The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-07-29

intensity OF the suns rays Is tempered by delicious
and bracing sea breeze which commences daily about
o'clock in the morning and continues through the
whole day and part of the night rendering this place
SO far this climate is concerned pleasant a sum
mer as il is winter residence.
You of course aware that Col Worth who has
the command of the Army in Florida now, has com
menced active operations against the Indians and
sent out the troops in small bodies TO beat up the
quarters of the enemy, and harass them as much
as possible In doing this, he is fully aware
that he and the whole army are exposing themselves
to sickness which must inevitably follow to greater
or less extent; indeed, this has already commenced
as out of 5000 troops there now one thousand,
possibly more, the sick list But notwithstan ding
this the Secretary Of War and Col Worth both
knowing that the country are sick and tired of this
war; and expect il to be brought to successful close
possible, seem to be determined that the
public expectation shall not be disappointed I'm
queslionably The plan now adopted and put in execu
ton Is the right one that is to divide the troops into
small bodies, each company of infantry TO be accom-
panied by few dragons to the country in
front and flank. and thus scatter over large space
and harass the Indians. Asto taking or killing them
that is out of the question; would soon think OF
taking or killing many wolves-they are quite as
difficult to be surprised, caught shot by our troops
many "varmint," and quite as hard to "trail,"
when once you have started them. The fact is tina,
every hammock is to them fortress into these they
will dodge and hide, while our troops they are al
most impenetrabe. Start body of them too, and
they will scatter in every direction no going to-
getheI for half mile that in very short time you
lose all trace of them, and ten to one half of them
have got round into your rear and in the very las,
place you would think of looking for them.
How then" you exclam, SIS it possible ever to
rou them out z" Precisely by the plan now adopted
The Indians must have rest and sleep as well white
men, and they must have food too, and although they
can find much in the hammocks and in the streams
to live upon, yet they must have some leisure to
gather and prepare this food, such the Coonte
root, the Arrow root the pith of the Palmetto, fish,
game, &c; but if they kept constantly disturbed
and driven about from swamp to swamp without ces
saton, they must after while tire out and be starved
out. Col. Worth is gallant and energetic officer
and think the Administration has shown its wis
dom, not only in the plan of operations but in the
selection of young officer the commander. " Old
men for council young men for action'--and action
Is WHAT 10 required 10 CLOSE tllls war
| have often heard the remark made, that Gov
eminent had better give up the Territory at once
to the Indians that it not worth the money the
has already cost If this done, these very men
would be the first TO cry shame upon the Govern
ment for suffering themselves 10 be whipped by
handful Of savages and we should be the laughing
stock Of the whole world the Indians included. Such
proposition is too ridiculous to be answered, and
mention it only to say that the value of Florida is
very much moderated by those who never having
been IN the country of course know more about it
than we who live here. The truth is, there is good
deal of poor land here, but there is also great deal
Of very rich land. There is no richer land than the
hammocks. There is a large amount of live oak in
the Territory and that does not grow on poor land
But there is much land here which you at the North
would consider poor because il is sandy and light
that will produce good corn and as much to the
acre can be raised, ordinarily, in New England or
even in Pennsylvania and finer garden vegetables
such as cabbages, radishes, beans, peas cucumbers
melons &C., &C., would not wish to than have
seen raised this kind of sandy soil Formerly the
pine woods or sandy plains filled with extensive
herds of cattle, and will be so again, ere long but
these herds have all been destroyed by the troops and
by the Indians to prevent them from falling into each
others hands
II has been said that the people of Florida are get
ting rich by this war; and that therefore they do not
want it brought TO close. This assertion is so far
from being true that the very the fact The
citizens of Florida have suffered immensely and are
still suffering by this Many Of them, indeed
most of them in East Florida have been mpoverish-
ed, and some almost beggared by it it has broken up
their plantations prevented them from raising their
crops, driven them into the towns and compelled
them to dispose OF their property to procure subsls
ence. OF course where little is raised and an army
is to be fed in addition to the mouths before in the
country provisions of all kinds must be enormously
high, especially all kinds of fresh provisions vegeta-
bes chickens, butter Sc, and such is the fact here
The mouths are TO be filled while the hands are ne
cessarly idle Does this look like getting rich Let
those who think come here and buy their proyis-
ions awhile and No. sir, the people of Florida
pray earnestly that this may be c osed and they
have confidence noe that il will be- since the present
Administration have taken il in hand in that prayer
heartily join, and of that confidence partake.-
Millions have been Squandertd here, but not for the
benefit of the citizens at large some few may have
paraken of ''the spolls" but those were favorites
for that this Administration is not accountable they
have redpced the expenditure, while they have In
creased the efficiency Of the operations.
Sincerely yours