Litchfield enquirer., 1841-02-18

ported that another party was coming on the
same track that they came. The Colonel
sent out Lieuts. Rankin and Ord, Il accom-
panying,) to intercept them, but after walt
ing until nearly sun set, we had TO return
without meeting any of them. AS soon as
the sun went down, the camp was broken up
and we were again on the water. The night
was very dark and rainy, and the guide
could, with the greatest difficulty, keep IN
the trail When we were within few miles
of the Island, the Colonel sent Lieuts. RAN
kin and Ord ahead to surprise the Island
They did not reach it until some time after
sun rise but such was the confidence of the
Indians in their own security, that our party
were not discovered until they had crept up
into their camp, and commenced firing. One
warrior was shot dead, and two WARRIORS
one boy, and five squaws and children were
taken prisoners. Chakika, who was chopplng
wood, threw down his axe and ran OFT howl
ing; but his hour had come; notwithstand-
ing his herculean strength, he could not es-
cape. Hall, one of the dragons, pursued
him alone when all the men were exhausted,
fred and killed him, took his scalp and re-
turned. Two warriors escaped, and Lieut..
Ord discovering their trail, pursued them to
another Island, about four miles distant,
where there were a number Of SquawS and
three or four warriors. On his approach,
the Indians hoisted white flag, and called
to John to come up and talk but while he
was approaching with Lieut.. Ord, he was
shot through the thigh, and at the same time
one of the Dragons, (Allen) was dangerous
ly wounded in the thigh, and Turner in the
leg A great number of balls were hred AT
Lieut.. Ord, but none struck him.
In approaching. the men had to wade
about two miles in water and mud up to their
hips; and when they came up. were so much
exhausted and their guns nearly all wet,
that they had to retire under the cover Of IA
small scrub, about four hundred yards dis
tant When Col. Harvey heard the firing,
he sent Lieut.. Rankin and myself with two
canoes, to his assistance, and when we had
got within about mile of Lieut.. Ord. we met
John all bloody, who reported that one man
was killed, and that they were firing rapidly,
and that we could not approach with our ca
noes. We Immediately jumped out and
fastened forward as rapidly as we could
through the deep mud and water. When
we got up, Lieut.. Rankin attempted to charge
with his men, but three of them were wound
ed at the first fire, and he was forced to re-
tire and await the arrival of Col. Harney.-
The balls flew thick around our heads, and
the Indians behaved with great deal of
GOODNESS. Their object in firing was to give
the squaws time to escape. When Col. llar-
ney came up, we charged the Island, but
they had all escaped from the back part,
and taken off most of their plumber. The
circumstances were very unfortunate to the
expedition, as the Indians who escaped COM
municated the intelligence to the other ISL
ands, and put them on their guard. Shortly
after our return to Chokika's Island, a canoe
was seen approaching with two Indians in it.
The Colonel Immediately despatched Lieut..
Rankin with canoes, to pursue them; but,
before he got up they had approached and
taken an Indian or Spaniard who was con-
cealed in the high grass. and fastened off,
Lieut.. Rankin pursued them closely for
about three miles, and gained on them so
closely that rifle was fired by the Indians,
and the bali passed very near Lieut.. r. I'm
fortunately the boat dipped, and the guns all
got wet, and the pursuit was discontinued
We are now laying here to give the men
some rest as they have almost all given out,
having been in hot pursuit for several days.
Col. Harvey went out about half an hour ago
after Chakika's body, and discovering sail
approaching, he hid his canoes in the grass
until they came up, and captured one warri-
or and squaws and children-which makes
our whole number of killed and captured,
twenty five. We have now crossed the long
tabled and unknown Everglades, at least as
far as we can go in boats in this direction.
miles along the border, running northeast
and southwest-the great resor, for the In.
dams, where they built their canoes. This
evening, the Colonel had our two prisoners
exalted TO the top Of one of the look out trees,
with the body Of Chakika by their side. We
found in Chakika'S camp II large quantity Of
plumber, consisting of cloths, linens, calicos,
ready made clothing, all kinds Of tools. pow
der, &c. &c. and had an auction OF them,
which amounted to upwards Of $500. The
articles were stolen from Indian Key at the
time of the massacre. We also got fine
barge, and great quantity OF coonti.
We have among the captives his mother,
sister and wife. Left Chakika's Island about
10 o'clock this morning. and arc now return
ing as far rs IntaskG, in u south easterly di-
rection, when we changed our course to the
southwest to make for the sen. r ..H#
18th Dec.-We continued our course to the
southeast until We passed Intaska, when we
changed direction one point to the west Of
south, and encamped, at sunset on an Island
of about three acres in extent. Met with
nothing here except an innumerable host of
mosquitoes. The sister of Chokika informed
us that there were three Spaniards in the
Everglades, who supplied the Indians with
salt and ammunition, one of them, Domingo,
advised them to attack Indian Key, and in
sured their success-started about ii o'clock
this morning in q southwest direction, and
had not gone more that five miles when we
approached II small island, on which we had
no idea that there were Indians, but on com
ing up we found large yawl boat, killed
two Indian men, and took one old squaw and
seven children prisoners. Licutenants Ran.
l. ~ L