Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-05
AsDH ES'E'HG.
LATEST FROM FLORIDA.
To the Editor cf the .7lGGny .1rgus, ddtcd
rrLIIAHAssEE Feb G. lS.Ni.


Ny dear Sr-The delay in receiving from the Gene
raj Government force adequate TO the emergency has
c,ed resort u extraordinary measures for enbodying
the whole ars-brarng population OF the territory The
impression first being general that the savages would
bc speedily subdued tho drafts of militia for thirty
days only That term exp red the day after the battle
of WithIaccoche when, by that circumstance, General
Call was compelled withdraw from the scene OF hos
es and return to the cupol for the purpose OF rails.
inr more effective force Another draft ordered
for SIX MONTHS till the close Of the war The troops
under this draft partly in camp near this city,
anxiuusy awaiting arms from Georgia. General Call
expects be able to bring his new iuIce into the field
next week. II has bGcn determined that ts force
shall rrucccd by sea from st. Marks 10 Tampa. At
tie latter place. the volunteers from Luuslanu with
suIIr United States troops, have arrived within
lew days; aud III connexion with these, General Call
will strike into the Indian country, with the
ui driving the suvages nothwardy, III least cutting
oil tcir retreat from the Everglades of South Florida
in tie marshy businesses of which The Seminole women
and children are secured, and in which the warr
urs calculate make final stand. The Carolina and
Georgia troops, with Of the regular forces, aided
by some armed vessels the ST. john 3 river, to
proceed against the nation from the North that there
IS Sumo prospect that the enemy may be enclosed be-
tween es Of troops, and the brought to close
before the hot weather SETS In say some prospect
unly-tur from the sagacity and spirit with which the
Seminole movements have been directed from the COM
mrnceulemt, ain not cary sanguIne that peace will be
restored speedily easily II appearances are not ex
treney deceptive the result will verify the remark in
former letter, written at an early period OF the strife
that the contest is OF cLtcrHinntt0n-thut the In
dlas resolved not abandon Florida, will write that
resolution in characters vi blood and horror, Tor which
the history OF former of equal duration will fur
nisl parallel The general which has attended
the measures of the National Administration for
ing the Indian tribes beyond the Mississippi is thrown
buldcr relief by this awful tragedy Of tile Scmnoes.
The t4hting force Ut the Senlnoes is, | perceive by
the paers generally underrated as much as the charac-
Of the Chiefs sighted. From the best lntorma-
ton have obtained, through Gen. Call und others,
feel justified Stating, that there full thousand
,rurrtors that nation. In 1885, annues paid 10
1919, and it Known that there then many
warriors The young Of tile nation, aud the Indian
negrocs (or the Scnnvies had considerable number of
slaves among tIeinD would now swell the lighting force
Ut least amount first stued-and probably 2jOO
would not be more than correct there is much reuson
for believing that they have been giened BY NAL
contents from the Creek and other nations.
The head clet vi the Semlnoles, is .Hcuaopy-an aged
man, with character uowise remarkable. Next 10 him
Is Jumper, whose countrnance be,ohens tile striking
Ut the saruge, which verified n his
course. HIS uuencc Is great with Mlcanupy, and Ills
advice has probably decisive influence in tile nation
OSrOiu, commonly called Powct Is warrior under mid
aye, who figures mos, remarkably in the pattes, and
supposed by many to be tile principal chief.
Within tile last tw" months, have been around the
whole coast of East Florida, the Atlantic and the
Gull of AleXco and have been surprised ~ find that the
measures Ut The Scnlnors have been sagacously and
secretly arangedLhat the nation has been able make
its power ie almost simultaneously at every prominent
pullt OF that large extent Of territory from 81. Angus
tine OH The ocean, around the Capes and aulung the
Keys up To the mouth OF the Suwunee, the head of
il,c Gull Oh this you Judge Tor yourself by refer
rncc the dates OF all the principal occurences-such
as the massacre of The D. S. forces under Major Dade
the attack The u s. forces and FLORIDA militia under
Generals Clnch and Call at Withiacoochec; the mas
sacses Cape Florida; the demonstrations at Indian
Key; the capturing Of the baggage wagons; the
Of Gen Thompson, Lieut. smith, and several Others
Camp Ming the almost countless atrocities perpe-
traed III the vicinity Of ST. Augustine, &c &c &c
FORCE OF TIE HOSTILE INDIANS
To The Editors 81 tic Nutionai h.teui,sncey.
GENTLEMEN II observe in the lnlcllgenccr Of FRI
day an extract from Southern paper estimating the
number OF the Seminole Indians in three tho,-
sand; and observed OIL Saturday another extract stat
u1 the authority Of person Of high rank III Florida
that the number OF Indians did not justify the existing
punic | noticed aso III Black Rock paper, letter
from Lieutenant Grayson, al Innpa Day. OF january
I6l with postscript Of the I'D stating that the hos
tile Indians have abou: seven hundred warriors in
the field, aided by very large number OF runaway ne
groes.
Such are the discordan accounts given of the Indian
force Now it is certain that estimate can
have been made since the commencement OF hosl,es
The only way to form correct Judgment this point
10 the estimates OF the number of Indians
living in Florida, made when intercourse with them
open These it appears have varied from five thou
sand 10 three thousand. 1t is reasonable 10 suppose that