The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1839-06-06
CEN. MAcOMB's REPORT

ur.n Qrssrrns en- TaK AKnr o. TIE y. :.
Fsn Klar. Flsrila. Mss n. isss }
sm: Asfsesbly 10 the Instructions J
had Ihe honor 70 receive from your hands |
a. Washington. on the 20th Of March
l,st. \ Lost DO time in repairing 10 Flo
rids. aud arrived a Black Greek. The &C.
neral depot Of The army. on the 5ih Of A.
pnI. There \ had The good fortune 10
mees with Brigsdier General Taylor. The
Of The forces in this Terrific
nv, thea 90 . tour Of inspection and re-
view Of The troops. and. Al the same Time.
engaged in his plan Of dividing the eoun-
lry nearest 10 lie settlements into squares
Of tweniy miles. and establishing posts
thereon. This fortunate meeting enabled
me 10 place in Ihs hands Of General u.
a copy Of your instructions. and 10 give
him orders 10 eooPersie with me IN
carrying those Instructions into effect. d.
recIing his attention particularly 10 the
protection Of the settlements along The
line from Gsrey's Ferry 10 Tallahassee.
aud west Of the latter place, authorizing
him al The same time % call into service
such force Of militia ss mentioned in
your instructions. General TAYLOR. hav.
ing with him interpreters and Indians
connected with the hostile parties by ties
Of consequently and inlsrmsrrisge. was
desired 10 open, il possible. eomnuni-
cation with Them. and thereby make them
acquainted with The fact Of my arrival in
the country. and my wish 10 see the
chiefs and warriors ., this pos, by the
lsi Of May instant. TO hold conference
With them. Colonel Twiggs. who was
then commanding Al Garsy's Ferry. hav.
ing military su,horily over Q eonsidera.
bic extent Of country. was also made se'
qusinied with my instructions. and he
rendered ready and efficient aid in fur.
,hering nv views. Colonel Warren. Of
jacksonville. who heretofore had CON.
msnd OF The militia serving in Florida.
and was highly recommended 10 me on
account Of his efficiency and activity ss
an officer. was invited 10 raise and lake
eommsnd. ss Lieutenant Colonel. Of o
battalion Of mounted militia. 10 assist in
The defence Of the settlements east Of the
Suwsnnee. and sxpsl the Indians. Al
though quite announcement 10 him nj that
time. on account Of his private affairs.
the Colonel very promptly complied with
my wishes. Ia The mean while. Gener.
81 Taylor Was making arrangements with
The Governor Of Florida in raising. Tor
the defence Of the settlements on the
west Of Suwannee. . military force. Not
wiIhsisnding all these measures. the In.
Jians. dividing themselves into small par
lies, penetrated the settlements. commit.
ted some murders, and cred from their
covers on the expresses and passengers
going from post To post
Under ihese indicstions. IL vas The re.
neral belief that no communication could
be opened wi1h the hostile parties. espe
eislly ss il had been given out tina, the
Indians would on no account receive any
messengers. but would destroy any per.
son thai might approach them with .
dag. This threat having been executed
more than once, confirmed the opinion
that IL vas worse than useless To attempt
10 communicate with them. Finding 81
Gsrey's Ferry a party Of prisoners, con.
sisling OF one man. and two we'll grown
lads, and q number Of women and chill.
dren. amounting in all to eighteen. il &C.
CURED to me that. BY treating them kind.
ly. might. through their ins,rumen,aIi.
~, communicate with tie hostile bands.
Accordingly. sci them al liberty. and
sent them into the country in search Of
their friends. sha, they might make
known 10 them and the Indians genrr.
ally, the object oil my coming among
them. General Taylor also sent gu, his
Indians. in whose sincerity and honesty
he had grea, contidence. This first al
tempt 10 open a communication entirely
failed. General Tsylor's Indians having
left him and joined the hostile party
below Tampa. and those sent by me
returned wi.hou. seeing any whs,ever.-
-. 80 ssssu ashSt tSFottS WIZ tCCCtNs
ed OF the continued hosiilities Of the IN.
dams. and Of their stacking defenceless
people and killing them. According to
my previous notification that I would
DC .. this post by the LIST Of May. I
left Garsy's Ferry on The 25,h OF April,
with guard OF dragons, taking with
me 'he prisoners previously mentioned,
and again sent them of in search Of
their friends; bu. 10 vas not (after re-
msining here) until The 9th ins,sn, tina,
any Indians called 10 visit me.
Knowing the sIo~ness of the Indians
IN performing any matter OF national
importance, | did no, yield 10 the ne.
neral belief that none would attend nv
invitation. and ] had the qualification 10
receive visit from q young chief Of
considerable importance. accom- panied by
seven young active warriors. l explained
70 the chief the objec, Of my mission.
telling him that his grea, father (,he
a