The disgruntled Spaniards continued to threaten war. Governor
Claiborne ordered Casco Calvo and Intendant Morales to quit the
territory of New Orleans. Soon after this a body of Spanish troops,
supported by Indian allies, assembled on the Sabine to menace the
American borders. In August a force actually crossed the Sabine and
advanced to Bayou Pierre, near Natchitoches, a hundred and twenty
miles west of Natchez.
General Wilkinson came from St. Louis to Natchez, and presently
advanced to Natchitoches at the head of a body of one hundred regulars
and five hundred militia. Late one afternoon in October word was
brought to Wilkinson in his tent that a young man of fine appearance
had arrived in camp, desiring to enlist as a volunteer. The general
gave orders to bring the man into his presence. The would-be soldier
was conducted immediately to headquarters, and there he imparted his
name and the real cause of his coming, his representation to the
sentinel being a ruse.
"Ah, you are Colonel Burr's confidential secretary; you have travelled
far and must be exhausted. You bring documents for me?"
"Yes, sir; my credentials are included with matters more important."
"You know the contents of the enclosure?"
"Only the general import. The sender of these missives has divulged
much to me. You may trust me."
"I trust you implicitly, Mr. Swartwout. The embassy on which you come
is of a delicate character, requiring discretion--as secret service
always does."
The general opened the package, and found that it contained three
separate papers. The first was a letter introducing Samuel Swartwout,
and vouching for his prudence, courage and trustworthiness. The other
two papers were in hieroglyphics. Wilkinson, smiling graciously,
turned to the messenger.
"Perhaps I had best be alone while I examine the other documents. I
will see that you are made comfortable."
An officer was summoned. "Captain Danvers, this gentleman is my guest.
Please see that he is suitably quartered and provided with a seat at
my table. He is the son of an old military acquaintance of mine."
The cipher agreed upon by Wilkinson and Burr was a composite of
arbitrary signs and of numerals representing letters of the alphabet.
The first riddle read by Wilkinson was a private letter to Burr from
General Dayton. Part of the contents ran thus: "Under the auspices of
Burr and Wilkinson, I shall be happy to engage, and when the time
arrives, you will find me near you. Write and inform me, by first
mail, what may be expected from you and your associates.... Wealth and
honor, courage and union, Burr and Wilkinson! Adieu."
The other communication was from Burr himself.
"Your letter, postmarked 13th May, is received. At length I have
obtained funds and have actually commenced. The eastern detachments
from different points, and under different pretences, will rendezvous
on the Ohio, 1st of November. Everything internal and external favors
our views. Naval protection of England is secured. Truxton is going to
Jamaica, to arrange with the admiral on that station. It will meet us
at the Mississippi. England, a navy of the United States, are ready to
join, and final orders are given to my friends and followers. It will
be a host of choice spirits. Wilkinson shall be second to Burr only,
and Wilkinson shall dictate the rank and promotion of his officers.
Burr will proceed westward 1st of August, never to return. With him go
daughter and grandson. The husband will follow in October, with a
corps of worthies. Send forwith an intelligent friend, with whom Burr
may confer. He shall return immediately with further interesting
details; this is essential to harmony and concert of movement. Send a
list of all persons known to Wilkinson west of the Alleghany
Mountains, who could be useful, with a note delineating their
character. By your messenger send me four or five of the commissions
of your officers, which you can borrow under any pretence you please.
They shall be returned faithfully. Already are orders given to the
contractor to forward six months' provisions to points Wilkinson may
name; this shall not be used until the last moment, and then under
proper injunctions. Our project, my dear friend, is brought to a point
so long desired. Burr guarantees the result with his life and honor,
with the lives and honor and the fortunes of hundreds, the best blood
of our country. Burr's plan of operation is to move down rapidly, from
the falls, on the 15th of November, with the first five hundred or
thousand men, in light boats now constructing for that purpose, to be
at Natchez between the 5th and 15th of December, there to meet you,
there to determine whether it will be expedient in the first instance
to seize on, or pass by, Baton Rouge ... on receipt of this send Burr
an answer ... draw on Burr for all expenses, etc. The people of the
country to which we are going are prepared to receive us; their
agents, now with Burr, say that if we will protect their religion and
will not subject them to a foreign power, that in three weeks all will
be settled. The gods invite us to glory and fortune; it remains to be
seen whether we deserve the boon. The bearer of this goes express to
you; he will hand a formal letter of introduction to you, from Burr;
he is a man of inviolable honor and perfect discretion, formed to
execute rather than project, capable of relating facts with fidelity,
and incapable of relating them otherwise. He is thoroughly informed of
the plans and intentions of ----, and will disclose to you, as far
as you inquire, and no further; he has imbibed a reverence for your
character, and may be embarrassed in your presence; put him at ease,
and he will satisfy you."
The eastern sky was flushed faintly with morning red before the
general finished deciphering this long message. Wilkinson saw that he
could no longer maintain an equivocal attitude, but must either yield
positively to Burr's proposals or denounce them. Early in the day he
summoned the messenger to his tent for a private interview.
"My dear sir," said the general, "you should be proud to be
recommended by such a man, in such language. Burr has absolute
confidence in your honor, fidelity, veracity and courage."
Swartwout answered with feeling and dignity.
"I hope I may prove myself worthy of his confidence and of yours. I
would not hesitate to risk my life for Colonel Burr or for his best
friend, General Wilkinson."
"That is very noble of you. Tell me, now that you are rested and
refreshed after your long journey, by what route did you come?"
"I came straight from Pittsburg, thence westward through Ohio and
Kentucky to Louisville, and from there on to St. Louis, expecting to
find you at that post. Learning that you had gone down the Mississippi
I followed in a skiff. I have been more than two months on the way
from Philadelphia to Natchitoches and have travelled fully fifteen
hundred miles."
"The document in your custody justified the difficult journey, Mr.
Swartwout. What information did you gather in the progress of your
trip, concerning our preparations?"
"I learned that, with the support of a powerful association extending
from New York to New Orleans, Colonel Burr is levying an armed body of
seven thousand men, with the view of carrying an expedition against
the Mexican provinces. Five hundred men are to descend the Alleghany,
for whose accommodation boats are ready."
"What will be the course of action?"
"This territory will be revolutionized. Some property will be seized
in New Orleans, I suppose. Our boats will be ready to leave in
February for Vera Cruz; the troops will march from there to the City
of Mexico."
"Does Colonel Burr know there are several millions of dollars in the
Bank of New Orleans?"
"We know that full well."
"Is it the intention to seize upon the deposits of private
individuals?"
"We mean to borrow, not to violate private property. We must equip
ourselves in New Orleans; we expect naval protection from Great
Britain. Of course, general, everything depends upon your
co-operation."
"Mr. Swartwout, the plans set forth in Colonel Burr's schedule are
admirable! You will readily perceive, however, that my part in
carrying them into effect must be manipulated with caution. I am
surrounded, as you see, by officers whom I must manage discreetly. It
is impossible that I should ever dishonor my commission. If I cannot
join in the expedition, the engagements which the Spaniards have
prepared for me in my front might prevent my opposing your operations.
Do you understand me?"
Burr's agent understood. He interpreted Wilkinson's language to mean
much more than it said, attributing to the commander a profound
sagacity which imposed reticence for causes beyond an ordinary man's
ken. His unsuspicious mind had been schooled by Burr to believe
implicitly in Wilkinson.
Swartwout was under engagement to join Burr at Nashville, and he
pressed for a letter which he might deliver to his chief. This request
Wilkinson evaded. Promising to return Burr a speedy answer, he
detained the envoy under various pretexts, bestowing upon him every
hospitable attention, and finally dismissed him with oral messages,
after having consumed ten days of his time.
Three days subsequent to the departure of Swartwout another messenger,
as secret and more swift, was dispatched from Natchitoches, bearing to
Washington City from the commander-in-chief, a full disclosure of the
plans of conspiracy, and fastening the charge of treason on Aaron
Burr. All the machinery of civil and military executive power was put
in motion in the districts over which Wilkinson's authority extended.
The information forwarded by Wilkinson's messenger reached Washington
City November 25, 1806. It was by no means the only evidence the
President had received, impeaching the loyalty of the eminent
politician. Daviess had written, and Morgan had written, and the
veiled witness in black had come in person with the facts reiterated
in Wilkinson's letter of exposure.
The President issued a proclamation, "warning and enjoining those who
had been led to participate in the unlawful enterprise, to withdraw
without delay, and requiring all officers, civil and military, of any
one of the States or Territories, to be vigilant, each within his
respective department, in searching out and bringing to punishment all
persons engaged or concerned in the undertaking."