Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-03-27
III i s. @ lA u u a SJ z O
From the Wesfn. Literary Journal &. Nontv Repie,,
A SKETCH OF THE FLORIDA WAR.-No. 9.
A CHASE IN THE EVERGLADES

love regular FLORIDA winter evening. do
not mean one OF your northern winter evenings,
only rendered clear through the intense frigidity
OF the slitiened mosphere, ornamen,ed with ulii
terlng, rainbow-hued iccles, pendant like level
buds from leafiesS branches, and Frightened by
the dazzling reflection of star and moon liuht I'M
on snow; but | allude 10 one where the BRIGHT
faced moon and dancing stars look down on for
ests clothed in the rich beauty Of perennial green
ness, on an earth covered with flower spanped
verdure, 'eenIing with luscious, ar-perGumino
iruit. On such night, when the sky was smij.
ing al itself in the brook mirror below it, we bauI
ed up our boats at fort Dallas, in the mouth of
the river Miami, en- route for the Everglades.
We were about making extensive scout
through this unknown section, in cooperation
with portion of the u. S. Sd ARTILLERY, under
command of Lieut.. Gel. Harvey of the II. S. I'd
Dragons, assisted by Lieuis. Boyd Field. Ketcb
um and others. Our own party consisted of some
seventy seamen. under the chief command of
Lieut.. CoiDdt. Mclaughlin.
AS it was "New Year's dav,m and we were q.
bout 10 start on dangerous expedition, II was de-
termned TO make the most of the last holiday
which we expected to celebrate for long time.
The return OF which many of us were never des-
tined 10 see; therefore both Navy and Army Join
ed like brethren, as we were, In contributing to
me general ."ioy.~ont-
Lively jokes and cheerful songs passed around
with trimming cups Of punch and .'many dear
loved distant friend" was remembered in the full
bumper, with tremulous lips and glistpnng eyes
by lips that too soon stiff and cold 6lino TO
the briIn the cup Of bitterness for those who had
been remembered in the warm hearted toast.
But no thoughts Of sadness rested with u.s. then:
no brow amongst us then wore the cloud of ploo-
my forebodings; gaiety and youthful pleasure rode
In undispuied sway over our buoyant hearts, as
rides the flowers down upon the sun-lit air. Com
rades! Friends! Brothers! We who sat with me
| around that festive board, with warm, generous,
ambitious hearts, as true the blue steel by your
sides, where oh where are we now Scattered
| to the four corners of the earth One cruises a.
long Jtalia's vine encircled shores; another PAGES
the deck of the friga,e Raritan as she plides over
| the ever calm bosom Of the Pacific; another, and
he brofher, is exposed 10 the burning sum- fever
lsh air, and sckenlng climate of the African coast
whiio many of them have sailed for that dread
port
"Whence none Ger return to tell the tale
OF wonders seen beyond oblivion's murky veil"
One in particular, met with sad fate, but a
few months since one of our Western steam
| boats, and now sleeps the sleep which knows no
waking, in grave upon the banks of the Ohio.
But turn from this sad picture TO brighter CO.
lors. Having received and properly welcomed
the infantle year, and decently inferred the sold
one" beneath heap Of empty bottles, we closed
revel with the sailors toast. eathearts and
wives" after which, adding nine hearty, soul
echoIng cheers, we sprang into boats, and
long before day dawned had reached the falls of
the Miami, over which, after sundry capsizings
among the leathern-stocked, gaier-footed, lubber-
ly soldiers, we managed TO pass.
Soon after the sun up from his visit TO
the neither world, we entered into the "Pai-ba.
okee" or "grass water" as it is termed by the
Indians; which is an immense sea or level field
Of saw grass, covered with fresh water VARYING
from eighteen inches TO four feet in depth, rising
from nnumerable springs in all parts of its vast
10y dis lafifu ,a 4,
as far as latitude 25 deg. 20 min. to the South
ward, varying from thirty 10 seventy miles i'm
breadth. IL receives the name, "Everglades" from
being covered with an undying growth Of ever
! green grass, which, rising about six feet above
the surface of the water, and waving in the breeze
! gives it at times the semblance of a vast green
ocean. Its monotonous appearance is relieved
here and there by groups Of islands, which in
some measure serve landmarks to the pavioa.
tor, as he pushes his way through the meander
! ing channels which reader this strange lake pas
sable.
| For several days we passed through the "grassy
water" without meeting anything worthy Of par
ticular note, except occasional signs Of the cum
! ming and ever watcbfnl enemy, and had apparent.
ly reached the centre Of the glade, as neither main
| land any islands were visible around us : moi a
speck in the green horizon TO relieve the ,iresome
sameness OF the prospect, save one tall palmetto
! tree, which stood alone, like a SOLITARY watcha
tower in the desert, rearing its leaf.crowned head
and branchiess trunk far above the level of the
| gIades.
| Towards this point we had been progressing
ever since daylight, for old Mico, our copper CO.
lored guide. (he had turned traitor to his tribe
J being Quite bewildereJ and perpIexcd among the
thousand labyrinhian Earnings and windinos of the
channel, desired 10 look from its elevated position
FOR the main channel, which he had LOST in the
twilight of the preceding evening. Haitian hours
energetic labor brought rs up TO the "ook out
and the van boat, with the guide in it, proceeded
to the foot Of the tree, the rest laying on hei
oars at short distance from the spot.
! Mco commenced ascending the tree, and while
engaged in silent admiration Of his eel-ke noanoe.