Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-28

Brig Gen. Brady. .7Ss0ctahs.
Capt. S C"oper. .'udge .Adrocats.
Continuation IF preccednes IN 'ehation to The future Of
Ike SeminOic ead Greet Campaigns, conducted By &C.
Mtrais Gaines ard Sect.
FRuDrRIcK, Jan. II.
CaptGin .McLnN,s testimony coatinurd.
Qarstion by tic What was the number Of In.
dians that invested Camp lizard on the 10Th of February,
and how many attacks were made on said camp =
.7Hswcr.-"The number on The morning OF the Doth
was in my opinion between IL and 1900, including ne
grocs, Judging from the extent CT ground covered, their
fire and war whGnp. On the morning OF the I'd, theit
number. although apparently tot so numerous as on The
2ylh, were greater lIIan a. any subsequent period. The
Indians made . or q attacks; and occasionally, both dur
ing night and day. i few shots were fired into the camp
by strneelers.H -
By he Court.-"N1 sor;ic was made upon The enemy;
what reason did General G a;nes assign for not making
4 s0rtle:'
.insicer.-sHe did not explain to me his reasons. bat
my impression is, that il would not lave resulted IN any.
important advantage 10 our side"
By The Court" Dad no officer during the siege sug-
gesl the proprie!y Of Il sGriic:'
.lnswtr.-.I did not hear any officer suggest a so'uc;
nor 60 | know that any officer differed with tie oehe-
rul upon that point"
Bg tie Cout.-"Wbat is your opinion Of the forces
being uSIa TO drive tie Indians il Il sGrlie had been
lludr:"
.fnsrccr.-'l have no, .e smallest doubt they could
have driven them of. hut the ra,~r, of the ground was
sucl-the hammucks being very dense and extremely
difficult OF access to troops, The Indians who we're lying
concealed, would have tc"n enabled 10 deliver their fire,
and owing To their superior celebrity and knowledge Of
the Er"un!. passed through III" hammocks and crossed
The river before our troops could have come up with them.
II If facilities for crossing bong great, and tie troops
without HE tacans Of following them"
General Gaines here arose and said, thct he would
submit Il question in reference to Il subject which had
been agilalrd in The public Journals throughout the
North. and he thought il YVES due TO himself, at this
time, to allude to it. lie said he had b, en- charged with
meeting the enemy only behind bTeastworks, and by this
witness he would slow that ie had fought them for two
uuvs imam The river hanks. and cOtDD1lIal them 10 retire
tron the conflict. lie said that sufficient evidence had
aready zen adduccd 10 The court to prove the impro.
p:iciy Of lis making Il sartir from Camp lizard after the
pledge he had made To Gen. C.Inci, or the commanding
officer at Fort Drane. that he would not do so.
By Gen. Gaiaes.-'' u lat part Of the force OF Cen.
iia!ifs was out Of the limits Of Camp lizard on the 2olii
OF February, and were several companies occasionally on
the river engaged with th- rAsmy p:!or 70 the 9TH OF
MaFch;'
.4n<,ccr.-"Tlcre was one Company out of The limits
of the brrastwo;H on the 4Eh Of February, and several
Companies were engaged in firing at the Indians across
the river prior TO the 9th OF hla:ch:'
Gen. Gaines preceded the next question with 4 few
remarks in reference u the opportunities which had
been enjoyed by Capt. Mccall during 4 long residence
in the Indian countries, in making himself acquainted
with the topography Of those parts and The habits and
customs Of thr indians while engaged III travel. or with
an enemy. lie said that Tie "tticer WHY was dePutcd
to relieve him in Tie command IN. Florida. had stated IN
all official communication, that he did npt believe that
more than 5WO Indians had atdny time peen embodied
since The opening OF lie war. The Observation-Disclosures
that lie had met no parties consisting OF more Than 2ocr
90. and he pretends 10 judge ot Tie nunihPr WIN" Ed at
Tackled the command al Camp lard from the appearance
Of the rsighbatirg ground. Gcn. Gaines said, that 1t
! was wei! Known 10 some Of the members pl the Court,
hat large bodies Of indians have travelled in times OF
war from one post 10 another, without leaving behind
them any evidence Of their strrngth-thtS he said was
done By the Indians treading i'll the print which had Deen
made b. their leader. aad the only way the enemy couiu
Judge Of the opposing iolcc was by the depth oil Tie
print.
Bg Gen. Gaiacs.-"What is your opinion as TO the
praclicabillly Of asccrtaining 4 week or t%o weeks alter
a Battle, the number Of Indians engaged III 1t, or Tie
number encamIp"d at any on1 point; and do the Indians
leave as much evidence oi their numbers IN camp as 'e
whites -
.4usecr.-"l think it would be impossible a week or
Is" weeks after u battle 10 ascertain ny the signs conf
monty left b. Indians, what number had been on the
BATE ground The principal objects in Indians cncamp.
| ing in times CT war being 10 conceal their numbers: It
would be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible, to
make even a loicreb!e grrss Of The numbers which occu-
pied an cncalnpulcnt unless they had occupied It for Il
great length Of tinc. Aft: leaving an cncalnpment the
Indians DO not leave any thing like Us much evidence Of
their numbers as lie whites usually leave.
Gen. Gaines here referred To 4 portion o! The test'nc-
rs OF Cup.ain Thistle. It will be remembered by your
readers, that The Captain stated 10 the Court, that he had
never heGrG Of General Games until he saw him in
Florida; and never knew Of any dissatisfaction express
e.! By The Volunteers when it was rendered uncertain
whether General Gaines could accompany them TO the
scene Of action in Florida. The General said he was IN
hopesih Captain Thistle, for his own sake; would reflect
uua!n upon the subject, and correct that part OF his tcStl-
! muny, iuasmuch Us the Captain had gone TO Florida
from \. Orleans in the Same steamboat, and on the pas
! sagc thit!lrr had frequently COnrrrsed - 18th the same Gen.
Gaines, Of whom '.ie had never heard until lie saw him
in Florida" In order, however, to settle the matter,
Gen. Gaines sad, lie would propose L question to Cap
tain Mccall, winch would b. satisfactory to the Court
upon that point.
BIZ Gen. Ga;vcs-"What were the sentiments and
feelings OF the Louisiana Volunteers, as expressed by
Them on board the Steamer Watchman,a at Pensacola, re-
lnlIyr To Gen. Gaines continuing III COifililiIQ'
.3nsncr.-On tie arrival Of Tie steamboat WatcliMan
at Pensacola, on the 9Th of February, il was asccEtaiEed
that the Steamer Merchant, with i battalion of Loulsi-
ana volunteers, under The immediate command Of Col.
Smith, he'd sailed the day before Tor Tampa Bay. On
!anaing At Pensacola, Gen. Gaines received the letter oil
The Adjulant-Gcaeraf, notifying him that Gen. Scott had
been ordered To- Florida, and directing Gen. q. to a"ait
for iurtlirr orders at New OrleaEs.-On receiving this
letter, Gen Gaines remarked To me, that he would go
with great readiness wherever his services might be ni''l
useful TO his country, and said lie thought lie si,oo'u I
turn to New Orleans. ! left him Immediately t" auehG
to souic duties. VIXEN The lrcars learned The purport o
the letter, many of the Volunteers collected AROUND "e
and enguircd if the General intended 10 proceed OF re.
turn. replied that / believed lie ~o'lia frto'". i"y
expressed in strong terms their regret At 'h'' n'otnid
. lion. ard the general opinion, as iar Us l ieafhea was, that
Ike should proceed. Alter this tue cn''nndnG'hs o'ncel
. OF the battalion on board Of The waterman, Lieul-Ioi.
Lawson, came to me and mad" The same enquiry: l re-
rGsd ~ hrfnra. lie said that Gen. Gaines was bound to
| proceed TO Tampa Bay, and he woa'H be severely cen
sured if he rcliuquisled the coinlnard, al The same tine
aske Inc 10 ursr BIN to proceed.
Col lawson spoke Of the confusion that would enSue,
# ne rave up his communal. Col. Smith, next in rank
to 10 Cen. Games, was willing, through personal regard to
Col. Tnisgs, 10 waive rank with that officer for the pnr-
pose OF gIyi"g him the command Of Tie Brigade: but If
Grn. Gaines relinqnished the command Of the expfdi-
ton, Major Foster of tie Ah infantry and Lieut.. Colo
nci by trcrtt: would assert his right to Command the ori-
gadc in virtue of his brevrt commission. which was Sc
Nor 10 Cob Twiggs' commission in the line, and conien-
ton for the command would have arose, VIII Gu might
cause the separation of the troops, aud IN that way en-
danger the success Of the expedition. J saw zen.
Gaines soon after, and lie tcd me lie bad deterIlinea 10
procced al leas, TO Tampa Bay, and that he would be GO
= l.. a:.a,..s.annn, In ha fniuIp nlUYeIncnlS.- On