Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1836-05-23
INDIAN AFFAIRS.


The following article, containing the latest infor-
nation, from the seat, not of ,car, but of desolation,
in Florida, is well calculated to excite the most
indignant as well as the most painful emotions
SAVANNAH, May o.
The S,eam-packct Florida, Capt. Iiebbard, arri-
we'd yesterday afternoon from Picolata, via Jack
son,ille. We learn that il is reported at Jackson
vile that a large body Of Indians had stormcd the
tortification thrown up by Captain McLcmorc, on
the Wythlacoocllec, and mdSsacred the garrison
Of forty men and their gallant commander.
Major Cooper, of Putnam, had been sent, it is
said, from Fort Dranc with the battalion from His
State under his command, to the point on the
Wythlacoocl1cc, which Capt. Mel. occupied to
ascertain the fact, We trust tina, they will find
these brave men IN safety, but we fear the result
Of tleir reconnaissance
NoluSia, i, is said, has been abandoned.
Generals Scott and Eusti, are in ST Augustine.
The steamer Santee had left the letter place with
troops for Charleston. There is no further intel
ligcncc of moment.
So, while Gen. Scott, Z" the diplomatic Gene
raj, y who has bullcsqncd the art of war, by maxim,
"A grand display OF his skill as a tactician, against a
handful Of marau ing Indians, is snug in his 4" sum.
ner quarters at 81. Augustine, the whole terrific
~ Of Florida i, left exposed to their murderous
and destructive system Of warfare. Several mil
lions .! dollars have been squandercd, and we
know mol how many valuable lives have been sa-
%orliiced, not in battle, bat by exposure and dis
ease, in endcayoring 10 surround 1000 indians, by a
grand movement of three divisions of an army su1i-
cint 10 nave eat them up, but who after chasing
them, rs they supposed, from the Georgia frontier
10 the Atlantic, have suffered them to escape the
snare of the cunning fowler 1t is evident that Gen.
Scott In Tvs nothing about fighting Indians, and
that he never should have been sent to Florida.
II the forces had been placed under the COM
mand OF Gen. Clincli, or if Gen. Gaines had ne,
been arrested in lis victorious march, we verify
believe that there would not now have been a hos
tile Indian within the territory of Florida. But
while Gen. Scott was idly wasting his time at Pr
%colata, in planning his ridiculous campaign, instead
of pursuing the Indians, and, as Gen. Gaines saws,
fighting them wherever he found them. the savnrcs
we're making preparations to cludc his skill by
moving out of the reach Of his grand military cir
Gle. We do not say that Gen. Scott should be
cashiered for the manner in which he has conduc-
ted this campaign. lie has probably acted according
to the best ofhis judgment, and ought ra,llcr to
be piticd than condo mncd. But for Heavens sake,
recall him to u ashington, and place in his stead
an Mdian- fghtcr-onc who Is skilled in the arti-
fees OF savage warfare, and who knows how to
conquer tl,om.
The iclm Enquirer, in its personal friend
ship for Gen. Scott, liics to smooth over the dis
graceful termination of his campaign, as if it had
forgotten ITS own pompous prediction of the sum-
mary vengeance which Scott would wrcak upon
the Indians, when he, like another Napoleon at
" aicrloo, announced his arrival at Picoiata We
agree with that papcrthatthe wrctched result of all
this parade is well calculated to gall a spirit like
Scot?s,'-tor no man is more " ambitious of air
as DIR. Young claracterizcs fame, than the gallant
General. But when that paper adds, i will now
require the genius Of Cass and Of Scott to weak
en- the arm ana circumscribc the ravagos of the
enemy we could, but for the solemn character of
the subject, laugh outright in his face. If the
= genius of Scott were equal to the task, why
Is the enemy yet, with undiminished force, in cxis-
'ence, so long after he has been in the field, with
an army ~ontnumbcring them, as 6tol The ge-
Mus of Scott indeed Give us old Gaines. or
Cl'nch, who lay no claim to "genius,' that we
wot ot,and they will drive the Indians into the At
lantic, or compel them to sue for peace, in thirty
days, which, Judging from the past, the Enquirrr's
" genius" would fail to do in as many months.
The people of Florida should protest against this
sacrifice OF their lives and property, in order that
Zen. Scott may have a second opportunity TO dis
play his " genius!
One of the evil consequences of the disastrous
termination of the Florida campaign is already
developing itself in the outbreak Of the Indians in
other quarters. They have Very naturally taken
up the impression tia. they are able, by a united
ana vigorous movement, to subdue tho whites, and
we shall not be at all surprised at a general war,
on the whole linoo our extended and delenccless
Indian frontier. See the following articles:
Indian Hostltts.-The Columbus Herald
M the NJ .~t o.. -