The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-09-17
General ScOtt's Orders In Florida.

the majors skill has 90 often been seen and
felt. '.
General Scott's Orders In Florida.
No. 1873.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY.oF FLORIDA,
[Orders No. 49, ST. AUGUSTINE, May IT, 1896.
The panics which have recently possessed the
good people of several large districts OF this Terri
tory infinitely humiliating.
Within few days, just five Indians penetrated
a neghborhood in the heart of Middle Florida, and
committed a murder. Instead Of giving pursuit,
the inhabitants abandoned their plantations, and
fled to Tallahassee and Monticello.
similar party had but few days before
| thrown the Micanopy settlement into the utmost
| confusion. A gang Of cow-stealers adroitly added
a report that immense fresh Indian trail had
| been observed crossing the Tallahassee road,
near the Santa Fe bridge. The whole coun.
try, from Micanopy to Black Creek, instantly be-
came wild with fear. The daring falsehood was
| Immediately exposed by Colonel FIrEpArnIcK and
Captain SHANNON, of the army, who happened to
pass that way, together with the motive Of the
propagntors; but the inhabitants could nothing
| but an Indian in every bush, and therefore con.
| tinued to fly.
On this side Of the ST. Johns keen suscepti-
bility Of the same kind prevails. small party of
the enemy lately ventured within the settlements.
company of regular foot was promptly mounted,
| sent in pursuit, beat the enemy. and secured most
of the property the marauders had taken. Now,
| although it is known to all cool people that the
greater number of the party killed outright,
and that like fate awaits any body of the enemy
that may follow, panic is rife throughout the
try. The inhabitants still flying to St. Angus
tine, and from st. Augustine to Georgia and South
Carolina. 49,
1t is evident that no general, even with extensive
means, can cure disease in the public mind 30
general and SO degrading, without some little ef
fort on the part of the people themselves Thus
the planters, in the recent case near Tallahassee,
who fed without knowing whether they from
squaws or warriors. ought frat to have ascertained
| that material fact. If they had turned upon the
enemy, they would have found tho case within the
easy compass of any three four resolute masters
| and half as many overseers. This was the simple
and manly course. That adopted was. to fly, to
spread the panic, and to throw execrations upon
the general who has the misfortune to command
handful Of brave troops in the midst Of such
population.
Not a regular company has been sent out Of the
Territory, except, possibly, three from Tampa
Bay Besides strong garrison there, two compa-
mics were directed thence to occupy post on the
Suwannee; two posted at Fort King; five at Fort
Drane; one amounted United States dragoons) at
Oakands, six miles off; at Micanopy, and a
| twelfth at Garey's ferry.
These forces ought, in the opinion of the COM
ding general, to give reasonable security to the
| Alachua and Suwannee frontiers, particularly If
| one or two companies of mounted men can be OBJ
| tanned to aid the company OF dragons in securing
| the country between the chain Of fixed posts. Mea-
sures have been taken to encourage the enrolment
| of mounted men; and 1t ia understood that the
Governor is exerting himself in the same way.
His excellency will, moreover to complete the
means OF defence, be requested to hire, on account
| of the United States, at Apalachicoa, or else
where, a. suitable steamboat 10 cruise from the
mouth of the Suwannee up that river far as prac
ticable. One Of the companies, supposed to be al
| ready on the river, will be instructed to embark
and remain on board the boat.
On this eide of the St. Johns the means of de-
fence, though much more limited, arc deemed
fully adequate, if aided by single company OF
mounted volunteers; and one, it ia hoped, will
present itself for the service. OF the five reg
ular companies, one has already been mounted on
| horses belonging to the wagon train, and in few
days another will be put on horseback by the same
means. The commanding general has power
to purchase horses expressly for this purpose. The
| company on foot will be posted, whilst the mount
ed will be kept constantly in movement; and it
may be added that the little armed steamer called
the Esshyons, belonging to the United States, will
be kept daily cruising up and down the ST. Johns.
The post and steamboat on the Suwannee, Fort
King, Oaklands, Micanopy, and Garey's ferry,
will all be under the immediate orders of the field
| officer, Major HEILEMAN, stationed at Fort Drane,
and he will communicate freely with the Governor
| of the Territory.
Should the post ordered to be csta bishcd at Wat
sons or Dabney's plantation prove to be unheal
thy, the commanding officer is authorized to re-
move higher up the river in search of better po
siton, giving the preference to the left bank OF the
stream
(signed) WINFIELD SCOTT.
No. l43
HEADQUARTERS Army OF THE SoUrH,
COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, Juno q 1886.
[ExTRAcr.l
Sir: In justice to myself. I beg leave to snya
word in defence Of my order Issued ia Florida. and
numbered 4S, On the subject Of panico in several
large districts of that Territory. That order was
written when was still quite sick, but upon the
most certain and precise information. 1t has
brought upon me much abpsc. A copy of ii
enclosed by me, with a letter TO his excellency
Governor CALI. In reply, have just received
from him letter ria 81. Augustine, dated the 26th
utimo, in which he sage: "a panic highly dis
honorable TO the whole country has spread the
land when by one manly effort the enemy might
have been repealed, and their homes and property
defended This is sufficient confirmation of my
assertions, If any were wanted. Besides. was
advised by respectable citizens of Florida to come
out with order in that spirit likely to rally the
inhabitants, and have reason to know that the
order did good. II further stated what had been