Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-03-10
From the Tampa Herald.

now reduced to about hundred warriors. WIN an
unus ually large proportion OF women ana chdIenl
They are scattered over the extensive region assigned
10 them, temporarily, by the government IN 1877
Since the war. which commenced with Daoes
Battle or Massacre on the military road, ana the
marder of the agent, Wiley Thompson at Fort ning'
on the 2Sth December 1885, there has zen very little
communication between the white and the red men IN
Florida. .,o
MANY women and some young men among the
Seminoles have scarcely ever seen white man. anu
pioneers who have lived for years on Their 1fenIer
have seen no more of the wild Indian than his tracks
For wears, before the murders in 1049, there had
been no communication between the Indians ana Inc
United States Agent and, except the licensed traoer
and his employees no one had any intercourse Will
the chief and head men. Hence the government was
without any satisfactory information as to the number
or intentions of the Florida Indians After the murders
of Barker, Payne and Whidden, by small party OF
outlaws in July, 1849, it was naturally supposed 'n'
the whole tribe had commenced hostiites, and IN the
excitement of the time the unknown strength OF the
Seminolps was not underrated The alarm spread |
over the frontier and the families of pioneers were
punched in hastily constructed forts or defehces
while the Indians, on hearing of the outrage com,
mted BY of their people, lied 10 the recesseS Oh
the Big Cypress and the Everglades.
The general government ordered large body OF
troops here under Maj Gen. Twiggs, and several
companies of mounted volunteers hurried from their
homes in Middle Florida, to save our frontier from the
scalping knife.
| The Indian chiefs al endeavored to open com.
municatons with the white people for the purpose OF
disavowing the acts of some OF their people, ana one
ing atonement by the surrender of the CRIMINALS but
A. they feared trust themselves in our hands, there
as some difficulty and delay-nor was there any IN
accommodation unit an army officer who was favor
ABLY known to them, went out alone ana met them.
| ARRANGEMENTS were made for the surrender OF tie
murderers, and afterwards three OF them were
given up 10 us, anu lourth WAS Ki''eu "n1e
the arrest
The extensive movements of troops, regulars and
volunteers much money and our frontier citizens
suffered heavy losses from the partial abandonment OF
their improvement, and the interruption OF their Ia
bors, and these expensive movements n0W seem TO
have been unnecessary, but in our ignorance OF the
number and disposition of the Indians they were as
proper they were unavoidable. Nor nave they
been without favorable influence on this frontier
The Indian, as we'll the pioneer, was taught that
ample forces were ready and willing TO come to the
rescue and this frontier, which has so rarely been
disturbed since the pacicaton of 1912, rendered
still more secure.
Negotiations were then commenced for the removal
of the Indians and most liberal offers made 10
induce them to go. After their good faith in sur
rendering the muderers it not deemed necessary,
and perhaps not just to apply force, and no threats
were made Besides ii confidently hoped that
within year or two all would go peaceabIy 10 the
West, and, in the spring and summer OF 1850, the
troops generally withdrawn, leaving but small
: garrisons at three points on or near the frontier
During 1850, about fifth of the Seminoles re-
naming in Florida 600 Of all ages and both sexes)
were removed at cost of about $50 00O undoubtedly
very large sum, but it is at least satisfactory to
know that the terms would be cheerfully voted
TO all of them, and that not only was the ex-
pense deemed necessary bnt also that all the money
taken from the Treasury paid directly to the In
: dian who relinqushed his home, and not one cent
went into the pockets of any political obbers or con-
tractors
While these operations were going on the military
Agent carefully ascertained the number of warriors
emaining, and cultivated an influence over their
= chief and head men,
q 1t is believed that they never before in such
subsection since the cesson of Florida by the Span
y iards The citizens who furnished beef at Fort My
ers did hesitate drive their cattle 10 80 miles
throug the Indian country and to F'camp out with
out guard arms in entire security In this state OF
i things three Indian outlaws carried off and murdered
white boy from the settlement in the forks of the
u WithIacoochee His fate seemed involved in mys.
e terry The Agent was assured by some of those cti
zens most competent to Judge that the boy was alive
and had left the state The Indians within the boun
dairy on learning what had been done, informed the
. gent that the boy had been killed, and, without
threat display of force by u.s. they sent the three
murderers into Fort Myers, with the request that they
e might there be hung. No panic OccuredOn the from
tier and this new act of good faith justifes the
ton that this frontier than any othe
TO Indian frontier The outlawed Indian longer
S hope for impunty, and is therefore harmless
J. any other man unless provoked by aggression
D. Unfortunately at this perlod-the spring of 184
10 the In'an department induced to claim the
S. charge of removing the Florida Indians, and they
g were transferred from the War Department to the
s Department of the Interior.
ID contract given to citizen of Alabama
,e who was 10 have received large of money fol
e removing them-rather more than double the COS
he of removing them by the army Agent. This con
tractor and his partners entire strangers TO TIT
Of Seminoles and their country On his approach thu
military force increased by the addition of two
re Companies of regular troops TO the force already
here Soon afterwards small armed parties marched
IS along the roner-arrested the family of an Indal
as outlaw, and wounded young Indian woman. Th
Governor, order 10 cooperate with the contractor
as ordered out Major General with small command
as and thus the Indian exciteme nt-whch hat
ID nearly subsided-again aroused. Frequent commu
- nlcations through the public press justified the i'm
preston abroad that the people of Florida lived il
d constant dread of the tOmahawk and scapine knife
~ and the immigration TO the State was greatly dimn
ri ished and retarded The entire inefcieucy of thi
contract was the least of its evils The promise
and threats OF an entire stranger could hardly be ex
i; pected TO have any weight with the stubborn Sens
&c noles, who had resisted many more potent niu
ho ences. The plan afforded the slightest pros
On pect OF success but The agitation kept up by tn
mr. contractor, embelished the feelings of both parties
T. impaired the confidence which the Indian had in III
government, and checked the influx of settlers to tn
w. frontier. 1t is the growth advance of the fron,ie
which marks the natural progress of the white man
nd and gradually hut surely eliminates the savage hi
was suspended in the vague hope of making profit
liz able JOB by some unknown turn of the wheel c
W to'lune nor was the ill-advsed scheme abandone
lie until It's patrons retired from authority But eve
70 these unfortunate measures have afforded anotbp
k proof were any needed that the Florida Indians N
oil determined not TO begin hostilities
n. Inc general government, with ample informatio
to on the whole question, has recently remanded th