Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1848-07-29
THE BACKGROUND STORY.

Wv
Some of the Locofoco enemies Of Gen.
Taylor have discovered that the only chance
of doing him the slightest injury is to ias,en
upon him the odiuum of some of Mr.. Van
Burens administration. They are accor-
DINGHY circulating garbled extracts from one
of his letters, recommending the employ
ment of dogs to discover the hiding places
of the Indians, during the war in Florida.
That the whole affair may stand in its
proper light, and that these papers may
have the benefi, of high Locofoco comment
upon it we publish below. the reply made
to Wise, who was chairman ola committee
of inquiry upon the subject, by Hon. ]. r.
Poinse,t, who was Martin Van Buren's
Secretary Of War, and who expressed him
self in very decided terms upon the subject.
We trust these Locofoco prints will give to
their readers the entire document just as il
stands.-N. Y. Courier.
War Department. Dec. 80, 1889.
Sir: have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your letter of the 9Th inst,
inqurng into the truth of the assertion
made by the public papers. that the govern
ment had determined to use blood hounds
in the war with the Indians. and beg TO as
sure you that it will afford me great pleas
ure TO give you all the information on the
subject in possession Of the department.
From the time first entered upon the
duties of the War Department, continued
to receive letters from officers commanding
in Florida, urging the employment of blood
hounds, as the most efficient means of ter.
minating the atrocities daily perpetuated
by the Indians on the settlers in that ter
rtory. To these proposals. no answer was
given. until the month of August 1888,
while at the Virginia Springs. there was
referred to me from the Department, let
ter addressed to the Adjuiant General, by
the officer commanding The forces in Flori.
+ a, General TayInr, to the following effect:
HEADQUARTERS, Army Of the South,
Fort Brook July 30. 1888.
"SIR:-l have the honor to enclose you
letter this moment received. on the subject
of procuring bloodhounds from the island
of Cuba, TO aid the army in its operations
against the hoslies in Florida.
81 am decidedly in favor of the measure.
and beg leave to urge it as the only means
of Kidding the country of the Indians who
are now broken up into small parties, that
take shelter in swamps and hammocks as
the army approaches, making it impossible
for US to follow or overtake them without
the aid of such auxiliaries.
"Should this measure meet the approba.
ton Of The department. and the necessary
authority be granted, l will open a cores
pondence with Mr. Everston on The subject,
through Maj. Hunt, Assistant Quartermas
ter al Savannah, and will authorize him if
il can be done on reasonable terms, 10 EN-.
ploy few dogs. with persons who under
stand their management.
"Iwish it distinctly understood that my
object in employing dogs, is only to ascertain
uhere the hdiuus can be found, not to ,corTy
them. e.
IL have the honor to be, Sir,
"Your obedient servant,
Il. TAYLOR, Brevet brig. Gen.
u. s. A. Commanding"
To Gen. r. Jones.
On this letter endorsed the following
decision. which was communicated to Gen.
Taylor: 81 have always been of opinion
that dogs ought to be employed in this
warfare, TO prevent the army from sur
prises and ambuscades. and to track the In.
dian to his lurking place. but supposed, il
the General believed them necessary, he
would not hesitate to take measures 10 pro-
cure them. The cold blooded and inhuman
murders, lately perpeIrated upon the help
less women and children, by these ruthless
savages, render it expedient that every pos
sble means should he resorted to in order
to protect the people Of Florida. and to en-
able the ni,ediSta,es forces to follow ano
capture, or destroy The savage and unrelen
ting foe. General Taylor is, therefore, au
thorized to procure such number Of dogs a.
he may Judge necessary, il being exPressl,
understood that they are to be employed T.
track and discover the Indians, not 10 worr,
or destroy them.
This is the only action or correspondenc'
Of the department that has ever taken plac.
relative to the matter. The General tool
no measures to carry into effect his ow