Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-05-20

TERMINATION OF THE INDIAN CAM
PAIGN.-Licut. Van Buren,. aid 10 Gen.
Eustis, arrived at Charleston Oh HE Sd inst.
from Pcolala. Lieut.. Van Buren, sta es,
that owing 10 the commencement of the
warm weather, the campaign had been
brought to a close. The regular forces
had gone into quarters at St. Augustne.-
There were supposed to be about 200 on
the sick list at Tampa Bay, and so at Vo.
lusia.
The following is an extract from an off :
cal despatch, received at the War Depart
ment, from Gen. Scott, dated Picola,a,
April 80 From some cause our army has
not reaped many laurels, thus far, in this
war with Oseola. 1t may have arisen from
bad management in certain quarters, or
from unforeseen occurrences which could
not have been avoided, or from some other
cause or causcs-to which or any numbe r
of these untoward circumstances. may be
attributed the Accomplishment of almost
nothing-we will not attempt to decide ;
but one thing is certain the past has shown
US to an absolute certainty, that the best
military talents of which the country is in
possession is required to fight successfully
our shrewd and savage foe.
81 am more than ever persuaded that the
whole force of the enemy, including the
negroes, doas not exceed 1900 fighting
men. 1t Is probably something less. or
that force ] am equally confident that not
five hundred have at any time, since the
commencement of nostilties, been brought
within the same ten miles square. In all
our operations within the last thirty DAYS,
we have not found party of more than
perhaps 1870, but parties of from ten to 80
have been encountered almost every where.
No Indian woman, child or negro, nor the
trace of one, has been seen in tina. time
Those non combatauts, it has been evident
to us ALL have been removed beyond the
theatre of our operations. They were no
doubt. even while The parley was going on
with Gen. Gaines on the 7lh March. NOV
ing off to the southeast, beyond Peas creek
and Lake Topkellka, and in that almost
inaccessible region they are now conceal
ed. That officer, it is said, caused Powell
and his chiefs 10 be informed, by way of
inducing them TO agree to accept the
Wythacooche as a temporary boundary,
that large armies were approaching, which
would fill up the Indian country or crush
every thing in the way. The willy chiefs
profted by the information sent off their
families, and dispersed their warriors into
small parties. In this way Powell expects
to make good his threat, viz; that he wouid
protract the ,car three years.
To end this war, | am now persuaded
that not less than 5000 regular troops are
Indispensable 400 foot and about 600
horse; the country to be secured and occu-
pied, requires that number. have no
particular desire to conduct the operations
of the new forces. That is duty which
| shall neither solicit nor decline.
Ofthe 5000 good troops, not volunteers,
500 will be necessary to garrison five posts
for the deposit of supplies, say one on the
st. Johns, miles below Lake George; one
up the Pease Creek, say Is miles above
Charlotte Harbor one at Tampa Bay; one
twelve miles from the Gulf Of Mexico, up
the Wythlacoochic; and one on the same
river, near the Fort King Road, with I6O,