New-York daily tribune., 1856-04-28
LATER FROM SOUTH FLORIDA.
BATTLE WITH THE INDIANS.


We have Just received Intelligence from our
correspondent at Fort Myers Of an engagement
between the United States troops and the Indians.
The warfare has nov commenced in earnest, and
will not probably cease until the Indians are e&-
terminated. Though Insignificant in numbers, the
Indians are well armed. and defended as they will
be by the dense thickets of the big Cypress swamp
uapy lives must be lost before they can De sub
Jecied.
FoRr MYERS, Saturday, April -, ls5o.
Last ught at midnight express arrived from
Fort Deyuaud with dispatches from Major Lewis A.
nd. "a sr.le-y IN command Of the troops operating
IL Big Cypress Swamp, reporting & neral engage
men, with the Indians.
He was scouting with bis command, consisting o.
abou. TO- mea, when they attacked on the 7th
INST by the Indians estimated from ~ to 100 strong,
who were lying n%TLIt IN a big cypress hammock,
about half mile from B.llys town, where the water
wss two fee: deep. At first slrS Se rifle shot wa'
fred. followed by Il heavy yollty which was Imme-
d,a.e,y returned Four or fte Of our men were
wounded. ard one. - Simms Of Company L. ed Ar
tlery. uortaly-he died in fifteen minutes. The ad-
vsnced guard which was the fired upon, then fell
back on the column, when tue Indians rssed yell
and opened fire on ;he whole column. heavy
,Lat i. could not lave been made WIKI
less than rom seventy to eighty rifles but they ey..
oen.y fired a, random for the only damage done was
on canteers knapsdcks, haversacks, &c. The troops
then charged. Company c % artillery to the let
aark Of the enemy and Company lst artillery to the
right and ID 'front.' The Indians then rereated IN two
directions: about half Of them ran toward Bllys Town
i .vsfrlf mel
charged this cypress at 4 run, with shouts and hur.
rats, bu- when they got II, Lot an INDIA was % be
.sen, though they saw them distinctly enter il. After
a short rest, during which poor Simns was buried
they rroved toward BiIys Town, when large NUM-
b,r OF tie lndars retreaipg east, IN the d.
rec,ion of an abandoned village. This village was
suuc unGed on all sides by dense hammock, except
il .rott where there was grAss pond Exciting skr
m.shlDg here ensued iOr some time. On charge be-
Dg made the Indians rereated until all traces OF them
were losg The light continued .or 81 hours, alt time
through mud and water nearly TWO i,et deep, and
WIZ j: was over yAicers and men were completely
,xllas,,I
The damage sustained by our command -s Is -o-
ows.
.as.ssi- -p,-s. C4r-o. corgl.. c. ID af.-ery, Pr
ys-e ~ -s company c, d -r-y P-'ss snooe. p-ny
= sl-rl-ri Ps,,sts A5bott. eoupsny l. 2a artillery.
Msry rec. ived Oas III tLer clothing AMI vome
Sig. II. ur.es.
~ tie Indians carry away Il :ir dead, t = not
kroNu wat the.- los wa. bat blood was found
through he tu.tes where thy re'rested II = sup
po I'd "a. ,Ae Indians have moved ;heir :amles
souih and have united to oppose all entrance to the
BIZ Cypress swamp. you rlAy soon expect to hear
o. severe fighting. Sheltered a. they will BE-, by tie
alma. mpenetrabe ,h.cket. they viii b4 a ,oru-ida
DE enemy. But our troops are in fre spirit, and
ar1.cus - be- led against lie s,ea.thy Toe
BI Bov.e-s pasce-such - s-s,l-is Il ths s-e
b---- tsr.i = c-.et Bly, I,w7