The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1838-02-08
HEAD QUARTERS, FiRsT BRiCADE,
ARMY SOUTH Of THE WITHLAcoocnEH,
Fort Gardner, .yanaayN A, 1888.

HEAD QuARTERs, kiRsT BRICADE,
ARMY South OF THE WTTHLAcoocmEH, >
Fort Gardner, January A, 1888. }
| Sir-On the 10Th ultimo received al this place
communication from Major General Jesup in
forming me that all hopes of bringing the war to
close by negotiation through the interference or me-
diation of the Cherokee delegation, we're at an end
Sam Jones, with the Mickasukies having deter
mined TO fight il out to the last; and directing me
TO proceed with the least possible delay against any
portion OF the enemy might hear of within striking
distance, and TO destroy or capture him.
Afler leaving two officers and an ADEQUATE force
for the protection of my depot, marched The next
morning with twelve days raiions (my means Of
transportation not enabling 10 carry more with
Inc balance OF my command, consisting Of Captain
Munroes company of the 4h Artillery total 35 men;
the Isl Infantry, under the command of Lieutenant
Colonel Davenport, 1877 strong the 4th Infantry,
under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Foster.
ga; the 9th Infantry, under Lieutenant Colonel
Thompson, 22I; the Missouri volunteers $50: Nor
gans Spies, Al; Pioneers, 80; Pontoneers, Is, and
10 Delaware Indians; making force, exclusive of
officers OF 032 men the greater part of the Shaw
nees having been detached and the balance refusing
TO accompany me, under the pretext that number
OF them were sick, and the remainder were without
moccasins.
moved down the west side Of the Kissimmee, in
Soulheasery course, towards Lake lstopoga for the
following reasons: First because knew that por-
tion of the hostiles were TO be found in that drec
ton; second, if General Jesup should fall in with
the Mickasukies and drive them, they might attempt
to elude him by crossing the KisSimmee from the
east the west side of the peninsula between this
and its entrance into Okee Chokee, in which case
might be near at hand TO intercept Them third, TO
overawe and induce such of the enemy who had been
making propositions to give themselves up, and who
appeared very slow if not to hesitate, in complying
with their promises on that head, TO surrender at
once; and lastly, Ideemed it advisable 10 erect block
houses and small picket work on the Kissimmee,
tor third depot forty or fifty miles below this,
and obtain knowledge Of the intervening country
ne Il had no Unid w ar w
/ this means open a communication with Col Smith,
who was operating up The Caloosehatchee, or Sany
bel river, under my orders.
Late in the evening of the first days march, l
met the Indian chief Jumper, with his family, and
part of his band consisting of fifteen men, part OF
them with families, and a few negroes-n all, sixty
three souls-on hisway TO give himself up, in con-
formitv to previous arrangement had entered into
with him They were conducted by Captain Parks
and few Shawnees. He parks is an active and
intelligent half breed, who is at the head of the
friendly Indians, both ShawneeS and DelawareS, and
who had employed TO arrange and bring in jun
per- and as many OF his people as he could prevail
on to come in. We encamped that night near the
same spot; and the next morning, having ordered
Captain Parks 10 join me, and take command of the
Delawares and having despatched Jumper in charge
Of some Shawnees to this place, and so on to Fort
Fraser, continued my march, after having sent
forward three friendly Seminoles TO gain intei-
gence as to the position Of The enemy.
About noon on the same day. sent forward one
battalion of Gentrys regiment, under command Of
Lieutenant Colonel Price, TO pick up any sraggers
that might fall in his way TO encamp two or three
miles in advance of the main forcei 10 act with
great circumspection, and to communicate promptly
any occurrence that might take place In his vicinity
important for me to know. About 10 p NJ. received
note from the Colonel stating that the three Semi
noles sent forward in the morning had returned;
that they had been at or where Alligator had en-
campcd, II Is miles in his advance; that he CAL
ligaor) had left there with part of his family four
days before, under the preiex OF separating his re-
lations &C., from the Mickasukies, preparatory to
his surrendering with them that there were several
families remaining al the camp referred 10, who
wished to give themselves up, and would remain
there until we took possession OF them, unless they
forcibly carried off that night by the MckaSu-
kies, who were encamped al no great distance from
them.
In consequence Of this intelligence, after directing
Lieutenant Colonel Davenport follow early in the
morning with the infantry, little after midnight put
myself at the head Of the residue OF the mounted men,
joined Lieutenant Colonel Price. proceeded on,
ing Istopoga Outlet, and after daylight took pos
session of the encampment referred to, where found
the inmates, who had not been disturbed They con-
sisted Of an old and two young ones, and several
women and children, amounting IN all 10 20 individuals.
/ The old man Informed me that Alligator was very
anxious to separate his people from the Mlckasukes,
who were cncamped on the opposite side Of the Kissm-
NEE, distant about 20 miles, where they would fight
sent him to Alligator 10 say to him, II he was sincere
his professions to meet me the next day at the kls-
snmee, where the trail marching on crossed, and
where should halt.
| As soon as the infantry came up ! moved on the
placed designated, which reached late that evening
and where encamped About p m. the old Indian
returned, bringing very equivocal message from ALI
gator who, he stated, he had met accidentally Also,
that the Mckasukies still encamped where they
had been for days. and where they deter
mined to fight Us.
! determined at INDUCING them
practicable Accordingly, the next morning after lay
| ing out small stockade work for the protection Of
| future depot in order to enable me to move with the
greatest CELEBRITY, deposited the whole Of my heavy
baggage, including artillery &c. and having provisoned
the command, to nclcde the 26th after leaving Capt
Munroe with his company, the Pioneers, PontonecIs
with s5 sick and disabled infantry and portion OF the
friendly Indians who alleged that they unable to
march further crossed the Kssimmee, taking the old
Indian guide who had been captured the day be.
FORE and who accompanied with great apparent re-
uctance in pursuit OF the enemy, and early the next Gay
reached Allgator's eucampment, situated on the cage
of cabbage tree hammock, IN the midst OF a large
prairie from the appearance OF winch, ana o'her en-,
campnents in the vicinity and the many evidences OF
slaughtered cattle there must have been several hun
dred individuals.
At another small hammock at no great distance from
Allipatot's encampment, and surrounded Try swamp,
impassable for mounted men, the spies surprised an
cneampment containing old man, four young men,
aud some women and children. One OF the party inn
/ medaley raised white fsg when the men were taken
possession OF and brought the swamp TO the main
\ body proceeded with an interpreter to meet them.
They proved 10 be Scuinoles, and protested TO be