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490

DOGS EMPLOYED IN FLORIDA.

[Book IV. but here and there a solitary instance of their performing the service for which they were intended. If the originators of this dog-scheme had in view the destruction of the Indians in the manner they were destroyed by the followers of Columbus, they deserve not the rights of humanity, but should rather be hunted out of society by beasts as savage as themselves, if such could be found. How much was effected by the hounds, it is difficult to tell, for long before their arrival in the country, the editors of papers in that re gion had probably concluded upon what course they would pursue, when official accounts from dogs should be offered for publication; but occasionally a reckless fellow dropped a paragraph like the following: "The Cuba dogs have proved quite beneficial. They caught five Indians the other day, in Middle Florida, handsomely." In March, (1840,) "Col. Twiggs made a 15 days' scout up the St. Johns River with the bloodhounds. On his return, it was stated that they were found to be perfectly useless; all attempts to induce them to take the trail of the Indians proving unsuccessful. These and other trials are evidences sufficient to put an end to all further anxiety on the part of the northern sentimentalists." From such statements we are left to make up such accounts as we may, of what was effected by the bloodhounds They will be noticed in the order of time as we proceed.

During this expedition, two Indians were discovered in a boat and shot one of whom was said to be a brother of Sam Jones.

On the 19 October, a party of dragoons were fired upon while crossing the Oscilla, and had 7 of their number killed. Some Indians, pretending friendship, had encamped about two miles from the fort, on New River; and having become familiar with the soldiers, invited them all to a dance, which they were to have on the night of the 27 September; but three, however, had the temerity to go, and they were all killed. It was supposed they intended, or were in hopes of drawing out the whole garrison, which if they had, their fate would have been the same. This was but a retaliation. A baggagewagon passing between Micanopy and Fort Wheelock, with an escort of seven men, was taken by the Indians on the 3 November; the driver was mortally wounded, and another man severely; killing and wounding some 6 or 7 mules and horses; 50 Indians were said to have done this mischief; but if there had been half that number, it is exceeding doubtful whether either of the seven men would have escaped.

The climate, as well as the Seminoles, continued to do its work also. On the 5 November, Lieut. Rodney died at St. Augustine, and the next day, Quartermaster M'Crabb died at the same place.

On the 9 November, the house of Mr. John Johnson was attacked, on the Oscilla, in which four negroes and one white boy were killed. Four days after, a party took Alfred Oliver's house, on the Ocloknee, 12 miles to the westward of Tallahassee, and killed his son. On the 25th, as Capt. Searle is proceeding in a carriage from St. Augustine to Picolata, he was fired upon, when about 6 miles out, and mortally wounded; a young man, a Polander, who was riding on horseback behind him, was killed upon the spot. On the same day, a Mr. Weedman, with his son, proceeded to visit his farm, three and a half miles only from St. Augustine, on the same road. It was the first time he had made the attempt since the war began, and by it he now lost his life, being shot dead by some concealed Indians; and his son was badly wounded.

During this month, Gov. Call, with some 200 or 300 men, scoured Middle Florida, and "drove up all the Indians" in their lines of march. They presumed they would not "light down again" for some time. However, in a few days after, the house of Maj. J. S. Taylor, about 6 miles from Monticello, was burnt down, but the family escaped. This act was laid to the Indians, and we cannot undertake to say they did not do it, for they certainly were the possessors of the country.

CHAPTER XXI.

EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1840.

A train of wagons taken-Lieut. Whedan killed-Dog exploits-Families destroyedDefeat of Capt. Rains-Lieut. Sanderson's defeat-Col. Riley's exploit-Col. Green's-Col. Harney's-A company of players attacked-Cow Creek skirmishIndian Key destroyed-Lieut. Arthur's exploit-Eleven families destroyedCapt. Beall's fight-Lieut. Hanson's battle-Indian hanged-Pacification attempted through a deputation of Seminoles from Arkansas-It fails-Whites taken in aiding Indians-Wild Cat's exploit-Sad accident-Lieut. Judd ambushed-Fort Han. son burnt-Col. Harney's voyage to the Everglades-Hangs nine Indians-The chief CHIAKIKA killed-Fort Walker attacked-Capt. Davidson dies-Lieut. Sherwood's ambush, and death of Mrs. MONTGOMERY.

"You plough the Indian's grave; you till his land

Is there no blood, white man, upon your hand?
Recall the time when first your fathers spread
Upon these icy shores their wintry bed ;-
When, powerless exiles on the desert sea,
Their only strength-the spirit to be free."

We have now arrived at the beginning of the year 1840. On the first day of February of this year, a detachment of men, sent in pursuit of deserters, were fired on near Fort Brooke, by which three of the detachment were wounded. A sergeant, whose horse was shot from under him, was supposed to have been killed. Four days after, some 10 or 15 Indians captured a train of 12 wagons, about 10 miles from Gary's Ferry, as they were returning to that place with provisions and stores from the interior. They killed one man, and wounded four or five mules, and made off with the property.

On the 22 February, as Lieut. Whedan, with a detachment of volunteers, was in pursuit of Indians upon a fresh trail near the Calico Hills, in the vicin ity of Magnolia, he fell into an ambush, and was killed; his men ran away and left him to the Indians.

About a month after, namely, March 18, the Indians made a spirited attempt to add to their stock of provisions. They attacked another train of wagons on its way from Post No. 2 to Micanopy, killed three men and wounded others; but found no booty, as the wagons were only going after stores. This was done in spite of what a company of soldiers could do, who were present as an escort. But a few days previous, (March 8th,) two men are killed between "Charles Old Town" and Micanopy; and, on the 10th, a Methodist minister, named M'Rea, was killed at "Suggs Old Place," between Wahcahota and Micanopy. On the 26 March, some Indians crawled up within 200 yards of the pickets at Fort King, and killed two soldiers.

About the beginning of March, somewhere in Middle Florida, two bloodhounds captured an Indian; one seized him by the throat, while the whites came up and took him. He was greatly terrified, and pointed out where others might be found; and soon after they captured four more. On 13 March, nine dogs were announced as having arrived at Gary's Ferry, and that they were to be employed by Col. Twiggs, of the 2d dragoons, on a contemplated expedition to the Ocklawaha. The officers under whom they were to serve, were probably desirous to know how much they might depend upon them, and, therefore, on the next Sunday, made the following experiment in their tactics. An Indian prisoner was sent out, (without the knowledge of the dogs,) with orders to climb a tree at some five miles' distance. He did so; and the hounds were put upon his trail. The dog captain, or leader, went directly to the tree, and attempted to climb it, and had actually got up six feet, when the others arrived. Such was the report of the affair; which report, whether from the principal officer under whose conduct it was performed, or from the chief leader of the dogs, we are uninformed.

Towards the end of April, a small band of Indians attacked a guard of six men, who were convoying a wagon from Fort Fanning to Deadman's Bay

492

BATTLE NEAR FORT KING.

[BOOK IV. The officer commanding was badly wounded; but the fight was continued several hours, until all their ammunition was spent, when they charged the Indians, and made good their retreat. The attacking party lost one man and "a big negro."

About the same time, the family of a Mr. M'Lane, on the Togolee, was assaulted, and Mrs. M'Lane and three of her children were barbarously murdered. About 8 miles from Blount's Town, the family of a Mr. Lamb was destroyed; and before the end of the month three others met the same fate. On the 28 April, as Capt. Rains was returning from a scout, with 18 men, he was fired upon from an ambush by a large body of Indians, within two miles of Fort King, and had 4 men killed, and 5 wounded; among the latter was the captain, severely. The whites reported that they killed three of the Indians. From another source, the affair of Capt. Rains is related as follows:Some of his men had been lately killed by the Indians, "as they left the garrison" of Fort King, and he was determined to show them the same kind of play; accordingly, he placed some shells under a blanket, within hearing distance, and in the night he heard an explosion. Next morning, he took 18 men, and marched to the place where the shells had been deposited. He found no Indians, either dead or alive, but traces of blood, pony tracks, and fragments of garments. While examining these, all at once the Indians rose up, as it were, out of the ground, and nearly surrounded him and his little band; the terrible HALEC TUSTENUGGE was at their head, and with the most deafening yells rushed to the fight. The whites charged, and the Indians took to the trees, and thus prolonged the battle. At length, Halec, after desperately wounding Capt. Rains, fell himself, and was borne off by his warriors. The captain would doubtless have been despatched by the mighty arm of the chief, had not Serg. Jackson, too, badly wounded, rushed to his rescue, and shot Tustenugge. At this stage of affairs, the fight seems to have ended, and, as usual, the whites hastened away to report a victory. They rated the Indians at 93; but how they came by this minute information, we are not informed. But their bravery and courage are, probably, far less questionable than their statement of the number of their equally brave enemy. The same night, or the next, some Indians went to Stanley's plantation, within three miles of Newnansville, where they killed 12 hogs, cut down the fruit-trees, and burnt the buildings, by which 800 bushels of corn were consumed.

About the same time, a volunteer, named Sanders, was killed, about four miles from Newnansville; and another man, in company with him, was badly wounded.

On the 19 May, as Lieut. Martin and three other men were proceeding from Micanopy to Wakahoota, in charge of a government wagon, they were all cut off. The wagoner escaped, and carrying the intelligence to Micanopy, Lieut. Sanderson sallied out with 17 men, and pursued the Indians. He soon fell in with them, but was defeated, and himself, with 9 men, killed, besides three bloodhounds and their keepers; four other men were missing.

Some time in June, Col. Riley surprised an Indian camp on the Ouithlacoochee, killed two warriors, and took a man, woman, and child, prisoners. The man soon after escaped, and in pursuit of him, Capt. Mason was accidentally shot by his own men. About the same time, Col. Greene fell upon a small party of Indians in Middle Florida, killed three, and a white man with them. Towards the end of the month, Col. Harney returned from a long expedition, in which he captured Wild Cat's mother and daughter, liberated a negro, who had been a prisoner near two years, and was the only survivor of the crew of a vessel wrecked at New Smyrna. He also destroyed 27 cornfields of the Indians.

When Dr. Cotton Mather was about to write the history of a sanguinary massacre, which happened at Durham in New Hampshire, he began with the ɔminous expression of "Bloody fishing at Oyster River!" We have now to record a bloody tragedy among tragedians. A Mr. Forbes, it appears, was not satisfied with what tragedies he could manufacture elsewhere, but must needs go to that country of tragedies, Florida, with his theatrical corps, as though the people there would prefer counterfeit to the real ones, or had not enough of both; doubtless the whites much preferred the former; but not so

with the Indians, where they could have a hand in them. This company of players was in two wagons, passing from Picolata to St. Augustine, on the 23 May, and when within 5 or 6 miles of the latter place, were attacked by a large number of Indians under WILD CAT, and four of them killed. How many were in the company we are not told; but Forbes and the females escaped. The Indians, immediately after, surrounded Fort Searle, danced about it in defiance, and dared the soldiers to come out and fight; but the garrison was too weak to make a sortie. We have to close the relation of this tragedy with a comedy. The Indians had found time, before appearing at Fort Searle, to dress themselves in such of the actors' clothes as they had taken. Wild Cat had got on the turban of Othello; and others had sashes and spangles, which they took care to display to advantage. Wild Cat showed a rich velvet dress to some negroes who afterwards came in, and told them he would not take a hundred head of cattle for it.

At Cow Creek Hommock, near Fort White, there was a skirmish, on the 12 July, between Serg. Zeigler and three or four men, and 21 Indians. A corporal and two soldiers were killed, and the others were wounded.

On the 7 August, there happened a most horrid massacre at Indian Key. Six persons were killed by the Indians in their barbarous manner; among whom was Dr. Henry Perrine, formerly of Connecticut, a scientific gentleman, who had located himself there for the purpose of cultivating some rare plants which he had obtained in South America, while residing there as consul. There were upon Indian Key, at the time of this massacre, 44 people, all of whom had the good fortune to escape, except the six before named. All the houses were burned except one. The number of Indians was said to be 100 or 150.

On the 10 August, word was brought to Fort Barkee, that an encampment of Indians was discovered, about seven miles from thence, on the road to Fort Mitchell. Lieut. B. H. Arthur immediately marched out, with "a company of soldiers," to surprise them. The object was effected; two Indians were killed, one wounded, and 3 rifles taken. Early in the morning of the same day, the house of Mr. Wyley Jones, on the Econfina, about 6 miles north of the St. Joseph's, was attacked and burnt; the Indians shot Mrs. Jones and one of her children; a little daughter of 13 conveyed away four of her younger brothers and sisters to a safe place, and then returned to see what had become of her mother. She found her only time enough to see her expire! and then made a second escape!

About the middle of August, eleven families are said to have been broken up, on the Suanee River, and a great number of people killed. Among them was the family of a Mr. Courcy. He was from home at the time, and on his return, found his wife and six children murdered, and left in the most barbarous manner, here and there lying about the fields where they fell. Of Mr. Howell's family, his wife and one child were killed, and three other children escaped. A Mrs. Green and one child were also murdered. A Mrs. Patrick was shot in her house while preparing a bed for her children! Mr. Thomas Davis and two children, and Mr. Patrick's daughter, all murdered.

On the 4 September, as Capt. B. L. Beall, with 10 or 12 men, was upon a scout, he came suddenly upon about 30 Indians, who all escaped but four; the rest secured themselves in a swamp on Wacoosasa River. One of the prisoners was said to be Holatoochee, a sub-chief of the Mikasaukies. With these prisoners several guns were taken "in good order," and "a large deerskin full of honey."

But two days after, Lieut. W. K. Hanson had a smart battle with some Seminoles, near Fort Wekahoota. Word being brought to the eutenant then at that post, that Indians were in the vicinity, he immediately marched out with 35 regulars; and when one and a half miles from the fort, was fired upon from a gloomy hommock, which obliged him to retreat about 300 yards to an open wood, closely pursued by the Indians. Here he made a stand, and continued the fight about half an hour, at which time the Indians, to decoy him, retreated again to the hommock; but Lieut. Hanson, having now five of his men killed and wounded, concluded to retreat while he was at lib. erty to do so. The firing had brought out a reënforcement under Capt. Haw

494

ARKANSAS DELEGATION FAILS.

[BOOK IV.

kins, who not long after charged the hommock, but he found no Indians The number of Indians supposed to have fought in this skirmish, was stated to be 80. On the morning of the same day, the same Indians, it is said, killed and horribly mutilated a young man named Geiger; his head was severed and carried off.

On the 7 September, the house of a Mr. Dorsey is plundered and burnt ;— fortunately, he had lately removed his family to Alabama. About ten days after, Lieut. Saunders, scouting with a party of dragoons in the neighborhood of Fort Mellon, captured a single Indian. This brave company first shot their prisoner, and afterwards hung him on a tree.

A more pacific policy, on the part of the government, had been instigated, in a manner not to be passed unheeded, by the public expression; and, consequently, Gen. Armistead was directed to act on the protective system; at the same time, to endeavor by every possible means to influence the Seminoles to go quietly from the land of their fathers. More effectually to carry these views into effect, a deputation of their countrymen had been sent for, beyond the Mississippi, and treated with to visit Florida, and intercede with their friends and brothers to give up the country, and end the controversy. Accordingly, this proposition was acceded to; and fourteen chiefs and others left Arkansas on this embassy, and arrived at Tampa, in Florida, on the 2 November. They came prepared to assure their countrymen that they would be far better off in Arkansas; and as they had been known to have been exceedingly opposed to emigration, and had been forced away from Florida themselves, great reliance was placed upon their endeavors to end the troubles. And to satisfy the whites of their good intentions, they left all their wives and children behind. Among them were the noted chiefs, ALLIGATOR, HOLATOOCHEE, and MICANOPY; and on the morning of the 3d, they commenced their march of 100 miles for Fort King, where they were to have an interview with some of the hostile chiefs.

The deputation arrived at Fort King in about 4 days, viz., on the 6th, and Gen. Armistead on the 7th. Every effort was now made to discuss matters with freedom; and Halec Tustenugge, Tiger-tail, and many others, were waiting in the woods, not far off, when the before-named functionaries arrived. Sundry conferences and talks were had during the following six days; but what was said and done we are not informed; though, judging from what happened immediately after, it could not have been very satisfactory to the Indians, whatever they may have pretended; for, on the night of the 14 November, they all took leave very unceremoniously, and retired into their old fastnesses, as was conjectured, for they said nothing about that, nor did the whites have an opportunity of guessing where they had gone until the next morning. At this conduct of the hostiles, those from Arkansas expressed themselves "utterly astonished." As soon as the general was informed of the escape of the Indians, which was "early the next morning," he wrote to the secretary of war, Mr. POINSETT, in the following desponding strain:--"Thus have ended all our well-grounded hopes of bringing the war to a close by pacific measures; confident in the resources of the country, the enemy will hold out to the last, and can never be induced to come in again. Immediately upon the withdrawal of the Indians, orders were transmitted to commanders of regiments, to put their troops in motion; and before this reaches you, they will be scouting in every direction."

Notwithstanding these efforts at peace-making on the part of the whites, hostilities did not entirely cease on the side of the Indians. On the 17 October, a party went to Col. Gamble's plantation, at Welaune, in Jefferson county, where they fired upon and wounded a negro man, and took a woman, with whom they made off; but, in their flight, meeting with a company of whites, they left her, and she escaped. On the 24th, some bloodhounds led a company of soldiers to a house, in Middle Florida, in which three white men were captured, charged with aiding and abetting the Indians.

At Col. Hanson's plantation, about 20 Indians made quite a “business operation," on the 28 October, which, without any other insurance than their own peculiar tactics, was, to say the least of it, a very "risky transaction." Such is our judgment upon it, inasmuch as the place where it was done was

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