Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-06-17
RbDNI TESTING.
FLORIDA.

lHE BLOCK 1OUSE.-ln ne following extract OF u let
ter, received from DR.. Samuel A. T. Lawrence Of this
CITY, by his relatives has been politely yielded at
request for publication. In ancient times, it was deem
ed the highest service to tic State to have preserved The
life Of u Roman citizen. What appropriate tribute can
be rendered the gallant Read and his followers, for
rescuing from the savage Seminole the lives Of brave
band Of American citizens? We have space to
press estimate of the conduct Of these brave Fo
"TALLAuAssEE June lst 1875
dill wrote you few lines short time aga ac-
quaint you with the Of my not writing to OF
you. entered Surgeon into the service Of the Uni
ted States the 10th Of March On the 18TH took up
The line Of march for Charles Ferry where military
fort established. Left Charles Ferry in few days
fur Suwanee Old Town, where Major McLcnore under
whose command was had made his Head Quarters.
After remaining here 4 few days, Major hlcLemore,
the Adutant and myself together with the Mu
want, paid visit 10 Ncwnansyile, where | remained
two days. and at which place express reached Major
McLemore, through whom he was directed To bring on
for the Of the army, TO the Withlaconchee
river where ordered to remain until relieved
by Cen Scott Ma MIC emose, who bud returned ~
Suwannee Old Town, TOR the purpose Of bringing
munilion and provisions for the Of The block house
We remained on the Withacoochec une days without
being attacked by the savagrs We had Just completed
building the block house and dug out spring nearly at
the edge Of the Fort, when, the :g OF the 9Th
April al L little before dawn Of day, ne were attacked
by The Indians, who had passed three sides,
and numbered about lo0 or 20U warriors.
.
when they found OUT to their 'a. our reception
not only too warm, but that they had rensured too
without due reflection.
On the next day "Wednesday we had one man killed
on his post by Indian rifle fired from the opposite side
Of the river On Friday the 18th Of April al.
tackled by body of the savages who had completely
surrounded us, aud whose number computed at or
SUI, though have since learned that Powell had 1000
TO l5OO OF them. This the hottest engagement we
had during stay the Withlacuochee. They fired
their guns by hundreds al the moment Block
House, and succeeded in taking only of
cape-our boat--wich they took down the river and
destroyed after the battle. The engagement continued
two hours and forty five minutes, and had three
slightly wounded.
On The 2llh we Ind very severe battle, in which they
displayed their ingenuity By shooting arrows on fire up
on the roof of the huuar, which destroyed the roof and
left exposed 10 the inclcmency of the weather. this
row firing pcriorn,cd by 2G OF their men, whilst
about or $40 used their guns: had this occasion
two or three OF slightly wounded. II is my
opinion that in the engagement must have killed be-
tween forty and fifty of them. On the night OF the 24th,
after the battle heard their Chief hail and say,
that he going away in the morning and would
trouble more he kept his prouiisc very well though
he did give about 100 guns the next morning he
left; he kept continual watch upon U.s. however, from
that time until relieved by about 80 gallant
Volunteers uader the command Of Colonel Read of the
Florida Militia, who up the river the night of the
2ith May, and brought all away in safety. Our Cap
tain Qlolloman) killed the I'd May, whilst en-
deavoring to fortiiy and strengthen position. The
Indians continued TO give passing shot, from 80 10
100 guns every five six days, though he kept spy
upon Us at other times. To God and the bravery and
gallanlry Of the Volunteers under Col Read in
d-bted for lives, despaired of ever receiving aid
from human hands, and was almost resigned to my fate
Tie officers 81 days living without salt or
meat and the about - days
In few days will write you again and be more
pcit, and will soon send you copy Of our letter Of
thanks to Col. Read and the Volunteers under his COM
mand am very weak and say more at present.
TALLAHASSEE, June i.
GLORIOUS AcnIEvEaEyT.-The expedition under Col
Read for the Capt Holonau command has been
fortunate beyond the hopes of the most sangune-The
little band Of brave men, who have been closely Lesiege
during fltycight days, by overwhelming numbers, who
to all human probabilities, seemed abandoned to cruel
fate, has been rescued by the galantry Of citizens
The daring enterprise OF ascending with less au
hundred men, narrow river occupied both its banks
by tie enemy has been accomplished. The enemy
to have been astonshcd and paralyzed by the audacy
of the attempt and did not offer to impede their progress
Not life lost not gun fired but this does not
detract from the glory Of The achievement
The expedition assembled the river in silence and found
the nuv CATION unrestricted until it arrived at the is
luad, mile and half below the block housc-Thcre
the boat became fast log about eighteen inches
der water extending from bank 10 bank and doubtless
used by the enemy secret crossing place. An at
tempt made to it off, but fearing to alarm the
enemy, they desiscd and finally succeeded in forcing
the boat On arriving the block house, the
was truly ufecng-On finding the gurrison safe, the
utmost efforts Of the officers to restrain the
unavailingrhey made the forests ring again and again
with their joyous shouts and would have done SO, had
it brought upon them Oseola and thousand devils at
his back.-The emotions of the garrison, on finding
themselves safe among friends, too deep for words.
In silence they embraced their generous deiveIers,
whose proud and enyiable feeling may he gned bul
not described. Henceforth Withlacoochce shull be
watchword that shall lead to deeds of noble and &C.
daring 1t will constitute guerdon Of honor,
which the truest knight in the days Of chvalry would
have been proud TO wear.
On the return Of the boat down the river, the passage
of the at the island, moment Of intense
interest-Here the banks abrupt and the channel
narrow scarcely to admit the boat and obslruced
by log before stated. The place is surrounded by
and every way so favorable TO the enemy,
that no doubted that desperate attack would he
made. The critical moment arrived every loop hole
was manned every hand grasped rihcte boat passed
rapidly down the stream with such force as TO break
through all distractions and they were sale! lhen-
arrival in this place hailed with enthus asr. The
card was Immediately issued, and Oh Thurs
day next joy and glsdness will smile in the
streets Of TaahasSee.-FloTtdidn.
Public DIAygR-Thc citizens of Tallahassee u1io the
county of Leon feeling deep sense oil gratitude 10 Col
Read and the volunteers under his command for the
gallant manner in which they promptly stspp::d
torwu.da 10 the relief of our fellow citizens VINO hsu i
days been confined in log house on uip,n;,,;ng r.
coochee, surrounded BY gaInre could bear; and
sincere sympathy for the suferngs ofosc ofour fellow.
citizens who were long unprotected who with
patriotism rarely cqualed stepped forward like Ameri.
cans in dence Of their rights, and voluntarily mmured
themselves for the protection Of our detencesss frontier
and sustained themselves with rmness rarely equalled
TO- token Of ourrespecl and regard for Them invite the
garrison of the Block House, the corps of relief and the
Florida Battalion, which served at Tampa Bay, 10 pal
axe ola Barbecue 10 be given at Tallahassee on Thur
lay the 9th ofJune. MASY CrrIzESs
Tallahassee, June LIST, 1886.
Head Quarters ef Corps Of Relief IF the NiAlacoocha
BlOek- House, on BOard Steamboat Mineral
ST. MARKS, 30lh May, 1896.
SIM have The honor 10 report that the garrison at
camp NJ Lemorr have been rescued aud brough, of in
aicty.
The Minerva left this place at o'clock, P. NJ, on the