Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-04-15

d.
dressed 10 of the Representatives in Congress from
Alabama Ivy Major Hitchcock, of the Staff Officers
IN General Games late command:
FoRr DRASE, March IL, 1886.
SIR The following statement of facts i'm relation 10
'ne recent movement OF troops from Louisiana under
the immediate command of Major General tsnines YOU
may rely upon, and, IL you think proper may use for
the information of the Public
General Gaines left his permanent headquarters at
memphis Cacnnessee) on tour of Inspection aud ar
rived at New Orleans ahou, the 18th OF January wer.
he heard, for the first time of serious in
Florida and particularly of the melancholy massacre of
MAJOR Dade and his command, which occurred on the
2Sth OF December. Hemmediatcly comm u nicated with
the governor OF Louisnna and requested him to call
upon and hold readiness body of volunteers for ser
vice in subduins the Seminole Inoluiis and proceeded
10 Pensacola TO solicit the Corporation of the ma
on That staiinn Al Pensacola he found his wishes had
been anticipated ComnOdores Dallas and Bolton and
captain Webb, having already directed their attention
towards Tampa Bay, aud other iniets Of Florida viii
'her they had ordered marines and munitions of war
The General, on his way to Pensacola feeling caed
upon TO take the most prompt and decisive measures 10
sustain The military post within his command, and Sc
cure the peace OF the frontier issued his orders to eu
Colonel Twggs To receive service eipht
OF the volunteers requested of The of Louisa
ma and together with the regular force Baton Rouge
New Orleans and other stations in the mme date Wei
hty OF New Orleans, TO hold himself in readiness for
movement TO Tampa Bay The whole force amounted
W about HOO men. including about 700 volunteers
This order was dated at Mobile the 18TH of January
The General visited Pensacola stated and then pro-
cceded 10 New Orleans where he arrived about the 10Th
lie organized and equipped bis force and moved on the
18th OF February in three steamboats, He rcacheJ
Tampa Bay on the Gh aud the 9th took The field in
me enemy country 1t was FIRST designed 10 search
"r anu defeat body of Indians reported have been
recently IN the nclghborood of Fort Brooke said TO
nave been IN battle only day before the arrival
OF lne General, with the friendly Indians According
y, the General marched in easterly direction upon
the Aiaha river but at the end Of two days having found
Two or three heids OF turnips and other vegetables
also toddcrstacks destroyed by the enemy il was
readily concluded he could have been in that yici
ny III any considerable force, aud the General directed
has march towards Fort King lie had taken ten days
IN np nnlr hnb
ply OF stores at Fort King the Quarermaster hav-
ing shown him official letter from the Quartermas,er.
General, advising him that 100 000 ratios had been
ordered to that post The letter dated the 2lst of
January.
The march was continued TO Fort King, passing on
the 10th of February the battle. ground of The Gallant
band cut off under Major Dade on the 25th of D.cem.
Der, where we inferred the bodies of I06 heroes No
language eau do justice TO the The remains of
our utiiaicd brothers in found where they
mad iaen at their posts the very position of the adj
vanced guard being clearly indicated. Our troops
marched to solemn music around the little breastworks
which had Lce hastily thrown up and where the last of
the party were destroyed each individual lying at the
breastworks where, bey ond doubt he fell in the exc.
culion OF his duty. We continued our march short
distance that day. md the d it celebrate the
birth OF him who " first in war; FIRST in peace and
first IN the hearts of his counirynen, arrived at
Fort King, and gave agreeable surprise com.
pahy OF aruery the garrison OF that post which, from
ITS isolated and exposed si,oation had been report in
me presses OF the country as having been assaulted and
destroyed by ths Indians The garrison had, indeed
oeeh exposed, but was we'll prepared give the enemy
warm reception. The guard on the approach of Gen
Gaines paraded and the customary onors paid in
due FORM but where the hearts of all at that mo.
to wipe away tear"
The General, contrary TO his reasonable xn.c,,,or
onnd no sufficient supply Of stores of any kind The
next morning, the Odd, all the Horses were sent to Fort
Diane - miles northwest with suitable convoy for
supply OF provisions The gath brought all that
could be procured and it wasasccrnned 10 be but
days raiions which, with two days supply found a,
Fort King, made up all that could be looked for in Thai
quarter. The General had then 10 decide
movement To remain at Fort King, without supplies
was out OF the question: TO proceed further north might
tanned to be employed at Pcoaa preparing force and
supplies to penetrate the enemy country. After mAch
aid mature deberaton, the General decided to move
south again by the battle groHnd OF General Clnch-
1t the enemy should not be found the General would
at all events, reach supplies Tampa Bay Ills move
ments would occupy, and perhaps concentrate the enc
my and tend greatly to give security the frontier and
enable families TO return to their deserted plantations
and IN safety recomnence their peaceful avoea,ions
which was considered of very great Importance the
season having arrived for the planting
operations Lastly but not the least oil the considcra.
lions, we might find and beat the enemy.
The General moved from Fort King ON The Goth oT
February, and on the 9th, at clock were on the
right bank of the Withlacoochee at the ulace her,,
General Clinch crossed the river the 3Ist Dreeber
cedIng The troops lad advanced from Tampa Inv
and 10 this time the order of march has been pre-
served in three columns right centre and left respect
lively, about 100 yards distant from each other with
strong advanced aud guard the baggage being in
the OF the centre cOlHnn. Ia shis order il followed
that we struck the river at thee points, the advanced
guard as tie centre, being at the usual crossing place
The baggage and the had been ordered to halt as
the General only designed xaminng the CROSSING pace
Up to this time attack annoyance had been oi red
US since we left Tampa Bay and few of us expected
it at the Wthacoochee. We were, therefore, many of
u.s. fully exposed while sounding and examining the RI
yer; and our exposure matter Of iocular remark
when, for the first time, opposite left flank spirited
hire was heard, accompanied by the envening war veil
OF the savage. The fight continued about half an
hour, The enemy being the left bank of the river
when the General ordered the troops To enean near The
river. We lost killed, and eight wounded On the
2cth we moved down the river about two miles where
the banks less covered with thicket and the adj
vance guard here fired upon aud Lieutenant lizard
OF the u ) Dragons, morlally wounded lie fell but
partially recovering HIMSELF commanded his men with
the utmost cOmpOsure, keen their position and lie
the lamentcd Lawrence, Don give up The ship" Lieu.
tenant lard after Eve days Of suffering died on the 9Th
Of March, and buried on the banks Of the Wtbla
cooehee, himself loss too great for the savage foe ever
to compensate.
The fight continued on the 9th with little or No
iniermssiOn from about o'clock until O'Clock p NJ
when cncamped again During this period the I'm.
dams kept up continuous YELL except during inter.
val when they reiterated for short time We lost lls
day, beside Lieut. lard killed and Captain Sam.
ders, commanding the friendly Indians and Capt Arm
strong Of the u. S. schooner Motto both yoinn,cers
express sent 10 Fort Drane 10 report to the off,
Ger commanding in that quarter, that the enemy had
been found in force, and 10 recommend an Immediate
movement crossing the Withlacoochee some distance
above and thence TO fall down upon the eneroys rear
which it was hoped would terminate The war
On The 20th in the morning, the enemy was sNe,t
but the experience Of the General looked upon il as
ominous and be ordered onct third Of the command TO
remain at the breastwotks the remainder Of The force
being employed in preparing timber and for