Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1837-01-26

consisting Of cattle, which they had before drawn from
lhencr. The opinion among them that bis position was
Likely TO BE- permanent, was calculated 10 break down
their spirit. | have always believed also. that the In
dams were informed Of the movement OF Gen. Clinch
frain Font Drane Oh the 9th OF March, and They there.
fore saw additional reasons TO suppose that they could
not maintain themselves in the country, under tho
circumstances, and in taking council on the even
Jag Of the 9TH, they concluded 70 make overtures OF
peace. have never doubted that they would have ac-
copied terms such as would lave been worthy OF tins
! great nation 10 dictate 10 them. had there been authority
there ~ conclude j peace. There was not in the coun-
CT! held with the Indians any thing said about the
farms of peace-tley made no proposition 10 Inc wlate-
ver-liey asked for notlling-stipnlated for nothing. be-
yuud what have stated in ny testimony. They were
told by NE: that they should be sent for t" council, but
in the mean time they must abstain from war and pro-
misc 10 attend 4 council whenever sent for:-they ensa-
ged to do all that freely, and with apparent alacrily.
"During the time the troops remained at Fort Drane,
say i!ain Inc ll!b to 10th of March: as have under
stood, there was no sign of hostility on the part of the
Indians. They had abundant opportunities TO annoy the
hoops at that post, which were scattered over an extent
Of country Of several miles in diameter, to accommodate
themselves with wood and water. Before left there,
aud as heard afterwards, thu officers and men were
passing al pleasure between the several corps of the ar
my thus dlSpG rsed, and provisions we've also sent without
once being disturbed. General Gaines aud his staff, a
party Of four, during that period travelled from Fort
Dranc IL Tallahassee, through j country which had been
before and VAS afterwards in possession Of the Indians,
without being molcsled and without suspicion of danger.
J have always regarded this as an evidence, that although
the Indians were informed OF the exposed condition OF
the 81 yrral corps around Fort Drane, yet so long as they
could hope To- be sent Tor 10 meet in council, they alb.
stained from annoying those troops, in compliance with
thr!: engagement upon the Ourthlacooc!ice. Indeed
know Of nothing which has occurred TO shake my conf
drnce IN the sincerity of the Indians at that interview"
Gen. Ga!nrs again addressed the court:
NJ President and gentlemen Of the court: Before
Offering another question to the witness, ] will take oc.
cas!oE 10 state, that | have been severely censurcd for
no, firing upon the Indians WHEN they appeared on the
morning Of the 9Th Of March. The President Of his
Court and myself entered the army together on the
lGil' OF January, 1899, and am sure he will do me
the justice 10 acknowledge, that | have never yet been
gully Of 50 deep and base a crime, as that which
some Of Eiy enemies would have me to commit
Sooner than have fired upon those Indians while
holding I white flag and begging for. peace, my right
arm should he sever d! would not lire upon a bo.
dy # English, French, CT Russians, who should pre-.
sent L " II.c flag and sue for peace: why then have fired
upon Il miserable and wretchcd posse OF subdued In
dians who came To beg for quarters: sll"nId have dis
.racrd Gysrlt in my Uwn EYES! what would The civilized
nal;rns o! Europe say TO such 4 deed; and committed,
TOO, by Americans:-hc would not BE- an American,
loving The l"nor Of his country, to PROPOSE: much less
TO Commit, so foul an act! ! will now ask witness,
"Wiat reason had Gen Games for suspending his
operations agairs! The Indians Oh and after the 9th Of
March. lcaG:'
.lnsnrr.-'Tbc fact that The enemy had raised a white
flag and asked for prace-laG been told the conditions
and Iia promised 10 abide hy tl!cui; by which they were
Ia baye had IL council With u view 10 settle the terms OF
that i"Hcc.
BIZ the Count" Were the Indians in Council inform.
cd ,tat i large body Of troops were coming against
them =
.9n:1rcr-"I stated in The body Of my testimony that
told the Indians that Gen. Gaines was but one Of Sc.
vvrai chiefs sent by tie President "f the United States
10 enforce a peace upon them. | was not myself in
formed. and Of cuursc could not communicate To the In
dams. the lime ct Which these forces would nrrlre-that
information Was conveyed by tie reports OF The signal
unms which were directed to be fired by the several divI-
gums Of Grn. Scots army, while approaching the With
laco"c!;r. The Indians occupied 4 central position, and
were much more likely TO hear these runs than the army
divisions ,hr ;.>"ivcs! The lnGiaIs are perhaps the best
scouts =! pies in the world, and IL would have been
next to IMPOSSIBLE for a large force 10 have approached
their strong hold i'll that Stage "i the war without tleI'
knowlrdge.'
tims had sued for peace that they were informed that
the IA ." body If troops wrie coming against tIIcm:'
.4namcr. 1t was ujter they had suet! Tor peace"
By he Court" While you were in the Camp, was
there any orders given Tor a sortie, and please state what
ol!icrls we're appointed to execute it,
.Iusrr.-: The troops at Camp lizard were disposed
in The I,!In Of a square; one wing at each face was Or
deed t. be held in readiness fer Il s%rl'e' and the other
WING was required to extend. Col. Poster would have
been one d! ihe officers on lie right, and | believe, that
General Smith would have commanded a sorIc On the
left. The order was given On Tie +''h February,
and communicated by myself TO Colonel Twiggs,
who commanded The brigade. A previous order upon
thu subject had, believe, been communicated by some
other Ulcer 1t is lay opinion that had the attack been
renewed in character like that otlhp 9th Of February: a
scc;ic would have been made but alter that no serious
a,:ark vas made while we were on Tie Dulihlacoochte.
There were small parties from time 10 time who rndea-
vored to annoy US, and this circumstance in itself was
Il source of alarm, lest the Indians had abandoned that
section Of country, 10 the disappointment OF Tic hopes
OF Gen. Scott; expressed in a letter TO Gen. ClInch, and
winch had been seen at Fort King. The first order Tor
the pr partitions for n sorlie was, believe, given through
come other officer. Col Foster came TO lie and made a
suggestion as 10 u mere detail, desiring ME TO cominuni-
cate 1t 10 Gen. Gaines: ! did so and received his orders
thereon, which | communicated as above stated. Gen.
Gaines, on several occasions, spoke OF the probability of
an Arrival Of troops, other than those expected from Fort
Dranr, especially speaking Of Col. Lindsay, who was
supposed % have arrived al Fort Brooke at Tampa Bay,
AMI he declared it IN he his purpose 10 Instantly move IN
any direction from which reports OF firing might be heard.
Log canoes were prepared and then IN camp with rived
brar!s lcr making u platform, TO be used for the purpose
Of crossing the river-the General saying ne would cross
immediately, on hearing Of 4 gun from the opposite side"
The President here announced That the Court would
20 into secret s"ssinn, and would adjourn its proceedings
untll Monday morning Al the usual hour. The object
Of this secret session is, presume, 10 take into %considera.
ton the ~proPriety Of admitting General Scott to resume
his cases, and pursue them to 4 completion. Two Of
his witnesses, Captain Van Buren, (son Of the President
elrcv and Lieut.. Belts, are here; lie also has received
Sc "rra! Grpus.lions which lie wishes to have placed on
record. General Smith, of Louisiana, (he who served
as Colonel during the Seminole compaign) is daily e1-
pcc!rd.
+. S. The Creek case of Gen. Scott will, as surm,s,
ed. he resumed this morning: Gen. Gaines case VIII
therefore be laid aside for some days.
FREDERICK, Jan. 10, 1886.
Al the usual hour lie Court assembled. "hen the
,,Ius Advocate stated. that Lieut.. Morris desired 10
have Il slight alteration effected in the testimony given
by him before the court sonie days since which was ac-
qiuirsced i'll by Gen. Scott and oicofu'ng'y done.
Advocate. which was written by MajOr Clark, an As.
sis,ani Quarter Master a, New Orleans. directed to the
Ac'i"s Quarter Mss,S' ,b Gt a,ss5I;o at W Vas, n j" this
,nhlicaIicn or lrttrrs had prevented the conrmissary
, from complying with the orders of Gen. Scott; on the
contrary. Inc states that supplies were shipped and ar.
riyrd nj Tampa Bay on the 9th IF a pril, and the army
-: LIN Scuif rnsneclivelu arrived IN The 3d dh and