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tfAVAfitiOH iiJii’t vLICVN. TUKlteXU k * EKEL, j drrv mwitn. mu,; -r'jT>V«r »ix. ri.a as* '• •>'.//.. no. ttt Anrixca. OTJ- M.L XMT* 4*D *r~* AD' ’ ilttl l I’lPCIM—I'ff* *T<*n '< T J ~- I toYI9PCK»T»/fP* * ftr tntnzM, .4.0 TKt#-* Tf?K ^Itioru Iimuat^rti, 8.li 1N*T. s v:\u.vtxji n\ik. ' OrrniAL Domrr i tmhntb if toy. Psvi PENT TO towiiM ' Letters from Maj.Grn. E. 1'. G.isr s, <0 “fftr ff 6r Ur pertinent. Head-fy’artcrs, F^rt Srott, Geo. > # Ucccmbt-r H 161" > * .sir—I had the honof to receive, on the -i’bth ultimo, your communication of the .'’(•tli October. I am ve.rv bapfiy to find that the Presi- d.T.t apf roves of my movement, but I •y.iuch regret that bis just ettjjec fattens, as to -tin’ rtTert there evas reason to believe iron hi be produced on the minds of the ' Indians by this movement, have nut been Ttaii-ed. 1 am nor? finite cftfivincod, that t lit'hostility of these Indians is, and has long Bins.'. bcCD, of so deep a character, os to leave wo. ground to calculate upon trar.nuility, or the future security of oar fin;.tier settlements, until the towns souih -it*l cast of this place shall receive a sig- j.,| proof of our ability and willingness to retaliate for every outrage. It is nmv my .painful tlutv to rejKirt an affair of a more H rim’s ar.if decisive-nature thar.fiashere- ' tofnre occurred, and which, leaves no doubt nf the necessity of an immediate applica tion of three, .vd active measures on our part. A large party of Seminole Indians, on the'Stub tilt. Ini-nifT an ambuscade up on the Appalarhicoia river,' 1 mile below "the jiitt. tio « of the Klief and Chatahoiichie, attacked one of one boats ascending near the shore, am! killed, rutnlrl and took ~tho greater part of the detachment, con sisting of dOitivn, commanded by I.t. II. \V. Scott, of tire 7< h infantry. There were also on hoard, killed or taken, 7 wo men, the wives id soldier*. Six men of ' the detachment duly cheapen, four of whom were v,(landed. They report that the strength of the current at the point of -allarji had obhg°d the lieut. to keep his boat near the shore : that the Indians had formed along the batik of the fiver, and were not discovered until their fire had ■commenced ;hi the first volley of which Lt. Scott ar.d ’ni. meet valuable men fell. The lieut. and his party hail been sent from this place some days before, to as sist Major Muhlenberg in ascending the river with three \e>« is laden with milita ry stores, brought from Montgomery and Mobile. The major, instead of fit tabuing tile party 1v> assist him. as I had advised, (See the enclosure No. 21 retained only about SO men, and in (heir place put a like number of sick, with the w omen, and some regimental clothing. The boat, thus laden, was detanked alcrtc for this place. It is due to Major Muhlenberg to -observe, that, at the time he detached the boat, I have reason to believe he was not apprized of any recent hostilities ’having "taken place in this quarter. It appears, ■however, from Lt. Scott’s letter, received about the hour-in which lie was attacked, (the enclosure No. 3) that lie had been warned of the danger. Upon the receipt 'oT this letter, l had two boats fitted out with covers and pon holes, lor defence, ■and dftaihrd Can:. < Tincli, with an officer and 40 men, wild nil order to secure the movement of T.t. Scott, and'then to assist M ajor Muhlcnbe „ 'rhisdetarhmeot ,-mbarked late in the evening of the 30th, and must have pass ed the scene of action below, at night, anil some hours after the affair terminated. I have nM Vet heard from rapt-Clinch. I .•hall immediately strengthen the detach ment under Major Muhlenberg with an other boat, secured against the enemy’s ■fire- He will, therefore, move up with safety, keeping near the middle of the river. I shall moreover take a position, with Tny principal force, at the junction off he river, near the line, and shall attack any vessel that may attempt to intercept our Vessel and supplies below, as I feel persuaded the order of the President, prohibiting an attack upon ihe Indians below flic line, has reference only to the past, r.n8 not to the present or future outrages, such as the •one just now perpetrated, and such 'as shall place our troops strictly within the •pale of natural law, where self-defence is sanctioned by the privilege of self preser vation. The wounded men who made their escape, concur in the opinion, that •they had seen upwards of 50u hostile In dian warriors, at different places below Ti- paint of attack. Of the force engag ed they differ in opinion; hut all agree that the number was very considerable, ‘extending about 150 yards along the shore, in the edge of a swamp or thick w oods.— I am as-it red by the friendly chief, that f j- hostile w arriors of every town upon the Chalahouchie prepared canoes, and pushed off dnvvu the river to join the 5<e- ininolcs, as soon as the acromit of my movement from the Alabama reached them. The Indians now remaining upon the C.Vahnnchie, 1 have reason to believe, are well disposed. One of tin new •settlers, however, has recently been killed; but it chkci’.u river. It was expected liy the chiefs, that ] should communicate to them my views and Wishes. 1 fell authorised to say biit little, and l deemed it necessary, in what I should say, to endeavor to coun teract the erroneous impressions by which they have been misled bv pretended Brit ish agents. I nope the President will see, in what I have said, nothing to disapprove. I feel persuaded a report of the various talks which 1 received from the chiefs, would shew the propriety of what I have said to (hem. Such a report I have not a ino ment’s time now to make. The Indians are at this moment firing at our camp from the opposite line of the river. I hat e the honor to be, most respectful Iv, your dbedient servant, EDMUND P. GAINES, Major General by Brevet, coininandin; To the Hon. Secretary of IVar, Washington City. [EXCLQSBTI IN TIIF. ABOVE.] No. 1. ‘ Chiefs and Warriors: The President of the United States has hern informed of the murders and thefts Committed by the hostile Indians in th part of the country. He lias authorised General Jackson to arrest the offenders atid cause justice to be done. The Indians have been required to deliver up the mur ilerers of our citizens, and the stolen pro petty; but thev refused to deliver either. They have had a council at .Mickasukee, in which tliev have determined upon war. Thev have been at war against helpless women and children; let them now ealeu late upon fighting men. We have long known that we had enemies east of tliii river; we likewise know we have some friends; but tliev are so miyed together we cannot always distinguish the. one from the other. The President, wishing to do justice to his red friends and children, lias given orders /or the bad to be separated from the good. Those who have taken up arms against him, and such as have listened to the bad talks of the people beyond the sea must go to Mickasukee, Suvvaney, when we w ish to find them together. But all those who were our friends in the war, will sit still at their homes, in peace. We will pay them for what corn ami meat they have to sell us. W e will be their friend and, when (hey arc hungry, we will give them meat. The hostile partv pretend to dtloulate upon help from the British!— they may as w ell look for soldiers from the moon to help them. Their warriors were beaten, and driven from nor country, by American troops. The English are not able to help themselves; how then should they help the old “ red sticks,” whom they have ruined by pretended friendship r No. S. Fort Scott, November 1817. Sir—The waters having risen sufficient ly high to enable you to ascend the river with all the vessels, I wish you to do so, though it should take longer than I had anticipated. You can avail yourself of the aid ol Lieutenant Scott’s detachment, to expedite your movement hither. Keei your vessels near to each other; and. should you meet any insuperable obstacle, endeavor to apprise me thereof, and you shall have additional relief. Wishing to see you soon, with your fleet, I remain, with great regard, your obedi ent servant, E. P. GAINES. To Major Muhlenberg, Commanding the U. States’ troops ascending Appalachicola river. No. 3. Spanish Bluff, 20th November, 1817. Sir-—Enclosed you will receive Major Muhlenburg’s communication, which lie directs me to forw ard to von bv express, from this place. Mr. Hamljly informs me, that Indians are assembling at the junction of the river, where they intend to make x stand against those'vessels coming up the river. Should this be the case, I ant not able to make a stand against them. Mv command docs not exceed forty men, and one half sick, and without arms. I leave this immediately. I am, respectfully, your obedient ser vant, R. IV. SCOTT, Lieut. 7th Inf. Commanding detachment Note.—'The bearer of this is entitled to three dollars on delivering this letter. The Indians have a report here, the Indians have beaten the white people. Head-Quarter-;, Fort Hawkins, Ga. December 15, 1817. irir—I arrived at this place the day be fore yesterday morning. In the afternoon of the same tfay received the detachment of Georgia militia, under the command of Brigadier General Glascock. They look well, and are ready to march; but the inattention on the part of the con tractor’s agent to the requisitions for a 3 1v of rations, will I apprehend, ac- ing to custom, delay the movement of the militia, until some part of the fron tier settlements suffer by the Indians, who, I have no doubt, will detach considerable parties for this purpose, as soon as they find themselves unable to succeed in auv attempt against the regular troops at Fort Scott: and 1 think it cannot be long be fore thev are convinced of this. But al though 1 consider the regular .troops secure n the positions they occupy, vet I am sa- eept when we have Veen assisted by the -red people.” This will appear the less extraordinary when it is recollected that they have little or no means of knowing the strength and resources of our coifntnr; they have not travelled through It; they read neither books of newspapers, tior have they oppor tunities of conversing with persons able to inform them. I feel warranted, from all I know of these savages, in saying, they do not be lieve we can beat them. This error of theirs has led them from time to time, for many years past, to mas sacre our frontier citizens, often the un offending and helpless mother and babes. I felt myself fully authorised to adopt the only measures which long experience has proven to be adequate, to put a stop to these outrages. I was pleased with the prospect of beinginstrumenta! in effecting an object of so much importance to our exposed frontier settlements, and which l felt and still feel, persuaded would in the end benefit the Indians. The steps 1 have taken are known to the department of war. Yon can more readily conceive, than I describe the mor tification and disappointment 1 have ex perienced in being compelled to suspend or abandon my measures, at a moment when the loss of Lt. Scott and his party had given the enemy an occasion for tri umph, and a certain prospect .' increasing his strength by enlisting against us ail who had before wavered or hesitated. Permit me then to repeat my request that I mav be. permitted to return. There Is little ground to apprehend that we shall find it necessary to follow the Indians far beyond the national bounda ry. They arc now to be found in very considerable parties on our side of the line. I have not a doubt of the necessity of sending to Flint river, by way of Hart ford, the detachment of militia under gen eral Glasscock. My endeavors to put the detachment in motion will delay my own movement until the I7fh insf. at‘which fime I shall resume mv man h to Point Petre. "An opinion prevails among the well in formed of this part of the country (who have by some means unknown to me been advised of our intention to take Amelia Island) that our troops there will meet with no opposition.—Should this be the case, I shall return to Fort Scott without delay. 1 have the honor to be, &c. EDMUND P. GAINES,Maj. Gen. Comd. Hon. J. C. Calhoun, Sec. of War. followed him to Flint river, on the route to Micknsnkee, whither he escaped. On- sh.ijn, and severe! other friendly chiefs, have otlen-d me their services, with their warriors, to gi stains/ the Seminnles. I J.ave prtunisofl to give them notice of /he •time that may be fixed for my departure, ■find then to accent their services. The en- vlosute No. i car,‘tains the substance of vhat I have -aid to the chiefs who have visited me ; several of whom reside south Of the Spanish line, and west of Apjiala- President, so far as may depend on tne. shall be scrupulously observed. I should installriv discharge the Georgia militia, were I not strongly impressed with a be lief, that such a step would hazard the safety of the frontier settlements. The Seminole Indians however, strange and absurd it may appear to those who under stand litcie of their real character and ex treme ignorance, entertain a notion that they cannot be beaten by our troops. They confidently assert, that we never have beaten them, or any of their people, ex- Extract ol’ a letter from general Gaines to the se- cretury of war, dated Metal- Quarters t Mart ford (~ Cil.J January 9, 1818 Sir—I had the honor to receive, on m\ way to (his place, the >tb instant, by ex press from Fort Hawkins, your very ac ccpiable .etteis of the 9lh ami Kith of last inunth,-— The instructions tlv-y contain shall be regarded.with the attention which their mportauce demands. 1 rewiied, by the same express, seven reports up to the 2tst December, from lieutenant-colonel Arliuckle, and major Muhienaerg, copies of which C enclose herewith, No. 1,.2, 3, and 4. By these reports it appears, that the principal force of the enemy (between 800 ami 1200) has been assembled on the Ap palachicola. with a view to cut oll'our sup plies ordered up that river, and that the letachincnt, with the. vessels, has suffered severe annoyance,'a'lid some loss. I do not apprehend that we shall lose a vessel, of '.hat any serious consequences to troops at Fort Scott, will result from the delay and difficulty of obtaining supplies bv that channel; the supply of Ilnur is more than sufficient for the presen* month, and there is likewise a considerable supply of coin at the fort, and beef cattle in the hbothbod. Ol salted pork, there can ic but little, until the arrival in the river f ihiitv thousand rations, and with every other requisite supply, ordered in the early art ol last month Irom Mobile, and which nay bo brought up the river in the covered ball-proof boats which have been prepared fur the purpose. But, to guard against every untoward obstacle in that quarter, 1 have ordered supplies from this place and Fort Hawkins; part of which are now on tjie wav,and will be deposited at a work now constructing by the detachment un der geo-rat Glasscock, on Flint river, at the Lliehaw village, sixty miles above Fort Scott, whence the supplies will be taken in bail-proof boats, and 1 have strong ground to believe they will be at Fort Scott by the 24th of tire present month, at which time I calculate upon being able to cunccnjrate my force, and shall lose no time in at- (einptinga decisive alow, which I trust will terminate the war I have received information that a party of Indians entered the settlement near Trader’s liill, a few days past, killed a woman, and took oft' some three or four negroes. 1 had previously ordered a de taenment of artillery from Amelia Island, with two companies of /he militia taken from general Floyd’s division, to take post at Trader’s Hill, for the defence of that settlement. I have reason to believe the artillery arrived at the Hill about the time the murder was committed, and the militia soon alter, and that the Indians were pur- •Ji'd. The residue of militia taken from gen- ral Floyd’s division (five companies) are ordered to this place to reinforce general Glasscock’s command, excepting one com pany, which will be posted near the Big Bend ofOakmulgee. The detachment under guneral Glass cock, delayed by rainy weather, bad roads, ami want of’ punctuality in the contrac tor’s department, may not be able to torina junction with the United States’ troops in tune to pat an en.i to the war, before their term of service expires, which will be ear ly in next month; I have, therefore, re quested of his excellency the governor of tins state aa additional force to assemble at this place the first of next month, to con sist'of foSr hattalior.s of infi-ntry, and four companies'of riflemen,'for three months, which (hope will meet your Approbation. [KICLOUJ m THE xaovx.) No. 1. Furl Sett, i'll* />«*■»4<t, I8t 7. Sin: Since the day of your departure I have not received the least info:illation, exceprby Indians, from Fort Gaines; and I have no information whatever of the Georgia militia, or McIntosh’s Indians. Yoo will herewith receive a copy of Brevet insjor MohlenhurK’s letter to me ol the 16th inst. which will apprise you of his situation. The armed boat I sent down yesterday, under the command of captain Blackstoue. wiiu a supply of fif teen days’ provissiuns for the men on b iard the vessel, and some materials '.etter secure them from the fire of th enemy:’I had the boat so altered as make her convenient to carry forward an anchor; by which means the vessels will be enabled to progress slowly, and, 1 think will reach this in eight or ten d»y unassisted by the wiud; they are about thirty miles below, I shall do every thing the fqrcc under my command will permit, without hazard ing too nincli, to draw the attention of the cnemv fiom the vessel, whose force, from the best information I have been able obtain, is between 800 anil 1200 Indians and negroes, and encreasing daily. On t!p> 13tb inst. Ilainbly and Doyle were made prisoners by tliis party, and, I pre sum**, killed, and their property of eve description taken possession of. The chief, Win. Perryman, who had gone dow with a party to protect Humbly and Doyle was killed, and bis men lorceil to join tlie opposite party. All the Indians on th Ohattaboochie below Fort Gaines, wlio are not disposed to go to war, 1 tear, will compelled to remove above for security. The present war will; these Indians w require a much greater lorce than v contemplated, to bring it to a speedy and favorable conclusion. C’apec’.iionico, or the principal chief of the Mickasuky tow is hi command of all toe hostile Indians 1 have a large keel boat on (lie stock and should I not be deceived, will hav her in a condition for service in twen days at farthest: she will transport fro three to four hundred barrels, and will be constructed to navigate the Appalacliicul river with safety and dispatch. In consequence of the situation of ou vessels, and the difficulty of supplvio Fort Hughes, I have thougut it besi recal the command; during tin- time cap tain M-Iutosh commanded that post, i was surrounded by a large force, and ni arrangements were such as to do hi much credit; he did.the enemy some iu jury, and had no men killed or wound ed. 'There is but about twenty days rations of meat on hand at this post. 1 have sent the contractor’s agent to Fort Gaines to forward beef, and if he should be disap pointed them have directed him to proceed further. 1 am, sir, etc. etc. M. Alt BUCKLE, Lt. Col. Com. Major General E. P. Gaines. No. 2. Jfearthe Ocketee Town on the .Ipatachicola river, Tuesday tveninr, Dec. J6.18J7. Sin—On Monday morning the trans ports were attacked by tile Indians from both sides of the river, with a heavy fire f small arms. We returned their fire the firing has continued ever since. We have lost two killed and thirteen wounded most of them severely; whether we have injured them any, I am unable to say.- We are now compelled to remain here, as it is impossible for us to carry out a warp as a man cannot show himself ubove th bulwark without being fired on. i can assure you that our present situation is not the most pleasant, not knowing how soon, or whether we are to receive succor from above. The wounded arc in but a bad situation owing to the vessel’s being much croud ed, and it is impossible to make them any ways comfortable on board. Not havin' any other means to communicate to you, I am compelled to despatch the keel boat under the command of captain Clinch with instructions to make the best of hi wav to'Fort Scott. I hope to here from you soon, with in structions how lam to proceed iu my pre sent situation. With respect, etc. P .MUHLENBERG, Brevet Major. P. S. We have but a few days provision on hand; the men have been ou half al lowance for some time. No. 3. Fort Siy.tr, 21 it Jlecember, 1817. Sir—Since closing my letter, the keel boat arrived from the vessels below with some wounded. Major Muhlenberg states, it is imposible for the vessels to get up. the shore being lined on both sides of the river with In dians and negroes, who keep up a con stant fire on them. He lias determined, if the boat does not return to hun this eve ning, to drop down and try to get to th bay. The boat will leave this under the command of major Triggs at 12 o’clock to-day, and will reach them by sun down, provided it is not interrupted in its des cent. 1 shail endeavor to keep up an inter course with them (by means of the keel boat) until we can get the ammunition from on board, and in the last extremity they will he compelled to dr<.p down the bay; in doing wbicb, I am apprehensive they will suiter severely. You have herewith a copy of brevet ma jor Mnhlenberg’s letter of the 19th inst He appears dissatisfied that more has not been done for his relief; in this nothing shall be omitted that the force here can effect. Should I attempt to march against the enemy with all the force here, with ihe at tention tifremoviiig him from the river, I am confident 1 should not succeed, and at best would sustain a very considerable loss. Men and mean* of every description are grfatlyVanting here, amI,*’nouliBany mis fortune happen to the vessel*,'we have not half « supply of ammunition, endnote single stand of spare arms. f have nnt heard a word from you since your departure, I am. sir, etc. etc. •M. ARBUCRLE, lieut. col.comdg. Major gen. E. P. Gaines. No. 4. .Vo* Octette Town, 19M Pee. 1817. Sir—Yours bv captain Blackston via recrived at 12 o’clock this morning, and in hopes that you would have been able to afford gome relief to the command, a* our situation demanded that something should have been done immediately: that wc are not able to' progress is evident, a* we have the enemy on both sides of the river, and therefore im practicable to rarry out a warp. Had we not heard from ydu by the keel boat this morning, it was decided that we should have attempted to return te the bay this evening. I shall now despatch the keel boat under the command of lieutenant Gray, and try to retain our present position until the night of the 21 A- In case we should not hear from you, or be reinforced by land, we shall make the attempt to reach the hay. For further particulars, I refer you to lieutenant Gray. Willi respect, <Vc. p. Muhlenberg, majof. Lieut, col. Ahruckle. Head Quarter*, Hartford, TGa.) January 7o, 1817. Sir—I have received this day from lieu tenant colonel Arbucktc, reports of the state of his command up to the 18th of the present month, and f r om brig. gen. Glas cock up to yesterday’s date, copies of which 1 have the honor to euclose here with. No. I to 6. By these communications, you will per ceive that whatever has been, or can be said, nf the desire of the Seminole Indians to lay down their arms and make peace, there is, in reality, no prospect of peac«, without beating them into a cunviction of the danger and evil effects of a war with us; and, 1 fuel persuaded that a peace made with them at this time would be followed cy scenes ot more daring outrage than those which our frontier settlements have heretofore suffered. I have learned from an «Scer lately at Fort Hawkins, that there is, in the post office at that place, a letter fiom the de partment of war to major general Jacksou- In the hope nf seeing him, and ascertain ing his views upon the subject ol our ope rations in this quarter, and to provide for supplying the additional detachment of militia ordered to this place, I have delay ed my movement to Fort Scott, until I sae or hear from the general, or front the tle- p..r tnent of war. I have the honor to De, etc. EDMUND P. GAINES. Hon. J. C. Calhoun, scc’ry ot war. [catLoscn in vac above.] No. 1. Fort Scott, Dec 77, 1817. Sir—Enclosed, you will receive a copy of a letter I received yesterday from capL Irvin. Can the information given by the Indian expresses* be true? The armed boat returned from the ve»- sel in the Appachicola river yesterday, and, although they have not progressed' , much, l was gratified to be informed that no men had been killed or wounded on board of them, except those I informed yon'- of in my communications of the 20th and * 21st inst. I considered the situation of those ves sels much more safe than when I wrote to you last, and have little doubt I shall have theni herein ten days from this time, or, if not, I can unload them with safety below, and have them returned to the Bay. f have no information respecting the Georgia militia, or McIntosh and his Indi ans, except what is contained iu the en closed. I have not heard of provisions being on the way from Fort Hawkins, nor have I received a line from you since your de-’ partare from this post - I am etc- M. ARBUCKLE, Lieutenant colonel Commanding. Maj. gcn.E. P. Gaines,St. Mary’s,Geo. No. 2. Fort Oainet, 23*/ December 1817. Sir—I received your’s by Mr. Laycock, last evening, expressing a wish to hear from this post. This is the third attempt that I have made to give you news trom here; this same inan was made prisoner on his wAy to your post, and a second time compelled to return back. You are auxiotls to know of the move ment of the militia and Indians—I will give you what I have heard on that subject; it was brought from Fort Mitchell, by an In- lian express; he received it from Sam Sell direct from Fort Hawkins: he states that the militia were to leave the agency on last Thursday. No w ord of them here yet- ile stated that there was considerable con fusion amongst them about marching, and, that some had refused to march, and, that the agent had told the Indiaas that gen. Gaines had no business to go to the Indian towns and fire on them in the night; that he had acted like the Indians themselves in doing so. McIntosh had come as far as Fort Mitchell on his wav, and the agent has sent him home; and told him to meet him at the agency, for a talk, in 30 day*, 18 of which yet remain; and .that he should not move until the general government should give the order. This, I expect, is the case, for they have sent Onis Haijo a talk that he was doing wrong to be in ser vice in this country, till the agent should ive him orders. He further states, that the agcii;has sent a talk to Seminola, to the chtels to meet him, and he would make peace for them; and, the white people should have no satisiactiou for what wa* done. This is the news here, as it respects the Indians. 1 am induced to believe that they are not coming. Notning new here since you heard from this post. After alt that I have said to the citizens, ther are going from the Fort to their houses. 'Gen eral Gaines directed me to send you a cen sus of the people at this post. A few dan ’ ago there were 285 persons in the Fort, 60