Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-01-11

ces the failure of the American arm
in Florida to the rightful cause-th
incxcusable neglect Of the Secretar
o War.
cit having been GENERALLY know
through the city and its neighborhood
that Gen. Clinch would present his i'm
portant testimony this morning, an un
usually large assemblage of ladies an,
gentlemen honored this days sitting o
the court with their presence. With
Capt. Waite of the Quarter Master,
Department Of the Army of Florida.
and Lieutenant Locke, formerly q
Commissary Of Subsistence, the Court
had but little business. Their testimo.
ny being mostly explanatory, and Of
the character OF much that preceded it,
| shall pass il over and proceed to say
what | know ofClinch.
The General is in the vicinity ESQ,
hair inclined to gray, brows and eyes
Websierian, six feet in height, and ton
ensemble, that of one accustomed TO ex.
ercise authority. From the %jocose cha
racter of his incidental observations,
whilst engaged in attesting, we should
imagine, that his health and spirits sur.
vive the effects Of his many arduous
services in the field and though with
drawn from the service Of his country,
he retains the possessionofthe soldiers
attributes. There is, perhaps, no one
in the army, or out oft, whose opinion
IN matters connected with the South.
ern Indians, could be so advantageous
ly consulted as his; with the Creeks
and Seminolos, he is particularly faml-
liar. Surrounded by circumstances,
which rendered the retention of his
commission, an obligation to those who
conferred il, and possessing a frank
inc fearless spirit, he long ago, in the
strongest language, called the atten.
ton OF the War Department to the pro-
liability of a protracted and songulnary
contest with these people, and urged a
timely recourse to the requisite pfccau-
tons. His opinions were disregarded
and the disartrous consequences are
known to the nation. shall not"
said Gen. Scott, PROFOUND to witness
the usual Introductory questions j
shall not ask Gen. Clinch to tell the
Court or the people, the character of
the relation which he held to me in the
Florida war. AS second in command,
his position was too conspicuous to dc.
mand designation, at this time, or in
this place. | shall therefore, with your
permission, dispense with the leading
queries" The Generals replies were
clearly c~onfirmatory Of all the state~
ments adduced by previous witnesses,
and wholly ~cxonerated Scott from the
smallest share in the failure Of the Flo
rida campaigns. The most interesting
scene ofthe morning, was the direct
examination of the witness by Gener-
al Macomb. He was a veteran who
had refused the prefer of high rank
from the President himself; II who
had hunted the savage foe in the prai-
RE and the hammocks, II unconnect-
cd with military aspirants or political
j~ueglcrs, and present only from a sense
Of duty to his countrymen. lie 1t was
to whom the President directed the
Judge Advocate topropound the follow
ing questions, and he it was who n
nexed to the queries their very peril
nent responses.
QUESTION. General, what in your
opinion, led to the failure Of our cam.
paigns in Florida, under the conduct Of
Major General Winfield Scott 7
ANSWER. The rant Of energy and
political forecast in the late head Of the
War Department! The necessity Of
providing against Indian outrage and
enabling troops TO act promptly and Of
~ficiently against them, was long ago
suggested 10 that high functionary. 1t
was not until TOO late that he awoke
from his dreams ofpolitical prelorment,
and turned his attention to bleeding and
suffering Florida. 1t was then lmpos-
bic to do more than expose a handful
Of regulars to massacre our lily pro>
vided and gallant volunteers TO disease
and starvation : the inability OF our
Government to suppress u savage IN
~surrection, and the character OF our
gallant officers to scurrilous animad'
version.
@. care the Seminoles good SOL
diers 7"
A. ayes, where they have the ad-
vantage of ground and numbers.
@. Were your troops never beat
en- by themF 7"
A. mo"
@. Are the Seminoles well equip
pedi"
A. "Ineycr inspected thcm."
@. "What was the probable cause
Of disease among the Florida troops 4
A. Excessive fatigue in beating
through the hammocks all day, anc
want Of proper rest at night-meagrt
! diet. and an i~nsuficiency ofthat-wani