New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-19


the .maress Of their means, it would be difficult
to point cut in the whole history Of the world 3
con munity which has struggled against over Shelm-
rg force with greater spirit or with greater tenaclty
thsn have the Indisns of Florida When this ter
ritory was ceded to us by Spain in 1870, it con-
taintd az Indian population, all told, aud including
some eight hundred negroes attached to the various
hdisn yllsges, of less than f7e thousand persons.
The greater part Of these Indians were Offshoots
fIcm the Lower Greeks whose principal settle
meIis were on the ChattahoOchee, ard who, in con-
juno on tn the Eoelish coonists Of Carolina had,
early in the eighteenth century. invaded Florida,
ard had almost exterminated the original Indian
inhabitants, among whom sort Of semi-ciyiza-
ion had been Introduced by Spanish missionaries.
For forty years and more after this desolating in.
road. Florida appears to have remained nearly des
tiiute of IIdan inhabitants; but about the year
1850, a quarrel arising among the Lower Greeks,
a portion of them-whO received from those
whom they left behind the name of Semnoles or
Rupawa!s- removed into the peninsula, and set
tied in that central part Of it between the rivers
SuwaLee ard st. John, and which now constitutes
the Lower Creeks took place about 1903, thess
new immigrants settling in the vicinity of Talahas-
see. In addition, however, to these of,hoots from
the Lower Creeks. there was the tribe of Mikasu-
kies on the banks Of the lake OF that name north
east Of Tallahassee, who appear to have been a
remnant of the earlier Indian inhabitants; and in
the extreme southern part Of the peninsula small
ipbar IyadI x1t
Spanish, and whose existence was not known till
in the course of the war we were brought into
conflict with them.
By the treaty of Fort MoultIie in 1923, the In
dias surrendered Up X at portion Of Florida most
valuable for agricultural purposes; but they were
enyied even the we ched pine barIens aud swamps
which they still retail ed, and in 1882, by another
treaty-that of Psyre's LsndiDg-they were in-
duced TO agree TO emigrste 70 Arkansas at the end
Of three years provided the country set apart for
item there should prove satisfactory to deleg.-
ton of their chiefs who were to be sent TO examine
it. These delegates were induced to sign at Fort
Gibson. all additional article to the treaty Of 1892,
by which they professed themselves satisfied with
the AIkansas lands, and agreed 10 remove thither.
In this shape the treaty was ratified BY the Presi-
dent and Senate and in 1885, measures were taken
to carry the provision for removal lhto ELECT.
The indians, however, projected against the
whole proceeding. They denied the authority
Of their delegates TO bind them as they had under
taken 10 do. The Only chief who Inclined to sub
nit TO the treaty and who proposed to emlgrate,
was waylaid and shot. General Thompson, the
agent charged with experimenting the emigration.
shared the same fate and the destruction q Major
Dade, With a hundred mep, on Their march from
Tampa Bay to Fort King to aid in forcing the In
dams TO emigiate, on the 25!h of December, 1885,
fairly commenced tie war. The leading spirit in
it was Osceola, young chief about thirty years OF
age the son of ali English trader wh) had domes-
ticated himself among the Lower Creeks By an In.
dian womsn, who had joined in the emigration Of
lsOS to Florida, taking her iafaDt con with her and
leaving her white husband behind
The whole force Of the indians at the commence
melt of this war was reckoned at about 1900
warriors, including some 80 negroes, whom the
fear of falling into the hands of white claimants
made very Jealous opponents of the removal policy.
A considerable number of recruits were, however,
fir, m time 10 time received from among the Greeks
of Georgia, who, simultaneously with the Semi
noles, had been called upon TO give up their lands
and 10 remove 10 Arkansas. Against these forces
the United States EN- 9Oyed in the next seven years
more than 20 600 volunteers, beside large part Of
the regular srny. AuxiLaries were also Obtained
from among the Greeks, of whom some 100 We're
enlisted snd paid IS militia. Bloodhounds were
likewise imported from Havans, 10 be EN-
ployed 10 track the indians, the great
difficulty being TO fed them. A most ex-
traordinary war il was. General Scott, who
was called 10 take the command soon after its
conn ence ment, and whose want of success sub.
ected him TO court-martal, characterized it as az
absurd attempt to transport tribe OF wild Indians
from one ure1plored wilderness into another, By an
army 10 whom the climate was deadly, willie il
suited the Indians, who knew every hiding plac'.
and who, during the Summer, when the soldiers
wele obi ged to iptermit their service, could Sc
curey cult, ate their lands in the depths Of the
savanna. ,Jesup who succeeded Scott, AID under
whose energetic pressure of the war near balf the
Indian. were captured or induced to emigrate, did
net link much better Of the service. During his
command. Osceo'a wsstaken prisoner; but CoacoO-
che. or Wild Cat who DOW succeeded to the chief
l,ader.h;p, proved It'll more Formidable adyer-
sary. against whom, On cur eide. General Tay-
lcr Was matched. Taylor tT,d ou:, gase place,