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Jackson wrote to Governor Zuniga on April 23, 1816:

"I am charged by my Government to make known to you that a Negro fort, erected during our late war with Britain … is now occupied by upwards of two hundred and fifty Negroes, many of whom have been enticed from the service of their masters, citizens of the United States; all of whom are well-clothed and disciplined. Secret practices to inveigle Negroes from citizens of Georgia, as well as from the Cherokee and Creek nations of Indians, are still continued by this banditti and the hostile Creeks. This is a state of things which cannot fail to produce much injury to the neighboring settlements, and excite Irritations which eventually may endanger the peace of the Nation; and interrupt that good understanding which so happily exists between our Government.

"The principles of good faith which always insure good neighborhood between nations, require the immediate and prompt interference of the Spanish Authority to destroy or remove from our frontier this banditti, put an end to an evil of so serious a nature, and return to our citizens and friendly Indians inhabiting our territory those Negroes now in said fort…. I reflect that the conduct of this banditti is such as will not be tolerated by our government, and if not put down by Spanish authority, will compel us, in self defense, to destroy them."