The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1839-12-07
From the Amy and Navy Chronicle, for Nov.

FLORIDA WAR.-The season for active
operations having returned, and the public
mind, in the army as well as out OF it,
being somewhat agitated by the contradlc-
tory nature of the reports in circulation,
VIC have made inquiry that we might In
form our readers what measures were con-
templated in the approaching campaign.
Gen. Taylor, by the jealous and intel
ligcnt discharge of his duties, having CIV
en- satisfaction the Department will con-
tinue in command.
The troops now in Florida are the third
regiment of artillery, sixth and seventh
regiments of infantry. The third artillery
having been much reduced will be sent to
the north, and be reHevcd* by the first
artillery, which has been recruited and is
now full. The companies of the second
dragons that arrived at New York in the
spring being now full also, will return to
Florida; and the regiments of infantry will
remain.
It's intended to drive the enemy out of
the settlements by occupying the country
within ard north of line drawn from
PiIatkpto the north of the Withlacoochee,
including Fort King, thence along the
western coast to the Appalachicola; and
by maintaining posts as low down as the
mouth of the Withlacoochee. The in
habitants will be armed, and the defence
of their firesides and neighborhoods con-
fdcd to them, with such assistance from
the regulars as occasion may call for
The posts on the Atlantic coast and at
Tampa Bay will be continued, with such
others as the commanding General may
find expedient.
Experience having mournfully proved
the i'm mpracticability of forcing the Indians
from their swamps and hammocks, so
familiar to them but inaccessible to US, no
further attempts will at present be made:
leaving time and the gradual spread of the
settlements the accomplishment Of an ob-
jcct unattainab!c by arms.
The reports SO extensively circulated,
of conferences between the Secretary of
War and Major Generals Macom5 ani
Scott, are entirely without foundation: no
such conference; having been held
Equally unfoundad is that Of sending
segen Mousund troops to Florida; # all
OUR regulars, now out of the territory,
were taken from their present stations,
thcv would not amount to the number
named. The northern, northwestern and
southwestern frontiers are quite as much
exposed, and stand as much III need OF
defence, as does the territory OF Florida.
There has been no dcsi iSn entertained here
tofore of sending the eighth infantry to
Florida, its presence being considered cs-
sential to the maintenance of neutrality
on the borders of Canada. The 4th a.
tillery will be stationed between Cleveland,
Ohio, and Fort Gratiot; and the second
artillery will be divided between Fort
Niagara and Buffalo.
1t is believed that some additional small
vessels Will be built or purchased, and
sent to the coast of Florida, to prevent
deprcdations by the Indians upon wrecked
vessels and their crews.
Connected with the foregoing remarks.
a retrospect of recent events In Florida
will moi be inappropriate.
During the lastsession of Congress an
appropriiation OF $4,000 was mate 'tor
the purpose of holding a treaty with the
Seminole Indians" In virtue of that ap-
propriation General Macomb was sent to
Florida; and being the General in Chief
of the army, it was thought that his rank
would have more weight and influence
with the Indians than civilian could
have. General NJ. held conferences with
some of the chiefs, and finally entered IN
to an agreement 0here was no written
trat,O Chito .Tustenuggee, the acknowl-
edged successor of Arpiucki, or Sam
Jones; (thc latter, it is understood, has
never he'd or exercised any military COM
mand, but stands in the light of a coun-
sellor among his tribe9 One of tine st'pu-
Iations of this agreement was the estab-
lishmcnt of trading post near the mouth
of the Synabcl river. The mission of
Col. Harvey, to carry into effect this ST.
1c tho