CHRONOLOGY OF ELLICOTT'S EXPEDITION TO RUN THE LINE OF DEMARCATION BETWEEN SPAIN AND THE U.S. 1795-1800
October 27, 1795
Treaty of San Lorenzo el Real (Pinckney Treaty).
Spain & U.S. settle boundary dispute between Florida & U.S. Territory as the 31st parallel of north latitude.
May 4,1796
U.S. President Washington appoints Major Andrew Ellicott as Commissioner
to survey & mark the U.S./Spanish boundary.
September 16,1796
Ellicott leaves Philadelphia to begin journey to Natchez
for meeting with Spanish commissioner & surveyor.
September 28,1796
Ellicott arrives in Pittsburgh,
where his military escort joins the expedition.
November 25, 1796
Arrival in Cincinnati.
December 8, 1796
Arrival in Louis Ville;
Ellicott hires a commissary to procure provisions for expedition.
December 17, 1796
Passes the mouth of the Tennessee River.
December 18, 1796
Arrival at the mouth of the Ohio River.
February 1, 1797
Detained overnight on the Mississippi River by a Spanish galley
February 2, 1797
Detained at Spanish fort at New Madrid for 2 days.
February 8, 1797
Arrival at Spanish fort at Chickasaw Bluffs.
February 5, 1797
Detained by Col. Howard, an "Irish gentleman in the service of His Catholic Majesty, who had two armed galleys with him".
February 19, 1797
Arrival at Walnut Hills where there are "considerable Spanish works".
February 24, 1797
Arrival in Natchez.
Begins lengthy correspondence with Baron de Carondolet and Gayoso concerning the Commencement of the Survey. (Spaniards begin long series of delaying excuses).
March 15, 1797
Ellicott's military escort arrives at Natchez. Spanish continue to delay.
July 1, 1797
Inhabitants elect committee to govern the new U.S. territory.
December 1, 1797
U.S. Army arrives in Natchez.
April 9, 1798
Ellicott leaves Natchez.
April 10, 1798
Arrival in Clarksville.
May 2, 1798
Sets up camp at Alston's Lake.
May 16, 1798
Commences the demarcation of the boundary.
June 7, 1798
Moves camp to Little Bayou Sara.
June 10, 1798
Gov. Gayoso informs Ellicott "of the hostile disposition of the Indians, and their determination to put a stop to the demarcation of the boundary.
June 17, 1798
Moves camp to Big Bayou Sara.
September 1, 1798
Moves to Thompson's Creek.
November 17, 1798
Arrival at the Pearl River.
January 4, 1799
Takes the Governor's barge to New Orleans.
February 23, 1799
Gayoso & Ellicott sign 4 reports -
2 in English, 2 in Spanish -
confirming all the work done before June 7, 1798.
March 17, 1799
Arrival in Mobile.
April 20, 1799
Arrival in Pensacola.
May 8, 1799
Ellicott rides to Conecuh, sets up camp, and erects observatory.
July 23, 1799
Ascends the Chattahocha to the Line.
August 23, 1799
Arrival at the mouth of the Flint River.
September 17, 1799
Indians attack, horses are stolen, cattle pen is broken down
and the Spanish schooner is plundered. Ellicott retreats downriver.
October 7, 1799
Arrival at St. Mark's (Apalachy).
October 22, 1799
Arrival in the Keys.
December 9, 1799
Arrival at the village of St. Simon's (Frederica).
February 7, 1800
Party sent to Okefonoke Swamp.
March 3, 1800
Astronomical part of boundary complete.
May 1, 1800
Arrival in Savannah,
sends U.S. schooner Sally to Mobile (Ft. Stoddert)
to protect "free navigation" on strategic Mobile River.
May 8, 1800
Leaves Savannah for Philadelphia.
May 18 1800
Arrival in Philadelphia.
A Line of Demarcation and Ellicott's survey of the 31st Parallel
by Gregory Spies
Treaty of San Lorenzo el Real (Pinckney Treaty).
Spain & U.S. settle boundary dispute between Florida & U.S. Territory as the 31st parallel of north latitude.
May 4,1796
U.S. President Washington appoints Major Andrew Ellicott as Commissioner
to survey & mark the U.S./Spanish boundary.
September 16,1796
Ellicott leaves Philadelphia to begin journey to Natchez
for meeting with Spanish commissioner & surveyor.
September 28,1796
Ellicott arrives in Pittsburgh,
where his military escort joins the expedition.
November 25, 1796
Arrival in Cincinnati.
December 8, 1796
Arrival in Louis Ville;
Ellicott hires a commissary to procure provisions for expedition.
December 17, 1796
Passes the mouth of the Tennessee River.
December 18, 1796
Arrival at the mouth of the Ohio River.
February 1, 1797
Detained overnight on the Mississippi River by a Spanish galley
February 2, 1797
Detained at Spanish fort at New Madrid for 2 days.
February 8, 1797
Arrival at Spanish fort at Chickasaw Bluffs.
February 5, 1797
Detained by Col. Howard, an "Irish gentleman in the service of His Catholic Majesty, who had two armed galleys with him".
February 19, 1797
Arrival at Walnut Hills where there are "considerable Spanish works".
February 24, 1797
Arrival in Natchez.
Begins lengthy correspondence with Baron de Carondolet and Gayoso concerning the Commencement of the Survey. (Spaniards begin long series of delaying excuses).
March 15, 1797
Ellicott's military escort arrives at Natchez. Spanish continue to delay.
July 1, 1797
Inhabitants elect committee to govern the new U.S. territory.
December 1, 1797
U.S. Army arrives in Natchez.
April 9, 1798
Ellicott leaves Natchez.
April 10, 1798
Arrival in Clarksville.
May 2, 1798
Sets up camp at Alston's Lake.
May 16, 1798
Commences the demarcation of the boundary.
June 7, 1798
Moves camp to Little Bayou Sara.
June 10, 1798
Gov. Gayoso informs Ellicott "of the hostile disposition of the Indians, and their determination to put a stop to the demarcation of the boundary.
June 17, 1798
Moves camp to Big Bayou Sara.
September 1, 1798
Moves to Thompson's Creek.
November 17, 1798
Arrival at the Pearl River.
January 4, 1799
Takes the Governor's barge to New Orleans.
February 23, 1799
Gayoso & Ellicott sign 4 reports -
2 in English, 2 in Spanish -
confirming all the work done before June 7, 1798.
March 17, 1799
Arrival in Mobile.
April 20, 1799
Arrival in Pensacola.
May 8, 1799
Ellicott rides to Conecuh, sets up camp, and erects observatory.
July 23, 1799
Ascends the Chattahocha to the Line.
August 23, 1799
Arrival at the mouth of the Flint River.
September 17, 1799
Indians attack, horses are stolen, cattle pen is broken down
and the Spanish schooner is plundered. Ellicott retreats downriver.
October 7, 1799
Arrival at St. Mark's (Apalachy).
October 22, 1799
Arrival in the Keys.
December 9, 1799
Arrival at the village of St. Simon's (Frederica).
February 7, 1800
Party sent to Okefonoke Swamp.
March 3, 1800
Astronomical part of boundary complete.
May 1, 1800
Arrival in Savannah,
sends U.S. schooner Sally to Mobile (Ft. Stoddert)
to protect "free navigation" on strategic Mobile River.
May 8, 1800
Leaves Savannah for Philadelphia.
May 18 1800
Arrival in Philadelphia.
A Line of Demarcation and Ellicott's survey of the 31st Parallel
by Gregory Spies