Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-01-03
From The Savannah Georgian
From the OkefinolSan

cessl6ie and unknown region. 1t will b. , a'
that Gen Floyd passed through il fro~ - q Seen H
to N. E. and that he has discovered ,ba D. w.
which has hitherto served as a strono boI lJ'al
lurking place to the blood thirsty indiana N.u .G ana
his excursion of blood and thunder ''' "'eF
TRADER HILL, Nov. I'm ,Ooo
On the 9Th inst, | left here with on IC'S g.
Companies Of my regiment, Zone monn, 'y 'ouI
the rest on foot) for fort GiImcr on tho S aud
nee river, distant f(tysix miles, and or nS"a,
there on the 9th. On the 7th and S,h er rreu
ned the country and proposed 10 enter Inc N Onn
fnokee which is twenty-one miles from T rn.,
Gilmer. On the 9th, hi wing added one c ,Ua'
pany Of us Dragons, (dismounteA and ,",.
companies OF volunteers to my small force, and
stationed small attachments on the border Of
the Suwanee TO prevent the re-escape Of ,ho
enemy | marched from fort Gilmer for ,bo
Okefnokee, on the eastern bank of the Suwa
nee, and reached the edge of the swami on 3
the 10th, and on the same day built picket
fort for depot for provisions, and called i .
fort Tatnall. On the II It'll sent back TO for,
Gilmer my baggage train, cavalry horses,,eut
and camp equipage, and leaving a Lieutenant
and fifteen men at fort Tanall, entered the Oke.
inokee, and after marching about four miles
(halfthe distance through muddy and disma
swamps) arrived at an island called by the H.
dams, Chepueky On this island is an old field
and the remains of an Indian town called Che.
puckytulofa, which means Chepucky stown.-|
On the western edge Of the island is a small
lake, which | supposed TO be connected with the
Suwanee near its source. Built fort on the
island and called it Sort Walker in compl.
ment TO gallant officer. entered the swamp
at fort Tatnall on what is called the old mick
asuky trail, which was followed by Capt Beae
last August about three and half miles into
the swamp beyond fort Walker. Being I'm.
prepared to 60 further, he turned back, having
gone further into the swamp than any other
white man up to that time. The trail follow.
ed by Capt. Beale was supposed to lead 10 an
island about the centre of the swamp, celebra
ted In indian tradition, and which supposed to
be nj II exlsted) the head quarters of the enemy
Nov 18th sent one hundred men with a guard
to bring in our provisions from fort TatnaIl to
fort Walker on their shoulders and sIung on
poles, the trail being impossible to horses.
This arduous duty was handsomely perform.
ed, 18th marched from the island with about
$50 men, leaving captain and Twenty-Five
men at fort Walker. Our course was N. E.
with very little variation for eight and half
hours through one of the most horrible swamps
OH the face of the earth. Below was mud and
water sometimes nearly waist deep) and roots
and logs, and above and round were briars,
vines and bushes, forming altogether obstacles
that no language can accurately describe
Each MAJ carried five days provisions, moth
ing else save his arms and ammunition. In the
evening, (havng marched by our calculation
twelve or fourteen miles from fort Walker) wei
emerged from the swamp and entered the ISL
and which we sought never before beheld by
the eyes OF white man. 1t was, as expected
the head quarters ofthe enemy.
we found their camp and town with com
Portable houses, but the enemy had gone by
their signs about two months ago. Encamped
IN beautiful hammock Of live oak and laurel
trees. 18th, explored the island and burnt the
Indian town. The island (which my officers
have named Floyd's Island, and by which name
It will hereafter be KNOWN is about 60 miles
long, very high and shaped like crescent, one
end pointing to the west and the other to The
north, the concave side fronting N. w. On
this side OF the island is an extensive prairie,
level as lake, and covered with short grass,
and adorned with beautiful islands from which
over the prairie) the woods on the border Of
The swamp may be seen about 60 miles distant
10 the ). W. and ~ w. The Okefnokee, ia.
stead OF being barren waste, contains some
Of the best lands in Georgia. Floyd's island
appears to divide the source of the Little ST.
Mary'S rver from the Suwanee. Deer, bear.
ana turkeys are numerous on the island, ana
thousands OF wild geese and ducks are on the
pralrles. In the deep swamps there is no sign
d either deer or other large animals, and Dbl
lew birds arc seen.
18th, sent one company back 10 fort Walker
md marched early with the rest from the ISL
md, determined to force passage if possible
o the main land in. N E. direction. For
eleven and half hours we begged through
mud and water, sometimes entangled in vines
'rlars and thickets, and sometimes in open
'onds and praries: at times we were bewlIder,
"a, our provisions were nearly exhausted ana
We were in wilderness unknown TO us; out
vas determined not to turn back, SO dreaoiu'
vas the swamp over which we had passed
several times sent men up trees 10 look ou
Or land, for we felt as if we were on the ocean
nd at last, near sunset we we're reJolced at sec
lg the green tops of pine trees over the gloomy
ypress, about five miles distant II was loHs
fter dark before we emerged from the swamp
nd when we reached dry land, we were Inc
,oot v,,earohla o.aat,,rao That GUAR xvn liked on
70 legs; wet, hungry, and neurly dead IRON
'tigue. On the march several men were DOg
ed SO deep that it required two men to pun
lem out, and many on landing were wlthou.
and shoes, these articles being torn