Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1838-02-24
TUE BATTLE ON THE KISSINlMEE
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT.
HEAD Quarters, FIRST BRIGApE,
ARMY SOUTH OF THE WlTHLAooocHEE,
Camp about ten miles East of the kissinnmse


Eight p. IN. Goth December, 1891
General A part OF my force left Fort GardnG
on the 10Th inst, and | left with the balance, lex
ccpting small force to protect the supplies al that
tort) On the following morning. and after rapE
march down the kSsimmcc, Of which movement
advised you in my letter of the 10Th, reached il
banks again on the evening of the third aav, abou
fifteen miles above its entrance into Lake Okeeche
kec; and learning from a prisoner | captured on
that day that Alligator, with all the war sPirdS@
tic ScminoIeS, with Sam Jones and one hundred
and seventy five Mcasukies, were encampcl about
twenty-five miles distant, on the east side OF la
Kissmmcc, | crossed the kSslmmee tWAerg | ef|
Captain Munroe with his company, the ponees
pontoncers and large portion of The Delaware H..
dams, who declined going, alleging that their Iet
| and legs were 50 badly cut by the saw pamettotnt
they could not march further the next day, taking
the captured Indian with me as guide, who went
very reluctantly in pursuit of the enemy; and aIjer
passing several cypress Swamps and dense ham
mockS, reached the vicinity of the encmys en-
equipment on the morning Of the 18th; and although
occupying one Of the strongest and most difficult
places to approach and enter in Florida, which, no
doubt had been selected for the purpose Of giving
me battle there, as was informed by prisoner
took the evening previous, but, relying on the va.
Tor Of the officers and soldiers Of nv command, a
moment in bringing them TO action. After making
the necessary arrangements | entered swamp
nearly mile in width, impossible for horse and a.
most 50 for foot, reached the hammock in whd
they were stationed between twelve and one p NJ
when the acton commenced, the enemy openings
| warm tire on the volunteers who composed the first
line, great portion Of whom fell back in rear oIlr
fourth and sixth infantry, which corps, under one d
the warme3t and most destructive fires ever eSpe
renced from Indians particularly the sixth, pressed
| Drward, gained the hammock, and after severe
struggle Tor more than an hour, after being loinel
by the first Infantry, which were held in reserve,
and two companies OF the fourth, that had been de-
iached TO the right, WHO Joined n short time beNt
the close OF the battle, the enemy was completely
routed, and driven in every direction, and were pur-
sued by the troops until near night, and until they
were completely exhausted
The victory was dearly purchased but latfr
myself that the result will be equivalent to the socn-
fee made. The enemy made his greatest efforts to
break the centre othe 9th, killing and woundngev'
cry officer OF four companies, with one exception
and every orderly sergeant OF these companies; XII
ing IT'S gallant commander and adlutani, Who'll
where they louGh IN the hottest of the action, ana
morally woundng the sergeant major, who IS sTtt
dead The next day was employed IN the sad OH
ceS Of lnterrng the dead, and taking care of Tie
wounded, all Of whom were brought back acres
the morass to camp that evening with one exceF
ton, not being able 10 find the body, and in cor
Structng ltters to convey The wounded TO the place
where left my Wagons. am thus far on Inv Wa,
to that point, and shall reach there Tomorrow, wfS
shall take as good care of the wounded as possible
and also recruit my men and horses al my seves
advanced deps,s particularly the latter, before can
again take the field
The enemy, all things considered, probably sui.
tered equally with ourselves They left ten bodies
on the held, besides carrying many of, without
doubt, as there were Traces Of blood to the hams
OF the Okec-cho-kec lake, ON tie borders Of whoa
the battle was fought.
Wishing you health and happiness, | remain, GtH'
era, your obedent servant, Il, TAYLOR,
Colonel Commanding
Maj Gen. L. s. JEsup,
Commanding .4,my Of the South, Florida.
T. ,. As soon as can do so, | will mad you ,
more fun report Of tie battle and my operations
am now writing without a candle, with plnc-kno,n
as substitute, in a cabbage-tree hammock, N '@
centre OF large prairie, on very dirty sheeto pe'
; per- WINCH is the only one in camp.
John b. Norris, of Mobile, Thomas 0~ep'
Of TUSCALOOSA, and Thomas Brandon, Of lions
vile, have been appointed by the Governor, Com,
: missioners 10 examine the State Bank and y
Branches, under law passed at the late sessSS4
of the Legislature. -
The Florence Gazette states, that the v"
! around the Muscle Shoals is completed, 6uf'a
, dy for USE Several boats passed ihTOheh i n
I week. steamboat built expressly flor the ca''~
IS eXpectedroopd by the first sfnext month";
h The recent session of tbe/ Tennessee Legs
ture is said to have heed marked by most Hue
c al and enlightened sPFtto Of legislation. lhe P =,
visions for Edysaiion and 'fBisrnal ImProVenle''
The two greprconservat i've sources-of The nap y
ness an46rosperity oftAe people. have been "
D magnificent scale. =
, The population of Irehnd is probably az =,
Sy500,000. OF which lumber, as nearly - M N
E be ascertsined, seven millions are Roman 0'"'
hes, and one million and half PIoicslans'