Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1848-08-03
!, NUMBER %.
1rrn DEooDuouNn sToaY.

IHE BEooDuouND sToay.
Some Of The Loco Foco enemies Of Gen T,yLoa
have discovered that the only chance doing him the
slightest injury is 70 fasien upon him the odun OF some
OF the measures OF Mr. VAN BuRES's administration
They are accordingly circulating garfield exiracts from
one Of ms letters, recommending the empaynen, Of
dogs % discover Che hiding places Of the Indians, dor
! ing the war In Florida
That the whole affair may stand in its proper light
and that these papers NAV have The benefit OF high
/ Loco toco comment upon H. we publish below the re
! ply made 70 MI WISE who was Chairman ola Com,
inittee Of Inquiry upon the subject, by Hon J r.
IIoiNsETT. who was MARTIN VAN BURRS's Secretary
! OF War; and who expressed himself ia very deciled
terms upon The subject. We trust these Loco Foco
prints VIII give 10 tisr readers the enre document
just as il stands ~ Y. Cotpier.
Wan DEPARTMENT, Dec 50, 1879
1 SIR have The honor 10 acknowledge the .eceill
OF your letter Of the 9Th instant nanirinr into the
truth OF the assertion made by the public napcr> TINT
The government had determined 10 use boodhounls in
The war against The indians. and beg TO assure yop a
the Information on this subject possession Of Ire De
/ pa;ncn3
From the time FIRST entered uron the duties ofsshs
war department. continued 10 receive letters from,
officers commanding ~ FioFida. urging lae employ
ment OF blood nonuds MS The efficient means az
terminating the atrocities daily pespe.rated by The In
dams on the settlers III ihaiieHilory 10 these bro
posas no answer was given. untIl II The month Of
August s5s, while AZ The Virginia Springs, there was
referred o me from The department letter addressed
| 70 the adjptant General by the officer commapdipr
The forces in Forda General ray Ivr 10 me following
effect:
sHEAD egsarcRs AaNy or rnE sorrn.,
"foEr Beoo9. July 2qfb, 1888.
81 have The honor To enclose Won d scrsnrua
nca'ion nus moment received. on The subject OF p,o-
curing blood hounds from sbe ssaud OF Cuba 10 and
The army IL lis operations agains, The hosiics in Flor
/ isla.
leave 10 urge as The only means OF Kidding lhe eoun.
TRY of the INDIANS whoEare broken up into small
parties. thai take shelter In swninps aud hammoess
as the army approaches, making il impossible for Us
10 follow or overtake them without the aid Of such
auxiliaries.
Il sShoud this measure meet The appreciation oi the
department and the necessary authority be granted,
viii open correspondence with MIR. k,yeFson on
the subject. through Major Hunt. Assistant Quarter
master al Savannah, and will authorize him. II can
be done on resonable terms. 10 employ few dogs.
With persons who understand their management
~ scid il distinctly understood that Dly object IN
ployntg dogs is only ascertaa srhero The iadlon c
be found. mel 10 ,c0rry them
81 have the honor rObe Sir.
..Your obedient servant.
~ TAYLOR. Breyei Brig. Gen.
~. s. A. Commanding
Gen. r. Josrs
On this letter endorsed The following decision.
which was communicated 70 Gen. Tayor: ~ have
always been of opinion that dogs ought - be employ
ed IN this warfare protect the army tcm shrprses
and ambuscades and tolrack the niah % his lurking
pace, bal supposed. fine general believed them c be
btcpSSaTV ne W0jld uutHtsiatc " NatF IitFaNes w
procure ihesn The cold booleJ and nhuman inur
dersl;rely perpeiraicd upon helpless women and chill
dren by these ruthless savagPs, render il expedien
that every possible should be resoried to
der proec, The people OF Florida aud cenabIe the
United States forces follow and capture destroy
the savage and unreeniing foe. 'Cenerd Taylor -
therefore authorized 10 procure such number oi dogs
he may Judge necessary being expressly understood
ha, they are to be employed 10 track and discover the
! Indians. moi TO worry destroy them.
This is the only action or correspondence on The
nan of the Department that has taken place IN
relation TO the matter. The General took measures
carry into effect his recommendations, and this
department has never since renewed the subject. i
continue, however, entertain the opinion expressed
in the above decision. do not believe that deserip-
ton of dog called the blood bound necessary pre-
vent surprise, tfcck the Indian murder; but still
think that every military post aud every detachment.
should be attended by dogs. Tina, preeauiion mlght
have saged Dade's command Iolp massacre. aEd. by
giving timely warning haze prevented many Of The
icruel murders which have been committed BY the In
dams in Middle Florida. The only successful pur-
suit Of Indian murders that knew Of was on late
occasion, when the pursuers aided by the saga
city of dogs. These savages had approached cabin
of peaceful, industrious settlers stealhy that the
FIRST notice Of sher presence was given by volley
from their rifles thrust between the logs Of he h0use
and the work Of death finished hy tonIahawking
the women. after tearing from ,hea, their infant chill
dren and dasng their brains out agansthe door posts
Are these ruthless savages to escape. and repeat such
scenes of blood, because they elude ieowcir.
fzenS IN Ftoriua ana our regular soiuefs, anu paine
their unaded efforts overake or discover ihem2 On
late OCCASION three estmable citizens We're killed in
the immediate neighborhood DIST Augustine, and
OTHER of distinguished merit mortaly wounded. Ia Is
in evidence, that these murders committed BY
two Indians, who after shooting down the father and
beating the sons brains with the butts of Their ri
lies. upon hearing the approach OF the volunteers
tired few yards into The woods and secreted then,
selves until The troops returned 10 town with the dead
bodies Of those who had been thus inhumany and
wanionly botchered. Ns
II is 10 be regretted that this corps had not been
companied with Two hunters. who with their
dogs. might have tracked the boods,ane footsteps
ofihese indians have restored 10 hert; the captves
they were dragging away with them, and have pre-
vented them from ever again repeating such atrobilcs.
Nor could The severesI casnis object 10 cur fellow
citizens in Florida resorng such measures in order
/, to protect the iAes Of their women and chidren
Very respectfully, your obed' ser't,.
J, r.. PolASETT,
Hen HEERr A. WISE.