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BY GUIEU A THOMPSON. AUGUSTA, GA. FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 1837. VOL. XV.—NEW SERIES, NO. 4.
‘the constitutionalist.
office in macintosh street
Third door from the N. \V. corner of Broad-Street.
S;i S ties of L AND bjr Administrators, Executors, or Guar
i dians. are required, by law, to be Held on the first Tues
t, * day in the month, between the hours of ten in the fore
n mem and three in the afternoon, at the Court-house in
v, which the property is situate.—Notice of th"Se sah s
*, must he siven in a public Gazette sixty days previous
t to the ilav of sale.
;>sp tSaleso NEGROES must he at public auction, on the first
Tuesday »•’ the month, between the usual hours of sah ,
at the place of public sales in the county where the let
ters Testamentary, or Administration or Guardianship,
Tiiay have been granted, first giving sixty d, ys notice
v thereof, in om; of ti»«* public Gazettes of this State, and at
The door of the Court house where such sales are to hi
held.
N Notice for the sale of Personal Property must he given in
lik" manner, forty bays previous to day of sale.
\ Notice to :t!c IMcors and Creditors of an Estate, must be
pUlliiSiled /nt FORTY BAYS.
N V.ujce Mir application will h- made to the Court of Ordi
nary |i r i.-ave in sell LAND, must be published fur ror«
MONTHS.
Nt Notice for leave to sell NEGROES, must be published foi r
months, before any order absolute can be made by the
' Court.
m m .■ njmo.. ■■JMawnt’VCT———B—aa——■■
V I). L- CLINCH’S REPLY TO GOV. CASS.
Refuge, Camden County, Geo. )
a May 13, 1b37. \
i, I lave seen in tlic Globe of the 15lh tilt, a long
j article over the signature of Lewis Cass, pur
t. porting to he a defence of that gentleman against
, certain imputations in regard to the operations
Bt in Florida while Sceietary of War, In noticing
this very plausible and diplomatic appeal to the
Sl feelings of the people of the United States,
1 which I feel impelled to do, from a sense of jus
tice to myself as well as to my fellow country
men, I shall confine myself to such parts of it as
relate to my evidence before the Court of In.
tjtiiry, and to the operations in Florida, while I
commanded in that section of country. To ena
ble the public to form a fair and honest opinion
on the subjects under consideration, I shall exbi
hit a plain, unvarnished statement of facts con
lained in letters addressed to, and received from,
the different bureaus of the War Department,
with a few brief remarks on the m >sl important
evi nis that occurred, from the dale of the order
assigning me to the command of the troops in
Florida, up to the time I was relieved in that
command by Major General Scott. The fi st
object of Governor Cass appears to be to enlist
the sympathies of the public, by trj’ing to make
it appear that he had been aitacked and injured
by myself and others, expresses his unwilling,
ness to remain under the imputations that I so
cavalierly cast on him—complains of his being
lar trout home, of want of do -aments, &c. &e.
I mu t here beg to stale that I was not an offi
cious or volunteer witness before the Court of
Inquiry. The summons from that court found
me on my plantation, surrounded by my family
and friends, and far from the noise and bustle ot
public life or political ex itement; and, if I
know myself, without malice or ha e against any
one. And if I believed I had been wronged by
those in authority, these wrongs had not been
obtruded on the public, nor were they exhibited
before the Court. Nothing transpired while I
was before the court that authorized Major Gen.
oral Scott to make the gratuitous remarks he did,
in relation to a part of my evidence, when sum
ming up his defence before that tribunal, on
which Governor Cass seized with such avidity,
and which enabled him to make several sarcas
tic flourishes; but, unfortunately for him, they
were as impotent and pointless as his other ef
forts in that line. My acquaintance with Gov
ernor Cass is entirely official. The opinion I
expressed before the court in reference to his
> want of energy and military forecast in the man
agement of the War Department, was elicited
by a question from the Court, and had Itoen
formed, after a close observation of his official
acts generally, and particularly on the occur
fences that had lakcn place in Florida. This
opinion, I believe, accords with that of nine
tenths of the officers of the army; and is strongly
sustained by the opinion of the Court in the case
of General Scott, as well as by Governor Cass’
own showing. If I have been mistaken as to
the political dreams and aspirations of Governor
Cass, and hould have said any thing that in
jured his feelings. I regret it, and freely ask his
forgiveness; and if this is not satisfactory, will
make any other reparation that an honorable
man should ask of another. Having previously
staled that I had uu pcisonal acquaintance with
Governor Cass, I am not conscious of entertain,
ing towards him an}’ unkind feelings, nor should
I willingly, if I could, take from him thesmallest
honor he has already or he may hercaflcr ac
quire in his public career, nor throw a straw in
his political path. I have long held his high
literary attainments in much respect, and feel
conscious of I he many difficulties under which I
labor in being forced before the public, by a gen.
tleman of such acquirements, and surrounded as
he is by the glitter of high official station, and
shielded as he still appears to feel himself by
the mantle of the late P.esident. I have
full confi lence, however, in the sound good
sense and justice of my countrymen, and will
abide any decision they may think projter to
make on the facts which I shall endeavor to lay
before them.
For the better information of the reader, I will
commence as far back as October, 1831. On
the first of that month there were three nominal
companies of regular troops in Southeastern
Florida, and stationed as follows: one at Key
West, one at Sl. Augustine, and one a' Fort
King, ijt the course of that month. Captains
Russell and Graham, then at Fort King, after
witnessing a large meeting ol the Seminolcs,
j and their strong uislikc toa compliance with the
stipulations ot the treaty made at Payne’s Land
in or, wrote to the Adjutant General, from which
the following extract is taken;
Camp King, (Florida,) October 27, 1834.
Pjr:—So far from giving any thing like a di
rect, reasonable, or even respectful answer to
the questions the > submitted by the agent, a ma
jor.tv of influential chiefs have openly displayed
a temper and disposition in reference to their
intended removal, that fully satisfies us that they
are fixed in thoir determination to disregard the
obligations imposed upon them by the said treaty,
(Believing them to be wilfully faithless, we feel it
a solemn duty to suggest respectfully to the War
Department the obvious necessity ot marshaling
a force in and near the Indian border immediate.
lv, sufficiently imposing to awe these deluded
chiefs into a proper respect for and submission to
their solemn treaty, and thus perhaps prevent
disastrous consequences which may otherwise
result from their delusion. We therefore respect
fully submit for the consideration ot the Hon. the
Secretary of War, that this post be strengthened
by the addition of four or five companies, and
that as many more be stationed at Cantonment
Brooke, Tampa Bay, as early as possible. This
management will afford protection to this post,
the white settlers around the Indian border, and
awe those deluded people into a proper respect
for their treaty with the United States.
J. B. F. RUSSELL,
Capt. U. S. Army.
WM. M. GRAHAM,
Capt. Fourth Infantry.
To Gen. R. Jones,
Adj't. Gen. U. S. Army, Washington.
In the course of a month or two after the date
of this letter, three nominal companies were
sent to Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, and notone
to Fort King. In November, 1834, order No.
72 was issued, one paragraph of which directed
me to take command of all the troops in Florida,
as will be seen by the following extract:
Order, ? Adjutant General’s Office.
No. 72. S Washington, November 24,lß34.
“Brsvet Brigadier General Clinch, Colonel of
the 4th infantry, is for the present, assigned to
the command of all the troops stationed in Flori
da, and will take post, &.c.
(Signed) R. JONES,
Adjutant General
After having assumed the command, pursuan 1
to order No. 72, I wrote on the 25th December,
! 1834, to the A ljutant General, remonstrated
s against the small force placed under my com
s rnand, and in reply, was informed that my ser
vices in Florida were considered of importance,
, and that it was uncertain to what amount the
force might be increase!, which clearly implied
that whatever the number might be augmented
~ to, I would still retain the command. On the
~ 22d January. 1835, I addressed a letter to the
t Adjutant General, from which the following is
i- extracted;
Fort Kino, 221 January, 1835.
> “Sir; I wrote to you a few days since, St.
Augustine, but as the letter may not reach you
as soon as by the regular mail route, I have
thought it proper to write you again on a subject
which formed part of my last communication.
* I j that communication, I stated, that ifit was
the intention of the Government to remove the
! Seminole Indians west in the spring, with
or without their consent, it would be necessary,
■ iu my opinion, 1o send four additional com
panics to this post, two to Fort Brook, and two
six pounders to each post. The more I see of
this tribe of Indians, the more fully am I con
vinced, that they have not the least intention of
, fulfilling their treaty stipulations, unless com
' polled to doso by a s'roitger force than mere
words. Their minds have been so completely
, perverted by a set of inter sted and designing
, men, that no argument or reasoning will have
the least influence wi It them, except the ar
gument of force; and if a sufficient military force
to overcome them, is not sent into the nation,
they will not be removed, and the whole frontier
may be laid waste by a combination of the In
dians, Indian negroes, and the negroes on the
plantations. It is useless to mince tins ques
tion; it should be met, and met firm!)’, if their
treaty is to be carried into effect; and I do not
hesitate to state, and I do so from some small
knowledge of the Indian character, that a large
majority oflhis nation have not the most dis ant
idea of going west, and that they will not do so.
unless compelled by a strong military force. I
havcihc eforo felt it my duty to make known
to the General-in-Chief my views on this subject,
and to call for a suffi dent military force com
pletely equipped for active field service, (and not
will) thirteen rounds of cartridge per man,) so as
to enable me to assume any altitude that the
Government may think pro, er to order me to
take, in relation lo this wilfully deluded tribe.”
From which it will he seen, that with a copy
of the letter of Cap ains Russell and Graham,
i ailing for ten companies, I urged the necessity
of s< nding six additional c< mpanics into the
• country, only four of which Wore sent, amount,
iug in all, to not more than one bundled and
sixty men fit for active field service—nine com
panies less than had heed actually called for be
tween October, 18 14, and January, 1835. I do
not mention these facts with the intention of
inducing the reader to believe, that if the first
requisition had have been fully complied with,
that I should have required the number of com
panies called for in my letter of the 22J January,
but to prove the unwillingness there was, on the
part of the head of the War Department, to com
ply with the requisition made from Florida. But
Governor Cass tells the public in the face of
these facts, and,builds much of his deft nee on his
own assertion, that four companies were sent
into Florida on inv requisition of the 22J Janu
ary, 1835, and that I was authorized locall to
my aid the company at Key West, which I have
shown had been previously placed under my
command, by virtue of order No. 72, leaving,
as he states, one company less than I called for,
and nine less than had been actually called for
in October, 1834, and January 1835. I believe
it is pretty generally known by the people of the
Untied Slates, that K> y West forms part of
Florida. Thai fact being conceded, and the
fact of my having been placed in command of all
the troops in Florida, by virtue of Order No. 72,
being admitted, I think furl her comment on
this part of Gov. Cass’ appi al is superfluous.
Governor Cass tells us that the force in Flori
da, in the spring of 1835, was lound by experi
ence to be enough, as it accomplished its objects,
and led lo a mutual arrangement. Before the
public can pass an honest and clear opinion on
this subject, it will be necessary lo know theob
ject the Government wished to effect by sending
troops into Florida. Ifit was merely to make
an arrangement with the Indians to e.omply with
their solemn treaty stipulations at a lime beyond
that which had been agreed on, I will admit,
that after the most untiring zeal and exerlions
on the part of those lo whom the duly’ of making
that arrangement had been assigned, that a
number of the Seminole Indians did agree to
comply with their treaty at a period more dis
tant than the one first agreed on. But if the ob
ject of the Government, in sending a force inlo
Florida, was, as understood al the lime, to in
duce the Indians to comply with their treaty, it
has been shown, by sad experience, that it was
totally inadequate to effect that purpose. What
effect a larger force would have had al this im
porlant crisis in our Indian affairs, I will leave
to the decision of the public.
The following extracts from letters addressed
to the Adjutant Genual dated on the Island
20th April; 1835, previous to and after the ar.
rang mi nts above alluded to had been entered
into wiJi the Indians, will show the disposition
made of the small force under my command for
the quiet and protection of the counlry, and the
laiter paragraph of each letter shows trust clear
ly what were my views as to the necessity of
not weakening the force then in Florida. Two
very urgent requisitions for tro ips, to be sent
into Florida, ha I only been partially complied
with. Would it not then, wha ever I may have
thought on t.ie subject, have been folly lo have
made another requisition for more troops?
Extract from a letter, doted
“Fort King, April 1, 1835.
“Should the chiefs come to the conclusion to
remove quietly, it will be necessary lo keep the
present force in Florida until they remove, as
the only means of compelling them lo comply
wish their engagements.”
Extract of a letter, dated
“Fort King, April 20, 1835.
“I have the honor further to stale, for the in
formation of the General.in-chief, that I have
made the following disposition of the troops pin
ced under my command: Lieut. Col. Fanning,
with four cumpanie will remain at this pos:,
and during site few days I may be absent from
Florida, will be left in command. Brevet Major
Zantzingcr will continue with his three compa
nies, at present, at Fort Brooke, in command of
the post, and charged with the protection ol that
section of country, and with keeping the Indi
ans within their southern boundary. Capt.
Thruston, With L:s company, is ordered to take
post about twelve miles northwest from this,
and near the boundary line, where there are
comfortable quarters for himself and command,
and is charged with keeping the Indians within
their northwestern boundary, and with giving
protection to that section of country. Brevet
Major Dade will remain at Key West, and is di
rected to give protection to the settlements near
Cape Fmriua, and to order within their limits
all the Indians that may be found in that quar
ter. Captain Drane is ordered to return with
his company to Fort Marion, and is directed to
as soon after bis arrival at that post as
practicable, as far south as Indian or Musquito
rivers, where it is reported there are a laige
number of Indians, and to compel them, and all
others he may find between said rivers and a
noted trading place on St. Johns called Volusia,
to return within their limits, and is charged
f with the protection of the country east of the St.
0 Johns river. The four companies at this post
i- will act as circumstances may require, andean
be made comfonable at very little or no expense
to the Government. I cannot close this hasty
communication without giving it as my decided
opinion, that not a soldier should be ordered
•, from Florida until after the removal of the Indi
(i ans, as the least move the
i- present force would ruin tiling. I would
afro respectfully suggest the necessity of filling
i, up the companies ot Florida by the first Novem
e br. The recruits intended for the five com pa
u nies here, and the company at Fo.t Marion,
d should be sentd red to the St. Johns, and land,
c ed al Picolata, where they could be marched lo
e their respective posts.”
s Governor Cass says, in another part of his
appeal, that there is still higher authority, if
possible, for his justification. “It is the author
.. ily of General Clinch himself; he asked, as the
j maximum of the force which could be wanted,
e eleven companies or five hundred andfify men.
t He received nine companies, or four hundred
. and fifty men, and authoril yto order the com
s pany from Key West, making five hundred men.”
3 Now what arc the facts, as previously shown by
1 me? it has been shown that on the requisition
, for ten companies, or five hundred men, that
. three reduced companies, amounting in all to
■j not more than one hundred men fit for active
f service, were sent to Tampa Bay; and on the
requisition for six companies, or three hundred
f men, four companies, not exceeding one hun
. dred and sixty men fit for duty, were sent to
; Fort King; five hundred and f u-1y less than was
r asked for in October, 1834, and January, 1835,
r and one hundred and forty loss than I asked for
; on the 22J January, 1835. agreeably toGovern
. or Cass’own esiimate of the strengh of cotnpa
> rues. I think comment here is also unueccssa
, ry. He says that General Clinch’s estimate was
r for companies. I admit the fact; but in estima
ting for companies, ha 1 I not a right to expect
• that the vigilant and untiring - head of the War
Department would have caused these companies
to have been filled lo the maximum strength?—
That they were not so filled, no person had a
1 better opportunity of knowing than himself. As
Governor Cai-s seems to think the company at
Key West ofsuch importance, and refers to it
so often, I hope I will be pardoned for noticing
this part ot his appeal. He says that “General
Clinch himself considered a less force than he
, named, or even a less force than that placed at
his tisposrl by the Government, adequate to the
■ o jecis he had to attain. He did not call to his aid
i the company from Kt y West; and it is very im.
■ portant in this inquiry to remark, that while
i General Clinch now a ;cuses the Government
I of neglecting his application for a proper force
during the whole season, the company at Key
W est, placed under his command the preceding
February, almost in sight of Florida, and not
nore titan one day’s sail from its shores, was
left by him on that island, and never reached the
sphere of his command until the 21st December.
The order authorizing General Clinch lo call it
to his aid, must have reached him the beginning
of March. Daring nine mouths, then, deduct
ing the few days necessary to communicate his
orders to Waj. Dale, and for that officer to cross
over ihe main land of Florida, General Clinch
considered his force sufficient, or he was guilty
of that neglect which he now charges to the
Government. But still further: Gene al Clinch,
in his letter ofthe first April, 1835, after staling
Ins belief that an arrangement would be made
which would quiet the Indians, and would be
satisfactory to the Government, says that should
chiefs come to the conclusion to remove qui
etly, it would be still be necessary to keep the
, present force in Florida. The chiefs did consent
''Ut remove; and the then present force was kept
in'Florida; nothing more then did General Clinch
demand.”
I have made this long quotation to show to
what miserable subterfuges a gentleman of Gov.
Cass’ reputation, and one filling the high sta
lion he now fills, has been compelled lo resort
in his attempt to sustain himself against the
opinion of a private individual, given in evi
dence befo ea Court of Inquiry. I think I have
c’early shown by the exact from General Order
No. 72, that the company at Key West was pla
ced under my command by that order; and by
the extract from my letter of the 20th April,
what disposition was thus early made of that
company and the arduous and responsible duties
assigned to it; and it is well known that only
pari ofthe chiefs consented to remove. With
these facts on file in the Adjutant General’s Of
ficc, and, no doubt, at the time when he wrote,
at the control of Gov. Cass, how could he write
and publish lothe world, over his own signature,
an article so much at variance with facts, and
showing such a want of information as to the re
lation in which Key West stands to Florida,
and of the operations carried on in that Territo
ry in 1836?
Gov. Cass says, in October, General Clinch
was authorized to call for two more companies,
one from Pensacola, and one from Mobile, if ue
thought them necessary. The Department
would have seen by rny letters, that tins
force would be deemed necessary l,y me, and
why not at once have given necessary orders? On
the Ist September, 1835, I reported the murder
of private Dallon. On the 9th October, 1835, I
wrote a letter lo the Department from which the
following is extracted
Extract from a letter dated
St. August.ne, Oct. 9, 1835.
Sir: The lime will soon arrive when a large
number ofthe Sominole Indians have agreed to
remove lo the West.
There are still, however, a large number that
are unwilling lo remove, and f.om recent in
dications I am induced to believe that force
will have to he used to compel them to com
ply with their treaty stipi.lat ons. When the
peculiar nature, extent and exposed stale of
t.be Indian frontier is taken into considera
tion, it will, 1 think, be n. a lily admit cd that
the force placed under my command is made
quate lo enforce a compliance with this treaty,
and to give such protection to the frontier sut
llemenis as their apprehension ftom the Indians
, and from another species of population, induce
them lo expect from the Government. Under
; this view ofthe subject, lam induced respeet
lully tosubmit a few remarks for the considera
tion of the General-in-chief, and if approved by
him, for that of the proper department. I con
sider the force already in Florida sufficient to
meet and control the whole of the refactory
. Seuiinoles if they could be concentrated. But
when scattered over a large extent of country,
composed of marshes and swamps that are al
most impenetrable lo the while man, it is entire
i ly ina.lcqna'e to give that protection and quiet
• to the frontier inhabitants which they expect.
“Frequent applications have already been
f made from different sections of the country for
t protection in case we should have any difficulty
. in removing the Seminoies; and some of the
. most respectable planters fear that there is al
; ready a secret and improper communicat.on car
t ried on between the reftactory Indians, Indian
. r. egroes, and some of the plantation negroes.—
5 For the better protection of the frontier settle
, nients, and lo stop all intercourse between the
r Indians and plantations, in case any difficulty
L should arise in removing the Indians, I strongly
. and respectfully urge and recommend the calling
r into the service of the United States, for the term
5 of two or three months, one hundred and fifty
mounted volunteers, to be stationed at such points
i as the commanding officers may think best to
a effect the object in view, and not to be ordered
s within the Indian boundary, unless in case of
□ absolute necessity. This force to he held ready,
e but not to be called into actual service until re-
II quired, and to be disbanded as soon as their ser
a vices could be dispensed with. This species of
i, force would, in my opinion, owinglo the nature
d of the country, be the most efficient, and least
t. expensive, under all the circumstances of the
t case, that could be employed. Being well moun.
i ed, and all of them good woodsmen and good ri
e ders, and well acquainted with every part ofthe
f country, and many of them deeply interested in
J its protection, would give them a decided advan
i tage over any other species of troops, for the kind
-of service they would be required to perform; and
e I have no doubt they could Oe raised without any
1 d.ffinilty. I have the honor further to request,
t that one of the revenue cutters stationed on the
- Gulf of Mexico, may be ordered to cruise along
. the coast from Charlotte's Harbor lo Tampa Bay,
, between the Ist of December and Ist of Janua
. ry next, and to co-operate with Brevet Major
) Dade’s command, in ordering in, and securing
if necessary, all the Indians they may find on that
3 coast, and on their arrival at Tampa Bay to re
f main subject to the orders ofthe officer cummin
. ding the troops in Fiorida. A small armed ves
; sel of that class would, in my opinion, aid our
, operations very much, and could be placed on
. that kind of duty for a short time, without the
i injury to tbe revenue.”
. ft'On the 22 J October, General Jones writes me’
’' that the one hundred and fifty mounted men,
r called for in my letter ol the 9.h October, could
i not be complied with, for reasons that are alrea
t dy before the public; but I was, in lieu thereof,
> authorized to order two companies, viz: those
■ at Forts Pike and Wood,(La.) to join me; which,
; in addition lo the ttvo previously ordered from
1 Pensacola and Mobile, would make four. In
• the absence ofthe official reports of those corn
i panics, I think I may safely say they did not
i amount to one hundred efficient men for duly
, at that time. Still Governor Cass tells the pub
lie that instead of one hundred and fifty mount
ed men, I had four companies of regulars, a
mountiug lo two hundred men, placed under my
orders. So much for the accuracy of this part of
the Governor’s appeal; but as he has labored
very hard to convince the public, that he be
lieved in the correctness of it himself, it may be
as well to explain to the reader, the very circui
tons direction given to these orders. They were
first sent to me al Fort King, (interior of Flori
da,) between which place and New Orleans the
mail was carried once in two weeks. On the
receipt of the order by me, it was sent by the
nr-st mail to Forts Pike and Wood; but it ap
peals from a report made by Lieutenant
so t, who stands deservedly high for (womptness,
integrity, and talents, that it did not reach Fort
Wood, before the 4th of December, and I pre
same the copy sent to Fort P.kc was received
there about the same lime, and that the two
companies did not arrive at Tampa Bay, until
towards the last of the month. Here it will be
seen that an order issued at the War Depart
ment on the 22d of October, did not, owing to
the circuitous direction given tail, reach its pro
per destination until the 4lh of December; where,
as, if two or six companies, had have been
promptly ordered from the posts on the Atlantic,
they could have joined me in the course ofeio-hl
or ten days. On the 17th of October, ISSoT I
wrote a letter to the Adjutant General, whicn
was received in Washington, January 31st, (and
the application not granted) from which the fol
lowing extract is taken :
Extract Jrom a letter, dated
October 17, 1835.
“Sir:—My first wisli is to carry out the hu
mane and benevolent views of the Government,
in relation to the Seminole Indians, in the way
most conducive to their happiness and comfort,
and least expensive tc the nation. With these
objects constantly in view, I may have rather
under estimated the means necessary to carry
into effect the views and plans of the Govern
nqent. By referring, however, io my letter of
the 18lh January last, you will perceive that I
requested that six companies might be added to
the command in Florida, four of which only were
ordered to Fort King. In my communication
of the Bth instant I state, I consider the force
already in Florida sufficient to meet and control
the whole of the refractory Seminoies, if they
could be concentrated. But when scattered over
a large extent of country, composed of marshes
and swamps that are almost impenetrable lo the
white man, it is entirely inadequate to give that
protection and quiet to the frontier inhabitants
which they expect. Since writing the forego
ing, I have been informed by Assistant Surgeon
Archer that nearly a hundred of the command
now at Fort King have been more or less sick
within the last two or three months, and although
many of them are fit for garrison duty, and most
of the others are convalescent, they cannot be
relied on for active and efficient service; I have,
therefore, the honor respectfully to request that
three additional companies be ordered to Fort
King with as little delay as practicable, with an
ample supply of bail and buck-shot cartridges.”
On the 9 It December, I requested four adui
tional companies sent to me with the least possi
ble delay, not in lieu of the companies ordered
from the Gulf, as asserted by Governor Cass, but
four additional companies completely prepared
lo take the field, &c., as will appear by the fol
lowing extract:
Extract from a letter, dated
Fort Defiance, (Micanopy,) Dec. 9,1835.
“Tile loss of the vessel with our supplies has
caused much inconvenience, as it takes a consi
derable part of our small force to protect the
boats and wagons engaged in transporting pro
visions.
“The uncertainty as to the time when the
companies ordered from Louisiana will reach
Tampa, and the distance they will have to march
through a hostile counlry before they can join
my command, induces me to request that four
additional companies be ordered to join me with
the least possible delay, completely prepared to
take the field, with a good supply of ball and
buck-shot cartridges.
“All the information I receive in relation to
the movements of the Indians, represent them
as being in considerable force, and manifesting
a determination to engage in murder and plun
der. It appears also that they arc joined by Ihe
negroes, and if they are not promptly put down
the spirit mav extend to the plantations.
“D. L. CLINCH, Bvt Brig. Gsn’l.
“To Bvt. Brig. Gen. R. Jones, Adj’t.Gen’i.”
It will be seen by referring back io the ex
tract from my letter of the 20lh April, the dispo
sition made of the small force under my com
mand, to give quiet and protection to the coun
try; and I now take great pleasure in saying
that no part of the American Army ever had
more arduous and trying duties assigned them
than were assigned lo this gallant little com
mand, and no part of it ever acquitted themselves
more to the honor of their country than they did
during the whole of that service. The company
al Key West, instead of remaining idle, as stated
by Governor Cass, was entirely employed in
watching over the interest of a verv exposed and
important part of Florida. It has been shown
that when I assumed the command of all the
troops in Florida, pursuant to Order No. 72, that
there were six companies in that Territory; and
that previous to that time ten companies had
been required, and only three sent. That im
mediately after assuming the command, that is,
on the 221 January, 1835, I strongly recom
mended the sending into Florida six companies;
only four of which were sent. In my letters of
the Ist and 12lh of April, I show ihe disposition
made ofthe troops, and urge that not a man be
withdrawn from Florida. That on the 9.h Oc
i loher, 1835,1 strongly recommended the raising
of one hundred and fifty mounted volunteers,
i the placing a revenue cutler at my disposal, and
» called for three companies of regular troops.—
1 The two first recommendations were not com
f plied with, but I was authorized in that month
, to order four companies from the posts on the
- Gulf, and that two of these did not arrive at
- Tampa Bay until towards the last of December,
f 1835; and when there, the four companies did
s not exceed one hundred efficient men for duty,
t That on the 9th December, I requested four ad
e dltional companies ahonld be promptly sent to
me, which wa* refused. If the President had
not the authority to raise one hundred and
sis y mounted volunteers, why were not three
hundred regulars promptly sent from the posts
on the Atlantic, in compliance with the calls
made in October, as also the four companies, or
two hundred men, called for on the 9lh of De
cember? If prompt and energetic measures had
been taken ou the part of the Secretary of War,
the whole number required (on my own requisi
tions) could have reached me by the last of Dc.
cember, and would have given me a disposable
force of seven hundred and forty regulars, in
stead of two hundred, on the 31st December,
1835. Still, in the face of these facts, Governor
Cass comes forward and slates, “as a matter of
fact, that General Clinch had a far greater force
under his command than he ever required.”—
But here the diplomatist again shows his true
character. Finding that he had gone too far,
for the most credulous reader, he qualifies what
he had just asserted as a matter of fadt, by say
ing, “I do not mean that he called them together
—with that I had no concent; I have only to
show that proper measures for that purpose were
taken by the War Department, and I have shown
that these measures ought to have given General
Clinch the full complement of regular troops
asked for.” But has the Head of the War De
partment nothing to do but to issue his mandates
at Washington, whether practicable or not, and
fold his arms, let the consequences lo his coun
try be ever so disastrous, without holding him
self at all responsible? I hardly think the Arne,
riean people are yet prepared for this irresponsi
ble doctrine. I will here request the attention
ofthe reader to the following extract from a let
ter I addressed to the Adjutant General on the
26th December, 1835.
Extract from a letter, dated
Fort Drake, December 26, 1835.
“Brigadier General Call, commanding the
Florida volunteers, formed a junction with me
on the 21st instant.
“Every military man who knows any thing
about this section of country, will agree in the
opinion that there is no part ofthe United States
so hard to protect or defend as the one we shall
have to operate in, and my means of every kind
are on the most contracted and limited scale.
, ' troops ordered from the West, not heard,.,'
from yet; nor not a word from Commodore D\l
las in relation to the armed vessel. The wa
gons, hospital, and other tents required last fall
not yet arrived.
“I also regret to say that many of the officers
are still absent from their companies, nor have
I heard any thing from the Assistant Quarter
master! requested to be ordered to join the
troops in Florida; and it is of the very first impor.
tance in operating in a country like this, to have
the services of an experienced, active, and effi
cient quartermaster.
“From the general defection and determined
hostile attitude of the Seminn'e nation, I am
now fully ot the opinion that there should be at
least twelve hundred regular troops, and five
hundred mounted men, in Florida, so as to ena
ble the commanding officer to have one thousand
regulars and fivehundred mounted volunleersin
the field, as we cannot rely, for any great length
of time, on the services of the volunteers, corn,
posed as they are, in many instances, of the
most wealthy and respectable gentlemen in the
country.”
About the 2d December, I found it necessary
to appeal to the palrotism of the people of East
Florida, to rally in defence of the wives the chil
dren, and firesides of those of their fellow.citi.
zens, who were most exposed to the scalping,
knife ofthe incendiary Indians, which met with
a prompt and generous response. In the course
of a few days it was considered necessary to ex
tend the appeal to other sections of Florida,
which was also promptly and generously met;
and in the course of a short time five hundred
volunteers were raised and placed under the im
mediate command of Brig. Gen. Call, by order
of Mr. Walker, the then efficient Secretary and
acting Governor of Florida. It will bo seen,
from the extract of my letter of the 26th of De
cember, 1835, that this force joined me on the
21st of that month. These volunteers had been
called out on the spur of the moment, and for one
month only. It will also be borne in mind, that
at this time I bad received no authority from the
War Department to raise or lo receive volun
teers inlo the service of the United Stales, Gov.
Cass’statement to the contrary notwithstanding;
and their not having been mustered into the
service of the General Government, I could have
no legal or lawful authority over them. Their
junction with, and placing themselves under my
orders, were voluntary acts on their part, and
my right, to exercise authority over them ceased
with their willing obedience to that authority.
It will be seen that I had no reason to expect
a reinforcement of regulars before the expiration
of the term for which the volunteers had agreed
to serve. Thus situated, I determined to seek
the enemy, and met him on the 31st December.
On arriving at the Ouithlachoochee river, about
day-light on the morning of the 31st December,
instead of finding it foidable, as had been repre
sented by the guide, or the small insignificant
stream represented by Gov. Cass, I found to be
bold and deep. Orders were, however, imme
diately given to cross if, when two brave soldiers
ofthe then gallant, but now lamented, Captain
Mellon’s company (whose names I regret I do
not now recollect) swam the river, and brought
over an old canoe, in which the regulars com
menced crossing, and after some ineffectual at
tempts lo construct a bridge, a few ofthe volun
teers commenced swimming their horses, prepar
ing rafts, &c. Lt. Col. Fanning was ordered,
on crossing, to select the most eligible position,
and to form his command as fast as they crossed.
I sometime after crossed myself, and while su
perintending those who were engaged in swim,
ming horses, building rafts, &c. the rifle of the
enemy was heard which was the first signal of
the commencement ofthe hard fought but victo
rious, battle ofthe 31st December, 1835, a brief
and plain account of which, based on the most
accurate information then in my possession, was
giren to the public through the channel of the
War Department. Daring the hottest part of
the engagement, discovering that the volunteers
did not come up as I expected, F despatched Col.
Reid with orders to Gen. Call to bring up his
volunteers as soon as possible. Soon after the
last charge had been made by the gallant regu
lars, and the small band of brave volunteers who
nobly aided them, and the enemy routed and •-
lenccd, Col. Reid returned to the field accompa
nied by Gen. Call; and on their approaching
ne tr to where I was, I put my horse in motion,
and on meeting them, and not seeing any ofthe
volunteers, with Gen. Call, I asked him where
were his volunteers, to which he replied “at their
posts.” After a few other remarks not now recol
lected, Gen. Call observed,that in riding from the
river, he had passed near to where the killed and
wounded bad been taken ; that the number was
very great, and that it would be impossible to fol
low up the success already obtained, without
sacrificing those noble fellows ; that it was get
ting late, and that a good many volunteers were
still on the opposite side of the river. After a
moments reflection, and a short consultation, I
determined al every h zard to protect the wound,
ed, and have the dead buried, and gave orders to
remove them across the river. Having kept
possession of the field for more than two hours
after the fight, the troops were ordered to re-cross,
which they did in the most perfect order. It is
impossible for a commanding general lo observe
every thing that occurs on a field of battle.
His reports are made out from his own obser
vations and the best information he can obtain
from others. Many circumstances must ne
cessarily happen, which he can know nothing
of at the lime. The official report of the batik
ofthe 31st was made out in much haste, * n
J midst of the wounded, in the hurry and bustle o;
i J the departure of the volunteers, (whoae term ox
service had expired) and no doubt contains some
unintentional inaccuracies. I will here briefly
answer the question so often asked, and which is
repeated by Gov. Cass, Why was not the whole
volunteer force in the engagement ? When I
made my official report, I was under the impres.
sion, from a conversation held with Gen. Call a
short time previous to my crossi.ig the river, in
which he stated that a small number of the
volunteers from Middle Florida had expressed an
unwillingness to cross, on account ofthe short
ness of the time they had to serve; and many
others, acting under the same views and feelings,
had refused to cross. I have since been inform
ed by many of the volunteer officers and men,
that Gen. Call gave a positive order lo the vo
lunteers that no man should cross, and actually
formed those on the north side, to receive the at
tack of the enemy, should one be made. Now
if this sl atement be true, and I presume there can
be but Jittlc doubt on the subject, what does it
prove?* Nothing more or less than that Gen.
Call committed an errer of judgment, in being
over cautious in protecting the rear, when the
front and advance of the army were engaged in
a death struggle for victory, with a savage and
ferocious enemy of three times their number,
protected, too, by a dense cypress swamp, and
that the volunteers were not to blame for obey,
ing the order. Some of these volunteers did,
however, cross the river after the fight commen
ced, (although not in time to join in the conflict,)
and rendered important service by forming on
the flanks, which gave strength and security to
the front, while the killed and wounded were
being rcconvcyed over the river. When Gen.
Call told me on the field that the volunteers
were at their post, I had a right to expect, from
His previous standing as an officer, that he had
disposed of them lo the best of his judgment. I
certainly owed General Call nothing, and could
have had no motive or object in wislting to con
ceal either his acts or my own, on that day,
from public scrutiny. In the course of a long
military life, I defy any one lo say that I ever
attempted to raise myself, by detracting from the
merits of others, nor have I ever cast unneces.
sary censure on any one. I have thought it ne
ressary lo say thus much, in explanation of my
official report of the 31st December, not to
f'gtatify Governor Cast, but in justice to the
"■generous and abused volunteers and people
of Florida. But whence this new-born zeal
on the part of the late Secre’ary for the character
and honor of our gallant litte army, a few years
since the just pride of a grateful country? What
was done for those brave and gallant spirits who
so nobly sustained the honor of the army and
glory of their country on the 31st of December
>635 ? Were any of them promptly breveted
for their gallant bearing on that occasion? And
how many of them were promoted into the new
regiment that was raised last winter ? Those
honeyed and flattering encomiums on that gal
lant but neglected little band,come too late to ef
feet the object the writer had in view. But if
Governor Cass believed that my official report
was not sufficiently full and clear on all the sub
jects touched on, and that I had not done justice
to the brave men who carried themselves with
glory, and who so nobly sustained me on that
trying occasion, was it not his du : y, as the pro
per organ of the army, to have sent the report
back tome, with instructions for further explan
ations? Did he do so? Was not that report
published by order of Governor Cass, then Se
c etary of War, and my conduct approved by the
President and hi nscll7 Il'so, why does he now,
some eighteen months since those occurrences
took place, come forward and say that I owe to
the army, the country, &c. a more clear and full
explanation ofthe affair ofthe 31st December ?
Again : if the conduct of the volunteers was so
reprehensible as he now seems to think it was,
in failing lo cross the little stream, as he desig.
nates the Ouithlachoochee on logs and rafts, why
was the officej in the immediate command of
those troops made Governor of Florida, and soon
after placed in command of all the troops in that
Territory-, over the heads of the officers of out
gal la nl I ttlc army ? Has Governor Cass received
any new light on these matters since he has been
in France, that he should at this late period con
sider it necessary that I should trouble the pub
lic with any further explanations respecting the
con uct ofthe volunteers on the 31st December,
1835?
With due deference to Governor Cass, I think
I have answered and refuted all his ingenious
statements and gratuitous assertions, by a plain
slalemen* of iacts up to the year 1835. I be
lieve I have also shown by the same facts that,
at the close of that year, I was eight hundred
and ninety men short ot the requisitions made
on the War Department from the Ist of October
to the 31st of December, 1835; and five hun
dred and forty on my own requisitions on the
Department ofWar within that time; and my
letter of the 26th of December will show whe
ther or not the requisitions for supplies, &o. had
been complied wiih. The same letter will also
show that, on that day, I gave it as my decided
opinion that twelve hundred regulars and five
hundred mounted men should be in Florida, so
as to enable the commanding officer lo have one
thousand regulars and five hundred mounted
men in the field. I have also shown that five
hundred volunteers who were with me on the
31st of December, were not there under any au
thority from the War Department, and of course
should not be taken into the estimated force
furnished by authority from that department;
and if that force had been so fortunate as lo
have closed the war, that Governor Cass could
have claimed no credit for energy or military
forecast in ordering them into the field. Now,
if the deficit of five hundred and forty men on
my own estimates had been with tne on the close
of 1835, they certainly would have been of
much service early in 1836. Gov. Cass has to
resort to the same mystilying system to sustain
himself in 1836 as he used in 1635, and com
mences his new year by supposing that the Blh
of January tvill be considered “early” in the
year 1836. I must be permitted here to express
my surprise that the Governor should have per
mitted so fine an opportunity to have escaped
him, without paying a high eulogy on the hero
of that day; but perhaps he was afraid of
administering an over-dose to the old General.
He here commences with a long list of orders
issued, and authorities given, on the Bth, 17th,
and 21st January, and asks if this is not eariy,
in 1836. It will be seen that before the first
two of these orders could be carried into execu
tion, General Scott was assigned to the com
mand in Florida. Os course my responsibilities,
as far as they were connected with their accom
plishment, ceased. But why did not Governor
Cass come out plainly, and tell the public that
Major General Scott, with these orders, &c. in
his pocket, and with his zeal and energv, also
aided by his (Gov. Cass’) sage counsel and ad
vice in the furtherance of these grand military
plans—which broke in upon part of a night's
rest —did not commence his campaign until the
26th of March ? Will Gov. Cass pretend to tell
the public that the 26th of March, in latitude
29° 28’, is early to commence a campaign in
such a country as the southeastern parts of
Florida was known to be, and against such an
enemy ? Instead of sending the orders, &c.
mentioned above, to me, “isolated” in the inte
rior of Florida, as he says I was, he had promptly
pushed the requisite military force, supplies, &c.
into Florida, they might have arrived “early” in
1636, when, in all probability, the results would
have been' very different, and the Governor
might have established some claim to energy
and military forecast, and some millions of dol
lars might have been saved to the nation. Gov
ernor Cass, after paying General Scott a few
compliments, complains that he was not suffi
ciently explicit in telling the public that their
rests were broken on a certain night , while dis
cussing the plans that were to be carried out in
Florida. Gen. Scott was certainly very wrong
in not communicating this important fact to the
world; but I presume he will be able to defend
himself against this serious charge , as well aa
against other insinuations contained in the same
appeal.
Governor Can tells the public that he owes
General Clinch no explanation, speak* of a mor
bid sensibility, tea. I have never asked Govern,
or Cass for an explanation of his motives in sus.
pending me in the command in Florida. I be*
lieved at the time, and still believe, that I under,
stood them, although differing a little from those
assigned by him. If the reasons assigned by
Govern% Cass for suspending me in the com
mand were such as he states them to be, did they
not exist to the same, or even to a much greater
extent, when, afler hisgrand experiment in Flo.
rida had not succeeded to his expectations, he,
in a complimentary manner, by the direction of
the President, again tendered me the command
in Florida? I have already trespassed too long
on the patience of the reader, and will close with
a few remarks on the last paragraph of Govern
or Cass’ appeal, in which he speaks of the inca
pacity, or misfortunes, or distentions, of the mi
litary commanders. I here take pleasure in as.
suring Governor Casa that I take no part of
these complimentary epithets to myself, having
too much confidence in his sincerity to believe
that, after the compliments previously paid me
in his official letters, and more especially in ten
dering me the command of the troops in Florida,
(by which he shows that both the President and
himself had full confidence in my capacity, ex*
pcrience. See.) he could not have intended to
apply any part of that paragraph to myself.—
In closing this long appeal, Governor Casa
tells the public that he has received, during the
last thirty years of his life, many favors he
neither expected nor merited. He certainly
should be considered a good witness as respects
his own merits; but the fact of his having held
important^and lucrative offices during the last
four or five administrations, and that he so
managed as to be always in the ascendant, form
part of the history of the times, and must have
been known to every person who would take the
trouble to inform himself on such matters. Al
though I cannot boast of having received many
favors from those filling high places, I can say
that some twenty-eight years of mv life were
spent in the service of my country—notin splen
did parlors, nor on beds of down, but on the hot
and sultry banks of the Mississippi; on the cold
and frozen shores of the Niagara; on the fron
tiers ofGeorgia, Alabama, and “isolated” in
the swamps and wilds of unfortunate Florida,
and now ask from my fellow citizens nothing
but justice. D. L. CLINCH.
The editors that have published Governor
Cass’ appeal, are reqested to give the above an
insertion.
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ceiving from their own manufactory at the north, a
large and extensive assortment ofWinter.Snnng ar d
Summer CLOTHING, Hats, Caps, Bools, Shoes,
Gloves, Stocks, Collars, &c. &c. of every descrip
tion,suitable for Gentlemen’s wear,which'they offer
for sale at wholesale or retail, on reasonable terms
AMONG WHICH ARE THE FOLLOWING, VIZ : ’
Gentlemen’s superfine Blk. Blue and Brown Frock
Coats
Do- ~ , . do - London Smoke, Olive and
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Do. do. Mulberry, Claret and Invisi
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Youth’s superfine Green, Brown, Blue and Oxford
Dress Coats and Round Jackets
Do. superfine Green, Brown, Blue and Oxford
Pantaloons and Vests
Gentlemen’s superfine Silver Mist, Olive, Brown,
Black and Blue Dress Coats
Do. superfine Golden, Dahlia, Green and as
sorted Dress Coats
Do. superfine fancy Plaid, Blue, Brown, Drab
and Green Cassimere Pantaloons
Do. superfine Strip’d, Ribb'd,assorted patterns
Cloth Pantaloons
Youth’s superfine Blue, Black, Green and Olive
Cassimere Pantaloons
Do. superfine Drab, Grey and Oxford Mixed
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Gentlemen’s superfine Drab, Olive, Brown and Salt
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Do. common Drab, Olive, Brown and Salt Mixt
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Do. Green, White and Red Blanket Over Coats
Ladies’ superfine Green, Brown and Black plain and
fig’d Circassian Cloaks
Do. superfine Green, Brown and Black plain and
fig’d Camblet Cloaks
Do. superfine Green, Brown and Black plain and
fig’d Cloth Cloaks
Gentlemen’s superfine Scotch Plaid, Camblet, plain
and fig’d Circassian Cloaks
Do. superfine Black, Blue and Brown Clotb
Cloaks
Do. White Linen, Grass Linen, Bombasin,
Gingham, Brochelle, Circassian and Rouen
Cassimere Frock and Dress Coats, and
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Do. Herringbone, White Linen, Black Bomba
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Do. superfine Black and Fig’d Silk and Satin
Vests
Do. superfine Brown, Black, Blue, Cloth and
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Do. superfine White and Buff Marseilles Vesta
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Youth’s superfine White, Color’d, Dark and Light
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Gentlemen’s superfine Beaver, Silk, Nutria and fine
Black Brush Hats
Do. superfine Beaver, Silk, Nutria and fine
Drab Hats
Youth’s and Gentlemen’s fine Palm Leaf and Leg
horn Hats 6
Gentlemen’s superfine Seal Skin, Sew’d and Pegg’d
Boots, Pumps and Shoes 66
Do. superfine Black and Colored Bombasin
Circassian and Brochelle Frock Coats
Do. super Gingham, White and Brown Linen
and Grass Linen Frock Coats
Do. super Gingham, White and Brown Linen
and Grass Dress and Round Jackets
Do. super Kentucky Jean, Frock and Dress
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Do. superfine Black Satin, Black Bombasm
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Do. superfine Black Mode, Fancy Bombasin
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Do. superfine Merino Shirts and Drawers Col
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Bosoms Do. with Ruffles, Hosiery, Linen
Shirts French Muslin do., Gingham do
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Cotton do. Llastic Suspenders, Black Ital
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March 27 1?^