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MACON GEORGIA T E L. E G K’ A P
nud Georgia BaUPliou whose breastworks were
not. yet quite completed—but neither did any in
jury. The 2 companies or cavalry that crossed
at the ford, went «*u a scouting patty up thcriver
with a view of discovering and -taking up next
day, tite trail by which tbo'ludi us were suppo
sed to have retreated, ami a largo aud fresh traii
was discovered. The o:her two cavalry corps,
under Captains Campbell aud Nelson, from
JelTcrsou, Cherokee and Wilkes, cruised at the
Ferry in the ove »iug, by swiui niiig their horses.
The Washington, Jeflurson, aud ilaaco*-k
troops, are united into a squadron, under the
com in and of Mi\jor Douglass, formerly Capt. of
the Jeffo.'snu troop, who was elected to th it com
inand at Picnlatn; while Capt. Nelson’s corps
haviug arrived after the election was made, act
independently of it.
Tiio following interesting letter is from one <>r the Edi
tors of the Augusta Chronicle, now with the Gear-
git Volunteersiu Florida:
Camp Georgia. ?
On Tampa Bay,Glh. April 1836
We m rived here this inoruiug. after n tedious
march of 12 days from Fort Draue, which wo
left ou the 26ih ult. On tho first evening, we
camped near Charley Town, the former residence
of Charley Oinathla, after a march of 10 miles
Soon lifter our arrival there, it was ascertained
that two baggago wagons and a cart, ono baton
gins to Capt. M.iione of the Washington Cavnl
ry, had been left behind about four inilrs, in coils
sequeuce of the two wagous breaking dowu; and
another wagon, accompanied by four of the Ala
con Volunteers, was scut after them. About 10
o’clock, a negro, Allen belonging to Capt Ain-
lone, came in with one of the wagons at £ill
speed - the whole having been attacked by six
Indians, wheu -Mien, who was on a saddle horse,
after firing.a pistol at them, and receiving two
balls through nu clothes, seized the horses in the
wagon, aud brought them iu at full gallop. A
white man. named liinsau. of the Washington
Troop, who snapped his' rifle several times at the
Iudiaus, next came in wiili bis horse, shot
through tho fore arm. Several companies of
horsoaud foot were then despatched to tho place
of attack, aud four miles on the road we discov
eroil, first, the fragments of the wagon sent out
strewed along one by oue;theu tho cart much shat
lered, with the shafts up, and the contents, flour,
mcnl. Sic.'scattered about the road; aud next,
the other negro of Capt. Malone. Enom. on his
back in the road, dead, with a shot through the
right breast. Two of the four Macon Volunteers
came to us from the woods and feinted, th.it when
the attack was made the other two took oue of
the horses from the wagon and fled in the opposite
direction towards Fort Draue, aud they uuable
to get out ti>e other in lime took to the woods.
nu.l hid themselves under a log, ucar which tho
ludiaus shortly afterward passed, and they heard
somo one among them speak English plainly—
supposed to bo my e9rvant, Alfred, who travel
led with Capt. Maloue’s negroes, and was missiug.
Ou returning to the camp, hop ever, about 2 o’
clock, after pooceeding some distance further
without discovering any Indians, we found that
he had arrived there unhurt, having fled to the
woods when the attack was made, aud found his
way in.
On the third day, about 10 o’clock. A. AI. we
arrived at the Withiacoochy, without another in- _
cidout of iuterest, aud encamped about 300 y ards > ° ,,r troop, (the Washington, who, having the
LTanip IzzarJ, which I right of tho squadron, Sec, 1 joined at Fort Drane)
expectiug to return in tho evouiug, included the
provision, also, and were without any, either for
themselves or horses, till their return n-xt evo-
On tho next morning, we agaiu took up the
lino of march in the course oflho trail abovemcii
tioned, aud partly iu the direcAiou of Tampa Hay,
somewhat more to (be right. After continuing
four or five miles, iu consequeuce of ludiau signs
reported by tho flankers, the course was changed
towards the VVitblacoochee, aud a small ludiau
town, just deserted, jva* shortly discovered awl
burnt, aud afterwards nu- ludiau enc ttiipineui,
about a mile fiom Gen. Clinch’s first battleground
ou the VVitblacoochee, where a part of the forces
were left, while the others proceeded onward,
somewhat iu a hue with tho river. An Indian
and a negro were shortly discovered, and pursued
by the Jefferson and Hancock troops, but made
their escape in tho direction of the river. Capt.
Campbell would probably have secured the ne
gro, nut that his horse sunk into a Gopher hole
and rolled with him ou tho grjun.1 ; from which
lie instantly rose and fired, but without any known
effect. About three miles from the camp, on
outeriug a very large prairie, a uinnber of Indir
nus were discovered, on tho edge of au exceedin
gly dense aud swauipy hammock, on tho oppo
site side, nud iu the direction of the river.
An Indian, aud uegrointerpreter, were sen; to
them and reported.it is spi.l. some indications of
an iutcniiun to come in next morning, aud hold
a talk; and the small remainder of the troops,
wii • with Goii. Scott occupied during the parley
the centre of the prairie, were'drawn oil at dusk
the great army haviug been ordered bark to their
camp in jhe rear apparently with the inteu
iron of encouraging the Indians to come in—and
the whole encamped for the night iu thu rear of
the prairie. Tho troops having been ordered, at
the other encampment, to leave all their bagg
age behind, many, inchidiug nearly the whole of
Ou the next day, wo proceeded onwards, iu a-
southeast direction towards. Tampa Bay, surpri
sod that we had a* yet, neither seen nor heard of
Gen. Eusiis or Col Lindsay, who were'to have
joiued us at or near the Withiacoochy; the sig-
ual gnus bad sovoral times been fired.. Duriug
tbit day or the next, 1 now forget which, wo dis
covered a large Indian Jowu of 25 houses or up
ward, recently deserted, on the margin of a large
pond, aud burnt it to the ground. On the next
day. after travelling a few miles, during a halt, by
a largo pond, wit ha View of facilitating the march
to Tuinpn.it was determined by Gen Scott to
leave there the entire Georgia Battalion of AIu-
jor Cooptr, and the sick ami wouuded. with nil
the. provisions that could 6e spared, till our re
turn that way, which they were told would occur
j iu nine days : ami they wero accordingly left (by
Tampu on the afternoon of the 15th, and r.r- L try day, iutcndiug to while ‘away - the wehrines
_ — i*?l i ilia Oit'ih via Pwn wMiln. j of tliAilMmn. hut rjimpps*: J^nctic h:N iiicf emit to
• * }111:
nved'in Louisville the 26th, via Pen acola. I of the camp, hut General Enstis has just sent to
Alaj, Douglass states, that on tiicinarchto Tam- * tlnspost for some information which is to be
pa, they had two battles and several skirmishes I communicated fo hint by express, aud I have
from the river, and 200 from Camp IzzarJ,
still remained as left by Gaiues. The Richmond
llluos & Hussars, (on a scouting party) and a
number of stragglers, while near the crossing
place, about 11 o’clock, were fired at by the In
dians from the hammock just above, but no one
was hit. About six or eight shots were made,
accompanied by yells. The burial place of the
f allaut Izzard was discovered near the ^outh
Vest angle of Gen. Gaines’s camp,—from the
description received ofit.
An attack being expected daring the night,
breastworks were thro.vn up round our encamp
meat during the day, three logs high, and short
ly after dark a heavy fire was made on it from
the same hammock as before, but no one was hit
and indeed the distance was such that it is pro
bable no shot reached it. Long before daylight the
whole camp was in motion, & just at dawn, the
first man rrossei' the river (swimming) with aline,
(with which ho afterward drew across a hawser.)
and the "starspangled banner," hound around his
head, which he planted triumphatly on the op
posite hauk. where it waved during the whole
day. The honor of this gallant, nnd as was then
supposed, perilous font, was wou by one of our
Augusta Volunteers, Foster Blndget of tho Blues,
who nobly volunteered to cross on the providf
day, wheu and till after the erasing was effected,
a desperato aud bloody attack was anticipated
by every man iu the ramp. The bank was lined
with his brother volunteers, and others, to proto, i
him as far as possible, from the attacK expected,
nnd the deepest anxiety and suspense prevailed
during his crossing. Tho hawser which he drew
across, stretched from side to side, and the two
d itbottomed boats clumped together,aud brought
from Fort Drane, were then launched. The
Washington Troop of Cavalry, Capt. Alalono,
and the Hancock Troop, C. Swiunoy, under the
command of Alaj. Douglass, at the same time
crossed at a font below equally anticipating au nt-
tack, and had ono been made, the former, from
iu exposed positiou, must have becu literally cut
to pieces, from the almost utter imposibility of
either defence or retreat. The side on which we
approached the river, is covered with a dense
hammock, almost impassable ou horseback inter
spersed with marshes aud lagouus, and about a
quarter of a mile across. A negro guide, Nero,
first entered, with a small detachment, on foot,
and returned, when the Washington troop en
tered in single file, mounted, and after much
winding about through the more passable parts
of tho thick hrushos. vines and lagoons, got to
the bank of the river, followed by iho Hancock
4 troop in tho same way. The former h-td dis
mounted, to form on tho bank of the river aud
protect the first who might cross, when it was
discovered that there was no ford about th re,
and no one could tell where it was. All was
doubt and uncertainty ; the horses and men herd-
led together in the dense undergrowth; an at
tack expected every moment from au unseen foe;
and tho Hancock troop coining up one by one,
crowdiug upon us, nnd ruttiug off all retreat;
when Capt Swiunoy askoc' what was to be doue,
since any effective action seemed impossible, if
an attack were made, aud all would he at tho
mercy ofthe enemy. 1 advised him by all means
to return, ns the only safe course, both for us &
himself till the ford wns found, and he did so;
nnd after searching for some time, the ford was
found somo distance above. Commissary S
Jordan, and Alaj. Holmes, immediately and
dauullessly volunteered to lead the way, on foot,
nnd stripped for that purpose, while the remain
der lined the hauk, on the ground aud behind the
trees, to protect them from a fire from the oppo
site side. After much wading about, up to the
neck, the former succeeded iu crossing a* that
depth, 70 or 80 yards above, while the Tatter got
iuto swimming water, was Imrue down by the
strong aud rapid current, and obliged, with dif
ficulty, to sqptn back. The bunk was then cur
clown a little on each side, nnd the whole cros
sed one by one, on horseback, being joiued
before the first troop had all passed, by tho
Hancock troop, to whom a messenger was
despatched after the ford was tested. So
difficult was the crossing on the opposite bHuk;
iu couscquouce of its great steepness, that several
hemes wore thrown backward with their riders
into the water, and one horse was nenrdrow-
uing from exhaustion before be eould be got out.
The country, on the .opposite side, is high aud
open piue barren, behiud the trees immediately <
on tho margin, and the men formed there ns fast
us they crossed ; but to our surprise, as of those
who crossed above, oo attack was made, and we
proceeded to tho encampment already commen
ced by tboso crossing above, and which was na
med by Geu. Scott. “Camp Blodgct," (had tho
crossing place, ••Blodget's Ferry,") as a just pnd
generous tribute to tho iqtrcpidtty aud valuable
service of our gallant townsmap who Jed tLo
.way.
The unexpected ti' ience.or inaction of’the In
dians astonished everyone, oven Gen. Scott him-
b.t\t tjfe cntiyc crossing was not yot Affected
.till some time nfter dark, when, just as most of
iboso in camp had lain down for the night, n loud
auu lioavy tiring was made ou those who had not
>U crossed, aud shortly afterwards another upcu
Ttte camp, on thesido of tho Augusta Volunteers
By d jwu uext morniug we wore again iu
the prairie, aa>l no friendly movements being
manifested by the Indians, orders were issued to
the Infantry, consisting of the Vugus'a Volimtceis
(both companies acting together as a Battalion
under the rommand of Captain Robertson since
they left Fort Draue,) the Georgia Battalion, uu
der Maj. Cooper, and tho Louisiana Regiment,
under Col. Smith, and the Regulars, to charge
aud scour 'he hammock iu (rout, where they
were seen.tho previous evening.
Immediately after seeing it, a heavy fire was
op^ued on them by the Indian*, mostly toward
the La. volunteers, which was returned by them
and the Georgia Battalion, iu the direction in
which the fire came, without seeing the Indians*
for so very thick was the hammock, that those
iu it rould not 3ee ten steps ahead. Small vol
leys of grape-rhot were also fired iuto (be ham
mock. from oue or two field-piec>-a iu t| )e prairie.
The attack continued, after another fire on both
sides, through the first hammock, and across a
narrow strip of pine land in the rear, then an
other hammock, to the river, about threo miles.
The whole forces wadiug through the mud and
water in the hammocks from ancle to waist deep
nearly ill the way under of course tho mint se
vere labor, many uuable to extricate themselves
having frequently to be « ragged outoftbe mire!
The loss on our side, was two killed ou tho spot
h uh Louisiaua volunteers, Sc. *3 wounded, one (of
the dismounted U. S Dragoon-, two thirds of them
having been dismounted at Ft Drane, as bad riders,
and the others used as a body-guard to Gen dcottj
mortally, in the abdomen, so that he died the
sameeveniog and another (of the Louisiaua Vol
unteers) iu the head, penetrating the brain, so that
it is said be can"»'»t recover, tho’ ho was still a-
live, much bettor, and seusiiilo three days after
wards, wheu left with the Georgia Battalion oi.
the way. The ouly Georgians wounded were
two of the Macon Volunteers, slightly, one on the
thigh, the other iu the leg. The loss of the Indi
ans is not knowu, but probably not great, a* hut
few traces of blood were discovered in the line of
Micir retreat, the last in the river, which is said to
be hloondy, where th**y swam across showing
that our troops must have been closo ,u their rear
during their wholo retreat, so far, the pif-uit
their terminating, in consequent c of the difficul
ties of crossing tho river. The number there en
gaged is supposed to have bceo about 15H to 200
exclusive of their women, aud so sudden was
their retrent thomcat of their breakfast was found
half cooked at tbeir fires.
Their number was supposed before the attack,
to have been much larger. Their position is
Said to have been chosen with great skill and
judgincut; and had they fired with coolness end
deliberation, at tho entry ofonr troops iuto each
hammock, when the latter were fully exposed to
view, an ‘ they eutirely hid, the loss ou our side
must have been considerable, ns iudeej was ex
pected before tho latter returned. During the
engagement, a loud strong full-toned voice
was distinctly heard above the whole dip. hat
ranguiug nud directing the Indians, Supposed to
bo that of Osceola; or Jumpor. Greater iiiircp- spot formerly occupied by CqI. Lindsay, apd his
uo tneatis pleased with this arrangement) with J7
or eighteen days provisions, and of,the caution,
under charge of a lieut of Artillery aud a few
privates on a Itiil near the pond.' When' thu* se
cured. the position*will he a pretty strong oue,
and such as to enable- them to defend them
selves against tho entire force of the Indians, if
attacked ay it; a'ud that they will experience
some attack while there can scarcely he doubted.
Another object of this arrangement is believed to
ho the establishment of n depot there*foi provis
ions Si.c. and it is thought that a lino of posts will
bo established aud stocked throughout the entire
route from Tampa to Fort Draue on our return.
Nothing further of mtorost occurred on our route
to this place, except that the army were pul oo
half rations; the hard brand aud salt meat gave
out, and the sick increased rapidly, m j coiisc-
queuce of the extreme heat of the weather, the
had water/ and change of diet to extremely poor
heeC and Wheat flour cakes, both hastily and ve
ry badly rooked. Tho.com too diminished rap :
iuly, so that tho horses got very little and. many
of thorn noue, and those in the wagons tired out
repeatedly and had to lie left behind. Only a
bushel aud a half, without fodder or hay, was
allowed to each of the cavalry horses'during the
whole twelve days route; and that, and five or
six day’s provisions for the rider was carried by
each; ouo bushel from fort Draue, and the other
half bushel from the neighborhood of the Withia
coochy. All this however, is nothing to n light
heart, determined spirit, and a cornea ted, cheer
ful disposition, with the consciousness that it is
at worst, hut of short duration—- ail, at least, ex
cepting the waut of food for one’s horse, which I
must confess was by no mcaus plCusapt, and ex
cept that, I have found the privations and fatigues
of the camp far lighter and more tolerable lhau 1
expected—and its'pleasures if they may he so
termed, of excitement, adventure, novelty. See.
quite as agreeable; though there be those, and
not a few of them, who thiuk more of other pri
vations than those which affect the horses, which
are infinitely the greatest sufferers of all, while
having uo interest in the counterbalancing hopes
aud anticipations oi tho expedition, they ought
be tho least. God help them, poor, pattern, eu
during, struggling aud faithful creatures, aud give
them a better lot than a camp, or ni'iro kind
considerate masters.
The distance from fort Drnire to this place,
estimated at about UK) miles, or upward; to the
Withiacoochy, about 35 miles; from thence about
70 or 75, and from where wo left the Ga. Bat
taliiiu. about GO. f *ur rate of travel has been
from 10 to 15 or Id miles, though but for tho uc
cossarily slow pace of the baggage wagous, over
an uupacked, sandy piue barren, and often whol-l
ly uuexplored country, and the necessity of fre
queutly stopping to mako a passable road for
them over marshes, See. wo could travel 20 or 25
miles per day with far more ease, aud less fatigue
either on horseback ot ou foot, and t<o our hor
scs also as well as to ourselves.
The whole region over which we have travel
led, with the exception of the hammocks aud
prairies, which are ‘few aud far between,’ is an
open pine barren, the very poorest 1 ever law
or that the imagination cau well conceive, fit (ur
no hing but a stock range, at best,, or ail Indian
hunting ground; and on which cveu the trees are
small aud stabbed. Really, it is not worth fight
for, either by ourselves or by the ludiaus, and
why they suould wish to remain ou it, is astonish
iug, except that it is tbeir hotp c * To us, except
from its position iu a naval or uatioual point of
view, it is worth notbiug. The water is intoler
able, to mo at least, so thjit 1 prefer euduring the
ragiug thirst of fatigue and excessive but weath
er. cveu when on fool, between idv inoruiug and
eveuiug’s tin cup of coffee—(which of itself is a
positive luxury, both iu auttcipatiou aud enjoy
ment, beyond anythiug I have ever known before
in the way of diet, and that, therefore well repays
for numerous privations; though I never liked it
before,) rather than driuk it. it is to be obtain
ed oniy'lroiu the stagunut ponds, which are very
numerous-itiruugtiotu (tie ctiuutry, (tie Withiacoo
chy. which furuishe* the best, aud is just tolera
ble and somo threo or four little narrow outlets
from points, which you can easily step across,
being the only runuiug streams between.hero aud
Fort .Drane. Tin* pond water was nearly as yel
low as castor oil, and almost as thick; aud hut as
it, is nearly as disagreeable to my taste; aud yot
it is asiotiishiug with tviiat avidity it is sought af
ter aud drank bv all. and often, when somewhat
scarce, by those in the rear, eveu after it has beeu
made extremely muddy by the trampling of the
horses. No oue can bdieye, except on seeing it,
tb it such water is drank, and with such eager
ness, and in such quantities, For inyself, lean
scarcely believe it real when I do see it. 1 drauk
it hni oti’o. when clear, ou the night previous to
the engagement, wheu wa were without coffee
or provisions, aud wa» uuwoU several day? after
ward.
April 7. X)n tho evouiugj after wo parted
from the Georgia Battalion, we encamped at a
idity was never manifested by auy troops than
ours, engaged iu this affair. Til ir firing was
admirable, and so sirtntltaneons as to tie al
most like a single shot; aud tho* the Augusta Vo
lunteers did not fire, they had equal opportunity
to do so as those who did, but reserved their fire
till they could distinctly see an object to aim at.
For the judgmeut, coolness, and presence of
inind nf which they were highly complimented
by Gen • 'finch, immediately after the affair, on
the ground. Their entire eondurt sinte their ar
rival in Florida, has been aJmirible. aud is fre-
qucully returned by hitn as such, with regrets about 15 miles above, id llie same direction, .with
troops, -as ascertained by some scraps of writing
&.-■ found there, and which was surrounded by
breastworks; aud also gathered from the same
Source, that they had had s< ; me Gghtiug and re
turned to Tampa for want of provisions, siuce
arriving here, we bavu ascertained tho, correct
ness of tins, aqd that lit) lost four men, killed, of
the Ala. Volunteers, aud sovcral wounded. He
and his troops are now encamped on tho Hills
borough River, .which runsbut of the* Bay. .and
about three miles distant; and Gen Enstis, who
arrived from Volusia milhe 5th lust is eucampcd
with tho ludiaus Tho.firsi battle was at a ham
mock near tho Withiacoochee.—Gn approaching
the hammock, the advance guard fe)l back aud
reported 5110 or more Indians iu 'sight. Gen
Scott theu prepared for actiou and advanced with
all his army iu a few l.uudred yards of tne ham
mock—wheu the Indians wero discovered ou the
opposito side, in a cleared place, holding up their
hands, without their arms. Gen, S. supposing
they did uot wish to fight, sent ;>n interpreter to
them, but they would not receive him. He then
ordered a Lieutenant, with au Indian, negro and
one or two men, to ride into the hammock, and
hold up a white haudkerchief—when several In
dians came out to meet them. The Indians sta
ted that they did uot wish to fight, aud would
come that uiglit aud have-a talk with Gen. Scott.
They returned and reported to Geu. S.; but the
interpreter informed Geu. S. that it was his opin
ion the Indians would uot come in, aud ouly wau-
ted time to remove their women and children ;
that the hammock they were in, was the place
Oceola bragged about, and called it the “core” of
the Withlucoochec, and said tli^t white men could
never cuter there. But the Geu. still believing
the ludiaus wished to make pcaco and would
come in. ordered hts army back a short distauce,
aud commanded that a gun should pot be fired,
Which order created great dissatisfaction among
tlie Volunteers, seeing the Indians just across the
hammock in considerable force atm they u t per
mitted to make battle with them. The ludiaus
not complying with tbeir promise, on tfo) next
morning, Gen* Scott made an attack upon tile
hammock ; wheu his army was within 2UU yards
of the hammock, the (udinus commenced a tre
mendous yelling and howling for a lew minutes
and then ceased; the General uot knowing whe
ther the ludiaus had retreated or not still contin
ued to advance ou the hammock, and whou with
in about 150 yards, the ludiaus commenced a
lioavy firing upon them, they/ however, succee
ded iu routing them. Alajor Douglass thinks
that the less ou tho part of the Indians must liavc-
been considerable, from tho very many signs of
blood and the numberof plates where tiio Inm
ans dragged oil' their dead. They theii pursued
them to auOther hammock where they had anoth
er battle with them; after which, for the waul of
provisions, Geu. Scott was compeliod to lake up
the line of march for Tampa Bay.
Major Douglass states, that Gea. Scott nud his
at my left Tampa on the morning of- :ho 15th,
for Fort Draue; ho took with him uiuo days,
provisions, in which litno he expected to arrive
at Fort Drauo, and that he would then discharge
all the Volunteers in Florida from tho several
States, and remain himself with the regulars, aud
that iu consequence of the sickly season coming
ou, and the indisposition of his men, he would
not be able to .cud the war duriug The present
campaign.—Aug. Sent.
dolermiuod myself to give you the benefit of the
news. 'I he order is to mlircii. General Scott
it is said, is to move with one wiug, and ou the
day after tdrmorrow, we take up the line of march.
Our mounted men have already left Taiiipa Bay
for the purpose of going dowu to Charlotte* Har
bour. The Louisiana forces have gone to the
same point by water. Auother poition have gone
to the Withlacoochce, for the purpose of scouring
too country. Our Regiment of Infantry, with
some of the 1st Regiment U. S. Artillery and
some other troops, will take up the march tow
ards Tt’iopkilugo, (1 •■j.fcli it os it isprouounced)
with the intention of huruiug it and destroying
ail the settlements tie insy meet with.
There is a hope but nothing like a sanguine
expectation of meeting the Indians. Information
has been comunicated to Gen. Scott, of the Indi
ans haviug beeu collected iu great force at Cbar-
lotio Harbour. Other sources of information
prouii.se that the Indians will bn found iu the path
wo will pursue. Other sources agaiu pronounce
that tho whole body .of Indians have separated
aud retired in small parties to the glades. The
latter conjecture seems to be the ono most gen
erally received and in my opiniou the most pro
bable. Wo calculate ibat about tbe latter end
of this mouth we will return aud be at Volusia,
and in a very few days after at 1‘ieolata, /rom
which a few days will briug us home.
Capt. Henry has this moment passed my tent,
and is iu good health.
Great hardships are anticipated iu this march,
>iie heat is now fast becoming oppressive, aud
the men will, no doubt, suffer as much from the
exhaustion of the severe heat, as they have hith
erto done from the severe cojd.”
and to serve under Gen s
manys t ,viceuhk.hl )e 'S t for,L
mustered in under the ,^ Ojjl
they would not. To 3%*
r v .! lhc ^ uhis ^
Wo extract tbo follow ing from the Floridian of
the 23d instant;
“The present disposition of tbe army wo learn
is as follows. Tbe Louisiaua volunteers unite r
Col. Smith, have sailed for Charlotte Harbor to
scour tbe country in thnt direction. Their ulti
mate destination is Pease Creek, w here tho Indi
ans are supposed to be assembled in large num
bers. Col. Lindsay with the Alabama troops will
remain at Tampa aud that vicinity. Gen. Clinch
will return to Foil Drane. Col. Reid and the
Florida Volunteers wore ordered to the mouth of
the Withlacoochee, to ferret out such of the en
emy as may be lurking&iti the stroug bolds on
that river, aud will relievo the small garrison
(forty men!) posted there under Major AIcLotnorc
of tho Florida volunteers.
Gen. Scot*, with the tnaiu, consisting of tho
division under Gen. Enstis, will proceed directly
to Pease Creek.' with two ludiau guides who
have offered to lead him to Osceola’s camp,
where they- say he is prepared to make a desperate
stand. There a junction will bo effected with
tho Louisiai\p volunteers, aud it is hoped the war
will he terminated,”
that they have uot had opportunities of doiugjtho Carolina Infantry, while the Regiment of
th itoxccutton upon tho enemy, in which he ex- Cavalry from the same State, which cnine with
presses the fullest confidenro.
Tho situation of the Cavalry, in the prairie du
ring the engagement, was exceedingly painful
and tantalizing; and their cxritemeut so great
that it was difficult t«» restrain them from rushing
forward without order- iuto tbe hammock. They
shouted arid cursed, and.gritted their teeth, nud
spurred their horses with tbe utmost violence, so
that it was some time before they could be kept
silent, or in their ranks. But to permit them to
outer ho hammock, was altogether out of the
3 ueslioii, since every on*- would have sunk sad-
.edeep. iu tho swamp in front, before he could
have reached the edgo of itraud'f saw no at
tempt mado to get them round into the prairie.
v Tho troops returned to the prairie about mid
day, when wo all proceeded hack to tho camp,
carrying tho dead nod wounded in cam aud lit
ters; and I was us-ioitished at the tnauuer iu
which the latter were all exposed to tho sun,
sotpe with their faces upwards, nad tho total dis
regard with which some of the Regulars heard
my entreaties thqt tljoy would got boughs to
shndo two of their comrade) whom they were fol
lowing in a cart. From whft I have seen, ta this
and other .instances. I am inclined t D think that
humanity, kind, affectionate, or brpttaerly feeling
is soldoip to bo found in a camp.
him, is at fort Brooko, on the Bay. about a mile
and a half South of this camp, ’which is also
closo to the Bay, iu full view of it aud a delight
ful situation. . . .
April 12. We still remain hero, iu Camp Gc
orgia, and uoibiug of interest has transpired since
writing the above. The vowel expected to sail
for Georgia, as above-mentioned, w as ordered by
Geu Scott to the mouth of tho VVithlaciirichy, ami
uo opportunity has yet occurred of forwardiug
letters by any. I have just learned however,
that somo vessel will leave here for New Orleans
to morrow, aud therefore shall forward this by
hor. VVc have just received orders to inarch to
morrow, on tbe route back to Fort Draue, where
we shall probably remain about 15 days and then
he discharged—the whale of the Voluutecrs, and
closo tho campaign. A number has been disthnr-
ged sick, and that number will bo greatly increa-
•ed on tjie march bau !..
AucatTit, Apru.20.
We publish to-day a lengthy communication
from Florida; in addition to 'Inch, a gentleman
from Jefferson county, gives ns tbe followi:'"-
brief account of seme of the incidents attendin'*
tho march from Fort Drane to Tampa Bay, ns
related to him by Mai. Douglass. Maj. D. loft
PENSACOLA, APRIL 16.- AV.ro/.—Tbe
U. 8. Sloop of war Concord, sailed from this port
for Tampa Bay ou Friday last. We ude-stand
lhat*she is to relievo tho Vaudalia, icw ls;ug iu
that harhour,
Ex-Goveruor Eaton arrived here . sirrday
from Tallahassee, and will proceed on Monday
to New-Orleans, on Isis way up the Mississippi.
Wc understand that he expects to set out for .Ma
drid in tho m’onth of June.
His Excellency R. K- Call, lately appointed
•Governor of Florida, passed ibrougf, this |>lnctr
on a am rrtay evening last, on his way west. He
went no further than Blakely, and'returned in
Tallahassee, ill order to be preseul there to meet
the emergencies, which he seems to think, may yet
arise out of the ludiau war.
A private letter gives us the following particu
lars relating to tho affair.hinted. «t m our last
Speaking of Capt. Ross, of tho .Marines, our cor
respondent says.
• It appears he made quite, a narrow escape a
few days since, and probably the circumstances
have uot yet reached you. The Capt. with some
of tho officers of the stockade were irr the habit
of taking a ride every day, but on the day I speak
of. they had declined riding for walking, w hich
had not beeu done for several week". After they
had loft, two young men, (citizens) the Clerk of
the Commissary's Assistant, and the corporal^ I
thiulc took tho horses and ncutin the same direc
(ion customary with tho officers. Whou about a
mile frotn tho aarrison they were suddenly fired
upou by some Indians in ambush; one wns kil
led, another had bis arm Inokeu. the third was
shot through the shoulder aud the fourth escaped
uninjured. The hrirscs turned immediately on
he report nnd fled to the cantonment, leaving on-
y oue victim to the scalping kinfc of the savages,
ouo of tho horses fell dead ou his arrival, another
died of bis wounds. Major Sands, was ou a
mound a short distance from the stockade, at the
timo. nud hearing the war whoop of the Indians,
made immediate pursuit, but.without success.
- Next day n ilnnchment of one hundred anti
fifty men were tendered Capt. Ross, who scour
ed the country, hut without tho success antici
pated.” •
Mobile, April 26.
Major General Maeoinb and Captain Cooper,
his aid, of tho United (states Army,- arrived in
rowu yesterday, fiom {Pensacola, which place
they reached wight before last, iu a United States
Cutter, from Tninpa Bay. Dates from Tampa
are down, to the 15th iu-t.
Three divisions of the army, under the com
mand of Generals Scott and Euslis and Colonel
Lindsay, concentrated at Tampa Bay on the 3a
aud 4th instant by. different routes. Ctifooel
Lindsay had marched up to tile Wiihiacuo' hee,
and failing to meet with General Scott'there ns
he expected, retuued to Fort Brooke; He was
fired upon -and harrassed by small parties of Indi
ans concealed m-hammocks. The division of
Generals Scott and Clinch crossed the- Withla-
coochee at Camp Izard, ou the 27'h and 28th.—
They were also fired upon by small parlies of
Indians, They burnt QseolaVtown. On the
evening of the 30th they discovered a number of
ludiaus. and the next m'oruing nu engagement
took place, iu which four whites were killed nud
eighteen wounded. Three of the Indians and a
negro were found dead, and it was evident from
tbe marks of blood that many ra »re had been kil
led aud wounded, but catne.l oil*. Tho ludiaus
were driven back over the Withlacoochee. Alajfrr
Cooper, of the Georgia Volunteers, was left in
their Nation with a battal'iou, ami the rest of the
army of about 4.300. under Scott, L'udscy and
Enstis. met at Tam pay Bay, ou tbs 4rh instant
On the lltb. General Smith, of the Louisiana
Volunteers, was sent with 500 man, to Charlotte
Harbor, to asceud the stream and capture all the
Indian families supposed to be secreted there.—
Another force consisting of about JOQ mounted
cavalry was despatched to drive the Indians iu
that direction.
General Scott shipped off, oil the 12tTi. about
400 Seminoles, men, women aud children. They
were B|ack Dirt aud his tribe. On the loth the
army started to return ou both sides of the With
laconchee.
There are 40d now sick at Tampa Bay. and
tlie climare isgetliug worse and worse for the
army. It is said tp he tlje design of General
Scott to discharge’thc volunteers, ami send them
home before tbe 1st of .May, and to select the
most healthy points compatible with the service,
to establish posts of regulars, of whom there are
about 1300, to keep tho iudinns in check uu til the
hot season shall have passed.
Gen Macomb and Aid left here last evening
for New Orleans, on their roturu to Washington
Citj', via the Mississippi.
the company together, n,,7
objections to the rules 8B( ) Ht <l tC'l
their apprehension ofbeij
command coutd be "Wi a ,lf* flC| W to' *!
authorised to pledfe them'
General Scott. Thev » ,0 1
serve for three months'if
rompsny, »„! ****
mustered in under the di sc y; “ ot *
Under tbe hope .tbat £& r f
removed, and that wi* £***fo5
could act as a quit, 1 wrote vS
General fccott.* B e f UPe
an answer frotn tl« General
puny unceremoniously] e fi of/j
min elation and threat’of tw *
ernnr Schley. We received^ rc P*5j
General Heine, tiirou^^Q
stating that until the arrival rf*** 1 IW
etl companies, w e should be
company, but that his tuMruc.i Ss
were imperative upon t] lc N £
mustered into the crvi ce 0 O
hers visited <mrcanip i or ^ -^WwsctrJ
tng tho company into the
Stales, tho ureu were [.waded ^'H?
them in the pfoseqeo ef
mu Humphreys—twenty eightvv!
and the others declined for tfa c ”**«»*«*
ly given. I have board that»^N
the corps have ceusureu General ^
per treatment to the com panv _ ,‘: co "ft.r„:
:.e-. for never wastycowpaayC^^I
kmdness and attention than u
Cavalry, by thujallaftt ami ais .j” ! k ‘ K&,
Iu giving this brief sutemeuLn^*
been mmute or personal, bm,„« • "*«*
ttvc, I trust, to. give each p ar f of
true mem. , tcn: Rn
—-
*ff r csl hank St. Ll.-,,
I o Major General ffw,^ S|
, Capta,,, of tire h-.duni r
nave the honor to report to von . , Utiu M
«'!»*.*• «*»*!*»•?2. , rw
ttcipatinn that ivewere marchV-, •
part of a hattuleon of mounted m eu
rived a . lo,ie ’ a “J « «*«« <Wd n ^ !
proceed immediately to the seem
w« Tender ourselves .. a aSt,TS
volunteers to tlie escort .-md
General Scott. The formal
ed into the service, wc beg most
decline, as our services to th, goverj' n ‘ •
our fellotr-citizem, in Florida, be,end 'll
are entirely cratufo.us. V,* d 0 wt
t-r, to for viewed ns making the
from du yor fauguc, for I am direredfo^
corps to sraie, that to the escort srfel m ,' } \
Gcnerar&cott, they are ever ready t-Ti
to your request, we will-hold o«alvei'j
ness for the Ijne nf march ou to-room*.
give every facility w the trawpmaiwd,
lions; I fear however, that our ting™,*.-
more than adequate to tbe burthen ofohreu'l
rations, in the present, condition of thefoads. 1
I have'the honor to be, Sic. |
A. II. KElf.IV I
The following officers arrived from Florida
yesterday:
.Major-General Alexander Mncotnb, commnn
der in chief; Captain Graham. 4th Lift.; Lieut.
Harris, Indian Agent; Lieut. Grayson, 2d Ar
tillery; Lieut. Mender. 3rd do.; and in adttition
to what wo publish, furnish us with the following
information:
Gen. Scott was nt Tampa with 5.000 men ;
Col. Smith’s Regimeiilof volunteers had march
ed for CharlotiV Harbor. , '
The volunteers will ho disbanded as soon as
they return from Chnrloti’s Harbor—part of the
4«Wuft; U. S. will be seut to garrison tlie forts iu
this vicihity. aud tho hnlnuce to gnrrisou Fort
Bruok, I’ampa Bay. The artillery wifi garrison
the other fo*-ts iu Florida—it is understood that
tlie campaign is closed for tbe season.
Below. 500 friendly Indians, women and cliil
dren at the Euglisli Turti.—N. O. Bulletin.-
Erirncl of a letter received in Charleston
•• Tampa Bat, Aprii20—This uiBiufoJI
that 1 am at Tampa am! will start agaiu,t iWJ
dians in a few days. I have been in severaldj
Rushes with the Labans, the severest action tT
at Fort Alabama. I think I killed four focaj
in the skirmish that uiglit; we killed autlnw
ed about thirty-throe, numbers are uncemaJ
o have hud another ou the mail. Tiimitl
three Alabamians killed uml seven! inmil
but not dangerously. We killed five ImiHMtkl
were found a few days after. <>ur Major hi'
braye and goiiorous man. We killed two luLel
at Camp King, and iu a few days ?ficriaa;iv.J
ing party an Indian was kiiiul byeM.it
friendly Indians. We retara to Fort Brooksi
waul of provisions. I have suffered ntncl!, :|
uot inure than tlie others. Maj. Read, ofTsil
iiasseo is the commander of foe Florida tei; |
of the Militia. • I am iu haste, l wifowri*iptl
Geu. Scott, has arrived at this place, ktesal
for Withlacoochee ami theu for home, if it yJtt-
God to spare my life.”—Charleston Curia.
Extrapt of a fetter received by a jentlntRil
this city fiom Geu. J. S. Shelton, av*Mua:ecrs|
Florida, from Colombia; S. C„ dated
** Pensacola, April 21. JS36.—J Jiavcjassatl
in say to you. that I am thus for outran) to Col
boa .convalescent frotn a retire,mrc triih islt- T
*iian Chief, received on the 2Dtb March- ikf|
in a very few days to take my crutches."
Savannah Gtorpa.
Charleston April 28,
From the Army in Florida.—After a long in
terval, the. anxiety of our citizens- k-espectiug our
gallant troops in Florida, has been somewhat re
lieved. The mail of yesterday, from St. Marks,
brought on two or three lepers from officers of
Col. Brisbane’s regimeni, extracts fromWhich wo
have Jic-u favored with, aud will ite fouud belotv.
Thcso letters ate marked “ship” aud trero uo
doubt taken to St. Marks by some vessels from
Tntrpn Bay.
••SHELTON' CAMP, (16 miles from Tampa
Bay.) -'; ' •» - ”
“It is supposed that Powell and hisforcos.
with tlie Lillian women and chihlred. arc. at Peas
Creek, for which place wo leave to-morrow.
Gen. .-icpu goes with us I have vLiicd the
friendly Indians, men, women and children.
One of them (John Yellow Hair) is ono of the
rnoft commanding-an' 1 noble looking I Iiavo over
seen. IIo is just turned of twenty, aud made like
au Apollo S aud of very light clear complexion.—
Fampa is n beautiful place, with oraugo and
pride of Lidia trues in blo.sioip, tbe sight of whirii
was reviving to us thirsty travellers in tho desert.
File air acted lv my lungs like vhilerating
g.-is.V
CAMP SHELTON*. AI .. it |^.
From the Southern Recorder.
Messrs. Editors—I ant requested to give a
brief statement of the couduct of tho Baldwin
Cavalry while at Pieolata, under my command.
Iq complying with the requust, I indulge neither
personal uor unkind feelings for I am fully per
suaded that a large majority of-tbose who refused
to ho mustered into tho service, would have yiel
ded their objections to the regular service, cuuld
they have anticipated the disapprobation of their
foilotv-mizeus. It is proper that a statement
should be given, in order ihal tbe conduct of the
company should he placed iu correct colors, and
parts of it freed irpin tbo iu discriminate censure
which lias been g'yen, iu some instances, to the
whole. Wo left Millodgcvijle ou the 9th of Feb
ruary. for Picoiatn, a9 oue of ihecompautes of a
battalion, anticipated to he formed at Coleraine,
upon the St. Marys. We waited two days and
a half, am| hearing nothing of the other compa
nies, we resumed our inareh. Iu the evening of
the second day \\o reached Jacksonville upon the
St. John’s river; here, ns nt Sit. Marys, there was
a feeling of mutiny;-attiring seme of’ilie compa
ny. I here stated to the corps, that wo left home
a* volunteer*, aud that !• would nut disgrace my
command by reporting auy member of the com’-
pany to.Geu Scott iu strings; that those who
were afraid or unwilitig to go, could take th;-o-
tlter end of the road. This allayed the difficulty,
and we proceeded to Pieolata. • *■ f:--
llpon our arrival we were received with the ut
most kindness and attention ; rations to men and
horses were not serripu ously measured to us, but
-were poured to us liberally and bountifully, in
addition to which. Gen 1 .. Scott' tendered to, us the
honor of escorting him to Fort Drane, aud of be
ing upou the right wiug of .the army. We re
mained nt Pieolata five or six days without hear
ing^ front the other companies of mounted men.
during which time the men became prejudiced to
the life .and discipline of regular soldiers,-and.
wore apprehensive that they would be under tho
immediate command of regular officers, and join
ed to sotno battalion or command otlidr than the
one contemplated when thev left home. The
rti/rs and articles ot war. uiidci- which-we w'eve
required to he mustered iuto the service, formed,
with many. Insurmountable objections. The
men stated that they left tbeir homes for the de
The sale of the Lots in the City o( AjsW-l
cola commenced yesterday. Twenty rijktel
were sold, which produced the aggregatei** I
§41,000. Among the -bidders were ot^ I
many of the heavy capitalists <>f Flotilla.Gw - 1
gin, and Alabama; some heavy northern bow I
were represented aud bids offered by theirs;**
umlerpntVer -of attorney. There was ruaskt"-1
ble excitement during the whole period «l ik I
sale, awl the lots went off, at whaimajhftw I
'iik-red, under all circumstances, very .fair prifo-1
The amount of sales we uudcrstanil wifi kA-1
posited in the Branch of the I’ensncol* )!j^-
The current of puhiic opinion is setting pc) |
day stronger and stronger in-firTor of.Ajiilst^ I
la, aud there is m> longer a possibility ofitikig
diverted or obstructed. The peiple arewhkw
aud it is utterly impossible fir a inouiedroB"'
nation, however wealthy it may- he, to gal®*®!
their will.—Apalachicola Gazette, £0th sit
Polanh.—It appears that the armed iuttrfrrttf*
of the “three protecting! I powers.” f"f
u siouof certain Poiesfrom rise Republic'ttn-
tow. whs not unattended with h!oo<!sbeo.
the 21st of February, General Kaulinw, <j c ®|
tnan.lcr of the invading forces, issted the fiw"
iug proclamation: , .
“l.ast nights several individuals atlcmf 1 ' -
some points about Plaszow, to peueaW uW
Austriau territory, aud to force a pasicnpi' i
body, with aruis in their hands, through tor P' (
stationed there. These uesperatc persou* •
however, driven back by the fire op*"^ 'I'
tin m by the Imperial Austrtn troops 1 " e “ ^
mentioned event induces.roe to giro toI ‘ ce ’ fi
every ong who shall attempt to force a P ’
with arms iu his bauds, through the miu
don of the troop* of the three protcctu'S I ^
now surrounding the territory of the Kepa j
Cracow, shall be tried by fc Court mm
shot.” : ~ 4 —-
t) ran as perceivanie, ms -.f.a ( inx to'•
praisedby Ezekiel Hihnan and Iran- f .
Hus the 27th April. 1636.. *. KSSE 18& .
A true extract from -
——- - patiit^" 1
feuco of Florida; ns volunteers, nod dint they wefe | ^
G, «—tilths Cotinlu. ,-mffcrk*-
THERE Ad David Martin applies °
ters of administration on die c»ta c
McCarty, late of said county, deceased, .j^,.
These are therefore to cite and admonish ad
lar the kindred anil creditors of said acre ^ #
) cause if any they can why said
granted. ji-jg,
(jivit under mv band, at - dire. r r . «■
45 JOHN MeC’OBfoJfo-—
IB-11
I-hadcommenced this letter ou a ion- and shf-] ir^'U^fyjmu5fby '**$'**%&*