Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-04-28

II
WORM, commanding the Army in Flor
ida.
al have the honor to submit for the in.
formation Of the Major General Com
in. Chief summary of the oper-
atoms of tbs troops since my last report !;
On the 10Th ultimo, command was
sent in the direction of the Ocklockonnee
west Of Tallahassee for the purpose oil
examining the hamm0cks which border
that river, and also what is termed the
swamps Of that quarter, being
a succession pine island, surrounded by
narrow belts OF swamps and boys. -
Signs were discovered which gave evil
dence Of design L, cultivate, and also q
camp Of considerable size, which, from APP
had not been abandoned more
than week, and had been established for
the purpose Of drying or jerking beef,
Judging from the number of fires and I'm.
plements.
From this discovery it was determined
to make movement in that direction. -
Accordingly, force Of 2l0 infantry and
a company OF Dragons, together with the
aid Of friendly Indians acting as guides,
was put 10 motion, in small detachm, nts,
on the 9Th instant--the drpgnons along
the east bank of the Ockluckonnee, from
For, Barbour towards its mouth to watch
the crossing places one hundred infantry
to cross the river in three detachments 10
proceed westwardly with slight dcpar-
lures north and south ; while from Forts
Chipola and Barbour detschmeEts Of ihr.
ty men each to move by separate routes
on the Ocklockonnee, so as TO sweep the
entire country between it and the Apala-
chicola; and twenty-five men to ascend
the Ocklockcnnee, examining the numer-
Gus islands in the river, proceed up the
To'ogice as far as practicable, and then
returning to its mouth, continue up the
Ock lockonne 10 Fort Baden. Favorable
results are anticipated from these move
meDis.
During the operations on the Ocklock.
onnee, the whole Of the disposable force
under 1t. Col. Whistler concentrated at
Fort Tanning, and thence proceeded by
detochments Of forty men each to make a
ro-examinatlon Of the Esteenhatchee and
its connexion with Cooks hammock
dt tachments taking different routes so as
TO enter the hammock at opposite points.
Al the same time the commands from
Fort Pleasant and other posts on tina, line
were put in molten, by detachmen.s with
u view to cooperation. Thus Tar results
are favorable, trails of parties Of from four
TO six persons, the largest number embo.
died, have been taken up and followed
and in one instance four warriors were
discovered, and in an unsuccessful a..
tempt at surprise one Of the number was
killed.
On my arrival a, Fort King on the 18th
ult. despatched command from that
post for the purpose ofrecoverlng the trail
of Halleck Tustenuggee, who had retreat.
ed with his party across the Ocklawaha
in the direction Of the Withlacoochee. -
The trail was found crossing the Tampa
road, about fourteen miles south of Fort
King, and the party was markt d into
-" Long swamp" Subsequently, com
maDd of two companies, moving by small
and separate detachments, was sent from
For, King to sweep the country south
west from that post towar's the hammocks
Of the Wacassa ssa similar de,achmen,s
proceeded from The same post in the d.
rection Of Tuscawilla hammock, thence
south and west towards the Wacassassa,
while detachnents from Wacahoota and
Wacassassa, taking more wcstwardly
route, proceeded in the direction of Clay's
landing. Several small trails, Of parties
not exceeding five or six, have been fol-
lowed leading west, and information is
just received tina: one Of the detachmcn's
is closely pursuing fresh trail leading in
the direction Of the Suwannee. A de-
tachment sent to examine the fields in
Long Swamp" discovered there some
five acres planted in corn, melons, &c.,
the growth of about three weeks. In
conjunction Of thosc movements detach-
ment was sent in boats up the Oclawaha
to guard the crossings of that river, and
proven, the retreat of Ilalieck's party to.
wards his old haun,s east Of the ST. Johns.
The pass between Haw and Pelliciers
creeks, The one emptying into the Allan
tic and the other into the ST. Johns, by
which pass an enemy, if any there be,
east of the ST. Johns, could alone escape
northerly, is also occupied by camps post
ed in detachments.
The several detachments named in the
circular instructions Of the 2Sth ultimo, a
copy of which has been furnished, will be
in position on the 18th instant, when a
general movement will take place, and a
thorough examination made Of the Wa.
hoo, the Cove, and the swamps and ham
mocks bordering the Withlacoochee. Hav-
ing embarked the Indians from this place,
| shall proceed to Join one Of the detach-
ments moving in that direction.
The troops in various directions have
orders 10 keep the field so long as trail
is TO be found, or there is the leas, pros
pect Of discovering the enemy mean
time detached camps Of fom five to ten
and fifteen men are thrown out from every
post and station"
1.-The ADJuTAsT GENERAL ofihe
Army Headqaarters, Woshington"