Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-01-30
FLORIDA.

FLORIDA.
EXTRACT Of letter TO gentleman in his Gin from, Ii;
TIC I5ih instant. ~
" thank you for the kind interest Won exnress ,bo,,
US; ana readily conceive the deep anxiety you feel in
regard to your and brother both of whom am able
10 say were well few days since; the latter having
Just returned from Fort King whittier he had marched
win General Call, and commanded company of mount.
co men from Jefferson county. The condition of the
South Eastern part of territory indeed deporab
WIN the exception of the posts Tampa Bay Fort
Ming fIcoiata, Jacksonville and ST. Augustine the re-
inahder East OF The Suwannee river is the mercy of
,ie saVages Nor can immediate relief be afforded We
nave men and officers capable and willing To crush t,es
monsters; but we destitute of arms ammunition
and the necessary supplies of provisions and means of
transportation Governor Eaton is using very effort 10
remedy these deects-but until the General Govern
me gh.I sha send US something than hand
iu oil gallant regulars TO be sacrificed by CUNNING and
deceItiul Toe, nothing efectual can be done
pom the first notice of force of about
ooo mounted men raised, who volunteered for one
io', iurnshins their own provisions, arms, &C. and
surprising that in this short time all would be completed
These marched under General Call and joined Gene
raj Cinch about the 10Th of December. The mounted
regular and volunteer force 700 all told Two
slight skrmisiics had previously taken place between
the volunteers and the Indians; in the first the whites
lost their baggage and several men, and evidently were
woIsted; IN the second, every Indian was killed who
was engaged: the number or s. After the
junction OF the regulars and volunteers General Cnc
eeermned TO advance, and marched the 29th intend
ing TO cross the Wthacoocee and one Of The pr
cipai towns of the Indians He procured guides ON
whom he thought lie could rely they assured him Of
good iord across the river Having on the evening of
tue oot arrived within few miles of tho river the ar
my encamped, and adopted every precaution againat
surprise, and 10 concealmeni; and at about 4
CLOCK, IN the morning of the 3lst, it resumed the
march, leaving the baggage in carqe of small deach
ment Ga reaching the Wthlacoochee il was foun5
impossible, except by swimming. This error if not de-
cePton OF the guides placed almost
1ilheuiiy IN the way OF further advance. No Indians
having shown themselves however irail and Injured
canoe, carrying seven time, was obtained from
the opposite shore; and in this, the regulars under Mai
RAINING, passed over, and were formed and marched
short distance from the bank where they halted waitin
or the crossing OF The volunteers. And while the latter
were Dusiy engaged IN swimming their horses over and
when lew had crossed the crack of the Indian rifles
gave warning OF the mischief that was coming I'm ihis
condition, with the army inersected by deem and ra
Pu sirean the regulars had sustain the attack of at
least seven hundred yelling savages among whom there
We're many blacks and most noby did this gallant little
band sustain the character Of American soldiers Thrice
dd MAJOR Tanning charge in the midst of the murderous
he OF The enemy until finally they were routcd Their
ehei oscola otherwise called Powell half breed again
and again called his followers TO stand by him and
not run from 'te pale faces The interpreter heard
nm repeatedly call out 10 ten that the Witacoocee
divided their cnemies-lhot the reguars wore moro
handful-and with perse yerance could be overcome =
All would not do. The steady hrmness Of the American
soldiers and the nrepdy Of their officers, oyercasne
me savage ierocity OF the savage. About 90 or 10 of
the volunteers able get into the action and ali
who did, bchaycd most calamity Some of the officers
and lew OF the men, crossed alter the commencement
Of The acuon at the most imminent hazard But this
victory has been TOO dearly bought The officers have
suffered most severely Among those much wounded
regret 70 inform you OF Capt and Lieut. Graham One or
more OF the companies had every commissioned officer
disabled, that the commands deyolved on non.co,n
inissioned officers, who behaved admirably TO Gen
Cnch all praise due for his GOODNESS in the midst of
the most imminent danger, and the skill and military
tact with which he conducted this hazardous ENTERPRISE
wish the Government could know and appreciate his
motive Major Tanning greatly distinguished himself
Md among the Officers Of the volunteers who appear 10
have commanded The praise Of those in the action are
Col Samuel Parkhill, formerly Of Richmond CoIoncIs
Warren, Mills, Leigh Read, Lieut. Colonel BaiIev. Can
tain Scott, (e brother OF Robert G. Scott Esa Of t6e
CITY ot kchmondD and Lieut.. Cutbbert. The three
cltpp
the action and aided much in proteciiug one NJ he
tanks Of the Regulars. Mai Gamble (son Of your for
ner townsman, Col John G. Gamiblr) and Mai WeG,rd
are highly spoken Of for their conduct The time of
service o. he volunteers having expired, aud the sup
Plies Of provisions being nearly exhausted (eg immedi.
aely took up the line OF march for home In this cam.
paign Cen Call has fully sustained his heretofore h Of,
military reputation. assure YOU however that we are
dealing with no ordinary foe. lie can bring into the
ana unreeRtng sayages TO be found on the globe
jbey are well armed. and Intimately acquainted with
every astncss, pass n the territory Mixed
WIN ese are several hundred runaway slaves and
"a WINE ursPeradoes who are fugitives from justice
iher Cmcf, OscOla IS cunning as he is brave lie
deceived the Indian Agent, Cen Thompson FORMERLY
member 81 Congress from (feOrqia and induced b
70 believe that he his devoted friend while lie was
Plotung ms destruction, which he effected on tho Doth
day OF December, shooting him in Le guflefs boosr
near Fort King. This Chief is about Is years aid e n
haifbrecd, and ofslender FORM but active nd nsca,
tie possesses unbounded influence aver the indiana
wneb be has acquired by unbeconiog artccs bot by
the great superiority ofhs intellectual oovve,s III, d,,nc
courage, and admirable military turn cf chasaofer lie
der s0ch Chicf and with such advantages 5000 vel
organized troops should once be thrown into the terri
tory TO suppress and pot down the present incnrsons
FROM ny knowledge Of the country, I am convinced
that seven eight pieces cannon sx pounder) should
be taken with The army drive the foe from the sonba
and hammocks, and with mounted men, and two t,on