History of the Maroons | Including the Expedition to Cuba and the Isla

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History of the Maroons

ABSTRACT

This account is based on the tales of relations of those who were involved in the uprisings of the late 1700s by the Maroons - escaped slaves in Jamaica who banded together in a community, but were constantly in conflict with the British. This 1803 account is more literary than historical.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

volume I|359 pages

The History of the Maroons.

chapter 1|21 pages

Subjects proposed.—Brief Account of the State of Jamaica at the Commencement of the French Revolution.—Prosperity.—Agriculture.— Trade.—Population.—Military Force.—Slavery.–Consolidated Act.—Affairs of St. Domingo.—Emigrations from that Island.—A Tribute of Gratitude and Admiration.—Overtures of the St. Domingo Planters to the British Ministry.—Expedition in Consequence, and Force detached from Jamaica.—All Manner of Slavery abolished by the French.—General Williamson, Lieutenant-Governor of Jamaica, succeeded by Earl Balcarres.

chapter Letter III|44 pages

Jamaica relinquished by the Spaniards.—Spanish Slaves left.—Juan de Bolas—Origin of the Maroons—Clarendon Insurrection.—The Depredations of the Rebels. They elect Cudjoe their Chief.—The Maroons encrease in Number.—Division of the Cottawood Party.—A Body of them join Cudjoe.—The whole Party united under him.—Kencuffees.—Cudjoe joined by the Madagascars.—The Appellation of Maroons extended to Cudjoe's Party.—Their mode of obtaining Arms and Ammunition.—General interest established among the Maroons of the different Parts of the Island.—The Government establishes advanced Posts.—Musquito Indians employed.—Cockpits described.—Maroon mode of War.—Cudjoe changes his Position.—Encreases the Party under his brother Accompong.—Progress of the War.—The Government makes formidable Preparations.—Determines first to offer Terms of Peace—Guthrie and Sadler march to Cudjoe's Town.—Russel sent in.—Description of Cudjoe.—Peace concluded.—Copy of the Treaty.

chapter 3|12 pages

Party sent to discover the Windward Maroon Town under Quao.—Burn some Huts.—Ambushed.—Party under Captain Adair sent to negotiate Peace with Quao.—Description of the Windward Maroon Settlement.—Savage Spirit of Revenge.—Dispute between the Regulars and Militia.—Peace concluded.—Difference in the Articles of the Treaty and those of Cudjoe's.

chapter Letter IV|43 pages

Maroon Towns.—Trelawny Town described.—The persons of the Maroons.—Perfection of their Senses. Distant Communications by a Horn.—Smell and Taste.—Language.—.Superstition.—Government of their Chiefs.—Office of Superintendant.—Laws relative to the Maroons.—Neglect of Regulations.—Existence of the Maroons as a distinct Body.—Useful to individuals and the Public.—Provision.—Grounds and Produce of their Tillage.—Food.—Stock.—Traffic.—Marriages.—Daughters.—Reception of White Visitors.—Funerals.—Observation on the Difference of the Towns.—Population.

chapter 5|45 pages

Causes of the Maroon War.—Previous Occurrences.—Description and Character of Major John James.—Old Montague.—Major James neglects the Office of Superintendant.—Superseded by Captain Craskell.—Insubordination of the Maroons.—Hopes place on Lord Balcarres.—Craskell driven from the Maroon Town.—The Punishment of Two Maroons by the Hand of a Slave.—Insolent Letter from the Maroons to the Magistrates of St. James's.—The Trelawney Militia proceed towards the Maroon Town.—Smith's Message.—Mediators go up to the Town.—Their Reception and Proceedings.—The Result of the Meeting.—Sensation produced in the Capital.—Opinions respecting an immediate Accommodation.—Peaceable Disposition manifested by the Maroons.—Their Humiliation and Submission.—The Militia discharged, end Regulars recalled.—Observations.

chapter Letter VI|45 pages

The Maroon Captains set out for the Capital.—Alarming Reports.—Martial Law.—Murenson's Declaration—The Lieutenant-Governor sets out for Trelawney.—The Success Frigate recalled.—The Maroon Captains arrested.—Proclamation.—Post at Wemyss Castle.—Lord Balcarres establishes his Head-Quarters at Vaughan's Field.—State of the Maroons.—Johnson and Smith called in.—Their Settlements burnt.—Surrender of a small Body of Maroons.—Their Reception.—Palmer and Parkinson sent back to Trelawney Town.—The Maroon Towns burnt.—Ferment of the Public.—Force collected.—Commencement of Hostilities.—Colonel Sandford advances to the Scite of the Old Town.—Consequence.—Colonel Gallimore killed.—The Maroons retire to Guthrie's Defile.—Progress of the War.—Dunbar, the Maroon.—The Troops take Possession of the Scite of the Old Town.—Chambers, the Accompong, shot.—A select Party of young Men offer to go in Pursuit of the Maroons.—Why rejected.—Major James leads a Party to the Entrance of Guthrie's Defile.—He is insulted by Mistake.

chapter Letter VII|22 pages

Plan of Operations.—Command given to Colonel Fitch.—General Reid advances with the Militia to Vaughans-field.—Parley between Colonel Fitch and the Maroons.—Dunbar and Harvey suffered to visit the Maroon Prisoners in Montego Bay Harbour.—Consequence.—Party protecting working Slaves ambushed.—General Animosity of the Slaves towards the Maroons.—Lieutenant Tomlinson.—Colonel Fitch and a Party go to Lee's post.—The Party ambushed.—Brisset and others killed.—Colonel Fitch killed.—Captain Lee mortally wounded.—Character of Colonel Fitch.—Lord Balcarres's Speech.—Murenson and Count La Fitte brought before the House of Assembly.—The former denies every Part of his Declaration.—The House of Assembly recommend to Lord Balcarres, that they and all the French be sent off.—Grant to Lord Balcarres during Martial Law.—Grant to the Accompong Maroons.—Two Companies of Free People of Colour raised.—Rewards for killing or taking a Trelawney Town Maroon.—State of the War.—Gloom cast over the Island.

chapter 8|28 pages

General Walpole appointed to the Command.—His System.—His first Operations.—Godly's Post attacked.—Lieutenant Richards engages a Party of the Maroons.—Fatal Error of his Serjeant.—General Walpole establishes Posts to the Eastward and Southward.—Arrival of a Reinforcement.—Colonel Skinner.—Stores and Coffee Houses at Nairne, and the Works at Amity Hall, burnt by the Maroons.—The Maroons, dislodged from the Cockpit at Guthrie's, tale possession of another. Forced to retreat.—Take a Position on a Height.—Driven from it.—Establish their Head-Quarters in Ginger Town Bottom.—Post at Guard Hill.—Johnson's Activity, and arbitrary Disposition.—Surprised, and compelled to fly.—A Party of Brown Men fall in with the Maroons.—Gallantry and Zeal of the Regiments of Militia in general.—Action between Captain Drummond and Johnson.—State of the Public Mind.—Council at Falmouth.—Petition of the Maroon Prisoners.—General Anxiety for a Termination of the War.

volume II|531 pages

The History of the Maroons.

chapter |40 pages

Letter IX.

chapter |31 pages

Letter X

chapter 3|50 pages

Letter XI

chapter 4|50 pages

Letter XII

chapter 5|22 pages

Letter XIII

chapter 6|38 pages

Letter XIV

chapter 7|43 pages

Letter XV

chapter 8|15 pages

Letter XVI

chapter 9|42 pages

Letter XVII

chapter 10|26 pages

Letter XVIII

chapter 11|25 pages

Letter XIX

chapter 12|56 pages

Letter XX

chapter 13|29 pages

Letter XXI