Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-01-15

by foreign incendiaries. 1t having been
represented to the government that muir
ders bad been committed on our defence
less citizens, Gen. Gaines was ordered IN
the summer of 1917, with considerable
force, to take station in that section, for
their protection. Gen Gaines was direct
ed to keep within the terriloriai limits OF
the United States. and abstain from every
attempt to cross the Florida liue; but to
demand of the Indians the perpetrators OF
the crimes thus committed, in order that
punishment might be inflicted upon the
guilty without involving the innocent, and
without general rupture with these defu-
ded savages. The fact OF such murders
having been ascertained, attended with
aggravating circumstances OF rapine and
Cruelty, Gen. Gaines in conformity with
his orders, made the demand. The saya-
ges, through the deceptive representations
of foreign incendiar.es, were led to believe
that the strength of the United States was
not sufficient to subdue them; Or, If their
own forces were incompetent to sustain the
conflict, they would receive assistance
from the British. These promises, made
by these unauthorized agents, were predi-
Gated upon pre.ence, that the United
States had bound themselves, by me treaty
of Client, to restore the lands which the
Indians had coded, previously to that trea-
ty, at Fort Jackson and that the British
government would enforce its Observance
Under this influence, they not only refused
to deliver the murderers, but repeated their
massacrees whenever opportunity offered
and 10 evade the arm Of justice, took re-
fuge across the line, in Florida. In this
state of affairs. in November, 1917, LIT.
Scott, of the United States army, under
Gen. Gaines, with AZ persons, men, wo-
men, and children, in a boat on Appala-
chicoa river, about mile below the
junction of the Flint, and the Chatahoochie,
was surprised by an ambuscade Of Indians,
fred upon, and the whole detachment
killed and taken Ivy the Indians, except
six 'men, who escaped by fight, Zone Of
whom was wounded.) Those who were
taken alive on this occasion, were wanton-
ly murdered by the icrocious savages, who
took TIE little children and dashed out
their brains against the side OF the boat,
ami butchercd all the helpless females eX-
cept one, who was afterwards retaken.-
Gen. Gaines was not yet authorized 10
cross into Florida, 10 enforce compliance
with his demaDd for the delivery of the
murderers, while the indians we're collect
ING in large numbers upon the line, which
they seemed to think perfect safeguard,
and from which they continued their pre-
datory incursions, rs opportunity permit
ted. A letter from the Secretary of war
OF the 9th Dec. 1917, authorized General
Gaines, in case the state of things should
continue, and il should become impossible,
by any other means, to prevent their de-
predations, TO exercise sound discretion
as 10 crossing the Flohda line, TO break up
their establishment; and on the lGih Of
the same MONTH the secretary OF war by
letter, directed to General Gaines, fully
authorized him 10 cross the line. and at
tack the Indians within the Spanish terri
tory, should they still refuse 10 make rera-
ration for depredstions already committee
unless they should shelter themselves
under a Spanish fort, in which case he
was directed to notify the department.
Intelligence being received by the war
department of the massacre of Lit. Scott
and his companions, General Jackson was
directed by letter of the Goth Dec. 1917,
TO repair to Fort Scott, and take command
of the forces in that quarter; with autho-
rity in case he should deem it necessary,
10 call upon he executives ofthe adjacent
states Tor such additional force as he should
deem requisite in which he was referred
to the previous orders given TO General
Gaines, and directed to concentrate his
forces, and aCopt the measures neccssa-
ry TO terminate a conflict, which had been
avoided from considerations of humanity.
but which had nov become indispensable,
from the settled hostility of the savage
enemy. In January following, letter
to Gen. Gaines, says The honor of the
United States requires, that The war with
the Seminoles should be terminated spec