II. ARKANSAS POST AND THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR

D. Captain Colbert Raids Arkansas Post

4. The April 17, 1783, Raid

e) The Recoil from Arkansas Post

As Captain Colbert was preparing to reboard the bateau, he, to signify his intention to return, drove a tomahawk into the ground. Forty men having taken position at the oars, the little flotilla cast off and headed downstream, breasting a heavy swell. Aboard the crowded bateau, the prisoners were harassed and threatened. One of Colbert’s Sons pointed his carbine at Lieutenant de Villars and pulled the trigger. Fortunately for the Spaniard, the flint failed to strike a spark and there was no discharge.

Captain Dubreuil did not panic, and he ignored Colbert’s latest threat. Earlier in the day, Baptiste Saussie, the post interpreter, had been sent to Kappa, the Quapaw village upstream and across the river from the post. The chief, Caiguaioataniga, despite Saussie’s pleas, refused “to take part in a white man’s war without orders from Angaska.” But it would be some time before he could expect to hear from Angaska, so no help came from Kappa.

At 12 o’clock, the hour Colbert had promised to return with 500 Chickasaws and two bateaux loaded with men and cannons, Chief Angaska finally reached Fort Carlos III. After Dubreuil had berated him for allowing the pirates to ascend the Arkansas without alerting the Spaniards, Angaska explained how he had been deceived by the Chickasaws. Upon learning that the post was under attack, Angaska had called for his warriors. Valuable time was lost in rallying them, because they had scattered to the woods to hunt roots to feed their families, who were without food as a result of the failure of the previous year’s harvest.

After listening to the chief’s explanation, Commandant Dubreuil determined to employ him in an effort to recover the prisoners carried off by the raiders. Accompanied by 100 Quapaw warriors and 20 soldiers of the Louisiana Regiment, Angaska started in pursuit of the partisans.

Angaska overtook the foe on April 24, camped 3 leagues below the mouth of the Arkansas River. His men took cover, and Angaska visited Colbert’s camp.

Meeting with the partisans, he told Captain Colbert that he came to free the prisoners. Colbert inquired, ‘How many men do you have?”

“Two hundred and fifty,” was the reply, and “if he wished to assure himself more concerning the number that he might send one to visit the camp.”

Bluffed, Colbert decided to forego this opportunity.

He then released to Angaska all his prisoners, except four soldiers, a boy, and three slaves. Among those given their freedom were Lieutenant and Madame de Villars and their two servants-- Madelaine and Jacques. Undismayed by the faithlessness of Labadie and others, Colbert allowed Lieutenant de Villars, prior to his liberation, to sign a document obligating himself to obtain the release of Captain Blommart and four other Natchez rebels. If they were not at New Orleans, he promised to ascertain their whereabouts and notify Colbert. Should he fail to secure their release, he promised to surrender to Colbert by August 1 or pay a ransom of 2,000 piastres.[108]

When he forwarded his report of the attack to Acting-Governor Miró on May 5, 1783, Captain Dubreuil wrote that all the garrison had performed their duties with valor. Cited by name for their gallantry were Sergt. Alexo Pastor, Pvt. 1st Class Josef Plaseras, Pvts. 2d Class Lucas T. Perez and Sebastian Molina, and Pvts. Mariano Barrios, Bruno Cuisasola, Antonio Longines, Antonio Lopez, and Mariano Perez.

In repulsing the rebels, all the ammunition and most of the cannon projectiles had been expended. Working parties since the attack had been turned to and had salvaged as many projectiles as possible. To augment the supply of lead, the habitants had been called on to turn in any they might have at the storehouse.[109]