Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-03-12


the imnure motives by which thu majority
were governed.
The principles which guided the COM
manAer in chief. in the movements OF the
Seminole campaign. have been so ably de-
veloped and supported BY men of integrity
and talents, that it is deemed unnecessary
now to review them. The orders which 60
ve1ned him are before the world. The Sc
lection and use of the means for their COM
plete execution are well known. 1.-The left
any thing undone which was necessary Ito
give peace and security to The southern
frontier:" or if he unnecessarily superad-
ded to the sufficient means of etfectlng this
object any act injurious to the Country and
destructive of the constitution, the grounds
for fair judgment are with the nation,and
its award, either of blame or appreciation,
will doubtless be just. This article shall
be confined TO the elucidation OF some Oh.
scurities, and the correction OF several ms
statements of facts in the narrative OF the
report. The argumentative part shall only
be touched incidentally.
1t is stated, in the 6rstpage of the report,
"that, in the spring or summer OF l6l7,the
regular troops were Withdrawn from the
posts on the Georgia frontier, and concen-
trated at fort Montgomery, on the Alaha-
ma river, a considerable distance west of
the Georgia line" This is calculated TO
create an impression, that gen. Jackson is
sued the order for evacuating the posts
south of Georgia, and thereby jcopardized
that frontier, by opening the way for savage
iucursion. But, in the commission of this
military error, he was no way instrumental.
The order for the movement Of the troops
to the Alabama was issued from the var de-
partment, by MIR. Crawford, contrary to
the generals opinion, who considered the
movement both dangerous and impolitic.
In page 2, it is stated, that Con. Gaines
ordered Maj. Twiggs 'to surround and take
an Indian village, called Fowl Town, about
fourteen miles from Fort Scott, and near
the Florida line" The order to Maj.
Twiggs was, to bring to Fort Scott the
Chief of Fowl Town, who had repeatedly
been called 10 ali interview, and as often
contumatiously refused to appear. The
object of General Gaines was to have
de6nitive understanding with the Chief,
respecting his hostile or friendly intentions;
and The importance OF such an understand
Jig induced the General to order his forcl-
bic capture, if gentle means proved ineih-
Gent
In the same page, is this remarkable
paragraph "On the receipt of this order,
(the order under which Gen. J. proceel-
ed on the Seminole campaign 'Gen. J.
instead of observing the orders of the De-
pariment of War, by calling on the Cover
nor of Tennessee, then in Nashville. near
the place of his residence. chose TO appeal
(lo use his own expressions to the patriot
ism of the Fcst Tennesseans, who had
served under him in the last war. One
thousand mounted gunner. and Two com
panies of what are called lie guards. with
the utmost alacrity volunteered their Ser
al. go, at,I
Kentucky, and repaired TO his standard.
Officers were appointed 10 command this
corps by the General himself, or other per-
sons acting under his authority. Thus or
ganized they were mustered intothc service
Of the United States"
At the time this order was received, the
Governor of Tennessee was either in Knox
vile or the Cherokee nation and to have
waited the result Of the usual process of
drafting, would have produced the two e.
wills of much loss Of valuable time, and the
raising of force reluctant in disposition
and inefficient in character and equipment.
General Jackson Immediately despatched
letter to governor McMinn, apprising him
of the call for volunteers and informing
him that in case the call should not he
promptly and efectually answered, he
should re quire # him one thousand drafted
militia. The Governor warmly approved
the step the General had taken, and added
to his force one company of mounted volun-
teers, who joined The army at Fort Gads-
den. General Jackson letter of the 18th
January, apprised the Department of the