The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-05-25
CHAPTER II.
THE BLOODY BATTLE
LAX OH e e G III O B + e.

On the 10Th of December, 1897, Colonel
ZACHARY TAYLOR, then in command Of the
First Brigade Of the Army Of the South, re-
the Territory Of Florida, from Major Gem
eral Jesup, informing him that all hopes Of
bringing the war with the Seminoles to a
close by negotiation, through the mediation
Of the Cherokees were at an end, as Sam
Jones with the Mickasukies had determined
to fight it out to the last, and directing Colo
nelfTaylor TO proceed with the least posi-
a 4s G saptaPs tRe s 81 ee
Having left two officers and an adequate
force for the protection Of his depot, Colo
mel Taylor marched the next morning, the
Goth Of December, 1897, carrying IL days
ratlons-his means of transportation not en-
aiding him to carry more-with the balance
OF his command, which consisted Of Captain
Munroe's company of the 18th Artillery, to-
tai 50 men-the 1st Infantry, under the
command of 1t Colonel Foster, 274-the
9th Infantry, under 1t Col. Thompson, 22l
The Missouri volunteers, l80-Morgan's
spies, 47-Pioneers, Pontoneers, 10
and 20 Delaware Indians-m force
IN all, exclusive of officers, Of 1892 men.
The greater part Of the Shawnees had been
detached from Col. Taylor's command, and
the remainder refused to accompany him
under the pretext that they--rnany of them
were sick, and many Of them had no mock
asins.
Col. Taylor moved down the west side
OF the river kissimmee, in a southeastern
course towards Lake Istopoga. His reasons
for taking this route were: l. Because he
knew that portion Of the hostiles were to
be found in that direction. 2. If General
Jesup should fall in with the Mickasukies
and drive them before him, and they should
attempt to elude him by crossing the ks
slmmee from the east to the west side of the
Peninsula between Fort Gardiner and the
entrance Of the kissimmee into the Okee-
Chobee, in that event, he, Colonel TAYLOR,
might be near at hand to intercept them. g.
To overawe such Of the enemy as had been
making propositions to give themselves up
and who appeared to be very slow, if not
to hesitate, in complying with their propo-
sitions on that head, and to induce them to
surrender at once. A. And because he deem
ed it advisable to erect block houses and
small picket work on the Kissimmee for
third depot, some thirty or forty miles be-
low Fort Gardiner, in order to obtain
knowledge Of the intervening country-for
he had no guide that could be relied upon
and by this means to open communication
with Colonel Smith, who was operating on
the Caloosehatchee or Saugbel river, under
his, Colonel Taylor's orders.
Late on the evening Of the first davis
march, Colonel Taylor met the Indian chief
Jumper with his family and part Of his
band, consisting of fifteen men, part of
them with their families, and a few negroes,
in all, 60 sonls-on his way to give himself
up, in conformity with previous arrange
ment, which the Colonel had made with
him. The chief and his party was coduct-
ed by Captain Parks and few Shawnees.
Parks was an active, intelligent half-breed,
at the head Of the friendly Shawnees and
Delawares, and was employed by Colonel
Taylor to arrange with and bring in Jumper
and astsnany Of his people as he could pre-
vail on 10 come In. Colonel TAYLOR en-
camped that night-the night Of the Goth