The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-12-09
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL MESSAGE OF THE
GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA, SUBMITTED NoVEM-
Der q, 1856.


On the 18th day Of January, 1853, the general
bly passed an act eated An act to provide for the final
removal Of the Indians from this State and Tor other pur
poses
The first section of that act makes it unlawful for any
Indian to remain in this State
The second section requires the governor 10 raise
brigade composed Of regiment Of mounted volunteers
and regiment Of infantry Of not more than one thou
sand men each.
The fifth section provides that the governor shall tender
said brigade the federal government for the removal Of
Tie sixth section makes it the duty Of the governor in
the event Of the federal governments refusing 10 accept
the services Of said brigade forthwith ITO the FROM
tier settlers and employ the brigade in capturing the In
dams &c
The seventh section appropriates five hundred thousand
dollars for the expenses Of the war and authorizes the
governor borrow the money AZ six per cent interest
The ninth section authorizes the comptroller TO audit the
accounts and issGe warrants upon the treasury for their
Tho eleventh section provides that when the Indians
actual hostiltes the governor shall carry tbs
act into execution.
In obedience 10 the requirement Or this act acmpUcd
on my inauguration to r6sa tho brigade. The mounted
regiment readily procured and organized, hut the
infantry rezneat found il npraCtgable 70 recruit In
December last the contingency occErrcd uT01 the Tap
penng Of which ths executive required carry the
law into execution Ths Indians commenced actual hos
tlities by attacking detachment oil United States troops
commanded by Lieutenant Hartuh This attack en-
tirey unexpected and found frontier population ia
unprotected condition. The officer in command Of the
United States force not able t1 give promptly lAe
protection required for such line 81 frontier and the c
2ens naturally and properly called upon the Slate govern
ment protect them in the enjoyment o. their lives ard
property Before however the decision OF the executive
could be obtained many from the counties Of NINA
tee Hillsborough anu fernando moved by patriotic
pulses had organized themselves into companies elected
oicers armed equipped and rGoned themselves ana Lad
marched 10 the frontier These companies promptly
ognised the service Of the State and instructed them
TO give efficient protection 70 the frontier population, aud
prevent possible the breaking up and abandonment Of
the settlements Immediately rendered 70 the Secretary
Of War such portion Of the brigade had been raised and
offered TO raise the balance az the earliest practicable Ier
Cd lie declnc0 however 70 receive nofa than I'VE com
panies three ~ mounted and two Of niantythe lat
ter Of which could only procure 20 The extent o. one 9e
1achment
The three mounted companies OF vountsofs numbering
rank and le about two hundred and sixty men, were All
The force Of that description that advised the gov
arnnent designed using for frontier protection This 70
my mind, quite insufficient for the reasonable protec-
ton Of the country to say nothing Of furnishing pursuing
parties when The Indians should make their appearance ia
the settlements therefore determined 70 retain In tho
eervce Of the State the companies OF Captains NJ Dur
rance, 1. q. Lesley, william II. Kendrick, and Abner
Johnson and afterwards addod detachment under Lieu
tenant John Addison making rank and flc about four
hundred msn There troops have beeu employed, partly
the frontier Spd partly ia the Indian country Detocl.
ments have, three several occasions overiakep and
fought the enemy recovering large amount OF prop
erY (of which they had robSed Of best ezcns
aud killing as WINS supposed from four 20 seven Indians
This was effected under Lieutenant John Asdison without
loss The other two engagements were By meil deiach-
mems from the companies Of Captains 4. NJ Durra.,os
T. g. Lesley and W. B. Hooker aud were the most vnllnpt
~ contested actions that have probably occurred IN
Florida Tho Indians having The advantage IN point az
numbers appeared determined destroy their pursuers
and such the desperation with which they fought that
one contest decided by resort TO pocket knives IN
which Indian was killed by having hs throat cut Ia
these three engagements IL il supposed that over tsnty
Indians killed, and number wounded: and 90 thor
oughy were they chastse that although more than yo
months haze elapsed they have not have been advised
ventured engagement an attack upon the from
tiers In these last two engagements Lost Ia killed
Leutenants Carleton and Mhiddon and William Parker
~ Tho ralll ant norrt
while all did their Guty nobly and nre entitled 10 the
gratitude Of the whole State the memories Of those who
persisted should be embalmcd in every heart For more
detailed account Of these kaant actions respectfully refer
u The report Of Captain NJ Durrance herewith oomnu
nicated
When the Indian outbreak occurred, the money markets
OF the world were Ia such condition az to forbid the
lone Of negotiating dollar upon The terms 10 which was
limited BY tho ac o. January H. 1853 The mpusbility
ofprocurinr subsistence and forage except TO limited
tent forbid my calling into the service Of the State such
force As would have protected the frontier and promptly
captured or hpmbled the enemy. Under these crcuu-
lnces, compelled to limit the force to four comps-