Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-06-03
DOEH EsT,HC.
,(Erom the Giobe.)
EJ ClRINA

- FLORIDA.
We publish the following report of Brigadier General
ClncIls return march from Tampa Bay TO Fort Dfane,
which shows that the entire coco Of The Wyhacoochee
was second time secured by the troops, agrceaoy 10
the instructions of hao. General Scott. without, how
ever discovering any signs of Indians, of the women
and children:
GENERAL CLINCH'S REPORT.
Head Quarters, Right Wing, Florida army,
Fort DRASE, April 9th, 1886.
IGjor General Scott, commanding: ......
Sir: have the honor to submit the following report
Of the operations Of this wing of the army, since march
ing from Tampa Bay, in obedience to your order OF
April llth No. g.
On lie I4lh instant the wing composed of the fol-
loving force, viz: artillery, 49, dismounted dragoons
% 4 infantry, POP; Augusta volunteers, 1879 mount
ed men, I4O total, SUP; marched its return to Fort
Cooper making shorter distances than BEFORE in conse-
of the Increased heat of the weather. and the de-
6lilated condition Of the horses ALI the sick, 10 the
number Of 90 have been el in hospital at Fort Brooke
On the lh the fourth day Of the march, arrived within
three miles Of Fort Cooper and halted. On the morning
Of the 18th, despatched some light Wagons escorted 10y
Malone's and Cumpbells companies Of mounted men,
with instructions to Major Cooper to join Their
escort companies had proceeded to within half miie of
his position, when, Us they were passing hammock,
they fired upon by the enemy, and Lieut.. Dawson,
and private Howard severely wounded. This iuforna.
ton being brought back to me- aud experimenting that
the, might have encountered large body Of adians
sent out the commandnnt of the right column COL Bank
lacluent Before his arrival the enemy had retired.
Mfior Cooper joined in the Of the day. My
reasons for hatng TO give the horses day rest,
and because that point the :ra (which) according
to my instructions, was to proceed, diverged to the
right and
Major Cooper had been invested by the enemy from
tie 9TH until the 18th April In the Of daily Skin
shIng with them, he lost one killed and five wounded.
With this you will find copy of his report. Eis
doc, and that Of his officers and men, deserves, and
,t1Hu toir
country, they displayed great GOODNESS and frmness
under the most trying circumstances. Malo Copper es
tlnales the force around him at $50 There pruba
by more, though not in view.
On the 10Th marched; and al the distance Of four miles,
cine 10 the river-o!lowed the Of the river
niles and encanped20th, continued the march up the
river, miles to the Tampa road, Ut COL Lndsays
position, and cncampcd.
The distance from the old Indian town, (ny position
OF the l9!h) three miles from Fort Cooper, the trail
Camp Chisholm, TO the crossing of the Wyhacooche,
On the Tampa road is IS miles The for the first
fourteen miles southeast by SOUTH and for the lust four,
northeast; at the distance Of three miles abJve the
oil Indian town. the lake Hockekaha or range of ponds
which we first struck the 3Oth March, terminated
The approaches toward the river between the ponds,
fthey be ponds aud not lake. were narrowly searched
with view ascertain whether any access 10 position
fer operatons between the ponds and the river could lie
Observed am satisfied that there is The only
tail above the Indian town. leads the river at
punt which we discovered 10 be the upper termination
Of the ponds by pursuing this trail. The course ofmy
route corresponds very nearly with the supposed
gyen 10 the river by Colonel Gadsden in his draft
The bend of the river is regularly curved than he
HIS made it.
No ford practicable for wagons could be discover
ed, although there several well worn trails leading
across have every to believe from the which
we observed in the route, that considerable portion Of
the enemy nhabit this region Of country, but in deach
ed plts and that their last place of retreat will be Ell
Their between the forks of The river between the ponds
and he pfp
them will be that first designed by YOU that is, by
force from Praklekaha, force ascending by my route
and 4 corresponding on the North side. The In
dams can he river at various places, with such
facility That no single force proceed against
them with any certainty Of success. crossed both
branches of the river by the Tampa road, having
left with Colonel Lindsay the 4th Infantry, aud taken
mn tle mounted escort and Nelson's company; 22d,
this day one of the Aankers, Boslick fired on,
he passed very hammock. His horse was wound.
ed under him. Prompt pursuit was made, but without
SUCCESS. The Indians leircated through the thick I'M
derprowh too rapidly to be overtaken; I'D and 2lth
continued the march 10 Fort hing capturing ana dtV
inv along about 2UO head of catle 2h alter having
lett supply Of ammunition at Fort King, marched 10
Fort Dranr men and horses much exhausted by SICK
ness and the heat Of the weather-anoher days march
would have occasioned the abandoning part f.the
train Fifteen horses ind mules died on The roao aud
eight were turned OUT that could not be got along by
leading.
must be permitted 10 express my high appreciation
Of the gallant feeling manifested on all occaslonS ny oolh
officers and men, under the most trying circumstances,
attendant long and fatguing march, through corn.
try almost unknown TO the white man and in charging
through swamps and hanmocks, whenever the track OF
the enemy was visible; all of which they bore without
murmur and with the greatest rnness. cannot close
this communication without expressing my high gratIf
cation being able to says that not the smallest dcu
ty occurred in the right wing, from the time we lett ot
rane until the return to it, and that the best and kind
est feelings existed between the different corps compos.
ing the wing, and the only rivalry who should occupy
the post Of danger.
am, sir, with the highest respect and regard, your
most obedient servant, .
(Signedj D. l.. CLINCH,
Briradier- General u. S. A.
From the same.)
The proneness unreasonaby to find fault ne yer
better exenplfed than in the following extract from
late Tallahassee paper:
"The Secretary at War seems 10 have forgotten u.s.
Though our district is threatened with invasion by
the whole Indian nation, not communication from this
Department has been received by Executive in
NV to the most urgent solicitations for aid We are
without men or money. No effort seems to be made in
Congress obtain soldiers. No bounlics are offered,
either in land or money If the General Government
abapdons u.s. we must throw ourselves the generosity
of the South or make peace with tile Indians well
we can"
This is n heavy charge in period Of danger. Now
what the facts general officer of high reputa-
ton is ordered to take the command of the operations in
reCu1ar trooDS as can be collected,