Another View of Gregor
MacGregor
The Swashbuckling Scot Who Ruled Amelia Island
The history of Amelia Island is abundant with colorful characters, but perhaps none
were more outlandish than Sir Gregor MacGregor, the Scottish-born General turned South
American freedom fighter who ruled the island for the summer of 1817.
On June 29, 1817, MacGregor led a ragtag band of troops to a victory over the Spanish
garrison that was in control of Amelia Island. The Spanish were caught completely by
surprise. General MacGregor's shrewd plan of attack resulted in only one shot being fired
- and that was by mistake!
Sir Gregor MacGregor gained control of Amelia Island
from Spain on June 29, 1817.
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Amelia Now has detailed these events in prior issues, but we recently came
across some new information. The following letters were written by General MacGregor and
printed in an issue of the New Hampshire Patriot dated July 29, 1817, less than a
month after his triumph on Amelia Island. They provide a first-person account of the
situation and make for some interesting reading. Enjoy!
PROCLAMATION
of the Liberating Army
Gregor Mac Gregor, Brigadier General of the armies of the United Provinces of New
Grenada and Venezuela, and general in chief of the armies for the two Floridas,
commissioned by the Supreme Director of Mexico, South America, &c.
To the inhabitants of the Island of Amelia:
Your brethren of Mexico, Buenos Aryes, New Grenada and Venezuela, who are so gloriously
engaged in fighting for that inestimable gift which nature has bestowed upon her children,
and which all civilized nations have endeavored to secure by social compact - desirous
that all the sons of Columbia should participate in the imprescriptable right - have
confided to me the command of the land and naval forces.
Peaceable inhabitants of Amelia! Do not apprehend any danger or oppression from the troops
which are now in possession of your Island, either for your persons, property or religion.
However various the climes in which they may have received their birth, they are
nevertheless your brethren and friends. Their first object will be to protect your rights;
your property will be held sacred and inviolable; and every thing done to promote your
real interests, by cooperating with you in carrying into effect the virtuous desires of
our constituents; thereby becoming the instruments for the commencement of a national
emancipation. Unite your forces with ours until America shall be plated with her high
destinies to that rank among the nations that the Most High has appointed. A country by
its extent and fertility offering the greatest sources of wealth and happiness.
The moment is important! Let it not escape without having commenced the great work of
delivering Columbia from that tyranny which has been exercised in all parts; and which, to
continue its power, has kept the people in the most degrading ignorance depriving them of
the advantages resulting from a free intercourse with other nations; and of that
prosperity which the arts and sciences produce when under the protection of wholesome
laws, which you will be enabled properly to appreciate, only when you will have become a
free people.
You who, ill-advised, have abandoned your homes, whatever may be the place of your birth,
your political or religious opinions, return without delay, and resume your wonted
occupations. Deprecate the evil counsels your enemies may disseminate among you. Listen to
the voice of honor! To the promises of a sincere and disinterested friend, and return to
the fulfillment of those duties which nature has imposed on you. He, who will not swear to
maintain that independence which has been declared, will be allowed six months to settle
his affairs, or to sell or remove his property without molestation, and enjoy all the
advantages which the laws grant in such cases.
MacGregor hoisted this flag, the Green Cross
of Florida, over Amelia Island in 1817.
_____________________________
Friends, or enemies of our present system of emancipation, whoever you be, what I say
unto you is the language of truth; it is the only language becoming a man of honor, and as
such I swear to adhere, religiously to the tenor of this proclamation.
Dated at headquarters, Amelia Island,
June 30th, 1817.
GREGOR MAC GREGOR
Jph. de Yribarren, Secretary
Another letter soon followed:
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS! The 29th of June will be forever memorable in the annals of the
independence of South America. On that day a body of brave men, animated by noble zeal for
the happiness of mankind, advanced within musket shot of the guns at Fernandina, and awed
the enemy into immediate capitulation, notwithstanding his very favorable position. This
will be an everlasting proof of what the sons of freedom can achieve when fighting in a
great and glorious cause, against a government which has trampled on all the natural and
essential rights which descend from God to man. In the name of the Independent Governments
of South America, which I have the honor to represent, I thank you for this first proof of
your ardor and devotion to her cause; and I trust that, impelled by the same noble
principles, you will soon be able to free the whole of the Floridas from tyranny and
oppression. Then shall I hope to lead you to the continent of South America to gather
fresh laurels in freedom's cause. Your names will be transmitted to the latest posterity
as the first who formed a solid basis for the emancipation of those delightful and
fruitful regions, now in a great part groaning under the oppressive hand of Spanish
despotism. The children of South America will re-echo your names in their songs; your
heroic deeds will be handed down to succeeding generation, and will cover yourselves, and
your latest posterity, with a never fading wreath of glory. The path of honor is now open
before you. Let those who distinguished themselves look forward with confidence to
promotion and preferment. To perpetuate the memory of your valor I have decreed, and do
decree, a shield of honor, to be worn on the left arm of every individual who has assisted
or cooperated in the reduction of Island of Amelia; this shield will be round, or the
diameter of four inches made of red cloth with this devise, "Vencedores de Amalia,
29th of June, 1817, 7 y 1," surrounded by a wreath of Laurel and Oak leaves,
embroidered in gold for the officers, in yellow silk for the men. The colours of the corps
of national artillery, the first squadron of cavalry, and the regiment of Columbia will
have the same device embroidered on the right angle of the colours. Long live the
conquerors of Amelia!
Dated at headquarters, San Fernandina
1st July, 1817, 7 & 1
GREGOR MAC GREGOR
Jph. de Yribarren, Secretary
The following is an extract of a letter from an officer in the Patriot Army to his
friend in Charlestown dated July 3, 1817:
"We arrived here on the memorable 29th of June, and after a march of ten miles
through the swamps, breast deep, we stormed the garrison, which surrendered to us with 70
prisoners. We are now in peaceable possession, and the inhabitants are well pleased. In a
few days we move forward to storm St. Augustine, where there are 500 men in a strong
garrison, and are determined to drive them out of it. Our 22 gun frigate, with 250 men,
from New York, is off the bar. We took two valuable schooners at Fernandina."
Extract of another letter, dated July 5:
"All is over without any fighting. We capitulated and got very good terms. The
General keeps his men in better order than could be expected."
It sounds as if Gregor MacGregor was quite a leader. Unfortunately, his stay on Amelia was
a short one. In September of 1817, he left the island to continue fighting the Spanish
throughout the Caribbean. He died in Caracas, Venezuela in 1845.
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