The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-10
TIL. S. JESUP
QyARrERmAsrER GESERAL's OFFICE,


SiR have received your letter, dated yester-
day. In relation TO the claim Of the hers Of the late
General Watson, of Georgia /; and have the honor
to state, IN reply, that In the year 1896, when
commanded the army operating against the
Greeks in Alabama and Georgia, was ordered by
the President Of the United States to raise corp,
OF Creek warriors, and send them 10 the aid OF
General Call, then commanding the army operat-
ing against the Seminole Indians in Florida.
raised a regiment and placed 1t under the com.
nand OF the late Colonel Lane, and authorized him
to promise the chiefs and warriors all the Seminole
property they should capture, or fair equivalent
for IT,
The regiment left Alabama in September, joined
General Call early in October, aud served under
his immediate orders during the campaign in
which he commanded. Having closed the Creek
war, was ordered 10 Florida, and in December,
1896, relieved General Call in the command OF the
army there. Up to that period no negroes had
been taken from the enemy, except about forty by
n detachment under my command, composed Of
three hundred Alabama volunteers, eighty regular
soldiers, and n single Indian warrior. Finding,
when | assumed the command, the enemy die.
perscd the whole territory Of Florida, was
compelled to divide my small force into sir differ
ent detachmonts; four Of those detachments were
accompanied by Indian warriors. Ia January and
February, 1887, many negroes, as well as cattle
and horses, were captured. The cattle taken by
the Indians were paid for by the commissary; the
horses they were allowed 20 cell, and the negroes
were sent 10 the depots in order that II might be
ascortsined how many Of them were the bona tide
property OF the Seminoles, how many were free
and how many Of them belonged 10. and bad
been captured from, the citizens Of Florida. In
regard 70 the negroes, IL difficult 10 de-
tormine which had been taken by Indians and
which by the troops; generally, the women and
children bad been captured by the combined force,
and the men almost entirely by the volunteers and
regular troops. ] could not permit families TO be
separated, az would have been the consequence Of
pro rata division Of the slaves; besides, hoped
to make some Of them useful as guides, should hos
tilites be renewed, or messengers to the Indian
Chiefs should negotiation be thought Advisable. }
prOposed 20 those who were interested that an cqu
| vacnt should be paid 10 them in moncy-all as-
scented TO the proposition and loft II TO me TO deter
mine the amount to be allowed. As the army had
aided in the capture Of the slaves, and the public
had been at the expense Of guardiug feeding, and
clothing them for several months, ] considered
eight thousand dollars fair equivalent fJr the
elaine Of the waoiOrs and directed that II should
be paid TO them at Pass Christian, where they were
TO 6e mustered out of service. They left INC at
Tampa Bay perfectly satisfied; but, influenced by
white men, AZ have reason 90 believe, they op
pressed dissatisfaction when they arrived at the
Pass, and refused to receive the SUN which had
directed 10 be paid In addition TO the sum Of eight
thousand dollars, they had been promised twenty
dollars each for thirty. five negroes belonging TO
citizens Of Florida which they bad captured.
In the foregoing statement you have all the facts
in the case, 90 far as am concerned; and ii il not
perhaps necessary to the correct understanding Of
the matter that should add anything TO what has
been already said But my right TO make the ar.
gangement with the Indians on which the claim Of
Gen. Watson is based has been questioned by men
Of abilities and intelligence, and whose integrity
is undoubtedly and IL seems to be due to myself
that my own view Of the should be presented,
in order that my conduct and motives may be cor
rccty understood by my countrynen, and par
ticularly by that portion of them composing the
National Legislature. The comma nder of an army,
like Ambassador or other public minister, acts
under the laws Of nations, where his authority is
not modified by the laws and Constitution Of his
country, or Ivy the positive instructions of his
Government. Congress, though it has lcgislated
in regard to captures at sea, has not cgslatcd IN
rco,, = to captures on land, but has left them
to be dis,o,e of according to the laws Of ma
tiOns. In land.war a.. "''''te. p'OpLLy
captured vests under the law of nations,
lutely In the csptors; and whether had made
any promise TO the Indians or not, they would
have had fair claim TO their proportion of the cap
tured property. believed ! was bound by the
only code applicable TO the case to allow them
that proportions but claimed no right 90 put forth
any arbitrary definition Of my own as 20 what
constituted property The prisoners who were
free, ] recognised as pcrsons-those who were
slaves. as property. AZ the commander Of the
army, was the humble representative Of nation