.iiiiilil Hi.f wv i . I! ! It I i ! i hii! ! ! ! !'! ! i 'I m 1 "1 ' ttlkUtliirii) r >r It . I ' , [L lull ill III iiiii iCi! m I ^^^^ Smithsonian 1^ ^ Institution X^ilr Libraries Gift of ELEANOR SMALLWOOD NIEBELL in Memory of PAUL M. NIEBELL, SR. - lili,.. ym §M ^ THE OEIGIN, PROGRESS, AND CONCLUSION OF THE FLORIDA WAE TO WHICH IS APPENDED A RECORD OF OFFICERS, NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS, MUSICIANS, AND PRIVATES OF THE U. S. ARMY, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS, WHO WERE KILLED IN BATTLE OR DIED OF DISEASE. AS ALSO THE NAMES OF OFFICERS WHO WERE DISTINGUISHED BY BREVETS, AND THE NAMES OF OTHERS RECOMMENDED. TOGETHER WITH THE ORDERS FOR COLLECTING THE REMAINS OF THE DEAD TN FLORIDA, AND THE CEREMONY OF INTERMENT AT ST. AUGUSTINE, EAST FLORIDA, ON THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF AUGUST, 1842. JOHN T. SPRAGUE, BREVET CAPTAIN, EIG-HTH REGIMENT U. S. INFANTRY. NEW-YORK: D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY. PHILADELPHIA I GEO. S. APPLETON, 148 CHESNUT-STREET. M DCCC XLVIII. p. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1847, By D. APPLETON & COMPANY, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New- York. RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE ARMY, NAVY, AND MARINE CORPS OF THE UNITED STATES, By J. T. S. PREFACE. In presenting this volume to my comrades, and to the public, I am aware that I have much to answer for, but I have the satisfaction of feel- ing that my sins are those of omission, rather than commission. Frequent interruptions in the preparation of the work have compelled me to pass over incidents and events in too cursory a manner, involving much that is due to a faithful history of the Florida War, as well as to individual reputation and character. The voluminous correspondence illustrative of the origin of the war, appears at first sight to be a defence of the Seminole Agent, Colonel Gad Humphreys. This is not designed, nor is it necessary. The letters to and from the various parties connected with the General and Territorial Government, as well as the Talks of the Indian chiefs, speak for them- selves. They are official papers, records of the times, a part of a nation's history, and if they exhibit a state of affairs discreditable and pernicious', it is but right the facts should be known, that the remedy may be applied to the borders of our country, where the evil is liable to exist, thereby obviating bloodshed, sorrov/ and poverty. The causes of the difficulties in Florida must be apparent to the minds of careful and intelligent readers ; causes not springing up in a day, but nourished for years, aggravated as opportunities offered to enrich adventurers, who had the temerity to hazard the scalping-knife and rifle, and were regardless of individual rights or of law. It must be remembered that Florida, at the period referred to, was an Indian border, the resort of a large number of persons, more properly temporary inhabitants of the Territory than citi- zens, who sought the outskirts of civilization to perpetrate deeds which would have been promptly and severely punished if committed within the limits of a well regulated community. This is the case on all fron- tiers. It is unavoidable until well disposed citizens become so numerous as to exert the supremacy of law, when the innocent but too often suffer with the guilty. These temporary inhabitants of Florida, rather than its citizens, have had an active participation in the events that have trans- pired within her limits for twenty years past. They provoked the Indians to aggressions, and upon the breaking out of the war ignominiously fled, or sought employment in the service of .the General Government, and clandestinely contributed to its continuance. The Federal Government, without a regular force to intimidate the savage, and meet with vigor the 6 PREFACE. emergency, was compelled to see her citizens basely plundered at noon- day, and cruelly murdered upon their very thresholds. Official reports and other papers illustrating the progress of the war are given. The incidents connected therewith, have been obtained from chiefs and sub-chiefs, who were among the principal actors. In the reports of different commanders, some officers have been favorably no- ticed. These do not comprise all, deserving the meed of praise. Those who diligently and intelligently performed their duty, merit as high enco- miums as others who were more fortunate in encountering the enemy. Courage was a secondary consideration, as illustrated by the maxim of Napoleon : — " That the first quality of a soldier is constancy in enduring fatigue and hardship : courage is the second. Poverty, privation and want, are the teachers and school of the good soldier." To examine the details of this seven years' war, and to weigh justly the merits and successes of various commanders, as well as the numerous plans proposed and executed, would require a critical examination into records not within my reach, and a maturity of judgment surpassing my own, in order to discuss questions involving the characters of men long in their country's service, and well tried " in many a hard fought field." On the concluding scenes of the contest, I have been more minute. Inquiry, participation, and access to private and public papers, have enabled me to attach some interest to the incidents that occurred between the officers, the soldiers, and the Indians, not otherwise to be obtained. I am well aware that the names of officers deserving well of their coun- try, are not mentioned. So many having claims, it was impossible to do justice to all. It is enough for both officers and privates to say — " I served and did my duty in Florida." Of those who have fallen, regulars, volunteers, and militia, their memories remain, and are cherished by their countrymen. They are beyond censure or praise. They fell in the excitement of battle, leaving a brilliant example. Others wasted away by lingering disease, without a voice to soothe and recall the wanderings of the feverish mind, or a gentle hand to smooth the rugged pillow of a soldier's couch. " Sleep on ! Never shall the polluted breath of slander blow upon your ashes ; we will watch with pious care the laurels that shall shade your urn, and wear your names engraven upon our hearts." J. T. S. September, 1846. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I.— From July 17, 1821, to March 21, 1830. Cession of the Floridas to the United States. — Relation towards the Indians. — The country occupied by them. — The Seminole nation. — Emigration of the Seminoles from Georgia to Florida, in 1750, under the chief Secoffee. — His character and last words to his sons, Payne and Bowlegs. — A second emigration of Seminoles, in 1808, under Micco Hadjo. — The Mickasukie tribe. — The appointment of Colonel Gad Humphreys as agent of the Seminole Indians. — Governor William P. Duval, superintendent. — The number of Indians occupymg the country in 1821 : number of negroes. — The villages and location. — Treaty of Fort Moultrie. — Colonel James Gadsden, William P. Duval, and Bernardo Segui, commissioners. — Opposition of the Indians to a treaty. — Difficulties in accomplishing the object. — The policy of the federal government towards the Indians. — Embarrassments in carrying out the designs and securing justice. — The superintendent and agent enter into the execu- tion of the treaty. — The Indians remove within the limits assigned. — Apprehended distress for the want of food. — Serious difficulties in keeping the whites and Indians within their hmits. — The first blood shed between the whites and Indians : its effect and consequences — Letter of the agent to the Hon. J. L. Smith, judge U. S. Dis- trict Court, upon the subject. — Agent's letter to the Acting Governor Walton in re- gard to the intrusion of the whites, and sale of liquor. — Claims of whites upon the Indians for slaves. — Letter of Governor William P. Duval in reference to the ad- justment of claims. — Letter of the agent to the commissioner of Indian affairs respecting the acts of the territorial legislature in regard to Indians found without the boundary. — Agent's letter to Governor Duval, detailing the state of Indian affairs. — The apphcation of the territorial legislature to remove the Indians from the country. — Instructions of the commissioner of Indian affairs in relation to the disposition of negroes in possession of Indians and claimed by whites. — Letter of William P. Duval upon the same subject. — Critical state of affairs. — Agent's letter to the U. S. district attorney. — Acting-Governor McCarty informs the agent that the whites had killed an Indian near Tallahassee. — The agent's letter to the com- missioner of Indian affairs. — The Indians complain of the non-payment of their annuity granted under the treaty of Fort Moultrie. — The assistance of the military force asked to arrest negroes in possession of the Indians, and refused by the war- department. — The Indians murder a white man ; steps taken by the chiefs to arrest the offenders. — The talk of Micanopy and Jumper in regard to the demands made by the war department for negroes in their possession. — Letters from Colonel G. M. Brooke, U. S. army, commanding at Tampa Bay, and from the Hon. J. L. Smith. — Instructions from the commissioner of Indian affairs. — The talk of the chief John Hicks in reference to the demand for slaves. — Letters from Governor Duval and Colonel Gad Humphreys. — Hostihties seem inevitable. — The Indians consent to send a de- putation to Arkansas to examine the country. — -The talk of the Seminole nation through the chiefs to the president of the United States. — Embarrassing relations between the whites and Indians. — Colonel Gad Humphreys informed by the com- 8 CONTENTS. missioner of Indian affairs, that his services as agent to the Seminoles would be dispensed with. — Colonel Humphreys, the manner in which he discharged his duties. — Strong prejudices of the whites against him, and friendship of the Indians. 17 CHAPTER XL— From March 21, 1830, to December 31, 1835. Major John Phagan appointed agent to the Seminoles. — He accompanies the delega- tion of Seminoles to Arkansas. — Charges preferred against him. — Treaty of Payne's Landing. — The Indians sent to Arkansas to explore the country. — Commissioner appointed to meet them there : they sign the additional treaty putting in force the treaty of Payne's Landing. — Dissatisfaction of the tribe on their return to Florida. — Conduct and language of the chiefs and Indians in reference to a fulfillment. — First appearance of Oseola or Powell. — The Indians positively refuse to emigrate. — General Wiley Thompson, of Georgia, appointed agent in the place of Phagan. — The general feeling and state of affairs within the nation. — Correspondence of J. H. Eaton, governor of Florida. — Lewis Cass secretary of war. — B. F. Butler attorney- general. — General Clinch. — Colonel Gadsden. — General Thompson agent. — Lieu- tenant Harris, Captains Graham, and Russell, U. S. A. — The Indians assemble in council at Fort King. — The conduct of Micanopy, Jumper, Alligator, and Oseola. — The commanding influence of the negroes over the Indians. — The duplicity and cunning of Oseola. — He placed in irons and under guard in the fort. — Murder of the chief Charley -E-Mathla for favoring emigration. — The Indians prepared for the conflict. — The massacre of General Thompson and Lieutenant Smith by Oseola and party. — Massacre of Major Dade's command: Alligator's account of it. — General Clinch attacked on the Withlacoochee by Oseola. — A fight : he retreats.- — Florida War commenced. — The character of the contest. ... 72 CHAPTER TIL— From January 1, 1836, to December 31, 1840. The number of Indian warriors in Florida, and tribes to which they belonged. — Num- ber of negro warriors. — Names of the various Indian chiefs, and their importance and characters, viz., Micanopy, Jumper, Little Cloud, Alligator, Holartooche, Kmg Philip, Coacoochee, Sam Jones, Tiger-Tail, Nethlockemathlar, Chekika, Hospe- tarke, Octiarehe. — The negro Abraham, his importance. — Oseola or Powell, his birth, rank, character, and age. — Measures taken to subdue the Indians. — Cost of the Florida war. — Relative cost of troops between regulars, volunteers, and militia. — General Towson's letter on the subject. — The regular troops, and militia serving in Florida in 1836, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41.— Generals Clinch, Scott, Call, Jesup, Taylor, Armistead, and Colonel Worth, commanding. — Depredations of the In- dians.— General Clinch authorized to call for militia. — General Eustis ordered to Florida. — The movements of General Gaines. — The burial of the dead of Major Dade's command. — Arrival at Fort King of General Gaines. — Returns to Fort Brooke via the Withlacoochee river. — His arrival, and encounter with the enemy. — Death of Lieutenant Izard. — The troops in a pen. — General Gaines's designs. — The attack upon the pen. — The arrival of a messenger from the Indians. — Interview of Adjutant Barrow of the Louisiana volunteers, and Captain Hitchcock, U. S. A., with Oseola and others. — The conduct of Caesar disapproved of by the Indians. — The day when the troops in the pen were to be attacked. — The number of warriors on the ground. — Final result. — General Gaines rehnquishes the command to Gen- eral Clinch. — General Scott ordered to take command in Florida. — His steps taken to prosecute the war. — General Scott takes the field. — Success of his campaign. — Ordered to conduct the war against the Creeks in Georgia. — Complaints of General Scott's conduct in prosecuting the Florida war. — Difficulties in effecting his object. — General Scott's defence before the court of inquiiy, convened at Frederick, Mary- land.— His acquittal. — General C. K. Call takes command of the Florida army. — Attack upon Micanopy by Oseola or Powell. — Major Hieleman's official report. — Colonel Pierce's expedition to Fort Drane. — His official report of the affair. — Gen- eral Call's campaigns. — The Tennessee brigade and General Armstrong. — The U. S. marine corps under Colonel Henderson. — Officers of the Creek volunteer regi- CONTENTS. 9 ment. — General Call's second campaign. — Tennesseans attack the Indians. — The result. — Colonel Pierce with the regulars joins General Call. — Battle of the Wahoo Swamp. — Official report of Colonel Pierce of the affair. — The object gained. — Genera] Jesup's operations 12th January, 1837. — Battle of Fort Mellon. — Official report of Colonel Fanning. — Battle of Hatch-Luste Creek. — General Jesup's report. — Colonel Henderson's report. — Disposition of the Indians. — They ask for peace. — The capitulation at Fort Dade. — The Indians agree to emigrate. — Large numbers assemble at Tampa Bay. — Vessels in readiness to take them to New- Orleans. — The ■ surrender of Oseola with his family at Fort Mellon. — He desires peace. — The Florida war supposed to be ended. — Volunteers and militia discharged. — The marines under Colonel Henderson sent north. — Letter of Mr. Poinsett on the sub- ject.— Citizens return to their homes. — The Indians break up their camp near Fort Brooke, and take to the woods under the direction of Oseola and Coacoochee. — The country alarmed. — General Jesup desires to be relieved from the command of the army of Florida. — His letter to the adjutant-general on the subject, July SSth^ 1837. — Another campaign in preparation. — Creek regiment of Indians discharged. — The feeling of citizens towards the Indians. — Volunteers called for fi'om Ken- tucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. — The address of General Jesup to the army, October 24th, 1837, at the commencement of the cam- paign.— General Jesup's report of his campaign, July 6th, 1838. — General Jesup's proposition to effect an arrangement with the enemy. — Mr. Poinsett's answer. — Report of the fight on Jupiter river. — General Jesup's letters. — General Taylor's report of the battle of Okechobee. — Indians commanding in the battle. — Their arrangements for the battle. — Death of Colonel Thompson, Colonel Gentry, Captain Van Suerengen, Lieutenants Center and Brooke. — Capture and death of Oseola. — The manner of capture, and his conduct, &c. — General Jesup relinquishes the command of the Florida army to General Z. Taylor. — General Taylor's report of operations. — He districts the country. — Not carried, out. — General Macomb arrives in the territory. — His arrangement for peace. — His orders to citizens, and report to the secretary of war. — Citizens again return to their plantations. — Confidence partially restored. — The Indians murder express-men, and attack the settlements. — General consternation throughout ' the interior. — Lieutenant-Colonel Harney's command massacred on the Carloosahatchee rivei*. — The report of the assistant adjutant- general. — Lieutenant Hanson captures at Fort Mellon a band of Indians. — Prepa- rations for another campaign. — Extract from the report of Mr. Poinsett in regard to the war. — Governor Reid's message to the territorial legislature. — Blood-hounds sent for to pursue the Indians. — Thirty-two obtained. — Their arrival, and cost. — Manner of tracking the Indians. — The result. — Complaints of memorialists to con- gress.— Correspondence of the Hon. H. A. Wise, secretary of war, and General Taylor upon the subject.— Troops withdrawn from the field. — General Taylor re- lieved from the command of the Florida army, by his own request. — Brevet Briga- dier-General Armistead succeeds him. — The Spanish Indians participate in the war. — Indian Key attacked by a band of Indians under the Spanish Indian chief, Chekika. — The murder of Dr. Perrine, and the particulars of the escape of his family , 96 CHAPTER IV.— From June 1840, to May 1841. State of affairs in Florida. — General Z. Taylor rehnquishes the command of the army to General Armistead. — Strength of the army, regulars and militia. — Appropriations. — Attack of the Indians upon a detachment of the 7th infantry between Fort Mi- canopy and Watkahoota. — Murder of Mrs. Montgomery. — Death of Lieutenant W. M- Sherwood, commanding the party, and Sergeant-Major Carroll. — Affair with Halleck-Tustenuggee and band at Orange Creek. — Resolute conduct of Lieutenant Alburtis, 2d infantry, and his men. — Troops take the field. — Colonel Worth's inter- view with Coacoochee or Wild Cat, at Camp Cummings. — Consents to assemble his band, and cease hostilities. — His appearance and that of his followers, in coming into camp. — His talk. — He goes out again and returns. — Proceeds to Fort Brooke to see General Armistead. — Entire failure of negotiations through friendly Indians. — Coacoochee promises to assemble his band at Fort Pierce. — His supposed infi- 10 CONTENTS. delity there. — Orders transmitted for his seizure. — General Armistead, in com- pUance with orders from Washington, reUnquishes the command of the army to Colonel W. J. Worth, 8th regiment infantry. 247 CHAPTER v.— June, 1841. Instructions to Colonel Worth on taking command of the army of Florida. — Embar- rassments in prosecuting the war. — Strength of the army. — Sick Report. — Monthly expenses of the army. — Civil employes. — Character of guides, interpreters, and Spaniards. — Number and location of the enemy. — Their desperate character. — The Creeks west of the Suwannee river. — A summer campaign determined upon. — Night attack upon the camp of Halleck-Tustenuggee, and disappointment of the troops. — Seizure of Coacoochee or Wild Cat, with fifteen warriors and three ne- groes.— Sent to New-Orleans. — L. G. Capers, Esq., Indian agent, dispatched with orders from Colonel Worth to intercept and bring them back to Florida. — Im- portance of the step. — Much dissatisfaction expressed by the public. — Coacoochee and warriors in irons. — Combined movements of the army to root out the enemy. — Their dispersed condition. — General devastation of crops, camps, and wigwams. — Character of the country through which operations were conducted. — Number of fields, &c., destroyed. — Sick report, and sufferings of the troops from disease. — Duties -of officers. — Governor Call urges the necessity of a militia force to co- operate with the army. — Major P. L. Wilcox, U. S. A., engaged in inducing settlers to return to their homes, as authorized by the president of the United States. 266 CHAPTER VL— July and August, 1841. Coacoochee and warriors arrived at Tampa Bay in irons. — Interview between the com- mander of the army and these warriors, on the 4th of July, on board the transport in the harbor. — Coacoochee's talk. — He directed to bring in his band or suffer death. — Five messengers appointed to proceed to the interior of the country, to communicate with his band. — His last words to his followers. ^Anxiety of Coacoochee for the return of the messengers. — Forty days, allowed them. — Arrival of the band, with old Micco. — Irons taken off Coacoochee, and he permitted to go on shore to receive his warriors. — His reception. — His dress and conduct. — His speech to them. — A messenger sent to Holatter Micco and Sam Jones. — Coacooche's last words to his brother Otulka. — Departure of the messenger at midnight from the prison-ship. — General operations of the army. — Embarkation of the 1st infantry for New-Orleans. — The service of the regiment, its loss from disease, &c. — Death of Second-Lieu- tenant Lancaster, 1st infantry. — Arrival of Otulka. — Coacoochee proceeds to Pease Creek. — Colonel Worth at Camp Ogden. — Coacoochee proceeds to Hospetarke's camp. — Returns with him and eighteen warriors — Capture of Hospetarke and warriors — Taken to Fort Brooke, and confined to the prison-ship. —Their designs when visiting the camp. — Coacoochee's tact and sagacity. — The warriors of Coa- coochee in irons. — Liberated and put on shore. — Reports of scouts made by officers of the army, during the months of July and August. — Sent to Washington. — Strength of the army. — Sick, &c. — Retrenchment, &c., &c. — Negroes permitted to accompany Indians to Arkansas. — The policy. — Florida, its position and impor- tance. 286 CHAPTER VII.— September and October, 1841. The state of affairs. — The contest drawing to a close. — The arrival at Fort Brooke of an emissary from Tiger-Tail and Nethlockemathlar, desiring peace and friendship. — Capture of Indians belonging to the band of Halleck-Tustenuggee. — The murder of his sister who desired to surrender.. — He crosses the river St. John's. — Negotia- tions opened with Pascoffer, a Creek chief, on the Ocklockonne river, through two white men. — Lieutenant Anderson, 2d infantry, surprises an Indian camp and captures the women and children. — Communication had with Arpeika or Sam Jones in the Big Cypress Swamp. — Efforts made to obtain an interview with Halleck-Tustenuggee through fiiendly Indians. — Partial suspension of military CONTENTS. 11 operations. — Negotiations in progress through Coacoochce and the old chief from Arkansas, Holartooche. — Coacoochec with six warriors, proceeds to the AnnuttiUga Hammock. — Interview on the margin of the hammock between Tiger-Tail with his band and Coacoochee, at night. — Promise of Tiger-Tail to assemble his band. — Wishes to see Alligator before sm-rendering. — Arrival of the remainder of Hospe- tarke's band, and release from the prison-ship. — Escape of Sampson, a negro in- terpreter, from the Big Cypress Swamp. — His narrative. — Harney's massacre on the Carlosahatchee. — The government and councils of the Indians within the swamp. — Authority of the Prophet, Sam Jones, and Billy Bowlegs. — Murder of Messrs. Daniels, HarroU, and Jennings, by the Indians at Martin's Point. — Indians in camp at Fort Brooke alarmed. — Critical state of affairs. — Coacoochee, with nine warriors, proceeds again to obtain an interview with Tiger-Tail. — Friendly Indians dispatched to all quarters, giving notice that negotiations would end in a few days. — The chiefs attribute the murders to young warriors. — The return of Coacooche. — Brings favorable reports from Tiger-Tail. — Coacoochee expresses his anxiety that his band should embark for Arkansas. — Hospetarke concurs. — Preparations at Fort Brooke to prevent the escape of Indians — The day of embarkation determined upon. — Captain W. Seawell, 7th infantry, ordered to conduct the Indians to Ar- kansas.— The feeling manifested by the women on their departure from Florida. — The Mickasukie tribe, character, and feelings. — Coacoochee's farewell to Colonel Worth and his staff — His conduct and appearance on the occasion, and his last talk to the officers present and to his band. — The birth, life, and character of Coa- cooche, and the vicissitudes he had encountered. — His peculiarities, and participa- tion in the attack upon Fort Mellon, and in the battle of Okechobee. — His capture, imprisonment at St. Augustine, Florida, and escape. — His dreams and religious opinions. — The origin of the white men ; the first ever seen in Florida. — The prevalent feeling in Arkansas among the Indians, demanding precaution and vigil- ance on the part of the federal government. — Arrival of Alligator from Arkansas. — He proceeds to the camp of Tiger-Tail and Nethlockemathlar, and returns with the latter chief — Arrival of Tiger-Tail and his band at Fort Brooke. — Arrival of six companies of the 4th infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. Garland, U. S. A. — Lieutenant-Colonel Garland dispatched on special duty to subdue the Creeks west of the Suwannee river. — Five companies 2d dragoons ordered out of Florida. — 3d artillery retained. — Contemplated movements in the Big Cypress Swamp and Everglades. — Depots established at Panta Rossa. — Violent gale on the coast and its disastrous effects. — It alarms the Indians and deters them from sur- rendering.— Troops in readiness to take the field — Report of Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, U. S. N., commanding the Florida squadron, and the report of Cap- tain Burke, 3d artillery, of their expeditions in the Everglades. — General character and results of the operations during the months of September and October. — Sick report of the army. . . . . . . . ., . .311 CHAPTER VIIL Extracts translated from the Manuscript of the Commandant of St. Augustine, East Florida, Manuel de Montiano, deposited in the public archives of St. Augustine, describing the bombardment of the fort in 1740, by General Oglethorpe, . 337 CHAPTER IX.— November and December, 1841. Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, 4th infantry, on special duty to expel the enemy east of Tallahassee, to the Suwannee river. — Preparations for a combined movement in the Big Cypress Swamp. — Major Belknap, 3d infantry, proceeds to the Carlosa- hatchee river to take command. — Death of Midshipman Niles, U. S. N.- — Yellow fever in camp. — Depot and Camps established. — Instructions to the different com- manders: plan of co-operation — Troops take the field under Major Belknap. — Major Childs and Lieutenant McLaughhn in canoes. — Colonel Worth meets the different commanders at Waxe Hadjo's. — Landing on the edge of the Everglades. — Operations of the troops in the Big Cypress Swamp and Everglades. — Major Belknap's report. — Lieutenant McLaughlin's report. — Extracts from the journal of an officer of the army, kept from day to day in the swamp. — Lieutenant McLaugh- 12 CONTENTS. lin reports, his passage up the Carlosahatchee river through Fish-eating Creek to Lake Okechobee. — Captain M. Burke's, 3d artillery, expedition in the Everglades. — Letters from Captain McClellan, topographical engineer, in reference to the Carlosahatchee river, and its head- waters. — Lieutenant Marchand's report of an expedition in the Everglades. — Head-quarters re-established at Fort Brooke. — Success of Major Wade, 3d artillery. — Capture of sixty-three Indians. — His report. — The Florida squadron commanded by Lieutenant McLaughlin. — Its depot. — Strength and efficiency of officers and men. — Murder of two friendly messengers by the Creeks near Fort Fanning. — Cowardly spirit of Tiger- Tail. — Declines acting himself, and deters others. — Lieutenant-Colonel Garland's correspondence. — Meet- ing of Nethlockemathlar and the Creek chief, Octiarche, at the mouth of the Witli- lacoochee river. — The latter chief refuses to visit the steamboat. — He is unable to assemble his band: appoints the 12th of January for another meeting. — Embarrass- ing state of affairs. — Attack made upon the settlement of Mandarin, by Halleck- Tustenuggee. — His haunts found, — The breaking up of the confederacy in the Big Cypress Swamp. — Surrender of the sub-chief Waxe Hadjo. — Reports that Bowlegs, Sam Jones, and the Prophet, had fled for safety. — State of the army : number taken sick, died, and discharged, during the months of November and December. — ■ Successful establishment of settlers at exposed points. — Citzens armed and pro- visioned 347 CHAPTER X. Correspondence between the executive of the territory of Florida, and of the state of Georgia, with the federal government, and with Colonel W. J. Worth, command- ing the army of Florida, in regard to the mustering of militia to co-operate with the army for the protection of the frontier. — Character of the applications made by citizens for employment. — Remarks upon the expediency of calling out militia to expel the Indians, or to prevent incursions. — Letters from officers of the army, showing the state of the frontiers of Florida and Georgia ; the necessity of troops, and the disposition among the border-settlers. — -The firmness of the Hon. J. C. Spencer and Major-General Scott added much to the successful progress of the war, and to its termination. ........ 403 CHAPTER XL— January and February, 1842. The hiding-place of Halleck-Tustenuggee found ; strength and character of his band ; his own character. — Precautionary measures taken to prevent his surprising the settlements. — Major Plympton ordered to take the field with three companies of the 2d infantry. — Fight with Halleck-Tustenuggee. — Band retreats. — Two Indians taken prisoners. — Pursuit of Halleck by Captain Casey, 2d infantry, with one hun- dred men. — Lieutenant Wessels ascends the Ocklawaha river to intercept him. — He eludes them successfully. — Capture of Powis Fixico or Short-Grass. — Nethlock- emathlar repairs to the mouth of the Withlacoochee to meet the Creeks. — The Creeks plotting to take his life, and rescue the Indians encamped at Fort Brooke. — Indignation of the chief — He organizes an armed party ; takes the field to punish the Creeks. — Thirty Indians, armed completely, proceed to Fort Clinch. — Conduct ■ of Tiger-Tail or Thlocklo-Tustenuggee in council. — Escape of Tiger- Tail from Fort Brooke. — His schemes frustrated. — His wife and child recaptured. — His re- peated interviews with Octiarche to concert means of releasing the Indians in camp. — The Indian war-party supposed to be privy to his escape. — Orders sent to Fort Clinch to disarm the party at once. — They sent to Cedar Key, thence to Fort Brooke. — Indignation of the chief Nethlockemathlar. — Active measures of the army. — Troops recalled from the south. — Campaign in the Big Cypress ended, resulted as anticipated. — Major Belknap secures a sub-chief and sixty-seven fol- lowers.— Supposed hiding-place of Bowlegs, the Prophet, and Sam Jones. — Much praise due the troops, if the service was understood. — Ponce de Leon landing in 1522 on the margin of the Everglades. — Memorandum of reports of officers. — Scouts. — Explorations sent to the adjutant-general. — Orders issued for the relief of the 3d artiUery. — Movements of the regiment, and their service in Florida. — Dispo- CONTENTS. 13 sition of the troops from tlie south. — 2d dragoons ; 4th, 6th, and 8th infantry. — Embarkation of two hmidred and thirty Indians. — Creeks, Seminoles, Uches, and Mickasukies, their character and feelings vicious and abandoned. — Detachment 8th infantry fired upon in the Wahoo Swamp. — Movement of troops to find the Creeks. — Indians under Octiarche attack the settlement with arrows, killing women and children. — They pursued. — Night attack upon their camp in the Swamp. — Capture of the women. — Men escape. — Humanity of officers and soldiers, — Embarrassments in closing the contest. — Colonel Worth's letter of February 14th, urging upon the government certain measures to finish it. — Major Cooper, assistant adjutant-general, dispatched to Washington. — The contents submitted by the secretary of war to a council of officers. — Not acceded to. — General Jesup dissents from the opinion expressed. — The measures prosecuted, though uninstructed by the commander in Florida. — Orders issued for retrenchment. — 6th infantry relieved, and ordered to Jefferson Barracks ; its service ; its loss by disease and battle. — Sick and deaths in the army in January, February, and March. — The total number in the army taken sick, during nine months' active service. — An asylum for old soldiers and invalids. — Condition of those discharged the service for disability. 428 CHAPTER XII.— March, April, and Mat, 1842. A crisis in the affairs of Florida — The army discouraged by the rejection of the pro- posed means to end the war. — The course pursued : Retrenchment, reduction of force, discharge of employes from the service. — The Prophet's and Sam Jones's in- fluence destroyed. — Holatter Micco, or Billy Bowlegs, proclaimed chief — The scattered condition of the enemy. — The influence and conduct of Tiger-Tail among the Creeks. — The Indians assemble in the Wahoo Swamp to concert means of safe- ty.— Tracks seen. — Negotiation at an end ; capture or death. — Embarkation of Indians for New-Orleans in charge of L. G. Capers, Esq., of the Indian depait- ment. — Departure of the chief Nethlockemathlar ; his character and influence ; his life. — Indians at New-Orleans. — The army in the field, in pursuit of Halleck- Tustenuggee ; Peter, an Indian, sent to him ; he never returned. — Combined movement of the army on the Wahoo Swamp and surrounding country. — Detach- ments of the 2d, 4th, and 8th infantry enter the swamp ; disappointment. — Farther preparations for' pursuit. — The chief Holartooche baffled by the enemy; he rides around the country and discovers a single Indian track, leading to the Palackla- kaha Hammock, supposed to be a spy upon the troops. — The troops take up the line of march, and encamp at Abraham's old town. — Preparations made to attack the enemy. — Holartooche visits the commander's tent at midnight, and pleads for the life of women and children in the approaching conflict. — The troops on the march for the hammock ; conduct of guides and negro interpreters. — Sagacity of Holartooche ; a foot-print discovered and followed three miles to the hammock. — Spirited attack upon the Indians in their camp, protected by logs and palmetto, led on by Colonel Garland, 4th infantry. — Assailed by Colonel Worth, with a company of dragoons, cutting off" the enemy's retreat. — The Indians separate into small parties, giving battle in all quarters. — Total defeat ; troops in their camp. — Burial of Private Wandell, 2d dragoons ; killed and wounded. — Detachments follow up trails leading fi-om the hammock. — Capture of 0-son-e-Micco (the Old Man of the Lakes), son-in-law of Halleck-Tustenuggee, who desires to take a talk to the chief — He to return in five days and meet the command at Warm Spring. — The num- ber of Indians engaged in the affair. — Embarrassments of the troops in advancing. — The appearance of Halleck-Tustenuggee in the fight. — Indians painted red ; in a state of nudity. — Their last battle-ground. — Their fire concentrated upon the Indian guides and interpreters. — Interpreters Gopher John and Morris in the fray. — The appearance and valor of the chief Holartooche. — Indians' first discharge effectual ; manner of loading in battle. — The spirit, gallantry, and forbearance of officers and men in the affair. — Colonel Worth's report. — The return of 0-son-e-Micco to the camp at Warm Spring. — He reports Halleck-Tustenuggee, with his band, six miles off". — Halleck-Tustenuggee comes into camp with his two wives and children. — His appearance and reception. — Officers assemble to meet him. — Colonel Worth's pri- vate conversation with him. — He not inclined to leave the country. — His good 14 CONTENTS. feelings secured. — Sends five messengers to Octiarche, the Creek chief. — Large demands for provisions. — Insolent conduct and language of Halleck-Tustenuggee and followers. — His fidehty much doubted. — Major Graham, Captain McCall, and Lieutenant Sprague, visit his camp, to reconnoitre, to surprise and capture. — From its position, deemed impracticable. — Other means resorted to. — The Indians be- come shy and suspicious. — The chief and his wives accompany Colonel Worth to Fort King ; his object in going there to purchase powder and lead. — Orders left with Colonel Garland to seize the entire band in the absence of Halleck-Tustenug- gee.— Colonel Garland effects the object, ties the Indians, and sends them to Tampa Bay. — The measures adopted to accomplish it, and the conduct of the Indians. — Colonel Worth announces to Halleck-Tustenuggee, at Fort King, the capture of his band, and that he now was a prisoner. — His anger and appearance on the occa- sion.— Proceeds under guard to Fort Wacassassa. — Arrival there of the five mes- sengers sent to Octiarche. — They taken prisoners. — A midnight scene between Halleck-Tustenuggee and these five men, who upbraided the chief for selling his followers and land. — His patriotism. — Meeting at Horse Key of both parties ; their haggard appearance arising from intemperance. — A sub-chief attempts suicide. — East Florida relieved from apprehension. — Indians guarded by one hundred and fifty men on Horse Key. — Halleck-Tustenuggee harmless. — The activity of the army, 7th and 3d infantry, in pursuit of the Creeks in Middle Florida. — Two months in the field ; results. — A party of eight Indians attack the settlements under Halpatter-Tustenuggee ; commit murders, and defeat six soldiers — Closely pursued, overtaken, abandoning their plunder, and whipped. — They join Octiarche, who disap- proves of their conduct, as peace was restored. — Citizens abandon their homes, and flee for safety. — The army discouraged ; no end to the war. — The approach of the summer ; prospects of another summer campaign. — Movements of troops unavailing ; calculated to exasperate the enemy, without capturing or defeating. — Usefialness of Halleck-Tustenuggee, who takes the terms of peace to the Creeks, — His reception and their promises. — The terms of peace. — The Creek Indians on the Ocklockonnee river obtain an interview with Colonel Vose, through two white men. — The terms of peace accepted. — Assembling for emigration. — Departure of the 2d regiment of infantry for the north ; its length of service in Florida, and efficiency. — Deaths of officers. — N. C. officers and soldiers. — Death of Captain Samuel Russell by the enemy. — Orders issued for the departure of the five remaining companies of the 2d dragoons ; character and length of their service in Florida. — Death of officers. — N. C. officers and privates. — The sick report for March, April, and May. — The Florida war approaching a close. — State of the army and prevailing feeling. 449 CHAPTER XIIL— June, July, and to the 17th August, 1842. Instructions received by Colonel Worth to bring the war to a close. — Message of the President of the United States to Congress upon the subject. — Letter of instructions from the secretary of war to Major-General Scott. — His views upon the subject. — The measures for a time postponed. — Treachery of Halleck-Tustenuggee and dis- satisfaction of Octiarche. — Their designs. — Holartooche proceeds to Octiarche's camp with twenty armed Indians. — Their meeting, and the promises of the chief to surrender. — Halleck-Tustenuggee, finding his plans unsuccessful, prepares for emigration. — Wounded Indians brought in. — Runners dispatched to bring in the plunder of the band. — A messenger sent to the southern Indians. — Holatter-Micco or Billy Bowlegs made chief, who sends an emissary to the whites to obtain peace. — The embarkation of Halleck-Tustenuggee and band for Arkansas. — Their ap- pearance and feeling, and the anger of the chief — Departure of Holartooche and the Arkansas delegation for their homes. — Halleck-Tustenuggee ; his age, charac- ter, and qualities. — His first appearance in council.— The 7th infantry relieved from duty in Florida. — Its service and loss. — Death of Lieutenant Sanderson. — Lieutenant Sherwood's death. — His gallantry, and the conduct of Private L. Bur- lington, in protecting the remains of Mrs. Montgomery. — Arrival of Bowlegs and others at Fort Brooke, to make peace. — The influence and authority of Sam Jones and the Prophet disregarded. — They accompany the commander of the army to Cedar Key, and proceed to the camp of Octiarche. — Octiarche and Tiger- Tail CONTENTS. 15 return with them. — Peace determined upon. — The appearance of Tiger-Tail. — Orders promulgated announcing ithat hostilities with the Indians in Florida had ceased. — Troops remaining in Florida concentrated. — Retrenchment and reduction in all departments. — Stations and strength of the 3d infantry, of the 8th infantry, and six companies of the 4th. — The loss and service of these regiments in officers and men. — Death of Lieutenant J. H. Harvie, and Lieutenant J. A. Reill, 8th in- fantry.— Colonel Worth ordered to proceed to Washington City. — He relinquishes the command of the ninth military department to Colonel Vose, 4th infantry. — Correspondence between Colonel Worth and Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, in closing up the contest. — Lieutenant McLaughlin's instructions to Lieutenant Hemy, who succeeded in command of the Florida squadron. .... 475 CHAPTER XIV.— From August 17, to October 31, 1842. Colonel Vose in command of the 9th miUtary department. — The Indians annoyed by encroachments and aggressions of the whites. — Southern Indians within the boundary : none but Creeks without. — -Apprehensions of Tiger-Tail and Octiarche realized. — Attack upon settlements. — Citizens killed. — Pursued by Colonel Bailey, and citizens. — Indians overtaken and punished. — Complaints among citizens. — Facts not known or understood. — Arrival of Tiger- Tail and Octiarche. — Excite- ment in the country. — Complaints of citizens to the governor of the territory, and to the authorities at Washington City. — Orders received by Colonel Vose to take the field. — Colonel Vose postpones the execution. — His reasons. — The Indians' camps plundered. — Officers of the army sent to the camps. — The Indians doubt the sincerity of the commander and his officers. — Delay and debauchery of the Indians. — Large demands for liquor. — Embarkation of the six companies 4th infantry. — The effect upon the Indians. — The gale at Cedar Key. — Indians refuse again to visit the island. — Agree upon Fort Brooke as the future place of meeting. — Effects and con- tinuance of the gale at Cedar Key. — Loss of public and private property. — A council of Indians to be held at Fort Brooke, on the 1st of November. . . . 494 CHAPTER XV.— From November 1, 1842, to December 31, 1845." Brevet Brigadier-General Worth resumes the command of the 9th military department. — Colonel Vose, at Fort Brooke, to meet Octiarche and band. — Objects attained during his temporary command. — Fears of Octiarche, and the threats of the Semi- noles. — Major Seawell, 7th infantry, ordered to seize the band of Octiarche, at Fort Brooke. — His success. — The reasons for such a step. — Tiger-Tail at Cedar Key. — His conduct and infidelity. — Officers sent to reconnoitre his camp. — Position of his camp, and his condition. — Instructions to Captain J. M. Hill, to secure Tiger-Tail. — His success. — Lieutenant Jordan, 3d infantry, dispatched to surprise the camp. — Brings Tiger-Tail into Cedar Key on a litter. — He confined to Horse Key. — In- structions to Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, commanding 3d infantry, to take the field. — His operations. — Surrender of Pascoffer and band. — The doubts andfears'of the Indians, and quiet of the country. — Embarkation of Octiarche and Tiger- Tail with their followers, for New-Orleans, in charge of Lieutenant Britton, 7th infantry. — Departure of Pascoffer and band, in command of Lieutenant W. S. Henry, 3d in- fantry.— Creeks, Seminoles, Mickasukies, and Uchees, leave Fort Brooke for New- Orleans. — The character, feeling, and condition of the Indians assembled at the New-Orleans Barracks. — Death of Tiger-Tail at the Barracks, New Orleans. — His last words. — His birth, character, and intercourse with Colonel Gamble's family, in Florida. — His intelligence, influence, and infidelity. — Octiarche. — His birth, and character in battle and in council. — General Worth's report, in regard to the number of Indians in Florida, of November 17th, 1843. — Captain Sprague's letter to the citizens of Florida, in reference to the relation of the Indians towards the whites.— The number of Indians in Florida, December 31st, 1845 : their condition and feel- ings.— The character of the chief and sub-chief, and future prospect of emigration to Arkansas, 498- 16 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XVI. — Quartermaster's Department — Commissary Depart- ment— Settlement of the Territory. The quartermastei-'s department of the army. — The efficiency of its officers, and their importance in the discharge of duties in the field. — The concurrence given by Gene- ral Jesup in carrying out retrenchment in Florida. — Officers on duty there. — The manner in which duty was discharged. — Report of retrenchment made by Lieu- tenant-Colonel T. F. Hunt, deputy quartermaster-general of the army of Florida. — . The subsistence department. — The importance and good effect of the log-hut in de- feating the Indians, and deterring them from aggressions. — Exertions made to in- duce settlers to occupy the interior of the country. — The efforts for a time successful. — The act of congress of February 1st, 1836, for the relief of distressed inhabitants. — Instractions from the president of the United States under its provisions. — Major D. S. Wilcox, 5th infantry, intrusted with the duty of settlements and issuing of rations. — His instructions fi-om the commander of the army. — Death of Major Wil- cox.— Lieutenant Patrick, 2d infantry, ordered to assume the duty. — His instruc- tions in reference to the discontinuance of government supplies. — The total failure of establishing permanent settlements. — The conduct of those who professed to occupy the country and draw rations. — Lieutenant Patrick's final report of settle- ments, the number of persons, ages, &c. — Steps taken to cause citizens drawing rations to re-occupy their plantations, — Success. — Abuse of the act of congress in issuing supplies . . . . . . 514 APPENDIX. Circular, Orders, &c., connected with the erection of a Monument in Florida, to the memoiy of those who have fallen in the contest 521 Statement, exhibiting, by Regiments, the names of the Officers, non-commissioned Officers, Musicians, Artificers, and Privates, of the United States Army, who were killed in action, or died of wounds received, or diseases contracted, during the late hostihties with the Florida Indians, commencing August 11, 1835, (the day when Private Dalton, the express-rider, was murdered by the Indians,) and ending in 1842 • 526 List of Officers belonging to the Medical Staflf of the United States Army, who died from disease and other causes, from service in Florida 548 Table, exhibiting the names of Officers, Seamen and Marines, belonging to the United States Navy, who died whilst employed in the Florida Squadron, operating against the Indians of Florida 549 A statement, exhibiting the names of Officers, non-commissioned Officers, Musicians, and Privates of the United States Marine Corps, who were killed in action, or died of wounds received, or disease contracted, during the Florida War. . . 550 Table, showing the number and names of Marines on Sea Service, who died in Florida between 1836 and 1842 550 List of Officers, of the United States Anny and Marine Corps, upon whom have been conferred Brevets for services in Florida. . . . . , . . 551 Names of Officers, of the United States Army recommended for Brevets by Brigadier- General W. J. Worth, commanding the forces in Florida, April 25, 1842. Upon some of the number, the distinction has been conferred 554 IIST OF ENGRAVINGS Monument at St. Francis' Barracks, St. Augustine . Frontispiece. CoAcoocHEE (Wild Cat) page 98 Thlocklo Tustenuggee (Tiger-Tail) . . . . . . . 99 Negro Abraham 100 OsEOLA, OR Powell . . . . 101 Death of Waxehadjo . 254 Scene at Tampa Bay, Florida 286 Castle of St. Mark, now called Fcrt Marion, St. Augustine . . 337 Halleck Tustenuggee on the St. John's 429 Gopher John, Seminole Interpreter 469 f!^. ^--^^n, THE FLORIDA WAR. CHAPTER I. FROM JULY 17, 1821, TO MARCH 21, 1830. Cession of the Floridas to the United States. — Relation towards the Indians. — The country occupied by them. — The Seminole Nation. — Emigration of the Seminoles from Georgia to Florida, in 1750, under the Chief Secoffee. — His character and last words to his sons, Payne and Bowlegs. — A second emi- gration of Seminoles, in 1808, under Micco Hadjo. — The Mickasukie tribe. — The appointment of Colonel Gad Humphreys as agent of the Seminole Indians. — Governor William P. Duval, super- intendent.— The number of Indians occupying the country in 1821 : number of negroes. — The villages an4 location. — Treaty of Foit Moultrie. — Colonel James Gadsden, Wilham P. Duval, and Bernardo Segui, commissioners. — Opposition of the Indians to a treaty. — Difficulties in accomplishing the object, — The policy of the federal government towards the Indians. — Embarrassments in carrying out the designs and securing justice. — The superintendent and agent enter into the execution of the treaty.— The Indians remove witliin the limits assigned. — Apprehended distress for the want of fond. — Serious difficulties in keeping the whites and Indians within their limits. — The first blood shed between the whites and Indians : its effect and consequences. — Letter of the agent to Hon. J. S. Smith, Judge of the U. S. District Court, upon the subject. — Agent's letter to the Acting Governor Walton in regard to the intrusion of the whites, and sale of liquor. — Claims of whites upon the Indians for slaves. — Letter of Governor William P. Duval in reference to the adjustment of claims. — Letter of the agent to the commissioner of Indian affairs respecting the acts of the Territorial liCgislature in regard to Indians found without the boundary. — Agent's letter to Governor Duval, detailing the state of Indian affairs. — The application of the Territorial Legislature to remove the Indians from the country. — Instructions ot the commissioner of Indian affairs in relation to the disposition of negroes in possession of Indians and claimed by whites. — Le ter of William P. Duval upon the same subject. — Critical state of affairs. — Agent's letter to the U. S. district attorney. — Acting Governor McCarty informs the agent that the whites had killed an Indian near Tallahassee. — The agent's letter to the commissioner of Indian affairs. — The Indians complain of the non-payment of their annuity granted under the treaty of Fort Moultrie. — The assistance of the military force asked to arrest negroes in possession of the Indians, and refused by the war-department. — The Indians murder a white man ; steps taken by the chiefs to arrest the offenders. — The talk of Micanopy and Jumper in regard to the demands made by the war- department f)r negroes in their p(-ssession.— Letters from Colonel G. M. Brooke, U. S. army, com- manding at Tam|)a Bay, and from the Hon. J. L. Smith. — Instructions from the commissioner of Indian affairs. — The talk of the chief John Hicks in reference to the demand for slaves. — Letters from Governor Duval and Colonel Gad Humphreys. — Hostilities seem inevitable. — The Indians consent to send a deputation to Arkansas to examine the country. — The talk of the Seminole nation through the chiefs to the President of the United States. — Embarrassing relations between the whites and Indians. — Colonel Gad Humphreys informed by the commissioner of Indian affairs, that his services as agent to the Seminoles would be dispensed with. — Colonel Humphreys ; the manner in which he discharged his duties. — Strong prejudices of the whites against him, and friendship of the Indians. To determine satisfactorily the cause of the Florida War, requires a critical review of the events which transpired between the citizens and Indians, for a period of fourteen years, as well as an examination of the course pursued towards all parties by the federal government. This must necessarily commence on the 17th day of July, 1821, when Spain ceded the Floridas to the United States. The Indians, inhabiting the country, had roamed unmolested throughout the peninsula, enjoying the confidence and association of the inhabitants, mostly Spaniards, v^ho participated in a lucra- tive trade, while the authorities of Spain insured them protection, and treated them with kindness and distinction. The United 2 18 THE FLORIDA WAR. States government, upon establishing its functions here, found the Indians in possession of the most desirable portions of the country, upon which were located villages, surrounded by cultivation, pro- ducing enough to supply their wants. The acquisition of a new country, so interesting from its historical events, induced emi- grants from adjoining states to explore, securing at the same time good portions of land, which was guarantied under certain pro- visions of law^ to the first discoverer. It was found, however, much to their disappointment and embarrassment, that the most eligible points were preoccupied by a race degraded, and for which they entertained but little sympathy or charity. To re- move this difficulty, and to give to the enterprise of the white man full scope, the preliminary step was to hold a treaty with the Seminoles, and by rewards induce them voluntarily to relin- quish the soil, and thus commence the great work of civilization. The liberty allowed them was to be circumscribed, and they brought to know, and to feel too, that they were temporary occu- pants of the soil ; and while indulgently allowed to remain in any part of the territory, law, good order, sobriety, and subserviency to the whites must prevail. The Seminole Nation, or those generally denominated the Florida Indians, were originally Creeks. Their villages were situated on the Chattahooche river, about ten or fifteen miles north and west of Columbus, Georgia. From continued mis- understanding among the head-men, which extended through families, and in some instances resulted in bloodshed, a separa- tion of the tribe took place. In the year 1750, a noted Creek chief by the name of Se- coffee, broke out from the nation, and with many followers settled in the section of country called Alachua, about the centre of the peninsula, and by far the most fertile part. He was a man of noted courage, violent passions, and possessed a most active and vindictive mind. Combined v/ith an indomitable will, his seductive oratory and subtle cunning secured him in- fluence, and insured success to all his measures. To the Spa- niards he was an inveterate foe. To the English, up to 1784, he was a most valuable ally. Upon the recession of Florida to Spain, he. repaired to St. Augustine to ascertain the truth. Not being received and treated with that distinction to which he had been accustomed, he returned to his village, meditating revenge. He embodied a large force and took the field ; but the exposure and exertion incident to active operations in the summer season, was too much for an enfeebled constitution. He died in the year 1785, at the advanced age of seventy, and was buried near the present site of Fort King. He was, in fact, the founder of the Seminole nation. Finding himself fast approaching his end, THE FLORTDA WAR. X9 he called his two sons to his side, Payne and Bowlegs, and in a most fervent and pathetic manner detailed his plans, enjoining upon the former, who was to succeed him, the prosecution of the expedition. He required him to put to death fourteen Spa- niards, which number, added to eighty-six slain by his own hand, aided by kindred, would make one hundred, which had been revealed to him by the Great Spirit as requisite to secure the peace and happiness of his soul in a future state. Payne was of a different character, and not to be led astray and blinded by absurd revelations and traditions. Though a bold and intrepid warrior, he cared more for the happiness of his people than the indulgence of vicious passions, or the influences of superstitious feelings. By his example and counsels, he secured the confidence of the Spanish government, and died at an ad- vanced age, honored and respected. In the year 1808, another band came into Florida under Micco Hadjo, and settled near the present site of the town of Tallahassee. Ever after, that portion of the Creek nation settled in Florida were called Seminoles, or runaways. Here both these parties of emigrants encountered the Mickasukie tribe of Indians, the legitimate owners of the soil. Much dissatisfaction was manifested at this intrusion ; but too weak to resist, they soon became amalgamated, and joined in efforts to resist the com- mon foe — the white man. The privileges granted the Indians of Florida, alternately by the English and Spanish governments, had caused them to over- rate their own importance. The most violent passions were excited when advised, or in any way or manner interfered with by a white man, who, in other words, was only an American. This could not be tamely submitted to, and the federal govern- ment immediately commenced a system of supervision, or what was termed "patronage and protection." On the 20th of May, 1822, Colonel Gad Humphreys was appointed agent to the Florida Indians. William P. Duval, Esq., governor of the territory, was ex-officio superintendent of Indian affairs. The number of In- dians occupying *the country at this period, was fifteen hundred and ninety-four men, thirteen hundred and fifty-seven women, and nine hundred and ninety-three children — total, three thou- sand eight hundred and ninety-nine ; and one hundred and fifty negro men (slaves), with six hundred and fifty women and chil- dren. Their villages extended, dotting the country, from the neighborhood of St. Augustine to the Appalachicola river. Most of them consisted of log and palmetto huts, surrounded by cleared fields of from two to twenty acres of land. The loud and un- ceasing complaints of citizens, who were seeking homes in a newly acquired country, made it imperative upon the genera] 20 THE FLoAdA war. government speedily to adopt measures to dispossess the Indians, and confine them to certain Hmits, in the hope of avoiding blood- shed, which seemed inevitable from the virulence of feeling to- wards the Indians, who were considered as undeserving of liberty, or kindness. Accordingly, James Gadsden, William P. Duval, and Bernardo Segui, of Florida, were appointed commissioners to negotiate a treaty, having for its object the removal of the Indians to such parts of the territory as would meet the wishes of citizens, and thus open a wide field for speculation, at the same time satisfy the public mind. The Indians were surprised at the proposition thus early to make a treaty. They were in possession of their homes ; and though at times annoyed by whites, they looked with confidence to their great father at Washington, to protect and vindicate their rights. As they resisted the efforts to assemble for the purpose of making a treaty, innumerable difficulties accumulated from day to day, which pressed heavily upon them ; and surrounded as they were by influences enforced by the arguments pf those pro- fessing to be friends, a majority of the nation reluctantly con- sented to meet the commissioners at such a time as might be most expedient. This was with the hope, that ever after they would be permitted to remain unmolested. Fort Moultrie, five miles south of St. Augustine, on the coast, was agreed upon as a desirable position. A number assembled on the day appointed ; but the absence of the most influential chiefs, who looked suspi- ciously upon all such steps, caused much delay. With the larger portion, this council was considered but a prelude to farther de- mands and encroachments. \ On the 18th of September, 1823, the following treaty was signed. TREATY OF FORT MOULTRIE. Treaty of peace and friendsliip, made and concluded between William P. Duval, James Gadsden, and Bernard Segui, commissioners on the part of the United States, and certain chiefs and loarriors of the Florida tribes of Indians. Article 1. The undersigned chiefs and warriors, for themselves and their tribes, have appealed to the humanity, and thrown themselves on, and have pro- mised to continue under, the protection of the United States, and of no other nation, power, or sovereignty ; and in consideration of the promises, and stipu- lations hereinafter made, do cede and relinquish all claim or title which they have to the whole territory of Florida, with the exception of such district of country as shall herein be allotted to them. Article 2. The Florida tribes of Indians will hereafter be concentrated and confined to the following meies and boundaries : commencing five miles north of Okehumkee, running in a direct hue to a point five miles west of Setarky's settle- ment on the waters of Amazura (or Withlahuche river), leaving said settlement two miles south of the line ; from thence, in a direct line, to the south end of the THE FLORIDA WAR. 2^ Big Hammock, to include Chickuchate ; continuing, in the same direction, for five miles beyond the said hammock : provided said point does not approach nearer than fifteen miles the sea coast of the Gulf of Mexico ; if it does, the said line vi^ill terminate at that distance from the sea coast ; thence south tv^elve miles ; thence in a south thirty degrees east direction, until the same strike within five miles of the main branch of Charlotte river ; thence in a due east direction, to within twenty miles of the Atlantic coast ; thence north, fifteen west, for fifty miles, and from this last to the beginning point. Article 3. The United States will take the Florida Indians under their care and patronage, and will afford them protection against all persons whatsoever ; provided they conform to the laws of the United States, and refrain from making war, or giving any insult to any foreign nation, without having first obtained the permission and consent of the United States : And in consideration of the appeal and cession made in the first article of this treaty, by the aforesaid chiefs and war- riors, the United States promise to distribute among the tribes, as soon as concen- trated, under tlie direction of their agent, implements of husbandry, and stock of cattle and hogs, to the amount of six thousand dollars, and an annual sum of five thousand dollars a year for twenty successive years, to be distributed as the pre- sident of the United States shall direct through the secretary of war, or his super- intendents and agents of Indian affairs. Article 4. The United States promise to guaranty to the said tribes the peaceable possession of the district of country herein assigned them, reserving the right of opening through it such roads, as may, from time to time, be deemed necessary ; and to restrain and prevent all white persons from hunting, settling, or otherwise intruding upon it. But any citizen of the United States, being law- fully authorized for that purpose, shall be permitted to pass and re-pass through the said district and to navigate the waters thereof without any hindrance, toll, or g exactions from said tribes. Article 5. For the purpose of facilitating the removal of the said tribes to the district 6f country allotted them, and as a compensation for the losses sustained, or the inconvenience to which they may be exposed by said removal, the United States will furnish them with rations of corn, meat, and salt, for twelve months, commencing on the first of February next ; and they further agree to compensate those individuals who have been compelled to abandon improvements on lands not embraced within the limits allotted, to the amount of four thousand five hun- dred dollars, to be distributed among the sufi'erers, in a ratio to each, proportional to the value of the improvements abandoned. The United States further agree to furnish a sum, not exceeding two thousand dollars, to be expended by their agent, to facilitate the transportation of the different tribes to the point of concentration designated. Article 6. An agent, sub-agent, and interpreter shall be appointed, to reside within the Indian boundary aforesaid, to watch over the interests of said tribes ; and the United States further stipulate, as an evidence of their humane policy to- wards said tribes, who have appealed to their liberality, to allow for the establish- ment of a school at the agency, one thousand dollars a year for twenty successive years ; and one thousand dollars a year for the same period, for the support of a gun and blacksmith, with the expense incidental to his shop. Article 7. The chiefs and warriors aforesaid, for themselves and tribes, stipulate to be active and vigilant in the preventing the retreating to, or passing through, the district of country assigned them, of any absconding slaves, or fugi- tives from justice ; and further agree, to use all necessary exertions to apprehend and deliver the same to the agent, who shall receive orders to compensate them agreeably to the trouble and expense incurred. Article 8. A commissioner, or commissioners, with a surveyor, shall be ap- pointed by the president of the tjnited States, to run and mark (blazing fore and aft the trees) the line as defined in the second article of this treaty, who shall be 22 THE FLORIDA WAR. attended by a chief or warrior, to be designated by a council of their own tribes, and who shall receive, while so employed, a daily compensation of three dollars. Article 9. The undersigned chiefs and warriors, for themselves and tribes, having objected to their concentration within the limits described in the second article of this treaty, under the impression that the said limits did not contain a sufficient quantity of good land to subsist, and for no other reason, it is, therefore, expressly understood, between the United States and the aforesaid chiefs and warriors, that should the country embraced in said limits, upon examination by the agent and the commissioner, or commissioners, to be appointed under the eighth article of this treaty, be by them considered insufficient for the support of the said Indian tribes, then the north hne, as defined in the second article of this treaty, shall be removed so far north as to embrace a sufficient quantity of good tillable land. Article 10. The undersigned chiefs and warriors, for themselves and tribes, have expressed to the commissioners their unlimited confidence in their agent. Colonel Gad Hum.phreys, and their interpreter, Stephen Richards, and as an evi- dence of their gratitude and humane treatment, and brotherly attention to their wants, request that one mile square, embracing the improvements of Enehe Mathla, at Tallahassee (said improvements to be considered as the centre), be con- veyed, in fee simple, as a present to Colonel Gad Humphreys. And they further request, that one mile square, at the Ochesee Bluffs, embracing Stephen Richards's field on said bluft's, be conveyed, in fee simple, to said Stephen Richards. The commissioners accord in sentiment with the undersigned chiefs and war- riors, and recommend a compliance with their wishes to the president and senate of the United States ; but the disapproval on the part of the said authorities of this article, shall, in no wise, affect the other articles and stipulations concluded in this treaty. In testimony whereof the commissioners, William P. Duval, James Gadsden, and Bernard Segui, and the undersigned chiefs and warriors, have hereunto sub- scribed their names, and affixed their seals. Done at camp, on Moultrie Creek, in the Territory of Florida, this eighteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three ; and of the independence of the United States the forty-eighth. William P. Duval, L.S. Woese Holata, Ms X mark, L.S. James Gadsden, . L.S. Amathla Hajo, his X mark, L.S. Bernard Segui, L.S. Holatefiscico, his X mark, L.S. Nea Mathla, his X mark, L.S. Chefiscico Hajo, his X mark, L.S. ToKOSE Mathla, his X mark, L.S. Lathloa Mathla, his X mark, L.S. NiNNEEHoMATATusTENuicy,/i?sX w'A-, L.S. Senufky, Afs X mark, L.S. MicoNOPE, his X mark, L.S. Alak Hajo, his X mark, L S. NocosEE Ahola, his X mark, L.S. Fahelusted Hajo, his X mark, L.S. John Blunt, his X mark, L.S. Octahamico, his X mark, L.S. Otlemata, his X mark, L.S. Tusteneck Hajo, his X mark, L.S. Tuskaneha, his X mark, L.S. Okoskee Amatha, his X mark, L S. TusKi Hajo, his X mark, L S. Ocheeny Tustenukt, his X mark, L.S. Econchatimico, his X mark, L.S. Philip, his X mark, L.S. Emoteley, his X 7nark, L.S. Charley Amathla, his X mark, L.S. Mulatto King, his X Jnark, L.S. John Hoponey, his X 7nark, L.S. Chocholohans, his X mark, L.S. Rat Head, his X mark, L.S. Ematholochee, his X mark, L.S. Holata Amathla, his X mark, L.S. Foshatchimico, his X mark, L.S. Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of George Murray, Sec. to the Comrri'r. Harvey Brown, Lieut. Ath Artillery. G. Humphreys, Indian Agent. C. D'Espinville, Lieut. Aih Artillery. Stephen Richards, Literpreter. William Travers. Isaac N. Cox. Horatio S. Dexter. J. EwiNG, Capi. Uh Artillery. THE FLORIDA WAR. 23 Nea Mathla, John Blunt, Tuski Hajo, Mulatto King, Emath-^ lochee, and Econchatimico, six of the principal chiefs, for a long time obstinately and stubbornly refused to negotiate in any man- ner. It was feared the attempt to effect a treaty would be an entire failure. To subdue these feelings, large concessions were made to these head men. The more humble were required to remove within a stipulated boundary ; while their chiefs, and a few friends were permitted to remain in their old towns, and participate alike in the annuities and other benefits accruing under the treaty. To effect the great object, the subjoined " additional article" was agreed upon, and with the treaty was ratified by the senate of the United States on the 2d of January, 1824: ADDITIONAL ARTICLE. Whereas, Nea Mathla, John Blunt, Tuski Hajo, Mulatto King, Emathlo- chee, and Econchatimico, six of the principal chiefs of the Florida Indians, and parties to the treaty to which this article has been annexed, have warmly appealed to the commissioners for permission to remain in the district of country now in- habited by them ; and, in consideration of their friendly disposition, and past ser- vices to the United States and the aforesaid chiefs, that the following reservation shall be surveyed and marked by the commissioner or commissioners to be appointed under the eighth article of this treaty. For the use of Nea Mathla and his connex- ions, two miles square, embracing the Tuphulga village, on the waters of Rocky Comfort Creek. For Blunt and Tuski Hajo, a reservation commencing on the Apalachicola, one mile below Tuski Hajo's improvements, running up said river four miles ; thence west two miles ; thence southerly to a point two miles due west of the beginning ; thence east to the beginning point. For Mulatto King and Emathlochee, a reservation commencing on the Apalachicola, at a point to include Yellow Hair's improvements ; thence up said river for four miles ; thence west one mile ; thence southerly to a point one mile west of the beginning ; and thence east to the beginning. For Econchatimico, a reservation, commencing on the Chatahoochie, one mile below Econchatimico's house ; thence up said river for four miles ; thence one mile west ; thence southerly to a point one mile west of the beginning ; thence east to the beginning point. The United States promise to guaranty the peaceable possession of the said reservations, as defined, to the aforesaid chiefs and their descendants on///, so long as they shall continue to occupy, improve, or cultivate the same ; but in the event of the abandonment of all or either of the reservations, by the chief or chiefs, to whom they have been allotted, the reservation or reservations so abandoned shall revert to the United States, as included in the cession made in the first article of this treaty. It is further understood that the names of the individuals remaining on the reservations aforesaid, shall be furnished by the chiefs in whose favor the reservations have been made, to the superintendent or agent of Indian affairs, in the territory of Florida ; and that no other individual shall be received or permitted to remain; within said reservations, without the previous consent of the superintendent or agent aforesaid. And, as the aforesaid chiefs are authorized to select the indi- viduals remaining with them, so they shall be separately held responsible for the peaceable conduct of their towns, or the individuals residing on the reservations allotted them. It is further understood between the parties, that this agreement is not intended to prohibit the voluntary removal, at any future period, of all or either of the aforesaid chiefs and their connexions to the district of country south,, allotted to the Florida Indians by the second article of this treaty, whenever either 24 THE FLORIDA WAR. or all may think proper to make such an election ; the United States reserving the right of ordering for any outrage or misconduct, the aforesaid chiefs, or either of them, with their connexions, within the district of country south, aforesaid. It is further stipulated by the United States, that of the six thousand dollars appropri- ated for implements of husbandry, stock, &c., in the third article. of this treaty, eight hundred shall be distributed in the same manner, among the aforesaid chiefs and their towns ; and it is understood that, of the annual sum of five thousand dollars, to be distributed by the president of the United States, they will receive their proportion. It is further stipulated, that of the four thousand, five hundred dollars and two thousand dollars, provided for by the fifth article of this treaty, for the payment for improvements and transportation, five hundred dollars shall be awarded to Nea Mathla, as a compensation for the improvements abandoned by him, as well as to meet the expenses he will unavoidably be exposed to by his own removal, and that of his connexions. In testimony whereof, the commissioners, William P. Duval, James Gadsden, and Bernard Segui, and the undersigned, chiefs and warriors, have hereunto sub- scribed their names and affixed their seals. Done at camp on Moultrie Creek in the Territory of Florida, this eighteenth day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States, the forty-eighth. William P. Duval, L.S. Tuski Hajo, his X mark. L.S. James Gadsden, L.S. Mulatto King, his X mark. L.S. Bernard Sequi, L.S. Emathlochee, Ais X mark. L.S. Nea Mathla, his X mark. L.S. Econchatimico, his X mark. L.S. John Blunt, his X mark. L.S. Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of George Murray, Secretary to the Commission. Ja. W. Ripley. G. Humphreys, Indian Agent. Stephen Richards, Interpreter. The following statement shows the number of men retained by the chiefs who have reservations made them, at their respec- tive villages. Number of Men, Number of Men. Blount, 34 Econchatimico, 38 Cochran, . 45 Nea Mathla, . 30 Mulatto King, 30 Emathlochee, . . 28 Total, . 214 The foregoing treaty was ratified on the 2d day of Jan- uary, 1824. This treaty threw around the Florida Indians a net from which there was no escape. Their destiny, their happiness, and pros- perity were now' in the hands of the people. Upon the cession of Florida they claimed the entire country, and so far as Spain interfered, they possessed it. Now, they were within limits, and the United States could, under a fair pretext, control them, by de- manding their prompt compliance with the stipulations of the treaty, and if they persisted in disobeying, there was an instru- ment in existence justifying their expulsion or destruction. They could, as circumstances required, be considered as rebellious chil- THE FLORIDA WAR. 25 dren, or if other objects were to be attained, they assumed the rights and prerogatives of a sovereign people, possessing the un- doubted authority to negotiate treaties, so far as to dispose of their lands. But wishing this privilege for self-government, or other purposes, was considered a usurpation demanding punish- ment. In this light they, as a nation, have ever been considered, which has subjected them to a vacillating policy, causing the utmost confusion and dissatisfaction. The federal government is considerate and liberal in the execution of treaty stipulations with this unfortunate race ; but in opposition to this are arrayed the prejudices of a multitude actuated by selfish motives, together with the waywardness and depravity of a border population in a new country. These present serious obstacles to the administra- tion of justice, and defeat, in a great measure, ail exertions to ameliorate the condition of the savages, and causes an apparent indifference to their repeated demands for protection. The agent who is brought immediately in contact with the Indians, must be possessed of resolution, tact, and intelligence, to maintain his position in the midst of so many complicated difficulties. The executive of the state or territory will listen to the complaints of the citizens, and by repeated representations to the Indian agent, endeavor to allay the excited feelings incident to real or imaginary wrongs. The agent, if faithful in the performance of his duties, is obliged from his position to resist the encroachments of the whites ; if otherwise, he would soon be accountable for the lives and property of all within the range of an Indian rifle. His activity and resolution in maintaining their rights, deters them from violent acts to gain them, in the hope that through him justice may be awarded by the general government. But the demands of the executive, through the representatives in con- gress, are too potent to be disregarded, and the government is compelled to acquiesce, and, through its agents, give instructions actuated more by the disposition to gratify the populace than to vindicate the rights of the savages. These conflicting influences are constantly in operation, until the agent, if conscientious in his duties, is discharged, when a more pliant instrument succeeds, who in the hands of designing men soon perfects the object so eagerly sought. The Indian, discouraged in his endeavors to add to the happi- ness of his people, revolts — desolates the frontier, murders the unprotected — when the president of the United States is called upon again by the state authorities, to quell the outbreak by regular troops, and enforce treaty stipulations, which results, after years of rapine and murder, in the expulsion of the Indians. The agents of the general government, as well as the Indians, entered at once into the execution of the treaty of Fort Moultrie. 26 THE FLORIDA WAR. Colonel Humphreys, the agent, established himself at Camp King, in the centre of the nation. The governor of the territory and superintendent of Indian affairs, William P. Duval, resided at Tallahassee. These duties vv^ere commenced with commendable zeal, and, in the execution, a disposition was manifested to vindi- cate, and if possible, to maintain the rights of the Indians. The agent, living in their very midst, realized his peculiar and respon- sible position. Though fully persuaded that in defence of those whose guardian he was, he would be subjected to obloquy, yet, he was determined to carry out the intentions and disposition of his government in opposition to the selfish demands and interests of those who were settling the country, and who were in large numbers crowding around him. The correspondence of Colonel Humphreys and that of others, which is here given, together with the talks upon several occasions of the important chiefs, go much farther to give a correct understanding of the cause of the Florida war than the expression of an opinion, which at this late period is too apt to be influenced by popular prejudice and misrepresentation. The year 1824 was occupied in locating the Indians within the pre- scribed boundaries, which upon examination were found to be too limited for the convenience of those who w^ere required to remove. Accordingly, upon the representation of Col. Gadsden and Governor Duval, twenty additional miles were granted, so as to include a desirable section of country, called the Big Swamp. In order to stimulate the Indians to agricultural pursuits, and thus supply their own wants by cultivating the soil, the rations allowed them under the fifth article of the treaty were ordered to be reduced ; which at this early period, and in their present con- dition, was calculated to cause starvation and much discontent. The agent was enabled to judge correctly of their condition. He at once addressed the acting governor upon the subject, which had the effect to postpone the order, and thus calm the excited feelings of the chiefs who had been instrumental in bringing upon those around them the prospects of immediate want, as shown by the following letters : " Tampa Bay, June 14th, 1825. "Sir — I reached this place on the 12th instant, after a four- teen days' passage. It is with extreme regret I learn that since my arrival the drought in this section of country, and indeed through to the 'Big Swamp,' has been so severe that the crops of the Indians are, in some instances, wholly destroyed. The emigrants particularly, it is to be feared, will make little or no- thing, owing to their having had to open new fields, and the consequent lateness of their planting. THE FLORIDA WAR. 27 " I am greatly apprehensive, that this failure of crops will pro- duce much distress among these people, unless arrangements are adopted to continue to them issues of rations beyond the period stipulated in the treaty. It may not, perhaps, and will not, I trust, be necessary to make extensive and regular periodical issues ; but humanity seems to require, that some provision should be made to meet the cases of actual want. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Superintendent of Indian ) G. HUMPHREYS, afiairs. Tallahassee. S Aa^eni Seminole Indians." " Tallahassee, 25th May, 1825. " Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your several letters of the 19th, 20th, and 22d instant, and deem it an imperative duty to state, in reply to that of the 19th, which directs a limitation of the number of rations hereafter to be issued to the Indians to 1000 daily, that the effect of such an abridg- ment of the stipulated supply of provisions, will be, at the least, loud murmuring and discontent ; and that suffering among the Indians from hunger, which has hitherto scarcely existed except in imagination, will shortly become a distressing reality. That those people can have but scanty and indeed no certain means of existence, independent of the sustenance provided by the United States, until the opening of fields and gi^owing of crops at their new location, will be readily supposed ; and the entire inadequacy of one thousand rations, to the support of something more than 1600 people, is too obvious to require comment : and I feel con- strained to add my belief that the emigrant Indians, conceiving themselves entitled by the treaty of the 18th of September, 1823, to a punctual allowance of provisions for the specified time, at the rate of one ration per day to each individual, will not quietly submit to a non-performance (on the part of the government) of the stipulations of the compact. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, George Walton, Esq., Att'y Gen'l, > G. HUMPHREYS, Agent." &c., of Florida, Tallahassee. 5 From their unsettled condition, a result of their removal from old habitations to new ones within an imaginary line, the Indians roamed throughout the country, causing dissatisfaction among settlers, who were inclined to doubt their friendship, and im- proved opportunities to seize their rifles, and threatened and mal- treated them, to compel them to remain permanently within the boundaries as defined by the treaty. The agent, on the 20th of May, thus writes to the commissioner of Indian affairs : 28 THE FLORIDA WAR. " Florida Agency, 20th May, 1825. "Sir — I have the honor to suggest that the running and making of the northern boundary of the Indian territory, is highly desirable, in order to enable me to show a line of demarcation to the white settlers, who are already thronging to the vicinity of the Indian settlements ; and some, as I apprehend, have taken positions near to, if not south of, where the line will necessarily run ; and will, I fear, if not expelled, become troublesome, and create disturbance among the Indians, — they are squatters upon the public lands, and, of course, liable to be removed at the in- stance of the government, whenever it shall direct. I should be glad of instructions upon this subject. 1 am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. Thos. L. McKinney, ) G. HUMPHREYS, Indian Bureau. ^ Agent Florida Indians." The difficulties anticipated were soon realized. A planter, a Mr. Salano, residing on the St. John's river, arrived at St. Au- gustine, and reported to the commander of the United States troops there, that six Indians had been at his house in pursuit of three others, who, from long absence, they supposed were mur- dered by the whites. Accompanied by threats and insolent con- duct, they declared their determination to be revenged upon the whites, if unsuccessful in finding their friends. On the 21st of June, Lieut. Canfield, U. S. A., was dispatched with a detach- ment of twenty men to see this party, and to ascertain the facts. The detachment, when emerging from Cabbage Swamp, on the ensuing morning, about twenty-eight miles from St. Augustine, discovered the Indian camp. Lieut. Canfield, Mr. Salano, and a Mr. Dumnit, together with the interpreter, approached the camp, in advance ; and as they proceeded, Mr. Salano directed the interpreter not to explain their object to the Indians, as they stood in the distance looking with astonishment. Upon discover- ing the soldiers in the rear, they attempted to seize their rifles and flee. In violation of the officer's orders, Mr. Salano dis- charged a pistol, which drew from the detachment a volley, sup- posing a fight had commenced. Two Indians were secured, one slightly wounded, together with four rifles, and a large quantity of skins. One of the prisoners was sent immediately into the swamp, to inform his companions that the discharge upon them was accidental. What aggravated this occurrence, and made it still more unfortunate, was, that written passes from the agent were found in the camp. These men, thus outraged, returned to their tribes, causing a general sympathy, and exciting the most bitter feelings of revenge. The agent was in a critical position. Entirely within their power, they demanded redress in the most THE FLORIDA WAR. 29 imperative manner, and commenced organizing war parties, to retaliate upon the settlements from one extent of the country to the other. Though the encounter with the troops was acci- dental, and attributable to the imprudence of Mr. Salano, too many wrongs and abuses had been inflicted, yet unatoned, and for which they had received nothing in return but excuses and regret. The country was in arms — an Indian war was pro- claimed, and the citizens fled to the towns, and gathered in numbers for safety. The regular troops at St. Augustine were ordered into the field, and two companies of infantry under Capt. Dade marched from Fort Brooke to Camp King, with such dis- patch as to deter the Indians from acts of open hostility. Fortu- nately, the three young Indians supposed to be murdered returned, which, together with promises of pay to the outraged party at Cabbage Swamp, induced the Indians once more to resume a friendly intercourse. " I am fully sensible," says Col. Gadsden to Col. Humphreys, in a communication, of August 15th, "of the dehcacy of your situation." " Charleston, S. C.,15 August, 1835. "My Dear Sir, — Your letter of the 25th ultimo was for- warded to me to this place, and I am gratified at the happy ad- justment of the Cabbage Sv/amp affair. I feel sensible of the delicacy of your situation, and of the complicated difficulties you must necessarily encounter in bringing the Florida Indians into a state of subordination and discipline. They must be con- trolled, but treated at the same time with due consideration and great humanity. You know that you can command any aid I can give in facilitating these desirable objects ; and in volunteer- ing an opinion which I hope will be well received, I cannot urge too strongly upon you the great necessity of establishing the agency, and of remaining for a time stationary at it. " You may make yourself comfortable ; and your example in cultivating the earth, attending to the increase of your stock, &c., will have the happiest eflfect in improving the habits of the savages. " The sooner they abandon, to a certain extent, the chase, and are converted from hunters to herdsmen and agriculturists, the sooner will they be reconcfled to their change of location, &c. " They cannot live as hunters ; the game is nearly destroyed, and unless some efforts are made to impress strongly upon them the great necessity of depending upon the soil for their subsist- ence, I apprehend much distress and want the ensuing year. I remain yours, &c.. Col. G. Humphreys, Agent of the ^ JAMES GADSDEN.'^ Seminoles, Fort King, Florida. 30 THE FLORIDA WAR. The agent's letter to the Hon. J. L. Smith, enters fully into the character of the difficulties surrounding him : " Florida Agency, 8th July, 1825. " Sir — Ere you are in possession of this, you will be advised by my communication of yesterday., per return express, that the difficulties which have for a short time existed between some of the red- and white people of the territory, are in progress to a favorable and speedy termination. " The seasonable restoration to their friends of the lost young men, has had great influence in producing this happy state of things. The news of their safety, immediately followed by the appearance of one of them, v/ho arrived to-day, seems to have almost entirely subdued every feeling of animosity ; and I enter- tain a confidence, that after I have visited the wounded man, which I shall do in the course of the day, and fixed (under a pro- position which Col. Gadsden in behalf of some of the citizens of Augustine has authorized me to make) upon the compensation he is to receive, the most perfect harmony will be restored, and a renewal take place of the friendly feelings which have hereto- fore prevailed. It is due, however, to candor and truth, and I must be allowed to say it, that greatly as I desire the return of order and tranquillity, and much as I have already exerted myself to recall such a state of things, I should not deem it a duty to urge the aggrieved individual to the acceptance of pecuniary compensation for an injury like that in question, could I perceive any other way in which the matter could be adjusted without prejudicing the interest of the territory by delay. As it is, acquiescence in the proposition from your city will be suitably recommended. Another consideration influences me : the great disadvantage under which the almost proscribed children of the forest labor for want of credibihty as witnesses in our courts of law, destroys every thing like equality of rights ; forbids the idea of their success in legal controversy, in opposition to their white neighbors, and thus virtually excludes them from our halls of justice. To this must be mainly attributed their proneness to take punishment into their own hands, despairing as they do of obtaining redress for injuries by recourse to the laws of the whites, which have in but few cases, when they have been ap- pealed to by the Indians, afforded any remedy for evils com- plained of In the case before us, Mr. Salano, who is the author of it, being permitted to depose, has enjoyed and exercised the power to fix upon the Indians an imputation they could not merit, and which for lack of admissible testimony, or the wa&t of a hearing, they could not repel. These remarks are drawn from me, in a settled belief which I entertain, that the Indians do not THE FLORIDA WAR. 31. deserve that censure in regard to the Cabbage Swamp affair, which is attempted to be heaped upon them ; and that, could a full and fair investigation of their previous conduct, which is cited as the leading cause to that affair, be had, it would be found in a great degree, if not wholly, free from the impropriety which is charged. Is it probable, let me ask, if they had meditated the violence Mr. S. accuses them of threatening, that they would thus publicly have declared their -intentions? I answer no! Reason and common sense forbid the idea, as being wholly irre- concilable with the known character of the Indian, v/hose pro- ceedings of a hostile kind are always covert and unadvertised. The language then, here ascribed to them on this occasion, is impro- bable and incredible. That Mr. Salano had any sinister or im- proper motive in the representation he made at St. AugTistine, which produced the disaster under consideration, I do not wish to say ; or if he had dishonest views, I am unable to determine precisely what they were. I cannot believe his whole object was plunder ; yet I am informed by the interpreter, who accom- panied the party, that he, S., went loaded to his own house with skins, meat, &c., taken from the pillaged camp of the unfortunate fugitives. If this be true, it is clear that whatever motives led him to move the assault, he did not omit to enrich himself with the spoils of the assailed. " Why (it is right to inquire), if he were actuated by fair and harmless intentions in visiting the camp of the Indians, did he refuse explanation, though it was earnestly solicited by them as they saw troops approaching, leaving them to form the worst conjecture? A few words, making known the object of the visit, would have satisfied the Indians, and prevented their flight and the outrage which followed it. " For reasons best known to himself, Mr. S. positively refused the satisfaction sought, and even forbade the interpreter to speak to the Indians. Was it to be expected that conduct so little indi- cating an amicable purpose, would be well received by those peo- ple, and that they would, without an effort, yield to a doom they knew not how terrible ? Unquestionably not ; nothing else ought, under the circumstances, to have been anticipated than precipitate retreat ; and how that retreat could be construed, as I am in- formed it was, into an evidence of guilt, and justification of assault, I am, I confess, wholly unable to comprehend. They were not even charged with, much less convicted of, any overt act, and I am not acquainted with any law (owing probably to my limited knowledge of the books upon that subject) which could warrant or authorize the proceeding to a forcible detention and imprisonment (which appear to have been the object) of the 22 THE FLORIDA WAR. persons of the inhabitants of our free country, either red or white, in manner Hke that attempted in the case in question. On a full review of the transaction, I cannot resist the opinion that it is strongly characterized by illegality, to say the least; and 1 regret most truly that the troops of the United States should have been drawn into it, as I am satisfied that it neither consists with their will, or advances their reputation, however unexceptionable their intentions on the occasion may have been ; and I rejoice sincerely on their account, and the welfare of the territory, as well as the interest of the unhappy red skins, who are too weak to enforce their rights against their white and more powerful neigh- bors, that a fortunate issue of the affair is likely to be effected. " Before closing, I am constrained to say, that an examination of the part Salano has acted in the affair, forces upon me the conclusion, that he has throughout been influenced by feelings of hostility to the Indians ; there is not, I believe, the shadow of a doubt that he inflicted the wound given in the Cabbage Swamp attack. He was heard, I understand, to boast of the accuracy with which he sighted upon his victim, when he levelled his rifle, and to express his astonishment that the Indian did not fall. He was probably prompted to the act, to revenge some fancied personal injury to himself. He has for a long time (if I am cor- rectly informed) been on terms with them far from peaceful ; indeed, I am told that his animosity to them is almost proverbial ; and that he often, in a light manner, speaks of shooting them, and has been heard to say that he would dispatch one with as little scruple as he would a 'wolf;' thus estimating their lives to be of as little value as those of the vilest beasts of the forest. If sen- timents like these are extensively cherished by our inhabitants, there is little hope of long preserving a good understanding be- tween them and their red neighbors ; but such cannot be the case; and this, I trust, is a solitary instance of an entire disregard of the established obligations of citizenship, and a total abandonment of the common principles of humanity. Such a man should be watched as being (in disposition) dangerous to the peace and in- terests of the territory — and his conduct in the late affair, how- ever favorably that affair may terminate, ought, I must insist, to be closely investigated and scrutinized ; and if any ground pre- sents itself justifying punishment, it should be promptly inflicted, to prevent a like offence in future ; and it is but proper to suggest, of the Indians, that notwithstanding the strength of their desire to live in friendship with the whites generafly, has induced them to accept of the terms of adjustment offered, it would be difficult for them to reconcile the entire escape of Salano, whom they look upon as the sole cause of their recent trouble, from punishment, THE FLORIDA WAR. 33 with the boasted justice of Americans. Something is therefore necessary to be done in the matter, for the preservation of our national character, even should the claims of justice be denied. " To you, sir, as a conservator of the public peace, and an impartial administrator of the laws, I submit the case, with a perfect confidence that it will receive all the attention to which its importance entitles it. I am, with the highest respect, Your obedient servant, Hon. Jos. L. Smith, Judge Sup. Court, ) G. HUMPHREYS." E. Florida, St. Augustine. ) Also that of August 4th, to Secretary and acting Governor Walton : " Seminole Agency, Aug. 4th, 1829. " Sir — I am compelled by a sense of duty, to address you upon a subject, in which the welfare of this nation is deeply involved. " I am aware that the statement I have to make and the views I shall present, will interfere, if entertained, with the projects of certain white inhabitants of Florida, who, since the emigration of the western tribes, have located upon the public lands in the im- mediate vicinity of the Indian territorial boundary, for purposes by no means equivocal or even undeclared. " It is known to all, who are acquainted with the Indian char- acter, that it has in its composition one besetting and fatal weak- ness, a proneness for intoxicating drinks ; and that spirituous liquors (which are not allowed to be vended in the nation) will command from these people almost any price that the exorbitance of the vender may prompt him to ask. This fact furnishes en- couragement, and the unsettled condition of the country affords an inviting field, for the operations of those whose defectiveness in morals or thirst for gain will lead them to seek the acquire- ment of it without a suitable regard for the means to be employed. The condition of the tribes hereabouts during the last two weeks, and at the present moment, gives abundant evidence that such is the general character of the individuals who have established themselves upon the adjoining public lands, and creates the most grievous and discouraging anticipations for the future well-being of the nation. " Drunkenness and riot have reigned triumphant. To detect those who practice the nefarious traffic which produces such de- plorable consequences is morally impossible ; they are sufficiently shrewd, and on the alert to avoid committing themselves before admissible witnesses, and may therefore, as long as they are suf- fered to remain where they are, prosecute their illicit business in comparative security. Some effective remedy should be applied 3 34 THE FLORIDA WAR. withot loss of time ; and the only thing which suggests itself to me as likely to succeed, is that of a rigid enforcement of the laws against the unauthorized occupancy of the unsold government lands. I earnestly invite your early attention to this subject ; and shall with great anxiety wait your instructions. With much respect, your obedient servant, Geo. Walton, Esq., Sec'y and Dep'y ) G. HUMPHREYS, AgenV Gov. of Fla., Tallahassee. ) Together with the application of the agent to the district attorney . " Sem. Agency, 1st July, 1825. "Dear Sir — A case of outrage (wholly unprovoked as is stated here) committed upon a party of Indians, who were in search of missing friends, on the east side of the St. John's river, by a party of whites headed, the Indians say, by a Mr. Philip Salano, has produced great excitement among the Indians in this quarter, and unless speedy redress is obtained, serious consequences are to be apprehended. " I solicit your official attention to the subject, and refer you for further information, to the bearer, Mr. Tingle. In haste, respectfully yours, Edgar Macon, Esq., U. S. Dist. ) G. HUMPHREYS, Agentr Att'y? 8t. Augustine. \ Another difficulty, quite as embarrassing, increased from day to day, and which ultimately led to an open rupture. The Indians had in their possession a number of slaves, maiiy who were born among them, and others purchased from the whites. The Indians possessing no rights in a court of justice or in law, and the ne- groes having been purchased and paid for, effi^rts were made to take possession by force. The Indian, conscious of his rights, and knowing that he paid the money, though incapable of showing the papers executed under the forms of law, as he had received none, and relying upon the honesty of the white man, protested most earnestly against these demands, and resolutely expressed a determination to resist all attempts thus to wrest from him his rfghtfully ac- quired property. The superintendent. Governor Duval, writes to Col. Hum- phreys on the 15th of January, as follows : " Tallahassee, January 5th, 1825. "Sir — On the subject of the runaway slaves among the Indians, within the control of your agency, it will be proper in all cases, ■where you believe the owners can identify the slaves, to have THE FLORIDA WAR. 35 them taken and delivered over to the marshal of East Florida, at St. Augustine, so that the federal judge may inquire into the claim of the party and determine the right of property. But in all cases v^^hen the same slave is claimed by a white person and an Indian, if you believe that the Indian has an equitable right to the slave claimed, you are directed not to surrender the said slave, unless by an order from the Honorable Jos. L. Smith, fed- eral judge, residing in St. Augustine, and in that case you v^ill attend before him or at his court, and defend the right of the Indian, if you believe he has right on his side. You will in your discretion remove out of the Indian boundary, all free negroes, or other persons, who may attempt to reside in the nation, without permission from the Supt. or yourself You will keep an exact account of the number of days you shall be actually engaged in attending to the business of the nation, and also your daily ex- pense while so employed. Where any white person holds forci- ble, or fraudulent possession of any slave or other property, be- longing to an Indian, under your agency, it is your duty to have justice rendered to the Indian, and you are directed to employ counsel when it may be necessary, and take all legal measures to obtain justice for the Indian. The licenses which have been granted to Capt. Thornton and Capt. Pelham to trade with the Indians at Tampa Bay, you will notify them or their agents, will be withdrawn, from and after the 9th day of March next, and that in future, no license will be granted, except where the indi- vidual shall reside with the goods in the nation, and under the control of the agent. All spirituous hquors must be kept out of the nation, and if any individual shall sell or otherwise trade to the Indians any intoxicating liquors, it is your duty to have him prosecuted in the federal court. If any trader without license should come into the nation for the purpose of traffic, the law directs you to seize upon his goods. White men are not to visit the Indian towns, or to quit the high road established by con- gress, to examine the Indian lands, without your special permis- sion. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant. Col. G. Humphreys, Agent for } WM. P. DUVAL. the Florida Indians. It was evident, from the causes of complaint both among the Indians and citizens, increasing as the country settled, that mis- understandings and collisions would ensue, and as neither party could effect their design, bloodshed would follow. The agent of the government resolutely vindicated the native, and as promptly lent his aid to adjust all demands made by the citizens. But he was alone, and while he stood firmly breasting 36 THE FLORIDA WAR. the popular current, and endeavoring to soothe the Indian chiefs, the voice of the people became more potent at Tallahassee — through the legislature, whence, in exaggerated and exciting lan- guage, it was transmitted to Washington City. The agent repre- sented and protested, but his exertions availed but little ; and on the 9th of February, he addressed the subjoined letter to the commissioner of Indian affairs, Thomas S. McKenney : " St. Augustine, Feb. 9th, 1825. "Sir — Although I have not as yet had opportunity to investi- gate sufficiently to make a full report, as promised in my letter from Charleston, touching our Indian relations, I have learnt enough since my arrival here to make me feel it to be an imper- ative duty to address you without delay, for the information of the department, in the hope that the interpositions of the compe- tent power may be exercised in time to prevent the disastrous consequences which must inevitably flow from a prosecution of the system of severity recently adopted towards the Indians. I allude particularly to a law of the last legislative council, which is in the following words : ' An Act to prevent the Indians from roaming at large, throughout the Territory. Be it enacted by the Governor and Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, that from and after the passing of this act, if any Indian of the years of discretion venture to roam or ramble beyond the boun- dary hues of the reservations which have been assigned to the tribe or nation to which said Indian belongs, it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons, to apprehend, seize and take said Indian and carry him before some justice of the peace, who is hereby authorized, empowered and 7'equired, to direct [if said Indian have not a written permission from the agent, to do some specific act] that there shall be inflicted not exceeding thirty- nine stripes, at the discretion of the justice, on the bare back of said Indian, and moreover to cause the gun of said Indian, if he have any, to be taken away from him, ,and deposited with the colonel of the county, or captain of the district in which said Indian may be taken, subject to the order of the superintendent of In- dian affairs.' The want of good policy of this law, to' say nothing of its inhumanity and injustice, it appears to me (with all due deference to the legislative council I say it) must be obvi- ous to every reflecting mind, and I do not hesitate to predict, that an enforcement of its provisions will produce an excitement on the part of the Indians which must unavoidably lead to blood- shed and distress in our frontier settlements. It is not to be ex- pected, that this people, who though greatly and cruelly oppressed, are by nature and every principle of right, if not of human law, free, will tamely submit to the ignominy of stripes, and that for THE FLORIDA WAR. 37 no other offence, than the mere exercise of a privilege common to all who are not slaves. No, sir! carry this law into effect and war in reality may be expected sooner or later to follow as a consequence : indeed, if I may take the word of a member of the council, such consequence was calculated upon by that body, when the bill was under consideration. ' For,' said he, in a con- versation I held wdth him in relation to this law, ' it is found im- possible to bring them to negotiate for a removal from the terri- tory, and the only course, therefore, which remains for us to rid ourselves of them, is to adopt such a mode of treatment towards them, as will induce them to acts that will justify their expulsion by force.' This, sir, is the benevolent language of an enlightened American legislator. " However reasonable or rather natural the wish on the part of the white inhabitants, as a matter of convenience to themselves, that the unfortunate children of the forests should be removed from Florida, justice and honor forbid that means so inhuman as those proposed should be resorted to to effect that object ; and the character of our government and country demand that the abomination should be prevented, and the foul blot of the law in view wiped from the records of our legislation. " From all I can learn here, there is little doubt that the dis- turbances near Tallahassee, which have of late occasioned so much clamor, were brought about by a course of unjustifiable conduct on the part of the whites, similar to that which it appears to be the object of the territorial legislature to legalize. In fact, it is stated that one Indian had been so severely whipped by the head of the family which was destroyed, in those disturbances, as to cause his death ; if such be the fact, the subsequent act of the Indians, however lamentable, must be considered as one of retali- ation, and I cannot but think it is to be deplored that they were afterwards ' hunted' w^ith so unrelenting a spirit of revenge. As the agent of the United States, as a citizen of Florida desirous to preserve harmony and prevent a further needless effusion of blood, I make this communication, and am itespectfully, your obedient servant, Col. Thomas L. McKenny, Office of i G. HUMPHREYS, Agent." Indian Affairs, Washington. \ This was followed by another on the 6th of March, 1827 : " Seminole Agency, March 6th, 1827. " SiR^I am sorry to be obliged to report to you that the con- dition of the Indians of this nation is one of great suffering from hunger. There is not at this moment, I will venture to say, in the whole nation a bushel of corn, or any adequate substitute for 38 THE FLORIDA WAR. it. The coutee and brier root, which have hitherto been to them a tolerable dernier dependence, are almost entirely consumed. For nearly a year past they have been compelled to rely mainly upon these, and the cabbage-tree, for sustenance, of the vegetable kind. What they are to do another year I dare not imagine. They have not corn for this year's seed, nor can I procure it for them ; I have sent to the St. John's, and inquired for it through the Alachua settlements without the smallest success. The situ- ation of some of these people is wretched, almost beyond descrip- tion ; those particularly v/ho during the late alarm were robbed of their guns, have been absolutely famishing. Their appearance is sufficient to excite the commiseration of the hardest heart. Towards a people like the Indians, whose chief dependence for a subsistence is upon the chase, a greater cruelty could not be practiced, than to deprive them of the implements so important and indispensable in their mode of life. That offences have been committed which deserved chastisement, whatever may have been the causes on the part of the whites that led to them, is quite probable, but I do not conceive that any thing, of which I have as yet been informed, in relation to the recent disturbances, can justify the indiscriminate and extreme severity which has Deen inflicted ; and in this I am certain you will agree with me, when you are acquainted with all that has been done, and the extent to which humanity has been outraged. There are facts connected with the operations of this campaign (as I suppose it will be called) at the recital of which every heart, not callous, must shrink with horror. " Tottering age, feeble childhood, and females, whose peculi- arity and delicacy of condition awakens, even in the bosom of the contemned savage, emotions of tenderness, were huddled together and hurried forward with as little of compassion as is extended to the brute when driven forth to meet the slaughterer's knife. There is one attending incident which I would fain v/ithhold, but truth and candor demand that as naught should be set down in malice, so should nothing be extenuated. The circumstance I am required to record is this : On an occasion vv^hen a party was sent to collect stragglers, it gathered a number, among whom was a female far advanced in pregnancy. When a return march to head-quarters took place, this helpless and unpitied woman was forced onward with such precipitancy as to produce a premature delivery, which was near terminating her life. Truly, this is a most extraordinary lesson in humanity for a civilized nation to place before a people whose barbarism we so loudly and freely condemn. It was well enough, I admit, to employ, if it became necessary, force, to apprehend for trial those who perpetrated the acts of violence near the Oscilla ; but the necessity for the general THE FLORIDA WAR. 39 alarm which was created, and parading of mihtary detachments through the country in warhke fashion, in a time of peace, I am not able to perceive ; but the evils almost unavoidably consequent upon the procedure, I can too plainly see. And any man who reads the history of this inglorious war and its effects, will learn and see much which, as an American, a member of a nation calling itself Christian, he must blush at ; and I find it a duty to say to you, that upon the subject of this treatment of the Indians, the chiefs exhibit great feeling. ' We cannot understand,' say they, ' why unoffending men, and helpless women and children, should be made to suffer for the faults of a few turbulent spirits, whose bad deeds the nation does not justify, though done in retaliation of injuries inflicted upon themselves, and as was the case in the Oscilla murder, by the white man whose family fell victims. We have been told by the whites, that those who com- mit offences are the only ones who should be punished for them ; and although it was the custom among us for a man to take satis- faction into his own hands, and if he could not find the individual who had committed a murder in his family, punish the nearest blood of his he could find, such is not our way now. Shortly after our agent came among us, he convinced us that this was wrong, and we altered our laws, which now stand like those of the whites ; though some of our hard-headed men, who have no sense, will not as yet, we are sorry to say, listen to the new law, but follow the old one, and when injured take revenge the shortest w^ay they can get it ; they were such men that did the murder on the Oscilla, because they had not patience to wait and let the white people's laws give them satisfaction ; and because, perhaps, they did not believe those laws would do them justice.' " Assuredly, there is something decidedly wrong — our system of management in regard to those people is essentially faulty ; and until it is amended, and less characterized by overbearing and severity, it will be difficult, nay, impossible, to convince them that we mean to deal with them kindly or even justly. Gov. Wm. p. Duval, \ G. HUMPHREYS, Agent." Tallahassee. The agent was so unfortunate, during a brief absence at Washington City, on duty, to be presented by the grand jury convened at St. Augustine. In a letter to Governor Duval, he alludes to this in a proper spirit of indignation : " St. Augustine, Fa., February 8tli, 1827. " The grand jury of this district, through the influence of some of my enemies, took occasion to notice my recent absence, in the way of condemnation, in their general presentment, not knowing 40 THE FLORIDA WAR. that I had for my absence such autho^^ty as would scarce feel itself bound, either by duty or courtesy, to ask even that august, high-minded, and enlightened body's sanction for its acts. I scorn and have a sovereign contempt for the breeders of such impotent malice. " I shall, as I have ever made it a point to do, act honestly but independently, regardless of the interested murmurings and cal- umnies of the malevolent and discontented spirits of the land. I am well aware, that in this country, filled, as it is at present, with reckless adventurers from all quarters of the globe, such a course is calculated to make me an object of vituperative assault ; but for these I care not, so long as I am sustained by a consciousness of my own rectitude of purpose. When I entered upon the duties of my present office, I chose for myself a line of conduct from which I have never wittingly deviated — one, to be sure, that has given me much difficulty, and subjected me to severe and illiberal animadversions, but one which will nevertheless, I feel a comfort- mg certainty, eventually bear me triumphantly through the trying ordeal of public opinion. I am your obedient servant, Gov. Wm. p. Duval, ) G. HUMPHREYS, Agentr Tallahassee. \ The territorial legislature had memorialized congress, in the mean time, in regard to the Indians, as will be seen by the follow- ing extract from the paper transmitted : " The tract of country assigned to the Florida Indians by the treaty of 1823, has always been complained of by them as incom- petent to their support, and the additional grant subsequently made them, has been the occasion of much dissatisfaction among many of our citizens, and probably not without cause. In addi- tion to this, the present location is in the pathw^ay of our settlers, and has already seriously impeded the settlement of the fairest part of Florida, and will now cloud all its prospects. The land in this vicinity is excellent, and but for the obstruction by this unfortunate though not less obnoxious tribe of beings, would, be- fore this, have borne on the current of the St. John's all the rich and luxurious products of a tropical clime. Besides, they have never gone within their boundary, but have scattered themselves in different parts of the territory, to the great annoyance of our citizens. They have stripped the corn from our fields be- fore our eyes ; they have burned our houses, and murdered our citizens. All this they did, and have been doing for the last sea- son, within twenty miles of the walls of St. Augustine, and with impunity. But more recent outrages have been committed, THE FLORIDA WAR. 41 which have thrown a damper on the spirit of our agriculturists, and present our country under a gloomy aspect. The most inhuman butcheries have been committed by them ; a whole family has fallen a sacrifice to their vengeance, and individuals have been murdered while on the highway, and engaged in that industry which constitutes the soul and energy of our country. Our corn- houses have been broken and plundered, our cattle killed, and our settlers driven from their homes, and threatened with all the hor. rors of Indian cruelty, within the space of the last two months, and within forty miles of our capital. The vigilance of our gov- ernor and the promptness of our militia have, for the present, checked their outrages, and in some degree quieted the fears of our citizens ; but at what time and in what place the bent bow will let slip its arrow, the blood of our citizens, we fear, will soon proclaim. In this gloomy situation of affairs, your memorialists beg the speedy removal of those people out of the territory. If they are dissatisfied with their present situation, as appears ; if they have never complied with the stipulations of their treaty, as is manifest ; if they have been guilty of the most glaring and unprovoked outrages, certainly they have forfeited their claim to humanity, and are the subjects of our policy. We must earnestly recommend, that they be forthwith called to their boundary, and commissioners appointed to hold a new treaty with them, stipu- lating their immediate removal from the territory to the new country west of the Mississippi, and the commissioners be vested with full power to carry the same into execution." The demands for negroes said to be amono; the Indians, con- tinned to agitate the country, threatening the most serious re- sults. These applications were now made upon the president of the United States, who, through the secretary of war and com- missioner of Indian afiairs, required them to be surrendered by the Indian agent. " I now, by direction of the secretary of war," says the commissioner, on the 8th of February, 1827, "call your attention, &c." ''Department of War, Office Indian Affairs, Feb. 8th, 1827." " Sir — Frequent complaints have been made to the depart- ment, respecting slaves claimed by citizens of Florida, which are in possession of the Indians ; all of which have been acted on here, in issuing such orders to you as it was expected would be promptly obeyed, and lead to such investigations as should issue in fixing the right of the claimants or establishing the contrary ; and that these proceedings would be followed by the proper reports to the department — nothing satisfactory has been received of you. 42 THE FLORIDA WAR. " I now, by direction of the secretary of war, call your atten- tion to this subject, in a general way, and particularly in regard to the claim of Margaret Cooke, and require it of you forthwith to cause the negroes claimed by her to be surrendered to her, upon her entering into a bond with sufficient security, of which you will judge, to abide by the decision of such tribunal as it may be esteemed proper by the secretary of war to establish, to decide upon the claim. " You will, at the same time, satisfy the Indians of the pro- priety and justice of this course. Tell them the claim is set up, and that this act is merely to secure the property until the right is decided, when, if it be in them, it will be restored, and if in the claimant, they ought not to expect to hold them. It is expected of you to report generally upon such other like claims as may exist in regard to slaves. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant. Col. Gad Humphreys, ) THOS. L. McKENNEY." Agent to the Florida Indians. ) Further instructions were received by the agent upon the subject, from the superintendent. On the 20th of March he thus writes : " Tallahassee, March 20th, 1827. " Sir — The superintendent or agent is not vested with judi- cial power to decide on the right of property, who may and have surrendered slaves to our citizens which were runaways ; we will, as heretofore, advise the Indians to surrender a slave where in justice they ought not to retain the slave, but in any litigated case the chiefs must decide the matter, the facts to be reported as herein directed. Many of the slaves belonging to the Indians are now in the pes^ssession of the white people ; these slaves can- not be obtained fol their Indian owners without a law-suit, and I see no reason why the Indians shall be compelled to surrender all slaves claimed by our citizens when this surrender is not mu- tual. By the treaty they were bound to deliver up all the slaves that were at that time in the nation, who had absconded from their owners, and to return such as might in future flee to the nation ; but where a citizen and an Indian set up title to the same slave, and that slave is in the nation, the matter must be decided by the chiefs, and from the decision no other step can be taken on your part, but to refer the whole to the secretary of war. The negroes, claimed by the Indian woman Nelly, may be given up to her ; or if you believe it just and proper, the same can be retained under your orders until the case shall be deter- mined. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, To Col. G. Humphreys, Agent, ^ WILLIAM P. DUVAL. Fort King, Florida. THE FLORIDA WAR. 43 The agent, with such powers enjoined, was in an awkward dilemma, as well as one of great responsibility. To adjust rights in this vexed and complicated matter, which was to involve the United States in an open rupture with a people whom they had voluntarily bound themselves to protect, was a situation far from being desirable. In the first instance, their claims were to be submitted to the judge of the federal court — next, the agent was to decide ; but he, feeling the dehcacy of his situation, submits them to the superintendent, who avoids the responsibility, and says, " The superintendent or his agent is not vested with judicial powers to decide on the right of property. The chiefs must de- termine." The chiefs were determined not to surrender their property into the hands of any one for investigation. But they were ready to give bonds to deliver the slave, when proved before a proper tribunal to belong to the claimant. Deprived as they were of a voice in the halls of justice, the surrender of the negro at once dispossessed them, without the least prospect of ever getting him returned. Discontent and the spirit of retaliation pervaded the entire country. The settler had no confidence in the Indian, which was most heartily reciprocated. When favorable opportunities oftered, the Indian suffered from personal abuse, and when made beastly intoxicated was robbed of his ornaments and rifle. In most instances, upon recovering he would find that he had, as told, sold his horse for a drink, and thrown avv^ay his money. This to him was incredible, but what he had lost was far beyond the hope of recovery. In retaliation, and to obtain that which he conceived, very justly too, had been stokn froJ^ him when intoxicated, he improved the first opportu- nity to secure cattle and hogs, by driving them within the Indian boundary, and claiming and defending them as his own. Trav- ellers complained of being intercepted on the highway, maltreated and robbed. Houses were said to have been forcibly opened, in the absence of the occupants, and provisions stolen. To put a stop to these proceedings, a company of mounted militia was ordered out on the 2d of April, to scour the country, and bring the depredators to justice. The chiefs appealed to the agent for protection, denying unequivocally that their warriors had been guilty of overt acts. Those attributed to them they beheved, as many respectable persons did, had been committed by vagrant whites, who under the cry of hostilities shielded themselves from punishment. In the progress of this quasi war, two whites were killed. The Indians had good cause to believe this to have been the act of their own people. Nehemathlar, the chief, promptly assembled his warriors, and after a pursuit of two months secured the fugitives, and delivered them to the agent for trial. Such 44 THE FLORIDA WAR. alacrity was an evidence on their part of a desire to act justly and decisively when complaints were made upon sufficient ground. On the 9th of September, the agent writes to the district attorney in reference to the Indian prisoners, who, after a fair trial, were acquitted. " Seminole Agency, 9th September, 1827. " Dear Sir — In consequence of a letter of disapproval received from Gov. Duval, I, some weeks since, directed the two Indians who were released from confinement at the time you were at the agency, to be arrested and sent to Tallahassee for examina- tion, &c. ; which order, I am informed, has been obeyed. It has this day been suggested to me, by a gentleman from Alachua county, that there is a plan on foot, to have them sent into Georgia for trial, in the belief that their chance for escape from^ punishment and death will be weakened by such procedure, it being easy, as the friends of the measure say, to show that the crime, if committed by them, was perpetrated within the limits of that state. The suggestion of corrupt trial is a calumny upon the character of that commonwealth, and the measure indicated, no man, not an ignoramus, can think of carrying out. That the most unscrupulous efforts will be made to convict, need not be questioned. Knowing your character, I am aware that there is no necessity of making an appeal to your benevolence of feeling, in behalf of those unfortunate men. I am satisfied that, in the discharge of your duties of public prosecutor, you will not lose sight of the principles of justice, or forget what is due to hu- manity. I most confidently beheve in the entire innocence of the accused of the blood, the spilling of which is attempted to be fastened upon them ; and that, though they may have committed depredations upon the property of the whites, their guilt v/ears no deeper hue. Should the incipient judicial examination result in further confinement and a trial, in season to enable me to reach Tallahassee to attend it, it is my own wish, and that of the chiefs, that I should be present. His excellency appeared by his letter to be highly displeased, that I consulted you in relation to the release ; and says, that I ought not to have suffered myself to be influenced by your opinion, as you are not authorized to decide for the judge or jury. Respectfully, your friend and obedient servant, U. S. District Attorney, ) G. HUMPHREYS, Tallahassee, Fla. \ Agent Seminole Indians." In spite of the exertions ot the citizens and well-wishers of the country, the disposition to trample upon the Indians, mani- fested itself in all quarters. The secretary and acting governor THE FLORIDA WAR. 45 McCarty, informed Col. Humphreys, on the 26th of November, of a mm^der committed in the neighborhood of Tallahassee : " Indian Office, Tallahassee, Nov. 26th, 1827. " Sir — It gives me pain, to apprise you of a distressing event which occurred in this vicinity on the 20th ult. An Indian (who accompanied Billy and his wife, who had a pass from you to visit their relations in the Creek nation) was shot, as appears from the verdict of the jury of inquest. Two persons have been ap- prehended, and I have issued a proclamation for a third, who is also suspected of participating in this shocking outrage. You wdll explain this circumstance to the nation, with such remarks as may occur to you to be proper on the occasion. The Indian, who was shot, had no pass ; but he no doubt considered himself as under the protection of that which you had granted to Billy and wife. This melancholy occasion is much deplored by the people in this neighborhood, who have manifested much zeal for the apprehension of the offenders ; and of this the nation should be fully apprised. They should, moreover, be instructed to ad- monish their people not to pass the boundary without permission in writing from yourself I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant. Col. G. Humphreys, Agent, \ WILLIAM M. McCARTY, Fort King, Fla. ^ Sec. and Act. Gov. and Act. Sup't. Ind. Aff. in Fla." The agent assembled the chiefs as directed, and thus answers the acting governor : " Seminole Agency, 19th Dec. 1827. " Sir — On my return yesterday from an excursion into the Indian nation, I was put in possession of your letter of the 26th ultimo, communicating the unpleasant news of the murder of an Indian, near Tallahassee. " It fortunately so happened, that I was visited on the day of my return by Hicks, and several other chiefs, to whom I made known the subject of your letter, adding such remarks of my own as the occasion seemed to call for. The chiefs were, as was to be expected, much annoyed by the intelligence ; but they nevertheless deported themselves with perfect temperance and propriety, and assured me, that, believing exact justice would be done in the matter, they would quietly await the result of the in- vestigation, which I have informed them is to take place. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, William McCarty, Esq., ) G. HUMPHREYS, Agent." Sec. and Act. Gov. of Florida. \ These men, relying upon the sense of justice which had actuated them in the arrest of fugitive Indians accused of a like 46 THE FLORIDA WAR. offence, awaited calmly the action of the white man's laws to punish the offenders. In the midst of these difficulties, the claims for negroes in possession of the Indians were pushed upon the war department, through the delegate of the territory. Col. J. M. White, who per- emptorily demanded redress for the grievances complained of by his constituents. Col. Humphreys was ordered to deliver forth- with the negroes claimed by Mrs. Margaret Cook. The refusal of the Indian chief to comply caused some delay, when the order was reiterated on the 6th of February, and further required that the agent " should see that it was done." The agent wrote the following letter to the commissioner of Indian affairs, showing that the neglect was not attributable to himself, but to the spirit of opposition manifested by the Indians : " Seminole Agency, March 1st, 1828. " Sir — Your letter of the 7th instant, communicating the order of the secretary of war, in relation to the delivery of Mrs» Cooke's negro Jack or John, was received here last mail, and in reply thereto I have to request, that you will say to the secretary, that at the time the order came to hand, the fourth party which had been sent by me in pursuit of the negro in question, within the last six months, was out. It has returned without success, and the Indian men declare their inability to take the fugitive. Under these circumstances, I have to ask of the Department, what is to be done ? and whether in this particular case I am authorized to put in requisition the military force stationed near the agency ? and if so, to request that I may be placed in such relation with regard to it, as will insure a compliance with such calls as I may find it necessary to make. From one portion of your letter under consideration, it is to be inferred that the de- partment has been imposed upon, or at least, that it is in error in relation to the situation of the property in question. You say that the negro Jack or John must he delivered up to Mrs. Cook, on the same condition as she received the other negro claimed by her, viz., on her giving bonds, &c. Such conditions are not at all required, so far as the interests of the Indians are concerned, inasmuch as they do not pretend to dispute the title with Mrs. C, whom they admit and believe to be the legitimate owner of the slave, and to whom they are willing (as their efforts in her behalf in this case fully prove, however she may assert the contrary) to give such aid as they can, and more than she has a right to ask, towards the recovery of her property. But they will not, I appre- hend, consent further to risk their lives in a service, which has always been a thankless one ; and has lately proved so to one of THE FLORIDA WAR. 47 the most respected and valuable chiefs in the nation, who was killed in an attempt to arrest a runaway slave. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Thos. L. McKenney, Esq., ) ^ G. HUMPHREYS, Agent." Com'r of Indian Affairs. ) Connected with these causes of dissatisfaction, the Indians complained that the annuity granted under the treaty was withheld. This had been done in the behef that a suspension of payment would impel the Indians to surrender the negroes, so long and unwisely contended for. A letter from the agent to Governor Duval, of March 8, 1828, makes known the dissatisfaction of the chiefs : ''Seminole Agency, March 6, 1828. " Sm — Under the impression, from what has been stated to me, that there remains a considerable unexpended balance of the ap- propriation of $20,000 made by congress to furnish provisions for the relief of the Florida Indians, I feel it a duty to state, that if such balance exists, it might at this time afford great benefit to the nation, if judiciously applied to the purchase of corn, &c. The last year's crop of the Indians, which was scanty, is entirely exhausted, and they are beginning to feel the pressure of want, from which they receive only such precarious relief as is to be fojLind in the woods. They do not, however, even under these circumstances, make any new calls upon the munificence of the government ; but if there is any portion of its former bounty, that has not reached them, it would be exceedingly acceptable, and an act of humanity to impart it to them, in this their time of need. I yesterday received a formal visit from Hicks, and several other chiefs, the object of which was to request me to address you on this subject. " I shall be glad to be instructed what to say to them in reply. I have of late been much importuned on this subject of the an- nuity, which has been some time due. The Indians are extremely anxious to have it, and desire that it may be paid in specie. They are not content with the manner in which it has been thus far given to them. They say, that when paid, as heretofore, in goods or bank notes, it is impossible for them to apportion and distribute it in such a way, as that each individual shall get the exact amount to which he is entitled ; and this difficulty, which is the cause of dissatisfaction among the members of the nation, can only be prevented by the mode of payment now asked for. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. Gov. Wm. p. Duval, Superintendent ) G. HUMPHREYS, of Indian Affairs, Tallahassee, Fa. ) Agent Sent. Indians." 48 THE FLORIDA WAR. The commissioner of Indian affairs, in answer to the commu- nication of the agent, of March 27, says that " the mihtary cannot be employed in arresting Indian negroes." "Department of War, Office Indian Affairs, \ March 27th, 1828. \ " Sir — I have received your two letters of the 7th instant. In regard to the negro, the property of Mrs. Cooke, it was expected that, if within your reach, or the means at your disposal, you would comply with the order. The military will not he employed, I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. G. Humphreys, > Thos. L. McKenney, Agent Fa. Indians, Fort King, Fa.\ Com'r In. Affairs." The military had already been put in requisition, through the request of the agent, and voluntary offer of Major Glassell, U. S. A., commanding at Fort King, but confined to the country in their immediate neighborhood. It was thought the presence of troops would intimidate the Indians, and cause an instant de- livery. But the demand, under such circumstances, was ridiculed, and while the commander was wasting his arguments, the negroes were immediately taken to the swamps and hammocks, under direction of experienced guides. These proceedings naturally inflamed the passions of all, and while the chiefs were calmly maintaining their rights, in the face of an authority capable of crushing them as a nation, the younger class listened attentively, anxiously awaiting the time when they could act as their feelings dictated, and revenge their wrongs, accumulating from day to day, and which seemed to become more aggravated as they at- tempted to resist them, and defend themselves. The most influ- ential chiefs endeavored to calm the feeling so rife, encouraged as it was by white men lingering upon their border, demoralizing them by the sale of whisky, and adding to their depraved condi- tion by pernicious example and advice. The agent reported to the superintendent, on the 6th of April, 1828, the murder of a white man by an Indian : " Seminole Agency, April 6th, 1828. " Sir — I have to report that a murder has recently been com- mitted upon a white man in the neighborhood of ' Hamly's Old Store,' by an Indian who lived near the Oklawaha river. The cause which led to the outrage, or whether there was any provo- cation, I have not learned ; though there is reason to believe the deed was altogether wanton. Upon being informed of the affair, I sent for some of the principal chiefs, who promptly attended, and declared their unqualified disapproval of the act : indeed, so THE FLORIDA WAR. 49 exasperated were they, particularly the emigrants settled on 'Big Swamp,' that some difficulty was experienced in restraining and preventing them from proceeding at once in pursuit to inflict summary justice ; but as the offender is of the old Seminoles, between whom and the tribes of the west there appears, unfortu- nately, not to exist the most perfect cordiality, I deemed it ad- visable, in order to harmonize and check, if possible, an increase of unkindly feelings, to stop proceedings in the matter, until measures could be entered into to bring the different tribes to act in concert. " The occasion, though a melancholy one, seemed favorable for entering on the first step towards a more perfect union between them ; which is so essential to their own happiness and the inte- rests of the United States. I accordingly detained some of the head-men from the west, and sent for Micanopy and Jumper, who had just returned, as was understood, from the hunting grounds. Jumper was found to be still out, and Micanopy, though at home, was confined to his lodge by severe sickness ; of course, neither attended. Under these circumstances, I concluded to send Tus- keneha to Micanopy, whose place is only about eight miles from here, to ascertain his sentiments in relation to the murder, and whether he was disposed to join in bringing the perpetrator to justice. His conduct on the occasion, as reported to me by Tus- keneha, was entirely correct, and such as does him credit. He said the man deserved death by their own laws, and although he was unable to go to aid in carrying the law into effect, he should give his voice in favor of immediate punishment, and would fuhy sanction whatever the other chiefs might do. It was then resolved by the council that the offender should expiate his offence by death ; and a party, led by Tuskeneha, proceeded to enforce the sentence. At the request of the Indians, I sent a young man named Brutan (who has been some time employed by me to herd the public cattle), as a witness. This they desired, they said, in order to satisfy the whites, some of whom might otherwise doubt them, that they were faithful. I strongly urged that the murderer should be given up to be tried by the laws of the white people ; but to this the Indians as strongly objected, as being contrary to their custom. They never attempted to take a murderer alive, it would be attended with danger, and might cause the death of one or more of the party ; for once notified of his detection he knew his fate, and would doubtless fight till the last. ' 'Twere better,' they said,' that so bad a man should lose his forfeited hfe, than jeopardize the safety of any good one by unnecessary formality ;' and, on the whole, though I could have desired to see them pursue a course more in consonance with the received notions of civih- zation, I could not beheve it to be a point of sufficient import- 4 50 THE FLORIDA WAR. ance to authorize me to press it, at a risk of a total failure of justice, and therefore told them to pursue their own method. " The party went, but did not entirely succeed, though there is reason to believe the object in view was essentially effected ; — • the culprit was fired upon, as he was taking shelter in a swamp, and fell, but recovered his feet, and got into the swamp. Blood was found where he ran, after the shots. " I was informed yesterday, that all search of the friends of the fugitive, which has been constant, has proved unavaihng ; and the conjecture (a very probable one) is, that in attempting to swim the Oklawaha, which is very high, in his wounded condi- tion, he has been drowned. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, Gov. W. P. Duval, > G. HUMPHREYS, Tallahassee, Florida. ) Agent Seminole Indians." The determination of the chiefs to punish the murderer, again evinced the kindest disposition towards the inhabitants, though so long aggrieved by efforts to wrest from them their property. The talk given by the principal men upon the subject, shows a determination to award justice ; showing at the same time a just appreciation of their own rights, in opposition to the arguments and threats which the agent had resorted to, in endeavoring to fulfil the requirements of claimants, coming as they did from the secretary of w^ar, under instructions from the president of the United States : JMinutes of a talk held at the Seminole Agency, the 17th April, 1828, at which were present Tuskal Mathla, Head Chief: Mico Nopy, Jumper, Halata Emath- la, Halata Mico, Fee-ke-lusta, Hajo, and Cooper. Witnesses, or white fersons, present : Capt. Saunders, Sutler at Tampa ; Lieut. Eaton, 4th Infantry ; Mr. Ganes, and Mr. Lockwood. Agent. — I understand you have come to have a talk with me : if so, proceed ; I am ready to hear you. Mico Nopy. — We are told there is a white man come into ovir country after certain negroes. I want to know what right he has to come after them ; we have been told that white people should not come into our country : besides, these ne- groes are ours, and the whites have no right to them. Agent. — ^This man has an order from the secretary of war to get the negroes, and I am directed to give them up to him, on his giving bonds, in the same way that Mrs. Cook got the negroes she claimed from Nelly Factor. Should the white woman who calls for these negroes, not prove her claim, the negroes will be returned to you. If you do not give them up, I shall have to send and take them by force. Jumper. — This negro woman, who is now wanted from us, belonged formerly to a white man, who 'tis now said (by those who wish to get her and her children away from us) gave her to his daughter. May-be this is true, may-be not ; but if he did give her to his daughter, for some reason, he took her away again and brought her and sold her to the Indians, who honestly paid for her, and are therefore the fair owners of her. It seems that the white people will not rest, or suffer us THE FLORIDA WAR. 51 to do so, till they have got all the property belonging to us, and made us poor. The laws of the whites appear to be made altogether for their own benefit, and against the Indians, who can never under them get back any of their property ; if it once gets, no matter how, into the white people's hands, we fear their law^s will leave to us nothing. If we could see them work so as to restore the property that has been stolen, and otherwise unfairly taken from us, and not so as to rob us of the little we have left, we should have more reason to believe them just, but as it is, the benefit to be had from them goes all to the white people's side. It is well known that a great deal of our property, negroes, horses, cattle, &c. is now in the hands of the whites, and yet their laws give us no satisfaction, and will not make them give this property up to us. The property which this white man is after, we know to belong to our people, and we cannot therefore consent to give it up. If you send and take it from us by force, as you say you must, we cannot help ourselves, but shall think it very hard in the government to force from us that which we have purchased and fairly paid for, when it will not use the same means to make the whites return to Us property of ours which they have dishonestly got in their possession. We were promised justice, and we want to see it ! These negroes are ours, and we will not consent to surrender them, or say w^e are willing to have them taken. If they are forced out of our hands, we may not resist because we have not the power ; but we must insist, that the government does not show in this business that justice which has been so often and liberally promised to us. We have submitted to one demand after another of this kind, in the hope that they would cease, but it seems that there will be no end to them, as long as we have any thing left that the white people may want, and we have become tired and discouraged. Agent. — You act wisely in not attempting to resist by force the orders of the government, which, you may rest assured will, as far as practicable, do you jus- tice in this and every other matter. You must not suppose, because you are called upon to give up these negroes, that it is the wish or intention of the gov- ernment to deprive you of anything which of right belongs to you or your people. This course is taken in order that the dispute between you and the white claim- ant, which has been so long annoying both you and the government, may be settled and for ever put at rest. And I repeat, that should the white woman fail to prove her title to the property, it will be returned to you. Jumper. — We heard the same talk about the negroes which were taken from Nelly Factor, twelve moons since, but the negroes have not come back. We know you tell us what you think, and wish and hope that your words may prove true, — but it is discouraging, and makes our hearts sad, to have the white people coming, every few days, to wrong us out of our honest property, when we can never get out of their hands that which they stole from us many years ago. The negroes this man is after are ours, and the white people knoio it is so ; and if you take it from us, we shall think hard of it, and feel that the justice of the government is for the whites and not for us. I have nothing more to say. Col. George M. Brooke, U. S. A., commanding at Tampa Bay, had been induced, through the solicitations of Col. Humphreys, to assist him in the execution of his orders. He succeeded, with the aid of his troops, in arresting four negroes, claimed as the property of Mrs. Hannay, of St. Mary's, Ga. Col. Brooke thus writes to the aa;ent on the 2d and 6th of May: 52 THE FLORIDA WAR. " Canton BrooJce, May 2d, 1828. " Dear Sir — I received by the hands of Mr. Mickler, a few days since, your letter of the 22d April, with Col. McKenney's of the 8th March. On inquiry, I have ascertained that the negroes claimed by a person in Georgia are not at Peas Creek, but prob- ably on the Withlacoochee, or in the neighborhood of Filackli- chaha, and it would be useless for me to send a command after them, because they would be hid by the Indians from the most careful search.. My command is, besides, so small, having only twenty-eight men for duty, that I could not well dispatch any part, which must be so weak as not to command any respect from the Indians, and in producing probable resistance, would result in an immediate state of hostilities. I have, however, seen the Indian who claims them, and who will deliver them to you or Major Glossell, but not to Mr. Mickler, who they are afraid will take them out of the nation, without their ever being able to get back the negroes, or the money which they have paid for them. It appears the old woman has been in the country for twenty years, and, at their own expense, the increase has been raised and supported. I am not to say any thing as it regards the proper title, but only state what the Indians have told me. Young Micanopy will be here on Monday next, and will proceed imme- diately in the direction of the negroes, and carry them to the agency. I do not believe that, without the consent of the Indians themselves, the negroes would have been had, without a consid- erable force and fatigue, and then with a risk of considerable consequences. ,.; I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. G. Humphreys, ) GEO. M. BROOKE, Col. U. S. A. commanding." Indian Agent. ) " Canton BrooJce, May 6th, 1828. " Dear Sir — Sestaskee and young Micanopy will leave this to-day, for the agency, with a part of the negroes, and the re- mainder they v/ill get at what is called their old place. " I really pity those Indians, and although negroes are of little value to the Indians, being rather masters than slaves, still they view them as their property. So many claims are now made on them, that they begin to believe that it is the determination of the United States to take them all. This idea is sti^engthened by the conversations of many of the whites, and which they have heard. " I would assume the responsibility of not delivering the ne- groes, unless the claim was perfectly satisfactory, and inform the government ; and in any or all events, I would be perfectly satis- fied as to the perfect ability of the persons who have signed the THE FLORIDA WAR. 53 bond. It is a delicate matter, after having received a positive order ; but there is, and must be always, discretion, unless the person giving the order is on the spot. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. G. Humphreys, ) GEO. M. BROOKE, Colonel U. S. A:' Agent, Fort King, Fa. ) Though every means had been adopted to meet the demands of the highest authority, in regard to slaves, Col. Humphreys was determined to be satisfied as to the responsibility of his own acts, done in obedience to orders received, while he was enjoined, at the same time, to give protection to the Indians, as agreed upon in the treaty of Fort Moultrie. The letter from the Hon.' Jos. L. Smith, judge of the supreme court of Florida, goes far to bear the Indian out in resisting the delivery of his property : " St. Augustine, May 10th, 1828. " Sir — Your letter of the 9th instant reached me yesterday, and I reply to the inquiries contained in it by remarking, that property belonging to Indians, or in their possession, under hond, fide claim of title, cannot legally be taken from them, but by treaty, by their consent, or by decision of a competent court of justice. General principles would forbid, and I know of no special statute conferring such a power on superintendents or agents. "In extreme cases, from necessity, as where there exists reasonable apprehension of hostihties, it would be right to take from them their arms and other means of aggression ; but this, after ail, would be an act of war in self-defence. " I can perceive no equity in withholding from the Indians their annuity, because they do not give up to white claimants property which they allege is their own. The act of 1802, when they have committed depredations, and injured the prop- erty of the whites, authorizes compensation (on proof) to be made by stoppages from their annuity ; and this under the direc- tion, if I recollect the law correctly, of the president. " In regard to runaway negroes, who have sought refuge in ihe nation of which you are agent, I understand from the depart- ment, that the question, in all cases of adverse claims, was to be investigated and decided by me, under the authority of which you have had notice. During the continuance of this arrange- ment, (decided and urged by the white claimants, and, as I have been informed, by the Indians also,) which would give opportu- nity for thorough investigation of proofs, on both sides, it was not to be expected that a summary order would have been issued by any functionary in the territory, that a negro in possession of the 54 THE FLORIDA WAR. Indians, with a claim of title, should be dehvered to the white claimant, on his ex parte statement. " A step like this, taken in a case actually undergoing investi- gation before me, would place me in an unpleasant position, rendering future proceedings uncertain, and, in fact, terminate the benefit, to white claimants and to the Indians, of the authority given to me by the department. 1 am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. Gad Humphreys, ) JOSEPH L. SMITH." Agent, &c. ^ The department of war, finding itself, as well as its agents, so deeply involved in difficulties in the recovery of slaves, the course of adjudication as transmitted in the instructions given to the agent by the superintendent on the 5th of January, 1825, was resumed. "Department of War, Office Indian Affairs, May 5th, 1828. " Sir — You will direct Col. Humphreys, in order to a speedy decision in all cases which may be submitted for the recovery of runaway slaves, to refer them to the judge of the district ; and if his decision be favorable to the claimants, you will order the slaves to be delivered, in pursuance of that decision, the claimant giving bonds to abide by such other legal proceedings as the parties holding the slaves may think proper to adopt. " You will address the judge a fine requesting him to decide, and report the cases to you, to be forwarded by you to the de- partment, for its information. Let the report of the judge be on the basis of a judicial decision. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant. His Excellency, William P. Duval, ) THOS. L. McKENNEY." Tallahassee. \ In one instance, the slaves demanded were in possession. Bonds were accordingly required, before surrendering them, to re- deliver the negroes to the Indian, if declared by a competent tribunal to be his property. Those offered were refused by the agent, as the persons tendered as security were irresponsible in all respects. The agent vindicates his course in a letter to the superintendent on the 14th of August : " Seminole Agency, 14th August, 1828. " Sir — Your two letters, of the 31st July and 1st August, were this day received. The order relative to the slaves claimed by Mrs. Hannay, shall be attended to, but I must confess my ap- THE FLORIDA WAR. .55 prehension, that I shall find some difficulty in determining upon the competency of the security she may offer (which it is pre- sumable will be from among her friends and acquaintances in Georgia), as I am totally ignorant of the pecuniary circumstances of every individual in that state. " My situation, it may be readily imagined, would be awk- ward and embarrassing in the extreme, and I should be liable to the charge of being untrue to my duty, w^ere I (by mistake or otherwise) to accept security which should, in the end, prove in- sufficient, and the Indian who is the opposing claimant of Mrs. Hannay suffer in consequence the loss of her property. I take the liberty, therefore, to request that I may be furnished with spe- cific instructions for my government on this subject. " As the principal chiefs happened to be assembled at the agency in council, when your communication on the subject of the claim set up by Mrs, Cook was received, it was read and in- terpreted to them at once. " The accompanying is a talk delivered in meeting, this morning, by Hicks in reply, v/hich I have the honor to transmit to you, with a request from the chiefs, that it may be forwarded to Washington. They appear much hurt at the idea of M being allowed to wrest from them, as pay for a slave, a portion of the poor pittance which they are entitled to from the govern- ment, without their having had a shadow of value for it, and that too upon her own ex parte and interested statement, which, I think I hazard Kttle in saying, will be found, on investigation, to be grossly erroneous ; for I cannot suppose the department would, for a moment, think of giving sanction to a claim so unjust and extravagant as that preferred by Mrs. , had it not been imposed upon by aa uncandid representation of the facts existing in the case. I am naturally led to infer from the tenor of your language upon the subject, as well as of that which you commu- nicate as coming from the department, that an impression has been created there, ascribing to the Indians a wilful withholding from Mrs. Cook of the negro she claims. If such an impression exists, it is a libel on the nation ; and those who have been instrumental in producing it are guilty of egregious if not deliberate misrepresenta- tion. To Mrs. and her son-in-law , have I repeat- edly, verbally and by letter, explained the difficulties in the case, and at the same time apprised them of the earnest desire of the chiefs that the matter should be settled, and of the efforts they were making to bring the negro in question in — efforts they were induced to make by my assuring them that Mr. was willing (for to. that effect he had made professions to me) to pay a considerable balance which is yet due to the Indian of the original purchase- 66 THE FLORIDA WAR. money (none of Vv^hich purchase-money, it is just for me to state here, went, as their chiefs allege, to the actual Indian owner of the negro, he utterly refusing, when sober, to accept the goods — a small packhorse-load only — which had been palmed upon him, during a period of intoxication, in exchange for his slave). He left them, and returned to his home. They were subse- quently put into the possession of other Indians, (not at all inter- ested in the trade about the negro,) by whom they were, it may be taken for granted, consumed. The negro never was delivered up, nor has there ever been exhibited to me evidence, if such exists, of any written title, upon which Mrs. claims. " It was upon the oral representations of her son-in-law, Mr. , made at an early period of my acquaintance with him, as a business man, that I was induced to give to the Indians the advice, on the subject of this claim, alluded to in their talk here- with sent. That advice was given, not because I had seen any proof of the legality of Mr. -'s title, but because I was led to believe a valuable and sufficient consideration had been paid for the negro in question to the proper owner by Ferrard, who seems to have been the agent of the husband of Mrs. in the transaction of purchase ; and that, on this account, she had something like at least an equitable claim, which could be more easily adjusted by obtaining the consent of the nation to surren- der the negro, and leaving them to settle the business araong themselves by levying contributions upon those who had been the actual recipients of the articles given for the slave to indem- nify his owner, or in any w^ay they might prefer. " A proposition, therefore, was made to that effect, aod as- sented to by the chiefs, but solely upon the ground that the goods had, as it appeared, been consumed by members of their nation, and with the express understanding that the arrangement was to be considered one of entire grataity on their part. " Ever since this period, exertions have been made by the Indians to apprehend and give the negro up. Once, they suc- ceeded in taking and delivering him here, during a short absence of mine on business in the nation. He was put in irons, but be- fore my return effected his escape. The Indians are now in pursuit ; and I have good reason to hope the fellow will, ere long, be re-surrendered. It is manifest from the foregoing facts, that, so far from the nation's attempting to practice any unfairness towards Mrs. Cook in this matter, it is acting with a liberality that might possibly be looked for in vain, if the positions of the parties were reversed. I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, His Excellency, Wm. P. Duval, > G. HUMPHREYS, Governor of Florida. \ Agent Seminole Indiana:^ THE FLORIDA WAR. 57 The talk of the chiefs is marked by good sense, and manifests a disposition to act justly in the matter. The peremptory demand made upon them, to which this talk is an answer, was accom- panied by a threat to deduct from their annuity, in case of refusal, the value of the negroes, to be paid to the claimants : Minutes of a talk given by the head-chief, John Hicks, in council at the Seminole agency, the 16th of August, 1828, made to the government through the agent, Col. G. Humphreys. Brother, We have thought upon what you said last night, about the claim Mrs. has set up against our nation on account of her negro. We don't hke the talk sent from the Big House at Washington, because we think it unjust, and we cannot consent to have tiie money promised us for our annuity — ^which is at best a little sum to be divided among so many people — taken from us in the way threatened, when our nation has received nothing for it. We find that some of the whites are determined not to let us rest, as long as we have any thing that they want ; and if every one who asks is allowed to take, we should soon be without money or any thing else worth possessing, and have nothing left but our naked- ness and poverty ; the right to which will not be disputed with us. We appeal to our Great Father, who has so often promised us protection and friendship, to shield us from the wrongs his white children seem determined to inflict upon us. We know that the talk you gave us yesterday from him, which the govern- ment sent, was sent because of lies which have been told to him about us. We have been a long time trying to catch the negro that the talk is about : once we took him, and delivered him at the agency ; this you know, and we wish you to speak for us. We did not bring this negro in because we thought ourselves bound to do it, but because you advised us to do it. He is not a runaway, but was raised in the nation, out of which he has never been. He v/as bought from the brother of the Indian witli whom he was living at the time our people caught him. We know that Ferrard pretended to purchase him, but we also know that the trade was not a fair one, and that the negro was never properly paid for ; but you told us that Mrs. was willing to pay what was due, if she could get the negro ; and advised us to take him, if we could, and give him up ; and it was this advice which made us strive as we did to catch him. We think it very strange, after all this, that we should be told that we must pay Mrs. , when it is clear she owes money to us ; and we will not agree that she shall be permitted to wrong us out of the money which is our due from our Great Father ; and which he has said should be punctually paid to us ; and if it is taken from us for her benefit, or to satisfy any claim Hke hers, the thing must be done without our consent. We cannot believe our Great Father, when he hears the truth, will permit our rights to be thus taken from us. We are sensible his power is great, and that he can do with us as he chooses ; but we hope that his justice is as great as his power ; and believe he will place it between us and those who wish to do us wrong ; and we will endeavor, therefore, to keep our minds easy until we hear again from him. If we can take the negro we will do it. Some of our people have been in search for him ever since his escape. We beg our Great Father not to condemn us unheard, or open his ears too readily to the talks of his white children ; some of whom we know, speak from a lying heart and with a forked tongue. John Hicks, Chief, his X math. Witnesses : G. Humphkeys, Agent. Major Glossell, U.S. Army. 58 THE FLORIDA WAR. In continuation of the subject, Col. Humphreys addresses a communication to the superintendent on the 23d of September : " Seminole Agency, 23d September, 1828. " Sir — I have to state, in reply to an order from the depart- ment of war which was a few days since handed to me by the agent of a Mrs. Hannay, of Georgia, requiring the delivery of certain slaves claimed by her, which are now, and have been for many years, in possession of members of this nation, in virtue of a purchase from the father of Mrs. Hannay, that it is not in my power to make the delivery directed ; the chiefs positively, but respectfully, object to the procedure. They are perfectly will- ing, they say, to abide the issue of a judicial investigation, and will cheerfully submit to such decision as a competent tribunal may make in the case ; but they wholly refuse their assent to a relinquishment of possession of the disputed property, before the matter has been adjudicated upon, and an award given adverse to their title. " If force is resorted to, to compel their compliance, they will not, they cannot offer any other opposition to it than that of ap- peal to the justice and good faith of the government, whose pro- mises of protection and kindness they bear constantly in mind, and are inclined to set a high value upon. I think it is much to be regretted that the order of the 5th of May, directing the re- ference of claims to negroes in dispute between the whites and Indians to the judge of the district, is not adhered to ; the mea- sure is calculated to have a very happy effect, as it judiciously provides for at once carrying these troublesome controversies (which are productive of more ill feeling between the Indians and their neighbors than all other causes combined) before a tribunal adequate to decide them ; and to which, whatever pre- vious steps may be taken in relation to them, falling short of final settlement, they will in all probability have to be eventually sub- mitted. " I deem it proper to send this by express, that the depart-' ment may be seasonably apprised of facts ; and to prevent, also, the effect and influence of any uncandid and erroneous state- ments that may be made by those who are interested against the Indians in this case. Respectfully, I am your obedient servant. His Excellency, ) G. HUMPHREYS, Gov. Duval. ) Agent Seminole Indians." Th® exasperated state of the public mind, ever so tenacious on the question of slave property, had arrived to such a crisis, that THE FLORIDA WAR. 59 the governor of the territory had become discouraged at the fail- ure of his efforts to adjust the difficuUies among the inhabitants, which became more comphcated, and increased in magnitude, as the country filled up with settlers and adventurers. His position required him to lend a ready ear to the grievances of all. These were represented in the most aggi^avated form. No rights were conceded to the Indians, and every act which interfered with the designs of individuals crowding within the Indian limits in all quarters, was regarded as the commencement of hostilities. Per- sonal abuse was heaped upon them, their property and persons disregarded ; no law shielded them, and no protection was given, other than that which was sought by the untiring exertions of the agent. He, residing in the midst of the tribe, immedi- ately in contact with them, heard their complaints with forbear- ance, and endeavored by all means within his power to allay their feehngs, often highly exasperated, and assured them of that protection designed to be given by the federal government. This he owed to himself, to the Indian nation, and to his country. The calls of humanity — of the feeble, of the ignorant, of the op- pressed^he could not disregard, nor did he; but with zeal, activity, and intelligence, stood firmly ; thwarted on one side by the exasperated multitude, who threatened his life, and on the other, appealed to by every impulse which actuates the human heart in the protection of the defenceless. To fully explain the state of affairs at this crisis, the following letters are subjoined : " Tallahassee, Indian Office, Sept. 22cl, 1828." " Sir — I have received your several communications from the 15th ultimo up to the date of the 12th instant, with the talk of the chiefs in relation to the claim of Mrs. and Hannay. Copies of the whole will be forwarded to the department of war, with my remarks, " I shall state to the department, it is my opinion that you have not Impressed the Indians with the necessity of complying with orders relating to the delivery of slaves in the nation ; and that, if you had performed your duty, no difficulty would have occurred. I also apprise you, that William Everitt has filed in my office an affidavit to a claim he sets up to certain slaves in the nation, which will also be transmitted to the secretary of war. " As the first officer of this territory, it is due to the country and my official character, to have the orders of the government promptly executed ; and to accomplish this, every proper measure on my part shall be adopted. " I shall give no further orders in Indian affairs, until I hear 60 THE FLORIDA WAR. from the war department. That part of the annuity claimed by the chiefs under your immediate control, and which they request may be forwarded to them, cannot he remitted until the orders already given are complied with. " You will inform the chiefs they will not be called on to attend at this place, as I desire not to have their hunting season interrupted. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. G. Humphreys, ) WILLIAM P. DUVAL." Agent of the Seminole Indians. S " Seminole Agency, Sth October, 1828. " Sir — Your letter of the 22d ultimo was received per last mail, and read with no little surprise. It is to me matter of very great regret, that I am not able to obtain your approbation of the manner in which I have discharged my official duty in relation to the delivery of slaves claimed from the nation ; and I cannot but feel aggrieved, [aware as I know you must be] of the many difficulties I have to contend with, and the lack of means at my command to enforce the orders I receive, being forbidden to employ the troops on such occasions. You attribute to me a disregard of duty no wise warranted by any circumstances that have occurred, and therefore inconsistent with that liberality and justice I had a right to expect at your hands. That delays have taken place in some cases when the delivery of slaves has been called for, I readily admit ; but I must, in justice to myself, at the same time, protest against the ascription of such delays to any want of exertion on my part. Had the government placed at my disposal a competent military force, there would have been far less difficulty in enforcing obedience to the instructions of the department. The negro claimed by Mrs. has been twice brought here since the receipt of your letter next preceding the last, in relation to him, and escaped, owing to the want of suffi- cient facilities for securing him. And in relation to those claimed by Mrs. Hannay, you will have learnt ere this by my letter of the 23d of the last month, sent per express, that the In- dians have, for reasons explained in that communication, refused to make the delivery required. I am, sir, your obedient servant. His Excellency, Wm. P. Duval, ) G. HUMPHREYS, Governor of Florida. ) Agent Seminole Indians." " Seminole Agency, Oct. lOth, 1828. " Sir — A letter from his Excellency Gov. Duval, (a copy of which I herewith transmit,) received by last mail, virtually de- clining, for the present, to have any thing further to do in the THE FLORIDA WAR. . 61 Indian affairs of the territory, having closed against me the ordi- nary and prescribed channel of communication with the depart- ment, I shall, I trust, be excused in addressing you direct, on subjects appertaining to my office. By the letter alluded to, it will be perceived that I am so unfortunate as not to obtain his excellency's approbation of the manner in which I have dis- charged some of my pubhc duties, and that, on this account, he had determined to report me as a delinquent. Of this course, which is predicated upon the ex parte statements of irresponsible and interested persons, and is wholly unwarranted by existing facts, 1 have good right to complain. Aware, as Governor Duval must be, of the difficulties I have to encounter upon the subject of litigated negro claims, and sensible as he is of the lack of means at my disposal to enforce obedience from the Indians, I cannot esteem his complaint against me as liberal, or even fair. I have the honor to refer you to the accompanying document,* being a talk given by some of the principal chiefs of the nation. "From this talk (which was Hstened to by several white gentlemen, among them one or more officers of the garrison at Fort King) may be known their feelings in regard to the delivery required from them of certain negroes, and how far I am ob- noxious to censure for the failure of the Indians to comply with the orders directing said delivery. If all the obstacles I have met with in the course of my duties touching litigated slave claims (which have been sufficiently explained to Governor Duval) have been by him made known to his official superiors, I have no fear of reproach from them. " That I have questioned the policy, and even doubted the justice, of some of the measures directed in the property contro- versies between the whites and Indians, I am free to admit. Perhaps this was presumptuous, but if so, it was honest ; and in all such cases I have been scrupulously careful not to impart my views publicly, and if ever I gave utterance to them it was done in such a way as that the Indians should by no possibility come to a knowledge of them, so that from me they can have taken no bias against the orders of the government to induce their opposi- tion to them ; and therefore, whatever they have done in that respect they have done of their own accord, in the exercise of an undeniable right, and I am in no wise accountable, and must solemnly protest against the attachment to me of any censure in relation to it. The good opinion of my government must ever be valuable to me, and its favor desirable, and it will therefore be a source of gratification if my conduct receives its sanction. I feel bound to add, that it is to be feared the course threatened by * Talk given by the chief Hicks. See p. 57. 62 THE FLORIDA WAR. Governor Duval, in relation to the annuity, if persisted in, will be considered by the Indians an infraction of the treaty, and serve to impair their confidence in the kindness and justice of the government. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Hon. P. B. Pouter, ) G. HUMPHREYS, Secretary of War. ) Agent Seminole Indians." Governor Duval, in another letter on the 2d of October, re- iterates his determination to abstain from interference in Indian matters : •' Tallahassee, Indian Office, October 2d, 1828. " Sir — Your letter of the 23d ultimo was received from your express to-day. By the last mail, my reasons and opinions in relation to this and other orders, and the manner of their execu- tion, were communicated to you. " A copy of your letter will be transmitted to the war depart- ment, by the next mail, with my remarks. There can be but one course that the department can take, consistent with the policy they have unavoidably exercised in Indian affairs. I shall give no order or take any step, in the management of the Indians. " The department must decide on the whole matters in con- troversy, and either approve your conduct — and thus surrender all direction of Indian affairs — or enforce their orders. " I cannot see that any necessity requires that a special messenger should be sent with your communication to me, as the mail regularly goes to the agency. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. Gad Humphreys, t WM. P. DUVAL." Agent for the Seminole Indians. ^ Affairs had now assumed such an aspect, that an open rupture with the Indians seemed inevitable. The inhabitants had become reckless, looking anxiously for the time when by bloodshed they could punish the Indians, and secure their property. The Indians stood ready to retaliate at any moment, determined to resist to the last extremity. The executive, as might have been expected, was inclined to defend and vindicate the whites. To avert, if possible, the commencement of hostilities. Col. Humphreys assembled the head men, and with an earnestness and sincerity which impressed them with the truth, besought them as they valued their lives to abstain from hostilities ; and, as an alternative, urged them to appoint a delegation to visit Arkan- sas. This, he assured them, was the only hope of avoiding a collision, which must end in the total extinction of their nation. THE FLORIDA WAR. 63 This, long before, had been suggested, but they refused to Hsten in any manner to the proposition. After much persuasion, and con- trasting the present difficulties, and those apprehended, with the quiet and independence in Arkansas, they consented to the mea- sure. This was communicated to Governor Duval immediately, and to the Indian department, on the 20th of October : " Seminole Agency, Oct. 24th, 1828. " Sir — As a matter interesting to the territory, and one which will therefore, no doubt, be gratifying to you as the executive, I have the pleasure to state, that several of the chiefs of this nation, among whom is John Hicks, or Tukose Mathla, have recently consented to make a visit to the country proposed to the Indians, west of the Mississippi, for the purpose of examining it, with a view to the final removal of their nation. Should it be determined to send a deputation, it is the wish of the chiefs, that it may start early the ensuing spring. I, by the last mail, advised the department of the unexpected change in the minds of the In- dians on this important subject. Respectfully, your obedient servant, G. HUMPHREYS, His Excellency Gov. Duval. Agent Seminole Indians" " Seminole Agency, Oct. 20th, 1828. " Sir — I have the satisfaction to state, for the information of the department of war, that at a meeting of chiefs and others of the Seminole nation, held yesterday, at McKenzie's Pond, near the agency, pursuant to appointment made by me, for the purpose of procuring the nation to send a deputation to examine the coun- try west of the Mississippi, it was determined that the measure should be adopted, if still called for by the government, and a deputation sent at the opening of the ensuing spring. The chiefs in council were Hicks, (head-chief,) Holata Emathla, Holata Mico, Tukeheste Hajo, Hitchitee Mico, Tuskenehaw, and the sub-chief Mad Lizard. The four first-named will doubtless be recollected by you, as part of the delegation which visited the seat of government in 1826. Their tribes, with two or three others not represented in the meeting, but which may be safely relied upon to join, should the wished-for emigration take place, comprise at least two-thirds of the numerical strength of the whole nation. " I have good reason to suppose that this unexpected determi- nation, on the part of the chiefs above named, has been induced (among other reasons) by my volunteering to accompany them on the proposed excursion, which I was led to do, from a belief that the step as primary to a final removal of the nation, is desired 64 THE FLORIDA WAR. by the government, and a conviction I have long felt, that such removal, under suitable and fair circumstances, w^ould tend to the benefit and happiness of the Indians themselves, distressed as I knoM^ those people are, by irremovable evils w^ithin the present limits of their national territory, and harassed by the persecutions of their neighbors v\^ithout. Judging from the reputed character of the new country offered to them, I think it may be confidently calculated, that a visit to it will result in a general and entire removal of the. nation. If I have understood the views of the government aright on the subject, and the measure proposed receives its approval, little desirable to any one, in point of per- sonal convenience and comfort, as the duty of executing it must necessarily be, it will nevertheless afford me gratification to be instrumental in carrying it into effect, especially as my engaging in it seems to be considered a point of so much importance by the Indians. " In conferring as I have with the chiefs, in relation to the suggested journey, I have acted, it is true, without any formally delegated authority, but I have, at the same time, been influenced by a wish to promote the objects of the department ; and should the step I have taken be sanctioned, it will be to me a source of gratification, thus to be instrumental in benefiting the territory and Indians, at the same time meeting the policy of the govern- ment. I have the honor to be your obedient servant. Col. Thos. McKenny, Commissioner of ) G. HUMPHREYS, Indian Affairs, Washington, J). C. \ Agent Seminole Indians." Several oflicers of the army were present, who bear testimony to what transpired. We the undersigned have to state, that we were present at a talk, held by- Col. G. Humphreys, agent Seminole Indians, at McKenzie's Pond, on the 19th October, 1828, for the purpose of prevailing on the chiefs of said nation to send a deputation from the nation to examine the country west of the Mississippi river, which it is proposed by the government to give to the Indians. On this occasion, there were present in council, Hicks, head chief of the nation ; Holata Ematha, or Blue Warrior, chief of the Ocheeny band ; Holata Mico, chief of the Talsy band ; Tukehuskee Hajo, chief of the Red Stick band ; Hitchitee Mico, cbief of the Hitchitee band ; Tuskaneha, chief of the Mickasuky, or Muscogee band ; and Mad Lizzard, sub-chief of the Talsy band, and a number of Tustenuggees and warriors for the dilEferent tribes. It was determined by the above named chiefs, Tustenuggees, &c., in reply to a talk from the agent, Col. Humphreys, recom- mending to them to make an examination of the country proposed to them beyond the Mississippi, [it was agreed by said chiefs, &c.] that they would organize a deputation from the nation for that purpose, to start early the ensuing spring : Provided, the agent himself would accompany the said deputation on its tour of exploration ; and provided, the expenses of safd deputation are to be defrayed by the government of the United States ; and provided, also, that nothing is to be in- THE FLORIDA WAR. 65 ferred from the journey of said deputation, in the character of an obligation on the nation (or any part of it) to remove to the country visited by said deputation ; and such removal is not to be expected from them unless of their own free will and accord, after making the proposed examination. It was agreed by the chiefs aforesaid, that the agent, Col. Humphreys, should forthwith apprise the government of their assent to his proposition ; and that they would hold themselves in readiness, to act in accordance with it, at the time before specified. It being distinctly understood and made a condition, that he, the agent, shall fulfill his promise to accompany the party, without which nothing pro- vided by said chiefs, as hereinbefore stated, to be considered binding upon them. Given under our hands at Fort King (Florida), this 20th day of October, 1828. H. S.' HAWKINS, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A. L. D. NEWCOMB, Lieutenant, U. S. A. No decided action was had on the subject. Procrastination discouraged the Indians, who soon after declared their determi- nation to remain upon the land. They reluctantly visited the Indian agency upon any business whatever. Heretofore, when summoned for a talk, it resulted in a demand for negroes, which they repeatedly declared they never would surrender. If this was not urged, complaints of citizens were thrust upon them. Many had lost cattle, horses, and hogs, which was attributed to the Indians, who were considered common plunderers. Demands for payment were accompanied by denunciations and threats. The chiefs and those of the better class could exercise but little control, or even have a knowledge of the conduct of the dissi- pated and reckless, who, when intoxicated by liquor sold them by the whites, became insolent and vindictive. But the good were alike condemned with the abandoned. The chiefs, who were distinguished for intelligence and sobriety, were unwilling to sub- mit to these humiliations, and therefore remained quietly at home to avoid discord and collisions. On the 14th of January a council was held by desire of the head men, when they came prepared to make a final talk to the president of the United States, in hopes that the protection which had been promised would be granted them, and they relieved from the embarrassments which threat- ened to involve them in an open warfare. This failing, nothing remained but to act in self-defence. Minutes of a talk held at the Seminole agency, on the 14th of January, 1829, by some of the principal chiefs and warriors of the Seminole nation. Coahajo, one of the principal Seminole chiefs, spoke as follows : This house was built for us, so that when we had any difficulty, we might come here and settle it. Many of our people have gone out a hunting, so that we could not bring them all to this talk, but what we could get in, are here. We have come now for the purpose of settling business by sending a talk to our hig father. We understand that all the words of the Seminoles have been re- 5 QQ THE FLORIDA WAR. ceived by our father as they ought to be — as no jests. This is what we al- ways expect. We wish that the head-chief should give our big father the talk for us. John Hicks, the principal chief, then spoke as follows : Our great Father at Washington is our friend — he is our brother. I wish to send a few words to him from my people. At Washington I shook hands with him, and eat and drank with him. What he there told me I have not crooked from, and I expect that he will be straight-forward with me. I took the trouble to per- form a long and tedious journey to see him, and what he told me I do not forget nor have I departed from it. After having the big talk with him, I thought that all our troubles were at an end ; but it seems as if the white people would never let us rest, and therefore have we come to this council house to have our words written down, that our big father may see them. When I left Washington, the vessel I was in sprung a leak, and we were three days up to our middle in water. We are all Seminoles here together. We want no long talk ; we wish to have it short and good. We are Indians, and the whites think we have no sense ; but what our minds are, we wish to have our big father know. When I returned from Washington, all my warriors were scattered. Say to my father and brother at Washington, that I believe he is my friend, and knows my feelings. When I returned from Washington, in attempting to gather my people, I had to spill blood midway in my path. I had supposed that the Micanopy people had done all the mischief, and I went with my warriors to meet the governor with two. When I -met the governor at Suwamea, he seemed to be afraid ; I shook hands with him. I gathered all my people and found that none was missing, and that the mischief had been done by others. The governor had them put in prison. I was told that ■ if one man kills another, we must not kill any other man in his place, but find the person who committed the murder and kill him. I wish my big father to give me an answer when he sees this paper — they are m}^ words. One of my people was killed, and his bones are now white at Tallahassee. Another one that had done us mischief was killed at Alpaha. A black man Hving among the whites has killed one of my people, and I wish to know who is ' to give me redress : will my big father answer ? When our own law is allowed to operate, we are quick ; but they say the black man is subject to the laws of the white people : now I want to see if the white people do as they say ! When I returned home, I told all my people what our great father had said, to which they agreed, and scattered. We wish our big father to say whether he will have the black man tried for the murder of one of our people. If he will give him up to us, the sun shall not move before he has justice done to him : we work for justice as well as the white people do. I v^^ish my friend and father to answer. In answer, we may receive a story, for men going backwards and forwards have not carried straight talks. I agreed to send away all the black people who had no masters, and I have done it ; but still they are sending to me for negroes. When I had the big talk, I thought that nothing was left behind. When an In- dian has bought a black man, they come and take him away again, so that we have no money and negroes too. A white man sells us a negro, and then turns around and claims him again, and our big father orders us to give him up. My big father is living, and has not forgotten the talk we had, but 1 have to make the talk over again. There is a negro girl at Charleston, that belongs to my daughter — her name is Patience. I want her restored to me. She has a husband here : she has a child about a year old, and I suppose that by this time she has two children. I want my big father to cause them to be sent to me, to do as he compels me to do, when I have just claims. If my father is a true friend, he will send me my pro- perty by our agent, who has gone to Washington. The mistress of the black girl is Sincothka. I have been told by the governor that all runaway negroes must be given up, but that all those taken in war, were good property to us ; but THE FLORIDA WAR. 67 they have taken away those taken in war, and those Vv^e have raised from children. My father told me that he had heard of my name a long time ; that now he saw me. He told me that if ever I sent a talk to him, he would hsten to it. Will he listen now to the voice of his children ? He told me that we were to receive two thousand dollars' worth of corn — where is it ? We have received scarcely any, not even half, according to our judgment, of what was intended for us. If the governor and the white people have done justly in this, we wish our big father to let us know. We were promised presents for twenty-one years ; we have received nothing but a few promises. It seems that they have disappeared before they reached us — or that our big father did not intend to give them to us. We were promised money , but we have not received a cent for this year. What has become of it ? We wish our big father to ask the governor. The white people say that we owe them, which is not true. We did take some goods of an Indian trader, Mr. Marsh, to whom the governor had promised part of our money. We took the goods because we were afraid we should never get what was ours, in, any other way ; they amounted to $1,500. We understand Mr. Bellamy has received from the governor $1,600 ; what is it for ? the Indians do not owe him any thing, — he has lost no property by us, — we have taken none of his cattle. If a tiger has killed one, it is charged to the Indians. If they stray away, and are lost for a time, it is charged to the In- dians. He has lost nothing by us ; but my people have suffered loss from him. He has taken all the Indians' hogs that he could lay his hands on. Some of the people from who he has taken hogs, are present now. He has taken hogs — one hundred head — from one man. We cannot think of giving away $1,600 for nothing. According to the white people's laws, if a man takes that which does not belong to him, he has to return it, and pay for the damages. Will our great father see that this man restores to him what he has unjustly taken from us ? for we look to our big father to fulfill his promises ; and give to us the presents and money that is due to us. We understand that Col. Piles has received some of the money that is due to us ; he is a good man ; when we were perishing with hunger, he gave us to eat and drink. He is entitled to what he has received. It appears that the Seminoles, who have done no mischief, have to suffer, as well as the few that have been guilty — this does not appear to be right to us. By stop- ping our money, the governor has prevented our paying just debts, the debts we owe to the licensed Indian traders, who have trusted us, under the expectation that we would pay them when we received our money. Our father has put two agents to look over us ; our agent, Col. Humphreys, has not seen any of the money or presents ihat belong to us. It seems that the two agents have differences ; we know not the cause, Vv^e are sorry for it, but can- not help it. We look to our agent to do his duty by us, and to see that we have our just rights. I am getting to be very old, and I wish my bones to be here. I do not wish to remove to any other land, according to what I told my great father. When great men say any thing to each other, they should have good memories. Why does Col. White plague me so much about going over the Mississippi ? We hurt nothing on this land. I have told him so before. John Hicks, Ms X TnarJc. Co AHA JO, his X mark. Taken in the presence of Tuskenaha, ids X mark. J. M. Glassell, Ca'pt. Ath Infantry. H. S. Hawkins, Assistant Surgeon. L. D. Newcomb, Lieut. 4th Regt., U. S. The citizens and Indians, as they met in the woods and on the highway, hardly knew whether to recognize each other as 68 THE FLORIDA WAR. friends or foes. Both were smarting under excited feelings, and the opportunity was only wanting to inflict the most summary punishment. The settlers upon the border saw the defenceless- ness of their position, so soon as the Indians acted in concert; but deluded by the promises of others, were led to believe that the general government would promptly render adequate protec- tion. The Indian, exasperated by repeated wrongs, was reckless of the future — indeed, cared but little for results. Revenge, ever sweet to him, whatever may be the consequences, was all he sought. He saw his destiny before him, which he could not avert, whether he adopted the terms of friendship or acted in open hostility. Urgent demands followed repeated applications for regular troops, to overawe and punish the enemy. The commanders at St. Augustine, Fort King, and Fort Brooke, declined acqui- escence, satisfied that those who were alarmed had brought these troubles upon themselves, and that so soon as a body of troops was known to be in pursuit of Indians, the country would be desolated from one extent to the other. The deposition of Assistant-Surgeon Hawkins and the letter of Col. Humphreys are here given, showing clearly the relation now existing between all parties : Territory of Florida, Alachua County, ss. This day personally appeared before me, George Downs, one of the justices of the peace of the county aforesaid, H. S. Hawkins, Esq., assistant surgeon in the United States army, who being duly sworn, deposes and says : That about ten or twelve days since, to wit, on the 26th day of February, 1829, in consequence of a communication or communications received by the commanding officer of Fort King, from a citizen of Alachua, complaining that the Indians of the Seminole tribe were roaming at large among the whites, de- stroying their property, he, the deponent, went out with a detachment of United States troops from Fort King, for the purpose of bringing the straggling Indians within their boundary ; that he proceeded as far as the Santa-fe settlement, to wit, Col. .lames Dell's, without being able to find any Indians in the whole route, with the exception of one man and his wife, who were staying at Col. Piles's, nor could he gain satisfactory knowledge or information where he might find any stragglers, notwithstanding he made particular and diligent inquiry on the subject in all the white settlements through which he passed. Deponent verily believes from what he has seen and heard, that most, if not all, the inconvenience expe- rienced by tlie white inhabitants of the neighboring settlements from the occa- sional presence of the Indians in those settlements, is to be attributed to the strong inducement which traffic in spirituous liquors, and other articles, carried on by many of these inhabitants with the Indians, offers to said Indians to roam beyond the limits of their own territory, and not to a want of desire, or lack of exertion, on the part of the proper authorities to retain and keep said Indians within their limits ; and deponent is decidedly of opinion, that so long as the traffic above mentioned is continued, it will be wholly impossible for any authority, not backed by a military force equal to the guarding of the entire frontier between the THE FLORIDA WAR. 69 whites and Indians, to prevent the Indians from wandering beyond the territorial boundaries. -And further the deponent saith not. H. S. HAWKINS, Assistant Surgeon, U. S. A. Sworn and subscribed to at Fort King, Florida, this 9th of March, 1829, before me, George Downs, LP.) of Alachua county, Fla. \ Seminole Agency, 4th April, 1830. " Sir — I have to state that the best investigation I have been able to make relative to the Indian depredations complained of by persons residing near Istec-Hatchie, as set forth in the affidavits which accompanied your letter of the 18th ultimo, has brought forth no testimony going to sustain the said complaints. The Indians deny, in toto, the charge made against them, in the affi- davits of Johnson and others ; and say that he, Johnson, is largely indebted to them for skins and other articles, which he has pur- chased from them, and not paid for. It is much to be regretted that a stop is not put to the traffic carried on between the Indians and the whites residing outside of the Indian territory ; it is the only or principal motive the Indians have to go abroad ; and they would almost, if not altogether, at once discontinue their wan- derings, and thus put an end to the most fruitful cause of murmur against them on the part of the whites. But it is idle, I must repeat, to think of restraining and confining them at home by the mere power of words, while they are tempted, as they now are, by the strong inducement of trade in whisky, (to them the most resistless and pernicious kind,) to go beyond their limits. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, James D. Westcott, Jr., Esq., Sec. and ) G. HUMPHREYS, Acting Governor of Florida, Tallahassee. ) Agent Seminole Indians." Through the years of 1829 and 1830 this critical state of affairs existed. No one knew at what moment open hostilities might commence, and the country be laid waste by fire and blood. In the face of this, demands for negroes were still authoritatively made, and most criminally persisted in ; though the most une- quivocal evidences had been given, that a further prosecution of the subject would, ere long, involve the country in an Indian warfare. Enough had been done to place the matter upon equi- table grounds, and, if necessary to urge it, the evils complained of by the Indians should have been removed, and their rights pro- tected by some competent tribunal. But to relinquish property in order to establish a right, is un- precedented in any court of justice, and with the Indian was a virtual abandonment, as experience had taught of all title, how- ever justly obtained. 70 THE FLORIDA WAR. The following letter was the last written by the agent upon the subject : " Seminole Agency, 16th February, 1830. " Sir — Your letter of the 20th September last, containing in- quiries directed by the secretary of war, relative to certain slaves in the Indian nation, claimed by a Mrs. Hannay, of Geor- gia, came to me on the 12th inst., by Major Phagan, the sub-agent. To the first inquiry, ' Why has not the order for the delivery of said slaves been complied with ?' I have to state, that the reasons were promptly communicated to the superintendent, in a letter written to him upon the subject, after the order was delivered, and read to the chiefs. The ground assumed by them was, that the property demanded of them belongs to members of the nation by purchase from the father of Mrs. Hannay, and that they could not consent to surrender it until the w^hole should be adjudicated upon by a competent judicial tribunal, and a decision adverse to their claim given by such tribunal ; pledging themselves, at the same time, to make a surrender so soon as the question of owner- ship should be settled against them. " To the second inquiry of the secretary, I answer, that the negroes in dispute have been, and I believe now are, in Florida, and in the Indian nation ; but they are not within the control of the agent, denied as he is by the department, in a letter received from you some months since, the use of the means requisite to enable him to effect a compliance with its orders upon such sub- jects. A meeting of the chiefs of the nation is to take place here to-morrow, at which the order alluded to will be again read and explained to them, and a compliance with it urged upon them. I shall, at the same time, communicate to them the substance of a letter upon the same subject, received by Major Phagan, from the acting governor, to whom the result will, without delay, be made known. I am your obedient servant, Thos. L. McKenney, Esq., > G. HUMPHREYS, Com'r Ind. Affairs, Washington. \ Agent Seminole Indians." By a letter from the secretary of war, of March 21st, 1830, Col. Humphreys was informed, that he would no longer perform the duties of agent to the Florida Indians. Eight years he had devoted to the interests of the government, his country, and the Indians. It is not contended that, in the exercise of these functions, pressed on all sides by conflicting interests and motives, he was infallible. But his correspondence shows conclusively, a disposi- tion to carry out fully the policy and designs of the government towards the natives, and which they had a right to demand. And THE FLORIDA WAR. 71 though discouraged, and ultimately defeated, he, throughout, was a sincere and uncompromising friend of the red man. They rehed implicitly on his fidelity and zeal in their behalf, which, with such men, though rude and uncultivated, is not attained without years of repeated trials. He foresaw, when entering upon the duties, at so early a period, the comphcated difficulties. These, instead of diminish- ing as he became accustomed to the Indians and the country, increased from year to year, by the enterprise and cupidity of those seeking fortunes in a new land. In the relative proportion as his activity and intelligence pro- tected and vindicated the savage, so did the acrimony of the populace increase, until, by loud complaints to high authority, and constant murmurings among the people, he was ejected from office. This was doubtless anticipated ; and, had he any designs be- yond the conscientious discharge of his duties, he could have pandered to the pubhc appetite, and thus secured his position, and received a due proportion of the plunder generally accruing in the expulsion of the Indian. But he relinquished his office in the midst of discord and threatened hostilities, bearing with him the best evidence of fidelity and integrity, in the condemnation and derision of the whites, and receiving from the red man the unaf- fected testimony of his confidence and regard. The events which transpired between the 17th of July, 1821, and the 21st of March, 1830, as shown by the accompanying correspondence, talks, &c., give a partial insight into the origin of the Florida war. CHAPTER II. FROM MARCH 21, 1830, TO DECEMBER 31, 1835. Major John Phagan appointed agent to the Seminoles.- He accompanies the delegation of Seminoles to Arkansas. — Charges preferred against him. — Treaty of Payne's Landing. — The Indians sent to Arltansas to explore the country. — Commissioner appointed to meet them there: they sign the addi- tional treaty putting in force the treaty of Payne's Landing. — Dissatisfaction of the tribe on their return to Florida. — Conduct and language of the chiefs and Indians in reference to a fulfillment. — First appearance of Oseola or Powell. — The Indians posinvely refuse to emigrate. — Gen. Wiley Thompson, of Georgia, appointed agent in the place of Phagan. — The general feeling and state of affairs within the nation. — Correspondence of J. H. Eaton, governor of Florida; Lewis Cass, secretary of war; B. F. Butler, attorney general; Gen. Clinch ; Col. Gadsden; Gen. Thompson, agent ; Lieut. Harris, Capt. Graham, and Capt. Russell, U. S. A. — The Indians assemble in council at Fort King. — Tiie conduct of Micanopy, Jumper, Alligator, and Oseola. — The commanding influence of the negroes over the Indians. — The duplicity and cunning of Oseola. — He placed in irons and under guard in the fort. — Murder of the chief Charley-E-Mathla for favoring emigration. — The Indians prepared for the con- flict.— The massacre of Gen. Thompson and Lieut. Smith by Oseola and party. — Massacre of Major Dade's command: Alligator's account of it. — Gen. Clinch attacked on the Withlacoochie by Oseola; a fight ; he retreats. — Florida War commenced. — The character of the contest. The treaty of Payne s Landing forms another and important era in the history of the Florida Indians. Major John Phagan was the successor of Col. Gad Humphreys in the duties of Indian agent. Without the requisite qualifications for the office, he brought with him the patronage of the executive, as well as the partialities of the people. The condition of the Indians during his administration was far from being improved. They became more restless and dissatisfied, from day to day, on finding that their agent, instead of being a bold and independent vindicator of their rights, was an active instrument in perfecting the designs of those by whom they were surrounded. Though totally unqualified, both by education and morals, as an example and an adviser, he nevertheless bore an important part in the measures adopted during his period of office to expel the Indians, and thus inflict upon the country a protracted and sanguinary war. He conducted the delegation of chiefs sent to Arkansas to explore the country, under the stipulations of the treaty of Payne's Landing, and re- turned with them in the spring of 1833, and continued in the discharge of the duties of his office until the last of November, 1833. Complaints had been frequently made by the chiefs of his brutal treatment of their people, and his total disregard to their demands for justice and protection. James D. Westcott, Jr., :then secretary and acting governor of the territory, investigated the matter, though at rather a late period, and addressed a com- munication to the commissioner of Indian affairs, on the 5th of JVovember, 1833, from which the following is an extract : ^' Sir — On my visit to the agency, I regret to state, that I dis- covered evidences of fraud and improper conduct on the part of THE FLORIDA WAR. 73 Major Phagan, which I will communicate to the department with my accounts, with which, in fact, they will be necessary as ex- planations. I discovered that in regard to the employes of the agency, he had sub-contracts with them for much less than the amount they receipted for to the government, and that even for the amount of these sub-contracts he was in default to them. I found also that he was in debt to several Indians, and to Abra- ham, one of the Seminole interpreters ; to the contractor, for beef at the agency, for provisions at the payment of the annuity in 1832 ; and Col. Blunt, an Indian chief, has a claim of fifty dollars for arrears of his annuity receipted for to him. I have promised Abraham and the Indians to report this to the department." Such conduct exasperated the Indians. They were surround- ed by crafty and designing men, and subjected to the advice and control of an agent, who, not content with wronging them and the government, was carrying on ingenious schemes to defraud the humble mechanic dependent upon the public expenditures for support. Difficulties of a similar character, trifling in themselves, accumulated at every step as the better portion of the com- munity labored to avert them, and thereby pacify the Indians. Occurrences which could not be foreseen awakened the worst passions among a people who looked with prejudice and suspicion upon every transaction. No act, however well intended, was considered indicative of friendship. Results, too often unfortu- nate, from various influences and prejudices at work, was the standard by which the agent, the executive of the state, and the general government were judged. With such a race, however zealous and devoted may have been the exertions of those to whom this responsibility was confided, httle could be done. All confidence was lost, and they looked anxiously for the time when they could indulge the waywardness and cruelty of their natures. Restraint had caused them to be restless, and wrongs had made them revengeful. It was clearly manifest that the Florida In- dians, in justice to all parties, should be removed from the terri- tory. They must be made to surrender the land, and thus avoid the inevitable effusion of blood. Such a state of affairs could not exist. The white man or the savage must succumb. Col. James Gadsden, of Florida, was directed by the secretary of war. Gen. Lewis Cass, early in 1832, to enter into a negotiation with the Indians for a relinquishment of their lands in Florida, and receive in exchange others, better suited to their habits and wants, in the Creek Nation, west of the Mississippi River. The authority vested in him was discretional, so that nothing could be interposed to defeat a successful result. Col. Gadsden found great opposition to his proposals to treat. The scattered condi- 74 THE FLORIDA WAR. tion of the Indians, and their natural aversion to formal councils with the whites, made them indifferent and dilatory in their movements. He however succeeded in assembUng the nation at Payne's Landing, seventeen miles from Fort King by land, twenty-five miles down the Ocklawaha River. The mischievous influences of the whites, through the black interpreters, operating upon the malignity and suspicions of the younger class of Indians, nearly defeated the object. These, after much vexatious delay, were overcome, and on the 9th of May, 1832, the chiefs and head men signed the following treaty : TREATY OF PAYNE'S LANDING, MAY 9, 1832. Whereas, a treaty between the United States and the Seminole nation of Indians, was made and concluded at Payne's Landing, on the Ocklawaha river, on the 9th day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, by James Gads- den, commissioner on the part of the United States, and the chiefs and head-men of said Seminole nation of Indians, on the part of said nation ; which treaty is in the words following, to wit : The Seminole Indians, regarding with just respect the solicitude manifested by the president of the United States for the improvement of their condition, by re- commending a removal to the country more suitable to their habits and wants than the one they at present occupy in the territory of Florida, are willing that their confidential chiefs, Jumper, Fuch-a-lus-to-had-jo, Charley Emathla, Coi-had-jo, Holati-Emathla, Ya-ha-had-jo, Sam Jones, accompanied by their agent, Major John Phagan, and their faithful interpreter, Abraham, should be sent, at the expense of the United States, as early as convenient, to examine the country assigned to the Creeks, west of the Mississippi river, and should they be satisfied with the charac- ter of that country, and of the favorable disposition of the Creeks to re-unite with the Seminoles as one people ; the articles of the compact and agreement herein stipulated, at Payne's Landing, on the Ocklawaha river, this ninth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, between James Gadsden, for and in behalf of the government of the United States, and the undersigned chiefs and head-men, for and in behalf of the Seminole Indians, shall be binding on the re- spective parties. Akticle I. The Seminole Indians relinquish to the United States all claim to the land they at present occupy in the territory of Florida, and agree to emigrate to the country assigned to the Creeks, west of the Mississippi river, it being under- stood that an additional extent of country, proportioned to their numbers, will be added to the Creek territory, and that the Seminoles will be received as a con- stituent part of the Creek nation, and be re-admitted to all the privileges as a mem- ber of the same. Article II. For and in consideration of the relinquishment of claim in the first article of this agreement, and in full compensation for all the improvements which may have been made on the lands thereby ceded, the United States stipulate to pay to the Seminole Indians fifteen thousand four hundred (i 5,400) dollars, to be divided among the chiefs and warriors of the several towns, in a ratio propor- tioned to their population, the respective proportions of each to be paid on their arrival in the country they consent to remove to ; it being understood that their faithful interpreters, Abraham and Cudjo, shall receive tvi^o hundred dollars each, of the above sum, in full remuneration for the improvements to be abandoned on the lands now cultivated by them. Article III. The United , States agree to distribute, as they arrive at their new honjes in the Creek territory, west of the Mississippi river, a blanket and a ^ THE FLORIDA WAR. 75 homespun frock to each of the warriors, women, and children, of the Seminole tribe of Indians. Article IV. The United States agree to extend the annuity for the support of a blacksmith, provided for in the sixth article of the treaty at Camp Moultrie, for ten (10) years beyond the period therein stipulated, and in addition to the other annuities secured under that treaty, the United States agree to pay the sum of three thousand (3000) dollars a year, for fifteen (15) years, commencing after the removal of the whole tribe ; these sums to be added to the Creek annuities, and the whole amount to be so divided, that the chiefs and warriors of the Seminole Indians may receive their equitable proportion of the same, as members of the Creek confederation. Article V. The United States will take the cattle belonging to the Semi- noles, at the valuation of some discreet person, to be appointed by the president, and the same shall be paid for in money to the respective owners, after their arri- val at their new homes ; or other cattle, such as may be desired, will be furnished them ; notice being given through their agent, of their wishes upon this subject, before their removal, that time may be afforded to supply the demand. Article VI. The Seminoles being anxious to be reheved from the repeated vexatious demands for slaves, and other property, alleged to have been stolen and destroyed by them, so that they may remove unembarrassed to their new homes, the United States stipulate to have the same property [properly] investigated, and to hquidate such as may be satisfactorily established, provided the amount does not exceed seven thousand (7000) dollars. Article VII. The Seminole Indians will remove v/ithin three (3) years after the ratification of this agreement, and the expenses of their removal shall be de- frayed by the United States, and such subsistence shall also be furnished them, for a term not exceeding twelve (12) months after their arrival at their new resi- dence, as in the opinion of the president their numbers and circumstances may require ; the emigration to commence as early as practicable in the year eighteen hundred and thirty-three, (1833,) and with those Indians at present occupying the Big Swamp, and other parts of the country beyond the limits, as defined in the second article of the treaty concluded at Camp Moultrie Creek, so that the whole of that proportion of the Seminoles may be removed within the year aforesaid, and the remainder of the tribe, in about equal proportions, during the subsequent years of eighteen hundred and thirty-four and five, (1834 and 1835.) In testimony whereof, the commissioner, James Gadsden, and the undersigned chiefs and head-men of the Seminole Indians, have hereunto subscribed their names and affixed their seals. Done at camp, at Payne's Landing, on the Ocklawaha river, in the territory of Florida, on this ninth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, and of the independence of the United States of America, the fifty-sixth. (Signed,) Witnesses. Douglas Vass, Sec. to Comm. John Phagan, Agent. Stephen Richards, Interpreter. Abraham, Interpreter, his X marJc. CuDjo, Interpreter, his X mark. Erastus Rodgers. B. JOSCAN. James Gadsden. L. S. Holati Emathlar, his X mark. Jumper, Ms X mark. Fuch-ta-lus-ta-Hadjo, his X mark. Charley Emathla, his X mark. Coi Hadjo, his X mark. Ar-pi-uck-i, or Sam Jones, his X mark. Ya-ha-Hadjo, his X mark. Mico-Noha, his X mark. ToKOSE Emathla, or John Hicks, his X mark. Cat-sha-Tustenuggee, his X 7nark. HoLAT-A-Micco, his X mark. Hitch-it-i-Mico, his X mark. E-ne-hah, his X mark. Ya-ha-Emathla-Chopco, his X mark. Moki-his-she-lar-ni. his X mark 76 THE FLORIDA WAR. Now, therefore, be it known that I, Andrew Jackson, President of the United States of America, having seen and considered said treaty, do, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, as expressed by their resolution of the eighth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, accept, ratify, and con- firm the same, and every clause and article thereof. In witness whereof, I have caused the seal of the United States to be hereunto affixed, having signed the same with my hand. Done at the city of Washington, this twelfth day of April, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, and of the independence of the United States of America, the fifty-eighth. (Signed,) Andrew Jackson. By the President, Louis McLane, Secretary of State. The fulfillment of the treaty was clearly conditional. If the Indians, that is, the nation, were satisfied with the country, as represented by those sent to explore it, a voluntary emigration would take place. Holate Emathla, Jumper, Black Dirt, Charley Emathlar, Arpeika or Sam Jones, Halpatter-Tustenuggee or Al- ligator, and Mad Wolf, were appointed a delegation to examine the country, and renew a friendly intercourse with the Creeks. These men, before starting, expressed their aversion to leaving Florida, under any circumstances, and their deep and lasting dis- like to the Creeks, with whom, for years past, they had been in open hostility. In September following the party started, under the direction of the agent. Major Phagan. The months of Janu- ary, February, and March, 1833, were occupied in examining the country, which, at this period of the year, was barren and dreary, from the inclemency of the season. Montfort Stokes, H. L. Ellsworth, and J. F. Schermerhorn, were appointed by the presi- dent of the United States, commissioners, to meet this delegation at Fort Gibson, Arkansas, and there obtain their opinions as to the suitability of the country for a future home, which was thought, as a matter of course, would be favorable, thereby put- ting in full force, indirectly, without reserve, the treaty of Payne's Landing. The object was accomplished. The delegation signed the subjoined "Additional Treaty," in which they express themselves satisfied with the country, and stipulate, " that the nation shall commence the removal to their new homes, as soon as the gov- ernment will make arrangements for their emigration satisfactory to them." ADDITIONAL TREATY, MADE AT FORT GIBSON, ARKANSAS, WITH THE SEMINOLE DELEGATION OF INDIANS. To all and singular to whom these presents shall come. Greeting : Whereas, a treaty between the United States and the Seminole nation of In- dians, was made and conchided at Fort Gibson, on the twenty-eighth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, by Montfort Stokes, Henry L. Ells- THE FLORIDA WAR. 77 worth, and John F. Schermerhom, commissioners on the part of the United States, and the delegates of the Seminole nation of Indians, on the part of said nation ; which treaty is in the words following, to wit : Whereas, the Seminole Indians of Florida entered into certain articles of agreement with James Gadsden, commissioner, on behalf of the United States, at Payne's Landing, on the ninth day of May, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, the first article of which treaty or agreement provides as follows : The Seminole Indians relinquish to the United States all claim to the land they at pre- sent occupy in the territory of Florida, and agree to emigrate to the country as- signed to the Creeks west of the Mississippi river ; it being understood that an additional extent of territory, proportioned to their number, will be added to the Creek country, and that the Seminoles will be received as a constituent part of the Creek nation, and be re-admitted to all the privileges as members of the same. And whereas, the said agreement also stipulates and provides that a delegation of Seminoles should be sent, at the expense of the United States, to examine the country to be allotted them among the Creeks, and should this delegation be satis- fied with the character of the country, and of the favorable disposition of the Creeks to unite with them as one people, then the aforementioned treaty would be considered binding and obligatory upon the parties. And whereas, a treaty was made between the United States and the Creek Indians west of the Mississippi, at Fort Gibson, on the fourteenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, by which a country was provided for the Seminoles in pursuance of the existing arrangements between the United States and that tribe. And whereas, tlie special delegation appointed by the Seminoles on the ninth of May, one thou- sand eight hundred and thirty-two, have since examined the land designated for them by the undersigned commissioners, on behalf of the United States, and have expressed themselves satisfied with the same, in and by their letter dated March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, addressed to the undersigned com- missioners : Now, therefore, the commissioners aforesaid, by virtue of the power and au- thority vested in them by the treaty made with the Creek Indians, on the four- teenth day of February, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-three, as above stated, hereby designate and assign to the Seminole tribe of Indians, for their separate future residence forever, a tract of countiy lying between the Canadian river and the north fork thereof, and extending west to where a fine running north and south between the main Canadian and north branch will strike the forks of Little river ; provided said west line does not extend more than twenty-five miles west from the mouth of said Little river. And the undersigned Seminole chiefs, delegated as aforesaid, on behalf of their nation, hereby declare themselves weU satisfied with the location provided for them by the conmiissioners, and agree that their nation shall commence the removal to their new home as soon as the govern- ment will make arrangements for their emigration, satisfactory to the Seminole nation. And whereas, the said Seminoles have expressed high confidence in the friend- ship and ability of their present agent, Major Phagan, and desire that he may be permitted to remove them to their new homes west of the Mississippi ; the com- missioners have considered their request, and cheerfully recommend Major Pha- gan as a suitable person to be employed to remove the Seminoles as aforesaid, and trust his appointment will be made, not only to gratify the wishes of the Indians, but as conducive to the pubhc welfare. In testimony whereof, the commissioners, on behalf of the United States, and the delegates of the Seminole nation, have hereunto signed their names, this 28th day of March, a. d. 1833, at Fort Gibson. (Signed,) Montfort Stokes, Henry L. Ellsworth, John F. Schermerhorn. 78 THE FLORIDA WAR. Seminole delegates: John Hicks, (representing Sam Jones,) his X mark. HoLATA Emathla,. Ms X mark. Jumper, his X mark. Coi Hadjo, his X mark. Charly Emathlar, his X mark. Ya-ha-Hadjo, his X mark. Ne-ha-tho-clo, (representing Fuch-ta-luste-Hadjo,) his X mark. Read and signed in our presence : S. C. Stambaugh, Secretary to Comm. John Phagan, Agent. P. L. Chouteau, U. S. Agent for Osages. A. P. Chouteau. Enoch Steer. Abraham, Seminole Interpreter. Now, therefore, be it known, that I, Andrew Jackson, President of the United States of America, having seen and considered said treaty, do, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, as expressed by their resolution of the eighth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, accept, ratify, and con- firm the same. In testimony whereof, I have caus"ed the seal of the United States to be here- unto afSxed, having signed the same with my hand. Done, at the city of Washington, this twelfth day of April, in the year L.S. of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four, and of the In- dependence of the United States of America the fifty-eighth. (Signed,) Andrew Jackson. By the President, Louis McLane, Secretary of State. ^They returned to Florida in the ensuing month of April. A general dissatisfaction was expressed by the nation at the powers assumed by these men, as explained by the agent who accompanied them. What they had done gave a new aspect to the matter, when detailed to the nation in council. They denied their own acts, and asserted, most positively, that they had not signed any paper relinquishing their land, or which required them to remove from the country. They had now returned, as was expected, and were prepared to give their opinion of Arkansas, and desired that the different bands be assembled, that they might make known their opinions. The assurances of the agent that this would be of no avail, superseded all action on the part of those who had confided their interests and welfare t.. a delegation of their own selection. They were sold, heritage and home, without reserve ; and all that now remained was for the govern- ment to demand the execution of the stipulations of the treaty of Payne's Landing. The oldest and most influential chiefs, who had governed the nation for years, were unheard in this rehn- quishment of their possessions, and they resolved to resist by force the first attempt to dispossess them. The additional treaty THE FLORIDA WAR. 79 had gone to Washington, and only awaited the ratification of the senate of the United States, when the work would commence. Micanopy was the principal chief of the nation. To him the aggrieved looked for redress. Though old and indolent, the younger warriors incited him to action. Among these was a young, intelligent, and daring warrior, by the name of Oseola or Powell. The stupidity of the delegation, more than their as- sumption, was calculated to stir up among them a. continual dis- cord. They were ridiculed and upbraided by all classes, male and female, for being circumvented by the whites, and the only way they avoided chastisement, was to deny the assertions of the agent, and express their readiness to co-operate in opposing the fulfillment of the treaty. Had the delegation been permitted to return to Florida unbiassed, without any extraneous influences, and they allowed to submit the question of emigration, accom- panied by their opinions of Arkansas, not an Indian would have consented to the relinquishment of their country. Arpeika or Sam Jones, Halpatter-Tustenuggee or AlHgator, Jumper, and Black Dirt, openly and unreservedly declared their dissatisfaction with Arkansas — with the land, climate, and means of subsistence. They gave currency to the most absurd reasons why the Semi- noles and Creeks should not again be united ; and thus, by their declarations, advice, and example, induced those who heretofore had wished to avoid discord and collision, to urge the chieftains to open resistance. After the lapse of two years from the date of its being signed, the treaty of Payne's Landing was ratified, on the 9th of April, 1834, together with the additional treaty. Vig- orous measures were at once adopted to put in force its demands. General Wiley Thompson, of Georgia, was appointed agent, and superintendent of emigration, in the place of Major Phagan, and received instructions to carry out the terms of the treaty. Gen. Duncan L. Clinch, of the L^nited States army, an officer of expe- rience and merit, was ordered to take command of the regular troops in the territory, preparatory to the exercise of force, which it was apprehended would be inevitable, in bringing the Indians to terms, and to prevent their inroads upon the frontier. Capt. J. B. F. Russell, and Capt. Wm. M. Graham, U. S. A., stationed at Fort King, informed the agent, as early as October, 1834, "of the settled determination of the majority of the influential chiefs, to disregard the obligations imposed by the treaty of Payne's Land- ing, and that the most malignant feelings were indulged in to- wards Charley-E-Marthlar, who had expressed himself in favor of emigration. His life," continues this communication, " is in danger, and that of his family. Some step should be taken for his safety." General Thompson, when communicating to the chiefs in so THE FLORIDA WAR. council the determination of the president to enforce the treaty, was repeatedly interrupted by groans, violent gestures, and lan- guage of the most abusive kind, expressed in an under tone. This was responded to by Oseola, who sat beside Micanopy, whispering in his ear what to say in reply to the agent. The old chief, almost overcome by age, was pushed onward far beyond the dictates of his own poUcy and good judgment. He was in the hands of those who, flushed with the vigor of youth, disre- garded the scruples and comforts of their aged chief Oseola, though the principal actor in these measures, was not permitted to speak in council. He was not a chief, (which confers this privilege,) but, with his characteristic impudence and cunning, he communicated his views through the instrumentality of others. Holatter Emathlar, Jumper, and Alligator, three of the delegation, persisted in their denial of having signed a treaty requiring the nation to remove, and contended that the treaty of Fort Moul- trie, in 1821, was, as they supposed, to continue twenty years, which precluded the possibihty of another being made until that time had expired. Micanopy said he did not sign the treaty of Payne's Landing. When shown his signature, he declared that he did not touch the pen, though he extended his hand to do it. " The treaty," he said, " was to examine the country ; and he felt satisfied, that when the delegation returned, they would re- port unfavorably." Jumper said the treaty was made to keep the white men quiet, and to obtain whisky and provisions. Arguments of this kind were adduced, and concurred in by the assemblage, followed by high words and violent gestures, when the agent, partaking of the general excitement, informed them that hereafter no annuity would be paid to the nation. Oseola, unable to refrain from talking any longer, arose, and with great indignation, tauntingly assured the agent, " that he, nor his war- riors, did not care if they never received another dollar from their great father."* The council adjourned in the utmost confusion. Colonel Gadsden informed the secretary of war on the 1st of November, 1833, "that the Indians had positively refused to re- move west under the stipulations of the treaty of Payne's Land- ing ; and had assigned as a reason ' that it was a white man's treaty which they did not understand, as the interpretation of the negotiation was false.' " The Indians, in their intercourse with the officers of the army at Fort King, were impudent and presumptuous ; and when spoken to of emigration, avoided an- swering by laughter and ridicule. At this early period, secret preparations were in progress for the crisis which was fast ap- * " The only treaty I will execute," said he, drawing his knife in anger, and driving it into the table, " is with this !" THE FLORIDA WAR. 81 preaching. The chiefs were old and irresolute, timid and politic; but the energy and indignation of Oseola compelled them to speak the voice of the majority of the nation, though it was done with reluctance and hesitation. The strong arm of the white man was upon one side, and the wronged and indignant savage upon the other. Self-preservation inclined them to give way to more prudent counsels, and thus avoid a rupture ; yet the impor- tunities and threats of the ambitious warriors, caused them to act contrary to the dictates of their own good judgments. Charley- E-Mathlar was confirmed in his determination to emigrate, and frequently represented to his people the consequences of a war- fare, which after years of suffering, would end in defeat. These opinions cost him his life. The negroes exercised a wonderful control. They openly refused to follow their masters, if they removed to Arkansas. Many of them would have been reclaimed by the Creeks, to whom some belonged. Others would have been taken posses- sion of by the whites, who for years had been urging their claims through the government and its agents. In Arkansas, hard labor was necessary for the means of support, while Florida assured them of every means to indulge in idleness, and enjoy an inde- pendence corresponding with their masters. In preparing for hostilities they were active, and in the prosecution blood-thirsty and cruel. It was not until the negroes capitulated, that the Seminoles ever thought of emigrating. " It has not escaped me," says General Thompson, when ad- dressing the commissioner of Indian affairs on the 28th of Octo- ber, 1834, '■ that the Indians, after they had received their an- nuity, purchased an unusually large quantity of powder and lead. I saw one keg of powder carried off by the chiefs, and I am in- formed that several whole kegs were purchased. I did not forbid the sale of these articles to the Indians, because such a course would have been a declaration of my apprehensions. It may be proper to add that the chiefs and negroes have a deposite of forty or fifty kegs of powder, which I did not credit at the time." On the 24th of November, evening, the agent again addresses the de- partment. " The Indians," says he, "appear peaceable and friendly. I have drawn the reins of government close about them. They will not, however, remove but as forced to do so. I am more confirmed every day in the opinion, that they have been tampered with by designing, unprincipled white men ; and they have come to the conclusion, that by obstinately persisting in their right to remain here until the expiration of twenty years from the date of the treaty at Camp Moultrie, and abstaining from any out- rage, their claim will finally be acquiesced in by the government. And I have been informed by confidential persons among them, 6 82 THE FLORIDA WAR. that they laugh at the idea of the httle handful of men at this post (Fort King) being able to compel them to remove." It was evident the treaty at Payne's Landing could only be executed by force. Those acquainted with the swamps and hammocks of the country, saw a fearful crisis approaching, and realized the difficulty, the impossibility, of gathering these people and transporting them to Arkansas. The war once opened, it would be continued so long as a hostile Indian remained in the country. As the time approached, the good citizen looked with fear and regret upon the probable destruction of human life, and the utter annihilation of all industry, property, and safety. Deso- lation and want would be at every threshold, and the object far from being attained. J. H. Eaton, now governor of the terri- tory, saw the conflict approaching. The Indians, from obstinacy, were hastening their destruction, or expulsion. ,To avoid the reproaches which might be heaped upon the general govern- ment for persisting in a course involving such a result, and fraught with so much evil to the settlements, Governor Eaton addressed the secretary of war, on the 8th of March, 1835, from Tallahassee, as follows : " I have received your letter relative to the removal of the Seminole Indians under the provisions of the treaty of 1832, but which was not ratified until 1834. I pray you, does not this cir- cumstance raise a doubt whether, by strict rule, the treaty can be considered to be valid and binding ? Our Indian compacts must be construed and be controlled by the rules which civilized people practice ; because in all our actions with them we have put the treaty-making machinery in operation precisely in the same way, and to the same extent, that is employed with the civilized powers of Europe. Were these people willing voluntarily to re- move (though such seems not to be the case), the whole difficulty would be removed and no evil could arise. But as military force is about to be resorted to, it is material that the government, before making such appeal, be satisfied that right and justice is on their side ; and that they are not engaged in the execution of a treaty which, if void, is no part of the law of the land. The employing a military force is an act of war, and the Indians will embody and fight in their defence. The Indian question of re- moval, is one that should be managed with great caution and care, that the enemies in congress, ever ready to find fault, may have no just and tenable ground on which to rest their murmurs. Tread then cautiously ! The people here want their lands on which they reside, and they will urge a removal fas aut nefas ; and the Big Swamp, which in the treaty is declared to be the first of their country to be vacated, is of high repute, and is that on which the eyes of speculators are fixed. On the whole, and THE FLORIDA WAR. 83 to conclude, I offer this advice : avoid the exercise of force as long as possible, and let it be only the last sad alternative ; and then let not, by any means, the militia be appealed to — they will breed mischief." The secretary of war, upon the receipt of this letter, sub- mitted the question to the attorney general, B. F. Butler, who gave it as his opinion, " that in the present case, as no time was Hmited for the ratification of the treaty, and as the supplemental articles signed at Fort Gibson by the delegation treated it as yet in existence, although not ratified by the president and senate ; and as no material change of circumstances is sugg^ted, I think it must be deemed a valid treaty." The treaty meditated the removal of the nation in three separate parties, one in the year of 1834, another in 1835, and the last in 1836. But as delays not anticipated had occurred, the removal could with propriety be made in the three years following the ratification. This was designed by the secretary of war. But upon representations made and urged by General Clinch, and the agent. General Thomp- son, it was determined to move the entire nation at once, and thus avoid the embarrassments incident to the departure of a people, who, under the most favorable circumstances, would leave their country with reluctance. Delays having occurred in set- tling the validity of the treaty, every thing was now combined to draw closely around the Indians those measures and influences causing them to realize that the government was in earnest, and that emigration to Arkansas was unavoidable. Ten companies of regular troops were placed at the disposal of General Clinch to co-operate with the civil agents of the government. On the 16th of February, 1835, the secretary of war informs General Clinch, " that it is impossible to yield to any wishes they may express on the subject of emigration. I fully appre- ciate the consequences which you predict as likely to happen from a forcible attempt on their part to remain, and the safety of that portion of the territory imperatively requires that the treaty stipulations should be carried into effect. It is the ulti- mate decision therefore of the president, that they shall be re- moved. But it is very desirable that they should go peaceably and voluntarily. The subject therefore should be fully explained to them, and every proper inducement held out for their com- pliance with the treaties. Let them be reasoned with, and if possible convinced. Let every measure short of actual force be first used. Let them be made fully aware of the consequences, and then, if necessary, let actual force be employed, and their re- moval effected." Accompanying this was a talk from the president of the United States, General Jackson, to the chiefs and warriors, expostulating 84 THE FLORIDA WAR. with them upon their conduct, and urging them to acquiesce, and evade certain destruction, which was unavoidable if they obsti- nately persisted in opposing the execution of the treaty. De- tailed instructions were communicated at the same time to make preparations for transportation and subsistence. Lieutenant J. W. Harris, 2d artillery, U. S. A., disbursing agent, arrived with ample funds to command the most convenient and expeditious mode of moving so large a body. General Clinch gave a hearty co-operation, and was in readiness with his force to act when the proper time arrived. Transports were prepared at Tampa Bay, to convey the emigrants to New-Orleans ; and Captain Jacob Brown, U. S. A., had made arrangements to receive them at the mouth of the Arkansas river, thence to be transported in wagons to Fort Gibson. As these measures became known to the Seminoles, they saw plainly that the government was in earnest in what had been told them. This created renewed activity in the nation, gradually strengthening their resolution to open resistance. On the 24th of April, 1835, another council was convened at Fort King. The Indians came with fear and suspicion. The meeting was one of intense interest. Before the departure of the warriors from the village of Micanopy, a consultation was had among themselves, when it was agreed to refrain from any hos- tile expression, and endeavor to obtain sufficient time to gather their crops and remove their families, when the season would be far enough advanced to enable them to act successfully on the defensive. Jumper, a shrewd and sagacious warrior, was put forward as the speaker of the nation. They were to adhere in council in their opposition to the treaty, and renew their decla- rations never to execute it. When these w^ere thus solemnly made in the presence of the agents of the government, accom- panied by tones and gestures which could not be mistaken. Gen, Thompson upbraided them in a most earnest manner for their infidelity, and total disregard to truth and honor. This caused harsh language in return from the chiefs, reiterated by the agent, until the council was in a perfect uproar. General Clinch inter- posed his authority and advice, and by arguments and appeals to their good sense, urged a fulfilment of the treaty ; at the same time assuring them, that if they persisted in this rsckless course, he should put in use the troops at his command. This had the desired effect to calm their passions ; w^hen, after a consultation between Jumper, Oseola, and many others, eight chiefs came for- ward, and consented to abide by the treaty. Five obstinately refused. These were Micanopy, Jumper, Alligator, Arpeika or Sam Jones, and Black Dirt. In consequence of this. General Thompson at once struck their names from the roll of chiefs, THE FLORIDA WAR. 85 and declared them no longer to be counsellors of the nation. This was a most injudicious step, and calculated to defeat the good effects resulting from the concurrence of the majority. Their chiefs and counsellors derive their authority from inherit- ance, which is generally attained from valor in the field ; and thus to be deprived of it in so summary a manner, setting at nought long-settled habits and customs, was destined, as was subsequently experienced, to arouse the most submissive of their warriors to retaliation. The president of the United States, and the secretary of war, disapproved of this step in the most pointed manner, and apprehended the worst results. Through the earnest solicitation of the eight friendly chiefs, the nation were allowed until the 1st of January ensuing (1836) to prepare for emigra- tion ; at which time they promised most faithfully to assemble at Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, where transports were already pre- pared for their reception. To carry this out, which was de- manded by every consideration of humanity^ and thus avert the calamity so long impending, a communication explanatory of the measure, and urging it as the alternative to avoid bloodshed, was transmitted to the secretary of war, signed by General Clinch, General Thompson, and Lieutenant Harris. This was approved by General Cass, who on the 14th of April, 1835, thus writes to General Chnch : " Your views seem to me to be equally judicious and humane. Certainly there is not the slightest wish to oppress the unhappy Seminoles who have stipulated for removal ; but their continu- ance where they now are is absolutely impossible, and the sooner they are satisfied of this fact the better it will be for them. Still, however, I should much prefer a voluntary and peaceful removal to one effected by force. It would be only in the last resort that the government would be willing to compel them to comply with their own engagements ; and it would be better to suffer a tem- porary inconvenience, if thereby their feelings could be quieted, than to require them to remove without their consent. The matter therefore is referred entirely to your discretion, and that of General Thompson." This permission to delay the emigration, quieted the nation for a time. The more reflecting among the Indians hoped, in- deed believed, that something would occur before the arrival of the period fixed, and thus defer, perhaps defeat, a task so repug- nant to their deep-seated habits and feelings. They lived be- tween hope and fear, irresolute and timid. None were so bold as to strike the first and decisive blow. There were, however, a few active spirits in their midst who availed themselves of this postponement, and numbeied with accuracy those who would take the field at the proper time, and in conjunction stored away 86 THE FLORIDA WAR. the requisite quantity of powder and lead. The older ones who were timid, rendered the most perfect obedience to these men and their measures, fearful that if they wavered in their opposi- tion to the treaty, they would be found the first among those who were to be punished and slaughtered in the approaching conflict. The sale of arms, powder, and lead, though forbidden by the agent, still continued ; and enough was already in store, for the contemplated object. General Thompson, in the month of April, informs the secretary of war, " that for reducing the refractory Indians to a sense of their dependence, and to withhold from them the means of doing mischief, I have prohibited the sale of arms, powder, and lead to them." This prohibition was at too late a period to gain the desired end. The observation of the agent must have satisfied him months before, that the purchase of ammunition was the main object of the Indians ; for, says he as early as October, 1834, " the Indians have purchased an un- usually large quantity of powder and lead : I saw one keg carried off by the chiefs." The privation now was only calculated to arouse their indignation, and cause an immediate rupture, as their designs, so covertly matured, were suspected. It was a hostile act towards the nation, virtually declaring war. With an Indian, the best test of a white man's friendship, is the per- mission to obtain arms, powder, and lead. The passions of the friendly Indians, as well as others, were now aroused ; indeed it was difficult to discriminate between friend and foe. " Am I a negro?" said Oseola, when refused the privilege of purchasing powder, " a slave ? My skin is dark, but not black. I am an Indian — a Seminole. The white man shall not make me black. I will make the white man red with blood ; and then blacken him in the sun and rain, where the wolf shall smell of his bones, and the buzzard live upon his flesh." During the month of June, Oseola was frequently at Fort King, with a number of Indians. His manner towards those who had been his intimate friends, was cold and reserved. To- wards the agent he was particularly so, and upon several occa- sions indulged in the most abusive language. Gen. Thompson reproved him with mildness, when he most insultingly defied the power of the government and its troops. The agent immediately confined him in irons, under guard, within the f^rt. In this con- dition he remained six days, when he became penitent, and through iiis own voluntary promises to abide by the treaty, and the inter- position of chiefs, he was liberated. As an evidence of his sincer- ity, and to renew his former intercourse with the agent and officers of the army, he brought in seventy warriors, who, with himself, promised to be in readiness for emigration at the appointed time. The deep subtlety of this step will be clearly understood by events. THE FLORIDA WAR. 87 It had the effect, however^ to restore confidence, and the citizens were elated when it was known that Oseola had voluntarily ceased his opposition and consented to emigrate. It was generally be- lieved that his adherence to the treaty would be the means of relieving the country of Indians, without the long apprehended rupture. The first of January, 1836, was looked forward to with intense interest. Crowds of emigrants and explorers stood ready to rush in as soon as the Indians should abandon their grounds. As had heretofore been the case, something occurred to interrupt the harmony and defeat the main object at a critical moment. Six Indians were proceeding to Deadman's Pond, or Hickory Hole, Alachua, near the Suwanna river, and on their way had slaughtered a cow. The ensuing day, when in camp cooking their beef, a party of white men came up and assaulted them in a most brutal manner, took possession of their rifles, examined their packs, and commenced whipping them severely. While thus engaged, four Indians in search of their fi-iends came upon them, when they at once commenced firing upon the y/hites. They returned it with effect, killing one Indian and wounding another. A mutual withdrawal from the field followed, the white men carrying off the baggage and rifles. To punish this act, which was called an encroachment of the Indians, a company of militia was soon in the field to chastise these marauders, and to protect the citizens. Such acts, it was generally believed, would hasten the Indians in their movements. They did, but not as anticipated. It kept alive the thirst for revenge, which was to be satiated only by shedding the blood of innocent women and children. Lieutenant Harris, disbursing agent, was actively engaged in making preparations for supplies and transportation. After con- sulting with General Thompson, upon the necessary means, and both having made diligent inquiry, aided' by the intimate know- ledge of officers of the army at the post, he reported to the war department, that the entire nation, including negroes, did not ex- ceed three thousand souls. Of this number he estimated that sixteen hundred were females, and that the various bands, com- prising the Florida Indians, could bring into the field four hundred and fifty or five hundred efficient warriors. This estimate was doubtless far below the real strength, as has been subsequently ascertained by the number who emigrated, and those still remain- ing within the limits of the state. Seven hundred regular troops were at the disposal of General CHnch to keep in check this force, punish if necessary, which, from the peculiar character of the country, their intimate knowledge of the swamps and ham- mocks, and total ignorance on the part of the whites, was ren- dered a formidable array. 88 THE FLORIDA WAR. The Indians during the months of July, August, and Septem- ber, refrained from visiting Fort King, excepting in small parties. Those who came were cautious and reserved in their deportment towards those who heretofore had been familiar friends. In Oc- tober but little intercourse existed. The first intimation of a movement within the nation, was the reported arrival of a friendly- chief at Fort Brooke, who with four hundred followers, mostly women and children, had hastened there for protection, as a war party, determined on putting them to death, was in close pursuit. Charley-E-Mathlar, the most consistent and sensible chief, favor-- able to emigration, had been murdered by this party, headed by Oseola. They met him on the trail to his village, and cruelly put him to death, leaving his body to be devoured by the wolves. His bones were buried in 1837, by a detachment of United States troops.* On the 7th of December, General Thompson informs the sec- retary of war, "that the Indians in this section of the nation (Fort King), immediately succeeding the murder of Charley-E- Mathlar, assembled at the towns of Big and Long Swamp. Yes- terday morning I received information that they had dispersed ; their destination is a subject of various conjectures here. There are only thirteen Indians who have come in to this post. We can obtain no runners, as the Indians here are afraid to venture out of sight of the post. We have therefore not yet ascertained what direction they have taken. I have no doubt that the object of the whole body of the disaffected is to retire to the wild region of the peninsula of Florida, in the neighborhood of what is called the Everglades. Holate-e-Mathler, with his four chiefs and his people, are still at Tampa. These, with other circumstances, induce me to consider the Indians as decidedly in a state of hos- tility." The purposes long entertained by Oseola, and which he had perfected by the most active, artful, and insidious means, were now divulged by cowardly, revengeful, and atrocious acts. He had acted as the voluntary agent of the nation, or of the hostile chiefs, in the attack on, and murder of, Charley-E-Mathlar. They had in council decreed that the first Indian who commenced the sale or disposal of his property, preparatory to removal, should fall or be put to death. Oseola carried out this decree in the case •of Charley-E-Mathlar, who had commenced drivmg in and dis- posing of his cattle. In furtherance of his diabolical schemes, he, * Upon the first fire of the Indians in ambush, he fell prostrate upon his face, and covering his face with his hands, received the death blows of his enemies without uttering a word. He had in his handkerchief a sum of gold and silver received from the agent for his cattle. This Oseola said was made of the red man's blood, and for- bid any one touching it, but with his own hands threw it in every direction. THE FLORIDA WAR. 89 with sixty warriors, lay concealed in a hammock in sight of Fort King, two days, for the purpose of murdering the agent, General Thompson. Failing in this, it was designed to attack the post, when most of the command were absent on fatigue duty. The 27th of December was quietly passed by the party closely concealed by dense foliage and palmettos. On the afternoon of the 28th, Gen. Thompson, accompanied by Lieut. Constantine Smith, 2d artillery, was taking his accustomed walk, smoking a cigar, and participating in conversation. The afternoon being pleasant, their walk was extended towards the sutler's store, about one mile from the post. Just as they reached the crest of the hill, in full view of the fort, they received the fire of the enemy, secreted within thirty feet of the road. Both expired instantly upon the spot. The Indians rushed out amid fiendish whoops and yells, their knives glistening in the air, when a desperate struggle ensued for the first trophy in the contest so long anticipated, and now so deplorably commenced. The scalps of these victims to their re- venge were cut into small pieces, to satisfy the craving appetites of all, and to make known among their comrades their participation in an event which, as they believed, would intimidate the whites, and deter them from further encroachments upon their soil. Gen. Thompson was perforated with twenty-four balls, Lieut. Smith with thirteen, and their bodies left upon the ground horribly muti- lated. 'The Indians proceeded at once to the sutler's store, where they found Mr. Rogers (the sutler), two clerks, a Mr. Hetzler, and a boy at dinner. Surrounding the house, they fired upon the inmates through the open doors and windows, and finished their work by cutting in pieces their bodies, taking their scalps, rifling the store, and setting fire to the building. The report of the rifles, the long shrill war-whoop, alarmed the fort, where preparations were hastily made for a vigorous defence. The effective strength of the command was forty-six men. The enemy, it was supposed, were in full force. An immediate attack was anticipated, as the yell was thought to be preparatory to an assault. The murder of Gen. Thompson and Lieut. Smith was not known until some hours after, but the fate of Rogers was an- nounced by the smoke and flames of his dwelling, which now arose far above the dense hammock which surrounded it. At the post, though limited in numbers, provisions, and ammunition, there was a spirit pervading the officers and men which defied the efforts of the enemy, and increased from day to day, as their situ- ation became more critical. Relief was soon expected by the arrival of two companies of troops ordered from Fort Brooke. The first blow was now struck, and the Florida war had fairly commenced. The two companies of United States troops ordered and expected at Fort King from Fort Brooke, were at- 90 THE FLORIDA WAR. tacked by a body of Indians commanded by Micanopy, Jumper, and Halpatter-Tustenuggee or AHigator, on the 28th of Decem- ber, on the road leading to Fort King, five miles east of the Wa- hoo Swamp. Brevet Major F. L. Dade, 4th infantry ; Capt. S. W. Gardner; 2d Lieut. W. E. Bassinger; Brevet 2d Lieut. R. Henderson, 2d artillery; Capt. U. S. Frazer; 2d Lieut. R. R. Mudge ; Brevet 2d Lieut. J. L. Keais, 3d artillery; and Assistant- Surgeon J. S. Gatlin, U. S: A., together v^ith one hundred men, detachments from the above-named regiments, were massacred on the spot. Two privates escaped, severely wounded, and brought the first intelligence of the event to Fort Brooke. The narrative, as received from Halpatter-Tustenuggee or Alligator, of this melancholy occurrence, forms an interesting detail of the movements and designs of the Indians : "We had," says he, "been preparing for this more than a year. Though promises had been made to assemble on the 1st of Januar}^, it was not to leave the country, but to fight for it. In council, it was determined to strike a decided blow about this time. Our agent at Fort King had put irons on our men, and said we must go. Oseola said he was his friend, he would see to him. It was determined that he should attack Fort King, in order to reach General Thompson, then return to the Wahoo Swamp, and participate in the assault meditated upon the soldiers coming from Fort Brooke, as the negroes there had reported that two companies were preparing to march. He was detained longer than we anticipated. The troops were three days on their march, and approaching the Swamp. Here we thought it best to assail them ; and should we be defeated the Swamp would be a safe place of retreat. Our scouts were out from the time the soldiers left the post, and reported each night their place of encampment. It was our intention to attack them on the third night, but the absence of Oseola and Micanopy prevented it. On the arrival of the latter it was agreed not to wait for Oseola, as the favorable moment would pass. Micanopy was timid, and urged delay. Jumper earnestly opposed it, and reproached the old chief for his indecision. He addressed the Indians, and re- quested those who had. faint hearts to remain behind ; he was going, when Micanopy said he was ready. Just as day was breaking we moved out of the swamp into the pine-barren. I counted, by direction of Jumper, one hundred and eighty war- riors. Upon approaching the road, each man chose his position on the west side ; opposite, on the east side, there was a pond. Every warrior was protected by a tree, or secreted in the high palmettoes. About nine o'clock in the morning the command approached. In advance, some distance, was an officer on a horse, who, Micanopy said, was the captain ; he knew him per- THE FLORIDA WAR. 91 sonally ; had been his friend at Tampa. So soon as all the soldiers were opposite, between us and the pond, perhaps twenty yards off. Jumper gave the whoop, Micanopy fired the first rifle, the signal agreed upon, when every Indian arose and fired, which laid upon the ground, dead, more than half the white men. The cannon was discharged several times, but the men who loaded it were shot down as soon as the smoke cleared away ; the balls passed far over our heads. The soldiers shouted and whooped, and the officers shook their swords and swore. There was a little man, a great brave, who shook his sword at the soldiers and said, ' God-dam !' no rifle-ball could hit him. As we were re- turning to the swamp, supposing all were dead, an Indian came up and said the white men were building a fort of logs. Jumper and myself, with ten warriors, returned. As we approached, we saw six men behind two logs placed one above another, with the cannon a short distance off. This they discharged at us several times, but we avoided it by dodging behind the trees just as they applied the fire. We soon came near, as the balls went over us. They had guns, but no powder ; we looked in the boxes after- wards and found they were empty. When I got inside the log- pen, there were three white men alive, whom the negroes put to death, after a conversation in English. There was a brave man in the pen ; he would not give up ; he seized an Indian, Jumper's cousin, took away his rifle, and with one blow with it beat out his brains, then ran some distance up the road ; but two Indians on horseback overtook him, who, afraid to approach, stood at a distance and shot him down. The firing had ceased, and all was quiet when we returned to the swamp about noon. We left many negroes upon the ground looking at the dead men. Three warriors were killed and five wounded." Oseola returned on the night of the 28th of December to the Wahoo Swamp. His party were loaded with all kinds of goods, and their bodies decorated with some trophy, to make known their atrocious acts. Scalps were suspended from their girdles, the warm blood still dripping ; others hung them on their heads and necks, besmearing their persons with blood, which, aided by their distorted and haggard countenances, gave to the entire group a most hideous aspect. The night was spent in a boister- ous and joyful manner. The scalps were given up to the great medicine-chief, Illis-higher-Hadjo, who arranged them upon a pole ten feet in height, around which they exultingly danced till daylight, accompanying their frantic mirth by songs, ridiculing and defying the white men. Liquors of all kinds had been ob- tained, and many were beastly intoxicated. Speeches were addressed by the most humorous of the company to the scalp of General Thompson, imitating his gestures and manner of talking to them in council. 92 THE FLORIDA WAR. On the ensuing day, the 29th, information was brought by the scouts, that the troops were approaching the Withlacoochie river in pursuit of the Indians. Two hundred and fifty warriors, thirty of whom were blacks, started, under Oseola and Halpatter Tus-tenuggee (AlUgator), to intercept them when crossing the river. Here they lay in ambush at the ford, two and a half miles above the ferry, as the most practicable, in fact, the only place of crossing without the aid of boats. Much to their surprise, they discovered on the day following the troops had come over, when they moved down to attack them. General Clinch had ferried over his command in a frail canoe, found on the bank, which with difficulty transported from six to eight men. At twelve o'clock, M., on the 31st of December, he encountered the enemy, strongly posted in the scrub and hammock, on the south side of the river. His force consisted of two hundred regulars, detachments from the 1st, 2d, and 3d regiments of U. S. artillery. A spirited contest commenced. The command steadily advanced upon the Indians, who, headed by Oseola, and urged onward by his frantic gestures and shrill voice, poured in upon the troops a shower of bullets. They were at once vigorously charged, and compelled to relinquish the ground and flee to the hammock, and beyond it, for safety, after an action of one hour and fifteen minutes. Four hundred and sixty volunteers, under Gen. C. K. Call, were spec- tators of this conflict across the river, excepting twenty-seven, who, under Col. Warren and Lieut. Col. Mills, dashed over in spite of every obstacle, and by their firmness and activity ren- dered efficient service. For a time the result was doubtful. But the example of the commander, who, on foot, passed up and down the line, cheering his brave companions, seconded by the unflinching resolution and intrepidity of his officers, satisfied the enemy, that in the contest which they had commenced, they were to encounter men as resolutely determined upon expelling them from the soil, as they were prepared to defend it. General Clinch had a ball through his cap, and another in the sleeve of his coat ; Capt. Wm. M. Graham, 4th infantry, was badly wounded in the leg and shoulder ; Lieut. C. Graham, 3d artillery, and Lieut. T. P. Ridgley, 2d artillery, were severely wounded ; Major Lytle, paymaster U. S. A., acting as aid-de- camp, had his horse shot under him, as also assistant-surgeon Clark. Col. Warren was hit in the breast, and his horse killed in the first discharge. Of the regular troops, four were killed and twenty-five wounded. The volunteers had fifteen wounded. The Indians hastily retired, without again showing them- selves. General Clinch took up his line of march, and returned 10 Fort Drane. THE FLORIDA WAR. 93 Alligator says that Oseola was hit in the arm, which disabled him, and was the cause of the Indians retreating. Three of their number were killed, and five were wounded. Two negroes were killed belonging to Micanopy ; of which he made great complaint, and ever after forbade his negroes participating in any hazardous enterprise. This caused many to disregard his authority as chief, or pond-governor, as he was called, subjecting him to reproach and suspicion. His disposition to procrastinate, and his indirect measures to deter Oseola and others in their proposed war- parties, at an early period satisfied those most eager for the con- test, that he could not be relied upon as an adviser or prosecutor of the war. He was the acknowledged chief by hereditary right, and none were bold enough by open rebellion to subvert him, but his opinions and advice were generally unheeded. No doubt now existed in the mind of any one as to the hos- tile intentions of the Florida Indians. The passions of a people, which had been smothered for fifteen years, descending from sire to son, were let loose, and the savage massacres which had appalled the stoutest heart, gave undisputed evidence of the char- acter of the contest. Florida, from this time forward, was a scene of devastation, murder, sorrow, and distress. Plantations were abandoned, and the villages were crowded with citizens without occupation, and destitute of the means of obtaining their daily bread. All that had been anticipated and represented by intelligent citizens was fully realized. The postponement of this, through the zealous exertions of the government agents, for six- teen years, had tended to aggravate instead of allaying the feel- ings of the Indians. The natural propensities of the savage were in full play, and to gratify the strongest and most enduring im- pulse of their natures, revenge, they had within their reach those who had been instrumental in bringing about this state of things, and upon whom they could indulge, secretly and savagely, the instinct of their natures. It has been thought that a formidable array of troops would have averted this catastrophe. The period was past. It might have procrastinated, but it could not have defeated a design so long in contemplation, and for which, in the way of supplies and ammunition, every thing had been prepared. It was inevitable from the very nature of things. Combinations and influences were at work which could not be checked or de- feated, requiring the removal of the Indians from the territory. The Seminoles disregarded the consequences of an overt act on their part, and disdained authority or control. Reckless of the future, and confident of being able to wage a successful warfare, from the character of the country and their intimate knowledge of the strong-holds, they lost sight of the power of the whites, in their long-cherished wish to gratify their vengeance in the de- 94 THE FLORIDA WAR. struction of those who had scattered discord through the land, and meditated their destruction as a nation, and their expulsion from the country. With these feelings deeply seated and cher- ished, exasperated by constant and unprovoked aggressions, all that was wanting was a heart bold enough to strike the first blow. In Oseola, or Powell, was combined a nerve, ' activity, and intelligence, which seemed to diffuse itself among all classes. The women gave a most hearty co-operation, and though obliged to abandon their homes, they cheerfully encountered fatigue, and congregated in places of safety, where they supplied provisions indiscriminately to the warriors, as they went to and from the field of battle. Boys hardly able to shoulder a rifle, w^ere daily practiced in the use of that arm. Had a large body of troops been in the field, the Indians doubtless would have acted more covertly, and in smaller numbers. The exposed settlers upon the frontier would have been the first victims, almost within sight of the camp-fires of the army. Soldiers would have invaded the peninsula in columns, as was subsequently done, and not an Indian have been seen. The Florida war was closed by the movements of fifty and one hundred men, in detachments, acting in concert, giving to the contest a partisan character. This was hazardous, as they might be overcome by numbers, but it was the only means of bringing the enemy from their ambush, and involving them in an engagement. In every instance where a conflict has occurred, the regular troops were successful, if not in killing, wounding, and making prisoners, they remained in quiet possession of the field. The small number of troops in Florida on the 31st of December, induced the Indians to assem- ble in the belief of being successful, which necessarily caused a postponement of the attacks upon citizens, giving them time, with their families and property, to seek a place of safety. As lament- able as events were, the regular force ordered to the scene of warfare, as reported by the adjutant-general of the army to the secretary of war, was thought adequate to the emergency. From four to five hundred warriors was the computed strength of the nation, an estimate derived from what was deemed unquestioned authority. The army of the United States is too limited in num- bers to quell in season such outbreaks, or to put in force, under such circumstances, the demands of the government. Scattered as it is along an extensive seaboard and on an inland frontier, small detachments reach the field just in time to provoke attacks, and to fill the breach by leading the forlorn hope. Blood is spilt, millions are squandered, the country ravaged, when the means upon which the only hope was based, to avert the calam- ity, are put in requisition, and the army, ajnid vindictive abuse and unreserved condemnation, accomplishes the desired end. THE FLORIDA WAR. 95 To control, or to effectually crush, the spirit which nerved the Seminoles in defence of their homes, required a force of which the country could not boast. The display of arms they ridiculed ; consequences were disregarded, and life itself was un- cared for. Moral force at one time could have been applied with success. But repeated aggressions, false promises, neglect, and abuse, had made them reckless, and the assurances of the whites, however sincere or well intended, were considered as false. The contest was inevitable. A war of seven years ensued, and many of those who instigated and participated in it, have to lament the day of its commencement. Upon a careful examination, it will be found that the treaty of Fort Moultrie in 1821, was the first act in originating the Florida war. The treaty of Payne's Landing in 1832, was the second, and the " additional treaty," signed by the delegation at Fort Gibson, was the immediate cause of the Florida war. CHAPTER III. FROM JANUARY 1, 1836, TO DECEMBER 31, 1840. The number of Indian warriors in Florida, and tribes to which they belonged. — Number of negro war- riors.— Names of the various Indian chiefs, and their importance and characters, viz., Micanopy, Jumper, Little Cloud, Alligator, Holartooche. King Philip, Coacoochee, Sam Jones, Tigertail, Neth- lockematlilar, Chekika, Hospetarke, Octiache. — The negro Abraham, his importance. — Oseola or Powell, his birth, rank, character, and age. — Measures taken to subdue the Indians.— Cost of the Flo- rida war. — Relative cost of troops between regulars, volunteers, and militia. — General Towson's letter on the subject. — The regular troops, and militia serving in Florida in 1836, 37, 38, 39, 40, and 41. — Generals Clinch, Scott, Call, Jesup, Taylor, Armis*ead, and Colonel Worth, commanding. — Depreda- tions of the Indians.— General Clinch authorized to call for militia. — General Eustis ordered to Florida. — The movements of General Gaines. — The burial of the dead of Major Dade's command. — Arrival at Fort King of General Gaines — Returns to Fort Biooke via the Withlacooche river — His arrival, and encounter with the enemy. — Death of Lieutenat Izard. — The troops in a pen. — General Gaines's de- signs.— The attack upon the pen. — The arrival of a messenger from the Indians. — Interview of Adju- tant Barrow of the Louisiana volunteers, and Captain Hitchcock, U. S. A., with Oseola and others. — The conduct of Csesar disapproved of by the Indians. — The day when the troops in the pen were to be attacked. — The number of warriors on the ground. — Final result. — General Gaines relinquishes the command to General Clinch. — General Scott ordered to take command in Florida — His steps taken to prosecute the war. — General Scott takes the field — Success of his campaign — Ordered to conduct the war against the Creeks in Georgia. — Complaints of General Scott's conduct in prosecuting the Florida war — Difficulties in effecting his object. — General Set tt's defence before the court of inquiry convened at Frederick, Maryland — His acquittal. — General C. K. Call takes command of the Florida army. — Attack upon Micanopy by Oseola or Powell. — Major Hielcman's official report. — Colonel Pierce's expedition to Fort Drane — His official report of the affair. — General Call's campaigns. — The Tennessee brigade and General Armstrong. — The U. S. marine corps under Colonel Henderson. — Officers of the Creek volunteer regiment. — General Call's second campaign. — Tennesseans attack the Indians — The result.— Colonel Pierce with the regulars joins General Call. — Battle of the Wahoo- Swamj). — Official report of Colonel Pierce of the affair. — The object gained. — General Jesup's opera- tions 12th January, 1837.— Battle of Fort Mellon.— Official report of Colonel Fanning.— Battle of Hatch-Luste creek — General Jesup's report. — Colonel Henderson's report. — Disposition of the Indians — They ask for peace. — The capitulation at Fort Dade. — The Indians agree to emigrate — Large num- bers assemble at Tampa Bay — Vessels in readiness to take them to New-Orleans. — The surrender of Oseola with his family at Fort Mellon. — He desires peace. — The Florida war supposed to be ended. — • Volunteers and militia discharged. — The marines under Colonel Henderson sent north. — Letter of Mr. Poinsett on the subject. — Citizens return to their homes. — The Indians break up their camp near Fort Brooke, and take to the woods under the direction of Oseola and Coacoochee. — The country alarmed. —General Jesup desires to be relieved from the command of the army of Florida — His letter to the adju- tant-general on the subject, July 25th, 1837, — Another campaign in preparation. — Creek regiment of In- dians discharged. — The feeling of citizens towards the Indians. — Volunteers called fir from Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida.— The address of General Jesup to the army, October 24th, 1837, at the commencement of the campaign. — General Jesup's report of his campaign, July 6th, 1838. — General Jesup's proposition to effect an arrangement with the enemy. — Mr. Poin sett's answer. — Report of the fight on Jupiter river. — General Jesup's letters. — General Taylor's report of the battle of Okechobee. — Indians commanding in the battle — Their arrangements for the battle. — Death of Colonel Thompson, Colonel Gentry, Captain Van Suerengen, Lieutenants Center and Brooke. — Capture and death of Oseola — The manner of capture, and his conduct, &e.— General Jesup relinquishes the command of the Florida army to General Z. Taylor. — General Taylor's report of operations — He districts the country — Not carried out. — General Macomb arrives in the territory — His arrangement f)r peace — His orders to citizens, and report to the secretary of war. — Citizens again return to their plantations. — Confidence partially restored. — The Indians murder express-men, and attack the settlements — General consternation throughout the interior. — Lieutenant-Colonel Harney's command massacred on the Carlo shatchee river. — The report of the assistant adjutant-general. — Lieu- , tenant Hanson captures at Fort Mellon a band of Indians. — Preparations for another campaign. — Ex- tract from the report of Mr. Poinsett in regard to the war. — Governor Reid's message to the territorial legislature. — Blood-hounds sent for to pursue the Indians — Thirty-two obtained — Their arrival, and cost. — Manner of tracking the Indians. — The result. — Complaints of memorialists to congress. — Corre- spondence of the Hon. H. A. Wise, secretary of war, and General Taylor u" on the subject. — Troops withdrawn from the field. — General Taylor relieved from the command of the Florida army, by his own request — Brevet Brigadier-General Armistead succeeds him. — The Spanish Indians participate in the war. — Indian Key attacked by a band of Indians under the Spanish Indian chief, Chekika. — The murder of Doctor Perrine, and the particulars of the escape of his family. The progress of the Florida war from the 1st of January, 1836, was attended with large expenditures of money, and serious embarrassments. The climate, ignorance of the swamps and hammocks, and the treachery and activity of the enemy, baffled THE FLORIDA WAR. 97 the skill of the most zealous and intelligent officers. The Indians, far more numerous than had been anticipated, availed themselves of the offers of peace and friendship often tendered, or w^hen in- clined to gratify their malignity, assembled in force to strike a fatal blow, and then scattered into small parties to their hiding places, v^ithout leaving a track behind. The number of warriors in the field at this time, as has been subsequently ascertained, was sixteen hundred and sikty, to which may be added two hundred and fifty neg3:oes capable of bearing arms. This force was divided into various bands, comprising Semi- noles, Mickasukies, Tallahassees, and Creeks, and led by youthful and sagacious chieftains. In resisting the encroachment of the whites, and the treaty of Payne's Landing, the most perfect har- mony prevailed. Micanopy, or the Pond Governor, was the legitimate head of the Seminole nation, and the acknowledged chief of the Indians in Florida, He was about fifty years of age, very fat, and exces- sively lazy, which unfitted him for the active duties that devolved on him in an open warfare. Of this he was fully sensible, which inclined him to advocate peace, as far as policy and his personal safety would permit. This was so manifest, that the young men forced him into hostile acts, and by main strength in two instan- ces, (at Dade's Massacre, and at Camp Izard,) carried him by main force to the scene of action. Otee-Emathlar, or Jumper, was his lawyer and sense-hearer. He was a cunning, intelligent, and deceitful Indian. Fond of hearing himself talk, and naturally endowed with great fluency of speech, and with a voice peculiarly musical and attractive, he attained an ascendency over all classes, and became the most important man in councils and consultations. He was about forty years old ; active and brave. Ta-ho-loo-chee, or Little Cloud, was remarkable for his bold achievements as a hunter and warrior, and for his bitter animosi- ty to the whites. He was never known to express the least regard or kindness for them even when receiving clothing and food from their hands, and always looked upon them with con- tempt and distrust. His cold, dignified deportment was often re- marked. His age was thirty-six. In council he was generally silent, but acted with promptness and decision. Halpatter-Tustenugge, or Alligator, was the most shrewd, crafty, politic, and intelligent chief of the Seminole nation. He was upwards of forty years of age, but an active and successful hunter. With the citizens of the country he was upon intimate terms, and enjoyed their hospitality to a great extent. His manners were bland and attractive, and speaking English, he made himself an agreeable companion. But his artful tricks to 98 THE FLORIDA WAR. obtain food, clothing, powder, and lead, while expressing friend- ship and affection, led the citizens to suspect and watch him con- tinually. His knowledge of the country, and tactics in the field of battle, as displayed in advancing and retreating, in diverting the enemy and outflanking their extended lines, gave him an as- cendency, and made him a dangerous foe. Holartoochee was a remarkable man, and in all respects superior to his associates. He was fifty-five years of age. Good judgment, prudence, and integrity marked all his acts, both among' his own people and with the citizens. He was acknowledged a brave warrior and a great hunter. In council, he spoke with energy and boldness ; and led his companions at all times with the same spirit. He was banished from his tribe four years for adultery, during which time he lived with the Spanish Indians inhabiting the Everglades, who treated him with great distinction. At the breaking out of hostilities, he rejoined his band, and became an active leader. After resisting- three years, he surrendered for emigration, and became useful in inducing others to follow his example. King Phillip, the father of Coacoochee or Wild Cat, was a good-natured, sensible Indian ; his age, which was about sixty, and his royal blood, attached to him some importance. In the peaceful affairs of the nation, his views and advice were often adopted. He was inclined to peace, but opposed to the execution of the treaty, and expressed a determination to die upon the soil. He wished to avoid the whites, rather than to resist them, and thus be subjected to much discomfort and annoyance. Coacoochee, or Wild Cat, partook of none of his father's in- firmities. He was by far the most dangerous chieftain in the field. War to him was a pastime. He became merry by the excitement, and more vindictive and active by its barbarities, and the inefficiency of the enemy. When being pursued through deep swamps, he has stood at a distance, and laughed at and ridiculed the soldiers floundering with their arms and accoutre- ments in mud and water. With a fev/ followers, who adhered to him for his bold achievements and success in plundering, he ranged throughout the country, going from one part to the other with a fleetness defying pursuit. When hostilities commenced, he assembled his warriors, and in a fearless manner dictated the mode in which the war was to be conducted. He held commu- nication with other chieftains, but the customary councils with the agents of the government, and among themselves, he disregarded, and acted according to the dictates of his own judgment. He was twenty-eight years of age, in person slight, with the activity of a deer, and with a countenance bright, playful, and attractive. Coacoochee, (Wild Cat.) Thlocklo Tastenuggee, (Tiger Tail.) THE FLORIDA WAR. 99 Of the Mickasukie tribe of Indians, Ar-pe-ik, or Sam Jones, was the chief He was said to be the most aged Indian in Flor- ida, being upwards of seventy. For many years he hved at Silver Spring, near Fort King, and was known as Sam Jones the fisherman. His age gave him an ascendency far above his merits. He declared himself a prophet and a great medicine- man. He planned war parties for the young warriors, and ac- companied them to the scene of action, and from a distance wit- nessed their conduct ; giving encouragement by his incantations with roots, barks, skins of animals and snakes, and midnight orgies and songs. He was always remarkable for his obstinate ill- nature. With him were many young men of the same tribe, who par- took of the infamy belonging to this band, otherwise intelligent and brave ; none more so than Halleck-Tustenuggee, now but a boy, but who soon became the master-spirit of the war. Thlock-lo-Tustenuggee, or Fish King, known as Tigertail, was the chief of the Tallahassees. For many years he was a common lounger about the streets of Tallahassee, begging for whisky and food. Here he learned some English, and obtained an intimate knowledge of the habits of the citizens. Upon re- joining his tribe, when hostilities commenced, this gave him much importance. Plausible and attractive in his manners, and profess- ing great wisdom and sagacity, he deluded those of his own color as well as the whites, and was always ready to accept the proffer of peace. After enjoying for weeks the hospitality of a military camp or post, with the promise of emigrating, he would return to the woods, well supplied with ammunition, provisions, and cloth- ing. He was about forty-four years of age. His brother, Nethlocke-matiilar, contended with him for the government of the tribe, causing frequent broils and conflicts. By far his brother's superior in age, intelligence, and honesty, he failed in attaching to him the younger warriors, as his integrity and good sense profited them but little. Strongly opposed to emigrating, he advocated friendship and peace, and condemned the hypocrisy of his brother. South of Pease Creek and Lake Okechobee, near the extreme southern point of the peninsula, was a band of Spanish Indians, under an intelligent chief, called Chekika, speaking a language peculiarly their own, a mixture of Indian and Spanish. They numbered about one hundred warriors. They took no part in the war until 1889 and '40, when, finding themselves attacked and pursued, they took arms and resisted. This band of Indians was entirely unknown. In all the treaties that had been made and councils held b,y agents of the government, they had had no 100 THE FLORIDA WAR. participation. Numbers had visited the Island of Cuba, and looked more to the Spaniards as their friends, than they did to the Americans. Hospetarke, whose wife was a Spanish woman, lived in this quarter. A few men of his tribe here joined him. Large num- bers were added of those who were pursued by troops further north. The Creeks, at the commencement of the war, numbered about seventy warriors, under a young sub-chief by the name of Octiarche, who resolutely, and with skill, contended against the force in the field for six years, and was among the last of the leaders captured, and who finally emigrated. Large numbers of Creeks from Georgia joined the Seminoles from time to time, in small parties, and became the most active in committing depredations upon the frontier, and ultimately took the direction of the war. Micanopy owned many negroes, who partook of the feeling exhibited around them. His principal slave, Abraham, was the most noted, and for a time an influential man in the nation. He dictated to those of his own color, who to a great degree controlled their masters. They were a most cruel and malignant enemy. For them to surrender would be servitude to the whites ; but to retain an open w^arfare, secured to them plunder, liberty, and importance. Though the chiefs and sub-chiefs gave an ardent support to the war after the first blood was shed, yet As-se-se-he-ho-lar, or Black Drink,* known as Oseola or Powell, was the governing spirit. His rank and birth were both humble and obscure ; but he dared to resist the demands of the government, and had the temerity to strike the first blow. He belonged to the Red Stick tribe of Indians, a branch of the Creeks, and was born on the Chattahoochee river, Georgia, in the year 1804. His father's name was William Powell, an Englishman, who for forty years had been a trader in the nation, and whose wife was an Indian woman. In the year 1808, when a feud occurred among- the Creeks, they separated by mutual consent, she preferring to go to Florida, when a division of the family took place. The father retained two daughters ; the mother and the boy, then four years old, settled in the vicinity of the Okefenoke Swamp. Soon after, she was again married, when, with her child and husband, she * The black drink is used by the head-men of the Seminole nation, preparatory to the assembling of important councils. It is drank three times a day, for seven consecutive days. It is a tea composed of a concoction of star-grass, shppery elm, and palmetto leaves. This process, it is thought, cleanses the system, and gives to the mind wisdom and clearness. Negro Abraham. Asse-se-he-ho-lar, (known as Oseola or Powell.) THE FLORIDA WAR. 101 removed to a hammock near Fort King. William Powell emi- grated to Arkansas, from Georgia, in the summer of 1836. As-se-se-he-ho-lar, or Powell, at the breaking out of hostilities was thirty-two years of age. In stature, he was about five feet eight inches, with a manly, frank, and open countenance. From boyhood he was noted for his independence and self-possession, and always treated the whites with great dignity, almost amount- ing to insolence. In all daijces, ball-plays, and games, he was distinguished. In council, the old chiefs looked with surprise at his bold opposition to the treaty of Payne's Landing. What he said and did was the result of a momentary feeling, without previous consultations or understandings, which caused the experienced counsellors of the nation to treat him with great respect. He threw aside the ridiculous mummery of sages and pro- phets, their forms and superstitions, and openly declared his views and opinions, regardless of consequences, and the diplo- macy and cunning of Jumper and the negro Abraham. Feeling conscientiously right himself, he infused the same spirit into others, who with renewed resolution adhered to their opposition to the treaty. From his youth he had lived with the Seminoles, and he felt that their fortunes were his own. His wife, whose name was Che-cho-ter, (the Morning Dew,) was a Creek ; by her he had four children. To them he was kind and affectionate. In advising the warriors, when starting upon a war-party, he always enjoined them to spare the women and children. " It is not upon them," said he, " that we make war and draw the scalp- ing-knife, it is upon men ; let us act like men." The government of the United States soon found that a war with the Indians of Florida was inevitable. Peace, security of the lives and property of citizens, and the emigration of the In- dians to Arkansas, were the objects sought and demanded. Vol- unteers and militia were called into the field, detachments of regular troops were ordered to the country, and ample funds placed at the disposal of the proper department, that the conflict should be ended by a prompt and decided blow. Unfortunately, these anticipations were not realized. As unimportant as the conflict was believed to be, it cost the nation nineteen milhons four hundred and eighty thousand dollars, exclusive of the ex- penditures pertaining to the regular army. This amount accrued from the payment of militia and volunteers, and losses sustained by citizens from the ravages of the enemy. The subjoined table shows the number of volunteers called into the field from the different states, between the 20th of De- cember, 1835, and the 31st of December, 1840. 102 THE FLORIDA WAR. STATE OR TERRITORY. Commis. Officers. Men. ^1635 3376 2124 1112 2244 2381 1541 436 87 490 133 174 475 1410 504 726 Aggreg'te. When mustered. Florida Florida South Carolina Louisiana 141 190 141 67 113 193 no 38 3 20 6 4 10 102 28 12 1776 3566 2265 1179 2357 2574 1651 474 90 510 139 178 485 1512 532 748 1835 and 6 1836, 7 and 8 1836, 7 and 8 1836, 7 and 8 Alabama Georgia 1836, 7 and 8 1836, 7 and 8 1836 and 7 Missouri 1837 and 8 IVpw-Vn'R'K' 1837 and 8 Pennsylvania 1837 and 8 District of Columbia Delaware and Shawnee Choctaw Indians Florida 1836 7, and 8 1837. and 8 1837 1839 1837 and 8 Creek Indians 1836 and 7 Total 1172 19,646 20,026 The length of service was from 3 to 6 months, and a small portion for 12 months. The secretary of war, in submitting a report called for by congress, on the 22d of March, 1838, of the comparative expense of volunteers, militia, and regular troops, enclosed the following abstract made by the paymaster-general of the army. Abstract of Expenses of U. S. Troops, Volunteers, and Militia. PERIOD. United States Troops. Volunteers. Militia. Dragoons. Infantry. Mounted. Foot. Mounted. Foot. For 6 Months For 3 Months For 1 Month $13,573 34 6,786 67 2,262 22 $4,662 06 2,331 00 777 00 $22,575 01 13,553 69 7,583 58 $7,287 69 4,973 83 3,888 53 $12,079 69 5,H00 14 $3,674 53 2,102 25 7,540 74 2,590 00 14,570 76 5,385 00 8,939 41 2,939 34 Note. The above calculations are for a company of fifty privates of each descrip- tion of troops, fully officered. Washington, May 8th, 1838. ' (Signed,) N. TOWSON, Paymaster-General U. S. A. In connection with the subject General Towson i^emarks : '' This enormous disparity in the expenses of the two forces is not owing to the extravagant allowances made to volunteers ; for except in the article of clothing, they are not better paid than regular troops, and altogether insufficiently compensated to reim- burse them for the pecuniary sacrifices they make, in leaving home and employment, to say nothing of the danger and hard- ships they encounter. It is caused principally by expenses for THE FLORIDA WAR. 103 travelling to and from the place where the services of volunteers and militia are required ; to the hire, maintenance, and indemnity for horses ; to purchasing them a full supply of clothing, as a bounty, without regard to length of service. The statements also show the expenses of volunteers serving on post, and of militia. The term of service of the latter never exceeds three months, unless especially provided for. There is one comparison that would place the contrast between the expenses of regular and irregular troops in a much stronger light, if I had the data to enable me to state it in figures, and that is the comparative loss and destruction of military stores and public property, by the two forces. The immense importance attached to this subject by European governments, as a principal means of sustaining war, has led to the most rigid economy, and the strictest accounta- bihty in every thing connected with the. material of an army. We have profited by their experience, and it is probable a more perfect system of accountabihty is nowhere to be found than in our little army ; but it requires the study of years to under- stand, and the exercise of martial law to enforce it. This can- not be expected of irregular troops, that serve at most but a few months. There is another subject which I would respect- fully suggest should be considered in connection with the employ- ment of volunteers, and that is, the great inconvenience to v/hich it subjects the useful class of citizens, the heavy tax imposed on their patriotism, and the loss the country sustains by diverting labor from its proper object, and turning producers into consu- mers." The above conclusions are the result of long experience and close observation, in and out of the field, and are well worthy of consideration. The detachments of the regular army ordered to Florida, were necessarily and unavoidably small, which subjected them to every privation, and to the hability of being cut off by the supe- rior force of the enemy. On the 30th of November, 1836, the regular and irregular troops in Florida, commanded by Major-General Jesup, were reported to consist of, Officers. Men 2d Dragoons, ist Regiment of Artillery 2d " " 3d 4th U. S. Marines, commanded by Col 4th Infantry, 1 . .19 11 . . 253 as Infantry. 13 . . 248 12 . . 278 " 14 . 260 " Henderson, 18 . .303 7 . .320 76 1681 104 THE FLORIDA WAR. Brought forward, Tennessee Volunteers, Alabama " Florida Washington City " Creek Indians " Men. 1681 1200 300 250 59 730 Total, 4220 November 30th, 1837 — General Jesup commanding: Officers. Men. General Staff, . 28 2d Regiment of Dragoons, 33 . . 563 1st ' ' Artillery, . 24 . . 363 as Infantry. 2d ( a 22 . . 279 « 3d i a 26 . . 253 (( 4th i a 31 . . 347 4,1 1st ' Infantry, . 19 . . 282 2d ( a 16 . . 332 4th i a . 8 . . 379 6lh Detachm ent of Marines, 9 . 4 . . 294 . 170 Recruits not assigned to Companies, . . 1060 Regulars, total, 230 4322 Voluntee rs— Missouri, mounted. 38 . . 346 Tennessee, " . . . 28 . . 504 Alabama, " 44 . . 906 Washington, D. C, foot, . 3 . . 69 Philadelphia, " . 18 . . 458 New-Orleans, " 15 . . 235 Florida, « . . 74 . . 1207 Seamen, . 1 . . 100 Aggregrate of Volunteers, 221 3825 Indians, . , . , . . 4 . . 174 Grand Aggregate, 455 . . 8411 Of this number 8 officers and 450 men were unfit for duty. Of the officers of the General Staff, 25 were Assistant Surgeons. November 30th, 1838— Brevet Brigadier-General Z. Taylor commanding — the force in Florida comprised, present for duty : Officers. Men. General Staff, 46 2d Regiment of Dragoons, 3d " Artillery, 4th " 1st " Infantry, 2d " " 6th " 28 . . 627 26 . . 394 as Infantry. 29 . . 559 23 . . 358 25 . . 544 25 . . 247 202 Of the officers of the General Staff, 30 were Physicians. 3098 THE FLORIDA WAR. 105 Militia, Georgia, Florida, Officers. 7 . 9 . Men. 136 219 16 Of this force, 288 men were reported sick. 355 November 30th, 1839 -G( mevi ilT aylor con imanding — preser r duty : Officers. Men. General Staff, . . 47 2d Regiment of Dragoons, . 29 . . 520 3d Artillery, . 25 . . 311 as Infantry. 1st " Infantry, . 23 . . 371 2d a . 24 . . 406 6th « a . 20 . . 390 7th " li . 18 . . 373 Recruits, . • • . 474 Regulai [• troops. 186 2845 Florida mounted men, . 33 760 Of this force. 300 men wei •e rep orted sick. November 30th, 1840 — Brevet Brigadier-General W. K. Armi- stead commanding — present for duty : Officers. Men. General Staff, , . 62 2d Regiment of Dragoons, . 24 . . 420 3d Artillery, . 12 . . 276 as Infantry 1st Infantry, . 22 . . 406 2d (( . 19 . . 410 3d (( . 23 . . 683 6th li . 19 . . 477 7th " a . 19 . . 562 8th " a . 27 . . 730 Regular troops. 227 3964 Militia, Florida, . 47 . . 1500 " Georgia, . • . 12 . . 284 Of this force, 320 men were reported sick. 59 1784 November 30th, 1841— Col. W. J. Worth, 8th Infantry, com- manding — present for duty : Officers. Men. General Staff, 57 . 10 . . 237 . 18 . . 483 as Infantry. . 20 . . 351 2d Regiment of Dragoons, 3d « Artillery, 2d « Infantry, 3d " « 20 234 126 1306 Officers. Men. . 125 . . 1305 . 15 . . 449 . 16 . . 640 . 14 . . 588 . 16 . . 633 106 THE FLORIDA WAR. Brought forward, 4th Regiment of Infantry, 6th " 7th " " 8th " Regular troops, 186 3615 Of this force, 7 commissioned officers and 652 men were reported sick. Of the officers of the General Staff, 38 were Assistant Surgeons. The activity and cruelty of the enemy following the massacre of the detachment under the command of Major Dade, created a panic throughout the territory. Settlers were compelled to flee, or be slaughtered at noon-day, with their wives and children around them. Sixteen plantations in East Florida, upon each of which were employed from one to one hundred and fifty negroes, with sugar- mills, cotton-gins, store-houses, and dwellings, were completely destroyed within the month of January, 1836; while the occu- pants fled for their lives, leaving behind the common necessaries of life. Negroes were shot down within sight of their homes ; and night after night, famiKes were alarmed by Indian yells, and the discharge of their rifles. None could tell at what moment, or in what manner, they would be assailed, and subjected to the most cruel and brutal death. In some instances, the lives of mothers were spared that they might see their children cut in pieces, and their limbs used as weapons to assail the living. Sorrow and poverty existed where a few months before reigned prosperity and happiness. The war department, at the head of which was General Lewis Cass, put in force vigorous measures to protect the inha- bitants, and to punish the enemy. Brevet Brigadier- General Clinch, commanding the regular troops, then at Fort Drane, was authorized to call for any amount of force he thought necessary from the states of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. Brevet Brigadier-General Eustis, U. S. A., commanding at Charleston, S. C, was directed to proceed to Florida, and adopt the neces- sary steps to open a communication with General Clinch ; and to take with him the regular troops at Charleston and Savannah, . and such numbers of volunteers and militia from South Carolina as he might deem requisite to meet this embarrassing state of affairs. The most unlimited confidence was placed in General Clinch, who had, with an inferior force, met the enemy, and defeated them in a most gallant manner ; and had maintained his ground in their midst, in a country from which he could not expect suc- cor in the way of men or supplies. THE FLORIDA WAR. 107 Brevet Major-General Gaines, commanding the western mili- tary department, which comprised a part of Florida, being on a tour of inspection at New-Orleans, La., heard of the lamentable disaster that had befallen the command of Major Dade ; and that Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, was invested by negroes and Indians, and that the garrison was in imminent danger of being cut off. He at once despatched an express to General Clinch, informing him that he. would be at Fort Brooke on the 8th of February, with seven hundred men ; and at the same time desired that he would co-operate in such a manner as to bring the Indians to action. General Gaines accordingly embarked at New-Orleans on the 3d of February, with a brigade of eleven hundred men ; comprising six companies of the 4th U. S. infantry, under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Twiggs, and a regiment of Louisiana volunteers, commanded by General P. F. Smith, adjutant-general of the state. He reached Fort Brooke on the 10th, and on the 13th the brigade took the field. The movement was one of great re- sponsibility. Entirely destitute of the means of transportation, with but ten days' provisions, five of which were on the men's backs, in a country almost unknown, inhabited by an enemy as yet unnumbered, this brave band took up its line of march with cheerfulness and alacrity, undaunted by the numerous difficulties before them. The right consisted of four companies of the 2d artillery, acting as infantry, commanded by Major Belton. The centre comprised seven companies of 4th infantry, under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Foster ; on the left were the Louisiana volunteers, in command of Colonel or General Smith and Lieutenant-Colonel Lawson (now Surgeon-General Lawson, U. S. A.). Lieutenant- Colonel Twiggs acted as brigadier-general. The order of march was in three columns, with an advance, and a strong rear guard. Each night, the encampment was surrounded by logs three feet high, within which the entire command slept on their arms. The commissioned officers of the U. S. army, were Major- General Gaines ; Lieutenant-Colonel Twiggs ; Captain Shannon ; Quarter-Master, Captain Hitchcock, 1st infantry. Lieutenant McCall, 4th infantry, and Lieutenant Izard, 1st dragoons, staff; Lieutenant-Colonel Foster, 4th infantry; Major Wilson, Major Lear, Lieutenant T. Page, Lieutenant Screven, Lieutenants Buchanan, Alvord, Scott, Myers, Mitchell, and Reeve ; Major Belton, artillery ; Captains Mountford, and Zantzinger ; Lieu- tenants Grayson, Linnard, Adams, Duncan, Stockton, Hender- son, Allen, and Morgan. Medical staff. Surgeons Heiskell, Lea- venworth. Cuyler, and Reynolds. Seventy friendly Indians accompanied the command as guides, but their caution and timidity rendered their knowledge of the country of no avail. On the 8th day of the march, the battle- 108 THE FLORIDA WAR. ground of Major Dade was reached. Here were strewn around the decayed and multilated remains of their companions in arms, which had been exposed upwards of fifty days. — As revolting as the task was, they interred them with becoming solemnity, and with the honors of war. Captain E. A. Hitchcock, acting inspector-general, who was required to make a report upon the subject, gives this detail. " Western Department, ) Fort King, Florida, Feb. 22d, 1836. \ " General — Agreeably to your directions,! observed the bat- tle ground six or seven miles north of the Ouithlacoochee river, where Major Dade and his command were destroyed by the Sem- inole Indians on the 28th of December last, and have the honor to submit the following report : " The force under your command which arrived at this post to-day from Tampa Bay, encamped on the 19th inst. on the ground occupied by Major Dade on the night of the 27th of December. He and his party were destroyed on the morning of the 28th of December, about four miles in advance of that position. He was advancing towards this post, and was attacked from the north, so that on the 20th inst. we came upon the rear of his battle ground about 9 o'clock in the morning. Our advanced guard had passed the ground without halting, when the general and his staff came upon one of the most appalling scenes that can be imagined. We first saw some broken and scattered boxes ; then a cart, the two oxen of which were lying dead, as if they had fallen asleep, their yokes still on them ; a little to the right one or two horses were seen. We then came to a small enclosure, made by felling trees in such a manner as to form a triangular breastwork for defence. Within the triangle, along the north and west faces of it, were about thirty bodies, mostly mere skeletons, although much of the clothing was left upon them. These were lying, almost every one of them, in precisely the same position they must have occupied during the fight, their heads next to the logs over which they had delivered their fire, and their bodies stretched with striking regularity parallel to each other. They had evidently been shot dead at their posts, and the Indians had not disturbed them, except by taking the scalps of most of them. Passing this little breastwork, we found other bodies along the road, and by the side of the road, generally behind the trees which had been resorted to for covers from the enemy's fire. " Advancing about two hundred yards further, we found a clus- ter of bodies in the middle of the road. These were evidently tlie advanced guard, in the rear of which was the body of Major Dade ; and to the right, that of Captain Fraser. THE FLORIDA WAR. 109 " These were all doubtless shot down by the first fire of the Indians, except, perhaps, Captain Fraser, who must, however, have fallen very early in the fight. Those in the road, and by the trees, fell during the first attack. It was during the cessation of the fire that the little band still remaining, about thirty in number, threw up the triangular breastwork, which, from the haste with which it was constructed, was necessarily defective, and could not protect the men in the second attack. " We had with us many of the personal friends of the officers of Major Dade's command, and it is gratifying to be able to state that every ofiicer was identified by undoubted evidence. They were buried ; and the cannon, a six-pounder, that the Indians had thrown into a swamp, was recovered and placed vertically at the head of the grave, where, it is to be hoped, it will long remain. The bodies of the non-commissioned officers and privates were buried in two graves, and it was found that every man was ac- counted for. " The command was composed of eight officers, and one hun- dred and two non-commissioned officers and privates. The bodies of eight officers, and ninety-eight men were interred, four men having escaped ; three of whom reached Tampa Bay, the fourth was killed the day after the battle. " It may be proper to observe, that the attack was not made from a hammock, but in a thinly- wooded country ; the Indians being concealed by palmetto and grass, which has since been burned. "The two companies were. Captain Fraser's, of the 3d artillery, and Captain Gardiner's, of the 2d artillery. The officers were Major Dade, of the 4th infantry ; Captains Fraser and Gardiner, Second-Lieutenant Bassinger, Brevet Second-Lieutenant R. Hen- derson, Mudge, and Keais, of the artillery, and Dr. J. S. Gatlin. " I have the honor to be, with the highest respect, your obe- dient servant, E. A. HITCHCOCK, Major-Gen. Edmund P. Gaines, ) Captain, 1st Infantry, Act. Insp. Gen." Com. West. Depart. Fort King, Fla. \ General Gaines was disappointed in not hearing from General Clinch. He was apprehensive that he had been overpowered by the enemy, or that from the state of the country, his express had not reached him. Fort King was fifty miles distant. At this point, it was believed, that a supply of provisions could be ob- tained. To have retraced his steps to Fort Brooke, would have been, in the opinion of the Indians, a retreat. To advance at all hazards, was demanded by every consideration. It was known that General Scott had been ordered to Florida, and though too early to expect it, a co-operation might possibly be effected with 110 THE FLORIDA WAR. the troops under his command, marching from the eastern coast. General Gaines reached Fort King on the 22d of February, with- out molestation, or seeing the sign of an Indian. He found here one company of artillery. General Clinch, with his force, was at Fort Drane, twenty-two miles distant. At Fort King the anti- cipated supplies had not arrived, and the garrison was reduced to the rations then issued to the company stationed there. General Gaines, with great disappointment and chagrin, in which his entire command participated, determined to return to Fort Brooke ; and in order that the advance of his troops might not lose its effect upon the enemy, he took a new route, fifty miles west of the old one, under the guidance of the friendly Indians, who stated that at the junction of the trail with the Withlacoochie, the river could be forded. On the 27th, after two days' marching, the point was reached ; and while search was being made for the ford, the enemy opened a galling fire from the opposite bank, protected by dense foliage and a natural embankment of sand six feet high, immediately on the bank. The stream was about thirty yards wide, deep and rapid. Seve- ral companies were brought up to cover the supposed ford, when the firing became general on both sides. The skirmish lasted an hour. The troops encamped on the ground. The guides became confused, and expressed their belief that the ford was three miles farther down the river. At sunrise the ensuing morning, the command was marched to the point indicated. Upon reaching it, a spirited fire was again opened from the opposite bank, and obstinately continued so long as a soldier could be seen emerging from the bushes. Lieutenant Izard, 1st U. S. dragoons, a valued and intrepid offi- cer, was shot upon the bank, while rallying his men to ascertain the depth of the water. To ford the stream was found imprac- ticable ; the Indian guides were at a loss, and confessed their ignorance of this section of country. The troops set to work to construct rafts and boats. The continued savage yells, and the crack of their rifles, almost drowned the sound of the axe and the taunts and jeers of the soldiers, who, from behind the trees, dared the Indians and negroes to an open fight. The com- mander believing that now was the time to meet the entire Indian force in the field, and thus strike an effectual blow, en- camped about half a mile from the river, on the pine barren, and threw up a breastwork of logs sufficient for protection. An ex- press was despatched to General Clinch at Fort Drane, thirty miles distant, recommending an immediate movement of his force, with provisions and ammunition, which if promptly done, and the river crossed ten miles up, the Indians could be simul- taneously attacked in front and rear, and thus severely punished; THE FLORIDA WAR. Hj in the mean time, General Gaines would divert them by adopting measures to cross. While awaiting an answer, the camp was surrounded daily upon two and three sides. The Indians would advance, and after setting fire to the grass, and from the midst of fire and smoke, with whoops and yells, discharge a volley to- wards the encampment. The troops, calm and cheerful, returned their yells, and reserved their fire until they came within reach. From fourteen to fifteen hundred warriors, including negroes, was supposed to be their strength. General Gaines finding the Indians to be crossing the river in large bodies, and their num- bers and boldness manifestly increasing, sent another communi- cation to General Clinch, in which he said, " I have abstained, and shall abstain, from a sortie till I hear from you, in expectation that this course will tend to keep them together, whilst a sortie might contribute to disperse them. I am now satisfied that a direct movement to this place is more desirable than to cross the river ten miles higher up, as I suggested in my letter of yesterday.' On the first of March a vigorous assault was made upon the camp, which continued more than an hour. The arrival of rein- forcements was looked for with anxiety. Hunger began to be felt, though submitted to by officers and men without a murmur. All the corn in the camp was turned in as common stock, and to each a pint was issued. Several horses were killed on the 3d, 4th, and 5th of March, and the meat distributed among the offi- cers and men. The Indians still fired upon the camp daily, generally at guard-mounting, after creeping within rifle range, in the midst of the bushes and grass, shouting and yelling con- tinually in the distance. Four men were killed and thirty- four were wounded within the encampment. About ten o'clock on the night of the 5th of March, a voice was heard hailing the sentinel on post. It was thought to be the express from Fort Drane, now so anxiously looked for. It proved to be an old negro by the name of Caesar, who at the top of his voice said, " that the Indians were tired of fighting, and wished to come in and shake hands." He was told to come in the morning with a white flag. At noon the next day a large number of warriors were seen drawn up in a line in rear of the camp, some four or five hundred yards distant. After some delay among them three advanced, gaudily dressed ; one more distinguished than the rest bore the white flag. They were met by Adjutant Barrow, of the Louisiana volunteers. To him Oseola, or Powell, who was the speaker, expressed a desire to have a talk. Capt. Hitchcock was sent to hear what he had to say. He returned and reported to the commander that the Indians did not wish to fight any more, but were desirous that the troops should withdraw from the Withlacoochie. They 112 THE FLORIDA WAR. further expressed a desire to treat, and that they would hold a council on the subject, and return in the afternoon. They came at the time appointed, and stated that no act would be binding, should they make peace, as Micanopy, the head-man, had gone to his town. Capt. Hitchcock then communicated to them what he had b*een instructed to say : " That General Gaines had no authority to treat with them, but that if they would return to the south side of the Withlacoochie, and remain there without mo- lesting the inhabitants of the country, until the United States comxmissioners should appoint a time and place to treat with them, they should not for the present be disturbed." These chiefs gave their promise to do so. At this moment, the advance guard of General Clinch, from Fort Drane, came in sight of the body of Indians drawn up in rear of the encampment. General Clinch, not knowing the object of this assemblage, wheeled his troops into line, and commenced a vigorous assault. The Indians fled in confusion. Thus ended the conference. How far it was made in good faith, the acts of the Indians and subsequent events must determine. Intelligent Indians and negroes who were upon the ground at the time, state that the conduct of John Caesar was without the authority or knowledge of the chiefs. With the Indians he was a privileged character, and from his age and long residence among them, he felt at liberty to do that which he conceived for the general good. Belonging to Mi- canopy, he thought himself of as much importance as his master. Unknown to any one, he crossed the Withlacoochie river, hailed the camp, and said the Indians wished to make peace. Upon his return he reported the result of his conference, which exasperated the majority of the warriors, and it required all the popularity and resolution of Oseola, or Powell, to prevent his being put to death. A number of warriors refused farther participation in the conflict, and left the ground, dissatisfied with the conduct of Oseola in listening to the invitation communicated by Caesar, and refraining from inflicting the punishment they thought he de- served for defeating the plan so long in contemplation, and which had been postponed from day to day for the arrival of reinforce- ments. The 6th of March was the time it was expected they would arrive, when an assault would be made upon the troops at once. Eight hundred Indians and one hundred and seventy negroes was their estimated strength. Old Primus, who became a faithful interpreter after capture, assisted Oseola and Jumper in counting the bundles of sticks, as each warrior was required to hand in a stick, which represented himself. Seven hundred were counted, together with another bunch, sent from Ah-ap-op-k, comprising one hundred. These men were to arrive on the morning of the 6th. The conduct THE FLORIDA WAR. II3 of Caesar, and the disposition of many to accept terms of peace, defeated the design, and it was determined, that if the troops would quietly retire from their present position, they would not molest them. During the week in which they had been assembling, the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. Decrepit men and the youngest boys took part in all the preparations. Powder was brought in bags upon the ground, contained in kegs and barrels, to which all had free access. The women were cooking provisions and run- ning bullets in a hammock three miles distant. On the arrival of General Clinch, the bands dispersed to their various towns. They had two Indians killed, one hit on the head with a cannon- ball, one negro, and five wounded. Gen.. Gaines on the 7th of March surrendered the command to Gen. Clinch, and proceeded to the western frontier, in com- pliance with orders received at Pensacola on his way to Florida. Higher and more important duty, unknown as he thought at Washington, demanded his attention. His exertions to chastise the enemy and to protect the citizens of Florida, the resolution and fortitude of the officers and men comprising his command, deserved a better result. Gen. Clinch with his troops retired to Fort Drane the following day. Information having reached the war department that the Creeks inhabiting the state of Georgia were commencing hostili- ties, and about to join the Seminoles, it became apparent that more extensive operations would become necessary than had been contemplated ; thus bringing into the field officers of the militia ranking Gen. Clinch. Major- General Scott was ac- cordingly ordered, on the 21st of January, to take command of the Florida army. Ample authority was conferred upon him,, and unlimited means placed at his disposal. He proceeded at once to the scene of action, but unavoidably at too late a period to push a successful campaign. On his route he made requisi- tions on the states of Georgia, South Carohna, and Alabama, for troops, which met with a cordial response. Volunteers from Savannah and Augusta, Georgia, and from Charleston, S. C, re- paired with alacrity to the scene of action, in the hope of avert- ing the calamities threatening St. Augustine, Jacksonville, and the surrounding country. General Scott, after encountering many embarrassments in assembling his troops, and preparing them for a tour of service in a country totally destitute of sup- pHes and the means of transportation, took the field on the 22d of February, and continued his operations unremittingly until the 30th of May. This being the commencement of the sickly sea- son, and his men much broken by exposure and harassing duties, it was deemed prudent and but an act of justice to give them an opportunity to rest, and thus avoid the diseases incident to the 8 114 THE FLORIDA WAR. climate at this season of the year. General Scott was then ordered to Columbus, Georgia, to conduct the operations in that quarter against the Creeks. The campaign was called a failure — by none, however, who participated, or were acquainted with the character of the enemy, the country, and the climate. Much was expected from Gen. Scott, from his long, well-tried, and faithful services ; and confident in the belief that he could sur- mount every obstacle, and punish the Seminoles, the public lost sight of the embarrassments incident to operations against a foe occupying forty-seven thousand square miles, as yet unnumbered, in a country unexplored, without roads, bridges, guides, subsist- ence, or transportation. The theatre of operations was a wilderness, and every ham- mock and swamp a citadel for the enemy. At the exposed points which gave them shelter, they harassed the troops night and day, and with the fleetness of the deer retired to a more secluded spot. The men, worn down with constant watchings, disappointments, and tedious marches, still no nearer the enemy, struggled on, in hopes they would hazard a general action. Too wary for this, they knew their strength consisted in moving in parties of ten, fifteen, or twenty men. Subsequent events, and the experience of intelligent officers as well as citizens, have proved that a Florida campaign, however well timed, skillful, and judicious in its an'angements and pro- gress, was not to result in the capture or subjection of the Semi- noles, Before a court of inquiry, convened at Frederick, Maryland, by order of the president of the United States, General Scott ex- hibited his plans and designs in the prosecution of the war. His defence is here given ; which is interesting from the detail, and from the fact that the result was his triumphant vindication. The general says : " •' THE FAILURE OF MY FLORIDA CAMPAIGN." " Permit me, here, Mr. President, to offer a preliminary re- mark. If by failure, the common idea of disaster, defeat, or repulse, be understood, then that term does great injustice to me, and the brave regulars and volunteers whom I had the honor to command. Sir, we suffered no defeat, check, or repulse. The enemy encountered by the several columns and detachments, were, in every instance, beaten, driven, and scattered beyond the reach of possible pursuit ; and if we had chosen to imitate, in our reports, the example of many others engaged in similar opera- tions, we might, no doubt, have figured much more largely in the public journals. But in every instance, as far as I know and be- THE FLORIDA WAR. 115 lieve, though our affaks ^vere numerous, and not deficient in danger and brilliancy, we always declined substituting imagina- tion and conjecture for ascertained facts. Perhaps, by the dis- coveries of history, the high reputations gained before and since, by the art alluded to, may, in time, be brought down to the hum- ble level of myself and companions. " It is true, sir, we did not succeed in sending off the great body of the Seminoles to the west of the Mississippi. In this object, ardently desired by all, there was certainly a failure, and the same thing may be said of the summer and autumn campaign vvdiich followed ; although the commander, or commanders, (for it seems there were two. Governor Call and General Jesup,) had the benefit of the knowledge of the country and the enemy ac- quired by previous operations ; the benefit of the roads recently opened ; the plans which had been essayed and suggested ; longer time for preparation and operation ; an auxiliary Indian force, which was denied me ; and above all, the power of inviting the enemy to surrender, and of holding negotiation. With this great power, Mr. President, I was not armed. My instructions were, to reduce the enemy to unconditional submission ; to hold no parley, no negotiation ; not even to say, as the price of surrender, that kind treatment might be expected ; much less that the bene- ficial stipulations in the last treaty, in favor of those Indians, should be carried into execution by the United States — because, sir, any such assurance on my part, would have been a condition. Being in Washington, in January, 1836, on other duties, I was, on the 20th, sent for by the secretary of war. I found him in his office at four o'clock, P. M. I was asked when I could set out for Florida, and answered, that night. I vv^as told that my instructions could not be got ready for me so early. All the letters (four in number) from Gov. Eaton and Gen. Call, dated the 8th and 9th of the same month, and now in evidence, had, I think, been just received. I foresaw, at once, all the difficulties and hazards of the service which was thus assigned to me, and an immense pecuniary loss that I should inevitably sustain if not in New- York in a week from that time. I had, moreover, the highest confidence in the judgment and abilities of Gen. Clinch, independent of his better knowledge of Florida and the enemy to be combated. I mention these circumstances, Mr. President, to show that I did not solicit to be sent to supersede that excellent officer. I was not, however, as a soldier, at liberty to decline any appropriate duty that might be required of me, and of course did not dechne this. Accordingly, I left Washington on the night of the 21st, and notwithstanding an accident on a railroad, by which I lost twenty-four hours, the court will find me ad 116 THE FLORIDA WAR. dressing a requisition to the governoi^of South CaroHna on the 29th, from Columbia, and at Augusta on the 30th. " At this place my occupations were numerous and important, as my letter-book, the contents of which are mostly in evidence, will show : requisitions for troops addressed to the governors of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama; letters to the governor of Florida, to Generals Eustis and Bull, Col. Lindsay, &c. ; be- sides horses and wagons purchased for the United States cav- alry, and the general baggage train. " On the 2d of February, it has been seen that I set out for Milledgeville, in order to confer with the governor of Georgia, according to my instructions, on the subject of the Creek Indians. Having adopted precautionary measures in relation to the latter, I returned to Augusta, and reached Savannah on the 9th. "Here, again, I was incessantly occupied in regulating, by correspondence, the movement of the troops, and making other arrangements for the campaign, till the 20th, and might have been usefully so engaged for a week longer ; but wishing to be nearer to Generals Clinch and Eustis, with a view to more rapid communications, I reached Picolata on the 22d of February. " At this time General Clinch was at Fort Drane, with about five hundred regulars and volunteers, unmolested by the enemy, but not in strength to take the field with any prospect of advan- tage. I had written to him from Savannah, and he knew of the heavy reinforcements which were approaching. Two companies of Augusta volunteers, under Captains Robinson and Bones, had already reached Fort Drane, and are included in the above esti- mate. These two companies did not, strictly, make part of the Georgia quota. " General Eustis, Col. Brisbane's regiment of South Carolina foot, and a company of Columbia volunteers under Capt. Elmore, all arrived, by water, at St. Augustine, about the 15th. This in- dependent company (Elmore's) was over and above the quota called for from South Carolina, but, like Robinson's and Bones's, it went through the campaign with zeal and distinction. " With the volunteers under his command, and a few companies of regulars. General Eustis soon gave tranquiUity and confidence to all the inhabitants between the Atlantic and the St. John's, whose dwellings and other fixtures had not been previously destroyed. No devastations were committed after his arrival. " The first battalion of Georgia foot, under Major Cooper, had also preceded me a few days. I found it at Picolata, with a company of regulars, and Col. Bankhead in the command of both. " It was my intention, Mr. President, to have remained but a few days, at Picolata, merely long enough to organize the service, THE FLORIDA WAR. II7 to give a fixed plan of campaign ; and, on the arrival of some additional troops, wagons, horses, and arms, to have commenced operations. The court has seen, in part, what embarrassments kept me there no less than fifteen days. " The 22d of February, I received through General Clinch, the letter to him from Gen. Gaines, dated at New Orleans, the 2d of the same month, proposing a plan of co-operation between the two generals, which letter confirmed the pi^evious rumor, that a large force was to be expected at Tampa Bay from New Orleans ; and to this letter there is a postscript, by Governor Eaton, saying that a battalion of two hundred and fifty Floridians would sail, in two days, from St. Marks, for the same destination. To prevent too great a concentration of troops at Tampa, I instantly, by express, desired Governor Schley to keep at home the second battalion of Georgia foot, that was about to proceed by the Chat- tahoochie, Apalachicola, and the gulf, to that point. Fortunately, my letter reached his excellency just in time to prevent the movement. That battalion was discharged ; and, but that it was too late, I should have taken a similar step in respect to the Ala- bama regiment, which Col. Lindsay had received my instructions to raise and to conduct to Tampa. " To show the apprehensions which General Gaines's letter excited in me at the time, and the temper in which I spoke of his movement, I beg leave, Mr. President, to embody an extract of my letter to General Clinch, dated the 25th of February : " ' The movement from New Orleans, although highly worthy of praise, under the circumstances, (the massacre of Dade's de- tachment, and Gen. Gaines's necessary ignorance of the measures of the government,) may, if it should lead to a premature advance from Tampa, be productive of a result the most unfavorable. If the advance, for example, should fail to crush the enemy, and terminate the war, (and without mounted men I suppose such a result can scarcely be hoped for,) the enemy may be scattered, and put on his retreat to the south-east. To follow him in such re- treat would be almost impracticable, and to prevent the escape in that direction. Col. Lindsay has my instructions in detail.' " The court has seen, Mr. President, how soon those pro- phetic apprehensions were accomplished. Of course, I had not the time to communicate with General Gaines ; and Col. Lind- say, to whom my instructions had been addressed, arrived at Tampa after the advance of that general. " The very next day after the above was written, and whilst I was in the act of reporting to the adjutant-general, for the in- formation of government, among other difficulties, the means I was devising for sending further supplies to Fort Drane, I re- ceived from Gen. Clinch a letter, inclosing one from Gen. Gaines, 118 THE FLORIDA WAR. showing that the latter was actually at Fort King on the 22d, where he arrived without subsistence, and instantly, as General Clinch reported in his letter, called for ' nearly all' the provisions at Fort Drane, intending with that supply to return to Tampa across the Withlacoochie, near the battle-ground of the 31st of December! 1 shall, in the sequel, notice the evidence which shows that General Gaines knew, at Pensacola, that I had been ordered to Florida, and that he learned of General Clinch, before leaving Fort King, that I was soon expected, and with large reinforcements. "Before the receipt of those dispatches, I knew that there were at Fort Drane about twenty thousand rations for men ; and expecting to send thither, and to Fort King, in a few days, by wagons and boats, (through the Ochlawaha,) two or three times as many rations, I had, on the 24th, put Major Cooper's battahon of Georgia foot in march to join General Clinch, intending to follow with the first company of mounted men that might arrive, and one was then daily expected. Those means of land and water transportation not being as yet at hand, all hope of early operations was now frustrated, and I was obliged to recall Major Cooper's battalion, then distant two days' march over a wretched road, as it was easy to subsist the battalion on the St. John's, and infinitely difficult to do so at Fort Drane. " The same embarrassment (the arrival of the troops at Fort King from Tampa) caused me to issue the order No. 4, and to write the letters of February 26th and of March 1st to General Clinch. He, however, had no means of sending either of those papers to Gen. Gaines, who, I think, had marched from Fort King (twenty miles from Fort Drane) on the 25th of February. " March the 2d, I learned, with great distress, that the Ockla- waha could not be used for transporting supplies. From a few months' disuse, this narrow, crooked, and shoaly river, had be- come obstructed by fallen timber, and the Indians had, at Payne's Landing, near Fort King, destroyed the peculiar boats expressly constructed for that navigation. We were now reduced to the necessity of using land transportation for about seventy tons of supplies, and over bad roads ; and I had not ordered all the wagons and horses which I should have required, but for a reliance, to some extent, on that river. " A summary of my embarrassments, in respect to the means of transportation, the court will find in the fifth paragraph of my letter to the adjutant-general, dated March 9th. Of the ten of fifteen wagons therein mentioned, and which I learned, ofhciall}^, at Savannah, were ordered to be shipped from Baltimore by the quartermaster-general, in January, it seems, by the deposition of Captain Dimmock, that two of them reached Florida in February THE FLORIDA WAR. , ng six about the llth of March, and two reached Savannah about the 4th of May. " As early as the 26th of February, I had, however, requested General Clinch to send dow^n all the means of land transportation he could command. The train sent arrived at the point opposite to Picolata on the 2d of March ; was loaded with about sixteen thousand rations, and other essential supplies, and dispatched for Fort Drane on the 6th. The delay in this operation was caused by the width of the river and the violence of a long storm, which rendered it hazardous, and a part of the time imipracticable, to pass over the supplies to the wagons. The train w^as slightly augmented by wagons and horses, which had arrived, principally from Charleston, via St. Augustine. " As a proof of the extreme tempestuousness of the weather, Major Gates, with a battalion of three companies of regulars, was at this time more than eight days in coming from Savannah to Picolata, in a good steamer, which ordinarily made the trip in less than three days. " A company (Kenan's) of Georgia mounted men arrived op- posite to Picolata on the 26th of February. With this company I had intended to march immediately to Fort Drane ; but with the exception of its gallant captain, Second-Lieut. Huson, and, I think, nineteen men, it refused to be mustered into the service of the United States, and returned home. " Four other companies of this first battalion of Georgia horse arriv^ed about a week later. One of them (Allen's), with the ex- ception of two or three privates, followed the example of Kenan's company. Douglass's, Malone's, and Sweeney's, from the first, showed better dispositions. These only I was enabled to see, having, at the hazard of life, crossed the river in the storm for the purpose ; when, after a short harangue, every man came under the rules and articles of war, with loud cheers. The well- disposed men, both of Allen's and Kenan's, generally joined those companies which entered the service ; and it is due to the dis- affected of Kenan's to say, that, having seen their error, every man, I believe, nobly served in the subsequent campaign (against the Creeks), under Capt. Gaither. It is probable that many of Allen's men did the same. " The 2d of March I received, through General Clinch, Gen. Gaines's letter to him, dated the 29th of February; and not another word did I hear of the troops with the latter general till the 9th of March. During this interval, nay, from his arrival at Fort King, the state of my mind, or, generally, my embarrass- ments, may be inferred from the efforts to hasten the train loaded with subsistence, and from my orders and correspondence, which are in evidence, on the subject of Gen. Gaines's movement. 120 THE FLORIDA WAR. " The 26th of February I wrote to General Chnch : ' I have heard, with equal astonishment and regret, that Major-General Gaines, without reference to my movements — perhaps in ignor- ance, possibly in defiance of them — should have made a pre- mature movement from Tampa Bay ; and, having arrived within twenty miles of Fort Drane, should have called for nearly three- fourths of the subsistence in deposit at that place, and on which I relied for the movement of the right wing, in concert with the other parts of the army To remedy this unexpected embarrassment, I send you two copies of order No. 4, one of which you will dispatch to the commander of the detachment from Fort Brooke, (Tampa Bay,) whoever he may be, nvith all speed, and limit the subsistence called for from Fort Drane, according to the intentions of those orders Major- General Gaines, I presume, will have heard of the order which ought to take him to the Mexican frontier. If he should prefer to remain, he must obey my orders.' " Order No. 4, of the same date, directs that General Gaines's detachment should remain at Fort King until further orders ; that current subsistence only should be issued to the detachment; directs that the peculiar boats believed to be at Payne's Landing should be sent to Picolata, (or to meet a steamer at the mouth of the Ochlawaha,) to receive subsistence ; if the boats could not be sent, the troops were to march, without delay, to Volusia, on the St. John's, whither twenty thousand rations w^ere about to go up in a steamer, and the detachment was enjoined not to attempt any offensive movement, except so far as might be necessary to carry into execution those my orders. "March 1st, I again wrote to General Clinch: 'I regret, in every point of view, the premature and unauthorized movement from Tampa Bay, by that general, (Gaines,) and the very awk- ward and responsible position he has placed himself in, by his subsequent march from Fort King In any event, the responsibility of his movement and actual position is his own ; for he must have known as early as the 10th ultimo, if not before, that I had been charged with the general direction of the war in Florida ; and that by interfering, he constituted himself an inter- loper. Even if you had sufficient stores and means of transpor- tation, I should command you to send no subsistence to him, unless to prevent starvation ; but you have neither. Let him, therefore, in time, extricate himself from the embarrassment he has placed himself in, by marching on Volusia, where, I have no reason to doubt that twenty thousand rations, sent hence on the 27th ultimo, have safely arrived. As he appears to have his retreat open to him, or is in no peril to prevent his taking that step, you, of course, will make no detachment to join him/ THE FLORIDA WAR. 121 " This letter is an answer to one received by express, and which enclosed Gen. Gaines's communication to Gen. Clinch, dated the 28th of February. " In a third letter that I caused to be addressed to General Chnch, March 2d, he was told : ' If Major-General Gaines should fall back upon Fort King or Drane, it is presumed that he will proceed to execute the orders of the government, which will carry him to another quarter. In that event you will be the senior officer, and I am instructed by Major-General Scott to say, that you are liberty to detain the troops from Fort Brooke (Tampa) at either of the forts mentioned, Drane and King, Subsistence will reach you in five or six days.' " A fourth letter on this subject (in part) was addressed by me to Gen. Clinch, dated March. 4th, in which it is said : 'I still presume that Major-General Gaines will be obliged to fall back upon Fort Drane, which increases my anxiety to send the wagons with some additions, loaded. I would prefer much, that the force brought with him were back at Tampa Bay, or rather, that it had not marched from that place, provided that the movement fails to crush the enemy or to terminate the war. The worst result, next to the loss of that fine body of men, or a third of it, would be the mere success of driving the enemy into the lower country, where, I suppose, it w^ould be almost impossible for us to follow ; I mean helow the waters of Charlotte Harbor. Hence my indignation, that an isolated attack should have been made from your vicinity, well calculated to produce that result, and at a time when you knew, and Major-General Gaines must have known, through you, (and before,) that my plan, with ample means, was to move simultaneously upon the Withlacoochie, in three columns — from Tampa Bay, the upper crossing on the Ochlawaha, and Fort Drane — so as to make it impossible for the enemy to escape to the lower country.' " I have not yet supposed that Major-General Gaines has not his retreat upon Fort Drane or King perfectly in his power. On account of subsistence, if he can cut his way through the enemy to Tampa Bay, I much prefer that his force were there ; and when I wished him to march or send that force to Volusia, it was because it could be infinitely more easily subsisted there than at Fort Drane. Should he, however, be in any difiiculty in operating a retreat from the Withlacoochie, I certainly wish you to afford him any succor that the slender means within your reach may allow ; and this, doubtless, you would render without any special permission to that effect. If the force return to Fort Drane or King, it must be subsisted, for at least five or six days, upon means derived from this place, (Picolata,) and hence I now prefer that it should become a part of the right wing, (General 122 THE FLORIDA WAR. Clinch's command,) rather than take that quantity of subsistence (from you), and march back to Tampa Bay.' " And, finally, I caused a fifth letter to be written to General Clinch, March 6th, in which will be found this paragraph : " ' Major-General Scott is exceedingly anxious to hear the result of the operations on the Withlacoochee. The last intelli- gence from that quarter (through you) was only to the 29th ultimo.' " My reports on the same subject, addressed to the adjutant- general, for the information of government, dated at Picolata, the 26th of February, the 28th, (notes on my order No. 4,) March 2d and 6th, are to the same effect ; all showing the embarrass- ments and delay which the isolated movement from Tampa upon Fort King and the Withlacoochee caused in my plan of combined operations. "In the notes of the 28th of February, after recapitulating many of the facts already brought into review, among them the arrival of General Gaines at Fort King with 1140 men, without bringing more rations than sufficient for his march, although he came from Tampa, where the amount of subsistence was great ; after noticing his having drawn from Fort Drane nearly all the food for men collected there, together with the baggage-train necessary to transport that subsistence to him at Fort King, and which train in the whole had been required at Picolata to take further supplies to Fort Drane, the point most difficult to supply in or about the whole theatre of operations, I add : " ' It will be seen from the foregoing, that to re-establish my plan of campaign, viz., to move sim.ultaneously from Fort Drane (or Fort King) frofn Volusia and Tampa, say about the 8th of March — the great difficulty will be to send supplies for the right wing (Clinch's command) ; and the bad road from Picolata to Fort Drane, 65 miles, has by heavy rain which has now been falling for 46 hours, been rendered infinitely worse.' " In the report of the 2d of March, to the adjutant-general, I said : " ' By reference to the map, it will be seen that, even if Major- General Gaines could succeed in driving the enemy from the Withlacoochee, there is no force to prevent the retreat below Charlotte Harbor, or to any point in the lower (part of the) Penin- sula. A small guard only was left (by him) at Tampa ; Colonel Lindsay will not be in position in time ; and Brigadier-Gener- al Eustis cannot cross the Ochlawaha earlier than the 13th or 15th inst. . The retreat, it will be seen, is therefore open to the Indians. In this point of view, then, it would be better for the public interests that the Indians should drive Major-General Gaines, than that he should drive them. The war, in fact, THE FLORIDA WAR. 123 would be forwarded by his being forced back upon Forts Drane and King. In truth, according to his own showing, he ought to have fallen back on the evening of the 28th, or the morning of the 29th (of February). The lives which he has lost have pro- moted no end. He must, I think, still fall back, and I wish to heaven that it may be without further loss. Brigadier-General Clinch, from his present want of wagons, can send him no efiicient aid, and wagons cannot be back (from Picolata) in four or five days. If the force with Major-General Gaines v\^ere now back at Tampa Bay, it would be in its true position ; but he cannot retreat thither ; for it will be seen by his letters (and enclosed) that he has not the means of passing the river (With- lacoochee). He found the enemy where all my arrangements presumed the enemy would be found, and in the position the most favorable to us.' " And, on the 6th of March, I again write to the adjutant general on the same subject, thus : " ' No intelHgence has been received of the movements of Major-General Gaines of a later date than his letter of the 29th ultimo, a copy of which has been forwarded. He cannot, there- fore, have fallen back upon either Fort Drane or King, or have marched upon Volusia. In either case I should, doubtless, have received a further report of him from Brigadier-General Clinch. It may then be hoped that he has beaten the enemy, or at least has succeeded 'in effecting his return to Tampa Bay. In this state of doubt and anxiety, I know not how long I may have to remain ; yet it is important that I should speedily learn what has become of his column, and particularly whether the position and numbers of the enemy have been materially changed by its operations : " ' I send no more troops, for the present, to Fort Drane, on account of the difficulty of subsisting them there. If Major- General Gaines shall not fall back on that point it will be indis- pensable to wait for Captain Wharton (with his company of United States dragoons). In the mean time, it is easy to sub- sist the forces here and at Garey's Ferry.' " On the 9th of March I reported to Washington as follows : " ' I have just set out for Fort Drane, via Garey's Ferry, on Black Creek, (just established as an army depot,) with two companies of regulars (foot), and intending to take with me, from the latter place, the small battalion of mounted Georgians (here- tofore mentioned) under the command of Major Douglass. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Bankhead is at the head of the first detachment, and the two together may make a total of about 240 ; but even this small force may be important to rescue Major-General Gaines.' 124 THE FLORIDA WAR. " ' I had not received the slightest imformation of the opera- tions on the Withlacoochee (official or otherwise), of a later date than tfie 29th ult., up to this morning, and had concluded that he had effected his march, with more or less success against the enemy, upon Tampa Bay, when, at daylight, the steamer that I am now in arrived, and brought the rumor, which is confirmed by the two accompanying notes from Paymaster Lytic, received about six hours afterwards. On the reception of the rumor, I immediately commenced preparations for this- movement, but be- ing delayed by the necessity of unlading and relading the boat, am now at anchor at the mouth of Black Creek. I hope to put the troops in march, from Garey's Ferry, early in the day of to- morrow, and to reach Fort Drane with a small escort the day following. It is possible that even these little detachments of horse and foot may reach the Withlacoochee in time to render a valuable service.' "The parts of Major Lytle's notes relative to this subject are : On the 5th of March he writes to me, ' 1 have been direct- ed by General Clinch to inform you that your communications of yesterday's date reached him at this place (Fort Drane), after he had mounted his horse and was on the move, with the forces under his command, to escort supplies to General Gaines.' . . . ' Colonel Gadsden arrived here from Tallahassee on the 4th, yesterday, and accompanied General Clinch this morning to the Withlacoochee.' And Major Lytle says, on the 8th, 'By direction of General Clinch, I opened your communications of the 6th inst., which arrived late last night in. advance of the wag- gons (from Picolata, loaded with subsistence, etc.). You will per- ceive, by my letter of the 5th, that General Clinch, with all the forces at this post, and 100 mounted men from the vicinit}^ had left for the Withlacoochee to escort a small supply of cattle, ammunition, etc., to General Gaines, having received, the night before, a third express from that officer. No word has been received from either of those generals since the 5th.' ' N. B. The amount of General Gaines's last express to General Clinch, dated the 3d inst., was merely copies of his previous letters, with a note, stating that the Indians were still around him ; but little or no fighting had taken place since his last com- munication,'— that, it is presumed, of the 29th of February. " I beg the court to observe, that those two notes of Major Lytle, as has been shown in evidence, reached me at the same moment, at Picolata, about meridian, on the 9th of March. I shall proceed to give further extracts from my report to the ad- jutant-general, of the same date, March the 9th. " ' I am aware that the movement I am making may be con- demned, if regarded in any other light than a rescue, as prema- THE FLORIDA WAR. 125 ture. Colonel Goodwin's mounted regiment (of South Carolini- ans) only arrived at St. Augustine last night or this morning, and consequently the left wing (General Eustis's command) cannot be in force on the Ochlawaha, in the direction of Plaklikaha, earlier than the 17th, or up w^ith the enemy before the 20th inst. Colonel Lindsay, who may have already arrived at Tampa Bay, cannot operate more than two days' march from that place, from the want of means of transportation, Major-General Gaines having taken away the horses which were there ; and the basis of the right wing (Clinch's command) is merged in the force brought by that general (Gaines) into the field, and must parti- cipate in his success or failure. If it falls back with him on Fort Drane, it must suffer great loss, and if it follow him to Tampa Bay (the basis of the right wing), will be wholly out of position. " ' In this, . and even- a greater state of uncertainty I have been held since the 26th ult. The day after, I ordered back Major Cooper's battalion of Georgia foot, to prevent starvation at Fort Drane ; and though daily, from that time, in the expectation of receiving from Savannah horses and serviceable wagons, not one has arrived. The quantity of subsistence that will be at Fort Drane, say to-morrow, will only be that sent from Picolata on the 6th inst., viz., 17,497 rations of bread and flour; 11,000 rations of pork (with beef cattle in the neighborhood) ; 8,000 ra- tions of beans ; some coffee, vinegar, etc. And the troops now about to proceed, extra (with me) perhaps as far as the Withla- coochee, will not have the means of taking with them rations for more than six days (extra).' " ' I beg leave to recapitulate the causes of my great deficiency in means of transportation : first, the wagons and horses, which I knew Brigadier-General Clinch to possess early in February, have been more broken down by hard service and bad roads than I had expected to find them : second, I had, upon what was considered in Georgia, and even at Picolata, the best information, confidently relied upon the use of the Ochlawaha, as late as the 2d inst. : third, no bacon has arrived, and the differ- ence between it and pork, including wood and brine, is fifty per centum against the latter : fourth, the two horse wagons pur- chased at Charleston and Augusta by Assistant-Quartermasters L'Engle and Peyton are generally poor, and many of them un- serviceable : fifth, the ten wagons actually reported to have been shipped at Baltimore, in, I think the Arctic, with Major Gates, were all left behind : sixth, of the 19,000 rations known to be at Fort Drane about the 25th ult., nearly the whole have been drawn by a force not expected by the government or him- self to appear in that quarter ; and seventh, not a horse for the baggage train, left by me at Savannah, or which I have since or- 126 THE FLORIDA WAR. dered to be purchased by Assistant-Quartermaster Dimmock, has arrived in Florida.' " ' Instructions have been left behind me to send on rations, should the means of transportation arrive in time, and the troops already in the neighborhood of Picolata — Major Cooper's and the remaining company Major Gates' battalions. I have also desired Brigadier-General Eustis to order to Fort Drane two companies of Colonel Goodwyn's regiment, and a further order will go back, in this boat, to Lieutenant Dimmock, on the subject of horses and wagons. " ' Some rifles and tents arrived this morning at Picolata ; but Colonel Goodwyn's regiment had marched through six or eight storms without cover, and now, all companies in march are to be reduced to three tents each.' " The following is the postcript to the foregoing report : " ' Please remark that, in his letter to Brigadier-General Clinch, dated at New Orleans, the 2d ultimo, Major-General Gaines speaks of ' an efficient co-operation' promises to be ' in readiness' at Tampa Bay 'by the 8th of the present month (February), to form dL junction at or near that place with your command, when- ever, as soon as in your judgment, your force shall be sufficient to justify the movement,' and concluded by saying, ' A sufficient quantity of ammunition and provisions have been transported to Fort Brooke (Tampa) to divide with you, until further supplies are received.' Yet he did not wait till the brigadier gave notice that he was 'in force' — came to Fort King, and swept nearly the whole of the subsistence collected at Fort Drane. A copy of that letter is in your office, and I now inclose one from Gov. Eaton, from which it will appear that Major-General Gaines knew, at Tampa Bay, about the 14th ultimo, that I had been charged with the direction of this war. He first heard this at Pensacola, and received Gov. Eaton's dispatch at Tampa, as I can establish. Hence his haste, and neglect of the assurance given to Brigadier- General Chnch, his isolated attack, &c.' " Mr. President, I am not, nor desire to be, the prosecutor or accuser of Major-General Gaines, either before this or any other court, nor before the public. In respect to the latter tribunal, I have not published, nor caused to be published, a word against any human being whatever, or even a word in self-defence, since, at the latest, I was ordered to Florida — unless, indeed, two simple notes of explanation may be regarded as exceptions ; the first in May last, on the subject of a term hastily, and I may say acci- dentally, applied by me, in an official report, to the volunteers I then had the honor to command ; and the second written for publication within a few days past, repudiating certain language which I saw myself reported as having applied, before this court, THE FLORIDA WAR. J27 to a high political functionary. If many of my official reports written in the field, and transmitted for the information of gov- ernment, have, at Washington, been printed in whole or in part, the act was done, in every instance, without my knowledge, or the expression of the slightest wish to that effect on my part. The officers of my staff", sir, so far as I know or have seen, have been equally silent. "And what outrages have I not suffered from the publications of others during this period of silence ! I shall speak, in this place, only of Major-General Gaines. I complain not that he and his staff" should occasionally fill up a column or two of the newspapers in praise of the hero of Camp Izard ; but what right or justice was there in the outbreaks against m.e on the part of that chief, on the Withlacoochee, at Tallahassee, Mobile, and I know not how many other places ? All these effiisions of spleen, whether in the form of orders, speeches, or letters, have been carefully obtruded upon the public. I have heard of many of those melancholy exhibitions, but have only read one, the order of the 9th of March, turning over the command of the troops on the Withlacoochee to Brigadier-General Clinch. It is, without any immediate agency of mine, in evidence before this court. In that paper, I am very facetiously denominated ' the officer charged with diplomatic arrangements of the war department,' approaching, as it is obliquely intimated, only to receive the formal surrender of that enemy whom he had, without a sortie, most strangely, but happily, conquered or subdued ! " It has been seen, Mr. President, in every form, that it was a slight misapprehension, to which the enemy was by no means a party ; and that no military or diplomatic blunder of mine was necessary to resuscitate a war that had not then, nor has yet been terminated. It would be superfluous to quote the evidence; it abounds on the records of this court, and what is worse, it yet abounds in unhappy Florida. " The judge-advocate has read in evidence, furnished for the purpose by the war department, the official reports written by me at the time, for the information of the government ; in sev- eral of which Major-General Gaines's movements are mentioned. Those particular reports, in common with the others, it was my right and duty to make, being charged at the time, by seniority in commission and special assignment, with the chief direction of the war against the Seminole Indians. Several passages of that part of the testimony have already been embodied in this summary, to show how far I was, in my plans and operations, hin- dered, crippled, or defeated, by the movements of that general. "Without departing from the strict line of defence that I have prescribed for myself, and which, no doubt, this court 128 THE FLORIDA WAR. would otherwise have imposed, it remains for me to show that Major-Geiieral Gaines, in his operations in Florida, so far as they embarrassed mine, constituted himself an intruder ; that is, that he came into the field in his own wrong. " It has been seen, Mr. President, in what terms of praise (in my letter to General Clinch of the 25th of February) I bore my humble testimony to General Gaines's movement from New- Orleans, provided that, in violation of his express assurance, previously given to Clinch, that he would wait for a junction with him at or near Tampa, it did not lead to a premature ad- vance into the interior. But I then did not know the fact, so clearly disclosed in Captain McCall's letter, republished in The Army and Navy Chronicle, (whole No. 48,) which has been verified, and is now in evidence. " Captain McCall was at the time with General Gaines, and his acting assistant-adjutant-general. He says in his letter that, 'on the route, and within two days' march (by steam) of the Indian borders, he (General Gaines) received a notification that General Scott has been ordered to repair from the city of Wash- ington to Florida,' and ' to take command of the troops operating against the Indians in that quarter,' and at the same time he (Gen- eral Gaines) was informed, that the state of affairs west of the Mississippi might soon require his attention, if not his presence, in that quarter, ' and he was directed to await further orders in the city of New-Orleans.' " The point at ' two days' march by steam' from Tampa Bay, was evidently Pensacola, where we knew by Governor Eaton's letter above noticed (incidentally), that General Gaines touched, on his way from New-Orleans to Tampa Bay. But the captain argues, in the same letter, and no doubt after General Gaines, that, had the latter 'obeyed the order (received at Pensacola), and by so doing left General Clinch, in expectation of a promised co-operation, to extricate himself as he could from any difficulty into which the failure, on the part of General Gaines, in preconcerted movements, might peradventure have thrown him' (Chnch), ' it is difficult to say whether the historian would have approved or condemned' General Gaines. But we have seen (and I'have probably already assigned the true motive) that the ' promised co-operation,' and ' preconcerted movements,' commencing with ' a junction at or near Tampa, was not observed by General Gaines. "The captain's letter continues : 'And without General Gaines, the volunteers (the Louisiana regiment), his principal force, were unwilling to proceed ; for, before he left New-Orleans, he had pledged himself to accompany them whithersoever they went, and to stand by them,' &c. These, again, were evidently General Gaines's own pretexts for his intrusion. First, the un- THE FLORIDA WAR. 129 willingness of the Louisiana regiment to proceed, without General Gaines to command it. " Finding at this place Captain Thistle, who commanded a company in that corps in Florida, from some day in February to the end of its term of service, I caused him to be summoned as a witness, and to be interrogated on this point. To my (third) question he answered, 'For my part, when I was raising the men for my company, I did not know there was such a man as General Gaines in the country. Colonel Smith and (Lieutenant) Colonel Lawson, I understood were to command. I speak only in reference to my own company, my own ofhcers and men. When at Pensacola, I never heard any thing of the kind men- tioned, nor did I ever hear there that General Gaines was about to leave us. When we got acquainted with General Gaines, the officers and men were well pleased with him.' " Question 4. ' Did your regiment, as far as you know, obey, with equal cheerfulness, every officer of superior rank, whether of the regulars or volunteers ?' Answer. ' They did so ; I never heard the least murmur, either among the officers or men ; nor the first word of dispute. They were always ready to obey orders, both with the regulars and volunteers, from all officers placed over them.' The same disposition on the part of the regi- ment, may be inferred from the letter of its commander. Colonel Smith, to Captain Shannon, dated at Fort King, February 25th. In this the writer says : " ' I find it is General Gaines's intention to go down to Tampa Bay, by the scene of General Clinch's fight, and then to quit Florida. I would wish you to say to General Scott, that if he thinks my regiment can be of use to his operations, I would rather remain with it in Florida than go back without having seen a fight ; though, to tell the truth, I would rather have the fight before the grand army comes up. I would like, therefore, before we can be shipped back from Tampa Bay, to be ordered on some active duty by General Scott.' (Colonel Smith has been summoned as a witness, at my instance, but has not arrived.) "Who, Mr. President, would infer from the spirit of this excellent letter, that the patriotic regiment (Louisiana) was a body of vassals, who only owed allegiance, or service, to a par- ' ticular chief? or rather, who would not affirm that it continued in the field to the last moment, and, in the language of Captain Thistle, ' always ready to obey orders, with regulars and volun- teers, from all officers placed over them ?' (The deposition of Mr. Dyer, then quartermaster and commissary of the Louisiana regi- ment, strongly supports what is said under this and the next head.) " The other pretext, as we learn from Captain McCall's 9 130 THE FLORIDA WAR. letter, is : General Gaines had pledged himself to accompany the Louisiana regiment, ^c. " It seems, from Captain Thistle's testimony, that this corps was raised in part, and that arrangements were in progress to complete it, (no doubt by his excellency Governor White,) as soon as the news of the masacre of Major Dade had reached New-Orleans, and before it was known that General Gaines was in that part of the country. Colonel Smith's letter equally ex- cludes the idea of a pledge. He speaks of General Gaines's in- tention of returning to Tampa, and thence embarking for New- Orleans, and the wish of himself and regiment to remain. The pledge, therefore, seems to have been a mere gratuitous flourish, made without any moving consideration, without acceptance, and without being known, or remembered in the regiment. The troops, both regulars and volunteers, might well have proceeded from Pensacola to Tampa Bay, under Colonel Smith, who was fully qualified to direct and command them. In this way, sir, I show that General Gaines came upon the theatre of operations as an intruder, and in his own wrong. " In my report of March 14th, I said, for the information of the government, that ' I have every reason to hope that the enemy remains nearly in the same position as before the isolated, and, therefore, false movement of Major-General Gaines.' An adroit and faithful negro spy, the same who had been sent over the river by General Gaines for a like purpose, was again de- spatched to ascertain the correctness of the impression so re- ported, but this spy never returned. We afterwards learned, that he fell under suspicion, and was confined. The impression, however, was universal in the right wing (with which I marched) up to its passage of the Withlacoochee, as it is stated by Captain Thruston, the very intelligent chief of General Clinch's stafll This witness says : ' I did not entertain a doubt myself that the enemy was still concentrated about the Withlacoochee, where I believed, and think it was the impression of others who had the best opportunities of information, that the women and children were then placed by the enemy for security, that they would defend the passage of the river with all their force as they had done when threatened by General Gaines,' (and it might have been added, when previously approached by General Clinch, De- cember the 31st.) 'I heard no other supposition than that there we should be resisted, and that there the principal battle would be fought. That impression continued with me and others, and, I believe, generally throughout the wing, until our advance had landed on the opposite bank. I will mention, in support of this opinion, the fact, that one of our men (a black wagoner) was cut THE FLORIDA WAR. 131 off by a small party of Indians, said to be five, within eight miles of Fort Drane, on our first day's march.' " According to my report, dated the 12th of April, and the testimony of Captain Thruston, General Clinch's column, with which I marched to Tampa, passed the Withlacoochee (that stopped General Gaines) with but little molestation ; that we en- tered and scoured The Cove, the enemy's strongest hold, to its head, as believed at the moment, and without encountering a force of more than 130. Indeed in the whole period of my operations, as may be seen by the written reports made to me by Clinch, Eustis, and Lindsay, and of mine to Washington, neither of those principal commanders, under me, at any time met with a larger body of the enemy at any one place — that which attacked Colonel Lindsay's column on its last return to Tampa Bay excepted — and which was estimated at about 300. By the term principal commanders, just used, I of course do not mean to include the officers who respectively commanded the two small posts established in the interior, denominated Forts Alabama and Cooper. These, from the enemy's most perfect knowledge of his own most difficult country, and his consequent facilities of concentration, were reported to have been repeatedly attacked, and by several hundred each time. " It has been further shown in evidence, that the many columns and detachments, under my orders, traversed an immense space in a short period, and visited many of the enemy's favorite haunts and strongest holds. And I now read this passage from my report to Washington of the 30th of April : " ' I am more than ever persuaded that the whole force of the enemy, including the negroes, does not exceed 1200 fighting men. It is probably something less. Of that force I am equally con- fident that not 500 have, at any time since the commencement of hostilities, been brought within the same ten miles square. In all our operations within the last thirty days (known to me), we have not found a party of probably more than 130 ; but parties of from ten to thirty have been encountered almost every where. No Indian woman, child, or negro, nor the trace of one, has been seen in that time. Those, non-combatants, it has been evident to us all, have been removed beyond the theatre of our opera- tions. They were, no doubt, even while the parley was going on with General Gaines on the 7th of March, moving oflf to the southeast, beyond Pease Creek and Lake Tohopkelika, and in that almost inaccessible region they are now concealed. That officer, it is said, caused Powell and his chiefs to be informed, by way of inducing them to accept the Withlacoochee as a tempo- rary boundary, that large armies were approaching, which would fill up the Indian country, and crush every thing in the way. 132 THE FLORIDA WAR. The wily chiefs profited by the information, sent off their families, and dispersed their warriors into small parties. — In this way, Powell expects to make good hrs threat, viz., that he would pro- tract the war to three years..' " Except on the suppositions of this extract, how was I, Mr. President, to account for our not finding, three weeks after Gene- ral Gaines, any considerable body of the enemy ? He supposed himself to have been surrounded in his breastwork, with his 1000 or 1100 men, by 1200 or 1500 warriors. What had become of them ? He certainly killed but few, and captured not one. Whence then the subsequent dispersion ? My supposition is rendered more than probable by Captain Hitchcock's letter to the Hon. Mr. Lyon, M. C., dated Fort Drane, March 11th, 1836, since published, and now in evidence. In this letter the captain says : ' A staff* officer' (himself) ' was, at Fort Izard, sent out by General Gaines to hold a parley or negotiation with the hostile chiefs, and in the plainest language to tell them the exact truth as to the force ordered into the country to subdue them ; that additional force was expected every day ; that the time was near when every Indian, found with a rifle in his hand, would be shot down. This was communicated with such explanations as was deemed necessary to give it force,' &c. " And what, sir, were the objects of that parley, or ' diplo- matic ' transaction ? It seems, according to the published letters of Captains Hitchcock and McCall, ' that the Indians did not wish to fight any more, but they wanted him (General Gaines) to re- tire from the Withlacoochee :' and in the general narrative of Captain Thistle, commenced under a question put by the court, this witness said, ' Captain Hitchcock, and other officers (Adju- tant Barrow) went out, and held a conversation with them (the Indians). They inquired particularly as to our situation; whe- ther we had provisions, and whether we had brandy and tobacco. They said they could supply us with provisions in abundance ; that we could fish on the river bank, if we chose ; and that they would fight no more if they were permitted to keep the opposite side of the Withlacoochee, making that river the boundary.' " Was this the language of a subdued people, humbly suing for peace ? They had commenced the war without owning an acre of ground in Florida. They had ceded every foot. The time had arrived for their emigration to the West. Sooner than quit their natal soil, they had appealed to arms ; they had massacred a detachment of one hundred men ; they had held their country notwithstanding the gallantry of Clinch and his handful of troops on the 31st of December; they had even held General Gaines himself, with his strong and excellent column, penned up under their fire from the 27th of February ; they had, in short, glutted THE FLORIDA WAR. I33 their revenge, conquered the country up to the left bank of the Withlacoochee, gained all they wanted, and felt themselves in strength to dictate the terms of peace. Hence the overture to make the Withlacoochee the future boundary — to treat on the basis of the uti posidetis — each party to hold what it possessed ; and accordingly we find Captain Hitchcock instructed to reply, on the part of General Gaines, ' that if they would engage to cease from all acts of hostility, retire south of the Withlacoochee, and promise to attend a council when called upon by the United States commissioners, they should not, for the present, be mo- lested.' Just at this critical moment General Clinch arrived with the needed succor, and we hear of no further negotiation ! " Well, sir, General Gaines now left the theatre of operations. Near Micanopy, he met Colonel Bankhead's column coming up, and, as the latter has testified : ' You may go on, colonel ; there is nothing to be done now, it is all finished.' " His order of the 9th of March, boasting, among ' the im- portant objects' he had 'accomplished,' that 'the principal force of the enemy had been beaten, and forced to sue for peace,' pre- ceded or accompanied him. His progress towards Tallahassee and Mobile was one continued triumph. " But it may be asked, what had all his self-felicitations, and those public gratulations, to do with my operations ? This, Mr. President, is precisely what I am about to show. " It will be remembered that two of the columns, those of Generals Clinch and Eustis, of the army under my command, re- spectively, from Forts Drane and Volusia, arrived at or near Tampa Bay on the 5th and 6th of April ; and the third or Colo- nel Lindsay's column, returned from the interior about the same time. All, much harassed and worn by long and fatiguing operations, looked to this great southern depot for the supplies and refreshments so greatly needed to enable man and horse to return to the field. To give some idea of what we were here doomed to experience, I will recall parts of my official report, written at Tampa the 12th of April, for the information of go- vernment, and which letter has been given in evidence by the judge advocate : " ' My disappointments on the Gulf have been as great as those experienced on the St. John's. The latter were pretty fully reported at the time,' &c. " ' Please now to refer to my joint letter to the quartermaster and the commissary at New-Orleans, dated at Savannah, Febru- ary 14th, and acknowledged on the 26th of the same month. A copy was transmitted to you, for the information of the proper departments at Washington. The letter, it will be seen, is both 134 THE FLORIDA WAR. specific and urgent. Yet, instead of my finding here about 50,000 rations of hard bread, and about 90,000 rations of bacon, I found but 12,740 pounds of the former, and 21,600 pounds of the latter ! Not an additional ration of either has arrived since I came.' Both the quartermaster and commissary, here alluded to, I have caused to be summoned as witnesses, and neither has appeared. " ' Colonel Lindsay (the report continues) had required, for the use of his column, of the quartermaster at New-Orleans, a number of wagons and horses, and not one has been sent. Again, the sutler (the person next in importance to the quarter- master and the commissary with every army) left this place, more than a month ago, for New-Orleans, to bring back with him a large supply of goods for the troops which were expected (here). Those supplies are exceedingly wanted by every officer and man. But the quartermaster writes, that he hesitates about sending the wagons and horses ; and the sutler, that he declines sending his stores — because each has heard of Major-General Gaines's triumphal entry into Tallahassee, in consequence of his having finished the war. It is presumed that the commissary at New-Orleans stopped the shipment of hard bread and bacon for the same reason. This presumption is now fact, as shown by the testimony of Captain Thistle. Lieutenant Morris, who, at Tampa, had the letter from his brother, the sutler, testified, before this court, to all that I had alleged in respect to the non-arrival of sutler's stores. See, on this point, the testimony of Colonels Lindsay and Bankhead ; and for the sufferings of both officers and men, from the want of shoes, shirts, light garments, and groceries, see the testimony of Colonel Lindsay, Mr. Depyster, and Captain Thistle. In respect to the want and non-arrival of wagons and horses at Tampa, see the testimony of Colonel Lindsay ; the letter of Captain Shannon (chief quartermaster), the deposition of Mr. Newcomb, late of the army, and quartermaster at Tampa, with the letter of the quartermaster at New-Orleans, to him, annexed.' My report of the 12th of April continues : " ' Captain Green, of the cutter Dallas, was at Tallahassee when Major-General Gaines arrived at that place. He had been ten days soliciting permission to go and make a survey of the mouth of the Withlacoochee ; on renewing his application to some one of the territorial government, he was told the war was over. We have now to make the survey for the expedition that has been mentioned (which sailed under Major Reid, the 17th or 18th of April). These are the new disappointments and vexa- tions 1 have been doomed to experience.' " This statement, given in the report from memory, has been THE FLORIDA WAR. I35 fully sustained by the testimony of Captain Green, before this court, with this important addition : the captain would have ascended the river, having provided the necessary means. " But, Mr. President, to a question put by the court, General Clinch replied: 'I am of the opinion that the movement of General Gaines's command, through Florida, did not materially affect the operations of Major-General Scott.' " Sir, no one entertains a more sincere respect and regard for this most excellent commander and citizen than I do ; and I am sure that the whole army regrets his retirement to civil life. His opinion is always entitled to great weight, and hence, mainly, the overwhelming facts which I have just embodied, and which, otherwise, I might have left scattered over your voluminous docu- ments and minutes, to be remembered or hunted up by the court. " It is, moreover, evident to me, Mr. President, from the reply to another question, also propounded by the court, that, on the point of interference with my operations, the sound mind of General Chnch was too much influenced, at the moment, by the narrative he had so recently given of the neglects shown him by the war department, prior to the time when I had the misfortune to be ordered to Florida. If his repeated calls for troops and supplies, and his wise admonitions on the temper early manifested by the Seminoles, had received but half the attention due to his position, this still raging war might never have burst upon the country. Under this ruling idea, the witness could see nothing but the imputed errors of the war department. Whilst that was on the throne of his mind, all the subsequent causes of failure in sending the Indians out of Florida, sunk into comparative insignificance. Be this as it may, I put, in concurrence with the isolated opinion of General Clinch, on the subject of General Gaines's interference with my operations, the great body of facts already detailed, and the opinions of witnesses of no less intelligence and respectability. See the deposition of Colonel Gadsden, the chief of my staff, who marched with General Clinch to the succor of General Gaines, and who knew more of Florida and the Seminoles than perhaps any three individuals with the army ; and see the testimony of Colonel Bankhead, who marched with me from Picolata to Fort Drane, where he came under the command of, and continued with. General Clinch, The strong opinions expressed on this point by the two colonels, like the opposing one given by General Clinch, were all elicited without a question put by me. The point which has thus been rather more fully discussed than I had until lately intended, was, however, but the second cause of the failure to send out of Florida the great body of the Seminole Indians, and there were many other causes, besides the first in importance, some of which have already been partially, though but incident- 186 THE FLORIDA WAR. ally, developed. It is now my purpose to bring rapidly the whole, in the same connection, under the review of the court. " Of these causes, many, as will be seen, are closely united, and, in the descending scale, consequent upon each other. For these reasons the analysis, and the enumeration, will, in some instances, be rather difficult. " First, the lateness of my order — twelve o'clock in the night of Januartj 2lst, with notice, the day before, to hold myself in readiness ; and the short term of service of the great body of troops. " I do not mean to say, Mr. President, that any time was lost by the war department in putting me in motion after the news of Clinch's affair of December 31st, which preceded at Washing- ton the account of Dade's melancholy fate on the 28th. Nor shall I stop to discuss the question, why had not stronger mea- sures been taken on the receipt of Clinch's warnings and calls for reinforcements — beginning in January, 1835, and reiterated October 8th, October 17th, December 9th, and December 16th, of the same year. " Well, sir, the court has seen that I was promptly at- Augus- ta, where I completed my calls for volunteers or draughted men ; two regiments from South Carolina, one of horse and one of foot ; the same from Georgia ; and one of foot from Alabama, at 740 men per regiment, making a total of 3700. A fine spirit was abroad in those states, and great exertions made in each to supply its quota. Yet, from many unavoidable causes — the immense space to be traversed, and others which I will not stop to enu- merate, but not one of which can be charged to me — instead of finding myself in force at Picolata and at Tampa Bay as early as the 20th of February, as I had originally flattered myself that I might, 1 arrived in Florida on the 22d, much in advance of three- fifths of those troops. Only the foot of South Carolina and seven companies of Georgia had preceded me. The Georgia horse began to arrive about the end of the month ; the three companies before mentioned, and another, on the 10th of March, under C^aptain Nelson, who had made an unparalleled march from the northwest corner of Georgia. I ought, in my previous narra- tive, to have stated that this fine company joined at Garey's Ferry, and added about seventy men to Colonel Bankhead's little column which set out with me for Fort Drane. The same day Colonel Goodwyn's fine regiment of South Carolina mounted men reached St. Augustine, over a long road, through rain and mud, .and, like Nelson's company, without tents, and without a mur- jnur. The Alabama regiment, under Colonel Chisholm, and Major Keid's battalion of Floridians, arrived at Tampa Bay with Colonel Lindsay, between the 1st and 10th of March. (It has been seen THE FLORIDA WAR. I37 that this battalion was not called for by me, and that it went to Tampa Bay without my knowledge at the time, and against my wishes ; and that the second battalion of Georgia foot was, in accordance with my request, never furnished.) Finally, six companies instead of four, to make up for the defection of the first two of Georgia horse, arrived at Garey's Ferry, via Middle Florida and Fort Drane, about the 10th of April, whilst I was at Tampa. These six companies were nevertheless mustered into service, in accordance with instructions I had left behind, and immediately afterwards discharged, by the advice of Major- General Macomb, who then happened to be at Picolata. All the volunteers called for by me were mustered into service for only three months, according to the instructions I had received from the war department ; and I suppose that the president of the United States has no authority to require the services of militia, by draughting, for a longer period. " It has thus been seen that I was not in force to commence combined and efficient operations earlier than the 10th of March ; and by this date, the mass of the volunteers, owing to the differ- ent periods of arrival at the several places of rendezvous, and consequent acceptance, by muster, had only about sixty days to serve. This was the same thing, nearly, in a system of com- bined operations, requiring the service of the whole, as if none had a longer time to serve ; and all had been from home, with slight differences, equally long. "But let not these movements of the volunteers excite a smile to their prejudice. The delay in their arrival on the St. John's, as I have said, was unavoidable, and there was even a greater delay in the approach of three companies of regulars, which were ordered to embark at Baltimore, in the dead of winter, and with the mercury in the thermometer several de- grees below zero. This battalion was delayed by ice in the Chesapeake, I know not how many weeks, and finally reached Picolata on the 6th of March. " With all the lights of the quartermaster-general, ten wag- ons were ordered to be purchased, and shipped from Baltimore, about the same time — six came to Florida as late as the 12th of March, two earlier, and two in May. Now if I were expected to make long marches through a savage country without roads or bridges, why could not those three companies have been marched to Norfolk, or even to Wilmington, and thence embark- ed ? Time would have been saved in either case. And why were not the wagons shipped from some port not obstructed by ice ? Again ; a detachment of United States dragoons, under Captain Wharton, that received orders for Florida, at New- York, about the 24th of January, was Melayed several weeks in that 138 THE FLORIDA WAR. harbor, waiting for its arms and horse furniture, and joined me at Fort Drane (after a short passage to Savannah), sixty days from the reception of those orders. There was no delay from the want of horses ; they had been purchased, by my orders, and placed at Savannah as early as the 12th of February. " Let it be remembered, Mr. President, that those move- ments and shipments were not made under my directions ; yet I was advised of them, and suffered much embarrassment from not earlier receiving the troops and wagons. "I have said that I was, by the 10th of March, in sufficient force to commence operations, and that the mass of the volunteers had then about sixty days to serve, a part more and a part less. This period was rather more than was necessary for the marches and operations actually made under my orders, but wholly in- sufficient to enable us to scour the country south and east of Pease Creek, which is commonly termed the Everglades, even if the lateness of the season, the siqkliness of the climate in those regions, as early as the end of April, and other causes which will be noticed, had not interposed insurmountable obstacles. I ought, therefore, to have given me any prospect of success, to have been ordered to Florida several months earlier, and with a force of a much longer term of service. He who now directs the war in that quarter, besides other advantages, has had more time for preparation, has had a better season for operations ; more regu- lar troops, and volunteers of a longer period of service. In re- spect to volunteers for ninety days, the testimony of General Eustis and Colonel Lindsay is strongly in support of what I urge on this point, " Second, the unexpected intrusion of General Gaines. " This was the second cause of my failure, both in point of time and importance. " Now, although I considered myself in strength, on the St. John's and St. Augustine, to commence forward movements as early as the 10th of March, the court will please remember that my general plan of operations was to move at the same time, as nearly as practicable, from Fort Drane, Volusia, and Tampa, upon the great body of the enemy supposed to be about the cove of the Withlacoochee ; to march in person with Clinch, and to give instructions to Eustis and Lindsay so far to deviate from that approximation of three columns, as to pursue any considera- ble body of the enemy, or any considerable fresh trail that might be discovered. Hearing of General Gaines's intrusion, and see- ing that a consequent delay was inevitable, I called back a de- tachment already in march to join Clinch, and, through the latter, caused Lindsay to be advised of that delay, lest he should make an isolated movement. And General Clinch has testified, that a THE FLORIDA WAR. I39 forward movement could not have been made from Fort Drane earlier than the 26th of March (the day on which he actually- moved), for two reasons : 1st, to give time for the troops which had been shut up in Camp Izard with General Gaines to re- cruit themselves ; 2d, to enable the last train of wagons sent, to return from Garey's Ferry with subsistence. The answer to the second question put to Captain Thruston shows more in detail the reduced condition of those troops. Hence then was the cause of a considerable delay, from the 10th to the 26th of March, less the time necessary to march from the St. John's to Fort Drane ; and Eustis in the mean time, instead of being forced to Volusia, which was to become the base of his operations, was employed in scouring the country between the St. John's and the Atlantic, as far as Tomoca and Volusia. Lindsay was advised of this fur- ther delay. The court too has seen that it was my intention, on the 9th of March, to strengthen the right wing by troops drawn from the left, if General Gaines's detachment had not fallen back upon Fort Drane. " Third, insufficient means of transportation. " This cause of failure in my operations has, like the one just noticed, been pretty fully developed in the former part of this summary. I shall, therefore, only remark, in this place, that the means of land transportation would have been nearly sufficient, notwithstanding the intrusion of General Gaines, if we could have used the Ochlawaha for about seventy tons of supplies (as I had expected to do) up to the 2d of March ; and those means, even without the use of the Ochlawaha, would have been suffi- cient by the 12th, but for that intrusion. The necessity of replacing the subsistence drawn from Fort Drane by General Gaines ; of providing for a larger force than was expected there ; of transporting articles of subsistence fifty per centum heavier than those I had early and specifically called for, both from the St. John's and Tampa, caused our wagons to be overloaded, the horses to be overworked, and many of both to be broken down. The court will further remember who took from Tampa the means of transportation which were there early in February, and what prevented the arrival of new means from New Orleans. ''Fourth, insufficient supply of hard bread and bacon for marches. "On the 21st of January, in his office, the commissary-general of subsistence and myself fully concurred as to the advantages of hard bread and bacon, over flour and pork, on marches. Ten days after, in a letter to the adjutant-general, I recurred to this subject, and required on the St. John's (Picolata) large quantities of both hard bread and bacon ; which passage of my letter, ac- cording to request, the adjutant-general duly communicated to 140 THE FLORIDA WAR. the commissary-general before the 10th of February, as the for- mer reported to me on that day. " Now, it is shown by the testimony of Mr. Locke, who was the assistant-commissary at Picolata, that the quantity of hard bread which had arrived prior to the march of Chnch's column from Fort Drane, and of Eustis's from Volusia, was much less than was wanted for those columns, although I had prohibited the issue of hard bread to the troops when at rest on the St. John's. The deficiency was made up, of course, in flour, of which, and of pork, our supply was abundant ; and the same testimony is express, that not a pound of bacon reached the St. John's, from the commissariat, earlier than the 15th of April, when all the columns were near the Gulf of Mexico. Though much embarrassed on the St. John's, and the march to the south, by the want of those particular items of food, as the court has seen, I have always been unwilling to suppose that the chief of the commissariat was in fault ; and am now, since having read before this court his instructions to the agents of his department on the subject, yet more unwilling to impute blame to him. His merits are acknowledged by the whole army, and I am free to declare that I have never known a better man, or a more faithful public servant. The failure in the particulars stated, was, however, not the less embarrassing. " Well, sir, the army, early, in April, was compelled to give up, for the moment, the search for the enemy, and to march upon Tampa Bay and seek for supplies. " The court has seen what orders I had given to the assistant- commissary at New-Orleans, in respect to this depot, the large quantity of hard bread expected, and the small quantity of hard bread and bacon found there, and that little would not have been equal to three or four marches of the army, if Colonel Lindsay had not brought with him a small quantity from Mobile. On this point the testimony of Lieutenant Morris, the then commis- sary at Tampa, is more explicit than even that of General Eus- tis or Colonel Lindsay. And the reason why more of those items of subsistence had not been sent from New-Orleans, is also pretty fully in evidence. (The then commissary of the latter place was duly summoned to appear here, and has not arrived.) "Mr. Locke stated, in his testijnony, that the difference in weight, owing to the brine and wood necessary to the preserva- tion in warm weather of pork, is fifty-one per centum against the latter in favor of bacon. This difference is known to most marching officers ; and that between the rations of eighteen ounces of flour and twelve of hard bread, is evident to all the world. To have been obliged, then, as we were, to take with all the columns in their several marches nearly two thirds of our THE FLORIDA WAR. 141 whole subsistence in the heavier articles, was the same tning as if a larger portion of our otherwise deficient means of transport- ation had been captured or destroyed ; and even this was not the only evil consequent upon that necessity, as will be presently seen. Fifth, heat of the climate— badness of water — sickness. " Prom the lateness of the season into which we were thrown, from the causes already stated, we found the heat, even before the 20th of April, so oppressive, that the troops could not execute even ordinary marches from this cause alone. (Testimony of Clinch, Eustis, Lindsay, Thruston ; also Colonel Smith's report of his expedition up Pease Creek.) The troops had still to wear their winter clothing, from the non-arrival of sutler's goods at Tampa from New-Orleans ; the sink-holes, or ponds, on which both men and horses had generally to rely for water, were now, many of them, dried up ; and in the others the water was tepid, besides being filled with vegetable matter and animalculse. (Testimony of Clinch, Eustis, Thruston, &c.) Add to these causes of dis- tress and disease the swamps and hammocks which were traversed, the deficiency in bacon, to which the volunteers had been very generally accustomed at home, and the necessity all were under, the greater part of the time, when in march, to eat unleavened dough partially fried with pork, or half baked before camp fires, and it will astonish no one to learn from the testimony that we had very many individuals, officers and men, that could neither ride nor march. The only resource was to crowd them into wagons, for in a savage country we could leave no one behind." " Sixth, forage and grazing. " At St. Augustine, and on the St. John's, as high up as the depot of Volusia, there was, on the requisition of General Eustis and my own, upon Lieutenant L'Engle, of Charleston, and Lieu- tenant Dimmock, of Savannah, an abundant supply of corn and hay, and there was no possible or positive deficiency in forage around Fort Drane. At Tampa we again found an abundance of corn and hay, with a small quantity of oats, all supplied, in compliance with my requisition, as I suppose, upon the quarter- master at New-Orleans. This corn, however, was generally bad, having probably been sweated on board of vessels. The good was mostly consumed at Tampa, during a rest, to recruit the horses, of eight or ten days at that place. The portion issued for renewed operations was generally the refuse, which killed some horses, and injured more. (Deposition of Mr. Newcomb, and testimony of Captain Thruston.) " The grazing in the interior, as all the witnesses questioned on the subject have testified, furnished but an occasional and a slight resource. Hence the court will not be surprised that Gen- 142 THE FLORIDA WAR. eral Eustis caused every cavalry horse with him to be led by his owner on foot, the last sixteen miles of the march from Volusia upon Tampa. The grazing was but little less bad on the return marches. " But it may be asked, why not have taken more corn with the columns from the depots which furnished that which was good ? If our trains had been doubled, a sufficient supply could not have been transported, even if there had been good roads. Let any gentleman make the calculation for himself, to see how many wagons would be required, for example, to take corn enough for a thousand horses for twenty days, including the consumption of the draught horses so employed, and he will be astonished at the result. Again ; why not make every rider put three bushels of corn in his saddle-bags, and lead his horse for seven or eight days ? Regular cavalry may be compelled to do this ; but I know of no power of persuasion that can induce any body of volun- teers whatever, unless it be under the highest calls of patriotic interest, thus, in their own estimation, to degrade themselves. I made the proposal ; and, although I commanded at the time a corps of horse composed mostly of gentlemen of the highest spirit and devotion to country, I was advised not to issue an order to that effect, as it could not be enforced, although I pledged my- self that I would do what I wished to require of others. I then reduced the quantity of corn to be so taken, in my order No. 28, and it is in evidence that considerably less — about an average of three pecks only — was actually put on each horse. And the court will readily conceive that the transportation of hay into the interior, for the consumption of even two days, was wholly out of the question with marching troops, as well on account of its bulk as its weight. " From the foregoing circumstances, it resulted that all surviv- ing horses arrived at Tampa in a bad condition, and returned to the north of Florida in a worse, as is shown by the evidence. " Seventh, roads — bridges. " The only road within the theatre of our operations was that made by government, connecting Fort King with Tampa Bay. This road was very partially followed by all the columns under my command. Its three bridges were destroyed by the enemy at the commencement of hostilities. All the other routes were opened by the columns as they marched, and the streams roughly bridged at the same time. These labors were difficult and inces- sant, as might be supposed, as has been shown in the testimony of Eustis, Lindsay and Thruston." " Eighth, want of an auxiliary Indian force. " The court has seen by my order No. 13, (March 14th,) that 1 called for 500 friendly Creek Indians, to be commanded by THE FLORIDA WAR. I43 General Woodward, Major Watson, and Major Flourn^y. The first two have been summoned here on this and another important point, but have not arrived. The third early fell in the Creek war. Colonel Gadsden's deposition shows the importance of such force, and my successors in Florida have had the benefit of the suggestion. It was denied me by the agent of government, and that denial not even rebuked by the secretary of war. See Ma- jor Hogan's letter to that functionary, and his reply, dated respec- tively, March 28th and April 12th. For the standing and qualifi- cations of the two majors named by me to bring on the Indians, see Governor Eaton's letter to me, dated March 7th, and General CHnch's notes of introduction. General Woodward is too highly distinguished, both as a commander of and against Indians, to require a word of support in this place ; and it will be seen in the agent's (Major Hogan's) letter to me, dated the 1st of February, that he thought he could 'in ten days raise (me) 1000 warriors, and be on the march to join' me. " Ninth, want of guides. "Eustis and Lindsay, as shown by their testimony, had no competent guides, and could obtain none. Clinch's column was rather less badly provided in this respect, yet he had not a guide that knew any of the intricacies of The Cove, a Cretan labyrinth, held from the knowledge of the white man, as the sacred groves of the Druids were never entered except by the initiated. In short, all the difficult parts of Florida were, to the whole army, one terra incognita. Government gave me no topographical information, nor had any to give ; and the booksellers' maps only afforded outlines filled up wdth unlucky guesses. " Tenth, the limited time for active operations. . " From preceding causes, and deducting the time unavoidably lost at Tampa, the columns of Clinch and Eustis were actually in the field, beyond Fort Drane and Volusia, only about twenty-two days. The testimony of both Clinch and Thruston shows that I could not have put the right wing in operation from Fort Drane earlier than I did, the 26th of March ; and Eustis, with the left wing, crossed the St. John's at Volusia, about the same time, to approach The Cove by the Palaklikaha. Clinch, with his wing, was com- pelled to return to Fort Drane on the 25th of April, the term of service of part of his volunteers having already expired ; and, as he reported to me the 27th, ' men and horses much exhausted by sickness and the heat of the weather. Another day's march would have occasioned the abandoning part of the train. Fifteen horses and mules died on the road, and eight more turned out that could not be got along by leading.' "Eustis, with the left wing, (which I accompanied from 144 THE FLORIDA WAR. Tampa,) mas in like manner, and very much in the same condi- tion, compelled to return to Volusia on the same day, April 25th. " Colonel Smith, who had with his regiment, the Louisiana volunteers, been detached by the way of Charlotte Harbor, up Pease Creek, about the 12th of April, returned to Tampa the 26th, and embarked for New-Orleans, according to orders, where the regiment arrived, I think, a little after its term of service had expired. " The battalion of Floridians sailed from Tampa about the 17th of April, for the Withlacoochee, on its way to St. Marks, where it was discharged. I do not know when the battalion was mustered into service. " The centre column, under Colonel Lindsay, which at first included Major Reid's battalion, having arrived by steam from Mobile, at Tampa, was the first of the three columns, under my orders, in the field. On the 15th of March, he put himself in movement, established a post on the Hillsborough, twenty-three miles from Tampa, called Fort Alabama, as a place of deposit, and advanced towards The Cove, Chickuchatty, which he reached about the 24th, the letter advising him of the delay in the move- ments of the two other columns, having reached him subse- quently. " This column, consisting principally of the Alabama regiment of volunteers, under Colonel Chisholm, and several times changed in its other parts, was also the latest in the field by a few days. By my order No. 38 of the 16th of April, Colonel Lindsay was instructed, on his return to Tampa after my departure, to make any further movement within the compass of his forces, in the prosecution of the campaign, that might be deemed useful, and then to cause the volunteers with him (the Alabama regiment and an independent company of Louisianians, under Captain Marks) to be embarked for their respective homes. That embarkation was commenced by him, according to his report, May 7th, ' the rainy season having set in/ and it being deemed ' impossible to keep the field with bodies of troops without great, and for any objects that could be accomplished, a wanton waste of life.' " Thus terminated, Mr. President, active operations under my command : and if, from causes assigned, without decisive results, at least without defeat or check, and without dishonor. *'In my report of the 12th of April, from Tampa, I spoke in terms of high commendation of the three principal commanders under me, — Clinch, Eustis, and Lindsay. Each continued to the last to deserve greater praise than it is in the power of one un- der my present circumstances to bestow. I also had the benefit of Col. Gadsden's assistance, the chief of my staff, a volunteer THE FLORIDA WAR. , .. 145 in the war, a soldier and a patriot, who, independent of his partic- ular knowledge of the enemy and the peninsula, of his services with me, and on prior occasions, is endowed with talents and virtues which give him high claims upon the government and country. " The handful of regulars who were with me in the field, never faltered in difficulty or danger ; and if now and then they yielded the post of honor, it was purely in compliment to their country- men, fresh from civil life, who were cherished and assisted on every occasion. Those patriotic volunteers of South CaroHna, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida, were, no doubt, many of them, sometimes inefficient, from the mere awkwardness of the inexperienced ; but they very generally brought with them to the war high chivalry, which always inspires the wish of per- sonal distinction, and this was frequently and nobly attained by individuals and detachments. " On the principal commanders and the troops which were under me, I have then only to invoke the approbation of their country. Let its censure, through this court, fall on me, and on me alone, of that army, if all was not done which it was possi- ble to accomplish under the circumstances. " Some questions, Mr. President, were put to as many wit- nesses of the higher ranks, who have appeared before this court to ascertain whether I had failed in any particular, as a com- mander in Florida, in point of zeal, judgment, or personal con- duct. The answers were direct in every instance, and too com- plimentary to be here produced. Let them sleep for the present on your records. They may hereafter be read by those who will not be made to blush for their parent. " A word, sir, as to my plan of campaign. I believe that this has been sufficiently developed in the evidence, and imbodied in this summary. It has been censured by a writer, himself an old officer, and who delights to see himself in print, as being some- what European, as if it were criminal to import professional knowledge, and who seemed to think, that generals ought to make war without plans of any sort. This vulgar error has been inci- dentally, but too signally, rebuked by an eminent military critic and political functionary, to be farther noticed in this place. 1 shall, therefore, here simply quote the opinions of two younger, but better soldiers, on the particular plan of operations by me laid down and pursued. " After expLoring the country to a great extent, and learning much that was new of it and the enemy, General Clinch says to me, in his report (Ajpril 27th) of his operations returning from Tampa Bay, ' that the true plan of operations against them (the Indians) will be that first designed by you ; that is, by a force 10 146 ^ * -THE FLORIDA WAR. from Palaldikaha, a force ascending by my (late) route, and a corresponding one on the north side ' — his first route. This, the court will perceive, was the precise plan laid down by me for our first operations. " Captain Thruston, who, I knew, in March, at Fort Drane, did not altogether approve of the plan of campaign I was about to follow, and with whom I never conversed again on the sub- ject, was, when before this court, at a venture, asked by me this question : "Seventeenth. The witness became acquainted with the ge- neral plan of operations projected by General Scott. With the benefit of the witness's subsequent knowledge of the enemy, and the country occupied by him, what is the witness's opinion of the general's plan of operations ? " Answer. ' When I first heard General Scott detail his plan of operations, I thought he had taken more than necessary pre- cautions, by advancing into the country with three columns, from different points of the peninsula ; not doubting that our wing (Clinch's) of the army would be met by the enemy in force on the Withlacoochee. Nor did I believe that a nation of 5000 people could conceal itself so effectually in the peninsula, south and east of the Withlacoochee, that they could not be traced and found by one army (column, or wing). My subsequent expe- rience taught me my error, and to consider General Scott's plan of operations the true one.' " But, Mr. President, it has been objected to me that, in my first operations (towards Tampa) I held the troops in masses un- necessarily large — of 1900, 1700, and 1200 men, respectively. Of this, I became myself early persuaded. But, in connection with this point, the court will please look at that part of Colonel Lind- say's testimony, detailing his remarks, and the advice he gave me at Augusta, at the end of January, 1836. I regret that I am obliged here to abridge his evidence. Colonel Lindsay had served with Major-General Jackson against a part of the same Indians in the campaign of 1818 ; ' the principal object of which was,' according to the witness, ' to drive the Seminoles from the Georgia frontier, across the Suwannee ; that General Jackson carried into the field a force amounting to, perhaps 6000 men.' This was in reply to my 8th question. To the 6th, the colonel had previously said, ' the country east of the Suwannee is in- finitely more impracticable than the country west.' He adds many striking differences, all against our troops ; and it is known that General Jackson's operations terminated on the west bank of that river. In respect to the advice given on the subject of detaching, the witness said : ' I believe I mentioned to General Scottj that I derived that advice from General Jackson, who, on THE FLORIDA WAR. I47 some occasion, when I wanted to go on detached service, made use of this emphatic expression, ' Sir, I never detach against In- dians.' And again in the same campaign. General Jackson ob- served to the witness, ' that he never detached, nor suffered small parties to march through the Indian country.' The court will please bear in mind the official relation that subsisted in January, 1836, between Generel Jackson, Colonel Lindsay, and myself; that I had never been in the interior of Florida ; that Governor Eaton in his letter to me of February 3d, 1836, speaking of the hostile Seminoles, said ' their numerical force cannot be less than 8000, probably more ;' that Colonel Lindsay has testified, in an- swer to my 27th question, what must be evident from the surface of the country, that, from dispersion, the enemy had great faci- hties of concentration ; that I had seen, before the columns ad- vanced from Fort Drane and Volusia, by General Gaines's letter to General Clinch, dated the 29th of February, that the writer sup- posed himself to have been surrounded in Camp Izard, by ' not less than 1500' warriors; and that, although he had from 1000 to 1100 good troops with him, I saw that he could neither pass the With- lacoochee, nor had ventured to make a sortie. All these consi- derations induced me, Mr. President, to hold the troops under my command in three columns until I could feel my way a little, and judge for myself When I had satisfied my mind that there were not, in Florida, more than 1200 Indian warriors, probably less ; and that, of that force, perhaps not 500 had been concentrated at any time in the war, the court will find that I then became a little bolder, and detached freely and far, in all directions ; and it is gratifying to recall, that notwithstanding all the bugbears by which I had been, for a moment, frighted from my bent, not a disaster — not one defeat ensued. I speak, sir, of detachments beyond supporting distance ; for all the columns were habitually subdivided, within that limit, in searching for, and in attacking the enemy. " The first of those distant detachments was that of 340 men left under Major Cooper, only twelve miles south of the Withla- coochee, and which gallantly maintained itself from the 2d of April till the 18th, when it was absorbed on the return of Clinch's column. Major Cooper commenced a work for defence, but the enemy gave him no leisure to complete it. General Eustis, ap- proaching Tampa, brought his mounted men to that depot ; but left his foot, from the 5th of April till the 18th, at Camp Shelton, under Brigadier-General Bull, sixteen miles in the rear, without even a breastwork for its defence. With the same body of foot I myself marched to Fort Alabama, whilst the South Carolina horse, under Colonel Goodwyn, was on the distant service of searching for the enemy about the head of Pease Creek. At the 148 THE FLORIDA WAR. same time Colonel Smith and his Louisiana volunteers fit for duty (about four hundred), with small parties from the United States ship Vandalia, under Lieutenant Powell, and from the revenue cutter Dallas, under Captain Green, scoured the lower part of that creek, to the extent of about sixty miles from Char- lotte Harbor. Colonels Smith and Goodwyn thus visited what we had supposed to be among the favorite haunts and strong- holds of the enemy. I myself, on the 20th of April, with a single company of South Carolina horse, marched from the Big across the Little Withlacoochee. Again, on the 24th, with but two com- panies, I went to Volusia, a day ahead of Eustis's column ; sent a small detachment, on the 25th, to scour the country east of Spring Garden Lake ; and personally proceeded, with Colonel Gadsden, Captain Canfield, Lieutenant J. E, Johnston, and seventeen men, in a miserable little steamer, to explore the St. John's river to the head of Lake Munroe. General Clinch and Colonel Lindsay also made detachments about the same period ; and I had detached Major Read, with the battalion of Floridians, by water, to search the lower Withlacoochee, as early as the 17th. " As this last expedition was the only one made under my command that failed to reach the destination given, and to ac- complish its objects, and for that reason alone has brought upon me infinite obloquy, I beg the court will pardon me for dwelling upon it a moment. " It has been seen by the deposition of Mr. Newcomb, the quartermaster at Tampa in April last, that, by extraordinary ex- ertions on his part, and not a little energy on mine, ample and even extra means were provided for Major Read's small bat- talion of, perhaps, about two thousand men. First, there were two large and one smaller schooner ; two (instead of one) cutters, under Midshipmen Reid and Drake, manned and furnished, at my request, from the United States ship the Vandalia, Captain Webb ; a large scow, in pieces, but with mechanics, nails, oakum, and pitch, so that it might be put together and launched in two hours ; many ship-boats or yawls, and pilots. The deponent, an experienced and excellent officer, declares, in respect to the sufficiency of those means, both for transporting the troops to the mouth of the river, and for ascending it, ' I did not doubt, nor do I know that any body else did ; I do not think Major Read him- self doubted, although he attempted to find fault with the means.' " But let us see what use was made by the major of the outfit thus furnished. I shall quote his report to me, which is dated April 27th, being, himself, near the mouth of the Withlacoochee. He says : "'I dispatched all the small craft to the transports, with orders o the officers in command aboard of them to commence debark- THE FLORIDA WAR. 149 ing the men as fast as possible On the return of the boats transporting, as I had ordered as many men as they could receive, the morning reports of the officers in command were handed me, by which the frightful picture of an increase of forty (40) to the sick list, in less than two days, was presented. Special communications from the surgeons were also handed me, in which the most horrible consequences were predicted, unless the men could be taken forthwith to some place where medicines and good water could be procured. The water on board the schooner Caroline, it was said, had already become putrid. Without going aboard, I dispatched an order for (the transports to) hoist all sail, and to proceed with the utmost possible dispatch to St. Mark's, the nearest port. I remanded on board the trans- ports the detachment first ordered to debark, and directed a select number of ten (?) to join me on board the small craft, for the pur- pose of making the reconnoissance and surveys, which, I find, upon perusing my order more carefully than at first I did, were the principal objects of the expedition When informed by the pilot that we were almost at the mouth, I went myself into the second cutter of the Vandalia — it draws less water than the other — taking with me only two of my detachment When I had gotten over the bar, I proceeded some two miles and up- wards, to within a short distance of a large smoke, the fire "that afforded v/hich was, perhaps, three miles distant. I deemed (it) not prudent to go further, and caused the boat to return' — when the major proceeded to St. Mark's after his battalion. " Here I will not say, Mr. President, Why all this fire and haste ? but 1 may ask, sir, Whence all this smoke and precipita- tion? Some parts of the report are, doubtless, as obscure as others are strange. For example, when the major heard of the new cases of sickness, how many well men were left he does not tell us. The water, too, on board of the Caroline, had suddenly become putrid, and the medicines deficient. How so? Why not have gone to the transports in order to inquire into those ex- traordinary matters in person ? And was there no good water on board of the other vessels, or in the Withlacoochee — at the farthest, within nine or twelve miles at the falls? We have seen that there were many well men remaining, ten of whom he retained with him, and sent back others in the boats which had brought them from the transports. Why not .have retained all these, and have sent for more, to enable him to ascend the river in his smaller vessels, scows, &c. ? In that case he might have passed through the 'large smoke,' and have reached the falls. But the major appeals to his ' order,' and I shall exhibit both his instructions and orders. By my directions, Colonel Gadsden, on the 14th of April, gives Major "Read, in a letter of instructions, 150 THE FLORIDA WAR. among other matters to be attended to, these : ' You will embark with your whole battalion, including invalids and sick, for the mouth of the Withlacoochee, and that you come to anchor in the nearest and safest accessible harbor to the mouth of the stream, and that you proceed with your effective force (leaving your sick and invalids on board) with the boats at command, to examine its entrance, and to penetrate as far as practicable, and consistent with the security of your command,' &c. ' You will preserve notes of your observations, and report,' &c., ' detailing minutely the character of the anchorage at the mouth of the Withlacoo- chee ; the navigability of that river for boats ; the probable distance to which it may be penetrated ; the character of its banks, and the facilities generally afforded for the forming depots, with a view to supplying an army operating hereafter on or near its waters. This duty performed, you will proceed to St. Mark's, Florida, in the transports, where your command will be honor- ably discharged,' &c. " Mr. De Peyster, a gentleman of Florida, and then a volun- teer in General Eustis's staff, has said, before this court, that he was at my quarters the day before (the 16th of April) Major Read embarked, when that officer called, on the subject of his expedition. The purport of this witness's answers, as the court will perceive, is, that two days after the written instructions to Major Read, I endeavored in the most impressive terms and manner, to point out to him the importance of the expedition to ulterior operations, called his attention specifically to the necessity of examining the river, and making a sketch or draught of its soundings and course, up to the foot of the obstruction or falls, believed to be twelve miles ; and that 1 desired Major Read to select a point, for a future post, with reference to wood, as near those falls as practicable. " In respect to every object, except the mere entrance into the Withlacoochee, we have seen that the expedition was a signal failure. " The first knowledge that I had of this most unexpected result, was received May 1st, at St. Augustine, through a letter from Governor Call, dated April 26th, which gave me the more astounding intelligence, viz. : ' A few days since I received a communication from Major McLemore, stationed on the Su- wanne frontier, informing me that, under orders from General Scott he had ascended the Withlacoochee river, and erected a block-house on the south bank, some ten or twelve miles above its mouth, and that he had left a garrison of forty men in the block-house, and a large quantity of corn and pickled beef This morning, at daylight. Major Read of the Florida battalion, arrived at (Tallahassee) bringing the intelligence that he discov- THE FLORIDA WAR. 15X ered at the mouth of the river, one half of a large flat-boat, which had been cut in two, apparently with a dull axe, and by an in- experienced hand. His description corresponds with that given of the boat left at the block-house,' &c. " As this letter was addressed to me, or the commanding offi- cer at Fort Drane, like the report dated April 11th, of the estab- lishment of the block-house, and signed by Major McLemore's adjutant (McCants) both papers were read by General Clinch, and together transmitted to me. I have said that I received them on the 1st of May. " The court has seen, Mr. President, the correspondence be- tween General Clinch, then at Fort Drane, and myself, on this most painful subject. The time of his volunteers having expired, or being about to expire, he had already sent most of them home, and in his attempt to raise a party of mounted men in the Ala- chua settlements, to go to the relief of the block-house, he utterly failed. 1 early became satisfied that General Clinch, under the circumstances, did all in his power in adopting the second sug- gestion of Governor Call, viz. : ' But should it be impracticable for you to send a sufficient force, by land, to ascertain (the fate of the party in the block-house), I have ordered a fortified boat to be in readiness at Suwannee Old Town, to proceed with a part of the men at that place to the rehef of the garrison, and transport it back to Old Town, unless the commanding general should otherwise direct. ' " You will, therefore, be pleased to send an express to Major McCants, commanding at Old Town, and inform him whether troops have been sent by land to the relief of the block-house, or whether the boat, which will be in readiness, shall be sent on that service.' General Clinch sent the order for the boat to proceed, and the detachment in the block-house was ultimately taken oflf by Major Read, and without firing a gun. " It is in evidence that Major Read's report to me (of his first expedition), though dated the 27th of April, came to hand at Co- lumbus as late as the 8th of June, when I had not the leisure to give attention to it, even if it had been legible ; and thus it hap- pened that I never knew its contents, until, with some accidental assistance, the judge-advocate made out to decipher it before this court. The last paragraph of this report appears to be as fol- lows : " ' I discovered at the mouth of the (Withlacoochee) one-half of a flat-bottomed boat — a common ferry flat-boat, it appeared to have been. It had been cut asunder,' &c. ' When I arrived at St. Mark's, I learned, to my astonishment, mortification, and regret, that your excellency (General Scott) had ordered Major McLe- more to establish a depot at that place,' &c. 152 THE FLORIDA WAR. " ' All which was studiously concealed from me. I did not learn, either from your order, or from the numerous interviews I had the honor to hold with your excellency, that Major McLemore was even in the field ; much less that I was going to relieve a detachment of his command, ordered out by your excellency.' " The court has seen my report upon this subject to the adju- tant-general, dated at St. Augustine, May 11th, which was founded on Governor Call's letter noticed above, and an article in a news- paper, handed to me as the production of Major Read. I said that he. Major R., ' has, at Tallahassee, caused a statement to be made, declaring that I had refused him permission to ascend the Withlacoochee ! ' And again, presuming the statement to have been furnished by him, he denies having ever heard that possibly he might find a block-house and garrison established near the falls of the river. Now, I afiirm that it was generally known, through- out the right wing of the army, that it was just possible that Major McLemore, a highly meritorious Floridian, had made such estabhshment. The possibility was mentioned to Major Read, and although Colonel Gadsden, by accident, omitted the subject in the letter of instruction, yet, when the major saw half of a flat rudely cut in two (so Governor Call had written), that which was extremely doubtful before, became a matter of the most perfect certainty ; and, if the major had been bound home, without other orders, it immediately became his imperious duty to go instantly to 'the relief of his countrymen. The flat could never have be- longed to Indians, and it would not have been destroyed if the garrison had returned by water to the Suwannee, and Major Read knew it could only have returned by water. " Now, sir, I did not say in this, or any other letter, that I had told Major Read any thing of a detachment being permitted to visit the Withlacoochee about the end of March. The court will presently learn how it happened to be omitted in Colonel Gadsden's letter to Major Read, and by me, in conversation with the latter. Nevertheless, the subject was not forgotten at head- quarters, nor had ceased to be occasionally mentioned amono^ the officers who had come down to Tampa from Fort Drane, One of these. Captain Drane,' has testified before this court, that he, at Tampa, stated it as his impression to Major Read, ' that there was a detachment of Floridians with provisions,' — the witness having heard, ' at Fort Drane, (and thinks) General Clinch had stated it to (him), that Major McLemore had volunteered his services to go to the mouth of the Withlacoochee.' " I do not here, Mr. President, imbody the testimony to con- tradict Major Read, but simply to account for the strong language applied to him in the letter last quoted. Two of the harsher ex-> pressions therein contained are here intentionally suppressed. 1 THE FLORIDA WAR. I53 had not in May, as has been seen, received his report. I, at that time, verily beheved, on the opinion of others, as well as from internal evidence, that the false assertions of the article in the Tallahassee paper was from his pen or his lips ; Governor Call's letter had not said one word as to the causes which led to the failure of the expedition — the spread of sickness among the men, the want of medicines, and the want of good water. Now, sir, although I think at least two of those causes might have been guarded against by due foresight and activity on the part of the commander, and when reported to him ought to have been closely scrutinized, in person, before abandoning the general objects con- fided to his intelligence and conduct, I am. not only unwilling to reproduce those harsher imputations, but regret that they were ever made. Sir, up to this day, I have received no note or mes- sage of any kind from Major Read. My recantation is founded on the recent assurance of a friend (General Clinch), that Major Read had no agency in the published article alluded to, and his previous and subsequent gallantry and good conduct in the same war against the Seminole Indians. " In the deposition of Colonel Gadsden (which is in evidence), he gives the history of the block-house on the Withlacoochee thus : " ' Major McLemore sought the service by a private letter to the undersigned, stating that he had on the Suwannee a boat suit- able for the expedition, and supplies which he could bring with him to that point — with the consent and approbation of General Scott. The following is the reply penned by me, and by the di- rection of the general, to whom it was read before transmitted.' "I beg, Mr. President, that the Court will again read over every word of this letter. I regret that I am too much fatigued to imbody it entire in this summary. The perusal of it will show how unnecessary it was deemed at Tampa to call, the attention of Major Read specifically to the very remote chance of his finding any detachment on the Withlacoochee. Nevertheless, though it was more than a hundred to one that the detachment was not there, as late as the 14th of April, or even the 4th, if the major could have ascended only seven miles higher up that stream — and nobody doubted that he could and would — he would have found the gallant band still firm in its position. The letter to Major McLemore is dated at Fort Drane, March 25th. Colonel Gadsden begins by giving to the major the outline of my plan of operations ; says ' the whole army will probably form a junction at or near the (Cove) by the 29th or 30th instant. It is impossi- ble to anticipate, at this time, the ulterior operations of the army after it has encountered and defeated the enemy in their probable stronghold, in the Cove,' &c. 'It is more than probable, however, 154 THE FLORIDA WAR. that we may be detained in that vicinity many days reconnoiter- ing-the hammocks, and searching for Indians in the jungles and thickets of that section of country. If so, your co-operation, and the suppUes which you report you can bring, may prove of essential service. I am directed, therefore, by the general com- manding, to say that, after securing the post on the Suwannee with an adequate garrison, you may proceed with the remainder of your command, in the boat you have prepared for the service, provided in addition to your own supplies you can transport 750 to 1000 bushels of corn at least for the use of the army. Should your boat be properly secured as you report with bulwarks, you may enter the river and ascend to the rapids,' &c. " ' You must be at that point by the 30th instant, or you will, possibly, be too late to afford any aid to this wing of the army — the sole motive which sanctions the service to which you have been called.' 'As your movement is intended to assist and not embarrass this wing of the army, you must not move without an adequate supply of ammunition, and from thirty to forty days' rations for your whole command, at least, in addition to the corn you may transport for our relief.' (He is then re- quested, if possible, to bring extra ' pork or bacon.') ' On reach- ing the point on the Withlacoochee designated, you will use all due precautions to secure your boat and command, by building a block-house, or by the construction of some other defence, until you hear from or of the army. If after, however, the 2d or 3d of April you receive no tidings of or from this wing, under the command of General Clinch, you may be sure that it has pro- ceeded south, to unite with Eustis and Lindsay ; and having left the Withlacoochee, your detention on its waters will be no longer necessary. You will, therefore, return without delay to your post on the Suwannee, and there wait the further orders of the commanding-general, or those which may be transmitted to you from the executive of Florida.' " Colonel Gadsden's deposition adds, in continuation of this history : ' It appears, however, from information received from one of the men who was in the block-house, that the detachment did not reach the mouth of the Withlacoochee until the 4th or 5th of April, two days after he had been ordered to quit it ; and when General Scott had reached the vicinity of Tampa Bay.' " Notwithstanding, however, its fearless commander on his own responsibility penetrated the river, established a block-house, and left it garrisoned — with a promise to return and relieve it in eight or ten days. Unfortunately, however, as he entered the Suwan- nee he was assailed with a fever, and and fell a victim to its effects. " Thus perished, Mr. President, a valuable citizen, whose pa- triotic zeal, pushed a little too far, has brought upon me, uninten- THE FLORIDA WAR. I55 tionally, I know not what amount of general odium. This I have long borne in silence ; but, sir, the star of truth approaches the zenith, and as it sheds its Hght over this court and the public, the deep shades of calumny are made to disappear. " In relation to the Florida campaign, Mr. President, I have one point more to notice, and I shall have done. " Among the prodigious mass of documents turned over by the different officers of the w^ar department, to be read by the judge-advocate in evidence against me, as if to crush, by their physical w^eight, if they could not otherv^ise effect their purpose, there is from the Hon. J. M. White, the Florida delegate in con- gress, a letter dated at Washington, May 28th, to the president of the United States, with an endorsement in the hand of the latter, which directs — ' A copy of this letter to be sent to General Scott, with an order to ivithdraw from the command in Florida. A. j: " Of this endorsement I had no knowledge, until the original was read in this court. What were the feelings which it excited I will not say ; but the association of circumstances recalled to my mind, may be inferred from the following : " To my elaborate report of what I have done, and of the operations projected, the adjutant-general. May the 5th, replied: " ' Your communication of the 12th of April, reporting the operations of the army in Florida, under your command, since your departure from Fort Drane, and your arrival at Tampa Bay has been submitted to the president, and this day to the secreta- ry of war. I am happy to inform you that the president ap- proves of your intended plan of operations,' etc. ' I am desired by the secretary of war to say that, from the tenor of your re- port, as weh as by the communication he has just received from the governor of Florida, it is probable that owing to the approach- ing season of the year, the campaign in the field cannot be much longer vigorously pushed. In this event, you will make a judicious selection of the posts necessary to be occupied by the troops during the interval of active operations, which may be best cal- culated protect the frontier inhabitants, and prevent Indian depre- dations of any kind. For this purpose, all the regular troops, including the 4th infantry, must be kept on duty in Florida.' As I had intimated in my letter, April 12th, would be done, all had been attended to before the receipt of the adjutant-generars com- munication, and which is here cited principally to show that, certainly as late as the 5th of May, no displeasure had been officially expressed against me at Washington. " But, in my report of the 11th of May, animadverting upon Major Read, and which, according to a note on the original (now in evidence), was received at Washington on the 21st, seven days 156 THE FLORIDA WAR. before the date of Mr. White's letter to the president of the United States, there is this paragraph : " ' I feel and know the risk I incur by the use of this lan- guage. Major Read is the favorite of Governor Call, and his excellency's support may well turn the tables against me at Wash- ington.' " Sir, I had seen among the papers which accompanied my instructions, given me for the Seminole war, a letter (in evidence with that document) from General Call to the president of the United States, dated January 9th, 1836, in which the writer says : " ' I should be highly gratified to command the army, and be- lieve that I could soon bring the war to a close. I fear, however, that this I cannot do without injustice to General Clinch. He is a brave and good man, but I fear he is too slow in his movements to conduct a war against the Indians.' " With an official copy of this letter in my possession, it may be supposed that I knew my danger. Biit, sir, I do not complain that, soon after my animadversion on Major Read, he was ap- pointed by the president a brigadier-general in the militaire of Florida ; that a lieutenant-colonel of the army, whom I reported in my letter of March 20th as having left Fort Drane for duty elsewhere, but went off to Washington, was in a little time re- warded with a colonelcy, not by seniority ; nor that the president's endorsement on Mr. White's letter was soon followed by Gover- nor Call's being ' gratified' with the direction of the war in Flor- ida. But, sir, I have, in defence, a right to advert to those extra- ordinary facts, to show that if, in my operations to the south, I had the enemy to conquer in my front, I was, at the same time, not a little insecure in my rear. The effect of such position every soldier will readily comprehend ; and I respectfully submit the point to the consideration of the court. A yet more extra- ordinary fact, of the same general character, will be developed in the sequel. But, at present, I will return to Mr. White's letter to the president of the United States. " I think, sir, that I have shown that this letter did not do me all the injury that it was intended at the time. But why, sir, is it brought here, with its endorsement, in accusation against me ? Mr. White, in a letter to the president of this court, dated De- cember 13th, 1836, says: " ' This places me in an attitude I do not choose to occupy.' ' Since the publication of that letter (to the president of the United States) I have, in the National Intelligencer, over my own name, as an act of justice to General Scott, corrected, upon better information, the complaints which I deemed it my du- ty, as the representative of the people of Florida, to make against THE FLORIDA WAR. 157 him. I am unwilling that the first letter shall be laid before the court without the second ; and, as I have no copy of it with me at present, I take this occasion to say that I am satisfied, upon a full and impartial view of the facts and circumstances connected with the Florida campaign, and upon evidence not then before me, that the failure is not to be attributed to Major-General Scott, nor to causes which it was in his powder to control or remove.' " This voluntary and unsolicited retraction is manly and no- ble. In my judgment and feelings it shows the correspondent of the court to be worthy of being called the Honorable Mr. White, by a higher claim than that of mere courtesy. It is true, sir, in his recantation, he excepts what he had originally said of my order No. 48, on the subject of panics. I know not that this reserva- tion ought to break squares between that gentleman and myself. The order, although there were many apologies for the inhabitants, was founded on information at once full and precise ; and, as I said of it in my letter to the secretary of war, dated June 21st, 'Besides, I was advised by respectable citizens of Florida, to come out with an order in that spirit, as likely to rally the inhab- itants, and I have reason to know the order did good.' If good resulted I am content with the enmities I brought upon myself by the act : for, sir, since the war began to rage in that quarter, there has not been a moment, up to this time, when I would not have made any sacrifice of person to have stopped its ravages. I deeply mourn over the many afflictions the good people of that desolated territory have experienced, and I freely forgive, as I pray God may forgive, the injustice of laying those evils, in part, to my account." The Court of Inquiry, after a long and tedious examination of witnesses, expressed the following opinion, which was approved by the president of the United States, and promulgated in gene- ral orders on the 21st of March, 1837 : " The court, after a full consideration of the foregoing facts, and the testimony from which they are drawn, comes to the fol- lowing opinion : " The court, after a careful review of the great mass of tes- timony taken in the foregoing investigation, finds that Major- General Scott was amply clothed with authority to create the means of prosecuting the Seminole war to a successful issue ; but is of opinion that, at the time he was invested with the command, the season was too far advanced for him to collect, appoint, and put in motion his forces, until a day too late to compass the ob- ject. It appears that, after using great diligence and energy, he was not in a condition to take the field, and enter the enemy's 158 THE FLORIDA WAR. strong holds, before the 28th of March, and then without sufficient means of transporting the necessary suppHes to enable him to remain there long enough to seek out the scattered forces of the enemy. " The court, therefore, ascribe the failure of the campaign to the want of time to operate ; the insalubrity of the climate after the middle of April ; the impervious swamps and ham- mocks that abound in the country occupied by the enemy, afford- ing him cover and retreat at every step ; an absence of all knowledge by the general, or any part of his forces, of the topo- graphy of the country ; together with the difficulty of obtaining, in time, the means of transporting supplies for the army. " The court is further of opinion, from the testimony of many officers of rank and intelligence, who served in the campaign, that Major-General Scott was zealous and indefatigable in the discharge of his duties ; and that his plan of campaign was well devised, and prosecuted with energy, steadiness, and abihty." His excellency C. K. Call assumed command of the Florida army, upon the retirement of General Scott, under instructions from the war department. Active operations had ceased, the regular troops, as well as the militia and volunteers, were posted in such a manner as to protect the settlements, at the same time securing health. The season was unusually sickly. The Indians were dispersed, and most of the time remained quiet, cultivating their crops of corn and peas for the ensuing season. Occasion- ally they sallied out, when inducements offered, cutting off express riders and trains, and butchering defenceless women and children. A vigorous attack was made upon the stockade of Mica- nopy, garrisoned by a detachment of regulars, in command of Major Heileman, 2d artillery. The work was surrounded by a small town, offering inducements to plunder. The Indians num- bered 250 warriors, and led by Oseola or Powell. Major Heile- man's official report details the affair. " Micanopy, June 10th, 1836. " General — I have the honor to report, that yesterday morn- ing a party of Indians, estimated at one hundred and fifty or two hundred, made their appearance in front of this place, at the dis- tance of about three-quarters of a mile. Their object was evi- dently to draw us out ; and not having any disposition to balk their views, I directed Captain Lee to take his company and skirt a hammock on the right of this post, and gain the left of the enemy. At the same time I directed Lieutenant Wheelock to mount, with his dragoons, and make a corresponding movement on the left ; and Lieutenant Humphreys, with a detachment of THE FLORIDA WAR. 259 D and E companies of 2d U. S. artillery, to move across a field in front, holding a six-pounder, with a few men, in reserve. " The promptitude with which my orders were complied with, brought the three detachments immediately in contact with the enemy. Seeing the heavy fire of the enemy, I became at once satisfied they were treble our numbers, and immediately moved forward with the six-pounder. The horses not being well broke, I was obliged to cast loose the prolonge. I had hardly done this, and while waiting a flank movement of Lieu- tenant Wheelock to unmask the six-pounder, when I received a message that the Indians were coming on the rear of this place. Having left a few teamsters and citizens in charge of the work, 1 deemed it proper to move back with the gun, and gave the directions accordingly. Taking myself a shorter route across the field, I arrived a few moments before the gun ; and finding the report to be untrue, I directed Lieutenant Talcott, 3d artil- lery, to return to the field at full speed, while, with a few men, I reconnoitred the rear of our position. " After an hour and twenty minutes' hard fighting under a broiling sun, our troops returned, having driven the Indians two miles into their strong holds. The gallantry and good conduct of both officers and men, is beyond all commendation I am able to bestow; and it is with deep regret I report Captain Lee, 3d artillery, severely, but not dangerously wounded.* He was shot early in the action, but directed his men to push forward, which they did manfully. " I enclose Dr. Maffit's report : and let me express my ac- knowledgments to Mr. Center, a resident of this place, for his unremitting kindness and attention to our wounded men, and ourselves generally. " Some individual acts of gallantry will form a special report, from the officers immediately in command of the troops. " I received 800 rounds of cartridges last night from Fort Drane, and shall move to-morrow morning. Lieutenant Burke, 3d artillery, with his company, reached that place at 11 o'clock last night. I shall write to you on my arrival there. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. F HEILEMAN, General Eustis, ) Major, 2d artillery, U. S. A: Commanding forces in Florida. Major Heileman died on the 27th of June, from the effects of over-exertion in the battle. For his conduct on the occasion, the brevet of lieutenant-colonel was conferred upon him by the * He received two wounda ; one from a rifle ball, and the other from a musket. 160 THE FLORIDA WAR. senate of the United States, on the 26th of June — the day pre- vious to his death. Major B. K. Pierce, 1st artillery, assumed command of Mica- nopy, soon after his arrival. He carried out the contemplated expedition of Captain Childs upon Fort Drane, ten miles distant. This was a favorite resort for the enemy, who congregated there to gather the sugar-cane and corn, in the extensive fields plant- ed by General Clinch the season previous. Major Pierce took them by surprise and had a spirited affair, driving them into the adjoining hammock. Ar-pe-i-ka or Sam Jones commanded the Indians ; the first, and only action he was ever in. The official report of Major Pierce of August 12th, 1836, gives a minute account of the attack. " Micanopy, August 12th, 1836. " Sir — I have the honor to report to you, that I arrived here yesterday ; and learning that there were Indians lurking about Fort Drane, ten miles from this post, I determined to make an expedition against them. For this purpose, I marched at two o'clock this morning, with 110 men and a piece of ordnance; fifty men commanded by Captain Childs of the 3d artillery, and Lieutenant Spaulding, of the 2d dragoons ; fifty men by Lieu- tenant J. R Irwin and Lieutenant Herbert, of the 1st artillery. I arrived at Fort Drane about sunrise, attacked the Indians, who proved to be numerous, say 300 Micasucky Indians, commanded by Powell. Lieutenants Irwin and Herbert on the right ; Cap- tain Childs and Lieutenant Spaulding on the left ; the artillery in the centre, commanded by Lieutenant Pickell, all attacked them with great vigor and spirit, drove them three-fourths of a mile into an extensive hammock — and in a hurried passage over the field counted ten dead. " This engagement was well contested by the Indians, who fought with determined bravery for more than an hour. The recesses to which they retired could not be penetrated by our exhausted and inferior force. I therefore marched the detach- ment back to Micanopy, leaving no killed or wounded on the field. Our loss was one killed and sixteen wounded, viz.. Lieu- tenant Betts (my adjutant), slightly wounded in the thigh ; Ser- geants, Dustin (C), 4th artillery;' Ayres (A), 3d artillery, wounded. Corporals, McKnight (C), 4th artillery ; North (I), 3d artillery ; Dennis (A), 3d artillery, wounded. Artificers, Skifiington (C), 4th artillery ; Sinclair (E), 1st artillery, wounded. Musician, Alexander Heer (G), 1st artillery, wounded. Privates, Shisler (E), 1st artillery; Treat (A), 3d artillery; Coppinger (C), 4th artillery ; Story (A), 3d artillery ; Ribbold (A), 3d artillery ; Ben- nett (D), 1st artillery, wounded — none thought dangerous. Wa- THE FLORIDA WAR. • igj gon-master, Jackson, severely. Private Sykes (G), 1st artillery, killed. " The officers of my command were Captain Childs, 3d artil- lery ; Lieutenant Pickell, 4th artillery ; Lieutenant J. R. Irwin, 1st artillery ; Lieutenant Spaulding, 2d dragoons ; Lieutenant Her- bert, 1st artillery; Lieutenant W. H. Betts (adjutant), 1st artil- lery ; Surgeons Tripler and Berry. " The officers and men all justified my most sanguine ex- pectations. " I deem it due to Captain Childs to state, that he contem- plated the same movement previous to my arrival, and was awaiting the return of the train to accomplish his purpose. " Jackson, a wagon-master, well acquainted with the loca- lities of Fort Drane, volunteered his services ; and as a guide on the march, or a soldier in the engagement, was brave and useful. He received two severe wounds, lost a valuable horse, and deserves a liberal reward. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, B. K. PIERCE, Major Commanding." Major-General Jesup, now operating against the Creek In- dians in Georgia, was ordered to take command in Florida, so soon as the emigration and subjection of this tribe would permit. His instructions did not reach him. He, however, met Governor Call at Tallahassee, when coming from the Creek country in September ; and finding that he had made arrangements for a campaign, declined taking the command tendered by the gover- nor, in the absence of positive written instructions ; but consented to act with a body of troops in go-operation. The Tennessee mounted force of about 1200 men, under General Armstrong, who had gone through the Creek campaign with honor and distinction, joined General Call in his movement ; who with 140 Florida mi- litia in addition, marched for Suwannee Old Town on the 19th of September, with ten days' rations. Here he met with Major Pierce with 160 regulars, and seven days' rations. A general movement was made to the Withlacoochee river. On reaching the stream he encountered small parties of Indians, who fired upon his camp at night. The sudden rise of water in the river prevented his crossing, obliging him to fall back upon Fort Drane for supplies. General Jesup was using his exertions to bring into Florida at an early period the detachment of marines, commanded by Colo- nel Henderson, as also the regiment of Creek volunteers, under Colonel Lane ; but the fall of water in the Apalachicola river, defeated his designs. That portion of the marine corps had gone through the Creek campaign, and was now in high order and perfect discipline. Their various duties had been performed 11 162 * THE FLORIDA WAR. with alacrity and zeal, and only required another field to fulfill their own anticipations. This detachment numbered 380 men, and 24 officers. Upon the breaking out of hostilities in Georgia, at a moment when the enemy were ravaging the country, and the disposable force of the regular army was inadequate to the emergency, Colonel Henderson volunteered his services, together with that portion of the corps stationed at the different navy yards. In this he was seconded most cheerfully by the officers under his command. In June, 1836, they reached Columbus, Ga., and immediately took the field ; from thence to Florida, where they participated in the arduous campaigns under General Jesup, and received from him the highest commendations. The Creek regiment of volunteers consisted of 750 friendly Creek Indians ; among whom, as the most important men, were two chiefs by the name of Jim Boy, and Paddy Carr. They were mustered and paid as militia in the service of the United States. Captain John Lane, of the 2d regiment of U. S. dragoons, was mustered as colonel commanding ; Captain Harvey Brown, 4th U. S. artillery, lieutenant-colonel ; First-Lieutenant W. W. Mor- ris, 4th U. S. artillery, major ; Second-Lieutenant Wm. G. Free- man, 4th artillery, was adjutant ; George Boyd, lieutenant A. C. S. and acting assistant-quartermaster; G. W. Hulse, assistant- surgeon; J. H. Watson, lieutenant; Lieutenant Wm. P. Piercy (U. S. navy), David Moniac, W. P. Rawles, S. Casey, Joseph Roberts, F. Searle (first-lieutenant 4th artillery), captains. This corps reached Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, on the 5th of October, and proceeded immediately into the interior. They examined the country in all directions, and had several spirited affairs with the enemy. Soon after joining Governor Call, at Fort Drane, Colonel Lane met with a melancholy death, when the command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Brown. These Indians wore white turbans, to distinguish them in battle from the enemy. The Seminoles looked upon them with renewed hatred, and lost no opportunity to give vent to their malignity. On the 1 0th of November Governor Call, with some regulars, the regiment of Creek volunteers, and the mounted Tennesseans, again marched from Fort Drane, and crossed the Withlacoochee river, thirty miles distant, on the 1 3th, without opposition. Gen- eral Armstrong, the ensuing morning, attacked an Indian encamp- ment with a part of his command, and met with serious resist- ance, but drove them, after a conflict of forty minutes ; eleven of his men were killed and wounded. On the 18th another assault was made by a party of five hundred Tennesseans, upon a body of the enemy strongly posted in a hammock. After a conflict of two hours they fled, leaving twenty-five of their number on the field. Lieutenant-Colonel Pierce, with a detachment of regulars. THE FLORIDA WAR. 163 on the 20th formed a junction with Governor Call. The next morning the entire force moved for the Wahoo Swamp, where it was believed the enemy were in large numbers, prepared for a fight. A rapid charge was made, the instant upon reaching the hammock ; when a general whooping, yelling, and discharge of rifles, commenced ; the Indians firing as they retreated from tree to tree. Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, with his command, dashed in upon them, amid the yells of his own troops, and delivered an effective fire. Lieutenant-Colonel Pierce, with a detachment of regulars, together with a number of the Tennesseans and the Florida militia, joined in the contest, forcing their way through a dense scrub, and wading in mud and water from three to four feet deep. In passing onward, the main stream of the Withla- coochee was reached, which was thought to be impassable. Upon the opposite bank the Indians were in force, not more than ten yards distant. Covered as they were by logs and stumps, the repeated volleys had no effect on them. As the soldiers and friendly Indians approached, they opened a galling fire. Captain Moniac was killed while attempting to ascertain the depth of the water. The position gained, though dearly bought, was an ad- vantageous one. Could it have been maintained, it would have defeated the favorite plans of the enemy, and driven them from a resort affording subsistence and protection for their women and children. The want of supplies, particularly for the large num- ber of horses, induced Governor Call to abandon it, and fall back upon Volusia. The report of Colonel Pierce of this affair awards to all merited praise. " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, ) fOamp near Volusia, Nov. 26th, 1836. ) " Sir — Agreeably to your orders of the night of the 20th in- stant, the troops under my command moved at early dawn on the 21st, in search of the enemy, (represented to be in large force on the Wahoo Swamp,) in four separate columns, and in the following order : Colonel Warren's command of mounted Floridians on the right ; the battalion of artillery and a detach- ment of Middle Florida volunteers, under Major Gardner, form- ing the second column ; the third and fourth columns, composed of Creek volunteers, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Brown and Major Morris. After marching about five miles, and within four hundred yards of the Wahoo Swamp, the enemy appeared in force at the edge of the hammock which skirts the swamp, and by their war-whoops and other indications showed themselves in readiness to give battle. " By your orders, I then immediately marched the battalion 164 THE FLORIDA WAR. of artillery and the detachment of Floridians, in two Hnes, in dis- played order, with an interval of about twenty paces between them, together with a reserve of two companies under Captain Van Ness, fifty paces in rear of the second hne. In this order the command moved rapidly towards the enemy until (within) a hundred and thirty yards of him,' when, by your direction, 1 halted the Une, to allow the Tennesseans time to come up. Our line, headed by Major Gardner, then moved coolly and steadily to the charge, entering the hammock without firing a gun until they came in sight of the enemy, when a heavy fire was opened, and two or three Indians were killed, our loss being two wounded. The Creek volunteers, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, pene- trated the extreme left, and they killed one or two Indians. " After a cessation of the fire, I moved forward my whole division (by your orders) in pursuit of the enemy. Having pushed through an extensive swamp and hammock, driving the enemy before us for the distance of one and a half miles ; a por- tion of our friendly Indians at length reached a deep and difficult morass, on the opposite side of which the enemy were posted. In attempting the passage of this. Major Moniac was killed, and sunk in the stream. A sharp engagement then commenced on the part of our friendly Indians, under Lieutenant-Colonel Brown and Major Morris. The regular troops and Floridians were pushed forward as rapidly as possible to the scene of the action, but meeting with an almost insurmountable obstacle in a difficult miry swamp, half a mile in extent, and from two to three feet deep in mud and water, were prevented from reaching it, until from one half to three-quarters of an hour after the commence- ment of the engagement. As soon as they arrived, they were formed on the bank of the stream, and opened a deadly fire on the enemy ; Colonel Warren, foflowing close on the rear of the artillery and emerging from the marsh, had previously arranged himself on our right, and had commenced a spirited and vigorous fire upon the enemy. At about half-past three o'clock, P. M., the enemy's fire had nearly ceased. There were then but two alternatives, the one to attempt a passage of the creek, the other to return with our killed and wounded to camp. Anxious to make the victory, so brilliant in its commencement, complete in its termination and result, I ordered Major Gardner to form the battahon of artillery, to force the passage of the creek, and charge the enemy at the point of the bayonet. After consultation, how- ever, with the colonel of the 2d regiment of Tennessee volun- teers, it was concluded most advisable to abandon the attempt, because of the exhausted state of the ammunition, and the sup- posed impracticability of the passage, which had been previously attempted without success ; moreover, the lateness of the hour THE FLORIDA WAR. Ig5 (it being near night) rendered it impossible to pursue the enemy, even if the passage should be forced. I then directed the killed and wounded to be brought to the front, formed a strong rear- guard, and returned to the position occupied by your excellency. "Colonel Warren, Lieutenant-Colonel Mills, Major Flem- ming, Captain Walker, Adjutant Beckham, Lieutenants Beaton, Hooker, and Ross, as also Captain Fremouth, with his company of St. Augustine volunteers, behaved throughout the day with great energy and bravery. Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, with the Creek volunteers, aided by the gallant Major Morris and lamented Major Moniac, together with the equally brave Captains Ross, Watson, and Boyd, moved nobly into the action, and for a con- siderable time sustained an unequal combat with the enemy, holding him in check until the arrival of the artillery and volun- teers. The other officers of the regiment, Captains Piercy, Searle, and Johnston, displayed great activity and gallantry in his support. . . . Paddy Carr and John O'Poney, Indian chiefs, distinguished themselves by their zeal and bravery. Jim Boy, the head-chief of the Creeks, being involved in the same difficulty with a portion of the regulars, was prevented from taking the same active and efficient share in the early part of the action with the battalion, which would hcive been expected from their known activity. Major Gardner, in command of the battalion of artillery, was aided in an able and spirited manner by Captain Gait, Captain Porter, Captains Van Ness, Tompkins, and Mait- land. Lieutenants Burke, Nauman, R. H. Lee, and Hale, com- manding companies, formed the line on the bank of the creek within thirty paces of the enemy, and displayed throughout the whole affiiir the utmost activity, skill, and intrepidity. Lieu- tenant Taylor acted as quartermaster and commissary of my division ; Lieutenant Spaulding, of the U. S. dragoons, and cap- tain, by your appointment, of the Creek volunteers, as acting inspector-general ; and Lieutenant Freeman, as acting adjutant- general. They are officers of great merit, rendered great service during the march, and in the battle distinguished themselves by their ability, coolness, and courage. The perseverance in the difficulties of pursuit, and the steadiness and courage in the bat- tle, of the whole command, both of officers and soldiers, through- out the day, cannot be too highly commended. As the whole operations were under your own direction and observation, I do not deem it necessary to enter into further detail. The loss in my division consists of Major Moniac, an Indian chief, and two Indians killed ; Captain Ross, U. S. M. corps, and three Indians wounded, of the Creek volunteers. Of the artillery five were killed ; wounded. Captain Maitland, two sergeants, two corporals, and two privates. Colonel Warren's command and the Florida 166 THE FLORIDA WAR. volunteers, though exposed to the same gaUing fire with the regu- lars, fortunately escaped without loss. From the commencement of the action in the first hammock, to its close in the second, was nearly four hours. I think it a brilliant day, redounding to the honor of our arms, and calculated to bring the war to a speedy termination. I am, sir, with great respect, Your obedient servant, B. K. PIERCE, His Excellency Governor Call. Colonel commanding Right Division." General Jesup reached Tampa Bay on the 20th of October, but the want of transportation and supplies detained him until the 27th of November, when, with four hundred men, he pro- ceeded to join Governor Call at Volusia, and, agreeably to his instructions from Washington, relieved Governor Call, on the 8th of December, of the command of the Florida army. The result of the expedition to the Wahoo Swamp was a lesson to other commanders. To force so large a body of troops, horse and foot, into the enemy's country, without a base of opera- tions, is a sacrifice of human life, without attaining the end, be- sides encouraging the enemy. The horses of the Tennessee brigade died for the want of food. The men, dispirited by exer- tion and fatigue for which they were unprepared, with scanty food, lost that fortitude and resolution so indispensably necessary in this peculiar warfare. The enemy was vigilant and inde- pendent ; he lived upon the wild productions, and knew the swamps and hammocks, while the soldier, as he waded them without food or rest, looked upon these fastnesses as his sepul- chre, more than as a field of battle. The ford reached on the Withlacoochee by the troops, and which was so resolutely defended, was about three feet deep. The water was black and sluggish, deceiving those who ventured to approach. Had the contemplated charge been made, the river would have been crossed, not without loss, but the sacrifice would have been worthy of the object. There were assembled tvv^o hundred negro men, and four hundred and twenty warriors, with their women, children, and all their baggage, together with horses and ponies. They had lived here since the commence- ment of hostilities, and were determined to make a decided stand. The men might have fled, but the capture of their families would have soon induced them to surrender. General Jesup, through the months of Januar}^, February, March, and April, pushed the campaign with energy and skill. His troops were in fine spirits and order. His force, regular and TPIE FLORIDA WAR. 167 irregular, exceeded eight thousand men. He thus writes to the adjutant-general of the army on the 12th of January, 1837 : " Head- Quarters, near the Cove of the ) Withlncoochee, Jan. 12th, 1837. \ " Sir — In my last 1 informed you that the mounted men of my command were in pursuit of Powell. Thirty-six negroes, in addition to those already reported (16), have been captured by Lieutenant-Colonel Crawford's battalion and the Indian warriors. From them we learn that the Indians have been entirely dis- persed, and that Pov^ell has with him only three warriors and his family. One of the negroes. Primus, who was sent a messenger to the Indians by General Scott or Clinch during the last winter, and remained with them, says that he is on the Withlacoochee, sick, and that he can collect about a hundred warriors. Learn- ing from the prisoners that the Tallahassee chief is on the With- lacoochee with the warriors, I dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Foster down the south side of the river, with a small battalion of infantry, a company of artillery, and Major Nelson's battalion of mounted Georgians, altogether about three hundred men, and moved down the north side of the river with the marines, a de- tachment of artillery, a battalion of Alabama volunteers, and a detachment of Indian warriors, in all about seven hundred men, for the purpose of clearing the country on both sides of every hostile band. The Tallahassee Indian? are said to be in the neigh- borhood ; Powell also. Two days will be employed in examining the swamps, when, if the enemy should not be found, I shall pro- ceed down the river, unite with Lieutenant-Colonel Foster, and then be governed by circumstances. If I should not hear of the enemy below, I shall return to Fort Armstrong, and immediately proceed against Micanopy and Jumper, who, I have good reason to believe, are on the head- waters of the Ocklawaha. The cam- paign will be tedious, but I hope successful in the end. I am not, however, very sanguine; the difficulty is not to fight the enemy, but to find him. I am unable to furnish returns at present of the forces under my command. The difficulties in regard to trans- portation are such that every officer is obliged to carry seven days' rations in his haversack. I often carry subsistence for six days. The means of making correct returns are not, therefore, within the reach of any officer of this army. The blank returns to which you refer have not been received. I have the honor to be, sir, Your most obedient servant, Brigadier-General R. Jones, ) TH. S. JESUP, Adjutant-General, Washington City. \ Major-General commanding." 168 THE FLORIDA WAR. The enemy, harassed in all quarters, seemed determined to retaliate. On the 8th of February they attacked Fort Mellon, with a force of two hundred men under Coacooche or Wild Cat, in which they were disappointed, supposing the garrison to be weak. But the arrival of troops unknown to their scouts, enabled the garrison to give them a warm reception. Lieutenant-Colonel Fanning's (4th artillery) report pays a just tribute to all : " Camp Munroe, on Lake Munroe, Florida, Febraary 9th, 1837. " General — On yesterday morning, a little before daylight;, we were aroused by the warhoop all around us. The enemy's right rested on the lake above us, and his line extended round our front, his left resting on the lake below. Our men sprang to their breastworks. A sharp contest ensued. Second-Lieutenant Thomas was directed to go on board the Santee (steamboat), serve the six-pounder, and direct his fire upon the right of the enemy. Our flank in that direction was soon cleared. The enemy pertinaciously hung upon our front and right flank for nearly three hours, and then retired, wearied of the contest. Our men, being recruits, at first wasted a great deal of ammuni- tion, and it was with much difficulty the officers prevented them from throwing away their shots. They soon, however, became collected, and in the end behaved extremely well. In fact, the enemy was handsomely repulsed. The extensive fire of the enemy, and the traces he has left behind, show him to have been about from three to four hundred in force. " The brave Captain Mellon, of the 2d regiment of artillery, a few minutes after the combat commenced, received a ball in his breast, and fell dead at his post. We last night gave to his re- mains all we could give, our tears and a ' soldier's grave.' Cap- tain Mellon entered the service at the commencement of the last war with England, and has ever since remained in it. He has left no property, and I know he has left a widow and four chil- dren to deplore his loss.* " Passed-Midshipman McLaughlin, serving with the army^ ready by my side to convey orders, received a ball in his breast. The surgeon cannot yet pronounce his fate, but has strong hopes of his recovery. This gentleman had charge of the supplies for the detachment, as well as of those for the army expected here. He has performed his duties with great zeal and ability. On every occasion of apparent danger, I have found him on the spot, ready to perform any service of hazard. Let us hope he may yet live to grace the profession he has chosen. * Their pension will be but twenty-five dollars per month for five years. Now I think too well of my countrymen to believe it is their will that this should be the limit of the nation's gratitude. THE FLORIDA WAR. 169 " On examining the ground, we found no dead enemies, yet we found several trails, apparently made by the dragging oflf of the dead bodies. We also found several belts and straps covered with blood,. a small pouch of bullets, and some scalping-knives. It is most probable the enemy suffered more than ourselves. It is true that we are without the trophies of victory ; but this is no reason that the officers whom I have had the honor to command, and whose gallant bearing I have witnessed, should not receive honorable mention. Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, commanding the four companies of dragoons, displayed during the contest the greatest boldness and vigor, and inspired his newly-enlisted men with great confidence. I have at all times received from him the most energetic support. With the officers of his battalion I have every reason to be well satisfied. My eye was upon every one, and I discovered nothing but ffi^mness and confidence in all. In justice to them their names must be mentioned : Gaptain Gordon, Cap- tain Bean, First-Lieutenant John Graham, First-Lieutenant Howe, First-Lieutenant Hamilton, First-Lieutenant Blake, Second-Lieu- tenant McNeil, Second-Lieutenant Thornton, Second-Lieutenant Kingsbury, and Second- Lieutenant May. " On the fall of Captain Mellon, Captain Vinton, of the 3d artillery, assumed the command of the two companies of artillery. I have long known his great military attainments ; on this occa- sion I witnessed his conduct and courage. First-Lieutenant Davidson took the command of Mellon's company during the engagement. It could not have fallen into better hands. I have already spoken of the service rendered by Second- Lieutenant Thomas, of the 4th artillery. He has always volunteered his services on every dangerous scouting-party. Lieutenant Piercy, of the navy, captain of the friendly Indians, with his Indian force, fought among the regular troops ; and he is always foremost in danger. He has at all times volunteered his services for any difficult or hazardous enterprise. " Assistant-Surgeon Laub dressed the wounded under the fire of the enemy. In fact, I have never seen the sick soldier more promptly or faithfully attended to, than since this detachment left Volusia. Lieutenant Dusenberry, quartermaster to the expedi- tion, had been sent previously to the attack to Volusia, and could not be present at the time. His duties have been very arduous, and he has discharged them with vigor, 2eal, and abihty. Paddy Carr, the Creek chief, fought well. He has generally headed the scouting-parties, and has performed those laborious and dangerous duties with great promptitude and cheerfulness. "I cannot end this letter without publicly expressing my thanks to Captains Brooks and Peck, of the steamboats Santee and Essayons. They have unhesitatingly pushed their boats 170 THE FLORIDA WAR. through difficult channels, and unknown waters, into the heart of the enemy's country. I must be pardoned this prolixity. If I have mentioned all, it is because all deserve mention. Never was officer, charged with a delicate and hazardous enterprise, served with more zeal and promptitude. " You will herev\^ith receive official lists of the killed and wounded. To the wounded, Passed-Midshipman McLaughlin should be added. The ' John Stoney' is just arrived. Lieutenant Dusenberry hands me a letter from Lieutenant Chambers, aid-de- camp. By this I learn that hostihties are to cease for the present, and that this detachment is directed to fall back upon Volusia. I have the honor to be, &c., &c. A. C. W. FANNING, Brevet Lt. Col. commanding detachment. " Report of the killed and wounded, in the affair with the Seminole Indians, at Camp Munroe, Florida, on the morning of the 8th of February, 1837 : If zY/st/— Captain Charles Mellon, of the 2d regiment of artillery. Wounded — fifteen. Passed-Mid- shipman J. T. McLaughlin, of the navy; one corporal and two privates of E, two privates of G, and one of H companies, 2d dragoons — six ; one sergeant and three privates of C company, 2d artillery, and four privates of B company, 3d artillery — eight.'' ^ % 'J^ ^ -i^ % It was reported that the Indians were fleeing south, and were assembled in the vicinity of the Kissimmee river. A co- lumn, from which detachments were made, was dispatched in that quarter. The enemy was found on the Hatch-e-luskee creek, near Tohopekeliga, attacked and routed by Colonel Hen- derson on the 26th January, after a resolute resistance. General Jesup's communication to the adjutant-general of the army, to- gether with the report of Colonel Henderson, shows the fortitude and bravery of officers and men, under every privation and dis- couragement. "Head-Quarters, Army of the South, ) Fort Armstrong, Feb. 7th, 1837. \ " Sir — I have the honor to report for the information of the secretary of war, and the general-in-chief, that the main body of the army under my command was put in motion on the 22d ult., to attack the Indians and negroes, in the strong-holds which they were said to occupy on the head- waters of the Ocklawaha. " On the 23d, Lieutenant-Colonel Caulfield was attached with his battaUon of mounted Alabama volunteers. Captain Harris's company of marines, and Major Morris's Indian warriors, accom- panied by my aid, Lieutentant Chambers, to attack Osuchee (Cooper), a chief of some note, who was reported to have a large i THE FLORIDA WAR. 171 Indian force under his command in a swamp on the borders of Ahpopka lake. The chief was surprised, himself and three warriors killed, and nine Indians (women and children) and eight negroes captured. One of our Indian warriors was mortally wounded, and died on the 26th. " It was ascertained from the prisoners, that the principal Indian and negro force had retired from the Ocklawaha, in a southeasterly direction, towards the head of the Coloosahatchee. Pursuit was immediately commenced, with no other guide than the track of their ponies and cattle. " The Thlau-hatkee (or White Mountain), an elevated range of hills, not mentioned by any geographer, nor described in any account of Florida which I have seen, was passed on the 24th. The ascent, in many places, was so difficult as to render drag-ropes and heavy details of men necessary, to take the bag- gage-wagons over the heights. " On approaching the Thla-pac-hatchee on the morning of the 27th, the herds of cattle feeding on the prairies, and the nu- merous recent trails in various directions, indicated the presence of the enemy. The army was halted, and scouts sent out on dif- ferent trails to obtain information. Colonel Henderson, with Lieutenant-Colonel Caulfield's battalion, Captain Harris's mounted marines, and Major Morris's Indian warriors, accompanied by my aid, Lieutenant Chambers, was detached to make a recon- noissance of the country in advance, with orders to attack the enemy, if he should find them, and deem his command sufficient, and report by express their force and position. " The enemy was found on the Hatchee-Lustee, in and near the " Great Cypress Swamp," and promptly and gallantly at- tacked. Lieutenant Chambers, with Price's company of Alabama volunteers, by a rapid charge, succeeded in capturing the horses and baggage of the enemy, with twenty-five Indians and negroes, principally women and children, the men having mostly fled into the swamp. " Colonel Henderson, leaving one company with the prisoners and horses, entered the swamp with the remainder of his com- mand, drove the enemy across the Hatchee-Lustee, passed that river under their fire, and drove them into a more dense and dif- ficult swamp, where they dispersed. " The messenger first sent to report to me was killed ; a second was more fortunate. The parties detached on other trails were called in, and Lieutenant-Colonel Freeman, with a small force of pioneers and artillery, being charged with the de- fence of the camp, the disposable force of Brigadier-General Armistead's brigade, with Major Graham's infantry, and Tuste- nugge Hajo's Indian warriors, was moved forward to support 172 THE FLORIDA WAR. Colonel Henderson. When the troops reached the point where the colonel had entered the swamp, it was ascertained that he was in rapid pursuit of the enemy, and was believed to be fully able to manage the force opposed to him. " The Indian scouts, at this moment, reported a large hostile force about two miles to our right. Major Whiting's battalion was left as a reserve, and the 6th infantry, with Major Graham's company of the 4th, and a small party of Indian warriors, was moved to the point indicated. The swamps and hammocks were entered, and passed by the troops in perfect order ; and the ad- vance, under Major Graham, found a large Indian encampment, with fires burning and provisions cooking — the enemy having fled to the surrounding swamps. " As night was approaching, pursuit was impossible ; and the troops returned to camp, where they arrived about nine o'clock. Colonel Henderson arrived after ten. " On the morning of the 28th a prisoner was sent to Jumper and the other hostile chiefs, with an offer of peace, on a strict fulfilment by them of the treaty ; and the army moved forward and occupied a strong position on Tohope-ka-hga Lake, within a few miles of the point at which the Cypress Swamp approaches it, where several hundred head of cattle were obtained. " The prisoner returned on the night of the 29th, with pacific messages from Alligator and Abraham. " Abraham visited me on the 31st. He returned and brought in Jumper and Alligator, with two sub-chiefs (one a nephew of Micanopy), on the 3d instant. " This chief entered into an arrangement to meet me at Fort Dade with the other chiefs of the nation, on the 18th instant; and promised to send out runners, and cause hostilities to be sus- pended until the conference shall have taken place. " I shall employ the intermediate time in preparations for the most vigorous "prosecution of the war ; and, from the informa- tion I have from prisoners, I shall probably be able to follow the enemy into their most hidden retreats, should they reject the terms offered to them. " The army commenced its return march on the morning of the 4th. I left it yesterday about thirty miles back, and came in last evening; it arrived to-day in good health and fine spirits. Colonel Henderson's report, a copy of which is enclosed, will give you more detailed information of the battle of the Hatchee- Lustee than I have been able to embody in this report. I write in the request, that the officers he has named may be rewarded by the distinguished approbation of the government ; and I ask, as an act of justice, that the same distinguished approbation be extended to the gallant colonel himself. THE FLORIDA WAR. 173 " Though but a small part of the force had the good fortune to engage the enemy in battle, all, without a single exception, have performed their duties in the most satisfactory m.anner. " They have opened a road nearly seventy miles into the in- terior of the enemy's country, and to the immediate vicinity of his strongest holds, v^here the vv^hite man had, perhaps, never been seen before ; and, by their patient, cheerful, and persevering labors, have contributed as much probably to their discomfiture, as would have been effected by a general and decisive battle. " To Brigadier-General Armistead, Lieutenant-Colonel Caul- field, Major Thompson, Major Whiting, and Major Morris ; and to Colonel Henderson, Lieutenant-Colonel Freeman, Major Kirby, and Major Graham, as well as to the officers and soldiers of their respective commands, I am under the greatest obligations, for the prompt and efficient support which they have, on all occasions, given to me during the expedition. " Lieutenant-Colonels Stanton and Brown, of the adjutant- general's department ; Captain Grossman, quartermaster ; Lieu- tenant Searle, principal* commissary ; Dr. Kearney, medical director ; Captain Tompkins, ordnance officer ; and my aids, Lieutenants Chambers and Linnard, merit my warmest com- mendation for the efficiency, ability, and zeal with which they have performed their duties Every department and every individual has fulfilled my utmost expectations, and nothing necessary to be done has been left undone. " As an act of justice to all my predecessors in command, I consider it my duty to say, that the difficulties attending military operations in this country can be properly appreciated only by those acquainted with them. I have had advantages which neither of them possessed, in better preparations, and more abundant sup- plies ; and I found it impossible to operate with any kind of suc- cess, until I had established a line of depots across the country, " This is a service which no man would seek with any other view than the mere performance of his duty : distinction, or in- crease of reputation, is out of the question ; and the difficulties are such, that the best concerted plans may result in absolute failure, and the best established reputation be lost without a fault. " If I have, at any time, said aught in disparagement of the operations of others in Florida, either verbally or in writing, offi- cially or unofficially, knowing the country as I now know it, I consider myself bound, as a man of honor, solemnly to retract it. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, TH. S. JESUP, Brigadier-General R. Jones, ^ Major-General commanding. '^^ Adjutant- General, Washington City. 174 THE FLORIDA WAR. COLONEL HENDERSON S REPORT. * " Head-Quarters, Army of the South, 1 Hatch-eeAus-kee, Jan. 28th, 1837. \ " General — Under your directions, I left the main army on the morning of the 27th, with the mounted Alabama volunteers under Lieutenant-Colonel Caulfield, and the company of mounted marines under Captain Harris, and proceeded, accompanied by your aid, Lieutenant Chambers, on a southerly trail. Orders were left for Major Morris, with his command, to follow as rapidly as possible. " Soon after we left your position, a large number of cattle were collected, and sent in under charge of portions of two com- panies of the Alabama volunteers. You were present, however, when this detachment was made. " The troops under my command then pursued the trail for about a mile, when we came to two diverging trails, one taking a southeasterly course, and the other more to the eastward. On these two trails the signs v/ere the most recent ; and Lieutenant Chambers, with a few men, proceeded to trace out one of them, while the rest of the troops, joined here by Major Morris's, pur- sued the other. We had proceeded but a short distance, when a volunteer, sent by Lieutenant Chambers, brought information that fresh signs of women's and children's tracks were discovered, and requested a company to be sent to him. Captain Price's compa- ny of volunteers was ordered accordingly. "About a mile in advance a negro man was captured at a fire. He informed us that a large number of negroes were in advance, and from forty to fif'y Indians, with Abraham, w^ere in our rear. He stated that he had left the latter body since sunrise in the morning. " The determination was promptly made to retrace our steps, and attack the Indians. Just as we were about to march, one of .the volunteers came up and gave information that Lieutenant Chambers had overtaken a considerable force of Indians and ne- groes. An order was given to proceed to his support, and a rapid movement made for that purpose. When we came up with him he was in possession of two Indian women and three chil- dren, besides a body of negroes taken by the volunteers in the adjoining pine woods. He had also in his possession over a hundred ponies, with a large quantity of plunder packed on them as well as several stand of arms. " The main body of the enemy escaped in the swamp, and Major Morris was ordered, with his command, to pursue and bring them in. He entered the swamp in accordance with the order. THE FLORIDA WAR. I75 " The remaining troops were then ordered to form, and pursue the Indian force in our rear, and were ready to march, when a firing commenced in the swamp. " Lieutenant Searle reached us here, under your orders, to obtain information of our position and movements. V\^hen the firing commenced, and the order given to move in support of Major Morris, he sent a messenger to you, and bravely joined the troops in entering the swamp. " About half past eleven, the marines, preceded by the officers entered the swamp, and were immediately followed by the Ala- bama volunteers. Four or five hundred yards after entering the swamp, we arrived at a deep stream, from twenty to twenty-five yards wide, and found Major Morris's battalion engaged with the enemy across it. A tree had been felled from each side and formed the only way of passing it. " The troops, as they came up, were ordered to extend to the right and left, and by a cross fire to dislodge the enemy. Their fire soon slackened, and an order was given to cross the stream, when Captain Morris (major of the first Indian battalion) gallantly advanced on the log, followed by Lieutenant Chambers, Lieuten- ant Searle, Captain Harris, Lieutenant Lee (captain of the In- dian battalion) swam the stream at this time, and joined the officers on the other side. I attempted to cross in this way, but had to return to the log, and crossed there. At this stream, pri- vate Wright, of the marines, was killed, and Sergeant Cunning- ham, and privates Sullivan and Foley, wounded, but not danger- ously. " Just as I was crossing, an officer was sent from Lieutenant- Colonel Caulfield, on our right, for orders. He was directed to cross as rapidly as he could with his men, after the regulars and Indians had crossed over. " We were then promptly joined by the marines, Morris's artillery, and some friendly Indians, and pursued the enemy as rapidly as the deep swamp and their mode of warfare admitted. " Another fire was received from them further in advance, and their trail from the swamp was followed through an open pine woods, and tr^aced till it again entered the sw^amp, three quarters of a mile from the place it came out. We were joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Caulfield and his men, who had been de- layed in crossing the stream. The swamp was again entered, deeper, and more difficult to pass, than it had been. The friendly Indians were directed to enter on each flank, while the regulars and volunteers advanced in the centre. The regulars were or- dered to lead the march. " After advancing about half a mile, the enemy again^ fired on us, but retreated on the advance of the troops. At this place, 176 THE FLORIDA WAR. private Peterson, of the marines, was killed, and Corporal Stevens severely but not dangerously wounded. On a further advance into the swamp, a few more guns were fired by the enemy, who retreated as the troops followed them. Soon after this last fire, a negro man and woman with a child, were taken, and an order was given for a return of the troops after four o'clock. The wife and child of the negro man were kept, and he was sent to the enemy to induce them to come in, as they had lost all their cloth- ing, blankets, and other property. " The troops then returned to the position occupied by Major Whiting, and remained there till joined by Lieutenant-Colonel Caulfield, who had remained in the open woods for one of his companies, which had not come out of the swamp. He joined some time after dark, with another negro prisoner, taken by his company. The troops then took up the line of march, and reached the camp of the main army at ten o'clock at night. "Captain Howie, acting assistant adjutant-general, was re- ported by the surgeon too unwell to accompany the troops on this expedition, and was not informed of my intention to. take command. He and Captain Crossman, however, entered the swamp with an expectation of taking part in the operations, but were not fortunate enough to join until the attacks were over. Such an effort is sufficient evidence of what their conduct would have been, had they succeeded in reaching us sooner. " The loss of the enemy in these several attacks could not be ascertained, as the troops made no halt in the pursuit, and returned after dark. One Indian, however, and two negroes, were seen by the troops, dead. " The result of this day's operations, was the capture of two Indian women and three children, and . twenty-three negroes, young and old — over a hundred ponies, with packs on about fifty of them. All their clothes, blankets, and other baggage, were abandoned by the enemy, and either taken or destroyed by us. " In concluding this report, it gives me pleasure to state, that Lieutenant-Colonel Caulfield's command executed every duty assigned it with great promptitude and firmness. " A portion of the friendly Indians, that came under my eye, also conducted themselves with great bravery. " The regular troops, both artillery and marines, displayed great bravery, and the most untiring and determined perseverance. The marines, however, I cannot refrain from mentioning in a particular manner. The killed and wounded show where they were, and render any further comment from me unnecessary. "Lieutenant Whitney, of Captain Harris's company, and Lieutenant Brent, of Captain Morris's, were with their compa- THE FLORIDA WAR. 177 nies, and shared in the dangers and fatigue of the day, in such a manner as to reflect credit on them. " I would recommend to the particular notice of yourself and the government, the five officers who first crossed the stream, and who, in the pursuit, constantly led the van. It would be as gra- tifying to me, as it would be just to them, that some marks of distinction be bestowed where such gallantry has been displayed. I remain, general, with great respect, Your obedient servant, Major-General Thos. S. Jesup, i ARCH. HENDERSON, Com. Army of the South. > Col. Com. 2d Brigade, Army of the South." Head Quarters, Hatch-e-las-kee, Fla. ) The wide-extended, and continued movement of the troops, induced the Indians to concert some scheme to avert the result so manifestly before them. To plant their fields was impossible, and without the usual product of corn and vegetables, much inconve- nience would be incurred. The season was approaching when crops should be planted, yet the white man still followed and broke up their encampments. Important chiefs and sub-chiefs had surrendered. They earnestly plead that peace might be granted, and the troops drawn in, to enable the friendly disposed to surrender, as large numbers were desirous of following their example. After much delay and various understandings and stipulations among all parties, the Indians assembled in large numbers, undei: their respective chiefs, at Fort Dade, on theWith- lacoochee river, where the following capitulation was entered into, and signed by most of the important men of the nation : Capitulation of the Seminole nation of Indians and their allies, by Jumper, Hala- toochee or Davy, and Yaholoochee, representing the principal chief, Micano- py, and fully empowered by him, entered into with Major-General Thomas S. Jesup, commanding the United States forces in Florida, this sixth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven. Article I. The chiefs above named, in behalf of themselves and the nation, agree that hostilities shall cease immediately, and shall not be resumed. Article II. They agree and bind themselves that the entire nation shall im- mediately emigrate to the country assigned them by the president of the United States, west of the Mississippi. Article III. Until they emigrate, they will place in the possession of the gen- eral commanding the troops, hostages for the faithful performance of their en- gagements. Article IV. The Indians shall immediately withdraw south of the Hillsbor- ough. Those found north of that river and a line drawn from Fort Foster due east from it to the ocean, without permission of the general commanding, after the 1st of April, will be considered hostile. Article V. Major-General Jesup, in behalf of the United States, agrees that the Seminoles and their allies, who come in and emigrate to the west, shall be secure in their lives and property ; that their negroes, their bona fide property, shall accompany them to the west ; and that their cattle and ponies shall be paid for by the United States at a fair valuation. 12 178 THE FLORIDA WAR. Article VL That the expenses of the movement west, shall be paid by tne United States. Article VII. That the chiefs, warriors, and their families and negroes, shall be subsisted from the time they assemble in camp, near Tampa Bay, until they arrive at their homes west of the Mississippi, and twelve months thereafter, at the expense of the United States. Article VIII. The chiefs and warriors, with their families, will assemble in the camp to be designated by the commanding general, as soon as they can, and at all events by the 10th of April. Yaholoochee will come in at once with his people, and the other towns will follow as fast as possible. Article IX. Transports will be ready to take the Indians and their negroes off to their western homes. Article X. Micanopy will be one of the hostages. He is to visit the com- manding general, and will remain near him, until his people are ready to move. Article XL All the advantages secured to the Indians by the treaty of Payne's Landing, and not enumerated in the preceding articles, are hereby recognized, and are secured to to them. Signed at Camp Dade, this sixth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven. THOMAS S. JESUP, Major -General Com. Army of the South. HoLATOocHEE X or Davy. HOETH-LEE-MA-TEE, X . Jumper, X . Yaholoochee X or Cloud. John Ca-wy-ya, X representing Hal-Patah-Hajo. A spot within ten miles of Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay; was agreed upon, at which the nation should assemble, preparatory to emigration. By the middle of May large numbers were in camp, under the direction of Micanopy, who had given his adhesion to the terms of capitulation. Alligator, Holatoochee, Jumper, and Cloud, and occasionally Coacoochee, came in to Fort Brooke, manifesting the best feehngs, and apparently gratified in witness- ing the preparations for their departure; Captain John Page, United States Army, was occupied in enrolling the names as they surrendered, and in issuing provisions and clothing. Twenty-six vessels lay in the harbor to transport them to New-Orleans. From week to week the time of embarkation ^vas postponed, upon the application of the chiefs, who gave as a reason, the expected ar- rival of friends and relatives, whom they wished to accompany them. An express came from Fort Mellon announcing the arrival there of Oseola or Powell, with his family, who expressed his desire for peace, and his approbation of the terms agreed upon in the capitulation at Fort Dade. The commanding general be- lieved the war to be at an end. The volunteers and militia were discharged. Colonel Henderson with his detachment of marines was ordered to the north, and that portion of the regular forces remaining, w^as posted at eligible points for health and comfort. The letter from Mr. Poinsett, secretary of war, to General Jesup, evinces a proper solicitude for the army. THE FLORIDA WAR. j.yg " War Department, May 1 7tli, 1837. " Sir — From the severe duty Vv^hich has been imposed on the troops in Florida, and their suffering, under circumstances of peculiar privation, in a climate little congenial to the health of most of them, I feel much concerned in their behalf, with a disposition to afford them every relief consistent with a just regard to the service, as I feel assured that every portion of the army serving in that quarter has done its duty most faith- fully, and is deserving of the kindest treatment. " Instead, therefore, of ordering the regiments of artillery to the Sabine, as directed, you will, as soon as circumstances will permit, allow the 1st, 2d, and 4th regiments to repair to the posts assigned them by general order No. 58, of last year, where, it is hoped, they will find repose, and be able to recruit their strength. The 3d regiment of artillery, which is destined to garrison the posts from Savannah to the Mississippi, you will order to Fort Mitchell, it being a healthy place ; or should the whole of the regiment not be required for duty at that place, during the unhealthy season, it may be distributed among the healthy stations assigned it in general "order No. 68, to wit : St. Augustine, and Forts Pickens and Morgan. " In communicating to you this mode of relief to the troops, it is not intended to interfere with any arrangements you may have made, or may think of making, for the security of the country, or the property belonging to the government ; but it is intended to convey to you an expression of my satisfaction with the conduct of the troops, and to evince to them, through you, the disposition which the department feels to relieve them as early as possible from the hardships and sufferings which they have so nobly sustained in the prosecution of the war against the Seminoles. " In sending the troops to their stations, as here indicated, a due regard should be had to their present positions, in order to relieve them as much as possible from marching through an unhealthy country at this season of the year. I have the honor to be, &c. " Major-General Thomas S. Jesup, ) JOEL R. POINSETT." Tampa Bay, Florida. ) Large numbers of the citizens of Florida at this period re- turned to their homes. The surrender of so many chiefs and sub-chiefs, known to be the war-spirits of the nation, induced the most incredulous to beheve that the conflict had ended. For a short time prosperity again smiled upon the land, but only to mislead and jeopardize the lives of the frugal and industrious, who again were compelled to flee and abandon all, or be mur- IQO THE FLORIDA WAR. dered by the same treacherous foe. The 5th of June, General Jesup informed the adjutant-general of the army at Washington, '' that the Indians who had surrendered for emigration at Fort Brooke, and were in readiness to embark, had precipitately fled." Various reasons were assigned for' this unexpected movement. The true reason was their indisposition to leave the country, and the determination of the younger chiefs that they never should. Coacoochee and Oseola or Powell, came to the camp at midnight, and required Micanopy to follow them, or they would take his life. The old man, timid and irresolute, and finding the step met the approbation of those around him, acquiesced, and under the guidance of these youthful chieftains, the entire camp, numbering some seven hundred souls, were far and safely on their way to Palaklikhaha before the break of day. Now well clothed for the approaching season, their crops far advanced, and the sickness throughout the country precluding the possibility of military movements, they asked nothing more of the whites, and were determined to enjoy their homes, until another emergency should compel them to capitulate. Some were inclined to emigrate, Micanopy at the head ; but the majority never designed to fulfil the capitulation made at Fort Dade. The commander of the army, as well as his officers, were discouraged at so unexpected and so infamous an act of treachery. No vigilance, sagacity, or forecast, could close a contest with an enemy utterly regardless of integrity and honor, nor could human wisdom defeat a scheme so ingeniously and covertly designed, and so promptly executed. The public mind became highly excited. The press condemned General Jesup without inquiry or investigation. In the escape of the Indians and the renewal of hostilities, their infidelity was lost sight of, and the embarrassments by which the commander was surrounded were completely disregarded. Those removed from the scene of action, could not understand and appreciate his position, even if disposed to listen. General Jesup desired to be relieved from the command of the army, deeming that how- ever meritorious his conduct might seem in the eyes of the gov- ernment, an officer could not be faithful to his country and himi- self, when embarrassed by the prejudices of the citizens around him. His letter to the adjutant-general of the army, of July 25th, 1837, enters more fully into his motives and reasons : " Head-Quarters, Army of the South, ) Fort Heileman, Garey's Ferry, July 25th, 1837. ) "General — I have received your letter of the 11th instant. On the 5th of June, on closing my official report to you, I asked to be relieved from the command of this army. I made this request to disembarrass the government, supposing that public THE FLORIDA WAR. 181 opinion, where all had not been successfully accomplished that had been expected, might demand my recall ; and I was unwilling that any consideration personal to myself, should, for a moment, embarrass the service, or interrupt or influence the plans of the government. On the 8th of this month, I received a letter from the general-in-chief, in which, referring to my request to be re- lieved, he informs me that the secretary of war had decided that, after posting the troops in such stations as to cover the frontiers from hostile attacks, as far as possible, consistently with a due regard to their health, I should be at liberty to resume my duties as quartermaster-general at the seat of government ; provided, on the receipt of that letter, I should still desire to be relieved. In the mean time it appeared to me, from the opinions of both mili- tary men and citizens, as far as they were made known to me, that I was expected to remain. The press, either mistaking or misrepresenting my motives, had attacked me for asking to be relieved ; and I informed the general, in reply, that I would retain the command of the army, unless the government should other- wise determine. That is my intention now, and I shall continue with this army until regularly relieved, or positively ordered to relinquish the command. " I desire you to lay this letter before the secretary of war and the general-in-chief; and at the same time assure them that, never having solicited command, and having no other object in view than the best interests of the service, I do not wish to be considered in the way of any plans or arrangements which they may believe will best promote those interests. I have the honor to be, sir, most respectfully, Your obedient servant, Brigadier-General R. Jones, ) TH. S. JESUP, Adjutant-General, Washington. ^ Major-General Com. Army of the South." Another campaign was now contemplated, upon the return of the healthy season. The forbearance and consideration for the enemy so long entertained, was turned to bitter hostility, and the officers and men were determined to practice their own game upon them. The citizens, harassed, and plundered, and deceived as they had been, from time to time, by their professions of friend- ship and capitulations, and seeing no end to the conflict, took the field, resolved to put to death every Indian that fell into their hands. The period of service of the friendly Creek Indians having expired on the 1st of September, they were discharged, and proceeded to New-Orleans, where their families had re- mained the year past, awaiting their return, when they were to proceed to Arkansas. To be relieved from this disagreeable service was gratifying. In battle they had been conspicuous, 182 THE FLORIDA WAR. and received at all times the concentrated fire of the enemy. Their lives were eagerly sought, and if taken prisoners, they ex- pected a most cruel death. To open the campaign with effect, volunteers were called for from the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, Louisiana, Georgia, Ala- bama, and Florida, and required to be in the field by the first day of October. On the 24th of October General Jesup addressed the subjoined order to the army under his command : ORDERS, I " Head-Quarters, Army of the South, ) No. 203. S St. Augustine, Oct. 24th, 1837. J " The major-general commanding, in reviewing the incidents of the past campaign, has the proud satisfaction to be able to say, that the duties of every department and every corps composing his command, have been performed to his entire satisfaction, and in a manner to reflect the highest honor on all concerned. " When the army took the field in December, the enemy's strongholds were on Orange Lake, Ocklawaha, Withlacoochee, and in Annutteliga hammocks ; they are now south of Lake Munroe and Tampa Bay. The frontier from St. Augustine to Suwannee, and from vSuwannee to St. Mark's, was then in a state of excitement and alarm ; it is now tranquil, and through- out the sickly season, which has just terminated, has been secure; and the communications between our most distant posts have been uninterrupted. " The permanent results of the campaign are thirty Indians and negroes killed, and upwards of five hundred prisoners taken ; by which more than two hundred rifles have been silenced, and competent guides have been obtained for future operations. To gain these important advantages, the troops have endured every hardship and privation ; they have been exposed to the drenching rains, the noxious vapors, and the scorching sun of an almost torrid climate ; they have waded rivers, made long marches over burning sands, traversed almost impassable swamps, and sought the enemy in fastnesses such as American soldiers had seldom penetrated before, and with a perseverance, and energy, and a courage, worthy the best era of the republic. " Had the policy of our country been hmited to peace, which in all past history has been the object of every war we had waged, it had been radically attained. The valor and persevering energy of the troops forced the enemy to pause in his career of destruc- tion, and agree upon the terms of a treaty. If that treaty has been violated, and it has been found impracticable to carry out the plans of the government in a single campaign, it should be remembered that more than peace has been sought to be obtained; THE FLORIDA WAR. 183 that we are attempting, for the first time, the solution of the diffi- cult problem of transferring a savage and a warlike people from one wide-spread wilderness to another. In every preceding in- stance of the emigration of an Indian nation, our population had been pressing upon them, and crowding them out of their posi- tion, before any effort had been made by the government to remove them ; and the Indians had themselves become sensible of the necessity for removing, long before they had taken up the line of march. " Though all expected from us by the public may not have been achieved, enough has been done to prove that there is no deterioration in the character and qualities of the American soldier, whether of the volunteer corps or the regular army ; and whatever differences of opinion may exist as to the measures of the commander, the pen of history, guided by the hand of justice, will not fail to assign to the officers and troops of his command a high place among the champions of their country's rights and honor. "Soldiers! much as you have performed, more remains to be done ; the enemy awaits you in fastnesses more difficult than any you have yet penetrated. The government has adopted the only policy which can preserve the Indians as a distinct and inde- pendent people. That policy must be accomplished, and the Seminoles removed. The same energy, courage, and patriotism, which distinguished you in the past campaign, are confidently relied on by your country and your commander, to accomplish in the next, the object so desirable to all — the emigration of the Indians and the termination of the war. By order of Major-General Jesup, J. A. CHAMBERS, Aid-de-Camp, and Assistant Adjutant-General." From this period to the 15th day of May, 1837, General Jesup's report of his operations in Florida, made in compliance with a resolution of the senate of the United States, is minute and interesting. It exonerates his conduct, and gives clearly and understandingly a view of his delicate and responsible duties, as well as showing satisfactorily, that both he and those under his command, labored most zealously to overcome the difficulties surrounding them. " Washington, July 7tli, 1838. " Sir — In conformity with the resolution of the senate, I. transmit, herewith, the report of Major-General Jesup, together with a letter from the secretary of war. ■ President of the Senate. M. VAN BUREN.'* 184 THE FLORIDA WAR. " War Department, July 7th, 1838. " Sir — In obedience to your directions, I have the honor to transmit, herewith, the report of Major-General Jesup, of his operations while commanding the army in Florida, together with my reply. 1 am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, President of the United States. J. R. POINSETT." " Department of War, July 7th, 1838. « Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 6th instant, containing a summary account of your operations in Florida. The department is aware of the obstacles to your complete success, presented by the face of the country, the nature of the climate, and the character of the ene- my, and fully appreciates your untiring efforts to carry out all its views, and to remove the Seminoles to their new homes in the west. You have accomplished all that could be expected, under the peculiar and difficult circumstances in which you were placed, from a zealous, active, and energetic officer ; and in withdrawing you from Florida, the department was actuated by no want of confidence in your zeal or ability to carry on the war to a suc- cessful issue, but from a belief that you might now return to the performance of the appropriate duties of your department without injury to the public service. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Major-General Thomas S. Jesup, ) J. R. POINSETT."" Washington City. ) " Washington City, July 6th, 1838. "Sir — Having been relieved from duty in Florida by the orders of the government, I deem it proper to present a narrative of the principal operations of the army under my command, as well as an explanation of the measures v/hich I considered it my duty to adopt, during the last campaign in that territory ; re- serving to myself the right to present a more detailed report, as soon as a release from my other duties will afford me the time to prepare it. " When I presented a project of a plan of campaign on the 15th of June of last year, I neither expected nor desired to retain ^command of the army. I believed that I had accomplished all that it was possible for me to accomplish with the means placed at my disposal ; yet I was aware the public, and particularly the people of Florida, were not satisfied with what had been done. Florida presented no field for military distinction. 1 had gone thither by the order of the government, at great personal sacri- fice, with no object in view beyond the faithful performance of THE FLORIDA WAR. 2Q5 my duty. 1 felt that I had performed that duty to the best of my abihties ; but I beheved the interests of the country required that the commander of the troops should possess entirely the pubhc confidence ; as without that confidence no military man can per- form his duties efficiently, under a popular government ; and I hold, that the moment the public confidence is withdrawn from a general, the executive is bound to remove him ; for, no matter what may be his merits, or how transcendent his abilities, his private and personal interests should not be put in competition with the interests of the nation. Such being my sentiments and opinions, I could not for a moment permit the executive to be embarrassed by any considerations personal to myself, and I asked, through the adjutant-general, to be relieved from command. " Your decision was received through the general-in-chief ; discretion was given to me to retain the command or retire from it. Had circumstances remained as when I asked to be relieved, I should have retired at once ; but a material change had taken place : the press, either mistaking or misrepresenting my motives, had denounced me, in no very measured terms, for asking to be relieved ; and the people of the country, as well as the officers of the army, so far as their opinions were made known to me, seemed to desire that I should retain the command. My feelings and interests alike prompted me to retire, but in the position I then found myself in, I beheved I was not at liberty to do so, and I announced my intention to remain. " Your letter approving my plan of campaign, was received on the 7th of August. Measures were immediately adopted to fulfill the views of the government. " In consequence of the alarm pervading the country, and the inefficiency of the regular troops, caused by their sickly condition, as well as by the want of officers, I had to give a military organi- zation to the whole population on the frontier. This was a mea- sure attended with considerable expense, but it was the only means in my power of preserving the country from entire de- vastation. I kept the mounted men constantly scouting, to deter the enemy from approaching the settlements, or annoying the in- habitants ; and was taking measures to commence active hostili- ties so soon as a small regular force should arrive. " While thus engaged, the commanding officer at Fort King reported the arrival of several Indians in the vicinity of that post ; and stated that the chiefs were desirous of communicating with me. I proceeded thither, and held conferences with them on the 19th and 20th of August. They expressed an earnest desire for peace, but declared the majority of the Indians to be averse to leaving the country. They were distinctly informed, 18Q THE FLORIDA WAR. that preparation to emigrate must be preliminary to any discus- sion in relation to peace ; that I would confer with them on no other subject ; that they must make up their minds to fulfill their treaty, and emigrate ; that when prepared to communicate to me that determination, a deputation would be received from them ; and they were directed to use a white flag to secure them from the attacks of any of our scouting parties that might be out at the time of their approach ; and they were assured, that after having fulfilled their treaty in good faith, by emigrating to the country assigned them west of the Mississippi, the executive would receive a deputation from them, and hear and attend to any thing they might have to say. " Coe-Hajo, the principal chief present, informed me that many of the Seminole chiefs were in favor of the treat)^ and ready to emigrate ; but Appiacca or Sam Jones, and Powell, who controlled the young men, were opposed to the measure ; and that the former had threatened with death all who favored it. He added, however, that the chiefs of the nation proposed to hold a council on the St. John's in a few days, where their whole policy was to be discussed, and particularly, at his instance, the question of emigration ; but he was certain that Appiacca would prevent the council, if possible, or at all events oppose the execu- tion of the treaty. He promised to meet me at Fort King in twenty days, and inform me whether the chiefs had met in council, and their determination. In the mean time, he desired that hostilities should cease on both sides. Being then in the midst of the sickly season, I assented to the proposition ; and it was arranged that all the Indians should withdraw south of Fort Mellon, and on no account return north of the post ; that they should neither cross to the eastern side of the St. John's, nor to the western side of the Fort King road ; and that the violation of any of those terms should be considered an act of hostility. " Coe-Hajo did not return to Fort King at the time appointed; and I learned afterwards that but few chiefs attended the council, and those who attended, though they made a law to punish any of their people who should commit depredations upon the white inhabitants, decided not to leave the country. " On the 4th of September, several negroes surrendered at Fort Peyton, near St. Augustine, and communicated important information. Lieutenant Peyton, the commanding officer at the post, made arrangements to proceed with a part of his command ^ against a body of Indians and negroes, which they represented to be forty or fifty miles below. Brigadier-General Hernandez, who commanded the troops and posts east of the St. John's, in- creased the force, took the direction of the movement, and pro- THE FLORIDA WAR. 187 ceeded south ; the result of his operations was the surprise and capture of two camps of Indians and negroes, among whom were several important chiefs. " One of these chiefs, Emathla (King Phillip), desired to com- municate with his family, to induce them to surrender. General Hernandez permitted one of the prisoners to bear his message. Coacoochee (Little Wild Cat), a son of Phillip, returned with the messenger. Phillip, after conferring with him, proposed to send him out with messages to the chiefs and people, promising that many of them would return with him. General Hernandez informed me, that he was under no obligation to allow him to leave St. Augustine ; but, on full consideration of the subject, I deemed it proper to permit him to go with the message of his father. He promised to bring in all the Seminoles of the St. John's ; but I authorizes! no one to be invited to come in for any other purpose than to remain. I promised, however, that all who should come in and surrender, should receive kind treatment. Previous to his departure he examined several sites, in company with General tiernandez, for the purpose of determining on a suitable position for an encampment. " He went out, and on the J 7th of October returned, and reported that about a hundred Indians, and as many negroes, were on their way to St. Augustine. General Hernandez, with a detachment of troops, went to meet them. He met the advance at Pellicier's Creek, and directed them to move forward to Fort Peyton, where it was intended they should encamp. " On the 20th, John Cavallo, a sub-chief, a hostage who had violated his parole in May of last year, came into St. Augustine with a message from Powell and Coe-Hajo, stating that they had encamped near the fort, and desired to see General Hernandez. Several negroes came in on the same day : from them I learned that the Indians had, but a short time previous, killed a white man ; that they did not intend to leave the country ; that they were desirous of obtaining powder and clothing ; and, as some of the negroes expressed it, they had ' come for no good ;' and that, when they set out for St. Augustine, a party of Miccasukies and Tallahassees had started from their camp for the Alachua frontier, to steal horses and drive off cattle. " The Indians, by their chiefs, had surrendered to me by capi- tulation at Fort Dade, in March, 1837; and, in addition, Powell had, in May of that year, gone in to Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, at Fort Mellon, and had received subsistence to take his band to Tampa Bay. Coe-Hajo had received subsistence for his band for the same purpose. The former, in violation of his plighted faith, not only failed to go on himself, but prevented Coe-Hajo, by force and threats, from fulfilling his engagements, which he was at- 188 THE FLORIDA WAR. tempting faithfully to do. He also attempted to kill Yaholo-Hajo, an unarmed herald or messenger, whom, in a period of peace, I had sent to communicate with Coe-Hajo and Nocose-Yoholo. " As I had informed the chiefs ait Fort King that I would hold no communication with the Seminoles, unless they should determine to emigrate ; as I had permitted no Indian to come in for any other purpose but to remain ; as they were all prisoners of war, or hostages who had violated their parole ; as many of them had violated the truce entered into at Fort King, by occu- pying the country east of the St. John's ; by allowing predatory parties to go to the frontier, and by killing at least one white man ; and as the white flag had been allowed for no other pur- pose than to enable them to communicate and come in without danger of attack from our parties, it became my duty to secure them, on being satisfied of the fact that they intended to return to their fastnesses. I accordingly required General Hernandez to seize them, and take them to St. Augustine ; but, notwith- standing their character as prisoners and hostages who had vio- lated their parole, and who according to the laws of war, as recognized by civilized nations, had forfeited their lives, I directed that they should be treated with every kindness, and have every accommodation consistent with their security. " Soon after the seizure of the Indians, Powell and Coe-Hajo requested an interview with me. I saw them at my quarters, at St. Augustine. They informed me that Micanopy, Jumper, Ho- latoochee, and the greater part of the Seminoles were ready to execute their treaty, and were only deterred from coming in by the Miccasukies. They advised that messengers be sent to Mi- canopy and Jumper ; and requested to be allowed to send for their own people, who, they said, would come in, on being as- sured their lives will be spared. I permitted them to send mes- sengers to their families and people, and I sent a messenger to Micanopy. " The principal Indian force on the 1st of October, as I as- certained about the 10th of that month, was concentrated on the Upper St. John's, though there were several small roving bands north of Fort Mellon and Tampa Bay, and other bands spread over the country south to Florida Point. The theatre of my operations extended over more than five degrees of latitude. To cover a country so vast, forty posts were required to be occu- pied during the campaign ; and I was obliged to operate from a base extending from Charlotte's Harbor, by way of the Suwannee, to St. Augustine, upwards of 300 miles. " I had desired to commence operations on the 1st of Octo- ber, because, at that time, the St. John's is navigable a greater distance than at a later period ; and I could then have availed THE FLORIDA WAR. jgg myself of more than two months of the services of the Florida troops, whose term of service expired in December. The regu- lar troops, however, did not begin to arrive until near the last of October, and they continued to come in until December. The principal volunteer force arrived about the 1st of December. " Colonel Smith, of Louisiana, was ordered to enter the peninsula through the Coloosehatchee. His operations covered the whole country from that river south to Cape Sable. The results w^ere one or two skirmishes, in which he lost a few men, probably killed some of the enemy, and took 243 prisoners. " General Taylor was directed to proceed from Tampa Bay, open a road in nearly an eastern direction into the heart of the country, estabhsh a post on the head of Pease Creek, another on the Kissimmee, and attack the enemy in that quarter. His operations covered the whole country east of the Fort King road, Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, from the Withlacoo- chee to the Coloosehatchee, and east of the Kissimmee to the eastern line of the Okechobee. He came up with the enemy on the Okechobee, on the 25th of December, attacked them, and in one of the best fought actions known to our history, gained a complete victory, though with great loss of officers and men. The enemy have acknowledged a loss of fourteen killed. During the whole of General Taylor's operations, he has taken and secured 484 Indians and negroes. " Brigadier-General Nelson, with a brigade of Georgia volun- teers, was directed to secure the frontier of Middle Florida, and the western part of East Florida. His operations covered the country west of the Fort King road, from the southern point of the Annuttaliga Swamp to the Withlacoochee, and to the head of that river ; and south of the Tallahassee road to Stein-Hat- chee ; the whole distance on the coast being a continued swamp, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the interior, from ten to thirty miles, and along the Gulf a hundred and fifty miles (further than from this city to Philadelphia). He had several skirmishes with the enemy, and the result of his operations, so far as they have been reported to me, is six Indians killed, and fourteen pris- oners. " Colonel Snodgrass, with a battalion of Alabama volunteers, was ordered to scour the swamps and hammocks between Black Creek and the Ocklawaha, and drive out, capture, or destroy, any Indians in that section of country, and then to operate between the St. John's and the Ocklawaha. He performed the duty assigned to him north of the latter river ; then crossed to the east of the St. John's at Picolata ; passed around Dunn's Lake ; and, recrossing at Volusia, took a position at the Four Lakes, about twenty miles west of that post. His operations covered the 190 THE FLORIDA WAR. country between the St. John's and the Ocklawaha, and west of the latter to Fort King, and around Orange Lake, and through the swamps about Orange Lake Creek. He destroyed several Indian villages, and though often on the trails of small bodies of Indians, he succeeded in taking but one prisoner. " Lieutenant-Colonel Coffee, of the Alabama volunteers, was ordered to proceed by land from Carey's Ferry to Fort Mellon, with four companies. He marched to Fort King; then proceeded to the Okeehumka Hammock, crossed the Ocklawaha immediately below the outlet of Ahapopka Lake, and thence to Fort Mellon, by moving along the eastern side of that lake. He was after- wards sent on an expedition from Fort Christian to Tohopkeliga. "Major Lauderdale, with the Tennessee volunteers, crossed the St. John's at Picolata, traversed the country between that river and the Atlantic to Volusia, and thence to Lake Munroe. " General Hernandez commenced operations east of the St. John's in September. After securing Powell and Coe-Hajo, and their bands, he was ordered south to Spring Garden, where he made several prisoners. He was again ordered forward to New- Smyrna, when the general movement of the army took place ; his mounted men by land, and foot by water, on the Atlantic. He caused posts to be established at New-Smyrna, and at the haul-over, from Mosquito Lagoon to Indian River ; and made arrangements to receive supplies west of Indian River, turned the head of it, and then traversed the country to Lake Munroe, where he communicated with me at Fort Mellon. Here the Tennesseans joined him, and he proceeded forward to the head of the St. John's. Lieutenant-Colonel Pierce, with several com- panies of his regiment (the 1st artillery), moved in barges down Indian River to the inlet, where he established a post, built Fort Pierce, and employed his command in bringing supplies from the haul-over to the fort, and thence to Fort Jupiter. The result of General Hernandez's operations was two Indians killed, and two hundred and ninety-seven Indians and negroes taken. " Lieutenant Powell, of the navy, with a small naval and military force, proceeded south from Fort Pierce, to examine the south lagoon of that river as far as Jupiter Inlet. He landed at the head of one of the branches of Jupiter River ; fell in with and attacked a body of Indians, and, after a most gallant effort, was overpowered by numbers, and compelled to retreat with the loss of several officers and men killed and wounded. He killed three Indians and a negro, and made one prisoner. " General Eustis, having organized the regular troops, by assigning the recruits to companies, and having caused Volusia and Fort Mellon to be occupied, and proper garrisons of mounted men and foot to be placed at the several posts on the frontier to THE FLORIDA WAR. igj Fort King, proceeded from Garey's Ferry, on the 17th of No- vember, to Fort Mellon. Colonel Twiggs had been previously detached to Volusia, with instructions to examine the countrj^ between the St. John's and the Ocklawaha ; and Colonel Mills had been detached from the Suwannee frontier, via Fort King, to the same point, with orders to scour the country on his route. I accompanied General Eustis's command to Volusia, and there, joining the mounted force under Colonel Twiggs and Colonel Mills, proceeded to Fort Mellon by land, where I arrived on the 26th of November. Late in that month, the chief Coa-coochee, with seventeen of his band, escaped from St. Augustine. At Fort Mellon I found the messenger sent out by Powell and Coe- Hajo, and the messenger I had sent to Micanopy. That chief sent me word that he was ready to fulfill the arrangement made at Fort Dade, and he had no doubt of inducing the chiefs and the greater part of his people to surrender. " Previously to my departure from Picolata, a deputation of Cherokee chiefs arrived from their principal chief, John Ross, to the Seminoles. That talk contained, as I thought, propositions at variance with my instructions. It held out to the Seminoles the promise of a treaty ; but I was required to enforce the provisions of an existing treaty, not to make a new treaty. The deputation were told, that unless the talk were modified they would not be allowed to present it. They were permitted to go to Fort Mel- lon, where, having consented to change the more objectionable parts of the talk, they were allowed to proceed on their mission. Coe-Hajo, who was desirous of collecting and emigrating his people, was sent out as a guide to the Cherokees, and as my messenger to the Seminole chiefs. I authorized no assurances to be given to the Indians that they were to come to my camp and be permitted to return. I promised them protection and kind treatment. If the Cherokees promised more, it was on their own responsibility, and without my authority. Coe-Hajo returned with many of his people, accompanied by the Cherokees, and by the chiefs Micanopy, Cloud, Toskegee, and Nocose Yoholo, with fifteen or twenty of their followers. Micanopy reported that he had come to remain with me, and assured me that his people would come in and emigrate. " A council was held, the chiefs agreed to fulfill their treaty ; they designated messengers to be sent out to collect their people, and bring them to camp. Some of the Cherokees accompanied those messengers ; they returned v/ith favorable reports ; went out again, returned, and reported the failure of their mission. During the last visit of the Cherokees, most of the attendants of Micanopy and Cloud left them. Micanopy reported their flight 192 THE FLORIDA WAR. to me, and desired that they might be pursued ; and Coe-Hajo, fearing that some of his people might follow their example, re- quested that they might be brought into camp. The Cherokees returned to Washington. I lost fifteen most important days by their negotiation — a delay, the consequences of which no subsequent effort could retrieve ; for, in the mean time, the Seminoles had dispersed, and the water in the St. John's had fallen so low as to compel me to use the boats propelled by oars and poles, to trans- port supplies to the depots which I found it necessary to estabhsh further south on that river. " The Seminole chiefs, with Coe-Hajo and his people, in all seventy-two, were ordered to St. Augustine, and thence, those taken with Powell, to Charleston. " Major Dearborn was sent forward, with a detachment and suppHes, in barges, to establish a depot at the head of Lake Har- ney; and General Eustis moved, with the principal force, by land. The country was so difficult that his march was neces- sarily slow. He erected Fort Christmas at Powell's Town on the 25th of December, and arrived on the 16th of January at Fort Taylor, a post about a hundred miles south of Fort Mellon, established by Colonel Twiggs, who had been sent in advance. " Lieutenant Searle had been sent up the St. John's, to ex- plore it ; and Colonel Harney had followed, with several barges loaded with forage. They ascertained the practicability of navi- gating the river to Fort Taylor. "On the 6th of January, leaving General Eustis to follow with the foot and a squadron of dragoons, I moved forward from Fort Taylor, with about five hundred mounted men, dragoons and volunteers, for the purpose of communicating with General Taylor. Previous to my departure, Lieutenant Ross had arrived, with abundant supplies, in barges. On the 7th I crossed the Big Cypress Swamp, and discovering fresh trails of Indians, sent out several scouting parties. One of them fell in with a small body of Indians, of whom they killed one warrior, and captured another, whom we employed as a guide. On the 9th I arrived at the head of the St. John's, where General Hernandez joined me, from the eastern side of the river. "On the 10th I proceeded forward, for the purpose of finding General Taylor's route. On the 11th the guide informed me that he had mistaken the trail and brought me too far to the east. As it was important, not only to communicate with General Taylor, but to be certain of supplies at Fort Pierce, I directed the troops to fall back to the camp, near the head of the St. John's, whence they were moved to Fort Pierce. Having ob- tained a supply of forage, and directed that a depot be established THE FLORIDA WAR. I93 on the St. Lucey River, I returned to camp, where I found Gen- eral Eustis. He had opened a communication with Fort Basin- ger, on the Kissimee. " On the 20th the army moved from the head of the St. John's, and on the 24th came up with the enemy, strongly posted on the Locha-Hatchee, attacked, beat, and dispersed them ; crossed the river on the 25th, and encamped on Jupiter Bay. A stockade (Fort Jupiter) was erected here. The column was delayed at this post for shoes and other supplies, until the 5th of February ; but in the mean time the mounted troops were kept actively em- ployed. Every thing necessary being received, it was put in motion on that day, and encamped about twelve miles in advance. In the evening General Eustis called on me, and urged me to terminate the war by an arrangement with the Indians, by which they should be left in the southern part of Florida; he believing, as I did, that from the nature of the country in which we were operating, no permanent advantage could be obtained except by peaceable means. The general expressed the most decided opin- ion that the department would approve the measure. I promised to consider it. On the 6th the column moved forward, and in, the afternoon the officers in advance reported three or four fresh moccasin tracks, and stated that the trail had taken nearly a westerly direction. I ordered the troops to encamp, and sent a detachment of dragoons, with several Shawnee Indians, forward, accompanied by my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Linnard, to recon- noitre the country. The detachment returned and reported 'fresh signs of a small party of Indians.' While it was out. Col- onel Twiggs, with other superior officers of the army, called on me, and urged, as General Eustis had, that I should terminate the war by allowing the Indians to retain part of the country ; they believing that no decided advantage could be gained over them unless they could be withdrawn from the swamps. Understand- ing from those gentlemen that most, if not all, the officers of the army entertained similar views, I, on full consideration, decided to send a messenger to the Indians, and offer them peace ; but I determined on no account to grant them the privilege of remain- ing in the country, unless the measure should be sanctioned by the general government. " Early on the morning of the 7th, a Seminole negro was sent out to endeavor to come up with the Indians, and invite the chiefs to a conference. The column was put in motion about 8 o'clock, and had proceeded several miles, when the trail ap- peared to terminate. Parties were sent forward in various direc- tions ; the trail was found, and when the troops were about to advance. General Eustis reported to me that several Indians were waiting for me with a flag, in advance of a cypress swamp 13 194 THE FLORIDA Vv^AR. in advance of the army. I met them: a young chief, Hallec- Hajo, conducted the conference on their part. He spoke of the wretched condition of the Indians, and of their ardent desire for peace ; but declared the greater part of them wished to remain in the country ; that they would thankfully receive from us any part of it, however small, that we might think proper to assign for their residence. He added, that if I required them to leave the country, they must go. I demanded hostages, or the surrender of their arms. He would not consent to either, from the impos- sibility, as I afterwards learned, of enforcing obedience to such a measure. I required that Toskeegee, the principal chief of the party, should attend. He met me next day, with Hallec-Hajo ; and after some discussion it was arranged, that the Indians should assemble within ten days, in a camp near Fort Jupiter, with their families, and await the decision of the president whether they should remain in the country. I promised to recommend that a small district should be assigned for their residence in the south part of the peninsula; and they agreed, if the Miccasukeis should not come in, to furnish guides to conduct the troops to their fastnesses. Though the arrangement for allowing the In- 'dians to remain in the country was urged upon me by General Eustis, Colonel Twiggs, and other superior officers, I adopted it on my own responsibility. I mention the fact now, not to re- move any part of the blame which may be attached to the measure from myself to them ; but to show, that their opinions of the course best adapted to subserve the interests of the country, coincided with mine. I beheved then, and I believe now, that, as the commander-in-chief of the army in the field, I had the right to adopt those measures, either of direct hostility or of pohcy, which promised to be most successful in the end ; taking care not to place the ultimate decision of them beyond the con- trol of my official superiors. The measure I adopted, has re- sulted in the peaceable surrender of between eleven and twelve hundred Indians and negroes ; three hundred and nineteen of whom are warriors, or men capable of bearing arms. Had any other course been adopted, it is questionable whether twenty warriors could have been killed or taken. " Having been apprised, by prisoners taken in the preceding campaign, of an arrangement entered into previous to the war, through the Seminole negroes, between the Indians and their slaves, that so soon as hostilities should commence, the latter were to join them and take up arms, I informed the Indians that all their negroes must be separated from them, and sent out of the country. On the 27th of February, I sent off a party of Indians and negroes to Tampa Bay, on their way to the west. " Before I received your decision on my proposition in favor THE FLORIDA WAR. 195 of the Indians, the second chief of the nation, Hala-too-chee, had joined me from New-Orleans. Through his influence I had gained the chiefs who had come in, and I apprehended no diffi- culty as to emigrating their people. Toskeegee assured me that he would go to the west, even should the government give him land in Florida ; and Hallec-Hajo declared that he was ready to obey the orders of the president, and at all events he would not sepa- rate from his negroes. " Your decision in relation to the Indians, was received on the 17th of March. On the 19th, I directed the Seminole chiefs to meet me in council at 12 o'clock on the 20th. Toskeegee sent me word that he did not wish to attend ; that he and his people would go with Halatoochee ; and that I must manage Passac-Micco, and his party. None of the chiefs attended the council, and I directed Colonel Twiggs to seize the whole party. Five hundred and thirteen Indians were secured on the 21st and the two succeeding days ; which with a hundred and sixty-five negroes, that at different times were taken and sent to Tampa Bay, made an aggregate taken at Jupiter, of six hundred and seventy-eight. Passac-Micco, with fourteen others, escaped. " On the 24th of March, I detached Halatoochee, Tustenuck- cocha-conee, and the negro chief Abraham, to General Taylor. They were sent out with messages to the Seminoles west of the Okechobee and Pahai-okee ; and prevailed upon Alligator, with three hundred and sixty Indians and negroes, of whom a hun- dred were warriors, to surrender to Colonel Smith and General Taylor. " Major Lauderdale had been detached with a company of the 3d artillery, and two hundred Tennessee volunteers, to ex- plore the country south, and to establish a post at New River. Previous to his arrival there, two of our people had been killed by some of Toskeegee's warriors. We were then in the midst of a truce ; the Indians were afterwards captured, and the pro- perty of the murdered men found on them. " Hearing from Indians who had come in, that Appiacca was in the Everglades, near New River, I ordered General Eustis to proceed to that point with additional force, but, in consequence of depredations committed by the Indians in Middle Florida, his destination was changed, and he was sent to the north frontier of the territory ; and Lieutenant-Colonel Bankhead, with a strong detachment of the 1st and 4th artillery, was ordered to New River. "On arriving at New River, Lieutenant-Colonel Bankhead, by means of messengers furnished by Toskeegee, communicated with the Indians. They promised to meet him, but failed to do so, and he prepared to attack them. He was joined by Lieu- 196 THE FLORIDA WAR. tenant Powell, of the navy., and Major Lauderdale, with their commands ; and having captured, by a detachment under Lieu- tenant Anderson, Pahose-Micco, a sub-chief of Toskeegee, with his band of forty-seven persons, he proceeded into the Everglades in pursuit of Appiacca. The nature of the country was such, that the soldiers could not even carry their cartridge-boxes. They were compelled to deposit them, with their muskets, in light boats, which they pushed before them through the mud for many miles to an island, where they found, the Indians. Lieu- tenant-Colonel Bankhead attempted to communicate with them, but they fired upon his flag. He attacked and dispersed them ; but the troops were unable to find, or follow them. " Lieutenant-Colonel Harney relieved Lieutenant-Colonel Bankhead in command. He pursued the Indians, came up with Appiacca (Sam Jones) fifteen or twenty miles southwest of Key Biscayne, attacked and beat him; and he was making arrange- ments for a further pursuit, when he was recalled. " I crossed from Fort Jupiter to Tampa Bay in April, to at- tack the Miccasukies and Tallahassees in the swamps to which they had retired, near the mouth of the Withlacoochee ; and was drawing troops to that quarter, and had Indian guides employed who were acquainted with the positions they occupied, when I received general order No. 7, directing the movement of troops to the Cherokee country, and relieving me from command. I was compelled reluctantly to abandon the enterprise. " The chiefs, Coe-Hajo, Toskeegee, Hallec-Hajo, Tustenuck- cocho-conee, and many others, have declared that the Cherokee deputation assured them in council, that the Indians were to re- main in the country ; and that I was carrying on the war con- trary to the orders of the president. This accords with the information received through the negro chief Abraham, in De- cember, and the negro Auguste, in February. " Fifty-four Indians and negroes surrendered at Fort Mellon in November ; sixty-five had been taken in small bands at different times during the campaign ; several Indians had been reported to have been killed by small scouting-parties in Middle Florida, and the western part of East Florida ; and messengers whom I had sent out to the Ocklawaha had brought into Fort King, before I left the country, twenty-four Indians. " The number of Indians and negroes altogether, who sur- rendered or were taken by the army, from the 4th of September, 1837, until I left Florida, amounted to nineteen hundred and seventy-eight — twenty-three of whom escaped — leaving nineteen hundred and fifty-five actually secured; and I estimated the killed at thirty-five — though I am confident, from the admission of the chiefs, that, with those who died of their wounds, the number THE FLORIDA WAR. 197 killed was much greater. Of this number killed and taken, the warriors, or those capable of bearing arms, exceeded six hundred. " From the time I commenced operations in December, 1836, to the 4th of September, 1837, the number of Indians and negroes taken and killed by the different detachments of the army, were equal to about four hundred ; over a hundred of whom were warriors, or men capable of bearing arms. " It will thus be seen, that during the whole period of my command in Florida, the Indians and negroes taken,' with those who voluntarily surrendered, amounted to near twenty-four hun- dred, over seven hundred of whom were warriors. " The villages of the Indians have all been destroyed, and their cattle, horses, and other stock, with nearly all their prop- erty, taken or destroyed. " The swamps and hammocks have been every where pene- trated, and the whole country traversed, from the Georgia line to the southern extremity of Florida ; and the small bands who remain dispersed over that extensive region, have nothing of value left but their rifles. " These results, trifling, as they are compared with those of the Creek campaign, and with public expectation, are greatly beyond what we had any right to hope, when we consider the nature and extent of the country which has been the theatre of operations, and our utter ignorance of the greater part of it, even when we commenced the last campaign. Nothing but the un- tiring devotion of both officers and soldiers to their duties, and the energy and efficiency of the different branches of the staff*, could have enabled me to overcome the difficulties which sur- rounded me, so far as to accomplish what has been done. " If our operations have fallen short of public expectation, it should be remembered that we were attempting that which no other armies of our country had ever before been required to do. I, and my predecessors in command, were not only required to fight, beat, and drive the enemy before us, but to go into an un- explored wilderness and catch them. Neither Wayne, Harrison, nor Jackson, was required to do this ; and unless the objects to be accomplished be the same, there can be no just comparison as to the results. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Hon. J. R. Poinsett, Secretary of Vv^ar, ) THOMAS S. JESUP." Washington. ) In connection with General Jesup's conflict with the enemy, on the 24th of January, 1838, at Jupiter River, of which his official report is given, there arose in his mind a suggestion, to put 198 THE FLORIDA WAR. an end to the conflict, and with this in view he held intercourse with the Indians, and at the same time made the above sugges- tions to the government. " Head-Quarters, Army of the South, Camp ) on Jupiter River, Jan. 26th, 1838. ) " Sir — This division of the army, which I have accompanied, took up the hne of march from Fort Lloyd, at the head of the St. John's, on the 20th instant, and arrived at the Indian crossing- place on the Locha-Hatchee on the 24th, between eleven and twelve o'clock, A. M. The enemy was found there in an almost impregnable position, attacked and dispersed, and the army en- camped on the battle-ground. " The Indian force has been variously estimated at from one to three hundred warriors. I am of opinion that not more than one hundred were engaged ; but the strength of their position was such that they ought to have held it much longer than they did. The regular troops, both officers and soldiers, behaved as they always do, in the best manner. Some confusion occurred among the Tennessee volunteers, in consequence of which they suffered severely; but order was readily restored. Many of them behaved with the greatest bravery, and all of them as well as raw troops usually behave in their first encounter with an enemy. The North Alabama volunteers were on the right, and ready for action ; but the enemy being before the left and centre, they were not engaged. " Yesterday was occupied in throwing a bridge across the Locha-Hatchee, passing the army over, and marching to this place, distant four miles, where I shall be compelled to await supplies from Fort Pierce. " Late last night I ascertained, by the scouts sent out in the morning, that the enemy had retreated south. Pursuit will be renewed so soon as I shall obtain four or five days' subsistence. "My wound, though severe, shall not prevent me moving with the army. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, * Brigadier-General R. Jones, > TH. S. JESUP, Adjutant-General, Washington City. > Major-General Commanding. " Return of the killed and wounded : Major-General Jesup, severe flesh-wound in the face. Killed — 3d regiment of artillery, two; Tennessee volunteers, five — seven. Wounded — 3d regi- ment of artillery, six ; 2d regiment of dragoons, one ; Tennessee volunteers, twenty-three* — thirty." * Eight dangerously (two since dead) and fifteen shghtly. THE FLORIDA WAR. 199 General Jesup's letter to the secretary of war and his answer, are important records in the history of the general government, as well as being connected with the prosecution of the war. The general, with a candid spirit of wisdom and philanthropy, pleads the cause of his foe, and urges upon the government with cogent reasons, the adoption of measures, the result of experi- ence, which, had they been listened to, would have saved the nation millions of dollars, as well as the lives of valuable citizens and officers. Mr. Poinsett, the secretary of war, persists, in answer, to the same mistaken policy which commenced the con- test. The stipulations of the treaty of Payne's Landing had to be fulfilled. No questions of expediency were permitted to arise, no politic course could be adopted, whereby the end in proper time could be attained ; but the same demand was made which caused the rupture ; and tw^o years had elapsed in the prosecu- tion, draining the national treasury, and sacrificing the lives of her citizens, without the fulfillment of one single stipulation. " Head- Quarters, Army of the South, ) Fort Jupiter, Feb. 11th, 1838. ] '" Sir — I reported to the adjutant-general, on the 9th instant, the operations of this division of the army south of this post, to that date, and the arrangements I had entered into with the chiefs Tuskeegee and Hallek-Hajo. The arrangement is, that they are to come in, with their families and people, and are to await the decision of the president, whether they shall remain in the country or not. I promised to recommend that they be per- mitted to remain, and that a portion of this territory be assigned to them as their residence. Before presenting my views on that subject, and redeeming my pledge to the Indians, it might be proper for me to state my own position in regard to the ques- tion of emigration, so that in what I shall say in relation to the Seminoles, my views in regard to the general principle may not be mistaken. Believing, as I do, that the Indians cannot, under our constitution, have a separate political existence within an inde- pendent state of this Union, without the consent of the state, I believe it is due to the states in which they are congregated in large bodies, to remove them whenever they are pressed upon by the white population, and their lands become necessary to the agricultural wants of the community. And I hold that congress, and not the Indians, are to determine the proper time for their removal. We, in our federal capacity, owe the Indians protec- tion; not that protection secured to our own citizens by the equal operation of our laws, for that, in their condition, would be merely nominal protection ; but we owe them, in their individual and collective capacity, that protection which the parent owes to 200 THE FLORIDA WAR. the child, or the guardian to the ward ; and to secure them that protection, we must place them beyond the operation of state laws. With the fullest conviction, therefore, not only of the policy, but of the justice and humanity of the measure, I am in favor of their entire emigration ; and I have supported that policy under four successive administrations. But I believe we should not apply the principle until the white population are in con- tact with, or intermingled among them. ■ The state of things at which I consider their removal imperative, actually existed when the tribes inhabiting Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Mis- sissippi, and South Alabama, were sent to the west : that state of things actually exists in relation to the Cherokees in Tennessee, North Alabama, and Georgia ; and, regardless of the opposition made to the measure, they should be at once removed. " In regard to the Seminoles, we have committed the error of attempting to remove them when their lands were not required for agricultural purposes ; when they were not in the way of the white inhabitants ; and when the greater portion of their country was an unexplored wilderness, of the interior of which we were as ignorant as of the interior of China. We exhibit, in our present contest, the first instance, perhaps, since the commence- ment of authentic history, of a nation employing an army to ex- plore a country, (for we can do little more than explore it,) or attempting to remove a band of savages from one unexplored wilderness to another. "As a soldier it is my duty, I am aware, not to comment upon the policy of the government, but to carry it out in accord- ance with my instructions. I have endeavored faithfully to do so ; but the prospect of terminating the war, in any reasonable time, is any thing but flattering. My decided opinion is, that unless immediate emigration be abandoned, the war will continue for years to come, and at constantly accumulating expense. Is it not then well worthy the serious consideration of an enlightened government, whether, even if the wilderness we are traversing could be inhabited by the white man, (which is not the fact,) the object we are contending for would be worth the cost? I cer- tainly do not think it would ; indeed, I do not consider the coun- try south of Chickasa-Hatchee worth the medicines we shall expend in driving the Indians from it. " If I were permitted— and it is with great diffidence that I venture to make the suggestion — I would allow them to remain, and would assign them the country west of the Kissimmee, Okee- Chobee, and Panai-Okee, and east of Pease Creek, south, to the extreme of Florida. That would satisfy them ; and they might hold it on the express condition that they should forfeit their right to itj if they should either commit depredations upon the white THE FLORIDA WAR. 201 inhabitants, or pass the boundaries assigned to them without the written permission of the miUtary commander or agent. " By placing an agency, and authorizing trading-houses on Charlotte's Harbor, they could be soon concentrated ; and sta- tioning a competent military force there and at Tampa Bay, they might be readily controlled, and, if necessary, removed from the country, should they become troublesome, or fail to fulfill their engagements. I respectfully recommend the measure to your consideration, and that of the president, as the only means of ter- minating, immediately, a most disastrous war, and leaving the troops disposable for other service. I desire a decision as soon as your convenience will permit, as, by the middle of April, at farthest, the troops must be withdrawn from the posts in the interior, to preserve their lives. " Should it be determined to remove the Indians by force, and continue the war until they submit unconditionally, I desire that the communication be confidential, and that the matter be considered confidential at Washington, in order that I may have information of it before it can be communicated by letter- writers to others ; for there can be but little doubt of their flying to the swamps again, and renewing the war, should the decision be to remove them. " If it be determined that the Indians now in Florida re- main, it would be better that those who are at New-Orleans and Charleston, with the exception of one or two of the chiefs, be sent to the west ; their force would thus be divided and weakened, and many of the relations of those sent west might soon be in- duced to follow. " This communication will be delivered to you by my aid- de-camp. Lieutenant Linnard, a highly valuable officer, whom I earnestly recommend to your favorable consideration and attention. I have the honor to be, most respectfully, Your obedient servant, TH. S. JESUP, Honorable J. R. Poinsett, ) 3Iaj or- General commanding." Secretary of War, Washington City. ) " Department of War, March 1st, 1838. " Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 11th of February, which was delivered to me by your aid-de-camp. Lieutenant Linnard. The subject is one of deep interest, and I have given to it the most diligent and respectful consideration. " In the present stage of our relations with the Indians residing within the states and territories east of the Mississippi, including the Seminoles, it is useless to recur to the principles and motives 202 THE FLORIDA WAR. which induced the government to determine their removal to the v^^est. The acts of the executive and the laws of congress evince a determination to carry out the measure, and it is to be regarded as the settled policy of the country. In pursuance of this poHcy, the treaty of Payne's Landing was made with the Seminoles, and the character of the officer employed on the part of the government is a guarantee of the perfectly fair manner in which that negotiation was conducted and concluded. Whe- ther the government ought not to have waited until the Seminoles were pressed upon by the white population, and their lands be- came necessary to the agricultural wants of the community, is not a question for the executive now to consider. The treaty has been ratified, and is the law of the land ; and the constitutional duty of the president requires that he should cause it to be exe- cuted. I cannot, therefore, authorize any arrangement with the Se- minoles, by which they will be permitted to remain, or assign them any portion of the Territory of Florida as their future residence. " The department indulged the hope that, with the extensive means placed at your disposal, the war, by a vigorous effort, might be brought to a close this campaign. If, however, you are of opinion, that, from the nature of the country, and the charac- ter of the enemy, such a result is impracticable, and that it is advisable to make a temporary arrangement with the Semi- noles, by which the safety of the settlements and the posts will be secured* throughout the summer, you are at liberty to do so. In that event, you will establish posts at Tampa, and on the Eastern Shore, and wherever else they are, in your opinion, necessary to preserve the peace of the country ; and I would suggest the propriety of leaving Colonel Zachary Taylor, of the 1st infantry, in command of them. In moving north with your forces, you may make similar arrangements with the other bands. I deem it, however, of great importance that every exertion should be made to chastise the maurauding Indians who have committed depredations upon the inhabitants of Middle Florida. 1 beg you will address yourself to Colonel James Gadsden for in- formation on this subject ; and you may, if you think proper, yield to his suggestion of leaving a battalion for the protection of the people of that neighborhood. It is hoped, however, that you will be able to put it out of the power of these Indians to do any further mischief They ought to be captured, or destroyed. As soon as, in your opinion, it can be done with safety, you will reduce your force of mounted men from Georgia, Alabama, and Tennessee. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Major-General Thomas S. Jesup, } J. R. POINSETT." Jom. Army of the South, Fort Jupiter, Fla. THE FLORIDA WAR. 203 The battle of Okechobee was fought during the command of General Jesup in Florida. Colonel Z. Taylor's report (afterwards Brevet Brigadier-Gene- ral) is here given. " Head- Quarters, 1st Brigade, Army South of the 1 Withlacoochee, Fort Gardiner, Jan. 4th, 1838. \ " Sir — On the 18th ultimo, I received at this place a commu- cation from Major-General Jesup, informing me that all hopes of bringing the war to a close by negotiation through the inter- ference or mediation of the Cherokee delegation^ were at an end — Sam Jones with the Mickasukies, having determined to fight it out to the last ; and directing me to proceed with the least pos- sible delay against any portion of the enemy I might hear of within striking distance, and to destroy or capture him. " After leaving two officers and an adequate force for the protection of my depot, I marched the next morning with twelve days' rations (my means of transportation not enabling me to carry more), with the balance of my command, consisting of Captain Munroe's company of the 4th artillery, total 35 men ; the 1st infantry, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Da- venport, 197 strong ; the 4th infantry, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Foster, 274 ; the 6th infantry, under Lieu- tenant-Colonel Thompson, 221; the Missouri volunteers, 180; Morgan's spies, 47 ; pioneers, 80 ; pontoneers, 13, and 70 Dela- ware Indians ; making a force, exclusive of officers, of 1032 men: the greater part of the Shawnees having been detached, and the balance refusing to accompany me, under pretext that a number of them were sick, and the remainder w^ere without moccasins. " I moved down the west side of Kissimmee, in a south- easterly course, towards Lake Istopoga, for the following reasons : First, because I knew that a portion of the hostiles were to be found in that direction ; second, if General Jesup should fall in with the Mickasukies and drive them, they might attempt to de- lude him by crossing the Kissimmee from the east to the west side of the peninsula, between this and its entrance into the Okee- Chobee, in which case I might be near at hand to intercept them ; third, to overawe and induce such of the enemy who had been making propositions to give themselves up, and who appeared very slow, if not to hesitate, in complying with their promises on that head, to surrender at once ; and lastly, I deemed it advisable to erect block-houses, and a small picket-work on the Kissimmee, for a third depot, some forty or fifty miles below this, and obtain a knowledge of the intervening country, as I had no guide who could be relied on, and by this means open a communication 204 THE FLORIDA WAR. with Colonel Smith, who was operating upon the Caloosehatchee, or Sanybel river, under my orders. " Late in the evening @f the first day's march, I met the Indian chief, Jumper, with his family, and a part of his band, consisting of fifteen men ; a part of them with famihes, and a few negroes — in all sixty-three souls — on his way to give him- self up" in conformity to a previous arrangement I had entered into with him. They were conducted by Captain Parks, and a few Shawnees. He (Parks) is an active and intelligent half- breed, who is at the head of the friendly Indians, both Shawnees and Delawares, and who I had employed to arrange and bring in Jumper, and as many of his people as he could prevail on to come in. We encamped that night near the same spot ; and the next morning, having ordered Captain Parks to join me, and take command of the Delawares, and having despatched Jumper in charge of some Shawnees to this place, and so on to Fort Fraser, I continued my march, after having sent forward three friendly Indians (Seminoles) to gain intelligence as to the position of the enemy. "About noon on the same day, I sent forward one battalion of Gentry's regiment, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Price, to pick up any stragglers that might fall in his way ; to en- camp two or three miles in advance of the main force ; to act with great circumspection ; and to communicate promptly any occurrence that might take place in his vicinity important for me to know. About 10 P. M. I received a note from the colonel, stating that the three Seminoles sent forward in the morning had returned ; that they had been at or where Alligator had en- camped, twelve or fifteen miles in his advance ; that he (Alliga- tor) had left there with a part of his family four days before, under the pretext of separating his relations, &c., from the Mick- asukies, preparatory to his surrendering with them ; that there were several families remaining at the camp referred to, who wished to give themselves up, and would remain there until we took possession of them ; unless they were forcibly carried off that might by the Mickasukies, who were encamped at no great distance from them. "In consequence of this intelligence, after directing Lieu- tenant-Colonel Davenport to follow me early in the morning with the infantry, a little after midnight I put myself at the head of the residue of the mounted men, joined Lieutenant-Colonel Price, proceeded on, crossing Istopoga Outlet, and soon after daylight took possession of the encampment referred to, where I found the inmates, who had not been disturbed. They consisted of an old man and two young ones, and several women and children, THE FLORIDA WAR. 205 amounting in all to twenty-two individuals. The old man in- formed me that Alligator was very anxious to separate his people from the Mickasukies, who were encamped on the opposite side of the Kissimmee, distant about twenty miles, where they would fight us. I sent him to Alligator, to say to him, if he was sincere in his professions, to meet me the next day at Kissimmee, where the trail I was marching on crossed, and where I should halt. "As soon as the infantry came, I moved on to the place designated, which I reached late that evening, and where I en- camped. About eleven P. M. the old Indian returned, bringing a very equivocal message from Alligator, who, he stated, he had met accidentally. Also, that the Mickasukies were still encamped where they had been for some days, and where they were deter- mined to fight us. " I determined at once on indulging them as soon as prac- ticable. Accordingly, the next morning, after laying out a small stockade- work for the protection of a future depot, in order to enable me to move with the greatest celerity, I deposited the whole of my heavy baggage, including artillery, &c., and having provisioned the command, to include the 26th, after leaving Cap- tain Munroe and his company, the pioneers, the pontoneers, with eighty-five sick and disabled infantry, and a portion of the friendly Indians, who alleged that they were unable to march further, crossed the Kissimmee, taking the old Indian as a guide who had been captured the day before, and who accompanied us with great a^pparent reluctance, in pursuit of the enemy, and early the next day reached Alligator's encampment, situated on the edge of a cabbage-tree hammock, in the midst of a large prairie, from the appearance of which, and other encampments in the vicinity, and the many evidences of slaughtered cattle, there must have been several hundred individuals. " At another small hammock at no great distance from Alli- gator's encampment, and surrounded by a swamp impassable for mounted men, the spies surprised an encampment containing one old man, four young men, and some women and children. One of the party raised immediately a white flag, when the men were taken possession of, and brought across the swamp to the main body. I proceeded with an interpreter to meet them. They proved to be Seminoles, and professed to be friendly. They stated that they were preparing to come in ; they had just slaughtered a number of cattle, and were employed in drying and jerking the beef. They also informed me that the Mickasukies, headed by A-pi-a-ka (Sam Jones), were some ten or twelve miles distant, encamped in a sw^amp, and were prepared to fight. " Although I placed but little confidence in their professions of friendship, or their intentions of coming in, yet I had no time 206 THE FLORIDA WAR. to look up their women and children, who had fled and concealed themselves in the swamp, or to have encumbered myself with them, in the situation in which I then was. " Accordingly, I released the old man, who promised he would collect all the women and children, and take them in to Captain Munroe, at the Kissimmee, the next day. I also dismissed the old man who had acted as guide thus far, supplying his place with the four able warriors who had been captured that morning. " These arrangements being made, I moved under their gui- dance for the camp of the Mickasukies. Between two and three P. M. we reached a very dense cypress-swamp, through which we were compelled to pass, and in which our guides informed us we might be attacked. After making the necessary dispositions for battle, it was ascertained that there was no enemy to oppose us. The army crossed over and encamped for the night, it being late. During the passage of the rear, Captain Parks, who was in the advance with a few friendly Indians, fell in with two of the ene- my's spies, between two and three miles of our camp, one on horseback, the other on foot, and succeeded in capturing the latter. He was an active young warrior, armed with an excel- lent rifle, fifty balls in his pouch, and an adequate proportion of powder. This Indian confirmed the information which had been previously received from the other Indians, and, in addition, stated that a large body of the Seminoles, headed by John Co-hua, Coa- coochee, and, no doubt. Alligator, with other chiefs, were en- camped five or six miles from us, near the Mickasukies, with a cypress-swamp and dense hammock between them and the latter. " The army moved forward at daylight the next morning, and after marching five or six miles, reached the camp of the Semi- noles on the borders of another cypress-swamp, which must have contained several hundred, and bore evident traces of having been abandoned in a great hurry, as the fires were still • burning, and quantities of beef lying on the ground unconsumed. " Here the troops were again disposed in order of battle ; but we found no enemy to oppose us, and the command was crossed over about eleven A. M., when we entered a large prairie in. our front, on which two or three hundred head of cattle were grazing, and a number of Indian ponies. Here another young Indian warrior was captured, armed and equipped as the former. He pointed out a dense hammock on our right, about a mile distant, in which he said the hostiles were situated and waiting to give us battle. " At this place the final disposition was made to attack them, which was in two lines ; the volunteers under Gentry and Mor- gan's spies to form the first line, in extended order, who were instructed to enter the hammock, and in the event of being at- THE FLORIDA WAR. 207 tacked and hard pressed, were to fall back in the rear of the regular troops, out of the reach of the enemy's fire ; the second line was composed of the 4th and 6th infantry, who were in- structed to sustain the volunteers, the 1st infantry being held in reserve. " Moving on in the direction of the hammock, after proceed- ing about a quarter of a mile, we reached the swamp which separated us from the enemy, three-quarters of a mile in breadth, being totally impassable for horse, and nearly so for foot, covered with a thick growth of saw-grass, five feet high, and about knee- deep in mud and water, which extended to the left as far as the eye could reach, and to the right, to a part of the swamp and hammock we had just crossed, through which ran a deep creek. At the edge of the swamp ail the men were dismounted, and the horses and baggage left under a suitable guard. Captain Allen was detached, with two companies of mounted infantry, to ex- amine the swamp and hammock to the right; and, in case he should not find the enemy in that direction, was to return to the baggage, and in the event of his hearing a heavy firing, was im- mediately to join me. " After making these arrangements I crossed the swamp in the order stated. On reaching the borders of the hammock, the volunteers and spies received a heavy fire from the enemy, which was returned by them for a short time, when their gallant com- mander. Colonel Gentry, fell mortally wounded. They mostly broke, and, instead of forming in the rear of the regulars, as had been directed, they retired across the swamp to their baggage and horses ; nor could they be again brought into action as a body, although efforts were made repeatedly by my staff to induce them to do so. " The enemy, however, were promptly checked and driven back by the 4th and 6th infantry, which, in truth, might be said to be a moving battery. The weight of the enemy's fire was principally concentrated on five companies of the 6th infantry, which not only stood firm, but continued to advance, until their gallant commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, and his ad- jutant, Lieutenant Center, were killed ; and every officer, with one exception, as well as most of the non-commissioned officers, including the sergeant-major and four of the orderly sergeants, killed and wounded of those companies ; when that portion of the regiment retired a short distance, and were again formed, one of these companies having but four men left untouched. " Lieutenant-Colonel Foster, with six companies, amounting in ail to to one hundred and sixty men, gained the hammock in good order, where he was joined by Captain Noel, with the two remaining companies of the 6th infantry, and Captain Gillam, of 208 THE FLORIDA WAR. Gentry's volunteers, with a few additional men, and continued to drive the enemy for a considerable time, and by a change of front separated his line, and continued to drive him, until he reached the great lake Okee-Chobee, which was in the rear of the enemy's position, and on which their encampment extended for more than a mile. As soon as I was informed that Captain Allen was ad- vancing, I ordered the 1st infantry to move to the left, gain the enemy's right flank and turn it, which order was executed in the promptest manner possible ; and as soon as that regiment got in position, the enemy gave one fire and retreated, being pursued by the 1st, 4th, and 6th, and some of the volunteers, who had joined them, until near night, and until these troops were nearly ex- hausted, and the enemy driven in all directions. " The action was a severe one, and continued from half-past twelve until after three P. M., a part of the time very close and se- vere. We suffered much, having twenty-six killed and one hundred and twelve wounded, among whom are some of our most valuable officers. The hostiles probably suffered, all things considered, equally with ourselves, they having left ten dead on the ground, besides, doubtless, carrying off many more, as is customary with them when practicable. " As soon as the enemy were completely broken, I turned my attention, in taking care of the wounded, to facilitate their re- moval to my baggage, where I had ordered an encampment to be formed. I directed Captain Taylor to cross over to the spot, and employ every individual whom he might find there in construct- ing a small foot-way across the swamp ; this, with great exer- tions, was completed a short time after dark, when all the dead and wounded were carried over on litters, made for that purpose, with one exception, a private of the 4th infantry, who was killed and could not be found. " And here, I trust, I may be permitted to say, that I expe- rienced one of the most trying scenes of my life, and he who could have looked on it with indifference, his nerves must have been very differently organized from my own — besides the killed, among whom were some of my personal friends, there lay one hundred and twelve wounded officers and soldiers, who had ac- companied me one hundred and forty-five miles, most of the way through an unexplored wilderness, without guides, who had so gallantly beaten the enemy, under my orders, in his strongest position, and who had to be conveyed back through swamps and hammocks, from whence we set out, without any apparent means of doing so. This service, however, was encountered and over- come, and they have been conveyed thus far, and proceeded on to Tampa Bay, on rude litters, constructed with the axe and knife alone, with poles and dry hides, the latter being found in THE FLORIDA WAR. 209 great abundance at the encampment of the hostiles. The Utters were conveyed on the backs of our weak and tottermg horses, aided by the residue of the command, with more ease and com- fort to the sufferers than I could have supposed, and with as much as they could have been in ambulances of the most ap- proved and modern construction. " The day after the battle we remained at our encampment, occupied in taking care of the wounded, and in the sad offices of interring the dead ; also, in preparing the litters for the removal of the wounded, and collecting, with a portion of the mounted men, the horses and cattle in the vicinity belonging to the enemy, of which we found about one hundred of the former, many of them saddled, and nearly three hundred of the latter. " We left our encampment on the morning of the 27th, for the Kissimmee, where I had left my heavy baggage ; which place we reached about noon on the 28th. After leaving two companies and a few Indians to garrison the stockade, which I found nearly completed on my return, by that active and vigilant officer, Cap- tain Munroe, 4th artillery, I left there the next morning for this place, where I arrived on the 31st, and sent forward the wounded next day to Tampa Bay, with the 4th and 6th infantry, the former to halt at Fort Fraser, remaining here myself with the 1st, in order to make preparations for taking the field again, as soon as my horses can be recruited, most of which have been sent to Tampa, and my supplies in a sufficient state of forwardness to justify the measure. " In speaking of the command, I can only say, that so far as the regular troops are concerned, no one could have been more efficiently sustained than I have been from the commencement of the campaign ; and I am certain they will always be willing and ready to discharge any duty that may be assigned to them. " To Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport and the oiScers of the 1st infantry, I feel under many obligations, for the manner in which they have, on all occasions, discharged their duty ; and although held in reserve, and not brought into battle till near its close, yet their eagerness to engage, and the promptness and good order in which they entered the hammock, when the order was given for them to do so, is the best evidence that they would have sustained their own characters, as well as that of the regi- ment, had it been their fortune to have been placed in the hottest of the battle. " The 4th infantry, under their gallant leader, Lieutenant- Colonel Foster, was among the first to gain the hammock, and maintained this position, as well as driving a portion of the enemy before him, until he arrived on the borders of Lake Okee- chobee, which was in the rear, and continued the pursuit until 14 210 THE FLORIDA WAR. near night. Lieutenant-Colonel Foster, who was favorably no- ticed for his gallantry and good conduct in nearly all the engage- ments on the Niagara frontier during the late war with Great Britain, by his several commanders, as well as in the different engagements with the Indians in this territory, never acted a more conspicuous part, than in the action of the 25th ultimo ; he speaks in the highest terms of Brevet-Major Graham, his second in command, as also the officers and soldiers of the 4th infantry^ who were engaged in the action. Captain Allen, with his two mounted companies of the 4th infantry, sustained his usual char- acter for promptness and efficiency. Lieutenant Hooper, of the 4th regiment, was wounded through the arm, but continued on the field, at the head of his company, until the termination of the battle. " I am not sufficiently master of words to express my admira- tion of the gallantry and steadiness of the officers and soldiers of the 6th regiment of infantry ; it was their fortune to bear the brunt of the battle. The report of the killed and wounded, which accompanies this, is more conclusive evidence of their merits, than any thing I can say. After five companies of this regiment, against whom the enemy directed a most deadly fire, were nearly cut up — there being only four men left uninjured in one of them ; and every officer and orderly-sergeant of those companies, with one exception, were either killed or wounded. Captain Noel, with the remaining two companies — his own com- pany, 'K,' and Grossman's, 'B,' commanded by Second-Lieutenant Woods, which was the left of the regiment, formed on the right of the 4th infantry — entered the hammock with that regiment, continued the fight and the pursuit until its termination. It is due to Captain Andrews and Lieutenant Walker to say, they commanded two of the five companies mentioned above, and they continued to direct them until they were both severely wounded and carried from the field ; the latter receiving three separate balls. " The Missouri volunteers under the command of Colonel Gentry, and Morgan's spies, who formed the first line, and, of course, were the first engaged, acted as well, or even better, than troops of this description generally do ; they received and re- turned the enemy's fire with spirit, for some time, when they broke and retired, with the exception of Captain Gillam and a few of his company, and Lieutenant Blakely, also with a few men, who joined the regulars, and acted with them, until after the close of the battle ; but not until they had suffered severely ; the commanding officer of the volunteers, Colonel Gentry, being mortally wounded while leading on his men, and encouraging them to enter the hammock, and come to close quarters with the THE FLORIDA WAR. 211 enemy ; his son, an interesting youth, eighteen or nineteen years of age, sergeant-major of the regiment, was severely wounded at the same moment. " Captain Childs, Lieutenants Rogers and Flanagan, of Gen- try's regiment; Acting-Major Sconce, and Lieutenants Hase and Gordon, of the spies, were wounded whilst encouraging their men to a discharge of their duty. " The volunteers and spies having, as before stated, fallen back to the baggage, could not again be formed and brought up to the hammock in any thing like order ; but a number of them crossed over individually, and aided in conveying the wounded across the swamp to the hammock, among whom were Captain Curd, and several other officers, whose names I do not now re- collect. " To my personal staff, consisting of First- Lieutenant J. M. Hill, of the 2d, and First- Lieutenant George H. Griffin, of the 6th infantry — the latter aid-de-camp to Major- General Gaines, and a volunteer in Florida from his staff — I feel under the greatest obligations, for the promptness and efficiency with which they have sustained me throughout the campaign ; and more particu- larly for their good conduct, and the alacrity with which they aided me and conveyed my orders during the action on the 25th ultimo. " Captain Taylor, commissary of subsistence, who was ordered to join General Jesup at Tampa Bay as chief of the subsistence department, and who was ordered by him to remain with this column until he. General Jesup, joined it. Although no com- mand was assigned Captain Taylor, he greatly exerted himself in trying to rally and bring back the volunteers into action, as well as discharging other important duties which were assigned him during the action. " Myself, as well as all who witnessed the attention and ability displayed by Surgeon Satterlee, medical director on this side of the peninsula, assisted by Assistant-Surgeons McLaren and Simpson, of the medical staff of the army, and Drs. Hannah and Cooke, of the Missouri volunteers, in ministering to the wounded, as well as their uniform kindness to them on all occa- sions, can never cease to be referred to by me but with the most pleasing and grateful recollections " The quartermaster's department, under the direction of that efficient officer, Major Brant, and his assistant. Lieutenant Bab- bitt, have done every thing that could be accomplished to throw forward from Tampa Bay, and keep up supplies of provisions, forage, &c., with the limited means at their disposal. Assistant- Commissaries, Lieutenant Harrison stationed at Fort Gardiner, and McClure at Fort Fraser, have fully met my expectations in 212 THE FLORIDA WAR. discharge of the various duties connected with their department, as well as those assigned them in the quartermaster's department. " This column, in six weeks, penetrated one hundred and fifty miles into the enemy's country, opened roads, and constructed bridges and causeways when necessary, on the greater portion of the route ; established two depots, and the necessary defences for the same ; and finally overtook, and beat the enemy in his strongest position. The results of which movement and battle have been the capture of thirty of the hostiles ; the coming in and surrendering of more than one hundred and fifty Indians and negroes, mostly the former, including the chiefs Holartooche, Tus-ta-nug-gee, and other principal men ; the capturing and driving out of the country six hundred head of cattle, upwards of one hundred head of horses ; besides obtaining a thorough knowledge of the country through which we operated, a greater portion of which was entirely unknown, except to the enemy. " Colonel Gentry died in a few hours after the battle, much regretted by the army ; and will be doubtless by all who knew him, as his State did not contain a braver man or a better citizen. " It is due to his rank and talents, as well as his long and im- portant services, that I particularly mention Lieutenant-Colonel A. R. Thompson, of the 6th infantry, who fell in the discharge of his duty, at the head of his regiment. He was in feeble health, brought on by exposure to this climate during the past summer, refusing to leave the country while his regiment re- mained in it. Although he received two balls from the fire of the enemy early in the action which wounded him severely, yet he appeared to disregard them, and continued to give his orders with the same coolness that he would have done, had his regi- ment been under review, or on any other parade duty. Advanc- ing, he received a third ball, which at once deprived him of life ; his last words were, ' Keep steady, men ; charge the hammock — remember the regiment to which you belong.' I had known Colonel Thompson personally only for a short time, and the more I knew of him, the more I wished to know ; and had his life been spared, our acquaintance no doubt would have ripened into the closest friendship. Under such circumstances, there are but few, if any other than his bereaved wife, mother, and sisters, who more deeply and sincerely lament his loss, or who will longer cherish his memory, than myself " Captain Van Swearingen, Lieutenant Brooke, and Lieu- tenant and Adjutant Center, of the same regiment, who fell on that day, had no superiors of their years in service ; and in point of chivalry, ranked among the first in the army or nation ; be- sides their pure and disinterested courage, they possessed other THE FLORIDA WAR. 213 qualifications which qualified them to fill the higher grades of their profession, which, no doubt, they would have attained and adorned, had their lives been spared. The two former served with me in another arduous and trying campaign ; and on every occasion, whether in the camp, on the march, or on the field of battle, discharged their various duties to my entire satisfaction. With great respect, I have the honor to be, Sir, your most obedient servant, Z. TAYLOR, Brig. Gen. R. Jones, Adj. Gen. U. S. A., ^ Colonel Commanding^ Washington, D. C. Return of Killed and Wounded at the Battle of Okee-chobee. Regiments and Corps. Commanded by Killed. Wounded. Officers. Men. Officers. Men.' Regulars. First Infantry- Fourth Infantry- Sixth Infantry Mounted Fourth ) Infantry ) Volunteers. Missouri Volunteers Spies Indians Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport Lieutenant-Colonel Foster Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson Captain G. W. Allen Colonel Gentry Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan Captain Parks 4 1 3 16 1 2 1 2 3 3 4 18 53 1 22 4 Total 5 22 9 102 In this affair, the most important chiefs participated. It was known they were retreating in a body south, and would be obliged to betake themselves to that inhospitable region called the Everglades, or maintain their ground by an obstinate resist- ance. Halpatter-Tustenuggee or Alligator says, there were en- gaged in the action three hundred and eighty warriors. He com- manded one hundred and twenty, his .own band, and was posted in the centre of the line, with Lake Okee-chobee in his rear. Apeiaka or Sam Jones, with the Prophet, Otolke-Thlocko, and a large number of warriors, were on the right ; Coa-coochee or Wild Cat, with eighty men, formed the left.* Sam Jones fled at the first fire, when Halleck-Tustenuggee rallied those who were inclined to follow his example. The Prophet was engaged in preparmg his medicines, singing and dancing, removed from all danger. This was to inspire the young men with courage. In front of the Indian line there was a deep morass of saw-grass and palmetto, almost impassable. In the rear was the lake, with a clear sandy beach, upon which a rapid retreat could be made 214 THE FLORIDA WAR. if necessary. The grass in front in some places was cut down to invite the troops into the most impassable spot. Ten Indians were in trees enveloped in moss so as not to be discovered, which enabled them to oversee the advance of the command, and communicate the direction to those below. The trees were notched, behind which the most expert marksmen were posted, and in which they rested their rifles, and thus obtained a steady aim. Coa-coochee says not an Indian faltered, until the soldiers rushed upon them whooping and yelling, when they retreated in small parties. He, together with Alligator, finding the troops pressing them so closely as to prevent their loading, and that large numbers had retired, thought it prudent to do the same. The following day they scattered, in parties of ten and fifteen, throughout the country. Eleven Indians and one negro were killed, and nine wounded. The fatahty among the officers of the command, was enough to shake the firmest troops. Lieutenant- Colonel Thompson, 6th U. S. infantry, was wounded in three places before he fell. The first ball passed through the abdomen to the left, the second in the right breast, and the last through the chin and neck, evidently shot from a tree. He fell in a sitting posture. His last words were, "Men, you know the regiment you belong to," and died immediately. Captain Van Swearingen, 6th infantry, was shot, in advance of his company, in the lower part of his neck. When passing to the rear he raised both hands to his head, and fell flat on his face, and expired instantly. Lieutenant and Adjutant J. P. Center, 6th infantry, was shot through the head from a tree, and expired on the spot. First-Lieutenant E. J. Brooke, 6th infantry, was shot through the heart. Colonel Gentry, of the Missouri volun- teers, was shot through the body, and soon after the battle ex- pired. The same ball passed through him and through his son's arm into a tree. He was a gallant and intelligent officer. Major Sconce, Captain Childs, Lieutenants Rodgers, Hose, and Gordon, were wounded. Of this corps thirty-five were killed and wounded. The fate of Oseola or Powell, captured by General Hernan- dez, by order of General Jesup, on the 22d of October, 1837, was indeed melancholy. His spirit was broken by defeat and im- prisonment. That high independence of feeling which had never before known restraint, had become enfeebled, and sunk as the chances of escape passed unimproved. Upon his removal from Castle St. Marco at St. Augustine, to Fort Moultrie, Charleston Harbor, all hope was gone, and the conviction that he was for ever banished from his land, weighed and wore upon his spirits, until nature became, exhausted. He refused sustenance, and de- clined seeing visitors. All efforts to cheer and reconcile him to THE FLORIDA WAR. 215 his fate by representing Arkansas as a desirable home, entirely- failed. He expired after a short illness, broken-hearted. He was thirty-three years of age. A brave and a generous enemy, and respected as he was by the nation for his open, manly nature, he was too proud to be under the dominion of the white man. The manner of capturing this chief has been thought unjust by those unacquainted with the peculiar state of affairs in the territory. He had been an active participator in the treachery, which for two years, and particularly in the capitulation, had caused so much disappointment and dissatisfaction. He was the war-spirit of the nation. He improved every opportunity to mis- lead the commander of the army, and disregarded the most sol- emn promises to abstain from hostile acts and prepare for emi- gration. His professions of friendship and assurances of peace were only to give time to plant and gather crops, and to harass and break down the troops by exposing them to the climate and fatiguing marches. The sacred obligations of a white flag were not tendered him ; he came in bearing one, and was received, as he had been promised, with kindness. General Hernandez, who commanded the camp, was ordered by General Jesup to take him prisoner, if he had not complied with the assurances he had made to surrender his band. Not one of these had been regarded, and, conscious of his delinquency, he ingeniously evaded all questions upon the subject, and talked of friendship, clothing, and provisions. General Hernandez accordingly detained him, with seventy others, who came at the same time, and imprisoned them in the castle at St. Augustine. Brigadier-General Joseph Hernandez took an active part in the commencement of the Florida war. The defenceless state of East Florida received his early attention. On the 26th of October, 1835, he represented to the governor of the territory the necessity of an immediate organization of the militia, as the ob- stinacy of the Indians in regard to emigration foreboded an open rupture, w"hen the citizens would be exposed to their merciless barbarity, at a moment when least expected. These predictions were painfully realized. Finding his frequent representations unavailing, he addressed the secretary of war upon the subject, requesting that five hundred stand of arms be put at his dis- posal, that the citizens might aid in defending themselves. His brigade was at once mustered and disciplined, and as early as the 8th of December, three weeks before the first blow was struck, detachments took the field, aflfording protection to such settle- ments as had become alarmed by the threats of Indians, made through the negroes, upon the numerous plantations east and west of the St. John's river. But in spite of his exertions Math so in- adequate a force, the enemy desolated the country in every quar-- 216 THE FLORIDA WAR. ter. Protection was given to the city of St. Augustine ana Jacksonville, and the attacks upon several plantations were thwarted and delayed by his activity and the presence of troops, thus enabling many to save the lives of their families, and secure their negroes and other property remote from settlements or assistance. Major Benjamin A. Putnam, a lawyer of distinction, resident of St. Augustine, co-operated, and by prompt and forced marches intimidated the enemy, and in a sharp conflict with a large band at Dunn Lawton, sixty miles south of St. Augus- tine, on the 11th of January, 1836, taught the Indians a salutary lesson. The operations in Florida becoming more extensive, General Hernandez was mustered into the service as brigadier-general in the' service of the United States, on the 20th of December, 1836, and was assigned by Major-General Jesup, commanding the army of Florida, to the command of the forces east of the river St. John's. His exertions corresponded with the means at hand and the confidence reposed in his abilities and patriotism. In co- operation with General Jesup, who was operating west of the St. John's river, he carried out a series of energetic measures on the eastern side along the Atlantic coast, a considerable distance south of St. Augustine. He captured important chiefs, and re- stored to citizens upwards of three hundred negroes, who had been captured by the Indians. On the 9th of September, 1837, he, with a small detachment, assaulted the camp of King Phillip, a noted Seminole chief of distinguished intelligence and great influence, and took him, with eleven of his tribe, prisoners. On the morning of the 10th he attacked the camp of the chief, Uchee Billy, and secured him, his brother, Uchee Jack, and eighteen men. This led to the surrender of Coa-coochee, the son of King Phillip, who had re- ceived a message from his father, earnestly desiring to see and confer with him. Coming in thus involuntarily, and at. the soli- citation of his father, Coa-coochee was satisfied he would not be detained a prisoner, he therefore did not hesitate to comply with the invitation. It proved also that he had a further object in coming, being charged with an important negotiation, which was attended by interesting results. He bore with him a white plume, together with a neatly- wrought bead-pipe, sent to General Hernandez by Oseola, the master-spirit of the war, accompanied by a message, the purport of which was, that these tokens were intended as an evidence of his desire for peace ; that the white plume was to be considered as giving an assurance that the path, to use their figurative lan- guage, " was white and safe" from the general to him, and as expressing his desire to know if it would be equally agreeable to THE FLORIDA WAR. 217 return. Blue Snake, who accompanied Coa-coochee, came as an envoy from Coa-Hajo, another influential chief, having a similar emblem and message. In accordance v^ith these indications of a desire to negotiate, on the part of these important chiefs, General Hernandez, with the sanction of General Jesup, immediately dis- patched Coa-coochee, with a friendly message and presents, ac- ceding to the proposition for a conference, but clearly conveying the understanding, that it would be held with a. view of making arrangements for the emigration of themselves and their people to the west. Punctual to the day he had appointed, Coa-coochee returned, giving the satisfactory information that this overture had been accepted, and that Powell or Oseola and ^Coa-Hajo, with up- wards of one hundred of their warriors, and about one hundred negroes, taken from the different plantations to the east of the St. John's, were on their way to St. Augustine. With a view of accelerating their arrival. General Hernandez proceeded the following day with supplies for them, and met an advance party, with John Cavallo at their head, at Pelican's Creek, about twenty miles south, from whom he learned that Oseola was to join them that evening. He left the provisions, and desired them to select their own position within a mile or two of Fort Peyton, and to apprise him of their having done so, when he would go out to see them. On the arrival of these chiefs near Fort Peyton, about seven miles southwest of St. Augustine, they were met by Gen- eral Hernandez, accompanied by his own, and a portion of the staff" of General Jesup. General Hernandez then, by the direc- tion of General Jesup, addressed to Oseola the following inquiries : Memoranda of the specific questions addressed to Oseola on the above occasion : Ascertain the objects of the Indians in coming in at this time. Also their expectations. Are they prepared to deliver up the negroes taken from the citi- zens at once ? Why have they not surrendered them already, as promised by Coa-Hajo at Fort King ? Have the chiefs of the nation held a council in relation to the subjects of the talk at Fort King ? What chiefs attended that council, and what was their determination ? Have the chiefs sent a messenger with the de- cision of the council ? Have the principal chiefs, Micanopy, Jumper, Cloud, and AUigator, sent a messenger, and if so, what is their message ? Why have not those chiefs come in themselves ? St. Avgustine, 1 (Signed) THOS. S. JESUP, Oct. 21st, 1837. \ Major-General Commanding. Whether there was any thing in those questions which awakened distrust in the minds of the Indians, or they had not come with a determination to emigrate, could not be ascertained, but the answers of Powell or Oseola to these inquiries were certainly evasive and unsatisfactory. In fact, Oseola, after a few 218 THE FLORIDA WAR. vague replies became silent, and, turning to Coa-Hajo, was over- heard by the interpreter to say, " I feel choked ; you must speak for me ;" a proof of uncontrollable emotion, remarkable in an Indian, and possibly the result of a suspicion of what followed, or of disappointment and dissatisfaction at the course which the conference had taken. The following is the order from General Jesup directing the capture of the Indians : " Head- Quarters, Army of the South, ) FortFeyton, Oct. 2lst, 1837. \ " General — Let the chiefs and warriors know that we have been deceived by them long enough, and that we do not intend to be deceived again. Order the whole party directly to town. You have force sufficient to compel obedience, and they must move instantly. "I have information of a recent murder by the Indians. They must be disarmed. " They can talk in town, and send any messengers out, if they please. I am, general, your obedient servant, General J. M. Hernandez, commanding > THOS. S. JESUP, east of the St. Johns, Fort Peyton. ) Major-General Coinmanding." The results of the conference and the details of the execution of the order, were communicated by General Hernandez to Gen- eral Jesup in the following note : " Sir — For the purpose of carrying into effect your instruc- tions, conveyed to me verbally by your aid-de-camp. Lieutenant Linnard, after having left Fort Peyton, that if the answers of the chiefs to my inquiries should not be satisfactory, they were to be made prisoners, I had given the necessary direc- tions to Major Ashby to ensure their capture, if it should be- come necessary. In conformity to these directions, believing from the disposition of the Indians that they did not mean to sur- render, they were completely surrounded in about ten minutes after I reached their encampment. I found there Oseola and Coa-Hajo, with a force which ] estimated at about sixty war- riors.* In the prosecution of my purpose in this interview, I learned that the Indians were perfectly disposed to bring in the negroes and property taken from the inhabitants during the war ; but that they were by no means prepared to surrender themselves, * There were seventy-one, the elite of the Mickasuky tribe, six women, and four Indian negroes. THE FLORIDA WAR. 219 and their answers to the questions put to them in regard to their breach of the stipulations made with you at Fort King, I con- ceived to be wholly evasive and unsatisfactory. Indeed their answers were generally so. From these circumstances, and agreeably to your express order conveyed to me during the talk, 'that they should be made prisoners,' I gave a signal previously agreed upon, and the troops closed in on them. The arms, bag- gage, and ponies, were collected, and the line of march taken up to St. Augustine. 1 have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant, Major-General Jesup, commanding ) JOSEPH M. HERNANDEZ, Army of the South. \ Brigadier- General Commanding." Notwithstanding the unfavorable impression excited in the minds of the Indians by the manner of their capture, both Oseola and Coa-Hajo came forward, and proposed sending a message to their people and the chiefs who were out, recommending them to come in, and join them in emigrating to the West. This was readily acceded to by General Jesup. One young chief and two warriors were despatched on this embassy. They were in- structed to invite all those who might be disposed to comply with this proposition, to meet General Jesup, and General Hernandez; ^ the former at Fort Mellon on Lake Monroe, and the latter at New Smyrna, as might best suit the convenience of the different parties coming in. In compliance with this invitation, the lead- ing chiefs Micanopy, Jumper, Cloud, and Alhgator, met General Jesup at Fort Mellon, with about eighty of their warriors ; while some thirty or forty negroes, who had been prisoners among them, crossed over to a point opposite New Smyrna, and there surrendered themselves to General Hernandez, with whom they were acquainted, and by w^hom they were safely returned to their owners. Matters thus far went on well, but, to the entire frustration of these well -devised arrangements for the conclusion of the war, the young chief Coa-coochee, who had been left prisoner at St. Augustine, contrived to make his escape through the loop- hole of the casemate in the fort, in which he slept. He made his way south, and succeeded in reaching the camp of Arpeika or Sam Jones, who was on his way with his people to Fort Mellon to meet General Jesup, along with the other chiefs of the nation. The representations of Coa-coochee, who had been greatly exasperated by his imprisonment, and the treatm^ent re- ceived by him and the other Indians captured near Fort Peyton, at once aroused the suspicions and indignation of that wary and hostile old chief; who not only immediately rehnquished all idea of surrendering or communicating any further with the com- 220 THE FLORIDA WAR. manding general, but succeeded in preventing all the Indians who were out, from coming in or listening to any proposal for peace. But for this untoward event, the war would certainly have terminated at this juncture, instead of being renewed and prolonged, as it afterwards was, through several eventful and disastrous years. The regular and volunteer force in the field being deemed sufficient to protect the inhabitants and subdue the enemy, Gene- ral Hernandez, induced by the situation of his private affairs (his property having been ruined and devastated by the inroads of the enemy, along with that of the rest of his fellow citizens), now asked to be relieved from the service in which he had borne so conspicuous and meritorious a part. The frequent reference to his name in the official reports of General Jesup, together with the subjoined letter and orders, give ample testimony of the manner in which the responsible and delicate duties intrusted to him, were discharged. Had his timely admonitions been heeded by higher authority in regard to the Indians, and his demands complied with. East Florida would have been spared, in a great measure, the series of disasters which occurred from month to month, carrying in their train sorrow and want. " Head-Quarters, Army of the South, ) Fort Pierce, January 15th, 1838. \ " General — Agreeable to your request I have directed by the order of to-day, that you and the gentlemen of your staff, as well as the remainder of your brigade, be discharged from the service. I speak not in the language of idle compliment, general, when I assure you of the high estimation in which I hold your services. The cordial, constant, and efficient support which you have invariably given me, has made an impression upon me not easily to be effaced ; and I shall always remember with pleasure the period we have been associated together on duty. Should it be in my power to serve you at any time, you have only to command me. I am, general, with sincere respect and regard. Your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. Hernandez, ) TH. S. JESUP." Fort Pierce, Fla. \ « ORDERS, No. 50. " Par. I. Brigadier-General Hernandez having expressed a desire to be relieved from duty in consequence of his private affairs claiming his immediate attention, and the greater part of his brigade being already out of service, he is permitted to return THE FLORIDA WAR. 221 to St. Augustine, where he will be honorably discharged. In parting with Brigadier-General Hernandez, the major-general commanding desires to assure him of the high estimation in which he holds his valuable services. He has ever found him ready for duty, and prompt and energetic in its execution ; and he entertains not a doubt that the operations which he has so successfully commenced during the autumn would have resulted in peace and the removal of the Indians, but for the escape of the prisoners Coa-coochee and others from St. Augustine. The major-general tenders his thanks, .and assures him that Jie shall ever feel the most lively interest in his prosperity. " The gentlemen composing the staff of Brigadier-General Hernandez — Major Drysdale, Major Roubion, and Major Gibbs — will also be honorably discharged. The major-general thanks them for the promptitude, correctness, and ability with which they have performed their respective duties. " Par. II. Lieutenant-Colonel Hanson, with Captain Pelh- cier's and Whitehurst's companies, will proceed to St. Augustine, where they will be honorably discharged on the expiration of their term of service. To the lieutenant-colonel, and to the captains named, as well as to their officers and men, the major-general commanding acknowledges his obligations and tenders his thanks for the efficient services they have performed. By order of Major-General Jesup, (Signed) J. A. CHAMBERS, Aid and Act. Assist. Adj. General." On the 15th of May, 1838, General Jesup relinquished the command of the Army of Florida to Brevet Brigadier-General Z. Taylor, then colonel of the 6th regiment of U. S. infantry, whose report to the adjutant-general of the army, on the 20th of July, 1839, upon the conclusion of active measures, is a good evidence that he, like other commanders, had done his duty, as well as the officers and men composing the army. The enemy in several instances had been found, chased, and some killed, but they were far from being caught or subdued. " Head-Quarters, Army of the South, ) Tampa, Florida, July 20th, 1839. I " General — Although I have from time to time advised the department of the several operations of the troops under my com- mand in Florida, I deem it advisable and proper to make a con- cise report at the close of the campaign. " With a view to compel the emigration of the Apalachee Indians, who had engaged to leave the country on the 20th of October, for their towns on the Apalachicola river, which I 222 THE FLORIDA WAR. reached on the morning of the 12th, with two companies of mounted men, (one dragoons and one infantry,) the whole under the command of Captain E. Backus, 1st infantry, and found on my arrival a portion of the 6th infantry under Major Noel. " On the day fixed for their removal, I succeeded without the use of compulsion, in embarking the whole of the Apalachee Indians, about two hundred and twenty in number, to their new homes beyond the Mississippi. " After directing Lieutenant-Colonel Green to leave two com- panies m this district of country, to observe the movements of the fugitive Creeks, and to locate four companies in the vicinity of Deadman's Bay, to open roads, &c., between the Gulf of Mexico and the Federal or Bellamy road, I proceeded to Fort Harlee, East Florida, where I had a consultation with Colonels Twiggs, Davenport, and Cross, with regard to future operations. " Colonel Twiggs, with ten companies 4th artillery, six com- panies 2d dragoons, and two Florida militia, was placed in com- mand of the country within the following limits, viz., from the Santa Fe to the Atlantic, and along the coast as far as New Smyrna, and between the St. John's and Ocklawaha, as high as Fort Mellon on the former, and Lake Aha-pop-ka on the latter. "Brevet Colonel Davenport, with five companies 1st infantry and one company 2d dragoons, was directed to search for the enemy between the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers, espe- cially through the swamps and hammocks bordering on the Gulf of Mexico, in the Wahoo swamp, and cove of the Withlacoo- chee. " The troops in Middle Florida, consisting of ten companies of 6th infantry, and one company 2d infantry, were placed under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Green. " Major G. Loomis, 2d infantry, who had been stationed with four companies of infantry and one of dragoons around the Okee- fen-okee swamp, was ordered to co-operate with General Floyd, who, with a force of mounted Georgians, had been authorized by the department to proceed against the Indians in that quarter, without being placed under my orders. " After making the above arrangements, I left Fort Harlee for Tampa Bay, where I had hoped to meet a considerable number of the hostiles, who had given intimation of their intention to emigrate in the fall. A few of them only met me. " I remained at Tampa collecting small parties of Indians, and opening communications with Colonel Davenport, until about the 27th of November, at which time I sent Captain Abercrombie, 1st infantry, with his company and some friendly Indians, to Fort Deynaud, on the Coloosahachee, to ascertain the number, posi- tion, and views, of the enemy in that quarter. THE FLORIDA WAR. 223 "I then proceeded to Fort Clinch, on the Withlacoochee, where I met Colonels Davenport and Cummings, the latter having but recently arrived at Garey's Ferry, with four companies of his regiment. Colonel Cummings, previously ordered to Tampa, so soon as four companies of 3d artillery should join him, was directed to open a good wagon-road from Tampa to Fort Mellon, and to establish posts about twenty miles distant from each other, wherever the localities permitted. " These arrangements made, I proceeded across the country to Deadman's Bay, with one company 2d dragoons, and was joined on the route by two companies 2d infantry. " I reached the Istenhachee river, on which the post is estab- lished, on the 18th December, and found four companies 6th in- fantry under Major Noel, who had been actively employed in opening roads, erecting defences, storehouses, &c., and who, from his known zeal and activity, would doubtless have accom- plished more, had his companies been stronger, having an aggre- gate of (23) twenty-three each. " I put him into immediate motion, together with the troops who accompanied me, to examine the swamps and hammocks of the Istenhachee, Econfinny, and Finihalloaway rivers. Many signs of small parties of the enemy were discovered, and on the 30th a large camp, supposed to contain about one hundred and twenty people, was discovered in a large hammock between the Econfinny and Finihalloaway. This was surprised, and all the effects taken from it ; such, however, was the dense cover of the enemy that nothing more decisive was accomplished, the enemy making little or no resistance. " At this time my dispatches from Lieutenant-Colonel Fan- ning, 4th artillery, commanding on the Ocklawaha, learning that the enemy, in considerable force, was supposed to be encamped on that river, and urging my presence in that quarter, I turned over the command to Lieutenant-Colonel Green, with instruc- tions to search for the enemy with the utmost zeal and activity. '•' Upon my arrival at Fort King I communicated with Col- onel Fanning, who was in the vicinity. From him 1 learned that the Indians referred to by him had left their camp with the avowed intention of going to Tampa for the purpose of emigra- tion. Having no confidence in their professions, I directed Col- onel Twiggs to detach two companies of dragoons to observe their movements. Three companies, under Captains Winder, Lloyd, and J. Beall, succeeded in capturing, on two difterent oc- casions, about thirty-three of the enemy. Colonel Twiggs was also instructed to rebuild and reoccupy Fort Pierce, on Indian River Inlet, Fort Lauderdale on New River, and Fort Dallas on the Miami, opposite Key Biscayne, for the purpose of harassing 224 THE FLORIDA WAR. the enemy, and to give protection to such unfortunate persons as should be shipwrecked along the coast. I was desirous to re- occupy these posts previous to the sickly season. " Colonel Fanning was directed to continue his search along the St. John's and Ocklawaha, until every swamp and hammock was penetrated, agreeably to the plan of campaign. " Colonel Davenport having reported that he had completed his examination of the hammocks and swamps between the Su- wannee to within a short distance of Tampa, through the Cove of the Withlacoochee and Wahoo, as far south as Fort King road, meeting a few Indians in one instance, and with few signs of their having been in that country, he was ordered to join Major Wilcox, then engaged in opening the road, from Tampa to Fort Mellon, and to aid in completing the same. Major Wilcox had been placed on this duty by Colonel Cummings, then command- ing at Tampa. " At the same time Colonel Davenport was directed to look for the enemy on the head-waters of the Withlacoochee and Hillsboro, and around Tohopkiliga. The road being completed, and the posts established, and the examination made as directed, I proceeded to Fort Mellon. - " Ascertaining here that Colonel Fanning, with much zeal, perseverance, and labor, had nearly completed the operations on the Ocklawaha and St. John's, and that Major Ashby, 2d dra- goons, had examined all the country between the Atlantic and St. John's, from St. Augustine to Smyrna, (which post had been rebuilt and occupied,) meeting no evidence of the enemy's per- manent location in that quarter, and Captain Abercrombie, 1st infantry, having reported many Indians on the islands of the Everglades, I resolved to carry an expedition into that region. "Colonel Twiggs was ordered to reinforce Forts Pierce, Lau- derdale, and Dallas, with two companies under command of Ma- jor Churchill. " Major Ashby, with two companies of dragoons, was ordered to proceed across the country from Fort Kingsbury to Fort Pierce, and to search for the enemy between that post and the Kissimmee, as far south as Lake Okee-chobee and the Halpata- okee. Colonel Davenport was ordered to concentrate his com- mand and that of Major Wilcox at Fort Cummings, and proceed to Fort Deynaud on the Coloosahachee, where a depot had been established by Captain Bonneville, 7th infantry. " I returned to Tampa, when, after completing arrangements, I intended to join Colonel Davenport, and proceed immediately to the Everglades. " A day or two after my arrival at Tampa, intelligence of a most painful character was received from Middle Florida, that THE FLORIDA WAR. 225 several families had been murdered within a few miles of Talla- hassee, near the railroad leading to St. Mark's, where there was a daily passage of cars, in a part of the country hitherto exempt from the depredations of the enemy. The utmost consternation and alarm prevailed in that country, " Believing it to be my first duty to give protection to the lives and property of the inhabitants, I recalled Colonel Daven- port, and dispatched him with two hundred infantry and one company of dragoons, to reinforce Colonel Green, and to assume the direction of affairs in Middle Florida. " About this time I received the sanction of the department to a plan I had previously recommended, after ascertaining that the enemy would not give battle to the regular droops, pven in single companies, while, at the same time, every opportunity was seized to wreak his vengeance on the unarmed inhabitants of the coun- try. Under these circumstances, and fo^' these reasons, I resolved to abandon for a time the southern expedition. " On the 25th of February, one iiandred and ninety-six Indians^ and negroes, who had been *colle(?f Major-General Commanding in Chief." Captain and A. A. General. ) He soon after informed the secretary of war that he had effected an arrangement with the Seminoles : " Head-Quarters of the Army of the United States, ) Fort King, Florida, May 22d, 1839. S " Sir — Agreeably to the instructions I had the honor to re- ceive from your hands at Washington, on the 20th of Match last, I lost no time in repairing to Florida, and arrived at Black Creek, the general depot of the army, on the 5th of April. There I had the good fortune to meet with Brigadier-General Taylor, the commander of the forces in this territory, then on a tour of in- spection and review of the troops, and at the same time engaged in his plan of dividing the country nearest to the settlements into squares of twenty miles, and establishing posts therein. This 230 THE FLORIDA WAR. fortunate meeting enabled me to place in the hands of Genera. Taylor a copy of your instructions, and to give him orders to co- operate with me in carrying those instructions into effect, direct- ing his attention particularly to the protection of the settlements along the line from Garey's Ferry to Tallahassee, and west of the latter place, authorizing him, at the same time, to call into service such a force of militia as mentioned in your instructions. Gen- eral Taylor having with him interpreters, and Indians connected with the hostile parties by ties of consanguinity and intermar- . riage, was desired to open, if possible, a communication with them, and thereby make them acquainted with the fact of my arrival in the country, and my wish to see the chiefs and warriors at this post by the 1st of May, instant, to hold a conference with them. Colonel Twiggs, who was then commanding at Garey's Ferry, having military authority over a considerable extent of country, was also made acquainted with my instructions, and he rendered a ready and efficient aid in furthering my views. Colonel War- ren, of Jacksonville, who heretofore had command of the militia serving in Florida, and highly recommended to me on account of his efficiency and activity as an officer, was invited to raise and take command, as lieutenant-colonel, of a battalion of mounted militia, to assist in the defence of the settlements east of the Su- wannee, and expel the Indians. Although quite inconvenient to him, at the time, on account of his private affairs, the colonel very promptly complied with my wishes. In the mean while General Taylor was making arrangements with the governor of Florida in raising, for the defence of the settlements on the west of the Suwannee, a military force. Notwithstanding all these measures, the Indians, dividing themselves into small parties, pene- trated the settlements, committed some murders, and fired from their coverts on the expresses and passengers going from post to post. " Under these indications it was the general belief that no communication could be opened with the hostile parties, espe- cially as it had been given out that the Indians would on no ac- count receive any messengers, but would destroy any person that might approach them with a flag. This threat having been exe- cuted more than once, confirmed the opinion that it was worse than useless to attempt to communicate with them. Finding at Garey's Ferry a party of prisoners, consisting of one man, two well-grown lads, and a number of women and children, amount- ing in all to eighteen, it occurred to me that by treating them kindly I might, through their instrumentality, communicate with the hostile bands. Accordingly, I set them at liberty, and sent them into the country in search of their friends, that they might make known to them, and the Indians generally, the object of my THE FLORIDA WAR. 231 coming among them. General Taylor also sent out his Indians, in whose sincerity and honesty he had great confidence. This first attempt to open a communication entirely failed, General Taylor's Indians having left him, and joined the hostile party before Tampa, and those sent by me returned without seeing any whatever. In the mean time, reports were received of the continual hostilities of the Indians, and of their attacking defenceless people and killing them. According to my previous notification, that I would be at this post by the 1st of May, I left Garey's Ferry on the 25th of April, with a guard of dragoons, taking with me the prisoners previously mentioned, and again sent them off* in search of their friends ; but it was not, after re- maining here, until the 9th instant that any Indians called to visit me. "Knowing the slowness of the Indians in performing any matter of national importance, I did not yield to the general be- lief that none would attend to my invitation, and I had the grati- fication to receive a visit from a young chief of considerable im- portance, accompanied by seven young active warriors. I ex- plained to the chief the object of my mission, telling him that his great father (the president) was sorry that there had been so much fighting between his white and red children, and that for their good he recommended them to cease firing on each other, and make peace. The chief expressed himself greatly dehghted with the prospect of peace. I told him that if the whole nation would retire below Pease Creek, that hostihties would cease, and that they might remain there until further arrangements could be made. He again expressed his gladness at what I said, and promised that he would take my communication and spread it around, being persuaded that it would be well received by all his people. In a few days after, he collected a considerable party of his people, consisting of men, women, and children, and paid me another visit. I repeated to him, in their presence, the same ' talk,' and they seemed all pleased with it. I then made them some presents, after which they departed, much gratified, for they were in a most destitute condition, as to clothing and other necessaries. "On the 17th instant, Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, of the 2d dragoons, who had previously received my directions to open a communication with the Indians in the southern portion of the peninsula, near Key Biscayne, arrived with Chitto-Tustenuggee, principal chief of the Seminoles, who had been recently elected by a council held by the Seminoles and Mickasukies, Chitto- Tustenuggee expressed great desire that the business on which he was called to meet me might be speedily attended to. Ac- cordingly, on the next day a meeting was held, composed of 232 THE FLORIDA WAR. Chitto-Tustenuggee, attended by Oche-Hadjo, a brother of Blue Snake, who came with him to witness the proceedings, at the request of the council of the nation, and Harlock-Tustenuggee, chief of the Mickasukies in this section of the country, and all his band that had not been dispatched by him to call in the warriors who were out in detached parties. After going through the usual ceremonies among Indians, of shaking hands and smoking, I explained to the Indians who I was, and the object of my mission among them, at which they evinced great satisfaction. I then dictated to them the terms of peace, which they readily accepted, manifesting great joy on the occasion, and they have since been dancing and singing, according to their fashion, in token of friendship and peace, in which many of our officers joined them, all being satisfied of the sincerity of the respective parties. The enclosed general order, announcing the result of the conference, exhibits the terms of peace. Under existing cir- cumstances, I did not think it necessary to enter into a formal written treaty, such an instrument with Indians having but little binding effect. Nor did I think it politic, at this time, to say any thing about their emigration, leaving that subject open to such future arrangements as the government may think proper to make with them. No restriction upon the pleasure of the gov- ernment, in this respect, has been imposed, nor has any encour- agement been given to the Indians, that they would be permittexi permanently to remain in Florida. " There is every reason to believe, that when the Indians re- maining in Florida shall learn the prosperous condition of their brethren in Arkansas, they will, at no distant period, ask to be permitted to join them. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, Hon. J. R. Poinsett, Secretary of War, ) ALEX. MACOMB, Washington City. ) Maj. Gen. Commanding in Chief. '^ The citizens of the territory were again induced to believe that peace and prosperity had returned to their homes. Many, however, were incredulous ; others, dependent upon the soil for support, were rejoiced to escape from the crowded villages, where were congregated hundreds, without employment and without bread. The country was free from alarms during the month of June. The Indians were quietly cultivating their crops for the winter's campaign. This state of quietude increased the confi- dence among the borderers, who reoccupied their plantations. These hopes were soon frustrated. Early in the month of July, trains, express-men, and travellers, were assailed on the highway; plantations were attacked, and the occupants again fled, leaving THE FLORIDA WAR. 333 every thing behind. A general alarm prevailed. Those who had endeavored to make Florida a home returned to the neigh- boring states, in the belief that the Florida war would never end. Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, in execution of the arrangement made by General Macomb, proceeded to Charlotte's Harbor, to establish the trading-house for the convenience of the Indians, who were expected to remove within the designated boundaries. While there, he was attacked in a most treacherous manner, and his command murdered in their beds. This consisted of twenty- six dragoons, armed with Colt's rifle. Mr. Dalham and Mr. Morgan accompanied him with a large supply of Indian goods. The Indians visited the camp, for several days previous, in a most friendly manner. The detachment was encamped in an open pine-barren on the Coloosahatchee river, about twenty miles up from the mouth. At the dawn of day, on the morning of the 22d of July, a simultaneous attack was made by two hundred and fifty Indians, headed by Chekika, the Spanish chief Hospetarke, and Holatter-Micco or Billy Bowlegs. The surprise was com- plete. The men, aroused from their beds by hideous yells and the continued discharge of rifles^ and overpowered by numbers as they were, rushing suddenly on them, even grappling with the men under their musquito-bars, no effectual resistance could be made. Those not murdered in their beds, fled to the river, when they were shot down in the water. Colonel Harney escaped by swimming to the fishing-smacks, which lay at anchor some dis- tance down the river. The whole party consisted of thirty men, of whom about twenty-four were killed, among them Mr. Dal- ham and Mr. Morgan. Negroes Sandy and Sampson, interpreters, were taken prisoners. The former was cruelly murdered the next day. Sampson was detained a prisoner two years, when he effected his escape. Colonel Harney visited the place the same night, and found the bodies of most of the party shockingly man- gled. He remained near the ground several days, and rescued two men, who had escaped in the confusion, and had been living upon crabs and oysters. Captain Griffin's official report announces the fact : " Assistant Adjutant-General's Office, Army of the } South, Fort Brooke, E. F., July 29th, 1839. \ " Sir — It becomes my painful duty to inform you of the assassination of the greater part of Lieutenant-Colonel Harney's detachment, by the Indians, on the morning of the 23d instant, on the Coloosahatchee river, where they had gone in accordance with the treaty at Fort King, to establish a trading-house. The party consisted of about twenty-eight men, armed with Colt's rifle ; they were encamped on the river, but unprotected by de- 234 THE FLORIDA WAR. fences of any kind, and it is said without sentinels. The Indians, in large force, made the attack before the dawn of day, and be- fore reveille, and it is supposed that thirteen of the men were killed, among whom was Major Dalham and Mr, Morgan, sutlers. The remainder, with Colonel Harney, escaped ; several of them severely wounded. It was a complete surprise. " The commanding general therefore directs, that you instant- ly take measures to place the defences at Fort Mellon in the most complete state of repair, and be ready at all times to repel attack, should one be made. No portion of your command will, in future, be suffered to leave the garrison except under a strong escort. The detachment at Fort Mellon will be immediately withdrawn. " Should Fort Mellon prove unhealthy, and the surgeon re- commend its abandonment, you are authorized to transfer the garrison, and reinforce some of the neighboring posts. I am, sir. Lieutenant W. K. Hanson, ) GEO. H. GRIFFIN, Commanding at Fort Mellon. \ Assistant Adjutant-General." The following extracts from letters received at Tampa Bay and Key West, furnish more particulars of the massacre : " August 1st, 1839. "Dear Sir — Supposing you would like to know how the treaty succeeds, I will inform you, that on the 22d ultimo, at four o'clock in the morning, after you left the trading-house at Coloosa- hatchee, the Indians simultaneously attacked Colonel Harney's camp and the trading-house, and killed probably eighteen persons. They got fourteen of Colt's rifles, but only two pounds of pow- der, and all Dalham's goods, tents, provisions, &c. Colonel Har- ney escaped with only drawers and shirt, and has been expected at Tampa Bay since the 27th, on which day the express arrived at Tampa, and said that Colonel Harney would arrive in a boat on the following day. Fears are entertained for his safety, but we think it possible he may have changed his course to Key Biscayne. " Statement of the dead, wounded, and missing, at the mas- sacre by the Indians, at the trading-house, on the morning of July 23d, 1839: jEsccipec?— Lieutenant-Colonel W. S. Harney; privates Dunsmore* (A), Butcher (D), Britton (A), Horton (A), Powell (A), Starke (A), Warner (A), Britton (F), Hutchins (E), Eastman (F), Tucker (F), Willisf (F), Barrett (A)— fourteen. * The letters in parentheses are those of the companies to which the men belonged, t Wounded and recovering. THE FLORIDA WAR. 235 Missing and supposed killed — Sergeant Simmons (A) ; privates Thompson (A), Jeffs (F), Bedford (D), 2d dragoons; Mr. Dal- ham, sutler, Morgan, sutler's clerk, Howard, Hughey, citizens in employment of Mr. Dalham ; Sandy, Sampson, negro guides — ten. Killed on the ground — Sergeant Bigelow (E), Corporal Hay- wood (D) ; privates Nicholas (C), Luther (C), Brown (A), White (F), Farrier Mee (F), 2d dragoons ; Mr. Smith, in the employ- ment of Mr. Dalham — eight." " Synahel, Florida, July 22cl, 1839. " The sloop Jane, from Tampa, arrived at the mouth of Syna- hel river, late in the evening, while the tide was running out. We were unable to proceed to the encampment, which was situ- ated about eight miles up the river. We proceeded, however, early next morning, and got about five miles up, when we met a sloop with seven or eight men in her, and perceived that some- thing was wrong, as the men in said boat w^ere some half naked, and others with their heads bound up. Their cry was, 'For God's sake turn back, for Colonel Harney and all his men are wounded !' The savages had surprised the poor fellows, at a time when least expected, just before the dawn of day ; some were shot while lying in their beds ; the men had not even time to seize their rifles. Those who escaped ran for the river, and swam off to a sloop, (the one that we met!) The first sergeant was wounded before reaching the river. An Indian from the bank entreated him to turn back and bring his men with him, and they would not hurt him ; he foolishly turned back, and two or three others followed his advice. They were led away by the Indians, and were afterwards shot. " After turning back with said sloop, we stopped at the mouth of the river, and perceived a canoe running down, w^hich we at first took for Indians, but judge our surprise to find Colonel Har- ney and a soldier, who during the murder had taken to the wood on the bank of the river, and there found the canoe, and succeeded in making their escape. The first word from the colonel was, how many men had escaped, and how many rifles had we left, which upon examination we found to be three. " The gallant colonel immediately determined on going back, as in all probability some of the men had escaped, and were yet on the banks of the river. It w^as a very hazardous expedition to proceed eight miles up a river lined wath Indians, and only two or three rifles to protect themselves. The men muffled their oars, so as to make as little noise as possible, and started at about eleven o'clock at night. They got to the camp just before day- light, and after crawding up the bank, the first thing that met 236 THE FLORIDA WAR. their view was the body of one of their comrades, mangled in a most shocking manner, scalped, and his entrails taken out. " They proceeded a little fmlher, and found some six or seven in the same situation. Judging it not prudent to remain long, they seized on what few things the Indians had left, which were three kegs of pickles, a bag of corn, and some coffee, and returned to the sloops. The colonel dispatched one sloop to Tampa with two men that were wounded, and with our boat we proceeded for Cape Florida. The first day we were fired upon by Indians, about fifty miles from the Synabel, but we were too far from land for the shot to take any effect. " On the 27th we arrived at Cape Sable, and fell in with the schooner Charles Howe, which we hired to go to Cape Florida, to put what few troops are there on their guard. I put into Key Vacas, which gives me the opportunity of relating the news. The number of soldiers stationed at Synabel was twenty-five, a sutler and his clerk, and two men employed as laborers, and one man employed as a pilot. " The sutler's name is Dalham, the clerk's name Morgan, the carpenter's name Howard, the pilot's name H. McCarty, soldiers' names not known. " The Indians have got considerable booty. The sutler had an assortment of goods worth about two or three thousand dol- lars, and about one thousand dollars in specie. The soldiers had fourteen patent rifles, six carbines, one keg of powder, a number of percussion-caps, and a great quantity of private property be- longing to Colonel Harney and soldiers. The}^ had placed every confidence in the Indians. They would come into camp every day and talk with the men, and when asked if they w^ere satisfied with the treaty, answered they were. ^ ^ ^ ■ vP ^ VF ^ " Lieutenant Hanson, upon the receipt of this intelligence, seized forty-six Seminoles then visiting his post to obtain provi- sions. This his command, though small, effected in a most skilful manner, and shipped them immediately for Charleston, South Carolina. From thence they were sent to Arkansas." The Florida war was again renewed, with all its horrors and embarrassments, and preparations were being made for another campaign, as soon as the season would permit. The Honorable J. R. Poinsett, secretary of war, in his annual report to the president of the United States, uses the following language in regard to the war : " Congress having expressed a desire that an attempt should be made to terminate the war in Florida by pacific measures, and THE FLORIDA WAR. 337 appropriated a sum of money for that purpose, the department, early in the spring, dispatched Major-General Macomb to open a communication with the Indians, and, if possible, to treat with them. He succeeded with difficulty in obtaining an interview with some of the chiefs and head-men, and made an arrangement which it was hoped would put a stop to this long-protracted war. Its only result, however, has been the loss of many valuable lives. Our people fell a sacrifice to their confidence in the good faith and promises of the Indians, and were entrapped and murdered with all the circumstances of cruelty and treachery which dis- tinguish Indian warfare. Composed, as the Florida Indians are, of the remnants of tribes that have taken refuge there, and ac- knowledge no common head, no treaty stipulations that are not sanctioned by each and every tribe can be regarded as binding ; nor can the government consider the country pacified, until there has been a general submission of all the chiefs of the various tribes of Indians inhabiting the peninsula. The experience of the last summer brings with it the painful conviction that the war must be prosecuted until Florida is freed from these ruthless sav- ages. Their late cruel and treacherous conduct is too generally known to require a repetition of the revolting recital. It has been such as is calculated to deprive them of the sympathy of the humane, and to convince the most peaceable of the necessity of subduing them by force. With this view, the regular forces have been augmented in Florida, as much as the circumstances of the country will permit, and orders have been given to change, for the present, the theatre of operations. The frequent murders committed in West and Middle Florida, show that there are still small bands of Indians lurking there, and it is the determination of the department, in the first place, to drive them from that por- tion of the territory, and free the settlements from further moles- tation. In the mean time, the posts on the Atlantic and the Gulf will be maintained, in order to protect the passing trade, in which effort it is expected the navy will co-operate. For this purpose, the vessels hitherto employed on the coast have been transferred to that department. " Until the operations of the campaign were interrupted by the attempt to negotiate with the Indians, they were conducted with vigor and ability, under that zealous and indefatigable offi- cer, Brigadier-General Taylor, who accomplished all that could be expected with the very limited means at his command, spread out as they were over so extensive a field of operations. Through- out the whole of this disastrous war, the officers and men engaged in it have endured fatigue and privations, sickness and suffering, without a murmur or complaint, and have, on all occasions, ex- hibited the qualities of good and brave soldiers. With untiring 238 THE FLORIDA WAR. perseverance they have opened roads through the swamps in pursuit of the enemy, and, whenever they could bring him to battle, displayed the utmost coolness and intrepidity ; in every instance driving him from his fastnesses. But all these exertions and sacrifices have proved unavailing. Heretofore the Indian population of our states and territories have been expelled by the gradual increase and advances of a superior race ; whereas, in Florida, the attempt has been made, for the first time, to drive aborigines from the unsettled wilderness, or, what is still more difficult, to catch them for the purpose of transporting them be- yond its limits. If the Indians of Florida had a country to retire to, they would have been driven out of the territory long ago ; but they are hemmed in by the sea, and must defend themselves to the uttermost, or surrender to be transported beyond it. To reduce them to that extremity, spread, as they are, over a space of at least forty-five thousand square miles of country, abounding in provisions suited to their habits, defended by a climate, benign to them, but deadly to the whites, and presenting difficulties to the march of armies, that have been often described and cannot be exaggerated, will require great exertions, and probably other than those hitherto tried." * * * # # * * Every expedient whio^ could be devised had been resorted to to close this distressing and protracted war. The enemy, finding these had failed, now became more bold, active, and cruel, than ever. They showed themselves on the highways, and attacked travellers and plantations at noonday. The executive of the territory had awaited with patience and anxiety, when his con- stituents, appealing to him in the most earnest manner, could return to their homes, and the country once more be blest with permanent peace and happiness. Govornor Reid, on the assem- bling of the territorial legislature at Tallahassee, in November, addressed to them language calculated to soothe the excited feel- ings of the populace, and to induce them to render their aid once more in attempting to reduce the enemy. The following is an extract from the message of Governor Reid to the legislative council of Florida, December 10th, 1839: " The efforts of the general and territorial governments to quell the Indian disturbances, which have prevailed through four long years, have been unavailing, and it would seem that the prophecy of the most sagacious leader of the Indians will be more than fulfilled ; the close of the fifth year will still find us strug- gling in a contest, remarkable for magnanimity, forbearance, and credulity on the one side, and ferocity and bad faith on the other. We are waging a war with beasts of prey ; the tactics that be- THE FLORIDA WAR. 239 long to civilized nations are but shackles and fetters in its prose- cution ; we must fight ' fire with fire ;' the white man must, in a great measure, adopt the mode of warfare pursued by the red man, and we can only hope for success by continually harassing and pursuing the enemy. If we drive him from hammock to hammock, from swamp to swamp, and penetrate the recesses where his women and children are hidden ; if, in self-defence, we show as little mercy to him as he has shown to us, the anxiety and surprise produced by such operations will not, it is believed, fail to produce prosperous results. It is high time that sickly sentimentality should cease. ' Lo, the poor Indian !' is the ex- clamation of the fanatic pseudo-philanthropist ; ' Lo, the poor white man!' is the ejaculation which all will utter, who have witnessed the inhuman butchery of women and children, and the massacres that have drenched the territory in blood. " In the future prosecution of the war it is important that a generous confidence should be reposed in the general government. It may be that mistakes and errors have been committed on all hands ; but the peculiar adaptation of the country to the cowardly system of the foe, and its inaptitude to the operations of a regular army ; the varying and often contradictory views and opinions of the best informed of our citizens, and the embarrassments which these cases must have produced to the authorities at Washington, furnish to the impartial mind some excuse, at least, for the failures which have hitherto occurred. It is our duty to be less mindful of the past than the future. Convinced that the present incumbent of the presidential chair regards, with sincere and intense interest, the afflictions we endure ; relying upon the patriotism, talent, and sound judgment of the distin- guished Carolinian who presides over the department of war, and confident in the wisdom of congress, let us prepare to second with every nerve, the measures which may be devised for our relief Feeling as we do the immediate pressure of circum- stances, let us exert, to the extremest point, all our powers to rid us of the evil by which we are oppressed. Let us by a concilia- tory course endeavor to allay any unkindnesses of feeling which may exist between the United States army and the militia of Florida, and by union of sentiment among ourselves, advance the happy period when the territory shall enjoy what she so much needs, a long season of peace and tranquillity." The legislature was induced to adopt their own expedients to effect the object. Accordingly, Colonel Fitzpatrick was author- ized to proceed to Havanna, and procure a kennel of blood- hounds, dogs long noted in the West India islands for tracking and pursuing the negroes. He succeeded in obtaining thirty- 240 THE FLORIDA WAR. three, and returned on the 6th of January, 1840. The exorbitant price of $151.72 each was paid, and with difficulty obtained. Five experienced Spaniards accompanied them, who were the only persons capable of using them effectively. The method adopted by the Spaniards to hunt the Indians, was to feed them liberally upon bloody meat, then muzzle and control them by a leash. They were to be put upon the footprint, which it was said they would follow until the individual v/as found. These dogs v/ere attached to columns of troops, attended by their keep- ers. Young calves were driven with each detachment to feed them. Tracks of Indians were found, but the dogs finding the scent far different from that of a negro, refused to follow, which disappointed the most sanguine, who entertained the belief that the hounds would summarily close the Florida war. The at- tempt was a total failure. As ineffectual as this method of closing a sanguinary contest proved to be, it nevertheless aroused the indignation of many citizens in the largest cities, who, remote from the barbarities which had desolated the country, protested by memorials to the congress of the United States against a course so brutal and inhuman. The Honorable H. A. Wise, a representative from the state of Virginia, introduced a resolution in the lower house, inquiring into this step, and to know whether the general government had been a participator in so infamous a mode of exterminating human creatures, as expressed by the memorialists. The Honorable J. R. Poinsett, in reply, transmitted the fol- lowing : " War Department, December 30th, 1839. " Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th instant, inquiring into the truth of the assertion made by the public papers, that the government had determined to use bloodhounds in the war against the Florida Indians, and beg to assure you that it will afford me great pleasure to give you all the information on this subject in possession of the depart- ment. " From the time I first entered upon the duties of the war department, I continued to receive letters from officers command- ing in Florida, as well as from the most enlightened citizens of that territory, urging the employment of bloodhounds as the most efficient means of terminating the atrocities daily perpetrated by the Indians on the settlers in that territory. To these proposals no answer was given, until, in the month of August, 1838, while at the Virginia Springs, there was referred to me from the de- partment a letter addressed to the adjutant- general, by the officer commanding the forces in Florida, General Taylor, to the follow- ing effect : THE FLORIDA WAR. 241 ^ " Head- Quarters, Army of the South, ) Fort Brooke, July 28th, 1838. J "Sir — I have the honor to inclose you a communication this moment received, on the subject of procuring bloodhounds from the island of Cuba, to aid the army in its operations against the hostiles in Florida. " I am decidedly in favor of the measure, and beg leave to urge it as the only means of ridding the country of the Indians, vi^ho are now broken up into small parties, that take shelter in swamps and hammocks as the army approaches, making it im- possible for us to follow or overtake them without the aid of such auxiliaries. " Should this measure meet the approbation of the department, and the necessary authority be granted, I will open a correspond- ence with Mr. Evertson on the subject, through Major Hunt, assistant-quartermaster at Savannah, and will authorize him, if it can be done on reasonable terms, to employ a few dogs, with persons who understand their management. " I wish it distinctly understood, that my object in employing dogs, is only to ascertain where the Indians can be found, not to worry them. I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, General R. Jones, ) Z. TAYLOR, Washington, D. C. \ Brevet Brig. Gen., U. S. A. " On this letter I endorsed the following decision, which was communicated to General Taylor : ' I have always been of opin- ion that dogs ought to be employed in this warfare, to protect the army from surprises and ambuscades, and to track the Indian to his lurking-place, but supposed, if the general believed them to be necessary, he would not hesitate to take measures to procure them. The cold-blooded and inhuman murders lately perpe- trated upon helpless women and children by these ruthless sava- ges, render it expedient that every possible means should be resorted to in order to protect the people of Florida, and to enable the United States forces to follow and capture, or destroy, the savage and unrelenting foe. General Taylor is therefore author- ized to procure such number of dogs as he may judge necessary, it being expressly understood that they are to be employed to track and discover the Indians, not to worry or destroy them.' " This is the only action or correspondence on the part of the department that has ever taken place in relation to the matter. The general took no measures to carry into effect his own recom- mendation, and this department has never since renewed the subject. I continue, however, to entertain the opinion expressed in the above decision. I do not believe that description of dog 16 242 THE FLORIDA WAR. called the bloodhound necessary to prevent surprise or track the Indian murderer, but still I think that every cabin, every military post, and every detachment, should be attended by dogs. That precaution might have saved Dade's command from massacre, and by giving timely warning have prevented many of the cruel murders which have been committed by the Indians in Middle Florida. The only successful pursuit of Indian murderers that I know of, was on a late occasion, when the pursuers were aided by the sagacity of their dogs. These savages had approached a cabin of peaceful and industrious settlers so stealthily, that the first notice of their presence was given by a volley from their rifles thrust between the logs of the house ; and the work of death was finished by tomahawking the women, after tearing from them their infant children and dashing their brains out against the door-posts. Are these ruthless savages to escape, and repeat such scenes of blood, because they can elude our fellow-citizens in , Florida, and our regular soldiers, and baffle their unaided efforts to overtake or discover them ? On a late occasion, three 'estimable citizens were killed in the immediate neighborhood of St. Augustine, and one officer of distinguished merit mortally wounded. It is in evidence, that these murders were committed hj two Indians, who, after shooting down the father and beating out the son's brains with the butts of their rifles, upon hearing the approach of the volunteers, retired a few yards into the woods, and secreted themselves until the troops returned to town with the dead bodies of those who had been thus inhumanly and wantonly butchered. " It is to be regretted that this corps had not been accom- panied with one or two hunters, who, with their dogs, might have tracked the blood-stained footsteps of these Indians, have restored to liberty the captives they were dragging away with them, and have prevented them from ever again repeating such atrocities. Nor could the severest casuist object to our fellow- citizens in Florida resorting to such measures in order to protect the lives of their women and children. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Hon. Henry A. Wise, ) J. R. POINSETT." House of Representatives. ) " War Department, Jan. 26th, 1840. *' Sir — It is understood by the department, although not offi- cially informed of the fact, that the authorities of the territory of Florida have imported a pack of bloodhounds from the island of Cuba ; and I think it proper to direct, in the event of those dogs being employed by any officer or officers under your command, that their use be confined, altogether, to tracking the Indians ; THE FLORIDA WAR. 243 and in order to ensure this, and to prevent the possibility of their injuring any person whatsoever, that they be muzzled when in the field, and held with a leash while following the track of the enemy. Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, Brigadier-General Z. Taylor, Commanding- ) J. R. POINSETT." Araiy of the South, Florida. ) The sickly season had again returned, when it was deemed expedient to withdraw the troops from the field. General Tay- lor's exertions had been unremitting in pursuing with vigor every scheme recommended or devised to bring the enemy to terms. His officers and soldiers bore their part, and, without a murmur, under every disappointment, privation, and fatigue, rendered a hearty co-operation. Upon General Taylor's requesting to be relieved from duty in Florida, orders were issued at Washington to meet his wishes : GENERAL ORDERS, ) " Head-Quarters of the Army, No. 22. \ Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, April 21st, 1840. " Brigadier-General Taylor having requested leave to retire from the command of the army in Florida, will be relieved by Brigadier-General Armistead, who is to assume the command accordingly, on the withdrawal of General Taylor on the 1st of May. "General Taylor will communicate to General Armistead such instructions as he may have received, and are now requisite for the guidance of his successor in conducting the service in Florida. " The head-quarters of the army in Florida are to be estab- lished at St. Augustine, after the 1st of May, where the reports and communications will be directed until otherwise ordered by the commanding officer. By order of Major-General Macomb, R. JONES, Adjutant-General." The Spanish Indians inhabiting the southern part of the peninsula of Florida, finding themselves encroached upon by others from the north, driven down by the whites, became active par- ticipators. They plundered and murdered unfortunate seamen, wrecked upon the coast, and attacked the various settlements on the islands on the western coast, with whom they had lived in amity for years, engaged in fishing. Indian Key, a small island, about four miles in circumference and twenty from the main land, was attacked by a band of Spanish Indians in boats, under 244 THE FLORIDA WAR. Chekika. Dr. Perrine and his family were among the unfortu- nate sufferers. He was killed after eluding the Indians for some time. Distinguished for high classic and literary attainment, he had devoted years of his life, with great enthusiasm, to the study of botany. The southern portion of Florida was a spot peculiarly adapted to carry out his designs. His notes, which he had been accumulating for years, were all destroyed. In him science lost a bright ornament, social life a friend and kind parent,. and Flori- da, as well as our common country, a benefactor. The following narrative, by an officer of the army, of what transpired at Indian Key, is full of interest : " On the morning of the 7th of August, between two and three o'clock, the inhabitants of Indian Key were awakened from their sleep by the Indian war-whoop and the discharge of guns. Alarmed by the breaking of the glass of their chamber- windows, Mrs. Perrine and her three children descended into a small room at the foot of the stairs, in which was a trap-door that led to the cellar, used for bathing, as the tide filled it twice a day. Dr. Perrine accompanied them as far as the door, and then said he would go back and see what he could do. " Mrs. Perrine resisted the entreaties of her daughters to go down into the water, until they heard the Indians breaking into the house of Mr. Howe, which was opposite to theirs. They went down into the cellar, passed through the bathing-room into a small place, say three feet high and four feet by ten in length and breadth, walled up on each side, with rocks and thick planks over the top, then covered by marl and stone and thin planks again, to make it even with the wharf which extended beyond, and was separated from it by palmetto posts driven deep into the marl; under this wharf was a large turtle-crawl. Soon after they had secreted themselves in this place, Dr. Perrine was heard upon the upper piazza, in Spanish, telling them he was a physi- cian, upon which they gave a shout and left the house. While the Indians were gone, Dr. Perrine came down and closed the trap-door, and drew a heavy chest of seeds that was in the room over it, thinking that he should be saved, and he would try to save his family. During this time the Indians were heard break- ing into different houses, while the Doctor's was left untouched ; but about daylight they returned, jumped into the piazza, and commenced battering away at the doors and windows ; one of them was heard to say, ' Stop that,' and then they rushed up stairs ; the same voice was again heard to say, ' They are all hid — the old man up stairs ;' for Dr. Perrine had evidently retreated to the cupola, which was entered by a heavy trap-door. The Indians were heard pounding at that door with most horrid yells, THE FLORIDA WAR. 245 but from its strength it resisted for some time ; when it gave way, their yells were like demons, and it was then that the massacre of Dr. Perrine was accomplished. They were soon heard break- ing crockery, glass, doors, and indeed every thing they could lay their hands upon, while trunks, and chests . of clothing, and all that they wished to carry oft', were being dragged over the heads of the family that lay concealed, and loaded into boats. Indeed, while the family were in their place of retreat, there were two or three Indians most of the time sitting over their heads, talking and giving their commands ; they even lifted the plank from the turtle-crawl and looked down ; had they looked towards the end where the family were hid, they would certainly have been dis- covered. " Soon after sunrise the smoke began to fill the cellar, but did not aftect the Doctor's family much, till about an hour before they left, at which time the whole house fell into the cellar ; it then became intolerable, and was so thick that though they were clasped in each other's arms they could not see each other. The planks that supported the rocks over them took fire : during this time they kept their faces towards the water's edge, plastered their heads with marl, and threw the water constantly over them to keep the air in motion so that they could breathe. " When the planks took fire, they commenced throwing the marl upon them to stop the flames. The Doctor's son, Hfenry, soun began to scream, when his mother held his mouth with her hands, fearing that the Indians would hear him, and his sister held his arms, until he burst from them, declaring that he would rather be killed by the savages than be burned to death : he forced aside a palmetto-post, and passed through the turtle-crawl and got out, while the others waited in horrible suspense, thinking that he would be killed and their discovery inevitable ; but hearing no noise, and knowing that they could live but a short time there, Mrs. Perrine dug down in the marl with her hands, until she could draw out the posts from the bottom. They then passed under the wharf, on which there were three cords of wood burn- ing, and the floor burnt through, so that the coals fell upon their necks as they passed under. As they jumped out, they saw Henry standing in front of the store, looking about ; they then discovered a large launch at Houseman's wharf, to which they waded, and beckoned to Henry to come to them. Henry and his sister dragged the launch into deep water, sprang in, and commenced poling and rowing with all their strength, until they were out of rifle-shot of the Key. They had one paddle, one oar, and two poles, and they went nearly a mile in this manner. Twice they got aground, but as Henry knew how to manage a boat, they soon succeeded in getting her off". They were taken 246 THE FLORIDA WAR. up by a boat from the schooner Medium. The boat in which the family escaped was one that the Indians were loading with plun- der from the store ; it had in it a barrel of flour, one box of to- bacco, soap, brandy, and molasses, and part of a musquito-bar. When they reached the vessel they found it to be one o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Howe, wife, and five children, Captain Houseman and wife, and Captain Otis, had reached the vessel before. Mrs. Perrine and children were immediately taken down into the cabin, and told to take any thing they could find to cover themselves with, having escaped from the house in their night- clothes. Mr. Howe afterwards found some dresses that the In- dians had scattered, which were distributed. Friday and Satur- day night they were on board the transport, where every service and attention that was in their power was rendered by the cap- tain of the transport, and officers McCreery and Murray, of the United States navy. " On Saturday night they were very much alarmed by hear- ing the report of two rifles, a signal- which had been agreed upon, in case the Indians attacked Tea-Table Key, but it afterwards proved to have been a false alarm. Although there was a violent storm and a heavy sea, they begged to be permitted to get into an open boat and leave the vessel, thinking every moment the Indians would be upon them ; but the captain kindly refused to permit them to leave the vessel in such a storm, and thus saved them from a watery grave. On Saturday the United States schooner Flirt arrived, and Captain McLaughlin, immediately on learning the situation of those on board the Medium, kindly offered the use of his private state-room, which was accepted. On Monday the Flirt proceeded to Cape Florida, where she waited until Saturday for the steamer Santee, in which Dr. Per- rine's family took passage for St. Augustine. " Gratefully willever be recollected by the sufferers the mani- fold kindnesses and attention received at the hands of Captain McLaughlin and his officers, in their destitute situation." CHAPTEtt IV. FROM JONE 1840, TO MAY 1841. State of aifairs in Florida. — General Z. Taylor relinquishes the command of the army to General Armi- stead.— Strength of the army, regulars and militia. — Appropriations. — Attack of the Indians upon a detachment of the 7th infantry between Fort Micanopy and Watkahoota. — Murder of Mrs. Montgo- mery.— Death of Lieutenant W. M. Sherwood, commanding the party, and Sergeant-Major Caroll. — Affair with Halleck Tustenugge and band at Orange Creek. — Resolute conduct of Lieutenant Alburtis, 2d infantry, and his men. — Troops take the field. — Colonel Worth's interview with Coacoochee or Wild Cat, at Camp Cummings. — Consents to assemble his band, and cease hostilities. — His appearance, and that of his followers, in coming into camp. — His talk. — He goes out again and returns. — Proceeds to Fort Brooke to see General Armistead. — Entire failure of negotiations through friendly Indians. — Coa- coochee promises to assemble his band at Fort Pierce — His supposed infidelity there — Orders trans- mitted for his seizure. — General Armistead, in complianca with orders from Washington, relinquishes the command of the army to Colonel W. J. Worth, 8th regiment of infantry. On the 1st of January, 1841, the Florida war was no nearer a conclusion than the year previous. The difficulties which had obstructed the efforts of commanders still existed, without any apparent or possible means of attaining success. The Indians in their fastnesses were intractable, defying the exertions of troops, or the overtures of friendly messengers. Those who sought interviews with the whites, came to procure provisions, and practice the duplicity and cunning which had distinguished their conduct throughout this protracted war. Brevet Brigadier-General W. R. Armistead, 3d artillery, U. S. A., relieved Brevet Brigadier-General Z. Taylor, 6th in- fantry, U. S. A., on the 6th of May, 1840, and established his head-quarters at St. Augustine, East Florida. Expeditions were dispatched in various quarters, which, as was reported, from the extreme heat of the season, the unknown haunts of the Indians, and sickness among the troops, frustrated the operations of the commanding general, who otherwise conducted the campaign with zeal and energy. These results, at this period, had caused, in the army and country, a general feeling of despair. All re- sources seemed to be exhausted ; the troops lay in camp unoccu- pied, and the enemy roamed unmolested, striking a blow wherever and whenever his inclination or wants dictated. Peace and war, friendship and hostility, went hand in hand, so often alternated, that defeat and disappointment were the inevitable result. The . strength of the army -present for duty was 3403 non-commis- sioned officers and privates, and 241 commissioned officers ; 564 comprised the number sick, together with seven commissioned officers. The aggregate of the army of Florida, present and ab- isent, was 4941 men ; this was composed of ten companies 2d. 248 THE FLORIDA WAR. dragoons, nine companies 3d artillery, and the 1st, 2d, 3d, 6th, 7th, and 8th regiments of infantry. This force was posted at the numerous points throughout the territory, to prevent, if possible, the encroachments of the Indians upon the settlements, and occasionally make excursions, as circumstances required, without any organized system of co-operation. 1500 militia, 1000 mount- ed, and 500 foot, were being raised, to co-operate with the regular troops in protecting the border and subduing the enemy. Briga^ dier-General Leigh Reid, of Tallahassee, was placed in com- mand ; an officer of intelligence and merit. This fatal paralysis^ neither peace nor war, prostrated every exertion, and crushed the ardent anticipations of officers and men. If Indians were found, they availed themselves of the truce, received kindness and atten- tion, obtained subsistence and ammunition ; improving the first opportunity to effect their escape, exulting among their compan- ions at their own sagacity and the supineness of the white men. A party of twelve Seminoles and Mickasukies, from Arkansas, were operating in a friendly manner to obtain interviews with the hostiles. The sincerity of their acts and professions were often doubted ; they, however, with difficulty could approach the enemy, either from cowardice or want of knowledge, in the almost impenetrable hammocks. Through their exertions, the com- manding general obtained an interview with Halleck-Tustenug- gee and Tigertail, two most crafty and notable chiefs, near Horse-Shoe Hammock, in the vicinity of Fort King, on the 10th of November, 1840. These chiefs came with forty warriors, art- fully designing to strike a fatal blow, as inducement offered, or sagaciously improve the proffers of peace, and supply themselves with subsistence and ammunition. The general approached the hammock accompanied by several officers, when Halleck-Tuste- nuggee cautiously came out to meet him, bearing a white flag. His manner was humble and subdued ; he talked calmly and feel- ingly upon the long and sanguinary continuance of hostilities, manifesting much interest that the contest should be closed. After earnest persuasion, he consented to return with the general to Fort King. His warriors, during the conversation, lay se- creted in the hammock. At Fort King he remained four days, visited constantly by small parties of his band, who returned by sundown to their unknown camp, supplied with enough to eat and to drink. In this way they lingered about the camp, giving the most ardent assurances of peace and friendship, by repeated talks, until the morning of the 14th of November, when it was announced that the entire party had fled I headed by the chiefs who commanded it. Both the chiefs slept in camp that night, with twenty men. Their wants were supplied ; their object was accomplished ; farther intercourse with the whites consequently THE FLORIDA WAR. 249 ceased. Pursuit by the troops in camp was immediately given, but without success; not even a track could be discovered. This, it was supposed, was enough to blast all hopes of success through the interposition of friendly Indians, or by the allure- ments of friendship and kindness, and cause activity in the com- mand, to chastise the temerity 6f such proceedings, and vindicate the acknowledged sagacity of the white man. Yet the army was idle in camp, waiting for some anticipated result, the nature of which was neither understood nor expressed. The head-quarters of the army were established at Fort Brooke, Tampa, Florida. Here was concentrated the largest portion of the disposable force ; from which point it was contem- plated to move, to strike an effectual blow at the proper time. The occurrence of some event was anticipated, whether it was the re-enacting of cruel murders, or the voluntary surrender of the enemy, were questions often mooted in the minds of those who suffered under feelings of disappointment and regret, and who were yet to bear the burden of the toil resulting from pro- crastination. The intelligence of the attack upon Lieutenant Sherwood, 7th infantry, his death, the brutal murder of Mrs. Montgomery, (wife of Lieutenant Montgomery, 7th infantry,) caused the indig- nation of officers and soldiers, created alarm, and aroused the spirit of retaliation throughout the country. This occurred on the 28th of December, 1840. The party consisted of Second- Lieutenant Walter Sherwood, Lieutenant N. Hopson, Sergeant- Major Carroll, and ten privates, 7th infantry, as an escort to Mrs. Montgomery, who were proceeding on horseback from Micanopy to Watkahoota, eight miles, accompanied by a wagon and five mules. The detachment had advanced about four miles, when from a strip of hammock known as Martin's Point, within twenty yards of the road, they received the fire of the enemy, followed immediately by the well-known war-whoop and savage yell : two privates ffeil dead. Lieutenant Sherwood ralhed his escort, de- termined to stand his ground ; and to protect Mrs. Montgomery persuaded her to dismount and get into the wagon ; in the act of so doing she received a ball in her breast, which was fatal. A general panic ensued ; the mules became entangled in the har- ness, and were killed on the spot. Lieutenant Hopson returned to Micanopy for reinforcement. With the few that remained, Lieutenant Sherwood fought hand to hand with the savages as they advanced from the wood ; redoubled in fury by the havoc before them, until exhausted from the loss of blood, and over- powered by numbers, he fell a sacrifice to his own intrepidity and bravery, with the sergeant-major by his side. The Indians, after scalping the killed, and otherwise mutilating the bodies, ^-e- 250 THE FLORIDA WAR. turned to the hammock. This party consisted of thirty warriors, headed by Halleck-Tustenuggee and Cosa-Tustenuggee. They came out for the purpose of plunder, secreted themselves in the palmettoes and scrub, and thus approached the most frequented route, where the hammocks formed a junction with the highway. The cold-blooded atrocity of this act intimidated Cosa-Tustenug- gee, who sought the first opportunity to surrender, still relying upon the forbearance and credulity of the agents of the govern- ment. He assembled his band near Palaklikaha, when he was unexpectedly fired upon by a scouting party of dragoons, who took them prisoners and conducted them to Fort King. This act fortunately broke up the amicable relations supposed to exist between the enemy and the whites. The band was secured, consisting of thirty-two warriors and sixty women and children, and was embarked for Arkansas on the 20th of June. The in- famy of his own acts, accident, and the resolution of the detach; ment of dragoons, (which at first caused the arrest of the officer in command,) had relieved Florida of an Indian chieftain, cruel, cowardly, and vindictive. The authorities at Washington, harassed by the repeated and loud complaints of the citizens of the territory, rescinded the in- structions to the commanding general to urge the Indians to amicable surrender, and required him to prosecute the war with vigor, under the stipulations of the treaty of Payne's Landing : " The department entertains the well-grounded hopes," says this communication, of February 1st, 1841, "that you will be able to bring the war to a close upon the terms required by the treaty, and by the interests and feelings of the people of Florida." Five years' experience had taught no lesson of instruction ; these terms had been persevered in, under various suggestions and different forms, but every successive campaign had caused a large expen- diture of money and life, without effecting the objects of the government, the wishes of the people, or the anticipations of officers and soldiers. Congress, disgusted with the sound of Florida War, continued its liberality in appropriating means to defray the expenses of any newly-devised scheme to bring the contest to a close. On the 18th of January $100,000 was ap- propriated, to be expended under the direction of the secretary of war, for the removal, subsistence, and benefit, of such of the Seminole Indian chiefs and warriors as might surrender for emi- gration. On the 3d of March $1,061,816 was appropriated for suppressing Indian hostihties in Florida. This placed in the hands of the commander abundant means to renew the war with vigor; at the same time granting him broad discretion in the use of money, to tempt the Indian to emigrate. This was the most fajvorable and important season of the year to find the haunts of THE FLORIDA WAR. 251 the enemy, and to destroy their fields, planted in the centre of hammocks, upon which they mainly relied for subsistence the en- suing year. Secure in these retreats, they sallied forth upon the unprotected at any moment ; returned laden with plunder, confident in their security, and with enough about them to supply their wants. Many of these Indians were inclined to surrender; some effected their object ; but the most zealous and intelligent, be- lieving in the sacredness of the soil, as an inheritance from their forefathers, and reverencing with idolatrous fanaticism the graves of their men, women, and children, whose spirits they believed hovered around them in their festivals, pertinaciously refused all intercourse with the whites, and declared vengeance against those who dared place themselves within temptation, or listened to the terms of peace and emigration. With such an enemy, intimately acquainted with every avenue by land and water, to waylay the defenceless, and elude the vigifence of troops, the forcing them to surrender by the operations of the military, pre- sented to those charged with this duty, and who participated, embarassments and obstacles almost insurmountable. Could the enemy be found assembled in any number, the fortitude, the stern and inflexible sense of duty, on the part of officers and men, their perseverance and forbearance under all circumstances, gave every assurance that the gallantry and success that heretofore distinguished their encounters with the enemy, would have brought them to an unconditional surrender, and thus closed the contest, in compliance with the instructions of the war depart- ment, and the wishes of the suffering and unfortunate citizens of the country. The atrocious scenes enacted by these Indians, disregarding the innocent and unoffending, desolating all within reach by fire and blood, caused many a shudder among those heretofore secure in the quietude of their homes, lest the coming night might involve them in the same fate. Neither time nor distance protracted or defeated these excursions, made generally at midnight ; as the smallness of their numbers, and knowledge of the country, eluded the sagacity of the most experienced trackers among the whites, friendly Indians, and negro guides and interpreters. It was important, that if active mihtary operations were to be relied on, the utmost activity should be given to the move- ments of the troops during the months of February, March, April, and May. The periodical rains during the three latter months flooded the country, rendering many parts inaccessible, which at an earlier period were comparatively dry. The mutations of the climate, exposure to wet, a burning sun, and cool nights, tended to enervate the most hardy of the troops, however long accus- tomed to the climate. Heretofore the army had been burdened 252 THE FLORIDA WAR. with the sick and feeble at this season, demanding its withdrawal from the field to healthy stations, for the summer. This was considered necessary, unfortunately, as it gave the Indians ample time to plant and gather their crops. At the present time the commanding general hardly knew where to concentrate or scatter his force, to strike the first blow. Arpeika or Sam Jones, though imbecile from age, occupied with his band the country in the neighborhood of Lake Okeechobee. Coacoochee or Wild Cat, well known for his youthful daring and intelligence, was supposed to be the instigator and leader in the exploits and inroads made upon the settlements east and west of the river St. John's, and participated with others in the murders along the Georgia line. Middle and West Florida were harassed by incursions from the vicinity of the Esteen-Hatchee (Man- river) and the Ocklockonne rivers. Okefenokee swamp afforded another shelter for these depredators upon the inhabitants settled on the southern frontier of Georgia. The hammocks and swamps bordering and communicating with the rivers St. John's, Ockla- waha (Bad Crossing), Withlacoochee (Big Water), Santa Fe, and Suwannee, were safe places of retreat. Orange Lake, Tus- cowillar Hammock near Micanopy, Long Swamp near Fort King, the Wahoo Swamp on the Withlacoochee, the Wacassassa Hammock, and the country bordering the eastern coast of the Gulf, were favorite resorts for green-corn dances and councils, from which small war-parties emerged, catting off travellers and express-riders. Constant intercourse was had between the bands living in these secluded spots, traversing from one to the other, as convenience and comfort required, without leaving a track behind. To prevent this concert of action, troops were posted in such a manner as to intercept them if possible. This tended to make them more cautious. Regardless of this, and confident of their ability to elude and baffle the whites, they frequently passed at night within the sight of camp-fires and posts. After congregating at some convenient point to strike an effectual blow, they accomplished their object at an hour when least anti- cipated, then scattered in parties of two, three, and five, carry- ing the booty to the general council ground, where, in large numbers, they celebrated these achievements by dances, feasts, debauchery, and games. Halleck Tustenuggee was another indomitable leader. A Mickasukie by birth, he boasted that his tribe had never been subdued by the white men. Young and intelligent, with a few but well-tried followers, he was crafty, savage, and fearless. The country from St. Augustine northwest to Fort King and Micanopy, he kept in constant alarm. His infidelity at Fort King, his avowed hatred to the whites, his sagacity, the despotism THE FLORIDA WAR. 253 with which he ruled his band, made him a dangerous and for- midable foe. On the 2d of March he came in the neighborhood of Fort Brooks, on the Ocklawaha river, commanded by First- Lieutenant William Alburtis, 2d U. S. infantry. Here Corporal Long, belonging to the fort, while out on a hunting excursion, was overtaken and cruelly murdered. Knowing the garrison to be weak, the Indians assembled and invited a conflict, by most hideous yells over the remains of Long, secreting themselves in the hammock by the road-side, believing that as the troops ad- vanced they would discover the body of Long, and gather around it, thus enabling them to inflict a murderous fire. Lieutenant Alburtis hearing the yells at his post, and believing it to be an attack upon the train with subsistence, expected from Fort Rus- sell, accepted the invitation, and with nineteen men diverged from the wood to the left, which brought him in rear of the 6nemy, eagerly awaiting his approach. A well-directed and spirited fire announced his arrival, driving the Indians in conster- nation from their ambuscade to the pine-barren. Here the con- flict was continued in a most gallant manner, the enemy twice the number of the command, until they retreated to the ham- mock, when, the ammunition being nearly exhausted. Lieutenant Alburtis retired to his post without molestation, taking with him one sergeant, one corporal, and three privates severely wounded. Still apprehensive that the provision-train would be intercepted by the enemy, another sally was made, with seven- teen men, the entire effective force of the post. When crossing Orange Creek bridge, about six miles distant, the detachment received the fire of the enemy from both sides of the road, se- creted in a dense hammock, and fought its way to the pine- barren on the opposite side. The Indians now becoming reso- lute and fearless, by their own strength and position, advanced with rapidity. The detachment extended from right to left, each man taking a pine-tree, sending forth rapid and well-directed shots, and returning with vigor the ta.unts and threats of their adversaries. This continued for more than an hour, when the troops, finding the Indians disinclined to approach far from the hammock, advanced upon them, when they retreated, leaving Lieutenant Alburtis in quiet possession of the ground. The train with subsistence soon arrived, and was conducted in safety to the fort. In this last encounter one soldier was killed and one wounded. The resolution and firmness of Lieutenant Alburtis and his little band received, as it deserved, the highest commen- dation. It taught a salutary lesson to Halleck Tustenuggee, whose visits in this quarter became less frequent and destructive. In both affairs he had thirty-five warriors ; one sub-chief and three warriors were killed, and two wounded. 254 THE FLORIDA WAR. Waxehadjo, another cruel and intrepid warrior, who for months waylaid the express from Fort Cross to Tampa Bay, having recently burnt the mail, and put the rider to most horrible tortures, met a well-deserved and summary punishment by Cap- tain B. L. Beall, 2d dragoons, who was dispatched immediately with his company, upon the receipt of the intelligence at head- quarters, and found the chief with two men examining the mail- bag, having just finished their breakfast upon the contents of the express-rider's haversack, whose head they had cut off, and placed it upright on the coals upon which their meal had been cooked. The two Indians escaped ; the chief, closely followed, took to a pond, in which he expected to elude his pursuers by remaining under water ; this he nearly effected. The command eagerly watching when he should rise to the surface, discovered him almost beyond the reach of a rifle ; several were discharged, when he sunk. The men waded the pond, and found him hang- ing to the grass beneath, in the last agonies of death. His body was hung upon a tree, as a warning to his companions. Such incidents as these ought to have admonished the most prudent, that the closing of such a warfare could not be accom- pKshed by the means in operation. Peace and friendship was cried in one quarter, war and bloodshed enacted in another. A band of Indians, active and vindictive, occupied the country south of Pease Creek, through the Big Cypress Swamp to the Everglades. Holatter Micco (Billy Bowlegs), Otalke-Thlocko (The Prophet), and Hospertacke (Shiver and Shakes), were the head-men. A part of the friendly Indians from Arkansas were operating in that quarter, from the camp at Sarasota, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport, 1st infantry. Repeated inter- views were had with these chiefs, resulting in their promising to assemble for emigration, and obtaining provisions and ammuni- tion. The expedition of Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, 2d dra- goons, with a detachment from the 3d artillery and dragoons, comprising one hundred men, in canoes, in December, 1840, caused much alarm among these bands, who had fled to this last foot-hold in the territory. This command threaded the most in- tricate passages of this unexplored region, consisting of land, mud, marsh, and water. Chekika, a Spanish Indian chief, with his followers, was found and attacked by a detachment of the 3d artillery, when after vigilant pursuit, he was killed, and six of his companions executed on the spot. With sullen indifference they awaited their fate, asked for no mercy, but manifested, to the last moment, bitter contempt and malignity towards the white man. This intimidated the Indians, fearing the same fate ; as the facility with which the soldiers managed their boats showed that the most secluded spots could be penetrated. To elude capture, and THE FLORIDA WAR. 255 to divert operations in the Everglades, the Indians hastened to Sarasota, eagerly proffering peace, friendship, and emigration, and thus obtained time to plant their fields, and remove their w^omen and children to places of safety. Their offers v^ere accepted, generally believed to be sincere, and they were fed and clothed until the month of April, w^hen, their plans having been matured, and the season advanced, they simultaneously returned to the Big Cypress Swamp and Everglades, elated at their own sa- gacity, and ridiculing the credulity of the whites. Through the exertions of Major W. G. Belknap, 3d infantry, stationed at Fort Fanning, on the Suwannee, the Tallahassee chief, Echo-E-Mar- thlar, with sixty followers, were secured and emigrated on the 20th of March. A few Indians came in from the Annuttiliga Hammock, giving assurances of friendship. Among these was Thlocklo-Tustenuggee or Tiger-Tail, who, since his interview with the commanding general at Fort King, and his escape, had roamed at large, instigating the young men to action. He pro- tested his innocence, and exculpated himself by criminating the Mickasukies, cautioning the commander against their hostility and artful designs. These Indians, after remaining a few days, participating in the hospitality of the garrison, and in constant intercourse with the negro interpreters, whose livelihood depend- ed upon this state of affairs, were permitted to depart as mes- sengers to the hostiles, whose resolution, it was hoped would be shaken by the kindness heaped upon these men, who had been sent in, as being the most sagacious, to obtain ammunition, whisky, and subsistence. Some never returned, others came back, with the well-digested tale that their friends were assem- bling in camp, not far distant, ready to emigrate ; but that the inability of the women and children to travel without food, would unavoidably cause delay. To expedite them to the place of em- barkation. Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, subsistence was given to any amount demanded. At this season the crop of the past summer_was exhausted. To struggle through, until those already planted afforded means of food, required activity and industry in obtaining natural productions, or to obtain enough by well prac- ticed deception upon the whites, whose anxiety to close the contest made them credulous and confiding. Under the pretext of emigration, they were allowed to go to and fro, the bearers of friendly messages, until the season was sufficiently advanced, when the forest yielded its abundance, and their crops gave evi- dence of affording enough for the ensuing year. Eight, ten, fifteen, and twenty days were given them, from time to time, accompanied by entreaties and half-uttered threats, that if the bands were not in by the time allotted, they would be treated as hostiles. Disregarding these injunctions, they returned with 256 THE FLORIDA WAR. cunningly- devised excuses, relying confidently upon the credulity of those upon whom these artful schemes had had so charitable an effect. In this they were not mistaken ; enough was obtained for the subsistence of women and children, powder sufficient for defence and amusement ; while the crops were far advanced, and the season at hand, when the troops, spectators to these events, and worn down by exposure to the climate, would seek refuge for the summer. The field of operations occupied by the regular troops was divided into seven military districts, viz., the Atlantic district, head-quarters St. Augustine ; St. John's, head-quarters Black Creek ; the Ocklawaha, head-quarters Fort King ; Micanopy, head-quarters Micanopy ; the Wacassassa, head-quarters Fort Fanning; the Withlacoochee, head-quarters Fort Clinch; the Tampa, head-quarters Fort Brooke; southern head-quarters Sara- sota ; each commanded by the senior officer present. The militia force in the field, under the command of Briga- dier-General Leigh Reid, was judiciously posted in the northern part of the territory, extending from the Ocklockonnee river, via Tallahassee, to Trader's Hill, Georgia, on the St. Mary's river. Palatka, on the St. John's river, was the principal depot, from which supplies were sent to the interior in wagons, escorted by dragoons and infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel T. F. Hunt, deputy quartermaster-general, was stationed here, the head of this de- partment. The anxiety of the government to close this harass- ing warfare, was evident by the liberality which distinguished every staff" department. Transportation could be had to any ex- tent, and the soldier was supplied with every necessary to add to his comfort in sickness, and aid him in overcoming the obstacles which the climate and the character of the country interposed in all quarters. Marches of weeks and months, through deep sand and muddy water, burdened with a knapsack and musket, exposed to a vertical sun and drenching rains, brought the troops no nearer the enemy, who, with his rifle and a few companions, watched their weary progress from day to day, intercepting detachments at every point, with a fleetness unexampled, eluding and mis- leading by their intimate knowledge of the country. Hardly could the troops reach their destination, before the section of country which they had just left would be alarmed by the inroads of the Indians. Disregarding the dictates of humanity, the Indian mother has been known to leave her infant by the way-side, lest the burden might impede her flight. If a sound was heard in the neighborhood of their secluded camps, to which they were not accustomed, the cracking of a bush, or the ill-omened croaking of an owl, a move was immediately made to a more retired spot. The soldier and officer thus harassed, would willingly have dis- THE FLORIDA WAR. 257 pensed with the liberaHty of the government, to find and chastise the enemy. Health, reputation, and money were lavished, to receive in return censure, dissatisfaction, and defeat. General hospitals were established at Picolata, on the St. John's, and at Cedar Key, on the Gulf side, near the mouth of the Suwannee river, to which the sick were sent, when the number at each interior post became so augmented as to limit the necessary means of comfort and attendance. These positions gave to the invalid the invigorating influences of the sea-breeze from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The prevailing disease was dysentery, caused by being obliged to drink the turbid water from stagnant pools, and aggravated by the long continued and unvaried heat of the summer. With the efficient force of regulars and militia at hand, sup- plies in abundance, the command in a comparatively healthy state, the season offering every inducement to exertion and enter- prise, to remain longer inactive, anticipating a conclusion of the war by pacific measures, was as irreconcilable as it had proved unavailing. The movement of troops it was feared would alarm the Indians, and induce them to believe the promises of peace and friendship were disregarded. These, though made in good faith, were not obligatory, as their assurances of every kind had been totally disregarded, even when the troops were inactive, through their duplicity, sagacity, and entreaties. On the 22d of January, a detachment of the 8th infantry, stationed at Fort Brooke, two hundred and forty strong, com- manded by Captain T. P. Guynn, moved east for the Kissimmee river ; supplies were pushed on, and a depot established on the head-waters of Pease Creek. A stockade was built, and called Fort Carroll, in memory of Serge ant- Major Carroll, 7th infantry, who fell with Lieutenant Sherwood. The country in which successful operations might be anticipated, either for peace or war, was in advance, in the neighborhood of the Kissimmee river ; thence east to the Atlantic coast. Four additional com- panies of the 8th regiment, two hundred strong, followed the next day, together with BealFs company, 2d dragoons. Colonel W. J. Worth, commanding the regiment and the Tampa district, arrived on the 30th, and took the direction of operations. On the 4th of February the command encamped at Fort Gardner. The country on the route was found to be completely inundated, and the causeways and bridges erected by troops in the opera- tions in this quarter, in 1838 and 1839, were completely de- stroyed. The banks of the Kissimmee were overflowed. The mounted men and Indians, sent to penetrate by the most fre- quented trails to the south, returned, unable to proceed on horse- 17 258 THE FLORIDA WAR. back more than six miles, the water continually increasing in depth. Five Indians of the Arkansas delegation, accompanied the command. Micco, an aged but intelligent Indian, captured in the Everglades by Major Childs, 3d artillery, was sent by the commanding general to co-operate as far as in his power with the friendly Indians. Coacoochee or Wild Cat, he said, occupied an island in Lake Tohopekaliga, and, could he cross the Kissim- mee, he was satisfied he could find him. He was dispatched on the 6th of February, and returned on the 8th, finding the country, from the depth of water, impassable, and having lost his horse in endeavoring to swim for dry land. He designated Fort Cum- mings, thirty miles farther north, near the Big Cypress Swamp, on the Ockholwakee, as a point from which he believed he could proceed. The command took post at that place, when Micco was dispatched with a talk to Coacoochee, accompanied by a white flag, upon which was drawn clasped hands, in token of friendship, a bottle of whisky, pipes, and tobacco. Coacoochee, since his attack upon a party of theatricals proceeding from Pico- lata to St. Augustine, in which two were killed, and their entire wardrobes plundered, had secluded himself, lest vengeance might overtake him. This, together with his well-known infidelity, activity, and vindictiveness, almost precluded the hopes of an interview. His daughter, an interesting girl about twelve years of age, who had been captured in a skirmish near Fort Mellon, was then in camp, and it was thought would induce him to come in, and by the kindness extended to her, be the means of sub- duing his malignity to the whites, against whom he had waged so long and successful a warfare. The return of Micco v/as looked for with anxiety and suspense. An interview with this chieftain would afford facilities through which much might be accomplished. The flooded state of the country, and ignorance of their hiding-places, precluded the possibility of eflfecting the desired object through the operations of troops. This country, out of which it had been seriously proposed to starve the Indians, supplied the troops abundantly with venison, turkeys, fish, and turtle. On the sixth day Micco returned, and reported that he had found Coacoochee four days' travel from camp, in the Ock- holwakee or Cypress Swamp. He brought from him profes- sions of friendship, and a desire to talk with the white man, send- ing eight sticks, representing the number of days when he might be expected in camp, and requested the friendly Indians to meet him on the road. These Indians, well understanding the dupli- city of their own color, feared some design to entrap and put them to death. Being assured that succor should be at hand, they departed on the appointed day. The command was put in THE FLORIDA WAR. 259 readiness, and the utmost vigilance enjoined, to frustrate any design the chief might have to surprise by numbers, or to accu- rately inform himself of the strength and position of the camp. At noonday on the 5th of March, Coacoochee v^^as announced approaching the encampment, preceded by the friendly Indians, and followed by seven trusty warriors. He came within the chain of sentinels boldly and fearlessly, decorated, as were his companions, in the most fantastical manner. Parts of the ward- robe plundered from the theatrical party the year previous, were wrapped about their persons in the most ludicrous and grotesque style. The nodding plumes of the haughty Dane, as personated in the sock and buskin, boasting of his ancestry and revenge, now decorated the brow of the unyielding savage, whose revenge had desolated the country by blood, and whose ancestors had bequeathed the soil, now consecrated by their ashes, which he had defended with unwavering fidelity. He claimed no inherit- ance or rights but those he was prepared to defend. Modestly by his side walked a faithful friend wound up in the simple garb of Horatio. In the rear was Richard III., judging from his royal purple and ermine, and the hideousness of a distorted, dark, and revengeful visage. Others were ornamented with spangles, crimson vests, and feathers, according to fancy. He approached the tent of Colonel Worth, who was prepared to receive him ; shook hands with the officers around, undisturbed in language or manner. His speech was modest and fluent, calmly saying he had received the talk and white flag sent by Micco, and, agree- able to promise, was here, relying upon the integrity of those who had sent them. His youth, his manly bearing, his intelligent face, the calm subdued intonations of his voice, his fluent speech, and graceful gestures, v/on the sympathy of those around, and commanded the respect and attention of all. His child, who had been placed in a tent until the proper time to return her to her father, escaped from it and joined him so soon as she heard his voice, and with the instinct peculiar to her race, brought him musket-balls and powder, pieces of cartridges which she had found about the camp and secreted, anticipating her father's arrival. The safe return of his daughter, who had been cap- tured from him when retreating from the execution of his bloody deeds, caused a glow of manly gratitude, as he returned the cor- dial reception given him by Colonel Worth and his officers. Tears seldom give utterance to the impulses of an Indian's heart : Coacoochee wept. He found the innate enemy of his race the protector of his child. He detailed with accuracy and feeling the occurrences of the past four years : " The whites," said he, "dealt unjustly by me. I came to them, they deceived me; the land I was upon I loved, my body is made of its sands ; the 260 THE FLORIDA WAR. Great Spirit gave me legs to walk over it ; hands to aid myself; eyes to see its ponds, rivers, forests, and game ; then a head with which I think. The sun, which is warm and bright as my feel- ings are now, shines to warm us and bring forth our crops, and the moon brings back the spirits of our warriors, our fathers, wives, and children. The white man comes ; he grows pale and sick, why cannot we live here in peace ? I have said I am the enemy to the white man. I could live in peace with him, but they first steal our cattle and horses, cheat us, and take our lands. The white men are as thick as the leaves in the hammock ; they come upon us thicker every year. They may shoot us, drive our women and children night and day ; they may chain our hands and feet, but the red man's heart will be always free. I have come here in peace, and have taken you all by the hand ; I will sleep in your camp though your soldiers stand around me like the pines. I am done ; when we know each other's faces better I will say more." Colonel Worth replied to him briefly, assuring him of kind- ness and protection. The transition from his wild mode of life to the confines of a military camp unfitted him to listen to opin- ions, or to the terms of peace and emigration. Notwithstanding the inflexibility of his feelings, his animosity to the whites, and the evidences about them of atrocious acts, policy dictated a wiser course than the gratification of prejudice or revenge. To secure the influence of this chief, whose voice was potential among the different bands, was of the first importance. The instruments in the hands of higher authority, had failed, by vain expedients ; and the flooded state of the country, and the approach of the sickly season, gave strong evidences that another summer would pass in fruitless efforts to conquer the enemy. Coacoo- chee remained in camp four days. The necessity of his leaving the country he admitted, hard as it was. The difficulty of as- sembhng his band, and, when found, the embarrassments in in- ducing them to acquiesce in his views, were such as almost to discourage the attempt. But he would make the effort, and return in ten days. No decisive steps could be taken until the .green-corn dance in June. He, with his companions and child, left on the 9th, and, prompt to his engagement, returned on the tenth day, lamenting his inability to collect his band, but desired to see the commamiing general at Tampa, in order that a future day might be appointed, when he would have his band assembled at any designated spot. His interview with General Armistead at Fort Brooke, on the 22d of March, was a repetition of what transpired at Fort Cummings, which confirmed, in the minds of all, the honesty of his intentions. Fort Pierce, on the Atlantic coast, commanded by Major Childs, was agreed upon as the point THE FLORIDA WAR. ggj at which he should assemble his band, preparatory to emigration. He left with a cheerful heart, having received from officers and soldiers every mark of friendship and distinction. If he was in- sincere in his professions, these measures tended at least to dis- arm him of hostility, and quiet the war spirit so long prevalent in the band. The active operations of Lieutenant-Colonel Harney, 2d dragoons, and Major Childs, 3d artillery, from Fort Pierce, south and west, extending from the coast to Lake Okeechobee, thence through the Everglades, had laid open the country, disclosing large fields once cultivated by the Indians ; but the approach of troops had driven them still deeper into their fastnesses. These movements were ordered to be suspended, in accordance with the wish of Coacoochee, that he might gather his band and in- duce them to emigrate. Major Childs was directed to receive him and his followers as friends, and treat them accordingly. The band of Indians on the Ocklockonnee river, near Talla- hassee, being adjacent to so thickly settled a part of the territory, had caused serious alarm. The commander of the 3d infantry, Colonel Vose, after many ineffectual efforts, by scouts and the agency of friendly Indians, reported on the, 9th of April his in- ability to meet the Indians in any manner. The few that came in to Fort Fanning discouraged all hopes of a successful result with those on the Esteen-Hatchee, as the chiefs Halpatter Tus- tenuggee and Cotzar-fixico-chopco had declared in council their determination to die upon the soil. These men and their follow- ers kept the country around the Okefinokee Swamp constantly in arms. Halleck-Tustenuggee, in co-operation with other chiefs, was actively engaged in obtaining supplies from Fort King. He dis- patched his most intelligent and crafty sub-chiefs to Major Plymp- ton, 3d Infantry, commanding, with a bundle of sticks as the number of his band, with assurances that he was assembling his followers at Warm Springs, thirty miles distant, for emigration ; at the same time urging that the troops might remain quiet, as their movements intimidated the Indians, and caused them to disbelieve his assurances of peace and friendship. These prac- tices were indulged for a time, in the hope that he might once more come within the chain of sentinels. But his demands increasing from time to time, and he as ingeniously procrastinating the fulfiUment of his promises, farther supplies were refused him, and the messengers imprisoned. This put an end to professions of friendship. He returned to the hammocks, leaving in his trail sixty sticks, designating the number of his warriors, painted with blood ; and, cut upon the pine trees, rude characters representing the white man in conflict with the Indian, in which the latter was 262 THE FLORIDA WAR. victorious. Such acts of defiance, while it signified the mahg- nant and revengeful feelings of the enemy, gave striking evidence of their ability to elude their foe, and aggravate the already overtasked and almost despairing feelings of the soldier. The time was fast approaching when the Indian would enjoy his repose, with a harvest around him, while the soldier, broken in spirit and constitution, harassed night and day, wasted his ener- gies in fruitless and unavailing efforts. Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport, commanding at Sarasota, re- ported on the 26th of April, the entire failure of all negotiations south; the Indians suddenly had taken their departure. Soil Micco, a young sub-chief, was despatched with messages, with the hope of inducing others to return. This was of no avail, they counselled among themselves upon the expediency of putting him to death for bearing the message. It was determined, should they return, to make them prisoners. This resolution, unfortu- nately, was always matured too late, as their cunning far over- reached the penetration of the whites. The militia of Florida, commanded, by General L. Reid, were discharged the service on the 20th of April. Loud calls imme- diately followed, through the governor, R. Raymond Reid, for protection along the exposed frontier. Tallahassee and its neigh- borhood offered great inducements for the approach of the enemy. The citizens, though having been sufferers in the loss of property and home, relied too much upon the presence of troops, instead of organizing and arming in their own defence. Their presence would have been a powerful auxiliary to detachments of regulars, in deterring and frustrating the Indians in their secret and hostile excursions. Every man's house should have been a citadel, a sturdy heart his weapon ; but instead, the first impulse was to flee. Eight companies of the 3d infantry took post at Fort Pleasants, Fort Ocilla, and Fort Macomb. Detachments con- stantly moving in all quarters, deterred the Indians from frequent incursions, but to effectually prevent it, every house, swamp and hammock would have to have been converted into a military camp. The long pending negotiations — occasional acts of hos- tility— the reckless treachery of Indians with whom intercourse had been had six months past, receiving abundant supplies, and giving in exchange ardent promises of emigration, encouraged their audacity, and stimulated them to atrocities upon express- riders and the unprotected in all parts of the territory. Coa- coochee, during the months of April and May, made frequent visits to Fort Pierce with many warriors, each time well supplied with provisions and whisky. He expressed much solicitude to emigrate, but found difficulty in collecting his people, as the movements of troops had caused them to disperse and hide. He THE FLORIDA WAR. 263 represented that a council was to be held near Lake Okeechobee, in which Holatter Micco (Billy Bowlegs), Arpeika (Sam Jones), and Hospetarke, were to participate, when an effort would be made to induce them to follow his example. The large amount of whisky and provisions demanded for this assemblage, induced Major Childs to doubt the sincerity of his professions. This, together with his extreme caution under all circumstances, and the absence of all amusements and dissipation within the garrison, left but little doubt that his determination was to obtain enough for the summer, and then return to the hammocks. He was in- dulged in his demands, but inducements were held out to him to return in a few weeks. Major Childs immediately dispatched a messenger to the commanding general, expressing his conviction, and that no time should be lost in frustrating this plot, which so far had been conducted with skill and success. In reply, orders were transmitted on the 21st of May, to seize Coacoochee and band, upon his return to the garrison. Encompassed as the commander of the army had been with numerous and trying difficulties, they now seemed to thicken upon him in number and magnitude in all quarters. Four hundred and fifty Indians, of whom one hundred and twenty were warriors, had been emigrated during his command, but this fell far short of the hopes and expectations of those who had been participants. The number of Indians had been reduced, but this diminution, after what had transpired, increased the vindictiveness, activity, and strength of those remaining. Diminishing the number, increased the difficulty of finding the remainder. Conscious of this, whenever pressed by difficulties or troops, they scattered in small parties of two, three, or five, without leaving a track be- hind them. In this apparent weakness consisted their strength. The Florida War was still in full vigor, aggravated by treachery, bloodshed, the approach of the sickly season, and demands upon the forbearance of the people, and the treasury of the country. From the delegation of friendly Indians from Arkansas much had been expected. They came from the country destined as the future home for those remaining in Florida. It was thought that through their instrumentality a constant communication could be had with the enemy, and inducements held out to them to emi- grate without farther collision. They were urged to describe the country most flatteringly from which they came, and the advan- tages to be gained in pursuing an agricultural life with their friends and relatives in Arkansas. Many doubted their fidelity. If the truth was known, and justice and charity awarded them, it would be found that truth and sincerity had been the most powerful agents in defeating the policy of the government. In 264 THE FLORIDA WAR. giving their description of Arkansas, the wild and untutored Se- minole compared the advantage there, with those of which he was already in the actual enjoyment, For him to turn from the land of his birth — producing all the Indian could ask, and a climate congenial to his habits the year round — was an outrage upon his feelings, independent of those superstitions which led him to believe the soil was consecrated ground. The country he was to receive in exchange, was destitute of game, cold and dreary, where many of his relations, for whom he had made anx- ious inquiries, had sickened and died. His only anxiety in Flor- ida was to elude the white man. This had been successfully done from year to year, until habit had become a part of his nature. The efforts of the delegation bid fair, for a time, to accomplish some good ; but after the lapse of a few months, seeing the treachery of those with whom they had had interviews, many of their own kindred became so timid, that it was with difficulty they could be induced to go beyond the sentinels of a garrison. Had the enemy been kept totally ignorant of the country allotted them, better results might have been anticipated ; but what they had gathered from the honest confessions and si- lence of their brothers, tended to make them venerate, with more fidelity and increased love, the soil which they had defended, with heroic fortitude, for five consecutive years. Who can but admire the stern dictates of human nature — the love of home ? And though generated in the Indian bosom, and marked by cruelty and blood, in clinging to and defending the associations clustering around the wigwam and council fire, the candid and unprejudiced cannot but be charitable for those traits of character, which among the enlightened are eulogized and distinguished by the enchanting name of patriotism. Their mode of warfare is rational. The scalps of the white man are to them banners of victory and glory. Treachery and cunning take the place of organized and disciplined troops, and the intelligence of the age,— a current which has set upon the race from the earliest history of the country, threatening, in its course, total annihila- tion : a fate which, though inevitable, calls for, and will receive the condemnation of mankind. Vindictive and unbending, they cling to their institutions as an inheritance from their fathers ; their principles are inculcated in youth, and cherished with untiring assiduity in manhood ; and however much we may deplore their fate, it is before them and around them. The ploughshare and pruning-hook follow closely upon their retiring steps ; the busy hum of industry reveals their destiny, and drowns the discordant revels of the Indian camp. Ignorance must give way to the restless, ungovernable^ and THE FLORIDA WAR. 265 onward course of civilization ; yet a nation cannot, disguise it as we may, shake off the responsibihty and remorse which will, in all future time, be identified with the fate of the red man. The following extract from a communication addressed to General Armistead by the adjutant-general of the army at Wash- ington, dated May 19th, 1841, caused another crisis in the Florida war. The change of commanders brought new measures, which so far in the prosecution of the contest, created an accumulation of difficulties, ultimately inducing those who encountered them to retire from the field, after the lapse of one or two seasons, dispirited and disgusted : * "In consideration of your long, and faithful, and arduous service in Florida, and in accordance with what appears to be your desire, as expressed in your communication of the 30th ultimo, I am directed to inform you, that you will be relieved from your present command by Colonel Worth, of the 8th infan- try, the officer next in rank on duty with the Florida army. (Signed) R. JONES, Adjutant-General." On the 31st day of May, 1841, the following order was pro- mulgated at head-quarters : ORDERS,) " Bead- Quarters, Army of Florida, \ No. 37. \ Tampa Bay, May 31st, 1841. \ "I. In compliance with instructions from the war depart- ment, Brigadier-General Armistead turns over the command of the Florida army to Colonel W. J. Worth, 8th infantry. "II. The assistant adjutant-general, now on duty at head- quarters, will accompany General Armistead to Washington City. " III. In retiring from the command of the army, the general would do violence to his feelings, should he fail to acknowledge the prompt and zealous support which he has uniformly received from the officers and men under his command, in carrying out the measures of the government. They have his most sincere wishes for a successful and early termination of the war. By order of Brigadier-General Armistead, (Signed) W. W. S. BLISS, Assistant Adjutant-General" CHAPTER V. JUNE, 1841. Instructions to Colonel Worth on taking command of the army of Florida. — Embarrassments m prose- cuting the war. — Strength of the Army. — Sick Report. — Monthly expenses of the Army. — Civil em- ployes,— Character of guides, interpreters, and Spaniards. — Number and location of the enemy. — Their despetate character. — The Creeks west of the Suwannee river. — A summer campaign determined upon. — Night attack upon the camp of Halleck-Tustenuggee, and disappointment of the troops. — Seizure of Coacooche or Wild Cat, with fifteen warriors and three negroes. — Sent to New-Orleans. — L. G. Capei-s, Esq., Indian agent, dispatched with orders from Colonel Worth to intercept and bring them back to Florida. — Importance of the step. — Much dissatisfaction expressed by the public. — Coa- cooche and warriors in irons. — Combined movements of the army to root out the enemy. — Their dispersed condition. — General devastation of crops, camps, and wigwams. — Character of the country through which operations were conducted. — Number of fields, &c., destroyed. — Sick report, and sufferings of the troops from disease. — Duties of officers. — Governor Call urges the necessity of a militia force to co-operate with the army. — Major D. L. Wilcox, U. S. A., engaged in inducing settlers to return to their homes, as authorized by the president of the United States. " Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, May 19th, 1841. " Sir — Brigadier-General Armistead being about to relinquish the command of the Florida army, as you will see by the instruc- > lions communicated to him of this date, of which a copy is here- with inclosed, as the officer next in rank on duty, you will relieve him, and assume the command accordingly. " I am directed by the secretary of war to advise you of the earnest desire of the department to terminate as speedily as pos- sible the protracted hostiUties in Florida ; and to cause the most perfect protection and security to be given to the frontiers, and to those citizens who may be disposed to penetrate the country for lawful purposes of trade or settlement. For the attainment of these important objects, you are considered as being clothed with all the powers of a commander in the field, under the laws and regulations of the army. " It is expected the troops under your command will be kept in a perfect state of discipline, and that you make such disposi- tion of them as to be in readiness to meet any contingency that may call for active and energetic movements, the execution of which is left entirely to your own discretion. • " If you should deem it indispensable for the protection of the frontier, the president directs, that you make a requisition upon the governor of Florida for a militia force, not exceeding one regiment, which, if called out, you will cause to be mustered into the service of the United states, in the manner prescribed by the regulations, for any period authorized by the constitution and laws. " The secretary of war, placing as he does entire confidence in your ability and patriotism, desires me to say, that every possible THE FLORIDA WAR. 267 aid and support will be afforded, to enable you to bring to a close this protracted and most embarrassing war. " As the commander of Florida you will exercise a sound dis- cretion in the use of the means placed at your disposal ; and while these should be employed with the greatest efficiency, the secretary of war directs that you will, consistently with the pri- mary object in view, diminish, in a spirit of sound economy, all unnecessary drains upon the treasury, by discharging all persons employed in a civil capacity, whose services you shall not deem indispensable to the duties of your command, and by regulating and reducing, as far as practicable, all other expenses, in accord- ance with the just expectations of the government and the coun- try. I am, sir, your obedient servant. Colonel W. J. Worth, i (Signed) R. JONES, 8th infantry, Tampa, Florida. ^ Adjutant-General." In accordance with the foregoing instructions. Colonel Worth assumed command of the army of Florida, and promulgated the following order : ORDER, ) " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, > No. 1. \ Tampa, May 31st, 1841. \ " L In obedience to the special instructions of the war de- partment, of the 19th instant, and the orders of Brigadier-General Armistead, of this date, the undersigned assumes command of the army of Florida. "II. The commanders of posts and stations will make a special report of the state of their respective commands, on the receipt of this order. Special reports are immediately required from the chiefs of the several branches of the staff, exhibiting the resources of each department. Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting and Major Thomas, of the quartermaster's department, will make a special statement as to the means of transport by land and water. # * , * * * * (Signed^ W. J. WORTH, Colonel Commanding." Assuming the command of the army of Florida at this season of the year, amid complicated embarrassments and difficulties, offered but little encouragement to the hopes and ambition of the officer placed in charge. The observation and experience of six years ought certainly to have added something towards perfect- ing' the expedients which might be suggested or adopted. The past gave but little encouragement, other than to point out the difficulties still existing, and which were to be overcome. The prosecution of the Florida war, from December, 1835, to the present time, had necessarily and unavoidably introduced 268 THE FLORIDA WAR into the territory, a civil force, in conjunction with the military. This force depended upon the operations of the military, which, if unsuccessful, added to the continued occupation of this class, who, honest, persevering, and zealous in their vocations, relied exclusively upon the expenditures of the government for support. The army of Florida had become a component part of a civil government, to which it v^as in many respects subservient. The influences operating were unmilitary in character and effect. The disposition to obtain and hold office, however humble, was the governing principle, operating with strong and imperceptible influence. This was not confined to the bounds of a military camp, but was cherished by many, of all classes, in the civil ad- ministration of aflfairs, who, through secret agents, it was be- lieved, held intercourse with the enemy. The officer and soldier, faithful in their duties, found their exertions thw^arted and de- feated, by means beyond their influence or control. The em- ployment of clerks, and mechanics of all kinds, teamsters, laborers, &c., for so long a time, drawing their monthly pay with regu- larity, at exorbitant rates, induced many to look upon the Florida war as interminable, or as a state of things which w^ould secure employment profitable and lasting. This consequently excited a feeling hostile to successful military measures, and subjected an efficient commander to obloquy and reproach. A discharge from public employment, under any circumstances of necessity or economy, was by a large number considered a grievous wrong. The military, from the commander down, were considered ag- gressors upon the rights and hberties of the civilian. The inter- est of the government was considered of a secondary nature, or as subordinate to individual rights and opinions. These, when infringed upon, sent abroad a class disaffected and revengeful, who, industrious in the gratification of a personal feeling, inter- posed obstacles to the successful prosecution of the war, for- midable, because secret, and not easily counteracted. The negro interpreters and guides, some forty in number, were drawing large daily pay. The opinions and acts of this class, who it is known had frequent interviews with the enemy, but whose services were necessary, did more to aggravate and prolong the war than any other cause. They listened attentive- ly, in the hope of rewards, to the views and wishes of designing whites, being incapable of drawing a distinction between the honest and intelligent, and the ignorant and vicious. And, how- ever crude and improbable these opinions might be, they were easily conveyed to the Indians at night, in the hammocks, while, at the same time, ammunition was sold to them at an exorbitant price. They too saw that the termination of the war would de- prive them and their masters of lucrative employment. A large THE FLORIDA WAR. 269 number of Spaniards on the Gulf coast, and around Tampa Bay, hardly a grade above the Indian or negro, in fact more timid and credulous than either, promulgated among the former the idle tales, fabricated and intended to do mischief. These made them shy and vindictive, and thus frustrated the exertions of the mili- tary, while it contributed to securing their daily bread. Most of them could speak the Seminole language, and, to carry on their designs, they, in several instances, came into the camp of friendly Indians, alarming them by threats of being hung and murdered, representing these menaces as coming from officers of the army. Some of every class of society, every profession, the opulent as w^ell as the humble, in and out of the territory, had a pecuniary interest in the prolongation of the war. The coffers of the nation poured forth their contents without stint or cessation. Money flowed in abundance. The planter, driven from his home with- out employment or means, reluctantly mingled with the avaricious multitudes thronging around the public crib. To turn these tur- bid currents into better channels, revive society and industry, and restore them to their wonted functions ; obtain peace, subdue the enemy, protect the citizens, and at the same time meet the requirements of the government, who desired " economy and the end of the w^ar," demanded vigorous measures and a steady hand. The civil part of the army numbered 1060 persons, receiving from thirty to two hundred dollars per month. The means of transportation consisted of 1373 horses, 1260 mules, 380 wagons, five steamboats, and three sail vessels. The soldiers were em- ployed in their appropriate duties, while the civilians remained at the depots in the various staff departments. The monthly current expenditures of the quartermaster's de- partment, at this period, was $65,470. The total current ex- penses of the war, per month, independent of the regular troops, was $92,300. This amount of money in the hands of zealous and intelligent men, as also in those of the ignorant and vicious, operated against any measure calculated to bring the contest to a close. Its in- fluence radiated from the fireside of the daily-laborer, and the idle and profligate asking for bread ; while the wealthy, free from all danger, looked on from the distance, awaiting anxiously the expiration of every month to receive their pay for the labor of their slaves. To break down such a power, so long in success- ful operation, and turn the resources of the nation to the desired end, to which the country had so long looked with anxiety, was a step demanded by every consideration of honesty and justice. The officer who undertook this task hazarded his all, or the loss of his honor by public clamor and discontent, which he would 270 TPIE FLORIDA V/AR. be sure to create by the brawling of political demagogues, seek- ing to prejudice and mislead the public mind. These difficulties overcome, or rather this civil administration of affairs circumscribed, and brought to act in concert with mili- tary discipline and law, the two next most formidable difficulties to contend with were the climate and Indians. The Indians were now secure in their hiding-places, enjoying the cool shades of the dense hammocks, luxuriating in an abun- dant harvest of green corn, melons, pumpkins, squashes, beans, peas, sweet potatoes, and almost every other vegetable. They were too cautious to subject themselves to a hot sun, or to the liability of being pursued by their foe. Desirous of being undis- turbed, they molested no one, postponing their excursions and outrages until after harvest. To determine the number of Indians in Florida was beyond the power of any one. From the commencement of the war the number had been underrated. Those now remaining comprised Seminoles, Mickasukies, Uchees, Tallahassees, and Creeks. They had seen their friends and relatives depart for Arkansas, heaping imprecations upon their heads, and declaring in the most positive manner their determination to die upon the soil. Such a foe, though comparatively weak, was from all these causes formidable. Every successful emigration added fuel to their burning thirst for blood and revenge. The interpreters and guides were ignorant and inefficient. From them no accurate information could be obtained as to the number or location of the enemy. They had become slothful and dissipated, having no thought or want be- yond the present moment. The few friendly Indians, together with the Arkansas delegation, were calculated to embarrass operations by their extreme caution in the field, and desire to re- main within the limits of a garrison. The location of the various bands, however, was correctly ascertained, as subsequent events demonstrated. Arpeika or Sam Jones, then about seventy-eight years of age, occupied the country near the mouth of the Kissimmee river and the eastern border of Lake Okeechobee. He had seventeen war- riors, and a large number of women and children. With him was associated Otulke-Thloko (the Prophet), a renegade Creek, thirty-eight years of age, who exercised a wonderful influence by ingenious tales and practices, making the Indians believe that he held communion with the Great Spirit, a delusion which he con- tinued to keep up, by midnight fires, by dances, songs, and the use of roots as medicine, effecting pretended cures, and telhng fortunes. These impostures he executed so successfully, that the most intelligent feared his indignation. Hundreds of miles dis- THE FLORIDA WAR. 271 tant, those who had surrendered for emigration, and were safely within a mihtary camp, held sacred festivals to avert the per- nicious influences and designs of this prophet. His success im- pressed the Indians with awe and reverence, enabling him to ex- ercise a complete control over their minds. He lived in the Big Cypress Swamp. Holatter Micco (Billy Bowlegs), Hospetarke, Parsacke, Assinawar, Fuse Hadjo, all brave and intelligent chiefs, followed this prophet with fear and apprehension, admitting him at the same time to be a coward. He avoided all conflicts by ingenious pretexts, but none dared to upbraid him. In the Big Cypress Swamp, under these various chieftains, there was sup- posed to be one hundred and sixty fighting men. The swamp commences thirty miles south of the Carloshatchee river, running east and west from the Everglades to the Gulf. It is thirty-five miles in breadth, north and south, and fifty in length east and west. The vegetation is so dense that the sun never penetrates to the earth, and the water stands the year round, from six inches to two feet deep, covered with a green slime, which when dis- turbed emits a most noxious vapor. Snakes and alligators are here found in great abundance. In the centre of the swamp there are a few ridges or islands, upon which the Indians lived and planted. In canoes, this band navigated the Everglades to the eastern coast, where for several seasons they had planted extensively, but the movements of troops in boats had deterred them from so doing. The Coonta Ground, opposite Cape Florida, twenty-four miles along the coast, was a place of resort, to which the women repaired at a proper season, and procured enough for the ensuing year. Coacooche or Wild Cat, with some eighty warriors, occupied the country from the head- waters of the St. John's along the eastern coast, to St. Augustine ; extending west as inducements offered. This band had heretofore been active, and doubtless committed more cruel murders than any other in Florida. The recent interview at Fort Cummings it was believed vv^ould allay their hostile feelings. Halleck-Tustenuggee, with physical and mental qualities far above his contemporaries, with a mind quick and subtle, and burning with revenge, led his band, consisting of thirty-five war- riors, either to fight or retreat, with wonderful skill and success His operations extended over a large section of country : from Lake Munroe down the eastern and western bank of the St. John's to Lake George, and Haw Creek, and Dunn's Lake, thence to the Ocklawaha river, Fort King, Big Swamp, Orange Lake, and Micanopy. When closely pursued, the Wahoo Swamp on the Withlacoochee generally covered his retreat. Associated with this band, was an old Indian by the name of Powis-fixico 272 THE FLORIDA WAR. or Short Grass ; he had twelve followers, and was the most active and cruel of any of the Indians. Thlocko-Tustenuggee or Fish King, better known as Tiger- Tail, was another cunning and active chieftain. With him was his brother, Nethlockemathlar, who commanded about sixty men. These Indians most generally resorted to the Suwannee river, Waccassassee river and hammock, Chocochate, and Annuttiliga hammocks, and Homasassa and Crystal rivers, thence east to the Charlo-popka (trout ponds) lakes. Tiger- Tail spoke Eng- lish with facility. His long intercourse with the whites acquaint- ed him with their habits, enabling him to make attacks when least expected. Octiarche, a Creek, with nineteen men, planted in the Wacassassa hammock, and camped wherever he thought himself secure. This band was known to make two excursions as far north as Newnansville, putting to death women and chil- dren with arrows. West of the Suwannee river were located mixed bands under Halpatter-Tustenuggee (Alligator Chief) and Cotzar-fixico-chop- co (Mad Tiger). They had forty-two active young warriors, Creeks and Mickasukies, and but seventeen women and six chil- dren. This was the most intractable band in Florida. So few women and children enabled them to move with rapidity. They planted in Cook's- hammock, and extended their war-parties to the Hitchatuckenne springs, on the Santa Fe river, thence to the Okefenokee swamp ; attacking every house found unprotected, even at noonday, frequently approaching so near as to kill the inmates with arrows. The coast of Deadman's Bay supplied, at all seasons, fish and oysters; the swamps and hammocks, safe re- treats ; while the country from Charles's Ferry, on the Suwan- nee, offered Inducements for plunder and blood. The Indians on the Ocklockonne river, west of Tallahassee, under the chief PascofTer, infested the country fifty miles round. Their number and location was for many years unknown. In the summer of 1836 a large body of Creeks came from Georgia, preparatory to emigration. Suddenly a portion of them refused to fulfill their promise, and fled to the swamps. They remained quiet, until the movement of militia in that quarter caused them to take up arms. Forty men comprised the war strength of the band, with a large number of women and children. The Indians west of the Suwannee were those disaffected and malignant spirits who fled from the state of Georgia at the commencement of hostilities there, in May, 1836. They sought refuge in Florida, where, by exciting and participating with those in open warfare, they would receive a cordial welcome. Young, intelligent, and brave, unburdened by women and children, full of vindictiveness and revenge for wrongs heaped upon them in THE FLORIDA WAR. 273 their own land, they gave a hearty support to the Seminoles, ultimately taking the prosecution of the war into their own hands. In connection with the acts of these savages, for whose con- duct we can find a palliating motive, there was a band of white men, who robbed and murdered under the guise of Indians. In two instances it was well established, that the whites were insti- gators to attacks upon travellers known to have money, parti- cipating with the Indians in the murder, and sharing the plunder. Forty-seven thousand square miles in the territory of Florida, was occupied by an enemy by nature vindictive and revengeful, treacherous and subtle, striving for their rights, and for the soil made sacred by those superstitious influences which become a part of an Indian's nature, by his duty to the Great Spirit, and the injunctions of parents and prophets. Every hammock and swamp was to them a citadel, to which and from which they could retreat with wonderful facility. Regardless of food or the climate, time or distance, they moved from one part of the coun- try to the other, in parties of five and ten ; while the soldier, de- pendent upon supplies, and sinking under a tropical sun, could only hear of his foe by depredations committed in the section of country over which he scouted the day before. The season of the year was a still more formidable obstacle. Summer operations had heretofore failed. The past gave no en- couragement. The troops sunk, under the debility arising from exposure to noonday suns, constant rains, cool nights, turbid water, and the heavy marches through deep sand. Defeat, dis- couragement, and disease, marked too sadly and plainly the effect of military operations, at the same time proving the complete triumph of the enemy. The past, however, taught one thing not to be mistaken, though painful and revolting — that the Indian's ally was the summer season. Here was concentrated their power. It was to them what the depot and magazine is to a civilized force. This gave them the means wherewith to prose- cute the war with vigor the coming eight months. The natural productions of the country were abundant, but in procuring them they left in their rear tracks, thus enabling the guides to follow them to their haunts. No alternative remained but to break up effectually this system of warfare. To accomphsh it, pursuit must be continued the year round, disregarding the climate and its results. The foundation of this detestable warfare had to be dug up and destroyed, though the consequences might be detrimental to those to whom the task was assigned. Nothing remained but a summer's campaign, active and unceasing. Some thought this an unwarranted sacrifice of human life. Opinions and prejudices, resulting from observation and experience, had to be overcome, at the same time encouragement and zeal was to be imparted 18 274 THE FLORIDA WAR. among those who were to participate. As hopeless and discour- aging as it was, the army, to a man, rendered a most cordial re- sponse. To die, or to be prostrated by disease, in carrying out what was believed to be the only effectual measure, differed but little from lying in camp feeble and discouraged, in the vain hope that negotiation and the proffers of peace would end a mode of life disgusting to the soldier, and degrading to the intellect and habits of man. An imperative sense of duty gave to the officer and soldier resolution and fortitude. True and unyielding must be that feel- ing which moves the head and heart to accomplish an object at variance with the universal impulse of mankind — his love for his native land. No glorious achievements animated the soldier in his duty, and urged him on to victory; no principle of liberty or right was involved, for which he could shed his blood to mantle his name and memory in time to come ; the clarion which led him to battle was the warwhoop ; his sword, the sword of jus- tice, a scalping-knife ; his standards were the scalps of the red men, his prisoners harmless women and children. On the 1st of June preparations were made to give the utmost activity to the troops. The contest was to assume a partisan character, offering every inducement to inspire the youthful and ambitious to vigorous measures, without the restraints of higher authority. The simple injunction, " Find the enemy, capture, or exterminate," was to govern commanders in their operations. The aggregate strength of the army, present and absent, was 4831 men: 4408 rank and file, and 205 commissioned officers were present. The medical director's statement, on the Slst of May, reported 1014 men and 15 commissioned officers unfit for duty, thus leaving a disposable force to take the field, of 3394 bayonets and 190 commissioned officers. This comprised the regiment of the 2d dragoons, commanded by Major T. T. Faunt- leroy ; companies A, B, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, 3d artillery, Lieutenant- Colonel William Gates commanding; the 1st regiment of infantry, commanded by Brevet Colonel William Davenport, the aggre- gate strength of which was 476; of this number 210 were pros- trated by disease. The regiment was concentrated at Horse Key, on the Gulf coast, to recruit its strength. At its former sta- tion, Sarasota, it had become infected with fever and dysentery. Lieutenant-Colonel B. Riley commanded the 2d infantry. Major Wilson the 3d, Lieutenant-Colonel G. Loomis the 6th, Lieu- tenant-Colonel William Whistler the 7th, and Lieutenant-Colonel N. S. Clarke the 8th. Surgeon B. F. Harney was the medical director. Thirty- two members of the medical corps were on duty in Florida. Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Whiting, deputy quartermaster- THE FLORIDA WAR. 275 general, stationed at Palatka on the St. John's, was the head of the quartermaster's department of the army of Florida ; thirteen as- sistant quartermasters were also on duty. Captain John B. Gray- son, commissary, was stationed at the principal depot. Cedar Key. Captain George Wright, 8th infantry, performed the duties of adjutant-general, who was soon reheved by Major Samuel Coo- per, assistant adjutant-general. First-Lieutenant John T. Sprague, 8th infantry, aid-de-camp. The troops occupied thirty different posts or stations. • The following order briefly exhibits the outhnes of the char- acter of operations : ORDER, I « Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, > No. 1. ( Fort King, June 8th, 1841. S "1. Hereafter no expenditures of money will be made on account of barracks, quarters, or other buildings, at temporary posts, except for such slight covering as may be indispensably necessary for the protection of the sick and security of the pubUc stores, without previous reference to and authority obtained from head-quarters. " II. All safeguards or passports granted to Indians prior to this date, are hereby revoked. Any Indian presenting himself at any post will be seized, and held in strict confinement, except when commanding officers may, in the exercise of sound discre- tion, deem it advisable to send out an individual runner to com- municate with others. " III. When the garrisons are not too much reduced by sick- ness, detachments will be sent out as often as once in seven days, or more frequently, if circumstances indicate a necessity, to scour and examine in all directions, to the distance of eight or ten miles. "IV. All restraints heretofore imposed upon district com- manders, in respect to offensive field operations, are hereby re- voked ; on the contrary, the utmost activity and enterprise is enjoined. District commanders will give instructions to com- manders of posts accordingly. " V. Brief reports of the operations carried on under the fore- going orders, setting forth the strength of the detachments, and by whom commanded, with such observations as may be deemed useful or interesting to the service, will be made to district com- manders, on the l()th, 20th, and last of every month, by whom they will be transmitted to these head-quarters. By order of Colonel Worth, (Signed) G. WRIGHT, Capt. 8th Infantry, and A. A. A. General." 276 THE FLORIDA WAR. Halleck-Tustenuggee being the most active and vindictive of the hostile chiefs, his trail, as was supposed, being discovered near Fort King, the colonel commanding established his head- quarters there, with a view to strike an effectual blow, or secure this chieftain, should he again, owing to the change of com- manders, endeavor to seek another interview to obtain supplies. Reconnoitering parties were dispatched night and day, to ex- amine the country in every direction. On the 8th of June the negro guides reported that they had discovered a temporary camp of Halleck's, and found his trail leading from it into the extensive swamps and hammocks surrounding Lake Fanee Sufe- kee. The negro guides recently of the band represented it as his favorite resort, from its seclusion, where he held his green- corn dances and councils. Measures were at once adopted to follow it up. Colonel Worth, with one hundred men of the 2d infantry, accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Riley and Major Plympton, together with Captain B. L. Beall's company, 2d dra- goons, and forty men of the 8th infantry, in command of First- Lieutenant J. H. Harvil, moved from Fort King for Fort McClure or Warm Spring, thence, under the guidance of Indian negroes, to the neighborhood of the lake. At midnight, on the night of the 10th, the swamp was reached, the troops having marched forty-four miles. To surprise the Indian camp just at break of day, was the only chance of success. The guides represented it to be on the opposite side of the swamp, five or six miles through. The horses were picketed and the baggage left with a small guard on the margin of the swamp. The soldier carried only his musket and ammunition, the officers a rifle or sword. Quietly and resolutely the command moved, confident of success. The water became colder and deeper at every step ; halts were fre- quently made to extricate the officers and soldiers from the mud. The night was dark, which added to the dismal, gloomy shadows of a cypress swamp. The command could only follow by the splashing of water, and the calm but firm intonations of the word of command. The negroes in advance, followed closely by the most hardy and active, guided these two hundred men to what was believed to be the strong-hold of the enemy ; every hour and step confirmed this conviction. The advance reached the opposite side just before the break of day. Anxiously they awaited and greeted every officer and soldier as he emerged from the swamp, covered with mud and water. Day broke, when silently the command was given, " Fall in !" Eleven officers and thirty-five privates were present. 'Occasionally a straggler would arrive, and report those in the rear as coming. The Indian huts, by the gray dawn of morning, twenty-four in number, could be THE FLORIDA WAR. 277 discerned through the scrub, which separated the white and red man, three hundred yards distant. At this hour the Indian around his camp-fire feels secure. From the number of huts, and their location, they outnumbered the assailants. To await the arrival of the entire force the day would be far advanced, and discovery was total defeat. It was determined with the number present to make a vigorous assault, and if outnumbered, to rely upon those in the rear. Each man reprimed his musket, and cautiously, on his hands and knees, worked his way through the dense undergrowth to within a few yards of the cluster of- huts and temporary sheds. Not a word was uttered. Eagerly each man grasped his musket, anxious for the first whoop, when he would be rewarded for his toil. A musket was discharged to arouse the inmates, and meet them on their retreat. It sent back its dull heavy reverberation, causing disappointment and chagrin. Not a human being occupied the huts, or was upon the ground. The camp was soon razed, and every evidence given to subse- quent visitors, that had they been there, they would have re- ceived their reward. Large fields, once cultivated, indicated that not long since it was the strong-hold of a powerful band. The troops, dispirited and disgusted, retraced their steps, scour- ing the country in hopes of seeing an Indian or a trail, to re- ward them for the toils of the night before. The utmost cau- tion was enjoined upon commanders of posts, as this band, so closely pursued, might strike a blow when least expected. Intelligence was received at head-quarters, Palatka, on the 15th of June, from Major Childs, commanding Fort Pierce, that, in compliance with orders from Brigadier-General Armistead, (then commanding,) of the 21st o-f May, he had seized Coacoo- che, his brother, and a brother of King Philip's, together with thirteen warriors and three negroes, and that, in accordance with instructions from the commander of the district, he had sent them to New-Orleans, en route to Arkansas. This step w^as without authority, but, under the circumstances, was by many thought justifiable. L. G. Capers, Esq., disbursing agent of Indian affairs, was immediately dispatched to New-Orleans with orders to intercept the prisoners and bring them back to Tampa Bay. To assume the responsibility of returning so formidable a chief- tain as this, together with his companions, to Florida, was a mea- sure which ultimate success alone could justify. The citizens were exulting at the departure of so active an enemy, who for years intercepted their daily avocations, and spread desolation and distress. Subsequent events evinced the wisdom of this step. It however caused much contumely and reproach. So many instances having been given in Florida of the Indian's ability to baffle commanders, it was not believed possible that 278 THE FLORIDA WAR. chains or sentinels could prevent Coacooche's escape. To the commander of the army the value of these prisoners, as events proved, v^as beyond the knowledge of casual observers. The door to the enemy v^as effectually closed ; the exertions of friend- ly Indians had failed, the troops waded the country in ignorance, and nothing remained to warrant the hope of success, but the possibihty of obtaining new instruments wherewith the enemy could be reached. The agent dispatched intercepted the party at the U. S. barracks, New-Orleans, La., on the 28th of June. Coacooche was elated at the prospect of returning. His entire band, he said, would take his advice, and accompany him to Arkansas. The presence of the handcuffs, which, for the first time in his life, were to abridge his freedom, made him sad, but he submitted with dignity and manhood, though humbled and subdued. He asked nothing for himself, but pleaded earnestly that his companions might be spared the degradation, for whose safety he would pledge his hfe. The colonel commanding, on his way to Tampa Bay to meet Coacooche on his return from New-Orleans, dispatched combined expeditions to rout the enemy in all quarters. Lieutenant- Colonel Clarke, commanding the Tampa district, was ordered to move on the 25th of June, to Fort Dade, with two hundred men ; thence down the western bank of the Withlacoochee river, to Fort Cooper. Lieutenant-Colonel Riley marched from Fort King on the 25th, with two hundred men, examining the cove of the Withlacoochee to Camp Izard. Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis, with a like number of men, from Clear- Water Harbor, same date, scoured the country between Fort Cooper and the Gulf coast. First-Lieutenant C. R. Gates, 8th infantry, accompanied by Lieu- tenant John Rodgers, U. S. navy, and Lieutenant Sprague, 8th infantry, volunteers, descended the Withlacoochee to Camp Izard, in canoes, with sixty men. Captain C. Keu, 2d dragoons, with seventy men in boats, ascended the Ocklawaha to Lake Ahapopka. Positive orders were given to penetrate the strong- holds, capture and destroy every thing calculated to give strength or sustenance to the enemy. These commands concentrated at Fort Cooper. From this point they were again dispatched, and ordered to keep the field until further orders. Lieutenant- Colonel Riley, with a part of his command, ascended the Withla- coochee in boats, while the other portion examined the eastern bank and Lake Panne-Suff ke ; there uniting, he, with his canoes on wheels, proceeded to Lake Ahapopka, to form a junction with Captain Keu. Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis examined the Annuttiliga and Chocochate hammocks, and the country border- ing the Homosassa and Crystal rivers. Captain Miller, 1st in- fantry, ascended these rivers, with seventy men, successfully THE FLORIDA WAR. 279 breaking up many fields. Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke scoured the Wahoo swamp and the neighborhood of Forts Armstrong, Dade, and McClure. To each body of troops mounted men were at- tached, to communicate rapidly, and co-operate, if necessary, in pursuing the enemy. From Fort Dade to Camp Izard, eighty-six miles, the With- lacooche was found to be a succession of lakes, expanding from one to two miles in breadth, studded with willow-islands, and surrounded by a dense cypress-swamp. Four large corn-fields were here found and destroyed, producing all kinds of vege- tables. Each was in the care of one or two Indians, but not a foot-track or a habitation could be found in any direction. While the troops were destroying a field, early in the morn- ing, an Indian was descried approaching in a canoe. He found himself discovered, and turned immediately; the com- mand pursued, but he, taking an unknown route around a willow-island, gained upon his pursuers, and when within rifle range he was ordered to surrender. Naked and alone, he still plied his paddle with wonderful effect, and finding himself unable to reach the dry land, plunged into the swamp with his rifle in hand. Several muskets were discharged at him; he was supposed to have fallen. The soldiers jumped from their boats into four feet of water, and searched the swamp in all directions. Nothing was left but his canoe. Some months after, this man was cap- tured, when he stated that the entire command passed over him, he lying under water by the side of a log, his face covered by a pond-lily leaf. Thus he remained until the soldiers left the swamp. He heard them talk and split up his canoe. To re- venge this act, he procured seventeen men, and lay in ambush three days, waiting for the command to reach a difficult spot in the river, which he had made more so, by obstructing the passage. Fortunately another route was taken, thus avoiding total destruction. It was the first time white men had ever been seen so far up the river. Destroying their crops, in posses- sion of fields inaccessible by land, caused some sohcitude. After counselling and collecting as many as possible on so short a no- tice, they determined to teach these intruders a salutary lesson, and thus intimidate them from again molesting their summer re- treats. Lieutenant Gates explored the Charlo-Popka country. It is a succession of lakes, interspersed with islands, extending about twelve miles. Many of these islands were found highly cultivated ; huts, palmetto-sheds, and corn-cribs, were discovered upon many of them. Thlocko-Tustenuggee or Tiger-Tail, plant- ed a large field upon one of them, which was destroyed by a company of the 2d dragoons. After his surrender, he declared that this field was his reliance for the coming year. From a tree 280 THE FLORIDA WAR. in the hammock he saw his corn torn up by the roots, and his house burnt to the ground. The troops camped upon his field, and soon after dark he passed around the camp, and joined his brother in the Annuttihga hammock. From Micanopy, detachments of thirty and forty men were sent in every direction. A command under Captain Seawell, 7th infantry, intercepted a stragghng party, and captured a man, woman, and two children. They belonged to the band of Hal- leck-Tustenuggee. Under the guidance of this Indian, the trail was found. After three days' fatiguing marching, the band was met in a hammock. They fled at once, occasionally discharging a rifle. In the encounter. Sergeant Bridges of the 7th infantry was killed. The trail was still kept, until the day following, when it was lost by the Indians burning the grass and scrub as they passed along. Halleck-Tustenuggee, finding himself be- sieged in the Wahoo, w^as making his way to Lake George, Captain Bonneville, 7th infantry, with a detachment from Fort Fanning, destroyed several fields on the Suwannee river, and in the Wacasassa hammock. Major Wilson, commanding the 3d infantry, stationed at Fort Stansbury, fifteen miles from Tallahassee, moved from Port Leon in boats, with four officers and sixty men. The shore of Dead- man's Bay was explored, the Esteen Hatchee, Finholoway, and intermediate rivers, ascended to their sources. The scrub, swamps, and hammocks, were penetrated. Signs of Indians only were discovered, such as fallen bee-trees, pieces of palmetto- cabbage, a few tracks, which w^ere soon lost in the scrub and abandoned fields. Major Childs, immediately after the capture of Coacooche, made a rapid march for his camp, under the direction of Negro Joe, Coacooche's interpreter and agent. A march of fifteen hours, without intermission, brought him to the camp; but the enemy had fled. These Indians, fearing Coacooche's boldness would lead them into difficulty, and participating in his schemes, waited one day for his return, but he not coming, anticipated the worst, and returned to the hammocks for safety. Captain M. Burke, 3d artillery, entered the Everglades on the 25th of June, wdth fifty-three men in boats, starting from Fort Dallas, near Key Biscayne. Abandoned camps and fields assured him that the enemy had broken into small parties for safety. The operations of the army during the month of June carried desolation into every part of the country known or supposed to be occupied by Indians. Heretofore these swamps and ham- mocks had been the depot for an active and vigilant foe. The Indians had fled, feeling too weak to resist, encompassed as they found themselves by the troops. They moved generally at night, THE FLORIDA WAR. 281 destroying as they went the impress of every footpnnt. Enter- ing or emerging from a swamp or hammock, they jumped from log to log for miles, walked backwards, crawled upon their hands and knees, crossed and recrossed their tracks, if necessary to make them ; then scattered in parties of four and five, with the understanding to meet at some well known camping-ground. Finding themselves so closely pursued, a council was held on the last of June, in the long swamp, near Fort King, to adopt measures for their common defence. Halleck-Tustenuggee, Thlocklo-Tustenuggee (Tiger-Tail), Nethlockemathlar, and Octi- arche, vv^ere present, together with one hundred and twenty war- riors. It was agreed not to surrender, nor listen to any terms for peace, but enjoined upon all to put to death any messenger, whether Indians, negroes, or whites, who dared come within their reach. By remaining together they protected their families, and, if compelled, couid make such a resistance as to cover their retreat. Scouts, composed of six, eight, or ten Indians, were organized daily, who examined the country twenty miles around, and at night made reports to their chiefs, of the number of troops they had seen, their direction and place of encampment. This was the means by which they eluded and passed around the most judicious and extended movements of troops. The animal sa- gacity and natural endowments of the Indian, acting in defence of his home, are more formidable and successful than the attain- ments or skill of the white man. The slothfulness of the Indian at this season, the destruction of crops, the constant alarm from the approach of soldiers, caused great inconvenience, both in the indulgence of the ease cus- tomary at this period, and the enjoyments resulting from green- corn dances, and the fruits of their fields. These amusements and resorts had been rudely broken in upon, and desolation and distress were around them and in the midst of them. The country through which operations were conducted was mostly swamps and hammocks ; some pine-barren, interspersed with numerous ponds. The Annuttiliga (the laying-down spot) hammock is fifteen miles long and seven broad. The Chococharte hammock (Red House) is thirteen miles long and eight broad ; the Tuscowilla hammock is eighteen miles long, and six broad. The soil of these hammocks is said to be the richest in Florida. The timber is large and of great variety. The magnolia grande flora grows to a large size ; many trees are from eighteen inches to two feet in diameter. At the proper season the forest is fragrant with the odor of its blossoms. The undergrowth is almost impenetrable, consisting of scrub-oakj 282 THE FLORIDA WAR. palmetto, and grape-vines ; so thick that a passage can only be made with the assistance of an axe, cutting a foot-path as through a wall. At the distance of ten feet an individual is totally ob- scured. The wet hammocks are more formidable but less fre- quented. In most of them the water stands the year round, from four to six inches deep, with a thick undergrowth, intermixed with cypress-stumps and trees. The cypress-swamps are gener- ally filled with water, from one to three feet deep. The trees are covered with a heavy dark-green moss, festooned from tree to tree like drapery, totally obscuring the sun, almost the light of day. A green scum floats upon the surface, and when disturbed by footmen, the atmosphere becomes impregnated with a noxious effluvium. Communicating with the wet and dry hammocks, are portions of land called scrubs, consisting of a stunted growth of oak and pine, from two to ten feet in height, with an under- growth of bushes and vines. To these the Indians resorted when closely pursued, but the barrenness of the land and absence of water deterred them from remaining longer than to elude their pursuers. The Charlo-Popka country (trout-eating ponds), interspersed as it is with beautiful lakes and islands, gives an interest to the wild and roving habits of those who have so long enjoyed its beauties and advantages. Providence seems to have designed it for their especial benefit. Their villages, located on the margin of lakes, overlooking a placid sheet of water reflecting the rising and setting sun, add to the romance and simplicity which sur- round the Indian in his native state, when not wronged by the counsels of the white man, or corrupted by his example. The thick saw-palmetto made it almost impossible for the troops to get from lake to lake. Their clothes were torn to pieces, and their feet, legs, and hands lacerated as if cut by a knife. These columns or detachments continued in the field twenty- five days. Out of six hundred men, comprising the total number engaged in wading swamps and hammocks, two hundred and twenty vv^ere, from time to time, reported sick. Of this number one hundred and thirty were sent to the general hospital, totally unfit for any duty whatever. Fever and dysentery were the prevailing diseases. Officers and soldiers were unavoidably ex- posed to the vicissitudes of the climate. Day after day they were wet to the skin, then subjected to a burning sun, causing an atmosphere to rise from the heated sand, almost insupportable. The thermometer during this period averaged 86° Fahrenheit. Every attention was bestowed, which skill and devotion to duty could dictate, by the medical officers of the army, who, throughout the contest, have been distinguished for high profes- sional attainments, combined with the qualities of a soldier. THE FLORIDA WAR. 283 The embarrassments and privations incident to such a service, the sufferings of men and officers, unavoidable, who appealed to them when lingering under the debility of aggravated disease, without comforts or shelter, was a severe test to their qualities professionally, and as men, to give succor to their comrades. Much suffering was endured, but the enterprise of the officers and the hardihood of the men overcame all obstacles. They were cheered on by the discomfiture of the enemy, the destruction of crops, and the prospect of terminating the war. The execution of the hazardous duties committed to the younger officers, many of them volunteers, ehcited the praise of the commander of the army, as well as the commendation of their respective com- manders. The enemy found, to their sorrow, that they could be pursued at all seasons. Thirty-two fields were destroyed, containing all kinds of products, from five to twenty acres in extent. Five Indians were captured and one hundred and eighty sheds or huts burnt. The bands of Indians which for years had lived, from season to season, in the enjoyments of abundance, celebrating their corn-dances and festivals, harassing the white man, as suited their convenience or inclination, were now driven, in small par- ties, to remote and unhealthy hiding-places, dependent upon the industry of the women for subsistence. This was hazardous, lest they might be discovered, and the discharge of a rifle betrayed their seclusion ; thus were they deprived of game, and subjected to a limited supply of food of every kind. The foundation of the contest was reached, which inspired all with the hope of future success. These operations naturall)^ caused apprehensions among the settlers along the frontier. The enemy was at large, like a wild animal gored by mortal wounds. Expresses were dispatched in all directions, giving the alarm, to avoid a sudden assault. Troops from the various posts were extended, detached camps located at intermediate points, to intercept the enemy, and co- operate at the shortest notice. Escorts to trains were strength- ened, and every wagoner armed with musket and cartridges. Daily patrols of cavalry moved on the roads most frequented by travellers. The signs of Indians, unusual at this season of the year, being so evident in all quarters. His Excellency C. K. Call, now governor of the territory, addressed a letter to the colonel com- manding the army, on the 29th of June, expressing his appre- hensions, and urging that six hundred men might be mustered, which he thought would amply protect the frontier. "For your prompt attention," continues this communication, "to the protection of our frontier settlements and the prosecution of the 284 THE FLORIDA WAR. war, I return you my sincere thanks ; and from the energy with which your operations have been commenced, I doubt not you will be successful A few months of active pursuit, harassing the enemy and destroying their crops, will effect more towards bring- ing this disastrous war to a close, than years of negotiation. The Indian must be taught to feel our power and to dread our punishment." In reply, he was assured that no means should be left undone to give adequate security, and that the 3d infantry, augmented by two companies from the 6th and 8th, guided by the zeal and enterprise of the officers of each, would be sufficient to prevent and punish the inroads of the enemy. " In addition," writes the commander of the army, "Major Wilcox, on special duty, is adopting measures to urge the settlers to return to their homes. The history of our country shows, that a few cabins, tenanted with stout hearts, exert a greater influence in causing the Indians permanently to abandon their resistance, than the bayonets of troops. The latter they regard as transient, the former as indis- putable evidence of determined occupancy. Authority has been asked, to make the issue of rations conditioned upon occupancy; next, to furnish arms and soldier's pay to such as will comply with these conditions : in this I have great confidence." Authority had already been given by the president of the United States, for the " issuing of rations to those who would penetrate the country during the necessary preparations for raising the means of subsistence at their selected homes." Major D. L. Wilcox, 5th infantry, assisted by Lieutenant M. R. Patrick, 2d infantry, were industriously engaged in inducing citizens to take advantage of this offer. This step, though to the timid jeopardizing property and lives, bade fair to accomplish much good. An industrious population thus introduced, added a power- ful auxiliary force to the other measures of the government. It allayed the panic which had taken possession of the inhabitants, and was calculated to intimidate the enemy, who heretofore had roamed at large, redoubled in boldness and strength by the rapid flight of all who intercepted their path. The log-cabin and the woodman's axe are deadly foes to the red man. Timidity, to them, is an incentive to cruel and barbarous acts. The medical director's consolidated report, for the month of June was considerably augmented. This, of course, was ex- pected. 1014 men and 15 officers were unfit for duty on the first day of June. On the 30th of June he reports 2193 as having been taken sick. Out of the number sick on the 1st of June, and those taken sick during the month, making a total of 3107, 1935 were returned to duty by the expiration of the month ; 22 died ; 34, from disability, discharged; making 1991, which, deducted THE FLORIDA WAR. 285 from the total, 3107, left 1116 unfit for duty at the expiation of the month of June. Those once attacked with the prevailing disease, seldom after were fit for any duty whatever, unless sent to the north, where the cool bracing climate destroyed the ener- vating influences of the south. The peculiar service devolving upon the officer in the scouts through the country, was quite as debilitating in professional ex- ertions as the effects of the climate upon his constitution. His duties were divested of all the attributes of a soldier; but he went resolutely to work with one incentive — " To do his duty." The officer with his command of thirty or forty men, resembled more a banditti than a body of soldiers in the service of their country. He, at the head of his little band, without shoes or stockings, his pantaloons sustained by a belt, in which were thrust a brace of pistols, without vest or coat, his cap with a leathern flap behind, to divert the rain from coursing down his back ; in this manner he led his detachment through bog and water, day after day ; dependent for food upon the contents of his haversack strapped to his back. The only stars over his head were the stars of heaven, the only stripes were lacerated feet, by wading swamps and hammocks, and the only sound to welcome him after his toils, was the vulgar abuse of the inex- perienced and vindictive. CHAPTEK VI. JULY AND AUGUST, 1841. Coaeooche and warriors arrived at Tampa Bay in irons. — Interview between the commander of the army and these warriors, on the 4th of July, on board the transport in the harbor. — Coacooche's talk. — He directed to bring in his band or suffer death. — Five messengers appointed to proceed to the interior of the country, to communicate with his band. — His last words to his followers.— Anxiety of Coacooche for the return of the messengers. — Forty days allowed them.— Arrival of the band, with old Micco. — Irons taken off Coacooche, and he permitted to go on shore to receive his warriors. — His reception. — His dress and conduct. — His speech to them. — A messenger sent to Holatter Micco and Sam Jones. — Coacooche's last words to his brother Otulka. — Departure of the messenger at midnight from the prison-ship. — General operations of the army. — Embarkation of the ]st infantry for New-Orleans. — The service of the regiment, its loss from disease, &c. — Death of Second-Lieutenant Lancaster, 1st infantry. — Arrival of Otulka. — Coacooche proceeds to Pease Creek. — Colonel Worth at Camp Ogden. — Coacooche proceeds to Hospetarke's camp. — Returns with him and eighteen warriors.— Capture of Hospetarke and warriors. — Taken to Fort Brooke, and confined to the prison-ship. — Their designs when visiting the camp. — Coacooche's tact and sagacity. — The warriors of Coacooche in irons. — Liberated and put on shore. — Reports of scouts made by officers of the army, during the months of July and August. — Sent to Washington. — Strength of the army. — Sick, &c. — Retrenchment, &c., &c. — Negroes permitted to accompany Indians to Arkansas. — The policy .^Florida, its position and importance. The result of operations during the month of June, gave a new and favorable aspect to the Florida war. The colonel commanding arrived at Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, on the 3d of July, and had an interview with Coacooche and his warriors on the 4th ; who were in irons, on board the transport in the harbor. The associations of the day, and the personages participating, gave a high degree of interest to the arrival, independent of the successful results anticipated by many, and the defeat predicted by others. Colonel Worth, his staff, with a number of officers, together with intelligent interpreters, proceeded on board at 10 A. M. Coacooche, pale and haggard, '^eceived all with marked dignity and coolness. He and his companions, fifteen hardy young men, were closely ironed, surrounded by a guard of thirty soldiers. His present interview contrasted strongly with his first, at Fort Cummings, in March. Then, he had a bold, dashing demeanor ; now, he was calm, quiet, and subdued. Those limbs which trod the soil, now forbidden ground, but again spreading out before him, with as much freedom as the aspirations of his mind, were degraded by shackles, the clank of which is never effaced in the recollection of an Indian. Around him w^ere his well-tried and savage companions, who followed him in his war-path, and had been governed by his counsels. To those who are not engaged, and are removed from the immediate participations in incidents of this kind, there is much THE FLORIDA WAR. 287 to create a high degree of enthusiasm, even of triumph. But to the officer of the government who perfects the pohcy so un- avoidably adhered to towards the Indian, there are humilia- tions and embarrassments almost sufficient to deter him from the execution of the orders enjoined, or what to many appear the reasonable expectations of citizens. He has to observe stern and inflexible justice on one side, and forbearance and humanity on the other ; and whether the administration of justice be in con- sonance with the rights and feelings of the Indians, is a subject not to be descanted upon or discussed. The laws and habits of the white man, like the wash of the sea, must and will efface the footstep of every Indian from the soil. Even that which the officer seeks in his profession, distinction, is narrowed down to so small a compass, and attended with so much " unworthy of his blade," that he becomes indifferent to it, content with the conscientious conviction that to his country he performs his duty. The Indian " is looked upon as a foe already subdued, broken in spirit, and incapable of resistance ; but the contest in Florida, the desolated dwellings, poverty and distress, the affliction of families throughout the country, the sagacity with which the foe had foiled the government, for five successive years, and their resolu- tion in battle, betrayed a spirit unyielding and unbroken. The contests with the savage arise from the spirit of gain ; the fever- ish passions of the multitude for settlements and pre-emptions, more than for the vindication of any principle involved in the administration of the laws, or the mutations of political parties. The officer who can drive them successfully from the land, will not be condemned, if not praised. Though the present influences around him, and the authority to which he is amenable, may sustain and applaud him, incited by ambition and gain, yet in the future there is retribution, which will some day overtake the actors ; and the same responsibility which rests upon man for his errors, may be transferred to the American people, as a nation. It then becomes the officer, civil and military, to feel that his acts bear upon the future as well as the present time. Coacooche and his warriors came up slowly to the quarter- deck of the transport, their feet-irons hardly enabling them to step four inches, and arranged themselves according to rank. As they laid their manacled hands upon their knees before them, in the presence of so many whom they had so long hunted as foes, they hung their heads in silence. Not a cheering voice or ex- pression could be seen or heard among the group. The chief sat quietly awaiting his doom. Colonel Worth arose, and taking him by the hand, said : " Coacooche — I take you by the hand as a warrior, a brave man ; you have fought long and with a true and strong heart for your country. I take your hand with feel- 288 THE FLORIDA WAR. ings of pride ; you love your country as we do, it is sacred to you; the aslies of your kindred are dear to you and to the Semi- nole ; these feelings have caused much bloodshed, distress, horrid murders; it is time now the Indian felt the power and strength of the white man. Like the oak, you may bear up for many years against strong winds ; the time must come when it will fall ; this time has arrived. You have withstood the blasts of five winters, and the storms of thunder, lightning, and wind, five summers ; the branches have fallen, and the tree, burnt at the roots, is pros- trated. Coacooche, I am your friend ; so is your great father at Washington. What I say to you is true, my tongue is not forked like a snake, my word is for the happiness of the red man. You are a great warrior, the Indians throughout the country look to you as a leader, by your councils they have been governed. This war has lasted five years, much blood has been shed, much innocent blood ; you have made your hands and the ground red with the blood of women and children. This war must now end. You are the man to do it ; you must and shall accomplish it. I sent for you, that through the exertions of yourself and men, you might induce your entire band to emigrate. I wish you to state how many days it will require to effect an interview with the Indians in the woods. You can select three or five of these men to carry your talk ; name the time, it shall be granted ; but I tell you, as I wish your relatives and friends told, that unless they fulfill your demands, yourself, and these warriors now seated before us, shall be hung to the yards of this vessel, when the sun sets on the day appointed, with the irons upon your hands and feet. I tell you this, that we may well understand each other. I do not wish to frighten you, you are too brave a man for that ; but I say what I mean, and I will do it. It is for the benefit of the white and red man. This war must end, and you must end it." Silence pervaded the company as the speaker closed. The harsh grating of the handcuffs broke the spell, as each warrior raised his hand to wipe away the tear which never before stole down his rugged cheek. Coacooche rose, evidently struggling to suppress a feeling which made his manly form quiver with ex- citement : " I was once a boy," said he, in a subdued tone ; " then I saw the white man afar off. I hunted in these woods, first with a bow and arrow ; then with a rifle. I saw the white man, and was told he was my enemy. I could not shoot him as I would a wolf or a bear ; yet like these he came upon me ; horses, cattle, and fields, he took from me. He said he was my friend ; he abused our women and children, and told us to go from the land. Still he gave me his hand in friendship; we took it; whilst taking it, he had a snake in the other ; his tongue was i THE FLORIDA WAR. 289 forked ; he lied, and stung us. I asked but for a small piece of these lands, enough to plant and to live upon, far south, a spot where I could place the ashes of my kindred, a spot only sufficient upon which I could lay my wife and child. This was not grant- ed me. I was put in prison; I escaped. I have been again taken ; you have brought me back ; I am here ; I feel the irons in my heart. I have listened to your talk ; you and your officers have taken us by the hand in friendship. I thank you for bring- ing me back ; I . can now see my warriors, my women and chil- dren ; the Great Spirit thanks you ; the heart of the poor Indian thanks you. We know but little ; we have no books which tell all things ; but we have the Great Spirit, moon, and stars ; these told me, last night, you would be our friend. I give you my word ; it is the word of a warrior, a chief, a brave, it is the word of Coacooche. It is true I have fought like a man, so have my warriors ; but the whites are too strong for us. I wish now to have my band around me and go to Arkansas. You say I must end the war ! Look at these irons ! can I go to my warriors ? Coacooche chained ! No ; do not ask me to see them. I never wish to tread upon my land unless I am free. If I can go to them unchained, they will follow me in ; but I fear they will not obey me when I talk to them in irons. They will say my heart is weak, I am afraid. Could I go free, they will surrender and emigrate." The commander, in reply, told him, with fjrmness and without disguise, that he could not go, nor would his irons be taken off until his entire band had surrendered ; but that he might select three or five of the prisoners, who should be liberated, and permitted to carry his talk ; they should be granted thirty, forty, or fifty days, if necessary. "I say to you again, and for the last time, that unless the band acquiesce promptly with your wishes, to your last wish, the sun, as it goes down on the last day appointed for their appearance, will shine upon the bodies of each of you hang- ing in the wind." This injunction was given in such a manner as to impress the prisoners with the firm belief that it would be literally ful- filled. It was manifest in the convulsive expression of their stern and rugged faces. To escape, was beyond all hope. The vessel lay moored in deep water, two miles from shore. Firmly ironed, and surrounded night and day by sentinels, their fate was in- evitable ; and as the reality rose upon them they were sad and depressed. Here was a chief, a man whose only offence was defending his home, his fireside, the graves of kindred, stipulating, on the Fourth of July, for his freedom and his life. An incident occurred, when Coacooche was most excited, which carried forcibly to the minds of all present the import of the day, and 19 290 THE FLORIDA WAR. impressed in a manner not to be forgotten, the scene in which all were participating. A government schooner lay moored in the immediate neighborhood ; at 12 M., as is customary, she opened her batteries. Coacooche, hearing the repeated discharge, and seeing the interest manifested, ceased speaking, and asked, " What is that for ?" Again he inquired, but silence was the only response. The Indian instinctively seemed to think it the jubilee of freedom. Well might the white man deny the natal day of his country. That flag, waving from the mast-head of Coacooche's prison-ship, symbolical of freedom, was saluted by the roar of artillery, announcing to the world the liberty of twenty millions of people, free, independent, intelligent, and happy. Coacooche, after consulting his companions, selected five to carry his talk to his band. He gathered around him these mes- sengers, on whose fidelity he was led to believe depended his life and liberty, and in a calm tone and manner, endeavored to im- press upon them his situation, and those they were to leave be- hind. The half-articulated words and the subdued intonations of his voice, differed widely from the violent manner and vehe- ment utterance distinguishing him upon all other occasions. It was evident his words to these messengers were no idle talk, nor was he speaking for the approbation of listeners ; he was pleading for his life from those of his own color, who now held his destiny in their hands. " Has not Coacooche," said he, " sat with you by the council- fire at midnight, when the wolf and white man were around us ? Have I not led the war-dance, and sung the song of the Semi- nole? Did not the spirits of our mothers, our wives, and our children stand around us ? Has not my scalping-knife been red with blood, and the scalps of our enemy been drying in our camps ? Have I not made the war-path red with blood, and has not the Seminole always found a home in my camp ? Then, will the warriors of Coacooche desert him? No! If your hearts are bad, let me see them now ; take them in your hands, and let me know they are dark with bad blood ; but do not, like a dog, bite me, so soon as you turn your backs. If Coacooche is to die, he can die like a man. It is not my heart that shakes ; no, it never trembles ; but I feel for those now in the woods, pursued night and day by the soldiers ; for those who fought with us, until we were weak. The sun shines bright to-day, the day is clear ; so let your hearts be : the Great Spirit will guide you. At night, when you camp, take these pipes and tobacco, build a fire when the moon is up and bright, dance around it, then let the fire go out, and just before the break of day, when the deer sleeps, and the moon whispers to the dead, you will hear the voices of those THE FLORIDA WAR. 291 who have gone to the Great Spirit ; they will give you strong hearts and heads to carry the talk of Coacooche. Say to my band that my feet are chained. I cannot walk, yet I send them my word as true from the heart, as if I was on the war-path or in the deer-hunt. I am not a boy ; Coacooche can die, not with a shivering hand, but as when grasping the rifle with my warriors around me. " My feet are chained, but the head and heart of Coacooche reaches you. The great white chief (Po-car-ger) will be kind to us. He says, when my band comes in I shall again walk my land free, with my band around me. He has given you forty days to do this business in ; if you want more, say so ; I will ask for more ; if not, be true to the time. Take these sticks ; here are thirty-nine, one for each day ; this, much larger than the rest, with blood upon it, is the fortieth. When the others are thrown away, and this only remains, say to my people, that with the setting sun Coacooche hangs like a dog, with none but white men to hear his last words. Come then ; come by the stars, as I have led you to battle ! Come, for the voice of Coacooche speaks to you ! " Say this to my wife and child — " Here the chieftain, who had struggled during these remarks with feelings almost over- powering, paused, and turned away his head, to hide the tears flowing profus.ely down his melancholy, but youthful and manly countenance. Deep silence pervaded the entire company. The experienced soldier, to whom carnage had been familiar, the hardy sailor, acquainted with privation and danger, the savage, whose stoical heart is seldom warmed by feeling, now stood around, giving evidence of their sympathy in these last injunc- tions of a captive, by a participation in the gloom and silence, which none was so bold as to break. Without confusion, and without the utterance of a word, the irons were taken off" the five messengers, when preparations v/ere made for them to proceed to the shore. Coacooche shook each by the hand as they passed over the side of the vessel. To the last he gave a silk handker- chief and a breast-pin ; " Give these," said he, to my wife and child." All who were present during the interview felt a deep and painful interest in the fidelity of these messengers. On the fol- lowing day they started on their mission. The band was sup- posed to be on the Kissimmee and St. John's rivers. From the recent operations of troops, serious apprehensions were enter- tained lest they might be detained more than forty days, the time allotted ; it was understood, however, that if this was the case, a runner should be dispatched giving timely notice. Officers and soldiers participated alike in the excitement and interest occa- 292 THE FLORIDA WAR. sioned by this event, the success of which was believed to be, as was afterwards proved, the great turning point of the Florida war. Coacooche, his influence, his example and advice secured, other active and vindictive chiefs could be reached, thus break- ing in upon an association, a concert of action, which had existed from youth to manhood ; first in hunting-frolics and games, then in war parties, against a foe whose inroads they had watched with jealousy from boyhood. Daily the officers visited the prison-ship, desirous of cheering the prisoners by expressing their belief in the integrity of the messengers. Coacooche endeavored to surmount the gloomy forebodings which haunted him, by the semblance of cheerfulness, but his countenance told sadly and plainly the corroding influences of his doubts and fears. The guard on the transport was strength- ened, and sentinels posted on shore at night, in the vicinity of the vessel. At sunrise and sunset the irons of each man were ex- amined by a blacksmith, under the supervision of an officer. No- thing was left undone which might add to their pleasure and comfort. Every want was listened to and supplied, so far as was consistent with safety. They frequently wished the shackles taken off" that they might stretch their limbs ; others desired to go on shore to obtain medicinal roots ; these were dangerous ex- periments, but they unceasingly urged them, until their importu- nities became so annoying, they were told that unless they de- sisted, close confinement would be necessary. This satisfied them that under no ingenious device could they have the most remote means of escape. Old Micco, the Indian who induced Coacoo- che to cofne in at Fort Cummings, in March, voluntarily accom- panied the messengers. He was aged, though active; in his youth he had been the seme-bearer of King Philip, Coacooche's father. The old man, true to his promise, and solicitous for the life of his young chief, returned in ten days, with six warriors and a number of women and children, and reported that many were on the way. From day to day they arrived in small par- ties, when, on the last of the month, the entire band, consisting of seventy-eight warriors, sixty-four women, and forty-seven children, was encamped at Fort Brooke. The chief anxiously waited for the arrival of the number corresponding to the sticks he had given as the strength of his band. His extreme anxiety and restlessness might have been sufficient to have caused a doubt of his integrity ; but there was in his general deportment and conversations a dignity, a self-pride, a principle of honor, which forbade his effecting his freedom under the guise of treachery or deceit. When told that his warriors were all in camp, his spirits, which had been drooping during his confine THE FLORIDA WAR. 293 ment, materially changing his cheerful appearance, again re- turned. The bold, dashing warrior, with his lofty tread and intelligent, sprightly countenance, took the place of the humble captive and suppliant. " Take off my irons," said he, " that I may once more meet my warriors like a man." This was grant- ed, as promised him, though hazardous ; it placed him upon his honor, and was calculated to inspire respect for the authority granting it, and made him feel his own importance in the midst of those who so scrupulously adhered to his wishes, and hstened to his last words. His irons taken off, he proceeded to the shore, accompanied by an officer, dressed in the most fantastical man- ner. Three ostrich-plumes hung gracefully from his crimson turban. His breast covered with glittering silver ornaments, his many-colored frock and red leggings, with a sash around his waist, in which was thrust a scalping-knife, impressed both the whites and Indians crowding the landing, awaiting his arrival, with his importance. So soon as he trod the soil, his haughty bearing returned. Waving his arms, and stretching his form to the utmost height, a shrill whoop announced his freedom and arrival, which received from those on shore a most hearty re- sponse. The crowd simultaneously opened to the right and left, when he, without regarding the presence of any one, proceeded to the head-quarters, where he met the commander of the army, whom he saluted in the most respectful manner ; then turned to the multitude around him, of men, women, and children, and ad- dressed them in a brief but energetic manner : " Warriors — Coa- cooche speaks to you ! You have listened to my word, and taken it ; I thank you. The Great Spirit speaks in our councils. The rifle is hid, and the white and red man are friends. I have given my word for you. I am free ; then let my word be true. I am done. By our council-fire I will say more." His wife and child, who sat in a remote corner, next received his attention, he manifest- ing more affection than generally belongs to to the Indian char- acter. Coacooche and his band now safely within the chain of sen- tinels, steps were immediately taken to bring into action the in- fluence he possessed over the various chieftains still in hostile array. Through his agency, communication could be had with those who had expressed a determination to die upon the soil. This desire he often expressed, as he saw no alternative but for the Indians to emigrate ; and to obtain as many as possible to accompany him, would add importance to his position in Arkan- sas. He urged that the active operations of the army might be suspended to enable him to seek those chiefs with whom he so long had acted in concert. This was partially consented to, but the scouts along the frontier were prosecuted with vigor. On 294 THE FLORIDA WAR. the last of July the colonel commanding transmitted to the adju- tant-general of the army the following reports, and adds : " I am aware many of these reports may be uninteresting ; the whole are nevertheless forwarded, as honorable testimony to the zeal and activity of the officers and troops; respectfully sohciting particular examination of those of Major Childs, 3d artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel Riley, 2d infantry; Captains Hawkins and Seawell, 7th ; Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, 8th (including that of Lieutenant Gates) ; Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis, 6th ; Captain Miller, 1st infantry; and Captain May, 2d dragoons. I must be allowed to accompany these reports with the highest testimony to the activity, intelligence, and untiring zeal of officers of all grades, and the good and patient endurance of the soldier." Memorandum of Reports. Captain B. L. Beall, 2d dragoons. Captain E. S. Hawkins, 7th infantry. Captain U. Seawell, 7th infantry. Captain B. L. E. Bonneville, 7th infantry. Major T. T. Fauntleroy, 2d dragoons, and officers under his command. Major Wilson, 3d infantry, and officers under his command. Major Nelson, 6th infantry, do. Captain A. S. Miller, 1st infantry, do. Lieutenant-Colonel N. S. Clarke, 8th infantry, do. Lieutenant-Colonel B. Riley, 2d infantry, do. The movements detailed in these reports covered the entire territory. On the 11th of August a detachment of the 8th infantry, com- manded by Captain T. P. Guynn, was posted on Pease Creek, twenty miles from the mouth, on the southern bank, and eighty miles south of Fort Brooke. The post was called Camp Ogden, and estabhshed for the double purpose of being an advanced position towards the Big Cypress Swamp, and a convenient spot where suitable material could be procured for canoes, designed, the coming season, to penetrate the Everglades. The skillful operations of Major Childs, with a detachment of the 3d artillery, in the exploration of the Everglades, and destroying Indian fields, caused much apprehension on the part of Otulka-Thlocko (the Prophet), and his adherents. Lieutenant John Rodgers, with a detachment from the Florida squadron, commanded by Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, co-operated, and carried into his measures that intelligence and resolution which distinguished the navy in these harassing expeditions. Soon after the camp on Pease Creek was established, Sole- THE FLORIDA WAR. 295 Micco, accompanied by Ah-ah-tustenuggee, Kle-is-ti-an, and twenty women and children, came in, claiming protection, as they w^ere closely pursued by a party of the Prophet's men from the Big Cypress Swamp. Hardly were they safe in camp, when the report of rifles was heard, and a command was dispatched at once, when it was found that the pursuing party, finding the game had escaped them, fired upon a wood-cutting party of soldiers, killed one, took his musket and ammunition, and re- treated. The movement in the Everglades had caused this small party of Indians to surrender. Sole-Micco was the sub-chief sent from Sarasota in April, to carry a friendly talk to Hospe- tarke and others, who had so suddenly decamped. His long absence had led to the belief that he was faithless, or had been killed for conveying the message. The information he commu- nicated in reference to the Indians south, was of importance. His absence of four months enabled him to become acquainted with the measures adopted by the chiefs for protection, as well as their numbers and means of defence. Since the departure of the Indians from Sarasota in April, no means whatever remained to renew hostilities or negotiations, neither guides nor runners could be obtained. Sole-Micco, on his arrival in the midst of the Indians, who had so unexpectedly departed from Sarasota, with difficulty preserved his life. A council of chiefs had just been held, consisting of Holatter-Micco (Billy Bowlegs), Arpeika (or Sam Jones), Otulka-Thlocko (the Prophet), Hospetarke, Fuse Hadjo, Parsacke, and many other less important personages, when they agreed that the bearer of any message from the whites should be put to death. Sole-Micco was suspected ; the only plea he could give to disguise his real intentions was, that he had escaped from the whites, intending to find his mother, who it was known lived in the swamp. Still incredulous, the Prophet was designated to examine the culprit, and report as to the truth of his story. He commenced with much ceremony, in arranging ten fires in a circle, offering up prayers to the Great Spirit in a muttered, plaintive tone, dancing at intervals, and displaying his roots, sldns of snakes, alligators, and other, to the gaze of an astonished multitude. He blew upon the palm of the Indian's hand with a blow-pipe, and after examining the results with care, raised his hands and eyes to heaven, proclaim- ing the story of the Indian a lie : " He has come," said he, " with a talk from the white men!" The excitement now became general, and the fate of the Indian seemed inevitable. To flee was impossible ; no asseverations on his part could con- tradict or controvert the incantations of the Prophet. With that impulse, the result of superstitious influences upon the ignorant, the men were appointed to carry into execution the 296 THE FLORIDA WAR. sentence to which all had subscribed. With earnestness he repeated his innocence, and listened to as he was by some in the crowd, who were relatives and friends, parties were arrayed, and a few resolute warriors put the authority of the Prophet at de- fiance. They declared that the men who dared to execute the decree, should be scalped before the sun went down. Thus was he rescued, and permitted to proceed to his mother's camp. Here he remained quietly during the months of May and June, and hearing a post was established on Pease Creek, determined to improve the first opportunity to reach it. The animosity and suspicions of the Prophet had abated ; but a number of men and women were appointed to.watch his movements. He, however, was determined to effect his escape with his mother and family. To accomplish it, he frequently went to the margin of the swamp, under various pretexts, but before he could get beyond it an In- dian scout would be upon his trail. He undertook it, however, and the third day brought him into the camp. This was the first inroad made upon the band of Indians, consisting of Semi- noles, Creeks, and Mickasukies, in the Big Cypress Swamp. Here were concentrated the desperate characters of all the tribes once inhabiting Georgia and the neighboring states, with whom the government had, from time to time, been at war for thirty years past. Sympathy with each other in the wrongs they conceived had been inflicted upon them and their ancestors, caused a con- cert of action, excited by revenge, and emboldened by the most wild and fanatical superstitions. The Prophet ruled with an iron hand; despotism reigned v^^ithout remonstrance or reproach. The people were governed by the dictates of this vindictive chief, whose wisdom was undisputed, and whose decrees were sustained and executed by mien his superiors in all respects, but who gave way to his opinions, lest he might exercise a pernicious influence upon their destinies. This Prophet recited to his Hsteners his exploits in the Creek war of 1836, narrated in an affecting manner the way in which he escaped from prison, when chained hand and foot, inducing them to believe that the Great Spirit came to him, in the form of an Indian, striking off" his irons and opening the prison-door. He w^as told to flee to Florida, and enjoined to revenge the wrongs of those who had suffered in his own land. The information communicated by Sole-Micco to Coacooche, caused some sohcitude lest the vindictiveness of this band might pervade all others. He had a brother, Otulke, who he believed was in that quarter with his family. To induce him to surrender, he proposed that his younger brother, a captive in the prison- ship, should proceed to Pease Creek, thence to the swamp, with a message inviting him to accompany him to Arkansas. THE FLORIDA WAR. 297 An officer was dispatched with an Indian woman, who, in junction with this messenger, was to take a talk to Arpeika (Sam Jones) and Holatter-Micco (Billy Bowlegs). On the way out of port, the steamer stopped alongside of the transport, to take on board the young messenger. It was past twelve, midnight. The moon threw a gloomy shadow over the prison- ship, as the dark, naked forms of the prisoners appeared one by one on the deck of the vessel. The clanking of their irons broke the silence of the night. The bearer of the message was liberated, when Coacooche, in the presence of all, gave, in a brief and feeling manner, his last word to his brother Otulke : " Tell him this is my last word ; it is the word of his brother with his warriors in chains, who will continue so until he comes. We are sick and lame ; if he feels for his red brothers he must throw away his rifle, and take the word of the white men. I have been as brave a warrior as he ; I have fought as long as he ; I have carried in the war-dance as many scalps as he ; why then should he make our hearts sorrowful, when Coacooche sends his heart to him ? Ask him to come ; if he says no, tell him I know his hunting- grounds and fields, and with my warriors will find him, and let him feel the chains which now make our hearts sad." A pause here ensued ; all were silent ; a strong feeling depressed and em- barrassed the speaker, which deprived him of utterance ; and to break the silence, and hide the overflowings of a proud and haughty spirit, he arose and walked the deck : " Here, take this (giving his pipe), it is my pipe ; there is tobacco ; and say to him I have turned my back and closed my eyes upon our land and the graves of the Seminoles. The whites are too strong ; they go by land and in boats : why should our women and children suf- fer ? I can live like a wolf, a dog ; Vv^hy make others suffer ? The feet and hands of my warriors are chained ; those who stood by us in battle. I am free, but my men are chained ; soon I hope they will be free. I have no more to say ; if he comes, he must come soon. Coacooche is sick at heart." The Indian woman, who sat an unobtrusive listener in the midst of the num- ber, asked the chief if he had any thing for her to say. " No !" said he, " I never counsel with women, nor send my words by women ; what I say are the words of a man, but when put upon the tongue of a woman, it is a woman's talk ; women may listen to women, but my brother will not. You had better stay at home and cook; women lie and talk, you can do no good." Coacooche rose almost overcome with feeling, and with a con- vulsive grasp bade his brother farewell, and just as he was step- ping from the side of the vessel, called him back : " Here," said he, pulling off" his shirt, " take this, and tell Otulke, I send him the sweat of my body ; tell him to wear it, if he is my brother.'^ 298 THE FLORIDA WAR. Again he shook the messenger by the hand. The prisoners, who often had hstened to their chief's words unshackled, now sought their resting-place in the dark hold of the prison-ship. Free and uncontaminated, by the will of their Creator, now^ incarcerated and subdued through the instrumentality of man. Major D. L. Wilcox, to whom was intrusted the issuing of rations to those citizens who would penetrate the country, had accomplished much in quieting the fears of those whose locations were in the neighborhood of the Indian haunts. Uninterrupted scouts added materially to this end, as the Indian dared not show himself, or commit violent acts, not knowing at what moment he might be intercepted. The 3d infantry was again in the field, examining the country west of the Suwannee river, which, since the movements in June, had become a resort for small bands. Lieutenant-Colonel Whistler, commanding the 7th infantry, moved with his regiment, in detachments, from Micanopy, while the companies of the 2d dragoons, within, his district, patrolled the country on the Georgia frontier. Captain T. S. Alexander and Captain William Hoftman, 6th infantry, with men in boats, scouted the Crystal and Homasassa rivers, and the hammocks and swamps bordering, thought to be the resort of Tiger-Tail and band. Lieutenant-Colonel B. Riley, 2d infantry, aided by detachments from the 2d dragoons, examined the country in all directions from Fort King, to find the trail of HaUeck-Tustenug- gee and Short Grass, who were supposed to be in that vicinity. Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, 8th infantry, occupied the country south and east from Tampa Bay, to frustrate any concert of action apprehended between the Indians south, and those in con- tact with settlements. Major Childs, 8d artillery, commanding at Fort Pierce, by active movements in boats, deterred the enemy in that quarter from any hostile acts. Detachments from the Florida squadron, consisting of sailors and marines, with characteristic intelligence and zeal, perfected the operations in the Everglades. The 1st regiment of infantry, under the command of Captain A- S. Miller, embarked at Horse Key, on the 5th of August, for New-Orleans. General orders. No. 39, posted three companies at Fort Snelling, five at Fort Crawford, Prairie du Chien, one at Fort Atkinson, and one at Fort Winnebago. These stations were calculated to give the enfeebled invalid additional strength, which, from the nature of the disease with which the regiment had been prostrated, could never be regained in Florida. This regiment entered Florida in March, 1838; from that period to its embarkation, it had participated, with efficiency, in all the toils incident to the service. Six commissioned officers died from the effects of the climate, and one hundred and thirty- five soldiers. THE FLORIDA WAR. 299 The sudden death of Second-Lieutenant J. R. H. Lancaster, on the 5th of July, 1841, was felt by his entire regiment. When standing in the stern-sheets of his boat, descending Crystal river, leaning upon his musket, in command of a detachment of men just from a successful scout, giving evidence of ability and pros- pects of usefulness to his country, he was struck dead by light- ning. Four men near him were also prostrated, one of whom soon after died. With the manly frankness of the soldier, he combined intelh- gence and the love of his profession ; thus securing the confi- dence of his commanders and affection of his comrades. The messenger dispatched by Coacooche from his prison to his brother, returned to the camp on Pease Creek, commanded by Captain Guynn, after an absence often days, accompanied by Otulke and five others. He brought a message from the chief Hospetarke, that he was coming to see Coacooche, and would be in as soon as he could. The next day an Indian boy came, with a white flag, reporting that the chief was encamped distant about one day's march south, on the trail from the Cypress Swamp, and that he had been sent to procure for them tobacco and whisky. The ensuing night another boy arrived, saying that the chief was sleeping five miles off, was old, fatigued, and very sick, and that he required a larger quantity of whisky and tobacco to give him strength to reach the camp. In this man- ner he, for five days, continued a communication with the camp, his young men going and coming unmolested, obtaining all they wished to eat and to drink. The old man was solicited and tempted by every art to come within the chain of sentinels, but he as artfully sent excuses, each time adding liberally to demands for corn, flour, pork, beef, whisky, and tobacco. From the best information which could be obtained from the boys, he had in company eighteen or twenty w^arriors. Colonel Worth, with Coacooche, arrived at the camp at a most opportune moment. Coacooche was at liberty, striving for the liberation of his men, still in irons, on board the schooner at Tampa Bay. When he accomplished that which was demanded of him, these men were to be put on shore. The friendly Indians in camp had declined any intercourse with Hospetarke, fearing the treacherous schemes so noted among the Indians from the Cypress Swamp. Coacooche, immediately upon his arrival, dressed himself in his official gaudy dress, and, rifle in hand, mounted his horse, which seemed to partake of the spirit of his rider, shook hands with the officers around him, and started for the camp of Hospetarke. Before sunset he returned, with the old chief and eighteen warriors. An informal council was held, congratulatory upon all sides that the white and red 300 THE FLORIDA WAR. man could again meet each other in friendship. It was agreed that on the day following a great council should be held. The conduct of these Indians for the week past, and that which was observed while loitering about the camp, left no doubt but that the whole proceeding was a repetition of the schemes which they had practiced successfully two years past. The large quantity of deer-skins in their possession they sold with great avidity, more anxious to obtain powder in exchange than money. They lingered around the officers' and soldiers'' tents, watching intently every movement, cautiously leaving soon after sundown, and returning by daylight. The friendly Indians in camp had been frequently intoxicated, but these men, though having as much whisky as they desired, were perfectly sober. They left behind women and children, and rifles, but brought bags and bottles to carry away liquor and food. These transac- tions, corroborated by Hospetarke's caution before and after arriving, gave decided evidence that before the lapse of twenty- four hours they would again be in the hammocks, enjoying their jokes, as heretofore, at the stupidity of the whites. No alterna- tive remained but to seize them and take them to Fort Brooke. Coacooche, with his usual sagacity, saw this, and cautiously ex- pressed his opinion, that it was the only means which could ever induce the band to leave the country. To effect this all-important object, the great council convened on the following day, on board the steamboat, at two P. M. Hospetarke's fears had been quieted by the confidence and kind- ness extended to him and his companions. The old man entered the cabin of the boat with eighteen sturdy warriors, taking his seat with much cheerfulness and dignity on the right of Colonel Worth, who sat at the head of a long table, at which were also seated Sho-nock-Hadjo and Fuse Hadjo, sub-chiefs, together with the others, arranged according to rank. A company of soldiers were in their tents, who, at a preconcerted signal, were to close in upon the shore in such a manner as to intercept or put to death any who might attempt to escape. The black interpreter, well known as Gopher John, stood in the vicinity. His tall person, gaudily decked for the occasion with ribands and silver work, rose far above the group, now cheerful and merry, who were to learn from his mouth that their plans were frustrated, and that they were captives ; a result they little anticipated. The officers present took positions at such points most favorable to quell an assault, secretly armed with pistols. The commander opened the subject with calmness and caution, received them as brothers, with every disposition to supply their wants and listen to their talks ; explained to them their scattered condition, and the ad- vantages to be derived in accepting the terms of friendship now THE FLORIDA WAR. 39 J offered, and surrendering peaceably, and emigrating to the coun- try assigned them in the west, and urged them to accompany him to Fort Brooke, where they should be treated kindly and have every want supplied ; and that the women and children should be sent for and treated in the same manner. To this the chief objected, explaining with much tact and skill the various causes why he and his men could not comply ; but that by the next moon he would be in with all his band, pre- pared to emigrate. From his frequent conversations with his sub-chiefs in an under-tone, it v/as clear this was an evasion of the whole subject ; no reason was assigned why this could not be done at the present as well as at any future time. Again, the anxiety of the great father at Washington to aid and protect his red brothers, and his desire that no more blood should be shed, was forcibly expressed ; communicating at the same time the means in progress to pursue the Indians, by land and in boats, and the determination that hereafter all Indians caught with a rifle in hand would be put to death. The conver- sation grew warmer and warmer, as the clear and eloquent tones of the interpreter reverberated through every part of the boat, imparting to both Indians and whites the excitement and interest such a scene was calculated to create. No entreaty or induce- ment could move the determination of Hospetarke and his fol- lowers. Colonel Worth giving the signal, unobserved by the Indians, to the officers around, in order that they should understand and be in readiness for the crisis, again addressed the chief: " You and your followers have now come in to the white man's camp three times, have made faithful promises, and obtained all you wished for yourselves and families ; none of these promises have you ever complied with. Such practices have existed long enough ; it is now time they had come to an end. I have offered you peace, I have given you food and clothing, we have all treated you as friends. You have not been heretofore, nor are you now, disposed to comply with one single wish offered you. I have invited you to go to Fort Brooke ; you say. No. I now say to you and the men seated here, you shall go, and be on the way before the sun sets. Not one of you will again leave the boat." At the moment these last words were uttered, the shrill bugle gave the preconcerted signal, each soldier was at his post, the doors of the cabin were closed by bayonets, officers drew their swords from the scabbards, and the drum in camp beat to arms. Silence, broken only by the occasional muttering of these sons of the forest, told plainly the sensations excited among all present. When the shock had passed, several began talking loudly, ges- 302 THE FLORIDA WAR. ticulating in a violent manner, brandishing their knives and threatening the interpreter. This soon subsided on seeing the officers and soldiers so well prepared to punish them for any hos- tile act. The old chief was reproached for his stupidity in not foreseeing this result. " You are a fool," said one of the sub- chiefs ; " I told you this morning the white men would catch us in a wolf-trap." To find their plans so unexpectedly frustrated, was enough to create a rebellious spirit. One after another came forward, desiring to go for his wife and children, others for mothers and sisters left in the hammock six miles distant, with their rifies and money. So many asking, none were gratified ; but when the excitement had passed away, five messengers were selected, who were to proceed to the proper places and find the women and children, and be at Punta Rossa, at the mouth of the Carlosahatchee river, where a steamboat would be in readiness to take them to Fort Brooke. These messengers were led to be- lieve that the lives of the chief and warriors hung upon their faithful execution of the mission. It was an interesting sight to see the father communicating, with feeling, the words to be de- livered to his wife and children, a son asking an aged mother to join him, and lovers sending some little token of remembrance, pleading at the same time that the object of his solicitude would join him as soon as possible. Coacooche, fully understanding what was to take place, ab- sented himself, thus to all appearance having no participation in the capture. He appeared soon after in the cabin of the boat, affecting intoxication, with a rifle in one hand, a bottle of whis- ky in the other. He expressed his surprise and indignation that these men, who by his entreaties had been induced to come in, were prisoners. He burst forth in a strain of abuse — denounced the whites, " that while he was absent enjoying his bottle, the opportunity had been improved to capture them." The effect was good, as they still looked upon him as their friend. Had it been known that he was in any way or manner connected with the transaction, his exertions, for the future, would have availed but little. These Indians had come from the swamps and hammocks, actuated by their characteristic treachery and sagacity, for the accompKshment of objects foreign to what they professed. That which was most desired, in fact indispensable to them, was pow- der— and to obtain which they practised those devices which had so well succeeded for three years past. To find themselves thus frustrated ; caught in their own trap, and prisoners, on their way to Tampa ; compelled to plead for their lives, and the privilege of sending a request to father, mother, brother and sister ; was a situation which might well cause excitement among them, and even alarm. THE FLORIDA WAR. 3Q3 Hospetarke's advanced age induced Coacooche to believe that he could attach this band to his own, and thus go to Arkansas with a formidable number. In this he ultimately succeeded. Hospetarke is a Seminole, about eighty-five years of age, small in stature, much bent, and with white flowing hair. He and Ar- peika (Sam Jones), who is about the same age, are the oldest Seminole and Mickasukie living. His entire band consisted of fifty-four warriors, and seventy-three women and children. He had formed an alliance with the Prophet, with whom he had had an understanding before leaving the Cypress Swamp, that in four- teen days he would return. His mind was clear and active, keep- ing pace with his physical energies, unusual for a man of his years. He was gratified with being captured, as his advanced age relieved him from the necessity of engaging in war, and ena- bled him to get rid of the influences of the Prophet. He was not a prisoner by his own voluntary act ; no one could rebuke or re- proach him. Among these Indians there is an elevated feeling, which leads them to spurn the association of civilized life. An Indian that succumbs, whatever may be the cause or excuse, they look upon as an enemy to his race, unworthy of fame, and desti- tute of those qualities which make the warrior and the man. These Indians declared openly, after capture, that it was not their intention to emigrate or surrender ; they came for powder, whisky, and bread. All that they obtained, was considered com- mon stock, and was deposited in a hammock, six miles distant, with their rifles, in the care of the women. It was agreed that none should become intoxicated, lest at an unguarded moment they might commit themselves, and be captured. The chief was to name the time when they should, in a body, return to the Cy- press Swamp. Instead of returning, as contemplated, they found themselves prisoners on board a transport at Fort Brooke. The camp on Pease Creek was broken up, and Captain Guynn ordered to take post at Fort Deyneaud, on the head waters of the Carlosahatchee river, sixty miles from Punta Rossa, and thirty from the Big Cypress Swamp, a point where the Indians sent for could come with facility, with those whom they might induce to accompany them. Fifty-five cypress canoes were made at Camp Ogden, capable of carrying eight men each. These were for the coming operations in the Everglades. The entire band of Coacooche having now surrendered for emigration, and he acting in good faith, the irons of those on board the transport were taken off", and they permitted to live v/ith the remainder of the band at the post. For their security the chief pledged his life. Hospetarke's party occupied the prison-ship, unshackled, but strongly guarded, awaiting the time when the remainder should 304 THE FLORIDA WAR. be at Pimta Rossa, when it was designed they should proceed in the steamer to meet them. On the 28th of August, the following reports were transmitted to the adjutant-general of the army at Washington, by the colonel commanding. These detailed the movements of the troops, which, though not signalized by captures and battles, had yet satisfied the Indians that they would be pursued the entire season. The movements and results were all of a similar char- acter, attended by much exposure, sickness, and fatigue, termi- nating in the destruction of corn-fields, huts, and sheds. These operations, together with the Indians collected for emigration, gave satisfactory evidence that the months of July and August had not been passed in idleness. Memorandum. Report of scout in the Everglades, by Lieutenant Ketchum, 3d artillery. Report of expedition to Tomoka river, by Lieutenant Judd, 3d artillery. Report of boat and land expedition to Deadman's Bay, by Major Wilson, and officers under his command, 3d infantry. Report of a combined movement on the Wacassassa river, by Captain Bonneville, 7th infantry, and Lieutenants Lamotte and Prince, 1st infantry. Report of a scout by Lieutenant Sibley, 2d dragoons. Report of a scout by Captain Holmes, 7th infantry. Report of an expedition into the Everglades, under direction of Major Childs, 3d artillery. Report of a combined expedition to the Homesassa river, un- der Captains Alexander and Hoffinan, 6th infantry. Report of Captain M. Burke, 3d artillery, and Lieutenant Rodgers, U. S. N., expedition into the Everglades. Reports of scouts by officers 2d infantry, under direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Riley. Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke's reports, and officers of the 8th regiment, under his command. Reports of scouts by Captain Kerr and Captain May, 2d dragoons. The season was now far advanced, when, from the prevalence of disease incident to the climate, aggravated by the exposure to which the troops had been subjected by land and water, a serious diminution of the effective strength of the army was anticipated. The skill and untiring devotion of the medical director of the army, Surgeon Harney, had stayed the malignity of the yellow THE FLORIDA WAR. 305 fever, which had appeared at Fort Brooke, as well as dissemi- nating vigilance and attention in every branch of his department. Dm'ing the month of July, two thousand four hundred and twenty-eight men of the army of Florida, were reported as having been taken sick. Of this number, eight hundred and fifteen had been returned to duty; thirty-one died, and eleven discharged for disability. The report at the end of August, numbered two thousand and twenty-three, as having been taken sick within the month ; eight hundred and six had been returned to duty, twenty-one died, and thirteen discharged for disability. Connected with active operations, retrenchment was not lost sight of, as it not only cut off the drain upon the treasury of the nation, but was instrumental in breaking up the civil position of the army, which so long had been identified with the contest, and hung heavily upon the efforts to close it. The following letter, from the colonel commanding, gives an outline of the reductions in all departments, which were executed with the skill and promptness belonging to the quarter-master's department, and by the distinguished ofhcer on duty in Florida, Lieutenant-Colonel H. Whiting, who was at the principal depot, at Palatka, on the St. John's river. " Head-Quarters, Army of Florida, ) Tampa, Aug. 17th, 1845. S " Sir — The colonel commanding has attentively considered your letter of the 2d instant, as also the letter to which you refer, addressed by you to Brigadier-General Armistead, under date the 20th April, on the subject of retrenchment of expenses incident to the Florida service, which last letter is now for the first time brought to his notice. " Aware of the importance and necessitj/" of retrenchment, and anxious that the most rigid economy should be observed in the expenditures, he lost no time, on assuming the command of the army, to call for such reductions as might be demanded by a due economy, and a just regard to the interest of the service ; and he finds that, by reference to his orders and instructions since issued, that most of the reductions referred to in your letter to General Armistead have already been met, while many others, not men- tioned therein, have been ordered. " Curtailment has already taken place in respect to horses, by far the heaviest item of expense, not only as to the present time, but prospectively ; also in respect to express riders, build- ings, vessels, &c. But there is much yet to be done on the score of retrenchment. The colonel has carefully examined your last summary of the number of citizens employed to the 30th of June; 20 306 THE FLORIDA WAR. in the quarter-master's department. Of the seven hundred and three persons thus employed, it is beUeved the greater part may be discharged, except those you may deem necessary at the prin- cipal depots, as Palatka, Tampa, St. Augustine, and Port Leon. At the two latter places, it is believed, great reductions in their numbers can be made ; for example, at St. Augustine there are twenty-nine, inclusive of the crews of several vessels ; it is not known what portion of this number composes the crews. At Port Leon there are fifty-three ; it is true, there are no troops at that post to give aid, and yet the number is believed to be larger than necessary. At the petty posts, forming by far the greatest number, and most of which posts it is hoped may soon be broken up, you are desired to allow no hired mechanics, of any sort ; and for the current service of those posts, teamsters, drivers, &c., must be detailed from the line. It would, perhaps, be injudicious at the present moment, to discharge many of the latter class of persons connected with the large trains on principal routes of supply. " Your attention is particularly asked, to the almost universal employment of clerks, either in one form or another, and generally as advised, at inordinate daily pay. A prompt and rigid reduc- tion in this respect, is demanded by the best interests of the ser- vice. In the above remarks, the principal depots are not referred to, where, it is believed, all due economy is observed. " Respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed) S. COOPER, Assistant- Adjutant- General" Lieut. Col. H. Whiting, ) Deputy Qr. M. General, Palatka. ^ " Palatka, E. F., \ August 23d, 1841. \ "Sir — I have received your letter of the 17th, relative to re- trenchment, &c. The letter I addressed to General Armistead on this subject, I did not bring up again to his successor in com- mand, because his order, in assuming it, seemed to render such a step unnecessary. General Armistead's reply to my letter, di- rected all things to be left as they were, and Colonel Worth's order implied that no immediate changes should be made, else I should, some time since, have discharged all the citizen mechanics, laborers, ostlers, &c., at all the posts excepting the principal de- pots. Feehng fully authorized now to act in this respect, I shall take the necessary steps accordingly. This will effect some re- duction, though the mechanics now employed are principally at the depots, where a few, such as smiths, wheelwrights, ship-car- penters, and ordinary carpenters, are indispensable. I would not propose that any teamsters be obtained by detail for the principal trains. It is of importance that the drivers should not often be changed. Unskilfulness may often cause serious damage to pub- THE FLORIDA WAR. 307 lie property. Teams attached to small posts, where not much is done, and what is done is under the eye of an officer, are an ex- ception. And ostlers should be supplied at such posts in the same way, that is, by detail. " In explanation of the report of the 9th August, to which allusion is made in your letter, at Fort King, for instance, the number of persons reported are nearly all teamsters or express riders, mostly of the former. The number now there is much less than it was at the time that report was made. There is no mechanic there now, excepting a smith, named Duffie. Of the five persons at Picolata, two were teamsters, one a cartman, one a clerk, and one a laborer. They are all now discharged, and replaced from the line, except the latter, who has been at the general hospital, to assist in its establishment. He has been re- called to be discharged. Fort Holmes is broken up. At Fort Mellon, three of the four persons are teamsters, and a cartman. The latter will be discharged. At Wacahoota, two teamsters and one ostler were hired by the order of the commanding officer. They will now be discharged. Camp Barhun — the two persons are teamsters. Micanopy — mostly teamsters, one smith, and one wheelwright. All will now be discharged, excepting the team- sters. Captain Waite's attention was early called to St. Augus- tine, and he reported that he had reduced the number of persons as low as the service would admit. The number, twenty-nine, does not embrace the crews of the two small vessels employed, which amount to twelve or thirteen. He has one carpenter, one smith, one saddler, and the rest are teamsters, ostlers, laborers, boatmen, &c. Traders' Hill — there are sixteen teams there, one wheelwright, one saddler, one smith, and a principal teamster. And there are several laborers. These are all necessary there. Fort Pleasant — one teamster. Fort Russell has now only three teamsters, one express-rider, one ostler, and one man employed as a clerk, at 820 per month. Fort Harrison — all teamsters, ex- cepting a guide. Key Biscayne has at present six wood cutters. (These supply the steamboats with fuel, and their expense is, no doubt, reimbursed.) One person is a pilot, one {Martin Burke) in charge of Fort Dallas quarter-master's property, one teamster, one guide, and one laborer. The latter, and the person in charge of the public property, I shall have discharged. Fort Lauderdale — a boat carpenter, probably temporarily employed. Fort Pierce has a heavy report of persons, but it is so situated, that I have con- tented myself with having early called the attention of Captain Waite to see whether a reduction could be made. There are three teamsters there, one smith, one ship-carpenter, four oars- men, one pilot, and one interpreter. New Smyrna — the three persons there act in the double capacity of pilots and guides. 308 THE FLORIDA WAR. Wacasassa — one person in charge of public property, and one ostler, and one laborer and ostler. These will be discharged. Fort Gamble — one teamster. " With respect to the principal depots, it is best that they should not depend on details from the Hne for their mechanics and laborers. Each of the officers in charge of them has been par- ticularly instructed to reduce the number of persons employed to the lowest possible limit, they being responsible that their force should be equal to the wants of the service, which are very press- ing at Palatka, pressing at Tampa and Cedar Keys, and requiring a state of constant preparedness at St. Augustine, Port Leon, and Fort Fanning. At these six depots, nearly five hundred and fifty of the persons employed are reported. Deducting the teamsters, the smaller posts embrace but a small part of the seven hundred and three aggregate. " There is probably a misapprehension with respect to the clerks employed. This place, Tampa, Cedar Keys, St. Augus- tine, Port Leon, and Fort Fanning, have them employed at, the rate of $75 per month ; a large price, but procuring, in all in- stances, most valuable and necessary services. Fort King is allowed one at $50. Micanopy, at $40, (which will now be re- duced,) and Traders' Hill, at $45. At some of the other posts, where assistant commissaries of subsistence have been, and are acting as assistant quarter-masters, $20 per month have been allowed, to be added to the compensation allowed by the com- missary's department. The latter posts are now Fort Mellon, Picolata, and Fort Russell, to which others may be added hereafter. " The foregoing statement will show that the principal expen- ditures are now connected with the main depots, which have been reduced, in that respect, much below their former standard. While operations are upon their present footing, much more re- duction cannot well be made. Great responsibility rests upon these main depots. They have to be prepared for emergencies ; as it is my aim that none such shall arise that cannot be met with promptitude. As I have before remarked, no great retrenchment can now further be made, while the present quantity of forage is issued, or until operations considerably change their character. Full five-eighths of our means of transportation, whether by land or water, are connected with this article of supply. I wish this mass of forage had always been consumed with as much advantage to the cause before us as it is at this moment. " Very respectfully, I am sir, your ob't serv't, (Signed) HENRY WHITING, Bep. Qr. M. General, army of Fla." To Major S. Cooper, A. A. General } and Chf. Staff, H. Q. army of F., Tampa. I THE FLORIDA WAR. 3Q9 With the surrender of Indians in Florida, and their embarka- tion for Arkansas, an important question arose in relation to ne- groes in their possession. Many of these negroes had escaped, others were captured, from the citizens of the Territory, and the state of Georgia. Years had elapsed, allowing sufficient time for them to have grown from youth to manhood, imbibing the habits of their captors ; in many instances they had intermarried, and become sons-in-law of their masters. These habits could not be subdued, nor these ties broken, without a struggle. The Indian surrendered, confi- dent that his property would be as much respected as his life. Indeed, so long a time had elapsed, that possession had banished from the Indian's mind all probability of a reclamation of the slave. It was folly to turn the negro, thus imbued, and with such ties, upon his white master. The indolence and waywardness of the native had become a part of his nature. The independence and freedom so long enjoyed, unchecked, had unfitted him for any usefulness to the claimant. To have deprived the Indians of this property, on surrendering, would have greatly embarrassed the favorable results anticipated. True policy dictated otherwise. The negro, returned to his original owner, might have remained a few days, w^hen he again would have fled to the swamps, more vindictive than ever ; while his Indian master, between whom there was cherished a mutual affection, had embarked for Arkan- sas, dissatisfied and deeply wronged. These negroes had learned to speak the Indian language, which, together with a knowledge of English, and intimacy with the habits of whites, soon gave them an ascendency, when the slave becomes the master. The negroes, from the commencement of the Florida war, have, for their numbers, been the most formidable foe, more blood-thirsty, active, and revengeful, than the Indian. To surrender or to be captured, was to them slavery and punishment; while victory- gave them plunder, and added confidence to the already excited feelings of their masters. The lives of citizens, and their prop- erty, demanded that they should be sent far beyond the country with which they were familiar, and with which were associated many incidents calculated to foster a hostile feeling. The swamps and hammocks of Florida could, for years, be made safe retreats from bondage, where, without labor or expense, they might defy the efforts of armed men. It would require blood and money to besiege them, and when forced out, they could remove unseen to other strong-holds, which nature has so abundantly provided. Ten resolute negroes, with a knowledge of the country, are suffi- cient to desolate the frontier, from one extent to the other. To obviate all difficulty, the claimant of the negro in posses- 310 THE FLORIDA WAR. sion of the Indian, was, upon identifying and proving property, paid a fair equivalent, determined upon by a board of officers. Florida, from its discovery, has been the battle ground of car- nage and discord. Few^ national questions have ever agitated its population, but struggles for ascendency, or the mere gratification of hostile feelings, from the time of De Soto's expedition in pur- suit of gold, down to the policy adopted towards the Indian at the present time, have caused the shedding of more blood, and spread more extended poverty and woe over this devoted land, than in any other portion of the United States. Pedro Melendes de Avies, who founded its oldest town, St. Augustine, on the 8th of September, 1565 — indeed, the most an- cient town in the United States — distinguished its settlement by the murder of seven hundred Huguenots, wrecked upon the coast. That bigotry, w^hich served to extend what he conceived to be his holy religion, caused him to murder, in cold blood, those who relied upon his humanity. Alternately the country has passed from the possession of the French to the Spaniards, from them to the English, and from the English to the Spanish again, and finally from the latter, to the American government ; while the tribes of Indians in the interior, instigated by reckless whites of all nations, have struggled for ascendency, or combined to drive out intruders. Its position, in a national point of view, should be regarded. It may yet be the strong-hold of a powerful foe, who might increase his strength, by inducing the blacks from neigh- boring states, to join his standard. Twenty-four hours' sail for a steamer, can transport from the island of New Providence, W. I., to the coast of Florida, a black force, well calculated to perfect the work. This done, backed by the will and ability of a powerful nation, may yet make Florida the great field upon which is to be fought the' battle of freedom ; the settlement of a question upon which hangs the destiny of our country. Look at it as we may, the question is national and American ; and those who cherish our prosperity, and the mem- ory of those who bequeathed us our liberties, cannot shelter them- selves on this question under the plea of philanthropy — no ! the question must be met by Americans, whether from the north or the south, in the forum or in the field. CHAPTER VII. SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER, 1841. The state of affairs.— The contest drawing to a close.— The arrival at Fort Brooke of an emissary from Tiger-Tail and his brother Nethlockemathlar, desiring peace and friendship. — Capture of Indians be- longing to the band of Halleck-Tustenuggee. — The murder of his sister, who desired to surrender. — He crosses the river St. John's— Negotiations opened with Pascoffer, a Creek chief, on the Ock- lockonne river, through two white men. — Lieutenant Anderson, 2d infantry, surprises an Indian ca.mp and captures the women and children.— Communication had with Arpeika or Sam Jones in the Big Cypress Swamp. — Efforts made to obtain an interview with Halleck-Tustenuggee through friendly Indians. — Partial suspension of military operations. — Negotiations in progress through Coa- ■cooche and the old chief from Arkansas, Holartooche. — Coacooche, with six warriors, proceeds to the Annuttiliga hammock. — Interview on the margin of the hammock between Tiger-Tail with his band and Coacooche, at night.— Pr(jmise of Tiger-Tail to assemble his band.— Wishes to see Alligator be- fore surrendering.— Arrival of the remainder of Hospetarke's band, and release from the prison-ship. — Escape of Sampson, a negro interpreter, from the Big Cypress Swamp. — His narrative. — Harney's massacre on the Carloshatchee. — The government and councils of the Indians within the swamp. — Authority of the Prophet, Sam Jones, and Billy Bowlegs,— Murder of Mrs. Daniels, Harroll, and Jennings, by the Indians at Martin's Point.— Indians in camp at Fort Brooke alarmed.— Critical state of affairs. — Coacooche, with nine warriors, proceeds again to obtain an interview with Tiger- Tail. — Friendly Indians dispatched to all quarters, giving notice that negotiations would end in a few days. — The chiefs attribute the murders to young warriors. — The return of Coacooche. — Brings favor- able reports from Tiger-Tail. — Coacooche expresses his anxiety that his band should embark for Ar- kansas.— Hospetarke concurs. — Preparations at Fort Brooke to prevent the escape of Indians. — The day of embarkation determined upon. — Captain W. Seawell, 7th infantry, ordered to conduct the Indians to Arkansas. — The feeling manifested by the women on their departure from Florida. — The Mickasukie tribe, character, and feelings. — Coacooehe's farewell to Colonel Worth and his staff — His conduct and appearance on the occasion, and his last talk to the officers present and to his band. — The birth, life, and character of Coac(joche, and the vicissitudes he had encountered. — His peculiarities, and par- ticipation in the attack upon Fort Mellon, and in the battle of Okechobee. — His capture, imprison- ment at St. Augustine, Florida, and escape. — His dreams and religious opinions. — The origin of the white men ; the first ever seen in Florida. — The prevalent feeling in Arkansas among the Indians, demanding precaution and vigilance on the part of the federal government. — Arrival of Alligator from Arkansas. — He proceeds to the camp of Tiger-Tail and Nethlockemathlar, and returns with the latter chief. — Arrival of Tiger-Tail and his band at Fort Brooke. — Arrival of six companies of the 4th infan- try, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel J. Garland, U. S. A. — Lieutenant-Colonel Garland dispatched on special duty to subdue the Creeks west of the Suwannee river. — Five companies 2d dragoons ordered out of Florida. — 3d artillery retained. — Contemplated movements in the Big Cypress Swamp and Everglades. — Depots established at Punta Rossa. — Violent gale on the coast and its disastrous effects. — It alarms the Indians and deters them from surrendering. — Troops in readiness to take the field. — Report of Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, U. S. N., commanding the Florida squadron, and the report of Captain Burke, 3d artillery, of their expeditions in the Everglades. — General character and results of the operations during the months of September and October. — Sick report of the army. Though the effective strength of the army operating in Flori- da had become materially reduced by the number reported unfit for duty on the last of August, yet in the results of its operations there was enough to compensate those who were prostrated by disease, as well as others who were liable to the same misfortune. The effective character of the operations, " with the sword in one hand and the olive-branch in the other," had given evidence that the contest was approaching a close, when officers and men v^^ould be relieved from a service wdthout distinction or reward. The enemy were now deprived of their crops and planting- ground. Their retreats had unceremoniously been broken in upon by the troops, by whom they were hunted night and day, without regard to the effects of the climate or season. The following extract of a communication from the colonel 312 THE FLORIDA WAR. commanding to the adjutant-general of the army, dated August 31st, indicates the state of affairs : " Sir — In reply, I have to add, that on the arrival of the re- cruits, and without reference to the 4th and 5th regiments under orders, the 3d artillery can be dispensed with. I am strong in the behef of having it in my power within the coming month to say the same of the 4th and 5th regiments, in season, if such be the pleasure of the commanding general, to countenance or stay the movement, en route, and also report as disposable the 2d dra- goons." The Indians, now finding themselves so closely and success- fully pursued, renewed their efforts to obtain quiet and sub- sistence by the proffers of peace. An embassy arrived from Thlocklo-Tustenuggee or Tiger-Tail and his brother Nethlocke- mathlar, bearing a talk to the commander of the army, then at Fort Brooke. They expressed their desire for peace, and were anxious " once more to take the hand of the white man in friend- ship." A party of Indians had been captured, belonging to the band of Halleck-Tustenugge, who from dissatisfaction had left him. He had murdered his sister for expressing her anxiety to surrender, cutting her throat, and leaving her body to be de- stroyed by wolves. Having crossed the St. John's, with about thirty followers, he declared his determination to put to death any one, male or female, who proposed submission or emigration. A party of fifteen Indians surrendered, belonging to the various bands ; among these were found influential men. Their chiefs^ they said, were opposed to coming in, hiding themselves in the swamps, and leaving the women and children, and a few men to protect them. In the western district, comprehending the Ock- lockonne river, negotiations had been opened with the Creek chief Pascoffer, through the agency of two white men, who for a long time had been suspected of holding intercourse with him. The Creeks on the Esteen Hatchee, v/est of the Suwannee river, under Halpatter-Tustenuggee, held daily intercourse with Tiger- Tail and Octiarche, with whom they had been counselling in reference to sending an emissary for peace. Lieutenant-Colonel Riley, 2d infantry, commanding at Fort King, was in daily inter- course with those who had ventured in, to inquire if others in the hammocks would be received with kindness. Lieutenant J. W. Anderson, 2d infantry, by a series of ener- getic and well-directed scouts, captured a sub-chief, Aleck-Hadjo, who conducted him to the neighborhood of a camp of Indians on the St. John's river. During the day. Lieutenant Anderson and his men watched the movements of two canoes containing In THE FLORIDA WAR. 313 dians, busily engaged in fishing, keeping as much as possible within the high grass bordering Lake George. They approached almost within musket range, then paddled back ; in this manner annoying the command until dark. The same night the detach- ment crossed the river, and crept upon a camp of two wigwams, almost surrounded by a dense cypress swamp. Here the soldiers lay with intense anxiety, within sight of the Indians' fires, await- ing the approach of day. Just at dawn, a man and a boy v/ith a child passed within a short distance of the soldiers. An old man shouted to them from the camp to " look out, while fishing, for the white men's boats." Lieutenant Anderson, finding it, as daylight approached, impossible to surround the village, made a vigorous assault, capturing five rifles, six squaws, and three chil- dren. The excessive privations of this detachment would have been better rewarded by the capture of the men, but the proximi- ty of the dense swamp enabled them to escape. From Fort Deneaud on the Carloshatchee river, commu- nication was had with the Indians in the Big Cypress Swamp, through the exertions of Tustenock Hadjo, an important sub- chief belonging to the band of Sam Jones, who, though unwilling to come in himself, was anxious to obtain subsistence. Though Halleck-Tustenuggee was reported to be active and revengeful, hopes were entertained, that through friendly messen- gers he might be induced to risk himself again within a military post. Aleck Hadjo, accompanied by Cochus-Micco, San-e-math- lar, and Foces Micco, were sent to the St. John's to endeavor to open an interview with him. The movements of the army in this state of things necessarily assumed more of a defensive than an olFensive character. The enemy was closely watched, the readiness and promptness for duty unabated, and the patrols upon the highways were as con- stant and vigilant as ever. Lieutenant-Colonel Riley was di- rected to partially discontinue his scouts, but fo keep a vigilant observation over the St. John's and Ocklawaha rivers, and the scrub extending to the Wahoo Swamp, known to be the favorite resort of Halleck-Tustenuggee. Three companies of the 2d dra- goons, patrolled the country in the vicinity of Orange Lake and Micanopy. In the execution of these operations, judgment and discretion were required, lest the appearance of scouts might in- timidate the friendly Indians. The negotiations now in progress were seconded by Coacoo- che and other friendly chiefs, who were endeavoring to obtain as many to join their bands as possible, before embarking for the west. Holar-tooche, the principal of the Arkansas delegation, gave to the exertions of Coacooche his concurrence and support. He was a Seminole by birth, and about sixty years old. At the 314 THE FLORIDA WAR. commencement of the war he was an active and vigorous leader, and acknowledged to be a bold and intrepid hunter. His calm and judicious counsels, his anxiety for the improvement of his race, and his unwavering fidelity to the whites, insured him re- spect and the kindest feelings. In his youth he was the com- panion of Philip, Coacooche's father, which now enabled him to exercise a beneficial influence. The solicitations of Tiger-Tail and of his brother Nethlock- emathlar for a talk being acquiesced in, Coacooche, with six chosen warriors, was dispatched on the 6th of September to Annuttiliga Hammock, to obtain an interview with these chief- tains. Whether this anxiety for peace was to entrap those actively engaged in urging emigration, was yet to be determined. Coacooche received his instructions from the colonel command- ing, as also a talk from the chief Holar-tooche, enjoining upon him the necessity of watching closely the conduct of Tiger- Tail, who so often had proved himself unworthy the confidence of Indians or whites. To these Indians Coacooche was well known. After a ride of forty miles, he approached the hammock by moon- light. Securing his horses, he determined to await the dawn of day. While thus waiting anxiously, he heard a noise not far distant, and apprehending these Indians might have some design upon him, he turned towards the hammock • " Come out," said he, "like men; not creep upon me like a wolf! I am an Indian! I am Coacooche !" Immediately four Indians arose from the grass, within a short distance. In this manner, each party pro- tected by pine-trees, a conversation was held explanatory of their visit. " Why have you come with white men's horses, if you are Indians and friends ?" said Tiger-Tail. " I have the white men's horses, but I have no white men," answered Coacooche ; " I came to talk with you, as you desired ; I came to make peace ; but if you creep upon me like a dog, and want to fight, I have men enough who will fight as long as any of you ?" His firm- • ness and explanation induced the Indians, about thirty in number, to approach, headed by Tiger-Tail. Friendly salutations passed between them ; they smoked and talked until daylight. Coacoo- che explained to them the necessity of emigration, and the gen- eral feeling manifested by the various bands, to surrender. This had caused dissatisfaction, and a distrust of each other ; and that the troops, by his request, had for a short time desisted from pur- suing, in the hope that the Indians would take his words, and follow him to Arkansas. His example, and the fact that his band was encamped at Fort Brooke, added much to the force of his reasoning, and impressed the listeners with the truth of what he said. Before parting, Tiger- Tail and his brother promised to collect their band, but declined going in themselves, as it would THE FLORIDA WAR. 3 15 be necessary for them to hold a council with others upon the subject. They expressed an earnest desire to see Alligator, a distinguished Seminole chief, who emigrated in 1839 ; as from him, they felt satisfied, a correct opinion of the country which was to be their future home could be obtained. Rations were asked to sustain the women and children. Coacooche returned on the 4th, elated with his success, as he felt satisfied they would come in ; but the movement would be attended with much delay. The chief Nethlockemathlar could be relied upon ; but Tiger-Tail was admitted by his own band to be unworthy of confidence. An officer was dispatched to Fort Gibson, Arkansas, for Alligator. It was thought his opinion would have a salutary influence upon many others. Rations were refused until the band was encamped at Fort Brooke ; then the necessary subsistence would be issued. By the fulling of the moon, Hospetarke intimated that the time was approaching when the remainder of his band might be expected at Punta Rossa, at which point a camp had been estab- lished, commanded by Captain H. McKavit, 8th infantry. A steamer was dispatched, having on board the Indians captured at Camp Ogden, and who expected to meet their wives and children to whom they sent, on the day of their capture, earnest messages In this they were not disappointed ; about seventy Indians await- ed their arrival. As the boat approached the shore, three long, loud, and shrill yells expressed their mutual gratification. All the Indians were released from the prison-ship, and Hospetarke had around him his entire band, in camp, at Fort Brooke, having shaken off the influences of the Prophet. Night after night, sa- crifices were made to the Great Spirit, by songs and dances, to avert the designs this necromancer (though two hundred miles distant) might have upon their fate. The escape of negro Sampson, interpreter, after an absence of two years in the Big Cypress Swamp, afforded another oppor- tunity of becoming acquainted with this strong-hold of the enemy. He several times had attempted to escape, but the dis- tance to a military post was such, that his efforts were ineffectual. Hearing a cam.p was established on the Carloshatchee river, he improved the first opportunity to reach it. Under the pretext of watching the white men, he was allowed to go to the margin of the swamp ; and on his way stole a pony, and rode forty- eight hours, in hopes of reaching Punta Rossa. Worn dow^n by constant apprehension lest the Indians might be upon his trail, his pony exhausted, he at length discovered a party of soldiers on the opposite side of the river, who, upon being hailed in a most earnest manner, immediately came to his relief His nar- rative, though simple and minute, is interesting. The informa- 316 THE FLORIDA WAR. tion he communicated was of importance, as it afterwards was the means of penetrating the swamp, and ultimately breaking up the league so resolutely adhered to under the influences of the Prophet. Sampson says, " I belonged to Colonel Gad Humphreys, and was captured by the Indians at Micanopy in the year 1837. I lived with Oseola, who was my friend. He was a good Indian, and constantly urged the war-parties to spare women and chil- dren. After he was taken prisoner, I surrendered at Fort Mellon. I then was an interpreter for General Jesup, who commanded the army. In May, 1839, 1 was at Fort King, when the treaty was made by General Macomb. In the December following, supposing peace was permanently made, I accompanied Lieu- tenant-Colonel Harney, 2d dragoons, to the Carloshatchee river. He went there for the purpose of establishing an Indian trading- house. He had with him twenty-seven dragoons, and Sandy, an old negro interpreter. Mr. Dalham and Mr. Morgan, were also along with Indian goods. Three more white men were with us ; one was a clerk (an Englishman) ; the other, a carpenter ; the third, the captain of the sloop. The trading-house was estab- lished about half a mile from the dragoon encampment. I slept in the store, Mr. Dalham and Mr. Morgan were outside ; one in a bunk, the other in a hammock. On the night of the attack (the third night after our arrival), we were about crossing the river to see an Indian dance, when the young Indians told us not to go, as the old men were all drunk. Just at the break of day, on the following morning, I heard the yell of Indians, and discharge of rifles ; and as I ran out, I found they were all around us. Mr, Dalham lay dead under his hammock. Mr. Morgan was dying, but continued to talk some minutes, when an Indian, placing a rifle close to him, fired ; still he talked, when the Indian beat his brains out with the butt of his rifle. As I ran for the river, several rifles were discharged at me ; a ball struck my leg, which threw me down, when the Indians brought me back to the store. They took Sandy, the carpenter ; the clerk, and the captain of the sloop, prisoners. The yelling and discharge of rifles con- tinued more than an hour. When it had become quiet, I saw Holatter Micco or Billy Bowlegs approaching with Sergeant Simmons, whose life through his influence had been spared, and whom he protected three months ; when, by a decree of the council, Sam Jones and the Prophet, he was put to death in the most cruel manner. The carpenter, and the negro interpreter, Sandy, were allowed to live four days. They then tied them to a pine tree, and inserted in their flesh slivers of light wood, setting them on fire, and at the same time placing torches at their feet. In this way it was five or six hours before they died. The fate THE FLORIDA WAR. 317 of the clerk was never known. He accompanied a hunting party for bear, and while in the swamp, separated from the main body. Whether he joined the whites, or died in the swamp from hunger and fatigue, was never known. His wonderful tricks with cards, gave him authority among the Indians, and induced them to believe him a second prophet. The captain of the sloop made his escape. From conversations v/hich I heard on the way to the Cypress Swamp, it appeared that the Indians designed killing Colonel Harney. Sho-nock-Hadjo, a sub-chief, said, that the day before the massacre, he counted every man in the camp, and took the precaution to see where and in what manner they slept at night. The camp and trading-house were attacked at the same moment. Hospetarke led the party attacking the store ; Chekika, a Spanish Indian, the one upon the camp. The number of warriors who participated, was one hundred and sixty. One keg of powder was obtained, a large quantity of goods, and fifteen hundred dollars in specie. The rifles belonging to the soldiers being of Colt's construction, were useless ; and they left them on the ground, after taking off the locks. The Indians crossed to the south bank of the river with their booty, where they con- tinued intoxicated three days. No division of the plunder was made. The most active and daring, boasted of the largest quan- tity. The specie fell into the hands of one man. The powder was taken possession of by the chiefs. On the third day after the conflict, a soldier gave himself up exhausted from hunger, and his feet badly cut by oyster shells. He was taken to the swamp, and for some months was required to do the humble offices of a squaw. The Prophet's mandates caused his death. He was sent a short distance for wood, when the squaws fell upon him, and beat out his brains with pine knots. Chekika came around the coast in canoes, and on the fourth day returned, entering the Everglades by the Malco river. As we were re- turning to the swamp, it was proposed to burn me in the same manner they had Sandy ; but through the interposition of Ho- latter Micco or Billy Bowlegs, my life was spared. Three times the proposition was made while I was a prisoner. Once the Prophet sent the order to my master. For two years, I was watched constantly. I feared the whites would never come near enough for me to effect my escape. In April, 1841, a great council was held, to prevent intercourse with the white men. A law was passed, that should any Indian, male or female, be found in communication with a white man, they should be put to death. Plans were concerted to convey information in the most rapid manner. The canoes seen in the Everglades, had determined them to keep within the swamp. It was understood in council, that being so reduced in numbers, and in so confined a space, 318 THE FLORIDA WAR. they must now ambush the enemy, fire, and then run. The powder was deposited with the chiefs. In all they had five kegs ; four of which were obtained at Indian Key when it was at- tacked by Chekika, and the residents murdered. When going upon a loar-party, each man drew a powder-horn full ; but for the purpose of hunting, it was purchased — giving a hog for five charges. In the centre of the swamp, is the council-ground. South of this, within ten miles, is the village of Sam Jones. Otulke Thlocko (the Prophet) lives within two miles of him. Hospetarke's town was near the Everglades, twenty miles from the council-house. Near him, Passacka, his sub-chief, resided. Trails or foot-paths communicated with all these places. No trail whatever is visible outside the swamp, as such would guide their pursuers. Within the swamp are many pine-islands, upon which the villages are located. They are susceptible of culti- vation ; and between them is a cypress swamp, the water from two to three feet deep. The Indians rely principally upon their crops, which, though small, add much to their comfort. Corn, pumpkins, beans, peas, and mellons are raised. When these fail, roots, coonta, berries, wild potatoes, and cabbage palmetto, afford subsistence. The scarcity of powder deprives them partially of game; though bears and turkeys are frequently killed with ar- rows. Discharging a rifle was forbidden, as in a country so flat and wet the reverberation is heard at a great distance. Fish and oysters on the coast, can be obtained in abundance ; but there they apprehend discovery. A few ponies, cattle, hogs, and chickens are owned by the chiefs. The dry goods ob- tained at the massacre, clothes them as much as is necessary. The specie was sold and manufactured into silver ornaments. No community of feeling exists, other than that which is neces- sary for mutual safety. Dissatisfaction has been often expressed by sub-chiefs ; but no one had been bold enough to propose emi- gration or attempt to escape, except Solo Micco, who came into Camp Ogden, on Pease Creek. After his escape, scouts were sent out in all directions, and the decrees of the council were enforced. If any were suspected, the Prophet visited them ; and by various dances, gestures, songs, &c., together with his blow- pipe, proclaimed their fate. Two Indians (a man and woman with a child) were by his means immediately put to death. They were found following the family of Solo Micco. The Prophet, they believed, could make known the approach of troops, find game, and control the seasons, heal the sick, or inflict disease upon any one — even death. Arpeika or Sam Jones is regarded as a medicine-man or doctor. His advanced age (re- garding such persons with reverence as the Indians do) attaches to his advice and opinions much importance. At the commence- THE FLORIDA WAR. 3ig ment of the war, he planned attacks, fired the first gun, then retired to take care of the wounded. By certain medicines, and prayers offered to the Great Spirit, he infused into the young warriors a resolute daring. He instigated the attack upon Fort Mellon — fired the first rifle, and left Coacooche to fight the battle. The active war-chiefs in the Big Cypress Swamp, were Holatter Micco or Billy Bowlegs, Parsacke, Sho-nock-Hadjo, and Chitto- Tustenuggee. They, together with the young sub-chiefs, headed the scouts, and executed with fidelity the mandates of the coun- cil, or the wishes of Sam Jones or the Prophet. The hanging of several Indians in the Everglades by the 2d dragoons, and 3d artillery, in December, 1840, fired the indignation of these chiefs. They declared eternal hostility and cruelty to the whites. ' We have given them heretofore,' said Jones, ' when prisoners, a decent death, and shot them instead of hanging them like a dog.' Sam Jones is a skillful navigator of the Everglades, knows all the secret passages, and cultivates fields in the most inaccessible and remote places. If the Indians are driven from the swamp, they must suffer; and if besieged, their supplies will soon be exhausted." The simplicity of this narrative gives credence to it. Its truth was in many respects confirmed by the subsequent move- ments of troops, which resulted in effectually driving the bands out of the swamp and the capture of many Indians. With the efficient means at hand, in the way of guides and friendly In- dians, from whom information of importance was obtained, there were incidents occurring calculated to embarrass the commander, and discourage the expectations of the army. The murder of three citizens, Messrs. Daniels, Harroll, and Jennings, on the most fre- quented road in Florida, between the posts of Micanopy and Wal- kahoota, eight miles apart, was one of those incidents, which, how- ever lamentable, no human foresight could prevent. They were on horseback, and when opposite Martin's Point, four miles from Micanopy, were fired upon from a strip of the hammock intersect- ing the road. Their bodies were most brutally mangled, entirely stripped of clothing, and so disfigured by blows and gashes with knives and hatchets, as to prevent their being recognized by friends. Soldiers were upon the ground immediately after the report of the rifles. Such occurrences caused the Indians in camp at Fort Brooke to fear the vengeance of those of their own color, and created ap- prehensions that the commander of the army might summarily pun- ish them for the infamous conduct of their friends and relatives. The chiefs daily gave assurances that such atrocious acts were committed by reckless young men, having no regard to authority, and that they would seek the different bands, and cause such Indians to be severely punished. So open a violation of the 320 THE FLORIDA WAR. trace granted to certain districts of country, by the solicitation of those promising to surrender, rendered it necessary that vigor- ous and active scouts should again be commenced, to punish the aggressors. A large number of friendly Indians, endeavoring to find the most vindictive bands, were still in the woods ; scouting parties would jeopardize their lives, as the movement of troops did not fulfill the assurances they had given their friends. With these contending influences, the contest was to be prosecuted. A relaxation of mihtary efibrts, under such gross provocation, was calculated to lead the enemy to suppose that the troops were exhausted or intimidated Vigorous measures at this period would cause them to doubt the veracity of the commander of the army, as well as the friendly messengers. Coacooche was dispatched, with nine warriors, to obtain another interviev/ with Tiger- Tail and his brother Nethlocke- mathlar, and represent the necessity of the adoption of effectual measures to restrain the reckless and obstinate young men sup- posed to be the aggressors along the frontier. Halleck Hadjo, an influential sub-chief, with three Indians, was sent to find those who were hovering in small numbers upon the most travelled routes, and to assure the head-men, that if they were not com- pelled to desist at once, further negotiation would be abandoned. These men were to proceed to the Wahoo Swamp, thence to Fort King, examining on the route the intermediate swamps and hammocks, and, if possible, find the location of Halleck-Tuste- nuggee. Those to whom the older Indians attributed the recent violent acts, were young men, who had grown from boyhood to manhood since the commencement of the war. Knowing no restraint, active and vindictive, they looked upon a white man as fair game, disregarding the advice and authority of those whose age entitled them to interpose and to exercise control. The legitimate chiefs of the various tribes were dead or had emigrated, thus breaking up all community of feeling in the nation, and leaving the restless spirits to indulge those hostile inclinations engendered in childhood, and cherished and continued unabated to the present time. The seed had been planted in youth, and the tree budded and bloomed in manhood. Coacooche returned after an absence of four days. He met Tiger-Tail and his brother in the Annuttiliga Hammock, with forty warriors, and a large number of women and children. They were awaiting anxiously the arrival of Alligator, expected from Arkansas, when the band would proceed to Fort Brooke. Coacooche now became anxious that the Indians within his control, encamped at Fort Brooke, should embark for Arkansas as soon as practicable. Knowing the restless habits of his peo- ple, he was apprehensive that some unfortunate collision might THE FLORIDA WAR. 321 occur between the friendly and hostile Indians, as it was believed many of them had been in the vicinity of the camp, in hopes of committing some violent act upon those who had been guides to detachments of troops in finding their hiding-places, and thus compelling them to surrender. He had exhausted the various amusements in the way of ball-plays, dances, and games, to content the Indians while he himself was usefully employed. The old chief Hospetarke was of the same opinion, more particularly as his health was declining, he firmly believing, that so long as he remained in Florida, he would suffer from the pernicious influences of the Prophet, though two hundred miles distant. Sickness prevailed in both bands, caused by the indolence to which they were subjected, and the absence of that free and unrestrained habit belonging to the sav- age life. Though confidence was placed in these bands about to embark, vigilance was enjoined upon both officers and men. To what extent the influences of hostile Indians had been extended among them could not be determined. It was feared that when the day was made known for them to leave the soil, many might be induced to revolt. Had the attempt been made, an indis- criminate slaughter would have ensued. A guard of two hun- dred men was daily on duty. The camp was illuminated by beacon-lights, encircling a space two miles square, so that in the darkest night an individual could be discovered in the remotest part. The sooner so large a number could be away from tempta- tion the better, as their movements are generally governed by a momentary impulse, without reflection or reason. The 11th day of October was determined upon for the embarkation. The brig Saratoga, then in port, three hundred and fifty tons burden, was chartered ; as also the steamer James Adams. Captain W. Sea- well, 7th U. S. infantry, an officer of experience and merit, was designated to conduct the party to New-Orleans Barracks, La., thence to Fort Gibson, Arkansas, from which place it is forty miles to the country assigned the Seminoles. The camp was a scene of confusion for three days previous to their departure. The pestle was wielded by young and old, little and big, crack- ing corn for the journey ; the old women and young children were engaged in laying in a store of pine-knots, as they had heard that the country in which they were to live was destitute of wood. But few had any conception where they were going, indeed many doubted if they ever reached land again. Had not Coacooche returned from New-Orleans, and recounted what he had seen, how long he was going and returning, the fabulous story so long prevalent would have been generally believed, that they were to he put on hoard of vessels, and when at sea, heyond the sight of 21 322 THE FLORIDA WAR. land, cast overhoard. The assurances of Coacooche, though he was once a behever, quieted all fear, and satisfied the most in- telligent that they were destined to a better fate. Every com- fort was suppHed and every wish gratified, that tended to soothe the sadness so manifest in bidding an adieu to the land of their birth, and for which they had manfully contended for such a length of time. The hammocks, swamps, rivers, and ponds, were as much endeared to them from early association, as the familiar spots around a father's home. The ashes of their kindred min- gled with the soil, and as they turned from it for the last time, to embark, the women prostrated themselves and kissed the earth, muttering imprecations upon the heads of those who were instru- mental in tearing them from it. Degraded and treacherous as they are, the most stoical cannot but be moved in witnessing scenes like these, particularly those whose duty has made them the active agents in creating them. Romance and fable have thrown around the race a degree of interest and sympathy calcu- lated to palliate, in a measure, their barbarous mode of warfare, and the cruelty which has marked them from the first settlement of the country. Like all nations degraded by ignorance and vice, and under the dominion of another, they have been wronged; but in the midst of this, much generositj^ kindness, and forbear- ance, have been lavished upon them by individuals, civil and mili- tary, and by the general government. Their fate, so inevitable, awakens in the mind of the philanthropist a generous sympathy, in spite of their atrocious acts, which have carried sorrow and distress into many a dwelling in the land, and marked their foot- steps with desolation and blood. Coacooche was on board with his entire band on the day ap- pointed, excepting seven men he had left behind to be used in negotiations. Hospetarke was with him, leaving ten to be em- ployed in the contemplated campaign in the Big Cypress Swamp. The number embarked in both vessels was two hundred and eleven ; eighty-two of the number v/ere warriors. Adding the seventeen men, with their women and children, left in camp, and the fifteen deaths which had occurred, both these bands com- prised two hundred and ninety souls. Eighteen negroes belong- ing to these Indians, and others, whose masters were in Arkansas, accompanied them. Coacooche was, with becoming ceremonies, announced as chief of both bands. Fourteen Mickasukie Indians were sent at the same time. This tribe, though small, have always been the most resolute and vindictive in Florida, per- fectly regardless of all laws, or the opinions and advice of chiefs. They were the legitimate occupants of the soil, and looked upon others as interlopers, and cherished the same vin- dictiveness towards their own color as they practiced towards THE FLORIDA WAR. 333 the whites. In camp, they obstinately refused rations when issued with the Seminoles, or with any other band. Ferdinand de Soto, when passing through Florida with his army of thir- teen hundred men, in June, 1539, encountered the Mickasukie tribe of Indians on the Suwannee river. A desperate conflict ensued, that caused him the loss of many men, and for a time made it doubtful whethei* he would effect a crossing. Sub- sequently, they resisted the encroachments of the Seminoles and Tallahassees, but finding it ineffectual, united with them to expel the whites. Now reduced to a few, and insulted by those tribes against whom, when strong, they waged a bloody warfare, they, at length, dissatisfied and defeated, sought the first opportunity to surrender. Halleck-Tustenuggee was 'the only man of character among them, but his tyranny and cruelties caused numbers to denounce and discard his authority. On the morning of departure. Colonel Worth, with his staff, accompanied by several officers, paid these emigrants a last visit. Not a murmur arose from the crowd of men, women and children, assembled on the deck of the transports. They gazed intently, and in silence, on the broad expanse of water stretched out before them ; still doubting whether it was to engulf them, or bear them safely to their destination. The deck of the vessel was now sub- stituted for the green turf of their native land. The chiefs stood upon the quarter deck, w^ith their sub-chiefs around them. Hos- petarke, from his age and the excitement under which he was la- boring, was unfitted for communication with any one. His head rested upon both hands, apparently absorbed in deep thought. From an elevation, Coacooche seemed bidding farewell to his country. He said, in reply to a question, " I am looking at the last pine tree on my land." He was cheerful, evidently deter- mined to bear up against the sadness so prevalent, and the sobs and tears of the women and children. The fixed and iron .coun- tenances of his warriors, unmoved by the impulse within, but which was manifest by the silence which disguised it, appealed with more force to their faithful leader than sighs or tears. The colonel bade him and his followers farewell, confiding them to the care and direction of Captain Seawell, who responded by assuring them that their journey should be safe and speedy, with every comfort for their happiness. The chief expressed his thanks for the consideration extended to him and his band, under all circum- stances, and said, " that as he was now leaving Florida for ever, he could say that he had never done any thing to disgrace it. It was my home," said he, " I loved it ; and to leave it now, is like burying my wife and child. I have thrown away my rifle ; have taken the hand of the white man, and now say to hire, take care of me." His manner was calm and subdued, exhibiting that for- 324 THE FLORIDA WAR. titude and manliness which had enabled him, on former occasions, to hide from those around him, the intensity of his feelings. He gave a cordial grasp of the hand to the colonel commanding, as he passed over the side, as also to the officers following, and as the boat receded, he was seen standing upon the stern-sheets of the vessel, engaged in a loud talk to the Great Spirit. Thus was Florida relieved of the most formidable Indian chieftain, and the most desperate band, that ever sought shelter in her hammocks and swamps. The vicissitudes of fortune to which this chief had been sub- jected within the past eight months, seldom falls to the lot of any man, civilized or uncivilized. In March, he came in at Fort Cummings, to talk with Colonel Worth, disregarding and disdain- ing the power of the white men. In May following he was a captive, and taken to New-Orleans. In June, he was brought back to Florida, and arrived at Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, on the 1st of July, in irons. In August, he was at liberty, with his en- tire band around him, and actively engaged through this month and September, until the 12th of October, the day of sailing, in inducing the hostiles to surrender, and follow him to the far west. Like Columbus, launching his bark to discover a new land. with fidelity to his God, so these emigrants set sail, upon what, to them, was a boundless sea, for a country they knew not where, trusting in the guardianship of the Great Spirit, and the intelli- gence of the white man. From the conspicuous part which this Indian chief has borne in the events in Florida, a brief narrative of his life may not be uninteresting. The following details, though somewhat vague from the want of dates, yet were gathered from his own lips. Coacooche's (or Wild Cat's) father was a Seminole chief, known as King Philip, a man highly respected for character and intelligence. He was captured by General Hernandez, died on his way to Arkansas, in August, eighteen hundred and thirty-nine, and was buried on the west bank of the Mississippi river, a short distance below Baton Rouge. Coacooche is about thirty-two years of age, five feet eight inches in height, well proportioned, with limbs of the most perfect symmetry. His eye is dark, full, and expressive, and his countenance extremely youthful and pleas- ing. His voice is clear and soft, speech fluent, and his gestures rapid and violent. With a mind active and ingenuous, clear and comprehensive, he carried into all his measures, spirit and influ- ence ; governing his band in a firm, but politic manner. His life, having been eventful and romantic, he was enabled, aided by his fluency of speech and vivid imagination, to amuse the females in camp with*his dreams and remarkable adventures, giving to them the coloring necessary to impress upon the listeners his own im- THE FLORIDA WAR. 325 portance and the truth of his narrative. At the commencement of the contest in Florida, he resided near the Ahapopka lake, the place of his birth ; but finding the country too open for safety, he crossed the St. John's river, and occupied the sv^amps and ham- mocks extending from Fort Mellon to the Atlantic coast ; thence south to Fort Pierce ; thence west to Lake Okechobee. His band at this time comprised two hundred and fifty souls. Deaths and emigration reduced it materially. Eighty fighting men now constituted his war party. At the battle of Fort Mellon, on the morning of the 8th of February, 1837, he commanded two hun- dred warriors. The attack was made just at the break of day. His men were disappointed in the strength of the command, as it had been reported by the scouts, the day before, to be weak. This being the case, it was determined to carry the place by as- sault ; but on approaching, they found the post protected by an extensive breastw^ork. A detachment of artillery fortunately arrived the afternoon previous, unknown to the Indians. Coa- cooche says, they kept up a continued stream of fire. One of his sub-chiefs boasted that he had killed an officer. Creeping upon his hands and knees near to the breastwork, he lay behind a tree, and as the officer passed a gap in the work, shouting to his men, he fired, and saw him fall. At the break of day, he withdrew his men, and retired to the Ocklawaha river. He had three men killed, and two wounded. He was also present, with his war party, at the battle of Okechobee, on the 25th of December, 1837. He was posted on the left of the Indian line, with eighty-two men. They stood their ground with firmness, he says, until the soldiers rushed upon them, shouting and yelling, when his men gave way, not having time to reload. Alligator and Sam Jones were in their centre, and the Prophet on the extreme right. But these bands, from cowardice, soon retreated, in parties of five and ten. He estimates the entire Indian force present, to have been four hun- dred and eighty men. Thirteen Indians were killed, and nineteen wounded. Coacooche was detained a prisoner at St. Augustine, in Florida, in October, 1837, and confined in the old Spanish fort, called Fort St. Marco, or Marks, now known as Fort Marion, the most ancient mihtary work in the United States. Its gray v/alls ; its casemates and dungeons ; and the chapel within the fort, in which can be traced remains of Spanish superstition, to- gether with the arms of old Spain surmounting the principal entrance, give to the work, as well as to the town of St. Augus- tine, a high degree of interest. Here Coacooche was imprisoned, with his friend, Talmus Hadjo. He says, to give his own narra- tive, " we had been growing sickly from day to day, and we re- solved to make our escape, or die in the attempt. We were in a small room, eighteen or twenty feet square. All the light admit- 326 THE FLORIDA WAR. ted, was through a hole (embrasure) about eighteen feet from the floor. Through this we must eifect our escape, or remain and die with sickness. A sentinel was constantly posted at the door. As we looked at it from our bed, we thought it small, but believed that, could we get our heads through, we should have no further or serious difficulty. To reach the hole was the first object. In order to effect this, we from time to time cut up the forage-bags allowed us to sleep on, and made them into ropes. The hole I could not reach when upon the shoulder of my companion ; but while stand- ing upon his shoulder, I worked a knife into a crevice of the stone- work, as far up as I could reach, and upon this I raised myself to the aperture, when I found, that with some reduction of person, I could get through. In order to reduce ourselves as much as possible, we took medicine five days. Under the pretext of being very sick, we were permitted to obtain the roots we required. For some weeks we watched the moon, in order that the night of our attempt it should be as dark as possible. At the proper time we commenced the medicine, calculating upon the entire disappearance of the moon. The keeper of this prison, on the night determined upon to make the effort, annoyed us by fre- quently coming into the room, and talking and singing. At first we thought of tying him and putting his head in a bag ; so that, should he call for assistance, he could not be heard. We first, however, tried the experiment of pretending to be asleep, and when he returned to pay no regard to him. This accomplished our object. He came in, and went immediately out ; and we could hear him snore in the immediate vicinity of the door. I then took the rope, which we had secreted under our bed, and mounting upon the shoulder of my comrade, raised myself upon the knife worked into the crevices of the stone, and succeeded in reaching the embrasure. Here I made fast the rope, that my friend might follow me. I then passed through the hole a suffi- cient length of it to reach the ground upon the outside (about fifty feet) in the ditch. I had calculated the distance when going for roots. With much difficulty I succeeded in getting my head through ; for the sharp stones took the skin off my breast and back. Putting my head through first, I was obliged to go down head-foremost, until my feet were through, fearing every moment the rope would break. At last, safely on the ground, I awaited with anxiety the arrival of my comrade. I had passed another rope through the hole, which, in the event of discovery, Talmus Hadjo was to pull, as a signal to me upon the outside, that he was discovered, and could not come. As soon as I struck the ground, I took hold of the signal, for intelligence from my friend. The night was very dark. Two men passed near me, talking earnestly, and I could see them distinctly. Soon I heard the struggle of my THE FLORIDA WAR. 327 companion far above me. He had succeeded in getting his head through, but his body would come no farther. In the lowest tone of voice, I urged him to throw out his breath, and then try ; soon after, he came tumbhng down the whole distance. For a few moments I thought him dead. 'I dragged him to some water close by, which restored him ; but his leg was so lame, he was unable to walk. I took him upon my shoulder to a scrub near the town. Daylight was just breaking ; it w"as evident we must move rapid- ly. I caught a mule in the adjoining field, and making a bridle out of my sash, mounted my companion and started for the St. John's river. The mule we used one day, but fearing the whites would track us, we felt more secure on foot in the hammock, though moving very slow. Thus we continued our journey five days, subsisting upon roots and berries, when I joined my band, then assembled on the head waters of the Tomoka river, near the Atlantic coast. I gave my warriors the history of my cap- ture and escape, and assured them that they should be satisfied that my capture was no trick of my own, and that 1 would not deceive them. When I came in to St. Augustine, to see my fa- ther, I took the word of friends ; they said I should return, but they cheated me. When I was taken prisoner, my band was in- clined to leave the country, but upon my return, they said, let us all die in Florida. This caused great suffering among our women and children. I was in hopes I should be killed in battle, but a bullet would never touch me. I had rather be killed by a white man in Florida, than die in Arkansas. The whites are too strong for us ; they make powder, we cannot. I could live like a wolf, but our women and children suffered when driven from swamp to swamp. My father. King Philip, told me I was made of the sands of Florida, and that when I was placed in the ground, the Seminoles w^ould dance and sing around my grave. The old In- dians have told me, that the white men first came from the foam of the ocean, thrown up upon the beach. After laying for a time, subjected to the heat of the sun, they assumed the human form, and walked forth into the interior of the country. The first white man, my father told me, that was seen in Florida, was a Spaniard. His tracks were found on the shore of Lake Okechobee. The print of his shoe, and the length of his stride, attracted the atten- tion of an Indian hunting party, who followed his trail two days. On the night of the second day, they came upon him while asleep. He arose, much alarmed, and extended to them his hand, which they received, and treated him with kindness. They endeavored to ascertain from whence he came, and from what he said, con- cluded he came out of the ocean. He had a gun, the first the Indians had ever seen, which he discharged, showing the effect of shot and bail. They took him to their camp, and after resting 328 THE FLORIDA WAR. two days, he went towards the setting sun ; no more was seen of him ; but it was said the Mickasukies put him to death." The existence of a Great Spirit Coacooche acknowledges, and honors most devoutly by festivals, dances, games, and medi- cines. To him he believes himself accountable for his acts. If these are improper, he is punished by bad luck in hunting, sick- ness and death among relatives and friends. " The day and manner of my death," says he, " is given out, so that whatever I may encounter I fear nothing. If death is to come, I will die like a man ; if not, I shall go safely through. In going from Florida, I leave behind me the spirits of the Seminoles, with which I have had many interviews. Their spirits have taken care of me all my life. And the spirit of my twin-sister I leave behind. She died many years ago. When I am laid in the earth, I shall go to and live with her. She died suddenly. I was out on a bear-hunt, and when seated by my camp-fire alone, I heard a strange noise — it was something like a voice, which told me to go to her. The camp was some distance, but I took my rifle and started. The night was dark and gloomy; the wolves howled about me as I went from hammock to hammock ; sounds came often to my ear — I thought she was speaking to me. At day-light I reached her camp — she was dead. When hunting some time after with my brother Otulke, I sat alone beside a large oak. In the moss hanging over me, I heard strange sounds ; I tried to sleep, but could not. I felt myself moving, and thought I went far above to a new country, where all was bright and happy. I saw clear water-ponds, rivers, and prairies, on which the sun never sets. All was green ; the grass grew high, and the deer stood in the midst of it, looking at me. I then saw a small white cloud approaching; and when just before me, out of it came my twin-sister, dressed in white, and covered with bright silver ornaments. Her iong black hair, which I had often braided, hung down her back. She clasped me around the neck, and said : ' Coacooche ! Coacooche ! ' I shook with fear, I knew her voice, but could not speak. With one hand, she gave me a string of white beads ; in the other, she held a cup sparkling v^^ith pure water, which she said came from the spring of the Great Spirit : and if I would drink from it, I should return and live with her for ever. As I drank, she sang the peace song of the Seminoles, and danced around me. She had silver bells on her feet, which made a loud noise. Taking from her bosom something, I do not know what ; she laid it before me, when a bright blaze streamed far above us. She then took me by the hand, and said : ' All is peace here.' I wanted to ask for others, but she shook her head, waved her hand, stepped into the cloud, and was gone. The fire she had made, had gone out- — all was silent. I was sorry THE FLORIDA WAR. 329 that I could not have said more to her. I felt myself sinking until I came to the earth, when I met my brother Otulke. He had been seeking me, and was alarmed at my absence, having found my rifle where he last saw me asleep. I told him where I had been, and showed him the beads. These beads were stolen from me, when in prison at St. Augustine. At certain periods of the moon, when I had these beads, I could see the spirit of my sister. I may be buried in the earth, or sunk in the water, but I shall go to her, and live with her. Game is abundant there ; and there the white man is never seen." These stories, though simple and improbable, delineate the peculiar characteristics of Coacooche's mind. Restless in his habits, cheerful and gay, he was in the habit of fabricating tales to please the Indian women, to whose comfort and relief in all things he contributed wdth a willing heart and hand — a con- sideration and generosity not often characteristic of the Indian. A good judge of human nature, he exercised control by shrewdly appealing to the pride of his men, whom he stimulated as became warriors belonging to his hand. Colonel Worth obtained his confidence and respect, by exciting his ambition and adding to his power ; and making him believe that his honor, promises, and opinions were never for a moment doubted. This gratified his vanity, which, together with the maintenance of unwavering firmness in minute details, as well as in important matters, secured his influence, and led him to believe that he would be always treated with justness and kindness. Though put in irons, he became satisfied it was because he was a great and dangerous chieftain. The fulfillment of the promise made him by the colonel commanding, that when his band arrived he should meet them unshackled, divested his con- dition of that ignominy, which, in the estimation of Indians, be- longs to shackles or confinement — he believed himself a greater man than ever. His example and boldness, and the use made of him, was the turning-point of the contest in Florida. Intemperance brutalizes the Indian, as well as the white man; and whenever they come in contact, the former sinks to ruin and death — while the latter prospers upon ill-gotten lands, spread- ing far and wide the evanescent spirit of speculation. Coacooche was not without this vice, which at times disabled him from com- plying with his promises. In the country in which his lot is cast, his voice will be heard and his influence felt, however much enfeebled he may become by the associations incident to the cor- rupting contact of civilization, of which the Indians imbibe the vices, without adopting the virtues. Should his native talent have full scope, uncorrupted, he combines qualities, in an emi- nent degree calculated to unite the various interests and bands 330 THE FLORIDA WAR. congregated in Arkansas. These, if acting in concert, could now bring into the field 62,000 rifles. The first bands of Indians located in Arkansas, or imme- diately upon its western border, went from necessity — satisfied of the impossibility of living near the white settlements, without col- lision and bloodshed : others followed their relatives and friends, after obstinately resisting as long as in their power, and when reduced to beggary and disgraced by the most brutal intem- perance. The last sent there, have been subdued and transported by the strong arm of the general government. With that never dying spirit of revenge, aggravated by their being forcibly trans- ferred to a country uncongenial to their constitutions — can it be expected that they will quietly settle down into the monotonous routine of agricultural life ? These feelings were soothed by every degree of kindness, and every argument was used to re- concile them to the measure ; but the restlessness of their habits, and the absence of those comforts so numerous in the country which they had tenaciously clung to, will render it necessary for the government of the United States to use every precaution to check the mahgnant and hostile feeling prevalent among them — and unceasingly cherished by chiefs and warriors, both among the Creeks and Seminoles. The chief Halpatter-Tustenuggee (Alligator) arrived at Fort Brooke, from Arkansas, on the 14th of October, bringing with him Wax-e-mathlar, Cho-e-ho-lar, Kle-Hadjo, Cotzar-Tustenug- gee, Holatter-Fixico, and Negro Jim, interpreter. These men had come in hopes of inducing their relatives, still in the woods, to return with them. Alligator had been the most daring and resolute chief in instigating the first blows struck at the whites, at the commencement of the contest. He led the attack, and fired the first rifle after Micanopy, upon the command of Major Dade. At Okechobee he was the most prominent chief, and the cause of the Indians making a stand to meet the troops. From his well- known character, the hostile Indians believed he would tell them the truth in relation to the country allotted them. The next day after his arrival, he left, with a party, for Annuttiliga Ham- mock, to meet Tiger-Tail and his brother Nethlockemathlar. In this he succeeded, and returned with the latter chief The fol- lowing day the colonel commanding explained to him the neces- sity of bringing his band at once to Fort Brooke, and the deter- mination to harass them, in the event of their refusing, with troops, night and day, through all seasons of the year. The chief spoke feehngly of the distressed condition of his women and chil- dren, and of his own desire that peace should be restored, and said that he would come in with his band so soon as they could be assembled. He returned after remaining in camp four days, THE FLORIDA WAR. 331 taking with him several friendly Indians. The arrival in the harbor of six companies of the 4th infantry, in command of Lieu- tenant-Colonel J. Garland, was most opportune. The Indians saw that the troops, instead of diminishing in numbers, were coming into the country ; thus coroborating what had been told them, that the war would he interminable. Tiger- Tail came in a few days after, expressing much gratitude that he had been in- vited in as a friend, and stated that his band were on the march for the post. He volunteered to accompany Alligator into the interior, in search of Halleck-Tustenuggee. The commander at Fort King had reported the arrival there of a young Indian, the brother of Halleck-Tustenuggee. This was supposed to be an- other scheme of his to obtain supplies. The Indians from Fort Brooke were dispatched with friendly talks to the enemy, at the same time bearing instructions to the commander at that post to seize Halleck-Tustenuggee, and hold him fast, should he come within his reach. Thirty Indians surrendered through the instru- mentality of these men, mostly stragglers from Halleck's band, who expressed dissatisfaction with his conduct. They professed the most profound ignorance of his hiding-place. Even his brother declared he had not seen him for some months. These chiefs, with other Indians, examined the country west of the St. John's river, and satisfied themselves that Halleck-Tustenuggee must have crossed and secreted himself in the swamps bordering the Atlantic coast. Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, 4th infantry, was ordered on special duty, accompanied by friendly Indians, to communicate, if possible, with the hostiles around Tallahassee, thence to proceed east to the Esteen Hatchee and Suwannee rivers, and endeavor to break up, by any step he thought expe- dient, the hiding-places of Halpatter-Tustenuggee, Cotzar-fixico- chopco or Mad Tiger, and Octiarche, head-men of the Creeks. He was invested with unqualified authority to take into the field such a force from the surrounding posts as he deemed essential to effect his object, and either to offer peace, or compel the enemy to negotiate by the most summary measures. Affairs now presenting a favorable aspect. Colonel Worth did not avail himself of the privilege granted him of retaining all the companies of the second dragoons, but, in compliance with in- structions from Washington, issued orders, on the 17th of Octo- ber, for five companies of the regiment to take up the line of march. The companies designated by Colonel Twiggs, com- manding the regiment, were companies A, D, E, F, and G, leaving five still on duty within the territory. Most of these companies were stationed on the Georgia frontier. Their route was via Tallahassee, Mount Vernon Arsenal, to Baton Rouge on the Mississippi river, thence to Fort Jesup, Louisiana, and Fort Tow-- 332 THE FLORIDA WAR. son, Arkansas. Detachments of the 2d and 7th infantry relieved the dragoons at the several stations on the frontier. Officers of long experience in Florida were placed in command, v^ell quali- fied for the delicate and responsible duty they had to execute. The five remaining companies of the 2d dragoons, under efficient officers, gave ample security to the settlements. It was deter- mined to dispense with the further seryices of the 3d regiment of artillery ; but the long experience and arduous service to which the officers and men had been subjected in the south, peculiarly fitted them for the contemplated campaign in the Big Cypress Swamp and the Everglades. The messengers sent to this quar- ter had not returned, which confirmed the apprehensions that the Prophet had detained them, and most probably had caused their death. A campaign in that section of country was inevitable ; all friendly efforts had signally failed. The violent gale expe- rienced at Fort Dulany, on the night of the 19th of October, caused much loss and suffering to the four companies of the 8th infantry stationed there, in command of Captain H. McKavitt. This place had been selected as the principal depot for the con- templated operations in the south. The gale commenced about eleven o'clock at night, and continued with violence until five in the morning. The tents, hospital, and storehouses, were washed away, as also the clothing and provisions of the officers and men ; and the soldiers and officers were driven by the sea to trees, and to a spot of ground not more than two hundred yards square. The wind abated with the tide. Two soldiers were drowned. The steamer Isis was high and dry in the middle of the camp. This point was considered an advantageous position, it being adjacent to the strong-hold of the enemy, and healthy at all sea- sons. The spot bore no evidences of former floods, nor was it within the recollection of coasters and fishermen, who had fre- quented it for thirty years, of its having ever been overflowed. The tornadoes upon this coast destroy aJl before them.. The highest points of land are insecure, should the gale chance to set in that quarter. The waters of the Gulf of Mexico seem to be pent within a narrow compass, and carried onward with fearful rapidity. The depot of the army at Cedar Key was prostrated in October, 1842; Port Leon in October, 1843; and Key West threatened with destruction on the 19th of September, 1844. The gale and the destruction of the post of Punta Rossa alarmed the Indians, and deterred many who were at that time on the way from surrendering. The friendly Indians at Fort Brooke were indus- triously engaged in finding their friends. The band of Tiger- Tail and Nethlockemathlar were coming daily, in small parties, mani- festing a disposition to comply with the judicious advice of the latter chief. Tiger-Tail was still crafty, and could not be trust- THE FLORIDA WAR. 333 ed; yet, by kindness and continued watchfulness, he effected much good. He looked upon his brother with jealousy and dis- trust. The occasional scouts hastened the movements of these Indians, as they saw plainly, that though peace was granted, the troops were not idle spectators, but were prepared to take the field the moment negotiation was abandoned. The expedition of Captain M. Burke, with one hundred men of the 3d artillery, unusual at this season, caused much apprehen- sion in the Big Cypress Swamp. He crossed the Everglades to the western coast to Punta Rossa, thence up the Carlosahatchee river, and entered Lake Okechobee by Fish-eating Creek ; thence proceeded to the west side, communicating with Forts Pierce and Jupiter, and came out at his starting-point, Fort Dallas. Not an Indian was seen, though a large number of Indian huts and corn-fields were destroyed. Himself, his officers and men, distinguished themselves by the fortitude they manifested in over- coming the obstacles so numerous at this unseasonable season of the year. Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, commanding the Florida squadron, was desired by the colonel commanding to co-operate with Captain Burke, and extend his operations as far as Lake Okechobee. In this he most cordially acquiesced, with that promptness and intelligence which distinguished his conduct while in this service, as well as that of the officers of his com- mand. His report to the secretary of the navy gives his move- ments in detail, as well as the report of Captain Burke to the commander of his regiment. " Florida Expedition, Flirt, at Indian Key, Nov. 25th, 1841. " Sir — I have the honor to advise you that we reached here last night from the scout I informed you we were about to make from the Carlosahatchee on the 2d instant, the incidents of which I beg leave to report. On the 3d instant, the detachment, consisting of one hundred and fifty seamen and marines, and two companies of artillery sixty strong, under the command of Lieutenant Ketchum, as- cended the Carlosahatchee river, and passed thence into the Everglades through Lake Thompson. On the 8th, emerging from a cane-brake, through which we had been two days break- ing a path, we struck upon a fresh trail, which carried us to a landing in the pine-barrens, between Lakes Thompson and Oke- chobee, in latitude 26° 45^ N., longitude 81° 10^ W. Here we found a canoe, and a few miles to the eastward of it, a large boat, which had been taken on the Carlosahatchee at the massacre of Colonel Harney's command. Fresh horse-trails were found, and fires burning, but the foe had gone. The Indians with me re- 334 THE FLORIDA WAR. cognized the people as the band of Lew-fall-micco, and estimated the whole number of those who had been at the camp at fifty. They supposed them to be anxious to come in, and Alec-Yohola and Ahha-Tustenuggee were sent to communicate with them with this view, and directed to return, or send a runner from them with intelligence of their movements that evening, both of which they failed to do, neither sending nor coming back them- selves. After waiting for them four days, with the continued hope of their return, we finally prosecuted our route to the east- ward, on the 12th instant. The whole country here abounds in signs of the recent presence of Indians. Following a large trail, it carried us near the Okechobee, which we entered on the evening of the 13th instant, in latitude 26° 58^ N., longitude 81° 03^ W., having, crossed that morning a beautiful lake, hitherto unknown to us, called by the Indians Haik-Pachee. This lake is about six miles in length and four in breadth, and is situated (its centre) in latitude 26° 46^ N., longitude 81° 00^ W. Fol- lowing the south shore of the Okechobee, we re-entered the Everglades through the Cypress, on the 16th instant, in latitude 26° 52^ N., longitude 80° 32^ W., having been prevented from continuing our course around the lake by a very heavy w^ind and sea, in which several of the canoes had already swamped. We did not reach the source of the Loo-cha-hatchee until the 19th instant, when it would have been impossible to descend that river to Jupiter, and return here in time for the intended co- operation with Colonel Worth on the 25th instant. We accord- ingly hurried through, and reached here last night, by way of Snake Creek, Rio Ratones, and Key Biscayne. A chart of this scout will be transmitted to you as soon as it can be prepared. If our labors have not been rewarded with the capture of any of the enemy, they have at least gained us information of an ex- tensive country which had never heretofore been explored, and exhibited an imposing force in the heart of a country hitherto deemed impenetrable ; the tendency of which will be to strength- en the wavering and doubtful in their inclinations to submit. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, Hon. A. P. Upshur, Secretary of > (Signed) JOHN McLAUGHLIN, the Navy, Washington City. ) Lieut. Com. Expedition." " Punta Rossa, November 3d, 1841. " Sir — In obedience to instructions from the head-quarters of the army of Florida, I left Fort Dallas on the 9th ultimo with sixty-two men, two officers, and two guides, to form a junc- tion and to co-operate with the naval forces under Captain McLaughlin. "1 arrived at Chikikos island on the evening of the 11th, and was joined by the naval forces at that place. On the 13th THE FLORIDA WAR. 335 ultimo, the united forces, about two hundred and sixty strong, proceeded en route to the lower landing, at which place we ar- rived on the 14th. Owing to some equivocation or misunder- standing with the Spanish Indian guide, it was deemed best to return towards the Gulf coast, among the Mangrove islands lying between Shark river and a point well up in the Everglades, sup- posed to bear about northeast of Fort Harrold about thirty miles : the route pursued could alone be ascertained by the guide. After traversing many broad lagoons or lakes, and apparent rivers, which had the semblance, or were, perhaps, arms of the Gulf, the command entered an impenetrable (until you were into it) ravine, which took about three-quarters of a day to traverse. We cleared every difficulty, and arrived in a broad Everglade about twelve o'clock during the storm of the 19th ultimo. The naval force was in advance, and discovered a canoe with two men in it : a large force v/as immediately pushed after them ; but the Indians left their canoe, and were pursued to a cabbage hammock and pumpkin field — their whole number, from six to twelve, having barely time to make their escape. Upon the arrival of the army force, I immediately ordered a pursuit of trails, but the only result was the capture of a hastily abandoned canoe. Every point of the country within striking distance was penetrated, and the com- mand returned to their camp after dark the same day. The next day the united forces, with three days' rations, moved into the pine woods, with a view to discover more extensive settlements and more permanent locations of the Indians. The country was covered with water, and a few trails were discovered of the party pursued the day previous, which appeared to be seeking safety towards the Big Cypress. The command took a back trail, which brought them to another abandoned canoe ; and at the expiration of one and a half days, they returned to their former camps. It was now decided to fall down to the Gulf, coast along its shores to the Carloosahatchee, and proceed to Bowleg's town by the head of that river. We arrived at Punta Rossa on the 28th ultimo, and encamped opposite on Synabel Island, where our arrival was communicated to the commander of the Florida army. On the 2d instant I gave the necessary orders, under renewed instructions from head-quarters, for the expedition to return to the Atlantic side, by the way of the Car- loosahatchee and Lacha-Hutchee : and being taken very ill, turned over the command to the ranking officer. Lieutenant Ketchum. " I have to report the death of one man, a private of my com- mand, at this post. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, M. BURKE, Major Thomas Childs, ) Captain, 3cZ artillery, U. S. Army." Com. South Atlantic Dist. Fort Fierce. ) 336 THE FLORIDA WAR. The operations of the army were not so extended and active during the months of September and October as in the preceding months. Scouts were made with small detachments, by officers who were directed to negotiate with the enemy, or punish them, if thought convenient or expedient. The detached camps and occasional scouts were calculated to watch the movements of the Indians, but were not far enough extended to interrupt those who were the bearers of messages from the commander of the army and the friendly chiefs. The strength of the army present on the last of September was 3911 rank and file, and 182 commissioned officers: 1811 men were reported "taken sick," during the month; 1793 out of the total number of sick of the army were returned to duty, 26 died, 13 discharged, and 14 sent to general hospital. At the expiration of the month of October the army numbered, present, 4659, rank and file and 202 commissioned officers. Of this force 1878 were reported "taken sick" during the month; 1794 men of the total sick of the army were restored to duty during the month ; 32 died; 13 invahds discharged, and 68 sent to the general hospital. w CHAPTER VIII. Extracts translated from the Manusciipt of the Commandant of St. Augustine, East Florida, Manuel de Montiano, deposited in the public archives at St. Augustine, describing the bombardment of the fori in 1740, by General Oglethorpe. Castle Marco, or St. Marks, now called Fort Marion, at St. Augustine, East Florida, is the oldest, fort in the United States, and is in a remarkable state of preservation. Its gray moss-grown walls, turrets, and battlements, together with the Catholic chapel inside, give to the work a high degree of romance and interest. Soon after the cession of the Floridas to the United States, in 1821, a dungeon was accidentally discovered, fourteen feet square, immediately under the high turret represented in the view. Hu- man bones were found within, and other evidences of cruel im- prisonment. It being some fourteen feet under ground, and the long, dark avenues leading to it, have induced many to believe it to be a remnant of the Inquisition, and that the punishment was a lingering death. Over the principal entrance of the fort, cross- ing the ditch by a draw-bridge, is the coat of arms of Spain, of which the following is a fac-simile : — 338 THE FLORIDA WAR. Beneath the coat of arms is the following inscription, now quite imperfect from exposure and age, many of the letters de- faced, and others entirely gone. RENANDOEN EsPANAEL SeN^ Don Fernando Sexto. Ysi NDO Gov*^^ Y Cap^ Gendefs C^ Avcdelaf YSVSPROV. ELMAIRSCAL DE CAIVPOD^ ALONSO FrnZE)IE REoiASECONCLVIOESTECS - TOEOELAN OE) 1756 DIRIENDO LASROBRELCAPYNIERO D^ PEDRO DE BrOZAS Y GARAY Translation. Don Ferdinand the sixth being King of Spain, and the Field Marshal Don Alonzo Fernando Hereda being Governor and Captain General of this place, St. Augustine of Florida, and its province. This fort was finished in the year 1756. The w^orks v^^ere directed by the Captain engineer Don Pedro de Brazas y Garay. The work is a regular polygon of four equal curtains, and four equal bastions, surrounded by a ditch forty feet wide. Its situa- tion is upon low ground, just at high- water mark. In 1737, the Spanish commandant of St. Augustine, Governor Montiano, com- pleted the western curtain and the southwestern bastion. Then there were no outworks ; merely the naked walls. Inside, there were a few temporary old buildings, and the ascents to the bas- tions were almost useless. With the labor of one hundred and sixty-eight convicts from Mexico, and some fifteen exiles, the commandant finished six casemates ; there are now eighteen. At that period there was no outwork or glacis. In August, 1737, he was industriously engaged in putting the place in a proper state of defence, and finished the covered way. Two eighteen-pound shot-holes can now be seen, low down on the eastern curtain, thrown from the battery planted by General Oglethorpe, on Ana- stasia island, about a mile and a half distant, on the coast, a mile from the bar. The fort, for many years, has been used as a prison by the civil and military authorities. The casemate in which Coacooche or Wild Cat was confined, and the embrasure through which he and his companion effected their escape, attract many visitors. The supposed traces of the Inquisition ; the dungeon in which it is believed fellow beings lingered without a ray of light or hope, causes much interest and speculation regarding the characters, habits, and laws, of the for- mer inhabitants of this ancient town. The correspondence of the commandant, written in the years 1737-8-9-40 and 41, now THE FLORIDA WAR. 339 to be seen in the public archives at St. Augustine, in the Spanish language, abound with interest. The subjoined letters have been translated, as bearing particu- larly upon the besiegement of the fort by General Oglethorpe, in 1740, with a naval force from Georgia and South Carolina. Connected with this subject, an Engligh writer, in the year 1762, in giving ''an account of the Spanish settlements in Amer- ica,'' says : " That the only towns or places of strength which the Spaniards- are possessed of in Florida, are St. Augustine and St. Mattheo. As to the former, it is situated in north latitude, 29 deg. 48 min., about eighty leagues from the mouth of the Gulf of Flo- rida, or channel of Bahama, thirty south of the river Alatamacha, and forty-seven from the town of Savannah, in Georgia. It is built along the shore at the bottom of a hill shaded with trees, in the form of an oblong square, and is divided into four streets, cut- ting each other at right angles. About a mile north from the town stands the castle, called St. John's (now Fort Marion), built of soft stone, with four bastions ; it has a curtain of sixty yards long, a parapet of nine feet thick, and a rampart twenty feet high. The fort is mounted with fifty pieces of cannon, sixteen of which are brass, and some of them twenty-four pounders. The harbor is formed by an island, and a long point of land, divided from the continent by a river. The island, which is called Eustatia (An- astatia), is long and nar;^w ; the northern part of it is due east from the castle, and extends about ten miles south along the coast, leaving a channel betwixt it and the main land, which at the southern extremity of the island is not over a mile over, but not so much at the northern. It is necessary to observe, that the sea on this coast is so shallow, that no ships of great force can come within three leagues either of the town or castle. In the year 1586, this place was taken by Sir Francis Drake, when the Spaniards fled, and left him fourteen brass cannon, besides a chest of 2000 pounds, and other booty. In 1665, it was again taken and plundered by Captain Davis, at the head of the bucca- neers. In the year 1702, the people of Carolina formed a design of conquering what the Spaniards still held in Florida, and actu- ally undertook it, under the command of Colonel Moor, their governor. He ruined the villages and farms in the open country, and besieged the town of St. Augustine for three months ; but on the approach of some Spanish vessels to its relief, he raised the siege with precipitation, and marched back to Charleston, three hundred miles, by land. The last siege of this place was by Gen- eral Oglethorpe, in 1740, when he marched to it with a considera- ble body of English forces, and a much larger of Indians, and took some advanced posts ; but the Spanish governor (Montiano), it seems, was a man of great experience, and having early intelli- 340 THE FLORIDA WAR. gence of the visit intended him, had increased his forces to a thou- sand nnen. The Enghsh seem to have taken possession of too many places, some of which were probably abandoned to them with that view. This afforded the Spanish officer an opportunity of cutting off about one hundred and thirty men, who were posted in the negro fort, under the coiTimand of Colonel Palmer. This disaster, together with the apparent impossibility of doing any great executian by the batteries which had been raised on the island of Eustatia, being at too great a distance, occasioned the raising of the siege toward the latter end of June, and thereby put an end to the high expectations which had been raised from this undertaking, which, if it had succeeded, must have been at- tended with very great advantages to the British nation. The only place in this peninsula of any consequence to the Spaniards, next to St. Augustine, is St. Mattheo, about fifteen leagues to the north. This is the frontier town of Florida, next to Georgia. It was besieged by the English when we were last at war with the Spaniards, but with little advantage. " St. Augustine, in time of war, is a nest of privateers, which, if not destroyed, will greatly distress our North American and Jamaica trade. Although our attempt upon it in the year 1740, with an irregular body of militia, failed, yet it would soon have fallen by a regular force, well conducted ; for the town is small, and the fort not able to resist the usual force employed in a siege. If this place was taken, all Florida would would fall with it, which would be of great service to our trade, not only by depriving the Spaniards of a port, from whence they might annoy us on this side, but, on the contrary, enable us to distress them, by cruising on their homeward bound ships coming from the Gulf of Florida and the Streights of Bahama. And if we were to add to it the conquest of Louisiana, (which every one reckons to be in our power,) and the war ending prosperously, we might then make the Mississippi our western boundary, and the Gulfs of Florida and Mexico our southern. This would effectually settle our con- fines in North America, and put a final period to future disputes, both with France and Spain, in this respect ; this would entirely subject the Indians to us, and put a perpetual stop to the horrid ravages they formerly committed upon our planters, through the instigation of the French and Spaniards. " The Spaniards have almost always lived in a state of war with the Indians, so that they have constantly represented them in the blackest colors ; though such of our countrymen as have any thing to do with them, affirm that they are not so bad, except as to their subtlety and propensity to fraud, of which they have more than any other natives of America." i THE FLORIDA WAR. 34 X " My Dear Sir — The news which I have, makes it necessary for me to dispatch Pedro de Alcantara, with, his schooner, and soHcit the favor of your Lordship, in order that, being informed of it, and of what is necessary here, which no doubt has been referred to your Lordship by Don Manuel de Justis, you may be pleased to - make such dispositions as may be proper for this place, to put it in a state of defence against the premeditated in- tentions of the English, to make ' themselves masters of the city and its provinces, since Milord Oglethorpe, a member of Parlia- ment, has exhibited in Parliament, to the King of Great Britain, that assuredly in so doing, this place, Apalache, and the provinces, would be of more utility and convenience to that Kingdom, than all the Colonies that they hold in America, the dominion of which, would secure that none of our vessels could pass the channel, and consequently that we could not enjoy the treasures, which are produced by Peru and New-Spain, without their consent. "This proposition having been favorably heard, the General Command by sea and land of all the Colonies, Island of Jamaica, and all the other Islands which they possess in America, has been given to him; appropriating at the same time 8125,000 for fortifications, and four hundred and eighty men of the regular troops for the operations against these provinces, although Par- liament was opposed to making a rupture during the peace. " This intelligence, combined with what has just been brought me by the Chief (Cacique) Saca-faca, of the town of CharHcar- hche, who came expressly and voluntarily from those remote provinces (who left the same nev^s at Apalache), to advise me, that the Indians in Eno;lish interest descend in small bands to maraud those coasts ; and that their Chiefs have an order from the English to meet in Council, to treat of various affairs, leaves it inferable that they do not lose sight of Vs^hat they formerly in- tended— and now they v/ill attempt with greater confidence from the activity of Milord Oglethorpe Vv^hich has been stimulated by the Peers of the Realm, with the sole view of acquiring glory in these conquests ; and it is not to be doubted, that they will effect it by the greatest efforts on sea and land. To our misfortune, with the least effort, they will obtain their end, for we have not here wherewith to resist a moderate land force, and much less by sea ; since taking the mouth of the bar with one or two ships (frigates) would leave us entirely without communication on that side, besides denying us provisions which are now supplied by them, of which they are not ignorant. Neither are they igno- rant of the deplorable state of this place, or of the small number of troops which I have to oppose them. Therefore I hope, that your Lordship giving attention to these representations, and con- 342 THE FLORIDA WAR. sidering that this city and its preservation is of the greatest im- portance to the security of all America, will be pleased to give the most prompt orders, which I leave to the discretion and means of your Lordship, who possessing a knowledge of the pro- fession, acquired by your long and marked services, will readily come to an understanding of what is here wanted, which to explain in detail is every thing. " Furthermore, your Lordship knows that the fort of this place (its only defence) has no casemates for the shelter of the men, nor the necessary elevation to the counterscarp, nor covert ways, nor ravelins to the curtains, nor other exterior works that could give time for a long defence, but it is thus naked outside, as without soul (sin alma) within ; for there are no cannon that could be fired for twenty-four hours — and though there were, we want artillery-men to manage them. " I have ordered 4000 stakes to be cut, with the intention of forming a covert-way, although I know it will be an imperfect work, as not having the elevation corresponding to the counter- scarp, but as to give that, would require a long and expensive work in consequence of the quantity of earth requisite ; I will apply myself to making the repairs most required, and of least cost, for I have no funds but the little coined silver which was sequestrated from Don Francisco del Moral ; and although 1 desire to run a wall from the Fort to the Cribo (bastion on the St. Sebastian), and to raise there a bastion to oppose an attack which might be made on the Fort from that side, I find all this impossible for the want of funds, as well as of all descriptions of operatives, convicts, and slaves, to assist. When your Lordship resolves, as I expect, to send troops, operatives, some money, slaves or convicts, and engineers to direct the necessary works, you will also direct that they bring a sufficient supply of provi- sions ; for it is not to be doubted that the English will close the ports against flour, upon news that comes to them. Besides it will cool the haughty ideas of Milord Oglethorpe, and giving us time to prepare ourselves, frustrate his expectations. " The two confidential persons agree in this information, and caution us much, not to delay preparing ourselves, because Mi- lord Oglethorpe was expected at farthest in all October, and that his intrepidity would trample over all obstacles. This is all that occurs to me to acquaint your Lordship, under whose orders I remain, with true resignation, vv^ishing that our Lord may pre- serve you many years. Florida, 11th November, 1737. I kiss 3^our Lordship's hands. Your most obedient servant, (Signed,) MANUEL DE MONTIANO." To his Lordship Don Juan Franciso de Guemes y Horcasitas. THE FLORIDA WAR. 343 " St. Augustine de la Florida, May 15th, 1740. " My Dear Sir — At this hour, which is seven o'clock A. M., the time appointed for the saihng of the galeot, two men from Marco's sloop arrived, with the information that the English who had taken our sloop had refitted her, and have placed her to the leeward, of Penon Bar, so very near the land that in the quietude of the night they can hear the sound of the voices of those on board. " With this knowledge, I have stopped the sailing of the ves- sel (galeot), and have ordered a Spaniard and three Indians to go in a small canoe to the keys, through the inland passage along the coast, whence it is easy for the three Indians to trans- port the canoe by means of skids ; and on arriving at Key Biscayne or Matacombe, they should endeavor to procure a fishing- vessel to convey them to that port (Havanna), and, on failure thereof to seek the chief Don Diego, to do this important duty ; for which purpose I write a flattering letter to him, for they, the Indians, think much of such friendly demonstrations. " And I have to say, that if these two ships, the tender and sloop, do not leave this coast, we shall not be able to commu- nicate any information, unless there come from that port (Ha- vanna) vessels of large force, because the way by the keys is uncertain and dangerous, and, moreover, there are few Indians in those parts upon whom we can depend to execute this duty. "And in this supposition you will sufficiently comprehend, that this place already has no means of subsistence than the aids and supplies which you can give us by means of armed vessels, which should not be for less than six months, because already I am without expedients to avail myself of, and the aid not arriving here by the 20th of June, at latest, it appears a natural consequence this garrison must perish. " Which is all that occurs at present to say to you, to whose obedience I subscribe myself with the most sincere affection, praying God to preserve you the many happy years which I de- sire. I kiss your hands. Your most obedient humble servant, Don Juan Francisco de Guemes ) DON MANUEL DE MONTIANO." T HORCASITAS. ) " St. Augustine of Florida, June 24th, 1740. "My Lord (Muy Senor mio) — Considering that in case this arrives in time to be of any benefit, your Lordship may, with re- flection upon its contents, take the most concerted measures, I give you notice that the enemy remains stationed at this bar, and that of Matanzas (twenty miles south), and in possession of 344 '^HE FLORIDA WAR. the island of St. Anastatia and its watch-tower, of all the beach of St. Mateo (north point of the harbor), and maintains a camp at the village (Pueblo) of Moses. The shipping with which we are blockaded consists of seven ships of twenty-three to thirty guns, two brigs of ten or twelve guns, six schooners, three sloops, and twelve launches, exclusive of boats and launches belonging to the vessels. " At this moment, which is nine o'clock in the forenoon, the firing has commenced with a mortar of small bombs (grenades reales) of which some shells have fallen into the fort, but most have passed over to the lines, and beyond them. " I assure your Lordship that it is impossible to express the confusion of this place, for we have no protection except the fort, and all the rest is open field (campo abierto). The families have abandoned their houses, and come to put themselves under the artillery (lajo la artilleria) which is pitiable, though nothing gives me anxiety but the want of provisions, and if your Lordship, for want of competent force, cannot send relief, we must all indu- bitably perish. With this information I am assured your lordship w^ill excuse the hyperboles in which the conflict we are in may be portrayed ; and hope j^ou will give every attention to measures conducing to relieve this imminent peril, as a matter of such mo- ment, and of the first service to the King. " I remain your Lordship's most obedient, and with assurances of regard, I pray God to preserve your Lordship many happy years. Senor Don Juan Francisco de Guemes, ) (Signed,) MANUEL DE MONTIANO." Y HoRCASiTAS, Gov. of the Isle of Cuba. \ On the 6th of July, during the siege, he writes to the governor of Cuba : " From the beginning of the fire up to this day, they have throv/n 122 small bombs (grenades reales) and 31 grenades, from which, glory to the Lord, vv^e have received no corporal injury. On the island of Anastatia they have a battery of five guns, three of eighteen and two of six-pounders, the first to batter the fort and town, and the others for the galleys, and Vv^ith them they make incessant fire ; but ours answer them, and we are informed that they receive more damage than ourselves. " On the first day of the month they beat a call with a white •flag, and sent us three letters, which comprehended a demand for surrender. We answered them in a proper form, and from that ;day they fired with more impetuosity, but vainly, for it appears that God had given more certain direction to our fire."—MSS. of .Governor Montiano. THE FLOHIDA WAR. 345 Upon General Oglethorpe's raising the siege of St. Augustine, Governor Montiano writes to the governor of Cuba as follows, on the 28th of July, 1740 : " On the 20th, the enemy raised his camp, and went off in a precipitate and shameful flight ; and I dispatched promptly an order to our sloops, that if they saw the coast clear, to make their voyage, entering by the bar of Matanzas, which they ac- complished on the 25th, and have now finished discharging. " I assure your lordship, that I cannot arrive at a comprehen- sion of the conduct or the rules of this general ; for I am in- formed by at least twelve deserters from him, that his camp was composed of 370 men of his regiment, 600 militia of Carolina, 130 Indians, and 200 sailors, armed, and encamped on the island of St. Anastatia, and as many more sailors for the management of the sloops, schooners, and launches. My wonder is inexpres- sible that this gentleman (caballero) should make his retreat with such precipitation, as to have abandoned four six-pounders on the battery of St. Mateo, one schooner, two kegs of powder, several muskets and fowling-pieces, set fire to a quantity of provisions, such as boxes of bacon, cheese, lard, dried beef, to a schooner, and an excellent mortar-carriage ; besides many things that have profited the Indians and galleys, which have had the fortune to encounter several barrels of flour, and lard, and some pork. " The formal siege has continued thirty-eight days, counting from the 13th of June to the 20th of July, and the fire of the batteries tv\^enty-seven days, from the 24th of June to the said 20th of July. The batteries were three ;x one, the Poza on the island of St. Anastatia of four eighteen and one nine-pounder, another on the point of the hammock on said island, of two eighteen-pounders, and the other on Point St. Mateo of seven six-pounders, five of iron and two of brass. The mortars and small mortars were thirty-four ; two of half-quintal and two of about a quintal ; the thirty small mortars v/ere what the deserters call cohorns, for throwing hand-grenades, and others for those of ten or twelve pounds. " This would be the moment to exterminate General Ogle- thorpe, with his regiment, and force him to abandon Georgia, with a force but little stronger than I have here, for his troops are disgusted, and Carolina would afford but tardy succors, on account of the same displeasure, and for fear of their negroes." Governor Montiano's return of troops, made to the governor of Cuba on the 25th of March, 1740, gives as his aggregate strength, 613 men, comprising— 346 THE FLORIDA WAR. Infantry, eight companies, . . . 308 Infantry of the garrison, . . . 80 Artillery, 32 Cavalry, ... . . 42 462 Militia, ....... 61 Armed Indians, 50 Free negroes, . . 40 151 Total, 613 In addition, he had 122 men afloat, to man the galleys. The total population of St. Augustine, of all classes, at this period, was 2143. — MSS. of Governor Montiano, 1740. CHAPTER IX. NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, 1841. Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, 4th infantry, on special duty to expel the enemy east of Tallahassee, to the Suwanne river. — Preparations for a combined movement in the Big Cypress Svi^amp. — Major Belknap, 3d infantry, proceeds to the Carlosahatchee river to take command. — Death of Midsiiipman Niles, U. S. N. — Yellow fever in camp. — Depot and camps established. — Instructions to the different com- manders : plan of co-operation. — Troops take the field under Major Belknap. — Major Childs, and Lieu- tenant McLaughlin in canoes. — Colonel Worth meets the different commanders at Waxe Hadjo's. — Landing on the edge of the Everglades. — Operations of the troops in the Big Cypress Swamp, and Everglades. — Major Belknap's report. — Lieutenant McLaughlin's report. — Extracts from the journal of an ofhcer of the army, ke])t from day to day in the swamp. — Lieutenant McLaughlin reports his gissage up the Carlosahatchee river through Fish-eating Creek to Lake Okechobee. — Caj)tain M. urke's, 3d artillery, expedition in the Everglades. — Letters from Captain McClellan, topographical engineer, in reference to the Carlosahatchee river, and its head waters. — Lieutenant Marchand's report of an expedition in the Everglades. — Head-quarters re-established at Fort Brooke.— Success of Major Wade, 3d artillery. — Capture of sixty-three Indians. — His report. — The Florida squadron commanded by Lieutenant McLaughlin — Its depot — Strength and efficiency of officers and men. — Murder of two friendly messengers by the Creeks near Fort Fanning. — Cowardly spirit of Tigertail. — Declines acting himself, and deters others. — Lieutenant-Colonel Garland's correspondence. — Meeting of Nethlocke- mathlar and the Creek chief, Octiarche, at the mouth of the Withlacoochee river. — The latter chief re- fuses to visit the steamboat. — He is unable to assemble his band : ap|ioints the 12th of January for another meeting. — Embarrassing state of affairs. — Attack made upon the settlement of Mandarin, by Halleck-Tustenuggee. — His haunts found. — The breaking up of the confederacy in the Big Cypress Swamp. — Surrender of the sub-chief, Waxe Hadjo. — Reports that Bowlegs, Sam Jones, and the Prophet had fled for safety.— State of the army : number taken sick, died, and discharged during the months of November and December. — Successful establishment of settlers at exposed points. — Citizens armed and provisioned. The active and judicious measures adopted on the 1st of No- vember, by the commander of the 3d infantry, in the neighbor- hood of Tallahassee, together vs^ith the authority conferred upon Lieutenant-Colonel Garland to negotiate v^ith, or punish the enemy in that quarter, gave every assurance that the Indians would abstain from hostile acts, or if they did not, means v^ould be at hand to pursue them into their hiding-places. Nethlocke- mathlar and Tigertail, at Fort Brooke, supported by Alligator and Holartooche, v^ere holding communication with such of the Creeks as were disposed, when opportunity oifered, to break through the laws imposed by others more hostile and vindictive. Through these, and other Indians coming in daily, who had broken off from the various bands, from fatigue and dissatisfac- tion, it was believed Halleck-Tustenuggee could be found and induced to surrender. With the settlements as adequately pro- tected as human skill or military means could devise, the remain- ing force of the army was directed towards the Southern Indians, who felt themselves secure, environed as they were by swamps, deep mud, mangrove-bushes, and a large expanse of Everglades, It was feared the necessary preparations in establishing depots on the Carlosahatchee river, would break up this confederacy of Indians, so long united in self-defence, and cause them to scatter 348 THE FLORIDA WAR. in small parties, and thus effectually elude the combined efforts of troops on land and water. Should this be the case, it would at least frustrate any farther combinations, and ultimately compel them to surrender ; as they would thus find that the mihtary could pursue them at all seasons, and with the aid of experienced guides, be enabled to penetrate the most secluded parts of the country. On the 1st of November, Brevet Major W. L. Belknap, 3d infantry, was ordered to proceed to the Carlosahatchee river, assume the command of troops in that quarter, and establish depots preparatory to a combined movement by land and water upon the Big Cypress Swamp. Fort Harvie (named in memory of Lieutenant John H. Harvie, 8th infantry), eighteen miles above Punta Rossa, on the southern bank, and four from what may be called the mouth proper of the river, was made the prin- cipal depot. Thirty-seven miles up the river, on the south bank, was Fort Simmons. Still farther west, near Lake Okechobee, a tempory camp of dragoons was established. Detachments from the 2d dragoons, the 4th infantry, 6th and 8th infantry — comprising 1040 rank and file, were present for duty. Of commissioned officers, there were present : of the me- dical corps, six ; quartermasters, two ; topographical engineers, two; 2d dragoons, five; 1st infantry, one; 3d infantry, one; 4th infantry, eight ; 6th infantry, eight ; 8th infantry, eighteen — making a total of fifty-one commissioned officers. The health of the troops was generally good, and the prospect of striking an effectual blow upon the enemy imbued officers and men with spirit and resolution to overcome the difficulties known to exist in this strong-hold, to which the desperate characters of every tribe in Florida had resorted as the last and only retreat from the vigilance and perseverance of their pursuers. The sudden death of Midshipman Niles, U. S. navy, by yellow fever, belong- ing to the command of Lieutenant McLaughlin, then at Fort Simmons, en route to Lake Okechobee, caused serious apprehen- sions in regard to the troops assembled for the field. Assistant- Surgeon Steiner, w^hose assiduous care of Mr. Niles had sub- jected him to the disease, was severely attacked, as also the attendant who assisted him ; but by timely and judicious' treat- ment they recovered, and the disease was stayed within the command. It was contemplated to move the force from this point simultaneously with the detachment of the 3d artillery, in canoes under Major Childs, from Fort Lauderdale, and with that of Lieutenant McLaughhn, U. S. navy, with one hundred and fifty sailors and marines from Fort Dallas, near Key Biscayne. The folio v/ing memorandum for the guidance of the co-operating forces, was transmitted to each commander. THE FLORIDA WAR. 349 " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, Tampa, Oct. SOth, 1845. "Captain McLaughlin proposes to be at the lower (or Pro- phet's) landing, leaving his depot on the 25th, by the 30th ; Major Childs leaving on the 25th, it is believed, at the utmost extent, he can be at the upper (or Bowlegs' or Waxey-Hadjo's) landing by the 1st or 2d. Should Captain McLaughlin arrive on the sup- posed day, it is understood that he will remain at the lower land- ing until he shall have ascertained the arrival of Major Childs's command at the upper landing. These two forces may take it for granted, that those approaching from the Carlosahatchee will be in position centering on Fort Keas, on or before the last-named day, and that each force, from both sides, will, by the 1st or 2d, enter the Cypress in pursuit of the enemy, and endea- vor to open a communication with each other. It is deemed proper that the movement shall be so directed from each side, as to envelope the northeast portion of the Cypress, preventing the escape of the enemy in that direction, and pressing him towards the Mangroves to the southwest. By order of Colonel Worth. (Signed) S. COOPER, Assistant Adjutant- General:' " Memorandum of questions propounded to an Indian captured in the Everglades. " Question 1st. Can you guide direct from Miammi to the landing, without going to Chyraya's island ? ''Answer 1st. I can go until I can get near Chyraya's island, and then strike across to the landing ; or I can go up Little river, and then strike across to the landing. " Question 2d. Can you guide from the landing through the Big Cypress to the Carlosahatchee ? " Answer 2d. I can guide from the landing through the Big Cypress as far up as there are any settlements of Indians. I have never gone to the Carlosahatchee that way. " Question Sd. How many days will it take to go from the landing, in boats, through the Big Cypress, to the last settlements north ? " Answer 3d. The first Indian town we come to, after we leave the Cypress, is six days' march. The Indians have all moved off in the interior, from the Cypress and Everglades. " Question 4th. How many settlements are there back of the Big Cypress, between the landing and the Carlosahatchee ? " Ansiver 4th. I know of four towns, and a fifth as you ap- proach the Okechobee. " Question 5th. Are there any settlements below the landing ? " Answer 5th. There is no town below or south of the land- ing. 350 THE FLORIDA WAR. " Question 6th. How far would the troops have to march from their boats to those settlements ? State the distance to be marched to each from the boats. " Answer Qth. Answered in No. 3. " Question Itli. Where did you start from, in your boats, when you commenced proceeding to Fish-eating Creek on the lake ? " Answer 1th. We started from the nearest town to the land- ing. We had our boats hid in the saw-grass, went outside of the Big Cypress, and up the Everglades, to a small lake near Fish- eating Creek. The water is high enough for the army-boats now. It will take eight days from the landing to the small lake above referred to. There is an Indian town seven days' march from the small lake referred to. " Question 8th. How long did it take you to get to the lake ? " Answer 8th. Answered in No. 7. " Question 9th. Do the Indians back of the Big Cypress build their huts in hammocks or in the pine-barrens ? " Answer 9th. One village is in a cypress hammock, one in a prairie. The people in the town near the small lake referred to, spoke of moving back of the Cypress. When I speak of towns, I should rather say settlements, as the houses are scattered. At the last green-corn dance, at Billy Bowlegs' town, at which I was present, there were 241 warriors, besides old men, with arms and ammunition. This calculation was made by the chiefs, judging their number by the small sticks, about the size of matches, that they could hold between their thumbs and fore- fingers, and upon trial the above result was produced." " Question 10th. How many Indians were supposed to be collected in that country ? "Answer 10th. Answered in No. 9. "Question 11th. State what bands were collected at Billy Bowlegs', at the green-corn dance. "Answer 11th. Sam Jones's party, Spanish Indians, Hospe- tarke's party, and Seminoles. " Question 12th. Was there any disposition to make peace, or disposition to come in, among those people ? "Answer 12th. There was some talk of coming in; but the opinion of Sam Jones and the Prophet, for war, prevailed. " Question 13th. Had they plenty of provisions ? "Answer 12th. They have a very fine crop this summer, of rice, pumpkins, and corn. " The above questions to and answers of Joe, the prisoner, are respectfully submitted to the commandei of the south A. D. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed) MARTIN BURKE, Captain Commanding." THE FLORIDA WAR. 351 The depot for what was denominated the Florida squadron, commanded by Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, was at Lidian Key, on the eastern coast, seventy-five miles south of Cape Flori- da, and seventy-five northeast from Key West. The following list exhibits the character and strength of the force employed : List of vessels employed in the Florida squadron, from June, 1838, until Au- gust, 1842, Lieutenant John T. McLaughlin, commanding in chief. The squadron consisted of the Wave, Panther, revenue-cutters Campbell and Otsego, with a force of 160 men, from June, 1838, until November, 1839 ; from this date until June, 1841, of the Flirt, Wave, Otsego, and barges Mayo and Har- ney, and two companies of marines, in all 541 men; from June, 1841, until Au- gust, 1842, of the Flirt, Wave, Otsego, Phoenix, Jefferson, Madison, Van Buren, and barges Mayo and Harney, with 1 30 marines, making an aggregate force of 622 men, of whom 68 were officers ; 140 canoes were employed by the squadron during its service. — ^* D '3. a ?" Date. Vessel. Lieutenants Commanding. i" S 1 5 CO .• "ci 1 < d^ 3 1 < 1 o 1 1 1838-39 Schr. Wave, John T. McLaughlin, 129 2 1 9 1840-41 « John Rodgers, " " « « iC a 1841-42 " Acting Lieut. John C. Henry, '< ,, " " " " " 1838-39 Sloop Panther, E. T. Shubrick, 60 1 2 1 5 1839-41 Schr. Otsego, ii a 95 1 1 1 1 1 6 1841-42 " James S. Biddle, " 2 1 1 1 1 7 1838-39 ( Schr. Campbell, \ (revenue-cutter,) 1 Lt. N. C. Coste, rev. ser., 98 1 1 3 1839-42 Schr. Flirt, John T. McLaughlin, 180 2 4 3 1* 1 12 1839-40 Barges, Act. Lt. Montgomery Lewis,. 3 4 1840-41 " Act. Lt. C. R. P. Rodgers, 1 2 1 5 1841-42 Schr. Phoenix, C. R. P. Rodgers, 95 2 3 1 1 1 9 " Brig Jefferson, John Rodgers, 150 2 4 1 1 9 i( Schr. Madison, \ William L. Herndon, ) I Acting Lt. W. S. Drayton, \ 130 2 2 2 i* 1 9 « Schr. Van Buren, John B. Marchand, 120 2 2 2 1* 1 9 1839-40 First-Lieutenant G eo. H. Terret, commanding marines, with 2 lieutenants. 1840-42 T homas T. Sloan, " A vit i4 " Note. — In addition to the garrison at Indian Key, in 1842 the marines garrisoned Fort Dallas. This force, in the hands, as it was, of intelligent officers in the discharge of their duty, and guided by the experience and ability of the commander, added much to the efficiency of operations, and caused the Indians inhabiting that quarter to fear the sailors' boats, who were as skillful in navigating the Everglades as them- selves. Three depots were advanced to and within the swamp, thirty miles south of Fort Simmons, to which supplies were trans- ported in wagons, from thence into the swamp. Officers and men packed on their backs, with a blanket, seven days' rations. * Passed. 352 THE FLORIDA WAR. One mule to each company carried the necessary cooking uten- sils. The colonel commanding arrived on the 24th of November, and on the 30th two companies of the 8th infantry v^ere dis- patched, in command of Captain G. Wright, in boats, to the mouth of Malco river, eighteen miles south of Punta Rossa, thence up the river eastward into the Everglades, encircling the southern extremity of the swamp to Bowlegs' landing, and there to communicate with Major Childs and Lieutenant McLaughlin. On the 6th of December the land force, in command of Major Belknap, entered the swamp by a trail near Fort Keais. From thence, detachments diverged in all directions, under the gui- dance of experienced trackers. The chief Hollur-Tooche, negro Sampson, and five friendly Indians, accompanied the command. The chief, being well acquainted with this country, was the bearer of a talk from Alligator, Nethlockemathlar, and Tiger- Tail, at Fort Brooke, to Holatter Micco (Billy Bowlegs), and the sub-chief Waxey-Hadjo. Alligator, Neathlock-E-mathla, Tiger-Tail, Cochus-Tustenugge, and Thlocklo- Hadjo, send this talk to Waxey-Hadjo and Bowlegs. Alligator has come a great distance to see his red brethren ; he followed their old chief Holatoochee, but could not overtake him until now ; he has come at last. When Alligator was in Arkansas, he heard that his red brethren here wanted to see him, and he has taken great pains to come to them, to give them the good word, and he now wants them all to make up their minds to go back with him. His namesake, old Alligator, has gone down to see Waxey-Hadjo and Bowlegs, and he hopes they will open their ears to his talk, and receive his words and come in. Alligator is with Neathlock-E-mathla and Tiger-Tail, who have come in with all their brothers and their people ; they all want Waxey-Hadjo and Bowlegs to come in with their people and join them. Alligator has come a long way ; he heard his red brethren wanted to see him, and he listened to their voice ; he now^ tells them they must not be afraid to come in to their white brethren, who have their hands open to receive them as friends. If they cannot all come at once, let them who are ready come, and let the rest follow me. Their white brethren will receive them as friends, give them plenty to eat and drink, and clothe and treat them well. Alligator has come for his children, like a hen that is looking for her chickens ; he v/ants to gather them all together, and take them with him to his new home, where he will take good care of them, and make them happy and comfortable ; he therefore sends out his word to them to come in at once, before the time arrives when they will not be able to find him. Waxey-Hadjo is Alli- gator's sub-chief, and they both came from the same parents, he must therefore not delay to come in, and must remember that all his friends in the w^est want to see him badly. Alligator sends a present to Waxey-Hadjo and Billy Bowlegs, which they must receive the same as if he was with them to give it to them. He cannot come himself because he has some business to attend to here. Alligator now sends his last words. The Prophet has passed for a great man, and you listen to his talk, but you must also hear what Alligator has to say. Are you willing that all your women and children should be killed for the sake of the Prophet ? Do you love him more than you do your women and children ? Alligator calls for his children, and will they not h-ear his voice ? You say you don't want to leave this country, because you want your bones to rotten in this land ; but this is not right, you must go with Alligator to a better land, where THE FLORIDA WAR. 35^ your friends are awaiting ,to receive you, and where you will live happy. You must not listen to the word of the Prophet, because he will certainly bring you to trouble ; come therefore, and come quickly. Tiger-Tail, Nethlock-Emathla, Cochocus-Tustenuggee, and Thlocko-Hadjo, join in this talk to Waxy-Hadjo and Billy Bowlegs, whom they v/ant to see very much, with the rest of their brethren. Pasaco-Mico sends word that he has come in, with his people, and has joined Alligator, and that he is treated well by his white brethren. Witnesses. Alligator, his X mark. S. Cooper, Major U. S. Army. Neathlock- X E-Mathla. Y. D. Callender, 2d Lieut. Ordnance. Tiger- X Tail. ToNEY X Barnet, Interpreter. Pasuc Mico. X J. T. Sprague, Lieut, and Aid-de-camp. Tustenuggee X Maha. Tampa, November 15, 1841. Enclosing this talk to Major Belknap, the commander of the army writes as follows : " I shall probably send up the St. John's in search of Halleck-Tustenuggee, a party combined of the ele- ments of peace and war. There is difficulty in finding men who can be made to comprehend that there is more true patriotism, sense, and decency, in ridding our country of this incubus in a quiet way, than in cutting down a solitary Indian, who may have been guilty of the indecency of defending his own country in his own way. With you, Childs, and McLaughlin, and the officers of the respective commands, I feel, nay, I know, that all will be well." Colonel Worth on the 8th of December met Major Childs and Lieutenant McLaughlin on the margin of the Everglades, at Waxey-Hadjo's landing, at which place they were to receive in- telligence from Major Belknap, moving within the swamp, and to obtain further instructions. The time of meeting here was later than that fixed in the memorandum, but this did not change the plan of co-operation. These commands in canoes had pene- trated every part of the Everglades, finding abandoned fields, villages, and trails, but not an Indian or a track was seen. It was believed that Sam Jones had crossed to the Atlantic coast, and secreted himself on the Locha-Hatchee river, near Fort Ju- piter, to which place Major Childs was directed to proceed. The Prophet, it was thought, had fled to a mangrove swamp near Key Biscayne, which was examined by the naval command with- out success, as also the Locha-Hatchee river. The movements of Major Belknap within the swamp confirmed these impressions. The colonel commanding being called to the northern frontier by the sudden and hostile movements of the Creeks, the entire direc- tion of affairs devolved upon Major Belknap, who continued that vigilance and energy which had distinguished him throughout, sustained by the cheerfulness and hearty good- will of the officers and men of the command. 23 354 THE FLORIDA WAR. As illustrative of the peculiarity of the service to which these various corps were subjected, there was, at one time, to be seen, in the Everglades, the dragoon in water from three to four feet deep, the sailor and marine wading in the mud in the midst of cypress stumps, and the soldiers, infantry and artillery, alternate- ly on the land, in the water, and in boats. Thus situated, the commanders of these various corps met at Waxey-Hadjo's land- ing, to make their reports, and adopt further measures in pursu- ing the enemy. Here was no distinction of corps, no jealousies, but a laudable rivalry in concerting means to punish a foe who had so effectually eluded all efforts. Comforts and conveniences were totally disregarded, even subsistence was reduced to the lowest extremity. Night after night officers and men were com- pelled to sleep in their canoes, others in damp bogs, and in the morning cook their breakfast over a fire built on a pile of sand in the prow of the boat, or kindled around a cypress stump. Inter- mixed as the various detachments were, subjected to privations, fatigue, and disappointment ; subordination, cheerfulness, and resolution, marked the conduct of all engaged in the expedition. The country in every direction was explored, and recent signs of Indians discovered, but not a man, woman, or child, was seen. The command of Major Belknap was fired upon by an unseen body of Indians, and two men killed. His report, and that of Lieutenant McLaughlin, U. S. N., which are given entire, afford a minute and interesting detail of the arduous duties de- volving upon all, while they communicate information in refer- ence to a part of Florida before unknown, and which under other circumstances w^ould never have been explored. " Head-Quarters, Forces in the Big Cypress,) Depot No. 1, December 23, 1841. \ " Sir — Yesterday the force under my command arrived at Fort Keais from a seven days' scout in the swamps, of the severest character of any we have yet encountered in this service. "On the 16th instant we took the field, with the view of find- ing the enemy, from depot No. 3, with rations to include the .22d, leaving, as before, horses and pack-mules at that camp. We marched on that day to the Prophet's town ; thence, on the 17th, twelve miles in a S. S. W. course, Holatoochee having discovered trails several days old in that direction. On the morning of the 18th, the trail deviated northwardly, at a point distant about five miles from the head of the Fakahatchee, which lies south of the Prophet's town. (According to Holatoochee, this stream is improperly named Fakahatchee-cAee, as in the navy map.) On that day, as often afterwards, the trails were ingeniously dispersed to the width of several miles ; then, afterwards, they would come. THE FLORIDA WAR. 355 together; then dispersed again in devious tracks, all admirably calculated to frustrate pursuit. The unfailing tact, and the assi- duity of the chief Holatoochee, enabled him to detect the trail of the women and children, and upon that we continued our march. That day we marched northwardly about thirteen miles. On the 19th, we struck W. S. W., marching ten miles that day, six of which were more than knee deep in water and mud, through the ' Ockholoacouchee,' which there is thus widened out, and is full of strong currents, flowing south, and indicating that it may be the source of the river on which Fort Harroll is situated. That night we encamped in open pine woods, which the guide says ex- tends, with occasional skirts of cypress, from Fort Keais to a prairie bordering on the mangroves. " Marching thence on the 20th, we soon struck an additional trail of the men coming in from the north, making the main trail much larger and fresher. No use of axes was permitted the pre- vious night ; small fires were made, which were extinguished in the morning, and every precaution taken not to alarm the enemy, who had brought us on such a devious and toilsome chase, and who had evidently, but a few days previous, retreated to their se- cret hiding-places. Under these circumstances, with every hope of surprising the enemy, we were fated to have our pursuit utterly foiled by the stupidity of a flanker. Pvt. Morrison, of B. company, eighth infanty, who, about 8 o'clock, A. M., having lost himself, fired his musket three times, which (it being a damp, cloudy morn- ing) doubtless alarmed the camp of the enemy, then distant only three miles west. This detained us two hours to reclaim the man. We were advancing with three columns, flankers thrown out. Two cypress swamps intervened. The sign freshened as we approached, and in the second swamp (two miles in extent) we were attacked, about 2 P. M., by a few Indians, who waylaid the trail on which we were approaching. Two of the advanced guard (commanded by Lieutenant Johnson, eighth infanty) were instantly killed. Sergeant John Doone, of Lieutenant Gates' com- pany, (I.) of the eighth infantry, and private William Foster, of Major Graham's company, (D.) of the fourth infantry. A charge was ordered, but the Indians instantly fled on the discharge of their fires, and, I regret to add, were soon beyond our reach. The spot chosen for this attack was, as usual, well adapted to their purpose, in the midst of large cypress knees, the water two or three feet deep, their own flanks surrounded with pond-lilies, in which to hide their flight, but the space in front somewhat open, to give them a view of our approach. I think their number was about fifteen or twenty, but the interpreter, Sampson, who was in an advanced position, estimated their number at fifty. A few hundred yards beyond this point of attack, we found the fires of 356 THE FLORIDA V/AR. the camp still smoking, with some of their roots, &c., prepared, every thing indicating that they had dispatched their women and children that morning, on being alarmed by the musket shots of the flanker. (This man, 1 understand, is the same person who was lost near Tampa, on the march of the eighth infantry to that point last autumn.) This camp of the enemy is in a dry ham- mock thicket, just beyond the Cypress. It is very dense and tan- gled, and Holatoochee says, this is the character of a large section in that region, which has now become the resort of the .Indians. " We had thus pushed on this trail until five out of our seven days' rations were exhausted, and, to my great regret, we were at this crisis compelled to return to refit. I had been induced to continue the chase, with the hourly hope of surprising them in their camp. The route to Fort Keais being the shortest and most practicable, I have brought the force in this direction. Our last camp was distant about twenty miles, in a straight line, S. S. E. from Fort Keais, and about twenty-three miles west by south from depot No. 3 ; but our route from the latter post was so circuitous, that we came over fifty miles in reaching the point from which we returned. " I am persuaded that the whole band of the Prophet, and of Bowlegs, are assembled in that quarter, and that they have now retreated to fastnesses in a westerly or southwesterly direction from the point where we met them, perhaps towards the head of Malco river, distant thence twelve miles, in a S. W. course. I shall now establish a depot, to be supplied by wagons, a few miles south of Choolapulca ; thence a depot, to be supplied by pack- mules, can be established within eight or ten miles of the spot where we encountered the enemy. I have this day ordered Ma- jor Graham to proceed to depots Nos. 2 and 3, and to break them up and withdraw the troops and supplies to this point, being con- vinced that none of the enemy can be found east or north of the ' Ockholootoochie.' " It has been, almost beyond a parallel, an arduous march for the troops. The country we have operated in, was covered with water from three inches up to three feet, and the troops were wading knee deep, and threading their way through dense ham- mocks or thick cypress, from morning to night. Before reaching the end of this scout, many of the men were compelled to resort to cabbage trees for subsistence. The officers carried their own provisions and packs upon their back. I shall do the troops, both officers and men, but faint justice when I say, they have endured the uncommon toils and privations of this march with the utmost cheerfulness, being all eager to crown with success the enterprise in which we are employed. THE FLORIDA WAR. 357 " Of that success I yet entertain the strongest hopes, for this scout has gained for us two important objects. " First. It has given the whole command a knowledge of the country. " Secondly. It has taught the enemy that we can penetrate to the most secret recesses of the chosen region of retreat. " This I shall endeavor to accomphsh by sending out, as soon as the depots are established, several commands, on various routes, so as to cover the country, to unite probably somewhere on Mai- CO river. The routes selected will be such as would probably throw the enemy from one column upon another, in their attempts to escape us. I would send a company in maciknaws up the Malco river, if I had a guide for such an expedition. "Captain Screven returned to depot No. 3 on the 16th, from his march to the Prophet's landing. He did not meet Captain Wright's command, but left my communication for him in a con- spicuous place. " I must add, that both Holatoochee and Sampson, have be- haved in a manner worthy of all praise. John has done well. Pessac is sick. But the other Indian guides have been utterly worthless. " If any of Waxey-Hadjo's people (or Alligator), having courage sufficient for the attempt, can be induced to go on a message to the Prophet or Bowlegs, in the midst of our operations, I think they might be inclined to come in, when they see themselves thus trailed and harassed by our troops. "Four ponies, recognized by Holatoochee as belonging to Bowlegs, were captured southeast from Fort Keais, by Passac Mico, accompanied, as I learn, by some of Capt. Flutter's com- mand. " Captain Hutter, with some seventy men, is now on a six days' scout, in a southwesterly direction from Fort Keais. He will return on the 26th, and it is quite possible that he may en- counter the enemy in their flight. " Our operations will thus be continued some time longer in this quarter. I believe there are now supplies within our reach until about the 25th January. But I will be careful to give you prompt information, when it will be necessary to suspend the for- warding of supplies from Tampa Bay. " I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your ob't serv't, (Signed) W. G. BELKNAP, Major Commanding:' Col. W. .T. Worth, ) Commanding Army of Fla., Tampa Bay. \ "P. S. I send a very rude and imperfect sketch of our route; as soon as a more correct one can be made, I shall forward it. 358 THE FLORIDA WAR. " I have ordered Captain McClellan, of topographical engi- neers, to report to me on his return to Fort Simmons, or as soon as he completes the duty upon which you have ordered him." " Florida Expedition — Flirt, at Key ) Biscay ne, December 23d, 1841. ) " Sir — I have the honor to report to you, that this command reached here this morning, on its return from the expedition I ad- vised you we were about to make on the 27th ultimo. " In pursuance of the plan of co-operation detailed in the ' mem- orandum ' I had the honor to enclose you on the 27th ultimo, we reached the Prophet's, or lower landing, on the 1st instant, and the next morning a column of one hundred and fifty men, under Lieutenant Commandant John Rodgers, penetrated the Cypress in a W. by S. course for twenty-five miles, with instructions to hunt the enemy through every trail, and open a communication with the troops who were to have moved at the same moment from the upper landing, and Fort Keais. He succeeded in finding neither. There was not a fresh trail discovered during the scout. Several abandoned encampments and fields, with the trails from them leading to the north, and about two weeks old, were found, which left too much reason to fear that the Cypress had been abandoned, and that the enemy, for the time, had eluded us. Being without transportation of any kind, the scout returned on the afternoon of the 6th, after wading for nearly five days up to the middle in mud and water. On the 7th, with twenty men, I proceeded to the upper landing, to communicate with Major Childs, whose scouts had returned after an equally unsuccessful search. " On the 9th, having returned to the lower landing, an express reached me from Colonel Worth (a copy of which I have the honor to enclose), which determined me immediately to proceed to the Loche Hatchie. My guide assured me that Fort Pierce, on Indian River, could be reached in ten days. Having but nine days' full provisions for the entire command, I ordered every body upon half rations, and on the 10th, retraced our course across the Everglades. " I cannot forbear an expression of professional pride and grat- ification, at the enthusiastic manner in which this order was re- ceived by the whole command, when it was published to them that the surprise of Jones was the object of it. And when it is re- membered that the most of these men have been, without inter- mission, in their canoes since the 9th October last, a very fair opinion can be formed of the spirit and disposition of the com- mand. " On the 12th, the sick and disabled were returned to this THE FLORIDA WAR. 359 place from Council Island, and on the 15th we entered the Cypress at the head waters of the Locha Hatchie, in latitude 26 degrees 15 minutes north. Through this it was almost impossible to make any progress. It was one continuous portage over stumps and cypress knees, with occasional glimpses of open water. For six days we continued our search through the swamps, meeting but little success. Three canoes were found. The only recent trail found was a day old, and that of one person, and he on foot. This was followed until lost at an old camp, which had been abandoned for some weeks — as had also two others which we had passed — the trails from all of them leading to the northward. Enticed by this pursuit, we had wandered so far to the northward and west- ward, that the Everglades offered us a speedier return to the ves- sels than the Locha Hatchie, and this had now become necessary from the want of further supplies. " During my absence, the Phoenix and Otsego have been on the west coast with supplies ; the Madison and Wave cruising on the reef, and this vessel here, with the Jefferson and Van Bu- ren, whose whole efficient force were on the scout. " On the 30th November, the schooner Cornelia, Myers, four- teen days from New- York, was blown ashore on the Samboes ; men were sent to her from this vessel, took her cargo out, got her off, reloaded her, and sent her on her voyage. " I am happy to say, the health of the command is improving. The sick list has decreased very much, although we have had five deaths within the month, and among them we have been called upon to lament Midshipman Niles, a most promising young officer, whose ripening talent was developing the promise of great future usefulness. He died and was buried with military honors, at Fort Simmons, on the Carlosahatchie, having received from the offi- cers at that post every comfort and attention which the kindest feelings could suggest. " Respectfully, Sir, I have the honor to be, (Signed,) JOHN T. McLAUGHLIN, Lieut. Com'g Expe'n." The Hon. A. P. Upshur, 1 Secretary of the Navy. ) " P. S. The vessels are now being towed over the bar, and will proceed immediately to Indian Key, whence a force will be pushed directly into the Mangrove lake (referred to in Colonel Worth's enclosed dispatch), in which it is supposed the Prophet, or some of his people, may have taken refuge. " J. T. McL." The following extracts from a journal kept by C. R. Gates, 8th regiment, who with fortitude bore his share in the toils in- 360 THE FLORIDA WAR. this, as well as in many other campaigns in Florida, since 1836, written under every inconvenience, from day to day, conveys a lucid detail of the difficulties encountered, as well as of the char- acter of the country explored. "Left Camp Simmons on the 3d December, at ten o^clock, and marched eight miles — country very v^et. Colonel Worth and staff (Major S. Cooper, and Captain Sprague) ; Major Walker, paymaster ; Captain Myers, assistant quartermaster ; Lieutenant Callender, ordnance officer ; Dr. Harney, medical director ; Cap- tain McClenercure, topographical engineer; Major Belknap, Lieu- tenant Arnold, adjutants ; Captain Sibley, assistant quartermaster; Dr. Birdsall; Captains Hutter, McCall, Scriven, Kello, McKa- vitt ; Lieutenants Reeve, Gates, Easton, Walker, Sheppard, Gore^ Browne, Johnson, McClay, Darne, Burbank, and Fort. " December 4. Marched sixteen miles to a pine ridge (" Cho- a-la-p-ul-ka") ; wet prairie most of the way ; killed several snakes in the road. " December 5. Lieutenant Walker's mounted command, with Major Belknap, cSz^c, went six miles east, and found an old camp (York), thought to be Fort Keas. A sergeant and three men went nine miles southeast, and found Fort Keas. Major Gra- ham's ffi^es seen four miles off north " December 6. Marched for Camp York, joined on the march by Major Graham's command, Dr. Madison, Lieutenant Parker, adjutant ; Captains Larned, Thornton ; Lieutenants Ransom, Steele, Emory, Haller, Nelson, Berry (three companies)— arrived at Camp Depot, one mile west of Camp York at nine o'clock. Captain Kerr joined with a report from Major Childs, who is near Bowlegs' landing: he is to Vv^ait for orders till the 10th instant. Kerr was sent on the 1st from Fort Simmons, to com- municate with the major (Lieutenants Arnold and Humphreys). Train left in the afternoon to go back for more provisions. Cap- tain Hutter ordered to Fort Keys, with his company ; and Lieu- tenant Walker and ten men. Captain Kello, Lieutenants McClay and Parker, to remain. Captain Kerr remains sick. " December 7. Started at ten o'clock, with five days' pro- visions, cooked — five on pack mules. Crossed the Oc-hbl-wa- coochee at eleven; water knee-deep, and boggy; three mules bogged ; Captain Scriven's pack thrown into the water, lost his sugar and bread. V/aited till one — Big Cypress close by— - marched through water all the afternoon, and stopped at the only dry place in sight at half-past four ; Pine Island ; camp of Waxie Hadjo, when routed out by the navy ; Colonel Worthy with part of Captain Kerr's company, continued to some other island — on his way to Major Childs. THE FLORIDA WAR. 361 " December 8. Lieutenant Gore, with sixteen men (two from each company being left), and ten of Captain Thornton's dra- goons, to remain to guard the pass ; Lieutenants Sheppard and Brown remain sick ; we marched with all our packs at seven ; waded a mile through cypress islands, and came to a thin growth of cypress, which is the edge of the Cypress : for the next two miles it was wet, but otherwise good marching — as the growth of cypress is thin and small, and there are frequent openings ; at two miles we came to a pine island, where Waxie Hadjo's trail came in from the north — his old village is a mile off We here took a drink (from a bottle the colonel sent us) to the suc- cess of the expedition. We were from ten till one o'clock march- ing the next mile, as the cypress, &c., was very boggy. The mules threw off their packs frequently : the next five miles we had to stop occasionally, but got along very well ; in some places the mules and horses bogged, or sunk their feet between lime- stone rocks — great wonder they did not cut their legs. We came across three or four old Indian camps in the pine ridges : the mules were very much fatigued ; some stopped at four o'clock, at the extremity of the Pine Ridge. The men drew one day's provisions, to lighten their packs. " December 9. Started from camp at nine, and marched two miles, when we came to a cabbage island in which Waxie Hadjo had a small camp last November. When an Indian discovered Captain Guynn's command at Fort Deynaud, they immediately decamped and went east into the Cypress : marched a mile further and came to a pine island, when we struck S. E. and approached the Cypress again (three miles) ; when within one hundred yards of the edge went south a mile, and came to an- other pine island, where we discovered a large (white man's) trail which went a quarter of a mile west — and there a camp was discovered ; suppposed to be the navy ; looks to be a day old. We steered back a short distance towards the w^est and then south half a mile, and halted at three o'clock on a pine island. Waxie Hadjo's village is on a pine island, near where we ap- proached the Cypress. Major Belknap went to it, and discovered some old bark sheds. We leave the mules and horses here under Lieutenant Steele, and six men from each company. Major Graham goes with his command to some fields west from here, and we go under Major B. to the council-ground ; three days' rations. We travelled to-day over a large, open tract of coun- try, covered with pine, cabbage, and oak islands ; the ground is generally wet and damp — the water has evidently fallen a great deal. The Cypress was in sight continually on the left bearing north and south, and on the right it was barely visible ; where we are now encamped, however, appears to be the southern ex- 362 THE FLORIDA WAR. tremity of the open tract. Three large fires were seen in our rear this afternoon, supposed to be signal-fires. " December 10. Left camp at seven, with three days' rations in our haversacks : Thornton, McCall, Emery, Scriven, Gates, McKavitt, and Reeves, (Sampson and Passack guides,) steered about south 10 west for four miles, through alternate cypress belts and pine and cabbage openings — water from one to two feet deep ; we then came to two islands of very thick pine and cabbage growth — water for one hundred yards between them about three feet ; we here waited for some time to hold council, and take lunch ; Pine Island close by (S. W.) ; started at eleven, in two columns — McCall, with McKavitt and Emory, taking to the right, with Passack ; to come on the trail to the west of the Prophet's town, we went south half a mile and came to a cab- bage island S. ; turned the west end, and passed between it and another on the right, where were some old Indian huts in the Cypress : here left our packs, with four men from each com- pany, turned through and steered west along the south side of the island, half a mile ; then steered south, and went through a cabbage and cypress island (very thick) — water knee-deep ; came across some old huts : a quarter of a mile further on, came to a run or hole (four feet deep) ; after crossing it, we came upon the town, N. W.,— when in a few minutes we were met by Captain McKavitt, who came in from the west ; Captain McCall came in shortly after from the S. W. There are about fifty huts in the Prophet Hospitaiky's villages, and Waxie Hadjo's fields, which extend three-quarters of a mile north and south. We found pumkpins, beans, some rice, tobacco, and corn. The town has not been occupied for about two months ; we sent back for our haversacks, and encamped for the night in the town. The ma- jor occupied Assinaway's hut; Reeve, Darne, Burbank, and myself, Fuse Hadjo's ; Emory, McCall, and Thornton,' Waxie Hadjo's. Scriven went back two miles to Sam Jones's town (east), which is in a pine and cabbage island — and destroyed it ; there were about twenty huts there (musquitoes and fleas very thick). An express (Pas-sac-e-mico) arrived from Colonel Worth, about an hour by sun — he formerly lived here. ''December 11. The guides and two Indians went round the camp this morning, and discovered the track of ten Indians going N. W. some days old. McCall with Sampson, and Reeve with Passacce have gone out to examine the country, and endeavor to find which direction the Indians have taken. Major Graham and Captain Earned, left with us yesterday ; but went west to some fields (John Phillip, guide). The country around has at one time been very dry, as we find huts in the Cypress where the water is now a foot deep — and there are traces of a fire THE FLORIDA WAR. 353 through the cypress and cabbage. We also saw signs where the water was a foot higher not a great while ago. Reeve returned about one, having been to Sam Jones's town, which is southeast from here. He went two miles further on southeast a'nd east, and discovered a large pumpkin field in a hammock; saw the tracks of two men and a woman, followed the trail for a short distance, and then lost it — it appeared to be six or seven days old. He saw the council-ground, where the dancing-ring was. The Indians said there were about one hundred and fifty men, and showed where the ring was — it was much worn, and large. Cap- tain McCall returned at four, P. M. He left on the west side, and then struck south into that trail. He went about fifteen miles altogether, but not more than six miles in a direct south direc- tion. He found a trail of seven men and a woman, followed it some time and then they scattered — he followed one for two miles, and then lost it : in hunting for it, he came across a pumpkin field of about two acres, and four huts ; he also found one other field — he says the trail was about a week old. The country is about the same as that we have come across — rather better if any thing. When he started to come back, he could see an extensive pine ridge on his right, and the Cypress on his left — approaching each other in a southwesterly direction. This afternoon we destroyed all the fields and huts except those we occupied, as we may want them again — I should judge there were about twenty-five acres destroyed. We killed two snakes, eight feet long — they are very abundant through the country. ''December 12. We started at half past seven back; we left at the north trail, and then steered northeast : the entrance here is not so bad as the one we came in on, especially if you keep a little to the right of the trail (coming in) ; our course to camp was about N. 20° E. ; we came into our old trail between the two cabbage islands, where we held the consultation — ^reached camp about eleven : found Major Graham had got in at twelve yester- day, having gone about seven miles west by south to a pumpkin field of three acres (a dozen huts) ; country same as that we travelled through ; found an express in camp^Waxie Hadjo's people were within a few miles of Tampa, coming in. Nea- thlock Emathlo's people were also coming in — his two nephews have been killed by the Mic-a-sukies. Creeks are coming in next month. "Bowlegs" is with the Prophet somewhere in this direction. Ransom and Steele took all the mules and horses back to Camp Gore, where Ransom and the horses are to re- main ; the mules return with Steele with provisions, to form a depot from which we are to operate. ''December 13. Scriven left with his company for the Pro- phet's landing, on the navy trail, to communicate with Captain 364 THE FLORIDA WAR. Wright. He found at the navy camp a letter directed to Colonel Worth, from McLaughlin, dated December 2d, at the landing, saying that Rodgers had gone on board with part of his com- mand. We broke up our camp at eleven, and came three-quar- ters of a mile east to another pine island, as we had used up all the wood, and it was rather wet for camp ground. ''December 14. Captain Larned went with his company S. E. on a scout, and found a trail, on which he continued. Captain McKavitt went to Waxie Hadjo's town, and struck N. E. through the Cypress three or four miles, till he came to a prairie two or three miles long ; found a large trail five or six days old, going south. " December 15. Reeve returned at nine, with six days' rations; we start to-morrow with seven days' on our backs. Browne came, and is to remain in charge. Reeve goes back to-day for more rations. Larned returned about twelve M. ; he went in a S, E. direction twelve miles, then four south, part of the time on an old trail ; returned in a N. W. direction ; saw nothing of im- portance ; the first twelve miles was mostly in a cypress, some parts very bad; when he struck south the country was more open, consisting of wet prairie, pine and cabbage islands, and thus it continued back towards camp. Reeve went back with the mules for more provisions. ''December 16. All ready at sunrise to start south, but were detained till eleven by a heavy rain. Scriven arrived at half- past ten ; did not see Wright, but left a letter for him ; says the navy trail led him thirty miles ; coming back he cut off, and made it twenty. Left at eleven, in two columns, with our seven days' provisions on our backs (heavy loads) ; Major Graham's, Cap- tain Larned's, Emory's, and Burbank's companies, left column ; Thornton, McCall, Gates, and McKavitt, right column ; marching, paraded ten paces apart; flankers. Reached Prophet's town about three. Our guides are Holatoochee, Suti Mico, Halleck Yahola, and Sampson. Holatar travelled over the country when a youth, hunting ; he is the only one who knows any thing of the country. He says the country S. E. is open, and therefore the Indians will not hide there ; but towards the S. and S. W. there are bad hammocks, and they may be there. " Deceinber 17. Left camp in a westerly direction, and v/ent through the Cypress a mile (S. W. course) ; we then steered about S. 10 west, after coming upon a wet prairie, cabbage and pine- islands on the right ; limestone very frequent during the day. We halted at ten, for twenty minutes, and lunched, after having come about four miles ; a mile further on we came to an Indian camp, rather old ; from here we skirted the pine-barren on our left. The pine extends some distance east, but I should judge not THE FLORIDA WAR. 365 more than four miles, and then the Cypress commences ; on our right, about two or three miles off, extends the Cypress southerly ; near it are oak-islands ; a large open prairie ; the ground is so soft, that you can push a stick four feet down with the greatest ease ; water about six inches deep nearly all the way. The dis- tance of eight miles from camp is well marked by an oak-island on the left, and a single cabbage-tree on the right, each about three hundred yards off. We here struck towards the west two miles till we came to the Cypress. The pine on the left and cy- press on the right approach at this place. We pass down a short distance through a little prairie, with a cypress island on the left, and the main Cypress on the right, to a pine island or ridge, which is the only place to camp for some distance ; accordingly we halt at one o'clock. We have been following a trail made by four or five Indians, all day. Scriven came up about three o'clock, having left the depot at sun-up. Two racoons and a large rattlesnake were killed to-day; a ground-rattlesnake was killed whilst making my bivouac. ^'December 18. Left camp about seven, and went through a spur of cypress to the right, about three hundred yards ; we then followed a trail towards the north, through the pine for a mile and a half, when v/e came to a camp which had not been occupied more than four days. We then struck westerly through a thick cypress for a mile, when we came upon a low wet prairie, about two miles in diameter westerly, and four northerly ; we steered N. N. W. across it, and halted on a cabbage island to lunch, near the N. W. end. There are a few pine islands towards the N., and one or two southerly. Holatar says there is a lake (Fish- catching) near the latter. We went westerly through a thin spur of cypress, and continued, through wet prairie and scattered cy- press, nearly two miles, till we came to a thick point of cabbage, &c., on the edge of the cypress on the left. We then struck north, with cypress on both sides (two hundred yards on each side), for a mile ; the country then opened more, the cypress on the left receding about a mile and a half, the pine-barren appear- ing on the right about three miles. We marched about three miles, and came to a pine and cabbage strip, connecting the two sides of the prairie ; we here found another camp, rather fresher ; rested here for twenty minutes, and passed through (two hundred yards) and again struck the prairie, the pine-barren running around towards the N. and N. W., and apparently meeting the cypress about four miles off. There are numerous strips of thin pine and cabbage on the left, near the cypress, running N., and to our right there are cabbage and oak islands. We marched about a mile further and camped. Major Graham's column on one pine and cabbage island, and ours on another one hundred yards 366 THE FLORIDA WAR. north ; dry wood rather scarce. The ground to-day was very wet and spongy, the marching therefore very hard. We have been following the trail of a child about six years old, all day. There are apparently four or five men, a woman, and two chil- dren, one of which is occasionally carried ; signs about three or four days old. We had to halt frequently to find the trail, as they scattered often. ''December 19. Left camp about seven, and steered W. N. W. for a mile and a half, when we found another camp. We then entered the cypress, and went W. S. W. for five miles through ; it was very thick, and the water about knee-deep nearly all the way ; when about the centre, we found the water up to our waists, with a strong current to the south ; bottom clear and hard; no doubt a river. We emerged, at the end of the five miles, upon a high ground covered with cabbage and pine ; the signs much fresher. We continued W. S. W., the country cov- ered with scattered pine and cypress, ground low and wet. We found an old camp of six huts (only one whole) a mile further on. We marched about three miles from the swamp, and halted on a pine-strip, the ground wet. " December 20. Started from camp about seven ; went west- erly a mile and a half through thin pine and cabbage, till we came to the edge of the cypress ; we here were halted by the firing of a musket on the left, shortly after, another, and another ; it proved to be a flanker who got lost ; he was not paying atten- tion when we took a turn north ; after waiting an hour or more, and hunting for him, he came up. We then entered the swamp westerly, went a mile nearly, and came to a flag-pond, (very bad place to get through,) water waist-deep ; after emerging from it a short distance, we came upon an Indian camp, with signs of the day before ; rested a short time, and then pursued the trail through pine, oak, and cabbage-hammock a mile and a half, then through swamp another mile and a half; there found evident signs of the Indians. The guides refused to go in front. We went half a mile further, when the cypress was more open on the trail, a large flag-pond one hundred yards to the left, aud a small one imme- diately on the right, water nearly waist-deep. Here the advance were fired upon by about twenty Indians, who were posted about forty yards in front and to the left, behind the cypress. Sergeant Down of my company was shot dead at the third shot ; the ball hit just above his left collar-bone, and cut the artery ; he was in the advanced guard, next to Lieutenant Johnson. Foster, of D company, 4th infantry, was shot also in the advance ; was shot in his right arm, and the ball passed through the left ; shot dead. The Indians ran, after the first fire, to the left and right ; some companies pursued a short distance, and returned, as the thicket THE FLORIDA WAR. 367 was very dense. I went back, and after finding the dead bodies, brought assistance and carried Down to camp, which was in the one where the Indians were evidently just making preparations for a permanent camp. A sentinel fired at night; the men turned out promptly ; no cause of alarm discovered. ''December 21. We started this morning, and carried the bo- dies as far as the second flag-pond, and there sunk them — very hard work taking them through the cypress. We reached the edge of the cypress (where the flanker fired) about 12. We then turned a small cypress and went northerly. Captain Thorn- ton had been taken with chills and fever the day before, and now had to be put into a blanket and carried. We went three miles, and discovered Captain Hutter's trail, leading S. W. into the cy- press, but one day old, apparently ; marched a mile further, and camped near some small cypress. Marching, since we left the cypress, pretty good ; pine most of the way. " December 22. Started at seven, and went northerly through the cypress. We march six miles through thin cypress and pine islands. We halted to lunch on a piney point, a large extent of thin cypress. We then went two miles, and came to a pine-bar- ren and two or three cabbage-trees. A pine-tree was blazed at nine miles. Wagons can come here. A mile further we came to a cypress, bordered with oak scrub. Horse trail (Walker's) discovered. We steered easterly through pine and thin cypress belts two miles, and two more through prairie, and reached Fort Keas at four, P. M., the men and officers much fatigued, and out of provisions — some the day before. Lieutenant Arnold in com- mand, with fourteen dragoons and six infantry sick. Captain Hutter, with his command, gone on a six days' scout. We had half a barrel of biscuit divided in the command, and an express sent to depot No. 1, ten miles, for rations. We went to Arnold's tent, and ate every thing he had in short order. Captain Sibley and Lieutenant McClay arrived at half past ten, P. M., with pro- visions. " December 24. Started at eight for depot No. 1, where we arrived at twelve ; course about N. N. E. Found Kello, Sibley, r.IcClay, Dr. Simpson, and Kerr there ; they invited us all to dinner ; went by reliefs, and ate enormously, as the dinner was excellent. " December 25. Lieutenant Parker, with seven or eight In- dians, arrived from Fort Simmons. The train from the depot ar- rived shortly after ; received two bottles of whisky from Munroe, by Parker, who brought a few more in his saddle-bags ; the crowd came to my tent at night, and we had a little whisky punch. " December 29. Started at eight, with packs, in four columns, the order in which we entered the main Cypress, Captains Hutter and Emory rear guard. We marched in a S. S. W. direction, 368 THE FLORIDA WAR. through occasional cypress and pine-barren; marching rather good ; several showers during the day. The packs and dragoons got along pretty well until near the close of the march, when we went through a boggy cypress ; we came about twelve miles, and camped on a pine and cabbage ridge ; about a mile westerly of our camp on the 21st, we passed through Walker's camp, on the other side of the boggy Cypress. " December 30. The columns all ready at sunrise, but some trouble arose about the Indians, &c. ; they are not willing to go. All the men who are likely to fail, are left. Captain Kello, with his company, and Sheppard, who was quite sick, are at Fort Doune. Reeve's company stay here. I left five men, with mules, or pioneers, and Sergeant Edwards and three men, sick. Gore and Brown remain ; cannot stand the tramp. Tom Johnson, who started on Christmas day for Fort Simmons, has not returned, so he is supposed to be sick. After a speech from Major Belknap, we all started, about half past ten. Captains Hutter and Emory's companies go south, round the Cypress to Malco river. Easton and Foote, officers. Guides — Parsackemicco, Tustenugge Ma- ha, Suti Mico, and Isaac. The other three columns go together to the camp on the 20th. Scriven, who was in command of one column, was unable to proceed after a short distance, so returned, and left McKavitt in command of it. We arrived at the edge of the Cypress about one, and lunched ; the march was hard, as the heat was intolerable. Corporal Green gave out ; I sent him back. We went through the Cypress, and camped at the Indian village about three. Captain Larned came up, quite sick. Major Gra- ham had a talk with the Indians at night, and found them quite loth to leave Holatar. Gave Larned some whisky and sugar — cured his chill. '' December 21. Started at sunrise, in three columns ; passed through the Cypress ; course about W. N. W. ; found, previous to starting, that Captain Larned was too unwell to proceed with us. A corporal and six men, and three others, were left with him; one of them, my man. Sergeant Proper, went with him through the Cypress. The corporal and six men returned, and he proceeded to Camp Foster. When we reached the dead bodies, found that they had been disturbed, clothes torn, bodies dismem- bered ; some suppose Indians ; and some, alligators ; the latter, I think. We reached the Indian camp, just to the left of ours, about naif past nine, and halted till ten ; found more trouble with the Indians ; they did know the country, did not like to go in front, and wished to go with the chief, and some pretended to be sick ; finally, however, persuaded them to divide, Tustenugge-Hadjo and Christian going with McKavitt ; Sampson, Cotza- Tustenug- ge, Holata-Fixico, and another, with McCall; Holatar, John, THE FLORIDA WAR. 359 and two others, with Graham. McKavitt has his company, and D company, 8th infantry, commanded by McClay. McCall, my- self, and Darne, the second ; Graham's company, D, commanded by Berry, and Larned's, commanded by Haller. The 1st, Mc- Kavitt left us here, and went S. S. W., by the flag pond ; we went through our camp, and then Graham struck off to the west, while we went S. W. We proceed about a mile and a half through a dense thicket, composed of oak, cabbage, pine, vines, and palmettoes. We then went a mile through a thick cypress swamp, S. S. W. We then came out into a small prairie, with small cypress to the left, and small cypress and pine to the right. We proceeded through this and a small strip of cypress, when we discovered Major Graham's column to our right, in a small prairie ; we met at the other side, in another small strip of cypress ; held a short talk, and proceeded a short distance to a small prai- rie ; the first column took to the right, and we went south. Came to a cypress, and found a track of three Indians, about two days old ; followed it a few hundred yards,, and came to McKavitt's trail ; he was a short distance to our right, taking a lunch ; did not see him. We followed the trail a short distance further, and concluded it unnecessary to do so any longer, as it was going south towards Hutter's trail. We then struck S. W., through a small prairie ; then into a big cypress ; skirted it northerly a short distance, and came to a small prairie. Here a gun was fired — found that in our sudden turnings, one of my flankers had got lost. Major Graham hailed us from a pine island ahead ; good place to camp, and probably, the chief said, the only one for some distance. Sent Sergeant Nash and six men to hunt for flanker ; he returned with him shortly after we got into camp. McKavitt joined us shortly after, so we all camped together. This island is called Muster Island. Pretty way, this, of spending new years eve ; nothing but ham or pork, hard bread and onions, and that brought in our knapsacks. "January I, 1842. We all started this morning and entered the- Cypress together, in a south-westerly direction. McKavitt left us after we had marched about half a mile (to the left). We marched through a dense cypress swamp, about two miles and a half, then came to a pine and cabbage ridge. Our column here struck to the left, headed round a small cypress, passing over McKavitt's trail. The Indians would not go to the front, so we endeavored to steer by compass, S. by W. through a dense cy- press swamp, and occasional pine and cabbage thickets ; the lat- ter is much the worst, as the vines and undergrowth is very hard to force through. After emerging from the swamp, we came into a more open country, composed of low pine (ground damp), interspersed with small cypress swamps. We proceeded till ten 24 370 THE FLORIDA WAR. minutes of eleven, to the edge of a cypress, and halted to lunch. We had passed McKavitt's trail about a mile and a half back, in the swamp ; he was steering about S. S. W. After about twenty- minutes, Major Graham joined us ; he had got on a trail, followed it to a camp, found the signs about two days old, but they had scattered so, that after hunting half ah hour, they could not tell which way to follow, so kept on the original course. We stopped till about twenty minutes past eleven, and proceeded together, in order to take advantage of Holatar's guidance through a thick cypress. The first half mile the trees were rather small, but the vines and scrub were extremely thick ;. the latter part the trees became larger and more open ; we went about a mile through, and then, after a talk, concluded to proceed direct to Malco, near to each other. Holatar seemed to think we could get there before sundown. The major, on our right, struck McKavitt's trail, and continued on its course, about S. W. We marched about a quar- ter of a mile apart, through thin cypress and low pine, interspers- ed ; we went very fast, and the heat was great ; the men were very much fatigued. After marching about six miles, we came to a rather dry pine point of a small ridge, and camped, about an hour and a half by sun. The Cypress runs around us, just by our bivouacks, which are made of small palmettoes. Sampson, the interpreter, is quite sick. McKavitt is about an hour ahead of us ; the water is clear in his trail ; some of the men, after dark, said they saw his fires, apparently about three hundred yards off, through the Cypress. The major wishes to go back to where he lost the Indians' tracks, and try to follow them. McCall is of the same opinion, but after consulting Holatar, he says he thinks we had better go on, and bear round to the south, and if they have gone southerly, we most probably will see signs of them ; if not, we will know they have gone northerly, and can beat about returning. According to all data, we should be close to Malco. Holatar has not been there since a young man, and therefore does not recollect the country distinctly. The Indians are determined not to go in front except where there is no probable danger ; so we have gone most of the way by compass, and as we have to wind about so much in the thickets, we make rather bad work. I think our general course to-day has been about S. S. W. ; proba- bly a little more west. According to my ideas, we should have steered about W. S. W. from the start. " January 3. Started this morning early (no sun) : Holatar steered first N. E., and after marching some distance we found he was steering S. E. ; he finally halted, and said, he could not tell exactly which way to go, as the sun was not out ; we set him right ; almost immediately after, we discovered Captain Hutter's trail ; Christian, a guide, started on it, as it was fresh. THE FLORIDA WAR. 37 1 and returned after we struck it again on a pine island, where they had rested a short time before we saw them — and shortly- after, some of his Indians joined us. He was steering about E. N. E. ; we started again, after a lunch, and proceeded among cypress trees, pine, and scrub, for half a mile, till we came to an oak island on our right ; here we blew the bugle for Captain Hutter, as we thought him near — no answer ; we then entered a cypress, rather open, and running about N. E., apparently about three miles wide, as we could occasionally see pine to the right and left before we entered it. Holatar said, he would be guided by compass ; accordingly. Roach, a sailor of my com- pany, went with him, but he soon gave it up : he went pretty near N. E. for three miles in the Cypress — water knee-deep, and then began to steer wild : he went E., then S. E. S., and finally S. W. till he struck a pine and cabbage ridge, where we halted an hour (about one o'clock). We then went through a small pine ridge, plenty of scrub, steering N. N. E. for half a mile ; got into the old cypress, with deep water ; went a mile and a half to a pine strip ; the cypress grew more open and smaller as we approached the pine, which appeared to extend to the right and left. We crossed the strip fifty yards, and struck a small prairie, •with stunted pine on its edge, half a mile N. E. ; then a pine ridge, high ground, where we camped. " January 4. Started early this morning, and expect to reach Camp Foster about four o'clock ; we went in a N. E. direction for a mile, winding around some small cypress ; then struck a deep cypress, which extended for half a mile ; then through a thick thicket and cypress, for two or three miles : one of the thickets, for one hundred yards, is the worst we have passed yet — as in addition to the vines, the bottom is composed of rocks, which are very dangerous, as you run a risk of breaking your shins ; we emerged from the thicket and cypress into a small scat- tered cypress, with pine on the right (E. N. E.) ; we crossed that to a piney point, which runs to where we saw the Indian village on the previous scout ; we then went for half a mile through thick cypress, and came to the lily pond, which here is much deeper, bu{ harder bottom, than below ; after passing through it and twenty yards of cypress, we came to the piney and cabbage ridge ; half a mile further brought us to our camp, where we found Reeve, Brown (who was quite sick), Burbank, and Gore. Hutter came in about an hour after ; as he came through the battle ground! it appears that he, after we saw his trail, steered due east, and struck an old trail about three miles below the Indian camp. Major B. has ordered Major Graham to break up this depot. " January 5. Started about eight for Fort Doune ; McCall and 372 THE FLORIDA WAR. myself in rear of mules — fine business ; reached Fort Doune about three o'clock ; got an invitation from Thornton to dinner — very acceptable. He and Arnold, vv^ith the two companies, are to start immediately on a ten days' scout around Billy Bovt^legs' landing (got away an hour by sun) ; found Johnson had re- turned— had been sick ; Scriven, recovered ; Larned, a little better ; Sheppard, quite well ; another scout on hand. " January 6. Train goes for more provisions, Easton in com- mand ; wrote some important letters, and with Haller's assistance drew off my notes for Captain McCall's and Major Graham's reports: the Indians gone to the mangroves in their opinion; Colonel Worth orders us to exterminate or capture — no chance. ''January 1. Private McKenzie came in this afternoon, weak and exhausted— had nothing to eat for two days ; says, that on the third day (January 3d) he was sitting down eating, about noon, heard an axe, went to see what it was, and discovered two Indians in an open cypress, cutting a canoe ; it was on skids, and was marked with black lines ; he went off as fast as possible, got into a thicket, which took him three or four hours to get through ; he struck Captain Hutter's trail about two hours by sun, followed it till he came to Captain McKavitt's camp ; got bothered, took the left trail (ours), and came to Fort Foster, where he slept ; he took the track to the swamp, and got to the Indian village before he saw his error; then came back, and took the correct road ; thinks he can take us to where the In- dians are. " January 8. Received orders this morning about nine, to pick out such of the men as had shoes, and could stand a hard scout ; Major Graham to start with two hundred men ; Captains McCall and Scriven in command of the two columns, of two companies each ; myself, McClay, Armistead, and Darne, go with McCall ; Johnson, Reeve, and Burbank, with Scriven — Dr. Wood, surgeon — Passac-Mico, John, and Isaac, guides. We left about one o'clock, after providing our men with such shoes as could be got by exchanging with the men who remained. We reached Fort Foster after a hard march, after dark ; Captain McCall and my- self, with fifteen men — the only ones that kept up — took the trail, and got into our old camp; we took the back trail (which we could hardly see), and a quarter of a mile brought us in sight of the fires, which some of the men (who had followed the right track) had made. Scriven and the mules came up half an hour after ; some of the men did not get in till next morning (they stopped after dark) ; five days' rations were here issued, making seven days' in all. " January 9. After some consultation as to the shortest route to McKavitt's camp (where we were to take the boy, and then THE FLORIDA WAR. 373 question him), I proposed to take the route we came in on the last scout, to, where Captain Hutter's trail crossed, and then fol- low his to the camp, as it is the straightest and most open. We accordingly started at eight, in four columns, advance of twenty men ; Armistead and McClay, with company C, 4th, on the right ; McCall, myself, and Darne, with company I, 8th, next ; then the advance, Graham, Scriven, and Johnson, with D, 8th; Reeve, and Burbank, and B, 8th, on the left. We did not have much trouble breaking the trail through the thickets, as we had done so before. We reached our old camp (six miles) about eleven ; halted to eat for an hour ; men quite tired ; very hot — Armistead pretty nigh giving out. Started again and went three miles, where we had to halt for Armistead, who had stopped behind. Sent back Isaac, a corporal, and four men for him ; did not come up for an hour — a man taken with craaip in the mean time. As it was now two o'clock, and no other place to camp for three miles through swamps, the major concluded to camp. The island was covered with thick scrub, so that we had some difficulty in clearing a way. As we found that a number of the men were likely to give out, the major proposed to send them back under Lieutenant McClay, who had a violent diarrhoea. Armistead would not cave in, so the major concluded to let him go on. "January 12. Started at seven (the sick man well enough to march) ; soon came to the mangroves, which presented a beau- tiful appearance : we v/ere marching through tall grass, with in- numerable islands to the right and left, extending as far as the eye could see. Our trail led in an easterly direction, crossing the point and between the islands, v/hich are covered with cabbage, a few pines, and low mangroves. The water in the grassy prairies is from an inch to two feet deep. In some places there are open- ings or channels through the grass, which some think might be passages for canoes. I do not believe so, as such passages are very common in high grass, made by the main current of water when it is high (as in the rainy season). We went five miles, and then came to a small spot of cypress ; could see the main cypress approaching from the north (running westerly) : after passing through we came upon a large prairie, with a large cypress clearly defined bordering the east, and running as far as we could see to the southward. We went north a mile, and came to a small piney island, and there found Captain Hut- ter's camp, as described by the boy — cabbage stump and all. Here we took a lunch : the cypress here approached from the north and west. We went northerly over the prairie for three miles, with large cypress on each side, about two miles off"; on each hand here they are joined by scattered cypress, and pass 374 THE FLORIDA WAR. through a short distance to a small island surrounded by cypress and prairie : this is where Hutter lunched on the 1st instant, and where the boy slept on the 3d — where he struck the trail is about four miles from here, he thinks. We then went three miles through scattered cypress, and pine and cabbage thickets, which join the two main Cypresses, which' here run about four miles from each other : then came to wet prairies ; in one of these the boy came on the trail, hunted some time for it, but did not find it — the guides apparently not at all desirous of doing so. Dr. O'Niel was again taken with ague ; so, as it was getting late, we went a mile further to a cabbage island, and camped. ''January 13. Sent Corporal Chappin back with the sick man, and twelve men ; only a short distance to Fort Foster. We started back to find the trail ; went three miles through the prai- ries, and after much trouble found the track — followed it a short distance to the swamp, and then endeavored to get the guide Passac to follow it : said he could not — too much water, and thicket. Major G. swore at him, and determined to go ahead westerly through the swamp ; cannot be more than eight miles through — guide says, ' mighty bad place :' went a mile, when one of the negroes started us near a lily pond, by shooting a deer : went a mile further, and were stopped by a large lily pond, boggy bottom : Isaac went up a tree, and said that it was about two miles broad, and extended to the north and south quite broad — evidently the extension of the lily pond through which we have crossed further up ; it extended south some distance : we then struck north along it, and then towards the east ; struck our trail about a mile from camp, reached it about three, and encamped. " January 14. Started early, went two and a half miles, and came to Hutter's camp ; a mile further brought us to our old camp on the 19th December. Struck off to the north, and a mile brought us to Fort Foster ; reached camp, in four miles, at ten o'clock ; found Hutter there with three companies ; McKavitt, McClay, Sheppard, Emory, and Foote, and Dr. Madison, ordered to remain; commanders of companies to go immediately to Fort Doune, to draw clothing, &c., for the men ; Graham, McCall, Scriven, Reeve, and myself, went up ; Reeve, Scriven, and my- self, on mules ; got there about three. Thornton had just got back from his scout. Heard that Easton had gone with some thirty men, to join Captain Brown at Malco, to march through to Fort Foster ; we are then to go on another scout. ''January 15. Waiting for an express; Alligator and his In- dians left for Istopoga, to find some Indians supposed in that direction. Holatar remained. " February 1 . Arrived at Fort Simmons about eleven ; found ther^ McCall, Sibley, Gore, Larned, Birdsall, and Parker. The THE FLORIDA WAR. 375 men got pretty blue on wine, porter, &c., (none better entitled to indulgence.) Major Belknap gone to Tampa, to endeavor to have the troops go by land, and scour the country along Istopoga. Two Indians came in belonging to Hospetarke's tribe ; families five days' march. " February 4. Steamer De Russett arrived, with Major Bel- knap? Can, Cochran, part of Larned's company, and Captain Mont- gomery, Hanson and company. Scriven and myself go down in the boat. Kello and Reeve march to Fort Harney, and there take the Adams, which, after landing Wright and command at Punta Rossa, will take Kello and Captain Brown's command. Major Belknap, with Major Graham, McCall, Montgomery, and Kerr, go through by land, scouring on the way. Alligator and party it seems caught eight Indians near Istopoga, and let them go, on promise of meeting them with their packs ; they did not come back, however, so the major hopes to catch them ; they are Assina- way's band. They say that none but Bowlegs' party are in the Cypress. I found at Fort Simmons a man of mine, who got lost at Fort Foster ; he reached Prophet's town on the third day, and the fort three days after, nearly dead, having had nothing to eat but two birds. The two Indians say they saw him at Kelio's camp. " February 5. Kello and Reeve started at daybreak ; reached the boat at ten. Major Belknap was to leave immediately after us, Cochran to remain,, with part of Larned's company, and Gore, commissary. We reached the bar, five miles from Fort Harvie, about three, and, as expected, (being loaded down with every thing,) we ran hard and fast aground. I took ten men in one boat, Johnson ten in the other, and rowed to the fort. The Adams came up shortly after ; she took the flat and three macki- naws in tow for the bar ; got about two miles up, when the cap- tain, who had taken the wrong channel, grounded, and turned round. We then manned the flat, &c., and reached our boat about an hour after dark ; we then landed all the men on the shore, and filled the boat wdth the stores, and landed some. We were not enabled to get off" till we took every thing out, and, for- tunately, having a very high tide, at twelve at night on the 6th we got off*. We then had to take the stores and men a mile, two of our boats having been taken by the Adams, to load her with wood. Reeve came up to us on the 6th, having arrived on the 5th. Brown's company, with Easton, Lovell and Edes, were on board the Adams. They say that Lincoln arrived at Fort Fos- ter, on our trail from Malco, on the 30th, in the evening, same day we left. Edes went to the camp on the Malco the evening Graham left, (27th.) Malco river is only three miles long, two miles below Graham's camp. 376 THE FLORIDA WAR. " February 7. Got all aboard by daylight, (having worked two nights and a day,) and reached Fort Harvie about seven. Adams just gone, and taken all but four cords of wood ; have to wait till sixteen cords can be hunted. The Harney had arrived at Punta Rossa, to take Wright's command round to Fort Pierce. Hanson sick at Fort Simmons, "Thus ended the Big Cypress campaign, like all others: drove the Indians out, broke them up, taught them we could go where they could ; men and officers worn down ; two months in water ; plunder on our backs ; hard times ; trust the}^ are soon to end. Hear of good success at Fort Brooke. Tiger- Tail and Nethlockemathlar surrendered. Coacooche and Hospetarke gone. Indians asking for peace in all quarters. The only rew^ard we ask is the ending of the Florida war." The letters of Captain McClellan, topographical engineers, are given, as describing a section of country imperfectly known, as also portions of Lieutenant McLaughlin's correspondence, and the reports of Lieutenant J. B. Marchand, and John Rodgers^ U. S. navy, showing the co-operation of the Florida squadron. " Tampa Bay, Nov. 4th, 1841. " Sir — I have the honor to inclose herewith, a map of a re- connoissance of the Carlosahatchee, made in obedience to order No. 20, dated the 6th October last. "In the course of the time taken up in preparing for the ex- pedition to Fort Deynaud under Major Belknap, the position of the islands in Carlos Bay, as far up as to a point five miles above Punta Rossa, was fixed, and on the 15th of October the examina- tion of the river v/as commenced, and in the course of it, it was found that the channel, though a very tortuous one, has a depth of water amply sufficient for all the purposes of transportation of supplies, in steamboats, for the troops that may be stationed on and south of the river, except at two points, at which bars have formed, and which are marked as bars on the map. On our pas- sage up the river, we found but five and a half feet water on the lower, and but four and a half feet water on the upper bar, and then nearly high water. On our passage down the river, after the storm of the i9th October, when the river was higher than usual, we found six feet water on the upper, and seven on the lower bar. " From the formation of the shores of the river, at the points where the bars are formed, and from the great depth of water found by Lieutenant Humphreys, on either side of the lower one, I am inclined to think, that on examining them more minutely, deeper water may be found on both of them, and this examination THE FLORIDA WAR. 377 I had determined to make after or on our return to Punta Rossa, but the condition of the post then, after the storm of the i9th October, rendered it and the examination of Charlotte Harbor impracticable. " The banks of the river are generally high, and with the ex- ception of points at which creeks empty into it, or lagoons make from it, are dry, and covered with a growth of pine, live or scrub oak, or palmetto trees. I am respectfully, your obedient servant. Majors. Coopek, Assistant Adjutant- ) J. McCLELLAN, General, Army of Florida. ) Capt. Top. Engineers." "Fort Rarvie, East Florida, Dec. 25tli, 1841. "Sm — I beg leave to report, that on the morning of the 15th instant, in obedience to the orders of the colonel commanding, I left Fort Simmons for the purpose of making a topographical ex- amination of the Carlosahatchee, from Fort Deynaud through to Lake Oke-chobee, and of Fish-eating Creek. "On the morning of the 16th we reached Fort Thompson, about seven and a half miles above Fort Deynaud, and at the foot of Lake Thompson, on the pickets of which we found marks indicating the height of the water to have been, since the late rains, at least eight feet higher than it then was. I determined, notwithstanding, to make an effort to pass through to Oke-chobee, and proceeded in the direction of the current, north, 70° east, di- rectly towards the head of the lake, a distance of five miles, when we found our passage obstructed by floating islands of dock, and then by a dense canebrake, the latter at least from seven to nine feet above the surface of the water, and through which it was impossible to paddle the canoes, and for the men to have drawn them through was impracticable, as in many places the water was from five to nine feet deep. I spent the whole of the 16th and part of the 17th, in hunting a passage to the head of the lake, and failed in my efforts. I then sent a man up a tree, to overlook the lake, and he reported that, as far as he could see, it was a continuous canebrake, and that he could per- ceive no passage above the point v/e had reached; and I am convinced, that it is only at the highest stage of the water that such passage exists. "I have the notes that will enable me to complete the sketch of the river, to within five or six miles of the head of Lake Thompson ; and should the lowness of the water continue to prevent the examination contemplated by the colonel command- ing in his late order to me, I can obtain the sketch and notes kept by Captain McLaughlin, in his passage through to Oke-cho- bee, and from them complete the sketch to that lake, and the map 378 THE FLORIDA WAR. of the part of the territory south of this river ; and for these notes, &c., I have written by the James Adams, which left this for Malco to-day. "I waited several days at Fort Simmons, after my return from Lake Thompson, expecting that the detachment to Fish- eating-Creek, alluded to in my orders, would reach them, but it did not ; and as Major Belknap had directed a further supply of provisions to be sent to his command, I presumed he would not order the detachment for some days, and as I found that probably there would be no boat there for some days, I came here, that I might the more readily communicate with you, if necessary. I have the honor to be, respectfully. Your obedient servant, Major S. Cooper, Assistant Adjutant- General, ) J. McCLELLAN." Army of Florida, Tampa Bay. ) " Florida Expedition — Flirt, at Indian ) Key, December 26th, 1841. \ "Colonel — Lieutenant Commandant Rodgers has been di- rected to proceed in the Phoenix to Tampa, to deliver to you the enclosed dispatches, and proffer you the service of his vessel for any duty in which his co-operation can serve you. If you should have none for him, he is ordered to return to this depot at the earliest moment, with such communications as you may do me the honor to intrust to him for me. " My official report to the Honorable the Secretary of the Na- vy, of which I have the honor to enclose you a copy, will make you acquainted with the incidents of our last scout in the Ever- glades. Every thing we saw in the Cypress at the head-waters of the Locha-Hatchie, goes to establish the behef that Jones has taken shelter in the Oke-chobee, or that he is wandering about in the Alpatioke Swamp, between the Oke-chobee and Indian river. The Cypress in which he builds canoes was deserted, and had not been visited, apparently, for two months. Further on, near the source of the Locha-Hatchie, we found a canoe (unfin- ished, yet sufficiently so to be brought away) which had been abandoned for a fortnight. Further on, again, we found two ca- noes, which had been abandoned at a camp in the Cypress, the occupants of which had left it on foot, about two weeks before. Another camp had been abandoned in the same manner, at an earlier period, and the trails from all these led in one direction — north. " Under these circumstances, after receiving such information as Major Childs' present movement may furnish, I propose, if the co-operation shall meet with your approbation and consent, to concentrate my entire command, of about three hundred effective THE FLORIDA WAR. 379 men, in the Oke-chobee, approaching the point of rendezvous by either coast of the Everglades. One half the command to search the Cypress and Locha-Hatchie, and penetrate in boats or on foot as far into the Alpatioke Swamp as their means of transpor- tation will permit, and thence to fall back upon Fort Center, on Fish-eating Creek, for supplies : and the other, to scour all the southwestern mangroves and cypress, and approach the Oke-cho- bee by the head- waters of the Carlosahatchee, there to break up all the fields, and examine the islands and rice-fields I had not the time to visit on my route to the Locha-Hatchie through that country. This done, following my old trail, it will descend the S. W. shore of the Oke-chobee, and find the creek upon which the Indians have lived ; nor will it abandon the search until it is found. This can be accomplished with one month's supplies, which my boats are well able to carry ; but at the expiration of this time, I must have a depot at hand to supply me. Fort Center offers the most convenient site for this, beside being immediately at the In- dian crossing on the river. I have no means of transportation to put supplies there ; so that if you approve this movement, I must depend upon you for one month's rations for the whole force, to be deposited there by the 15th February, the movement being to commence here on the 15th January. Be pleased to communi- cate to me your view^s and wishes on this subject, or suggest any other operation in which I can render my command useful ; the harder and more hazardous the service the better. " Lieutenant Commandant Rodgers has been directed to re- quire for camp equipage for my marines, who are ejected from their barracks by the sick. Many of my men are thoroughly worn out, and condemned by a board of surgeons as unfit for service. Fifty are about being sent to northern hospitals, and we have still a sick report of one hundred. There is no disease of a malignant type known among them, but a general sinking of the system, a ' regular cave in ' of the constitution. But we will do the best with what is left. He is directed to require for ordnance stores as well as ordnance. Five out of thirty of Colt's rifles have bursted in firing, after being loaded for ten days, doing serious injury to those around. I am compelled, therefore, to return to the musket. Other small items are upon his requisitions, and I have directed him, should he find any difficulty in obtaining them, from want of necessary authority on the part of the officers in charge of the stores, to refer the case to you. " 1 regret that I cannot have the pleasure of an interview with you at this moment. I am called to Havana for two or three days, at furthest, to obtain funds for the expedition. I shall be absent from the coast, perhaps, four days, and immediately on my return shall send a party into the Mangrove lake, near Key Bis- 380 THE FLORIDA WAR. cayne, with which Chai professes to be acquainted. If any of Hotalke-Hadjo's people are there, we will have them. " I send Scipio (the negro interpreter) back in the Phoenix. He is worse than useless to me. Chai is now my only guide. His brother, taken by Captain Wade, is an excellent one, and could be induced to volunteer with Chai. I must pray you to send me at least two (with an interpreter) who will know something of the Oke-chobee, the rice-fields, three days above Billy Bow- legs' landing, and the route thence through the Everglades into the Oke-chobee. Without these we should be wandering in the dark, and perhaps defeat the very object we have in view, by blundering along, exposed to sight when we should be concealed. " I trust the successful termination of the war is still so near at hand, that our rejoicings at that event may yet mingle with the festivities of this season, of which I have the honor to wish you many happy returns. " Respectfully, Sir, I have the honor to be, JOHN T. McLaughlin, Lieut. Com'g Expe'n." Colonel W. J. Worth, ) Commanding army of Florida, &c. ) " P. S. I have omitted to mention, that as we emerged from the Cypress, on the morning of the 21st, we met Captain Vinton's guide. He had just entered the Cypress, seven days from New river ; had seen nothing, and supposed from the trails, old, and going north, that Jones had abandoned his haunt. I communicated my move- ments, by note, to Captain Vinton. "J. T. McL." " United States' Schooner Van Buren, ) Indian Key, January 27th, 1842. \ " Sir — I have the honor to inform you, that, in obedience to your orders of the 13th instant, I took the force assigned, and en- tered Florida through Shark river; proceeded from it through numerous mangrove lakes, to an old settlement on the banks of the 0-we-chat-ta river. This settlement appears not to have been occupied for three or four years past ; it is advantageously situ- ated, having^ a plentiful supply of fresh water from Vv^ells, and a communication by land is reported to Cape Sable and the hunting grounds to the eastward of that cape. " The Indian guide informed me, that the Tal-lar-so-cul-car, an island on the southern edge of the Everglades, about equidis- tant from the Miami and Shark rivers, was an occasional resort of the Indians ; and endeavoring to get there, I passed from the 0-we-chat-ta river into 0-we-had-ka-theoc-co bay, coasted along its eastern bank, and ascended the Muc-co-thee-pa river, but was unable to reach the Everglades by reason of the lowness of the THE FLORIDA WAR. 381 water. I descended it, and from the same bay entered the 0-we- ki-e-war river, and ascended to the Everglades, but could not penetrate them, for the same reason. I then returned to, and crossed the 0-we-had-ka-theoc-co bay, entered one of the mouths of the Hat-che-chop-co or Shark river, ascended to and entered the Everglades. " I found the v^ater in the Everglades so low, that it would occupy a time exceeding that limited me to reach Tal-lar-so-cul- car island, and caused me to return to the sea by the way of Harney's river. " On my return, I visited Key Largo, and found the old Indian settlement had not been occupied for some years, and the guide was unacquainted with the locality of the negro settlement. " At no time during the expedition, did I discover recent traces of Indians. " I am. Sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. MARCHAND, Lieutenant Commanding." Lieut. Com. J. T. McLau&hlin, i Commanding Florida Expedition. ) " Florida Expedition — Flirt, at Indian Key, February 1st, 1842. " Sir — Lieutenant Commandant Herndon, and Lieutenant Sloan, of marines, have been ordered to report to you with all the available force of their respective commands, prepared with thirty days' provisions, for service in the canoes. " With this force, added to the Jefferson's, you will enter the Everglades by either of the rivers emptying into Biscayne bay, and following their eastern boundary, you will examine carefully the islands and cypress adjacent thereto. You will continue this course until you reach Lake Oke-chobee. Arrived there, you will examine most carefully a creek, situated on its southern bor- ders, upon which the Indians are represented to have large fields in cultivation, and with the localities of which, one of your guides is intimately acquainted. " Should you capture any of the enemy, here or elsewhere, you are directed to use any measures of severity to compel them to lead you to the haunts of Jones, who is supposed to have re- treated upon the shores of this lake. Should you not be so fortu- nate, you w^ill examine most carefully the islands and cypress on the eastern and north shores of the lake, so far as Fort Center, on Fish-eating creek. You will reach this point in thirty days after your departure hence, and you will find there supplies and provisions awaiting you. " Lieutenant Commandant Marchand, with a detachment of the expedition, will join you at Fort Center, and in the absence of any further instructions, you will make such disposition of your 382 THE FLORIDA WAR. force as will best tend to secure the great objects of the expedi- tion, the defeat and capture of the enemy. " Respectfully, Sir, I have the honor to be, JOHN T. McLaughlin, Lieut. Com'd FVa Ex'n." Lieut. Com. John Rodgers, ) U. S. Brig Jefferson. J " Flirt, at St. Augustine, April 7th, 1842. "My dear Colonel — We arrived here last evening, and I am not a little disappointed to find I have missed you again. Infor- mation from Tampa encouraged me to hope I should find you at Pilatka, and with that view I came here. " Marchand's report, which this will accompany, will give you all the information of his recent scout on the southern boun- dary of the territory. His men are so completely prostrated, that they will scarce be able to act efficiently again before the 20th instant, and this time will be required to refit, repair, and equip, for further operations. In the mean time, accepting his supposi- tion that the Indians have taken shelter near Cape Sable, I have sent Biddle, with seventy-five men, into the mangroves on the route traversed by Marchand in January, a copy of whose report I inclosed you, with instructions to beat up the haunts there, and drive them back upon the pines, while, w^ith another detach- ment, he will keep a look-out upon the neighborhood of Cocoa- nut Island and Long Key, to prevent escape in that direction. (These localities will be explained to you by the rude diagrams I inclosed you on a former occasion.) These measures will, I hope, induce the Indians to remain quiet where they are, until I can again put my undivided strength upon them. Biddle has been cautioned particularly against disturbing them in the pines. " Rodgers had not returned from Kissimmee on the evening of the 4th, when I left Key Biscayne. His protracted stay in- duces me to hope for some success from his operations. On the 2d March he wrote from Fort Center, on Fish- eating Creek, that he was in sight of the enemy's fires, afar off", on the Kissimmee, and but awaited the return of a scouting party along the banks of the creek, to go in pursuit. He had abundance of supplies, and had not then proposed to himself a period for the termina- tion of his scout. I trust, however, that his return may be speedy. His force is required in the south. If the enemy suc- ceed in getting into the Locha Hatchee or Big Cypress country again, they w^ill very much increase the difficulties of capturing them. On the 20th I shall, with five columns of seventy men each, enter the belt of main land on which the enemy is fixed, from as many different and opposite points, and drive to the centre, and I trust in God with some success. A zeal less ardent than THE FLORIDA WAR. - 383 ours would be disheartened at the want of tangible evidences of success, which all our labors and energy have hitherto failed to command. This movement is, of course, predicated upon the supposition that ere the 20th Rodgers will have returned. If he shall not have done so, I shall then move with all my remaining force, and my arrangements will be made accordingly. In the mean time, would it seem proper to you to send down a force from Pierce, to overrun the country about and north of Lauder- dale ? If the enemy should elude us, he may seek shelter in this region, and the visit of the force will be opportune. Escape for him in the other direction will be impossible. "I shall await here until the 15th, with the hope that I may hear from you, or have the pleasure of seeing you at Pilatka, whither I am told it is possible you may return before that time. Faithfully yours, Colonel Worth, ) JOHN T. McLAUGHLIN, Commanding Army, &c., &c. ) Commanding Naval Forces.'' " Key Biscayne, March 23cl, 1842. " Sir — I have the honor to report the arrival of the forces under my command at this place. " On the 9th instant, with detachments of men from the Van Buren, Otsego, Phoenix, and Wave, I left Fort Dallas, and entered the Everglades, following the main land to the southward and westward, approaching it as near as practicable with the present low state of the water, searching the various islands for the hos- tile Indians and their settlements. On the day following I found upon a small key remote from observation, a large quantity of prepared coonti, deer-skins, articles of clothing, and cooking utensils, carefully preserved, and two cabins, vv^hich had been erected about a week previous. I destroyed every thing use- ful to the Indians, and continued in the same direction, upon the trail of four of them, travelling on foot to a small key, upon which they had encamped, remaining two nights, and had been abandoned four days previous ; their trail, which we soon lost, then leading over a rocky bottom, and through shoal water, towards Long Key. On the 11th instant, we had reached a distance of about eight miles from Cocoanut Island, when the extreme shoalness of the water rendered the canoes useless. From this point I dispatched Lieutenant-Commandants Biddle and C. R. P. Rodgers, each with detachments of men on foot, to scour the country to the southward and westward. After a nflost fatiguing march of three days they returned. The former reported, that, in company with Lieutenant-Commandant Rodgers, he followed the edge of the pine land to the southward, until reaching Cocoanut Island, where they separated, he taking a 384 THE FLORIDA WAR. westerly course, to examine the pine keys in that direction ; and on his return to the canoes, he searched the numerous islands between Long Key and the main land. He discovered no Indian trails of less than four days old, which, upon following, were lost in the pines. " Lieutenant-Commandant Rodgers reported, that upon leaving Cocoanut Island, he crossed the pine-barrens in a southerly di- rection, and penetrated some distance into the Mangrove Keys, and finding no indication of Indians, he again entered the pines, and pursued a course in it until he reached the trail he made from Fort Henry on the 26th ultimo, when he returned with his com- mand to the canoes. " On the route he pursued, no very recent indications of In- dians having been there were pereceptible. "On the 15th inst., from the same point, I dispatched Acting- Lieutenant Lovell, with a detachment of men, to proceed in a westerly course, and examine a portion of Long Key and the islands lying to the westward of it. He informed me, that soon after crossing Long Key, he struck the trail of ten Indians, lead- ing to the northward and westward, and following it, reached an island upon which they had encamped three days previous, and finding that several of his men were broken down, he was compelled to return to the canoes. No Indian settlements were seen by him. " I then concluded to continue my operations in canoes, as the men were unable to do so on foot ; in consequence of which I passed to the eastward of Long Key, near where I found a field containing about an acre, with thriving corn, &c., growing, v^^hich I destroyed ; and in the Everglades to the northward of that key, several islands, which had been inhabited and cultivated, but aban- doned from eighteen months to three years. Supposing the trail seen by Lieutenant Lovell led to the Big Cypress, I crossed the Everglades to the source of Shark river, and by a different route reached the head of the Miami, without finding any; from which circumstance I infer that the Indians are concealed some- where between Cocoanut Island and Cape Sable. " For the last forty days the officers and men under my com- mand have endured great hardships ; their exertions deserve com- mendation, and in their exhausted state they will be unable to act efficiently for some weeks. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Lieut. Com. J. T. McLAuaHLiN, ) J. B. MARCHAND, Commanding Florida Expedition. ), Lieutenant Commanding." " U. S. Brig Jefferson, Indian Key, April 12th, 1842. " Sir — In obedience to your orders to proceed to the Oke-cho- bee, and thoroughly examine the country adjacent, I have the THE FLORIDA WAR. 335 honor to report, that on the 15th of February I left Key Bis- cayne, with a detachment of men from the Madison, under Lieu- tenant-Commandant Herndon ; from the Jefferson, under Passed- Midshipman Preble ; and of marines, under Second- Lieutenant Taylor. The examination was made, but unfortunately without any success. We saw Indian towns deserted, camps abandoned, and fields uncultivated, but only once did we get near the Indians. This was on Lake Tohopkeliga ; but no sooner had the first canoe emerged from its outlet, than a large fire sprung up on the oppo- site side of the lake. Thinking it impossible that we could have been discovered, the boats were carefully concealed, and at night we made the circuit of the lake, hoping to find the fires of the Indians. Failing in this, I went around by daylight, closely examining every nook upon the lake ; but we had been seen. " The Thlo-thlo-pop-ka or Fish-eating Creek runs through an open prairie, to which it serves as a drain. As might be expected, it gives evidence of being in the wet season a large stream, but when I examined it, the volume of water it discharged was very small This stream is very tortuous, and sometimes swells into a river, and then dwindles to a brook. Its head is in a marshy prairie, where a number of streamlets run together about twenty miles, in a straight line due east to the Oke-chobee, but following the course of the creek about twice that distance. The banks of Fish-eating Creek are covered with game, and its waters filled with fish. " The Kissimmee is a deep, rapid stream, generally running through a marshy plain, but sometimes the pine land approaches its borders, and sometimes beautiful live-oak hammocks fringe its banks. The In-to-kee-tah or Deer-driving Place is a pretty little lake, with an island of perhaps one hundred acres of very fine land : * There,' said the guide, ' the Indians once lived in very great numbers, and many may yet remain ;' so our boats were con- cealed, and we waited for night to make an examination, when the fires would point out the exact position of any party ; but though appearances proved the first part of our guide's assertion, we found the town had been long deserted. " The Kissimmee is, I think, the natural drain of the immense plains which form this part of the country; but, though deep and rapid, it is quite narrow. It is something strange that very often the surface of the river is covered by floating grass and weeds, so strongly matted together that the men stood upon the mass, and hauled the boats over it, as over shoals. The Kissim- mee runs into the Oke-chobee, which filters through its spong}'' sides into the Everglades, whose waters finally, by many streams, empty into the ocean. "On the 11th April we returned to Key Biscayne, having 25 386 THE FLORIDA WAR. been living in our canoes fifty-eight da3^s, with less rest, fewer luxuries, and harder work, than fall to the lot of that estimable class of citizens who dig our canals. At Key Biscayne the various detachments were disbanded, and returned to their sev- eral commands. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. J. T. McLAUGHLm, > JOHN RODGERS, Commanding Florida Expedition. ) Lieutenant Commanding" " Head-Quarters, Army of Florida, ) Fort Brooke, June 17th, 1842. \ " Sir — In a recent communication to the department of war, I took the liberty to suggest the policy of continuing two of the smaller vessels of your squadron on service near the Penin- sula, with a rendezvous at Indian Key, for the purposes of general protection, to aid and assist wrecked or distressed vessels, and to guard against improper intercourse with such Indians as may remain on the cape, and the people of Cuba. Should you con- cur in these views, and under the instructions of the secretary of the navy consider yourself authorized, I respectfully request of you to carry them into execution on withdrawing the squad- ron. If disapproved, but slight delay or inconvenience will result, as the orders of the secretary of the navy in the case will soon be received. " I beg of you to instruct the commander, in furtherance of the pacific relations now attempted to be established with the southern Indians, on which subject you are fully advised ; and also that you will have the goodness to direct him to have occasional communication with the mihtary commander. I have the honor to be your obedient servant. Captain John T. McLaughlin, ) W. J. WORTH, Commanding Naval Forces, Coast of Florida. ) Colonel Commanding" " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, ) Cedar Keys, June 21st, 1842. j" " My dear Captain — You will receive herewith a copy of my report to the adjutant-general, of the 20th instant. " On parting with your young and accomplished comrades, I beg you to convey and make acceptable to them, the high pro- fessional and personal respect I have the honor to entertain for each. The commendation of an old soldier can do no harm, and it is for me only to regret the humbleness which gives no warrant for a more decided expression of all that is due to their gallant and uncalculating devotion in a service as painful as thankless. " May God protect, and your country promote you, is the sin- cere prayer of Most truly your friend. Captain McLaughlin, Commanding { W. J. WORTH." Naval Forces. Coast of Florida. THE FLORIDA WAR. 337 " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, Cedar Keijs, June 20th, 1842. " Sir — I have the honor to forward a copy of a communica- tion, addressed to the commander of the naval force on Florida service, and to report his prompt compliance with the suggestions therein made. " I trust I may be permitted on this occasion to express my respectful and grateful sense of the cordial and efficient co-opera- tion received, on all occasions and under all circumstances, from' Captain McLaughlin, and the gallant and accomplished officers, who have ever aimed at rivalling the zeal and devotion of their admirable commander ; and I feel assured the general-in-chief will learn with gratification that the utmost cordiality and confi- dence has prevailed between both branches of a common service, whether united on the land or on the water. I am most happy, on the occasion, to express my personal obligations. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Adjutant-General U. S. Army, ) W. J. WORTH, Head-Quarters, Washington City. \ Colonel Commanding." ''Flirt, at Indian Key, April 29th, 1842. " Sir — I have the honor to report to you the recent opera- tions of this squadron. " Lieutenant-Commandant John Rodgers, with a detachment from the Madison and marines, returned on the 10th instant from a scout into Oke-chobee, Kissimmee, and Tohopkeliga, under the instructions of February 1st; a copy of which I had the honor to enclose you on the 15th of that month. The duties performed by this detachment have been of the most arduous character. Since the 9th day of October last, excluding an interval of twenty days, they have been employed without intermission in canoes. Every portion of the Everglades, and water-courses of the inte- rior, from Lake Tohopkeliga south, has been visited by them and examined ; and large fields and settlements broken up and de- stroyed. A copy of Lieutenant-Commandant Rodgers's highly interesting report will be forwarded to you. " Immediately on the return of Lieutenant-Commandant Rodgers, Lieutenant Herndon was sent with his command in the Madison, to bring off a garrison left with supplies on Fish- eating Creek. He will ascend the Carlosahatchee, and thence cross the country to Fort Center. His return is looked for in a fortnight. Lieutenant-Commandant Biddle has been employed until the 25th instant in the Everglades, watching the movements of the Indians on the south end of the Peninsula in conformity with his instructions, which I had the honor to report to you on. the 27th ultimo. The movement contemplated at that time, anc 388 THE FLORIDA WAR. referred to in the same communication, has been delayed until now for want of guides. " Since the return of the party from Oke-chobee, Lieutenant Sloan, of marines, has been and still is employed with his com- mand on the coonti grounds between the Miami and New riverS; with instructions to explore every acre of thehi. " The Flirt was dispatched to a vessel reported ashore on the east coast, in latitude 26° 26' north ; and returned last nighi, bringing information that the vessel had been burned by the wreckers. Her name could not be ascertained. She was of New- York ; a large centre-board schooner, and loaded with flour. Nothing could be learned of the fate of her crew. The cargo was almost entirely destroyed. A band of Indians, supposed to number thirty, had been at the wreck a week previous. From having repacked several barrels and a bag of flour, and secreted them in the bushes some distance from the beach, there is no question of their intention to return. With the hope of inter- cepting them, I shall sail this afternoon in. the Flirt, with the Wave in company, and landing at the wrepk there await their coming : or if they shall have returned before we get there, we will endeavor to follow on their trail. In the mean time the residue of the force under Lieutenant-Commandants Marchand and Rodgers, divided into small parties, will endeavor to ferret out the party of the enemy still in the south end of the Peninsula. The attention of these officers has also been directed to three rivers, having their source in the Big Cypress on the west coast, and emptying into the Gulf near Tao-ka-hat-sie, Biddle's Harbor, and Nokosee Cayo. These streams have never yet been visited by whites, and were once the haunts of the Indians. " Yesterday morning the Fhrt found the brig Statira, Bab- bidge master, with a cargo of sundries, from New- York on the 11th of April, bound to St. Marks, ashore on the reef to the southward, and in sight of Cape Florida light-house. She came off* w^ithout difficulty or injury, and was brought into this place by Lieutenant Noland, whence she was dispatched this morning on her voyage. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, J. T. McLaughlin, Hon. A. P. Upshur, ) Commanding Naval Forces on the Coast of Florida." Secretary of the Navy„ ^ " Flirt, at Indian Key, May 26tli, 1842. " Sm — I have the honor to report to you the result of the projected operations of the force under my command, as com- municated to you on the 29th April last. " With the Flirt and Wave I proceeded to the wreck on the THE FLORIDA WAR. 399 eastern coast where signs of the enemy had been last seen, and there estabhshed an ambush for ten days, but without any suc- cess ; the Indians having been driven from that quarter by the scouts from Fort Pierce. Having destroyed one hundred and sixty-seven barrels of flour remaining but slightly injured from the wreck, we commenced our return to the southward ; and at the mouth of Hillsborough river, struck upon the trail of two In- dians, which we pursued for two days, when it brought us to their fields in the Everglades, at the head of Snake Creek. These had been newly cultivated, and larger clearings were being made. Bananas, cane, corn, and vegetables of every description, were in high cultivation upon this island, but no residences had yet been established there. With the crew of this vessel I con- tinued on the trail the next morning, and left Lieutenant-Com- mandant Henry, with the Wave's, to lie concealed on the island, with instructions to observe the most strict concealment for the space of ten days, with the hope that before the expiration of this time some of the enemy might return to the island. Lieu- tenant Henry returned to this place yesterday, where I had arrived on the 19th, and reports the destruction of these fields, and of two others on two adjacent islands. He had not seen any Indians. While the scout from the Flirt and Wave was abroad, the marines under Lieutenant Sloan, in examining the country between Miami and New rivers, came upon five dis- tinct settlements of Indians ; the first of them within five miles of Fort Dallas, between Little River and Arch Creek. The in- stant he was discovered, signal fires sprang up in every direc- tion, as if by magic, and fields and settlements were as suddenly deserted. Large quantities of ripe corn were gathered and de- stroyed, and eight fields laid waste. " A second scout of marines under Lieutenant Taylor, in co- operation with Lieutenant-Commandants Marchand and Rodgers, was compelled to return abruptly to their post for want of water. The fatigue and privation undergone by this detachment was so great, that private Kingsbury fell in his trail, and died from sheer exhaustion. Nor were the labors and hardships of the com- mands of Lieutenants Rodgers and Marchand any less. The waters of the Everglades had fallen so low, that it was necessary to track the boats at all times ; and at some to make ways of the boats' seats for miles and miles, to slide them over. Service like this, could not be of long continuance, without a great sacri- fice of men ; and having ascertained that the enemy had aban- doned the southern extremity of the Peninsula, these officers returned on the 20th instant to this place. " During these operations, which extended from latitude 26° 40/ N. on the east side of the Peninsula to Cape Sable, and as high as latitude 26° N. on the west, the officers and men of the 390 THE FLORIDA WAR. squadron have undergone every species of privation and toil. Their patient endurance, and cheerful alacrity in the discharge of every duty, evince their high state of discipline, and merit the highest commendation. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, JOHN T. McLaughlin, Com'g, ^c. ^c." Hon. A. P. Upshur, ) Secretary of the Navy^ ^ " Flirt, at Indian Key, June, 9th, 1842. " Sm — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 5th May, directing the return to Norfolk of the vessels under my command so soon as Colonel Worth shall ad- vise me their services can be dispensed v^^ith on the coast of Florida. In an hour 1 shall be on my way to Tampa, for the purpose of arranging with Colonel Worth the time of withdraw- ing ; and the disposition to be made of the pubhc property here, which will be useful to the army in its future operations. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, J. T. McLaughlin, Com'g, ^c, ^c." Hon. a. p. Upshur, ) Secretary of the Navy. ) " Flirt, at Cedar Key, June 19 th, 1842. " Sir — Enclosed I have the honor to transmit you a copy of a communication from Colonel Worth. The suggestions con- tained in this paper will be complied with, and the Wave and Phoenix will be left an the coast ; while with the rest of the squadron, I shall return immediately to Norfolk, in obedience to your order of 5th May. " The surplus stores and property of the squadron will be transferred to the military force in the territory ; the officers in each of the respective departments to which they shall belong, having been ordered to receive and receipt to me for them. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, J. T. McLaughlin, Com'g, ^c, ^c." Hon. a. p. Upshur, ) Secretary of the Navy. \ " Flirt, at Indian Key, July 4th, 1842. " Sir — Assured that it will be gratifying to the department, to learn the high estimation in which the services of this expedi- tion are held by the distinguished officer commanding in Florida. I have the honor to enclose for its information, an extract from Colonel Worth's letter to me, dated June 21st ; and another from his official report to the department of war, dated June 20th, 1842 : a copy of which he was pleased to enclose to me. Respectfully, I have the honor to be, J. T. McLaughlin, Com'g, ^c, ^c" Hon. A. P. Upshur, ) Secretary of the Navy. \ THE FLORIDA WAR. 39 1 " Flirt, at Indian Key, July 4th, 1842. " Sir — Arrangements having been nearly completed for the transfer of the public property in use of this squadron, I have the honor to report to you, that it will sail hence for Norfolk on the 8th instant. " The Wave and Phoenix will be left on the coast, as signi- fied to you in my letter from Cedar Keys, dated June 19th. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, J. T. McLaughlin, Com!g, ^c, ^cr Hon. a. p. Upshue, ) Secretary of the Navy. \ On the removal of head-quarters to the field of operations in the south, the important and deHcate duties at Fort Brooke were confided to Major S. Cooper, assistant adjutant-general, chief of the staff*, whose judgment and experience guarantied the ful- fillment of what was anticipated from the military movements in that quarter, and from the exertions of friendly Indians. Nethlockemathlar and Tiger-Tail's bands were now encamped at Fort Brooke, consisting of fifty-two warriors, and one hundred and ten women and children. A large Indian trail was discovered near Lake Istokpoga. Alligator was sent to examine it. He re- ported it was a body of Indians, doubtless from the Big Cypress Swamp. Two Indians were seen, but they fled immediately. Lieutenant-Colonel Riley, second infantry, with one hundred men, marched from Fort Mellon on the 27th November, scouring the country south, and westwardly, and eastwardly, to the Atlantic coast, via Smyrna, to Fort Pierce. A command in boats ascended the St. John's to Fort Taylor. This movement was designed to intercept the Indians driven from the south, and to prevent a junc- tion with Halleck-Tustenugge. The following instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel Riley, fully explain the design : " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, Tampa, November 18th, 1841. " Sir — There is strong reason for believing, that the remnant of Halleck's band, to which is probably added that of Jones (about thirty), are now in the neighborhood of Smyrna, and thence south along the Mosquito. The colonel commanding desires you to take on,e company, either from Fort King or Russell, unite to it all the disposable force of that at Palatka, except about fifteen men ; proceed to Fort Mellon and take the force of that garrison, except twenty men ; and from thence proceed to Smyrna, to which place there is a passable route ; from that point, by land and wa- ter, (if boats can be timely placed at your disposal, on which sub- ject confer with Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting,) scout down as low as Fort Pierce ; there replenish your provisions, and thence back 392 THE FLORIDA WAR. by the same, or, if practicable, some other route, to Fort Mellon, If, as is supposed, the Indians be in that neighborhood, you will be likely to secure them ; if not, your movement will operate a beneficial influence in favoring the movement about to be made towards the Cypress, and place you in position to secure any who may attempt to steal west by that route. " Should you find yourself in the neighborhood of the chiefs mentioned, so doubtful are our eflforts at catching them, try the ef- fect of Indian influence ; and for this purpose. Lieutenant Sprague will be able to detach some suitable negotiator ; take with you, if within reach, the guide and interpreter, Morris ; if not, Cyrus. Sergeant Williams, fourth infantry, formerly of dragoons, who, it is understood, is well acquainted with that country, is sent to you. If Colonel Whiting can place boats for you at Smyrna, it will probably be well to send a detachment direct from Palatka to Smyrna by steamboat with the boats, and so time the movement as to meet the command from Mellon ; from the latter post you will mostly rely upon packing mules for your supply, say twelve or fifteen days of provisions. If, unfortunately, you should not be in health, give Captain Barnum command and instructions. The troops should be in position and operation by the 28th or 30th, at furthest. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. COOPER, Assistant Adjutant-General." Lieut. Colonel B. Riley, ) Com'g Ocklawaha District. \ The cheering intelligence received from Captain R. D. A. Wade, third artillery, from Fort Lauderdale, announcing the cap- ture of sixty-three Indians as the result of his scout of the 5th of November, the destruction of large crops and villages, gave addi- tional vigor to the exertions of the army and to friendly Indians, who had become dispirited for the want of success corresponding with the means put in execution. Captain Wade's report, given entire, awards much to the officers and soldiers of his command. " Fort Lauderdale, East Florida, ) November 13th, 184L S "Sir — In pursuance of the instructions contained in your com- munication of the 24th September, I set out on the morning of the 5th instant, accompanied by Lt. Thomas, 3d artillery. Assistant Surgeon Emerson, and sixty N. C. officers and privates, embarked in twelve canoes, and provisions for fifteen days. We proceeded by the inland passage to the northward, coming out in the bay at the Hillsborough inlet, and in such manner that our canoes were concealed from the view of an Indian whom I there discovered fishing on the northern point of the inlet. I m^ade the requisite THE FLORIDA WAR. 393 dispositions immediately to land, and succeeded in sm-pnsing him. By operating on his hopes and fears, I induced him to lead us to his Indian village, fifteen miles distant, in a westerly direction. This we reached on the morning of the 6th, surprised and cap- tured twenty Indians, men, women and children, took six rifles, destroyed fourteen canoes, and much provision of the usual vari- ety. Of those who attempted to escape, eight were killed by our troops. We returned to our boats the same forenoon, with our prisoners, and proceeded up a small stream towards the orange- grove haul-over, where we encamped for the night. On the morning of the 7th, after proceeding three miles further north, the stream became too shallow for canoe navigation, and we made here a camp, leaving the prisoners, the boats, and a sufficient guard, in charge of Doctor Emerson. " Under the guidance of an old Indian, found among our pris- oners, who is called Chia-chee, I took up the line of march through nearly a mile of deep bog and saw-grass, then through the pine- barren and some hammock to a cypress swamp, a distance of some thirty miles northward. Here (on the 8th instant) we were conducted to another village, which we also surrounded and sur- prised, and captured twenty-seven Indians, took six rifles and one shot-gun, and destroyed a large quantity of provisions and four canoes. The next morning (November 9th) we set out on our return to the boats, on a more easterly route than the former, which led us to the shore of Lake Worth, where we found and destroyed a canoe, a field of pumpkins, and an old hut. In the afternoon of this day, one man came in and surrendered himself, thus making the whole number of our Indian prisoners forty-nine. At 10 A. M., of the 10th, we arrived at our boats, and proceeded to the little Hillsborough bar by evening, and in the afternoon of the next day, November 11th, we returned to Fort Lauderdale, without any loss on our part, after an absence of six days. Hav- ing seen much in the old man, Chia-chee, to inspire my confidence in his integrity, I permitted him to go out from our camp (on the 10th November) to bring in other Indians, which he promised to do in three or four days. This promise he subsequently redeem- ed, having, on the 14th instant, brought in six (four men and two boys) at Fort Lauderdale. " My warmest thanks are due to Doctor Emerson and Lt. Thomas, for their valuable and efficient aid in carrying out my orders ; and of the conduct of the troops likewise, without any exception, I can speak only in terms of the highest praise. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your ob't serv't, R. D. A. WADE, Capt. 3d Artillery, Com'g Exp'n/^ 394 THE FLORIDA V/AR. " Recapitulation. Warriors. Women. Boys. Girls. Total. Killed, 6 2 8 Prisoners, - 14 15 10 15 55 'Total, 20 15 12 15 63 " Destroyed, 20 canoes (one destroyed with first prisoner). " Captured, 13 rifles, 12 powder-horns (well filled), a quantity of ball and buck-shot, with other munitions for defensive opera- tions. R. D. A. W." Unfortunately, however, when success of the troops in a re- mote part of the territory gave assurance of a short duration of this detestable warfare, there came rumors, often unfounded, but sometimes too true, of the perpetration of murders in populous parts of the country. Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, with one hundred and twenty- five men, of the third infantry, a part mounted, proceeded at once from Fort Pleasants, to punish those insolent marauders on the frontier, who were known to be Creeks, frequenting the swamps bordering the Esteen Hatchie river, and secreting themselves in Pumpkin and Cook's hammock. The five friendly Indians with the command, were timid and cautious. They possessed a know- ledge of the country, but it was only by threats and promises that they could be induced to go in advance of the troops. After scouring the country north and south, as far east as the Suwan- nee river and Fort Fanning, without seeing the enemy or even a track, the bodies of two Indians were found by the road-side, about twenty miles from Fort Fanning. ' These proved to be two friendly messengers, sent from Fort Brooke by Major Cooper, with a talk from Alligator to the Creeks, among whom they had relatives and friends. One was Waxe-Hadjo, a delegate from Arkansas, the other a cousin of Tiger-Tail. These men, in execution of their mission, had, three days be- fore, been in the camp of the hostiles, where they met twenty warriors, who assured them of their disposition to be at peace. As a pledge to the fulfillment of these assurances, and in accord- ance with customary Indian forms, they returr^d to Fort Fan- ning, to obtain the necessary quantity of tobacco and whisky, an additional evidence of the sincerity of the whites in proffering, through friendly Indians, the terms of peace. Having obtained what was required, they hastened to the Indians' camp, a violent rain overtaking them on the way, when they built a fire, and erected palmetto sheds for shelter. While in the act, both w^ere shot dead, and their bodies stretched upon the ground, perforated THE FLORIDA WAR. 395 each with two balls. The supplies, as well as their clolhing, rifles, and ammunition, were plundered. It was ascertained soon after, that Halpatter-Tustenuggee, a Creek, and Cotzar-fixico- chopco, a Mickasukie, were the perpetrators of this infamous deed. They had resolutely protested against the reciprocal feel- ings entertained by the Creeks towards the friendly messengers, and as their only way of frustrating the present understanding, waylaid these two men, and creeping through the high grass, murdered them without a moment's warning. Such transactions, which no human prudence could guard against, were calculated to put an end to all further exertions, to secure these bands by overtures of peace. But as embarrassing and trying as these circumstances were to Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, who was intrusted with the discretion of adopting either peaceful or hostile measures, he restrained the spirit of retaliation so natural and just, with the hope of yet getting the enemy with- in his grasp. A rash act would have retarded, if not entirely defeated, the prospects of ultimate success, which every officer and soldier had hoped would reward the toils and trials under- gone in this disgraceful banditti warfare. To pursue was fruit- less ; it only prolonged the war. Tiger- Tail, on his way from Fort King with the other Indians who had been searching for Halleck-Tustenuggee, arrived at Fort Fanning to witness the in- dignation of Colonel Garland and his command at this atrocious and unprovoked outrage. It was hoped an Indian war-party might pursue the perpetrators, but the cowardly spirit of Tiger- Tail discarded all disposition to redress the wanton murder of his relative. Barbarous and bloody acts, strange as it may seem, quell and dismay the instinct of an Indian's heart. The more infamous and atrocious these are, with so much the greater fear and terror do they regard the authors of them. Tiger- Tail, in communicating this murder to his associates, warned them of the desperate and relentless character of Halpatter-Tus- tenuggee and Cotzar-fixico-chopco, and dissuaded them from at- tempting retahatory measures. The friendly Indians dispatched by Colonel Garland from his column, en route to Fort Fanning, returned, having intercepted small parties of the enemy, with whom they exchanged friendly salutations, and who expressed an earnest desire to be freed from the authority of their chiefs, but stated that they were so constantly watched they found it impos- sible to join the whites with their women and children. The letters of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland give important and useful information, showing a cordial, zealous, and judicious execution of the duties intrusted to him, qualities seldom united, though im- portant at such a juncture and in so difficult a warfare, Subse- 396 THE FLORIDA WAR. quently, his efforts and those of his command were amply re- warded, as these bands were all secured : "Fort Fanning, Dec. 2, 1841, 7 o'clock, P. M. " Colonel — It gives me pleasure to report a decidedly favor- able change in my prospects, since I had the honor to address you from this post on the 28th November. Hotalka Emathla and party came in this afternoon, after having had an interview with the few remaining Creeks in Middle Florida, numbering in all fifteen persons, seven men and eight women and chil- dren ; they have crossed the Suwannee to-day on their way to Withlacoochee, where they are to counsel with other Creeks, and some of Neathlock-Emathla's people, preparatory to going in to Tampa. Hotulka does not entertain a doubt of their sin- cerity, and when they are prepared, they desire to have a steam- boat sent to the mouth of the Withlacoochee for them. To-mor- row they are to inform me more fully of what they have seen and wish to have done. In the mean lime I have set Tiger-Tail to work, with his relation Hallackee, and also Cochus-Micco, who are disposed to contradict Hotulka's statement as to some part of their operations. " I am well assured by the party that the only remaining In- dians now in Middle Florida are Mickasukies, under the chiefs Chitto-Hadjo and Halpatter-Tustenuggee. This is the party with whom the two deceased Indians had a talk. They are now located on the upper part of the Esteen-Hatchee, where, if our delegation refuse to visit them, as I fear they will, I will make them a visit with 125 men, whose services are yet at my disposal. The detachment of 3d infantry, under the command of Captain Wheeler, is still here, waiting the issue of events. The officers and men are eager for a rencontre with these dare-devils. Most respectfully, &c., &c.. Colonel W. J. Worth, ) JOHN GARLAND, Commanding Army of Florida. \ Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding. "P. S. Pascopha and some few Creeks joined Sam Jones some time since. " Lieutenant Sprague, A. D. C, has been quite unwell since he reached here. — J. G." " Fort Fanning, December, 5, 1841. " Colonel — In the report which I had the honor to make to you on the 2d instant, some further developments were expected to be disclosed in the council appointed to be held on the next THE FLORIDA WAR. 397 day, with the united parties of Tiger-Tail and Hotulka. No- thing of importance was eHcited. " One of the hostile Creeks had on a remarkable overcoat, known to have been worn by Spoonei when he was murdered near Magnolia. This is pretty conclusive evidence that they were in that affair. They acknowledge that they burnt the mill last summer, between Camp Gamble and Tallahassee. The fel- low wearing the overcoat asked if the whites would not shoot him, if he came in with the coat on him. Hotulka answered,. No, that the whites were disposed to forget and forgive. He and Cochus Micco urged the party very strongly to come in, but they declined, giving as a reason an appointment they had made with other Indians to meet them in Wacasassa hammock, there to feast on pumpkins and hold a council, after which they would come in, whether their other friends decided to do so or not. It was then agreed that Hotulka and Cholotiky should meet them at a field on the northwest side of the Withlacoochee, near its mouth, where Halleck-Tustenuggee held his green-corn feast. This to take place at the beginning of the new moon. They de- sired to have a steamboat at the mouth of the river, to receive them. Tiger- Tail suggested in council, that inasmuch as Ho- tulka did not know precisely the location of the appointed rendezvous, he would select one of his own young warriors at Tampa to go along and point out the place to him — a spy. This Hotulka at once agreed to. " For fear of accident, I have thought it best to send Hotulka and Cholotiky at once to Tampa, under charge of Lieutenant and Aid-de-camp Sprague. Primus, who also goes along, is getting infirm. " Hotulka's efforts, under the advice of Tiger-Tail, it is hoped, will accomplish every thing with the Creeks now in that quarter. " I entertain very Kttle doubt of the intention of many scat- tered parties to meet at the pumpkin-field in the Wacasassa hammock, and among them Octiarte, who, it is said, has as many as forty warriors with him. " I intend to direct my efforts in an opposite direction, and will take with me Cochus Micco, Cuntal-Hadjo, and Hollakey, with the interpreter John. " A strong effort will be made either to talk or fight with the Mickasukies, confidently believed to be at this time in the ham- mock of the upper Esteen-Hatchee, under the chiefs Chitto- Hadjo and Halpatter-Tustenuggee. The Creeks say that there are no Indians on the Ocklocknee, and that the band with Chitto- Hadjo is the only one now in Middle Florida. " It is very desirable to effect the expulsion of this party from Middle Florida, and that no effort of mine may be wanting to 398 THE FLORIDA WAR. accomplish it, I have this morning directed Captain Wheeler, with a detachment of one hundred men of the 3d infantry, to pro- ceed to the falls of the Esteen-Hatchee, and there establish a camp for the reception of such Indians as may be disposed to come in. This accomplished, to take the remainder of his men, and examine Pumpkin and Cook's hammocks, and then take post at Fort Barker, where I will join him with tv/enty-fiye mounted men of the 3d infantry, now with me, and such other force as 1 may be able to gather at Forts White and Macomb ; w^ith this force we hope to accomplish something. Respectfully, &c., &:c., Colonel W. J. Worth, ) JOHN GARLAND, Commanding Army of Florida. ) Lieutenant-Colonel 4th Infantry." Head-quarters were established at Fort Brooke on the 16th of December. The accumulation of reports, letters, petitions, &c., was almost discouraging. The varied character of these, coming from all parts of the country, in and out of the territory, exhibited the complex nature of the service, and the vexations to which a commander was subjected. If success in one portion of territory was complete, in others all efforts had failed. Inroads were made by three or four vagrant Indians, who stealthily moved between the scouting parties, in a manner equally mis- leading and annoying. At night, they could look in upon the soldiers' bivouac, ascertaining the number and the measures adopted for their security, and the ensuing day follow them in the rear. Cruel murders were committed, and the tracks of two, three, or four Indians, moving with secrecy and haste, could be seen in almost every direction. The accounts of these transac- tions, revolting as they were, were always magnified, particularly as to the numbers slain, so that as they travelled the route to Washington City, and by the time they were formally commu- nicated by representatives to the war department, the frontier was declared to be in ashes, and the citizens generally weltering in their blood. To resuscitate the spirits of the people, and to give security and confidence, the mustering of a militia force was urged with cunning sophistry and ingenious logic. The com- mander of the army was admonished, as though ignorant of it, that the Indians were hostile, and that the calling out of a mihtia force was imperatively necessary for the safety of their homes and those around them, and with becoming desire to retahate upon the enemy, urged that a company of militia should be mus- tered for the protection of that neighborhood, and that he, the applicant, was thought to be the most capable, by the neighbors, to discharge the important duties of captain, and that to be effec- tive, the force must be mounted. Petitions for the protection of THE FLORIDA WAR. 399 a particular settlement, letters complaining that tracks had been seen, appeals for rations and security, constituted the general character of these communications and demands, which, to have complied with, would have required unlimited authority and a force of fifteen thousand men. These contending iniiuences, rendered the more embarrassing by the prevailing ignorance of the nature of the service, and authority vested in the commander, mingled with political objects and aspirations, were enough, com- bined, to induce those in power to open the flood-gates of the treasury of the nation, and look upon and treat the Florida war as an interminable conflict. The contemplated meeting of the Creeks- at the mouth of the Withlacoochee river, as agreed upon by the messengers dispatched by Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, created much interest, as these Indians were not only treacherous to the whites, but regardless of any ties or obligations towards those of their own color. The chief Nethlockemathlar was dispatched, with other Indians, in a steamer, to the appointed place, where, in conjunction with Lieu- tenant-Colonel Garland, the interview was to take place, about the 30th of December. The chief and his companions w^ere en- camped near the margin of the hammock, at the mouth of the river, where, for five days he held communication with Octiar- che, chief of the Creeks. From his ingenious and artful excuses, it was evident his ob- ject was to obtain subsistence and ammunition. His band, he said, could not be assembled for the purpose of surrendering, be- fore the 10th of January; in the mean time he urged that the troops might abstain from pursuit. This was acquiesced in, on the condition that the Indians also abstained from hostilities; and the 12th of January was agreed upon, when another meeting would be had at the same place, preparatory to coming in to Fort Brooke. Octiarche could not be induced by any artifice to visit the steamer ; friendly messages were interchanged between the ofii- cer on board and the chief, but to urgent and polite invitations he always expressed his deep regret, that at the present moment his acceptance of such hospitalities was not practicable. Had he accepted, he would have been secured, and held as a hostage for the surrender of his companions. But though disap- pointed here, good fortune crowned the exertions made in another quarter. The combined movements south, as was anticipated, had broken the league existing there ; the enemy finding their haunts simultaneously assailed by land and water. Waxey- Hadjo, one of the youngest and most intelligent chiefs of the Big Cypress, was intercepted on his retreat north from Lake Oke- chobee, with seventeen men and thirty women and children. He could give no satisfactory information of Bifly Bowlegs, of 400 THE FLORIDA WAR. the Prophet, nor of Sam Jones. The last he saw of them was in the Everglades, with only their families, retreating from, the swamp. The remaining Indians had scattered, in parties of three or four, for safety. The attack upon the settlement of Mandarin, twenty miles south of Jacksonville, on the eastern bank of the river St. John's, and thirty-five miles from St. Augustine, on the 20th of Decem- ber, counterbalanced all that was realized at Fort Brooke. This marauding party consisted of seventeen men, belonging to the band of Halleck-Tustenuggee. They came from the neighbor- hood of Dunn's Lake and Haw Creek. Following the hammocks, which border the river for forty miles, and crossing the main road from St. Augustine to Picolata, they found the small village unprotected. The men, in a body, that morning, had left upon an extensive deer-hunt, ranging the country for ten miles round. The Indians assailed the houses, yelling most furiously, and shot the inmates, as they, frantic and confused, ran for the main road. Two men who had returned from the hunting excursion, two women, and an infant, were killed. The dwellings were plun- dered, then burnt, and for sixteen hours these savages danced around the smouldering remains and mangled corpses of the slain. At that time it was impossible to tell from whence these Indians came. So sudden an outbreak in a section of country thickly settled, caused much dissatisfaction and alarm. Since the capture of Coacooche not an Indian had been seen or heard of east of the St. John's river. The trail of these In- dians was taken up by practiced guides, and followed to their haunts, which divulged the hiding-place of Halleck-Tustenuggee, which for seven months past had been diligently sought, by wide- extended operations of troops, aided by the knowledge and sa- gacity of friendly Indians. Powis-fixico or Short Gr^ss, with five men, well known as a crafty and vindictive Indian, was with him. A petition was at once sent to the commander of the army for a force : " We now," says this paper, " most humbly pray that you would allow us a mounted force for our protection. There are a sufficient number of men in the settlement to form a com- pany, and if we are allowed a mounted force, either volunteers or dragoons, the famihes will return to their homes ; if not, the whole settlement will be abandoned." The letter from Colonel Worth shows that ample measures were adopted for security : " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, Tampa, ) Jan. 10th, 1842. \ " Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 26th ultimo, which has received the most respectful attention. THE FLORIDA WAR. 401 " The possibility that some small bands of Indians might attempt to steal west, between the St. John's and Atlantic, had not for a moment escaped attention, and so early as November 18th, detachments were put in motion under an active and zeal- ous officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Riley, to cover that part of the country, and intercept, if possible, such as might thus attempt to elude the hot pursuit below. No one can more sincerely lament the catastrophe at Mandarin than myself. The assailing party was small, the highest estimate carrying it tv/enty-one, while a more careful examination leads to the belief that it may not have exceeded twelve, which number coincides with that of the only band which could, in any probability, have committed the act ; and it is to be regretted, making all due allowance for the time of attack and character of the foe, that some of the fifty-one signers to a call for succor had not been found to give some ac- count of so despicable a foe. Nevertheless, sufficient force has been placed at the disposal of the commander in that quarter, with ample instructions to give protection to every exposed point, which, I am happy to say, the near close of the contest enables me to do, without withdrawing troops from any other quarter of defence. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant. Gen. J. M. Hernandez, Col. G. Humphreys, ) W. J. WORTH, and others, St. Augustine. ) Colonel Commanding." The closing of the month of December, as well as the year 1841, brought with it many incidents and results rewarding the army for the toils, privations, and sickness, which had fallen to the lot of all. Hardly a man had escaped sickness in some form, and none had escaped from a full share of the burden. The con- test, however, was far from being closed. So long as ten Indians in the woods remained hostile to the white man, so long would the Florida war be protracted. No material change had occurred in the condition of the army. The season of the year was more favorable, and all ranks were eager for the most active duty. How far this disposition could be gratified, was an embarrassing question.- Negotiation and military measures had to go hand in hand, requiring the utmost circumspection, lest the one might de- feat the other. During the month of November, 1576 men were taken sick, 44 died, 8 discharged the service. In December, 1569 ; 23 died, and 44 discharged the service. The beneficial results from the measures adopted in inducing settlers to enter the country, and stimulating those to return who had fled from their plantations, now began to be realized. Major D. L. Wilcox, to whom was confided this duty, assisted by Lieu- 26 402 THE FLORIDA WAR, tenant Patrick, second infantry, had, by untiring industry, accom- plished more than was anticipated. Thirty-two settlements had been established in various parts of the territory, at points here- tofore subjected to the incursions of the enemy. The timid had become resolute, thereby introducing the most formidable antago- nist to the Indian — the log-hut, the ploughshare, and pruning- hook. Block-houses were erected by the army in each settlement, as a place of refuge ; arms and ammunition were placed in the hands of men accustomed to them from boyhood, and with the rations issued by the government from month to month, there was every guarantee that, with ordinary industry and courage, these settle- ments would be a home for many who for years had been house- less, and ultimately be an efficient and effectual means of reducing and expelling the enemy. CHAPTER X. Correspondence between the executive of the territory of Florida, and of the state of Georgia ; with the federal government, and with Colonel W. J. Worth, commanding the army of Florida, in regard to the mustering of militia to co-operate with the army lor the protection of the frontier. — Character of the applications made by citizens for employment. — Remarks upon tlie expediency of calling out militia to expel the Indians, or to prevent incursions. — Letters from otRcers of the army, showing the state of the frontiers of Florida and Gef.ogia ; the necessity of troo])s, and the disposition among the border-settlers.— The firmness of the Hon. J. C. Spencer and Major-General Scott, added much to the successful progress of the war, and to its termination. The employment of militia in the state of Georgia and the territory of Florida, since the commencement of Indian diffi- culties, caused misunderstandings between the civil and military. The civil officer endeavored to shield the citizen from molesta- tion and murder ; vi^hile the military, having this in view^, hoped to guard the coffers of his country from w^anton and useless ex- penditures. Signs of Indians having caused alarm in the neigh- borhood of Tallahassee, his excellency the governor of Florida, C. K. Call, again reminded the commander of the western dis- trict. Major Wilson, 3d infantry, of the necessity of more troops in that quarter ; and at the same time, urged upon the authorities at Washington, the propriety of mustering into service a militia force. The war department, on the 2d of August, authorized the colonel commanding to muster into service, two companies of foot for three months. In reply to this, as well as to the admo- nitions of the governor of Florida, the following extract of- a communication of August 17th, from the commander of the army to higher authority, will show clearly that this section of country was not 1-ost sight of. , " I respectfully ask a careful perusal of the enclosed reports of scouts from Major Wilson, commanding the western dirtrict ; from which it will appear, that sympathizing to the fullest extent in the governor's solicitude for the safety of the settlers, not only in Middle Florida, but at every other exposed point, not doubt- ing but that the enemy, after being routed and his fields destroyed, would seek food and vengeance upon the settlements. It will be perceived, on perusal of Major Wilson's reports, a high degree of activity and zeal distinguished the officers under him ; and also that it is not in human foresight or sagacity, to guard against occasional acts of violence of the enemy, so resolute and vindic- tive. It will be with extreme reluctance, and only in the last resort, that I shall muster in militia ; and I must be permitted to say, that a desire for the service enters largely into every panic." 404 " THE FLORIDA WAR. His excellency Charles J. McDonald, governor of Georgia, through the representations of settlers who apprehended the bar- barities of the Indians, sustained by the clamor along the entire frontier, had partaken of the popular feeling, and with becoming alacrity urged upon the war department the presence in Georgia of a larger number of troops. He was referred to the com- mander of the Florida army, who would render necessary pro- tection, and who had already effected it. Seven companies of dragoons and four of infantry occupied the frontier of Georgia, extending from Traders' Hill, on the St. Mary's river, to Talla- hassee. No depredations had been committed by the Indians ; but the alarm, which soon becomes a popular and judicious feel- ing, had aggravated the acts of the enemy one hundred miles south. To letters, were added presentments by grand juries, cen- suring the commander of the army and his officers, and petitions signed by as many as could write their names and make their marks. Doubtless it was the duty of the executive to adopt all measures within his reach to meet ^he demands of the people, and allay the excitement pervading the public mind, whether well founded or not ; but it was as imperatively his duty first cor- rectly to ascertain this, before upbraiding the government or depreciating the services of the regular force. From the acts of the Indians, tracks, signs, &c., it was evident but few, if any, encroached upon the settlements. Murders were committed, remote, but these were as liable to be done on the frontier, even if the entire line was bristling with bayonets. It required more than human sagacity to tell at what point a blow would be struck. Under these circumstances, dragoons patrolled the country night and day, effectually quieting the fears of the indus- trious and hard-working planter. The call for militia is generally a popularity-seeking act ; and being supposed by many to be prompted by a regard to the pubhc weal, there are few who are willing to disabuse the public mind. The authorities at Washington fully understanding the sub- ject, and possessed of information from reliable sources, divested of interest or partiaUty, the secretary of war in answer to re- peated representations, addressed a communication to the dele- gate on the 21st of October, clearly laying out the plan of action, and expressing confident reliance upon the efficiency of the means in force, and other measures which at the proper time would be adopted. " Washington, D. C, War Department, October 21, 1841. " Sir — Your letter concludes with four separate propositions, which however may be summed up thus : to call out militia force THE FLORIDA WAR. 405 for protection, and place it under some officer independent of Colonel Worth, who is to be restricted to offensive operations with the regular troops. " It is not perceived that any advantage can be reasonably expected from a division of the command in Florida ; but rather, it is apprehended, that great inconvenience might result from the want of concert of action between two commanders. The go- vernment has entire confidence in the disposition and ability of Colonel Worth, not only to conduct the offensive operations against the Indians, but also, through his subordinate officers, to afford all requisite and proper protection to the frontier inhabit- ants ; and for this purpose he has been authorized, whenever he might deem it expedient, to call into service any portion of the militia, not exceeding one regiment. Prompted by every humane and generous motive, and urged by frequent communications from this department, no doubt is entertained that he will do whatever is proper to be done for the defence of the frontier. , Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. SPENCER." Hon. D. Levy, Delegate, &c. This was calculated to excite, in the minds of some, malevo- lent feelings, and frustrate the ultimate designs contemplated by others, of providing for the employment and livelihood of those who were active agents in instigating Indian alarms, and who had rendered political service. The war department had not been without timely admoni- tions from the executive of Georgia, as well as Florida, on this subject. " War Department, Washington, July lOth, 184L "Sir — Your letter of the 1st, acknowledging recent commu- nications from this department, and suggesting the propriety of immediate measures for the protection of Camden and Ware counties, has, with its enclosures, been received. It-is gratifying to find that the militia of your frontier are so ready and able to protect the settlements in case of actual danger ; but the depart- ment indulges the hope, that it will not be necessary to make any requisition upon their gallantry and zeal during the present year. To avoid all apprehension on the subject. Colonel Worth will be instructed to direct his particular attention to the Okefenokee swamp, and to place ample protection in that quarter. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. To His Excellency C. J. McDonald, \ JOHN BELL." Governor of Georgia. 406 THE FLORIDA WAR. The hopes of the secretary, as expressed, did but little towards gratifying the wishes of the jpeople, or relieving the executive of the state from the reports so resolutely and exaggeratedly thrust upon him. He was in the interior of the country, and the opin- ions and fears of citizens along the frontier, was the only guidance for his action. Fatigued with these importunities, and disgusted with the authorities at Washington, who were incredulous in re- gard to tracks and signs, he had mustered into service, for three months, two companies of mounted men, with Captains Jernigan and Sweat as commanders. On the 15th of September, his ex- cellency addressed the commander of the Florida army, as fol- lows : — "But be the cause what it may, 1 cannot consent to per- mit the people of this state to be exposed to the depredations of the Indians, and have ordered out two companies of mounted men for their protection. I must ask you to supply them with the ne- cessary forage and subsistence, as long as it is necessary to retain them in service." He was replied to as follows : " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, Fort Brooke, ) Tampa, Fa., October 17th, 1841. \ " Sir — I had the honor to receive, by the mail of yesterday, your letter (with enclosures) dated the 15th ultimo, advising me that you had been pleased to order into the field two companies, mounted, of state troops, for the protection of the Florida frontier of Georgia, against apprehended incursions of Indians. I do not consider myself authorized to comply with your excellency's requisition, to supply these troops with forage and subsistence. The subject will be referred to the proper department at Wash- ington, whence I may expect to receive instructions in the case. I take the liberty to submit a memorandum, exhibiting the dispo- sition of troops proximate to the Georgia border, and have to add the strong conviction, that measures now in a course of exe- cution, will, in a few weeks, cause the final disappearance of the few Creeks menacing that quarter. I have the honor to be, &c., &c., W. J. WORTH, Colonel Commanding." To His Excellency, C. J. McDonald, ) Governor of Georgia. ^ Memorandum exhibiting the disposition of Troops proximate to the Georgia Frontier. At Traders' Hill, one company dragoons. At Fort Moniac, same. Thigpens, south prong St. Mary's river, one company. At North's Station, one company. Natural Bridge, one company. At Fort White, one company. Fort Macomb, one company. At Fort Pleasants, near Tallahassee, two companies infantry. Fort THE FLORIDA WAR. 407 Hamilton, on the Belloney road, one company. Fort R. Gamble, twenty-eight miles from Tallahassee, one company. Active scout- ing parties have been kept from Fort Moniac and Traders' Hill, during the summer, without discovering any Indian signs. The following letter was transmitted to the adjutant-general of the army at Washington : "Head-Quarters, Army of Florida, Fort Brooke, October 17th, 1841. \ " Sir — I have the honor to transmit, for the information of the major-general commanding, copies of correspondence with his excellency, the governor of Georgia, and in that connexion for- ward a memorandum, exhibiting the disposition of the troops in relation to that border, and original reports of field operations in that immediate quarter ; by which it will, I imagine, satisfactorily appear, that the force is sufficient in numbers and activity. In reply to his excellency, I have considered it out of place to make any remark touching the expediency of the measure, but have deemed it my duty to admonish the staff departments to do no act that would in any sense commit the department of war in respect to troops thus in the field. I am, &c., your obedient servant. To General R. Jones, Adjutant Gen. ? W. J. WORTH, Col Com'g," U. S. A., Washington, D. C. I The governor again addressed the commander of the army : " Executive Department, Milledgeville, Ga., ) November 24, 1841. \ " Sir — # * * * T}ie conducting of the army opera- tions and the protection of the Georgia frontier, have been con- fided, I believe, to your discretion by the war department. I must, therefore, ask you to adopt speedy measures for the protec- tion of this district of country, and that the companies or detach- ments ordered out by General Knight, may be mustered, and arrangements made for their payment. I have the honor, &c., CHARLES J. McDonald." Col. W. J. Worth, ) Commanding Army of Fa., Fort Brooke, Fa. ) The following letter was transmitted the governor of Georgia, by the secretary of war : " War Department, Washington, Dec. 3, 1841. " Sir — Your letter of the 25th ultimo is received, and I hasten to reply, that Colonel Worth, commanding in Florida, is vested 408 THE FLORIDA WAR. with the most ample discretionary power to afford protection to the people of Georgia, as well as the inhabitants^ of Florida ; and on the receipt of your excellency's communication to him, dated 24th ultimo, a copy of which you have transmitted this depart- ment, he will unquestionably take all such measures as his great ability and pecuhar information shall dictate to be necessary or expedient by General Knight, and he will make such disposition of them as the exigency of the case may require. " For your information respecting the movements of the In- dians, I transmit herewith, copies of letters recently received from Captain BHss, U. S. A. I am, &c., To His Excellency C. J. McDonald, ) J. C. SPENCER." Governor of Georgia. ^ " Traders' Hill, Ga., November 9th, 1841. " Sir — 1 respectfully report that, agreeably to instructions of the 28th ultimo, from your office, I left Washington on that day^ and reached this place on the 8th instant ; having been unex- pectedly detained several days in Charleston and Savannah. " From Savannah I reported to Colonel Worth, soliciting his instructions relative to the discharge of the two companies I am ordered to muster. I hope to receive his reply on the 16th instant. " Captain Brown, 6th infantry, who is now here, will proceed on the 11th to North's Station, via Fort Moniac. I shall accom- pany him for the double purpose of getting accurate informa- tion on the state of the frontier, and making arrangements for the muster of the two companies ; Jernigan being at or near Fort Moniac, and Sweat being on an excursion around the swamp,, which will probably bring him to North's Station on the 13th. "Sweat's company certainly, and probably Jernigan's, will not be embodied for muster before I receive instructions from Colonel Worth. Should those instructions direct the discharge of the companies, but one muster will be necessary in that case. " Taking into consideration the tranquil state of the frontier, and the probability that Colonel Worth will order the immediate discharge of these companies, I hope I shall not be considered to transcend my instructions should I delay the muster of one or both the companies for two or three days, if necessary, until Colonel Worth can be heard from ; I have reason, however, to ex- pect his instructions quite as soon as Sweat's company can be mustered. " From the best information I can obtain, there has not existed the slightest necessity for calling these militia companies into service. Intelligent officers assure me, that there has not been. THE FLORIDA WAR. 409 an Indian in the swamp this summer. Persons are not wanting to report ' signs/ from time to time ; and parties of regular troops have repeatedly been called out on the most frivolous alarms. The real state of feeling among the frontier inhabitants, and the kind of service these volunteer companies expect to render, are well illustrated by the fact, that while the road from this point to Waresborough is travelled in security by small parties, and even single individuals, though skirting the swamp, Captain Sweat's company has been for two or three weeks embodied on Kettle Creek, near Waresborough, five miles from the court- house, for what pubHc or patriotic purpose it is difficult to imagine. " I hope to report more fully, on my return from North's Station, about the 15th instant. Agreeably to the verbal direc- tion of Major-General Scott, I shall communicate to Colonel Worth every thing of interest relative to affairs in this quarter. I am, sir, very respectfully. Your obedient servant, W. W. S. BLISS, The Adjutant-General of the Army, ) Assistant- Adjutant General." Washington, D. C. \ " Traders' Hill, Ga., November 20, 184L " Sir — Herewith I respectfully enclose the muster-roll of Cap- tain J. A. Sweat's company of mounted mihtia, mustered by me at this place, on the 18th instant. " I saw Captain Sweat, just before leaving for North's Station, and ordered his company to this point for muster, fully expecting to receive the instructions of Colonel Worth by the day appointed, which was the earliest day that the company could be assembled here. In this I was disappointed, and the company has accord- ingly been mustered for service, and placed, agreeably to my in- structions, under the orders of Captain H. Day, 2d infantry, com- manding this post. " Jernigan's company was embodied on the 15th instant; but the difficulty, at this moment, of supplying it at its rendezvous, near Fort Moniac, has induced me to defer its muster until I re- ceive Colonel Worth's instructions, which can hardly fail to reach me by the 22d instant. I hope this short delay will meet the ap- probation of the major-general commanding. " On my route hence to Fort Rosa (five miles east of North's Station), I traversed nearly sixty miles of the Okefenokee frontier, and found the country in a perfectly tranquil condition, no alarm seeming to exist among the settlers, and the road being constantly travelled by small parties and individuals unarmed. 1 could hear of no Indian depredations, for many months, within the limits of 410 THE FLORIDA WAR. Georgia, and the signs occasionally reported, are too equivocal to deserve attention. While Fort Rosa, Fort Moniac, and the post near Thigpens are occupied, I should deem this frontier abun- dantly secured from Indian inroads, particularly in the present state of affairs in Florida. • I am, sir, very respectfully, your ob't serv't, W. W. S. BLISS, Assistant Adjutant-General" The Adjutant-General of the Army, ) Washington,. D. C. ) Captain Bliss was dispatched by Major-General Scott to the Georgia frontier, to muster in or out the two companies of mili- tia in the field by order of the governor. " You will report," says his instructions, " your arrival at Traders' Hill and the execution of your duties, to Colonel Worth, whose orders relative to muster- ing the companies out of service (should he order their discharge immediately) you will await at Traders' Hill, or other convenient point." Captain Bliss awaited at Traders' Hill the receipt of the fol- lowing communication : " Head-Quarters, Army of Florida. } Tampa, November 20, 1841. ' { "Sir — Your report of the 15th instant has been received, and submitted to the colonel commanding, who directs, that on the receipt hereof, you will be pleased to discharge, executing the necessary papers as to pay and allowance, such companies or de- tachments of Georgia militia, called out by the governor of that state, as you may have mustered into the service under the spe- cial instructions from the adjutant-general's office, dated the 28th ultimo, advising the proper staff departments when issues of pro- visions and forage shall cease. I am, &c., To Captain Bliss, U. S. A., ) W. J. WORTH. Colonel Commanding." Traders' Hill, Ga. J Jernigan's company was mustered out of service on the 30th of November; Sweat's on the 3d of December, 1841. Upon Captain Bliss's arriving in Washington, the solicitude of the executive of Georgia to bring into the field a militia force, caused much concern on the part of the general government, and endeavors were made to obtain all information towards a proper understanding of the matter, tracing the fault or neglect, if any existed, either to the credulity of the executive of Georgia, or the inefficiency of the commander of the forces in Florida. Accord- ingly, Captain Bliss was called upon for a detailed report. His THE FLORIDA WAR. 411 letter gives the opinion of every intelligent observer of the state of things in Florida. The letter of the secretary of war to the governor of Georgia, of December 27th, is interesting. In this letter he enclosed the report of Captain Bliss, in order to keep him well informed of the state of the frontier. " War Department, Washington, Dec. 27, 184L "Sir — Your excellency's letters of the 15th and 16th instant, with enclosures, have been received. You but do me justice in supposing that I am anxious to afford all the protection within the power of the department to the inhabitants of Georgia, ex- posed to Indian outages. You will, I am sure, also recollect how limited are \he means at the disposal of the department. Our small army is now principally engaged in striking at the root of the difficulty ; and but a few days, it is believed, will elapse, be- fore the only leader of the Indians now in arms against us in Flo- rida, with his band, will be captured. If the depredations and alarms of which you speak, do not then cease, we shall have the means of more effectually guarding the frontier of Georgia. " An Indian frontier, in time of war, cannot expect absolute immunity from the depredations of small parties. No amount of force, regular or mihtia, can prevent the occasional inroads of a daring enemy, accustomed to move with secrecy and dispatch. This is eminently true in Florida, and the southern portion of Georgia, where extensive hammocks and swamps favor their ad- vance, and obstruct the observation and pursuit of marauding parties. The inclosed report of the officer charged with the duty of mustering and discharging the militia companies recently in service on the southern frontier of Georgia, will show the arrange- ments for its defence, the bearing of the points now occupied by regular troops upon the usual routes of parties from the south, and their efficacy in holding such parties in check. It is believed that even were a mounted militia force kept continually in service, it would contribute but little additional protection to the frontier, beyond that which the inhabitants can afford themselves. Ac- customed to the use of arms, and provided as they are with them, the border settlers must necessarily rely upon their mutual aid for the surest and best protection. This remark is corroborated by the tendency which is known to exist among imbodied militia, to disperse to their homes when serving near them. They are aware that when a large portion of a sparse population is collected at a few points, all others are left exposed, and they feel that their families and firesides cannot be free from alarm or danger in their absence. " In reference to your remarks respecting the hazard of rely- 412 THE FLORIDA WAR. ing upon the opinions of the officers of the regular army, as to the nature and extent of the danger, and the means of guarding against it, it is proper to remark, that those who have served on the fron- tier have, at least, as good means of information, as the mihtia officers or inhabitants, and are, at least, disinterested in the re- commendations they m.ake. " The officer commanding the army in Florida, is responsible for the suitable application of the force under his orders, not only to the purposes of offensive operations, but also the defence of the settlements of Florida and Georgia. Acting under this high re- sponsibility, and with much better means of information than any possessed by this department, he has deemed the existing dispo- sitions for the protection of the Okefenokee frontier adequate for that purpose, and has therefore declined the services of a militia force. Confirmed as the correctness of his decision has been by the most recent intelligence received here, I cannot undertake to Countermand his orders for the discharge of the militia force. " I trust there will be no more occasion for calling the militia into service, as all our accounts from Florida concur in represent- ing the great probability of a speedy termination of the conffict. Small bands are continually coming in, and the northern part of the Peninsula is now almost entirely free of hostile parties. Copies of your communications will, however, be sent to Colonel Worth ; but I am bound to advise you that the service of the troops discharged subsequent to that event, and prior to any or- der from Colonel Worth to retain them, cannot be recognized. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. C. SPENCER." To the Governor of Georgia. (Inclosed to Governor McDonald by the Secretary of War.) " Washington, D. C, December 22, 1841. " Sir — Agreeably to your directions, I have the honor to sub- mit a report, showing the recent state of things on the southern border of Georgia, as connected with real or apprehended danger from incursions of Indians from Florida. To make my report more intelligible, I beg leave to preface it with some remarks on the nature of the military occupation of that frontier. " When made at all, such incursions have been confined to that part of the frontier which includes the Okefenokee swamp, and the district watered by the head branches of the Suwannee river ; the residue being an open country, and never, it is believed, infested or traversed by Indians since 1836, when a remnant of the Creeks escaped to Florida. " The Okefenokee swamp, from its impracticable character, and scarcity of arable islands, presents no permanent abode for THE FLORIDA WAR. 41 3 Indians, and has been only occasionally employed by them as a secure cover from our pursuit — the last time it was so employed, at least by a party of any strength, having been in the winter of 1838-9, when the operations of the regular troops and militia force under General Floyd, were successful in driving the enemy from the swamp. There are two routes by which the marauding parties of Indians from Florida approach the swamp ; the eastern route, by Kingsley's pond and New river, passes near Fort Mo- niac ; the western, by the natural bridge of the Santa Fe and up- per Suwannee, passes near Fort Gilmer. These routes are dic- tated by the nature of the country, and have, almost without exception, been followed by Indian parties from the south, which fact has furnished the basis of all arrangements for the defence of that frontier. " While Forts Moniac and Grlmer have been occupied, the Indians have generally desisted from depredations in the vicinity of the swamp, fearing to be cut off by the garrisons of these posts, after passing them to the northward. On the other hand, a temporary evacuation of Fort Moniac in the summer of 1840, was almost immediately followed by ravages in neighboring settlements. These facts show the great importance of the two positions, which may be regarded as the keys of the swamp ; and their adequacy, with active garrisons, to afford competent pro- tection to the Okefenokee frontier. " A company of dragoons is stationed at Fort Gilmer, and a company of infantry, liberally supplied with horses, for the purpose of prompt pursuit, at Fort Moniac. An infantry company is also stationed at Traders' Hill, and one of dragoons near Thigpens, on the scout indicated above as the eastern route. Renewed activi- ty has lately been given to these four companies, and if past experience be of any value, the existing arrangements for the defence of that frontier may be regarded as adequate to their object. " While recently on a tour of duty in that quarter, I had a good opportunity of judging of the state of feeling among the in- habitants, in reference to Indian alarms. Independently of the sense of security with which the roads adjacent to the swamp are daily travelled, for purposes of business or pleasure, I could discover, by questioning individuals, little or no cause of alarm. The ' signs' reported, such as the cutting of bee-trees and killing of cattle, were quite too vague and equivocal to justify any ap- prehensions ; and the captain of one of the militia companies mustered by me, himself expressed great doubts whether any Indians were or had been recently in the swamp. "With respect to the northern border of the swamp, from which Captain Sweat's company were drawn, and for the de- 414 THE FLORIDA WAR. fence of which it was called out, I am convinced that no necessi- ty whatever existed for calling that company into service. Cap- tain Jernigan's company was raised in a district near Fort Moni- ac, more exposed^ it is true, to inroads, as above shown. " It may not be inappropriate to remark, that, within the last few months, the danger of Indian incursions from Florida, across the Georgia line, has greatly diminished. Several bands that roved among the adjacent settlements of Florida have surren- dered, and others have been driven further south. Excepting a small party of fugitive Creeks, with whom negotiations had been opened at the last advices, there are no hostiles within striking distance of the Okefenokee swamp. I have the honor to be, with great respect. Your obedient servant. Honorable J. C. Spencer, ) W. W. S. BLISS, Secretary of War. ) Assistant Adjutant-General." His excellency the governor of Georgia having become some- what excited and disappointed at the frustration of the object so universally popular among a border people, addressed a letter, of which this is a copy, to the secretary of war : " Executive Department, Milledgemlle, Ga., ) March 10th, 1842. \ " Sir — I have the honor to forward to you a communication from General Knight, which furnishes evidence of ' Indian sighs,' that cannot be contradicted, and proof of the indisposition of the regular forces to pursue the Indians into their hiding-places. It is useless for me to apply to the government for an effective force. Those stationed for the protection of the country, instead of discharging their duty, are almost as troublesome as the sav- ages in the work of murder and destruction of property. Of this I have sent you the testimony. I have taken the defence of the state into my own hands, and only write to ask you to remove the regular troops from the territory of Georgia, that I may have the posts occupied by a military force that may be relied on for the protection of the people. I shall ask the delegation of Geor- gia in congress to have appropriations made to pay the mihtia. I have the honor to be, &c., Honorable J. C. Spencer, Secretary ) CHARLES J. McDONALD." of War, Washington, B. C. \ Ignorant of the foregoing communication, the commander of the forces in Florida, on the score of economy, removed the stations and detached camps in Georgia further south, bringing the cordon which protected the frontier entirely within the terri- THE FLORIDA WAR. 415 tory of Florida. This covered the settlements as effectually, and at the same time dispensed with the services of a steamboat, re- quired to transport supplies to Traders' Hill. The depot and post there were broken up, and a large number of civilians con- sequently discharged. The following gives a full explanation of the subject : " Head- Quarters of the Army, Fort King, ) March 30th, 1842. \ " Sir — On the 28th instant, I directed the withdrawal of the depot and garrison at Traders' Hill, in order to adopt a shorter and more economical route of supply, and to give such positions to the companies, and their detached camps, as would better cover the country, especially any approach to the Georgia bor- der. This arrangement was in no degree influenced' by the petition of the citizens of that border to the governor, much less by his excellency's letter of the 10th instant, of which I had no knowledge until yesterday through the public prints. Advised of this correspondence, I should have regarded any withdrawal of the detachments, until instructed by superior authority, as premature, and calculated to embarrass the department on a ques- tion of much interest and delicacy. " I forward herewith a map, on which is indicated generally the positions of the troops, showing the detached camps. Sev- eral official reports are herewith forwarded, of little interest, other than as exhibiting the systematic efforts to get up alarms, for very obvious purposes. The recent discharge of a large number of hired persons has, as was anticipated, greatly increased this disposition. I have the honor to be, &c., Adjutant-General U. S. Army, ) W. J. WORTH, Col. Commanding." Washington, D. C. ) On the 28th of March orders were issued for the withdrawal of the regular troops from the Georgia frontier. Governor McDonald's letter to the secretary of war, desiring that it might be done, and stating 'that he had taken the defence of the state into his own hands,' is dated March 10th. The lapse of time between the date and the 28th (when orders were issued), was sufficient to have permitted the war department to comply with the re- quest, and instructions transmitted accordingly, had the ffi^mness of the secretary been shaken, and he intimidated by the voluntary and praiseworthy assumption of the executive of Georgia. To prevent misapprehensions on this point, the letter of Colonel Worth, commanding, explains that this apparent acquiescence was accidental, and not caused in the most remote manner by the reproaches and threatenings of the executive of the state. 416 THE FLORIDA WAR. "Head-Quarters, Army of Florida, 1 Tampa Bay, April lOth, 1842. \ " Sir — On the 28th of March I issued instructions to abandon the position of Traders' Hill (within the limits of Georgia), as a depot. It was not until the 31st of that month that I was ap- prised, through the public prints, of your excellency's correspond- ence with the honorable secretary of war, which is presumed to be authentic, intimating wishes and demands with which my action would seem to be a compliance, of course, under instruc- tions from the government. My sole object in the new disposi- tion, simply was, to establish a better and more economical cov- ering-line, especially in reference to the Georgia border, and Florida settlements in that quarter. To guard against any public misapprehensions on this subject, I beg to be permitted to assure your excellency, that, had I been aware of the published corre- spondence referred to, no consideration of convenience or expe- diency could have induced me to adopt a measure seemingly touching an issue which your excellency has been pleased to make with the federal government, much less do I presume to discuss that question ; and quite as foreign was it from my design thereby to admit the justice or truth of the imputations which your petitioners have attempted to fix upon the soldiership and discipline of the troops, and the honor of the officers of this army. My purpose, however, mainly is, in all respect and sincerity, to assure your excellency, that, up to this moment, I have not had the honor to receive any instructions touching your demand for a withdrawal of the troops from the state of Georgia. I am, sir, your most obedient servant, &c.. His Excellency Governor C. J. McDonald, ) W. J. WORTH, Milledgeville, Ga. ^ Col. Commanding." The reply, and the endorsement upon the letter by the com- mander of the army, which was transmitted to the adjutant- general of the army, closes this correspondence. It is interest- ing, and in many respects important to the federal government, to the executive of Georgia, to citizens generally, and to Colonel Worth and those of his command : " Executive Department, Milledgeville, Ga., \ April 18th, 1842. \ " Sir — I had the honor to-day to receive your letter of the 10th instant, informing me of your accidental compliance with the wishes of the executive of Georgia, in withdrawing the gar- rison at Traders' Hill to a point within the hmits of Florida ; and assuring me, ' that, had you been aware of the published correspondence of this department with the secretary of war (which contained a request that the regular troops should be THE FLORIDA WAR. 4I7 removed from the limits of the state), no consideration of conve- nience or expediency could have induced you to have adopted the measure/ Your explanation was v^holly unnecessary, as it brought me the first intelligence of the important military move- ments which gave rise to it. It is proper, however, for me to say, that your ignorance of my wishes is accepted as a sufficient apology for your execution of them. I have the honor to be, &c. Colonel W. J. Worth, ) CHARLES J. McDONALD." Commanding Army of Florida. ) " Endorsement. " Although the governor is at liberty to indulge in pleasantries, just according to the estimate he may choose to put upon official dignity, it is impossible I should, for a moment, forget the respect due to his exalted station. " It were an easy task to make the ready and bitter retort, did self-respect permit. The military operations referred to were quite unpretending, and I should yet doubt their importance, were it not for this decided opinion of so consummate a master of the art of war. April 30, 1842. W. J. WORTH, Colonel, ^c, ^c." In continuance of this subject, and in vindication of the offi- cers and soldiers of the army, if any was required, the reports, selected from a vast number of similar character, from officers stationed along the exposed and panic-stricken frontier, are suf- ficiently exphcit to satisfy any candid mind of the state of feeling pervading that section of country. " Head Quarters, Atlantic District, Fort Henderson, ) Traders' Hill, January 10, 1842. S " Sir — Your communication of the 15th of December last, has been received, and I take the earliest opportunity of reporting to you, that I have received assurances from the several officers commanding stations along the Georgia line, (up to the 9th of this month,) ' that no Indians or signs of Indians, have been seen, by either of their scouting parties, which have been constantly moving within their respective sections of the country, and I am of opinion that there are no Indians within the range of the troops stationed to guard this portion of the country. As to the two companies of Georgia militia which were mustered out of service, December 2d, 1841, I have not the slightest reason to desire or recommend their being again mustered into the service, either on the ground of necessity or expediency. With respect, I am, sir, your ob't serv't, WM. GATES, Lt. Col. Com. the Dist." Major Samuel Cooper, ) Ass't Adj't Gen. U. S. Army. ) 27 418 THE FLORIDA WAR. Little River, Columbia Co., E. F., February 28, 1842. " Sir — Yesterday, about ten in the morning, the Indians made an attack on Mr. Osteen's house, one and a half miles from the natural bridge on the Santa Fe river, killed Mrs. O., and were still firing on the house when the express left Alligator. The particulars of this transaction are not to be learned. I start oft again, to-morrow, after them. Signs have been made in a few miles of this, but two days since. Unless we get aid speedily the country must be abandoned. Not a soldier is on the frontier of this county, except at Fort White, leaving Santa Fe and Su- wannee free for them to live on. This is protection. I have stated this much that you may be correctly informed of matters in this vicinity, hoping to hear from you soon. I am, sir, your ob't serv't, GEORGE E. McClelland." His Excellency R. K. Call. " I respectfully invite an examination of the annexed paragraph, cut from a Savannah paper, and in connection with this, the re- port of Captain Seawell, referring to the same circumstances. The worthy lady, whom Governor Call's correspondent, George McClelland, kills off" on the 28th of February, was alive and doing well (having experienced no other harm than the supposi- tion of being fired at with an arrow) on the 20th of March. The head-quarters of a strong company, with detachments thrown out in all directions, are situated within one and a half miles of her house. There is a command at Charles' Feriy, on the Su- wannee, with outposts; another at Mineral Springs, also with outposts ; besides troops in motion through that region. W. J. WORTH, Colonel Commanding." " The aforesaid George McClelland has been twice or thrice mustered into service as captain of volunteers ; the last is captain in General Reed's sedentary brigade. W. J. W" "Settlement near Fort King, E. F., March 23, 1842. ^ " Sir — I have read the recently published account of an attack said to have been made by Indians on the house of Mrs. Osteen, in which it is stated that Mrs. Osteen is killed. I was at Mineral Springs, on the Suwannee, on the 2d of March, where I heard that Mrs. Osteen had been killed by Indians, and that the Indians were still firing on the house. On arriving at Alligator the day after, I learned there that she was not killed, but it was generally supposed that she might have been shot at by an Indian. 1 reached Mrs. Osteen's the same day, found her in good health, THE FLORIDA WAR. 419 and learned that she had not been shot. I was told by her neigh- bors that she had not even been fired on, and there was great doubt expressed whether any Indians had been in the vicinity. Being a contractor for the supply of beef to the troops at Fort King, and having occasion to visit frequently the upper country, I can state from my own knowledge, that that portion of the pub- lished statement which relates to the abandonment of that sec- tion of the country by troops, is untrue. There has been for six months past, and still is, a camp within two miles of Mrs. Osteen's house, with camps also in several other directions in that section of the country. My visits to the upper country are generally made by myself, and I have never felt any apprehension in tra- velling through the country alone. Very respectfully, your obedient servant. Colonel Worth, ) L. B. BRANCH." Commanding Araiy of Florida. \ " Fort King, E. F., March 23, 1842. " Mr. Branch, the author of the foregoing communication, sus- tains the reputation of an honest man. His word touching any transaction can be relied on. .T. McKINSTRY, First Lieut. 2d Infantry." " Cantonment Winfield Scott, E. F, March 20, 1842. " Sir — I have the honor to report, that the traffic of whisky to the soldiers at this post, is carried on to a great extent by some of the citizens in this vicinity ; particularly, as I am informed, by a Mr. James L. Townsend and a Mr. Waller. I have used every endeavor to put a stop to this traffic, but without success, or any prospect of it. It seems that these citizens consider it greatly to their interest to carry it on ; far more so than they consider the presence of troops necessary for the purpose of pro- tection against Indian depredations. During my absence from here on the scout west of the Suwannee, my first sergeant w^as killed by musician Hastings, for taking from him two bottles of whisky which he had procured at Mr. Townsend's, and was about introducing into the garrison. " Mr. Waller (one of the individuals above mentioned) resides within two hundred yards of this post. He carries on the farm- ing business in partnership with a Mr. Simeon Dill, who, it is beheved, is also his partner in the whisky trade. They have a negro, who also sells whisky, and no doubt for their benefit, as they refuse to correct him. " No Indians, or signs of them, have been seen by the scouts from this post, since my company has been stationed here. About two weeks since (during my absence), it was reported that an 420 THE FLORIDA WAR. Indian had shot an arrow at a Mrs. Osteen, who resides about two miles from this. Lieutenant Hopson informs me that, imme- diately after he received the report, he repaired to her house with a command, where he found a number of citizens collected, and, as no sign of an Indian could be found, the report was not be- lieved. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. SEAWELL, Capt. 1th Infantry, Com'g Post." Lieutenant F. N. Pa&e, Acting Adjutant > 7th Infantry, Fort Micanopy, E. F. 5 " Fort Henderson, Traders' Hill, Ga., April 3cl, 1842. " Sir — I have caused to be copied from the Federal Union of the 22d ultimo, published at Milledgeville, Georgia, and now% herewith, have the honor to transmit for the inspection of the colonel commanding the army of Florida, a very nervous and denunciatory dispatch, from the executive of Georgia to the secretary of war, requesting the withdrawal of the regular troops from the territory of Georgia, charging upon them misconduct and supineness. " Upon this I have to remark, that if it be his excellency's purpose to scandaUze, generally, the forces of the United States, I am not unwilhng (in such good company) to sink as low as it may be in his power to plunge us. If he refers only to the troops which have heretofore, and until the 26th of February, 1842, garrisoned this post, it is neither my business nor my purpose, by this communication, to herald myself forth as their champion ; but if he refers to the troops which I now have the honor to command, and which have been in position here since the above date, then I declare most positively, that his accusations are wholly destitute of true and sufficient data. " It is not generally an honorable defence to resort to recri- mination, but I have to assure you that the very few and trifling cases of misconduct which have occurred in this command, have been promptly and properly noticed ; and have arisen chiefly from an illicit traffic by the settlers in this vicinity in soldiers' clothing and whisky— which I promise you to suppress, if there is law in the land to do it. " I have in conclusion briefly to state, that in so far as I am mformed, there is no cause whatever for alarm (nor can I learn that there does exist any alarm) from hostile Indians in this neigh- JDorhood ; and, in order to corroborate this assertion, it is my mtention in the course of the next week, to penetrate and exa- mme the Okefenokee swamp, in two small detachments, from Forts Floyd and Norton; the first, composed of one sergeant, and eight privates, commanded by Second-Lieutenant T. S. J. THE FLORIDA WAR. 421 Johnson, 8th infantry ; and the second, of one sergeant, one cor- poral, and eight privjites, commanded by myself — leaving only one sergeant, and seven privates for the protection of this post, and depot. " The two detachments will rendezvous on Floyd's Island, and, united, emerge from the swamp via Forts Tatnall and Gil- mer (see map), and so return to this post via Fort Moniac. Of the result of this operation, I shall give you timely, advice. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, R. B. SCRIVEN, Major S. Cooper, ) Captain 8th Infantry, Commanding." Assistant Adjutant-General, &c. ) " North's Station, Fa., April 29, 1842. " Sir — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 10th instant, and regret that some mal- arrangement in the transmittal of the mail has prevented an earlier occasion to submit the following : '• On my arrival at this post on the 25th March, a panic ap- peared prevalent among the inhabitants in this section, arising from various reports of the appearance of Indians and Indian signs ; and their apprehensions were stimulated by the fresh re- collection of the murder committed within a few miles of Fort Gilmer, in the early part of March. I immediately established guards sufficient for protection at the exterior and more exposed positions, near the thickest of the population. Confidence was restored, and in the vicinity of our camp, where the people had previously collected at night for mutual defence, their fears sub- sided, and they returned to their homes with a feeling of security from further alarm. Scouting parties were then daily sent out in every direction, to examine in the most minute manner, every circumstance connected with the appearance of signs of Indians : with the exception of low, narrow hammock, skirting the borders of small streams, the country is mostly open pine-barren, and affords no hidden resting-place for Indians. Big Bay, on^and a half miles to the southeast, is fifteen miles long, and three or four miles wide. It is bordered with a hght growth of hammock, and islands can be seen in the interior. No Indian can get to these islands without leaving a sign ; the print of his foot would remain in the moistened clay at the edge of the water, long after it was made, and until a rise in the bay should cover the mark. So far from a rise at this time, the continued drought has a tendency to depress the water below the common level. A high and dry hammock, along the Suwannee river, easily penetrated, can afford no permanent shelter. Through every hammock, and in every direction, the country was scoured for miles around ; and in al] 422 THE FLORIDA WAR. the scouting that continued incessantly for nearly two weeks, not the first appearance of Indian signs could be discovered. " My attention was now attracted to the continued reports of Indians and Indian murders, remote and near ; and an appa- rent increased degree of alarm existing among some of the set- tlers, and the difficulty of undeceiving them. " A Captain North, with a company of seventy-two men, or- ganized, but who had not been called into service by the governor of Georgia, I learned had dispatched expresses to the governor making reports of Indians, and seeking authority to muster his men into service. He was continually absent from home, leaving a few women and a negro to protect the house : this is the ex- terior house in that settlement, and one and a half miles from the building burnt, with the woman in it, near Fort Gilmer. A guard was established within a few yards : they learned that an Indian or Indian negro had been seen, a few days before their arrival, passing along the hammock in front of the building, and following ' Torn's Creek ;' it was examined ; the tracks were very distinct — a naked foot, broad and long, such as could not again be mistaken. The tracks returned and left the hammock at the point of entrance ; the distance from the entrance to the spot of turning back, about three hundred yards. When Captain North returned home, he also examined, and declared the print the same as was made at the murder before referred to. " In a few days the object visited the house at night, and slightly alarmed the inmates, without committing further damage ; they did not call the guard to their relief, but informed them the next day. The foot-print in the hammock was measured with a string, and corresponded in length and breadth with that of the negro belonging to the house. Again the object visited the house in the night ; the corporal commanding the guard was present ; the fence-gate was shaken, and a noise made to indicate the pre- sence of somebody. The women said an Indian was seen ; the corporal instantly procured a torch, and followed as rapidly as possibly, but the object eluded him ; it had come from the ad- joining field, and returned the same way. It could be traced no further ; the negro was absent from the house at the time. The corporal offered to place a sentinel for protection ; but they de- clined, having no further fear. The alarm on this occasion appeared so much the result of an artifice, as to induce suspi- cion. Captain North, on his return, dispatched another express. Having thus forced himself into service, he seems determined to remain in, by imposing on the credulity of the governor ; and he has since exerted himself in circulating reports of Indians, and producing a fictitious excitement. " Many of these people are too idle and indolent to labor for THE FLORIDA WAR. 423 the means of subsistence ; many live by hunting and fishing ; and hence the distress of these inhabitants, and their desire to get into the service for a maintenance. They are but Uttle improved beyond the Indians themselves. " The governor not yet having recognized Captain North as in service, he has put himself in motion with some of his men, pre- tending to scout; but in reality disturbing the peaceable and quiet inhabitants, and feeding their minds with false alarms. " A recent report of the burning of Fort Fanning and the murder of forty people, called out Captain Johnson to succor the place, and the same day a report of two hundred Indian* induces Captain North, with twenty men, to go in pursuit. This game is so openly played, that the people begin to understand the matter too well ; but persons at a distance may be deceived. " The quiet of this region would be greatly promoted, if authority were granted to disperse this armed mob, disturbers of the public peace. " Some facts have already transpired, and when further de- velopments shall have taken place (I am fortified in the belief from personal examination and other circumstances of evidence), it will be discovered that the Indians who committed the murder in the vicinity of Fort Gilmer, were not the native Indians of the country. " So long as this war depends upon reported ' signs of Indians,' no limit can be fixed to its termination in this region, until the general government refuses to pay the state of Georgia for calling out those volunteers. H. McKAVITT, Captain 8th regiment, Commanding Post." The officers commanding camps ^nd posts, and those on scouts and patrols, were required to male written reports of what they saw from day to day. If Indian tracks were seen, the in- telligence was at once communicated, the direction and number specified, and pursuit immediately given. These, together with tri-monthly reports, as required in orders, were transmitted to head-quarters, upon the honor of those who made them. If de- predations were committed, or signs seen, in the portion of coun- try allotted, it was imperatively the duty of the officer to shield himself from the imputation of neglect of duty. Those to whom these trusts were confided were men distinguished for prudence, intelligence, and experience, far above any prejudices that could induce them to participate in a feeling of resentment or retaha- tion towards those who so industriously traduced them. The mustering of militia for the public service, opens a wide field for speculation and remark. 424 THE FLORIDA WAR. The organization and employment of such a force, when con- fined to its legitimate purpose, can effect much in accomplishing its ends. In [he field, when the citizen is defending his home, or the government which shields his rights, or when usurpation and oppression threaten his liberty, or when the invader pollutes the soil with his footsteps, no men, in any country, rally with more devoted patriotism, fidelity, and resolute bravery, than the militia of the United States. Then, they stand side by side, unsubdued and unyielding, in principle, in patriotism, and honor, steadfast in the broad phalanx mustered in their country's cause. But the employment of this force to expel the aborigines from the soil, or to prevent incursions upon the border, is less available, and assumes a different aspect. The federal government has wisely adopted a course of policy towards the Indian, to remove him to a part of the country where his habits and inclinations can be indulged, remote from the restless and never-ceasing spirit of enterprise and migration peculiar to the Anglo-Saxon. He seeks the savage first from curiosity, second, to become acquainted with his habits, and to learn if his laws are wholesome and efficacious, next, for gain. Encroachment after encroachment leads on to a claim for certain tracts of land, then, of rights. These are denied, until the clamor, participated in by many influential citizens, drowns the impotent wail of the wronged and revengeful savage. The citizens of the state appeal to the executive, to whom they have confided the execution of their laws, and to whom they first, and very naturally, look for protection in their daily voca- tions, and the sacredness of their property. The governor ap- peals with confidence to the powerful and protecting arm of the federal government, and to stimulate it to action, and to infuse into its measures a proper degree of acrimony and spirit of retahation, a detail of the encroachments made upon the unoffending citizen, is heralded to the world, backed by the recital of cruelties and butcheries, calculated to excite the most vindictive passions throughout the land. The turbulent voice of the public will annihilates every impulse of generosity or jus- tice, discards dispassionate investigation to ferret out and punish aggressors, until at last might takes the place of right, law and the feelings of humanity are disregarded, and the country be- comesa battle-ground for the lion and the wolf. This being the case, it is obligatory upon the government to give to its citi- zens ample protection in the execution of its laws, or in per- fecting a course of policy designed for the general good. That adopted towards the Indian is an internal domestic arrange- ment, and should be persisted in with kindness and humanity; but if in its progress it is to devastate sections of country, and ■drive citizens from their occupation, it disregards and violates THE FLORIDA WAR. 425 the most sacred rights inherent in the organization and design of the constitution of the country, which guaranties to all "peace- able possession of homes and firesides." Any measure having a tendency, however remotely, to encroach upon this declaration, is an infringement of the privileges of every American citizen. If a certain policy is adopted, the law-makers should look around, and first ascertain if there be the means to execute it, regard- ing most sacredly the rights of those who bring into being this governing power ; if the treasury of the country will not war- rant it, or the prejudices of legislators will not sanction the mea- sures which are necessary for the maintenance of a regular force, the policy, whatever it may be, should be abandoned, at least for a time, or until the period arrives when proper feelings and mo- tives actuate those to whom our rights are confided. If persisted in, and the Indian, outraged by wrongs, dares desperately to assail the intruder, the government is bound, by ties of duty and consanguinity, to give to settlers on the border ample protection by regular troops. If mustered into service, each man inevitably leaves his home unprotected. While abseiit, solicitous for the safety of others, his own dwelling may be fired, and his family murdered ; his farm, from which he draws his daily food, becomes a barren waste, and the habits of industry, which have grown with his growth, become enervated by pernicious example. In- dolence is as well rewarded as patient toil, his daily pay is as much when spent in vice and slothfulness as when usefully en- gaged, and that zeal which should stimulate him in his new voca- tion is weakened by a consciousness, that, when executing his duty, he is liable to the fate of a soldier, and knows, and feels too, that when snugly in camp, participating in the revels of a militia force, he is free from all danger. Even should motives of ambi- tion excite him to duty, this is lessened by the fact, that his em- ployment is temporary, and that if the enemy is found and sub- dued, his daily income must cease, and he be thrown again upon those qualities which the vicious indulgences of an undisciplined camp tend so strongly to undermine. Nor do these pernicious influences fall alone upon the border settler. The mustering of mihtia into service becomes intermixed with the political aspira- tions of men, who, by good fortune and frugality, have risen above the crowd. The political aspirant moves in the midst of many who rely upon his exertions for a livelihood, readily yield- ing their opinions of government and law to the more potent and paramount demands for bread. These aspirants, thus horn to command, become known, and before the lapse of twelve months, after a campaign, their important services are lauded, and they comfortably housed in a position distinguished and profitable, while the frontiersman, a fellow-campaigner, has become penni- 426 THE FLORIDA WAR. less and houseless, thrown out of employment, and reduced to the necessity of again seeking his once cultivated field, petitioning that the regular soldier may be stationed in his neighborhood to protect him. If the ballot-box is corrupted, how can the treasury of the country escape ? Experience has taught, that within the last ten years, the demands upon the national treasury, and a large portion of that which has been drawn, was the result of criminal prodigality, and effected through the means of reckless corruption. " For years after the Indian is expelled from the soil, and peace restored, claims accumulate with a rapidity truly remark- able. Muster-rolls, certificates, affidavits, losses exaggerated by loud complaints and threats, roll in upon congress and the treas- ury like a torrent, when the establishment of these demands be- cornes an effectual and important element in the approaching canvass for representatives. A country once agitated by border wars, requires years for society to regain its former channels. Industry and morals are crushed by that recklessness which ever is the lot of man, when driven from his home, and freed from those obligations which bind him to his country and the society which has grown up around him. The white man soon imbibes the habits of an Indian, and, di- vested of his native simplicity of character, he combines the reck- lessness of the savage with many inherent vices, that give redou- bled waywardness and force to the degrading propensities of man in a barbarous state. The society of a frontier once thrown from its axis, revolves in disorder until it is lost in ignorance, slothful- ness, and vice. Calling out militia under the act of congress of February 28th, 1795, could be done so as to effect the object designed — "that is, to repel invasion from any foreign nation or Indian tribe f but when political ambition and the lust for public money becomes paramount, the intention of the law is perverted, and the commu- nity, instead of manfully battling invaders, sits passively in camp, enjoying the monthly pay. It is the abuse of the law which ren- ders this kind of force so expensive and ineffectual. If this does exist from the nature of things, it is not surprising that experi- enced officers, with a full knowledge of it under their immediate observation, reluctantly become instruments thus to drain the treasury of their country, and be the means of sowing the seeds of corruption, which, from year to year, as the war is prosecuted, adds to the embarrassments surrounding them. The correspondence upon the subject, shows clearly the opinions entertained by the general government. It preferred leaving the matter discretionary with the regular officer who was THE FLORIDA WAR. 427 accountable for the protection of the frontier, and best able to form a correct opinion (as results showed), with a full knowledge of what was necessary, and at the same time responsible for the security of citizens ; as ample means and power had been placed at his disposal. The letters of the Hon. J. C. Spencer, secretary of war, ex- hibit a comprehensive knowledge of the nature and character of the Florida war. The state of affairs in that territory received his special attention, upon first assuming the administration of the department, in which he persevered, until his acute mind and un- tiring industry opened the subject fully, divested of the mystifica- tion which five years' drain upon the treasury had invested it. He sternly marked his course of conduct, and resolutely adhered to it, which gave to the commander, and officers within his com- mand encouragement, instead of ill-digested plans, experiments, and suggestions. He felt that the officer in the field was better able to suggest, than the councils emanating in the bureaux re- mote from the scene of action. To his firmness and wisdom the country is greatly indebted. The soldierly and statesmanlike views of Major-General Scott, commanding the army, awarded to the militia much praise for the forbearance they manifested, and the readiness with which they had mustered and pursued the enemy upon emergencies. His opinions and instructions throughout, are characterized by a just and judicious discrimination ; doing justice to officers and men, both of the militia and regular force. CHAPTEE XL JANUARY AND FEBRUAY, 1842. The hiding-place of Halleck-Tustenuggee found ; strength and character of his band ; his own character — Precautionary measures taken to prevent his surprising the settlements. — Major Piympton ordered tc take the field with three companies of the 2d infantry. — Fight with Halleck-Tustenuggee. — Band re- treats.— Two Indians taken prisoners. — Pursuit of Halleck by Captain Casey, 2d infantry, with one hundred men. — Lieutenant Wessels ascends the Ocklawaha river to intercept him. — He eludes them successfully. — Capture of Powis-Fixico or Short-Grass. — Nethlockemathlar repairs to the mouth of the Withlacooche to meet the Creeks. — The Creeks plotting to take his life, and rescue the Indians en- camped at Fort Brooke. — Indignation of the chief — He organizes an armed party ; takes the field to punish the Creeks. — Thirty Indians, armed completely, proceed to Fort Clinch. — Conduct of Tiger-Tail or Thiocklo-Tustenuggee in council. — Escape of Tiger-Tail from Fort Brooke. — His schemes frustrated. — His wife and child re-captured. — His repeated interviews witli Octiarche to concert means of releasing the Indians in camp. — The Indian war-party supposed to be privy to his escape. — Orders sent to Fort CJinch to disarm the party at once. — They sent to Cedar Key, thence to Fort Brooke. — Indignation of the Chief Nethlockemathlar. — Active measures of the army. — Troops recalled from the South. — Campaign in the Big Cypress ended, resulted as anticipated. — Major Belkna|) secures a sub-chief, and sixty-seven followers. — Supposed hiding-place of Bowlegs, the Prophet, and Sam Jones. — Much praise due the troops, if the service was understood. — Ponce de Leon landing in 1522 on the margin of the Everglades. — Memoramdum of reports of officers. — Scouts. — Explorations sent to the adjutant-general. — Orders issued for the relief of the 3d artillery. — Movements of the regiment, and their service in Florida. — Disposition of the troops from the South. — 2d dragoons ; 4th, tith, and 8th infantry. — Em- barkation of two hundred and thirty Indians. — Creeks, Seminoles, Uchees, and Micka^ukies, their character and feelings, vicious and abandoned. — Detachment, 8th infantry, fired upon in the Wahoo Swamp. — Movement of troops to find the Creeks. — Indians under Octiarche attack the settlement with arrows, killing women and children. — They pursued. — Night attack upon their camp in the Swamp. — Capture of the women. — Men escape. — Humanity of officers, and soldiers. — Embarrassments in closing the contest. — Colnnel Worth's letter of February 14th, urging upon the government certain measures to finish it. — Major Cooper, assistant-adjutant general, dispatched to Washington. — The contents submitted by the secretary of war to a council of officers. — Not acceded to. — General Jesup dissents from the opinion expressed. — The measures prosecuted, though uninstructed by the commander in Florida. — Orders issued for retrenchment. — 6th infantry relieved, and ordered to Jefferson Barracks ; its service ; its loss by disease and battle. — Sick and death.s in the army in January, February, and March. — The total number in the army taken sick during nine months' active service. — An asylum for old soldiers, and invalids. — Condition of those discharged the service for disability. The hiding-place of Halleck-Tustenuggee, the most formidable Indian chief in Florida, had at last been found. Seven months' diligent search by friendly Indians, as well as by zealous and wide-extended operations of troops, had proved unavailing. Some atrocious act upon the settlements, or an humble message to the commander of a post for subsistence, had heretofore, occasionally disclosed his whereabout or his habitation. Now he was doubt- less on Haw Creek or at the head of Dunn's Lake, east of the river St. John's : this was a most eligible spot, from which to emerge at pleasure upon the roads leading to St. Augustine, forty miles distant, and the intermediate places, or intercept travellers on the way to Picolata, on the St. John's. From the best information which could be obtained, he had with him thirty-five warriors, mostly Mickasukies, resolute and vindictive, who considered the soil theirs by inheritance. A few Seminoles and Creeks were among the number, who had been forsaken by their companions less cruel and blood-thirsty. They were now reduced to the necessity of combining for safety with THE FLORIDA WAR. 429 a tribe with which they had had continued feuds and colHsions. This band was well armed with rifles, selected with care from among the citizens and soldiers murdered on the highway ; and provided with ammunition obtained in the same manner, and turned into a common depository, subject to the arbitrary autho- rity of their chief Halleck-Tustenuggee was a savage by nature, without a virtue either of the head or heart to redeem his character. Adroit in his movements, bold and intrepid in action, cruel and revengeful, he had made the pioneer feel, as well as the army, that he was no ordinary antagonist. These decisive traits of character were as well known to his band, as to his enemies. To guard against his assaults, additional force was sent to St. Augustine, Picolata, and to the general hospital at the St. John's Bluff A patrol of twenty men were going constantly on the main road from the St. John's to the Atlantic coast. A command of sixty men of the 2d infantry were in boats moving up and down the river to cut off" the retreat of the enemy. Three companies of the 2d infantry, in conjunction vAth these measures, took the field on the 2d of January, in command of Major J. Plympton, whose perseverance in the execution of his duty was only equalled by those under his command. For their arduous service of two months, they were rewarded by defeating the band so long hunted for ; compelling them to abandon their strong-holds and recross the St. John's ; and terminated with the capture of Powis-Fixico or Short-Grass and party. Major Plympton, after examining Graham's and Bulow's swamp, To- moka river. Spring Garden, and the hammocks and scrubs bor- dering and intervening, and destroying abandoned huts and fields, followed, day after day, a solitary track, when, on the 25th of January, he came upon the enemy, posted in a hammock. The Indians for a short time resolutely stood the ground, whoop- ing and yelling to intimidate and prevent approach. The troops closed in, after a well-directed volley, with rapidity and vigor, causing the Indians to retreat in confusion, leaving two wounded upon the field. Though the command was for some time exposed to the un- ceasing fire of the enemy, secreted in a dense hammock, but one man was killed and two wounded. This, as informed by the wounded prisoners, was the band of Halleck-Tustenuggee, who, finding no security or rest, was making his way over the St. John's river. The stand here taken was to cover the retreat of the women and children, who were one day in advance. A detachment followed the trail to the river, where it was found that the chief had crossed in haste at the southern end of Lake 430 THE FLORIDA WAR. George. His rafts and a canoe could be seen on the opposite shore. This information having reached Palatka, then for the moment the head-quarters of the army,"" Captain Silas Casey, 2d infantry, with one hundred men in boats, proceeded at once to the place of crossing, with orders to take up the trail and follow it to its termination. Orders were also sent to Lieutenant Wes- sels, 2d infantry, at Fort King, to ascend the Ocklawaha river in canoes with fifty men, and intercept this band, if possible, when crossing that river. Captain Casey, with an earnestness and hardihood deserving a better result, took up the trail on the west bank of the St. John's, and followed it to a swamp three miles wide, through which the officers and men transported their pro- visions and camp equipage on their backs ; the mud and water varying from one to three feet deep. Upon emerging on the op- posite side, the foot-prints were completely lost. The Indians had taken the precaution to scatter in small parties, and set fire to the scrub ; thus obliterating every vestige by which the negro guides and trailers could ascertain in what direction they had fled. While the command under Lieutenant Wessels was eagerly waiting in ambush at various fording-places on the Ocklawaha, Halleck-Tustenuggee, apprehending this, crossed ten miles south of any known ford, into a dense swamp, which heretofore had been considered by the Indian guides as impassable. Major Plympton, with an Indian by the name of Tommy, who was retained at Fort Mellon, when coming there with petitions for food from Halleck-Tustenuggee, proceeded to a swamp in which he believed there were Indians secreted. He said that if he was permitted, he could induce them to surrender. Upon farther interrogating him, it was discovered that Short-Grass, his father, was living there. Advantageous positions were taken around and in the swamp, when this boy was dispatched, with assurances that his father should be treated kindly, but if taken in arms his death was inevitable. He soon returned with Powis- Fixico (Short-Grass) and four warriors. These men v/ere the most active participators in the attack upon Mandarine. On the westward side of the peninsula, events of interest and importance had occurred. The favorable result looked for at the mouth of the Withlacooche river — the anticipated surrender of Octiarche and the Creeks, was not realized. Instead of complying with their promises, they were maturing a plan to put to death the chief Nethlockemathlar ; then, through Tiger-Tail, induce those encamped at Fort Brooke to join them in a farther, but more vigorous prosecution of the war. Nethlockemathlar was at the mouth of the Withlacooche on the day appointed (the 12th of January), and was four days in communion with Octiarche THE FLORIDA WAR. 431 and his followers. But they declined, under various pretexts, visiting the steamboat, at the mouth of the river, or coming in to Fort Brooke, at the time appointed. Though professing much friendship, there was sufficient to excite the suspicions of the old chief, who reluctantly remain- ed on shore after the fourth day. He was urged to send two of his young men into the swamp, to induce others, who tim- idly declined coming in, from a fear that the whites would ensnare them. While these young men were gone, a Mickasukie Indian informed the chief of a plan maturing by the Creeks to put him to death, by waylaying those already out, and at midnight assail- ing him, and slaying him in his sleep. Unwilling to give credence to this tale, revealed not from friendship to him, but from enmity to the Creeks, he, v/ith that calmness and resolution which marked his character, awaited two days the return of his messengers. They not coming, and having for two successive nights heard strange noises around his camp at midnight, he at last returned to the steamboat. . One of those presentments, believed to be su- pernatural by Indians, occasioned the chief to become convinced that his young men had been cruelly murdered. " They want the red-man's blood," said he ; " they shall have it, and mine too, if they can get it." He returned immediately to Fort Brooke, resolved to take the field to gratify his revenge. To keep alive this feeling was of the utmost importance. It was evident that Octiarche and his band could not be secured by military measures, or be induced to surrender, either through bribes or intimidation. The only hope of ever getting him, was to awaken a kindly feeling towards the whites, thus subdue his vindictiveness, and induce him to restrain his warriors and to abstain from violent acts upon the frontier. This course, with the aid of an Indian force, might cause him to listen to terms of pacification. Nethlockemathlar called a council of the warriors there, to whom he related all that had transpired, and detailed, with much feeling, the plan that had been laid to put him to death. Though advanced in years, the spark of valor was not yet quenched in his breast. He rose in tone and emphasis, and became animated as he enlarged on the infamy of the design, and the audacity of its instigators. He proposed that they should see those Creeks, offer them terms of peace, and if these were declined, punish them upon the spot. A hearty concurrence was given by all present, except Tiger-Tail, who professed to be indignant at the recital of his brother's wrongs, and the meditated attempt upon his life. To send into the woods a body of Indians, armed with rifles, and provided w^ith ammunition, provisions, and horses, was a 432 THE FLORIDA WAR. hazardous undertaking, but the object was worthy of the enter- prise. Thirty warriors were selected, armed complete, and Neth- lockemathlar was placed at their head. Tiger-Tail dechned going, fr^m indisposition. The party left Fort Brooke for Fort Clinch, on the Withlacooche river, eighty miles distant, deter- mined to accomplish their object. On the second night after their departure, there was a manifest confusion and dissatisfac- tion in the camp of those remaining. The women and children were passing in and out with small bundles, which caused the officer in charge to suspect that something was in contemplation, and to satisfy himself as to the truth of his suspicions, he went to the tent of Tiger-Tail. He was not there, nor could he be found. He had fled, in spite of the watch kept over him, taking with him his wife and child, and all his baggage. The small packages which had been carried past the chain of sentinels, was his bag- gage, smuggled out by those participating in the plot, in such a manner as not to excite suspicion. Though it was late at night, the camp was promptly surround- ed by soldiers, and pursuit immediately given. This was so rapid and efficient, under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, 8th infantry, and the zeal and activity of Lieutenants L. Smith, and A. T. Lee, that Tiger-Tail's wife, his son, and five women, were recaptured. Two of these were wives of his younger bro- thers, absent with the armed party. Three men, it was found, accompanied Tiger-Tail. Two of the number had come in with him the day before, having joined him, as he stated, when hunting. They were doubtless messengers from Octiarche. How far this disaffection extended, it was impossible to tell. No alterna- tive remained, but to break it up without delay. Fears were en- tertained that the armed party were privy to it. Captain T. P. Guynn, 8th regiment, was dispatched with a mounted force to Fort Chnch, at which post Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis was in readiness to take the field. He was instructed to seize and disarm every Indian, and put them under guard, on board a steamboat in the river, and send them to Cedar Key, thence to Fort Brooke. Captain Guynn arrived at midnight. The entire war party were within the chain of sentinels. The officers, together with the sentinels on post, were at this hour attentively listening to signals on the opposite side of the river. This led to the belief that there V|^as a concert of action between those who were giving these signals, and some of the armed party who were in camp, await- ing the appointed and opportune moment for action. Whatever may have been designed, it was now too late. Every Indian was required to come to the commanding officer's tent and lay down his arms, when what had transpired at Fort Brooke, and the es- cape of Tiger^ Tail, was made known to them. To the innocent, THE FLORIDA WAR. * 433 this was sufficient to excite the most bitter feelings ; to the guilty, disappointment and chagrin. The chief, seeing in these move- ments the subtle and treacherous mind of his brother, restrained his anger, though at first much excited, and endeavored to allay the indignation among those who felt disgraced by being suspected of a participation in so infamous a plot. Connecting the language and conduct of his brother on sev- eral occasions, particularly in the last council, he attributed to him the treachery of Octiarche, who had been induced to disre- gard his promises, and to become an instrument in putting him to death, and thus succeed in prevailing upon the Indians in camp at Fort Brooke to join the Creeks. The importance given to Nethlockemathlar since his surrender, in all the negotiations which had proved so successful, excited in the mind of Tiger- Tail jealousy and vindictive hostihty. He felt humbled and mor- tified that he was so ^ell understood, and determined to defeat, if possible, the efforts of his brother to pacificate and bring in the Creeks. He had a talk with Octiarche on the 30th of December, while the steamer lay at the mouth of the Withlacooche river, and was the cause of another day being appointed, and defeated the fulfillment of Octiarche's promises, by proposing measures which would add to his authority and prolong the contest. Not anticipating so bold a step on the part of his brother, he had not time to communicate with Octiarche, but made his escape as early as practicable, to put him on his guard, in the expectation that the women in camp would follow that night, when those of the armed party, finding themselves well provided, and their wo- men free, would be induced to unite with the Creeks, and wage a successful warfare on the whites. The signals heard at Fort Clinch on the night of Captain Guynn's arrival, were made by Octiarche and his men, who were endeavoring to obtain an inter- view, to ascertain to what extent the proposals of Tiger-Tail had been successful. The warriors forming the war party, on their return, were put on board transports in Tampa Bay, and not per- mitted to land. Their women and children joined them, together with the remaining Indians in camp ready for emigration. This placed them far beyond the reach of the influences of Tiger-Tail and his confederates, who, with his three men and the Creeks, no doubt relied upon adding to their numbers. Neth- lockemathlar and his sisters were permitted to remain at Fort Brooke. Not a suspicion was entertained of him. The hostility of the Creeks was a sufficient proof of his fidelity to the whites. To frustrate any violent acts, which might very naturally be apprehended from these treacherous proceedings, the utmost activity was given to the troops in all parts of the territory. Colonel J. H. Vose, now commanding the 3d infantry and the 28 434 THE FLORIDA WAR. western district, moved by land and water from Fort Stansbury, his head-quarters, near Tallahassee, towards the Suwannee, with two hundred men. The following memorandum was sent to Colonel Vose for his guidance : Information derived from the lame Indian who delivered himself up at Fort Fan- ning, December, 1841. The band of Cotzar-Fixico-Chopko consists of nineteen warriors, including himself, Chitto-Hadjo, and Alpate-Tustenuggee, and thirty women and children, in all forty.-nine people. Five of the warriors are Mickasukies. , This band was assembled in December, in the hammock south of Fort Mitchell, running towards the Sho-elota Funka. As this hammock does not aiford sufficient game for their subsistence, it was determined at the meeting that the band should separate, some remaining in the hammock, while others proceeded to Cook's ham- mock and the hammocks south of Fort Andrews, near the mouth of the Fenahal- lowa ; but that none should be so far off as to be beyond the reach of rapid com- munication. • The band of young Octiate consists of twenty-four warriors and twenty-two women and children, in all forty-six people. Memorandum by Colonel Garland, for information of Lieutenant- Colonel Vose. Supposed condition of the has tiles west of the Suwannee. 1. In the hammock east and south (near the coast) of Deadman's Bay, about five miles from the mouth of Esteen-Hatchee, a large scrub hammock. 2. About two miles south-by-east of Fort Mitchell, in the hammock running in a southerly direction, to the Sho-elota-Funka. Fort Mitchell on the southeastern branch of the Fenahallowa. 3. The Pumpkin hammock, a place much frequented by the Indians, about ten miles east of the falls of the Esteen-Hatchee, and about one and a half days' march from Fort Fanning. Northwest. Routes to the foregoing for 3d infantry : The most practicable land route for troops with baggage-train, is from Fort Pleasant, as a centre, by the ford of the Fenahallowa, below the junction of Rock Creek, twenty-two miles, thence to old Fort Andrews seven miles, thence across the Sho-elota Funka twelve miles, thence passing old Fort Halbert nine miles, to Fort Frank Brooke twenty-two miles. Another route by land, without baggage-train, is from Fort Pleasant to Fort Mitchell, nineteen miles, thence to Fort Barker nineteen miles, thence down the Esteen-Hatchee to Fort Frank Brooke. Distance from Fort Stansbury to Fort Many seventeen miles, thence to Fort R. Gamble seven miles, thence to Fort Ocilla six miles, thence to Fort Vose eight miles, to Fort Hamilton four miles, to Fort Noel four miles, to Fort Pleasant five miles. Should the troops, or any part of them, go by water, the only point of embark- ation is Port Leon, thence to Deadman's Bay and up the Esteen Hatchee, which is navigable for steamboats to Fort Frank Brooke. Supplies may be thrown from Fort Fanning to the falls of the Esteen-Hatchee, the distance by land thirty-five miles : Fort Pleasant is a good starting-point for baggage-train, being in a neighbor- hood where forage may be readily obtained ; the whole country north of that point is a rich country, with good roads. The buildings at Forts Mitchell, Barker, Halbert, Andrews, Frank Brooke, Griffin, and Downing, have been destroyed by fire. THE FLORIDA WAR. 435 Eveiy part of the country was examined, but the enemy could not be found. Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, 4th infantry, co- operated from Fort Fanning, at the same time communicating with Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis, 6th infantry, who was scouring the Wacassassa hammock, and the swamps north and south of the Withlacoochee river. Lieutenant-Colonel Whistler, 7th in- fantry, moved with his detachments from Micanop}'-, Watka- hoota, and Wacassassa, with the view of cutting off the retreat of the Creeks to the Wahoo Swamp. Commands of the 2d in- fantry from Fort King, v^ere still in pursuit of Halleck-Tuste- nuggee, Guards from the 2d dragoons patrolled the highways. De- tachments of the 4th infantry from Fort Cross, in command of Major Staniford, scouted the Annuttiliga and Chochate ham- mocks, and the scrubs and swamps around them. To capture the enemy, or instigate them to a fight, was not anticipated. To deter them from committing murders upon the unprotected, and to crowd them so closely and rapidly as to cause them to sue for peace, was all that the most sanguine hoped for or expected. The operation in the Big Cypress Swamp had resulted, as v/as anticipated, in receiving the fire of a few scattering Indians, de- stroying the towns and fields, exploring the country, compelling the enemy to break into small parties, and flee for safety. The troops engaged in this service having been in the field three months, marching unremittingly, with their provisions on their backs, instructions were at last issued for an abandonment of further pursuit, and the entire command, excepting two com- panies, was ordered to Fort Brooke. Two companies of the 4th infantry were stationed at Fort Harvie and Camp Simmons, under Captain G. McCall, an efficient and intelligent officer. Major Belknap, with one company of the 8th infantry. Captain Montgomery commanding, and one of the 2d dragoons. Captain Kerr, together with the chief Alligator and friendly Indians, marched north; from Camp Simmons to Lake Istokpoga, where it was supposed the Indians retreating from the Everglades had secreted themselves. Here he succeeded in opening a communi- cation with several sub-chiefs, formerly adherents of Bowlegs and the Prophet, and ultimately secured Tustenuggee-chopco, a sub- chief belonging to the band of Sam Jones, with sixty-seven fol- lowers, thirty-two of whom were active young warriors. These Indians could give but little information of others driven from the swamp. The last they had seen of Sam Jones was in the Hal- patioke or Alligator Swamp, on the west side of Lake Oke- chobee, with seven men, and a large number of women and chil- dren. The Prophet and Bowlegs they supposed were secreted in the Everglades. Thus terminated the operations in the south, 436 THE FLORIDA WAR. west of Lake Oke-chobee, which were commenced on the first of November, and ended on the last of February. The importance of mihtary results and efforts in this contest, cannot in justice be measured by the number killed, wounded, and taken prisoners. Nor can the endurance to which officers and men were subjected, be illustrated by the number of Indians seen or caught. The extent of country explored must be ex- amined ; its character, the climate, and the utter destitution of every thing but what a man could pack upon his back, should be considered and understood, before the citizen can appreciate the services of the soldiers, and participate with them in the disap- pointments so frequent in the prosecution of this hopeless contest. The country would have never been explored, had not the red man fled to this inhospitable region for safety. Ponce de Leon, the discoverer of Florida, in January, 1522, might well have been intimidated, when, landing upon the southeastern shore, and crossing a strip of land two miles w^de, he espied stretched out before him an inland sea, the Pay-hai-o-kee, or Grass-Water, known to us as the Everglades. The flowers were blooming in the month of January, and hence he gave the country the name of Florida. The execution of general order No. 60, from Washington, October 9th, 1841, for the relief of the 3d artillery, having been postponed until after the campaign in the south, instructions were transmitted to Lieutenant-Colonel Gates commanding, to proceed to Cedar Key with his head-quarters, to which place two companies had been ordered from Fort Dallas and Lauderdale, en route to their stations on the Gulf The posts abandoned were transferred to the command of Lieutenant McLaughlin, U. S. N., and garrisoned by marines. The excitement incident to the attack upon the settlements of Mandarine, influenced by the garbled statements and exertions of those interested in the continuance of the war, or, in other words, the participators in government plunder, had become so loud, that even the authorities at Washington had serious doubts whether the Florida army had not been in a state of enjoyment and repose, instead of the field, in pursuit of the enemy. To allay this feehng, which these violent acts had excited, and which was increased in proportion as the interest and safety of citizens were involved, the following additional reports were transmitted to the adjutant-general of the army, on the last of January, as illustrative of what had been done by the troops in prosecution of the warfare; most of these were but a recapitulation of what had transpired for six months past. They might have been con- solidated in a formula under the following heads — tracks seen, fields destroyed, country waded, troops exhausted, Indians gone : THE FLORIDA WAR. 437 List of papers sent io the Adjutant-General, January 11 th, 1842. No. 1. Reports from Major Belknap, of the 1st, 6th, 9th, and 10th January Captain Wright, of the 31st of Dec. and 6th " Captain Brown, of the 12th ," . " Major Childs, of the 7th No. 2. Reports from Captain Bonneville, of 28th September, 20th October, 1st De- cember, and 1st January. " Major Fauntleroy, of 1st and 12th October. " Major Clintock, of 2d, 9th, and 17th October. " Captain Burke, of 5th and 10th October and 3d November. " Captain Morris, of 8th Oct., and 1st, 3d, 9th, and 19th November. No. 3. Reports from Major Childs, of 10th, 20th, and 28th October, and 4th, 13th, and 23d November. " Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, of 28th October, 3d, 10th, 15th, and 28th November, and 2d, 5th, and 27th December. " Lieutenant Hopson, of 10th and 30th November, and 10th, 20th, and 30th December. " Captain Wade, of 10th October. " Captain Fulton, of 8th November. No. 4. Reports from Lieutenant-Colonel Whistler, of 22d November, and 17th and 22d December. " Lieutenant Ketchum, of 25th November. " Lieutenant-Colonel Gates, of 26th November and 10th December. " Lieutenant-Colonel Vose, of 26th and 30th November, and 3d, 16th, 20th, and 24th December. " Major Rains, of 1st December. " Captain Wright, of 3d and 4th December. '- Major Belknap, of 9th, 12th, and 14th December. P. S. To the adjutant-general, letter No. 101. Within a few days we have secured twelve additional warriors, and several women and children ; to that extent reduced the small number of the enemy. It is satisfactorily ascertained, those of the Creeks heretofore infesting Ocklocknee country, have not escaped the general pestilence, by which their numbers are much reduced. W. J. W. Instructions were sent on the 1st of February for the further reUef of the 3d artillery, to the eight companies occupying the remaining post on the Atlantic coast, in command of Major Childs. The whole were concentrated at Smyrna. In detach- ments of two companies each, extending from the Atlantic to the. St. John's river, moving north, the swamps and hammocks, recent retreats of Halleck-Tustenuggee, were re-examined, in the belief that, with his accustomed sagacity, he had returned there for safety. On reaching Palatka, on the St. John's, the command proceeded to Cedar Key by grand divisions, with intervals of one 438 THE FLORIDA WAR. day ; there embarked for the stations assigned on the Gulf coast. The service of this regiment, the patient endurance and fideUty of the soldiers, the intelligence, zeal, and activity of its officers, and the successes which crowned its efforts, well entitle them to the trite but hard-earned eulogy, that they performed their duty. One hundred and fifty-eight non-commissioned officers and pri- vates, and eleven commissioned officers, fell victims to the cli- mate and the incidents of the service. Three officers and thirty- five privates were killed in action. Captain U. S. Fraser, Second-Lieutenant J. L. Klais, and Second-Lieutenant R. R. Mudge, were of Dade's command, which was attacked by two hundred Indians, when marching from Fort Brooke to Fort King, on the 28th December, 1835. They most gallantly stood their ground, and were among the last to cheer their comrades in the midst of a murderous fire. One hundred and two non-commissioned officers and privates, and eight officers, were shot down on the very spot where the action commenced ; two men only escaped. While this movement under Major Childs was in progress, the 2d infantry, in detachn7.ents, operated on the west side of the St. John's, regulating their marches to co-operate with the artillery. Fort Pierce, on the Atlantic, was re-occupied by Captain G. Wright, with two companies of the 8th infantry, having finished the examination of the islands in the Everglades and-Malco river, in search of Bowlegs and the Prophet, without success. The eight companies of the 8th infantry, as they arrived at Fort Brooke from the south, proceeded to the different posts, form- ing the cordon for the protection of the frontier of Georgia. The remainder of the force, so long subjected to the arduous service south, consisting of detachments of the 2d dragoons, the 4th and 6th infantry, took post at Fort Brooke. The time had now arrived, when it was imperative that an- other embarkation of Indians should take place. The plot insti- gated by Tiger-Tail, so signally defeated, in which it was discov- ered that his two younger brothers were participators, had infused into the minds of the most friendly, ill-humor and discontent. The most restless were already on board the transport, but there were others in camp, who had become satiated with the restraint and monotony of their lives, and in their exertions to conciHate the Creeks, were more cautious and timid than ever. On the 5th of February, two hundred and thirty Indians were embarked in the ship Rosalind. Sixty-eight of the number were warriors, comprising Seminoles, Creeks, Tallahassees, Mickasu- kies, and Uchees. There were many among them who had been distinguished as braves, but there was no one recognized as a chief, or head-man. THE FLORIDA WAR. 439 They had roamed through the country, disregarding the ad- vice or authority of any one. When grouped on the deck of the vessel, surrounded by those of their own color, whom they had spurned from boyhood, but, associated, had murdered and plun- dered in a war of self defence, they hung their heads in sullen and gloomy silence. Though sympathy might have been felt for them under ordinary circumstances, no one could see but with satisfaction, this motley group, so strongly marked by the charac- teristics of the different tribes, compelled, after having so long remained out against the advice and in contempt of the authority of their chiefs, to embark for their new home in the west, and thus terminate their career of plunder, devastation, and murder. Captain T. S. Alexander, 6th infantry, was placed in charge, an officer in all respects highly qualified for the responsible duty intrusted to him. A company of the 3d artillery was also on board, by way of precaution lest these Indians might either fight among themselves, or combine against the whites. The old chief, Nethlockemathlar, who remained behind, visited them on the day of sailing, and enjoined good behavior, and obedience to the offi- cer in command. Though there was gratification in seeing these remnants of so many tribes depart, there was but too much rea- son to fear, that in Arkansas, and in a more fruitful soil, the pas- sions so long indulged would again have play, and the scenes enacted in Florida, be, ere long, repeated there, and that those who were now spectators and instruments in this last scene, would become participators in the outrages and encroachments yet to be apprehended. From the different bands, a sufficient number were retained, who, expressing an anxiety to find relatives and friends before leaving, gave some assurance of becoming use- ful in obtaining interviews with the Indians, now so unceasingly pursued in all parts of the territory. Captain T. P. Guynn, with a detachment of the 8th infantry, examined the Wahoo Swamp and the country surrounding, with that fortitude and zeal distinguishing him in a long and arduous service in Florida. When wading the swamp, his men deep in mud and water, he was fired upon by a party of seven or eight Indians. Sergeant Seward, a faithful soldier of twenty years' service, was killed, and two others wounded. Pursuit was given and continued until the tracks were lost in the mud and water. From the result of the movements of the 2d, 4th, 6th, 7th, and 8th regiments of infantry, supported by the five remaining com- panies of the 2d dragoons, east of the Suwannee, it was supposed that the Creeks had again taken refuge in Cook's hammock, and the scrub on the Esteen Hatchee river, west towards Tallahassee. Colonel Vose was ordered to march one hundred men into this section of country, while Lieutenant-Colonel Whistler, 7th 440 THE FLORIDA WAR. infantry, with a like number, mounted and on foot, co-operated from the Suwannee. The enemy, though not seen, were heard from, while these commands were besieging their hiding-places. A war party, of some ten or twelve, under Octiarche, crossed the Suwannee river, and attacked an unprotected family, remote from neighbors, with barbed arrows ; the mother and one child were killed, and three were left as dead. The eldest, seven years old, the others, two and four, were transfixed with arrows. In this condition they remained four hours, incapable of rendering each other assistance, until a traveller, accidentally passing the house, discovered their situation. But he, panic-struck and horrified at the sight of the mutilated remains of the mother and her infant, fled precipitately, giving the alarm in all directions. This caused others to fly, apprehending a similar fate, until the men of the settlements assembled in sufficient numbers to meet the enemy, and risk themselves where the outrage was committed. With vigor and resolution, they armed to a man, and so rapid and un- ceasing was the pursuit, that the Indians were obliged to abandon their plunder to avoid capture, which would still have befallen them, had they not re-crossed the Suwannee on a raft, leaving behind most of the articles obtained, corn, and bacon, &c., on the shore. Captain S. B. Thornton, 2d dragoons, with one company, took up the trail on the west bank of the river, with negro Jim as a guide, assisted by an Uchee Indian. Following the trail all day, towards night it entered a swamp, in which the guides said the Indians were encamped. Picketing his horses on the outside, he at midnight entered the- swamp with twenty men. Without cracking a bush, or making the least noise, he penetrated to a secluded spot and discovered the palmetto sheds of the enemy, about an hour before daylight. The men, in whispers, received the order to surround them, and await the dawn of day. With breathless anxiety tliey laid quiet, until the appointed hour. The commander, and Jim, the guide, stood within ten feet of six sleeping wai^riors, whose brawny limbs lay stretched before them, and whose hands were yet red with innocent blood. The women and children were grouped around them. An Indian arose, stretched himself, and looked at the stars ; another sat up and gazed about as though, in imagination, the atmosphere was peopled with indistinct objects, hardly discernible. The first again stood up, evidently nervous, and with a troubled mind. He stirred the fire, rubbed his sleepy eyes, and, as though overcome with constant watching, sat down again, when his head, dropping upon his chest, he v^^as asleep. A woman arose, and earnestly looked in his face, when he started, and grasped her garments. Another woman sat down by his side, while her child played with his listless hand. She stirred the fading embers, as if to raise a THE FLORIDA WAR. 441 flickering light to see the workings of a conscience excited by those foreboding feehngs so pecuKar to the race, and so often faithfully realized. That monitor within, or the instinct, which infinite wisdom has planted in the savage breast, and which, in the absence of cultivation, compels him to acknowledge the ex- istence of a Great Spirit, gave serious admonitions to the leader of this banditti, Octiarche, that danger was around him. Gray dawn was just approaching, when the men, worn down by sus- pense, and anxious for the reward of their toils, became impatient. The noise increasing, alarmed the sleepers, who, with one bound, and a shrill whoop, as though their dreams were realized, cleared the entire command. The soldiers desisted from firing, as the women and children would have been the victims. The warriors escaped. Five women and several children were captured. That humane feeling, which has characterized officers and sol- diers throughout the contest, here prevailed. Often has the soldier shared his tobacco and rations from his scanty haversack, with his Indian prisoners, after pursuing them day and night through hammock and swamp. Had every captive been hung upon the spot, the contest would have been brief. It is a high commenda- tion to the officers and soldiers of the army, that, under every discouragement, under disappointments, privations, and disease, nobler principles prevailed. A commander, with these various scenes enacting around him, might well ask, when will this con- test close ? Troops were in the field five times the number of the enemy. Friendly Indians were endeavoring to aid, so far as they were capable, and had the courage ; still the Indians held possession of the country, fully competent, though diminished in numbers, to commit murders, which no forecast, precaution, or military force could prevent or punish. The enemy, reduced to the few who had instigated the captured Indians to hostilities, were now driveij to the alternative of acting for themselves, and fulfilling their determination to die upon the soil. On the 10th of February, Colonel Worth proceeded to Talla- hassee, and submitted to his excellency C. K. Call, then governor of the territory, the following communication to the command- ing general of the army, Major-General Scott, in reference to measures necessary, under the peculiar situation of affairs, to bring the contest successfully, but gradually, to a close. In these views, generally, his excellency concurred. " Head-q7iarters of the Army of Florida, ) Tallahassee, February 14th, 1841. \ " General — I believe there has been no instance in which, in the removal of Indians, some, more or less, have not been left. This unavoidably arises from their wandering life and habits ; to 442 THE FLORIDA WAR. which may be added, in the case of the Seminoles, the pecuhar character of the country. " I have the honor to submit a statement of the whole num- ber— Seminoles, Mickasukies, and Creeks, now at large ; and their general range, and location. This statement has been care- fully prepared from the examination of various Indians, chiefs, and others, of each and every tribe and band, and at different times. Generally, there has been a remarkable concurrence in the statements ; nevertheless, in case of discrepancy, the highest number has been assumed. From this statement, it appears there are but three hundred and one Indians — men, women, and chil- dren, remaining scattered through the vast and almost boundless swamps of this territory ; of whom, including the aged incapable of enterprise, and the younger yet unaccustomed to the use of arms, there are but one hundred and twelve men — a number, it is admitted, sufficient, if kept in a state of irritation by constant and fruitless pursuit, acting upon such and so sparse a popula- tion, to do much mischief. Of the number stated, one hundred and forty-three are south, who have never manifested a disposi- tion to approach the settlements ; and one hundred and twenty are Creeks, who were not original parties to the contest. It may be here re-asserted, that every diminution of numbers adds to the difficulty of taking the remainder. " The operations since June conclusively demonstrate, to my mind, the utter impracticabihty of securing them by main force. The object must be attained by pacific and persuasive measures, or not at all. Every exertion of force, while it tends to make the enemy more wild in his habits and savage in his nature, places the object in view, his total expulsion, more remote ; and yet the commander, with so large a force, who fails to give it the highest activity, disappoints an inordinate public expectation, while, by so doing, he defeats the object. The first step, in my judgment, towards closing the contest, if not finishing it, is to reduce the force ; this is being done to the extent to which I have authority, and the immediate consequence will be, a dimi- nution of five-sixths of the extraordinary expense. After the field operations (which are general) now going on shall have terminated, it is my purpose, unless otherwise ordered, to place the troops in position to give protection, and to limit myself to that object. Authority has been asked to order out the remain- ing companies of the 2d dragoons, and, by the 1st of May, one additional regiment of infantry may be dispensed with. There will then remain three entire regiments, and six companies of a fourth regiment. There is a supply of forage and subsistence in the country now, equal to the wants of the present force of man and horse for five months, which, on the reduced scale proposed. THE FLORIDA WAR. 443 will answer for eight or ten : and I beg that any further ship- ments may be suspended until especially called for ; and also, if necessary, other than under such orders as I may give, that Lieu- tenant-Colonel Whiting, head of the quartermaster's staff, may be instructed as to the manner of disposing of surplus — such as mules, horses, wagons, &c. " I ask the instructions of the commanding general on these subjects ; and, if my suggestions shall be approved, I then invoke authority to say to these people, through friendly Indians, that so long as inoffensive, they may remain v^^here they are, and plant and reap in quiet — mean time, to permit the Arkansas delegates and one or two of the chiefs now in our possession, whose tribes and families have been sent off, to go among them, and at their pleasure reside with them, availing themselves of the proper time and occasion to reason with and explain to them their true con- dition, not doubting that in a few moons they will thereby be induced to come in, and ask to be sent to their new homes. Quiet is indispensable to their being made fully acquainted with their isolated position, and also of their weakness ; for such has been their dispersion, that the}-^ are yet to be convinced that many of their proximate and confederate bands have been sent to the west ; and also, that their strength consists in their power to elude, not to combat their enemies. If this authority be con- ceded, I propose further to grant them permission to come freely to any of the military posts, and trade without restriction. It is proper here to remark, that measures are in train which give fair assurance that we shall, within the next month, have in pos- session one-third of the small number stated as remaining out. " While I am fully aware of the delicacy, I nevertheless feel it my duty, respectfully, but seriously, to submit to your consi- deration, whether it will be deemed public policy to prosecute this contest for results so uncertain, at expense so enormous ; and whether the plan proposed would not accomplish the object with equal credit to the country, and more convenience to the treasury. " I beg that the foregoing views and suggestions may not be considered as arising from any indisposition of the officers or men composing this army to prosecute the contest under any circumstances of duty or hardship ; on the contrary, to be al- lowed to avail myself of this occasion to testify to the zeal and energy with which all have, under every circumstance of diffi- culty, and with singleness of purpose, devoted themselves to the attainment of the object. " The main purpose of my coming hither, was to submit this subject generally to his excellency Governor Call ; and I have much hope of his support and concurrence, generally, in the 444 THE FLORIDA WAR. foregoing views. As there are many points of detail connected therewith which would be inconvenient to embody in this re- port, as also the submission of some explanatory maps, I have deemed it of sufficient importance, and also that I may be more promptly and clearly advised of the views of the major-general commanding-in-chief, to dispatch Major Cooper, chief of the staff, to general head-quarters. That officer is fully possessed of my views and reflections upon the subject; and I request that entire confidence may be given to any statements he may make in relation thereto, and that, after executing this duty, he may be permitted to join me without delay. " Treating of matters other than of military detail, I have taken the liberty, which I hope will be excused, of addressing this direct to the general commanding-in-chief. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, Your obedient servant. Maj. Gen. Winfield Scott, Commanding- in-Chief, Head-quarters, Washington. W. J. WORTH, Colonel Commanding." Statement of Indians in Florida accompanying Colonel Worth' letter of February I4:th, 1842. Sam Jones's band ; supposed to be about the head-waters of the Locha Hatchee, thence south. The Prophet's, includmg Bowlegs' ; supposed to be hi the direction of the Mangrove Lake, south near Key Biscayne. Assinawas, including Chitto-Tustenuggee's, and several straggling Indians ; supposed to be on or about the Kissimmee. Halleck-Tustenuggee ; ranging in the direction of How Creek and Tomatka, thence south. Powis Cockuchnies ; range the same, and as- sociated with Halleck. The two Octiarches ; between the Suwannee and the Withlacooche. Hothle Peyee Tustenuggee, including Chitto, Hadjo, and Halpatter Tustenuggee ; range in the hammocks of the Esteen Hatchee. Oze-re-sa ; range in the hammocks of the Ock- lockonnee. 13 o ■■;: 31 46 15 13 24 37 20 40 60 12 20 32 6 4 10 20 27 47 19 30 49 7 13 20 112 189 301 Mostly Mickasukies. Some Seminoles. All Creeks but two. Seminoles ; commu- nication has been had with this party, and they will doubt- less be with us in a few days. Mickasukies. Creeks. Creeks. In equal numbers ; Creeks, Tallahas- sees, and Micka- sukies. Creeks. THE FLORIDA WAR. 445 " Of the above there are 120 Creeks, including 45 Creek war- riors, dispersed among the several bands who were not a party to the original contest. "From close examination, at different times, of Indians in possession, generally agreeing in results, and from information obtained from various other sources, the above table has been formed, showing the whole number of Indians remaining out. In the examinations there has been a singular coincidence of statement, but where there was a discrepancy, the highest num- ber has been taken in forming the table. W. J. W., Commanding, ^c." This letter made a crisis in the Florida war. Some thought it a compromise of the honor of the nation, and of the gallantry of the army. The contest, it was said, had been commenced, and should be persevered in, so as to vindicate the potency and efficiency of our arms, and to illustrate the blessings of a bounti- ful treasury. This had already lavished millions, without obtain- ing either glory for the military, or satisfying the expectations and demands of the people, whose condition only became more critical and embarrassed, as money was appropriated and ex- pended. Major Samuel Cooper, assistant-adjutant-general, was dispatched to Washington City, to submit this communication to the commander-in-chief. It was referred to the secretary of war, the Honorable J. C. Spencer, and by him laid before a council of officers of rank, who did not deem the measures proposed as politic, expedient, or judicious. Major-General Jesup, a member of the council, alone dissented. His experience in Florida gave abundant proofs of the necessity of the course recommended, as the only efficient method by which the conflict could be success- fully closed. The suggestions, as submitted, were nevertheless carried out, and how far they were conceived in wisdom, policy, and justice, subsequent events must show, and the results speak for themselves. Orders were issued laying out the ground of retrenchment, bringing the means for military operations within a compass corresponding with the object in view. Order No. 4 compre- hends the general plan of reduction. Order ) " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, ) No. 4. \ Palatka, March 6th, 1842. \ " I. All public horses, other than those hereafter enumerated, will be forthwith turned in to the quartermaster's department, to be disposed of as Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting shall direct. " II. For the purpose of expresses, and occasionally to mount troops, under orders of commanding officers, but to be habitually 446 THE FLORIDA WAR. in charge of the officers of the quartermaster's department, as follows: Fort Brooke, for the present, twenty; Micanopy, twelve ; Fort Pierce, ten ; Wacassassa, Watkahoota, Fanning, King, and the station at Charles Ferry, each, six ; at all other places, four. " IIL The position of Fort Fanning will no longer be used as a depot. Lieutenant'Colonel Whiting will designate the posts on the Suwannee line to be supplied from the Gulf depot, and take measures to furnish the remainder from Palatka. "IV. All guides and interpreters taken into service by authority of district or local commanders, to be discharged, and employed as occasion may render necessary. " V. Ail hired clerks in the quartermaster's and commissary's departments, will be immediately discharged, except at the prin- cipal depots of Palatka and Cedar Keys, and for the present at Fo7^t Brooke, Port Leon, and Micanopy, or where said clerks are employed in the quartermaster's department, in virtue of general regulations by authority of the quartermaster-general of the army. " VI. Where the duties of commissary's and quartermaster's departments are performed by an assistant-commissary of sub- sistence, the assistant-commissary will call upon the commanding officer of the post for a suitable non-commissioned officer or soldier, as provided for in paragraph 1094, article 78, General Regulations, which requisition will be complied with. " VII. The allowance to commissary-clerks at the principal depots will be reduced to that made to clerks in the quarter- masters' departments. By order of Colonel Worth, .T. T. SPRAGUS, Lieut, and A. D. C, and Acting Assist. Adj. Gen." The strength of the army had been reduced by the departure of the 6th regiment of infantry, 480 strong, on the 20th of Feb- ruary, for Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. This regiment entered Florida in September, 1837. Its loss fully explains the character and importance of its service. Ten officers were cut off during its tour of duty, and one hundred and twenty-nine privates ; four officers died on the field of battle, and nineteen privates were killed in action. Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander R. Thompson, Captain J. Van Swearengen, First-Lieutenant Francis J. Brooke, and Second- Lieutenant J. P. Center, were killed in the battle of Oke-chobee, on the 25th December, 1837. Distinguished and beloved in pri- vate life, their memories are cherished by comrades who emulate their example, and by the army generally, as ornaments to their country and profession. THE FLORIDA WAR. 447 In the month of January, 1396 were reported taken sick, 14 died, and 13 discharged the service ; during the month of Feb- ruary, 880 were taken sick, 21 died, and 5 discharged the service. The season of the year, by far the most healthy in this chmate, was favorable to military operations. The country was much drier than at any period before or after ; and the clear bracing mornmgs and evenings gave vigor to the feeble, and cheerfulness to the healthy. It is remarkable, that of the large number taken sick during the unhealthy season, so few should have died. The diseases at first were of a mild type, but, by continued exposure, those once attacked were predisposed to another, much more formidable, that assumed a combination of symptoms, baffling the skill of the most experienced. If the number could be ascertained of those who died from disease contracted in Florida, during the contest and subsequently, and others whose constitutions were enfeebled and destroyed by the climate and exposure, it would nearly equal one third of the number reported by the medical director, from month to month, as " taken sick." The total " taken sick" of the army, reported at the expiration of every month by Surgeon Harney, between the 1st day of June, 1841, and the 28th day of February, 1842, nine months, was 15,794 cases, 234 deaths, and 117 men discharged the service for disability. The strength of the army present in the territory comprised 4747 non-commissioned officers and privates, and 245 commissioned officers. The mortality as exhibited in figures is small. Those who still suffer from the effects of the climate, and exposure incident to the contest, have had entailed upon them poverty, wretched- ness, and wo. - Many sought the service for glory, and others went through it with manliness and fortitude, determined to per- form their duty. The attenuated frame, the sunken eye, and meagre countenance of many a soldier, hanging around his more' hardy comrades for bread, tell a sad tale for his country, and a melancholy one for himself Broken down by disease in perform- ing his duty, or having grown too old in his country's cause for further profitable use, he is discharged, and thrown upon an un- charitable world, with no capital but his repeated stories of hard- fought battles and Indian scenes, whereby to obtain his dailj- bread. He may point to gaping wounds, and shattered limbs, and extend his emaciated hand, which for the moment excites the charitable, not to eulogize his country or urge her sons to deeds in her defence, feeling pride at every twinge of pain, but to display his misfortunes, with humility, in hopes of obtaining a scanty supply to cheer his solitary home. There is no asylum connected with the army, none estab- 448 THE FLORIDA WAR. lished by the nation, to which the faithful soldier of his country- can retire, after years of honorable service. These living records of history recall the exploits and illustrate the glory of a nation. They are living monuments inscribed with the scar- written deeds of their country, to which the youthful soldier may look with feelings of patriotism, and a kindred desire to engage in the ser- vice and promote the happiness of his native land. The republi- can maxim that a man's reward is in the hearts of his country- men, may do well for him who is above the pinchings of want, and attended by the acclamations of the multitude ; but the de- mands of the humble soldier are too often overlooked or dis- countenanced amid the plaudits of a crowd. Let an asylum, then, supported and nourished by the general government, be the home and resting-place of the faithful soldier, instead of the sepulchre which now receives them — the alms-house, and a scanty, secluded grave. CHAPTEE XII. MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY, 1842. A crisis in the affairs of Florida. — The army discouraged by the rejections of the proposed means to end the war. — The course pursued : Retrenchment, reduction of force, discharge of employees from the service. — The Prophet's and Sam Jones's influence destroyed. — Holatter-Micco, or Billy Bowlegs, pro- claimed chief. — The scattered condition of the enemy. — The influence and conduct of Tiger-Tail among the Creeks. — The Indians assemble in the Wahoo swamp to concert means of safety. — Tracks seen.— Negotiation at an end ; capture or death. — Embarkation of Indians for New-Orleans in charge of L. G. Capers, Esq,, of the Indian department. — Dcjiarture of the chief Nethlockemathlar ; his character and influence ; his life. — Indians at New-Orleans. — The arrny in the field, in pursuit of Halleck-Tustenug- gee ; Peter, an Indian, sent to him ; he never returned. — Combined movement of the army on the Wa- hoo swamp and surrounding c luntry. — Detachments of the 2d, 4th, and fth infantry enter the swamp ; disappointment. — Farther ])reparations for pursuit. — The chief, Holartooche, baffled by the enemy ; he rides around the country and discovers a single Indian track, leading to the Palacklakaha hammock, supposed to be a spy up;>n the troops. — The troojjs take up the line of march, and encamp at Abra- ham's old town. — Preparations made to attack the enemy. — Holartooche visits the commander's tent at midnight, and pleads for the life of women and children in the approaching conflict. — The troops on the march for the hammock ; conduct of guides and negro interpreters. — Sagacity of Holartooche ; a foot print discovered and followed three mdes to tlie hammock. — Spirited attack upon the Indians in their camp, protected by logs and |)almetto, led on by Col. Garland, 4th infantry. — Assailed by Colonel Worth, with a company of dragoons, cutting off the enemy's retreat. — The Indians separate into small parties, giving battle in "all quarters. — Total defeat; troops in their camp. — Burial of Private Wandell, 2d dragoons; killed and wounded. — Detachments follow up trails leading from the hammock. — Cap- ture of 0-son-e-Micco (the Old Man of the Lakes), son-in-law of Halleck-Tustennggee, who desire* to take a talk to the chief. — He to return in five days and meet the command at Warm Springs. — The number of Indians engaged in the affair. — Embarrassments of the troops in advancing. — The appear- ance of Halleck-Tustenuggee in the fight. — Indians painted red ; in a state of nudity.^-Their last battle- ground.— Their fire concentrated upon the Indian guides and interpreters. — Interpreters Gopher John and Morris in the fray.— The appearance and valor of the chief Holartooche.— Indians' first discharge effectual; manner of loading in battle.— The spirit, gallantry, and forbearance of oflicers and men in the affair.- Colonel Worth's report.— The return of O-son-e-Micco to the camp at Warm Spring.— He reports Hal]eck-Tustenuggee,with his band, six miles off.— Halleck-Tustenuggee comes into camp with his two wives and childre'n.— His appearance and recejrtion.— Officers assemble to meet him.— Colonel Worth's private conversation with him.— He not inclined to leave the country.— His good feelings secured.— Sends five messengers to Octiarche, the Creek chief —Large demands tor provisions.— Inso- lent conduct and language of Halleck-Tustenuggee and followers.— His fidelity much doubted.— Major Graham, Captain McCall, and Lieutenant Sprague, visit his camp, to rconnoitre, to surprise and cap- ture.—From its position, deemed impracticable.— Other means resorted to.— The Indians become shy and suspicious.— The chief and his wives acaompany Colonel Worth to Fort King ; his object in going there to purchase jiowder and lead.— Orders left with Colonel Garland to seize the entire band in the absence of Halleck-Tustenuggee.— Colonel Garland eftiicts the object, ties the Indians, and sends them to Tampa Bay.— The measures adopted to accom;jlish it, and the conduct of the Indians.— Col. Worth announces to Halleck-Tustenuggee, at Fort Kiog, the capture of his band, and that he now was a prisoner.— His anger and appearance on the occasion.— Proceeds under guard to Fort Wacassassa.— Arri- val there of the five messengers sent to Octiarche.- They taken prisoners.— A midnight scene between Halleck-Tustenuggee and these five 0en, who upbraided the chief for selling his followers and land. His patriotism.— Meeting at Horse Key of both parties ; their haggard appearance, arising from intem- perance.— A sub-chief attempts s-uic-'cle. — East Florida relieved from apprehension. — Indians guarded by one hundred and fifty men on Horse Key. — Halleck-Tustenuggee harmless. — The activity of the army, 7th and 3d infantry, ip pursuit of the Creeks in Middle Florida. — Two months in the field ; re- sults. A party of ei^ht Ind''^iis attack the settlements under Halpatter-Tustenuggee ; commit murders, and defeat si. x" soldiers. — Closely pursued, overtaken, abandoning their plunder, and whipped. — They join Octiarche, who dis*PP''Oves of their conduct, as peace was restored. — Citizens abandon their homes, and flee for safety. — ^h^ army discouraged ; no end ta the war. — The approach of the summer ; pros- pects of another svmmer campaign. — Movements of troops unavailing; calculated to exasperate the enemy, without capturing or defeating. — Usefulness of Halleck-Tustenuggee, who takes the terms of l)eace'to the Creeks —His reception and their promises. — The terms of peace. — The Creek Indians on the Ocklockonnfe river obtain an interview with Colonel Vose, through two white men. — The terms of peace accepted. — Assembling for emigration. — Departure of the 2d regiment of infantry for the north, its length of-'^ervice in Florida, and eflSciency. — Deaths of officers. — N. C. officers and soldiers — Death of Captain Samuel Russell, by the enemy. — Orders issued for the departure of the five remaining com- panies of the 2d dragoons ; character and length of their service in Florida. — Death of Officers. — N. C. officers and privates. — The sick report of the army for March, April, and May. — The Florida war ap- proaching a close.— State of the army and prevailing feehng. The crisis in the contest with the Indians in Florida having arrived, perceptible to the most casual observer, the army looked with interest and anxiety for the confirmation, by the authorities 29 450 THE FLORIDA WAR. in Washington, of the measures proposed for bringing the war to a speedy and final close. It was with feelings of surprise and regret that the intelligence was received, that the course recom- mended in the communication from the colonel commanding, of February 14th, was condemned. The success attending the vigorous and unceasing efforts of officers and soldiers during the past six months, gave no guarantee to the inexperienced and dis- tant observer, that the opinions of those who were participants, were based upon reflection and dear-bought experience. The war was to be prosecuted while retrenchment was called for, and the expulsion of the Indian demanded. The citizen was to be protected, but the manner, as dictated by experience and a regard for the various interests involved, as well as the drain upon the national treasury, were unheeded, and the commander, unguided and uninstructed, was left to his own discretion ; to bear the bur- den of rebuke, if unsuccessful, or to share with the government the meed of praise if good fortune crowned his efforts. What- ever course might be pursued, the approbation and reward, con- demnation or censure, depended entirely upon results accomplish- ed. How to close the affair, was ah open question, left very much to the option of those into whose hands its management fell. Notwithstanding this peculiar situation of things, retrench- ment, long since begun, was continued, cutting deep into the vitals, so long diseased, without the administration either of anti- dotes or restoratives. The appliances in the way of militia, in- creased means, and outlay of money, only tended to provoke the appetite, magnifying the numbers (by current report), the activity and cruelties of the enemy, relatively, with the necessities of the multitude depending upon pubHc expenditure for support. Out- posts were abandoned, the strength of the army concentrated, thereby reducing the means of transportation ; horses, mules, wagons, and forage, were dispensed witli ; clerks, teamsters, wag- on-masters, stable-keepers, mechanics, daily laborers, steamboats, and sail vessels, were discharged, thus confimng operations strictly within the means of the military, adequate t(i the numbers and dispersed condition of the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel H. Whi- ting, deputy quartermaster-general, stationed at I'alatka, entered cordially into the measures so manifestly demanded, with that in- telligence and scrutiny for which he had been distinguished during his long service in various departments of the army. The force in Florida now consisted of five companies of the second regiment of dragoons, the 2d, 3d, 4th (six companies), 7th and 8th infantry, numbering two thousand rank and file. The second regiment of infantry had already been recommended to be withdrawn. The number and energies of the enemy were much reduced and sub- dued. The Indians in the southern extremity of the Peninsula, THE FLORIDA WAR. 451 had broken the spell of the Prophet (Otulke-Thlocko), and had renounced the influence and authority of Arpeika, or Sam Jones. Holatter-Micco, or Billy Bowlegs, had been proclaimed chief, and Fuse-Hadjo elected his sense-bearer or lawyer. The enemy was scattered in parties of five and ten, wandering from one re- gion of the country to the other. The military force, though much reduced, was as competent, and could act with as much prospect of success, as five times the number. Limiting the means of warfare to a scale corresponding with the number of the foe, induced the Indians to act in large bodies, and to be less cautious than when crowded by troops in such a manner as to intercept famihes fleeing to their secluded retreats for safety. The chiefs were inclined to keep their bands together, considering themselves strong enough to encounter successfully the troops they had seen in the field. The military were alike confident of success, with detachments of seventy-five or one hundred men. The cunning and vicious influences of Tiger-Tail, whose hostility was inflamed by his failure to defeat the exertions of his brother and put him to death, and thus place himself at the head of a band, now began to be felt and displayed among the Creeks, with whom he was living, and whom he excited to revenge and brutal acts upon the citizens and express-riders. Tracks and trails were seen in all quarters leading to the Withlacooche river and the Wahoo swamp, where, from the most authentic information, it was be- lieved that a council was to convene of the various bands, to con- cert measures of safety and defence. The friendly Indians at Fort Brooke were told that negotiation was at an end. Hereaf- ter it was to be " capture and death," as the repeated offers of peace and surrender had only been the precursor of treachery and delay. The Creeks had threatened to scalp them if caught in the woods. This w?tS calculated to excite a retaliatory feeling, stim- ulating them to exertion and usefulness. Vigilance was enjoined upon commanders of posts, detached camps, and escorts, as it could not be known at what point, or in what numbers the enemy would first be heard from. Added to these embarrassments, the pressure of public feel- ing in Florida was felt in Washington City, causing the secre- tary of war still to doubt the efficiency of the troops in the field. He required further information in regard to the unfortunate murders committed at Mandarin in January. In answer, the commander of the army transmitted the following communica- tion on the 16th of March. "Head-Quarters, Army of Florida, March 16th, 1842. "On the 4th instant I had the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from Assistant-Adjutant-General 452 THE FLORIDA WAR. Thomas, made by order of the honorable secretary of war. Recurring to that communication, I have to state, all the facts of the case (Mandarin murders) having already been submitted to the adjutant-general's office, the special report which I am instructed to make will consist of copies of my reports and reference to those of my subordinates, the originals having been forwarded. Current reports of every circumstance in any way connected with this transaction, as also of the remedial measures, were promptly transmitted to the adjutant-general, after sixty days of uninterrupted pursuit and search. The enemy was tracked, at- tacked, and routed, with loss on both sides. (See Major Plymp- ton's report.) Still continuing the pursuit, and making use of the prisoners as guides, the enemy was again encountered on the 26th ultimo, and a noted chief. Short Grass, with his own imme- diate family and connections, captured. The enemy then, not- withstanding the ample force around and about, on land and on the river, acting by his better knowledge of the country, man- aged to get across the St„ John's. To this crossing he was trailed, the river passed, and the pursuit renewed ; and I am informed this day that he has been marked to a crossing high up on the Ocklawaha. Several days since, detachments were thrown out from Forts King and Russell, in anticipation of his line of retreat towards the Withlacooche. " The assistant-adjutant-general says, 'At present, the secretary does not see how a band of Indians could penetrate so far north as Mandarin settlement, commit depredations, and return south, unseen and unmolested by the troops ;' nor will the honorable secretary make this discovery, until (which God forbid) he be- comes more intimately acquainted with this country and the In- dian habit and character. As to 'how they could penetrate,' &c., there was in the adjutant-general's office evidence which might, and, in justification to the troops, I must add, ought to have been placed before him, to show that the enemy did not escape unseen, ay, or unpunished too. I have the honor to be, very respectfully. Your obedient servant. Gen. R. Jones, Adj. Gen. U. S. A., ? W. J. WORTH, Washington, D. C. \ Colonel Commanding." The number of Indians assembled for emigration at Fort Brooke being larger than caution would justify, one hundred were embarked for New-Orleans on the 10th of April, in charge of L. G. Capers, Esq., disbursing agent of Indian affiiirs, an officer prompt and efficient in the discharge of the complicated and im- portant duties of his department. Twenty-five men, with their families, remained behind, to act as trackers and guides. The THE FLORIDA WAR. 453 worthy old chief Nethlockemathlar, whose example, advice, and fidelity, had effected much good, was among the number, to whom all looked as their friend, protector, and chief. Stern and intelligent in council, calm and dignified in language and demea- nor, he commanded and received the respect of Indians and whites. His farewell to Holartooche, with whom he had acted in concert in benefiting his race, was illustrative of the honesty and manly character of both. Each had fought bravely for his race and soil, but being overcome and subdued by a current irre- sistible, now surrendered, with the determination of abandoning those scenes so endeared from boyhood, with the hope of securing the peace and happiness of his own people congregating in Ar- kansas. Though not distinguished by the frequent repetition of his name, like many who had obtained celebrity in Florida, he was justly entitled to distinction for the sobriety of his habits, and sound, practical good sense. He had resisted with fortitude the advancement of the whites, but their rapid strides into his country, surmounting every obstacle, induced him to inculcate among the Indians a submission to the demands of his great father at Washington. The brutal effects of intemperance, so prevalent and so gross among the race, had not degraded his habits and intellect, but his exemplary sobriety gave to his acts and opinions a character for wisdom and forecast that com- manded respect and obedience. By birth he is a Tallahassee, and v\^as now about fifty years of age, six feet two inches in height, well-proportioned and erect, with a heavy rough counte- nance, small dark eye, heavy eyebrow, mouth large and lips com- pressed, indicative of firmness and resolution. When speaking, his manner is subdued, but warms into a high state of excitement as he approaches the interesting point of his subject. His father's village, when he was born, was on the present site of the town of Tallahassee. He was a conspicuous warrior at the battle of Suv/annee Old Tov/n, in the conflict with the army commanded by General Jackson. Village after village was sur- rendered % the whites, from his birth-place to Tampa Bay, con- vincing the Indians who assembled to make treaties, that the admonitions so often repeated to them v/ere true — " that sur- rendering one village to the whites was abandoning the whole." From boyhood he partici])ated in councils, and was present at the treaty of Payne's Landing in 1832. It was his determination not to leave Florida, in spite of the strenuous efforts then made to effect the removal of the tribes : " I was opposed," says he, " to open hostilities, and, to avoid collision, moved with my band from one secluded place to another. My last town was in the Annuttiliga hammock ; I thought it secure, but the troops closed in upon us from year to year, depriving us of crops, and sub- 454 THE FLORIDA WAR. jecting our women and children to sickness and want. To hunt, fish, or plant, led to the discovery of our hiding-places. In the summer of 1838 I assembled my band at Fort Brooke, determined to emigrate ; but through the means of the negroes, interpreters, and Spaniards, who supplied powder, dissatisfaction was created among the young men, who, concerting with the Creeks, caused them to enter the camp at night, removing forcibly our baggage, women, and children, and threatening us with instant death if we decHned following them, or gave the alarm. This placed us again in a hostile attitude, and as the young men had obtained sufficient powder and lead, they disregarded my sohcitations for peace. Our crops last summer were' entirely destroyed, which never occurred before, and the approach of troops from all quar- ters scattered our people, separating husbands and wives, parents and children, for safety. From moon to moon we thought the soldiers would retire, but they continuing their destruction as fast as we could plant, there was no alternative left but to im- prove the first opportunity to surrender. Coacooche I knew when a boy ; with his father Philip I had sat in council. The story he told us I felt assured was true. With us he had fought, until compelled to surrender. We took his word, and with him, as the moon was growing pale in the light of day, we smoked the pipe of peace, and sent to the white chief the words of our hearts. We came — surrendered. We have been treated well, and now leave our land forever." The character of this chief- tain differs widely from that of Coacooche. He is distinguished for wise and deliberate counsels ; the latter for the bold, daring, savage acts of the warrior. In the country which is to be the future residence of both, Nethlockemalhlar will doubtless have the ascendency. There they will be brought in contact with intelligent white men as counsellors, who, in their relative posi- tions, will regard his opinions and example a surer guarantee of peace and good order, than the sagacity, shrewdness, and im- petuosity of Coacooche. At New-Orleans, these Indians united with those who embarked in charge of Captain Alexajjider on the 10th of February, and proceeded to Arkansas, acknowledging Nethlockemathlar as their chief The low stage of water in the rivers, the severity of the chmate, when compared with Florida, added to the desire to be joined by the chief, had detained the first party there, at the U. S. barracks. Every opportunity was improved to impress upon them the power and numbers of the white men ; an impression which yet will be found beneficial in its effects among the tribes west of the Mississippi river, and operate to deter them from violence. Their ignorance of our strength and consciousness of their own, might cause combina- tions, and instigate hostilities which could not be arrested until the country was laid waste. THE FLORIDA WAR. 455 The departure of this band, reheved the troops at Fort Brooke from the incessant duty of sentinels ; and enabled them to take the field with the remainder of the army, already in active pursuit of the enemy. From the tracks seen in the neighborhood of Micanopy and Orange Lake, it was thought a blow was medi- tated upon the settlements in that quarter. Halleck-Tustenuggee was still the adroit and active chieftain he was when overtaken in February by the 2d infantry. An effectual rout of him would relieve the country of a foe, who, independent of his own acti- vity, held communion with others, inducing them to unite in attacks upon the frontier. To quiet the country and give secu- rity, it was important to capture him ; though from his duplicity, sagacity, and knowledge of the scrubs and swamps, the under- taking seemed a hopeless task. The detachments of the 2d in- fantry from Fort King, were seeking traces or tracks in the sup- posed haunts of this banditti. Peter, an Indian captured with Short Grass, was sent with a friendly message to this chief: he never returned. It was known subsequently, that he found Hal- leck-Tustenuggee, who laughed to scorn the offers of the whites, and defied their efforts to subdue him. The information obtained from this messenger, gave renewed courage to the chief and his followers, as he communicated the withdrawal of troops from the territory. They became satisfied that in going to and fro, setting fire to the w^oods, crossing and re-crossing their trails, they could elude the whites, as well as the Indian guides and negro inter- preters. To effectually scour the country in and around their favorite resorts, a combined movement was made upon the Wahoo Swamp, the Withlacoochee river, the Cove, Lake Panee Sufe- kee, and the Charlo Popka Lakes, Two companies of the 4th infantry, comprising one hundred men, moved from Fort Brooke. One company took post at Fort Armstrong on the Fort King road, five miles from the Wahoo ; the other, followed down the west bank of the Withlacoochee, to Fort Cooper ; another com- pany of the 4th took the right bank of the river, follov/ing up to the outlet of Lake Panee Sufekee. Two companies of the 8th infantry, ascended the river in canoes to Jumper Creek and Boggy Hammock. One company of the 2d infantry took post near the head of Jumper Creek. Scouts of the 4th infantry from Fort Cross, were in constant activity in the section of country west from Fort Cooper to the Gulf coast. On the night of the 12th of April, these detachments were in position. Simulta- neously, they entered the swamps and hammocks on the 13th, and penetrated them from every quarter, under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland of the 4th ; Major Belknap, 8th ; Major Plympton, 2d ; and Major Graham, and Captain McCall 456 THE FLORIDA WAR. of the 4th regiment of infantry, with three days' provisions od their backs. Every part was examined by land and water. Not the sign of an Indian was seen, but old camps and abandoned corn-fields. The colonel commanding being on the ground, the detachments rendezvoused at Jumper Creek on the 16th, to report and receive instructions for the further pursuit of the enemy ; hopes being still indulged of reward for the toil and disappoint- ment, as well as mortification experienced by officers and soldiers. The skill and sagacity of the old chief Holartooche, with five others, was baffled, a humiliation to which he v/as never before subjected by his own race. On the following day, he rode around the country, and returned at night, reporting that he had discover- ed a single Indian track, leading to the Palacklikaha Hammock^ distant about twenty miles ; and that by the movements indi- cated by the foot-print, he believed the man to be a spy upon the troops. The next day the command took up its line of march, and encamped at Abraham's old town, four miles from the ham- mock, in which it was believed the Indians were secreted. Pre- parations were made to move at the break of day, under the guidance of Holartooche, with three days' rations. The chief was satisfied the Indians were there. At one o'clock at night he sought the tent of Colonel Worth, and there privately, with deep interest and feeling, plead for the lives of women and chil- dren in the approaching conflict; and that the men, if taken prisoners, might not be hung. The fervent appeals of this old chieftain, at such an hour, could not but be regarded. " The Great Spirit," he said, " told him the Indians were there pre- pared to fight." Old as he was, his sturdy heart never failed him. The impulses of a generous and honorable sentiment induced him to ask that the fate of his own color, hard as it was, might not be aggravated by cruelties ; and the conflict rendered more deadly by the indulgence of violent passions, and shedding the blood of women and children. At the break of day, the column was in motion. The actions of the negro interpreters and friendly Indians denoted their feehngs and expectations, as they quietly rode in advance of the troops. They re-loaded their rifles, carefully patching the ball, re-priming and pricking the vent, taking off' the covering from the lock usually placed over it to prevent dampness — examined the quantity of powder in their horns, and arranged the bullets and patches about their persons, to be convenient in the haste of battle ; and then gazed intently around, inspecting every twig and blade of grass, and soft places in the soil to discover traces of a footstep. The quiet, steady tread of the soldier shook the heavy dew from the foliage, as the breaking of day and the rising sun dispelled the moisture, and THE FLORIDA WAR. 457 gav.e to the mornings in this cUmate, at this season, a loveliness calculated to inspire the most feeble and weary. The officers noted inquiringly the Indians as they dismounted from time to time to remove the high grass, in hopes of finding a track to guide them direct to the camp of the enemy. " An Indian has just passed here," said the chief, much excited. How do you know ? was the eager inquiry. " This blade of grass," he replied, holding it up, "was trod upon this morning: you see it is crushed; the sun, nor the light of day has not shone upon it — had either, it would have wilted — you see it is green, but crushed. Here are more — there is the print of a foot !" The column halted, when tracks were discernible at a great distance from each other. " He is running," said the chief, " to make known the approach of the troops." This foot-print was followed three miles, when the hammock in the distance was seen, in which it was not doubted the enemy were prepared to stand their ground, or it might be, what was too often found, a forsaken camp. A trail was now struck, leading direct through mud and water, from one to three feet deep. The hammock in full view, surrounded by water, looked like a mass of dark-green foliage, almost impenetrable. The detachments of the 2d, 4th, and 8th i'~^ itry, under Lieu- tenant Garland and Major Plympton, in extended order, charged the hammock at a rapid pace ; first discharging a volley, which was responded to by the crack of rifles and the shrill, unceasing war-whoop. The soldiers returned it with redoubled energy by the rapid and steady advance of bayonets, backed by men deter- mined to wreak their vengeance for the privations and disap- pointment so long and often endured. Yell after yell rever- berated through the dense foliage ; the crack of the rifle, the dull heavy discharge of musketry, the whoop, which became louder and louder until the shrill voice of the savage was lost in the repeated imitations and shouts of the soldiers. Colonel Worth, with a company of the 2d dragoons, assailed their position in the rear, intercepting them as they retreated in small parties, giving battle in all quarters. For a time they stood their ground firmly, relying upon a partial breastwork of fallen timber and the thick undergrowth, which totally obscured the view of a man twenty feet distant. This was to be the desperate battle-ground of the band. The manly frame and voice of Hal- leck-Tustenuggee arose above the discharge of musketry, the crack of rifles, the smoke and foliage and his flying band, thrown into confusion by finding their retreat thus unexpectedly attacked by dragoons. He as well as his followers were in a state of nu- dity, their bodies painted scarlet, and the scalps, and other tro- phies from the whites, decorated the foremost in the fight. The steady advance of the troops, returning yell for yell, satisfied the 458 THE FLORIDA WAR. chief that further resistance was useless. To insure a safe retreat they broke into parties of four or five, leaving the soldiers in quiet possession of the camp, abandoning large quantities of dried deer- meat, dressed deer-skins, half-finished moccasons, axes, hoes, kettles, and articles of clothing. The position of the camp was selected with judgment and caution. Well-constructed bark and palmetto huts indicated a permanent abode. The women and children had left, the night before, in such haste, as to leave be- hind thimbles, needles, thread, and several highly-ornamented dresses. The trails from the hammock were taken up by the guides, but soon lost in water, which covered the country for two miles around. Two Indians were seen carried off by their com- rades, badly wounded. The determination that neither the killed nor wounded shall fall into the hands of the whites, overrules all other considerations, even the chances of victory or plunder. Detachments followed the trails whenever a single print of a foot could be seen, without success, other than the capture of an old Indian, who proved to be the father-in-law of Halleck-Tustenug- gee. He pleaded most earnestly that he might be allowed to carry a talk to his son, and that the troops would refrain from further pursuit, 'r'he enemy was dispersed, and whether this man proved faithful or not, it was the only chance, however doubtful, of ever getting Halleck-Tustenuggee within reach of negotiations or mihtary authority. The old man started on his mission the ensuing morning, with the understanding that he was to meet the command at Warm Spring, near Lake Panee Sufe- kee, in five days. This point was reached on the 23d. The enemy had been routed, two of their number killed, three badly wounded, and one taken prisoner. Private Augustus R. Wandell, K company 2d dragoons, was killed ; and Sergeant Theodore Bingham of the same company, private Thomas J. Roberts and private John Hitchcock severely wounded ; private Joice, of G company 2d infantry, badly wounded. The band numbered forty active young warriors, having the advantage of position, protec- tion from logs, the first fire, and knowledge of the ground ; while the troops plunged through mud and water, thick foliage, and en- tangled grape-vines, to the muzzles of the Indian rifles, often so surrounded by the undergrowth as to prevent the soldier bringing his musket to his shoulder. In the conflict, comparatively blood- less for the number engaged, the men stood firmly by each other, separated, as the commands unavoidably were, from the density of the hammock. The discharge of rifles and muskets was con- tinued, with sKght intervals, about four hours. The light-infantry exercise which had been inculcated, taught the soldier that, in service of this character, his strength was augmented by having a companion whose drill enjoined the necessity of always being Gopher John, Seminole Interpreter. THE FLORIDA WAR. 459 at his side. This being the case, when the soldier was unavoid- ably separated by obstructions, and unable to see hardly beyond the length of his musket, he could, with two or three companions, successfully encounter the Indians, secreted in small numbers in hopes of cutting off detached parties. In this manner, firing was continued in a hammock about two miles long and one broad. Companionship was here realized and appreciated, and that feel- ing predominant with a soldier, to give his comrade a decent burial under all embarrassments, prevailed in the resolution evinced by those who made the grave and buried the gallant and lamented Wandell. On their knees they dug a hole with their hands and tin cups, sufficiently deep to protect his remains, and wrapping his body in a blanket, deposited it in its lonely resting- place, disguising the spot in such a manner as to prevent disin- terment by the Indians, His requiem was the distant yell of the savage, the discharge of musketry, and the shout of the victors. The fire of the enemy was concentrated principally upon the Indian guides and negro interpreters. As the dragoons were skirting the hammock, a volley of rifles was discharged at Negro Morris. He immediately threw himself upon the opposite side of his horse in water two feet deep, and crawled into the high grass. His horse was wounded, and it was supposed he was killed, until after the action, when he made his appearance as the hero of the day, having been nearly shot, and successfully se- creted himself during the entire conflict. Two friendly Indians remained beyond the reach of danger, and when called to an account for their absence, excused themselves, " as their horses' tails were so short, and the flies being so thick in the hammock, they would have found it impossible to ride them." The tall figure of the negro interpreter. Gopher John, his loud voice, and negro accent, the repeated discharge of his unerring rifle, well known to the Indians as he was, made him a conspicuous object of assault. The balls flew by him so thick, striking the trees around, that he suspected his courage was oozing out, when, puUing from his pocket a well-filled flask : " God-e, massa," said he to an officer by his side, " I feel all over, mighty queer, de Ingen fight so strong ! I must take a big un ;" and suiting the action to the word, he drained his bottle, reprimed his rifle, whooped, and was soon lost in the midst of foliage and smoke. The friendly chief Holartooche, mounted upon his fleet, and favorite pony, his breast bare, his sleeves rofled up to the shoul- der, his long black hair, intermingled with locks silvered by time, streaming in the wind, and raised in his stirrups, with his rifle waving in the air, gave his piercing whoop, while his onward, rapid, and fearless charge, told the enemy that that voice, which once cheered the Seminole in battle, and that heart, which had 460 THE FLORIDA WAR. pleaded in their behalf, was still as loud and stern as when dic- tated by the reckless impulses of his youth. Foremost in battle, he was the first in peace to seek forgiveness of his race, and to alleviate their sufferings. The fire of the enemy, though con- tinuous, with slight intervals, was ineffectual, doubtless owing to the thickness of the foliage, and the rapid, unexpected charge of the troops, driving them from safe and chosen positions, from which they expected to make havoc among those advancing. The first discharge of an Indian rifle is generally fatal ; after- wards they load carelessly and hurriedly. The weapon, to be efficient, must be charged with care ; but the Indian fills his mouth with bullets, pours the powder from his horn into the barrel, then spits the ball into the muzzle, causing it to roll down without patch or ramrod, then, between whoops and frantic ges- tures, seeks an opportunity to fire. The conduct of officers and men throughout, was beyond praise. Bravery is a common quality, but the spirit, calmness, perseverance and forbearance displayed while wading in water three days, with scanty food on their backs, destitute of blankets, without a murmur, was an evidence of qualities which would add lustre to our arms in a higher cause, or in defence of the nation's rights and honor. Colonel Worth's reports award to all just praise. " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, ) Falaklakaha, April 21, 1842. \ " Sir — In following out the movements, by detachments, upon several points on the Withlacoochee, indicated in a former report to take place on the 13th instant, the enemy was finally brought to action in a strong position, on the morning of the 19th, situated southeast from this, in the direction of Ahapopka lake ; and after a spirited attack and well-sustained defence, thoroughly routed and dispersed. Our loss is, one private killed, one sergeant and two privates wounded, of Kerr's company, 2d dragoons, and one private of E company, 2d infantry, wounded ; the enemy, one killed, two wounded, and one prisoner. The latter I have used to open a communication with the chief, Halleck, who com- manded the party encountered, from which favorable results are anticipated. " It is due to the officers and soldiers that at a moment of lei- sure I make a more detailed report. " Very respectfully, I have the honor to be, your ob't serv't. The Adjutant-General U. S. Army, ? W. J. WORTH, Col. Com'g." Head- quarters, Washington. ^ THE FLORIDA WAR. 461 " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, ) Camp Wandell, Warm Springs, April 25, 1842. ) " Sir — I have the honor, in further detail, to report that, in obedience to instructions of the 28th ultimo, on the morning of the 13th instant, each detachment was at its appointed station with admirable precision. All the points on which this move- ment was directed, were most thoroughly examined, without dis- covering any thing exhibiting the recent presence of Indians. The boat detachment, under Major Belknap, composed of J and K companies (Montgomery's and Gates's) of the 8th, much re- duced in numbers, was ordered, after entering and thoroughly examining Parrasuffkee lake, to descend the Withlacoochee as low as Camp Izard, thence pass the boats into the waters of Charla-a-popka ; detachments of the 4th, under Captain Buchanan and Lieutenant Alvord (companies B and I), to pass around the west side, examining all the swamps, &c., on the border of the lake ; detachments of the 2d (Casey's, Long's, and Lovell's), un- der Major Plympton, to do the same on the south side ; the re- maining force, Graham's and McCall's companies of the 4th, under Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, and Reeve's company (B) of the 8th, to move directly on this point, a rendezvous common to all. At the same time, friendly Indians were sent to the south- east to search for signs ; they rejoined me in the evening, report- ing a solitary track in the direction of Ahapopka ; whereupon the detachments were advanced about fifteen miles on the evening of the i 8th, and as soon as there was sufficient light on the morn- ing of the 19th to detect signs, this track was recovered and pur- sued through several inferior hammocks, in each of which planted fields were discovered, until it led to the principal hammock, where the enemy was found in force, in a well-constructed town. The enemy was as speedily overcome as the difficulties of the ground permitted the troops to close in upon him ; every trail made in the flight was taken and pursued until dark, and the whole of the next day ; the detachments marching on each day, some twenty, some thirty miles. On the next morning it was discovered that the general tendency of the trails, although often doubling, was in the direction of the great Okeehampkee Swamp, lying about nine miles northeast of this position. With a view to refresh the troops, but more especially from information re- ceived, by a person coming from the enemy, of a disposition to submit, the detachments were directed upon this point, the value of which has been stated. " In respect to the affair, I have already made brief, but suffi- cient report ; that officers and soldiers evinced the highest spirit and gallantry in the presence of an enemy is a matter of course ; but all exhibited, under every circumstance of continued fatigue 462 THE FLORIDA WAR. and of privation of food, the higher excellence of patient and un- repining endurance. " I am much indebted to the zealous support and exertions of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, of the 4th, Major Plympton, of the 2d, Major Belknap, of the 8th, and Captain Kerr, of the 2d dra- goons ; the two first and the last gave a fine example in presence of the enemy ; the third, as before stated, had been detached in a different direction. " On this as on all other occasions, I have received the zealous and intelligent support of Major Cooper, assistant adjutant-gen- eral, and Lieutenant Sprague, aid-de-camp to the command. " I submit herewith a list of killed and wounded, and in con- nexion would add, that Assistant Surgeon Simmons, present with the troops, has evinced high and intelligent activity in the field, and given prompt professional attendance to those needing his assistance. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, The Adjutant-General U. S. Army, ) W. J. WORTH." Head-quarters, Washington. ) " List of killed and wounded in the affair of the 19th instant, with the hostile Indians, in the Big Hammock^ of Palaklakaha. " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, Camp ) Palaklakaha, April 25, 1842. \ ''Killed — Private Augustus R. Wandeli, company K, 2d dra- goons. " Wounded — Sergeant Theodore Bingham, K company, 2d dragoons, severely, in the breast and right arm ; Private Thomas J. Roberts, K company, 2d dragoons, severely, in the left arm ; Private John Hitchcock, K company, 2d dragoons, slightly ; Pri- vate Joice, E company, 2d infantry, severely, in the left side. ^. COOVYaR, Assistant- Adjutant- General." The return of the old man, 0-son-e Micco (the King of the Lakes), to the encampment at Warm-Springs, upon whose fidehty so much depended, was hailed as the harbinger of favorable re- sults. He reported that Halleck-Tustenuggee was with his band six miles distant, and that he w^ould be in the following day. But instead of coming in himself, as was anticipated, he sent a sub- chief, with a request for provisions and a shirt for the chief, as in his recent flight he had been deprived of a decent and be- coming dress. Two messengers came the next day for a supply of whisky and tobacco, and apologized for the chief " that he was sick and lame." These proceedings savored too much of * The largest of a succession of dense hammocks. THE FLORIDA WAR. 463 that characteristic duphcity and cunning, which gave him influ- ence among his adherents, and made him a formidable foe. To encourage this course of conduct, was the only means whereby he could be captured. He once secure, his band could be easily controlled. On the morning of the 29th of April, to the surprise, but much to the gratification of all, he came boldly into camp on horseback, accompanied by two wives, and two children — ten and twelve years of age. He passed the sentinels, giving them a graceful salute, and scanned minutely every thing around him. He dismounted at the commander's tent, from whom he received a cordial welcome. His children were overcome with fright ; it was the first time they had ever shaken hands with a white man. The officers assembled in a body to meet him, as an evidence of good feeling ; but more to see a man who for nine months had so successfully eluded their vigilance. As it could not be known at what moment some sudden freak or suspicion might destroy the chances of securing the chief, Colonel Worth with an officer and interpreter, improved that afternoon to sound his feelings upon a final surrender and emigration. The conversation as in- dited at that time, better conveys the result of this interview, clearly showing that he had not the most rem.ote idea of leaving the country. Conversation hetioeen Colonel Worth and Hallecli-Tustenuggee upon Ms first arrival in camp, at Warm- Springs, Florida, on the 29th of April, 1842; old Primus, interpreter. Colonel Worth — " Say to the chief, I am glad to meet him ; and now take him by the hand in friendship. We have long been fighting against each other, but now the rifle and hatchet are buried deep in the ground. Ask the chief what he wants for himself and his people ; tell him to speak out the true words of his heart — we have met like brothers, now let us talk like bro- thers, disguise nothing, but talk with a true heart and one tongue. Let him tell me what he wants, then as a true friend and brother I will give him my advice, what I think is best for the happiness and contentment of the red man." Halleck, in reply, said — " 1 will talk to you like a brother ; you sent me the five fingers (white flag, with the white and red man's hand clasped, in token of friendship), we have met and taken each other by the hand : the road is now clear and white — the strings of our hearts are white, even our eye-brows — all is white ; and the road is clear, so that the red and white man can shake hands in friendship. I will talk to you like a brother — I will tell you the truth — from my heart I will tell you, I have held out a long time for my country — I have fought hard for it. I had always lived here, and when a boy travelled over the country 464 THE FLORIDA WAR. with my bow and arrow : here my father was buried, and I thought I might as well die here as to go to another country and die." Colonel — " The chief has spoken like a brave and true man — a warrior ; I aonor him for it. I know he loves. his country, and has fought hard for it; but would he not be happier and his people better off, where he will not be molested by the whites ? they are coming all around him. Your old fields are occupied by whites ; and my fears are, that though you and your people may be disposed to peace, the bad white men, which you know we have, will crowd in upon you, and make war. There are not many of you — your head men have gone, your old friends and relatives are also gone — why remain here alone T' Chief — " I know there are but few of us left— we are almost alone. Large trees have grown up around me, they have de- cayed and fallen. A sapling may grow up — as it grows the root strikes still deeper in the ground — as it increases to a large tree the top may bend, even break in the wind ; but after awhile the roots will rot, it stands alone, and must fall. The white people are coming in all around us. I know it is difficult for the white and red man to live together ; we have bad men among us, as you have — they will do mischief I am now the head man of all the Indians out. Octiarche I can bring in, and can quiet the whole country. My people are wild, and start at the cracking of a bush ; they live in the swamps, and will always live there as long as your troops pursue them. I want the word of peace sent to them, when I can get them all around me, and talk to them like men. I do not say we will not go to the new country : when we come together we shall find our friends and relatives gone ; our fields taken up, planted by the white men, — give me time to get these people together when they can listen to your talk and mine ; when, I have no doubt, there are many who will say — we have no place to Hve, no fields to plant, no friends and relatives to talk with, our wives and children are gone-— let us go with them. If I send my word now to come in, and go to Arkansas, they will laugh at me — say it is my scheme to make money ; but if I tell them there is peace, they will come here and listen to my talk, to your words, and the words of our friends from the new country. I will send runners to Sam Jones and Octiarche ; I know they will come when I tell them, and join us in making peace which no red man shall break. I have said before, there should be peace, but the bad Indians broke it : now there are few, I am the head of the whole, they will do as I tell them. Let the road be clear — the sun to-day is bright and clear, and what I tell you is from my heart ; I have given you my hand, THE FLORIDA WAR. 465 and now my heart, in friendship, and what I have said shall be done." (A trae copy) J. T. SPRAGUE, Lieutenant and Aid-de-Camp. Though this conversation gave but little encouragement, the first important object was obtained by securing his confidence, and allaying his vindictiveness. This guarantied at once the security of settlers in East Florida. He left for his camp before dark, gratified with his reception. Holartooche and negro Pri- mus, the interpreter, accompanied him. The ensuing morning he returned with five men, the messengers he had promised to send to the Creek chief Octiarche. To these men, in the pre- sence of the commander and several officers, he gave his talk, of which they were to be the bearers. It v/as a manly and undis- guised expression of his wish that hostilities should cease ; but no allusion whatever was made to emigration. They left the same day, promising to be at Fort Wacassassa at a certain time. To the officer commanding there, they took letters explanatory of their duties. The men, women, and children came into camp daily, and returned without molestation ; visiting the soldiers' tents, receiving kindness and attention. The demands for fresh beef, corn, flour, and whisky increased, and became exorbitantly large ; much more than the number of Indians could possibly consume. These were made by the chief in a most haughty, insolent, and overbearing manner ; and if not complied with in- stantly, his language was imperative and insulting. This was endured, as the day of retribution was fast approaching. Major Graham, Captain McCali, and Lieutenant Sprague visited his camp, three miles distant, under the pretext of shaking hands with the old men and women ; but mainly to reconnoitre the position, and ascertain the practicability of surprising and surrounding them by troops. This was found impracticable, with the least chance of success. It was situated upon elevated ground, overlooking the pine-barren two miles around ; and in the immediate vicinity, was a deep swamp. As the officers approached, the women and children gathered their pots and kettles and ran into the swamp ; but the voice of Halleck-Tustenuggee soon brought them back. To capture this band by surprise, was clearly im.possible. Other measures had to be adopted — and that soon, as the conduct of the chief and many others, was audacious and insulting. The continued demand for subsistence, betokened a disposition to ob- tain all that was possible ; and when refused, to return in a body to the woods, abundantly supplied. They began to visit the en- campment in small parties, and with many precautions. Colonel Worth invited the chief to accompany him to Fort King, with 30 466 THE FLORIDA WAR. his wives. To this he readily acceded, as there a supply of powder and lead could be purchased, which together with the provisions, would enable him again to take the field with a fair prospect of success. These reflections were indulged, as subsequently known, by himself and those around him, to suclt a degree as to cause merriment ; at the same time ridiculing the creduHty of the officers and soldiers. The young and old contri- buted their last pence for the purchase of powder and lead. This game had heretofore been played with success, but the last throw of the dice was in hands too skillful to be thus deluded and dis- graced. The commander, with his companions, departed for Fort King, leaving instructions with Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, on whom the command devolved, to adopt such measures as he deemed expedient and effectual, to seize the entire band, tie them hand and foot, and send them to Tampa Bay; and when this was effected, to dispatch an express "to Fort King. It was a duty surrounded by many embarrassments. The Indians were shy, and distrustful ; and came within the chain of sentinels, in small parties, eagerly watching the expression, words, and actions of officers and men. The absence of the chief, added materially to the successful accomplishment of the project. Colonel Gar- land's experience with the Indians, and good judgment, enabled him to execute his orders. Games, dances, ball-plays, enough to eat and to drink, fascinated the most suspicious. The wonjken and children flocked into camp to participate with the men, who in the absence of that vigilance inculcated by the chief, were in- different and thoughtless. On the third day it was agreed that a feast should be prepared, complimentary to Halleck-Tus- tenuggee, whose return was expected by them that evening. The preparations and ceremonies were on an extensive scale^ corresponding with the reception, and with the respect professed for their leader. Early on the appointed day, the entire number assembled, much gratified with the arrangements. At twelve o'clock, M., those present being carefully counted by a sub-chief, who said all were in. Colonel Garland addressed them in a calm and quiet manner; explained how important it was that .perfect security should be given to the country, and how much gratified he was that the Indians and whites could shake hands in friend- ship. " You have," said Colonel Garland, " caused much trouble, you have been false in all your intercourse with officers, you have promised, and you have violated every thing: you have procured food, powder and lead, then taken to the swamps, and then murdered women and children, whenever found unpro- tected. You are now all present, and I take this opportunity to say, that you are prisoners ; and that on to-morrow morning you will be sent in wagons to Tampa Bay, thence to Horse Key (an THE FLORIDA WAR. 457 island), where you will in due time be joined by your chief." At so unexpected an announcement, the dispassionate terms of the speaker, the complacency of the officers, no confusion, and no evidences of imprisonment, they began to laugh — thinking it a joke — and to look about for the force to keep them in custody. They rose confusedly from their seats, evidently surveying the distance to the pine-barren beyond the camp, and revolving in their minds the chances of escape. The shrill blast of the bugle sounded, when, from the hammock in the immediate vicinity, one hundred armed men rushed forth and surrounded the council- house. Their captivity was painfully realized. The men trem- bled with excitement and fear, and the women and children screamed, believing they would be instantly put to death. As- surances of kind treatment soon quieted them. Five women were sent to bring their baggage from the camp, as well as the rifles. Each man described where his rifle was hid. Some had placed them in hollow trees, some under logs, others wrapped in moss and buried, others secreted among the palmettoes. Twenty- five excellent rifles were found, well charged. The provisions obtained were discovered securely stored in the swamp, protected by palmetto leaves. At night, twenty-five warriors were tied hand andfoot, and guarded by fifty soldiers. The women were forbidden any communication with them. An express was dis- patched to Fort King, to announce the successful result, and make Halleck-Tustenuggee feel that the sceptre had fallen from his hand. Colonel Worth vv^as seated with the chief in front of his quarters, when the express rode up. He looked eagerly and inquiringly at the man and then at the package. The excite- ment of the rid'br and the haggard appearance of the horse, in- dicated the announcement of something important. The chief was induced, from the manner of those around, to ask the news, when he was informed that his band were taken prisoners, and on their way to Tampa Bay, and that he himself was a captive, and would not again be permitted to return to the woods. The haughty spirit and hardened heart were broken. He stood erect, quivering with excitement, brushing his fingers through his long black hair, his eyes sparkling with fire, his breast heaving in agony, as though about to grasp and tear in pieces the perpetra- tors in this closing act. The presence of a guard of soldiers quieted these boisterous passions. The calm and unconcerned deportment of the spectators made him realize the impotency of his own arm. Such exhibi- tions of anger, when he was surrounded by his vassals, made the witnesses quail, and caused the defenceless prisoner to know and feel that his hours were numbered. Silently he sank uncon- 468 THE FLORIDA WAR. sciously upon the ground, trembling with exhaustion, his head drooping upon his bosom, his arms hanging Ustlessly by his side ; at length, the intensity of feeling gave way to sobs and tears^ the savage had become a child. Under guard he accompanied the commander to Horse Key, at the mouth of the Suwannee river, where his band, by the way of Tampa Bay, were to meet him, in compliance with orders left with Lieutenant-Colonel Garland. At Fort Wacassassa the five messengers sent from the camp at Warm Springs to Octiarche, had arrived, bringing the concurrence of this chief to the proffers of peace, but protesting against emigration. They were surprised to find Halleck-Tuste- nuggee at this post, but still more so when informed of the cap- ture of all, and their departure for Tampa Bay, and that they were prisoners, and would proceed in the morning to Horse Key. The transaction seemed to them like a dream more than reality. Treachery was cautiously whispered among themselves. When seated around their fire late at night, revolving the events of the past ten days in their minds, which had so materially changed their mode of life, they upbraided the chief for selling his fol- lowers and land. The words were barely uttered, when, spring- ing to his feet with a yell, he prostrated two v/ho stood beside him, two ran beyond his reach, the fifth, a stout athletic man, he struck in the breast with both feet, then, grasping him by the throat, thrashed his body upon the ground, and seizing his ear in his mouth, severed it close to his head. Dilating his sinewy frame, extending both hands to heaven, with his eyes and nostrils distended with rage, he ground the ear in his teeth, like a mastiff, then, spitting it upon the ground, and clearing his mouth of co- agulated blood, screamed, with savage delight and vengeance — " Tustenuggee ! Halleck-Tustenuggee !" The scene was one of fearful interest. The silence of the garrison, thus broken at that time of night by a hideous yell, the flickering light of half- extinguished brands, the trembling, commanding figure of the actor in^ the scene, as he stood over his prostrate and bleeding antagonist, caused a thrill of horror to pass through the crowd assembled to quell the noise. The deed was done; it was the work of a moment ; and the chief was led away, almost helpless from over-exertion and excitement. His two wives witnessed this revolting scene, but with the modesty and quiet submission of the Indian female, they sat in the distance and wept. ^ Whatever sins may be laid to the charge of this Indian chief- tain, or however diabolical the instinct of his nature, his land was dearer to him than life. For it he had fought boldly and un- ceasingly ; and had adopted the alternative of the feeble, treach- ery, against the strong, to maintain his inheritance. Confidence in himself and those within his influence, allowed no question of THE FLORIDA WAR. 459 policy, expediency, or necessity, to alter his resolution, or to re- strain him from predatory and cruel acts upon the defenceless and unoffending. If this trait in the savage be patriotism, Hal- leck-Tustenuggee's name should stand eternally side by side with the most distinguished of mankind. At Horse Key the band were united, much to their surprise, as those by the way of Tampa Bay believed the whites medi- tated their total destruction, by casting them overboard when out of sight of land. But little gratification was manifest. Their faculties were benumbed by excessive indulgence in drink, which among this race is invariably resorted to when in the midst of difficulties and affliction: "Now," said an aged warrior, when on his way to Arkansas from Florida, " give me a jug of whisky, I have lost sight of the last hammock on my land !" The ap- pearance of the chief, as well as his subordinates, was haggard in the extreme. Their faces were scarified by scratches and blows, received in the frequent broils caused by their accusing each other of being instrumental in thus subjecting the band to cap- tivity. The whole proceeding was so rapid and unexpected, and so complete, that they believed that treachery was the only means by which it was efiected. Noke-suck-Tustenuggee, a sub-chief, on his way up from Tampa, attempted suicide. ■ With his daugh- ter, about three years of age, he lay enveloped in his blanket, apparently asleep. The loud and repeated screams of the child, who from the struggles of her father realized his situation, brought others to the spot, when he was^ rescued, almost in the agonies of death. He had placed a noose around his neck, and fastened the end to his foot, drawn close to his body. He then extended his leg, and thus drew the cord so tight as to stop his breath, when the convulsive exertion of his hmbs nearly effected the purpose. By timely assistance he was extricated, and, as reason began to return, he asked anxiously, if the white men were gone. The band, consisting of thirty-two warriors and thirty-eight women and children, were placed on Horse Key, an island three miles from the main land, ai:id surrounded by a guard of one hundred and fifty men. East Florida was now relieved from ail apprehension of Indians. The master-spirit, whose tac- tics and skill, whose intrepidity and valor, habit of command, and fidelity to his country, deserved a better fate, was rendered harm- less. Two years' pursuit, unremittingly, by troops and by friend- ly messengers, had been of no avail. His own game, practiced with corresponding adroitness, had at last subdued him, and the territory was relieved from the barbarities of a savage who re- garded no sex, age, or condition, in the infliction and gratifica- tion of his undying revenge. The activity of the army in every part of the country, undei 470 THE FLORIDA WAR. instructions " to keep the field so long as a track could be discov- ered," had entirely suspended negotiations. The opportunity of surrendering was given to the hostiles, v^ith the assurance of kind- ness, provided they rendered assistance in inducing others to sub- mit, either through friendly intercourse, or by acting as guides to the troops. The season was favorable to vigorous measures. To the Indians the most im]3ortant, as their crops were to be planted, upon which reliance was placed for the year. The forest and rivers gave an abundant supply, but they could not fish or gather wild vegetables without the hazard of discovery, nor could they hunt, destitute of powder and lead. Simultaneous^ with the movements resulting in the capture of Halieck-Tustenuggee, the 7th and 3d regiments were in motion in small detachments, sweeping Middle Florida in all directions. Detached camps were thrown out from ail points, and vigilance enjoined in reconnoiter- ing the haunts and accustomed crossing-places of the enemy, as well as a constant supervision of the most frequented routes tra- velled by citizens and others. A command of two hundred men, of the 3d infantry, with one company 2d dragoons, under Colonel Vose, examined the country west from Tallahassee to the Ock- lockonnee and Appalachicola rivers, while a command of forty men, in boats, ascended the former, to ferret out and intercept the enemy in crossing at well-known fords. Lieutenant-Colonel Whistler, with two hundred and fifty men, took post on the Es- teen Hatchee river, from which detachments were dispatched, adopting the habits of tjie Creeks, supposing them to remove their camps at night. These commands were in the field two months. Zeal, intelligence, and forbearance, characterized officers and men. Numerous fields, just planted, were destroyed ; palmetto huts were razed ; a few tracks of four, six, or eight Indians were seen, but soon lost in water, or destroyed by burning grass. Two Indians were killed, two squaws and three children captured. This exasperated the Creeks. Those declining to sue for peace, were resolved on retaliation. Driven from favorite haunts, and from fields just putting forth with a prospect of an abundant har- vest, they resorted to a populous section of the country, marking their route by fire and blood. A war party of Creeks, under Hal- patter-Tustenuggee, crossed the Suwannee river and continued east to the neighborhood of the town of Newmansville. Here they assailed an unprotected family, and murdered one woman and three children, plundered and burnt the house and violated the bodies of the slain. Continuing south, they crossed the high- way at Blue Peter Spring, seven miles from Fort Watkahoota, and intercepted a detachment of the 7th infantry,, firing upon it from the high grass, within twenty feet of the road. Two soldiers were killed. Captain Seawell, 7th infantry, with forty men, with THE FLORIDA WAR. 47 1 one company 2d dragoons, was close upon the trail. The Indians travelled night and day, anticipating pursuit. A command moved at once from Fort Watkahoota upon the return of the detachment, and after burying the mangled remains of the two soldiers, took up the trail leading towards the Withlacoochee river. Lieuten- ant F. Britton, with a detachment of twenty-eight men, 7th infan- try, from Fort Wacassassa, encountered the marauders near Clay's Landing, on the Suwannee river. They received the spi- rited discharge of the soldiers with a volley of rifles, whooping and yelling, in hopes of intimidating them, giving various intona- tions of the voice, so as to magnify their numbers. Two of the command were badly wounded. One Indian was wounded and carried from the ground by his comrades. The party, having been so closely pursued, they abandoned, from day to day, heavy articles, to facilitate their movements. These men, finding them- selves besieged west of the Suwannee, disencumbered themselves of women and children, to unite at once with Octiarche, in the Wacassassa hammock, and with his warriors make an effectual stand for the protection of their planted fields. Much to their surprise, Octiarche was found to be strongly inclined to peace. This caused dissatisfaction, particularly when reproached for in- truding upon the settlements, and committing acts which, the chief said, would renew the war. A council convened, when the necessity of refraining from hostilities was understood, as the same destruction of crops was now in progress, which had impover- ished and distressed them the year previous. The talk of Hal- leck-Tustenuggee, received from the five messengers, had been acquiesced in, and the determination prevailed to refrain from hostile measures. The depredations of this small party of Indians, in so thickly settled a part of the territory, alarmed the most reso- lute. The prospect of peace had induced many to return to aban- doned plantations, and invited the emigrant to seek locations offering reward for slave labor and industry. Such bold and bloody acts deterred settlers, and caused households to be broken up, and safety sought for at the nearest military camp. To the commander, and to the army generally, these events were dis- heartening. If this number of Indians could thus cause such wide-spread confusion and apprehension, the Florida war might with propriety be considered interminable. Wading through swamps and hammocks in search of six, eight, or ten Indians, was like hunting a wolf, who at night would look into your camp, and follow your footsteps at noonday. The time was approaching when active operations would be accompanied by scenes ener- vating to the heart of a soldier, more especially to those who had already encountered them. Being again subjected to the summer 472 THE FLORIDA WAR. season, to lingering disease and privations unparalleled, without finding or punishing the enemy, was enough to unnerve the stout- est heart. Discouraging as it was, the course heretofore steadily pursued, resulting in success in one quarter, and defeat in another, was continued. Peace and war went hand in hand. Every day's experience showed to the most idle observer, how futile the efforts of troops must be in subduing such a foe. Instead of effect- ing the object it exasperated them, instigating attacks in small parties to wreak their vengeance. To quiet malignant passions, which had been cherished for five successive years, in the belief that the Great Spirit would support and prosper the cause; was not the work of a moment ; nor could it be accomplished but through the advice and example of those who once had been a party in the conflict. Halleck-Tustenuggee had become highly useful in this respect. He and his sub-chiefs were sent to Octi- arche, who received them kindly, and consented to come in to Cedar Key, the head-quarters, and talk with Colonel Worth, The state of the moon announcing their approach would be about the 4th of June. In the intervening time, the Indians were to assemble on the Wacassassa river, and there, unmolested, were to counsel upon the terms of peace as communicated by Halleck- Tustenuggee. These were, "that all hostile acts towards the whites should cease ; that those who wished to join their friends and relatives in Arkansas would be received with kindness ; and that others who wished to remain, must go at once below a line south of Pease Creek, sixty miles from Fort Brooke, where they would be permitted, for the present, to hunt and plant, and that the chiefs would be held responsible for any violation of these terms, and that friendship and good feeling must now be cuhi- vated between the whites and red men." It was further under- stood, that if these terms were disregarded, pursuit would instantly follow, under the guidance of Indians ; when men, women, and children, would be indiscriminately slaughtered. The character of Halleck-Tustenuggee was well known. What he stated was believed, and they all felt that should he become united with the whites in measures against them, no section of the country would insure a safe retreat. The Creek Indians on the Ocklockonnee river, under the chief Pascoffer, finding themselves intruded upon, sought an interview with Colonel Vose, through two citizens who had been suspected of holding with them constant communication. The influence of these men, when properly directed, was of great importance. The terms of peace were accepted, and the two white men were brought to participate with the military in restoring quiet to the settlers. Communication was constantly had with Pascoffer, who THE FLORIDA WAR. 473 gave repeated assurances that no hostile demonstrations should be made, and that in due time he would assemble his band for emigration. The second regiment of infantry, commanded by Lieutenant- Colonel B. Riley, embarked at Palatka for Savannah on the 27th of May, thence to proceed north to the Niagara frontier. This regiment had served in Florida since June, 1837, participating with fortitude in the toils incident to the service. Two commis- sioned officers and one hundred and thirty-one N. C. officers and privates, fell victims to the climate, and to the rifle of the enemy. Captain Samuel Russell was shot by a party of Indians secreted on the margin of the Miami, near Key Biscayne, when landing from his boat, on the 28th of February, 1839. That intrepidity and resolution which cost him his life, and which had distinguished him in the service of his country, was sustained by an undisguised and undeviating adherence to the principles of the Christian religion, making him the soldier and the man. His home was made happy by the most tender ties of aflfection, and by children nurtured under the influences of his precept and example. The five remaining companies of the 2d dragoons were ordered, on the 29th of May, to rendezvous at Mount Vernon Arsenal, and proceed to Baton Rouge. The regiment had served in Florida since its organization, June, 1836. Its duties were laborious and incessant, accomplishing all that could be expected, to reward the officers and men for their zeal and enterprise. The pecuharity of the service required them to act in detachments, giving their duties a partisan character, which were performed at all times in such a manner as to merit from commanders the highest commendation. Two officers were killed in action ; First- Lieutenant James F. Izard was killed at Camp Izard, Feb. 28th, 1836; Second- Lieutenant J. W. S. McNeil, at Musquito, September 11th, 1837. Both fell gallantly in the presence of the enemy. Five commis- sioned officers died from the effects of the climate, twenty non- commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, were killed in action, and one hundred and ninety-two died from disease inci- dent to the service. This reduction of force diminished materially the monthly sick reports. The season of the year, by far the most healthy in Florida, was calculated to make disease mild in character, and to give vigor and spirits to those who, from time to time, were prostrated by over-exertion and indulgence. During the month of March 880 men were taken sick, 21 died; in April 560, 11 died ; in May 420, 29 died. The prospect of relief from a summer's campaign was indeed 474 THE FLORIDA WAR. flattering. The general health of the army was good, and the posts occupied guarantied its continuance. Cheerfulness, good feeling, discipline and sobriety prevailed ; and the approaching month of June was looked to with interest, when the Florida war, signalized as it was by prodigal expenditures, by defeat, mortification and disgust, poverty, sorrow, and burdensome un- requited toil, seemed about to be brought to a close. CHAPTER XIII. JUNE, JULY, AND TO THE 17th AUGUST, 1842. Instructions received by Colonel Worth to bring the war to a close. — Message of the President of the United States to congress upon the subject. — Letter of instructions from the secretary of war to Major-General Scott. — His views upon the subject. — The measures for a time postponed. — Treachery of Halleck-Tuste- nuggee and dissatisfaction of Octiarche. — Their designs. — Holartooche proceeds to Octiarche's camp with twenty armed Indians. — Their meeting, and the promises of the chief to surrender. — Halleck- Tustenuggee, finding his plans unsuccessful, prepares for emigration. — Wounded Indians brought in. — Runners dispatched to bring in the plunder of the band. — A messenger sent to the suuthern Indians. — Holatter-Miceo or Billy Bowlegs made chief, who sends an emis' ary to the whiles to oblaiu peace. — The embarkation of Halleck-Tustenuggee and band for Arkansas. — Their appearance and feeling, and the anger ol' the chief. — Departure of Holartooche and the Arkansas delegation for their homes.- — Halleck-Tustenuggee ; his age, character, and qualities. — His first appearance in council. — The 7th infantry relieved from duty in Florida. — Its service and loss. — Death of Lieutenant, San- derson.— Lieutenant Sherwood's death. — His gallantry, and the conduct of Private L. Burlington, in protecting the remains of Mrs. Montgomery. — Arrival of Bowlegs and others at Fort Brooke, to make peace. — The influence and authority of Sam Jones and the Prophet disregarded. — They accompany the commander of the army to Cedar Key, and proceed to the camp of Octiarche. — Octiarche and Tiger-Tail return with them. — Peace determined upon. — The a[)pearance of Tiger- Tail. — Orders promulgated announcing that hostilities with the Indians in Florida had ceased. — Troops remaining in Florida concentrated. — Retrenchment and reduction in all departments. — Stations and strength of the 3d infantry, of the 8th infantry, and six comj)anies of the 4th. — The loss and service of these regiments in ofiicers and men. — Death of Lieutenant J. H. Harvie, and Lieutenant J. A. Reill, 8th infantry. — Colonel Woith ordered to proceed to Washington City. — He relinquishes the command of the ninth military department to Colonel Vose, 4th infantry. — Corre- spondence between Colonel Worth and Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, in closing up the contest, — Lieutenaut McLaughlin's instructions to Lieutenant Henry, who succeeded in command of the Florida squadron. One year having elapsed since the change of commanders in. Florida, and the adoption of military operations at all seasons, the month of June was looked to with confidence for the ter- mination of the war, and consequent withdrawal of the troops, or the assignment of those remaining to permanent healthy sta- tions for the summer. Past events justified these anticipations. The future, though bidding fair for a realization of hopes so often illusive, could not be looked forward to without some ap- prehensions, dependent, as all results were, upon the dilatory and treacherous action of a few roaming Indians, against whom mili- tary exertions were of no avail, other than to aggravate and prolong the war. The authorities at Washington, justly appreciating the state of affairs, and having found that the measures proposed by the col- onel commanding, in his communication of the 14th of February, were salutary, now resolved to terminate the contest effectually ; accordingly, on the 11th of May, the president of the United States transmitted to congress his views, in the following special message. ' " To THE Senate and House of Representatives : " The season for active hostihties in Florida having nearly terminated, my attention has necessarily been directed to the 476 THE FLORIDA WAR. course of measures to be pursued hereafter in relation the few Indians yet remaining in that territory. Their number is be- heved not to exceed two hundred and forty, of whom there are supposed to be about eighty warriors, or males capable of bear- ing arms. ^ The" further pursuit of these miserable beings by a large military force, seems to be as injudicious as it is unavaihng. The history of the last year's campaign in Florida has satisfac- torily shovzn, that, notwithstanding the vigorous and incessant operations of our troops, which cannot be exceeded, the Indian mode of warfare, their dispersed condition, and the very small- ness of their number, which increases the difficulty of finding them, in the abundant and almost inaccessible hiding-places of the territory, render any further attempts to secure them by force, impracticable, except by the employment of the most ex- pensive means. The exhibition of force, and the constant effort to capture or destroy them, of course places them beyond the reach of overtures to surrender. It is believed by the distin- guished officer in command there, that a different system should now be pursued to attain the entire removal of all the Indians in Florida ; and he recommends that hostilities should cease, unless the renewal of them be rendered necessary by new aggressions ; that communications should be opened by means of the Indians with him, to induce them to a peaceful and voluntary surrender, and that the military operations should hereafter be directed to the protection of the inhabitants. " These views are corroborated by the governor of the terri- tory, by many of its most intelligent citizens, and by numerous officers of the army who have served and are still serving in that region. *^ " Mature reflection has satisfied me that these recommenda- tions are sound and just ; and I rejoice that, consistently with duty to Florida, I may indulge my desire to promote the great interests of humanity, and extend the reign of peace and good will, by terminating the unhappy warfare that has so long been carried on there, and at the same time gratify my anxiety to reduce the demands upon the treasury, by curtailing the extraordinary expenses which have attended the contest. I have therefore authorized the colonel in command there, as soon as he shall deem it expedient, to declare that hostilities against the Indians have ceased, and that they will not be renewed, unless provoked and rendered indispensable by new outrages on their part; but that neither citizens nor troops are to be restrained from any ne- cessary and proper acts of self-defence against any attempts to molest them. He is instructed to open communications with those yet remaining, and endeavor, by all peaceable means, to persuade them to consult their true interests by joining their THE FLORIDA WAR. 477 brethren at the west. And directions have been given for estab- Hshing a cordon, or hne of protection, for the inhabitants, by the necessary number of troops. But to render this system of protection effectual, it is essential that settlements of our citizens should be made within the line so established, and that they should be armed, so as to be ready to repel any attack. In order to afford inducements to such settle- ments, I submit to the consideration of congress the propriety of allowing a reasonable quantity of land to the head of each family that shall permanently occupy it, and of extending the existing provisions on that subject, so as to permit the issue of rations, for the subsistence of the settlers for one year. And as few of them will probably be provided with arms, it would be expedient to authorize the loan of muskets and the 'delivery of a proper quantity of cartridges, or of powder and balls. By such means, it is to be hoped that a hardy population will soon occupy the rich soil of the frontiers of Florida, who will be as capable as willing to defend themselves and their houses, and thus reheve the government from further anxiety or expense for their protec- tion. Washington, May 10, 1842. JOHN TYLER." The letter herewith, from the secretary of war to Major- General Scott, is more minute in the details as to the method of closing the affair : " War Department, May lOth, 1842. " Sir — The communication of Colonel Worth, of the 14th February last, and the suggestions of the major-general com- manding the army, contained in his letter of the 27th ultimo, in relation to the state of affairs in Florida, and the continuance of hostilities there, have been maturely considered, and I have now to communicate to the major-general commanding the army, the views of the president upon the subject. " The very reduced number of the hostile Indians now in Florida, believed not to exceed two hundred and forty, including probably eighty warriors, would seem to indicate that all has been accomplished which can be effected by the employment of a large military force in offensive operations. Unless such operations are to be continued until the last Indian in the Pe- ninsula shall be destroyed or captured, there must be some period when they should cease. That period, it is believed, has now arrived, and the protection of the inhabitants must be se- cured by other means, which it is believed can be effectually employed for that purpose. " The season is approaching which forbids the active and 478 THE FLORIDA WAR. energetic movements which have distinguished the army in Florida, particularly during the last year, and the course of measures intended to be pursued, must now be determined. " The communication of the governor of Florida, of many of its intelligent citizens, and of various distinguished officers of the army, corroborate the views expressed by Colonel Worth, of the propriety of terminating the present system of hostilities v/ith the few Indians remaining in that territory. " Anxious to curtail the extraordinary expenses incident to the warfare, and sincerely desirous of promoting peace, the presi- dent directs that Colonel Worth be authorized, as soon as he shall deem it expedient, to declare that hostilities against the Indians in Florida have ceased, and that they will not be re- newed, unless provoked by new aggressions on their part. And they will accordingly cease until their renewal be authorized by the proper authority. But this is not to be understood as forbidding any act of self-defence, either by the troops or by citizens, against any attempts of Indians to molest them. " Such a reduction of the military force in Florida as may be made consistently with the protection of the inhabitants, will, therefore, immediately be made ; and the troops ordered out of the territory will be stationed as the exigency of the public ser- vice may require. But it is deemed advisable that a force equal to at least two regiments be retained, to form a cordon, or line of protection, for the frontier settlements. The action of con- gress will be invited to aid in the defence of the territory, by the settlement of our citizens there, and offering to them induce- ments for such settlements, by gratuities of land, by allowing them rations for subsistence, and by the loan of arms. Until the decision of congress is had on the subject, it is desirable that the settlements to be made should be within such line of protection as shall be established by Colonel Worth, who will take the necessary measures to effect this arrangement. " He will also use the means he possesses of communicating with the Indians yet remaining, and inducing them to consult their true interest, by joining their brethren at the west. "Shipments of forage and subsistence to Florida will be sus- pended until expressly called for by the officer in comm.and there. " The quartermaster-general will instruct the senior officer of his department in Florida, as to the manner of disposing of the public property that may not be required for use under the ar- rangements now directed, such as mules, horses, wagons, &c., subject to the orders of the officer commanding the army in Florida. " Colonel Worth will be informed that the naval force on the coast has been directed by the secretary of the navy to with- THE FLORIDA WAR, 479 draw, whenever' the commanding officer in Florida shall declare the cessation of hostilities, and shall deem their services no longer necessary. " The major-general commanding the army will please com- municate these directions to Colonel Worth, and give such further and other orders as may be necessary or proper to carry into ef- fect the views of the president. To Major-General Scott, ) J. C. SPENCER." Commanding, &c., Washington, D. C. ) Major-General Scott transmitted this to Colonel Worth, ac- companied by suggestions and instructions and the expression of his hearty concurrence to the measure, the wisdom and necessity of which he had urged in February, when the course was first proposed and submitted to a board of officers. The negotiations in progress at the moment when these orders were received, caused their fulfillment to be postponed for a time, as the meeting of Halleck-Tustenuggee and Octiarche, on the 4th June, was not as satisfactory as was anticipated. Obstacles were interposed to avoid the surrender of the band, and the latter chief expressed his fears that should he come within reach of the military, he would not be permitted to return. The absence of some young war- riors, he said, whom they had not succeeded in finding, induced him to await their arrival. They not knowing that peace was declared, would, on finding him among the whites, be led to doubt his fidelity, and in revenge to commit atrocious acts. In the mean time peace and friendship was to prevail. Halleck-Tuste- nuggee returned from his mission, dissatisfied with the conduct of the Indians, and at the same time indulged in most abusive language towards the whites. His whole deportment was changed, resulting from disappointment and chagrin. Before starting, he had used every artifice and argument to have his wives and chil- dren accompany him. He urged, as one reason, that the space upon the island was too confined, causing sickness and dissatis- faction. The sub-chiefs corroborated this, and created murmur- ing and discontent. These requests were sternly refused. The chief, having promised to meet Octiarche, felt obligated to fulfill his engagement, not doubting, at the time, but that he would be permitted to take his family with him. He started with manifest reluctance, and returned disappointed in the accomplishment of his design. With his wives and children, he expected to join these roving bands, and by renewed outrages, take revenge ; but he was, so far, outwitted, in spite of his duplicity and cunning. Octiarche had become confused by different stories, and the pro- posal of Halleck to join in open hostilities, perplexed the Indians, leading them to doubt the sincerity of the terms of peace. An- 480 THE FLORIDA WAR. Other attempt was made by the chief Holartooche, to seek an in- terview, accompanied by twenty Indians, well armed, as Halleck- Tustenuggee had reported that the chief declared to him his determination to put to death any messenger. The party met the enemy assembled in the Wacassassa hammock, when the brief and friendly explanations of Holartooche gave a different aspect to affairs. Octiarche expressed his want of faith in the conduct of Halleck-Tustenuggee, as he at one time came with assurances of peace, and at another expressed his determination to improve the first opportunity to escape. The talk first sent, he said he accepted, and that so soon as the young men were found, whom it was feared would commit murders, the band would come in at Cedar Key, to settle permanently the future in- tercourse between the white and red men. The subjoined report of Colonel Worth explains the embar- rassments encountered in pacifying the enemy, and his expecta- tions in respect to them, as also his plan for the protection of the country. " Head-Quarters, Army of Florida,) Cedar Key, June 14, 1842. \ " Sir — \ have succeeded in establishing a communication with the Creek Indians, who have heretofore so sadly afflicted Middle Florida ; but time and patience will be sorely taxed ere the work be consummated ; shy and suspicious, their confidence is only to be won gradually ; runners, however, have been sped with the orders of the chiefs, in all directions, to stay the hand of violence, and yet, before the messengers could have reached the remote wandering bands, one atrocity has been committed, and others (I pray not) may be heard of As yet I have used the authority conferred by the president, in a limited degree, still cherishing the hope, that b)^ management, all may be induced to emigrate : fail- ing in that, I shall unhesitatingly go to the full extent, as the only means of pacifying the country, and assign them, temporarily, planting and hunting grounds, but far south of any settlements that now are, or like to be for centuries. " In the present circumstances, I have felt free to commence the movement of the 7th : five companies, including two for Tam- pa : one each for New-Orleans, Fort Pickens and Pike, en route. Should my anticipations in respect to the pacification of the coun- try be realized, when reduced to two regiments, or the equivalent, (as will be the case with two companies of the 3d artillery, two of the 7th infantry, six of the 4th and the 3d infantry), they will be disposed as follows : two at Fort Brooke, two at Fort King, two at Palatka, two at St. Augustine, and for the present two at Fort Pierce, five of the 3d infantry in West Florida, placed, as THE FLORIDA WAR. 481 far as is consistent with the object in having them at all, in view of convenient economical supply ; and five at Cantonment Mor- gan, on the Key seaw^ard of this, in readiness to be advanced south should there be necessity, or to be rapidly thrown elsewhere. These positions will, it is believed, give adequate protection to the settlements, if the Indians are not molested, and hold in check any insubordinate disposition they may manifest. The latter position- may acquire a future importance in controlling the harbor for medium vessels between St. Marks and Tampa. " I take the liberty to suggest, that two of the smaller vessels of the nalval force, now on the coast, be continued, with a ren- dezvous at Indian Key, to give aid and assistance to wrecked vessels, and also to guard against illicit traffic with the Indians from Cuba, which has doubtless been carried to a very great ex- tent during this contest. For this purpose they will need but slight crews and appointments. The stations selected are com- paratively healthy, and furnished with sufficient covering, not re- quiring the outlay of one dollar beyond expenditure on ordinary service. I am, &c., General Jones, ) W. J. WORTH, Col. Commanding." Adjutant- General U. S. Army. \ Halleck-Tustenuggee, finding his plans to effect an escape de- feated, resolved at once to make the most of his position, and pre- pare for emigration. He was still treated with kindness and consideration, as the time was fast approaching when his mali- cious and vindictive spirit would have another field in the country allotted as his future home. To allay these feelings and the pang of leaving his birth-place, was nof only the dictate of policy, but humanity. The absent members of his party, respecting whom he had been silent, he was anxious should join before embarking. Five men had not been seen since the rout of the 19th of April ; five others were still secreted in the swamp, severely wounded. He had allowed them to remain out in the belief, that not many weeks would elapse before he and some of his followers would effect their escape. This had failed, and runners were now dis- patched to bring them in. On the sixth day they returned with their comrades. The wounded were deeply mortified when brought into camp, at the curiosity of the soldiers, and secreted themselves immediately, under the pretence of sickness. It was admitted, that in the affair which broke the league, two men were killed and five wounded. Three men were dispatched over the St. John's river to Haw Creek, near Dunn's Lake, to bring the plunder of the band, which had been accumulating there for years. Each hiding-place was 31 482 THE FLORIDA WAR. minutely described ; as holes in the earth, hollow trees, small palmetto sheds in the midst of the swamps, &c. Large quan- tities of cloth, cottons, blankets, and calico were brought in ; as also five canisters of powder, which the chief said he buried two years previous to the war. He saw the contest approaching, and from that time forward improved the opportunity to obtain powder and lead. These articles being secured, the absent and wounded brought in, and the amusements in camp having ^be- come irksome and monotonous, much anxiety was expressed by all ages to leave the prison island as soon as possible. The return of an Indian, who had been dispatched on a mission to the Southern Indians, deterred for a few days the embarkation. Since the dispersion of Sam Jones and followers, in February last, from the Big Cypress Swamp, they had been perfectly quiet ; and it now became important, that they should know of the sur- render of various bands, and be allowed the privilege of con- forming to the proffers of peace. Holatter-Micco or Billy Bow- legs, a young intelligent Seminole Indian, had been appointed chief. The movements of two companies of the 8th infantry from Fort Pierce west to Lake Oke-chobee, the destruction of camps and crops, led these Indians to believe that the approach- ing season would be as disastrous as the former. Talmus-Hadjo was dispatched upon the hazardous experiment of seeking an interview with the whites, and ascertain in what manner the Indians would be received. On his way to Fort Brooke he met the messenger sent from Horse Key, from whom he heard of the capture of Halleck and band, and that a friendly feeling now existed. At Fort Brooke he was received with kindness, and returned with messages to Holatter-Micco, who was invited to join other chiefs in securing lor themselves a permanent peace. The return of the messenger enabled the band of Halleck-Tuste- nuggee to embark, on the 14th of July, for New- Orleans ; from thence they were to proceed to Arkansas. Lieutenant E. R. S. Cauby, 2d infantry, was designated to take charge of the party, accompanied by Assistant-Surgeon Bailly, U. S. A. Forty war- riors, and eighty women and children, comprised the entire num- ber. Not a feeling of regret was experienced by any one, in seeing this desperate banditti take its departure. They had been the source of toil and vexation to the military, and the cause of much poverty and affliction to the settlers. They were sullen and morose ; nothing but the presence of a company of the 7th infantry on board the boat, caused them to refrain from giving vent to their savage and revengeful passions. The chief indulged in one of his fiendish gusts of indignation, so peculiar to him, at not having received from Colonel Worth, as he had expected, a letter "acknowledging that he had been a brave warrior, and had THE FLORIDA WAR. 493 fought for his land to the last moment." "I have been hunted like a wolf/' said he, " and now I am to be sent away like a dog." The ferocity of his manner to the officer addressed, his tone of voice, and threatening gestures, caused the soldiers to surround and seize him, fearful that in his ravings he would draw his knife, and assail all within his reach. When the paper was now read to him, and he found he had been mistaken, his passions subsided, and he wept like a child. Holartooche, with the five remaining Indians of the Arkansas, left in the same boat. This chief had been useful on several occasions, giving the strongest evidence of friendship, as well as an ardent desire to benefit his race. The others, from timidity and indolence, v^^ere worthless ; often embarrassing negotiations by giving contradic- tory opinions of Arkansas ; and frequently frustrating military enterprises by their obstinacy and pretended ignorance of the country, and affected apprehension of danger. Halleck-Tustenuggee was gone. Those to whom his safety was intrusted on Horse Key, felt as much relieved as did the in- habitants of East Florida. Intellectually, he was a remarkable man. The ruggedness and waywardness of his nature had not been softened, or his mind guided by cultivation. In his inter- course with the whites, he spurned their advice and example ; and delighted in the gratification of his savage heart, which never knew an impulse of sympathy or affection. By birth he is a Mickasukie, about thirty-five years of age, proud and haughty; claiming that his tribe were the original proprietors of the soil. He is six feet two inches in height, with a slight sinewy frame, well formed and erect ; modest and unassuming in his general de- portment, and with a smile mild and bland, it seems impossible that he should be the victim of such violent passions, or the per- petrator of cruel and reckless murders. In May, 1839, he was present when Major-General Macomb, commanding the U. S. army, effected an arrangement with the Indians at Fort King. Forty warriors were at the council, and when the general ceased addressing them, silence pervaded the assembly. No one, they said, was authorized as a chief to speak in reply. After a short consultation, it was determined "that Halleck-Tustenuggee should say the words of their hearts." He modestly acknow- ledged his inability to speak in council, and disclaimed any here- ditary right to act for those around him. He acquitted himself, however, with much ability ; evading with tact and shrewdness all inquiry as to the numbers and location of the principal chiefs who had been sent for, and on whose account the council had been postponed from day to day. Lieutenant-Colonel Whistler, commanding the 7th infantry, embarked at Cedar Key with his regiment on the 20th of July, 484 THE FLORIDA WAR. to take post at Forts Brooke, Pickens, Pike, Wood, and New- Orleans Barracks. The regiment had served in Florida since May, 1839. Two of its officers fell in battle, and two were victims to the effects of the climate ; and twenty-eight rank and file were killed by the Indians. Resolutely and unflinchingly assailing the enemy in the field and in ambush, they sustained the reputation of the regiment, and did honor to their comrades, who, more fortunate, still survive to revere and shield their memories. One hundred and sixteen rank and file died from disease incident to the climate and service. Lieutenant James S. Sanderson, on the 19th of April, 1840, fell at the head of his detachment of thirteen men, when charging a party of forty Indians, secreted in a hammock. Wounded when quite young, at the battle of Bridge water, he subsequently passed through all the non-commissioned grades ; and was ap- pointed a second-lieutenant on the 1st of November, 1838, upon the unanimous recommendation of the officers of his regiment. His conduct in battle illustrates his character as an officer and a man. The melancholy fate of Second- Lieutenant Walter Sherwood, excited deep sorrow and regret far beyond the circle of his regi- ment and associates in arms. On the 28th of December, 1840, he started from Micanopy with eleven men, for Watkahoota, distant eight miles, as an escort to Mrs. Montgomery, wife of Lieutenant Montgomery, 7th infantry. When half way, he was attacked by a party of thirty Indians. Mrs. M. and four men were killed by his side. Upon the first appearance of the enemy, he ral- lied his cammand, and with coolness and intrepidity assailed them ; he was soon overpowered. He fought hand to hand with the Indians as they advanced, wounding one mortally (says an Indian of the party), until exhausted by the loss of blood from wounds in the back and arms, he fell grappling with his foe, in the last agonies of death. Young and brave, his private virtues gave him a high stand- ing among his companions, and imparted a lustre to those heroic qualities, which led him to risk all for the succor and protection of the defenceless. The conduct of private Lansing Burlingham of C. company, demand, and should receive, the highest praise. Alone, and mortally wounded, he protected the body of Mrs. Montgomery from the merciless barbarities of the savages, who gathered around her, determined to gratify their diabolical re- venge. " Lieutenant," said he (addressing Lieutenant Montgo- mery who had arrived), " I fought for her as long as I could ; but they were too strong for me," — his voice here faltered — " but J did my duty." These were his last words. His ear was deaf to the repeated thanks of his officer, from a heart already over- burdened with grief. THE FLORIDA WAR. ' 495 The arrival of Holatter-Micco (Billy Bowlegs), with his sub- chief, Fuse-Hadjo (the Lawyer), and No-co-se-mathlar (the Bear King), at Fort Brooke, on the 5th of August, perfected the ar- rangement with all the chiefs of bands within the territory. The colonel commanding was at Fort Brooke upon their arrival. Bowlegs came empowered by the Indians occupying the southern part of Florida, to make such arrangement as would allow the planting of their fields. His hereditary right as a chief, and his known intelligence, and the arrangements made in council before leaving, guarantied that whatever engagement he made would be faithfully complied with. Arpeika or Sam Jones had become a child from age, and was living on Lake Oke-chobee, with twelve men. The Prophet or Otulke-Thlocko, from his timidity and falsehoods, had lost his influence, as it was believed that his tricks and superstitions, upon which they heretofore relied, had led them into misfortunes and dangers. These men accompanied the colo- nel commanding to Cedar Key, from which place they proceeded to Wacassassa hammock, and returned on the 9th of August, with Tiger-Tail and Octiarche. In council the next day, the terms of peace were debated, explained, and fully understood. The chiefs were required to hold themselves responsible for the conduct of all Indians belonging to their bands, and made to understand that upon the slightest violation of the terms agreed on, the individual or individuals so offending, should be surrendered to the military for punishment. Bowlegs returned to his camp on Lake Oke- chobee, satisfied with his success, and confident of the integrity of the commander. Octiarche promised to move immediately south, within the line established, but said he was apprehensive that the young Indians would cause delay. These, from the length of the contest, were brought up to pursue a white man as a proscribed enemy, and were naturally shy and mistrustful, re- quiring forbearance and kindness to disarm them of the spirit of retaliation. If incursions were made upon the frontier, it would be by such characters, who were informed that they would be sought for if aggressing, and be punished. This was the fourth time that Tiger-Tail had escaped and returned to the military. He was indifferent to the past, greeted his friends among the offi- cers with cheerfulness, believing that his treachery v/as forgotten or forgiven. No allusion whatever was made to it. He still ex- ercised an influence among the Creeks. His knowledge of the habits of the whites, and ability to speak English, attached to his opinions and actions much influence. He was treated with marked kindness, and his influence was secured ; but the time was not distant when he would find his own destiny involved with those whom he had endeavored to betray. A large number of women and children visited the head-quar- 486 THE FLORIDA WAR. ters at Cedar Key, participating in the dances and games. Octi- arche and Tiger-Tail returned to hasten the departure of those preparing to proceed south. The entire country being now free from alarms, and the chiefs and sub-chiefs of each band having acceded to the terms enjoined to secure friendship and intercourse between all classes and colors, the commander of the army, on the 14th of August, promulgated the following order : Order ) " Head-Quarters, Ninth Military Department, ) No. 28. \ Cedar Key, Fa., August 14, 1843. \ "I. It is hereby announced that hostilities with the Indians within this territory, have ceased. Measures are taken to pass the few remaining, within certain limits — those in the far south, immediately ; those west of the Suwannee, in a few days ; who, meantime, there is every reasonable assurance, will conduct inof- fensively if unmolested in their haunts. The lands thus tempora- rily assigned as their planting and hunting grounds, are within the following boundaries, to wit : From the mouth of Tallock- chopco or Pease Creek, up the left bank of that stream to the fork of the southern branch, and following that branch to the head or northern edge of Lake Istokpoga ; thence down the eastern mar- gin of that lake to the stream which empties from it into the Kis- simmee river, following the left bank of the said stream and river to where the latter empties into Lake Oke-chobee ; thence down due south through said lake and Everglades to Shark river, fol- lowing the right bank of that river to the Gulf; thence along the Gulf shore (excluding all islands between Punta Rossa and the head of Charlotte's Harbor) to the place of beginning. " The foregoing arrangements are in accordance with the in- structions of the president of the United States. By order of Colonel Worth, S. COOPER, Assistant-Adjutant-General." The troops remaining in Florida, the 3d and 8th regiments of infantry and six companies of the 4th, were at once concentrated for economy and convenience. Detached camps were drawn in, posts abandoned, and corresponding reductions promptly made in all staff departments. The head-quarters of the 3d infantry were at Fort Stansbury, twelve miles from Tallahassee, Captain J. B. Clarke commanding. Its aggregate strength six hundred and ninety-one men. Three companies were stationed at Cantonment Morgan, Horse Key, and one company at each of the following posts, viz. : Fort Pleasants, Fort Robert Gamble, Fort Hamilton, Fort Stansbury, Fort Ocilla, and Fort Brooke. Two companies of the. 4th infantry were posted at Fort Brooke, one at Fort Fan- THE FLORIDA WAR. 487 ning, Wacassassa, Walkahoota, and Micanopy : aggregate strength, four hundred and twenty men. The 8th regiment of infantry, seven hundred and thirteen strong, head-quarters Palatka, commanded by Brevet-Major Bel- knap, took position as follows : four companies at Palatka, tv/o at Fort King, one at Camp Brown, Fort Moniac, North's Station, and Micanopy. Two companies of the 7th infantry were sta- tioned at Fort Brooke, numbering sixty-eight men. The six com- panies of the 4th, had been recommended to be withdrawn. Eighteen hundred and ninety-two men now constituted the command denominated the 9th military department. The troops remaining in Florida had borne their part with the same alacrity and hardihood in the prosecution of the contest which had just terminated, as other corps. Being the last ordered into the campaign, according to military usage, they were the last to go out. The 3d regiment arrived during the month of Octo- ber, 1840. It lost three officers by disease, and sixty-five privates. The 4th infantry participated, at an early period, in the mel- ancholy and disastrous events which aggravated and prolonged the conflict. This was its second tour of duty in Florida. Brevet-Major Francis L. Dade, commanded the detachment of one hundred and ten men, comprising details from the 2d and 3d artillery and 4th infantry, which was massacred near the Wa- hoo Swamp, on the main road from Fort Brooke to Fort King, on the 28th December, 1835. To award him praise, profession- ally or privately, is unnecessary ; his fate, and that of his com- panions in arms, insure them immortality, and their memory a place in the heart of every soldier. Five officers died from dis- ease contracted in Florida and from other causes in discharge of their duties, together with one hundred and twenty -eight non- commissioned officers and privates. Nineteen of these fell in battle. The 8th infantry entered Florida in November, 1840, from an extended tour of service, leaving Sacket's Harbor, N. Y., on the 1st of May ; thence passing up the lakes to Green Bay^ Fort Winneba- go, Prairie du Chien, Jefferson Barracks, New-Orleans, and thence to Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, Four officers died from disease, sixty- six non-commissioned officers and privates fell victims to disease and incidents of the service, and two sergeants and two privates were killed in action. First Lieutenant John H. Harvie, died on the 7th of September, 1841, regretted by a large circle of relatives and friends. Hastening in execution of his duties from Port Leon to Fort Brooke, he embarked, though indisposed, in a small fishing-boat, in expectation of reaching a port the following day. But adverse winds detained the craft at sea four days, where, des- titute of comforts or attention, his disease ran its course, and ter- minated fatally at Cedar Key, six' hours after his arrival. Enthu- 488 THE FLORIDA WAR. siastic in the love of his profession, he served his country with fidehty, leaving among his associates a cherished recollection of his manly and generous qualities. Second Lieutenant John A. Riell, died at sea, on his way home to the city of New-York. He left Florida extremely debil- itated. Agitated with anxiety to reach his destination, his enfee- bled frame sunk under the excitement. When within sight of the port, he stretched himself upon his couch, and calling for the flag of his countr}^, wrapped its folds around him, and expired without a struggle. Colonel Worth was instructed to proceed to Washington City, after making his final arrangements, Vv^here, in conjunction with the proper authorities, further measures could be concerted to continue peace in Florida, and thus relieve the treasury of the nation from the exorbitant demands to which it had been so long subjected. The president of the United States desired an oppor- tunity to express to Colonel Worth his high appreciation of the zeal and ability v/hich he had evinced during his brief but ardu- ous service, as well as to bestow the merited praise upon the officers and soldiers of his command. On the i7th of August he relinquished the command of the army of Florida (now the ninth military department), by the following order, to the officer next in rank, having performed the duties thirteen months and seventeen days, and repaired to Wash- ington City. Order) . '' Head- Quarths, 9 th M. Departmvni,} No. 29. S Palatka, Fa., August 17th, 1842. S "The undersigned surrenders the command of -this military department to Colonel Vose, 4th infantry, the officer next in rank. W. J. WORTH, Colonel 8tk infantry, U. S. Army.'^ Upon reaching Washington, Colonel Worth, with his staff*, waited upon the president of the United States, conducted by the Honorable J. C. Spencer, secretary of war, when the president handed to him the commission of a brevet brigadier-general, con- ferred by the seiiate of the United States, in consideration " for gallantry and highly distinguished services as commanding the forces in the war against the Florida Indians." Mr. Tyler, in a brief and appropriate manner, expressed his appreciation, and that of the country, of the fidelity with which all grades in the army had discharged their duty in Florida. General Worth, in acknowledging the honor conferred upon him, said he would improve this opportunity to express his earn- est desire that the claims of his comrades in the contest just THE FLORIDA WAR. 489 ended might not pass unnoticed. For their activity, promptness, and endurance, under all circumstances of exposure, privation, and danger, the country w^as indebted ; and that in their intelli- gence and patriotism he had confided, and had ever found officers and soldiers equal to and prepared for every emergency. The correspondence of Colonel Worth with Lieutenant McLaughlin, commanding the Florida squadron, subjoined, to- gether with the instructions of the latter, preparatory to a fulfill- ment of the wishes of the president of the United States, in sus- pending hostilities, shows in what respect retrenchment was carried out in the navy, as well as the measures taken for the defence of the coast of Florida. The endorsement of Colonel Worth upon the letter of instruc- tions of Lieutenant McLaughlin to Lieutenant Henry of July 8th, explains a nice point in the arrangement made with the Indians in Florida. Lieutenant McLaughlin supposed that the country allotted the Indians was for them to live upon forever. This was not the case. They were made to understand, that the arrangement was temporary. " Head-Quarters Army of Florida, ) Cedar Key, May 23d, 1842. ] " Sir — Herewith I have the honor to forward copies of in- structions from the honorable secretary for the department of war and the major-general commanding-in-chief the army, in- viting your attention to that part where the secretary refers to the honorable secretary of the navy, &c. " Recent successes, and results arising therefrom, will enable me, in a few weeks, to make the announcement authorized by the superior authority, when, I am fully persuaded, not a foe will be left to molest the citizen, between Carlosahatchee and Talla- hassee. A very small band, supposed to be upper Creeks, are, doubtless, roving west of the latter place ; south, there is Sam Jones, with his band of nine or ten, and the mixed band, in the Cypress or thereabouts, under the Prophet, of about twenty. The two latter are, and doubtless will remain, in respect to the settlements, quite innoxious. Indeed, it is well known, that since the arrangement of General Macomb, they have acted only on the defensive, except probably in case of wrecked vessels. The papers are herewith submitted, in order that you may, in your judgment, take such preliminary steps, as the instructions of the secretary of the navy may require or authorize, in respect to the disposition of your force. Perhaps you may find it expe- dient to discharge hired vessels, if any you have, and otherwise commence a curtailment of expenditure. I have the honor to be, &c., your obedient servant. Lieutenant J, T. McLau&hlin, I W. J. WORTH, Col. Commanding: Commanding, &c.j Coast of riorida. 490 THE FLORIDA WAR. " Head- Quarters, Army of Florida, ) Cedar Key, June 2lst, 1842. \ "My dear Sir — You will herewith receive a copy of my report to the adjutant-general, of the 20th instant. On parting with your young and accomplished comrades, I beg you to con- vey and make acceptable to them, the high professional and per- sonal respect I have the honor to entertain for each. The com- mendation of an old soldier can do no harm, and it is for me only to regret the humbleness which gives no warrant for a more de-^ cided expression of all that is due to their gallant and uncalcu- lating devotion, in a service as painful as thankless. May God protect, and your country promote you, is the sin- cere prayer of most truly, Your friend, Lieutenant J. T. McLaughlin, U. S. Navy, > W. J. WORTH, Commanding Florida Squadron. ) Colonel Commanding." "Flirt, at Indian Key, June 7th, 1842. " Colonel — I have had the honor to receive your communi- cation from Cedar Key, of the 23d ultimo, with its enclosures. " Awaiting only the arrival of the mail, which reached me a few hours previous to the receipt of your communications, to visit you or transmit the dispatches, which would advise you of our recent operations in this quarter, I shall now proceed forth- with to Tampa, or elsewhere, to find you, to place before you in detail the result of our operations here, with a chart of the south- ern end of the Peninsula, deduced from the most careful and ex- tended observation. For the moment, I will say, that during the last month, my entire force has been in the field, from latitude 26° 40' N., on the east coast, to latitude 26° 30^ N., on the west, covering the entire intermediate strip of land between the sea and interior, including the coonti grounds. The result of our labors has been the destruction of twelve fields of corn, vegetables, and fruit, and the routing of large parties of women and children from the coonti grounds, within five miles of Fort Dallas, between Little River and Arch Creek, where, from the extent of their cultivated tracts, and the appearance of their settlements, they have been residents for quite two years. " The Indians further south, on the southern extremity, have quitted their position there, and, but the signs of two, none were found to have been north of Fort Lauderdale for a month. " The only hired vessel in this command was discharged from the service at the close of the last month, in view of the course you had projected for the conclusion of hostihties, which although it had not reached me officially, yet came to me in a shape suf- ficiently authentic, knowing your views upon the subject, to in- THE FLORIDA WAR. 491 duce me to act, when the efficiency of my command would not be impaired by her dismissal. " In the earnest hope that I may have the honor of an inter- view during the coming week, I have the pleasure of tendering you my earnest and cordial congratulations upon the successful issue to which your laborious and skillful efforts have brought, in the shortest time, the longest war known in our generation. I have the honor to be respectfully, sir, Colonel Worth, > JOHN T. McLAUGHLIN, Commanding Army of Florida. } Com. Naval Forces, Coast of Florida" " Flirt, at Indian Key, July 8th, 1842. " Sir — The government having determined upon a pacific policy for the restoration of amicable relations with the Indians of Florida, all further offensive operations against them will cease, and the vessels of the Florida squadron, except the Wave and the Phoenix, will be immediately withdrawn from the terri- tory. These will be left on the coast under your command, with a rendezvous and hospital at Indian Key, for purposes of gen- eral protection, to aid and assist wrecked or distressed vessels, and to guard against any intercourse with such Indians as may remain in the southern extremity of the Peninsula, and the peo- ple of Cuba. In connection with this portion of your duties, your attention is respectfully invited to paragraphs I. and II. of the circular of December 31st, 1840, enclosed to commanders of vessels, which is still in force, a copy of v/hich is herewith enclosed. " In the discharge of these duties, you will keep one vessel on either side of the Peninsula, with instructions to the commander, to communicate and exchange information with the commanding officer of each of the military stations on the coast ; and you will convey with the least possible delay, to the military commander in the territory, any information you may obtain, which it would be important to him to be possessed of A frequent communica- tion with him on your part will facilitate, and possibly add much to, the usefulness of your general operations. " Interpreters will be furnished you for the purpose of com- municating with the Indians, and you will endeavor, by every means, to open an intercourse with them, when you will seek to impress upon them, that it is the president's wish, that hereafter the red and white man shall live in friendship in Florida, and cultivate together the arts of peace ; that he desires to give to THE RED MAN a portiou of the territory to live in forever^ and to permit him to trade with the whites after his own manner, and for- any thing he may require, whether it be for provisions, for powder, or for clothing ; that Colonel Worth is empowered 492 THE FLORIDA WAR. to make all these arrangements for them, and awaits their coming to him at Tampa Bay or Cedar Key, to have a talk with him, and determine together what portion of the territory shall be their home. " Although hostihties are discontinued, yet, in all your inter- course with the Indians, you will ever be on the alert for treach- ery, and prepared to resist and resent it. " Your command will be supplied with rations by any of the commissaries of the army in Florida, from whom you shall re- quire them ; and the duties of purser for it will be discharged by Acting Lieutenant-Commandant C. R. P. Rodgers. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, JOHN T. McLaughlin, Lieutenant Henry, U. S. Navy. Lieut. Com. Naval Forces, Coast of Florida." Circular. " Florida Expedition, Flirt, at Key Biscayne, ? December 31st, 1840. \ " 11. You will prevent any communication with the coast, of any nature whatsoever, unless in connection with the operations in Florida, or at points settled and inhabited by white men. These instructions are not designed to interfere with the fish- eries on the coast, but to forbid any communication with the shore, under penalty of seizure of their vessels, and imprisonment of themselves, to any persons who shall land in contravention of this order. " III. You will cause the second paragraph of this order to be made public at all points of the coast where you may touch, for the information of those whom it may concern. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, JOHN T. McLaughlin, Lieut. Com. Expedition.'* " Endorsement. " Army of Florida, July 18th, 1842. " Captain McLaughlin having obligingly favored me with a copy of his instructions to govern the commanders of the schoon- ers of war left on the coast of Florida, and having on the with- drawal of the squadron, left, it is presumed at my suggestion, the said vessels, it is proper I should make the following memoran- dum : " ' That it is the president's wish that hereafter the red man and white man shall live in friendship in Florida, and together cultivate the arts of peace ; that he desires to give to the red man a portion of the territory to live in forever, &c., &c.' " Now I do not so understand the views of the president, as THE FLORIDA WAR. 493 communicated by the secretary of war through the commanding general, but as conceding, as a matter of expediency and policy for the moment, the boon to hunt and plant for a while on cer- tain grounds which have been defined by the undersigned, and in connection with certain information that the larger portion, so soon as released from the fear of their leaders, actually desire to join their kindred in the west. So far from the president's having signified any consent that they, the Indians, should re- main possessors /orever (as the alienation of soil has all the forms and of course obligations of a treaty), such a course would be as palpably beyond the power, as it doubtless would be beyond the desire of the president ; the whole arrangement being expedient and promissory. W. J. WORTH, Colonel Commanding." CHAPTER XIV. FROM AUGUST 17, TO OCTOBER 31, 1842. Colonel Vose in cnmmand of the Oth military depavtment. — The Indians annoyed by encroachments and aggressi :ns of the whites. — Sou'hsrn Indians within the b lundaiy : none but Creeks without. — Appre- hensions of Tiger-Tail and Octiarche realized. — Attack upon settlements. — Citizens killed. — Pursuit by Colonel Bailey, and citizens. — Indians overtaken and punished. — Complaints among citizens. — Facts not known or understood. — Arrival of Tiger-Tail and Octiarche. — Excitement in the country. — Com- plaints of citizens to the governor of the territory, and to the authorities at Washington City. — Orders received by Colonel Vose to take the field. — Ci/loiiel Vose i)ostpones the execution.— His reasons. — The Indians' camps jilundered — Officers of the army sent to the camj)s. — The Indians doubt the sincerity of the commander and his officers. — Delay and debauchery of the Indians. — Large demands for liquor. — Embarkation of the si.K companies 4th infantry. — The effect upon the Indians. — The gale at Cedar Key. — Indians refuse again to visit the island.— Agree upon Fort Brooke as the future place of meet- ing.— Effects and csjntinuance of the gale at Cedar Key. — L; ss of public and private property. — A council of Indians to be held at Fort Brooke, on the 1st of November. The command in Florida, now designated as the 9th military department, devolved upon Colonel J. H. Vose, by recent promo- tion the colonel of the 4th infantry. Thirty years' faithful service in the army guarantied a judi- cious administration of affairs. His experience among the Indian tribes on the western frontier, peculiarly fitted him for the deli- cate and responsible duties intrusted to his charge. The Indians were to be carefully watched and prevented by military vigilance and skill from violating their obligations, and at the same time dealt with in justice and humanity ; keeping in view the main object — peace, and the security of the inhabitants of the territory. The Indians, naturally stubborn and dilatory in their movements, were greatly embarrassed in their efforts to move in a body south, from fear of the citizens, who improved every opportunity to in- timidate and annoy them. The military was looked to for pro- tection, in the belief that they were vested with full power to control ; while the inhabitants, actuated by retaliatory and ma- lignant feelings, and disbelieving their promises to keep peace, sought opportunities to harass, plunder, and threaten small and detached families preparing to join the main body on the route to the prescribed boundary. The Creeks were the only Indians remaining. The few Seminoles and Mickasukies, under Ilolatter- Micco or Bowlegs, were already within their limits, dispatching messengers to others without the line to hasten their movements, fearful that delay or some imprudent act might be committed by the younger portion which would cause a withdrawal of the terms to which they had acceded. The apprehensions of Octiarche and Tiger- Tail, in regard to the reckless conduct of warriors who had not received tke talk, was too truly and painfully realized. On the 11th of August, the day when the chiefs were negotiating THE FLORIDA WAR. 495 at Cedar Key, a war party of ten attacked the settlements in the neighborhood of San Petro, kilhng two citizens. Pursuit was immediately and most gallantly given by twenty men, volunteers, commanded by Colonel Bailey, who, overtaking the party in a hammock, killed two and wounded five of the number. The orders of Colonel Worth, of the 14th instant, " announcing that hostilities had ceased," reached this section of country and Tal- lahassee on the 16th, causing much dissatisfaction and reproach. Such open defiance on the part of the enemy, and injudicious as- sumption of power (as was thought in ignorance of the facts) in the recent and now absent commander, was calculated to ex- asperate the people ; and occasioned them to doubt, for the first time, the forecast and ability of the officer, who, in so short a space of time, had rid the country of its most numerous and for- midable foes. The details of the negotiation at Cedar Key v^^ere not known, nor could the numerous and perplexing difficulties in controlling a race so illiterate and savage, be understood or ex- plained, so that justice might be awarded to those whose acts were unsatisfactory. The inroads of these roaming bands were apprehended, and every means was adopted that the military and Indian chiefs could devise to avert them. The intelligence reached Colonel Vose at Cedar Key, on the 22d. Tiger-Tail and Octiarche came in without delay, to ascertain if it was known, as the party had arrived at their camp giving a confused and unsatisfactory ac- count of what had transpired. They solicited that it might not interrupt the harmony existing, as those who had committed the act, were ignorant that hostilities had ceased. The necessity of moving soutli, was apparent. Scouting parties of citizens, were sweeping the country to the Suwannee river. The renewal of barbarities in so populous a part of the territory as Middle Florida, created excitement, and induced loud appeals to be made to the governor for protection. These, sustained by the clamor of those who saw the conflict drawing to a close, and by others inimical to the military, caused in Washington City corresponding feelings ; creating a doubt whether the instructions of the president of the United States, as made known in his message, might not have been injudicious and ill-timed. The trials surrounding a commanding officer, in governing a class of men by nature treacherous and vindictive, who for years had been participating in bloody deeds, could not be understood or explained to higher authority so remote from the scene of action. Orders were accordingly received by Colo- nel Vose, on the 22d of September, to take the field, muster into service a militia force, and push vigorously such operations as would punish and capture the enemy. 496 THE FLORIDA WAR. These instructions, if carried out, were calculated to defeat, beyond redemption, all hopes of peace, and to aggravate the In- dians by apparent duplicity, and thus render them no longer man- ageable by military means or by negotiation. This state of affairs was unfortunate, as the Indians were assembling in good faith, preparatory to going within the boundary prescribed. Colonel Vose, guided by his own good judgment, and accurate knowledge of the chiefs and their followers, postponed the execution of his orders, first giving to the war department his reasons for so doing. Though temporarily relieved from this embarrassment, difficulties accumulated in all quarters through the dilatory movements of the Indians, and the interference of whites, who molested and plundered their camps, when left exposed, or protected only by women and children. Confiding in the assurance of peace, they disregarded those precautions which had heretofore relieved them from insult and aggression. Officers of the army were dispatched to the various camps, to allay excited feelings, which had become rife among the head men, who had been outraged in the midst of assurances of friendship, protection, and peace. The forbearance manifested under these provocations, gave the strongest evidence of their good faith and integrity, and determination to adhere to their arrangements. Such a state of things, however, could not long exist. Doubts were entertained of the sincerity of the comm.ander and his offi- cers. Their assurances and exertions, which had assuaged the vindictiveness of the most incredulous, was fast losing its effect. Officers of the army, when visiting the camps, were upbraided for duphcity, in thus holding out protection, when the whites insulted and threatened them in the execution of the terms of peace. From these causes, towards the end of the month of September, the visitors at Cedar Key began to diminish ; whisky was eagerly asked for, and when obtained, only caused murmurings and dis- satisfaction that a larger quantity was not given. Scenes of debauchery stupified their faculties, and weeks were passed in drunken revels. When the liquor was exhausted, a party was dispatched for more, instructed in what manner to deceive the commanding officer, who, annoyed at their procrastination, urged and besought them, for their own safety, to hasten within the designated boundary, as the scouting parties of citizens were in active pursuit. Their demands became so exorbitant, that fur- ther supplies were refused ; as the abundance with which they had been supplied, had caused slothfulness and indifference to a prompt execution of promises. The six remaining companies of the 4th infantry, stationed at Cedar Key, embarked for New-Orleans, thence to Jefferson Barracks, on the 30th of September. Their departure satisfied the Indians that farther pursuit by soldiers was THE FLORIDA WAR. 497 at an end. This quieted their fears, and renewed, in a measure, the assurances of peace. The violent gale at Cedar Key, on the 4th and 5th of October, deterred them from again visiting that post, as they superstitiously regarded it as an expression of anger by the Great Spirit, and an omen of misfortune. Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, was agreed upon as the future place of rendezvous, at which point a council was to be held on the 1st of November. Cedar Key, from the disastrous effects of the gale, was abandoned. The loss sustained, both public and private, was large. The wind commenced blowing, on the afternoon of the 4th, from the south, and continued and increased in violence, un- til midnight of the 5th. The water rose twenty-seven feet, car- rying every thing before it, and driving the occupants of the island to a small spot in the centre, upon which stood the hospital, which was blown from its foundation. Two steamboats and a sloop broke loose from their moorings, and were driven ashore upon the opposite key, total wrecks, and were followed by the wharf, three hundred feet long, which was shivered to atoms. The quartermaster and commissary store-houses, in which were deposited large supplies, were torn to pieces ; the waves making a breach through the buildings, carried the contents to sea. The sutler's store, and four dwellings, shared the same fate. Ropes were extended from tree to tree, to enable those who were endeavoring to secure the property, to keep their feet. At sun- down on the 5th, the wind increased with the rising tide, when those inhabiting the island were grouped at midnight on the last dry spot, watching with intense anxiety the raging sea around them, threatening inevitable destruction. Inch by inch the wa- ters encroached upon the last foothold, as ascertained by numer- ous sticks, arranged by the anxious spectators, until one o'clock, when the tide ceased flowing, and the wind abated. Tierces of clothing, barrels of pork and flour, were afterwards picked up five miles in the interior of the country. It was not within the know- ledge of the oldest fisherman upon the coast, that this key had been inundated ; though the deposits in the centre bear strong indications of it, which caused much doubt when it was chosen as a depot, and a suitable spot for the general hospital, as to the judiciousness of the selection. Horse Key, three miles distant, to the south, seaward, the outmost of the cluster, was exempt from inundation. In a military point of view, this key is an im- portant position, commanding as it does the Suwannee Bay, and accessible for vessels drawing twelve feet water. CHAPTER XV. FROM NOVEMBER 1, 1842, TO DECEMBER 31, 1845. Brevet Brigadier-General Worth resumes the command of the 9th military department. — Colonel Vose, at Fort Brooke, to meet Octiarche and band. — Objects attained during liis temporary command. — Fear* of Octiarche, and the threats of the Seminoles. — Major Seawe!!, 7th inratitry, ordered to seize the band of Octiarche, at Fort Brooke. — His success. — The reasons fur such a step. — Tiger-Tail at Cedar Key. — His conduct and infidelity. — Officers sent to reconnoitre his camp. — Position of his camp, and his conditiun. — Instructions to Captain J. M. Hill, to secure Tiger-Tail. — His success. — Lieutenant Jor- dan, 3d infantry, dispatched to surprise the camp. — Brings Tiger-Tail into Cedar Key on a litter. — He confined to Horse Key. — Instructions to Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, commanding 3d infantry, to take the field. — His operatiius. — Surrender of Pascofier and band. — The doubts and fears of the In- dians, and quiet of the country. — Em.barkation of Octiarche and Tiger-TaiJ with their followers, for New-Orleans, in charge of Lieutenant Brifton, 7th infantry. — Departure of Pascoffer and band, in command of Ijieutenant W. S. Henry, Sd infantry. — Creeks, Seminules, Mickasukies, and Uchees, leave Fort Brooke for New-Orleans. — The character, feeling, and condition, of the Indians assembled at the New-Orleans Barracks. — Death of Tiger-Tail at the Barracks, New-Orleans. — His last words.— His birth, character, and intercourse with Colonel Gamble's family, in Florida. — His intelligence, in- fluence, and infidelity. — Octiarche. — His birth, and character in battle and in council. — General Worth's report, in regard to the number of Indians in Florida, of November 17th, 1843. — Captain Sprague's letter to the citizens of Florida, in reference to the relation of the Indians towards the whites. — The number of Indians in Florida, December 3lst, 184.5: their condition and feehngs. — The character of the chief and sub-chief, and future prospect of emigration to Arkansas. On the 1st of November, Colonel Worth (now brigadier-gen- eral by brevet) resumed command of the 9th military department. He met Colonel Vose at Fort Brooke, at v^^hich place he was awaiting the arrival of Octiarche and other Indians, en route to the section of country temporarily assigned them as hunting and planting grounds. The great object of the policy pursued during the command of Colonel Vose, had been accomplished. The Indians had been pacificated, their numbers and location accurately ascertained, and the prevailing disposition in reference to emigration well un- derstood. With this information, a commander could make arrangements to act offensively or defensively, as circumstances might render most prudent or effectual. Octiarche came to Fort Brooke on the 10th of November, with a few^ men, dissatisfied with the conduct of the Seminoles, w^ho, still cherishing the feud (which years past had caused a separation of the tribe), had threatened to put him and his followers to death, as soon as they came within the Indian boundary. Holatter Micco, or Bowlegs, the chief of the Seminoles, was asserting his right to control the Creeks, as the Seminoles were the owners of the land, and now more respectable in numbers and character. It was evident opinions and prejudices of this kind would soon terminate in bloodshed. Efforts to allay these contending passions, only tended to make each party more open and vindictive in their threats and actions. Ill feelings, thus created and fostered, no confidence could be placed in the assurances of peace, as their • dissensions THE FLORIDA WAR. 499 among themselves engendered a desire for a more extended sphere of rapine and murder. Captain Seawell (now major by brevet), 7th, infantry, commanding Fort Brooke, was directed by the com- manding general, to improve the earliest opportunity to seize Oc- tiarche and his band, and send them at once to Horse Key. Under other circumstances, this might have been deemed injudi- cious and unjust ; but the peculiar situation of affairs, a proper regard for the interest of the citizens of the territory and the gen- eral government, imperatively demanded it. Infidelity and treach- ery were at work somewhere ; when and in what manner it would first be seen and felt, could not be foretold, and they could not justly complain of our adopting the system of tactics so often practised by themselves. Emigration was seldom alluded to ; on the contrary, the most remote steps, preparatory to the assembling of any number, caused suspicion and dissatisfaction am-ong both men and women. Octiarche was watched by his followers, to see if he wavered in his determination to carry out what he had pledged in coun- cil— to die upon the soil. Confiding in him, they ventured within the chain of sentinels, looking cautiously about, lest some inge- nious scheme might be devised to entrap them, while they im- proved with industry every opportunity for purchasing pov/der and lead. The head-quarters of the army were transferred to Cedar Key, for a short time, where it was reported ThJocklo- Tustenuggee, or Tiger-Tail, was sending messengers from his cam.p, nine miles distant, for whisky and provisions. Disregard- ing his promises to remove south, with others, he had idled away his time, indulging in the most brutal intoxication. This was in consonance with his general conduct. By promises, treachery, and cunning, he had been the principal instrument in protracting the war three years, and by his counsel and advice had added to its sanguinary character. His plea now was, indisposition of the women and children w^ho were to accompany him. Excuses of the kind were too common wdth him, and too often resulted in a renewal of hostilities. Surgeon Wright and Lieutenant Sprague, U. S. A., visited his camp, under the conduct of a squaw, to ascertain his condition, as also the practicability of taking him by force. He was found in the midst of a scrub, stretched on a bear skin before a small fire, surrounded by six m.en and eight women, and several children. He was evidently in a bad condition, not from sickness, but bruises received in drunken revels, by which he had been maimed to such an extent as to be unable to travel. He could not see from the effects of blows, and his face had been severely scratched and bitten. From the position of his camp, he could be surprised, which was the only method of ever secur- ing him. Captain J. M. Hill, assistant-quartermaster, then in 500 THE FLORIDA WAR. command at Cedar Key, by a judicious system of negotiations and intercourse, executed the duty intrusted to him with com- plete success. Lieutenant T. Jordan, 3d infantry, was dispatched with a detachment of twenty men, instructed to bring Tiger-Tail to the post. This officer, i3y an alert and decided movement, surprised the camp, and in spite of arguments and threats, effected his purpose. This chieftain, the reckless violator of every prom- ise and obligation ; the active instigator of cruel acts from the commencement of the war, and the artful diplomatist, was brought to Cedar Key on a rude litter, borne by the men of the detach- ment, accompanied by six men, and thirteen women and children. He was transferred to Horse Key. The territory was thus re- lieved of an insidious, daring, and intelligent foe. The band of Creeks under the chief PascofFer, on the Ock- lockonnee river, was causing much apprehension along the bor- der of West Florida. Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, command- ing the 3d infantry, stationed at Fort Stansbury, was ordered to besiege the country by land and water, with boats, mounted men, and footmen, and, if possible, secure the co-operation of the whites in that quarter, known to have intercourse with the In- dians. The vigorous measures pursued during the month of Novem- ber, gave renewed confidence to the citizens, and left the small bands of Indians, roaming in all directions, in doubt as to whether they would be considered as friends or enemies. This depended very much upon the opportunities offered to secure them in num- bers. If they remained quiet, and kept away from where they might be captured, they were treated as friends ; but if they came in at Fort Brooke, dissatisfied and suspicious, they were looked upon as enemies, and secured without delay. Indulgence and kindness had made them impudent and sloth- ful, and they, so far, had played their part with intelligence and cunning, disdaining authority or control. The advantages of a truce had been mutual, and it now became imperative that the military should be remunerated for months of tiresome and vexa- tious service. On the 20th of December Major Seawell, at Fort Brooke, by well-concerted means, secured Octiarche and his entire band. They had loitered into the garrison as customary, indulging in excesses of all kinds, when the commander invited them to his quarters, to hear a talk in which all were interested. While explaining to them the peculiarity of their position and their relation to the Seminole, and his suspicions of their infideli- ty, and the necessity of undoubted peace, the four companies of the 8th infantry on drill, in command of Captain R. B. Screven, by a preconcerted signal, formed a cordon enveloping the whole party. The movement, so complete and unexpected, left no time THE FLORIDA WAR. 501 for the expression of anger. Confounded and humbled, they looked anxiously about, to see if a worse fate awaited them, as many expected to be put to death. The chief privately expressed his gratification, as his position daily became more critical from the ill-nature and restlessness of the younger class of warriors. This band, together with Tiger-Tail and his few adherents, embarked for New-Orleans Barracks, La., in charge of Lieu- tenant F. Britton, 7th infantry. The suddenness of their cap- ture, the transition from a roving life to the limits of Horse Key, and their immediate departure, left no time to mourn over their fate, or to express regrets in parting from the land upon which they had, in council, declared their determination to die. Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock's operations on the Ocklockon- nee river, were characterized by skillful and energetic steps, and were seconded by the zealous exertions of the officers of his regi- ment, and resulted in the surrender of Pascoffer and his band, on the 9th of January. This chief, finding himself so closely hemmed in by the posi- tion of troops, mounted, on foot, and in boats, and influenced by the white men, who had held intercourse with him for years, hastened, v/ith his followers, to sue for peace, as delay he saw would involve much distress, and ultimate capture. The band, comprising fifty-one souls, twenty-nine of which were warriors, were received by the commander at the mouth of the Ock- lockonnee, and shipped immediately to the well-known prison- house, Horse Key. On the 26th of January they set sail for New-Orleans Barracks, La., under the direction of Lieutenant W. S. Henry, 3d infantry. This last capture relieved Middle and West Florida entirely of Indians. On the 22d of February, sixty-two Creeks, Seminoles, Mick- asukies, and lichees, embarked from Fort Brooke for New- Orleans, under Parsackee, a faithful sub-chief These men had been employed the year past as guides and negotiators. The number assembled at the Barracks at New-Orleans, preparatory to starting for Arkansas upon the rising of the waters, comprised two hundred and fifty souls ; some of each tribe that had ever been in Florida. Here were Seminoles, Creeks, Talla- hassees, Mickasukies, Uchees, and Hitchitees, the larger portion destitute of wives, parents, children, or relatives of any kind, and with no one to whom they could look as an adviser or as a chief They were without any ties whatever. They had heretofore lived in harmony for mutual protection, and to wreak vengeance on the common enemy, the whites ; but now, regardless of this object, they turned upon each other, and indulged in the gratifi- cation of their vicious and savage passions. Old feuds were renewed, and but for the vigilance and in- 502 THE FLORIDA WAR. terference of the officers in command, they would have result- ed in the most revolting crimes. Captain H. McKavitt, 8th infantry, conducted the party to Fort Gibson, Arkansas, thence to the country allotted them, w^here they may indulge their ani- mosities so long smothered, and so fiercely cherished, and be guided and punished by their own laws. The known abihty and fidelity of the officer in his duties, to whom they were intrusted, guarantied to the government and to the Indians all that could be desired. Tiger-Tail, the most prominent chieftain among the number, died at the Barracks soon after his arrival. From the time he left Florida, his health failed rapidly. He was gloomy and re- served, and had no communication with any one but a sister, who strenuously exerted herself to cheer his spirits, and add to his comfort. Two days prior to his death his mind was gone. He occasionally muttered a talk, repeating the names of Indians and familiar spots in Florida, terminating with an Indian song, to which he kept time with his hands and feet. On the day of his decease he asked to see the sun as it set. In a re- clining posture, he gazed at it intently, continually opening and shutting his eyes, and shaking hands with those around : " I see," said he, " the sun for the last time !" As it sank, he folded his arms, closed his eyes, and, while its rays lingered upon the hori- zon, his spirit fled. Thlocklo-Tustenuggee, known as Tiger-Tail, was dead. At the commencement of the war this chief resided in the neighborhood of Tallahassee. The house of Colonel Robert Gamble, at Warculla, v/as his home. This hospitable family not only gave a cordial welcome to the officer and soldier of the army during the war, but, for years previous, fed, clothed, and protected the humble Indian. A redeeming trait in the character of Tiger- Tail was his remembrance of the kindness received from the members of this family, and his active eflforts to protect them, in opposition to the wishes of others, and to the hazard of his own life and influence. Frequently, members of the household had been exposed on the highway, and the plantation in many respects in- vited attack, but the interposition of his authority shielded the family from harm. The officer and soldier of the United States army entertained a corresponding grateful feeling, a partial re- quital in return for the undeviating and unafl'ected hospitality extended them in sickness and in health. Tiger- Tail's early as- sociations were identified with this section of country. The village of his father occupied the present site of the town of Tallahassee, deriving its name from a tribe of Indians to which he belonged. When hostilities became inevitable, he bade his friends fare- well, and joined the enemy, remembering, however, with grati- THE FLORIDA WAR. 503 tude, those he was compelled to leave, frequently, ever after, reverting with pleasure to the many acts of kindness and atten- tion bestowed upon him. He was forty-five years of age, six feet in height, erect and well-proportioned. His mouth and nose were remarkably large, complexion very dark, and his face deep- ly furrowed with wrinkles, and his countenance altogether stri- king and prepossessing. From long association with the whites, he could speak English fluently, and had imbibed habits and manners far above his companions. These qualities made him a formidable foe, enabling him to influence and guide others by his advice, in planning attacks, and designating the hour when the whites were most likely to be off their guard. In these he was never known to have been an actor, but, for his opinion and in- struction, always received a share of the plunder. Intelligent, artful, and politic, he gained the confidence of all the tribes around him. His conversation was sprightly, at times witty and humorous. The Great Spirit he appealed to with reverence, scrupulously regarding the Sabbath, by dressing in a clean and becoming garb and abstaining from amusement and dissipation. The recurrence of the seventh day he knew by notches upon a stick, made as each day passed, and which he wore suspended from his girdle. In the domestic relations, he partook of the feel- ings of civilized life, regarding his wife and children as com- panions more than beasts of burden or domestics. In council he was quick and comprehensive, condensing and arranging his ideas with conciseness and judgment. The appellation of Tiger- Tail was given to him at the treaty at Fort Moultrie, in 1823. In the ball-play, in which diflerent bands contended for the prize, he was distinguished by the skin of a tiger attached to his belt, hanging down some distance, which, when running, made an amusing and ridiculous figure. Ever after he was called Tiger- Tail With a few followers he, in 1837, settled on and cultivated an island in the Charlopopka Lakes. Here he erected a few tem- porary sheds, and continued to reside unmolested. In June, 1841, a company of dragoons discovered the settlement, when he fled to the saw-grass with his family, and from a high tree saw them tear up his field, and burn his houses. The command bivouacked in the vicinity, and after the sentinels were posted, he, with his followers, passed within sight of the camp, and proceeded to the Annuttiliga Hammock, where he joined his brother Nethlocke- mathlar. On the second night of his retreat, a company of regu- lars encamped on the margin of the hammock, so near as to hear the sound of their axes. He cautiously approached and counted their number. It was proposed to attack them, but on learning their strength desisted, and before the break of day, on the fol- 504 THE FLORIDA WAR. lowing morning, moved into a swamp beyond discovery, fearing the command might be following their trail, which they in fact did. Though not regarded as a warrior, being more timid than otherwise,, he was yet received and treated with distinction by the principal chieftains, as he was poKtic enough to identify him- self with the interests of all. With Halleck-Tustenuggee, Octi- arche, Pascoffer, and Nethlockemathlar, he suggested and ma- tured plans to attack and elude the whites. At the meeting during the month of November, 1840, near Fort King, between General Armistead, commanding the army, and Halleck-Tuste- nuggee, he was the adviser, and urged him to accept the general's offer to accompany him to Fort King, and after a sufficient quan- tity of provisions were obtained, as well as many presents, he named the time when the number assembled, professing peace, should return to the woods, entertaining those around him with the jokes passed between himself and the officers, in reference to the war, and the probability of the Indians surrendering for emi- gration. In the great council held by the various bands in the Cove of the Withlacoochee, during the month of June, 1841, to devise measures to protect their families and crops, he bore a conspicuous part. He established scouting parties by a detail from the young men, who were relieved every twenty-four hours,, and required them to extend their observation ten miles around. If troops were seen, they were to follow them to their encamp- ment for the night, to ascertain their numbers and position, and return and report. His knowledge of the customs of soldiers enabled him to magnify these reports to suit his purposes, gaining great credit for sagacity and forecast with his countrymen, who blindly followed his advice. Three times he had surrendered to different commanders in Florida, as it was supposed in good faith, for emigration. After enjoying for months the comforts and dis- tinction usually bestowed upon so important a personage, he would suddenly decamp at midnight, taking with him a large number, whom he imbued with increased distrust and additional malignity towards the whites, by fabricating accounts of schemes entertained by the officers to put them to death, and which he assured them he had overheard detailed in conversations at dif- ferent times. His speaking English, the free intercourse between himself and officers, and the credulity of the Indians, gave to these fabrications the desired effect, and caused those who thus returned to the swamps to renew the contest with increased cruelty and vigor. Like the rest of his race, he was addicted to intemperance, which reduced him to a most degraded state; when intoxicated he was savage and quarrelsome. The white man at all times he looked upon as fair game, and his promises and obligations to them of every kind were unheeded. Open, THE FLORIDA WAR. 505 flagrant violations of his word were made a source of amusement and laughter, by which he illustrated to his comrades his inge- nuity and skill in deluding those who heaped upon him presents, and fed and clothed his women and children. The obligations he had assumed in conjunction with Nethlockemathlar, in the interview with Coacooche, he never designed fulfilling, and with this understanding accompanied his brother to Fort Brooke. But disappointed in his confidence in him, he sought an opportu- nity to put him to death, and thus obtain control of the large number in camp at that post. In effecting this, it was to be ostensibly the work of the Creeks, hoping by this means to secure himself from reproach among the Tallahassees. In this he sig- nally failed, and subsequently met his reward. Without any claim to distinction, his name became more noted than that of any other chieftain in Florida. It carried with it none of the feeling inspired by bold and gallant acts performed in defence of the soil, and was only the dread of the defenceless, who feared him less than those whom he might treacherously send to plunder or mur- der them. On leaving Florida his spirit was broken. He died far removed from the ashes of his ancestors, without a follower to sing the death-song over his grave. Octiarche, the last and most noted of the Indian chiefs emi- grated from Florida, is a Creek by birth. His father's village, when he was born, was near West Point in the state of Georgia, on the Chattahooche river, thirty miles up from Columbus. He is forty-four years of age, six feet in height, with a frame remark- able for symmetry and strength. His countenance is rugged and stern, in manner calm, courteous, and dignified. In habits and intelligence he is far above those v/ith whom he was associated, never indulging in dissipation so far as to demean himself, and never giving advice or expressing an opinion without mature re- flection. The encroachments of civilization he lamented, but was satisfied it was unavoidable, and with wisdom adopted every means to avoid collisions with the whites, but when closely pushed and encroached upon, deemed it a virtue to contend for his liberty and land. Upon the breaking out of the Creek war in May, 1836, he with sixty men, thirty women, and twenty children, crossed the Chattahooche river, twenty miles below Columbus, Georgia, de- termined to seek a secluded spot in Florida. The second day after crossing, the party was overtaken by a detachment of mi- litia. A vigorous attack and defence was made, in which one man was wounded, and two women killed. Thus annoyed, they pursued their route, striking the Okefenoke Swamp ; thence con- tinuing south to Cook's Hammock, near the Esteen Hatchee river, eighty miles from Tallahassee. Here, and in the neigh- 506 THE FLORIDA WAR. borhood, the band resided ; and in co-operation with the Semi- noles and Mickasukies, participated in the depredations committed throughout the territory. Having deserted their own country, they saw the necessity of taking decided measures to defend this last foothold, and of encouraging those who were already in open hostilities to energy and activity, fearful that their subjection might involve their own destruction. Messengers were at once dispatched to the various chiefs occupying the country, tender- ing a hearty co-operation in numbers, as well as a supply of powder and lead. The pipe of peace was sent, which was to extinguish the fire of discord and revenge, ignited thirty years before ; but which, from their wide separation, had been smouldering to the present time. To find themselves suppliants upon the land of the Seminoles, a tribe driven by their ancestors from the soil they had just forsaken, and compelled to ask for their co-operation and aid, was a humiliation which nothing but a consciousness of feebleness would have warranted their chieftain in submitting to. Octiarche openly and fearlessly advocated the most vigorous measures of defence, if it became necessary ; but urged the policy of remaining quiet within their haunts, if unmolested. Necessity, however, had compelled him to head war-parties in self-defence. In this manner the Creeks, for three years past, had the direction of the contest in their own hands. The tah, commanding figure of Octiarche had been often seen by the officers of the army in various encounters ; and his loud voice M^as heard to resound through the hammock and swamp, nerving many a faltering heart to the combat. He was usually distinguished by one side of his face being painted black, the other scarlet, and bis bare breast variegated with colors. In action, he was bold and daunt- less ; in council, reflective and dispassionate. Among his com- panions, enterprising and resolute, commanding within his band perfect obedience ; exercising a salutary influence by his integrity, consistency, and sobriety. Had he been permitted to have re- mained in Florida, he would doubtless have been a firm friend to the citizens ; but the antipathy of the Seminoles, and the struggles between himself and Holatter-Micco (Bowlegs) for ascendency, would have caused constant feuds, and resulted in bloodshed among themselves, in which the border-settlers would have been soon involved. Florida was free from the most inveterate of her foes, those who had been considered both by whites and Seminole Indians, as intruders. The military force was reduced in all respects to the regular estabhshment. On the 24th of March,, companies C and F, 7th infantry, at Fort Brooke, embarked for Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The 3d infantry, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Hitchcock, at Fort Stansbury, took shipping at Port Leon on the THE FLORIDA WAR. 507 5th of April for New-Orleans; thence to Jefferson Barracks, Mis- souri, nine miles below St. Louis. The 8th regiment of the U. S. infantry constituted the regular force remaining in Florida, so posted as to keep in check the Indians, and, if necessary, give adequate protection to the settlements. The Indians lived within the boundary temporarily assigned them, and were permitted to frequent Fort Brooke for the purpose of trade. Idle reports were constantly in circulation of their contemplating, or having made, hostile movements. These were fabricated and industri- ously promulgated by the lazy and profligate, who saw with regret the approaching closure of the war, and who had artfully and covertly interposed every obstacle to its termination. The following extract from General Worth's report to the adjutant-general, gives clearly the state of things at this period ; and which has continued, with but slight alteration, to the pre- sent time. "Head-quarters, 9ih Military Departmenty ) St. Augustine, Fa., Nov. 17, 1843. \ " Sir — In compliance with your instructions of September 28th, the following statement of Indians remaining in Florida is submitted, viz. : of warriors, Seminoles, forty-two ; Mickasu- kies, thirty-three ; Creeks, ten ; Tallahassees, ten — ninety-five — including women and children, three hundred. Holatter-Micco (Billy Bowlegs), nephew of Micanopy, is the acknowledged chief; Assinv/ar, Otulke-Thlocko (the Prophet), sub-chiefs. The fore- going has been obtained from many Indians at different times during the past year ; and it is believed to be correct — quite as likely above as below the real number. As yet, few have mani- fested a disposition to emigrate ; and the time has not arrived to effect their removal by coercive measures, as they are somewhat shy and distrustful of the whites. All have visited Fort Brooke, except a few of the very aged ; but in parties of ten or fifteen only. These apprehensions, under the policy pursued, will soon wear away, when, if considered ~ desirable, advantage may be taken of a favorable occasion to send off the whole : precipitancy will occasion much and vexatious difficulty — when done, it must be thoroughly and effectually done ; for if ten of these warriors remained, maddened to a spirit of hostility, they would suffice" to break up and scatter the entire fine of new settlements, although tenfold their numbers." " Since the pacification of August 14th, 1842, these people have observed perfect good faith, and strictly fulfilled their en- gagements ; not an instance of rudeness towards the whites has yet occurred. They plant and hunt diligently ; and take their game and skins to the trading establishment or Fort Brooke, 508 THE FLORIDA WAR. procure the necessaries they desire, and return quietly to their grounds. W. J. WORTH, Brigadier-General commanding. ^^ Peace was at last granted to suffering Florida, which for seven years had been the scene of rapine and murder. The in- habitants had been driven from their homes, and many had seen their families massacred by the light of their burning dwellings. Industry and enterprise had forsaken the land ; and the savage roamed triumphant in the midst of devastation, poverty, and sorrow. A letter, recently published by the officer left in charge of Indian affairs in the state, on General Worth's departure for the new seat of war, gives a detail of the relations now existing be- tween the whites and Indians, as well as the recent action of the president of the United States in adding twenty additional miles in breadth to the boundary defined by General Worth in his arrangement with the Indians, on the I4th of August, 1842. "Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, Fa., Sept. 16, 1845. " Sir — In passing through the interior of the country, I found much interest manifested in reference to the relation now exist- ing between the settlers and the Indians remaining within the Hmits of the state. The withdrawal of the troops to more active duty, renders it necessary that a perfect understanding should exist, to continue the friendly intercourse which for three years past has given confidence and security, in all respects, to the most remote settlers on the frontier. The number of Indians in Florida, does not exceed one hundred men capable of bearing arms. The temporary arrangement made with them by General Worth, in August, 1842, permitted them to plant. and hunt within a boundary thus defined : " ' From the mouth of Pease Creek up the left bank of that stream to the fork of the southern branch, and following that branch to the head or northern edge of Lake Istokpoga ; thence down the eastern margin of that lake to the stream which empties from it into the Kissimmee river, following the left bank of said stream and river to where the latter empties into Lake Oke-cho- bee ; thence due south through said lake and the Everglades to Shark river, following the right bank of that river to the Gulf, thence along the Gulf shore to the place of beginning, excluding all islands lying between Sanla Rossa and the head of Charlotte Harbor. Within the boundaries herein described, no settlement can with safety or propriety be formed ; any person in making settlement within those Hmits, will be subject to removal. The THE FLORIDA WAR. 509 foregoing temporary arrangement being in conformity with the instructions of the president of the United Slates/ " On the 19th of May last, the president of the United States directed that a strip of tlie pubhc lands, twenty miles in width, around the district set apart for the use and occupancy of the Seminoles in Florida, should be reserved from survey and sale ; and the necessary instructions (says the communication from the commissioner of the general land-office) were this day (20th of May, 1845,) sent to the surveyor-general of Florida, and the land- offices at St. Augustine and Newnansville, in Florida. " As near as this boundary can be defined, without actual sur- vey, it can be traced on the map of Florida published in 1839 by order of General Taylor : commencing at the north point of Boca Gasparilla, on the Gulf coast ; thence northwest to within five miles of Fort Gardner; thence southeast to the head of Cypress Swamp; thence south, via Fort Lloyd, to the southern extremity of the Peninsula, terminating in Barn^es's Sound. These points have been given to the Indians, within which they must confine them- selves for all purposes — conditioned, clearly explained and under- stood, upon their cultivating at all times and under all circum- stances, a friendly feeling with the whites. To this they have adhered, ever since the first boundary was defined, with the most scrupulous fidelity. So far as their acts and feelings are con- cerned, this can be continued withoufd^triment to the public good, or the sacrifice of principfe*or of honor. " The citizens of the state and those now exploring it with a view of settlement, numerous as they are, hold their destiny in their own hands. If in the prosecution of these designs, they by the most trifling or thoughtless act induce the Indians to shun them, or lead them to believe that that protection given them three years past is withdrawn, the life and property of every settler is jeopardized ; and the country will ere long again be- come the scene of rapine, desolation, and distress. One hostile act, from timidity or imprudence, inducing the Indian to shun the white man, or the white man the Indian in the woods, will be sufficient to make a breach, widening from day to day, until both parties become arrayed in open hostility. At present, no danger need be apprehended from the Indians ; but there is material within themselves, and vicious influences enough without, to in- flame their passions to violent and overt acts. " Upon this, as upon all Indian borders, there is a class of men destitute of property and employment, who for excitement and gain, would recklessly provoke the Indian to aggressions, and in the midst of which, escape detection and punishment, leaving the burden to fall upon the honest and industrious. The Indians are incapable of drawing a line of distinction in the character 510 THE FLORIDA WAR. and conduct of whites ; and are as ready to believe the idle tales and threats of the vicious and degraded, as they are at all times disposed to rely upon the assurances given them by the officers of government. The fabrication of reports and stories, though divested of the least probability, gradually and effectually alienates their feelings until the spirit of retaliation is abroad, resulting in collisions and bloodshed. The hardy and industrious settler, who by frugality and prudence has accumulated around him a com- petency, is induced to abandon his cultivated fields from fear of an enemy, made strong by their limited numbers and mode of warfare, assailing his defenceless home at a moment v/hen in- dividual exertion avails but little in protecting a wife and chil- dren. " It then becomes the duty of every citizen, looking to his own security and the prosperity of the state, to eradicate the spirit of recrimination actuating so many toward the Indian ; and by example and advice put down, either by exposure or in- timidation, those who would by any means, however remote, de- stroy the harmony and security now guarantied to the settle- ments along the frontier. A wholesome state of public feeling can alone continue it. Policy and prudence for the general good, should overcome the lurking spirit of retaliation so natural and just among a people who for years have been smarting under atrocious deeds, carrying sorrow, poverty, and want, into almost every household in the land. If this enemy could be crushed, annihilated, there would be enough to participate ; but as they are, ninety may be secured, and the remaining ten would sweep the frontier from one extent to the other, assailing at any moment men, women, and children, in the prosecution of their daily occu- pations. " The Indians within the boundary are remnants of the Seminole, Mickasukie, Creek, and Uchee tribes, driven there by military force, and continued there in peace through the instru- mentality of the officers of the government. A number of them have risen from boyhood to manhood since the commencement of the Florida contest — bred to war ; and nothing but the zealous and judicious policy adopted, has deterred them from the committal of atrocious acts, familiar from childhood. The advice and example of the chiefs and sub-chiefs, more advanced in life, has been salutary; and will continue so, if unprovoked, until the time arrives when the measures now in progress will induce them to leave the country. Threats, provocations, hostilities, will deter more than advance emigration ; ten thousand efficient troops, instead of expelling or exterminating, or even intimidating, would prolong difficulties and turn the cultivated fields of Florida into brambles, driving the Indian, after satiating his appetite upon THE FLORIDA WAR. 511 the innocent and unprotected, into adjoining states, where, in re- venge, their activity and brutahty would be redoubled. " It is the policy of the general government to remove these remnants of bands to Arkansas by the only means which can effectually accomplish it. First, to locate them where they can be found and numbered : let them enjoy the comforts of peace, which will subdue the instinctive love for blood and plunder, when they can be approached through kindness and regard to their wants, which in time tames their habits and suspicions, and induces them to consider the government and its agents as friends, interested in their welfare and happiness. Then emigration can be successfully urged, and enforced by quiet and conciliatory measures : they will see that the encroachment of whites, and their settlements, subject them constantly and un- avoidably to feuds and vexatious annoyances; whereas, in Ar- kansas, with relatives and friends, they can live in the enjoyment of their customs and habits. This must involve time, but it will effectually succeed ; while a hostile attitude on the part of the government or citizens, will turn the country into an extended hunting-ground, existing so long as there remains a hostile Indian in the woods, or a settler comes, dependent upon his own arm and his family around him for defence. " The withdrawal of the troops from Florida, has caused anxiety among the Indians for their own security. They have been told, that the government had abandoned its policy toward them ; and left them to the inroads about to be commenced by the citizens, to drive them from the land. This, if a hostile feel- ing was predominant, would have been sufficient to provoke a corresponding feeling ; on the contrary, they sought the officers of the government, in whom they had confidence, from three years' association, expressed their fears, and asked for protection — but, said they, ' if war is to come, we are prepared for it.' " The Indians I have met here, return to their villages with renewed assurances on the part of government of protection, at the same time advising and admonishing them to think well of leaving the country, as the surest means whereby they can enjoy their homes, and follow uninterruptedly their vocations and habits. " To prevent their passing through the settlements, a trading- house has been established at Charlotte's Harbor, one hundred miles south of this post, to which they can resort ; where the agents of the government will meet them at certain periods, and enforce judiciously the necessity of emigration. The subject is now discussed among them ; time and circumstances will remove the objections urged by the younger class, and many will be in- duced to emigrate. 512 THE FLORIDA WAR. " To carry this out successfully, the co-operation of public sentiment is necessary : if peace and emigration is urged in one quarter, aggression and bloodshed enacted in another, Florida will involve her destiny in that of the Indian. " Peace v^ith these bands of Indians novv^ costs but httle, w^ithout the sacrifice of blood, property, or homes ; but hostilities will be at a higher price, without ameliorating the condition of the savage, or accomplishing the desired end. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. T. SPRAGUE, Capt. U. S. A., in charge of Indian affairs, Fa'* To the Editor of the St. Augustine Herald. Very recent intercourse with the Indians remaining within the limits of the state, has enabled those upon whom the duty de- volved, to ascertain correctly the number, and the disposition manifested in regard to peace and future emigration, as well as their present condition. There are now one hundred and twenty men capable of taking the field, consisting of fractions of various bands, viz. : Seminoles, 70 ; Mickasukies, 30 ; Creeks, 12 ; Uchees, 4 ; Choctaws, 4. Of this number, seventy have grown from boy- hood to manhood since the commencement of the contest. The remainder do not exceed forty years of age, excepting Arpeika (Sam Jones), and Assinwar. The former is ninety-two years of age, the latter sixty. The women and children average two to a man, making two hundred and forty ; of this number one hun- dred and forty are children. The total number of Indians, of both sexes, is three hundred and sixty. Holatter Micco, or Billy Bowlegs, is thirty-three years of age. He speaks English fluently, and exercises supreme control. He being the nephew of Mican- opy, Old Bowlegs, and King Paine, his royal blood is regarded, thus enabling him to exert his authority in such a manner as to govern the reckless and wayward spirits around him. By judi- cious laws and periodical councils, he has instituted a system of government, salutary and efficient. Arpeika, or Sam Jones, is a sub-chief. This dignity is accorded to him in consideration of his age, more than for his opinions or assistance. He has become childish, and so feeble that he is dependent upon the young men and women for subsistence and care. Assinwar, another sub- chief, is a smart, active man. He gives a cordial support to the chief in his exertions to introduce wholesome laws, and to con- tinue upon amicable terms with the inhabitants. Otulke-Thlocko (the Prophet), who so long held a commanding position, is dead. The perseverance of the troops, and their penetrating certain points when least expected, caused his advice and opinions to be treated with contempt, as his incantations and prophecies were THE FLORIDA WAR. 5I3 found to be impositions practised upon their ignorance and cre- dulity. The Indian villages are located upon the Carlosahatchee river, extending from Charlotte's Harbor up to Lake Oke-chobee. The country, the larger portion of the year, is nearly inundated with water, so much so, that the Indians have been driven to the coast for safety. Game of all kinds abounds. The skins of the deer, when dressed, afford comfortable clothing; and the meat, when dried, is palatable and nourishing the year round. Bears are killed in great numbers. Oysters and fish are to be obtained in any quantities, at all seasons. They have horses, cattle, hogs, and some poultry. By planting a small lot of ground, they are enabled to raise corn and vegetables sufficient for consumption. Occasionally a few come in to Fort Brooke to trade, but they generally confine themselves to the trading-house within the boundary. Towards the whites an amicable feeling is entertained and encouraged, more from the apprehension of being encroached upon, than from any sentiment of generosity or affection. In time, when the agents of the government have received their confidence, many will emigrate. Now they are shy and distrustful. If unmolested, they will be harmless. Forbearance and kindness, with the judicious policy of the general government now in operation, will relieve Florida entirely of Indians. Any steps to the contrary will again make it the battle-ground for the lion and the wolf. No state or territory in the Union from which the Indian has been expelled, has had the good fortune to find so few of these natural enemies to civilization remaining in" their midst, as the state of Florida. Other parts of the country have been annoyed with remnants of bands lingering about them, disgusting objects of compassion ; but the Indians in Florida, from the prolific re- sources of the soil, and the deliciousness of the climate, so well adapted to their habits and wants, are placed far above the de- mands of charity or sympathy. 33 CHAPTEK XVI. QUARTERMASTER'S DEPARTMENT— COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT- SETTLEMENT OF THE TERRITORY. The qnartermastei's department of the army. — The efficiency of its officers, and their importance in the discharge of duties in the field. — The concurrence given by General Jesup in carrying out retrench- ment in Florida. — Officers on duty there. — The manner in which duty was discharged. — Report of retrenchment made by Lieutenant-Colonel T. F. Hunt, deputy quartermaster-general of the army of Florida. — The subsistence department. — The importance and good effect of the log-hut in defeating the Indians, and deterring them from aggressions. — Exertions made to induce settlers to occupy the interior of the country. — The efforts for a tim.e successful. — The act of congress of February 1st, 1836, for the relief of distressed inhabitants. — Instructions from the president of the United States under its provisions. — Major D. S. Wilcox, 5th infantry, intrusted with the duty of settlements and issuing of rations. — His instructions from the commander of the army. — Death of Major Wilcox. — Lieutenant Patrick, '2d infantry, ordered to assume the duty. — His instructions in reference to the discontinuance of government supplies. — The total failure of establishing permanent setiements. — The conduct of those who professed to occupy the country and draw rations. — Lieutenant Patrick's final report of settlements, the number of persons, ages, &c. — Steps taken to cause citizens drawing rations to re- occupy their plantations. — Success. — Abuse of the act of congress in issuing supplies. The efficiency and experience of the officers belonging to the quartermaster's department of the army, on duty in Flo- rida, aided materially in perfecting the system of retrenchment begun and carried out in the midst of active operations. Closing the war cut off the drain upon the national treasury, furrow- ing deep from year to year, at the rate of twelve hundred thou- sand dollars per annum. Large amounts of money and public property w^ere intrusted to the officers of this department, and scattered throughout the territory, in depot and in the field, for which they were responsible, being charged with both its safe custody and its judicious application to the wants of the ser- vice. Their varied and complicated duties require unceasing activity and attention, and an intimate acquaintance with all branches of business, civil and military. The rigid accountabili- ty enjoined by the government in the execution of vouchers and returns, imposes a laborious task, requiring care and method, more resembling the order and regularity of a bureau, than a place where duties are to be performed with brevity and dispatch. It is necessary that an officer, in the discharge of these functions, should combine an intimate knowledge of the practical duties of the soldier, in and out of the field. Without it, commands are embarrassed at every turn, as their mobility and efficiency mate- rially depend upon the promptness and judgment exercised by the assistant-quartermaster in the execution of his orders. The transportation of supplies of all kinds is dependent upon his ex perience and ability. A commander unable to superintend the details of service, relies upon the staff-officer for a faithful co-operation and aid, and those of the quartermaster's department being more numerous THE FLORIDA WAR. 515 and complicated than any other, involving pecuniary responsi- bility, renders it imperative that the officers of this corps should possess the highest qualities both of the soldier and the citizen. He has at stake the honor of his country in the efficiency of the soldier, as well as being a trusty sentinel over the coffers of the nation. Major-General T. S. Jesup, quartermaster-general of the United States army, eminently qualified by his experience in and out of the field, gave a cordial support to the measures put in execution to perfect retrenchment in Florida. Twenty-five officers of his corps, from the rank of colonel down, have performed a tour of duty in the territory, participating in the toils of the service, and guarding, at the same time, the public interest with zealous care, and in a manner honoring to themselves and to their profession. Colonel T. Cross, assistant quartermaster-general, when on duty there in 1839, saw the evil of large expenditures of money, and by vigorous measures endeavored to arrest plans then in con- templation to augment demands upon the government, which would not have added to the efficiency of troops, or have contributed to terminate the contest. Lieutenant-Colonel H. Whiting, deputy quartermaster-general, in relieving Colonel Cross, met the current sweeping throughout the country with vigor, ffi'mness, and justice, bearing his full share of the odium heaped upon the colonel commanding the army of Florida, for taking measures calculated to deprive many of lucrative employ- ment. From the 1st of June, 1841, retrenchment was commenced, and carried vigorously and steadily onward from month to month, in the midst of active operations, without embarrassing or re- tarding the vigilance of troops. On the 12th of March, 1842, Lieutenant-Colonel T. F. Hunt, deputy quartermaster-general, relieved Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting, his tour having expired, and continued the reduction, which, from the manifest conclusion of hostilities, was increased from day to day. The regiments on service in Florida w^ere fast approaching their regular establishments, requiring no more than when in garrison in other parts of the country. Expenses heretofore re- quired were cut off, confining the labor of mechanics and clerks to the regular soldier, duties which had before been executed by hired citizens. The ability and precision of Lieutenant-Colonel Hunt, united to a scrupulous and unwearied zeal in the perform- ance of his duties, gave to the means in force rapid execution and effect, breaking up, by kind and judicious steps, the combina- tion by which the livelihood of deserving men and their families were involved. On the 23d of June, 1842, he submitted his re- 516 THE FLORIDA WAR. port of retrenchments in the quartermaster's department, con- nected with the army of Florida. It embraced a period of twelve months, commencing on the first day of May, 1841, to the 30th day of April, 1842. This exhibits a saving to the government, within that period, of $174,923. Add to this further reductions between the 1st of May and the 14th of August, 1842, when the announcement of peace was made, of $9000 per month, gives a total of $206,423, comprising fourteen months and a half, which, upon an average, made the reductions about $14,500 per month. No further estimates were made after the first day of May, to prosecute the war. The proceeds of property sold, together with the supplies at the several depots, was sufficient to defray the expenses of the army. The withdrawal of the 1st and 6th in- fantry, 3d artillery, and five companies of the 2d dragoons, be- tween the 1st of August, 1841, and the 30th of March, 1842, created a saving of $90,665. This was effected by dispensing with the necessary means of transportation for supplies of all kinds, causing the discharge of stable-keepers, teamsters, harness- makers, blacksmiths, &c., and the sale of horses, mules, wagons, &c., and the discontinuance in service of hired steamboats and sail- vessels. The proceeds from the sale of animals was $47,897, reducing the number to 820. The amount received for damaged public property was $3056 60. The discharge of clerks, me- chanics, teamsters, &c., lessened expenditures under this head, $15,333. Two companies of Georgia militia, ordered out by the governor of Georgia, and by the authority of the general govern- ment mustered into service for three months, were at once dis- charged. This force would have cost $17,971, a moderate esti- mate for three months' service, independent of the claims, which accumulate and increase with wonderful rapidity in the lapse of time. The subsistence department, under the efficient and economi- cal administration of its affairs by Captain J. B. Grayson, com- missary of subsistence, subsequently by Brevet Major R. B. Lee, of the same rank (both officers having been distinguished in the line of the army at the commencement of the war), was under- going in its various details and expenditures, though more limit- ed, a reformation and reduction. The return of settlers to their homes in Florida, and the establishment of citizens from adjoining states, at exposed points throughout the country, it was believed would promote economy as well as render an essential aid in intimidating and subduing the enemy. Could this have been effectually accompHshed, it would have advanced the interest of the territory and added to the numbers and respectability of its population. The Indian fears the log-cabin. It carries with it, most generally, a sturdy THE FLORIDA WAR. 5I7 heart, resolution, and industry, and defiance to the native and punishment to his intrusions, from its hardy inmates. Always in the advance of civilization, from the first settlement of Plymouth, west to the Rocky Mountains, the log-cabin, with its tenants armed with the rifle and the Bible, has ever been the bulwark of the frontier, one which the savage seldom dared to .assail, and in the estabhshment of which he saw and felt his destiny. In Florida it was thought primitive settlements, if encouraged, might deter the Indians from aggressions, and induce them to sue for peace, and at the same time relieve the army from the duties of detached camps and distant posts. Colonel Worth, immediately on assuming command, began the work, aided by officers and citizens competent in all respects. The system commenced encouragingly, but the spiritless execution, after the lapse of a few months, discouraged all hopes of efl?ecting any thing other than the consumption of government supplies. Congress, on the 1st of February, 1836, passed the following law: " Be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the United States of America in congress assembled : That the president of the United States be authorized to cause rations to be delivered from the public stores to the unfortunate sufferers who are unable to provide for themselves, and who have been driven from their homes by Indian depredations in Florida, until they can be re-established in their possession, or so long as the president may consider it necessary." Its provisions had been liberally complied with up to the present time, though not so generously as now authorized by the president of the United States, who, through the secretary of war, informed the colonel commanding, that the rehef " contemplated under the act of February 1st, might properly embrace the case of those in a necessitous condition, who may penetrate for settle- ment such portions of Florida as have been infested and desolated by the enemy, and thus deprived of the supplies essential for the support of settlers during the necessary preparations for raising the means of subsistence at their selected homes." Major D. S. Wilcox, 5th infantry, was ordered, on the 24th of June, 1841, to discharge the duties in reference to settlers, and to adopt at once strenuous efforts to induce settlements. He was directed to encourage those who had fled from their plantations, to return, giving them subsistence and protection. The same was offered to citizens from adjoining states. To those who ac- cepted the terms, rations were issued on tlie day of starting for any designated point, and delivered thereafter monthly, at the 518 THE FLORIDA WAR. most convenient place, by the assistance of steamboats and wagons. Arms and ammunition were issued to every male in the settle- ment, white and black. The troops erected block-houses within the village, as a place of rendezvous and defence if assailed by the Indians. The full army ration was allowed each white per- son, and half rations to each slave. This was promised until the next crop season, when it was expected, that by ordinary pru- dence and industry, enough would be raised for subsistence the ensuing year. Major Wilcox died at St. Augustine on the 5th of January, 1842. He was a loss to the service, possessing merit and untiring devotion to his duty. During the seven months he was in discharge of the duties intrusted to him, he had perfected a system of operations well calculated to give citizens a cordial support in seeking and maintaining a new home. Lieutenant Patrick, 2d infantry, succeeded to these duties, in the discharge of which he carried vigilance and good judgment. He was enjoined to impress upon settlers, that rations would not be issued after the next crop season, probably the last of August or September. Every exertion was made to stimulate those who had accepted these proposals to cultivation, and the erection of buildings for comfort and convenience. The months of April and May passed with little or no preparations for plant- ing, and without the necessary tenements for the protection of families or crops. Again they were reminded, that the months of August and September were rapidly approaching ; still the same apathy was evinced, and the only reward for the hberality of the government and the labors of its agents, was slothfulness and the want of exertion. A few, however, cultivated with in- dustry, determined to make a new home in a climate where the seasons afforded the choicest blessings, combined with a dehght- ful temperature the year round, and with a soil spontaneously sustaining even the ignorant and idle. On the 6th of June Lieutenant Patrick was directed, " with the least practicable delay, to cause rations to be issued to set- tlers, and others drawing rations as distressed inhabitants, to the 31st of August; and to give notice that this issue was the last to be made from the public stores, unless there should be further orders in reference to the subject from the government." Exception was made to certain widows, and orphan children, and maimed persons, made so by the war. This period was near at hand, and the orders being imperative, many saw and began to feel the effects of idleness and procrastination. The supplies were accordingly issued, and those who had been enjoying the bounty of the government for years past, under the pretext of setthng the country, took their portion, and immediately left for THE FLORIDA WAR. 519 their homes in Georgia, defraying their expenses, in many in- stances, by the sale of provisions. Lieutenant Patrick submitted his final report on the 13th of June. Nearly one year had elapsed since the commencement of the undertaking. Though more successful in obtaining numbers than was anticipated, the good citizens, looking to the future prosperity of the country, were sadly disappointed in the charac- ter of those who came professedly with a determination to culti- vate the soil and make permanent abodes. The statement of Lieutenant Patrick shows the number, age, &c., of those to whom subsistence was issued : Final Statement. WHITES. BLACKS. WHITES. BLACKS. ROLLS, ETC. li IS, 11 1 Is ^ o 571 125 138 834 II 1 308 40 204 552 i s g Is ^ O 164 105 22 291 ji Persons forming new set- ) tlements, ) Persons returned to plan- ) tations, \ Suffering inhabitants, not i classed, ) 360 86 210 39 308 40 103 71 61 34 82 43 82 43 36 Total, 161 There were comprehended in this thirty-two villages, or settlements, as they were familiarly called, extending from St. Augustine west to within thirty miles of Tallahassee, and ad- vanced into what might be called the Indian country, as far as thirty miles south of Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay. This was Col- onel Reid's settlement on the Manatee river, now one of the most thrifty villages in Florida. The act of congress, February 1st, 1836, greatly relieved the citizens of the territory. Driven from the plantations by the in- cursions of the Indians, they were deprived of food, or the means of obtaining it, and in many instances were destitute of clothing or shelter. A liberal construction of the law was demanded, but this had become so munificent, that the fist of suffering inhabit- ants comprised some of the most opulent families. Like all ex- penditures connected with the contest, time and circumstances had sanctioned it, until the government ration was considered a right and as an inheritance- A rigid scrutiny was at once had 520 THE FLORIDA WAR. into this overgrown and diseased administration of an act intend- ed for the relief of the distressed, and not for their profit or con- tinued support. While good resulted from it in many instances, it caused in the end accumulated evils to the country. The slightest pretext induced many to flee from their plantations, and a still slighter cause deterred a much larger number from return- ing to them. The spirit of enterprise was gone. The interior was a wil- derness. Indolence and timidity were sustained and encouraged by the supplies afforded from the government stores. This sys- tem was now put an end to. The deserving and industrious were protected and encouraged, and required to rely upon their own exertions, while the profligate and idle were compelled to forsake long-indulged habits, and return to honest labor to earn their daily bread. The beneficial effects of this policy were soon realized. Large numbers re-occupied their plantations, free from danger, and after the lapse of a short time, were surrounded with every comfort, and rendered independent of the charity of the government. APPENDIX. Circular, Orders, ^c, connected with the erection of a Monument in Florida, to the memory of those who have fallen in the contest. CIRCULAR. On or before the conclusion of the Florida service, it is pro- posed to gather the remains: 1st, of the officers and soldiers who fell with Major Dade ; 2d, of other officers who may have been killed in battle, or died on this service. Preparatory thereto, the colonel commanding has caused the remains first mentioned, and those of several officers within reach, to be transferred to St. Augustine, with a view to interment, with proper ceremonies, on the grounds attached to the public buildings. Others, which it has not yet been convenient to reach, will be added to the number. It is further proposed, over these remains, to place plain but durable slabs, on which will be simply recorded the names, rank and corps of the individuals, and the occasion, if in battle, on which they perished ; not doubting that this mark of respect will be acceptable to the service. It is also believed, that it will be equally agreeable that there should be a general participation in the slight expense incident thereto. If correct in this view, it is suggested as the most convenient form, that each officer and soldier serving with corps now in Florida, con- sent to set apart one day's pay proper, which will probably be fully equal to the sufficient but unostentatious memorial proposed to be erected Commanders of corps are invited to take the sense of their officers and men upon the subject and measures, that any funds resulting therefrom may be retained by the pay- master, and by him transmitted to the quartermaster at St. 522 APPENDIX. Augustine, subject to disbursement by such persons as shall be designated in orders. At the proper time orders will issue for the ceremony, in which every corps will be represented, and as far as practicable; every grade of those to whose memory is designed this mark of respect. S. COOPER, Assistant Adjutant-General. Cedar Key, June 13th, 1842. Order, ) Head- Quarters, Military Department No. 9, ) No. 25. S Cf^dar Key, July 25, 1842. \ I. The remains of officers who have been killed in battle, or who have died on service, including those of the non-commis- sioned officers and soldiers (being the command, save two) who fell with Major Dade ; as also those of several non-commissioned officers and privates who fell under peculiar circumstances of gallantry and conduct, have been gathered and transferred to St. Augustine, where suitable vaults are constructed for their final reception, over which unostentatious monuments will be erected to the memories of our late comrades. P'or this purpose, the sufficient pecuniary means have been raised by the volun- tary subscription of the soldiers and officers of this command. II. The ceremony of interment will take place at St. Au- gustine, on the 15th day of August next ; on which occasion every corps now serving in the territory, will be represented, as well as every grade (from lieutenant-colonel to private) of those to whose memory is designed this mark of respect. III. The senior officer of the line present, will act as field- officer of the day ; and will conduct the ceremony according to the established rules of the service. IV. The funeral escort will consist of as many companies, not exceeding six, as can be assembled without inconvenience to the service. V. On the day of interment, the flags at the different stations will be displayed at half-staff; half-hour guns will be fired from meridian to sundown ; and minute-guns at the place of inter- ment during the ceremony. By order of Colonel Worth. S. COOPER, Assistant Adjutant-General. Lieutenant-Colonel Belknap, being the senior officer present, assumed direction of the ceremony, and formed the escort as follows, viz.: APPENDIX. 5g3 Captain T. P. Gwtnn, 8th infantry, commanding the escort. Lieutenant A. T. Lee, acting adjutant. ESCORT, COMPOSED OF Company K, Sth infantry — Lieutenant J. Selden. Company A, Sth infantry — Lieutenant L. Smith. Company B, 3d artillery — Lieutenant W. H. Shovek. Company E, 3d artillery — Lieutenant B. Bragg. Colors and band of the Sth infantry. Field-music of the artillery. CLERGY. Platoon of the Guard of Honor. >dif- now con- |2S| ■ Oi CO Details from the ferent regiments serving in Florida: ns ; each covered by five elegant mules, f Dade's command, illed in battle. 5th, i in Florida. sisting each of one geant, one corporal one private. Lieutenant Benham, Lieutenant Jordgn, U. S. Engineers. seven w{ id drawn nd officei nd officers ho have c 3d Infantry. Doctor Martin, .a S3 ^ ^ ^ Captain Hanham, U. S. Army. -contained 5 as a pall, QS : soldiers ns : soldiers ns : officers Acting Ord. Officer. Major Van Ness, Captain Seawell, Paymaster U. S. Army, s 0 ^ ^ ^ 7th Infantry. Lieutenant-Colonel Hunt, B'^'^y, Brevet Major GrahaMj D'y Quarterm. General. JIJ S3 fl fl F Caloosahatchie July 23, '39 Killed in action. 93 Jones, James a G Fort Weeden Dec. 8, '39 Died. 94 Johnson, Jesse tl G St. John's April 16, '41 Ordinary disease. 95 J )nes, Isaac 11 I Fort Macomb Oct. 19, '41 Disease unknown. 96 Johnson, Wm. H. il K Fort Butler May 23, '39 Shot. 97 King, John H. it A Fort Heileman Dec. 20, '39 Dysenteria. 98 Kuceene. Charles <4 A Fort Reid Nov. 21, '40 Disease unknown. 99 Kernan. F. ,1 D St. Augustine Sept. 29, '36 do. 100 Kane, Michael 41 F Fort Monroe Jan. 25, '.38 do. cont. in Fla. 101 King, Benjamin (( F Picolata Feb. 7, '.38 Disease unknown. 102 King, Joseph R. I, F Fort Reid Sept. 8, '40 Remittent fever. 103 Kencin, John A. '• I Picolata Dec. 6, '40 Disease unknown. 104 Long, William H. " B Tampa Nov. 22, '39 do. 105 Lawrence, Joel B Fort Searle Feb. 10, '40 Apoplexy, [sahatchie. 106 Luther, Job C Tampa Bav Aug. 23, '39 W'ds rec. at the Caloo- 107 Luge, Augustus .i C St. John's Bluff Oct. 14, '41 Ordinary disease. 528 APPENDIX. JVo. JVames. Rank. Co. Place of Deritk. Date of Death. Remarks. 108 Lyons, Michael Private D~ Fort Drane July 24, 1836 Disease unknown. 109 Leddy, John " F St. John's Bluff March 31, '41 Chronic dysentery. 110 Lewis, Jacob Bugler F Fort Brooke Oct. 12, '41 Remittent fever. 111 Leman, Charles Private G Garey's Ferry Dec. 13, '39 Disease unknown. 112 Laney, Patrick " H Picolata March 1, '37 Consumption. 113 Lambert, Christ'r D. " H Fort Mellon July 12, '41 Chronic diarrhea. 114 Laforce, William " I Tampa Bay Aug. 10, '40 do. 115 McDonald, OthoW. " A Fort Gilliland April 18, '37 Disease unknown. 116 McDonald, Mich'l. " A Black Creek June 19, '39 do. 117 Mullen, Arthur " B Tampa Nov. 27, '39 do 118 Miller, William " c Picolata Dec. 7, '40 Influenza. 119 Merrill, Hiram " c St. John's Bluff Feb. 18, '42 Dysentery. 120 Mentz, Anton " D St. Augustine Aug. 27, '36 Disease unknown. 121 McDonald, Wm. " D Fort Heileman Oct. 25, '36 do. 122 Myers, Simeon • u D Tampa Bay June 10, '36 do. 123 Martin, Thomas " D Tampa Bay Nov. 21, '36 do. 124 McCabe, Richard " D Cedar Keys Nov. 29, '41 Dysentery 125 Miller, Charles " E Fort Mellon Feb. 3, '38 Disease unknown 126 Martin. George F. " E Fort Columbus Jan. 2, '41 Dysent'a— cont. in Fla. 127 Mee, Edward " F Caloosahatchie July 23, '39 Killed in action. 128 McCraith, John K. " F Pilatka Dec. 28, '40 Debility. 129 Mitchell, John " F Fort Reid Feb. 16, '41 Dysenteria. t'hronic dysentery. 130 McKeggen, John " F St. John's Bluff April 3, '41 131 Monahan, John " F Fort Brooke Jan. 4, '42 Diarrhea. 132 McCourt, John " G Fort Sherrard May 4, '39 Disease unknown. 133 Marks, Albert " G Fort Heileman Sept. 16, '40 do. 134 Margen, Simeon " G Cedar Keys Nov. 4, '40 Dysenteria. 135 Martar, Jacob " G Fcrt Heileman Jan. 5, '41 Consumption. Drowned. 136 Morris, Evan " T Newnansville June 3, '37 137 McMahon, Tho's Corporal I Fort King June 4, '40 Consumption. 138 Mixter Lorenzo D. Private K St. Augustine Feb. 28, '38 do."^ 139 McPherson, Dan'l K Fort Reid Jan. 7, '41 Diarrhea. 140 McMahon, Roger " K Fort Deynaud Nov. 18, '41 Debility. 141 Nicholas, Horace " c Caloosahatchie July 23, '39 Killed by the enemy. 142 Na])ier, James A. Sergeant D Fort Peyton Dec. 9, '39 Fever. 143 Norton, Wm. P. Corporal F Fort Norton Aug. 16, '38 Shot by Indians. 144 Niles, Arthur Private F Fort Reid Feb. 10, '41 Dysenteria. 145 Nolan, Edward G Fcrt Russell . ^ Sept. 10, '41 Ordinary disease. 146 Newell, George " H Suannee Springs May 14, '42 Killed by a citizen. 147 Ninebar, Henry " I Picolata Nov. 5, '40 Diarrhea. 148 Ott, Sigmund " F St. Augustine July 4, '37 Disease unknown. 149 Pheiffer, Henry W. " B Garey's Ferry Oct. 11, '40 Debility. 150 Penson, Christian " B Fort Reid Feb. 10, '41 Diarrhea. 151 Peters, Charles " D Fort Mellon Feb. 12, '38 General decay. 152 Parker, John E F't Henderson, Ga. Sept. 4, '41 Dysent'y— cont. in Fla. 153 Pearce, Merritt F On board transport July 10, '38 Consumption. 154 Painter, Samuel " I. Cast. Pinkney, S. C. Jan. 18, '37 • Disease unknown — con- tracted in Florida. 155 Pratt, Joseph " I Micanopy Oct. 21, '37 Disease unknown. 156 Proctor, Edward " I Fort White Aug. 9, '38 Mortification of leg. 157 Purdy, John " K Fort Heileman Aug. 24, '40 Chronic diarrhea. 158 Runyon, Matt'sL. " B Fort Reid Oct. 10, '40 Diarrhea. 159 Richardson, Dan'l " B New Orleans Aug. 1, '38 Congestive fever — con- tracted in Florida. 160 Roberts, James " E Ocklocknee river Feb. 28, '40 Accidentally killed. 161 Redmond, Dennis '< F Fort Brooke Sept. 13, '41 Affection of the liver 162 Rawson, John W. Corporal G Fort Mellon May 8, '37 Dysentery. 163 Ray, George Private K Fort White June 16, '42 Congestive fever. 164 Stansbury, John A Tampa Bay Oct. 18, '38 Consumption. 165 Stephens, Thomas " A Pilatka May 11, '41 Disease unknown. 166 Smith, William <» A Fort Shannon Aug. 4, '41 do. 167 Smither. William " B Near Fort Jupiter April 19, '38 Dysentery, 168 Saltzman, Jacob, " B Picolata Nov. 22, '40 Diarrhea. 169 Simmons, Job Sergeant C Caloosahatchie July 23, '39 Killed by the enemy. 170 Steele, Charles G. Musician C St. John's Bluff Aug. 26, '41 Ordinary disease. 171 Smart. Warren Private c St. John's Bluff Jan. 6, '42 Dysentery. 172 Spear, Joseph " D Fort Monroe Aug. 20, '41 Chronic diarrhea— con- tracted in Florida. 173 Spear, James W. " D Baton Rouge Dec. 22, '41 Intermittent fever, do. 174 Shefner, George " E St. Augustine July 6, '37 Disease unknown. 175 Stephenson, Isaac Corporal E Fort Peyton Nov. 14, '37 do. 176 Strange, John W. Private E Fort Hamilton Nov. 17, '37 do —cont. in Fla. 177 Smith, Clark " E Fort Mellon Feb. 6, '38 Disease unknown. 178 Smith, John " E Fort Peyton March 29, '40 Accidentally drowned. Haemoragia. 179 Sheridan, Edward " E F't Henderson, Ga. June 24, '41 180 Sibolski, Jacob " F Fort Shannon June 2, '39 Dysenteria. Drowned. 181 Shutte, Andrias " G Matanzas Bar Aug. 18, '37 APPENDIX. 529 JVo. J\rames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. J Date of Death. Remarks. "isi" Seibel, Henry Private a Vlatanzas Bar Aug. 18, '37 Drowned. ]83 Slean, James " G!- ;^icolata Sept. 17, '38 Feb. 19, '42 3ysenteria. 184 Shaffner John " & ?ort Jesup Dis. unk'n— cont. in Fla. 1!:<5 Sabine, George J. " H Fort Mellon May 15, '37 I^holera spasmodica. 186 Squire, Edson " H Picolata Feb. 17, '41 Disease unknown. 187 Smith, Henry " [ Key West Sept. 16, '40 .'hronic diarrhea. 188 Stankel, Nicholas " K Black Creek May 27, '38 Dysenteria. 189 Stringer, James '' K do. Nov. 22, '40 Diarrhea. 190 Spencer, John K St. John's Bluff Feb. 12, '42 ^'hronic dysentery. J91 Tippett, William " A St. Augustine March ]0, '37 [Disease unknown. 192 Taylor, George " B Fort Reid Oct. 8, '40 do. 193 Toohill, William " D Fort Jesup Feb. 27, '42 Dropsy— cont. in Fla 194 Thompson, Robert " F :!aloosahatchie. July 23, '39 Killed in action. 195 Thieleman, Gustave " H Picolata Jan. 4, '41 Chronic diarrhea. 196 Troutman, Alois " I At sea Oct. 24, '40 Consumption, 197 Van Tassell, Dan'l " B ficolata Sept. 6, '40 Disease unknown. 198 Vervalen, Wm. C. " H Fort Fanning Aug. 5, '40 C(jngestive fever. 199 Willis, James a. M. sgt. Fort Heileman Oct. 28, '40 Disease of the lungs. '200 Webb, James Farrier A St. Augustine May 29, '38 Disease unknown. 201 Wolcott, Cyrus Sergeant C Hanson's Farm Oct. 28, '40 Accidentally killed. 202 Winn, Timothy Private D Fort Drane June 19, '36 Disease unknown. 203 Wilcox, Andrew " E Fort Mellon Feb. 3, '38 do. 204 White, Richard " F Caloosahatchie July 23, '39 Killed in action. 2!)5 White, John " F Unknown Nov. 15, '39 Disease unknown. 206 Warren, Chand'rM " G Fort King Aug. 5, '38 Congestive fever. 207 White, Thomas " G Picolata Jan. 8. '41 Intermittent fever. 208 Wood, James " I Fort Brooke Oct. 30, '49 Disease unknown. 209 Wagner, William " K Pilatka Sept. 21, '41 do. 210 Wandell, Aug's R " K Near Piloklikapah April 19, '42 Killed in action by Ind's. 211 York, David D Unknown April 1, '36 Died of wounds rec'd in action at cove of With- lacoochie, March 31. 212 Young, James " D Fort Drane April 25, '36 Disease unknown. 1 Tintel, Ferdinand Drag. Rec. Fort Mellon April 29, '38 Disease unknown. FIRST RE( 5IMENT OF ART ILLERY. 1 Gates, Lemuel Captain C Micanopy Aug. 6, 1836 Disease unknown. 1 Brady, John Private A Picolata May 22, '36 Disease unknown. 2 Bolles, John " A do. June 7, '36 • do. 3 Baader, Karl " F Fort Drane July 19, '36 Fever. 4 Brittingham, Sam'l " E Near Garey's Ferry Sept. 1, '36 Fever. 5 Bleeker, Abraham " F St. Augustine Black Creek Oct. 9. '36 Fever. 6 Benner, John M. '« F Oct. 25, '36 Fever. 7 Burridge, Thomas " F St. Augustine Feb. 10, '38 Consumption. 8 Chamberlain, Moses Sergeant H Key West Aug. 5, '36 Disease unknown. 9 Connolly, Robert Private G St. Augustine Nov. 15, '36 Fever. 10 Campbell, Patrick " C Fort Heileman Dec. 12, '36 Pleurisy. 11 Coats, C. C. " F St. Augustine Jan. 20, '38 Disease unknown. 12 Collins, James " J Miami River March 31, '38 Inflammation of bowels 13 Collins, Daniel <■<■ F Fort Pierce Feb. 12, '38 Disease unknown. 14 Curry, James " A Picolata April 22, '38 do. 15 Durley, Thomas " F Tampa Bay Aug. 25, '37 Fever. 16 Eastman, Calvin B. Artificer B Mullet Key July 30, '37 Disease unknown. 17 Foley, William Private F Near Tampa Bay June 3, '37 Fever. 18 Fullerton, A. W. " I Jupiter Creek Jan. 15, '38 Killed in action. 19 Gardner, Robert Sergeant G St. Augustine May 30, '36 Fever. 20 Griffith, Benjamin Harris, William E Wahoo Swamp Nov. 21, '36 Killed in action. 21 Private B Fort Drane April 2, '36 Disease unknown. 22 Hill, Robert " B Fort Gilliland June 20, '36 do. 23 Hamilton, John " F Picolata April 21, '36 Fever. 24 Hubbard, James Sergeant H Near Micanopy Aug. 27, '36 Fever. 25 Hardy, Daniel Harris, John Private H St. Augustine Aug. 20, '36 Fever. 26 C do. Sept. 6, '36 Measles. 27 Horane, John " A Tampa Bay Nov. 9, '36 Disease unknown. 28 Honlihan, Cornelius " I Fort Brooke Dec. 27, '36 do. 29 Hickey, William " B do. Dec. 1, '37 do. 30 Haggerty, Daniel Humphrey, M. L. '< A Near Fort Prince Jan. 3, '38 do. 31 " I Jupiter River Jan. 14, '38 Inflammation of brain. 32 Ingles, William Jones, John »< H Fort Brodke June 12, '36 Disease unknown. 33 " I Lake Thlonotcsas sa, E. F. St. Augustine June 7, '37 Intermittent fever. 34 Johnson, Augusthii I Corporal C June 4, '38 Died of wounds. 35 Kelly, Elias Kepler, Jacob Private I Fort Dade March 2, '37 Disease unknown. 3€ ii I Jupiter Creek Jan. 15, '38 Killed in action. 34 530 APPENDIX. JVb. Jfames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 37 Lynch, James Sergeant B En route to Picolata March 2, 1836 Killed accidentally. 38 Lomer, William Private H St. Augustine Sept. 4, '36 Disease unknown. 39 Lawler, Charles " C Fort Heileman Dec. 4, '36 Dysentery. 40 Moody, James W. " C Fort Drane Jan. 8, '36 W'ds at battle of With- lacoochie,Dec.31, '35. 41 Moorman, Henry <' F do. June 19, '36 Fever. 42 Mayfield, Benjamin " F Garey's Ferry June 18, '36 do. 43 Morris, Isaac Corporal H Fort Brooke Sept. 3, '36 Disease unknown. 44 Miles, Thomas Private C St. Augustine Oct. 14, '36 Debility. 45 Meade, William " B Fort Brooke Nov. 4, '37 Disease unknown. 46 Mills, John e. " G St. Augustine March 22. '38 Dysentery. Fever. 47 Nash, Samuel " F Fort Drane June 15, '36 48 O'Donaghey, P. W. " C Fort King Oct. 9, '35 Disease unknov/a. 49 O'Neile, John " G St. Augustine Oct. 23, '35 do. 50 Runyon, John Sergeant D En route to Florida Feb. 27, '36 Killed accidentally. 51 Robinson, George Private C St. Augustine Oct. 14, '36 Fever. ^ 52 Sharpe, Thomas " D Near St. Joseph's May 8, '36 Killed in action. 53 Shay, Michael " B Garey's Ferry July 7, '36 Bilious fever. 54 Sherry, John " G St. Augustine July 28. '36 Inflammation of liver. 55 Sykes, Richard " G Fort Drane Aug. 21, '.36 Killed in action. 56 Schroedsr, Conrad " B St. Augustine Sept. 25, '36 Dropsy. 57 Stone, E. P. " F do. Dec. 31, '33 Fever! 58 Smith, Thomas " E Fort Brooke Aug. 17, '37 Disease unknown. 59 Shearlock, James " C St. Auguitine Sept. 8, '37 do. 60 Smith, John " C Fort Marion Dec. 22, '37 do. 61 Viars, George Musician C Fort King Nov. 23, '35 do. 62 Williams, John 1st Serg't D Fort Marion April 5, '36 Shot by priv. S. Wright. 63 Wilson, George Private H Picolata June 23, '36 Disease unknown. 64 Waggott, John Corporal H St. Augustine Aug. 22, 36' Fever. 65 Yerby, Charles T. Sergeant F da. Nov. 25, '37 Pneumonia. SECOND REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. Adams, Tho's B. Basinger, W. E. Chambers, James A Gardiner, G. W. Heileman, Julius F, Henderson, S. E. Henderson, R. Mellon, Charles Smyth, Constantino Atkinson, James AUender, John Beiton, Edward Black, William Bourke, Richard Barton, Rufus Bogen, Owen Bowen, Rich'd R. Brendan, Henry Barr, John Byrne, John Brady, Daniel Cooper, Philip Clark, Nicholas Carney, William Craig, John Cusack, Nicholas Collins, Edward De Courcey, Edvv'd Dunl^p, James Davis, Thomas Dunn, Francis De GroiF, Peter Davis, Wm. P. Ellsworth, John Foley, Dennis Frams, Engleman Franklin, Daniel Fortune, Patrick Green, Robert Grant, Isaac C. Gillet, Alpheus 1st Lieut. 2d Lieut. Captain Maj. and Bt. Lt. Col 2d Lieut. Bt. 2d Lt. Caj)tain 1st Lieut. Corporal Private Sergeant Corporal Musician Private Corporal Private Sergeant Private Corporal Private Musicia Private Fort Dade Dade's Massacre Baltimore Dade's Massacre Fort Drane Washington City Dade's Massacre Lake Monroe Near Fort King Fort Brooke Wahoo Swamp Dade's Massacre do. do. do. do. do. do. Fort Heileman Fort Foster Fort Clinch Dade's Massacre do. do. do. Fort Marion Volusia Dade's Massacre do. do. Camp Izard Wahoo Swamp Fort Clinch Fort Pike Fort Brooke Garey's Ferry Fort "Peyton Fort Marion Dade's Massacre do. do. Dec. 14, '37 Dec. 28, '35 Dec. 10, '38 Dec. 28. '35 June 27, '38 JnV 4, '36 Dec. 28, '35 Feb. 8, '37 Dec. 28, '35 Oct. 14, '.36 Nov. 21, '.36 Dec. 28, '35 do. do. do. do. do. do. June 3, '37 March 9, '38 May 2!), '.38 Dec. 28, '35 do. do. do. Sept. 23, '.36 Nov. 18, '36 Dec. 23, '35 do. do. Feb. 29, '36 Nov. 21, '.36 May 20, '38 April 17, '33 April 25, '36 Aug. 14, '33 July 13, '37 April 29, '38 Dec. 28, '33 do. do. Remittent fever. Killed in action. Dis. unk'wn, ct. inFla. Killed in action. Disease unknown. do. cont. in Fla. Killed in action. do. Killed by the Indians. Inflammation of brain. Killed in action. do. do. do. do, do. do. do. Disease unknown. Typhus fever. Killed by the Indians. Killed in action. do. do. do. Disease unknown. do. Killed in action. do. do. do. do. Killed by the Indians. Dropsy. Chronic dysentery. Disease unknown. Consumption. Disease unknown. Killed in action. do. do. APPENDIX. 531 JVo. JVames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 33 Gordon, Joseph Private B Fort Foster Jan. 26, 1838 Disease unknown. 34 Gardner, Warren " F Fort Hanson Feb. 27, '38 Consumijtion. 35 Hood, John 1st Sergt. C Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action 36 Heck, Charles T. Musician C do. do. do. 37 Howard, George Artificer C do. do. do. 38 Halter, John Private c do. do. do. 39 Hurley, John " c do. do. do. 40 H.ilmes, William " c do. do. do. 41 Hill, Cornelius " c do. do. do. 42 Hanahan, Timothy " H Fort Brooke April 16, '36 Gastritis. 43 Holmes, James " F Fort Drane May 31, '36 Disease unknown. 44 Hall, Tristram P. Musician D Fort Peyton Sept. 20, '37 do. 45 Hawk, Wilham Private B Fort Foster Oct. 31, '37 do. 46 Hicks, Nathaniel " I Fort Frazier March J 4, '33 Run over by a wagon. 47 Holland, John " G Fort Clinch May 20, '38 Killed by the Indians. 48 Jewell, Daniel " C Fort Pickens Sept. 24, '35 Bilious fever. 49 Jewell, Aaron " c Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 50 Jones, John " B Fort Foster Dec. 17, '37 Disease unknown. 51 Kenny, Michael " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 52 Knarr, Thomas " C do. do. do. 53 Keirns, John " H do. do. do. 54 King, James " F Volusia Nov. 8, '36 Disease unknown. 55 Kelly, John A Fort Pike March 9, '38 Disease unknown, con- tracted in Fla. 56 Laughlin, Anthony B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 57 Lovis, John Sergeant C do. do. do. 58 Larkens, James Private C Fort Mellon March 3, '37 Disease unknown. 59 Larkins, Patrick G Fort Chnch May 14, '38 Diowned in the With- lacoochie. 60 McCartney, John B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 61 McWiggin, John B do. do. do. 62 McDonald, James B do. do. do. 63 Mulvahal, Robert C do. do. do. 64 McMee, Hugh " H do. do. do. 65 McGrew, William Artificer F do. do. do. 66 McFeeley, James Private D Carey's Ferry May 9, '36 Hepatitis. 67 Mackay, James " F On march from Ft. Drane to Picolata. July 25, '36 Disease unknown. 6rt McEnery, Hugh Miller, John " E Fort Heileman Oct. 24, '37 do. 69 '♦ H Fort Brooke Oct. 12, '37 Scurvy. 70 Morely, Samuel " C New Smyrna Oct. 31, '37 Disease unknown. 71 Neely, William " G Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 72 Peery, Hugh " B do. do. do. 73 Patten, John A. " H do. do. do. 74 Philips, Reuben " H do. do. do. 75 Paddy, James " G Fort Brooke Jan. 15, '36 Tetanus. 76 Pockman, Gideon Corporal D Fort Marion Nov. 6, '36 Disease unknown. 77 Power, James Private G Fort Brooke May 7, '37 Drowned. 78 Percy, Robert " H do. Sept. 19, '37 Dysentery and scurvy. 79 Rooney, Patrick " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 80 Ryan, "Michael Corporal C do. do. do. 81 Robertson, William Private C do. do. do. 82 Rafferty, Patrick c do. do. do. 83 Reilly, John " c do. do. do. 84 Rodman, Robert " F Fort Dade Feb. 1, '.37 Disease unknown. 85 Rcache, William " E Fort Heileman Dec. 27, '37 Consumption. 86 Savin, Thomas Sergeant C Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 87 Schneider, Casper Private c do. do. do. 88 Shearecker, Andrew " D Fort Drane do. do. 89 Scanlan, John " E Garey's Ferry Aug. 5, '36 Disease unknown. 90 Scofield, John • ' E Fort Marion Sei)t. 10, '36 do. 91 Sands, Hamilton " A Fort Brooke July 24, '37 do. 92 Seen net, Stephen " I Fort Frazer Oct. 16, '37 Drowned. 93 Streeter, Joseph " E Fort Heileman Dec. 16, '37 Accidentally shot. 94 Taylor, William " C Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 95 Taylor. Isaac " C do. do. do. 96 Tayior, Hiram " H do. do. do. 97 Thornton, Thomas " H do. do. do. 98 Tracy, Truoman " F Withlacoochie March 21, '.36 Disease unknown. 99 Taylor, Whiteside " G Fort Brooke July 17, '37 Drowned. 100 Wilson, Joseph C Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 101 Worcester, Orville " C do. do. do. ]02 Wright, William '< H do. do. do. 1U3 Wood, Thomas M. " A Fort Brooke Dec. 3, '35 Effects of cold. 532 APPENDIX. THIRD REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. JVo. J^Tames. Rank. Co. Placr of Death. Date of Death Remarks. 1 Davidson, W. B. Captain K Indian Key Dec. 25, 1840 Diarrhea. 2 Eraser, U. S. B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 3 Garner, H. " G Picolata Oct. 23, '41 Yellow fever. 4 Herring, D. S. 1st Lieut. I St. Augustine June 22, '.36 do. 5 Jennings, R. S. 2d Lieut. A do! Oct. 12, '39 do. 6 Keais, J. L. Bt. 2d Lt. B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 7 Lyon, Elijah Captain E Washington Nov. 18, '43 Disease unknown — con- tracted in Fla. 8 Maitland, W. S. Bt. Capt. C Charleston harbor Aug. 19, '37 Drowned himself during temp'ry insanity caused by wounds rec. in Fla. 9 Mudge, R. R. 2d Lieut. B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 10 Poole, B. 1st Lieut. I St. Augustine Nov. 9, '39 Yellow fever. 11 Rodney. G. C. " B do. do. do. 1 Arrowsmith, J. A. Private G At sea June 21, '42 Chronic diarrhea. 2 Brunton, John a. M. sgt. Picolata April 7, '39 Fever, 3 Bangs, Jacob Sergeant I Withlacoochie rivei Nov. 13, '36 Drowned, fording river. 4 Bell, John " G St. Augustine Nov. 5, '41 Yellow fever. 5 Bowen, Parker Corporal A Locha Hatchee Jan. 24, '37 Killed in action. 6 Burke, Edward Artificer H do. do. do. 7 Brower, Thomas Private H St. Augustine Nov. 30, '37 Fever. 8 Balz, Frederick K Fort Lauderdale Feb. 20, '.39 Killed by the Indians. 9 Brunham, A. J. " K Fort Heileman June 10, '39 Disease unknown. 10 Boyce, Thomas " K Fort Lauderdale Sept. 27, '39 Killed by the Indians. 11 Bennet, James " B New Smyrna Sept. 29, '40 Fever. 12 Brunner, John " G St. Augustine Nov. 3, '41 Yellow fever. 13 Beck, John " G do! Nov. 9, '41 do. 14 Bertram, George " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 15 Chapman, Benj. Sergeant B do. do. do. 16 Chapin, Martin C. C Volusia Nov. 30, '36 Consumption. 17 Christie, J. Musician G St. Augustine Oct. 9, '41 ' Yellow fever. 18 Coulter, John Private H Withlacoochie Dec. 31, '35 Killed in action. 18 Carpenter, B.C. " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 do. 20 Cumasky, Patrick " B do. do. do. 21 Call an, James " I Micanopy June 12, '.30 Disease unknown. 22 Childs, Henry " F St. John's River Aug. 1, '37 Drowned. 23 Concklin, Abram " D Fort Heileman May 13, '37 Scurvy. 24 Colclazin, Henry " I Picolata Aug. 1, '49 Diarrhea. 25 Campbell, John " K New Smyrna Jan. 1, '40 Dysentery. 26 Connelly, John " A Fort Pierce May 2, '40 Disease unknown 27 Cain, John " G Picolata Dec. 20, '40 W'd.srec.f. Ind.Nov.l 28 Callahan, John " B New Smyrna Aug. 3, '41 Disease unknown. 29 Carroll, John H. " H St. John's Bluff Aug. 18, '41 do. 30 Chapman, James " B St. Augustine Oct. 18, '41 Yellow fever. 31 Cook, George W. " E [ndian River Bar Oct. 20. '41 Dr'din attempt to land. 32 Dalton, Kinsley H. " H Belw'n Tampa and Aug. 11, '35 Murdered hy Indians 33 Dodge, Samuel E. ci B Fort King Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 when riding express. Killed in action. 34 Dana, Crawford " F Florida Sei.t. 23, '30 Disease unknown. 35 Decker, John " K Fort Lauderdale March 7, '39 do. 36 Donagan, William " B Fort Heileman June 10, '39 do. 37 Daley, Patrick " K Fort Lauderdale May 25, '39 April 13, '41 Jane 23, '41 do. 38 Donel, Alexander " K do. Diarrhea. 39 Dickens, William " F Fort Pierce Disease unknown. 40 Ebinger, Frederick " B Fort Brooke Sept. 27, '35 do. 41 Eber, John " H St. Augustine April 11, '38 Dec. 28, '35 do. 42 Farley, A. C. W. Sergeant B Dade's Massacre Killed in action. 43 Fields, H. S. (t G Picolata road Nov. 1, '40 Killed by Indians while 44 Furguson, John Corporal E Fort Browne July 3, '40 Dec. 28, '35 do on escort duty. Apuplexy. Killed in action, do. 45 46 Flanagan, WiUiam Folk, John C. Private B B Dade's Massacre do. 47 48 Fuller, Abel Ford, Frederick K. u D K Mosquito Fort Lauderdale April 4. '37 Feb. 20, '39 Shot by Indians. 49 Frezel, Godlief " B New Orleans March 18, '42 Dysentery— cont. in Fla. Yellow fever. 50 Griffin, Joseph Sergeant G St. Augustine Nov. 8, '41 51 Game, William E do. Oct. 26, '41 do. 52 Gordon, C. R. Musician E Indian River Bar do. Drowned in landing. Yellow fever. 53 Gallagher, William Private G St. Augustine Nov. 9, '41 54 Handy, H. S. Sergeant B Picolata Dec. 23, '38 Intermittent fever. 55 Hanniford, M. Corporal E New Smyrna Nov. 11, '39 Fever. 56 Hire, Frederick Artificer E Indian River March 18, '38 Disease unknown 57 Hurlyhigh, George Private B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. APPENDIX. 533 Mo. JVames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 58 Hall, Jordan Private B Dade's Massacre Dec. 23, 1835 Killed in action. 59 Heyer, Aaron " A Fort Heileman Aug. 27, '36 Brain fever. 60 Houseman, Henry " F Fort Mellon Jan. 22, '38 Disease unknown. 61 Hulland, Edward " F Picolata April 23, '33 Diarrhea. 62 Hall, Elijah " B Fort Columbus Oct. 22, '38 Disease unknown — con- tracted in Florida. 63 Hopkins, Edward " K Fort Lauderdale Sept. 27, '39 Killed by Indians. 64 Horn, John " D do. May 31, '41 Drowned while on duty. 65 Hilligas, Jacob " D Fort Monroe July 21, '41 Diarrhea, contr. in Fla. 66 Hudson, William " E St. Augustine Oct. 5, '41 Yellow fever. 67 Jones, Alexander Corporal B Dade's Massacre Dec. 23, -35 Killed in action. 68 Jackson, Henry *' E Indian River Bar Oct. 26, '41 Drowned in landing. 69 Johnson, Samuel Private A Fort Armstrong Nov. 20, '38 Fever. 70 Jackion, John G Fort Sullivan April 27, '39 Killed by Indians. 71 Jenkins, Henry " E St. Augustine Nov. 8, '41 Yellow fever. 72 Kinkerly, Samuel «< B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 73 Kneeland, Jacob " B do. do. do. 74 Kinsley, Isaac R. " H Garey's Ferry Unknown Disease unknown. 75 Kneezle, Wilham " D St. Augustine Sept. 12, '37 do. 76 Kennedy , Lawrence " E Fort Brooke Nov. 16, '36 do. 77 Kent, Ellas C. " I Fort Jupiter Feb. 6, '38 Fever. 78 King, Bernard " H Fort Dallas Aug. 9, '41 Disease unknown, 79 Kellar, John " E St. Augustine Oct. 9, '41 Yellow fever. [land. 80 Kenny, Michael " B Indian River Bar Oct. 26 '41 Drowned in attempt to 81 Lemon, Samuel " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 82 Lesker, Morris A. " D St. Augustine Nov. 4, '.37 Disease unknown. 83 Leonard, Cornelias " D do. Nov. 11, '37 do. 84 Laden, Jeremiah " G Picolata July 21, '41 do. 85 Lannon, Patrick " E St. Augustine Oct. 21, '41 Yellow fever. 86 Lane, David " F Fort Columbus Sept. 3, '41 Wound rec. in discharge of duty at Ft. Pierce. 87 Lunder, William P. " E St. Augustine Oct. 28, '41 Yellow fever. 88 Lick, Jacob " G Picolata Nov. 14, '41 do. 89 McMahon, James " I Wetnmpka Aug. 17, '35 Disease unknown. 90 MeCully, Cyrus Sergeant 1 Fort Dallas Jan. 1, '40 Killed by an accid. fall. 91 Monlojjtnery, C. D. Artificer C Withlacoochie Dec. 31, '35 Killed in action. 92 MinLon, William Private B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 do. 93 Monroe, Donald " B do. do. do. 94 Mulcahy, John " B do. do. do. 95 Miller, Alfred " D St. Augustine July 2, '37 Disease unknown. 96 Mattock, Jacob "^ D do. Sept. 7. '37 do. 97 McCiom, Edward " D Matanzas Bar Aug. '37 Drowned. 93 McGuire, John u D Picolata Dec. 23, '38 Disease unknown. 99 McCormick, J. << G do. Jan. '39 do. 100 McGinn, John M. " D Foit Brooke April 9, '.39 Inflammation of bowels. 101 Montgomery, Tho's " K Fort Lauderdale Sept. 20, '39 Disease unknown. 102 Mitchell, Robert '< D Fort Lawson Nov. 11, '39 do. 103 Mustell. Joseph " G Picolata Road Nov. 1, '40 Killed by the Indians. 104 McCauley, William " E St. Augustine do. Yellow fever. 105 McMahon, Peter " D Fort Lauderdale Sept. 12, '41 Diarrhea. 106 Morrison, Joiin " E St. Augustine Oct. 30, '41 Yellow fever. 107 Marley, Francis " G do. Nov 5. '41 do. 108 Maley, John << G do. Nov. 6, '41 do. 109 Mcz\Hister, Ralph •' I Punta Rossa Nov. 2, '41 do. 110 McGuire, James " F Fort Pierce Dec. 23, '41 Dysentery. 111 Noble, John Musician E Indian River Bar Oct. 26, '41 Drowned in landing. 112 Nugent, James Private D St. Augustine Dec. 7. '37 Yellow fever. 113 Pa>smore, Francis '< I Fort Brooke May 21, '36 Typhns fever. 114 Perry, William «' G do. Oct, 6, '.39 W'ds rec. accidentally. 115 Peters, Thomas " G St. Augustine Oct. 23, '41 Yellow fever. 116 Perry, Charles D. '< E do. Oct. 26, '41 do. [land. 117 duinn, John " E Indian River Bar do. Drow'd in attempting to 118 Rurey, William " G Fort Russell May 29, '39 Disease unknown. [land. 119 Runer, Christie <' E Indian River Bar Oct. 26, '41 Drow'd in attempting to 120 Riley, Michael " G Picolata Oct. 1, '41 Yellow fever. 121 Ryan, Henry " G St. Augustine Nov. 6, '41 do. 122 Reddy, William " G do. Nov. 10, '41 do. 123 Reed, John " G do. Nov. 8, '41 do. 124 Riley, Charles " D do. Aug. 26, '37 do. 125 Ryan, Thomas '< H Pilatka June 25, '.38 Disease unknown. 128 Roberts, William " G St. Augustine Nov. 6, '41 Yellow fever. 127 Skinner, E. Sergeant C Micanopy June 6, '36 Disease unknown. 128 Searles, Willard I Fort Lauderdale June 22, '41 Wounds rec. in battle. 129 Schaffdr, John Private B Dade's Massacre Dec. 23, '35 Killed in action. 130 Sennam, Henry ■' B do. do. do. 131 Shirley, Robert " D St. Augustine July 5, '37 Disease unknown. 534 APPENDIX. m. JVawes. ■ Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 132 Sheridan, William Private D St. Augustine Sept. 4, 1837 Disease unknown. 133 Storey, William " A Fort Taylor March 26, '38 Fever. 134 Smith, Riley " H St. Augustine March 3, '37 Yellow fever. 135 Smilh, James " H do. May 23, '38 do. 13G Smithwilkie, F. " D Picolata Jan. 11, '39 do. 137 Shiits, Daniel " G St. Augustine Nov. 15, '41 do. 138 Troop, Theodore Sergeant B Fort Mellon May 26, '37 Intermittent fever. 139 Tuck, Washington Private B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 140 Treat, Charles A Fort Heileman Aug. 28, '36 Wounds rec. at battle of Fort Drane. 141 Tufts, Andrew " H Fort Mellon '38 Disease unknown. 142 Thatchell, James " K Fort Lauderdale June 6, '40 Drow'd while on duty. Killed in action. 143 Vailing, John Sergeant B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 144 Vreeland, Richard Private B do. do. do. 145 Vanderkloss, L. F Picolata Jan. 18, '39 Disease unknown. 146 Wilson, Levi Sergeant G St Augustine Nov. 8, '41 Yellow fever. 147 Wells, Philander Corporal B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 148 Wagner, Henr}' Artificer B do. do. do. 149 Wright, Samuel S. Private B do. do. do. 150 Williams, John " B do. do. do. 151 Welch, Sylvester " B do. do. do. 15? Weshing, Daniel " B do. do. do. 153 Washburn, Holton " D St. Augustine Nov. 2, '37 Disease unknown.. 151 Webel, Charles " B do. '38 do. 155 Williams, William " D Fort Lauderdale July 23, '40 Fever. 156 Voung, George C. Corporal B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 157 York, George Private B do. do. do. 158 Yarnell, Richard " D Picolata Jan. 18, '38 Disease unknown. FOURTH REGIMENT OF ARTILLERY. Adams, John Private G Fort Brooke Buckley, Isaac " C St. Augustine Clark, Smith S. Sergeant B do. Cavanagh, Dennis Private D Fort Mellon Carles, Peter " F Tampa Bay Chandler, John " H St. Augustine Campbell, Alex. S. Corporal c Fort Monroe, Va. Dawley, Ina Private F Fort Butler, Tenn. Duckies, Robert " C Micanopy Eckhart, Christ'nF " A Fort Heileman Ellis, Robert " E Picolata Fisher, Frederick " A Fort Heileman Girdes, Wm. R. F. " H Volusia Harding, John " G Near Fort Fowle Hughes, James Artificer H Volusia Jones, William Private C Fort King Mattison, Harvey P. Corporal B Tohopikilaga Miller, James Sergeant B St. Augustine Macutchen, Robert Artificer c do. Mullady, Joseph Private F Trenton, N. J. Murty, James " H Garey's Ferry Nunenmacher, Jno. Sergeant F Jefferson, Geo. Plunket, Lawrence Private A Picolata Pardon, John " A Fort Heileman Pierce, John G. " C St. Augustine Prater. John " c Fort King Powers, John Corporal F Fort Heileman Ryan, James Private A Picolata Roll, George L. Sergeant G At sea Rebern, John Private H Ft. Columbus, N.Y. Schultz, Francis " B Fort Heileman Sharpe, Joseph " C Withlacoochie river Spencer, William " E Fort Drane Shaver, Daniel A. " F Fort White Theis, William Sergeant H Wahoo Swamp Walker, Joseph P. Artificer B St. Augustine Wallace, Clinton Private B Tampa Bay Woodruff, Hiram " I Near Micanopy Oct. 4, '37 Jan. 1, '37 Oct. 13, '37 Nov. 30, '38 April 15, '38 Jan. 2, '37 Nov. 14, '43 June 2, '38 March 31, '39 Aug. 1], '37 Feb. 9, '39 Aug. 11, '.36 Jan. 11, '37 Jan. 19, '39 April 22, '37 June 24, '37 Jan. 27, '37 Feb. 25, '39 Jan. 1, '39 Sept. 9, '39 Nov. 21, '.38 May 30, '38 June 6, '37 Aug. 1, '37 March 13, '37 Sept. 27, '37 Nov. 4, '38 Jan. 19, '39 April 18, '39 Nov. 27, '38 Sept. 4, '38 Nov, 13, '36 Dec. 25, '36 Aug. 18, '37 Nov. 21, '36 Jan. 13, '39 '37 April 29, '38 Dysentery. Disease unknown. Bilious fever. Fever. Disease unknown, do. [Fla. Dis. unknown, cont. in do. do. Chronic diarrhea. Accid. wound in the eye. Disease unknown. Fever. do. Killed by the Indians. Fever. Disease unknown. [Ind. Waylaid and shot by Scrofula. Consumption. [Fla. Dis. unknown, cont. in Dysentery [Fla. Dis. unknown, cont. in Bilious fever. Drowned. Disease unknown. do. do. do. do., cont. in Fia. do. do. Disease unknown. Drowned fording river. W'd rec. while on scout. Disease unknown. Killed in action. Disease unknown. do. Killed by the Indians. APPENDIX. FIRST REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. 535 JVo. JVames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 1 Bavker, Thomas Captain D Tampa Bay Nov. 13, 1839 Disease unknown. 2 Lancaster, J. R. H. 2d Lieut. I Chrystal River July 5. '11 Killed by lightning. 3 Mitchell, EnosG. Captain F Fort Roger Jones June 10, '39 Bilious fever. 4 McCluie, J. 2d Lieut. G Tampa Bay April 5, '38 Fever. 5 Pew, W. W. 2d Lieut. F Fort Roger Jones June 11, '39 Bilious fever. 6 Shannon, Samuel Captain A Tallahassee Sept. 4, '36 Disease unknown. 1 Albert, Henry Private A At sea Aug. 5, '41 Disease unknown. 2 Ardough, John " B Cam)) Walker May 13, '38 Fever. 3 Burns, Patrick Corporal K Fort Gardiner May 3, '38 do. 4 Boyle, John Private A Fort Armistead March 23, '41 do. 5 Brant, Frederick " A do. June 11. '41 do. 6 Bahuson, Theodore " B Fort Jackson Sept. 19, '40 Bilious fever. 7 Brown, William " D Fort Fanning July 29, '39 Intermittent fever. 8 Buller, Charles " E F't Crawford, W.T. Feb. 18, '42 Consumption, contract- ed in Florida. 9 Bulger, John " E Cant'ment Morgan July 15, '41 Fever. 10 Bertrand, Henry " ■ F Tampa Bay March 14, '41 Disease unknown. 11 Bouveite, John P. " F Fort Armistead do. Chronic diarrhea. 12 Burton, John " G Fort Pleasant May 25, '40 Fever. 13 Brenton, John H. " G do. May 20, '40 do. 14 Burns, Thomas " G do. Aug. 27, '40 do. 15 Binman, George " H Fort Gardinei April 1, '38 do. . 16 Bond, William " H Picolaja July 31, '38 do. 17 Bingham, James " H Tampa Bay Feb. 27, '39 do. 18 Byrne, James " I Fort Brooke Oct. 5, '38 Disease unknown. 19 Bowis, Lewis " I Fort Lawson Nov. 11, '39 do. 20 Carlin, Mathew " A Fort Armistead March 29, '41 Fever. 21 Chapman, Jacob " A Fort Poinsett June 26, '41 do. 22 Collins, John " A At sea Aug. 5, '41 Disease unknown. 23 Cammel, James " A Fort Brooke Nov. — , '40 Do. fFlorida. 24 Christopher, Lem. Clark, Michael " c Jefferson Barracks Sept. 4, '41 Congestive fever ct. in 25 " D Near Fort Fanning Sept. 10, '39 Shot by Indians wliile on escort. 26 Cameron, Douglas " D Fort Brooke Oct. 2, '39 Disease unknown. 27 Clarke, Orian S. " D Cedar Keys April 11, '41 do. 28 Clarke, Lewis E Fort Barker Aug. 5, '40 Drowned, in conse- quence of derange- ment caused by fever. 29 Call, Morris " F Near Fort Cross June 12, '39 Shot by Indians. 30 Crussell, Madison " F Fort St. Augustine Nov. 27, '39 Bilious fever. 31 Cunningham, ChrisV " F Jefferson Barracks Oct. 17, '41 Consumption, contract- in Florida. 32 Connell, John " G Tampa Bay May 25, '38 Tampa Bay. 33 Develin, John " A F'tCrawford.W.T. Sept. 20, '41 Consumption, certainly contracted in Florida. 34 Dakin, Robert " C Traders' Hill, Ga. Nov. 17, '38 Dis. unk'wn, ct. in Fla. 35 Dunn, Andrew << D Fort Brooke Aug. 25, '39 Disease unknown. 3G Douglass, James " E Fort Heileman Aug. 2, '38 do. 37 Delinger, Jacob " E Cedar Keys Sept. 16, '40 Chronic dysentery. 38 Diltmer, Adam " E Cant'ment Morgan July .30, '41 Fever. 39 Davis, Henry A. " G Cedar Keys May 25, '41 do: 40 Dover, Theodore " H Near Fort Macomb Oct, 9, '40 Shot by the Indians while on express. 41 Dury, John u I Fort Lawson June 5, '39 Accidentally shot by private A. M. Morris. 42 Eagan, Joseph " A At sea Aug. 9, '41 Dis. unk'wn, ct. in Fla. 43 Ellis, Richard " H Fort Macomb Se])t. 2, '40 Fever. 44 Flower, John " A Fort Stansbury Sept. 10, '40 do. 45 Foley, William Feim, Jacob il G Fort Monroe, Va. Nov. 13, '38 Dis. unk'wn, ct. in Fla. 46 G Black Creek Sept. 27, '39 Fractured skull. 47 Foust, John " G F't Crawford,W T. Sept. 27, '41 Fever, contr'd in Fla. 48 Fox, Michael " I Cant'ment Morgan May 10, '41 Fever. 49 Garner, John N. R. Sergeant F At sea Nov. 12. '40 Chronic diarrhea. 50 Giles, George IL Private B Fort Clinch Dec. 13, '38 Disease unknown. 51 Griffith, E. L. D Fort Brooke Nov. 11, '39 do. 52 Glenn, Samuel " E Fort Heileman July 5, '38 Shot by a citizen. 53 Griffiihs, John " G Black Creek Oct. 8, '39 Fever. 54 Hessen, Edward Sergeant B Near Fort Macomb Sept. 3, '40 Drown'd on exp. fr. Ft. Jackson to Ft. Macomb. 55 Halloran, Patrick Corporal D Cedar Keys Oct. 26, '40 Disease unknown. 56 Ha^addon, William Private B Jefferson Barracks Sept. 4, '41 Chronic diarr. ct. in Fla. 57 Hockaday, William Howard, Wm. C. B Charleston, S. C. Sept. 3, '39 YeIl'wfev.leftFla.sick. SB u B St. Augustine Nov. 12, '39 Yellow fever. 536 APPENDIX. Ha^gerty, Thomas Hines, Ambrose B. Hobble, Joseph Hubbard, Aaron Henderson, Alex. Hough, John Harrison, James Heiner, John Houseman, Aaron Harvey, John Hancock, Lor. D. Hoit, George Klousman, Francis Kornes, David Kitt, PhiHp Kilpatrick, James Laylock, William Lynch, Edward Lame, John Lappin, Dennis Losburgh, Fred. Le Hunt, Thomas Luon, Elisha Lynde, Adolphus J. Lazenioy, John Lee, John Morris, Thomas S. McMullen, James McKetchnie, Neal Mitchell, Alexander Moore, Daniel Myer, Frederick McDonough, Andr. Moore, Josiah Moyer, George McBride, James McLaughlin, Thos. MuLane, John O'Neal, Thomas O'Leary, Michael Parks, George Philips, Henry S. Ponton, William Patterson, John C. Rutan, Cornelius Roberts, Samuel S. Rogers, John Rawson, Gideon E Robinson, David Rudkin, Edward Smith George Senaider, Chas. F. Stack, Charles Smith, William S()awassen, Fred. Sandford, James Smidt, John Soiiem, John Taylor, Abraham Tavlor, William Thomas, Geo. W. Thompson, Wm. Tomb, James Trimbles, Edward Tearners, Gilbert Thatcher, William Weist, M. Williams, John M. Wiland, Lewis Williams, John Private Corporal Musician Private Sergeant Private Musician Private Musician Private Place of Death. Date of Death. Sergeant Corporal Private Cedar Keys Mississippi River, near the Ohio do. near the Salina Tampa Bay Fort Armistead At sea Fort Norton, Geo. Near Fort Cross Micanopy Fort Macomb Fort White Fort Clinch Cedar Keys Fort Fanning Fort Brooke F't Crawford, W.T. F't Columbus, N.Y. At sea Fort Fanning Black Creek Camp Gamble Fort Armistead At sea Cedar Keys do. do. At sea Fort Armistead Jefferson Barracks do. New-Orleans Cedar Keys Fort Brooke Fort Lawson Fort Armistead Fort Brooke Fort Armistead Fort Atkinson, I.T. Cant'ment Morgan Jeft'erson Barracks St. Augustine Fort Barker Fort Frazer Cant'ment Morgan St. Augustine F't Crawford, W.T. Jefferson Barracks Cedar Keys Black Creek Fort Oscilla Fort Slansbury Fort Armistead do. Fort Snelling Pilatka Fort Pleasant do. Fort Armistead St. Augustine Fort Fanning Mississippi River Fort Fanning F't Henderson, Ga. Cedar Keys do. Fort Winnebago, W.T. Tampa Bay Fort Gilmore, Ga. F't Crawford. W.T C Tampa Bay May 4, 1841 Aug. 26, '41 Aug. 30, '41 Oct. 9, '40 Feb. 27, '41 Aug. 10, '41 Sept. 17, '38 June 12, '39 Dec. 13. '38 Sept. 15. '39 July 6, '38 Dec. 23, '38 June 19, '41 Oct. 20, '39 Oct. 22, '39 Sept. 7, '41- June, 22, '41 Oct. 11, Ml Sept. 13, '39 July 14, '39 Nov. 21, '39 April 25, '41 Aug. 9, '41 May 3, '41 May 21, '41 July 20, '41 Aug. 12, '41 April 3, '41 Sept. 3, '41 do. June 10, '38 June 12, '41 Nov. 13, '39 Nov. 6, '39 March 14. '41 March 2, '41 April 29, '41 Nov. 14, '41 July 21, '41 Sept. 26, '41 Nov. 6, '39 Sept. 17, '40 March 5, '38 July, 30, '41 Sept. 11, '39 Oct. 9, Ml Sept. 3, '41 Aug. 17, '40 July 4, '39 March 21, '40 May 21, '40 April 21, '41 April 20, '41 Sept. 12, '41 Aug. 12. '33 July 9, '40 Aug. 21, '40 Feb. 3, '41 Nov. 26, '39 Feb. 16, '40 Sept. 9, '41 May 23, '40 July 6, '39 Dec. 23, '40 May, 10, '41 Oct. 5, '41 May 1, '38 Nov. 7, '40 April 14, '42 June 9, '38 Remarks. Congestive fever. Disease unknown, con- tracted in Florida, do. do. do. do. Typhoid fever. Acute dysentery, con- tracted in Florida. Disease unknown. Shot by the Indians. Fever. do. Disease unknown. • do. Chronic dysentery. Diarrhea. Disease unknown. Fever, contract, in Fla. Gangrene of lungs, sent from Florida sick. Disease unknown. W'ds rec'd from Indians Fever, [while on escort. do. do. do. do. do. do. do, do. [traded in Fla Chronic diarrhea, coe- Congestive fever, do. Disease unknown, sent from Florida sick. Fever. Disease unknown. do. Congestive fever. Fever. do. [ed in Florida. Consumption, contract- Pulmonary affection. Dropsy, contract, in Fla. Fever. [rifle. Bursting of an Indiam Fever. Brain fever. Concussion of the brain, accid'tal fall fr. horse. Dis. unk'wn, ct. in Fla. Congestive fever, con- tracted in Florida. Inflammation of intes- Drowned. [tines. Fever. Drowned. Disease unknown. do. Diarrhea, contra, in Fla, Disease unknown. Fever. do. do. Yellow fever. Disease unknown. Fever, contract, in Fla, do. do. Shot by Corporal Ross. Consumption. Congestive, fever. Dysentery and fever, contracted in Florida. Fever. Congestive fever. [Fla. Consumption, contra, m. Shot by Private MorelL TENDIX. 537 JVb. JVames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. I9q Wright, John H. Private F. Jefferson Barracks Sept. 6, 1841 Dis. unk'n, cont. in Fla. 13fl Westley, Elisha " a Fort Pleasant July 9, '40 Fever. 131 Ward, Richard " K Fort Brooke Nov. 19, '39 di). I32'Yeank, Gabriel Sergeant I Fort Barker April 25, '40 W'd.shotbylnd. while in chg. of vv'agon train. 133 Yonavt, John Corporal B St. Augustine Oct. 18, '39 Inflammation of brain. 134 Yell, Henry Private R Picolata Sept. '38 Fever. 135 Zenger, Ferdinand " E Ft. Columbus, N.Y. Sept. 14, '41 Dis. unk'n, cont. in Fla. SECOND REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. 1 Russell, Samuel L. Captain ■ Woodruff, C. E. 1st Lieut. Allen, Thomas Austin, Calvin Aiken, John Archer, Robert Annis, Ephraim Brien, George Bryson, William Bradley, Henry Baum, Henry Brown, Sheppard Bennett, Harman Brady, Samuel Boland, John Conolly, John Clifford, Daniel Curren, George M. Christian, John Carnes, Edward Chapman, James Cooper, David Castle, Thomas Calver, Barney Cassady, James Croker, Thomas Dounherty, William Duffy, Patrick Delinger, GeurgeW. Desbrough, Aaron Dugan, Patrick Dearborn, George Donnell, James Eastman, Thos.W. Faze, Tictus French. Samuel Fullington, Richard Farreli, James French, John Gilbert, Cyrus Gillett, Peter Griggs, Philo C. Hall, John Hosey, Gedlow Hawley, James Harper, Jolin Hanly, David Hickey, Patrick Hannus, J. W. Herron, Edward Hyde, Matthew Hogan, James Heath, Elijah Hotchkiss, Calvin Houck, David Hood, Frederick Hoegenaeur, Geo. J Jones, Edward Jones, Ephraim Jeffers, Patrick Private Corporal Private Sergeant Private Corporal Private Corporal Private Musician Private Fifer Sergeant I Miami River A Fort Holmes Fort Shannon Fort King Fort White Near Fort White Fort Fanning Cedar Keys Fort Holmes Fort Brooke Fort Shannon- Fort Heileman Fort Brooke Fort Russell Picolata Fort Brooke Charlotte Harbor Fort Micanopy Fort King Haw Creek Fort Shannon St. John's Bluff Fort Fanning Fort Russell Fort King Picolata do. St. John's Bluff Fort Diane Fort King Ocklawaha River Fort Russell Livingston's Ferry At sea Fort Russell Alligator Fort King Fort Walker Wacahoota Fort Russell Fort Brooke Between Micanopy and Wacahojta Fort Brooke St. John's Bluif Fort Brooke St. John's Bluff Fort White Fort Russell Lake Monroe Fort Russell do. Charles Ferry Camp Sherrard Near Micanopy Orange Creek St. John's Bluff do. At sea Fort Russell Near Micanopy Feb. 28, '39 April 17, '41 Dec. 22, '41 July 23, '41 Dec. 16, '.38 June 30, '39 Oct. 8, '39 Aug. 5, '40- March 28, '41 Nov. 6, '37 Dec. 7, '41 Nov. 23, '39 May 4, '38 Oct. 2, '41 April 14, '38 March 8, '.37 Jan. 28, '38 April 8, '40 Aug. 25, '41 Jan. 25, '42 March 4, '42 Feb. 15, '42 Oct. 8, '39 Oct. 26. '40 Aug. 12, '40 Dec. 7, '37 Oct. 14, '40 Nov. 10, '41 Oct. 11, '36 Aug. 11, '40 March 8, '42 Sept. 15, '40 Sept. 18, '38 June 28, '39 May 2, '42 Oct. 20, '39 Aug. 9, '41 April 22, '40 May 5, '40 Nov. 26, '41 May 29, '38 May 19, '40 May 2, '38 Oct. 8, '41 May 4, '39 March 1, '42 Oct. 20, '38 Aug. 12, '40 June 26, '40 Sept. 1, '39 Nov 19, '40 July 22, '38 Aug. 16, '38 May 19, '40 March 2, '41 Nov. 13, '41 March 8, '42 June 5, '42 Oct. 10, '40 May 19, '40 Killed in action. Acute dysentery. Consumption. Dysentery. Disease unknown. Killed by the Indians. Disease unknown. Consumption. Scrofula. Disease unknown, Tetanus. Disease unknown, do. Inflammation. Diarrhea. Change of climate. Exposure, lost5or6dys. Fever. Congestive fever. Killed in action. Chronic dysentery. Chronic diarrhea. Disease unknown. Consumption. Dysentery Disease unknown. Dysentery. Chronic dysentery. Apoplexy. Dysentery. Shot accidentally by dis- charge of musket. Debility. Drowned. Chronic dysentery, con- tracted in Fla. Congestive fever. Biliaus fever. do. [T. Strong. Shot— murdered by Sgt. Gravel. Chronic dysentery. Debility. Killed or taken prisoner by Indians. Consumption. Chronic dysentery. Chronic diarrhea. Fungus Heamotodes. Disease nnknown. do. Drowned. Dy.sentery. Fever. Drowned. Chronic dysentery. Kil'dorta'n pris. by Ind, Killed in action. Dysentery. Disease unknovt'n. Conges, fev. cont. in Fla. Dysentery. Kil'd or ta'n pris. by Irn?» 538 APPENDIX. JVo. Mames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 59 Keiffer, John Private B Ocklawaha River Dec. 13, 1838 Chronic dysentery. 60 Kelly, James " E Fort King May 14, '41 Congestive fever. 61 King, William F Fort White July 27, '.39 Disease unknown. 62 Kelcher, Richard " G Fort Thompson March 4, '38 Oirthalmia. 63 Kennedy, Patrick <' G Off Cape Hatteras June 7, '42 Dysent'y— cont. in Fla. 64 Kroeger.AugnsteF. " K Fort Sherrard Oct. 17, '39 Chronic dysentery. 65 I^onard, Patrick " D Fort Brooke May 4, '38 ' Dysentery. 66 I-jarrigan, John " F do. Aug. 17, '38 Disease unknown. 67 Lyons, Timothy " F Fort Russell Nov. 13, '40 Fever. 68 Laing, Robert Corporal G Orange Creek March 2, '41 Killed by Indians. 69 Lighthipe, Jacob Private II Fort No. 11 May 6, '40 C. •in sumption. 70 Lehning, Daniel " K Camp Sherrard Sept. 26, '38 Bilious fever. 71 Major, John Drummer A Fort No. 16 April 10, '40 Dropsy. 72 McCullen, Michael Private B Fort Heileman Oct. 13, '39 Fever. 73 McClosky, Francis " B Fort Holmes Oct. 17, '40 Bilious fever. 74 Murray, Richard " B do. Nov. 25, '40 Scurvy. 75 Mahony, Jeremiah " C Fort White April 12, '39 Dysentery. 76 McConnell, David " C Fort No. 16 Nov. 8, '39 Bilious fever. 77 Maxwell, Geo. L. " C Fort King do. Feb. 16, '41 do. 78 Murphy, D. " D Aug. 9, '40 Dysentery. 79 McClellan, James " D do. Feb. U, '41 Congestive fever. 80 Moolick, John " E St. John's Bluff Nov. 7, '41 Disease unknown. 81 McGuire, Terrence " F F't Henderson, Ga. Nov. 13, '41 Consumption. 82 Middleton, Thomas " G Fort Brooke April 1, '38 Disease unknown. 83 Martin, Peter " G St. John's Bluff Nov. 29, '41 Dysentery. 84 Mustin, Peter " G Fort Mellon Dec. 5, '41 do. 85 Miller, C. H. S. ", G St. John's Bluff Jan. 22, '42 Disease unknown. 88 McReavy, Jolin Corporal H Near Itonia Scrub March 20, '39 Killed by Ind. while on 87 Morton, A. P. Sergeant H Savannah, Ga. Sept. 24, '40 a surveying party. Fever, cont. in Fla. 88 McMillen, James Private H Fort King Dec. 12, '41 Dysentery. 89 McKonkcy, James " H St. John's Bluff Dec. 18, '41 do. ^ 90 Mure, Robert " H Fort Kjng Feb. 6, '42 Chronic dysentery. 91 Monn, James " I Fort Russell Aug. 23, '39 Dysentery. 92 McPherson, Martin " I Picolata Nov. 26, '40 Debility. 93 McDonald, John " I Fort Russell Feb. 17, '41 Consumption. 94 Maynard, John J. " I Fort Shannon Nov. 8, '41 Dropsy. 95 McBride, Edward " T do. Jan. 1, '42 Dysentery. 96 Mitchell, Thomas " K Fort Mellon April 4, '38 do. 97 Murphy, Edward " K Camp Sherrard Oct. 16, '38 Drowned while on duty. Killed in action. 98 Merrick, Lewis " K Orange Creek March 2, '41 99 Myer, Philip '' K St. John's Bluff N^ov. 30, '41 Disease unknown. 100 Norris, William " A Fort Br: oke June 19, '38 Consumption, do. 101 O'Connell, Dennis " I St. John's Bluff Aug. 7, '41 102 O'Dere, J>d,n " K Camp Sherrard Feb. 12, '39 Chronic dysentery. 103 Osborne, William " B St. Augustine Nov. 29, '38 Chronic diarrhea. 104 Peasley, Robert " F F't Henderson, Ga. Dec. 6, '41 Diarrhea. 105 Perry, Oliver H. Corporal K Fort Russell Feb. 8, '42 Congestive fever. 106 Q-uinn, Patrick Private C Trader's Hill, Ga. Feb. 1, '4-2 Dysentery. 107 Ciuinn Matthew *' E Fort Russell Nov. 19, '41 Disease unknown. 108 109 Robins, Stephen Reeder, John u C D Alligator Fort King Sept. 10, '39 Au2. 12, '41- Shot himself by accident. Yellow fever. 110 Reynolds, Isaac " H Fort Brooke Oct. 10, '38 Chronic diarrhea. 111 Ryan, G.dfrey J. " H At sea July 16, '38 Dis. unk'n, cont. in Fla. 112 Raridon, Timothy " I Ft. Columbus, N.Y. Feb. 5, '39 Consutnp. cont in Fla. Killed by Indians. 113 114 115 116 117 Sweatman, Daniel Sawyer, Joshua Corpora;] B Cow Creek Ham'ck July 12, '40 Private B Fort Holmes Nov. 18, '40 Inflammation of bowels. Shaw, John " G Near tlie Everglades Feb. 2, '38 Killed by Indians. Seigle, Jacob H. Shattenburgh,G'fry i* G H Fort Cooper Fort No. 11 July 10, '41 Aug. 10, '39 Shot accidentally. Typhus fever. Chronic dysentery. do. Effects of starva'n, hav- 118 119 120 Sicktbrd, Ebenezer Sinclare, William Stuhlman, Henry ;; K K K Fort Sherrard do. Fort Macomb Aug. 16, '39 Sept. 6, '39 April 1, '40 121 122 123 124 Thompson, Walter u H Fort King April 4, '41 ing been lost on a scout Killed by Indians. Dis. unk'n, cont. in Fla. Chronic dysentery, do. Vera, Joseph Willard, George S. Weeden. John J. ,( G A B Fort Monroe, Va. Fort Holmes Picolata April 10, '42 Jan. 7, '41 Oct 31 '40 125 126 Wood, Samuel Winne, Killan u C F Buffalo, N. Y. Fort Heileman Sept. 3,' '42 July 26, '37 Fever, cont. in Fla. Disease unknown. 127 128 Wilson, J. S. P. Werback, Frederick u F F Fort Fanning Fort Brooke Jan. 11, 29 Nov. 27, '39 Effusion of lungs. Disease unknown. 129 Weger, Charles " F Ft. Henderson, Ga. Jan. 22, '42 Accidentally drowned. Dii>G3.sG of tliG br&in. 130 Wells, John W. " K Fort Shannon Feb. 4, '42 131 Zeigler, William Sergeant B Cow Creek Ham'ck July 12, '40 Killed by Indians. APPENDIX. THIRD REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. 539 .Vo. Remarks. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 1 Glen, T. B. 2d Lieut. At sea June 9, 1841 Disease unk'n, ct.in Fla 2 Lewis, A. Captain Tampa Nov. 30, '40 do. do. 3 Vose, J. H., Jr. 1st Lieut. New- York June 20, '41 do. do. 1 Brown, Joseph Private F Cedar Keys May 18, '41 Chronic dysentery. 2 Brown, Edward " E Near Fort Macomb June 9, '41 Killed by Indians, while 3 Bailey, William .. A Fort Pleasant June 29, '41 defend, a wagon train. Dysentery. 4 Bum, Thomas " F Fort Gamble Sept. 19, '41 ; do. ^ 5 Brice, John " D Cedar Keys March 25, '42 Chronic dysentery. 6 Boyle, Michael " H Fort Pleasant July 8, '42 Congestion of the brain 7 Bowers, Joseph " C Cedar Keys July 10, '42 Dysentery. 8 Butler, James " E Fort Stansbury Nov. 26, '42 Pneumonia. 9 Campbell, James " G Oscilla Ferry July 12, '41 Bilious fever. 10 Carlin, Jjhn " C Cedar Keys Oct. 20, '41 Yellow fever. 11 Cahill, John " 1 do. Oct. 29, '41 Chronic dysentery. 12 Clifford, Dennis " B Fort Stansbury Jan. 12, '42 do. [in Fla. 13 Churchill, William " F Jeffe;son Barracks June 19, '43 Chronic diarrhea, contr. 14 Davis, Samuel Corporal E ('edar Keys Dec. 7, '40 Inflamm. of bowels. 15 Dreiss, Charles Private C Fort Oscilla Jully 4, '41 Dysentery. 16 Donnelly, Cons. " E Fort Stansbury July 12, '41 Chronic dysentery. [Fla. 17 Denker, Herman 0. " D Fort Monroe, Va. April 7, '42 Consumption, contr. in 18 Dallon, Joseph " G Cedar Keys Dec. 14, '41 Disease unknown. 19 Downey, Joseph " C Jefferson Barracks May 4 '43 Chronic dys., ct. in Fla. 20 Eagan, J ihn " D Fort No. 4. Dec. 27, '40 Disease unknown. 21 Fraziei-, John " F Fort Fanning June 9, '41 Purp. hemorrhage. 22 Flanagan, William " H Fort Pleasant Aug. 19, '31 Congestive fever. 23 Fisher, Adam " I Cedar Keys Oct. 7, '41 Chronic dysentery. 24 Gantzell, Edward " F do. Sept. 19, '41 do. 25 Gallagher, Andrew " K Fort Stansbury Jan. 2f), '42 Apoplexy, [hunt, alone. 26 Graham, William " H Near Fort Pleasant April 7, '41 Killed by Indians while 27 Gaffney, Patrick " G Cedar Keys July 22, '42 Chronic dysentery. 28 Hickson, Robert " I Foit Fanning June 4, '41 Intermittent fever. 29 Hutchison, Patrick \\ D Fort Pleasant June 19, '41 Dysentery. 30 Harrington, Thomas D do. July ]0, '41 Dropsy. 31 Hearne, John H do. Sept. 2, '41 Congestion of the brain. 32 Hackett. Franklin C Fort GHmble Sept. 13, '41 Intermittent fever and 33 Joyce, Th')mas " K Fort Stansbury Aug. 2, '41 Apoplexy, [dysentery. 34 Johnson, William " C Fort Gamble March 27, '42 Dysentery. 35 Junot, Christian " F do. July 21, '42 Vulnis scl'tpitorum. 36 Igenhoffer, Frederick " C Cedar Keys July 25, '42 Chronic dysentery. 37 Kane, Timothy " F Fort Brooke Nov. 19, '40 Diarrhea. 38 KeUy, William " I Cedar Keys July 20, '41 Chronic dysenterj' 39 Knowlton, Samuel G. A Fort Hamilton July 29, '41 Shot by Indians, while riding e.v press. 40 Kelly, James O. " E Cedar Keys Aug. 10, '41 Disease unknown. 41 Koppell, William " K Fort Stansbury Nov. 16, '41 Dysentery. 42 Kelly, Michael " F Cedar Keys Dec. 9, '42 Consumption. 43 Little, Martin " K Fort Brooke Feb. 3, '43 Drowned. 44 McManus, Thomas " F Fort. Stansbury Aug. 31, '41 Congestive, fever. 45 McCann, David " F Cedar Keys Sept. 23, '11 Chronic dysentery. 46 Marabacker, Val. " C Fort Gamble Oct. 9, '41 Diarrhea. 47 McCaffrey, James " A Fort Pleasant Oct. 11, '41 Dysentery. 48 McMurty, William " K Fort Stansbury Oct. 18, '41 Congestive fever. 49 Neil, Arthur 0. " I Columbia Co., Fla. Aug. 30, '41 do. 50 Robinson, James " A Fort Pleasant July 12, '41 Dysentery. •?1 Rees, Thomas Corporal F Cedar Keys July 23, '41 Chronic dysentery. 5-2 Rice, Maurice Serg.Maj. do. Aug. 19, '41 Yellow fever. 53 Regan, Patrick Private B Fort Stansbury Dec. 6. '41 Pulmonary consumpt. 54 Sugney, John " F Fort Fanning June 13, '41 Dysentery. 55 Simpkins, William " K Fort Stansbury Aug. 11, '41 Phthisis. 56 Sweeny, Patrick " E do. Sept. 17, '41 Chronic dysentery. 57 Shields, Owen " K do. Oct. 7, '41 Congestive fever. 58 Tice, Lewis " F Fort Fanning July 27, '41 Epileptic convulsions. 59 Tor;le, John " B Near Fort Preston Nov. 23, 41 Dro'd while on a scout. 60 Toomey, Edward " E Cedar Keys Nov. 11, '41 Disease unknown. 61 Van Houter, William " E Pensac'ila Aug. 24, '41 do. 62 Will, Jacob " E Cedar Keys Jan. 25, '41 Consumption. 63 White, Patrick " F Fort Fanning June 15, '41 Congestive fever. 64 White, Jacob " F Cedar Keys Sept. 12, '41 Chronic dysentery. 65 White, John " E do. Oct. 20, '41 Disease unknown. 65 White, John " K do. Nov. 11, '41 Chronic pneumonia. 67 Wolff, Charles H. " G Fort Pleasant March 10, '42 General debility. 68 Winsley, Thomas " F Fort Fanning Jan. 25, '43 Chronic dysentery. 540 APPENDIX. FOURTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. ^.. JVames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks 1 Birch, George Major Fort Brooke Sept. 26, 1837 Disease unknown. Dade, Francis L. Bt.'Major B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 3 McCrabb, J. W. Bt. Capt. D St. Augustine Nov. 6, '39 Fever. 4 Sands, R. M. Br. Major G Fort Call Sept. 13, '36 Disease unknown. 5 Spoor, C. H. E. 2d Lieut. D Lock port, N. Y. Jan. 26, '38 Dis. unkn'wn, ct. in Fla. 6 Tliornton, A. W. Captain A Pensacola Nov. 2, '36 Disease unknown. ] Allen, Adolphus Private C Fort Monroe, Va. June 9, '38 Disease unk'wn, contrac. 2 Able, John " G Fort Call Sept. 15, '36 Dysentery. [in Fla. 3 Barnes, John " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 4 Burwell, John Corporal E Fort Call Sept. 7, '36 Bilious fever. 5 Bryant, James Private D do. Sept. 11. '36 do. 6 Buckle}', James " E do. Sept. 13, '36 Remittent fever 7 Bright, George " G do. Sept. 15, '36 Bilious fever. 8 Black, John " I do. Sept. 17, '36 do. 9 Bentz. Adam Corporal D do. Sept. 23, '36 Congestive fever. 10 Brown, John Sergeant G do. Oct. 4, '36 Remittent fever. 11 Bonsall, Adam F. Private I do. Oct. 6, '36 do. 12 Brearman, Henry " G Fort Clinch Dec. 7, '36 Disease unknown. 13 Bennett, Isaac " G Tampa Bay July 16, '37 do. 14 Buckley, James " K do. Aug. 31, '37 do. 15 Bruce, Henry Musician A do. Jan. 2, '42 Consumption. 16 Brultie, John Private D do. Feb. 21, '42 do.' 17 Bloom, Andrew " A Cedar Keys July 9, '42 Diarrhea. [in Fla. 18 Barr, James Sergeant I New-Orleans May '37 Disease unk'wn, contrac. 19 Bristol, Sidney Private I At sea May 21, '.37 do. do. 20 Boyde, Robert " K New-Orleans April 24, '38 Dysentery, do. 21 Boyle, Robert " A Fort Monroe, Va. June 29, '38 Disease unknown, do. 22 Campbell, Donald " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 23 Cunningham, Mar. " B do. do. do. 24 Clendening, Levi Sergeant K Chrystal River Feb. 9, '37 do. 25 Cannon, Walter Private E Fort King Feb. 29, '36 Chronic diarrhea. 26 Casey, John M. " E Fort Brooke May 10, '36 Disease unknown. 27 Cobbett, John Z. " G Fort Call Nov. 3, '36 Typhus fever. 28 Carroll, Michael " B Tampa Bay ^ .. Sept. 23, '37 Dysentery. 29 Chandler, William " E do. Sept. 2, '37 Disease unknown. 30 Comstuck, Sol. " G do. Sept. 13, '37 Intermittent fever. 31 Coghan, John Clifton, James R. " c Fort Fanning Sept. 22, '42 Inflamm. of the brain. 32 " K Fort Monroe, Va. Nov. 28, '.37 Dis. unk'wn, ct. in Fla. 33 Doughty, John " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 34 Donovan, Cornel. " B do. do. do. 35 Downes, William " B, do. do. do. 36 Downes, John " I' Fort Brooke April 29, '36 Consumption. 37 Dunham, Hezek. " I Fort Call Oct. 8, '38 Bilious fever. 38 Dougherty, John Du%, John " G Tampa Bay Jan. 25, '37 Disease unknown. 39 " C do. Sept. 11, '37 do. 40 Donnelly, James Corporal K do. Sept. 10, '37 Intermittent fever. 41 Dorr, William H. Sergeant K Fort Brooke Aug. 21, '37 Disease unknown. 42 Dougherty, C. L. Private F Picolata Aug. 13, '42 Shot by jjrivate Hurley. 43 Dill, Andrew " C New-Orleans June 24, '38 Dis. unkn'wn, ct. in Fla. 44 Dennis, Archibald " A En route to JefF'son Oct. 6, '42 Typhus fever. do. 45 Foster, William " D Big Cypress [Bar'ks Dec. 20, '41 Killed in action. 46 Frederick, Samuel " I Fort Call Oct. 20, '36 Chronic diarrhea. 47 Frank, Vilebrod " D Tampa Bay , '37 Disease unknown. 48 Yates, Enoch " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 49 Gage, Depretot " D Fort Call Aug. 16. '36 Bilious fever. 50 Gaither, Otho " B Key West [Monroe Sept. 16, '36 Hepatic consumption. 51 Gardner, William " B On passage to Fort Sept. 23, '37 Dis. unkn'wn, ct. in Fla. 52 Hall, Samuel " B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 53 Hill, David " E Fort Call Aug. 31, '36 do. 54 Hollins, James " I do. Sept. 22, '36 Bilious fever. 55 Hefferman, Daniel " I do. Oct. 19, '36 do. 56 Humjjhries, Robert " I Fort Clinch Dec. 12, '36 Chronic diarrhea. 57 Hunter, Lyrns " G Tampa Bay March 15, '37 Disease unknown. 58 Hanzahan. Michael " C Fort Dade June 11, '37 do. 59 Harris, Gideon " I Tampa Bay July 8, '37 do. 60 Husher, Frederick " I do. Aug. 19, '37 Diarrhea. 61 Hilliard, Isaac " A do. Oct. 8, '37 Chronic dysentery. Disease unknown. 62 H()Ughtaling,Steph " D do. Nov. 6. '36 63 Hougham, J math. " C do. Nov. 27, '41 Fever. [in Fla. Disease unk'wn, contrac. 64 Hardy, James " A Jefferson Barracks • Oct. 8, '42 65 Jones, Wiley B Dade's Massacre Dec. 28, 35 Killed in action. 66 Ingram, William G Fort Call Ot.t. 6, '42 Hydro-Thora.v. 67 Jenkins, Lewis " E Fort Clinch Dec. 31, '36 Cachexia. APPENDIX. 541 A'o. Jfames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 68 Jones, Philip King, Tiiomas Private C Jefferson Barracks Oct. 28, 1843 Conges, fev. cont. in Fla, 69 " E Fort Call Sei)t. 5, '36 Bilious fever. 70 Keilahav, Michael " D do. Nov. 7, '36 Epileptic fits. 71 Lutz, Othiel " A Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 72 Lee, Francis " G Fort Call July 30, '36 Bilious lever. 73 Losee, Samuel " I do. Sept. 9, '36 do. 74 Long, Edward F. " D do. Nov. 4, '36 Chronic diarrhea. 75 I^arge, Achilles " K ThlonotosassaLake July 18, '37 Disease unknown. 7G Lamb, Cuilis " G Tampa Bay Aug. 23, '37 Chronic dysentery. 77 Lawrence, Wm. E. " K do. Oct. 30, '37 Disease unknown. 78 Lentz, Nicholas " K Fort Taylor Nov. 28, '37 do. 79 Lowrie, James G. " C Tampa Bay [Bks. Oct. 28, '41 Consum[)tion. 80 Linder, William " c En route lo Jeff. Oct. 12, '42 Int. fever, cont. in Fla. 8] Mackham, John <' B Dade's P*Iassacre Dec. 28, '35 Killed in action. 82 McLaughlin, David " D Thlonotosassa April 26, '36 do. 83 McCann, Felix " G Fort Call Aug. 16, '36 Drowned. 84 Martin, John " D do. Aug. 17, '36 Bilious fever. 85 McCormick, Sam'l " D do. Sept. 23, '36 do. 86 McLarty, James " D do. Nov. 2, '36 Typhus fever. 87 Marson, John Sgt. Maj. M'thofWithla'chie Nov. 17, '36 Bilious fever. 88 Maloney, John Marriott, Stephen Sergeant I Fort Clinch Dec. 2, '36 Dysentery. 89 Private do. Dec. 11, '36 Cachexia. 90 Morrow, Thomas " I do. Dec. 12, '36 do. 91 Madden, John " D do. Dec. 13, '36 Dropsy. 92 Murray, William Sergeant C Tampa Bay July 30, '.37 Hiccups. 93 McEneive, Gerald Private H do. Aug. 10, '37 Dysentery. 94 RIcAvoy, John " I do. Aug. 26, '37 5-°'''^; . . • TTi 95 McMullen, Samuel " C At sea Sept. 16, '37 Dis. unk'n, cont. \nbia. 96 Morris, George " B Cedar Keys Aug. 17, '42 Dysentery. 97 Mathers, Lyman " E Old Point May 23, '38 Chr. dys. cont. in Fla. 98 Murphy, Isaac Ormsby, John Ohlendorff, John C. " K Ross' Ferry, Tenn. June 18, '38 Dis. unknown, do. 99 " G Magnolia July 9, '36 Remittent fever. 100 Corporal I Fort Call Oct. 2, '36 Bilious fever. 101 O'Brien, Arthur Private I Tampa Bay Dec. 4, '37 Disease unknown. 102 Potter, George E Fort Call Sept. 25, '36 Remittent fever. 103 Parker, Hiram Sergeant B Fort Clinch Nov. 30, '36 Measles. 104 Parsons, Harrison Private •E Tampa Bay Aug. 22. '37 Disease unknown. 105 Phillips, Jacob I do. Oct. 1, '.37 do. 106 Powers, Enoch " G do. Dec. 4, '37 do. 107 Peter, Charles " F Fort King June 29, '42 Dis. unk'n, cont. in Fla. 108 Price, Wyman " G Ft. Hamilton, N.Y. Dec. 27, '37 109 Ciuinn, Charl-es Ciorporal D Fort Clinch Dec. 23, '36 Apoplexy. 110 Richards, William Private D do. Dec. 27, '36 Intlam. of the lungs._ 111 Richter, Jacob C Fort Wacahoota Aug. 16, '42 Inflammation of brain. 112 Stewart, John " A Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 113 Shumard, B^rthol. Shaefrev, Daniel " H do. do. do. 114 «' A Fort Call July 16, '36 Bilious fever. 115 Smith, P. S. Sergeant D do. Aug. 18, '36 do. 116 Shepherd, Francis Private G Tampa Bay May 15, '37 Disease unknown. 117 Somers, Patrick " K do. June 28, '37 do. 118 Shanley, Wm. C. " B Thlonot.';sassa Lake July 24, '37 Remittent fever. 119 Smith, Samuel " B Tampa Bay Aug. 13, '37 Dysentery. 120 Shay, Patrick " G do. Aug. 3, '37 Intermittent fever 121 Sheridan, Patrick C do. Sept. 20, '37 Disease unknown. 122 Tyler, Laban Walker, William " G do. July 8, '37 do. 123 " I Thlonotosassa Ai)ril 26, '36 Killed in action. 124 Whitiiiger, John " I Tampa Bay Sept. 11, '37 Disease unknown. 125 Wood, Joseph " I Oct. 9, '37 •^°- 126 Warren, Hiram B. Sergeant C Fort Monroe, Va. Sept. 29, '.37 do., cont. in Fla. 127 Wilson, Henry Private E Tampa Bay Nov. 6, '37 do. 128 Wagner, Fred. C. " C Jefferson Barracks Oct. 16, '42 Yeirvvfev.,cont. InFla. 1 I Wilcox, D. FIFTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. Major 1 I Pilatka | Jan. 3, '42 I Disease contract, in Fla. 542 APPENDIX. SIXTH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. JVb. .A''ames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Dsath. Remarks. 1 Brooke, Francis 1st Lieut. A Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, 1837 Killed in action. 2 Berrien, Win. D. " K Fort Brooke Dec. 2, '40 Disease unknown. 3 Center, J. P. 2d Lieut. A Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 4 Conriul, Joiin 1st Lieut. f James' Island Aug. 10, '38 Disease unknown. 5 Grift'en, George H. D Fort Brooke Oct. 8,. '39 do.— cout inFla. 6 Green, John Lt. Col. Tallahassee Sept. 21, '40 do. 7 Hulbert, William 2d Lieut. F Near Ft. F. Brooke May 2, '39 Killed by the Indians. 8 Tiiompsoii, Alex.R. Lt. Cul. Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. His last words : " Men ! remem- ber your regiment." 9 Vansvvearengen, J. Captain F do. do. Killed in action. 10 Vaulien, F. 2d Lieut. C New Orleans Dec. 31, '.39 Dis. unk'n, cont. inFIa. 1 Allen, Orin Private B Near St. Marks June 16, '40 Disease unknown. 2 Andrews, John " C Cedar Keys Nov. 9, '41 do. 3 Alien. Henry " G Lake Okeechobee Dee. 25, '37 Killed in action. 4 Ball, Elijah " A On passage toN. Y. Oct. 28, '40 Chr. diarrh. cont. in Fla. 5 Buck, jShn H. " C Fort Sherrard Nov. 27, '39 Typhus fever. 6 Bovie, Jolin " D Cedar Keys Nov. 12, '41 Congestion of lungs. 7 Burtch, William Corporal E Near Ft. Fanning June 24. '40 Disease unknown. 8 Brigham, Bela B. Private E Fort Harrison Nov. 25, '41 Neuralgia. 9 Banks, John " F Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 10 Benjamin, James H. Corporal G Fort Brooke Aug. 24, '.37 Disease unknown. 11 Breel, Casmer Private H do. July 24, '37 do. 12 Beck, John " H Near Fort Harrison June 23, '41 Sup. to be killed by Ind. Killed by guard— shot. 13 Birmingham, T. P. Sergeant I Fort Andrews Oct. 23, '39 14 Bing, M. L. Private K Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37- Killed in action. 15 Boyle, John " K Dog Island Sept. 25, '.38 Disease nnknown. 16 Carr, Jahn Sergeant A Cedar Keys Oct. 26, '40 Diarrhea. 17 Congar, John H. Private B FortF. Brooke Dec. 7, '39 Disease unknown. 18 Clute, William Musician D Fort Oscilla Aug. 27, '30 Bilious fever. 19 Cushman, Philip Private G Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 20 Gonlan, Joseph " G Cedar Keys Feb. 4, '42 Disease unknown 21 Cook, John " H Fort Oscilla June 22, '40 do. ['37. 22 Ciark, Henry " K Fort Bassinger .Tan. 28, '38 W'dsrec. in ac. Dec. 25, 23 Cole, Samuel " K Dog Island Aug. 30, '.38 Disease unknown. 24 Cantiehl, Abraham " K do. Sept. 18, '36 do. 25 Driske, Barthol. " F Near Ft. F. Brooke xMay 2, '39 Killed by Indians. 26 Daniels, Samuel " H Lake Ok&echobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 27 Doane, Anthony P. " H Ft Towson, Ark. Sept. 19, '42 Chr. dys , cont. in Fla. 28 Dwyer, John " K Dog Island Aug. 29, '38 Disease unknown. 29 Erviiie, Lewis " c Fort Micanopy July 26, '38 Killed by Indians. 30 Fry, Christian " A St. Marks July 19, '38 Disease unknown. 31 Fox croft, George <' F Fort Brooke Nov. 25, '41 do. 32 Farmington, Salis- bury H On march to Pease Creek Nov. 15, '37 Accidental gun shot. 33 Foster, George " H Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 34 Fre.h, John " I Near Ft. Andrews Aug. 29, '33 do. 35 Green, John " B James' Island July 17, '38 Disease unknown. 36 GafFney, James " G Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 37 Gui-ier, Charles " K Cedar Keys Sept. 2, '40 Diseas-e unknown. 38 Hardt, Michael " A do. March 15, '41 Phthisis pulmonalis. 39 Hunter, Alexander " B Fort Towson, Ark. Sept. 15, '43 Consump. cont in Fla. 40 Handib-de, Thos. C Cedar Keys Nov. 11, '41 Disease unknown. 41 Hennessv, Richard " E Fort Harrison Oct 12, '41 do. 49 Hall, Charles " F Fort F. Bruoke May 5, '.39 do. 43 Hart, Robert " F Fort Brooke Sept. 6, '41 Congestive fever. 44 Hatrick, Charles " H Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 45 Herbert, Seely " H Cedar Keys Feb. 22, '41 Chronic dysentery. 46 Harris, Daniel " I Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 47 Harriet, A. T. Sergeant I Near Fort Andrews Aug. 29, '39 do. 48 Hayden, Daniel Private I Fort Andrews Nov. 23, '39 Wounds rec. in action. 49 Hodges, Josiah " K Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 50 Ironsides, Benjamin " B Fort Hulbert June 5, '40 Disease unknown. 51 Jordan, John Bugler Fort Harrison Oct. 6, '41 Chronic diarrhea. 52 Knight, Edward C. Private F Fort Gardiner Dec. 19, '37 Disease unknown. ['37. 53 Kipp, Robert S. Cor|)oral H Lake Okeechobee Jan. 1, '38 W'ds rec. in ac. Dec. 25, 54 Knight, Isaac Private I Fort Dade Jan. 9, '42 Congestive fever. 55 Long, John G Ft. Columbus, N.Y. Jan. 6, 41 Dis. unk'n, cont. in Fla. 5G Minard, Harman Sergeant A Fort Brooke Sept. 9, '37 Chronic dysentery. 57 Mc(^arthy, John " A On passage to N. Y. Aug. 23, '40 Lost overboard at sea. 58 59 Monroe, James McVey, Joseph Private B B Near Fort Pleasant Ocklocknee river July 13, '40 June 18, '38 Killed by Indians, do. 60 Miller, Joha " D Near Fort Pleasant July 13, '40 do. APPENDIX. 543 JVo. J\ranies. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Data of Death. Remarks. 61 McEneary, Thomas Private E Cedar Keys July 16, IR-il Malignant fever. 62 McDonougli, Bryan F Lake Okeechobee Dee. 25, '37 Killed in action. 63 Murphy, Peter " G Cedar Keys June 16, '41 Ciironic dysentery. 64 Mullen, Patrick " F Fort Brooke Feb. 7, '42 do. 65 Mhiick, Henry " a Ijake Okeechobee Dec. 25. '37 Killed in action. 66 i'UcLaughlin/Bern'd " H Cedar Keys March 2, '42 Phthisis Puhnouali-s. 67 i\'! alone, Patrick " H Ft. Columbus, N.Y. March 15, '41 }Jis. unk'n, cont. in F!a. 68 rvIcGlade, Joiin " H Cedar Keys Aoril 1, '41 riisease unknown. 69 Matthas. Martin " H Fort R. Gamble n5v. 18, '41 Pneumo:)ia Ciliosa. 70 Mackay, William " I F,>ft Brooke Sept. 11, '37 Reriii.teut fever. 71 ^FcGratll, Thomas «' I Fort Pleasant Dec. 7, '39 Disease unknown. 72 Masters, Thomas A. " I Ft. Hamilton, N.Y. Nov. 23, '37 do., cont. in Fla. .73 Mahar, William " I On passage to N. Y. Nov. 4, '40 do. do. 74 McKirdy, Henry " I Fort Bru'jke Jan. 13, '42 Disease unknown. 75 MurtougJi, Michael " K Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 76 IVIcFee, Robert " K Fort Econfinee May 21, '40 Diseaje unknown. 77 Mahoney, Kean " K Fort Gamble June2i, '40 do. 78 McCann, John " K Fort Pleasant Jan. 18, '42 (Chronic dysentery. 79 Noble, Patrick G Fort Fanning July 2, '40 Disease unknown. 80 Otto, Frederick " A Fort Pleasant May 16, '39 do. 81 O'Brien, Michael " G Fort Fanning .Tuly 1, '40 do. 82 O'Conner, William " H Cedar Keys Sept. 22, '40 do. 83 O'Sha, Michael '< K Fort Brooke June 1, '40 do. 84 Pool, Robert «' A Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 85 Pnlsifer, Christopher Corporal E Foit Harrison Sept. 20, '41 Remittent fever. 86 Parks, David Private F Near Ft. Andrews July 21, '39 Killed by Indians. 87 Phillips, John K Fort Econfinee Mav 26, '40 Disease unknown. 88 Perks, Charles " K Fort Brooke Oct. 26, '40 Pulmon'ry consumption, 89 Robinson, John " A Dog Island Aug. 30, '38 Brain fever. 90 Russell, James " B James' Island Aug. 13, '38 Drowned. 91 Rowland, Thomas <' E Fort R. Gamble June 10, '40 Disease unknown. 92 Ryan, Jolin Corporal F On passage to N.Y. Nov. 1, '40 do., cont. in Fla. 93 Rosencrans, Elias Private G Fort Brooke Sept. 25, '40 Remittent fever. 94 Rose, Elias K Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 95 Sleej)hack, Henry Sgt. Maj. do. Dec. 27, '37 Wounds rec, in action. 96 Schuler, George Private A. Dog Island Sept. 3, '38 Brain fever 97 Schultz, Thomas A Fort Harrison May 14, '41 Dysentery. ■98 Smith, S. M. " B St. Andrews Bay July 31. '39 Fever. 99 Shaughnessy, John " B Fort F. Biooke Nov. 25, '39 Disease unknown. 100 Stanley, John C do. June 8, '40 do. 103 Scott, James Corporal c For Simmons Jan. 24, '42 Accidental gun shot. 104 Schmidtwilkie, Jos. Private D Fort Oscilla Aug. 29, '39 Congestive fever. 105 Stottnian, George E Fort R. Gamble June 21, '40 Disease unknown. 106 Snow, Byrd " E Cedar Keys July 21 '41 Dysentery. 107 Swift, Gordon " F Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, -37 Kdled in action. fFla. 108 Sweet, Thomas G Ft. Columbus, N.Y. May 5, '41 Dis. unknown, cont. in 109 Silk, Edward Sergeant H Fort Dade March 16, '37 Accidental. 110 Stoddard, Thomas Corporal H Fort Stansbury Aug. 8, '41 Disease unknown. 111 Shea, John Private I Dog Island July 18, '.33 Killed by Indians. 112 Swords, John Sergeant K St. Marks Dec. 12, '33 Disease unknown. 113 Slaven, John Private K Fort Fanning June 19, '40 do. [Fla. 114 Tindale, Samuel Musician F Fort Smith, Ark. Jan. 12, '43 Pul. consump. cont. in 115 Tripp, Jo.diua Private H Cedar Keys March 1, '41 Chronic dysentery. 1!6 Todd, David Sergeant I Lake Okeechobee Dec. 25, '37 Killed in action. 117 Taber, Jolm Private I Fort Andrews Nov. 26, '39 Disease unknown. 118 Urciuehart, Alex. B Fort F. Broijke Dec. 7, '39 do. 119 Wakefield, Walter a. M. Sgt. WayioFt Harrison Sept. 1, '41 do. 120 Whil.lekop,J;;hanue Private B Fort Brooke Nov. 23, '37 do. 121 Wright, Charles B. " C Cedar Keys April 18, '41 Chronic diarrhea. 122 Williams, James " C Fort Tjwson, Ark Sept. 3, '42 do., cont. in Fla. 123 AVeyman, Nicholas ii D Fort Oscilla Aug. 14, '39 Congestive fever. 124 Whitmore, Joseph " D Fort Towson, Ar k Aug. 3, '4-2 Chr. diarr. cont. in Fla. 125 Walkom, Jonathan • ' E Cedar Keys Aug. 9, '40 Disease unknown. 126 Wallace, John u F Fort Brooke Oct. 23, '.37 do. 127 Whitmore, Philip " I Fort Andrews Sept.. 22, '39 do. 123 Wood, James " K j Fort Econfinee May 28, '40 do. 129 Walker, Luke Sergeant K } Alexandria, La. Jan. — '44 do., cont. in Fla 544 APPENDIX. SEVEN^TH REGIMENT OF INFANTRY. JVo. J\,''a-mcs. Ran ;■• Co. Place of Death. DateofDeith. Remarks. I Gannett, T. B. 2d Lieut. E niatka Oct. 30, 1841 Yellow fever. 2 Stephenson, R. Captain do. Nov. 26, '41 Disease unknown. 3 Sanderson, James S. 2d Lieut. C NearFt. Micanopy May 19, '40 Killed by Indians.* 4 Slierwood, Walter 2d Lieut. K do. Dec. 28, '4,) Killed by Indians.f 1 Austin, Jeremiah Private A NearFt. W^heelock Aug. 13, '40 Killed by Indians.? 2 Austin, Benoni " A Fort Fanning Aug. 9, '41 Congestive fever. 3 Appleton, John " I Fort Micanopy Feb. ]3, '41 Catarrhus. 4 Brown, Lewis Sergeant K Near Fort No. 3 May 20, '39 Killed by Indians while riding express. 5 Burlingham, Lans'g Private C Near Ft. Micanopy Dec. 28, '40 Killed by Indians.^ 6 Bridges, Abraham Sergeant C Ocklawaha River July 16, '41 Shot Avhile charging an Indian encampment. 7 Busb}', Charles Private A Fort Wacassassa May 16, '41 Dysentery. 8 Busby, Henry " A Fort Macomb Feb. 7, '42 Accidentally killed. ' 9 Bershain, George " A Cedar Keys Jan. 9, '42 Dysentery. Yellow fev. cont. in Fla. 10 Bellinger, Thomas " B Castle Pinck'y,S.C. Sept. 8, '39 11 Burns, Thomas " B Fort No. 2 June 3, '40 Dysentery. 12 Bennett, William C. " C Fort Micanopy July 22, '41 Typhoid fever. 13 Backman, James " E do. Jan. 21, '4] Ambustio. ' 14 Bulbin, Joseph " E Near Ft. Micanopy Oct. 13, '40 Drowned. 15 Boyer, George " F Fort Brooke Aug. 17, '42 Dysentery. 16 Bullman, Gassoway Sergeant H Fort Fanning April 18, '42 Disease unknown. 17 Burns, Anthony Private I Fort No. 2 Sept. 23, '39 do. 18 Britton, Peter " K Fort Wheelock Sept. 16, '41 do. 19 Boyian, Patrick " K do. Feb. 2, '42 Chronic dysentery. 20 Bonaparle, Laf'a'tte " K Fort Micanopy April .12, '42 Gun shot wound. 21 Carroll, Francis Sgt. Maj. Near Ft. Micanopy Dec. 28, '40 Killed by Indians. II 22 Cuthbert, Arthur Private A, Cedar Keys Nov. 12, '41 Chronic dysentery. 23 Cappus, Jchn B Castle Pinck'y, S.C. Aug. 21, '39 Yellow fev. cont. in Fla. 24 Carr, John R. B St. Augustine Nov. 10, '39 Yellew fever. 25 Costin, Patrick B Cedar Keys Feb. 23, '41 Chronic dysentery. 26 Crowley, Thomas B St. John's Bluff Aug. 24, '41 do. 27 Carey, John B do. Oct. 23, '41 Dropsy. 28 Campbell, William B do. Nov. 8, '41 Chronic dysentery. 29 Church, William C Fort Micanopy Dec. 7. '40 Dysentery. 30 Coglan, Daniel D Fort Shannon Jan. 30, '40 Disease unknown. 31 Code, Thomas D Fort Heileman Oct. 21, '40 Congestive fever. 32 Carther, John C. D do. Nov. 18, '40 Diarrhea. 33 Cowley, Owen F Fort Micanopy Jan. 5, '41 W'ds rec. in action near Micanopy, May 18, '40. 34 Claffy, Francis H do. Sept. 16, '40 Intermittent fever. 35 Duff, Christopher E Ne'rFt.Wacahoota May 17, '42 Killed. [in Fla. 36 Donolan, Michael A New Orleans May 20, '40 Phthisis pulm'nalis, cont. 37 Douglass, Henry B Castle Pinck'y, S.C. Aug. 21, '39 Yellow fev. cont. in Fla. 38 Dougiierty, Henry B St. John's Bluff Nov 24, '41 Chronic dysentery. 39 Dolan, Patrick B do. Jan. 8, '42 do." 40 Drennan, John E Ft. Columbus, N.Y. Dec. 29, '40 Chr. disease, cont. in Fla. 41 Dudley, Thomas F Fort Micanopy Jan. 24, '41 Diarrhea. 42 Dunn, John K Foit Brooke June 1, '39 Cholera morbus. 43 Eklridge, Henry I NearFt. Micanopy Aug. 30, '40 Killed. 44 Eckard, Augustus B Fort Wacahoota Sept. 6, '40 W'ds rec. under com. of Lt. Han?on,Sept.6,'40. 45 Eberhart, Lewis B Cedar Keys Oct. 18, '40 Chronic dysentery. 46 Evans, Andrew G Fori Micanopy May 5, '41 Dy.sentery. * " For wounds received at Bridgewater, and subsequent zeal and efficiency in all the non-commis- sioned grades, he was recommended by the officers of his regiment, and appointed 2d Lieutenant on the 1st of March, 1838. With thirteen men he attacked forty or fifty Indians, and was killed at the head of his party." t " While escorting Mrs. Montgomeiy from Micanopy to Wacahoota, his party, consisting of eleven, non-commissiuned officers, &c., were attacked by a large body of Indians — himself, Mrs. Montgomery, and four of the escort were killed. He was a young officer of great promise." I " He was a soldier of long service and g-^od character. He was killed while returning from escorting Assistant Surgeon Griffin to Fort Micanopy." ^ "Killed under commaud of Lieutenant Sherwood. He sacrificed his own, in attempting to save the "life of a lady. His last words were, ' I did my dury.' " II " Killed, being at the time one of Lieutenant Sherwood's party. He was of Lieutenant Sandereon's party on the 19th May, when that officer was killed. In that action (19th May) he behaved with great bravery, and remained alone near the scene of action until next morning, when Lieutenant-Colonel Riley, in command of a portion of the 2d Infantry, visited it for the purpose of removing the dead. He served in the 7th Infantry from 1831 to the time of his death, filling with much credit, the several grades of Corpo- ral, Sergeant, 1st Sergeant, and Sergeant-Major, eliciting by his good conduct and soldierly bearing, the respect and esteem of his officers." APPENDIX. 545 JVo. JVam.es. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 47 Foss, William Private H Near Ft. Micanopy May 19, 1840 Killed, being one of Lt. Sanderson's party. 48 Fynn, Patrick " E do. Aug. 30, '40 Killed. 49 Finney, David M. <' E do. do. Taken pris. and killed. 50 Foster, David " A Fort Wheelock Dec. 18, '40 Dysentery. 51 Fell, John " B Fort Heileman June 10, '41 Congestion of brain. 52 Feeny, James " B Fort Wacahoota Sept. 27, '41 Disease unknown. 53 Fitzgibbon, Garrett " C Cedar Keys Dec. 24, '41 Chronic Pneumonia. 54 Finn, John " K Fort Micanopy May 3, '41 Disease unknown. 55 Grace, Richard " A Fort King May 9, '40 W'ds rec. under com. of Cpt. Rains, Apl.28,'40. 56 Goodman, Lewis Musician B Fort Heileman Nov. 3, '39 Yellow fever. 57 Gaines, James Corporal C Fort King Oct. 1, '40 Disease unknown. 58 Gates, William G Fort Brooke June 26, '42 Congestive fever. 59 Grey, Richard Private H Ft. Columbus, N.Y. Sept. 17, '41 Dis. unk'n, cont. in Fla. 60 Galligan, James «' K do. March 23, '41 do. 61 Hogins, Isaac Sergeant C Fort No. 5 Feb. 1, '40 Killed by Indians.* 62 Herring, Charles Private A Mear Fort King March 24, '40 Killed—" A man of ex- cellent character. 63 Hefferman, Michael " H Ne'r Ft. Wacahoota Sept. 6, '40 Killed under command of Lt. W. K. Hanson. 64 Horton, Gideon R. u B Fort Heileman Nov. 7, '39 Yellow fever. 65 Hopkins, John u B Picolata Dec. 13, '39 Disease unknown 66 Hook, John Musician B Fort Wacahoota Dec. 29, '40 Chronic diarrhea. 67 Haskins, Samuel C! Fort Micanopy July 9, '41 Inflammation of bowels. 68 Henshall, Charles Private D Fort Wacahoota Feb. 2, '42 Epilepsy. 69 Hubbard, Benjamin E Cedar Keys June 5, '41 Dysentery. 70 Hall, Fleming 11 H Picolata Sept. 7, '41 Disease unknown. 71 Jones, Levi .1 B Castle Pinck'y, S.C. Sept. 6, '39 Yellow fev. cont. in Fla. 72 Jenkins, John G. " E Fort Micanopy June 5, '41 Dysentery. 73 Keefe, Patrick " I Near Ft. Micanopy May 19, '40 Killed, being one of Lt. Sanderson's party. 74 Kercher, Henry A Cedar Keys Jan. 9, '42 Chronic Ententes. 75 Keys, Patrick It D Picolata Dec. 3, '40 Cachexia. 76 Kohl, Augustus (( H Fort Heileman Aug. 18, '39 Drowned- 77 Kelly, Hugh " A Near Fort King April 14, '40 Killed by Indians.! 78 Ledue, Cornelius C Fort Micanopy May 1, '41 Dysentery. 79 80 Langan, Hugh Logan, James Corporal Private E E do. Fort Fanning Oct. 31, '40 Nov. 28, '41 Cachexia. Intermittent fever. 81 LiUie, Henry E do. Dec. 8, '41 Diarrhea. ■ 82 Lu^lum, George X E Cedar Keys Dec. 12, '41 Dysentery, do. 83 Lightle, Martin 41 do. 42 Morris, William " G do. July 25, '41 do. 43 Morton, Thomas " H do. Feb. 9, '42 do. 44 Myer, Samuel Melvin, John " D Cedar Keys Dec. 27, '41 do. 45 " c Fort King Nov. 15, '40 Killed by accid. disch. of comrade's musk, on ser. 46 Neville, John «« H Fort Brooke Dec. 29, '41 Dis. inc. to cli. and sv. in 47 Nobles, Michael " G do. April 19, '41 do. [Fla. 48 Perkins, Rufus " B Cedar Keys Dec. 21, '40 do. 49 Perkins, Elon " G Fort Fanning Oct. 29, '40 Drow'd on serv. [Fla. 50 Procise, Peter " I Fort Brooke June 16, '41 Dis. inc. to cli. and sv. in 51 Raine, William " A Punta Rossa Sept. 26, '41 do. 52 Relling, Stephen " A Fort Brooke Nov. 20, '41 do. 53 Roberts, Nelson " I do. July 23, '41 do. 54 Ross, James " H Wacassassa Dec. 4, '41 do. 55 Rotier, Edward " H St. John's BIufF Feb. 6, '42 do. 56 Schmuck, Jacob " K Fort Brooke Oct. 18, '41 do. 57 Smith, Nathaniel <' K do. Feb. 18, '41 do. 58 Schwartz, Andrew " C Pilatka Aug. 20, '42 do. 59 Scott, Philip Seward, Harvey <' G Fort Shannon Dec. 14, '42 do. 60 Sergeant H Wahoo Swamp Feb. 12, '42 Killed in action. [Fla. 61 Taylor, Charles Private C Fort Brooke July 4, '41 Dis. inc. to cli, andsv. in 62 Van Nostrand, J. " H do. Oct. 23, '41 do. 63 Van Patten, A. " H do. June 10, '41 do. 64 Watson, Robert " C do. Jan. 2, '41 do. 65 Willard, Addison K do. Sept. 10, '41 do. 66 Weber, John " G do. Sept. 7, '41 do. 67 Weidell, J. C. F. i( G Fort Pierce May 17, '42 do 68 Wesser. Henrick " A Fort Brooke Sept. 23, '41 do. 691 Wilcox. Augustus " E Pilatka Dec. 28, '42 do. 70 1 Young, Charles S. " K St. Augustine Feb. 20, '42 do. Clarke, Charles Cooper, Henry Flowers, Joel E. Hosier, Alanson Henderson,R. H C, Jeffers, John Ludwigh, Thomas McCaron, John Reed, Charles Wever, Charles RECRUITS UNITED STATES ARMY. Recruit Near Micanopy Picolata Heilernan Fort Mellon Unknown Picolata do. do. do. Near Micanopy Killed by Indians. Disease unknown. do. do. Killed by Indians. Disease unknown. do. do. do. Killed by Indians. 548 APPENDIX. List of officers belonging to the Medical Staff of the United States Army, who died from disease and other causes, from service in Florida. JSTame. Rank. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. Clarke Richard Elwes, A. W. Gatlin, J. S. Lee, Thomas Nourse, B. F. Noyes, Charles Robertson, John Sullivan, Wade Turtelot, A. C. Weightman, R. Mai. Jacob Brown Surgeon Assist. Surg. Act. Paym. U. S. A. Major Gamble's, Fla. Palatka Dade's Battle-ground New- York City Key West, Fla. St. Augustine, E. F. At sea Camp Walker, E. F. Washington, D. C. St. Augustine, E. F. Pay Department. St. Augustine, Fla. June 29th, 1839 June 12th, '42 Dec. 28th, Sept. 6th, May 19th, July 26th, May 20th, May 15th, Dec. 8th, Oct. 30th, Oct. 24th, Disease cont'd in Fla. do. Killed in battle. Disease cont'd in Fla. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. Recapitulation. Med.Stajf. Lt. Cols. Majors. Captains. Lieuts. Sergeants. Corporals. Mus., Art. andPriv. Aggregate. xo 3 4 20 37 84 57 1251 1466 APPENDIX. 549 TABLE, Exhibiting the names of Officers, Seamen and Marines, belonging to the United States Navy, who died whilst employed in the Florida Squadron, operating against the Indians of Florida. jYo. JVamea. Rank. Place of Death. Date of Death. Vessel attached to. 1 McKinley, Edward Assistant Surgeon At sea Oct. 23, 1841 Otsego. 2 Niles, Hezekiah Midshipman Pas'd Mid. Act. Lt. Fort Simmons Nov. 11, '41 Van Buren. 3 Pepin, Ferdinand Pensacola Oct. 27, '38 Wave. 1 Arnold, William Landsman Everglades Dec. 2, '41 Otsego. 2 Banta, Wm. Capt. Forecastle Indian Key June 26, '42 Madison. 3 Black, Samuel P. Ordinary Seaman do. Oct. 18, '41 Flirt. 4 Blodgett, Phineas Q,. Gunner do. Dec. 24, '41 Wave. 5 Ferguson, Jno. A. Ordinary Seaman do. March 1, '42 ' Phoenix. 6 Fisher, Alfred Off. Cook do. Oct. 27, '43 do. 7 Freair, John Landsman do. Oct. 21, '41 Otsego. 8 Goodwin, William Ordinary Seaman do. June 22, '41 Wave. 9 Grace, Thos. Seaman do. Feb. 19, '42 do. 10 Hall, Jos. S. Cluarter Master do. Feb. 2, '42 do. 11 Hogan, Daniel Landsman do. Oct. 9, '41 Jefferson. 12 Houston, James Ordinary Seaman Key Biscayne Dec. 24, '41 Madison. 13 Johnson, John Landsman At sea Oct. 2, '41 Jefferson. 14 Kingsbury, Jerem. Master-at-Arms Fort Dallas May 17, '42 do. 15 Mc(Jauley,Law'nce Ordinary Seaman Indian Key Oct. 6, '41 Flirt. 16 Mo ran, Thomas " do. Dec. 21, '41 Phoenix. 17 Netto, John Off. Steward Pensacola Dec. 6, '38 Wave. 18 Oliver, Thomas Seaman Indian Key July 18, '42 do. ' 19 Pons, Lewis Ordinary Seaman do. Oct. 6, '41 Flirt. 20 Riley, William Landsman At sea Sept. 8, '40 Otsego. 21 Sellers, Thomas Seaman do. Aug. 31, '38 Wave. 22 Thompson, Joshua Landsman Indian Key Nov. 18, '41 Phoenix. 23 Wolf, Charles Ordinary Seaman do. Nov. 29, '41 do. Ayers, John C. Cannon, David Dunn, Frederick Elisha, Henry Ennis, Thomas Gray, Robert Griffin, Rufus Kelly, Andrew Nicholson, John Pierpoint, L. D. Root, Joseph H. Sawyer, James B. Schoolcraft, Steph. Shultz, Jacob Smith, Joseph Walsh, Thomas Williams, William MARINES. Private Indian Key Nov. 11, '41 Corporal do. Sept. 14, '41 Musician do. Nov. 1, '41 Private do. Aug. 21, '41 I' do. Nov. 28, '41 " do. Nov. 20, '41 " do. Jan. 16, '42 't do. Dec. 26, '41 " do. Dec. 22, '41 Corporal do. Jan. 20, '42 Private do. Sept. 24, '41 do. Oct. 6, '41 '< do. Dec. 9, '41 " do. Dec. 5, '41 u do. Oct. 6, '41 " At sea July 18, '42 '« Indian Key Dec. 16, '41 Florida Squadron do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do. do Flirt. Florida Squadron. The foregoing list includes all of the diseased of the Squadron in Florida. The number of those belonging to the Squadron, who died elsewhere of diseases contracted in Florida, cannot be ascertained. From 125 to 150 sick men were sent to the North for treatment, their cases being looked upon, if not as hopeless, as quite incurable in Florida. ^„ , The General Hospital of the Squadron was established on Indian Key. All the deaths on the Key were Hospital cases. JOHN T. McLaughlin, Commanding JVaval Forces in Florida, SfC. 550 APPENDIX. A STATEMENT, Exhibiting the names of Officers, non-commissioned Officers, Musicians, and Privates of the United States Marine Corps, who were killed in action, or died of loounds received, or disease contracted during the Florida War. J^o. J^Tames. Rank. Co. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 1 Thomas P. Peterson Drummer B Hatcheluskee Sw'p Jan. 27, 1837 Killed in action. 2 Joel Wright Private B do. do. do. 3 Andrew Ross 1st Lieut. Fort Heileman Dec. 11, '36 W'drec.Nov.21,'36,in battle at Wahoo Sw'p. 4 William Tail Or'ly Sgt. E Upper post, Sanni- bar river Dec. 5, '37 Of disease. 5 Henry Marks Sergeant A Fort Brooke Nov. 9, '36 do. 6 George King D On the passage from Tampa Bay to Phil. Aug. 3, '37 do. 7 Charles Pike Corporal D Tampa Bay April 14, '38 do. 8 Matthew McKinley " E do. April— '38 do. 9 Daniel Brown Private D Chattahooche river Oct. 13, '36 do. 10 John ShilJingsford " E Fort Brooke Dec. 7, '36 do. 11 John Reardon " C do. March 14, '37 do. 12 Wm. W. Vancleaf " D Tampa Bay Feb. 21, '37 do. 13 Alexander Burke " E Near Ft. Armstrong Jan. 20, '.37 do. 14 James O'Neil " E Fort Brooke March 1, '37 do. 15 WUIiam Steel " B Black Creek Ang. 11, '37 do. 10 John H. Durant " D Fort Brooke June 29, '37 do. 17 John Sweeny " E Tampa Bay April 27, '.37 do. 18 Michael Sullivan " A Furt Brooke July 15, '.37 do. 19 J. M. Waalfin " C MulletKey, E. F. Aug. 22, '37 do. 20 Isaac Elburn " D Fort Monroe Oct. 1, '37 do. 21 William J. Henry " D Fort Dulany, E. F. Nov. 17, '37 do. 22 John. Jackson " D do. Nov. 22, '37 do. 23 Richard T. Trask '< E Tampa Bay April 2, '38 do. 24 John A. Perley " E Fort Denaud, E. F. Feb. 3, '38 do. 25 Thomas Fling " E Columbus Sept. 11, '36 do. 1 Daniel Cunningham Sergeant W'd in battle of Hatcheluskee Sw'p, Jan. 27, '37, in both shoulders. 2 Leonard Stevens " do. do. do. in the thigh. 3 Peter Foley Private do. do. do. in the arm. 4 John M. SulHvan do. do. do. on the lip. 5 Thomas Irwin Woi inded by a musket ball at Ft. Armstro ng, supposed by accident. TABLE, Showing the number and names of Marines on Sea Service, who died in Florida between 1836 and 1842. JVo. J^ames. Rank. Place of Death. Date of Death. Remarks. 1 Thomas T. Starke Corporal St'm.Poinsett, E F. Dec. — 1839 2 David Cannon " Indian Key Sept. 4, '41 3 Frederick Dunn Fifer do. Nov. 4, '41 4 Henry Elisha Private do. Aug. 21, '41 5 Joseph H. Root " do. Sept. 24, '41 6 James V. Sawyer " do. Oct. 6, '41 Drowned. 7 Joseph Smith " do. do. do. 8 James J. Ayer " do. Nov. 11, '41 9 Thomas Ennis " do. Nov. 25, '41 10 Robert Gray " do. Nov. 20, '41 11 John Nicholson " do. Dec. 23, '41 12 Stephen Schoolcraft " do. Dec. 9, '41 13 Jacob Schultz " do. Dec. 6, '41 14 William Williams '< do. Dec. 16, '41 15 Rufus Griffin '< Fort Dallas Jan. 16, '42 , 16 LorenzoD. Pierpoint " do. Jan. 20, '42 17 Jeremiah Kingsbury " do. March 14, '42 18 Thomas Walsh " Schooner Flirt July 18, '42 At sea. 1 William Smith Act. Corpl. Wounded in a skirm ish with the Ind ans, Jan. 6, '41. APPENDIX. 551 LIST OF OFFICERS, Of the United States Army and Marine Corps, upon whom have been conferred Brevets for services in Florida. Mo. and Date of Order. Mames. Rank, Regt., or Corps. Born. Former Brevets. Brevet Rank. Remarks. Gen'l Order A. C. W. Fanning Lieut. Col Mass. Colonel For highly distinguished No. 19 2d Artillery Dec. 31, '35 conduct in the battle of March 6, '43 the Withlacoochie. Gen'l Order Julius F. Heileman Major Mass. Lieut. Col. For gallantry and good No. 46 2d Artillery June 9, '36 conduct in the affair at July 6, '36 Micanopy, in Fla. Gen'l Order B. K. Pierce Major N. H. Lieut. Col. For distinguished ser- No. 69 1st Artillery Aug. 21, '36 vices in the affair of Ft. Oct. 15, '36 Drane. Thomas Childs Captain 3d Artillery Mass. Major Aug. 21, '36 For planning the attack on the Indians at Fort Drane, and good con- duct in that affair. u William M.Graham Captain 4th Infantry Va. Major Dec. 31, '.35 For gallantry and good conduct in the affair of the Withlacoochie. « R. B. Lee Captain 3d Artillery Va. Major June 9, '36 For gallantry and good conduct in the affair of Micanopy. For gallantry and good conduct in the affair of u J. A. Ashby Captain S. C. Major 2d Dragoons July 9, '36 Welika. " Campbell Graham 1st Lieut. 3d Artillery Va. Captain Dec. 31, '35 For gallantry and good conduct in the affair of the Withlacoochie. " W. S. Maitland 1st Lieut. 3d Artillery Captain Dec. 31, '35 For gallantry and good conduct in the affair of the Withlacoochie. <( Alfred Herbert 2d Lieut. Va. 1st Lieut. For gallantry and good conduct on several oc- 1st Artillery July 27, '36 casions in Florida. Gen'l Order Zachary Taylor Colonel Va. Brig. Gen. For distinguished servi- No. 18 1st Infantry Dec. 25, '37 ces in the battle of Kis- June 27, '37 simmee, in Fla., vsrith the Seminole Indians. " William S. Foster Lieut. Col. 4th Infantry Colonel Dec. 25, '37 For distinguished servi- ces in Fla., and parti- cularly in the battle of the Kissimmee. Gen'l Order William Devenport Lieut. Col. Pa. Colonel For meritorious services No. 23 ist Infantry July 7, '38 in Florida. July 12, '38 " James Bankhead Lieut. Col. 4th Artillery Va. Colonel July 7, '38 For meritorious conduct in the campaigns in Fla. " Thomas Noel Captain 6th Infantry Md. Major Dec. 25, '37 For gallant conduct in the battle of Kissimmee. Gen'l Orders W. J. Worth Colonel N. Y. Brig. Gen. For gallantry and highly No. 56 8th Infantry March 1, '42 distinguished services as Aug. 26, '42 Com'der of the Forces in the wz.x against the Florida Indians. Thomas Childs Brevet Major 3d Artillery Mass. Lieut. Col. Feb. 1, '41 For gallant conduct and repealed success in the war against the Florida Indians, betvi^een Nov. '40, and March, '42. W. G. Belknap Major 8th Infantry N.Y. Lieut. Col. Feb. 1, '41 For general good con- duct in the war against the Fla. Ind., and for securing by military operations and negotia- tions a great number of prisoners. 552 APPENDIX. JVo. andDate of Order. JVames. Rank, Regt., or Corps. Born. Former Brevets. BrevetRank. Remarks. Gen'l Order Justin Dimick Captain Vt. Major For gallant and merito- No. 56 1st Artillery May 8, '36 rious conduct in the war Ang.26, '42 against the Fla. Ind. W. W. Morris Captain N. Y. Major Jan. 27, '37 For gallant conduct on 4th Artillery several occasions, and general efficiency in the war asaiust the Florida Indians. li George Andrews Captain 6th Infantry D. C. Major Dec. 25, '37 For gallantry and good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. " Frederick Searle Captain a. M. Dept. Eng. Major The day when he rec'd Nov. 25, '39 the wound under which he is now suffering. " James R. Irwin Captain Pa. July 7, Captain For gallantry and good ' in Staff '.38 Aug. 21, '36 conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. John F. Lee 1st Lieut. Ordinance Va. Captain Jan. 27, '37 For gallantry and good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. " Robert Anderson Captain Ky. Oct. 23, Captain For gallantry and suc- 3d Artillery '41 April 2, '38 cessful conduct in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. J. E. Johnston 1st Lieut. Top. Eng'rs Va. . Captain July 7, '38 For gallantry on several occasions in the war against the Fla. Ind. William Alburtis 1st Lieut. 3d Infantry Va. Captain March 2, '41 For gallantry and good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. " W. J. T. Walker 1st Lieut. Ga. Feb. 1, Captain For gallantry and good 6th Infantry '38 Dec. 25, '37 conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. " D.ougiass S. Irwin 2d Ueat. D. C. 1st Lieut. For gallantry and good conduct in the war 3d Infantry Sept. 7, '41 against the Fla. Ind. Gen'l Order D. D. Tompkins Captain N.V. Major For gallant and merito- No. 19 1st Artillery Sept. 11, '36 rious conduct in the war March 6, '43 against the Fla. Ind. Harvey Brown Captain 4th Artillery N.J. Major Nov. 21, '36 For gallant conduct on several occasions, and general efficiency in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. John Harris Major Marine Corps Pa. Major Jan. 27, '37 For gallantry and good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind., particularly in the af- fair of Hatchee Lustee. B. L. Beall Captain 2d Dragoons D.C. Major Mar. 15, '37 For gallantry and suc- cessful service in the v/ar ag'nst the Fla. Ind. George W. Allen Captain 4th Infantry Mass. Major Dec. 25, '37 For gallant conduct ori several occasions, and general efficiency in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. John Munroe Captain 4th Artillery Mass. Major Feb. 15, '38 For conduct uniformly meritorious and effi- cient, dur'g three cam- paigns in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. Samuel Ringgold Captain 3d Artillery Md. Major Feb. 15, '38 For meritorious conduct, in activity and effici'cy, in the war against the Fla. Ind. Washing'n Seawell Captain 7th Infantry Va. Major July 18, '41 For meritorious and suc- cessful services in the war ag'nst the Fia. Ind. R. D. A. Wade Captain 3d Artillery N. Y. Major Nov. 6, '41 For gallantry and suc- cessful services in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. George Wright Captain 8th Infantry Vt. Major Mar. 15, '42 For meritorious conduct, in zeal, energy, and per- severance, in the war asainst the Fla. Ind. " R. H. K. Whitely Captain Md. Captain Fo"r gallant conduct in / Ord. Dept. July 19, '36 the war ag'st the Fl.Ind APPENDIX. 553 JVo. andDate of Order Gen'l Order No. 19 March 6, '43 JVames. March 4, '43 T. B. Linnard J. W. Anderson W. G. Freeman George Taylor John T. Sprague P. N. Barbour Ripley A. Arnold George H. Talcott Horace Brooks William H. Fowler George H. Thomas F. D. Callender Archibald Hender- son William Dulaney John Harris RaiiJc, Regt. or Corps. Captain Top. Eng'rs 1st Lieut. 2d Infantry 1st Lieut. 4th Artillery July 7, '38 1st Lieut. 3d Artillery 1st Lieut. 8th Infantry 1st Lieut. 3d Infantry 1st Lieut. 2d Dragoons 1st Lieut. Ordnance 1st Lieut. 2d Artillery 1st Lieut. 1st Artillery 2d Lieut. 3d Artillery 2d Lieut. Ordnance Col. Comdt. of Marines Captain of Marines Captain of Marines Former Brevets. BrevetRank. Pa. Va. Va. Ga. Mass. Ky. Miss. N. Y. Mass. Md. Va. N.Y, Va. Va. Penn, Bt. Capt. Dec. 2, '38 Sept. 15; Feb. 8, '37 May 1, '39 Captain Sept. 30, '36 Captain Aug. 23, '41 1st Lieut. Nov. 21, '36 Captain Mar. 1, '42 Captain Mar. 15, '42 Captain April 15, '42 Captain April 19, '42 1st Lieut. Dec. 31, '35 IsL Lieut Dec. 31, '35 1st Lieut, Jan. 15, '33 1st Lieut. Nov. 6, '41 1st Lieut. May 1, '42 Bt. Brig. Gen Jan. 27, '37 BrevetMajor Mar. 3, '43 BrevetMajor Jan. 27, '37 Remarks. For gallant conduct, ac- tivity and enterprise, in tlie war against the Fla. Ind. For gallant and success- ful conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. For gallantry on several occasions, and uniform good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. For gallantry and meri- torious services in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. For meritorious and suc- cessful conduct in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. For active and highly meritorious serv's in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. For gallant conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. For gallant conduct on several occa.sions in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. For gallantry and good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. For gallantry and good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. For gallantry and good conduct in the war against the Fla. Ind. For active and highly meritorious serv's in the war ag'nst the Fla. Ind. For gallant and merito- rious services while in command of the Ma- rines in Ala., Fla. and Tenn., during the cam- paigns against the hos- tile Indians. For meritorious conduct. For gallantry and meri- torious conduct. 554 APPENDIX. NAMES OF OFFICERS, Of the United States armij recommended for brevets hy Brigadier-General W. J. Worth, commanding the forces in Florida, April 25, 1842. Upon some of the number, the distinction has been conferred. No. 129. Head-quarters, Army of Florida, Camp Wandell, ) Warm Spring,-K^u\ 25, 1842. \ Sir — In compliance with repeated instructions, I have the honor to submit the following list of officers for the distinction of promotion by brevet. The pecuHar nature of this service, offering constant occa- sion for the display of zeal, energy, and talent, patient endurance of hardship and privation, but few opportunities for the more brilliant exhibitions of those qualities which attract and fix at- tention in the presence of an enemy ' worthy a soldier's blade,' renders this a difficult and delicate duty, I have numbered the list from 1 to 25, and propose to remark upon each, seriatim. 1st. Lieutenant- Colonel J. Garland, 4th infantry, was in com- mission during the last war, and has risen gradually to his pre- sent rank ; is highly active, intelligent, and zealous ; has served a former tour in this territory in the grade of major; given cordial and zealous support during this campaign, and conducted himself excellently well in the presence of the enemy : recommended for the brevet of colonel. 2d. Lieutenant-Colonel B. Riley, 2d infantry, has rendered much faithful and energetic service in this territory ; is an old battle-officer in the war of 1812, of indisputable gallantry, much and unrequited service in that contest ; has risen step by step to his present grade : recommended for the brevet of colonel. 3d. Major J. Plymton, of the same regiment, also a battle- officer in the war of 1812, highly intelligent, qualified, and moral, reached his present grade by regular promotion ; has rendered zealous and efficient service during the past winter, and twice met the enemy in battle : recommended for brevet of lieutenant- colonel. 4th. Major W. G. Belknap, 8th infantry, eminently distin- guished in the war of 1812 — no man of his grade more so, and envied by many of higher ; repeatedly wounded, never rewarded. Confessedly, at the assault upon Fort Erie, by the management of his picket, gave the army time to get under arms, and perhaps saved it. His whole career since has been one of intelligent usefulness, and constant exhibition of capacity for any command.. In this territory, has been very successful in getting in hostiles, APPENDIX. 555 and met them in battle : recommended for brevet of lieutenant- colonel, to date December 20, 1841. 5th. Brevet Major Thomas Childs, 3d artillery, likewise an officer of last war, received a grade by brevet in this contest in 1836 ; has been distinguished by zeal and capacity for command, and by success throughout : recommended for brevet of lieu- tenant-colonel. 6th. Captain T. P. Gwynne, 8th infantry, was engaged at the battle of Okee-chobee (then of the 1st) for habitual excellence of character and conduct, and, since his present regiment came here, for zealous conduct and success ; has met the enemy in fight ; is senior captain of his regiment, and would do honor to the preferment to which he is recommended — major by brevet. 7th. Captain B. L. Beall, 2d dragoons, has met the enemy in this contest oftener, perhaps, than any other officer ; is brave and generous : recommended for major by brevet. 8th. Captain George A. McCall, 4th infantry, has formerly served with distinction in this service, highly accomplished, full of zeal, intelligence, and capacity for command, and would do more honor to the rank than it could confer upon him; his regi- ment will highly appreciate the compliment conferred upon this gallant captain : recommended for major by brevet. 9th. Captain W. Seawell, 7th infantry, distinguished for zeal, energy and capacity, and conduct in combat with the enemy ; is an accomplished officer, and in all respects would do honor to the grade : recommended for major by brevet. 10th. Captain George Wright, 8th infantry — all that has been said of the high qualifications of the two preceding applies to him, except his active efforts have not brought him in contact with the enemy ; qualified to command a regiment under any circumstances : recommended for major by brevet. 11th. Captain George Andrews, 6th infantry, distinguished and severely wounded at the battle of Okee-chobee ; merito- rious and capable in all respects : recommended for major by brevet. 12th. Captain R. D. A. Wade, 3d artillery, a worthy officer, distinguished for the zeal and perseverance with which he car- ried out an enterprise, resulting in the capture of sixty of the enemy — an important service ; his preferment is looked for by the service as beyond doubt : recommended for major by brevet. 13th. Captain S. Casey, 2d infantry, is an officer of rare merit ; has seen much, and, particularly during the recent opera- tions, rendered very valuable service ; equally intelligent and per- severing in pursuit and combat with the enemy : recommended for the brevet of major. 14th. First- Lieutenant W. H. T. Walker, 6th infantry, in 556 APPENDIX. the action of Okee-chobee received five wounds ; of high chivalry and excellent qualities : recommended for captain by brevet. 15th. First-Lieutenant George Taylor, 3d artillery, distin- guished for high intelligence and capacity for service ; served unintermittingly from the time of leaving the military school (three years) ; constantly in the field and often in combat : re- commended for captain by brevet. 16th. First-Lieutenant P. N. Barbour, 3d infantry — for par- ticulars see Colonel Vose's report herev^ith, to which I cheerfully accord : recommended for captain by brevet. 17th. First- Lieutenant J. V. D. Reeve, 8th infantry, distin- guished in battle in this territory in 1836, and distinguished for zealous and intelligent performance of duty : recommended for captain by brevet. 18th. First-Lieutenant E. J. Steptoe, 3d artillery, distin- guished for intelligence and capacity for service ; has served un- intermittingly since leaving the academy (three years) ; and has been constantly in the field, and often in combat : recommended for captain by brevet. 19th. First- Lieutenant J. T. Sprague, adjutant of the 8th in- fantry and aid-de-camp, has rendered important and valuable service, in all respects worthy and deserving the promotion asked ; has been in combat with the enemy : recommended for captain by brevet. 20th. First-Lieutenant W. Alburtis, 2d infantry, particularly distinguished in a most gallant action with the band of Cotsa- Tustenuggee, on Orange Creek — for date of circumstance, see report in the adjutant-general's office ; if asked for an opinion, I should say the handsomest affair during the war. 21st. First- Lieutenant R. A. Arnold, 2d dragoons — in the recent combat with the enemy (April, 1842) this young ofiiceT, in the heat of pursuit, became separated from his company with eight men, and found himself in presence of a superior and well- posted force of the enemy, against whom he sustained himself with great gallantry, even when his small force was reduced by one killed and two wounded : recommended for brevet of captain. 22d. Second-Lieutenant George H. Thomas, 3d artillery, was the second of Captain Wade in the important service ren- dered by that officer, and his strenuous coadjutor ; this- officer has rendered very efficient service, and is highly meritorious, and deserving the brevet of first-lieutenant, for which he is recom- mended. 23d. First- Lieutenant J. W. Anderson, adjutant of the 2d infantry, conducted with great cleverness an expedition, which resulted in the capture of a party of the enemy, in August last — APPENDIX. 557 (see his report on file in the adjutant-general's office) ; he is a young officer of high promise and merit : recommended for the brevet of captain. 24th. Second-Lieutenant Douglass S. Irwin, 3d infantry, for special gallantry and conduct in the face of the enemy — for date and circumstances, see his report on file in the adjutant-general's office. 25th. Second- Lieutenant F. D. Callender, ordnance corps. I most especially commend this admirable young officer to the dis- tinction of a brevet, w^hich he has earned by zealous and valuable services. In the duties of his own corps, he has been every thing I could desire ; but he has been the ready, prompt, and efficient volunteer in all line duties, and a full participant in all hard- ships ; he is as intelligent as active : recommended for brevet of first-lieutenant. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. J. WORTH, Colonel Commanding. The Adjutant-General U. S. Army, ) Head-quarters, Washington, ) THE END. CATALOGUE If E ¥ ¥0 EKS NEW EDITIONS STANDARD BOOKS VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS OF LITERATURE. PUBLISHED BY D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 200 BROADWAY, NEW- YORK, GEORGE S. APPLETON, lis CHESNUT-STREET. PHILADELPHIA. Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable PuhlicatumSo HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY-Continued. GREENHOW.— THE HISTORY OF OREGON AND CALL JFORNIA and the other Territories on the North-west coast of North America, accompanied by a Geographical View and Map of those countries, and a number of documents as proofs and illustrations of the History. By Robert Greenhow, Librarian and Translator to the Department of State. One 8vo. vol. with Map, $2,50« "Thts history presents accounts, clear and sufficiently detailed, of all the discoveries and set- tlements made and attempted in the countries to which it relates, and of all disputes, negotia- tions and treaties between the governments of civilized nations respecting them ; with abundaat notices of facts and authorities." GUIZOT.— GENERAL HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION IN EUROPE, from the Fall of the Roman Empire to the French Revolution. By M. GurzoT, late Professor of History, now Prime Minister of France. With occa- sional Notes by C. S. Henry, D.D., Professor of Philosophy and History in the University of the city of New- York. One volume, 12mo., price $1,00. " M. Guizot, in his instructive Lectures, has given us an epitome of modern history, distin- guished by all the merit which, in another department, renders Blackstone a subject of such pe- iculiar and unbounded praise — a work closely condensed, including nothing useless, omitting nothing essential; written with grace, and conceived and arranged with consummate ability." GUIZOT.— HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH REVOLUTION of 1640, from the Accession of Charles I. to his Death. By F. Guizot, the Prune Minister of France ; Author of" History of Civilization in Europe," etc., etc. Trans- lated by William Hazlitt. In two volumes, 12mo. Paper cover $1,00, or two volumes bound in one, cloth, $1,25. "It is a work of great eloijuence and interest, and abounding with thrl 'ing dramatic sketch- es."— J^ewark Advertiser. " M. fluizot's style is bold and piquant, the notes and references abundant and reliable, and the work is worthy of an honorable place in a well-selected library." — J^ew-Hanen Courier. HAMILTON— THE LIFE OF ALEXANDER HAMILTON, Edited by his son, John C. Hamilton. Two volumes, 8vo., $5,00. "We cordially recommend the perusal and diligent study of these volumes, exhibiting, as they do, much valuable matter relative to the Revolution, the establishment of the Federal Constitu- tion, and other important events in the annals of our country. — JV*. Y. Review. KING.— THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. Twenty-four Years in the Argentine Republic ; embracing its Civil and Military History, and an Account of its Political Condition before and during the Adminis- tration of Gov. Rosas ; his course of Policy, the Causes and Character of his inter- ference with the Government of P/Iontevideo, and the Circumstances which led to the Interposition of England and France. By Col. J. Anthony King, an Officer in the Army of the Republic. One volume, i2ino., ^1,00. "This narrative of the Civil Wars in the Argentine Republic embraces from the period oftlo expulsion of the Spaniards to 1841, and is replete with matters of thrilling interest, and exhibits in a concise manner the mass of contending elements that have so long distracted that interesting country. The political history of Rosas, his course of policy, the origin of his invasion of the Banda Oriental, and the ordeal' of blood through which the people are passing under his rule, are all exhibited in this work, rendering it one of the utmost interest to the historian, the statesman and the general reader.'' KOHLRAUSCH.— HISTORY OF GERMANY, From the Earliest Period to the Present Time. By Frederick Kohlr-cusch, Chief of the Board of Education for the Kingdom of Hanover, and late Professor of History in the Polytechnic School. Translated from the last German edition, by James D. Haas. One vol., 8vo., of 500 pages, with complete Index, $1,50. "A compendious and full history of the German Empire, disconnected from all the extraneous details which it has been customary to combine with the annals of particular nations, has longf been a desideratum in the English language. Such a narration could not be found. Mr. Kohl- rausch's work, in many respects, is a model for historiographers. It is sufllciently minute, highly graphic in its portraitures and delineations, rejects every topic merely fabulous or unimportant, and the truthfulness of it can be verified by a recurrence to the various authors whom he has enumerated as the sources whence he has derived his Narrative, [t is a skilfully arranged and methodical record, luminous, very impartial and attractive both in its style and reflections." — Boa- ton Courier. The work satisfactorily supplies a vacanc)r which confessedly existed in English Li»«rature, »ai] will form a valuable and permanent addition to the hi»toricaI department of our libraiiM "-> ioutAem Churchman. a Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Publications. HISTORY AND B I O G R A P H Y— Continued. MICHELET. -THE HISTORY OF FRANCE, From the Earliest Period. By M. Michelet, Professor of History in the College of France. Two volumes, 8vo. The celebrity of this work on the continent, and the want in English Literature of a good History of France, has induced the publishers to introduce it to the Americas public at a price within the means of all. The Edinburgh, Foreign Quarterly, and other established Reviews, have urged the necessity and advantage of its being introduced, by translation, t^ the English reader. "So graphic, so life-like, so dramatic a historian as Michelet, we know not where else to look for. The countries, the races of men, the times, pass vividly before you, as you peruse his ani- mated pages, where we find nothing of diffuseness or irrelevancy. It is a masterly worK, and the publishers are doing the reading public a service by producing it in so unexceptionable and cheap an edition." — Tribune. "Universally conceded to be the ablest and most valuable history of France ever written." — Cour. Sr Enq. " It is one of those standard histories which every one must have. The author possesses great powers as a writer, and his language is terse, vigorous and elegant, forming the expression of ideas, bold, broad and deep, the fixed results of much thought and great research." — Cincin- nati Daily Mlas. MICHELET.— THE HISTORY OF THE ROMAN REPUB- Lie By M. Michelet. Translated from the French. One vol., 12rao. "M. Michelet, in his History of the Roman Republic, first introduces the reader to the Ancienj Geography of [taly ; then, by giving an excellent picture of the present state of Rome and the sur- rounding country, full of grand ruins, he excites in the reader the desire to investigate the ancient history of this wonderful land. He next imparts the results of the latest investigations, entire, deeply studied, and clearly arranged, and saves the uneducated reader the trouble of investigating the sources, while he gives to the more educated mir.d an impetus to study the literature frora which he gives very accurate quotations in his notes. H« describes the peculiarities a id the life of the Roman people in a masterly manner, and he fascinates every reader, by the brilliant clear- ness and vivid freshness of his style, while he shows himself a good historian, by the justness and impartiality with which he relates and philosophizes." The Westminster Review observes : "His ' Histoire Romaine' is not only the history of insti- tutions and ideas, as in Niebuhr, but also by virtue of the vast interpretative faculty of imagina- tion, places the inen of Rome, with their creeds and aspirations, vividly before you." MICHELET— THE LIFE OF MARTIN LUTHER, Gathered from his own Writings. By M. Michelet. Translated by G. H Smith, F.G.S. 12mo., paper cover 50 cts., cloth 75 cts. " This work is not an historical romance, founded on the life of Martin Luther ; nor is it a history of the establishment of Lutheranism. It is simply a biography, composed of a series of translations. Excepting that portion of it which has reference to his childhood, and which Lu- ther himself has left undescribed, the translator has rarely found occasion to make his own appearance on the scene. ***** It is almost invariably Luther himself who speaks — almost invariably Luther related by Luther." — Extract from M. MicheleVs Preface. MICHELET.— THE PEOPLE. By M. Michelet. Translated by G. H. Smith, F.G S. 12mo., paper cover 37 cts., cloth 62 cts. " I have made this book out of myself— out of my life, and out of my heart. I have derived it from my observation — from my relations of friendship and of neighbourhood ; I have picked it up upon the roads. Chance loves to fnvor those who follow out one continuous idea. Above all, I have found it in the recollections of my youth. To know the life of the people, their labor and their sufferings, I had but to interrogate my memory." — Extract from Author^ 3 Preface. NAPOLEON.— PICTORIAL HISTORY Of Napdvcon Bonaparte, translated from the French of M. Laurent de L'Ar- DECHE, with Five Hundred spirited Illustrations, after designs by Horace Vernet, and twenty Original Portraits engraved in the best style. Complete in two handsome volumes, 8vo , about 500 pages each, $3,50. " The work is superior to the long, verbose productions of Scott and Bourienne — not in style alone, but in truth — being written to please neither Charles X. nor the English aristocracy, but for the cause of freedom. It has advantages over every other memoir extant. — Am. Traveller. *' This handsome publication is now completed in two large 8vo. vclumos, comprising mora than 500 pictorial embellishments, presenting a concise and rapid narrative of ine extraordinary life and career of the most extraordinary man of the age. In an Appenaix are an me uetaili off the exhumation of the remains of Napoleon at St. Helena, and of the splendid pageant of the fiinerul in Paris. "As an ornamental not less Ihan an instructive work, these two volnanes will comnoend them- •eires."— JV. Y. American. 3 Appletons* Catalogue'' of Valuable Publications, HISTORY AND BIOGRAPHY-Co^— ^ UED. O'CALLAGHAN.— HISTORY OF NEW NETHERLAND, Or, NEW- YORK UNDER THE DUTCH By E B O'Callaghan, Corres- ponding Member of the New-York Historical Society. One liandsome 8vo voliirae, of 500 pages, accompanied with a fac-siraile of the original Map of N"w Netherland. Price $2,50. Book I. — From the Discovery of America to the Incorporation of the Dutch West India Company. Book n. — From the Incorporation of the Dutch West India Company, to the open- ing of the Fur or Indian Trade to the Inhabitants of New Netherland. Book III. — From the opening of the Indian Trade to the end of Director Kleft's administration. " A complete history of New York, whilst under Dutch jurisdiction, has never befnre been written. There was, therefore, an absolute blank in the annals of our State of over fitly years. Dr. O'Calla^han has tilled up this blank, and the volume now published brings the work down to 1647. As the work has been compiled nlmosl exclusively from Dutch Recorrls in the Secretary of State's Office, and from old family papers, its authenticity and the fidelity of its details can be eafely relied or. An opinion can be formed of the minuteness of those details, when it is under- stood that the author has been five years engaged with this volume The history of the lirst churches in New- York and Albany, the wars between the Dutch and Indians, and the struggle jf the people for popular rij^'hts. form a prominent portion of this part of the work, through which also are interspersed some interesting particulars of old families." ROWAN.— HISTORY OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION; Its Causes and Consequences. By F. Maclean Rowan. 2 vols., 18mo., 75 cts.; or 2 vols, in I, 63 cts. *' Most of the histories of the French Revolution that have been written, are so large that the mass of ti idetb have scarcely the courage to encounter them ; but here is one that brings the whole ma ter within moderate limits, ond yet is sufficiently full in its details to gratify a reason- able curiosity, tt abounds with graphic descriptions, and carries the reader most successfully ihrough all the scenes which it describes." — Albany Spectator. TAYLOR.— A MANUAL OF HISTORY. A Manual of Ancient and Modern History, comprising : — 1. Ancient History, con- taining the Political History, Geographical Position, and Social State of the Prin- cipal Nations of Antiquity, carefully digested from the Ancient Writen , and illus- trated by the discoveries of Modern Scholars and Travellers. 2. Modern History, containing the Rise and Progress of the Principal Eur«)pean Nations, their Polltn.^1 History, and the Changes in their Social Condition, with a History of the Colonies founded by Europeans. By W. Cooke Taylor, LL D., of Trinity College, Dub- lin. Revised, with Additions on American History, by C S. Henrv, D.D , Pro- fesf.or of History in the University of New- York. One handsome volume, 8vo.,of 800 pages, $2,25. 95" For convenience as a Class-Book, the Ancient or Modern portion can be had in separate volumes. "To the million, who have neither the leisure nor the means of an extensive rending of history, this must prove a welcome book. It bears on every page the impress of close thought and exten- ■ive research." — Tribune, " For a Text Book for Colleges and Academies, and for domestic use, it is the best work yet issued. — Eve. Mirntr. " It is adrairiibly calculated for universal circulation." — Courier and Enquirer. "We cannot but express our decided approval of this work. It is a summary of all that is moit important in the authentic annals of the world — n book suited not only for the jmrposes of direct tuition, but as a manual for domestic reading." — .lournal of Commerce. TWISS.— THE OREGON TERRITORY; Its History and Discovery, including an account of the Convention of the Escurial; alao, the Treaties and Negotiations between the United States and Gieat Britain — held at various times for the Settlement of a Boundary Line — and an examinatior of the whole question in respect to Facte and tiie Law of Nations By Travers Twis.«!, D.C.L , Professor of Political Economy in the University of 0.xf()rd One vol , l2mo ; paper cover iiO cts., cloth 75 cts "This work is written in a dignified and impartial style, and cannot fail to command the at tention of all interested in the settlement of this important national question. "This is understood to be the ablest British stateniant of that sid<» of *he Oregorj ijuestun. At •uch k in wortf»y oi caiidio exaiui.mtiun Trie tiuateriy Review protiouncex it valuable, to dependentiy of the Oregfin question, as an able discussion of several imp^njint points »\ft.h«i law •f nt^ooa.' It is aeatly and conv»aienlly published." — Mamiuff JVeum 4 Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Publications, POETRY. AMERICAN POETS— GEMS FROM AMERICAN POETS. Contains selections from nearly one hundred writers, among which are — Bryant, Halleck, Longfellow, Percival, Whittier, Sprague, Brainerd, Dana, Willis, Pinck- ney, AUston, Hillhouse, Mrs. Sigourney, L M. Davidson, Lucy Hooper, Mrs. Era- bury, Mrs Hale, etc , etc One vol , 32mo , frontispiece, gilt leaves. 37j cts. Form* ing one of the series of " Miniature Classical Library." BURNS.— THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS Of Robert Burns, with Explanatory and Glossarial Notes, and a Life of the Author By James Currie, M D. Illustrated with six Steel Engravings 16mo , $1,2.5. Forming one of the series of "Cabinet Edition of Standard British Poets " This is the most com|)lete American edition of Burns. It contains the whole of the poetry comprised in the edition lately edited by Cunningham, as well as some additional pieces; and such notes have been added as are calculated to illustrate the manners and customs of Scotland, «« as to render the whole more intelligible to the English reader. " He owes nothing to the poetry of other lands — he is the offspring of the soil : he is a.s natural to Scotland as the heath is to her hills — his varirty is equal to his originality ; his humor, his goiety, his tenderness and his pathos, come all in a breath; they come freely, for they come of theii own accord; the contrast is never offensive; the comic slides easily mto the serious, the serious into the tender, and the tender into the pathetic." — Allan Cunningham. COVVPER.— THE COMPLETE POETICAL WORKS Of William Cowper, Esq., including the Hymns and Translations from Mad. Guion, Milton, etc , and Adam, a Sacred Drama, from the Italian of Battista Andreini, with a Memoir of the Author. By the Rev Henry Stebbing, AM. One vol., 16mo., 800 pages, $1,50, or in 2 vols $1,75. Forming one of the series of " Cabinet Edition of Standard British Poets." " Morality never found in genius a more devoted advocate than Cowper, nor has moral wisdom, in its plain and severe precepts, been ever more successfully combined with the delicate spirit of poetry than in his works. He was endowed with all the powers which a poet could want who was to be the moralist of the world — the reprover, out not the satirist, of men — the teacher of simple truths, which were to be rendered gracious without endangering their simplicity." DANTE— THE VISION OF HELL, PURGATORY, AND PARADISE, of Dante Alighieri- Translated by the Rev Henry Cary, A.M. With a Life of Dante, Chronological View of his Age, Additional Notes and Index Illustrated with Twelve Steel Engravings, from Designs by John Flaxman, R.A., and a finely engraved Portrait. C)ne elegantly printed volume, 16mo , $1,50. " Gary's Translation of the Vision of Dante is among the few immortal works destined to sur- vive through all time, which are little known to our reading public. The Messrs. Appleton have therefore done good service in reproducing it here for the first time, in a style worthy of its jntrmsic merit. It is an elegant copy of the latest corrected London edition, including Flaxman's 'famous outlme illustrations, numerous explanatory notes, a memoir of the author, with a copy of the 'lost portrait,' a useful chronological index, and an index of the proper names used in the text. The portrait is a study of intellectual beauty and grace, and the volume is altogether aa exceedingly beautiful specimen of American typography. "Dante was the first to sing of Heaven and Hell, not as mythological fictions, but as the ob- iectsof a real faith. In his Visions of the world of spirits, everything wears the air of stern reality, leaven and Hell were no fictions to him. As he depicts the awful horrors of the regions of wo, •every stanza glows with the intensity of agony, and nothing imaginable can ever exceed the serene beatitude of his visions of Paradise. We rise from the perusal with the same feelings as v/hen we shake from us the influence of some overpowering enchantment. The unearthly splen- dour of a ' righter world lingers on our vision. But it is little less than presumption to comment upon a w Kk which has been the text-book of Italian Literature for more than 500 years— the great mi- or, in fact, wherein all later poets have toiletted for their appearance before tho public. "The Visions have been translated into every language of Europe, and several times into English; but the translation before us, by Rev. H. F. Cary, as revised last year for the fourth •tim'e. is confe.ssedly the best that has been made. That it was originally approved by Coleridge, -who has himself given us the best translation in the English tongue, would itself be sufficient testimony of its excellence. Mr. Cary has not attempted to transfer the flowing and sonorous, but diflicult ' rima,' but has wisely chosen to give us this highe-st Italian conception in tht, highest English form—the form of Shakspeare and Milton, " That he has succeeded at least in giving to the world a fine and vigorous English poem, :r- Btead of an attempted imitation of incommunicable beauties, none will doubt who have the un- derstanding and cultivation necessary to the appreciation of the great poem of the Middle Ages, or an ear and imagination— we had almost said a heart— attuned to the harmonies of that flexibl* and stately metre that ^rcii uof^vei tirls of inestimable valUe. The divine promises comprehend a rich and endless variety." — Dr. Wardlaw. EVANS.— THE RECTORY OF VALEHEAD ; Or, The Records of a Holy Home. By the Rev. R. W. Evans. From the twelfth English edition. One volume, 16mo., 75 cents. " Universally and cordially do we recommend this delightful volume. We believe no person could read this work, and not be the better for its pious and touching lessons." — Literar^j Gaz. FABER.— THE PRIMITIVE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION; Or, an Historical Inquiry into the Ideality and Causation of Scriptural Election, as received and maintained in the primitive Church of Christ. By George Stanley Faber, B.D , author of " Difficulties of Romanism," " Difficulties of Infidelity," &c Complete in one volume, 8vo , §'1,75. " Mr. Faber verifies his opinion by demonstration. We cannot pay a higher respect to his work than by recommending it to all " — Church of England Quarterly Review. FOSTER —ESSAYS ON CHRISTIAN MORALS, Experimental and Practical. Originally delivered as Lectures at Broadmead Chapel, Bristol By John Foster, author of " Essays on Decision of Character," etc. One volume, 18mo , 50 cents. This volume contains twenty-six Essays, some of which are of the highest order of sublimity and excellence. ORES LEY.— PORTRAIT OF A CHURCHMAN. By the Rev. W. Gresley, A.M. From the seventh English Edition. One ele- gant volume, 16mo , 75 cents. "The main part of this admirable volume is occupied upon the illustration of the practical tDorkincr of Church principles when sincerely receivedy setting forth their value in the commerce of daily'life, and how surely they conduct those who embrace them in the safe and quiet path of holy life." GRESLEY.— A TREATISE ON PREACHING, In a Series of Letters by the Rev. W. Gresley, M.A. Revised, with Supple- mentary Notes, by the Rev. Benjamin I. Haight, M.A., Rector of Ail Saints* Church, N. Y. One volume, 12mo., ^1,25. HOOK.— THE CROSS OF CHRIST; Or, Meditations on the Death and Passion of our Blessed Lord and Saviour. Edited by W. F. Hook, D.D., Vicar of Leeds. 16mo., 63 cents. This admirable little volume will be found useful as a Manual for the siek room, and ••an* pauion for the holy season of Lent. 11 Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Publications, R E L I G I O U S— Continued. HOOKER.— THE COMPLETE WORKS Of that learned and judicious divine, Mr. Richard Hooker, with an aocoun* of his Life and Death. By Isaac Walton. Arranged by the Rev John Keble, M A. First American from the last Oxiord edition. With a complete general Index, and Index of the texts of Scripture, prepared expressly for this edition. Two elegant volumes, 8vo., ^4,00. Contents. — The Editor's Preface comprises a general survey of the former edition of Hooker's Work;*, with Historical Dlustrations of the period. After which fo'lows tlie Life of Hooker, by Isaac Walton. His chief work succeeds, on the " Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity " It commences with a lengthened Preface, designed as an address "to them who seek tne re- formation of the Laws and Orders Ecclesiastical of the Church of England " The discussion is divided into eight books, which include an investigation of the topics. After those eight jook» of the "Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity," follow two Sermons, "The Certainty and Per))etuity of Faith in the Elect; especially of the Prophet Habukkuk's Faith;'* and "Justification, Works, and how the foundation of faith is overthrown"" Next are mtroduced " A su))plication made to the Council by Master Walter Travers," and " Mr Hooker's answer to tiie supplication that Mr. Travers made to the Council " Then follow two Sermons — " On the Nature of Pride," and a ''Remedy against Sorrow and Fear," Two Sermons on part of the epistle of the Apostle Jude ftre next inserted, with a prefatory dedication by Henry Jackson. The last article in the works of Mr. Hooker is a Sermon on Prayer. The English edition, in three volumes, sells at $10,00. The Amertcaa is an exact reprint, at less than half the price. VES.— THE APOSTLES' DOCTRINE AND FELLOW- SHIP : Five Sermons, preached in the principal Churches of his Diocese, during nis Spring Visitation, 1844. By the Right Rev. L. S. Ives, D.D., L.L.D. 16rao., 63 cents. "They have been productive of great good, and are now published in accordance with tho unanimous request of the Convention of his Diocese. They are written in a flowing and attrac- tive style, and are enriched with copious notes and an appendix." — Albany Eve. Journal. JAMES.— THE TRUE CHRISTIAN ; Exemplified in a Series of Addresses, by Rev. John Angell James. One volume, ISmo , 38 cents. "These addresses are amongst the choicest effusions of the admirable author." — Christian Intel. JAMES.— THE ANXIOUS INQUIRER After Salvation Directed and Encouraged. By Rev. John Angkll Jamks. On6 Volume, IBmo., 38 cents. Upwards of twenty thousand copies of this excellent little volume have been sold, which fully attests the high estimation the work has attained with the religious community. JAMES.— HAPPINESS, ITS NATURE AND SOURCES. By Rev. John Angell James. One volume, 32mo., 25 cents. " This is written in the excellent author's best vein. A better book we have not in a long time seen." — Evangelist. JAMES— THE YOUNG MAN FROM HOME. In a Series of Letters, especially directed for the Moral Advancement of Youth By Rev. Johv Angell James. Fifth edition One volume, 18mo., 38 cents. "The work is a rich treasury of Christian counsel and instruction." — Albany Advertiser. JAMES.— THE WIDOW DIRECTED To the Widow's God. By Rev. John Angell James. One vol., ISmo., 38 cenia. " The book is wortb.y to be read by others besides the class for which it is especially designed ; and we doubt not that it is destined to come as a friandly visitor to many a house of mourning, and as a healing balm to many a wounded heart." — JV. F. Observer. KIP.— THE DOUBLE WITNESS OF THE CHURCH. By Rev. Wm. Ingraham Kip, author of " Lenten Fast." One volume, 12rao Second edition. Boards 75 cents, fXoih. ^'1,00. "This is a sound, clear, and able production — a book much wanted for these times, and on« that we feel persuaded will provo eminently useful. It is a happy delineation of that dOubli WITNESS which the Church bears , a t Romanism and ultra-Protestantism, and points out her toid«JU> n»ih Jift tie only one ot safety." — Banner of the Cross 12 Apple f/)ns^ Catalogue of VaJuable Publications » R £ L I G I O U 3— COATI.NUED. KINGSLEY.— THE SACRED CHOIR: A Collection of Church Music, consisting of Selections from the most distinguished Arthurs, among whom art^ the nam^^s of Haydn, Mozart, Beeihoven, Pergolcssi, &c , &c . wirh sevei-al pieces of Music by the Auihor ; also, a Progressive Element- ary System of Instruction for Pup Is By George Kingsley, author of the Socicu Choir, &c., &c Fourth edition 75 cents " Mr. Georfj^e Kingsley: Sir — We have examined the 'Sacred Choir' enoujrh to lend us to ap^ precinte the work us tlie best publication of Sncreil Music extant. It is liCHiitiFiiily printed and •ubstantialiy bound, conferring credit on the publishers. We bespeak for the 'Sacred Choir' aa exteiigive circulation. i () S. Bowdoin, Sincerely yours, < E. U. Goodwin, ( D. Inoraham." LIGHT IN THE DWELLING; Or, A Harmony of the Four Gos{)elH, with short and simple Remarks, adapted to reading at Family Prayers, and arranged in 36.5 sections, for every day in the year. By the Author of " Peep of Day," " liine upon Line," etc., etc One vol , 8vo. " This work will be found remarkably well adapted for its purpose. It is a Commentary lo accofopaiiy Family Devotions, and travels over the four Gospe's, arranged on the bnsis of Towns- end's Harmony, placing them in portions, one for each morning in the year, in addition, it con- tains a reference to S(mie other portion of Scripture for evening devotions, bearing on the topic of the morning The lady who is its author is most favourably known by her works for the religions instruction of children — " The Peep of Day." and "Line upon Line," — of some of which mora than 3i),000 cop es have been sold in Groat Britain, and which have been highly valued and use- ful in their American reprinta. She seems to bear in mind, throughout her present work, the wants of the younger members of the household, and writes with great simplicity and directness, but without feebleneis. It bears the marks of sound judgment, seriousness, and kindness, and great occasional pungency is intermingled The book does not discredit the labours of eight years, which tjie writer declares that it cost her. Its tone seems mainly caught from tlie excel- lent commentary of Thomas Scott, of whom, however, the writer is no servile copyist. Its prin- ciples are decidedly evangelical. Without the rich variety of thought, aptness of (piotation, or felicity of |)hrase, that distinguish Jay's Morning and Evening Exercises, it breathes a kindred spirit; and whilst that may be preferred fur the closet, this would seem, foi the purpise of win- ning the attention of all members of a household at family worship, to have yet higher adapta- tion than .lay " LYRA APOSTOLIC A. From the Fifth English edition. One elegantly-printed volume, 75 cents. " In this elegant volume there are forty five sections, and one hundred and seventy-nine lyric poems, nil short, and many of them sweet." — Mew- York Jlnitrican. M\GEE.— ON ATONEMENT AND SACRIFICE: Discourses and Dissertations on the Scriptural Doctrines of Atonement and Sacri- fice, and on the Principal Arguments advanced, and the Mode of Reasojiing em- ployed, by the Opponents of those Doctrines, as held by the Established Church. By the late most Rev William Magee, D.D , Archbishop of Dublin. Two vols., 8vo , §.'5,00 -This i.< one of the abl&st critical and polemical works of modern times. The profound biblical infonnnti.m on a v^ir'ety of topics which the Archbishop brings forward, must endear his nama :o all lovers of Christianity." — Orme. MAR.SH ALL.— NOTES ON TFfE EPISCOPAL POLITY Ofth" floly '^^atholic Church, with some account of the l>evelopments of Modem Reiigiou« Sy^t^ms By Thomas William Marshall, B A . of the Diocese of S.alisl^iiry Edited by Jo.vathan M WAir»W;iiGHT, D D With a new and com- plet/^. indV'x of the Subjects and of the Texts of 8i-ripMire. One vol., 12mo , .!$'1,25. 1. Inlroduction. 11.' Scripture Evidence HI Evidence of Antiquity. IV. Ad- misjiioi: of Adversaries. V- Development of Mod^;rn Religious Systems. '■ A moro important work than this hns not bee^i issued for a long time We earnestly recom mend it to the attention of every Churchman." — Banner of the Cross. MAURiCE.— THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST; Or. Hints re.specting the Principles. Gonstj fusion, and Ordinances of the Catholic Church By Rev. Frede?.ick Denison Maurice, M. A. London. One volumr, 8vo., eOO page.s, ;^2..50. "On thp theory of the Church of Christ, all should consult tne work of Mr. Maurice^ the moM pkuMttphical vviiter of the day." — Prof. Garbetf.\'i Eampton Lectures, 1842. 13 Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Publications. R E L I G I O U S — Continued. MANNING.— THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH. By the Rev. Henry Edward Manning, M.A., Archdeacon of Chichester. Ont volume, 16mo., ^1,00. Part. I. The History and Exposition of the Doctrine of Catholic Unity. Part II. The Moral Design of Catholic Unity. Part HI. The Doctrine of Catholic Unity applied to the Actual State of Christendom. " We commend it earnestly to the devout and serious perusal of all Churchmen, and particu- larly of all clergymen, as the ablest discussion we ever met v/'iih of a deeply and vitally important subject. — Churchman. MATRIMONY.— THE MANUAL OF MATRIMONY And Connubial Companion ; gathered together for the Safety of the Single and the Weal of the Wedded. By a Bachelor. One volume, miniature size, 3U cts. The fir«t of the two Discourses comprising this little volume, is a reprint of " Seeker's" very scarce pamphlet : A Wedding Ring for the Finger ; or, the Salve of Divinity on the Sore of Hu- manity, laid open in a Sermon at a Wedding." The other is Bishop Jeremy Taylor's famous pair of Sermons on the " Marriage Ring," which are now like a new-married pair no longer twain, but one. MORE— PRACTICAL PIETY. By Hannah More. Two volumes, 32rao., frontispieces, 75 cents. Forming one of the series of the " Miniature Classical Library.'* " Practical Piety " has always been deemed the most attractive and eloquent of all Hannah More's works. MORE— PRIVATE DEVOTION: A Series of Prayers and Meditations, with an Introductory Essay on Prayer, cliiefly from the writings of Hannah More. From the twenty-fifth London edition. One volume, 32mo., frontispiece, cloth gilt, 31 cents. Forming one of the series of the " Miniature Classical Library." Upwards of fifty thousand copies of this admirable manual have been sold in the United States- NEWMAN.— PAROCHIAL SERMONS. By John Henry Newman, B. D. Six volumes of the English Edition in two vol- umes, 8vo., ^5,00. NEWMAN.— SERMONS BEARING ON SUBJECTS Of the Day. By John Henry Newman, B.D. One volume, 12mo., ^1,25. " As a compendium of Christian duty, these Sermons will be read by people of all denomina- tions ; as models of style, they will be valued by writers in every department of literature." — United States Gazette. OGILBY.— ON LAY-BAPTISM : An Outline of the Argument against the Validity of Lay-Baptism. By John D. Ogilby, D.D., Professor of Ecclesiastical History. One vol., 12mo., 75 cts. " From a cursory inspection of it, we take it to be a thorough, fearless, and able discussion of the subject which it proposes — aiming less to excite inquiry, than to satisfy by learned and in genious argument inquiries already excited." — Churchman. OGILBY.— CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ENGLAND And America. Three Lectures : I. The Church in England and America, Apos- tolic and Catholic ; H. The Causes of the English Reformation ; HI. Its Character and Results. By John D. Ogilby, D.D. One vol., 16mo., 75 cts. " I believe in one Catholic and Apostolic Church." — Kicent Creed. " Prof Ogilby has furnished the Church, in this little volume, with a most valuable aid. We think it is designed to become a text-book on the subject of which it treats." — True Catholic. PALMER.— A TREATISE ON THE CHURCH Of Christ. Designed chiefly for the use of Students in Theology. By the Rev. William Palmer, M-A., of Worcester College, Oxford. Edited, with Notes, by the Rt- Rev. W. R. Whxttingham, D.D., Bishop of the Prot. Epis. Church in the Diocese of Maryland. Two volomes, 8vo., $5,00. "The chief design of this work is to supply some answer to the assertion so frequently made, that individuals are not bound to submit to any ecclesiastical authority whatever; or that, it'tiwj are, thej mu;s(t, in oonsisteney, a««»€pt Romanism with ail its claims and errors.— Pr«/«e. 14 Appletons^ Catalogue of Valuable Publications, R E L 1 G I O U S— Continued. PULPIT CYCLOPCEDIA AND MINISTER'S COMPANION , containing three Ixundred and sixty Skeletons and Sketches of Sermons, ami eighty-two Essays on Biblical Learning, Theological Studies, and the Composition and Delivery of Sermons. By tlie Author of " Sketches and Skeletons of 400 Ser- mons," " Christian Daily Portion," etc. Tlie London edition of four volumes com- plete in one 8vo. vol. of over 600 pages, $2,50. "* • * The most eminent preachers of modern times, and the best writers on homeletics, epeak through this admirable volume. The arrangement is excellent, and the jjlan mure exten Bive and comprehensive than any other book of the kind which has appeared." — Christian Intel. " The very best book of its class. The sketches are concise and comprehensive, the range of subjects is broad, the storehouse of materials ample." — Southern Christian .Advocate. " By the Table of Contents any topic can be selected at once, and seeds of additional thoughts can be found in abundance in every part of this closely-compacted volume." — fVest. ChrisVnJidv PAGET.— TALES OF THE VILLAGE. By the Rev. Francis E. Paget, M.A. Three elegant volumes, 18mo., $1,75. "The first series, or volume, presents a popular view of the contrast in opinions and modes of thought between Churchmen and Romanists; the second sets forth Church principles, as opposed to what, in England, is termed Dissent; and the third places in contrast the character of tha Churchman and the Infidel. At any time these volumes would be valuable, especially to the young." — Jfcw-York American. PEARSON.— AN EXPOSITION OF THE CREED. By John Pearson, D.D., late Bishop of Chester. With an Appendix, containing the principal Greek and Latin Creeds. Revised and corrected by the Rev. W. S. Dobson, M.A., Peterhouse, Cambridge. One vol., 8vo., ^2,00. "This admirable Exposition of the Creed, originally preached to his parishioners in the form of Sermons, has been long and deservedly considered among the best and most useful theological productions of our language. Of Pearson it was said, ' that the very dust of his writings is gold.' " PHILIP.— YOUNG MAN'S CLOSET LIBRARY. By Robert Philip. With an Introductory Essay, by Rev. Albert Barnes. 12mo., $1. PHILIP— LOVE OF THE 1SPIRIT, Traced in His Work : a Companion to the Experimental Guides. By Robert Philip. One volume, 18mo., 50 cts. PHILIP.— DEVOTIONAL AND EXPERIMENTAL Guides. By Robert Philip. With an Introductory Essay by Rev. Albert Barnes. Two volumes, 12mo., $1,75. Containing Guide to the Perplexed, Guide to the Devotional, Guide to the Thoughtful, Guide to the Doubting, Guide to the Con- scientious, Guide to Redemption. PHILIP.— LADY'S CLOSET LIBRARY : The Marys, or Beauty of Female Holiness : The Marthas, or Varieties of Femal* Piety ; The Lydias, or Development of Female Character ; The Hannahs, or Ma- ternal Influence of Sons. By Robert Philip. Each volume, 18mo., 50 cents. " The author of this excellent work is known to the public as one of the most prolific writers of the day, and scarcely any writer in the department which he occupies has acquired so extensiv* and well-merited a popularity. — Evangelist. SHERLOCK —THE PRACTICAL CHRISTIAN ; Or, the Devout Penitent ; a Book of Devotion, containing the Whole Duty of A Christian in all Occasions and Necessities, fitted to the main use of a holy life. By R. Sherlock, D.D. With a Life of the Author, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Wilsoa, Author of " Sacra Privata," &c. One elegant volume, I6mo., ^1,00. " Considered as a manual of private devotion, and a means of practical preparation for tJ«^ Holy Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, this book is among the best, if not the be<, ever commended to the members of our Church." — Ghurchman. SPINCKES.— MANUAL OF PRIVATE DEVOTIONS: Collected from the writings of Archbishop Laud, Bishop Andrews, Bishop Ken Dr. Hickes, Mr. Kettlewell, Mr. Spinckes, and other eminent old English divines With a Preface by the Rev. Mr. Spinckes. Edited by Francis E. Paget, M.A One elegant volume, 16mo., $1,00. " As a manual of private devotions, it vill be found most valuable." — XewYirk Jlmorican. Apptetons^ Catalogue of Valuable Publications. R £ L I G I O U S— Continued. SPENCER.— THE CHRISTIAN INSTRUCTED In the Ways of the Gospel and the Church, in a series of Discourses delivered at St. James's Church, Goshen, N. Y. By the Rev. J. A. Spencer, M. A., late Rec- tor. One volume, 16mo, $1,25. " This is a very useful volume of Sermons : respectable in st3'le, sound in doctrine, and affec- tionate in '^one ; they are we!] adapted for reading in the family circle, or placing on the fam'.ly book-shelf. * * * We think it a work of which the circulation ia likely to promote trua religion and genuine piety. It is enriched with a body of excellent notes, selected from the writ- ings of the dead and living ornaments of the Church in England and this country." — True Catholic^ SUTTON.— DISCE VIVERE— LEARN TO LIVE : Wherein is shown that the Life of Christ is and ought to be an Express Pattern for Imitation unto the Life of a Christian. By Christopher Sutton, D.D. 16mo , ^1,00. "In the 'Disce Vivere' the author moulded his materials, after the manner of a Kempis, into an ' Imitatio Christi ;' each chapter inculcating some duty, upon the pattern of Him who gave Himself to be the beginning and the end of all perfection." — Editor^s Preface. SWART.— LETTERS TO MY GODCHILD. By the Rev. J. W. Swart, A.M., of the Diocese of Western New- York. One vol., 32rao., cloth, gilt leaves, 38 cents. " The design of this little work, as expressed by the author in the preface, is, the discharging of Sponsorial obligations. We have read it with interest and pleasure, and deem it well fitted to secure its end." — Primitive Standard. TAYLOR.— THE SACRED ORDER AND OFFICES Of Episcopacy Asserted and Maintained ; to which is added Clerus Domini, a Dis- course on the Office Ministerial. By the Rt. Rev- Bishop Jeremy Taylor, D.D. Ona volume, 16mo., ^1,00. The reprint in s. portable form of this eminent divine's masterly defence of Episcopacy, cannot fail of being welcomed by every Churchman. "The publishers have presented this jewel in a fitting casket." — JV. Y. American. TAYLOR.— THE GOLDEN GROVE: A choice Manual, containing what is to be Believed, Practised, and Desired, Or PrajT-ed for ; the Prayers being fitted for the several Days of the Week. To which is added, a Guide for the Penitent, or a Model drawn up for the Help of Devout Souls wounded with Sin. Also, Festival Hymns, &c. By the Rt. Rev. Bishop Jeremy Taylor. One volume, 16mo., 50 cents. " This little work may peihaps be regarded as among the choicest of Bishop Taylor's produc- tions. While it is designed to be a guide to devotion, it breathes much of the spirit of devotion, and abounds in lessons of deep practical wisdom." — Albany Adv. WILSON.— SACRA PRIVATA. The Private Meditations, Devotions, and Prayers of the Rt. Rev. T. Wilson, D.D., L-ord Bishop of Sodor and Man. First complete edition. 16mo , ornamented, ^l. "The reprint is an honor to the American press. The work itself is, perhaps, on the Avhole, the best devotional treatise in the language. It has never before in this country been printed en- tire."— Churchman. ' ^jCr A neat miniature edition, abridged for popular use, is also published. Price 31 cents. WILBERFORCE.— MANUAL FOR COMMUNICANTS ; Or, The Order for Administering the Holy Cnn,munion ; conveniently arranged with Meditations and Prayers from old English Divines : being the Eucharistica of Samuel WUberforee, M.A., Archdeacon of Surrey, (adapted to tne American ser- Tiee.) 38 cents, gilt leaves 50 cents. "We most earnestly commend the \vork."—Ch2irchman. WILSON— EXPOSITORY LECTURES ON ST. PAUL'S Epistle to the Colossians ; in which the Apostle's argument respecting the Errora on the subject of the Mediation of Christ, prevailing at Colosse. is applied to the present Circumstances of our Protesiant Church. By Daniel Wilson, Bishop of Calcutta. One volume, 12mo., ^1,25. " This is a series of very able and e.^jreedingly interesting Lectures, by the venerable Bishop of Calcutta, of which the direct purpose 3 to apply the argument of the Apostle respecting tii« Errors on the subject of the Mediation of Christ at Colosse, to the present circunstances of tha Church. It IS a very important work, and cannot fail to be received witli very marked fiiyour by all who are interested in the progress of reHgious truth, and especially in the growth of the Pn»- testnnt Episcopal Cimreh."— Cffwrier ^ Enquirer. 16 Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Puhlicationa, SCIENCE AND THE ARTS. I. AGRICUI.TXJISE. BOUISSANGAULT.— AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY. Rural Economy, in its relations with Chemistry, Physics, and Meteorology ; or. Chemistry applied to Agriculture. By J. B. Bouissangault. Translated, with Notes, etc., by George Law, Agriculturist. 12mo., over 500 pages, ^1,50. "The work is the fruit of a long life of study and experiment, and its perusal will aid the farmer greatly in obtaining a practical and scientific knowledge of his profession." — American Agi iculturist. " This is a good agricultural work. It is a farmer's book, which he may read with profit and pleasure ; a book for his boys to study, and which, if they do study, will be sure to lead them oa Itep by step until they understand the science as well as the practical part of thia noble profes- lion. It is theresult of inquiries by the author extending over many years of agricultural observa- tions, made under the most favourable circumstances. It treats of the physical and chemical phenomena of vegetation ; of the composition of vegetables and their immediate principles; of fermentation ; of soils ; of every thing that has been done on the subject of manure, organic and mineral; of rotation of crops; of live stock, their maintenance and economy; «f meteorology and climate, and the relations between organized beings and the atmosphere." — Cincinnati Qaz, FALKNER.— THE FARMER'S MANUAL: A Practical Treatise on the Nature and Value of Manures, founded from Experi- ments on various Crops, with a brief Account of the most Recent Discoveries in Agricultural Chemistry. By F. Falkner and the Author of " British Husbandry.'* 12mo., cloth, 50 cents. FARMER'S TREASURE, THE : Containing " Falkner's Farmer's Manual," and " Smith's Productive Farming," bound together. 12mo., 75 cents. MARSHALL.— THE FARMER'S HAND-BOOK : Being a Full and Complete Guide io¥ the Farmer and Emigrant. Comprising — The Clearing of Forest and Prairie Lands ; Gardening ; Farming Generally ; Farriery j The Management and Treatment of Cattle ; Cookery ; The Construction of Dwell- ings ; Prevention and Cure of Disease; with copious Tables, Recipes, Hints^ &c., &c. By Josiah T. Marshall. One volume, 12mo., illustrated with numerous wood engravings. Neatly bound. Price .^1 ; paper cover, 621 cents. " This Manual is the result of much experience, observation, and research, and as such is confidently recommended to all Farmers and Emigrants, to whom it will teach wisdom and en- sure comfort." — Evening Mirror. " One of the most useful books we ever saw." — Boston Post. " Mr. Marshall's Manual explains about fifteen hundred different subjects— and, f5rem a close research of them, it seems difficult to specify what additional information a farmer can require iui a hand-book of experimental and practical intelligence upon agricultural topics." — Cin. Atlas SMITH.— PRODUCTIVE FARMING : A Familiar Digest of the Most Recent Discoveries of Liebig, Davy, Johnston, and- other celebrated Writers on Vegetable Chemistry, showing how the results of Til- lage might be greatly augmented. By Joseph A. Smith. 12mo., cloth, 50 cents, II. AMCMITECTUKE AWU MECHANICS. EWBANK.— HYDRAULICS AND MECHANICS : A Descriptive and Historical Account of Hydraulic and other Machines for raising Water, including the Steam and Fire Engines, ancient and modern ; with Observa- tions on various subjects connected with the Mechanic Arts ; including the Pro- gressive Development of the Steam Engine. In five books. Illustrated by nearly three hundred Engravings. By Thomas Ewbank. Second edition, witk' a Supple- ment. One handsome volume of 600 pages, $3,50. " Thi" is a highly valuable production, replete with novelty and interest, and adapted to gratify equally tht historian, the philosopher, and the mechanician ; being the result of a protracted and extensive research among the arcana of historical and scientific literature." — J^ational Intel. LAFEVER.— BEAUTIES OF MODERN ARCHITECTURE; Consisting of forty-eight Plates of Original Designs, with Plans, Elevations, and Sections— also a Dictionary of Technical Terms ; the whole forming a complete Manual for the Practical Builder. By M. Lafever, Architect. Large 8vo., $6,00. 17 Appletons^ Catalogue of Valuable Publications, SCIENCE AND THE ARTS.— Continued. HODGE.— THE STEAM ENGINE: Its Origin and gradual Improvement, from the time of Hero to the present day, as adapted to Manufactures, Locomotion, and Navigation- Ilhistrated with 48 Plates in full detail, numerous wood-cuts, &c- By Paul R. Hodge, CE. One volurae folio of plates, and letter press in 8vo , ^10,00. " This work should be placed in the " Captain's Office " of every steamer in our country, and ai«o with every engineer to whom is confided the control of the engine. From it tliey would d© rive all the information which would enable them to comprehend the cause and effects of every ordinary accident, and also the method promptly and successfully to repair any injury, and to jemedy any'defeet." 131. MEBICINE ANI> CMEMISTMY. CHAVASSE.— ADVICE TO MOTHERS On the Management of their Oifspring, during the periods of Infancy, Childhood, and Youth. By Dr, Pye Henry Chavasse, Member of the Royal College of Sur- feons, London. From the third English Edition. One volume, ISmo., of 180 pages, •aper 25 cents, cloth 37^ cents. "All that I have attempted ^s, to have written useful advice, in a clear style, stripjjed of nil technicalities, which mothers of every station may understand. * * * I have ad oj)ted a con- versational form, as beii/j more familiar, and as an easier method of making myself understood.— Extract from Author's Preface. DE LEUZE.— PRACTICAL INSTRUCTION IN ANIMAL Magnetism. By J. P. F. De Leuze. Translated by Thomas C. Hartshorn, Revised edition, with an Appendix of Notes by the Translator, and Letters from eminent Physicians and others, descriptive of cases in the U. States. One vol., 12mo., $1,00. "The translator of this work has certainly presented the profession with an uncommonly wejl- digested treatise, enhanced in value by liis own notes and tlie corroborative testimony of eminent phvsicians." — Boston Med. Sr Siirg. Journal. FRESENIUS.— CHEMICAL ANALYSIS. Elementary Instruction in Chemical Analysis. By Dr. C. Rhemigius Fresenius. With a Preface by Prof. Liebig. Edited by I. Lloyd Bullock. 12mo., cloth, $1,00. "This Introduction to Practical Chemistry is admitted to be the most valuable Elemer:lary In- structor in Chemical Analysis for scientific operatives, and for pharmaceutical chemists, which has ever been presented to the public." HALL.— THE PRINCIPLES OF DIAGNOSIS. By Blarshall Hall, M.D., F.R.S., &c. Second edition, with many improvements, by Dr. John A. Sweet. One volume, 8vo., $2,00. "This work was published in accordance with tlie desire of some of the most celebrated phy- sicians of this country, who were anxious that it should be brought within the reach of all classes of medicjil men, to whose attention it offers strong claims as the best work on the subject." LIEBIG.— FAMILIAR LETTERS ON CHEMISTRY, And its relation to Commerce, Physiology, and Agriculture. By Justus Liebig, M D. hMited by John Gardner, M D. One volume, 25 cts. bound. " The Letters contained in this little volume embrace some of the most important points of the Science of Chemistry, in their application to Natural Philosophy, Physiology, Agriculture, and Commerce." LEGER.— ANIMAL MAGNETISM, Or Psycoduanamy. By Theodore Leger, M.D., kte Prof of Anatomy at the Prac- tical School, Paris. One volume, Timo., $1,25. " This volume will be read with particular interest, by not only the believer in the science, but even the veriest sceptic. It embraces the history of the science and the rationale of its prac- tice. Every view; of the subject, its facts and theories, is presented with perfect clearness aud ability, and submitted to the candid judgment of the reader." — Rochester Advertiser. WILSON.— ON HEALTHY SKIN: A Popular and Practical Treatise on Healthy Skin ; with Rules for the Medical and Domestic Treatment of Cutaneous Diseases. By Erasmus Wilson, F.R.S. I2tao , Illustrated, ^1,00. "The author of this work is one who has had >rrea(, opportunities, in his hosjiital practice, df iferriliarizing himself with this subject, and who imparts liis knowledge with clearness, briefly but distinctly, and giv^cs the results of his attendance to this subject in English, not in Latin " 18 Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Publications* SCIENCE AND THE A RTS— Continued IV. USEFUffi AltTS. COOLEY.— THE BOOK OF USEFUL KNOWLEDGE : A Cyclopoedia of Six Thousand Practical Receipts, and Collateral Information in the Arts, Manufactures, and Trades ; including Medicine, Pharmacy, and Domes- tic Economy, designed as a compendious Book of Reference for the Manufacturer, Tradesman, Amateur, and Heads of Families. By Arnold James Cooley, Practical Chemist. Illustrated with numerous Wood Engravings. Forming one handsome volume, 8vo., of 650 pages. Price $2,25, bound *' It is adapted to every class of business, being a dispensatory for the chemist, a directory for the artisan, a guide for the merchant, and a rule for the household in most of the afiairs of do- mestic economy."— JV*. Y. Com. Adv. " A work of the highest practical utility, and one which should be in every family." — Courier Sf Enquirer. " It is a complete hand-book of practical instruction for all the purposes of common life, both in business and the household — far superior to the books of receipts hitherto sold, as science and order are preferable to confusion." — Evening Mirror. "The Book of Useful Knowledge. From an examination of this work before ns, we feel fully jnstified in saying that it is one of the most valuable publications that has been issued for many years. No economist, no family, no utilitarian, should be without it." — Philad. Enq. PARNELL.— APPLIED CHEMISTRY, In Manufactures, Arts, and Domestic Economy. Edited by E. A. Parnell. Illus- trated with numerous Wood Engravings, and specimens of Dyed and Printed Cottons. Paper cover 75 cents, cloth ^1,00. " The Editor's aim is to divest the work, as far as practicable, of all technical terms, so as to adapt it to the requirements of the general reader." URE.— DICTIONARY OF ARTS, Manufactures, and Mines ; containing a clear Exposition of their Principles and Practice. By Andrew Ure, M.D., F R S., &c. Illustrated with 1240 Engravings on wood. One thick volume of 1340 pages, bound in leather, ^5,00. '* In every point of view, a work like the present can but be regarded as a benefit done to theo- retical and practical science, to commerce and industry, and an important addition to a species of literature, the exclusive production of the present century, and the present state of peace and civi- lization."— AthencBum. " Dr. Ure's Dictionary, of which the American edition is now completed, is a 8tui>endous proof of persevering assiduity, combined with genius and taste. For all the benefit of individual en- terprise in the practical arts and manufactures, and for the enhancement of general prosperity through the extension of accurate knowledge of political economy, we have not any work worthy to be compared with this important volume. We are convinced that manufacturers, merchants, tradesmen, students of natural and experimental philosophy, inventive mechanics, men of opu- lence, members of legislatures, and all who desire to comprehend something of the rapidly accele- rating progress of those discoveries which facilitate the supply of human wants, and the augment- ation of social comforts with the national weal, will find this invaluable Dictionary a perenniA source of salutary instruction and edifying enjoyment." — J^ational Jntelligencer, URE.— A SUPPLEMENT TO DR. URE'S DICTIONARY : Recent Improvements in Arts, Manufactures, and Mines, (being a Supplement to his Dictionary.) By Andrevv^ Ure, M D. 8vo., illustrated with 200 cuts, ^1,50. ^ht" The complete Work, with Supplement, bound in two vols. Price #6,50. V. MIE.ITARY. HALLECK.— ELEMENTS OF MILITARY SCIENCE AND ART ; or, A Course of Instruction in Strategy, Fortification, Tactics of Battles, 6uch, and inculcating good practical lessons of morality. BLOSSOMS (THE) OF MORALITY : Intended for the Amusement and Instruction of Young People. Illustrated with 23 original designs by Darley. ISmo., 50 cents. The tales and sketches in this little volume will be found appreciable by the young intellect, and of an interest which will secure their attention, BACHE— CLARA'S AMUSEMENTS. By Mrs. Anna Bache. Illustrated with numerous Engravings. Square 16rao., 50 cts. This volume is admirably adapted to convey information and recreation to children. The incidents and most of the conversations being from actual life. BARWELL.— LITTLE LESSONS FOR LITTLE LEARN- ERS, in Words of One Syllable. By Mrs. Barwell. Illustrated with many Cuts. Square, 16mo., cloth, 50 cents. The utmost simplicity has been adopted in these Lessons — the author having adopted the mode of speech used by children, as the best adapted to lead the young mind to a knowledge of facta BOONE.— ADVENTURES OF DANIEL BOONE, The Kentucky Rifleman. By the author of " Uncle Philip's Conversations." Ono volume, 18rao., 37i cents. Qi^ Forming one of the series of '*' A library for ray Young Countrymen." " It is an excellent narrative, written in a plain, familiar style, and sets forth the character and ■wild adventures of the hero of the Kentucky wilderness in a very attractive light. The boys will all be in an agony to read it." — Com. Adv. BOYS' MANUAL. Comprising a Summary View of the Studies, Accomplishments, and Principles of Conduct, best suited for promoting Respectability and Success in Life. One vol., I8mo., 50 cents. COTTON.— ELIZABETH ; OR, THE EXILES OF SIBE- RIA. By Madame Cotton. Miniature size, 3U cents. |]C|= Forming one of the series of " Miniature Classical Library." The extensive popularity of this little tale is well known. COPLEY.— EARLY FRIENDSHIPS. By Mrs. Copley. With a frontispiece. One volume, 18mo., Zlh cents. " A continuntion of the little library of popular works for ' the People and their Children.' Its .design is, by giving the boarding-school history of a young girl, whose early education had been conducted \m Christian principJes, to show the pre-eminent value of those principles in moulding and adorning the character, and enabling their possessor successfully to meet the temptations and trials of life. It is attractively written and full of interest." — Com. Adv. CAMERON.— THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER: A Tale of Humble Life. By Mrs. Cameron, author of " Emma and her Nurse," *' The Two Mothers," etc., etc One vol., 18mo., frontispiece, 37i cents. "We welcome, in this little volume, a valuable addition to the excellent series of "Taleifoc the People and their Children." Tbj story conveys high moral truths, in a most attractive form."— Hunt's Merchants^ Magazir.^ 25 # Appletons^ Catalogue of Valuable Publications, J U V E N I L E— Continued. CHILD'S DELIGHT ; A Gift for the Young. Edited by a Lady. One volume small -ito. Embellished with six steel Engravings, coloured in the most attractive style. " We cordially recommend Ihe volume to our juvenile friends." — U. S. Gazette. BOB, THE SQUIRREL. The Travels and Extraordinary Adventures of Bob, the Squirrel. Illustrated with twelve handsomely-coloured Plates. Square 16mo. CHILD'S FAVORITE : A Present for the Young. Edited by a Lady. Illust. with 12 col'd plates, 16mo. DE FOE.— PICTORIAL ROBINSON CRUSOE. The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe. By Daniel De Foe. With a Me- moir of the Author, and an Essay on his Writings, with upwards of 300 spirited En- gravings, by the celebrated French artist, Grandville. One elegant volume, 8vo., of 500 pages, $1,75. "The Messrs. Appleton & Co., New- York, have just published a beautiful edition of 'The Life and Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.' Not the miserable abridgment generally circulated, but De Foe's genuine work, Robinson Crusoe in full and at length — a story which never palls upon the reader, and never can lose ita popularity while the English language endures." — Fennsylv. EDGEWORTH.— MORAL TALES. By Maria Edgeworth. Illustrated with original designs, by Darley. Three vols., price 37i cents each, or three vols, bound in one, price 75 cents. CoNTBNTS. — Part I. Forester ; the Prussian Vase. II. The Good Aunt, Mademoiselle Panache. III. Angelia, or L'Ame Inconnue ; The Good French GoTerneeg ; The Knapsack. EDGEWORTH.— POPULAR TALES. By Maria Edgev^ orth. Illustrated with designs by Croome. One volume., 18mo. CoNTENxa.— I. Murad the Unlucky. II. The Manufacturers. III. The Contrast. IV. Th« Grateful Negro. V, To-morrow. EDGEWORTH.— STORIES FOR CHILDREN. By Maria Edgeworth. One volume, 18mo., with illustrations. CoNTKNTS. — Waste not, Want not; or, Two Strings to your Bow. II. The Bracelets; or» Amiability and Industry Rewarded. III. Lazy Lawrence ; or, Industry and Idleness Contrasted* SC|- Either of the three above Tales can be had separately bound. GEORGE'S JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF HAPPINESS. Translated from the French. Beautifully illustrated with sixteen coloured Engrav- ings. Square 16mo. GUIZOT.— THE YOUNG STUDENT ; Or, Ralph and Victor. By Madame Guizot. From the French, by Samuel Jack- son. One vol., of 500 pages, with illustrations. 75 cents, or, in three vols., ^1,12. OC?- Forming a portion of series of " Tales for the People and their Children." " This volume of biographical incidents is a striking picture of juvenile life. To all that num- berless class of youth who are passing through their literary education, whether in boarding- Bchools or academies, in the collegiate course, or the preparatory studies connected with them, w« know nothing more precisely fitted to meliorate their character, and direct their course, subordi- nate to the higher authority of Christian ethics, than this excellent delineation of 'The Young Student,' by Madame Guizot." — Cour. 'TENTs.— I. Shepherd of Salisbury Plain. 11. Mr. Fantom the Philosopher, III. Two Shoemakers. IV. Giles the Poacher. V. Servant turned Soldier. VI. General Jail Delivery. MORE.— RURAL TALES. By Hannah More. One volume, ISmo., 38 cents. Contents.— I. Parley the Porter. 11. All for the Best. III. Two Wealthy Farmers, IV. Tom White, V. Pilgrims. VI. Valley of Tears. 5)::jr Forming a portion of the series of " Tales for the People and their Children." These two volumes comprise that portion of Hannah More's Repository Tales which are adapted to general usefulness in this country. PRATT.— DAWNINGS OF GENIUS ; Or, the Early Lives of some Eminent Persons of the last Century. By Anne Pratt. One volume, 18mo., frontispiece, 38 cents. ^^ Forming one of the .series of " A Library for my Young Countrymen." Contents. — Sir Humphrey Davy; Rev, George Crabbe ; Baron Cuvier; Six Joshua Rey nolds ; Lindiay Mwray ; Sir James Rtackinto^^ ; B*. Adam n<» to those who have dragged on month after mouth in the old-fashioned, dry, and tedious vray of learning ttnguages. " Mr. Arnold, in fact, has had the good sense to adopt the system of tiature. A child learns his own language by imitating what he hears, and constantly repeating it till it is fastened in the memory ; in the same way Mr. A. puts the pupil immediately to work at Exercises in Latin &nd Greek, involving the elementary principles of the language— words are supplied— the mode of putting them together is tuJd the pupil— he is shown how the ancients expressed their ideas ; and thin, by repeating these th\ngs agnin and again— itenirn item mrjue— the docile pu^il has thom inJeiibly impressed upon his memory and rooted in his understanding. "The American editor is a thorough classical scholar, and has been a practical teacher fo J ears in this city He has devoted the utmost care to a complete revision of Mr. Arncdd's works as corrected severnl c<-ors of inadvertence or otherwise, has rearranged and improved vnrioa matters in the early volumes of the series, and has attended most diligently to the accurate print 5Kg Ail- 1 jechaniual execution of the whole. We anticipate most confidently the speedy adoptioB of the.i«rous large schools throughout lb* Appletms' Catalogue of Valuable Publicahons. 6 LASSICAL 8c SCHOOL BOOKS— Continued. ARNOLD.— LECTURES ON MODERN HISTORY. By Thomas Arnold, D.D. With an Introduction and Notes, by Prof. Henry Reec' One volume 12mo.,^l,25. {(Cr This volume has already been adopted as a text-book in the University of Pennsylvania and Union College, Schenectady. ADLER.— A NEW GERMAN READER ; With Reference to Ollendorff's German Grammar. By G. J. Adler, Prof, of th" German Language and Lit. in the University of the City of New- York. (In Press.* GRAHAM.— ENGLISH SYNONYMES ; Classified and Explained, with Practical Exercises. By G. T. Graham, author of " Helps to English Grammar," etc. Edited, with illustrative authorities, by Henry Reed, Prof, of Eng. Lit. in the University of Pennsylvania. One volume, 12mo. " It is impossible not to praise both the design and execution of this work. It fills a chasm in our scholastic literature. Previous to this publication, we had but three works of the kind, whether for young or old students, (Trussler, Taylor, Crabb,) and not one of them is practical enough for elementary purposes." — London Athenaum. GESENIUS.— HEBREW GRAMMAR, BY RODIGER. Gesenius's Hebrew Grammar. Enlarged and Improved by E. Rodiger, Prof, of Oriental Literature in the University of Halle. Translated by Benj. Davies, Doct. in Philosophy of the University of Leipsic ; v,dth a Hebrew Reading Book, prepared by the translator, carefully reprinted from the fouteenth edition, (just published in London, by Bagster.) Complete in one handsome 8vo. volume. " The excellence of Gesenius's Grammar is universally acknowledged. Its adaptation, both in matter and method, to meet the wants of Hebrew students, is triumphantly established by th'.' fact that no fewer than thirteen editions have been sold. The new edition, from which this trans lation has been made, was prepared by Prof. Rodiger, and appeared in 1845. Among living Phi lologists, there are but few names in higher repute than Rodiger's. His edition of this Gramma i may therefore be supposed to contain some real improvements, as v/ell as changes and additions ; and this presumption is fully borne out by a comparison with the thirteenth edition, which was itself improved by the author's last revision. The addition of the Reading Book, as an intro- duction to the translating of Hebrew, will prove (the compiler hopes) of material service to the student in mastering the Grammar and acquiring the language." — Ext. from Translator's Pref. GUIZOT.— GENERAL HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION In Europe, from the fall of the Roman Empire to the French Revolution. Trans- ited from the French of M. Guizot, Professor of History to la Faculte des Lettres of Paris, and Minister of Public Instruction. Third American edition, with Notes by C. S. Henry, D. D. One volume, 12mo., $1,00. " M. Guizot, in his instructive Lgctures, has given us an epitome of modern history, distinguished by all the merit which, in anoth^ department, renders Blackatone a subject of such peculiar and unbounded praise — a work closely condensed, including nothing useless, omitting nothing essen- tial ; written with grace, and conceived and arranged with consummate ability."— 5os«oa Trav» KEIGHTLEY.— THE MYTHOLOGY OF GREECE And Italy ; designed for the use of Schools. By Thomas Keightley. Numerous wood-cut illustrations. One volume, 18mo., half bound, 44 cents. " This is a neat little volume, and well adapted to the purpose for which it wa« prepared. It presents, in a very compendious and convenient form, every thing relating to the subject, of im- nortance to the young student." — L. I. Star. MICHELET.— HISTORY OF THE ROMAN REPUBLIC. By M. Michelet, Professor of History in the College of France, author of " The History of France," etc One vol., 12mo. "I have looked over Michelet's Roman History in the original, with the admiration which all the works of that great master must inspire. It is in many respects admirably adapted to the pur- poses of instruction in our higher seminaries of learning, &o. " Alonzo Pqttbr. "Union College.'* MANDEVILLE.— NEW ENGLISH READER: A Course of Reading for Common Schools and the Lower Classes of /Academies, on a Scientific plan ; being in part an abridgement of the author's " Elements of Reading and Oratory." By H. Mandeville, Prof, of Moral Philosophy and BeW«i Lettres in Hamilton College, N. Y. One volume, 12mo. 31 Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Publications, CLASSICAL 8c SCHOOL B O O K S— Continued OLLENDORFF.— NEW GERMAN GRAMMAR. A New Method of Learning to Read, Write, and Speak the German -Language. By H. G. Ollendorff Reprinted from the Frankfort edition ; to which is added a Systematic Outline of the different Parts of Speech, their Inflection and Use, with fall Paradigms, and a complete list of the Irregular Verbs. By G. J. Adler, Prof of the German Language in the University of the City of New York. 12mo., $1,50. " Ollendorff's New Method of Learning to Read, Write, and Speak the German Language, ha» had an extensive circulation in England, and its demand in this country also has constantly been increasing of late. Nor is its popularity undeserved ; for it supplies a deficiency which has been long and deeply felt by all those who have engaged in either teaching or learning the German. " The German has hitherto been treated too much like a dead language; and hence many, dis gusied with the cumbrous terminology and crabbed rules which in the very outset met their eye Dave given up the acquisition of the language in despair. Ollendorff has completely remedied fliis evil. Beginning with the simplest phrases, he gradually introduces every principle of Gram mar; and he does it by interblending the rules with such copious exercises and idiomatic expres jions, that, by a few months' diligent application, and under the guidance of a skilful instructor 2ny one may acquire every thing that is essential to enable hi-m to read, to write, and to converst m the language." Q::^" -A- Key to t!;e above, in a separate volume, uniform; price 75 cents. OLLENDORFF.— NEW FRENCH GRAMMAR. A New Method of Learning to Read, Write, and Speak the French Language. By H. G. Ollendorff. With an Appendix, containing the Cardinal and Ordinal Num- bers, and full Paradigms of the Regular and Irregular, Auxiliary, Reflective, and Impersonal Verbs, by J. L- Jewett- One volume, 12mo., ^1,50. "The plan pursued in teaching the French is substantially the same with that developed in tha German Method. Avoiding the exclusively didactic character of the older treatises on the one hand, and the tedious prolixity of detail which encumbers modern systems on the other, OUendorfl combines and thoroughly teaches at once both the theory and practice of *he language. Tha student who pursues his method will therefore be relieved from the apprehension of either for getting his rules before practice has grounded him in their principles, or of learning sentences by rote which he cannot analyze. Speaking and writing French, which in other systems is delayed until the learner is presumed to be master of Etymology and Syntax, and consequently is seldom acquired, by this method is commenced with the first lesson, continued throughout, and made tha efficient means of acquiring, almost imperceptibly, a thorough knowledge of grammar ; and this without diverting the learner's attention for a moment from the language itself, with wliich he is naturally most desirous of becoming familiar. The text of Ollendorff, carefully revised and corrected, is given in the present edition without abridgment To this the American editor has added an Appendix, containing the cardinal and Ordinal Numbers, and full conjugation of all the Verbs. The work is thus rendered complete, and the necessity of consulting other treatises is wholly obviated." 3;^ A Key to the above, in a separate volume, uniform ; 75 cents. OLLENDORFF.— NEW ITALIAN GRAMMAR. A New Method of Learning to Read, Write, and Speak the Italian Language. By H. G. Ollendorff With Additions and Corrections, by Felix Foresti, Prof, of the Italian Language in the University of the City of N. Y. One vol., 12mo. (In Press.) M. Ollendorff's System, applied to the study of the Italian Language, possesses all the advan tages of his method of learning the German and French, and will undoubtedly, as its merits be come known, take the place of all other Grammars. 3:3" A Key to the above, in a separate volume, uniform. REID.— A DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE Containing the Pronunciation, Etymology, and Explanation of all Words authorized by eminent writers ; to which are added a Vocabulary of the Roots of English Words, and an accented list of Greek, Latin, and Scripture Proper Names By Alexander Reid, AM., Rector of the Circus School, Edinburgh. With a Critical, Preface by Henry Reed, Prof, of Eng. Lit. in the Univ. of Pa. 12mo., near 600 p., ^1. The attention of Professors, Students, Tutors, and Heads of Families is solicited to this volume Notwithstanding its compact size and distinctness of type, it comprises forty thousand wordi. In addition to the correct orthoepy, this manual of words contains four valuable improvements :— • L The primitive word is given, and then follow the immediate derivatives in alphabetical or- der, with the part of speech appended. IT. After the primitive word is inserted the original term whence it is formed, with the naint t»f the language from which it is derived. III. There is subjoined a Vocabulary of llie Roots of English words, by which the accurata "•'irp'-'Tt of them is instantly discoverable. [V. Ar. accented List, to the nuiiber of fifteen thousacd, of Gn:^ :.,^.:/'j!. f.-.^;^. : ii)\\t--:ii^ ,^-^^ ?or Narajs, is added. -,-,.- «-i , . .^> . , 32 Appletons* Catalogue of Valuable Publications, CLASSICAL 8c SCHOOL BOOKS— Continued. SURRENNE.— THE STANDARD PRONOUNCING DIG. TIONARY OF THE FRENCH AND ENGLISH LANGUAGES, in two parts. Part one, French and English ; part two, English and French ; the first part com- prehending words in common use — terms connected with Science — terms belonging to the Fine Arts — 4000 Historical names — 4000 Geographical names— 11,000 terras lately published, with the pronunciation of every word according to the French Academy, and the most eminent Lexicographers and Grammarians ; together with 750 Critical Remarks, in which the various methods of pronouncing employed by different authors are investigated and compared with each other. The second part, containing a copious Vocabulary of English words and expressions, with the pro- nunciations according to Walker. The whole preceded by a practical and compre- hensive system of French pronunciation. By Gabriel Surrenne, F.A.S.E., French Teacher in Edinburgh, Corresponding Member of the French Grammatical Society of Paris. One volume, 12rao., nearly 900 pages, neatly bound — $1,50. " This work must have been one of very great labor, as it is evidently of deep research. We have given it a careful examination, and are perfectly safe in saying, we have never before seen any thing of the kind at all to compare with it. Our space will not permit us give more than this general testimony to its value. Long as the title is, and much as it promises, our examination of the work proves that all the promises are fulfilled, and we think that no student of the French language should, for a moment, hesitate to possess himself of it. Nor, indeed, will it be found less useful to the accomplished French scholar, who will find in it a fund of information which can no where be met with in any one book. Such a work has for a long time been greatly needed, and Mr. Surrenne has supplied the deficiency in a masterly style. We repeat, therefore, our well digested opinion, that no one in search of a knowledge of the niceties of the French language* should be without it." — JVational Magazine for May, 1846. TAYLOR.— A MANUAL OF ANCIENT AND MODERN HISTORY ; comprising, I. Ancient History, containing the Political History, Geographical Position, and Social State of the Principal Nations of Antiquity, care fully digested from the Ancient Writers, and illustrated by the discoveries of Modern- Scholars and Iravellers. IL Modern History, containing the Rise and Progress of the principal Euro- pean Nations, their Political History, and the Changes in their Social Condition j with a History oi tne Colonies founded by Europeans. By W. Cooke Taylor, LL. D., of Trinity College, Dublin. Revised, with additions on American History^ by C. S. Henry, D.D., Professor of History in the University of N. Y. One hand- some vol., 8vo., of 800 pages, $2,25. Ocf> For convenience as a class-book, th& Ancient or Modern portion can be had in separate volumes. This Manual of History is fast superseding all other compends, and is already adopted as s text-book in Harvard, Columbia, Yale, New-York^ Pennsylvania, and Brown Universities, and several leading Academies. WARNER.— RUDIMENTAL LESSONS IN MUSIC. Containing the Primary Instruction requisite for all Beginners in the Art, whether Vocal or Instrumental. By James F. Warner, translator of " Weber's Theory of Musical Composition," " KUbler's Anleitung zum Gesang-Unterrichte," [Boston Ac£^eray's Manual,] &c., &c. One vol., IBmo., cloth, 50 cents. " We do not know how we can do a more substantial service to teachers and scholars in music vocal or instrumental, than by urging them to adopt this volume as a class book. It is full and complete on every topic connected with the subject, clear in its arrangement, and concise in ex- Eression. The illustrations are numerous and ingenious, and must prove very valuable aids to the ;arner, in comprehendmg the subject, as well as to the teacher in imparting instruction."— TVifran* . WARNER.— FIRST STEPS IN SINGING. The Primary Note Reader, or First Steps in Singing at Sight. By James F. War ner. 12mo., 25 cents. This volume of musical exercises is designed as a supplement to the author's " Rudimentai Lessons in Music." The two works, taken together, are intended to furnish the beginner in vocal music, with a complete set of books adapted to his purpose. WRIGHT.— PRIMARY LESSONS : In which a Single Letter is first Taught, with its power ; then another Letter is Taught in the same manner, and the two combined into a Word— an application of she letters being made in words as fast as they are learned. The words thus learned are arranged into easy sentences, so that the .earner is immediately initiated into Reading Lessons. By Albert D. Wright, author of ** Analytical Orthography,'* jp-ionological Chart, &3. b3 D. Appleton cj* Co.'s Educational Publications. ARNOLD'S CLASSICAL SERIES. OPINIONS OF SCHOLARS. Princeton, December 3, 1846. Gentlemen, — In reply to your letter, I have to say tliat I can, from the most satisfactort experience, bear testimony to the excellence of your series of Text Books for Schools. I am is the daily use of Arnold's Latin and Greek Exercises, and consider them decidedly superior to any other Elementary Works in those Languages. LYMAN COLEMAN, D., D., Prof, of the Osrman, Greek, and Latin Languages. Dear Sir, — I am much pleased with Arnold's Latin Books. A class of my older boy? have just finished the first and second books. They had studied Latin for a long time before but never understood it, they say, as they do now. CHAS. M. BLAKE, Classical Teacher in Broion's Prince-street Academy, Philadelphia. Arnold's Lessons in Latin I find unsurpassed ; and, if the Greek Jjessons by the sania author shall prove as useful, they will form the commencement of a new era in the study of the classics in this country. I wish you abundant success in so noble an enterprise as furnishing our schook and scholai-s with such valuable books. SETH DAVIS, Rector of Zion's Church, Rome. Arnold's La.tin and Greek Composition. In the skill with which he sets forth tha idiomatic peculiarities, as well as in the directness and simplicity with which he states the facts of the Ancient Languages, Mr. Arnold has no superior. I know of no books so admirably adapted to awaken an interest in the study of language, or so well fitted to lay the lOundatiou of a correct scholarship and refined taste. N. WHEELER, Principal Worcester County High Scnool. Messrs. Applkton : Penx. College, Gettysburg, Oct. 29, 1846. Dear Sirs, — The friends of education are under great obligations to you for the valuable service you have rendered by the recent publication of Arnold's Cornelius Nepo^. I have examined the edition with much interest, and it gives me pleasure to say that I highly approve of it. A text-book prepared by a man so distinguished for scholarship, exi)erience, and success in teaching, as Dr. Arnold, cannot fail to secure universal favor. The mechanical execution, and the great accuracy which prevails throughout, are highly creditable to the American editor and the publisher. I have determined to introduce the edition at once into the Academical Department of Pennsylvania College, and have accordingly directed our book merchants to procure copies. Respectfullv, yours, M. L. STOERER, A. M., Prof, of History in Pennsylvania College, and Principal of the Academical Department. Messrs. Appleton & Co. : Oakland High School, April 23, 1846. G«Btlemen, — I acknowledge with many thanks the receipt of T. K. Arnold'* First and Second Latin Book, and his Introduction to Latin Prose Composition. The style in which the books are got up is not their only recommendation. With thorough instruction, on the part of the teacher using these books as text-books, I am confident a much more ample return for the time and labor bestowed by our youth upon Latin must be secured. The time certainly has eipsic for the supply of all orders for Bookt published throughout Germany — also in Brussels, Paris, Florence and Madrid; so that they are prepared to er»- cute with great fidelity and promptness, all orders intrusted to their care from any portion of the Continental Book Market The advantages which such facilities offer to Literary Institutions, Professional Gentleman, and tha UteraPf Public for a speedy supply of Books from the great Book Marts of Europe, all will acknowledge. A MONTHLY LITERARY BULLETIN, Containing a list of all books publisl-.ed during evpry month in Great Britain, together with a selected list of Jfaw American Publicatioas, with the pckee affixed, and other important literary information, is published immediata^ on the arrival of the steamer of the l.st of every month As this periodical is furnished gratU, gentlemen who db- lire to receive it will please aiitiress tli^* publishers, 200 Broadway. gg*" Orders for single copies or by the quantity, will be received until 3 o'clock tlwi day previous to the Mi9 '114 of the Bteamer from Boston, on Uie 1st and IStii of each month. i 3 9088 00908 9905 il iJiii olll-i ij I i < i ' JiiH^^^^^^^^^ »