Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1839-04-25
FLORIDA.

FLORIDA.
We make the following extracts from
Letters writtep by a resident Of Florida, 10
certain gentlemen of this neishborhood.
Jefferson County, M. Florida, !
April Sth, 1889.
The public Journals have no doubt in
formed you, that the theatre of savage war
fare has been changed from the everglades,
cyprus ponds. &c. TO the delightful settle
meuts of Middle Florida. Blood and car
mage have marked their footsteps. Scarce
Iy week bul brings in its course, or at its
close, the dreadful and hearl-rendins intel.
l,gence, that yet another confding family
is offered up TO appease the insaliale crav-
ings of some demon God.
How long shall This devouring serpent. de-
spoil This fowery Eden? How long shall
band of lawless savages, defy this Govern
nent, and sport with the lives Of its des
fenceless inhabitants? The annals of the
world from the earliest strifes and ieuds Of
Gauls. and Vandals, down 10 the present
moment, cannot produce single parallel.
The death ofune citizen by another power,
was considered by the Roman Empire a
sufficient cause of war. Shall dollars and
cents be counted against the lives of vir,u-
ous and loyal citizens? The U. States are
able 10 GU, down every bush in Florida,
and destroy this band of murderers in three
months. But enough.
Deep and general excitement pervades
this County. Scarcely man goes, even
On his plantation without arms, and no one
can point out the next victim. Some have
fed the country, some are forted, while
others have fed 10 Monticello, and other
places of supposed security, for the prolec-
liOn of their families, and perhaps before
this imperfect sketch reaches :he kind
friend for whom it is intended, another,
and yet another of these bloody tragedies
may be acted in unfortunate Florida!
Should war with Great Britain sue
ceed the ruin of Florida will be complete.
A country that has about as many blacks
as whites, and already greatly annoyed by
the most war-like savages, known in the
world, could not sustain itself; when, in
addition to the above, there are hordes of
Priyateers, and West India Pirates. and
well appointed British Officers. and train
ed regulars to cooperate with and lead on
10 baltle, these indefatigable Indians.
FATE has fixed my destiny here for The
present, and cannot think Of flying The
country and leave my property thus ex-
posed; and to remove my negroes al this
time, would, as mentioned in letter to
another friend. subject me to a sacrifice of
from u to Is thousand dollars, for must
lose my growing crop, about 30U0 bushels
Of old corn, and every thing that l shoult
leave behind, would be burnt up aud de-
stroyed by the Indians. have therefore
come to the conclusion, to remain here and
defend my properly to the last extremity.
l have strong and we'll constructed Fort,
and so has my son, and we will endeavor
to defend them as men contending for life,
property and reputation"
"April7.
On last Wednesday night party of In
dians attacked The house of Capt. Scot,
about Is or 2U miles to the S. w. of this
place, and succeeded in killing visiting
lady, Mrs. Perrine, and a negro woman, &
woundiug a little son of Col. VIM. Bailey,
who with his mother was on visit. Capt.
Scott and another gentleman were sit
tins in the back piazza, when the Indians
fred into The house; these gentlemen in
siantly ran into the room, and each of them
seized gun just as The frs, Indian sprane
into the house. Captain Scott shot him
down, aud he fell his whole length on the
floor. The other Indians, who had been
striving TO enter the house, drew him out,
leaving his gun behind, and ran off with
him, while the other gun was discharged
at the whole group within very short dis
tance. 1t is believed, from the signs OF
blood and the short distance, that one.
two, or three were severely wounded, and
perhaps one olthem killed. They retreat
ed as fast as they could carry the dead
and wounded. This gang is supposed to
contain 35 Indians. !, is said that fresh
signs have been recently discovered in a
place called the Brier-patcb, within about
five miles Of Monticello, and that large
body of citizens were to meet this day for
the purpose Of securing it,
Congressional Candidates.-The edi
tors of the Western Caroliniau, in au ar