Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-01-26
THE INDIAN WAR.

From FLoRrDA--The Mobile Mercan.
tile Advertiser, of the 3lh inst. in publish
ing the account Of the late disastrous battle
in Florida, says "the action was most furi-
ou,ly contested for an hour, when the In
dams gave way and fed" The Advertiser
adds
This was one of the most disastrous bat
tie that has yet been fought in Florida. 1t
Is said that Gen, Ganry Of the Missouri
volunteers, I.ent. Cot. Thompson. 1t.
Brooks 1t. Center, Capt. Van Swuariug-
en-, three commissioned officers OF he Mis-.
sour volunteers, names not recOllect ed, and
Sergeant Major Slaback, are among The
killed The whole of Company X. of the
9th infantry, re SAID TO have been killed,
except some seven or eight-maklng to.
tai of eight officers killed. and l4O rank
and file killed and wounded. OF the In.
dams only eight were found dead on the
field, though 1t is said some forty or fifty
bodies had been dragged off. The troops
succeeded IN bringing away 60 ponies.
We understand that the troops had been
in pursuit of the Indians, and when they
came up to the spot where they were con,
ccaIed behind bushes and in the tops of
trees. they were received by a volley from
the savages. each shot killing or wounding
lis man Col. Thompson fell at the first
tire, As DID most of those who were SLAIN.
1t is said that the Indians fought so desper.
ateIv hat 1t was doubtful al one period of
the engagement which party would be COM
PEELED to give way. The force of the In.
dlans was variously estimated and as they
were IN ambush, perhaps it would 30 i'm.
possible with any certainty TO tell.
From signs made IN the sand, supposed
to be by Alligator, and which The lnterpre.
ter, Abraham bad seem the latter gives it
as his opinion that the Indians intend 10
war TO the death.
report reached Tampa Bay on the LIST
inst, that Brig, Gen. Nelson, of the Geor.
gla volunteers, had an engagement on the
Goth Dec. at the Suwannee river, but the
result was not known. 1t is said that Gen.
Nelson's horse was shot under him.
Forty prisoners arrived at Tampa Bay
on the lst, from Pinto Rapa. They will
be sent to Fort Pike, which is depot for
prisoners.
FoRr GARDNER, 3lsT Dec, Hearing
that Sam Jones, with the MIca,ukies
were not far off, we left small command
10 90 on with the work, and went in Dur.
SUIT OF him after a journey of about 80
miles, we found him in the Okee Ochlse
Lake, on the 25th instant, in a cypress
swamp, fronted by slough almost i'm.
passable, but it was necessary to cross i,
to reach him. This slough was nearly
half mile wide, and in going through it,
the men were frequently up to their waists
IN mud. A disposition for battle was
soon made, and the troops marched for.
ward, and when within about 80 to 100
yards ofthe cypress swamp, the Indians
commenced furious attack and kept it
up for one hour, returning three times to
the attack, but being driven the third
time, they gave way, leaving part Of their
dead on the field, and much Of their plum.
der.
Officers and soldiers, in all, killed, 81.
and 10 wounded. the Indians left on
the field killed; it may be presumed
they carried off portion of their dead;
we have but little doubt that their loss was
fully as great as Gus IN proportion to the
number they had in battle, which was es.
timated between 800 and 500; our force
was upwards of GOO men.