The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-06-12
NY X. n.

DY X. n.
-Oceola was the SON Of a white man and an lndi-
an woman From his earliest years, he was noted
"a proud, gloomy aspiring being, and even before
he had arrived 3, .naaheod had acquired con-
siderable influence among the turbulent spirits
which surrounded him. He first came into gene
rai notice in the year 1884, when Gen. Wiley
Thompson, Of the U. S. Agency, proceeded to
.superintend the removal Of the Florida Indians in
accordance with the treaty OF Paines Landing.
He found majority Of the tribe opposed to the re-
,noval, aud several Of the influential chiefs openly
denied the validity Of the treaty Oceola did not
neglect this opportunity of elevating himself and
commenced series OF oritorcal displays, in which
he contcnded in the NEST imprisoned eloquenco
'that the red men were the only rightful owners Of
tho soil, aud that white men were in,rudcrs. The
result of this first attempt that he was put in
chains and suffered days Imprisonment. |, is no
difficult matter 10 conceive what would be the re-
suit Of such treatment as this upon such man
He whose eloqueuce had entrance his bearers in
the swamp AMI forest now degraded to miserable
prisoner, aud loaded with chains like the ves, fei-
on, for feelings and sentiments which naturally an
tcipate admiration. The reader may s rilc at our
-attributing fine sentiments the untutored savage
but Oceola, fs his history indicates, was No COM
mon savage. Hence we assert The probability ,ha,
this disarace led to that marked change in his
character which took place immediately alter
wards. III the white mans dungeon, no doubt. he
swore eternal enUi,y TO the oppressor of his eoun-
try, and that loiy patriotism which had hitherto
characterized him was changed Tor a sentiment OF
revenge deep, dark, all terrible, That same
evening, by duplicty and pretended peni,encc. he
secured his release A few days lac fingered 10
his designs and then he set out O. that tour
which cannot fail TO remind Of the days of Peter
the Hermit. From tribe To tribe he went through
swamp aud forest Like IN evil angel he moved
from council fire 10 council fire, with an uutiriny
assiduty which knew no rest, The dusly hordcs
gathered around him, and while they hung in ex,...
81 on the Wild eoquence which fell from his lips.
and 'rank wis!i greedy enthusiasm the sentiments
80 m1ck in unison with their own, they imagined
they heard the vOe1 U! the Great Spirit m,arslalina
his red children 10 arms in defence Of their IA.
thcrs' graves. The council usually broke up in a
war dance, and i'll resolution utterly To extermin-
ate the whites. lS3S'was passed by Oceoa among
the 'nr distant Creeksa restless and quarrelsomc
tribe whom he easily aroused by his eloquence
This i; was that forced Cen. Scott in April OF ta,
year to make all speed TO their territory, and the
battles 81 Chatt7hoochie river in Georgia and Ala.
oama was ihe result. Scott, by concession and
promises, succeeded IN allayng their passions and
thus great link in oceoia's chain was broken.
On the 23d of December, 1885, Mai. Daie was
ordered from headquarters at Tampa Bay For,
Brooks to JOIN Gen. Clinch at Camp King. Gen.
Clinch was urgently requiring renforccments. for
his foes wore gathering in his vicinity in great
numbers, and closing around him with the audaei,v
of conscious superiority. Camp King was situated
one hundred and twenty miles from For, Brown
on the route to ST. Augustine. Mai Dadc forced
his way over two-,hrds Of this distance, experien.
cling unexampled difficulties aud continually sur.
rounded by danger. The road was obstructed and
bridges cut away, and the lurking foe hung upon
Their footsteps like beast OF prey awaiting the
moment to spring upon his victim The morn
ing of tho fourth day from their departure dawn
ed upon coudless sky. Their early reyeiIIe
awoke the echoes Of the silent forest and soon they
took up their march. The tired soldiers BEGAN to
ieei that they were near their journeys end, and
'ahc'ed their dangers over, when they were ava
kened from their sense Of security by the sharp
crack OF rifle. They had fallcn into an ambush
and voliey after volIey poured upon them before
tho enemy could be discovered a single man Of
all the baud escaped bv feigning death.
hia'ed by success, and burning for further ven
geanee, the Indians proceeded at a rapid pace TO
Camp King. Within gun-shot of the block .hopse
was the suilery, in which Gen. Thompson. Lieut..
Smith, Rogers, (he sutler,) and others. were AZ
sinner, when oeeoa and his party quietly walked
ia and shot them down, and after scalpinp them
departed. These successes aroused tho Indians
and they began to assemble in considerable num.
bers on the banks of the Wit!llacooche. near
CHnch's possessions. Aware of the necessity OF
keeping up clear communication for receiving
ms supplies, Gen CIinch, resolved to attack the
indians IN their camp. a battle ensued which
lasted whole day, and resulted IN retreat on the
part of the Indians. The loss Of Gen Clneh was
about 90. The Indians when they retrcated car
gied their dead with them.
In this engagement an incident occurred which
throws flood Of light on the character Of Oeeolo
who fought With the most determined bravery NJ
the head Of his warriors, encouraging them by
Words and by example. Oceola had received ON n
previous occasion some triGng kindness at the
hands ofan American lieutenant, who was now one
OF the foremost of the "pale faces" leading his
men to battle. Tho chief ut once gage orders thai
this man should bo spared, but that every other
officer should be sho. down possible without ner.
oy. Tho friend OF Oceola escaped unburt from
the thickost Of the 6ght while scarcely single ono