The Arkansas advocate., 1836-08-19


 that sent him 10 fight against an invisible enemy in tho mufdefous hammoekl There, too, we saw the chin heads tho cypress knees and palmetto roots that live along the mystic banks of the 0uithachoochy, bristna 0p al the approach Of the white man. and in mar tial sympathy with the invaded Indian. In shor We there saw army of five thousand men, marching in three different divisions each with practised General at It's head, to eireamyen the Seminole hts native woods--and, by singular coincidence, meeting each other at distance of 100 miles from their several starting posts, without being able 10 give anyaccoun of the foe--huHgry, sick disappointed and diseo,raoed
 As prelude, perhaps not altogether inappropriate to this ll-starred campaign, shall here give short account Of a n which we were present, about eight months previous to the breaking out of hosics and in which Generals Clinch and Thompson 0ceoa, Jumper, Mieanopy, and Abraham the chief Hr- tors. It then and there that the war spirit was perhaps first knded in the naughty bosom of the Se- mnole--that spirit which has since passed over the once fair face oi fasteTn fiofda-burIi1;s, fiii most obIiterating. its lneaments!
 THE "TALkn--0CEOLA.
 II was a fine morning in April, now fifteen months ago, that friend (a planter in the famous 4actua dis trict west oi the St. Johns ryer) who had come down to st Augustine on vislf, proposed aiin uf to his plantation, about thirteen miles distant from the Seminole Agency, (For King,) at which place il was known far and wide that aik was 10 be held with inc nation upon the subject Of their removal west of inc Mississippi Having provided ourselves with due quanum of cheese and crackers, (which we slowed a. way in candle box.) change of linen, hatehet and lots o wne, Tn case of accident 10 geaf sat out upon journey. Picolata, Is miles from St. Audus4 tine, first stage. It is extremely solitary, though rather pretty place. The site is one othe bold- the river while single house greets the travcl@ Ter on his approach to the spot. IL commands fne view of the vast waters Of the St Johns and is we'll a4 daped to the comfort of those who in. the winter yisit Peolata for the benefit of their health It was agreed that should cross the river early the next morning. for the purpose Of getting the flat that was to take our horse and wagon ihe other side Our only conveyance batteau--and beautiful affair it svasl The allgators had evidently been feeding upon for the last l2 months. It at-bottomed, and sat like a wafer on the And there was the majestic river heavng high and beautifully before us (for the day was gusty and exhibiting expanse of more than miles across, broken into ridgy summts cappd by the white foam, in the midst of which the black and uii- slightly heads of the agatos that infesl tho waters of Foridariver, lake, pond and pool and nf. ter heavy rain not unfrequcnty dispute the very Toad with the asonIshed traveller in that low, wet country.
 It not until got fairly out from the shore, that could appreciate the thrilling nature of our saaon The mighty river seemed to come booming over is and inyolunarily halfway from seal if 10 an- cipate fate by eapng headlong into the black and osnidabe waters that appeared to spurn our unworthy bark from her bosom!
 Me reached the opposite shore however, in safety; got over our travelling equpage, and at day break the next morning commenced our journey along the Bell l but little usedand ourp progoss was altogether a mat ter of guesswork night came on, and we had to camp ou-made large fire, wrapt our cloaks round us, and lay down to sleep-for nothing had 10 eat-havna been upset in pond where We lost all our cheese and biscu
 The sensation on waking up after doze in the wilderness at night, 1t would be difficult to convey an idea of to who has experienced 1t. The first thought isis all sale! An object though but d few yards from you-a cart, or horse--will for ah instant staftle yohfor all is strange and still And yet tho mound and the appear to whisper and If there be breeze abroad--though bu! brcah---it seems 10 moan in accents almost human the seiises grow thick they labour-and the fall of leaf has it's fear
 We were tip by times, and reached Micanopy (nani- cd after the chief of the Semnoles, whom they call "Goyernor,'9 about sunset. At the expiration of week (during which amused ourselves with shoot ing agaofs,) we sat out for the Agency, about 30 miles distant IL not until got within sight of the flagstaff, that waved it's ample folds above tho stir rounding woods, that we reminded of being in country inhabited by and the first of the race whom met two young Indians, sallying forth upon what errand we knew not. We hailed them and as is usual where they do not understand you, they laughed, and pass'd on There IS something wild, and scarcely natural, ln the laugh of the Indian; and less inclined to trust him, than when lie laugh red. On driving up so tho Fort (so called--two or three pfafn houses, one barraek-and since pickett ed we saw them in all directions young and old, big and little: men, women. and children. Their shantees were to be seen in almost every quarter, at irregular distances--as if sIroppd by chance--far as the eve could reach. They looked like men who had como there on business of moment to them and thcirs Por lions of them collected n groups about the house of the .Sutiey (poor Rogers, whom they afterwards shot) but seemed to avoid the quarters of Generals Cnch and Thompson-or, If they approached them, it with evident diAsust They would sometimes stalk by casting furtve glance at the piazza, where