II. ARKANSAS POST AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

C. Captain Colbert Intervenes

3. Captain Colbert Strikes

i) Other Successes Scored by the Rebel Blockade

Labadie and his companions leaned that the rebels had captured several other boats. In the fourth week of April, they had seized Lafon’s boat bound downstream from Ste. Geneviève with a cargo of corn and flour. An American member of the crew had joined Colbert’s band, while the other nine were confined in the jail with Labadie’s people. Other victims included a bercha belonging to Thomas Prince, who had also joined the rebels and had played a leading role in their capture; a pirogue front Arkansas Post manned by soldiers and the post baker; and an American scow loaded with flour.[62]

Madame Cruzat and Labadie were infuriated to learn that José Meson and his four American traveling companions had stopped at Colbert’s camp before meeting them, but had been allowed to proceed on giving their word that they would not warn anyone of the danger. Meson had also shared his “provisions and rum” with the rebels.[63]

j) Colbert Releases Some of the Prisoners

The British, during their 19-day captivity, held frequent meetings aboard the bateau and in Captain Colbert’s hut. From these meetings there “resulted many orders, and injudicious and opposing decisions, which most of the time were not executed, by the unheard-of insubordination of the individuals who made up the party.”

Some of the whites wanted to send Madame Cruzat and the other prisoners to the Chickasaw Nation to be held until ransomed by the release of Captain Blommart and the other Natchez rebels. To this neither Captain Colbert nor his son William, a Chickasaw war chief, would agree. Becoming disgusted with the conduct of some of his men, Captain Colbert remarked that if not for his fears that some misfortune might befall Madame Cruzat and her children, he would abandon “such disobedient people.”[64]

William Colbert, the Chickasaw chief, advised Madame Cruzat that it would be better for her to return to New Orleans rather than expose herself to the dangers incident to attempting to reach St. Louis.[65]

On the day of his arrival in camp, Colonel McGillivray drafted a “Parole of Honour,” whereby Labadie and nine fellow prisoners were to be released to go to New Orleans. It read:

We the Subscribers, prisoners of War to his Britannick Majesty, taken by Capt. James Colbert, do hereby engage upon our Word & Honor (comprehending therein, all that is good & sacred in men) that we will remain, and consider ourselves as prisoners of War, to return to any of the British Dominions if called upon, unless Exchanged for the men under mentioned, it is hereby understood that we not only Bind ourselves, but the Spanish Nation, whose Subjects we are.

John Blommart	Jacob Winfree	Wm. Eason
John Alston	John Turner	Parker Caridine
Joseph Holmes	John Green	John Smith [66]

Colbert and his men were induced to ransom Labadie’s bateau for 400 pesos, with Madame Cruzat signing a note for this sum, which was represented by a three-month promissory note to be paid “to Mr. Blommart when he comes off for the Chickasaws.” Labadie at the same time ransomed one of his blacks for a note for 250 pesos, payable in New Orleans.

On May 22, 1782, Colbert released Labadie, Fropé, seven crewmen, Madame Cruzat, her four Sons, and a black woman belonging to her. Labadie was handed a letter to Governor Gálvez, explaining the proposed exchange, stressing the humanity and consideration Colbert had shown his prisoners, and protesting “a matter that is prevalent in West Florida, particularly at Mobill, that is offering Great rewards to Indians for the Heads of particular Men in the Indian Country.”[67]