The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-02-03
Indian AOstiIities.--.The Massa.
ere Of u. s. Troops.

ere Of u. s. Troops.
BY the Steam. Boat President, arrived
yesterday morning. we received the New.
York Com. Advertiser of Wednesday
evening, from which we copy the follow
ing unpleasant intelligence.
NEw-YoRK, JAN. 81.
We regret TO say, that our hopes in re.
lation to the dreadful massacre of u. s.
troops at Tampa Bay, are completely dis
sipated the painful intelligence is but
too amply confirmed by the official des-
patch of Capt. Bolton, which will be
found below.
Letters are published in the New.Or-
leans papers Of the llth inst. from Major
Mountfort, and Lieuts. Alvord and Gray
son, dated Fort Brooks, Tampa Bay, CIV
ing the particulars of the disaster.
The number of the savages is said to
have been one thousand, of whom 100
were mounted. They consisted chiefly
of Seminoles or Muckazuckies,b but it was
feared that the Creeks were acting or pre-
pared to act in concert with them.
The Revenue Cotter Dallas sailed
from New.Orleans on the 1lth, for Tampa
Bay. to render aid on the coast.
The garrison at Fort Brooke consisted
of 200 regulars, and about 30 citizen ran
gers. A party of 100 friendly Indians,
(Seminoles) were in the neighbourhood,
commanded by Rlackdirt, very jealous in
the cause of the whites, and anxious to
avenge the death Of their former chief,
Charley Omathla. The garrison were
much in want of ammunition, but the
deiences ofthe fort were ample.
The place where the mas sacre took
place is 25 miles from Fort King, and So
from Fort Brooke. Capt. Gardner's dog
returned to the latter post on the morning
of the 3lst Dec. whence it was inferred
that his master was also killed, as it was
supposed that the dog would not leave
him if alive. An attack was expected al
Fort Brooke, but as the Indians did not
appear,it was supposed they had marched
against Fort King.
Accounts from the eastern portion OF
Florida, received this morning ria Char.
lesion, are almost equally alarming
The Indians were seen north of st. Au-
gustine on the llth inst. between that
place and Jacksonville, twelve miles only
from the latter. Two persons were fired
on by party of about twenty, secreted
in the bushes on the sides of the road
Thanks to the speed of their horses thy
escaped unhurt. Traces of Indians had
been seen at Mr.. Blair's plantation, with
in seven miles of Jacksonville.
Accounts from Fort King confirmed
the impression entertained at Fort Brooke
that the Creeks were acting in concert
with the Seminoles.
The Indians were still in the neigh
borhood of Fort King on the 7th inst. and
some firing had taken place between them
and the fort. They had burned the house
aud other buildings of the sutler, MIR. Ro-
gers, of whose murder by them we pub
lished an account some days ago.
Intelligence is SAID to have been receiv-
ed from Gen. Call, that no father assis-
tance could be expected from him in East
Florida, as all the strength he could raise
would not be more than sufficient for the
protection of the country about Tallahas.
see, where some outrages had already
been committed by the Seminoles, and it
was feared that the Greeks were about to
take up arms also.
The Florida Herald of the 18th inst.
states that the Indians, about 100 in num-
Der, were devastating in the neighbor-
hood of Musquito inlet, and had destroyed
the lighthouse at that point. This INTEL
ligence is confirmed from various sources.
Capt. Morgan of brig Chatham arrived
this morning from Havana, informs us
that messenger had arrived there on the
l4,h inst. from Key West, bearing des-
patches in which the American vessels of
war lying at Havana were urged to pro-
ceed forthwith to the Florida coast on ac-
count of the massacres by the Indians
aud this messenger stated that light.
house had been destroyed.
1t cannot be denied or concealed that
the state of affairs in Florida rs highly
alarming. The Indians cannot be mad
enough to hope for ultimate success, but
they seem to have resolved upon war Of
extermination-to die fighting to the last,
upon the graves of their fathers, but not
without fearful sum of victims. They
have drawn the sword and cast away the
scabbard, willing TO perish but determined
not to perish unavenged-
The following is Major RRLToS's off.