Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1840-06-26
r. G.. Ashton,
.7ctiR" assistant .7djDtaAt- Gcncrat,
EuSE. DiStrfct, .Jrny ot the S0Hih
HEAD QUARTERS, I'd INFANTRY,

HEAD Quarters, I'd lSFASrRY,
FoRr kISG, June 9, $40.
Sir have the honor to report that, pursuant TO
your order of the 20lh May, $40, ! started from this
post in the direction Of the WIthlacoochec on the morn.
lnr OF the Goth ult., with my command, composed, OF
Captain MasOn's company of mounted volunteers, a
detachment of company D., lst infantry, and detach-
ment from A, b, c, d., E, II, | and X companies ofthe
I'd infantry, amounting in all 10 two hundred and sixty
one men. Passing the head of the Paunee-sute-kcc on
the morning of the 3lst ult, the advanced guard, un-
der the command Of Captain Mason, came upon an In
dian warrior, and succeeded in making hun prisoner.
lnterroaating him, / learned that there were but two
small parties of Indians in the vicinity Of the Wlthla-
cochce, that they were cultlvatlng IN the Nahoo; and
bv his guidance, succeeded in reaching one of them
within a couple of hours after capturing the prisoner,
where he said he had lett hive warriors with their squaws
and children. On my arrival, | found that the Indians
had discovered our approach, and made their escape into
the borrv swamps Of Wahoo. Scouting IN the vicinity,
found thirty acres of corn, peas, pumpkins ana melons,
which | caused to be thoroughly destroyed, On the
afternoon of The same day, | sent Lieut.. Powell, with
fifty men and the company of volunteers, TO the boggy
hammock, "a part ofthe Wahoo, near the forks ct the
WithlacoocleeD where the Indian prisoner stated that
the second party oflndiaus were cultivating, with orders
to surprise them if possible.
During the night Lieutenant Powell and party re-
turned. reporting there we're fields to the extent OF
fifteen or twenty acres under cultivation, but that the
Indians had left them several days previous. On the
lst inst. Captain Casey, and Lieutenant 1crrelt, with
seventy men, destroyed the fields discovered by Lieut.
Powell the day before, and secuted through that part
Of the Waboo without making any further discoveries
On the I'd moved the command to the old ford OF
the Withlaoochc, about twenty miles below Fort Dadc,
where parted from the wagons, left Il guard OF fifty
men for their protection, under command Of Lieutenant
Powell, and proceeded TO the Che co-chatta Savannah,
where surprised an Indian Camp, killed three war.
riors and took three warriors. 1t is a source OF much
regret to me that | have to report one squaw among the
killed. She was taken for n warrior by one ofthe ro-
lunteers in the advance, and fired upon by hum, as she
was endea voring 10 make her escape. From tlfteen 10
twenty acres of corn, peas, &c. in the vicinity of the
camp were destroyed
Just before one o'clock on the morning OF The Sd INST
in spite OF every precaution that had been taken to Sc
cure him, the Indian made prisoner near The Paunee-
sutc-kcc, effected his escape from the body OF the guard,
and was fired upon hy the sentinel placed over ann,
which caused a commotion in camp, during winch Sc
veral guns were fired along the line INTO the hammock
near which the command was encamped; and uniortt-
natcly, the night being dark, Captain Mason, of volun-
tcers, who had shown himself a Jealous and active 9TH
Ger, received a wound from a wager ball, which caused
his death in a very few minutes.
On the I'd inst, came upon another camp, in Cho-
co.chattec region, of considerable extent, from which
forty or fifty Indians had escaped several hours before,
DESTROYING their huts, ten or fifteen hogs, some packs,
and thirty acres of fine corn, peas, pumpkins, and me-
Ions, lust ripcning. retraced nv steps 10 the wagons;
having convinced myself that there were no other
camps in that region, and taking three days provision
from them, next proceeded IN the direction OF the An
nattee Sega hammock, and secured it in different direc-
tons, going as far west as the Fort Clinch road, cap
turing a squaw, her child, and two ponies, and destroy
me a small field of corn, &c. Finding that most of the
trails in that region were running south, and several
weeks old, deemed it a waste of time and labor 10 re.
main out any longer, and consequently returned to my
wagons, put the command in motion, and arrived here
this morning between : and q o clock.
| would add, that the guide sent out with my COM
mand was of no use whatever.
| have the honor 10 be, sir, very respectfully, your
obedicnt servant, b. RILEY,
1t. Col. I'd Inf. com 9 Diet.
Col. D. +. Twrccs, cong East. Dist. Army Of the
Snnth Fort KIM