Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-12-15
DOMESTIC.
OFFICIAL
OFFICIAL.
HEAD. QvARTERs. NoLusIA, East Florida,
Noyembcr 9th, 1856.

OFFICIAL.
Headquarters, NoLus1A, East tior,d",
November 9th 1856. }
s,, The army under NV command arrived al this
place on Yesterday and have the honor 10 report ohe
result, Of its operations against the enemy, since e '"
instant the day on which informed you should malch
in pursuit. .,..,., w ,rr;,ad ., Tho With.
lacoochee and proceeded Immediately to cross the river
and pass into the Cove the former strong hod OF Inc
enemy This effected with great difficulty, although
no enemy appeared oppose our passage ana Inc wafer
had fallen more than four feet since our former visit
Four men were drowned in crossing. We found the r.
yer 220 yards WIDE III some places SWIMMING ana IN an
Others deep fordins, from bank 10 bank Inc regular
troops with the friendly Indians end the detachment OF
Florida volunteers, after crossing made thorough exa
mna,ion of the Cove and found entirely abandoned by
the enemy
| crossed myself with this division Of the army, and
encamped in the Cove tina, night. In the mean'ne
Gen Armstrong had been ordered with the Tennessee
brigade TO march upon the North side OF The rVer ana
force passage the stream, where our troops hao
met with such obstinate resistance on Tie l3!h oclooer
On approachng the stream, he found no enemy 10 resist
his passage but it in part still swimming, and diff
cult to cross The passage effected and Inc second
regiment, under the command OF Col 1rousdale, adVan
ced 10 at tack the Indian and Negro settlements in tina.
vicinity. They found all the towns abandoned and dis.
covered large trails of the enemy leading to the East and
Northeast Negro captured in OF the houses, re-
ported that they bad fed to the Wahoo Swamp. The
Tennesseeans burned three large towns, which were
ed during the last spring and summer They discover
ed very little appearance Of cultivation and from the
report Of the captured Negro, the enemy have nothing
to subsist on except beef.
The brigade returned that to the camp on the river
where all the baggage of the army had been lett unoeI
a strong guard Finding that the enemy had aoanopheo
his strong hold which appeared better defended by ma
ture than any place have seen, and discovering
that all the trails from the Cove the river led 10
the North sde decided to the river myself, aud
with the Tennessee Brigade small detachment OF regu-
lar troops and Florida militia, to pursue to whatever
point he might have retreated; while Col Fierce. with
the troops which had crossed into the Cove was ordered
to march up the South side Of the river, and form
junction with me near Dadc battle ground.
The two divisions Of the army marched on the 10th
inst the routes ASST gned them. On the Ion, about
noon, large eDcampment Of the enemy was discovered
on our right flank and thuu four hundred yards
from line Of march, The first regiment OF Iennes-
volunteers, under Col Bradford being on that flank
General Armstrong was ordered TO advance win II anu
attack the enemy. The Indians had taken the ALARM
and retreated the edge Of dense swamp where they
had deposited such Of their baggage as they had time TO
remove, and where they waited our approach. Inc
Teunesseeans, under their gallant leader advanced w
great intrepdity, within gunsot OF the position heia
6y the enemy when they dsmouned under ms hire; ana
BY one ofthe most spirited charges that was ever made
in few minutes possessed themselves oil the hammock,
and drove the enemy from his ground Our troops put
sued waist deep in mud and water The pursuit
was continued long enemy could he discovered
The spy companies, under the command OF Maj. Lau-
derdale accompanied by Maj Barrow, abide camp OF
Gen Armstrong had been detached in the morning III
pursuit of party of Indians supposed to be
encampinent of the preceding night. They returned
Just before the close of the action and with the copa-
MES of Captains Finley and Bedsoe Of the second re-
pment were ordered to take position on the clt To
cut off the retreat of the enemy should he attempt to
pass in that quarter But the enemy fed preciplutey
from the field, being completely routed even in the
swamp, which he had selected for the battle ground,
leaving all his baggage and horses.
he lOsSof ne twenty dead
field and doubt is entertained that many others were
killed, who not discovered in the slight examina-
ton made in passing over the held In "ounoeo, tue
enemy must ha pc suffered severely, twenty dis
tinct trails of blood discovered through the ham
mock into which they retreated Our loss one kill.
ed, (private, VIM. A. Brant, Of Capt McMahons com.
pany, and Asa Hays, Of the same company, wounded
= Of Capt. Crouchs company, three were wounded
Vim. Morton, MORALLY.
Sherwood Green and Wm. Newcomh, both severely,
but not dangerously.
or Capt Tipps' company, Henderson Hunt, wounded.
Of Capt. Fe,cher's company, Ensign R. 4. McLane
and Granger, Wright, slightly:
OF Capt Battles company, R. B. King.
OF Capt , G'osons company, Bishop Hubod
Tota! killed and wounded, eleven.
/ cannot speak too highly of the bravery and good
conduct OF all the officers and men engaged in this az
fair Gen Armstrong, and all the members Of his staff
and Gen. Read OF Florida who acted volunteer aid.
de-camp the occasion, we've distinguished for their
courage and activity in the field. Col Bradford Iieui
COL Caha and Adjuant Bradley mos, CALAMITY led the
charge into the hammock, and were guauly follow
ed by the brave they commanded. Major Golf was
also distinguished for his activity and bravery.
With regard to the company officers where all behaved
with much spirit and zeal, and each emuous to
surpass the others in fea,s CT bravery, it is difficult
matter to discriminate between them. 1t will be sutf
Client, therefore, to mention the Of those who
engaged in the action. These were,
Captain Mcmahon, Crouch, Tpps, Friesson Fletcher,
Roberts and jones' and Leutenants Lpscomb and Levy
commanding companies in the absence uhrouvh sick
messy of their captains; and Lieut.. Garland command
ing Captain Gihsons company who then absent on
duty.
Icsnnot pay higher more just compliment to the
troops engaged in this action than to say, that every Off
and soldier fully sustained tue high character of Ten
nessee for enterprise and vaor After the close of the
action, which lasted about thirty minutes, the army
marched about four miles, the direction of Dades
battle ground, where halted for the night and made
the necessary arrangements 10 forward and attack
the enemy, if to be found, in the Wahoo Swamp.
% the morning of the ISlh the baggage train
placed in compact FORM under the protection Of two
pieces Of arsry, and detachment of regular troops
commanded BY Capt TomPkns, and strong guard Of