Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-04-04

| pun CdiCIul CAtllllllltlllOll Va Wa
abundant testimony taken in the toregon
case, the Court is of opinion that no Delay
which it was practicable to have avoided
was made by Major General Scott in open
Ing the campaign against the Creek lndl
ans. On the contrary, it appears that h'
tookthe earliest measures to provide arms
munitions and provisions for his forces, wh(
were found almost wholly destitute; and a.
soon as arms could be put into the hands o
the volunteers. they were, in succession
detached and placed in positions to preven
the enemy from retiring upon Florida, an(
whenever they could move against the
main body of the enemy as soon as equip
ped for offensive operations.
"From the testimony of the Governor Of
Georgia, Of Major General Sanford, com.
mandcr of the Georgia volunteers, and
many other witnesses of high rank and
standing, who were acquainted with the
topography of the country, and the posi-.
ton and strength of the enemy, the Court
is of opinion that the plan Of campaign.
adopted by Major General Scott, was wei!
calculated to lead TO successful results, and
that it was prosecuted by him, as far as
practicable, with zeal and ability, unill re.
called from the command"
Sd. Opinion Of the Court in reference TO
the failure of the campaign in Florida,
conducted By Major General Games, IN
1886.
After a summary Of the evidence.
"Thc Court, afcr carefully reviewing and
colating the testimony Of Captains Hitch
cock and M'Call, Col. Twiggs, General
Smith, and others, in reference to the oper-
ations and peculiar situation Of the army at
Camp lizard, finds it difficult to come 10 a
conclusion as to the real causes of tho fail
urc Of the campaign. ltappears, although
the army was surrounded, and repeatedly
assailcd by the enemy, IN its fortified posi-
ton, from the 29th February to the 5lh
Malcl, and s,raitcncd in the means of sub.
sistcncc, that, however important 10 the
chivalry AMI reputation Of the troops, 10
sally was made to test the result OF such Il
movement, which it is possible might have
issued in the defeat and subjecion of the
enemy, and have brought the war to Il
close. But the Court, however, Judging
from subsequent events in prosecuting the
war under other commanders, and the IN
domi,abe spirit Of hostility cvlnced by the
enemy, is OF opinion that had sortle been
made by Major General Gaines, though he
might have been able 10 beat and drive the
enemy into the surrounding iIanmocks
and swamps, they would have cIadcd .pur.
suit, and retired to ihcir more remote fast.
ncsses. But if suci, had been the result
of a soitie, Major General Gaincs had not
the mcars of subsistence TO have enabled
HIM 10 remain long enough IN or about the
Cove of the Wythlacoochcc to seek out
the enemy, and press The war TO success
ful conclusion. Sill the Court, without
impugning the motives that influenced Ma.
jor General Gaines, is of opinion that a
sortie, under all the circumstances OF he
case, should have been made.
"Thc Court, therefore, i'll taking q full
and impartial view Of all the circumstances
appcrainng 20 Inc operations OF Major
General Games at Camp lizard, is Of opn,
ion ihat the failure of the campaign should
rather be attributed to the want Of the
means Of subsistence to prosecute the
Wal. tiiIm 10 the contingent result OF sor-
tic.
"Ihc attention of tic Court was ncx
called 10 consideration Of the publication
of Major General Gaines's official report
of the lth of July, 1886, to the Adjutan
Genera. in the public prints. The fac! o.
its publication in the New Orleans Bnllctir
of the 27th of September is admitted by
Major General Gaines (as will appear OF
the proceedings Of the Couri) asaulhorlzet
b. him, and without any authority but his
own action. The Court is not aware tha
its publication in the public journals a:
late as the 29ih September is in violation
of any rule or regulation Of the service
but is of opinion that all publications in tho
pubic prints, tending to excite public opln
ion, or to prolucc recrlm;nations between
officers, are prejudicial 10 tic interests o
the public service, and injurious to the dis
c::2linc of the army. The publication o
the official report Of Major General Game:
after the 4th July TO the AdjutaIt General
is considered by the Court as falling under
publication of this description by its per
sonal illusions.
The Court cannot close its ceedlng
without adverting to the strain of Invcctive
and vituperation used by Major Genera
Gaines, in the language, generally, OF hl'
Summary Of the evidence touching the op
cratons of his Seminole campaign, PartIc
ularly that part OF it couchcd in tho folio"
inc terms: The atrocious mechan'cat'on'
of the second United States General on
Ger, arho has crer dared to aid and assts
| the onou cuepu Of The RepubEc in their OPP