Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-19
Esss.FH as'a' TIC.
MILITARY COURT OF INQUIRY.
Correspondence Of The Baltimore Pahiot'
csen.-ilalnr.G Cen. a. Mac"nb, President

Combination 81 proceedings IN relation ~ me Jh'"Te q
tic Seminole and Crc.H Campaigns, c0hn"e'e" % "e
Mn;nI General Gaines. attended b. his staff entered
the 4 few minutes acr ii {" clock, A NJ when Tie
President said that the Court ready tor business;
and would proceed with matters touching The ca"p"'gn
Vi Gen. Gaines.
The Judge Advocate read "Urder No. Co. appoint.
ing the present Court and specifying It's duties; and
Order No. IS directing tic same tribunal 10 inquire
into the expectancy If certain publications., ana whether
sl!d publications not violation oi the articles u
Gen Gaines then addressed tie Court as follows:-
SIr President and gentlemen Of the Cour-hy first
object is 10 show The uldrr given To to command Tie
Western department made ny duty, on hearing OF lie
war IN East Florida, IN collect together whatever loice
cu s,rcGv and y to the t:r.rc u! war to TCbti ne
nrdsou OF Tic enemy and ~ beat him Or IL stand ur-
Tween him ard the bleeding frontier until the President
oil the u. s. should be advised I" The war, ana Of my
ar:s;r,s, and then make whatever arrangements !,e
might see fit tvI ai!Dd!ng protection 10 that frontier l.
was as clearly my duty " do ts, 1t was my duty IN
July and August lsll, hearing Of the disastrous bat
t.e Of Niagara, and the wounds and disability OF my be-
loved commander General Brown to lily from Sackctts
habor to the head of his division, and with it meet and
heat the Dritisll,+ commanded by the accomplished
Lieut.. General Drummond.
Gen Alacomb here suggested to General Gaines lie
proprety Of withholding his remarks until alter The
reading Of the documentary evidence on the part vi Tie
United States, when tho Court would be Hratiicd u
hear him. Cen Gaines said lie did not wish 10 inter;
frrc with the course which the honorable Court had
his remarks 10 be very appropriate at the present mo-
nlent he wished 10 show tie similarity al linciPe
which governed him in both cases. lie would, however,
chccrluy suspend the explanation until such time rs
the Court desired.
The judge Advocate then read letter from General
Gaines to the Adjutant General dated at n. Orleans,
Jan 5 c3G reporting his arrival thtrr,-lhc news Of
Dadcs massacre and recommending the transfers OF HE
Isl and 9th Regiments o Infantry 10 florida, Will large
supplies Of ammunition.
Several 'Ordc1s," being acquisitions upon the DUAL
trrMasler, Ordnance and Subsistence Departments,
read.
especial Oder No g." directed to Lieut.. y. c. My
ers to repair to tie arsenal Baton Rouge for sundry
ordnance stores for Florida.
Especial Order No. 4 dated at Mobile: Jan -, APP
uoired Capt T. A. Hitchcock ot the ls Infantry, act
nr assistant Inspector General General Games SAID
that THIS order issued after he had heard Of Clehs
battle which determined him to proceed TO Florida
Order M ) directed Col Twggs to receive into SER
vice eiehl companies rcqnesedol The Governor OF Lou
siana and with the u. 5. troops in the nrgborhood:t 10
prepare for Il Tampa Bay 10 cooPerate with
Cen. Clirch.
Order No. G was a rcquisiticn upon the Governor OF
Louisiana Tor volunteers, accompanied BY letter dated
i! New Orleans, Jan. 3D. 1876, explaining iot What Oh
jet, nc.
In a letter dated L, Pensacola, jan 3d. 1885, Gen.
Gaines Announces his arrival the Adt General for
the purpose Of soliciting The cooperation OF the afa!
forces with these land in Florida, and also suggests
the proprrty Of placing and means at his Command,
hitherto allow cd IL officers of his grade anu station III
times of war and lie would iutict exemplary punish
nrnt on the much ccspscd red and black eneties
in Florida, and also put into an immediate state OF de-
fence, the excellent forts That frontier, which, lie
said were in the power q. few priratcS to take,
sack and blow up. Gen. Gaines here observed, that
al the lc this letter written, there was probabi-
lily of with rance.
Gen. Gaines, under date 81 New Orleans, cd. "a,
1SSG, wrote to Gen Cinch, or officer commanding Tie
troops assembling Fort King, in East Florida,
advising that officer uI the proposed movement ct the
Louisiana forces to Tampa Bay, with view to The Co.
operation of the troops assembling al or near Fort King
Also advising SAID officer to with great caution,
terrifying his camp might aud marching open order
during the day, as 10 be ready for action al mo-
,uenLs warning. TGcn. Gaines stated that he had not
al this time been advised of the appointment OF General
Scott to the command in Florida. and he therefore deem.
cL It his duty cooperate with Gen. Cl!nch Special
Order No directed the U. S. Officers 10 collect their
companies ut certain posts
In second letter TO Governor Whltc dated on board
the steamboat Waterman, on Lake Ponchartran, Feb
d. 1856 Gen. G. refers to other companies who had ten
derrd their services and recommended the acceptance
of them. These companies subsequently arrived ant
formed portion OF the centre wing Of Gen. Scott
army.
Under date Of Jan. god, 1896 the Adulant. General
writes TO Gen. Gaines and requests him to return and
remain New Orleans until further advised by the De-
parnent and makes extract from the Secretary 8
letter TO Gen Scott in reference to departmental OouH
diaries.
Gen. Gaines in reply 10 the preceding, dated Pcnsa
cola Bay, Feb g. 49, acknowledges receipt OF the let
operation with Gen CEinch Gen. Scott, or tic COM
handing officer at Fort King abandon the proposed
petition cooperation until its result is kn"w3, or u-
I'll the facts known al Washington anu Tie PRESIDENT
orders otherwise lie says lie made voluntary pledge
also the Governor Of Louisiana that he would not
qure the troops go farther than he himself went, and
that lie would stand by them as long as they stood by
him in the contemplated movement. He also alIudes
TO the from the Secrtarys letter 10 Gen. Scott
touching the /" imaginary line about which, said Gen.
Gaines, " the Honorable Secretary of War has been
pleased again and again TO give himself so much tr'u'
b.c-that is nllter which perfectly understandable
long continued nrgues and vindctlre efforts OF those
who have written 10 mysy the subject to the contrary
Notwithstanding
Cen Gaines observed TO the Court, that he knew the
force in Florida weak, and having given piedge 10
Cooperate with The troops at Fort king 1t might nave
induced the officer have gone into the wilderness, anu
perhaps have been cat up without his cooperation 1
was within Two days march Of what deemed to ne the
theatre uC war. Had abandoned the command before
the appearance Of superior officer, the difficulty oil bTe
vet rank would have dsordc1ed the whole command, as
Lieut., COL Foster would have exercised his brevctcy,
and Ait Gen Smith had pied ged himself to serve un-
der Col. TwiGgs | showed to Col. Foster and several
others the skeleton Of letter 10 Cen Scott surprising
HIM 20 lie at Tampa Bag or near there but on the con-
trarv he was not there nor had been heard Of lie then
stated to these gentlemen that the difficulties which had
existed between himself and Gen. Scott, must be over
looked in the discharge Of public Duty As lie did not
find Gen Scott there, lie went into the nation, met and
beat the enemy, and compelled him TO Tor peace
all of which shall hereafter prove
The Adutant Generals letter, dated at Washington,
ODD Feb. 1886, read but Cen Gaines said he did
not receive until his campaign had terminated ot'e
raj orders, being acquisitions upon the Depaftrs' "'u
letter 10 Capt. Webb, of the u 3 SHIP 'ahdala were
read.
On the 2?d February, Gen. Gaines reported 10 the
authority, 1861 officers aGd men, The II. General him!