Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-02
lSONfES'TTC.
(From the Globe Of Friday. }

at is censred for having PAID proper attention 70
this matter, and made such arrangements as P.uIence
demanded very few words, and reference TO dates,
will nut down all this censurc and ought TO satisfy the
gentlemen with whom it originated 'hat they were not
ACQUAINTED with the facts of the case mere no doubt
great and just sympathy in LOT Ee situation
of The cxposcd portion Of the inhabitants OF Florida, but
that sympathy ought TO lead them to afford such aid as
they could render and not be manifested IN undrserSed
censurc.'
who had cb,rpr in conjunction with Gen. Thompson, Of
the duty of removing the Seminole Indians OF SePem-
bcr 30 1885, contains this estimate CONSIDER the po-
pulation (spenking Of the Seminole lndans including
NEGROES not to exceed 5000, Of which should say l6U0
are females" This CENSUS was taken with view
provide the necessary articles TO which each was en-
titled, and therefore the Indians would not underrate
their numbers. Now it is well known that these Indian
difficulties have arisen out Of the indsposon OF por-
ton of these Indians cnisrae west Of the Mississippi.
part were in favor, and part against NJ and II we
suppose them have been equally divided ON this sub.
rct as it is probable they were there would be l3OO
Indians including men, women, children and negroes,
in dsafected state at the commencement of these dis
urbanccs No person in his senses would estimate the
number of warriors that such force could give over
300 The general direction Of affairs in Florida
entrusted to Gen. Clnch, brave and experienced off,
GER and who has, doubt, done every thing in his
power to subdue these Indians. But the country is q
terrible one 10 operate in, and the number of hostile
warriors has BEEN no doubt much increased since the
commencement Of disturbances, by accessons from the
other parties and from the Greeks.
On the 9Th of October last, Gen. Clnch informed the
Adiutant General that he apprchenslve that large
number of Scminolcs who were unwilling 10 remove,
would have 10 be removed by force and he suggested the
employ mcnt of $50 mounted mitancn, together with
cutler, and the employment of Major Dades
command at Key West. In answer to this, General
Chnch informed, that, as there were no hosilies
then commenced immediate apprehension oftI'em
land the object merely 10 remove tile Indians,
the President had legal authority call out the militia
And this decision was the more particularly proper, as
the whole force required could be supplied from regular
troops This letter Of Gen Clinchs was received the
2lst of October; but, the 18th of the month";
Lieutenant Harris the discussing Indian agent had sug'
gcsted 10 the department. the proprety OF adding TO the
force of General Cnch But as communication had
at that time been received from Gen. ClinCh, requiring
such addition the not positively directed,
but Gen. Cnch authorized to order the two compa.
MICS from Forts Morgan and pickens to- Join hun.
Immediately OH the receipt of General Clnchs des'
patch Of the 9Th of October two other companies those
at Forts Wood and Pike, placed at his disposal;
making four companies Of regular troops, instead OF the
$50 mounted men, and forming fourteen companies.
which Gen Clinch authorized TO call into the field
in defence of Florida No new order was issued
corning Major Dadc's company, because he had been
placed under Gen. ClncLs command by an order OF
February Z 1885 This force however, has taken much
time concentrate but this is not the fault of General
Clinch of any other person, but results from the
small number Of army and its dispersed condition.
Instead Of the Revenue Cutter, suggested BY General
Clinch, order issued by the Navy Department TO
Commodore Dallas to Jctach one of his So adron fer
that purpose.
On the 29th of November General Clinch, in letter
received by the Adutant- General oil the 9Th Of Decem
Der, communicated the fact, that the unfrendly Indians
determined mischief" lie stated that he should
call into service hundred mounted men, in the con.
tGcncc that his measures would he approved. This let
answered the 9t and the Presidents aprro.
val of the conveyed to General Cnch and,
on the same day. the War Department, measure Of
prccaulion without any application from General Clnch,
If 20.
neral Clinch any portion Of the militia IS oind which
he might find necessary in subdung the Indians, OF
which Genernl Cnch informed.
On the 9TH Of Dcccr-, General Clinch stated that,
in Consequence of the uncertainty 10 the time when the
companies from Louisiana would join him. lie requested
that four additional companies ght be ordered. But rs
it was reported the Adutant Generals Office that the
companies from Louisiana were Oh their way to join
General Clnch, and has since been asccraincd, were
actually Tampa Bay before The receipt Of the letter. it
evidently not necessary, under the views thus pre-
sented to substitute any other companies for them
These all the occurrences far regards any
call made by the military authorities in Florida upon
the War Department for force The first report Of
tual hostics against the white people in Florida
received at the Adutan Generals Office the 9th Of
Jauunfy in letter from Gen Clinch Of December lG
Without waiting for any demand Of such measure, the
War Department. on the 9Th, requested the Governors
of South Carolina, Georgia. and Alabama, TO call into
the field any force that Gen. Cinch might require and
advised Cen Cnch Of the fact And The given
his power to order out sufficient militia It will be seen
that this precautionary measure originated here:
A newspaper report, received here on the 18th nst
conveyed the first intelligence of the action with the In
dians, and the day it apPrchcDded that
the communication with Cen Clnch might be inter
rupled Cen Eustis, then at Charleston, authorised
TO call the Governor Of South Carana for such force
as might be deemed necessary and to proceed with that
and such volunteers he might accept, and with the
garrisons of Charleston and Savannah tn ST. Augustine
and there to the direction, and 10 open
nication with Gen. Clinch.
On the 10Th, information received for the first
time stating the probability that the Greeks had joined
the Srmnoles; and in consequence, and because the
theatre of operations might be much extended and there
fore require officer OF superior rank, General Scott
was ordcrcd to proceed Florida, and take the
nland and the power call for militia force from the
mentioned States and Territory transferred
TO him. he had full authority to act, and ample power
and means ven TO him. and also II companies Uf
regular troops, including these in Florida, and including
those that are under orders proceed there, besides
detachment Of dragnons. This will give him force Of
about 1900 men.
independently Of these arrangements, ample sup.
plies of ordnance and ordnance stores and provisions,
were seaSonubly provided, and instructions had been
given TO the commanding officers of the arsenals at Au
gusta and Mount Vernon (Alabama) to issue whatever
wanted upon the rrqusition &" the United States
military officers of the Governor Of Florida, the
commanding officers of expeditions
Three cutters and n sIoop of war have been
directed to cooperate, in order 10 prevent the cXpora
ton of captured negroes and to intercept any supplies
Of ammunition for the Indians both Of these
were feared.
Never since the settlement Of the country has greater
force been organized in proportion TO the probable amount
Of enemy and in every instance the arrangements Of
the Government have kept ahead Of the information re-
ccved here
We may now ask the committee Of the citizens of
Charleston, where is the evidence of the confusion that
"sccms 10 prevail both in the War and Financial De-
par,ments of the Government at Washington? - As to
the Treasury Department, the wholly gatuil
in the moon, except to place the appropriations after
they made, at the points wanted This it has prompt
ly done. ::
We again repeat, that Gen Cncl has had very DIFF
fcult and embarrassing task. II will be rccorctcd that
,I, dnd