Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-02-02
DOVE assTHC.


demanded very few words, and reference 20 dates
will put down all this censure and ought satisfy the
gentlemen with whom il originated, that they MT
acquainted with the facts OF the There oub,
great and just sympathy Charleston Tor the situation
OF the exposed portion OF the inhabitants of Florida
that sympathy ought to lead them afford such aid as
they could renders and not be manifested in undescrved
censure.
The report of the emigratng officer, Lieut. Harris
who had charge in conjunction with Gen. Thompson of
The duty OF removing the Seminole Indians of Septrm-
Der ~, 1885, contains this estimate consider the po
Puiauon, Speaking of the Seminole lndians including
negroes TO exceed 5000, of which should say 1000
females" This was taken with a view To
provide the necessary articles which each was en-
titled, and therefore the Indians would not underratr
their numbers Now il is well known that these Indian
difficulties have arisen out of the indsposton OF por
ton of these Indians 10 engrac of the Mississippi
part were in favor, and part against ii; and if
suppose them to have been equally divided this
jec as it probable they were there would be 1900
Indians, including men, women, children and negroes
IN dsaticcted state at the of these dis
turbanccs No person in his senses would estimate the
number of warriors that such force could give over
800 The general direction of affairs in Florida was
entrusted TO Gen Clinch, brave and experienced Off
Ger, and who has, doubt done every thing in his
power to subdue these Indians. But the country is a
terrible one TO operate in, and the number of hostile
warriors has been doubt much increased since the
commencement of disturbances, by accessons from the
other parties, and from the Creeks
On the 9Th of October last, Gen Clinch informed the
AdJutant General that he appreensive large
number of Scminoles who were unwilling to remove.
WOULD have to be removed by force and he suggested
employment of $50 mounted militia men, together with
revenue cutter and the employment of Major Dades
Clinch was informed, that there were bosities
then commenced an immediate appre hensian ofthem
and as the object was merely TO remove the Indians
the PRESIDENT had no legal authority to call militia
And thus decision the particularly proper us
the whole force required could be supplied from regular
troops This letter OF Gen. Clinchs was received on the
2lst of October; but the 18th of the same month
Lieutenant Harris the discussing Indian agent sug
gtsted 10 the department. the propriety adding the
force of General Cinch. But communication had
at ibat tms bees: received from Gen. Clinch requiring
such addition, the measure positively directed
but Cen Clnch author to order the two compu
MES from Forts Morgan and Pckens to join him.
immediately on the receipt of General Clinchs des-
patch of the 9Th of October other companies those
at Forts Wood and Pike, placed at his disposal:
making tour companies OF regular troops, instead Of TIE
100 mounted men, and forming fourteen companies
which Gen Cinch authorized TO call into The field
in defence of Florida. No order was issued CON.
ceThing MAJOR Dade's company, because he had been
placed under Gen. Clinchs command by an order of
February z, 1885 This force, howe has taken much
time 10 concentrate but this is the fault of General
NnGh, or oil any other person, but results from the
small number OF our army and its dispersed condition
instead oil me revenue Gutter suggested by General
Chnch, an order issued by the Navy Department To
commodore Dallas TO detach of his So adron for
that purpose.
On the 10Th of November General Clincb in n LETTER
received by the Adjutant General the 9Th of Decem
Der, communicated the fact, that uafrcndy Indians
were determined mischief" He stated tha he shonIJ
call INTO service one hundred mounted men in the CON
hdence, That his would be approved This let
Ter was answered on the 9Th, and the Presidents appro
val OF the measure conveyed TO General Cnch and
on the same day, the War Department as a measure of
precauton without any application from General Clinch
IL
neral Clinch any portion of the militia of Florida which
he might lind necessary in subdung the Indians of
which Genernl Clnch informed
On the 9th of December, General Clinch stated that
In CONSCIENCE oil the uncertainty the time when the
companies from Louisiana would join him, he requested
mat iorr additional companies might be ordered But as
IT was reported at the Aduant- Generals Office that the
companies from Louisiana their way TO oin
Deheral Cnch, and has since been ascertaiiied were
actually at Tampa Bay before the receipt of the letter il
was evidently not necessary, under The views thus pre-.
sen,ed to substitute any other companies for them
So far d.
call made by military authorities in Florida unoa
the War Department for force The frs, renoT, -
tual hostites against the white people in Florida was
received at the Adjuant Generals Office on the 9th of
January in letter from Gen. Clinch of December IG
Without waiting for any demand of such measure the
war Department, on the 9Th, requested the Governors
OF South Carolina, Georgia. and Alabama call into
advised Gen Clinch Of the fact. And the reason given
was, that the Governor of Florida might not hayei in
Is Pswer TO order out sufficient militia IL will be seen
mat this precautionary measure originated here
newspaper report, received here ON the 18th inst.
conveyed the first intelligence of the with the In
the communication with Gen Cnch might be inter.
rupted Gen Eus,is, then Charleston was authorised
10 call on the Governor of South Caraa for such force
as might be deemed necessary to proceed with tbat
and such volunteers as he might accept and with the
garrisons Of Charleston and Savannah To ST Augstinc
and there TO the direction and 10 open commu
nication with Gen Clinch.
On the 18th, information was received for the first
une Stating The probability that the Creeks had Joined
HE Seunoes; and in consequence, and because the
theatre Of operations might be UGH extended and there
was ordered to proceed to Florda and take the com
mand, and the power to call for militia force from the
aforementioned States and Territory was transferred
To him lie had full authority act and auue mower
and means were given TO him. and also 81 companies of
regular troops, including those in Florida and including
those that are under orders proceed there besides
detachment of dragons This will give him a force of
about 1900 men, "
independently Of these arrangements ample SIM
Phcs OF ordnance and ordnance and provisions
were scasonaby provided and instructions had been
gwen TO the commanding officers of The arsenals at Au
gusta and Mount Vernon (Aabama) to issue whafever
was wanted upon the requsiton OF the United States
military officers, of the Governor of Florida or inc
commanding officers of expeditions.
lhree revenue cutters and soop Of war Ina We been
urccted TO Cooperate, in order prevent the exporta
lion OF captured negroes and intercept anv sunnle
OF ammunition for the Indians, both OF these measures
feared.
Never since The settlement Of the country has greater
force been organized proportion 70 the probable amount
OF an enemy, and III instance the arran
Tue Goyernment have kept ahead Of the information re-
ceved here.
We may ask the committee of The citizens or
Charleston where il The evidence of the confusion that
"sccms to prevail both in the War and Financial De
paftnents OF the Government at Washington p As In
the treasury Department, the is wholly gratu
Gus III has 10 do in this matter than tie man
10 tic moon, except to place The appropriations after
ihey are made at The points wanted. This it has prompt
ly done.
We again repeat, that Gen C1inch has had very diff
hcuit and embarrassing task. Ii will be rccocced that
to he collected and concentrated before he could MAKO
such movement as desirable They were indeed
placed at his disposal, but they had TO be called iegce
from great disance and subseqne Mt ha vc sy