Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1842-01-24
In THE FIELD-UPPER CALoosAHAruEE,
South Floride Derpmber z

South Florida, December g.
In my last mentioned that that portion of the
Army destined for the country of Sam Jones and
the Prophet would probably set off about the
25ih, but the movement was delayed until the
present date. Since the command fell on Col.
Worth, the Army has had little rest. Its
movements from Middle Florida to the Everglades
wildly recalls to mind those lines of Schiller
&c" 81, haste the wandering soldier walls and builds
In rushing concourse markets open,
Roads and rivers crowd with merchandise
And people. Traffic stirs his bundled arms.
Ere long, morning look-and ii s gonel
The tents arc struck the host has marched awuy!'
Two weeks ago the clustering flowers which
deck the banks Of the Caloosahatchee gaddened
not the eye nor soitened the heart of man but
the Army came, md the next mornings sun shone
upon canvass city OF six hundred souls The
noisy steamers frightened the curlew and the
cormorant from their retreats upon the river; and
the quiet forest, which has remained, l suppose,
since the creation in stiffness and repose, save per-
chance when the savage yell echoed TIN ough its
dark moss-hung dells, now resounds with the hum
of men.
The weather is still too warm to breathe AT
the mouth OF the river, among the hainmocks,
and along the coast, the wild orange and lines
are loaded with their golden and verdant fruit
The birds, the sweet birds, tame in their ignorance
OF men, are singing as on summers morn from
the branching trees over our tents-the slender
and oriental looking palmetto Tree, with lis coro-
net of fan-like leaves, defends us from The intense
rays of the sun, and the wild deer bounds in his
flight through the camp-all is wild, all is new,
and enchanting.
Tho tents Of Major Belknaps command IRE
struck for the march, 1t win take some six or
eight days TO reach the Indian villages in the Big
Cypress Swamp which has thus far remained un'
explored but if Major B. does not see the heart
of it, am mistaken in the man.
THE JOURNAL
Friday, Dec. 3. AS the buge sounded the ad
vance, the column of Major Beknup, 500 strong
t0ok up its line of march for that hitherto unex-
red region, the Big Cypress Swamp, which
Luunds the everglades, and which has for year:
offered secure retreat to the tribes Of Sam Jones
the Prophet, &c. Our course lay S. 400 Il. ove
low, wet, barren country, with scattering pitcl
pines and stned cypress Al least one-third o
the distance marched over by officers and men to
day WINS covered with water, varying in deptl
from four to twelve inches saw two varieties o
the air plant, (Viscum) many venomous snakes,
Iacoon, and numerous herds of deer. Dislanc
ten miles.
SATURDAY., Dec. A. Was awaked at two o'cloc
A. NJ. by the soldiers Tapping their hands upo
their sides and growing in imitation Of cocks
Took on early breakfast OF coffee, hard bread, an
The remnant of q beei's tongue, and as mornin
dawned we were again on our way through lo'
pine barrens, glades of water knee deep, and slip
perry mud from which that element Ind just re
ceded. The game to-day not plenty usua
The country, as ever, utterly worthless. OF iii
ten miles travelled over yesterday, and eightee
to day, not nm acre was worth a iarthing. Alas
that such country should be unrighteously wret
ted from its natural owners at the price of goo
one in the West, the countrys treasure, and I'll
toll and suffering, and life OF as gallant and ind,
fntgable all army gained glory in noble
field Six years have now elapsed since this VI
blessed and ralricida war began Shall we eve
see the day of its termination?
go blessed bright day. when at last the soldier
Shall back to life And be again man 20
Sunday December 5. For an anomaly in mt
ry life in Florida, this has been day of rest
most of the command. Finding ourselves TO
upon the border OF the Big Cypress, Major b. r
connoired The country for the purpose OF estal
fishing depot for provisions preparatory to scou
ing The swamp. TO most of the soldiers il hi
been day of feNsting for the ridge Of sand u
on which our camp is located is or rather Was,
live with goplers. Their massacre began al brea
of day, aud luckess indeed has been the wigl
who failed TO let his hard bread and pork rest vi
touched in his hayersack in order 10 dine on g.
pher soup--a dish, when made by master,
"to set before a king" To me it has been da
Of some comfortable bu: much melancholy rehe
ton. i could hut think OF my long unvisite
home and the welcome sound of the church be
that there calls to worship God of the toilette
auditory drinking in the holy eloquence; of ii