Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-12-18


very useful particular of the year, without any
detriment to the service. H.
have reason 10 change my views as 10 ',e
proper organization of militia volunteer force 10
serve as Ruxaries TO the system proposed LOT Tue u
fence of the maritime and inland frontiers IL wou'o,
doubtless be desirable TO adopt some uniform system "
ORGANIZATIONS which would render ehecuVe lhe "hole
militia of the United Sta,es but no plan mas oeeh
gested that can be carried into effect throughout e
whole Of extensive country. lhal %h'cn aPPec..'
to present the greatest adVahages UNI " as o. h M
nupnv messed upnn the attention OF Congress oy my
PREDECESSORS i'm office. appears TO Inc to be only aPpea
BILE to the lhckly settled portions OF our country Tor u
it were attempted to divide the militia ihlo GLASSES III
soma parIs of Southern country ana on oui
where their services most likely to be required
would be found difficult 10 assemble single company
of The iunnr class within space OF one hIhuieu ts
1t is to be feared that the whole militia OF ihe oeu
states will be found too unweldy body to be success
fully organized by any plan that can De aeViSto
and for some time it had better be lett 10 lne
direction Of the several States, adopting only UNIFORM
duced on the frontiers, which may gradually extend
over the whole country. commencement may oe
made by enrolling 90 600 men, taken from among tiie
inhabitants and settlers Of The frontier and the country
orouod The stations in the Interior SIX con
secutye DAYS in the year would he suihcienl iof ei
drill proyided the commissioned and non commissioners
officers be assembled for instruction at Inc neaes NM
tary post for the of thirty daysn the year Durhg
the time the privales and officers are IN service bey
should receive the pay and aons OF soldiers and ocers
of the army Of the grade respectively hese o'ce
would no, be Withdrawn from the States where hey are
raised and may be called into service by the Go9ernoIs
upon the reuuson Of the President In this manner,
would be formed we'll disciplined body OF militia, ca
pable of ac,ng auxiliary force both 10 the regulars
stationed in the maritime and frontier tortresses, ana
system commenced, which, if II work well, may gtadu
ally be extended so as 10 embrace 'he "hoie h'''a "
the U. S.
considerable portion Of the troops have been en-
poyed in Florida under that interchangeable and jealous
officer, General Taylor Engaged IN hairssslns ser
,bsv have Displayed a spirit OF enduring courage and
perseverance highly credabe to the American sola'ef
The theatre Of this is country OF dense 1ofes's
swamps and morasses; the enemy active, subtle, cruel
and in visible and The mode OF warfare, one oil pursuit.
By following the track Of an unseen foe 1t 49, IN SNORT
contest entirely devoid OF all the incentives when
usually repay the soldier for the tolls, Privaons, and
dangers to which his duty exposes hum. But the Go
vernment has no alternative. The Indians must OF
expelled from Florida and the army will make any sac
rice that is required TO protect The inhabitants OF that
Territory from these ruthless saVages and TO MAINTAIN
unlarnished the honor of their Dnrng the past
Summer proG,ing by the nnhealthiness OF the season.
the Indians made several ncursions into The settlements
committing the most cruel murders, and ms is nsu"
with them sparing neither age nor sex. They attacked
the lighthouses and murdered The crews OF the vessels
which were unfortunately driven on shore and wrecked
on that dangerous coast. The necessary protection due
by the Government 10 the commerce oil The country ana
10 the citizens Of Florida demands that the utmost ex'
ertons be made drive these mercess savages from
country which they have so cruelty afflicted
No pains will be spared to effect this OBJECT but ii
does appear that the means heretofore adopted are
calculated to do vigorous effort was made the
last wear with formidable force OF regular troops and
mounted volunteers Every scheme tried that n
skllful and vgIant commander could devise and that
brave and active soldiers could execute The morasses
traversed the forests and swamPs penetrated IN
eyery direction the Indians beaten whenever they could
be oVerlaken, and many of them forced to surrender
who were afterwards sent out OF the country; but
STILL as SOON the sickly season set in, it vas found
that some Of these savages had eluded the vigilance
Of troops, gained their rear and penetrated into The
heart of the settlements where their presence first
discovered BY the murders they committed, and the
barbarous cruees they perpealed upon The aged and
helpless They were enabled TO effect their bloody
purposes only by the unsettled stale OF the country
through which they passed. When this war first broke
out the Indians destroyed all the frontier settlements,
and The inhabitants beyond them in the interior, aban
doned their homes. and either received into the
service. supported at the expense Of the Government
"A valuable and fertile portion Of The Territory became
a wilderness, through which the Indians wandered
like Wild beasts seeking their prey. Had these people
been compelled TO remain, 10 picket their houses, to
arm themselves, and form associations Tor the mutual
protection Of their fresdes should have been spared
the recital Of Indian murders and devastaons. This
what is propused 10 be done. General Taylor has
be, directed 10 invite the settlers TO return to their
homes 10 receive them, when there into the service
to cause them surround their houses with stout pick
cts 10 organize them into balaions for mutual defence;
part Of them to be kept under arms, while others are
employed in cultvalng their farms. No doubt tins ar
rangcmen will aid in protecting The country from the
inroads of the savages but the farms which will be 50
occupied will be too sparse 10 form an imPenelrabe bar
rirr 10 the Indians; and il respectfully recommended
that portion of land selected by the officers of Govern.
nent. should be granted TO such settlers as will bind
themselves settle IT, and 10 cultivate and defend
under such regulations shall be made by Tie Execu
tive.
Thut portion Of the army employed in the very i'm
portan and delicate operation Of removing the Chero
KEGS has acted throughout with the activity and zeal
which distinguish this branch OF The public service
The generous and enlightened policy evnced IN the
measures adopted by Congress towards that people,
during the last session, ably and udicously carried
into effect by the General appointed TO conduct their
removal, and his orders were executed, both by the
regular troops and the volunteers, In every instance,
with promptness and praseworlhy humanity The
luc,unce of The Indians TO relnquish the land Of their
birth in the East, and remove to their new homes in
the West, entirely overcome by the judcious
duct of that officer and they departed with ulacrily
under the guidance Of their own chiefs The arrange
ments for this purpose made by General Scott, in COM
pance with his previous instructions, although some.
what costly the Indians themselves, met the entire
appreciation of the Department, it deemed of the
last importance that The Cherokees should remove to the
West voluntarily, and that, their arrival at the place
Of their ultimate destination, they should recur to the
manner in which they had been treated with kind and
grateful feelings Humanity, no less than sound policy,
dictated this towards these children Of the iores
and in carrying out in this instance with an unwuyerDg
hand the resolved upon by the Government,
in the hope OF preserving the Indians and of maintaining
the peace and tranquility of the whites it will always be
gratifying reflect that this has been effected not only
without violence bu, with every proper regard for the
feelings and interests Of that people The unprecedented
drough which afflicted that part of the country during
the past compelled the General TO postpone The
period of departure Of the Indians until very lately but
since they have been their march, the most salisfac
tory intelligence has reached the Department of their
progress, and Of the good order with which, under the
direction Of their Chiefs the parties advancing
towards their permanent homes
The peaceful execution Of the removal of the Chero
KEGS has been interrupted by the reacherous conduct oil
few warriors who had fed to The mountains Of North
Carolina. small party OF Indians, while marching
under the rendezvous took advantage Of the
kindness and humanity of men, who had lent their
thairo nd