State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1831-1836, 1836-02-09
From the New York Evangelist.
INDIAN WAR IN FLORIDA

than an outbreak of few wandering dcs-
peradoes, desperate with hunger and mad
dened with whisky. But the recent ac-
counts represent it as very serious mat
ter
/ As far as we can ascertain the facts, the
following are the most material The
Seminole Indians, for stipulated consd-
era,ion conveyed their country in Florida
to the United States by a treaty in which
they agreed to elnigratc west of the Miss
issipp, where lands were 70 be given them.
/ But when the time came to remove, the
body of the people refused to 80, and have
been lingering round in Florida until at
length they nave become desperate enough
to brave the power of the nation by attack
ing the white settlements. Several months
ago they shot the mail carrier on his way
to Tampa Bay. In October they burnt
down new house which lad been built
by General Clinch, (the commander in
chef of the United States troops in the
territory on his own land. They also shot
Wiley Thompson, the Superintendent of
Indian removals, Lieutenant Smith of the
u. ;. Army, and a Mr. Rogers. 1t appears
they were not more than a mile from the
camp. More recently there has been an
action between the United States troops
under the command of General Clinch,
and II party Of Indians. -Four of the Uni
ted States troops were killed. Spring
Garden plantation, owned by Colonel Riz
and Mr. Forester, has been burned, to-
gether with the whole crop, estimated at
one hundred hOgsheads Of sugar. All The
negroes, about 100, were taken off by the
Indians these, together with the negroes
taken from the plantations in Musquito,
make about 800 they have lately taken into
their possession.
From accounts which have reached us,
great many plantations have been destroy
ed, buildings, crops and all; and many
more have been abandoned by the possess
ors. through fear of savage cruelty and
depreciation. In one part of the country
such panic has spread, that men, women
and children have taken shelter (if shelter
it can be called, in a sort of breast work
gether exposed to the weather, destitute of
almost every necessary of life, and without
the means Of supplying them.
The most.serlous affair however, as far as
loss of life is concerned, is the affair of
Dec. 2otI, in which Majo. D1do, with three
companies Of Z. S. troops on the way to
i
his camp, were surprised by party of In
dams, and the whole body with three ex-
ception, killed OH the spot. The three who
escaped have reached Tampa Bay.
The account they give, is, that about s
o'clock on the morning of the 2Sth, they
were attacked by an overwhelming num-
Der Of dans-Major Dade was shot i'm
mediately - Captain Frasee rode forward
al, Il,
maintained the contest for an hour until
they were reduced to about 80 in number.
The Indians then retired, and the survivors
almost all wounded, threw up a slight
breast work. The Indians returned to the
attack at II o'clock, and completed the
slaughter of the whole corps. The three
survivors who reached Tampa Bay, after
travelling sixty miles through the woods,
cred the wounded.
They describe the conduct of the noble
fellows who perished, as in the highest
degree gallant. They obeyed every order,
and stood their ground to the last The
fight was SO close, that the Indians cut
them down with knives, and they were
obliged to throw away their guns, or strike
with the butts.
Major Bolton is ut Tampa Bay, expecting
AN attack, with two hundred men, well
prepared with block houses and stock
aides.
1t is said to be barely possible that Cap
tain Gardiner escaped.
AS the Indians have committed dcpreda-
tons within l6 miles Of st Augustine,
those who have friends at that place will
be gratifed to learn that it possesses ample
means OF defense. A correspondent of the
New York Commercial Advertiser of
Tuesday says:
"The Old Spanish fort in st Augustine
is now in sufficient repair TO afford protec
ton to five times the number Of all the in
habit0nts of the city, including all who re-
side within twenty miles around. In case
the Indians should obtain possession of the
city, all llc inhabitants can at once enter
the fort which will accommodate several
thousand people, where they would have
nothing to apprehend except the want Of
provisions. The United States barracks
are within three iourlhs of a mile Of the
old fort, and have heretofore been supplied
with cannon, one fourth of which if plac-
ed within the old fort with necessary am
munition would destroy ten times the force
of all the Indians in Florida il they should
attempt to approach within cannon distance.
The Old fort is an immense pile of build
ings containing many large rooms, which
in case Of extremity will afford ample and
comfortable accommodations for the sick
who may have resorted there for health,
until re.ntorcements could be sent in from
various parts of the United states, that
would eXpel the Indians from the Terrific
ry The object of this communication
is intended 10 relieve the feelings of
those who may have sick friends in ST.
Augustine"
BY accounts received via Charleston it
appears that the Indians are ravaging other