Another U.S. official, Capt. James Ramage, decided to force the issue of the transfer and sent word to Coppinger from U.S. Commissioner (and future governor of the Florida Territory) Andrew Jackson. Ramage had arrived on June 5. He told Coppinger that he had orders from Jackson to transport immediately all Spanish soldiers and government personnel in Florida to Cuba. Ramage wanted Coppinger to tell him the convenient time for doing so.
Coppinger basically replied to Ramage that he did not take his orders from Jackson or Jackson's designee. Not only was Coppinger the military governor of Spanish East Florida, but also a colonel in the Spanish Army, and he knew well the chain of authority for him. Coppinger reiterated his position — he was awaiting official orders to arrive on a ship from Havana.