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at daybreak by a party of Indians. He had two men and nine guns, with which before he left they had been able to silence the Indians. A number of citizens immediately volunteered, and marched for the scene of action, under Major Hart. They found Mr. Higginbotham's family safe, and firing having been heard the night before in the direction of a Mr. M'Cormick's, they proceeded there, and found it had been burnt down; and its ruins were yet smoking. Among them they found the remains of a human being. This was 18 miles from Jacksonville. Thence following the Indians' trail, they came to the house of Mr. Lowder, 7 miles farther. It was abandoned by its owners but very recently, as fire was still burning in the kitchen. Here the Indians had done no mischief. Proceeding thence, the detachment, in four miles, came to Mr. Sparkman's, where a tragedy was opened to their view. They found Mrs. Johns, who had lived in Mr. M'Cormick's house, her scalp taken off, and dreadfully wounded with two bullets; yet she was alive, and able to communicate the particulars of the horrid tragedy through which she had passed. She and her husband were about 20 yards from their own door when they discovered the Indians emerging from the corner of a fence close by them. They ran for the house, entered it, and closed the door; at the same moment the Indians fired on the house, and shortly after they hailed them in English, and told them if they would come out they should not be hurt. They not choosing to trust them, the Indians next looked through between the logs of the house, and ordered them, in a peremptory manner, to come out, but they still refused, and begged for their lives. The Indians then charged the house, burst open the door, shot Mr. Johns through the head, and Mrs. Johns as before related; he fell dead, and she fell upon his body. An Indian then seized her, and dragged her out of the house, and soon after dragged her in again; and after tearing the band and comb from her hair, applying his scalping-knife to her head, and fire to her garments, left her; and to make a more sure mark of his vengeance, he next set fire to the house, and then they all drew off. They carried away a portmanteau containing 100 dollars, and every thing else they thought of any value. As soon as they were out of hearing, the wretched woman raised herself up and crept from the burning building; saw the body of her husband lying unscalped. She fainted and fell, again and again, but finally reached the edge of a swamp not far distant, where she got some water, and lay down with hopes no greater than her strength. In this situation she was found by the scout above mentioned, and eventually recovered.

On the morning of the 17 September, a party of about 100 Indians came within a mile of Fort Gilleland, on the Picolata road, took a cart from some teamsters, and carried it off a piece, then set it on fire. Col. John Warren sallied out from the fort with 150 men, in the direction of San Felasco hommock, where he had reason to believe the Indians were posted. One hundred of his men were mounted, and of his number was a company of artillery, with a 24 pound howitzer. He could meet with none of the Indians that day. Early the next morning he sent out spies; but they soon returned with no intelligence of the enemy; yet so well convinced was he that the Indians were at Felasco, that he divided his men into three columns, and marched on in order of battle. When they came within about three quarters of a mile of the hommock, they found the Indians in their own peculiar order of battle; and they rose up and poured upon the whites a sharp though not a destructive fire. And we have very seldom heard of so much manoeuvring and fighting, without greater execution, on any former occasion. The battle having lasted an hour and a half, but one of the whites was killed, and four or five wounded; the Indians lost none that their enemy were certain of, though they report that they saw a great many fall. In the first of the onset the Indians made an attempt to turn the left flank of the Americans, "but were charged on with spirit and success by Lieut. Col. Mills's command, and driven into a thick oak scrub, who then dismounting and charging on them, drove through this into the border of the hommock, when the artillery played upon them with considerable effect; after this they retired to the right, and attempted to turn that wing, but a charge from Capt. Walker and Lieut. Bruten's command, drove them within the range of the artillery again, which opened upon them with

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BATTLE OF SAN FELASCO.

[BOOK IV. great effect." They made several desperate attempts to maintain their position, and charged twice on the artillery, but were beaten off at all points, and began a retreat. They were pursued a mile and a half into a dense hommock, and then abandoned. Thus ended the battle of San Felasco Hommock, as it was called. The Indians were reckoned at 300 men. Several of the officers under Col. Warren were highly commended for their bravery and good conduct, in his official account of the battle; especially Adj. Gilleland, Capt. D. D. Tompkins of the artillery, Capts. Beekman, Walker, and Ward, Lieuts. Bruten and Hindly.

About this time, the distinguished Creek chiefs, Paddy Carr and Jim Boy, arrive in Florida, with 950 of their warriors, to assist in subduing the Seminoles.

On or before the 28 September, about 50 Indians, supposed to be Creeks, attacked a house, near Orange Pond, and killed a Mr. Uptegrove and his wife. She at first escaped from the house, but they pursued her, overtook and killed her. A Mr. Hunter, living in the same house, escaped to a pond, and by burying himself almost entirely in water for 24 hours, they supposed him to be drowned; by which artifice he preserved his life.

The next day, namely, September 29th, Col. Lane landed at Tampa, with a force of whites and friendly Indians, from Apalachicola. Hearing that the Indians were committing depredations in the neighborhood, he marched immediately, with 12 mounted men and 100 Indians, to beat up their quarters. A rapid march of 12 miles brought them to Indian River, where they discov ered the enemy on the opposite side. The friendly Creeks had not come up, and though there were near 200 Indians to oppose them, yet they engaged them, and for 15 minutes the skirmish was sharp and obstinate. The Creeks, under Maj. Watson, now arrived, and the Seminoles began to relax; they, however, maintained their order for a mile and a half, when they separated and fled in every direction, and night ended the pursuit. This battle was on the 30 of September, after which the colonel returned with his command to Tampa. An act of self-devotedness occurred in this fight, not of a very common character on record: A Mr. Kelly was standing near Col. Lane, when he observed an Indian taking deliberate aim at him; having just discharged his own gun, he saw no chance of saving the life of his commander, but by receiving the ball himself, which he did by instantly throwing himself between him and the Indian. Kelly received the ball and fell; happily he was not mortally wounded.

On the 10 of October, Col. Lane set out on another expedition from Tampa, and, on the 14th, after a march of 50 or 60 miles, he came in full view of Oloklikana, or Spotted Lake, which stretched off to the north as far as the eye could reach, dotted here and there with beautifully-wooded islands. Here they fell upon a fresh trail, and soon after a village, but it was abandoned. In another direction their trail led them to a ford, 200 yards over, which they passed by wading and swimming, having left their horses behind, beyond which they came to extensive cornfields, some cattle and ponies, and a village; but no Indians yet. Passing the village, the trail led to a marsh, near a mile in extent, covered with soft mud and water; but it was no barrier to the Creeks, and they dashed into it at once, and were followed by the whites. They were often waist high in mud, from which having extricated themselves, found they had reached a fine island, and the trail still continuing southerly. Here were a village, domestic animals and utensils, and the scalps of several white people. Not far from hence they came to another village, which, with the former, contained above a hundred houses. Another half mile brought them to the shore of a pond, skirted with a thick scrub, of near three fourths of a mile in extent. Here the Seminoles had made a stand, and began the attack by a volley of rifle-balls. A fight, now begun, was kept up for about half an hour, when a charge from the Creeks put them to flight, and they were soon covered by a hommock, and were followed no farther. But one of the whites was wounded, and whether any of the Creeks were killed or wounded, we are not told by their white associates. Of the loss of the enemy, they of course knew nothing, which no doubt amounted to the same. The whites destroyed about a hundred

cattle and hogs, and they returned to Fort Drane, with about 400 more, on the 19th.

With this expedition terminated the career of an active and valuable offi cer. Col. Lane complained some of a brain fever, and being left alone in the tent of Capt. Goff for a few minutes, was found by him, on his return, expiring on his own sword. It was supposed he had fallen on it accidentally, in a fit of dizziness; or that in a moment of intellectual aberration, arising from the nature of his illness, he had been his own executioner. This occurred on the 26th, and cast a deep gloom over the whole army.

A few days previous to this, Gov. Call wrote to the secretary of war, informing him that he had taken the general command in Florida, and that Gen. Jesup had, "with great magnanimity," declined it; but that he had proposed to serve under him as a volunteer Some entertained high expectations at the present prospect, and others expressed no favorable opinion of the result of Gov. Call's assumption. Both were common gratuities; and it would have been singular, indeed, if neither had eventuated in favor of the prophet.

On the 28th, Gov. Call commenced active operations. He marched from the Suanee, at Old Town, with 1,375 men, in high hopes of speedily putting an end to the war. The route to Fort Drane was taken, on which seven Indians were killed. Whether they were warriors, old men, women, or children, no mention is made. They reached Fort Drane, October 1st, where the fires of the Indians were still burning. Had it not been for a faithful spy, OSCEOLA and his Mikasaukies would have fallen into Gov. Call's hands. Here he waited until the evening of the 6th, to be joined by Maj. Pierce, who was to supply him with provisions; which he effected with no ordinary efforts, having marched 66 miles in two days, viz., from Black Creek.

With a supply of 8 days' rations, a move was made for the "Cove of the Quithlacoochee." On the way they fell in with an encampment of Mikasaukies, "killed 13 men, who did not fire a shot, took 4 women prisoners, and 8 children." From these they learned that the Negro Town was but 3 miles above them. Col. Gill was despatched thence with 300 Tennessee volunteers, on the morning of the 13th, but could not reach the town from the depth of water in the creek before it. He accordingly returned with loss; having had 3 men killed, and 7 wounded. Among the former was Indian Billy, an interpreter, in much esteem by the whites. He was brother-in-law of CHARLES EMATHLA, of whose tragic death we have before given an account. The main body marched to the river, which was so overflowed that its width was 250 yards, and could not be crossed. The Indians appeared on the opposite bank, and fired upon them, wounding Maj. Gordon, though slightly. Here the expedition was at an end; the army being obliged to retreat to Fort Drane for supplies. At Gen. Gaines's battle-ground they fell in with Col. Lane, as he was returning from his expedition, just recorded.

Little seems to have been done, or attempted, after this, until about the middle of November. On the 11th of that month, the army, consisting of 2,100 men, marched once more from Fort Drane for the Ouithlacoochee. At this time the river was 220 yards wide; yet it was passed on the 13th, though at great peril, four of the regulars being drowned in the way. The army had now arrived at the "Cove," where Indians were expected to be found; but none were visible, and it appeared that the place had been some time abandoned; yet trails were discovered, leading into Ochlawaha and the Wahoo Swamp. The left division, under Gen. Armstrong, met with no opposition in crossing the creek to the Negro Town. It was crossed by Col. Trawsdale's regiment. Instead of one town, they found two, and burnt them both. Here they found an old negro, who told them the Indians had gone to the Wahoo Swamp. He said, also, that when the Tennessee volunteers made an attempt upon the place the previous month, they killed 46 Indians. This was no doubt said to flatter their vanity, for we have no account that half that number of guns were fired at that time.

Gen. Call now made dispositions to pursue the Seminoles, with certainty of success. Col. Pierce, with 250 regulars, the Creek Indian right, and Col. Warren's mounted men, were to pass out of the Cove by the only practicable outlet in that direction, and, after exploring the country south and west of the

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BATTLES OF THE WAHOO SWAMP.

[BOOK IV river, to reunite with the main army, about the 19th or 20th, near Dade's battle-ground; the general, meanwhile, to march by the river in the direction of the Wahoo, with the Tennessee brigade, two companies of artillery, and the Florida foot. Both divisions marched on the 16th. On the 17th, about noon, a large party of the enemy was discovered by the main body, encamped near a hommock. Col. Bradford, with the 1st regiment of Tennessee volunteers, was immediately detached to attack them.

Although the Indians were surprised, they made good their retreat to the hommock, and waited the approach of the troops, who, when dismounting, received the fire of the enemy. They immediately returned it; but the Indians stood their ground until a charge was made, which, as usual, put them to flight. They left 20 of their dead, and all their baggage, on the ground; and, from traces of blood, a far greater number were supposed to have been carried off. The number of Indians engaged were said to amount to about 200. The whites had two killed, and 10 or 12 wounded, which, after being taken care of, the army retreated four miles to a favorable site, and encamped.

On the 18th, the general, having left his baggage-train under a strong guard, marched again, with 550 Tennesseeans, chiefly foot, to the Wahoo Swamp. At about 3 miles from their camp, they fell upon a large Indian trail, which led through two dense hommocks, and over two creeks, into a large field, surrounded on three sides by hommocks. The enemy were retreating to gain securer positions whence to begin the attack, leaving their houses in flames; at length, making a stand, the whites immediately formed their line of attack. The foot, under Col. Trawsdale, were formed in open order to charge into the hommock, while the horsemen, to the right and left, were thrown back to protect the flank, and to act as a corps of reserve. The columns had not received the word to advance, when a tremendous fire was opened upon them, along their whole front, from a hommock. They began slowly to advance, exchanging shots at short intervals. The order being given to charge, it was obeyed with impetuosity; but the Indians did not break and fly as in times past; they stood and fought hand to hand, exchanging life for life, while at the same time their wings attacked both flanks of the army, and a small body of about 50 fell boldly on its rear. The battle had raged nearly half an hour, when a general charge broke and dispersed them in every direction, leaving 25 of their number dead on the field; while the whites had but three killed and 18 wounded. 600 Seminoles were said to have been engaged in this battle. The hour being late, and the men much exhausted, the army retreated to its appointed place for the meeting of Col. Pierce, near Dade's battle-ground.

On the 21st, the army marched, in three columns, into the swamp, the Tennesseeans and regulars, and Col. Warren's mounted men on the right, the centre under Col. Pierce, and the Creek regiment on the left. When they came to the battle-ground of the 18th, they found it in possession of the Indians. As the Tennesseeans and regulars advanced, a heavy fire was opened upon them, and they did not answer it until they got into the midst of the Indians; then charging them, they gave way and retreated.

As soon as the direction of their retreat was observed by a party in reserve, Col. Pierce, with his division, and the Creek Indians, were ordered to pursue; and soon after, Col. Trawsdale with his regiment, and Col. Warren with the Florida horsemen, were sent to support them. Unfortunately, the greater part of the regulars and Tennesseeans, by taking a trail to the right, became involved in an almost impassable morass, where no horse could move, and where the men were obliged to wade waist-deep in mud and water. A small number of Creek warriors on the left, led by Col. Brown, taking a better path, followed closely upon the enemy, and found them strongly posted in a cypress swamp. The Creeks charged them with great spirit, and their gallant leader, MAJOR MONIAC, was killed, as also were several other Creek warriors. It was soon discovered that this party would be overpowered, and the struggle was momentarily becoming more and more desperate, when two companies of Florida militia under Capt. Groves and Lieut. Myrick, three companies of artillery under Maj. Gardner, Capts. Tompkins, Porter, and Lee, and Col. Waire with his mounted men, coming successively into action, enabled the

Creeks to maintain their ground. Still the fight was animated; and it was not until nearly all the force of the whites was brought to bear on this point, that the Indians could be dislodged. Then it would seem they retired more to give their adversary a chance to retreat, than because they were beaten themselves. Thus ended the second battle of the Wahoo Swamp, in which 25 of Gen. Call's army were killed and wounded, nine being of the former number. The Indians left 10 on the field; but the whites said they lost "50 at least."

The army having consumed all their provisions, and being very severely handled, was glad to make the best of its way out of this hostile region; it accordingly returned to its late encampment at 10 o'clock at night, and the next day marched for Volusia.

Where Gen. Jesup was, or what service he was rendering at this period, and for some time previous, I am uninformed; but, on the 24 November, he arrived at Volusia, with 400 mounted Alabama volunteers. He came late from Tampa, and on the way had taken 33 negroes, the former property of Col. Rees, of Spring Garden, whence they had been carried off by the Seminoles. Here Gen. Jesup received orders from the secretary of war, again to resume the command of the army of Florida. Gov. Call had pretty confidently asserted that, in the campaign now just concluded, he should be able to finish the war; but he had only showed the Seminoles that some of his men could fight as well as Indians, and that others could turn their backs with equal dexterity. On the whole, if the Indians had been one to a thousand against the Americans, it would be no very difficult question to settle, which would be sent beyond the Mississippi. When, in October, the Creek deputation visited them, to persuade them to submit to terms, OSCEOLA assured them with firmness, that "the Seminoles would never yield—never, he said; the land is ours; we will fight and die upon it." The Chief HARJO was at the head of the peace deputation of Creeks, and he found Osceola in a great swamp, on the Ouithlacoochee, having then with him about 3,500 people.

Notwithstanding the severe blows which Osceola had had in the Wahoo Swamp, it yet remained the Narraganset of Florida; and such were the accounts from thence, that Gen. Jesup determined to proceed there with a large force. Accordingly, with ten days' provision, he marched on the 12 of December for that point; but, on reaching it, no Indians were found. On the 17th, he marched for Tampa, taking the course of the Ouithlacoochee in his route; and Col. Foster pursued a parallel course on the other side of the same river; a single Indian was the result of all this business; yet no blame can be attached to those who performed it, for what can men do where there is nothing to be done? Something like calculation can be made in marching against men in a fort or city; but where it is known that a people remove their cities and forts as easy as themselves, quite a different calculation is required. Cæsar never fought Indians, or he would have reversed his celebrated saying, ""Tis easier to foil than find them."

CHAPTER XIX.

EVENTS OF THE WAR DURING THE YEAR 1837.

Expedition to Ahapopka—OsUCHEE killed-Jesup parleys with the chiefs—Col. Henderson's Expedition-BATTLE OF LAKE MONROE-Treaty of Fort Dade—Unobserved-Osceola at Fort Mellon-Numbers of the Seminoles-Sudden abduction of emigrants-Jesup requests to be relieved from command-Western Indians applied to-Gen. Hernandez's Expedition-Capture of King Philip-Surprise of the Uchees-Surrender of chiefs-Mediation of Ross-Capture of Osceola and others— View of the affair-WILD CAT's escape-BATTLE OF OKECHOBEE.

WITH this chapter we begin the events of the year 1837. On the 22 of January, Gen. Jesup put the main body of the army in motion, with the view

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