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Mont to Guemes re: English Preparing for War* (F6)

Source: Various letters #269

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Sir:
The departure of Matheo Rodriguez's schooner from this point was followed on the 10th inst., by the arrival of a small boat from Puerto Real. An explorer who came in her reports that a ship from London to the Port of Carolina* brings the news of the death of the Queen of Great Britain on November 20 of last year. Further, that the Count de Montijo, our Ambassador to that (the English) court having set forth the indubitable right of the Spanish crown to all the colonies south of latitude 33 degrees 30 minutes, our own Sovereign asked that they be released without resistance, the despatch of troops to hold them constituting an act of hostility. The answer to this was an order to prepare 60 ships of the line to take station off Cadiz, and at the same time to send Don Diego Ogletor with 800 regulars, 500 from England, and 300 from the Gibraltar garrison under the orders of a colonel, the best Engineer of the kingdom, Oglethorpe to have the supreme command of both Carolinas, and to receive all necessary assistance. He was expected this month with two frigates, one of 40 guns, and already in anticipation ordered the purchase of great supplies, now being stored in Georgia at all hazards. The Count de Montijo accordingly withdrew to Madrid, and the resolution of the English to send troops made war certain. Further, both Carolinas are acquainted with the designs of Habana against those Colonies for the month of March, having obtained the news from an English frigate that left the said port in August and transmitted the news at sea to another frigate encountered on its way to Carolina. Here, he continues, fortifications are under construction, and six thousand Chalaque Indians have been ordered to assemble to go to Georgia: the citizens of Old Carolina do not relish the command of Ogletor on account of his boldness and arrogance, and because they fear an interruption of their business. He reports that 4,000 men are said to be coming from Spain and a few warships to be joined by the Windward fleet; further that the English are asking the Spaniards to return the prizes taken in America, and that in Europe an English ship was captured by the Spaniards, all its crew put to death, and the ship taken to Alicante ; that the Dutch have captured a ship of ours in American waters, with a few persons of distinction who were being held as hostages until the return of the captures made ; that the Germans and French were bound by the closest ties of friendship, and that the former and the Russians had taken from the Turks many places and provinces, killing many people with but little loss on the part of the allies.
This is all that is reported by the spy, and it agrees with what Your Excellency has written to me. It is possible however that a visit to this place with this information is a ruse to cause us to suspend operations, if it is certain that he has, as he says, got hold of a plan without their knowledge, and I wonder that such piece of information as the withdrawal of our Ambassador should not have been communicated to these parts, upon which subject Your Excellency will know exactly what to say.
Having no further news, and begging, etc.Florida, February 15, 1738.

Montiano had just sealed the letter to Guemes when a cavalry soldier knocked on his office door.* The soldier had a letter for Montiano that had just arrived in an English piragua (canoe).* It was from the commanders of New Georgia.* The soldier relayed a bit of chit-chat he had with the sailors who had brought the letter.* They said Oglethorpe had arrived in Gualquini.* Considering the rumors of Oglethorpe’s preparations for war, they asked if St. Augustine’s sailors had seen any Spanish or English warships off the Florida coast.* They left after hearing there were no warships.*
Montiano opened the letter from Georgia. Surely this was the official confirmation of English battle intentions. 
Just the opposite. The commanders claimed to be overwhelmed with grief about the death of Indian king Pujoy.* They promised to search for the murderers and punish them, and restore the prisoners if they find them.* They said they wanted to maintain the good relations and treaty that Oglethorpe made with ex-governor Moral.* What treaty had Moral made with them? Did he give them permission to settle there? They may not have known that Moral was now in prison for disregards for Spanish authority.
The commanders also responded to Guemes’s note about the harbor pilot.* They said that only William Horten saw the pilot, and since Horten lives in Gualquini, they knew nothing of his answer.* They had neither seen nor heard from this pilot, and denied giving him permission to correspond with Guemes.*
Montiano contemplated this strange mis-match in sentiments. Why would the commanders be asking for peace while their general was preparing for battle? Were they just trying to trick Montiano? The next day, he wrote this latest update to Guemes.