Autographs for Freedom, Volume 2 | Page 4

recognisance, and returned, making report that "the
fortification was not accessible by land."[2]
Orders were then issued to Commodore Patterson, directing him to
carry out the directions of the Secretary of War. He at that time
commanded the American flotilla lying in "Mobile Bay," and instantly
issued an order to Lieut. Loomis to ascend the Appalachicola River
with two gun-boats, "to seize the people in BLOUNT'S FORT, deliver
them to their owners, and destroy the Fort."
On the morning of the 17th Sept., A. D. 1816, a spectator might have
seen several individuals standing upon the walls of that fortress
watching with intense interest the approach of two small vessels that
were slowly ascending the river, under full-spread canvas, by the aid of
a light southern breeze. They were in sight at early dawn, but it was ten
o'clock when they furled their sails and cast anchor opposite the Fort,

and some four or five hundred yards distant from it.
A boat was lowered, and soon a midshipman and twelve men were
observed making for the shore. They were met at the water's edge by
some half dozen of the principal men in the Fort, and their errand
demanded.
The young officer told them he was sent to make demand of the Fort,
and that its inmates were to be given up to the "slaveholders, then on
board the gun-boat, who claimed them as fugitive slaves!" The demand
was instantly rejected, and the midshipman and his men returned to the
gun-boats and informed Lieut. Loomis of the answer he had received.
As the colored men entered the Fort they related to their companions
the demand that had been made. Great was the consternation
manifested by the females, and even a portion of the sterner sex
appeared to be distressed at their situation. This was observed by an old
patriarch, who had drunk the bitter cup of servitude, one who bore on
his person the visible marks of the thong, as well as the brand of his
master, upon his shoulder. He saw his friends faultered, and he spoke
cheerfully to them. He assured them that they were safe from the
cannon shot of the enemy--that there were not men enough on board
the vessels to storm their Fort, and finally closed with the emphatic
declaration: "Give me liberty or give me death!" This saying was
repeated by many agonized fathers and mothers on that bloody day.
A cannonade was soon commenced upon the Fort, but without much
apparent effect. The shots were harmless; they penetrated the earth of
which the walls were composed, and were there buried, without further
injury. Some two hours were thus spent without injuring any person in
the Fort. They then commenced throwing bombs. The bursting of these
shells had more effect. There was no shelter from these fatal messages.
Mothers gathered their little ones around them and pressed their babes
more closely to their bosoms, as one explosion after another warned
them of their imminent danger. By these explosions some were
occasionally wounded and a few killed, until, at length, the shrieks of
the wounded and groans of the dying were heard in various parts of the
fortress.

Do you ask why these mothers and children were thus butchered in
cold blood? I answer, they were slain for adhering to the doctrine that
"all men are endowed by their Creator with the inalienable right to
enjoy life and liberty." Holding to this doctrine of Hancock and of
Jefferson, the power of the nation was arrayed against them, and our
army employed to deprive them of life.
The bombardment was continued some hours with but little effect, so
far as the assailants could discover. They manifested no disposition to
surrender. The day was passing away. Lieut. Loomis called a council of
officers and put to them the question, what further shall be done? An
under officer suggested the propriety of firing "hot shot at the
magazine." The proposition was agreed to. The furnaces were heated,
balls were prepared, and the cannonade was resumed. The occupants of
the Fort felt relieved by the change. They could hear the deep humming
sound of the cannon balls, to which they had become accustomed in the
early part of the day, and some made themselves merry at the supposed
folly of their assailants. They knew not that the shot was heated, and
was therefore unconscious of the danger which threatened them.
The sun was rapidly descending in the west. The tall pines and spruce
threw their shadows over the fortification. The roar of the cannon, the
sighing of the shot, the groans of the wounded, the dark shades of
approaching evening, all conspired to render the scene one of intense
gloom. They longed for the approaching night to close around them in