Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-22
EsTiC.
FLORIDA.
Extract Of a Letter reeeieed in Ckaricston dated
FoRr DRASE, March "a.
FLORIDA.


down South is all conjecture among Ii they have
reeaied into the Ever (or Evcn) Gladcs the 500 Creeks
twh"se services have been accepted by Gen. Scott and
who are probably by this time al Tampa) will be
poyed TO hunt ihe out of that scctrn of country which
Is almost constantly inundated The 10th OF May tie
latest period which any military operations can be car
RED with safety the health of the troops. II the
enemy is not dep0rted by that time the campaign will
have to be renewed in the. fall The nnmLer Of the
virously estimated and IL impossible conec
iufe the real force Ii he at the river Eusts coming
up (ir"m the Souh) to plakkaha the hand, and
Lindsay Qrom Tampa up beyond iillsborough on the
other aud establishing GORDON between their forces
will eiirctualy preclude the Indians from slipping as
otherwise they might dog between them; while Scott
going down will drive them either upon Eustis
or Lindsay. If they surrender subdued their
arms will be taken iom thcm--thcy will be marched
down TO Tampa and there embarked for their home West
oil the mississippi. SCOTS force here is about 1000
including or 400 Dragons. Lindsay's is l000-Eus
tbs (includng the s. Carolina cavalry-7uO) probably
about the same Lindsay's. The conduct of the s.
Carolina troops has been the theme of general aud
qualified praise
Extract Of Letter from distinguished citizen Of Flo
Tida, connected sciM the .4rmy, dafed
FoRr DRASE, March %, 1896
My DEAR SIR:-Amid the exaggerated and conflict
ing statements oil Florida difficulties with which the
newspapers of the day TEEN, have thought mere re-
cord OF facts from who has always been disposed
view things they are would not, this crisis be
acceptable to you. have seen nothing tn change the
views early expressed of the character of The conflict
IN which we are unexpectedly engaged, TO alter my
opinion though IN this respect standing almost alone Of
the small numerical strength of the hostile SeIsnolcs
is not their force hut the skill and determination
which has been displayed which has magni.;cd their
strength Enbodened by their early success they hay
pushed their operations with ability well calculated
to deceive and produced in this community such pa
nc, that few have been able things bat through
magniiying or false medium. Hence four or five hun
ded warriors Certainly exceed six hundrcd have
been increased to twelve, eighteen, and have now ,
III the opinion OF many, swollen Ia Two thousand five
hundred, and even three thousand. | still think and
the result will show that Powell, Jumper, Micanope
s an, AT a He hostile chiefs ,ogether cannot BRING into
though oitonyS at ing country call did know whether
should be permitted to participate, personally ia the
conflict; Gen Scott having however, in,imacd wish
for me 10 join him. lost time in repairing 10 head
quarters. On my way through Aiachua learned that
General Games having made rapid, and, fear pre-
mature movement, from the Bay OF Tampa, had
tered the enemy the Wthlacoochce; that they had
attacked him with such spirit force h to entrench
and that enclosed within his breast lac had been
hshns Tor four days and reduced to the last cxtrrn
" Tor The want OF ammunition and provisions iintne-
diatciy volunteered 10 accompany Gen Clnc his re
lief We LETT this the morning of the 9th or 7lh inst
and reached Camp lizard the next day AS approach
ed, some Indians were retiring from before Gaines
camp, and seemingly with view of gaining our left
anK, preserving the swamp of the river in their rear
Our friendly Indians gave the shout, aud h,rseie on
The right made charge, and gave fire the hostlrs az
they rcrrated into the thckrt Before had resolved
on pursuit. an officer from Gaines camp appeared and
ni'rmcd General Clsnch that the Indians were then
h"idng c"nteience with General Gaines, with view
10 crssan of Institutes but that alarmed our re
niorcemcnt, thry had fled to the swamp. In the even
ing the interpreter hailed the camp and asked whether
they would be received the next day hc day after
hat The latter they would prefer, they wished con-
fer with their head chief NIcanope, then thirty miles
Of They vvrc Told 10 come in the day If pract
cable, but AT all the day after We walled ca-
tentl la the third day, when The Indians not ppearinv
and zee rot being able To hear any thing of them it as
thought advisable, our supplies being exhausted,
his command to General Cinch and after a halt
OF day or two at this post, proceeded West aercea-
bly, TO instructions received from the War Depart
ment 1t RENAME to be whether his demon
stTation on the Wiihlacoochee for can call II by
no other name, IS to result in good injury ia the
campaign against the Semnoles. 1t is certain he was
prevented from crossing the river and equally IA
certain that the Indians ceased hOstlilies under the i'm
preston that Gaines was willing either TO make new
treaty with them 10 leave them unmolesed south of
the Witllacoochee until the diplomatic officer of the
war Department could appear To treat with them Know
Tug in well that no terms other than unconditional sur.
render would be granted by Cnch and equally as Ger.
tain thatany other terms should have protested against
may possibly have been the of The Indians moi
again showing themselves. Ii is clear, therefore that
the work ot finding the Indians and of forcing lnm TO
unconditional Submissions remains yet be done There
will be difficulty in the latter II Gaines lnoycmen,
has not so alarmed the Indians force them TO scat
ter aud fly.
far aJle to learn, there being very great
difficulty TO procure the services of and spies the
Indians still embodied in the swamp of the with
acoochee, at the place they first encountered
Clinch aud subsequently Gaines. If SO, we shall soon
search them out and finish tie work assigned us III the
movements OF Scott tending To that point what.
ever causes have consPred hitherto To retard his
mchis Ills plans are now matnred, and f the emmy
has not He'd tho duties assigned him must be completed
and in very eleetual manner
The right wing of the army 1900 or 1900 strong
leaves THIS, its march the Wthacnocli~c 10 r,o
General Eusts, vita The Caronf1ns and some regulars
amounting to nearly 1000 crossed the ST. John al
Nulusia the 22d and is advancing from the cast 10
Inc same point; while Lindsay with a corps Of Ala.
bainans and Flordans, 100 number is on his march
from The Lay OF Tampa south. The three wings an,
proacifIng the point, aud disposed as To- en-
circle II aud cut off all retreat annbilac the
saYages IN few hours or force thcm capilule on our
own terms il they have not escaped lf they have tbe
work ct pursuit Is el them; and with the force rs il
- now organized, Cafoinians, Georgans Alabanlians
FiodianS and regulars all nbued with spirit ofrivary
Il will be next to israculoGs if we cannot overtake tie
and bring him TO submission. Unconditional
surrender Is the parole: "no treaty the watch. word
write in great haste. The express is ready We
march tomorrow at daylight Two days will put us
across the Wtacoochee, aud the next trust il corn
municsle the tidings Of fual termination of ts war
We understand that information has hcen received n,
the AdutaHtlS cncras Office from General nraole
at Green Bay, stating that war belt from
lie Seminolcs Is circulating among the Winnebagoos
Indians may b. induced 10 commit hostiltics against ouf
settlements
The state Of things among The Indians generally seems
TO render increase ~ the army Indispensable neccss
~. We satisfied that the best arrangement which
can be made wish respect 10 all the Indians living with
10 our settled frontier, TO them without delay
The proposition made by the Secretary OF War Ia the mi
hary committees Of both Houses, seems to Us 10 pre-
'on the best plan which be adopted for protecting
settlements against Indian de oredations pis ,iae
proposes that military road should be opened from ,
where near ST Peters, The Mississippi to Red River
That Gordon Of posts should be established along this
toad supplied with proper garrisOns, aud with ali the
munitions Of war, and means Of subsistence necessary
Or immediate operations That the Dragons should b.
,cpt ranging along IT, during all the open season of t
rcar, aud tat oil The gaffsons in the Indian fonts,