The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-12-24
TIL E DISPATCH.
THURSDAY MORNING. =. DEUEMnKR :. Iss7,



aTHE FLORIDA WAR.
. aptare Of billy Bowieg's Family.
Tas FLORIDA Wave hnd the following letter
from Captain L. A. Hardee, In the Florida service,
published IN jacksonville Republican. 1t Is dated
Cape Roman, Florida. the ID instant. 1t is bat 4
mere particular account Of what has beeu sircady
noticed in our paper, but our readers will be glad
to know the fullest incidents connected with the
gallant charge against the s'squawsp of Cypress
| swamp:
On or about the 18th uit., Captain Cana. will n
portion of Captain Whitehead's Co,npan :. and his
own, numbering sixty-three, rank and file, struck
plain trail leading south direct for tho ssCypress
lhis tran, be it known to former COMMANDERS Of
",, sns fiofaa war, was ten or fifteen years old.
weii beaten track about eight miles from Fort
Doue, and five from Fort kaies Eight miles on the
traii he found an Indian village consisting of frtv
ave huts, recently erected. This village was not
SNOW, Ano"n oy the War Department. Finding fresh
Iaii OF some sixty or a hundred warriors IL was
theus ht advisable to send back for reinforcements
captains Stephens, Stewart, aud Harrington. with
e portion OF their respective companies soon re.
ERortea tASnssises to CaPtsin Gone, who In CON-
in earnest '' ''.
After following the trail some four or We davs.
through mud and water, they heard the Indians
oeauhg rice. 1t becoming now impossible to con-
| at the recollection of their savage deeds~c.ntai,
Cone ordered general charge himselfin COMPANY
with the gallant DR.. Hilton Jones led: on tbey
rushed until in twenty PAGES of their wigwams,
When they were discovered by the squaws, who
gave the alarm with deafening wells At that time
TWO OF the warriors were trying to escape Eeut
stephens, with his uneeriDg aim, caused them 20
"kiss the soiP' SO dearly loved. The remaining
nlneteen were easily captured The prisoners were
then ordered to march under strong guard, when
number OF warriors began firing or the rear |:
then Dr. Hilton Jones charged back on them, which
made them show how nimble they were in their
linios. me warriors continued In pursuit, and
casionaly hrins, but doing no damage save inju.
ring pumpkin which one of the bows had on his
oacR 10 roast for dinner, and that only made two
round holes the bali landing safe under his shirt
me Na.rIoIs, anxious for revenge, proceeded
| their encampment, found thirty.eight of their
hcrses grazing, and succeeded in capturing and
| cutting their threats. This party of warriors was
| no doubt commanded by Gen. Bow Legs in person,
| the trophies obtained
1t was now late at night. Express lust arrived.
ana reports another bloody engagement in the Cy-
press, and with deep regret we learn that Captain
farhniLi' OF Iailehassee, was killed while leading
| MS men on charge. Thirty-hYe of the Duvai
cowboys were engaged in this action The In
| dian warrior who shot down Capt Parkbil now
made MS appearance on a stump, and waving his
r'ne oyer MS head sounded the war-whoop, when
bail from the rife of John Wilkinson ehauged
MS tune, aud he fell lifeless corpse on his native
SOIL am now preparing to receive the wounded
VINO are coming up in a small schooner / learn
Win nueh regret, that Henry O'Neil is shot
through the lung. and his recovery is doubtful
III may be necessary to state that the above was q
detachment OF Col. Rogers command
| should like to give you a more full account
put tune IL snort, aud the steamer leaves in a few
hours. may give yen a more minute account OF
the prospects of the war closing in nv next
lsave here at early dawn, with TWENTY-FIVE men,
Tor the cypress. should the wounded admit of my
aoing so. The men are all in high spirits anxious
| ior engagement. Lieut.. John G.. Haddock has re-
turned from Fort Center, and declares he will
never return to old Duval until he bushes the war
Thoop OF every savage in Florida My friend Dr.
regiment.
We have already announced the capture of q
| number OF Indian women and children, compos.
ing the family of the famous chief. Billy Bowlegs
IN Florida The following is a copy of the official
dispatch, received at the War Department on Mon
day last, from Col. G. Loomls dated Hesdouarter,
Department of Florida, Fort Brooke, December 9th
1857 -
81 have the honor to report that Capatin Cone,
company OF the regiment of nlpunted volunteers
WITH detachinents amonxting to lis men, while
scouting on the 2ist OF November the west o.
the oko-loo-eoochec, and south of Fort Doane
struck an Indian trail. which he followed will
| great tact and perseverance.
lie was rewarded by surprising one Of the Sc
cret hiding places of the Indians in the Cypres.
Swamp, and captured an aged warrior five snuaw,
and thirteen children-the eldest child about se
ven years old-and killed one boy two wears old
lie found several towns in al numbering about for
~ houses aId discovered considerable amour,
| OF corn, rice and pumpkins all of which were de
| stroyed. great many trinkets were also found
among them two daguerreotypes-one of Biliy's
grsupe, taken in Washington. This is a conyinc-
Ing proof that the hiding place of Billy Bowlegs
has been found at last, and that he has received
severe blow in the loss of his women and children,
| "Ihe towns where the Indians were captured were
newly built, and dePots of supplies were found In
three dlffsrent towns Captain Cone says be saw
at least - acres of cultivated ground in which
| were planted corn, rice, peas aud pumpkins Tn q
Indians followed on his trail to the camp at depot
No L, and attempted to ambuscade him, but with
out effect.
son the 26lh of November some horses were
turned out to Craze at depot No. /, and when they
were about mile and half from the cs,np the
Indians attacked them, killing SO horses belonging
| TO capt Stevens company OF mounted volunteers
| ION the 18th of the same month, a detachment
from Col. Rogers command, on the southwest
coast, commanded by Capt. parkhiiI, of the mount
ed volunteers, having left their boats and gone in
pursuit OF an Indian trail, came upon a town
which the Indians had just left. They unfortu.
nately set nre to the town before they pursued the
trail farther. =
AT short distance from the town, and on the
trail they fell in with body of Indians in all pro-
liability in ambuscatle: and at fbe frst 6rs / va.
greet to say, Capt. Parkhll was killed aud five Of
his men wounded. The party then returned to
their camp, the Indians having reiterated at the
iirst fire. Ii is not known whether any warriors
| were killed by PARK hills command No official re-.
port of this last action, or list of the wounded
has yet been received.
You will perceive, by my special order of this
date that the most active pursuit will be kept up
in the Big Cypress, with cooperation from the
southwest coast: and design increasing the force
where the Indians most likely to be found with
| the least delay practicable. - =
u learn from the captured squaws that Billy
Bowlegs has held councils and. at the risk of bis
life, had entreated the Indians to come in and this
ne only saves his life by striking US whenever m
opportunity offers The Miscasokies are said to be
as hostile as ever, and will not permit any of the
| Indians to talk about peace.
Capt. w. III. Cone and his command deserve
high commentator for the skill and energy dis
played in the pursuit of the TRAIL and In the sur.
prise and caDtnra of the Of Io,v "a Mi