Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-02-15

ted in pursuit Of him when he ran, but owing to
me suction OF The bog, only Hall could keep up.
NO wonder that when the expedition reached
rlrer That led 10 The sen they gave three cheers
This exploring of the Everglades is considered of
great Importance, for il breaks the cIiarnlal The
indian's security, in showing that they are no lon
ger inaccessible to the white nun. 1t proves That
there Is passage across the peninsula, communi-
eating with the Atlantic and the Gulf.
9h Dec Yesterday about ~ o'clock, when
some were asleep and nlI were silent, awaiting the
time of starting, the Colonel called out from the
lfop OF tree, that two canoes were approaching
the Island OH the south side. In moment, all
were up with their guns in hand the boats were
silently approaching, aud we being on The north
side, Lieut.. Rankin was Immediately ordered 10
man four canoes, and move slowly along To meet
them. The grass wus so high that the Indians
dd not discover him until within n few hundred
yards, when they immediately wheeled their Ca
noes and made off with all their strength. But
there was no GLIDING our Snake-like boas. an! our
fried soldiers They made the boats fairly Jump
out of the wafer. When, within short dishnce,
and seeing the Indians approaching deep body
OF sead grass our soldiers commenced running
hre, and soon disabled one OF the men and over
hauled him. The boats halted at the Sead grass
AMI the Indians leaped out but our men were as
quick as they were, aud pursued them through II
Tor some distance to pond, where they disabled
another, and accidentally wounded squaw, who
was endeavoring to escape with her child on her
back. In another direction, they overhaued a
squaw with n girl about ~ years old, and Two
small children: making in all eight persons. None
OF them were killed; and as soon we could
get them through the mud TO the boats, we return
ed. Col. Harvey was looking on at the race from
the top of tree and made the Island ring with
his cheering. AS soon as Lieut.. Rankin started |
got canoe and followed on and joined in the pur-
SUIT, but did not get TIP before they had got into
the When wa returned The ISlanU the
Colonel ordered a rope to be made ready e. swung
The TWO warriors TO the top Of tall tree, where
they now hang, darky painted on the crimson
sky" The Indians report that Chakika is on an
island five miles from this with strong iorce and
we will start about dark to attack him. Captain
Davidson has been sick ever since we started, and
he is now i'll that it is feared will have TO re-
turn on his account.
Dec. 10Th. The squaw is dead she died about
IL O'Clock. aud we buried her on the island
shortly after, the other sguaw reported that an
other Fariy was coming on the same truck that
they came. phe Colonel sent out Lieuts Kan
KIN and Ord, { accompanying to intercept them,
hut after waiting 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 We
ny dark aud rainy and the guide could, with the
greatest difficulty keep in the trail. When we
were within few miles of the island, the Colon
the island. They did not reach it until some tune
after SUNRISE hut 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
sl,aws AMI children were taken prisoners Cha
kika who was chopping wood, threw down his
axe and ran off bowling; but his hour had come
Notwithstanding his herculean strength, he could
not escape. Hail. one Of the Dragons, pursued
him alone when oil the men were exhausted, fir
ed aud Killed him, took his scalp and returned.-
Two warriors escaped, and Lieut.. Ord discover
my their trail, pursued them 10 another Island
about four miles distant, where there were num-
her OF squaws and three or four warriors. On
his approach, the Indians hosled white flag, and
called TO John To come up and talk but while he
was approaching with Lieut.. Ord, he was sho
through the thigh, and at the same time one oil
the Dragons, (Allen) was dangerously wounded
IN the thigh, and Turner in the leg. a great mum.
Der OF balls were fired 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 AM
their guns nearly all wet, that they had to retire
under the cover Of small scrub, about lour hun
dred yards distant. When Col. Harvey heard thu
firing, he sent Lieut.. Rankin and myself with two
canoes, to his assistance, and when we had 90
within about mile of Lieut.. Ord, we met JOIN
al! bloody, who reported that man was killed
and that we could not approach with bur canoes
We immediately jumped out and FASTENED Tor
ward as rapidly as we could through the deeI
mud and water. When we got up, Lieut.. Ran
kin attempted TO charge with his men, but three
of them were wounded at the first fire, and b,
was forced TO retire and await the arrival of Col
Harvey. The balls flew thick around our heads
and the Indians behaved with great deal Of cool
ness Their object in firing was to give tht
Nhan al
up, we charged the island, but they had all esca
ped from the back part, and taken off most o
their plumber. Tue circumstances were very I'M
fortunate 10 the expedition, The Indians who es
capped communicated the intelligence to other Isl
ands, and put them on their guard. Shortly ate
our return to Cakdka's Island a canoe was seer
approaching with two Indians IN it. The Colon
ell Immediately despatched Lieut. Rankin with Gu
noes, 10 pursue them; but before ha got up the,
had approached and taken m Indian or SpantdI
who was concealed in The high grass, and hasten
ed off. Lieut. Rankin pursued them closely TO
about three miles, aud gained on them so clssel,
that rifle was fired by the Indians, and The bal
passed very near Lieut.. X. Unfortunately the boa
dipped, and the guns all got wet, aud the pursui
was discontinued. We are now laying here t,
give the men some rest, as they have almost al
given out, having been in hot pursuit for severa
days. Col Harvey went out about hslf an hou
ago after Chdkika'S body, and discovering sal
approaching, nc ma his canoes IN the grass uni
they came up, and captured one warrior and
squaws and chdren-which makes our Who'll,
number of killed and captured, twenty-five. ",
have now crossed the long fabled and unknown
Everglades, at least ms iiir MS we Gun go in boat
in this direction. A large cypress swamp extend.
for many miles along the border, running norii
east and south wesl--the great esort for The In
dians, where they built their canoes. This eve
ming, the Colonel had our two prisoners exalted
to the top OF ono of the lookout trees with The
body OF Chakika by their side. We found III
Chakkd's camp large quantity OF plumber, con
sislug OF cloths, linens, caicos, ready made clio
thing, all kinds Of tools, powder, &c. &C.; and
had an auction of them, which amounted 10 up
wards of $500. The articles were stolen from
Indian Key at the Time of the massacre. We al.
so got fine barge, and great quantity of coon
H.
We have among the captives his mother, sister
and wife. Left Chakika's Island about 10 O'Clock