The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-09-16

He had been fatally wounded by the musket shot,
the report OF which we heard hence "a peculiar
characteristic OF the animaD his desperate demon
Of the left flank muskets, Of ball and three buck
shot, through the head, put him IN quiescent
state, and we left our antagonist to his fate.
We arrived without any other obstruction at
ed for the night This post was then the Head
Quarters OF the Quarter Master and Commlssary
Departments OF the army, hence the largest and
most important post in Florida. large body OF
dragons, volunteers and infantry, were stationed
here. The next morning we were again on the
route step" for Picolata, on the ST. Johns river,
which occupied another days march, and frem
thence, on the succeeding morning, we marched
for 81. Augustine, ~ miles distant, which we
reached just as the sun was setting
AT st. Augustine we joined the other detachment
of our regiment, which had marched on different
routes for the point of concentration. We remain
ed at this place, In barracks tor about one week =
1t being now about the 10th November, the period
had arrived for the commencement oil active ope-
rations against the indians.
We left this place for Musketo, orNew Smyrna
on the 18th November, with baggage train Of
about fifty wagons, on one OF the worst routes in
all Florida 1t being continuous swamp tor nearly
the whole distance of so miles; being obliged to cut
roads through immense hammocks, and build
bridges over lnnumerable creeks and deep morasses
We arrived at Musketo in four days, with the loss
of number of mules, and many. subjects for the
surgeon in our ranks. Here brief description oil
Musketo may not be amlss-and well It deserves
the name-f for had Baron Munchausen's adventures
extended to this vicinity he would have found ro-
nance in real life, )" which would not admit OF much
exaggeration-but he would probably have told us
that the musk etoes were numerous asthe locusts
OF Egypt, and as large as snail sized pecans, and
carried brck-bats under their wings to sharpen
their bills on.
Musketo is an old Spanish plantation, which
was destroyed by the Indians-nothing remained
10 attract notice but the four front pillars OF once
Gudgng from their architectural style) exuistey
beautiful mansion, which, in contrast with the wild
and uncutivated wastes surrounding 1t, presented
most striking and romantic appearance. In the
vicinity OF the place were some beautiful orange
groves, which were It's only attraction, for the In
dams had plundered its corneds and burnt up every
green thing. 1t was then one OF the main depots
OF Quartermaster's stores and provisions, which
were received from vessels of the adjacent 'bar,
and from here troops in the interior were supplied
by baggage trains. At this place the destination o
our Regiment was changed by an order from hea6
quarters-the regiment. with the exception OF one
company, company "8'') were to man some fifty
boats for the purpose of boating provisions, Quar-
termaster's stores, stores, &c, some 60 miles fur
Their down the river 10 the Southwark where u wa;
contemplated to establish post: We accordingly
loaded our boats and set sail and in two day reach
ed our place OF destination, the head OF MusketC
river. landed our cargoes and encamped. Abou
mile west OF this river, and running parallel to H.
are the head waters, or northern extremity OF the
Lagoon, called Indian River; and in order to carry
our boating operations further South, it was ncces
sary to carry our boats across this mile OF dry land
which separated the two rivers The order was
issued to haul each bost across on rolers-a mos
arduous undertaking, which occupied two days. :
The circumstance OF hauling our boats across thu
Isthmus, gave the name OF our new posts sThe
Haulover." This was the first post we established
on that campaign Here we built piquets and es-
tablshed Commissary departmental part OF the
provisions we had brought with us. Having made
fx,rt fr,Vth pnopp
ton OF our march down Indian River, in SIX days
from the date of our arrival, we were under weigh
leavlng one company to defend the new post },
down the river tor Indian River outlet, 80 miles
South, where il was contemplated to establish 9
second post. We reached this place in two days
and surprised small party of Indians, who were
fishing IN their canoes. They, with the temerity
and speed Of deer, padded ashore and disappeared
BILE despatch and detachment, was ordered il
pursuit but it now being the twilight OF the even
ing and consequently impossible to trail them, the
order was conntermanded, and we encamped fol
post y as il was now evident that we were IN the
vicinity of a large body Of Indians. An attack was
anticipated during the night, that most propitou.
season OF bloody, unspariDg massacre, the acme o.
Seminole vengeance.
We were, however, undisturbed that night; blu
the early dawn Of morning brought us intelligence
which proved that our apprehenslons were no
without foundation. An express arrived with
ilc lHVuISCuCC COHpdHy VI Jul IcS
meat, with small detachment Of marines who
were on an exploring expedition of creeks anG
swamps, few miles south Of us, had been attack
ed by large body Of Indians, and that many haC
capped complete massacre by gallant re
treat Of six miles 10 their boats, disputlni
every inch Of ground. Fortunately at ,hi
crisis our Commander in Chief arrived withiI
500 Tennessee volunteers and about 300 dragons
The immediate order was given for our whole
force to build pquet, in which were to be placed
part Of our remaining bost.loads of provisions
under guard Of one company, and the remaining
five companies, volunteers and dragons, to march
in pursuit OF the Indians. The piquet was built in
six hours The artillery were to proceed by boats
while the dragons and volunteers, being mounted
were to proceed by land to cut off their retreat
eve named our new post Fort Pearce.) We were
without delay under weigh down the river OuI
land force having been so fortunate as to get upon
the right "trail," made a forced march and came
upon the Indians about noon, and completely
surprised them and commenced an attack. While
our detachment, through the inadvertance or ra
Their ignorance of the geography OF that section
ofcountry, had got up a wrong creek ID miles
but still within two miles OF the scene OF action,
andlwithin the hearing Of the artillery and musket
ry, but being cut off from all participation in the
conflict, by the intervention between US and them
of thick, impenetrable hammock and swamp
The engagement lasted one hour, when the In
dams were routed with a loss OF about 20 killed
with cowskins, and their wounded they carried of
with them. There was about an equal number oil
our troops killed and wounded, whom we carried
to Fort Pearce hospital. Among the latter was ouI
gallant commander.in-chef, who manifested the
most daring lntrepidity in dismounting from his
horse in the heat of the skirmish, and, sword in
hand, at the head of a company Of volunteers
charging tho hammock There were about 600 war.
riors and half as many women and children in this
skirmish. We took some Of their plumber, and
about GOO head of cattle. About five o'clock an
express, escorted by detachment OF Dragons
reached our command, with orders to Join the
Dragons Immediately by water. We accordingly
sailed on the same evening, and reached the scene
of action about two o'clock in the morning, where
we unloaded our boats and established another
post, called Fort jupiter, which we left defended
by company of Dragons
As it was the intention Of our Commander to
pursue the Indians till he forced them to surrender
or took them prisoners in the everglades, for
which covert they were now evidently pushing, he
gave orders for an immediate pursuit Of the mount
I'd troops while we of the boats were 10 remain n