New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-02-02
THE WAR IN FLORIDA-ORIGINAL LET
TER FROM LIEUT.. HARTSUFF.
From The Detroit .ddpeTfiser

Through the kindness of Henry IIartsuf, esq, of
Unadia in this State, are enabled to lay before
our readers the following original letter from his son.
Lieut. Harsuf the gallant young officer whose recent
skirmsh with the Florida Indians, under Billy bow
legs and reported death, have been the subject OF
publication throughout the country:
"FoRT MYERS, Fla, Dec. 90, 1855.
"The war was opened by the Indians attacking my
party which being accommodating party, consisted OF
only ten men. had two wagons, twelve mules and
seven horses. | had been out fourteen days, had
finished nv examination of the country and going
TO start for this post the morning was attacked.
The attack made about daylight by between thnty
and forty Indians and they were not more than ods
off when the first shot was fired They were concealed
behind pine trees and palmetto bushes. The first shot
was fred while was getting up hastily dressed
and taking my pistol, looked out OF my tent Every
tree near had an Indian behind 1t, and they were
firing and whOoping terribly. shot two of them and
then left my tent and ran to the wagons about thirty
yards off; here found two of my men. The irst fire
had stretched FIVE Of my on the ground and three
had most shamefully run away. With my two men,
both of whom Were wounded, made stand behind
the wagons and fred several times with rifle and
musket. had Just fred at and believe hit an Indian
when got shot myself. The ball went through my left
arm ust above the elbow aud into my side just under
the arm; another ball hit i'll the breast but struck
my pistol which had thrust into my coat and did
not penetrate. This finished the fighting. | could
neither load nor fire, and the two men who with
me- and who behaved most gallan1ly, could hardly
stand. All the mules but one were shot, and two OF
impossible to get at them. ! told the men they
must make their escape the best way they could,
and | endeavored to do the same, though | con-
fess had no hope of being able to do could
scarcely move We were then hfty-fve miles from
this post. | ran first into little " hammock" and
having got through it with considerable difficulty,
came TO little pond filled with grass pond-liles and
aligators into which | fell, exhausted from loss Of
blood and fatigue found the water nearly covered
me- and remained here about two hours for the first
ten minutes the balls flew very thickly about me, but
none of them Lit me. At the end OF this time two
houIsl came out and seeing no Indians, | cnyled
to little bunch of palmetto bushes, and lay there the
rest of the day. ~ night tried to walk again, and
| managed to get about half mile. This was as far
as could 90; | lay here that night, the next day and
night and the next day till night all the time without
foo d or drink and unable TO walk finally got TO
FIRE which from It's size knew 10 be that of friends
and found two companies that had been sent out to
find me, accompanied by doctor. Til, was san.
day night and was wounded at daylight Thurs
day morning. Ny wounds were found to be in "a
GOOD a condition as possible, and within a month
shall be entirely well. -Four of my were killed;
the Iest all escaped but these are wounded-noAe OF
them a. severely, however, "a myself.
You1 saectior son, GEO. L. HARTSUFF.