus and Phineas Lyman with eight
flaves, Thaddeus is ſince dead, theſe were
from Suffield, as were likewiſe Moſes and
Iſaac Sheldon, Roger Harmon, and one
Hancks ; of theſe laſt mentioned, Mr. Har-
mon is dead. Seth Miner and Eliſha and
Joſiah Flowers of Springfield :- Moºs
ºrake, Ruggles Wincheſ, and enjº
( 61 )
Barber of Weſtfield, the latter is dead.
Mr. Wolcott, from Windſor–Daniel and
Roſwell Magguet of Hartford, the latter is
dead. Thomas Comſtock and Mr. Weed
of Newhartford: Capt. Silas Crane, Robert
Patrick, Aſhbel Bowen, John Newcomb,
and James Dean of Lebanon; Dean, Bow-
en and Newcomb are dead. Abraham
Knap and myſelf, of Norfolk. Giles and
Nathaniel Hull, James Stoddert, and Thad-
deus Bradley of Saliſbury; Nathaniel Hull
is dead. Ephraim Caſe and Hezekiah Reu,
from º the latter is dead. John
Fiſk and Eliſha Hale of Wallingford. Tim-
othy Hotchkiſs and David Hotchkiſs, of
Waterbury. John Hyde, William Silk-
rag, Jonathan Lyon, and William Davis,
of Strafford or Derby: Mr. Hyde is dead.
We ſailed in the Gulf of Mexico, in
company with a veſſel from Connecticut,
tommanded by Captain Weſt Goodrich, of
Durham, Mr. Iſrael Burnet, mate, on bºard
of which was Capt. Ladley of Hartford,
ſince dead; General Lyman of Suffield,
dead : Hugh White, now the noted Judge
White of Whiteflown, but then from Mid-









( 6.2 )
a
dletown : Thomas and James Lyman,
from Durham, the latter dead, Capt Elſ.
worth, Ira Whitmore, and — Sage,
from Middletown ; and Major Early of
Weathersfield.
In a veſſel that followed us, the O&to-
ber following my ſailing on my firſt voyage,
there went to the ſame place, James Har-
mon and family, and Elnathan Smith, of
Suffield; William Hurlburt and Elijah
Leonard, of Springfield, with a number of
ſlaves.
On my ſecond voyage I ſailed in a veſ.
ſel commanded by Capt. Eggleſton, Seth
Dowd, mate, with whom went paſſengers
Major Timothy Dwight with a wife and
one child; Sereno and Jonathan Dwight,
of Northampton : Sereno is dead. Benja-
min Day, and family: Harry Dwight and
three ſlaves; Joſeph Leonard and Joſiah
Flowers, with their families, from Spring-
field; Mr. Leonard and his wife, and Mrs.
Flowers are dead : the Rev. Mr. Smith,
and family, from Granville, Maſſachuſetts;

( 63 )
Mr. Smith is dead. The wife of Elnathan
Smith and family, who on her arrival found
her huſband was dead ; Madam Lyman
with three ſons and two daughters, child-
ren of General Lyman, whom with one ſon
ſhe found dead on her arrival, the know-
ledge of which loſs ſhe ſurvived but a few
days; and John Felt and family, from
Suffield : of the bravery and death of Mr.
Felt, with the deſtruction of his family by
the indians, the reader will recollect partic-
ular mention is made in my narrative.
THERE were ſeveral others who ac-
companied me in my two voyages, whoſe
memories I ſhall ever reſpect, although
their nanaes have eſcaped my recollection.
Having aimed at truth and plain narrative
only, without venturing in a ſingle inſtance
to ſacrifies truth in order to amuſe; the ad-
venturer and compiler reſpectfully take
leave of the reader, hoping that the au.
thenticity of the hiſtory will in ſome mea-
ſure atone for any literary defects, which
his or her ſuperior diſcernment may per-
seive.
ERRATA.
In page 16, fourth line, for Stonington
read Lebanon. In page 26, fourth line
from the bottom, for north-weſtward, read
north-eaſtward. In page 72, firſt line, for
General Lyman of Maſſachuſetts, read, of
Suffield, in Connecticut. Page 73, third
line, from the top, for Major Lyman, read
Major Dwight. Page 83, firſt line, for 2d.
of November, read 22d.




D1st Ric T or VERM on T, to wrºr.
E it remembered, that on the tenth day
of July, in the twenty-ſeventh year of
the Independence of the United States of
America, Anthony Haſwell of the ſaid diſ.
trict, hath depoſited in this office, the title
of a book, the right whereof he claims as au-
thor, in the words following, to wit,
“ Memoirs and adventures of Capt. Mat-
“ the w Phelps, formerly of Harwing-
“ ton in Connecticut, now resident in
“ Newhaven, Vermont, particularly in
“ two voyages from Connecticut to the
* Mississippi, from December 1773 to
** October 1780.
* Heaven from all creatures hides the
“ book of fate,
* All but the page prescrib'd their
“ present state.”
Pop E.
* Happy the man who sees a God em-
“ plo 'd,
“ In all the good and ill that chequers
… life.”
Cowper.
“ Compiled from the original journal
“ and minutes kept by Mr. Phelps, dur-
“ ing his voyage and adventures, and
“ revised and corrected according to his
“ present recollection,
* By ANTHoNY HAsw ELL.”
In conformity to an act of the Congreſs of
the United States, intituled, “An act for

*g
&
* ,
º
º
the encouragement of learning by ſecuring
the copies of maps, charts and books to
the authors and proprieters of ſuch copies,
during the time therein mentioned.”
CEPHAS SMITH, Jun.
Clerk of the Diſtrict of Vermont.
A true copy of record,
Atteſt,
CEPHAS SMITH, Jun. Clerk.
LIST or
subscrib FR’s NAMEs,
Alphabetically arranged according to the
town of their residence.
A.
Arlington.
Conſtant Barney
Jonathan Baker
Robert Buck
Tyrus Hurd,
Eli Hawley
Belus Hard
Andrew, Hurd
Adin Hines
Wait Hollibert
Eliſha Hawley
Joſeph Imus
James Lockwood
Simeon Littlefield
John Marble
Richard Smith
Samuel Wilmot
Philip Waſhbourn
Addison.
Wm. C. Duſingbury
Nathaniel Park is
Adams, Massachu.
Chad Brown
* homas Skinner
B
Bennington.
Thomas Abel
Robert Auſtin,
Zephºniah Armſtrong
Roger Booth
Samuel Blackmaer
Abraham Burrall
Wilber Blackmer 3.
Samuel Buck 12.
Thomas Bumford,
Wheeler Branch.
Luther Bliſs
Nathaniel Bruſh jun.
Calvin Bingham
Amos Bingham
Jonas Fay Billings
Reuben Battles
Joſeph Beeman
Thomas Crawford
Samuel Crafts
Wait Church 2,
James Clark
Horatio Clark
Z.


[ II .
Simeon Chandler
P. and S. Dewey
Daniel Diver
Eldad Dewey
Uriah Edgerton
Jeſſe Field
David Fay
Jonas Fay
Reuben Foſter
He man A. Fal
Charles Foliet
John Farnſworth
Aſa Fiſk
Ethan A. Fay
Joſhua Griſwold
Fivekiel Harmon
Abraham Hatheway
ſomer Hull
Joſeph Harwood
leazer Hawks,
John Hixon
Joſeph Hinſdill
Simeon Hatheway
William Hawks
Iſaiah Hendryx,
Aaron Hubbell
Elias Hull,
Cyrus Hill
Joſeph Houſe
John Henry
Moſes Hurd
Ebenezer Harris
Elnathan Hubbe)
Richard Mulheran
Jonas Harwood
Ira Haynes
John Hull
Loan Jewet
Thomas A. Keys
Welcome Luther
Pit Lawrence
Henry Lyman
Micah J. Lyman
Simeon Lyon
Jeſſe Loomis
Solomon Morſe
Ebenezer Martin
Nathan Millings
Roſwell Moſeley
Silas Matteſon
Charles Nairn 3.
Robert Naper
Robert Nichols
James Nichols
Martin Norton
John Neuland
James Patten
Honeyman Potter
David Robinſon,
Silas Rice
Safford Robinſon
Samuel Robinſon 2d
Alden Ripley
Charles Rice
Jonºa. E. Robinſon
Benjamin Bice




III ||
Nathan Robinſon
Samuel Robinſon
2.
Syl's. Ruttenburgh
Elijah Robinſon
William Richards
Moſes Robinſon
Aaron Robinſon
Jonathan Robinſon
Iſrael Roach
Stephen Rice
Eleazer Ripley
Iſaac Rice,
Joſeph Rudd
Gaius Smith
Samuel Safford
Andrew Selden
Joſeph Safford,
Samuel Scott
Wm. G. Sickels
Peter A. Storey
Phineas Scott
Daniel Spooner
Noah Smith
Iſaac Sage
Daniel H. Storey
Levi Smith
Henry Smith
Auſtin Stiles
Solomon Safford
Simeon Thayer
Jeſſe Tinney
Iſaac Tichenor
Joel Thomas jun.
2.
Job Vaught
Thomas Wilder
Ebez’r. Wałbridge 6
Joſeph Wadſworth
Oliver Waters
Jonºa. Wentworth
Iſaac Webſter
Benjamin Webb
Andrew Wood
David Weeks
Thomas G. Wait
Job Wood.
Aldolph's Walbridge
Henry Wakelee
Samuel B. Young
Bensow.
David Brigs
Alexander Edſon
Joſiah Goodrich
Beriah Woodward
Bristol.
Robert Dunſhee
Brandon.
Nathan Freeman
Calvin Field
Joſiah Roſſeter
Brattleborough
Royall Tyler
Benjamin Smead
Broº-ºº.
Reuben Bigelow
Clarena/en.
Edward Arnold
I TV
Nathan Buck
Luther Cotton
Benjamin Cuſhman
Daniel Dyer
Daniel I. French
Philip Green
Theoph. Harrington
Joſeph Holden
John Hill
Nathºl, T. Moſeley
Eliſha Robinſon
George Rounds
Lewis Walker.
Castleton.
Corp.’s D Board 2
Philetus Bliſs
William Beach
Nathan HDenniſłon
Aurºra W. Hyde
Jºhn Morrel
David Porter
Jeſſe Troll
Walter Vanorder
Cambridge.
Ira Fiſk
Cavendish.
John Coffin 2
Cornwall.
Aſahel Field
Jacob Peek
Timothy Sampſon
William Slade
Benjamin Sanford
Timothy Squier
Cambridge, M. 1.
Paul Cornel
Ebenezer Dwinnolds
Joſeph Stewart
Beardſley Hendryx
Iſaac Prime 2
Cornwall, Connect.
Haman Swift.
Co/rain, Mass.
Robºt D. N. Taggart
D
Dorset.
Jonathan Armſtrong
Jonathan Blackmer 2.
Francis Barto
Aaron Barras
Thomas Barney
Benjamin Baldwin
Zachariah Boothe
James Brinton
Samuel Collins
Benjamin Deming
John Gray
Joſeph Hunt
Luther Hills
Collins Hecock
Juſtus Holly
John Kelly
Martin Kent
Jehn Lamiere
Peter Langdon
David MºCullock


V
William Manley
Stephen Martindale
Foſter Paddock -
Humphr. Richardſon
Joſhua Raymond
James I. Stewart
William Soper
Titus Sykes
John Shumway
Iſaac Sykes
Abraham Underhill
James Underhill
Iſaac Underhill
Paoli Wells
Danº//e.
William A. Griſwold
William Mattocks.
E
Essex.
Edmond Evans.
F -
Fairhaven.
Iſaac Cutler 12
Nathaniel Dickinſon
David Erwin
Silas Safford.
Ferrisburgh
Gideon Hawley
G.
Guil/ord,
Elijah Wadſworth
Granville
Wadſworth Bull
Georgia
John Todd.
H
Hubbardton
David Rumſey
David Rumſey, jun.
Aſooyºº.
Moſes Armſtrong
James Breeſe
Henry Breeſe
Samuel Crary
Daniel Hollenbach
Benjamin Heartt
Aaron Haynes
Jeſſe Potter
John Potter
John Scott
Ulpianus Snyder
Garret Vanhouſen jun
Hartford, W 7-
George W. Clark
Jaſon Havens
Hampton. A 1
Luther Bebins
Hardwick, Mass.
Joſeph Whipple
Ira
John Bates
Z 2
-

* VI
Nathan Collins
Solomon Collins
David Parker
Elias Prindle
George Sherman
Nathaniel Wilmot
ſ
jericho
Fºdward Beals
Iſaac Booth
Noah Chittenden
Rhoderic Meſſenger
Nathaniel Wilſon.
A.
Londonderry
Rufus Thayer
A/
Manchester
Abel Allis
Iſaac Burton.
Eli Brownſon
Sylveſter Cheeſbrow,
Jonathan Gilbert
Gideon Ormſby
Robert Pierpoint
Chriſtopher Roberts.
Andrew Richardſon.
John W. Robinſon
Andr. Richardſonjun
Serenus Swift
Richard Skinner
Truman Squier
John Hopkins
Shubael Hendee
Gideon Ormſby
Samuel Strait
Middlebury
Thomas Archibald
Daniel Chipman
John Chipman
Mark Doolittle
D. H. Griſwold
Joſhua Hyde
Aaron Haſtings
Ebenezer Markham.
Samuel Mattocks,jun
Nathaniel Monger
Ezra Poſt
Ephraim Spaulding
John Willard
Monkton
Aſa W. Barnum.
Morris Smith
Joſeph Willoughby
Middletown
John Burnham 3d.
Jonathan Brewſter
Mountholly
Aſahel Clark
M?/ºon,
Samuel Church
Thaddeus Dewey
Gideon Hoxſe
Benjamin Hill,
E VII T
Stephen Iriſh
Solomon Wyman
Marlborough
Jonas Whitney
- N
Mesºzººn.
Miles Bradley
Jeſſe Byington
Andrew S. Bennet
Daniel Beeman
Samuel Cook
William Eno
Reuben Hill
Aaron Haſkins
James Matthews
Iſaac Matthews
James Mallary
Iſſachat Norton
Calvin Nichols
Anna Nobles
Benjamin Ruſſel
Nathan Rice
Benjamin Spencer
Bernice Snow
David Smith,
Joſeph Starkweather
Calvia Thomas
A/ºw lºor;
Joſeph Fay
0 ºvºſº.
Charles B. Briſtol
Luther drown
Ebenezer Field jun.
Archibald Brewer
Samuel Griſwold
Nathaniel Griſwold
Jaſon Kinſley
David Leonard
Ruſſel Noble
Weſtley Perkins.
John White
Ebenezer Wilſon
Rufus Walker
Pownal.
Jedediah Ayleſworth.
James Ayleſworth
Wanton Ayleſworth
Richard Brown 3.
Jared Blood
Joſeph Barber
Francis Bates jun.
James Curtis
Obadiah Dunham
Nathan Eldridge
Daniel Eldred
Caleb Gibbs
Joſhua Matterſonjuns.
Lewis Marquiſſee
William Murray
John Noble
Roger Noble
William Oviatt.
William Phelps
Ichabod Paddock
Benoni Thompſon
Gideon Towſley








[ VIII
Silas Watſon
Joſiah Wright
Moſes Warren
Samuel Wright
Moſes Wright
Elijah Welch
Abel Dimmock
Pawler.
Joſiah Adkins
Caleb Allen
Daniel Church
John Cobb
Eliſha Clark
John S. Conklin
Ozias Clark
Ephraim Fitch
Nathaniel Hamblin
William Potter
Jedediah Reed
John Sergeant
Aaron Sanford jun,
John Willard jun.
Poultney.
John Broughton
Samuel Buckland
Timothy Cruttenden
Benjamin Gideons
Anna Hosford
George Kingſbury
Zuriel Lewis
James Satterlie
John Shumway
Pitsford.
Abſalom ſºarinum
William Baxter
Alexander Ewen
Moſes Hickock
Stephen Hickock
Martin Keeler
Amos Kellog
John Penfield
Fº
Rºland
Frederick Billington
Daniel Ball
Joſeph Barney
George Buck
Benjamin Blanchard
Timothy Blanchard
Ephraim Blanchard
Darius Chipman
Gerſhom Cheney
Ralph Coffin
John Cook
Amos Curtis
David Darby.
James Ewen
Levi Foot
Henry Gould
Samuel Gordon
John A. Graham
L. L. D.
Nathan Burr Graham
Iſaac Green
Lombart Hart

[ IX 1
Frederick Hill
Ara Hendrick
Oliver Hartwell
William Hartwell
Eliſha Haſkins
Samuel Lewis
William Lee
Garret Lawrence
Abner Moon
Abner Mead
Solomon Purdy
Iſſachar Reed,
Ahimaaz Reed
Abel Spencer
David Smith
Solomon Smith
Preſton Southwick
Aſa Squiers
William Sanders jun.
Joſiah Taylor
Chriſtopher Webber
Oliver Whitney
Samuel Walker
Stephen Williams
Jonathan Whipple
Reupert
Timothy Clark,
Samuel Danforth
Jeſſe Elwell
Levi Johnſon
Joſeph Leverett
Seth P. Sheldon
Afhbel Sykes
David Sheldon
John Sheldon
Aſaph Shelden
Shoreham
Barnabas Ames
Benjamin Bailey
Aſhbell Catlin
Hoſea Catlin
Noah Callender
Ephraim Doolittle
James Fiſk
Timothy Goodale
Ruſſel Harington
William Johnſon
James Moor
Daniel Newton
Liberty Newton
John Ormſby
William Pond
Ira Pond
Charles Rich
Silas Reynolds
Simon Robinſon
Amos Stanley
Elijah Wright
Shaftsbury
Aſa Burnham
Peleg Cole
Charles Dyer
Ebenezer Denio
Ebenezer Dwinnolds
Reuben Farnham.
Jonas Galuſha

[ X |
Thaddeus Harris
Nathan Harris
Amos Huntingtonjun
Samuel Luther
Joſhua Munro -
Zerubable Matteſon 2
Schuyler Matteſon
Edward Moore
John H. Olin
Gideon Olin -
Stephen Sturdevant
Sampſon Simms
Peter Wright
Nicholas Weaver
David Whitney
Stamford
Nathan Burlingame
Bethuel Finney
Sylveſter Goodale
Calvin Stowel
William Wilber
Sandgate
James B. Burch
Hull Curtis
Aaron G. Ferris
Cyrus Hurd
Samuel Thomas
Snuderland.
Gilbert Bradley
Ethan Bradley
Hiram Chappell
Amos Chipman
Benjamin Lathrop
Iſaac S. Smith
Sudbury.
Othniel Field
Daniel Murray
Elijah Wentworth
Jacob Wilſon
Shewsbury.
Jonathan Chaplin
Nathan Finney
Salisbury.
Gerſhom Beach
Salem (N. Y.)
Aſa Hull
Edward Harris
Alexander M'Niſh
Charles Reed 13
Simon Smith jun.
Robert Wire
Springfield. (M. 1.)
Conſtant Brown
Schodack (M. 1.)
Abijah Smith
T
Timmouth.
Zenas Allen
Dexter B. Brown
Eraſtus Barker
Claudius Brittle
Auguſtus Crampton
Eliſha Hambleton
Abel Kinney
Joſeph Newell
Jared Porter

I XI
Samuel Royce
Eliſha Utley
Samuel Wilford
Tunbridge.
Seth Paine
Troy.
John G. Freylie
Wergennes.
Gideon Spencer jun.
Enoch.D Woodbridge
º
Jºells.
Joſeph Bodfiſh
Samuel Broughton
Joſeph Button
Stephen Clark
Benjamin Cook
Samuel Culver
Andrew Clark
Jeſſe Doud
Anna Doud
David Dunning
Rufus Glaſs
Samuel Glaſs
Anſel Godſpeed
Joſiah Goodſpeed
Socrates Hotchkiſs
Gill Mallary
Joſeph Munſon
Iſrael Merriman
Seth Potter
Jeſſe Parſons
John Potter
Joſhua Parks 3
Peter Stevens
David Ward
Whiting.
Philander Adams
Samuel Beach
Joſiah Curtis
Paul Hyde
Aaron Mack
Ebenezer Wheelock
Amos E. Walker
J/oodstock.
Roſwel ſºarinet
Wººdser.
Auguſtus Conant
Jeremiah Griſwold
Thomas B. Melville
Nahum Mower
William S. M'Leod
Simeon C. Rumreil
John A. Stephens
Samuel Severance
//es tº inster,
Lot Hall
Weathersfeld.
David Haywood
Willsborough. W. 1.
Henry Knoulton
Abijah Perry
( XII )
Nathan Perry Thomſon J. Skinner
//7//?ams toº. Ezra Baker
William Towner
Wames omited by mistake, the papers on
which they were returned, being mislaid
at the time of making out the general
list.
Heman Robinſon, Bennington. Elihu
Andrus, Tinmouth, Joſeph Munſon, He-
bron. John Wyman, Wells, Edward C.
Tabor, Hardwick. Joſeph Owen, Wind-
sor, (Mass.) John Adams Williams'
College. Henry Dearborn, do. Thomas
P. Baldwin, do. Rodolphus Dickinſon,
do. Phinehas Cooke, do. Frederick Car-
ter, Bridport. -