The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-03-27
SECOND EXPEDITION OF COL. HARVEY
IN THE EVERGLADES. FLORIDA

in THE EVERGLADES, FLORIDA
The following letter, from gentleman in Florida,
to his friends in this city, dated Tampa Bay March
10, comprises journal of Col HARNEYs latest expe-
dtion to the Everglades in pursuituf SAM JONES, and
is furnished by an officer, who accompanied Col. Fl.
II will show the great enterprise and endurance that
are requisite on the part of those who exert themselves
in the protracted and extraordinary contest with the
savages of Florida Charleston Courier.
On the lst of January, 194l, Lieut.. Col w. S.
Harvey started second time for the Everglades with
force of 20 dragoons 70 3d. artillery with four off
GERS OF the line, and 4O marines and sailors under the
command of Capt. MLAUGHLiN and the officers Of
the Flirt, Wape, and Otsego, U. S. Schooners With
the exception of foul or five large canoes CARVING
from SIX to ten men each, the force was distributed in
small canoes made expressly for the purpose and car
rylng hive men each The orders of the day directed
| that each man should be provided with twenty days
ratons, sixty rounds of ball cartridge and the neces
sary blankets, &c. The most perfect silence TO he pre
served by every one; orders TO be communicated by
signal whistles with which the officers were sunnlied
the boats when mogng IN single file open order 10 he
Kept twenty PAGES apart and every man ready TO drou
his paddle and seize his musket at a moments notice
Inc Dragons were armed with CoLTs repeating rife
and, being under the command of Col III f,Tmeda
well tried band of experienced Indian FIGHTERS HaIf
an hour alter sunset and during shower of rain The
command left Fort Dallas which is situated on the Raw
at the mouth of the Indian river eight miles above
Key Biscayne; Col. H. in advance with Mico 80
guide and negro John as interpreter the army next
and the navy in the After passing ND the Bay
seven miles, we entered the mouth Of Little river
tortuous and extremely rapid outlet from the Ever
gades and struggled against the current until after
midnight, when we reached first resting Mace the
site OF old plantation, and landed Gannary 81
The guide says that by not starting from here until
towards evening" will reach ChItto- tustenuooee'
island an hour or two before daybreak, tomorrow we
therefore renamed as we were, much as possible
concealed In the grass and thickets until four p
when we again started but in reversed order the Col
In advance, the navy next and the army in tie rear
ltmay be as well to mention here that throuohout the
expedition the army and navy aIternated in order of
precedence the Col however, always al the head of
the column. After passing up a few miles Of yery
swift rapids, we entered the everglades at sunset and
skiring along projecting elbow of the Pine Barren
for two miles, lay concealed behind the point of un
Ill 1t was quite dark We then moved forward swiftly
and nolseessly at one time following the course of
serpcntine Channels opening out occasionally into
beautiful agoons, at another forcing our way through
barriers OF tall saw grass After several hours hard
paddllng we came In sight of Chittos island and the
signal was passed " to close up" Approaching cauti-
ousy we took positions around the island and Law
in anxious expectation of the signal move up and eff
feet landing" An advance guard having been sent
In To econnoltre after time reported that the enc
my had eil the Island, and in of bitter dsap-
pointment, the Colonel gave the word move up and
land, the Indians have ESCAPED"
January 3D. Chitto-tustenuggee's or Snake War |
riors island is beautiful spot containing from
10 to ~ acres the soil is extremely rich and about
two feet deep lying rotten lime stone The CEN
is cleared, but the circumference is well protected
by immense live oak and wild fig trees and an almost
impenetrable thlcket of mangroves There are two |
towns, Two dancing grounds and one council lodge |
on tins island; with the exception of the dancing
ground and small patch Of fine Cuba tobacco, the
whole clearing is overrun with pumpkin SQUASH and
melon wines, with occasionally Lima beans in great
luxurlance and of most excellent quality The In-
dams have been gone at least two weeks and have
le behind them all useless articles such war dance
Masks supernumcrary baskets kettles fishing spears
bows, &C. At III A. M the Colonel despatched a |
small force TO reconnoitre Tusconee's island which |
lies about three miles west of us they returned at
Z. M, and reported recent signs of man. woman |
ana cnild. The only trophies they had obtained, |
were some years of green and few stalks of SUI
gar cane.
January 4th. Started at 9 A. M, for Sam Jones'
island he is said to have 20 warriors with him. and
TO Mold strong position; the only fear, however en-
teTtaned either by the officers or men, is that he too
may nave seen fit to desert his island and beake him
sell TO the Big Cypress. After padding until 3 p. !
M we reached small cluster oftrees from the tops
OF which the guide said that Sans camp was visible;
ne was accordingly sent up aIot to make an observa
hon, and soon pronounced the place deserted.
Ihis information altered the Colonel's plans, and
instead of waiting until night should conceal his
movements, he advanced Immediately towards the
lsandi at the same time, however not emitting the
Precaution of sending of hanking parties and an ad
vance guard to reconnoitre Before sunset we had all
landed, and were enjoying our bacon and biscuit in
the midst of an Indian village. January 5th Sam
Jones possessions consist Of group of several
islands differing in size, and separated by narrow
sucess upon the largest OF these which is about one
hundred and fifty yards in width and half mile in
length three VILLAGES and dancinr ,,ror,,I.. ~