Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-05-31

! War Department from that oihcer:-
| HEAD QuARrEHs, Army OF Floalp,) J.
| 81. .Angustiue, .hny II, IS:G (
| SIR: Much indsposed have been waiting for The
arrival of steamer, order to WRITE 10 yOu for aYe
much to report and to explain. er long DELAY the
boat is come, and yet scarcely able to hold up nv
head for twenty minutes at time
With this you will receive copy OF Erignde, Gene
raj Cnchs report Of his march from Tampa Bay and
copies Of several other letters from the source
IL will be seen from the latter of those co:nmunr,
ons that the Indians have already RECOMMENDED their
: .predatons and murders in the Fort Dfanc vicinity
and that there is but little hope OF lmjodyng resp
able number Of the inhabitants, mounted men To- aid
in their own defence. | had, under the circumstance,
authorized Cnch to raise, in the usual form, and 10 MIS-
ter into service, eighty one hundred Such ad,iOp
to The nine companies Of United States troops ,h-,s
would, suppose, be sufficient. TO ana free rlo,
frontier of the enemy, an order having been given Us
| ME to remount Wharton detachment Of United S2lr
t)rapoons from the spare horses OF the wagon train
learn that about sixty mounts can he u nsled him ali
have consented to retain Fort King aud many L.ys
ago approved of the reinforcement OF al additional COLI
! pany being sent there.
The resignation of Brgadicr General Cinch was for
wardcd week ago The army will lose in this Office
one of its best commanders In the Same package Ike
tender on the part of Capt. Thruson forwarded
On the earnest solicitation Of each, founded on private
interests of the utmost Importance they were allowed 10
retire (aboul this lime) from the army, and to await Ie
decision of the War Department. | afterwards
learned that Capt Thruston would much have preferred
4 leave of absence II his resi- gnaOn has been ac-
ceped trust that such indulgence may be accorded
He is highly gifted for any kind Of war, but from his
know LEDGE Of this country and the enemy lie would BE-
of the greatest value the recomlencemrut OF hol
lies Perhaps, with handsome promotion he may b.
permanently retained in the army lie il worthy Of
lieutenant colonclcy.
When Clinch shall retire the command in that Gul!.
ter will devolyc on Lieut. Col. Bankhcad, every va:
cauabe if his health were better. He is very IGi.ra
from extreme fatigue, and learn, can scarcely walk
mount his horse Brig. Gen. CIinch recommends hin,
for leave of absence for the recovery Of his hea
as soon as can spare Maj. Gates or Maj tleieman,
shall send leave to the Lieutenant. Colonel whose
cent services independent Of all forner c4ans, esr
him 10 high consideration
| enclose L copy Of ny order, No. u. General Ea
,is is enuared in mounting two panes OF hts rec
mcn, using the horses Of S baggage train with wagon
saddles Sumo few common saddles will be purchased
to complete the number wanted About cghy.ise
mounted men may thus be obtained with vety lttc Cost
to the u States for tie horses will be wantet on the
turn of cold weather, and in the mean time they cou
not be sold this side OF Tallahassee for ten per cenam
of their value.
The two mounted regular companies will be worth
more than twice the number of foot The men are now
Il little awkward in the saddle In week they will be
quite respectable and niler two months, twice cler
tive as mounted volunteers. Forty men OF DmnicA
company the only here at the time, was hastily
mounted the 7th and sent to pursue ra seen a0'u!
five miles from this place. The citizens who went out
as guides, after travelling some eight miles, declared
that the signs simply those of the country Cattle
and the captain returned. On The morning OF the eighth
we received report that party Of Indians were At The
Alaansas; had captured the slaves of Hernandez aid
Dupont and would doubt destroy the fixtures a, bolA
plantations. Capt. Dmmck was again hastily mounted
and despatched At little distance from Dupont placed
small party of the enemy ovcrtakrn; at least three
killed and seven wounded Dimmck lost private killed,
and had sergeant and three privates wounded. I've"
his horses were also killed The Indians usual awaited
themselves Of near hammock, and fought better than
they have commonly done. They lost their horses and
packs Of which they had robbed the plantations All
Duponts negroes escaped but the enemy had secured
three belonging 70 Hernandez 1t is hoped they vi!
also escape, being next approached by the horse
Lieut. Irwin, with Saunders company, which II Is pro-
posed to keep mounted, will march out to.nio!rD" to
Duponts place where company OF foot will he placed
in garrison. The families and negroes | hope will he
soon treasured. Every thing South las been long de-
stroyed.
The handsome check given 10 the enemy on the sih,
will render him cautious. Without horses, sIccof
would have arrived till the ghborhood had been
desolated.
Both on the 9TH and 5;l application made for
lunrcrs from the South Carolina foot. One man march
ed with Dimmlck the first day the same man aud 81
others the second. The time of these troops being OG
between the Slh and The Goth no more would volunteer
either go by water, on foot, horseback. On inquiry
found useless to issue order, as Col brisbane
could not pledge himself that it would be obeycd lie
was the contrary certain that it would be disF@gafu
ed. Goodwin of horse already across The
ST. John 1t jacksonville. and the remaining conpl'
of regulars our at Picolaa, engaged in handing
and securing the public property at that depot. Net'
chants company had few days before gone to Gary
Ferry, where it will establish itself for the summer, a.
| have been using every measure in my power ~
cause company Of mounted volunteers TO be raised on
this side Of the ST. Johns to aid the inhabitants TO de-
fend the country. | would prefer that the company
should consist OF least sixty -four prvacs but have
offered to accept with forty, and give it three OIL
GERS 1t is very doubtful whether that minimum can b"
engaged With such company, under tOlerab!e olscc'
the two companies OF mounted regulars and the three
Of foot do not doubt that entire security may be gwen
| TO the whole Of the remaining settlements.
The little U. S. steamer, the Essayons, will be useful
in eiectng the object. BY frequently passing up
the river as far as Lake George it will be rendered wfy
hazardous for parties Of Indians the river 10 n
in deprcdations in the Alachua frontier. THIS SO;
OF the ST. Johns. The parties which ncst those DIS
trcts cannot, think, exceed one hundred and lty ID
the whole. Sixty Indians, however but for the presence
Of regulars, would depopuate this part OF the TERRITORY
in season.
have received no report from Colonel Smith who
from Tampa went up the Peas creek: none has CrenLt
ceved from Colonel Lindsay, who was left on t= -D'n
camp for his wagons before securing the forks FROM
the bad dispositions of the Alabama regiment his primer
pal force, expect to hear that the duty Of thai con"
has been slurred over.
But the most extraordinary and dsgraceiu deiinlne"
cy committed by any corps has occurred IN the eAP
ton entrusted to Major Reed He has not condcscehc
to report to me; but from Governor Calls letter ha"1'
forwarded oWashinglon, infer that the Major scarcely
looked into the Wythlacoochee. -
His written orders, drawn up by Col. Gadsden, o''
cd him penetrate far into the Interior as may
found practicable and consistent with the security Z"
your command" And said to him on each o' 'ne wv
following days, in the strongest and most precise e'
that he would ascend the river to the first inPeu'e"'
its navigation which understood 10 be IL ni!es W
desired him to sketch the windings and the OaA"' -
the river and particularly to note site, with "o"u
hand and the fall practicable for amu"irgrrrS
the Importance Of which fully explained Ih' man "r
at Tallahassee caused statement to be made, aec t
that had refused him permission ascend the H sr,
acoocLee, and again, presuming the statement 70
been furnished by him, he denies having eyer
that possibly he might find block house ana sn