Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Colonel Nicolls' Proclamation

From Jim's blog, Palms-Americana:

During the War of 1812 the British sent Colonel Edward Nicolls to the Apalachicola River region located in Spanish Florida to build a British post. Its purpose was to recruit and train Seminole Indians and runaway slaves he built the fort just 60 miles south of the US territory line. When the British pulled out of Florida at the end of the war they left the fort well equipped with cannons, ammunition, guns and kegs of black powder.
 
At Pensacola on August 29, 1814, Nicolls issued a widely disseminated proclamation to the people of Louisiana, urging them to join forces with the British and Indian Allies against the American government. 

Note:  The original proclamation can be seen at the Louisiana Digital Library online.
Nicholls exhorts Louisianians to rise up against their "faithless, imbecile government" and assist the British "liberation" effort. The manuscript copy is certified by Governor W. C. C. Claiborne.

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