The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-14


cidens connected with transaction in which he per-
sonay and prominently actor ayails himself Of the
occasion thus offered to present. in the suboned paper
narrative of that interesting event in the history of the
s'Florida war
STATEMENT BY MAJOR GENERAL JESUP.
matter has been recently brought into discussion
with which my name connected some twenty years
ago, and, though explained at the me not even
now to be well understood IL has been published in n
neghborng print the authority of distinguished
professional and public man, that the Seminole Indian
warrior Osccola, who, by the murder OF Gen Thompson
and by other atrocities began the Seminole war cds
captured by treactey and fraud and that hen dying
his hocss capiuay his bmerea regra ha history pouid
dre him Of Me honor Of waing The bals Of Wiiacooehec.
Had the gentleman who penned the paragraph referred to
part of which Is quoted abovc been better acquainted
with the details of the transaction he would have been
that the late Gen. Clinch the battle Of With
acoocee and that there is doubt whether Osceoa
in the battle at all With that portion Of the story
however have further than desire to vim
dictate the truth of history and the reputation of depart
ed friend
But the other part of the story containing the charge
that osceoa was captured by hsaicry and fraud con-
Germs alone and, If true, would not only BIO damn
ing to me, but be stain upon the character of the
try for all time to for when i'm command of the
southern army in 1887 |, rs the representative of the
government ordered tho seizure and retention Of that
warrior
osceola had come into Fort Peyton, few miles from
St. Augustine, not my invitation, that Of any
other officer but he with his warriors had accompa-
MED messenger Of Ematha, king Philip the princi-
pal chief of all the Seminole bands and the river
St. Johns who had boeu captured time before and
who had been allowed to communicate with his people
his that they the greater part of them
would come in and accompany him to the West Oscco-
Ia no doubt intended to return should he fail in the
object that really brought him in, which to capture
the place and release the prisoners
In conference which held with the Seminole Chiefs
at their request but few weeks before had as
sured them that would hold further conference with
them except to receive from them the notice of their
readiness fulfil their obligations under the treaty at
Paynos Landing and of their captulation with mo ct
Fort Dade but assured them that when prepared to
fulfil those obligations would receive them and provide
for their removal to the country assigned to them
west of the Mississippi and if any separate parties
bands should decide to in before the body OF the
nation were ready to would receive and protect
them.
The chiefs expressed some apprehension that in coming
in to they might he attacked by my scouting parties
and their people DO scattered 10 enable them to join
without danger of attack from those parties proyi
ded them with quantity OF white cotton cloth to be
used flags in communicating with any of those parties
they might fall in with and with my outposts but the
flags to be used for other purpose and the chiefs
were distinctly and positively told that Of them
their people must attempt to in again. but to
main. When Philips messenger, his son Coacooche,
left ST. Augustine to communicate with his people the
st. Johns, there but few troops at the post On
meeting with Osccola he informed them that he could,
with hundred warriors, take the place and release his
father Warriors enough arrived to have taken the place
had the force been increased but before they
in had thrown in large achievements had become
acquainted with their designs through Indian negroes
some of whom remained with the Indians aud possessed
the confidence of the Chiefs but whom had in constant
pay and from whom received information Of oil that
took place about to take place among them.
When Osceola found there no chance of taking St.
Augustine of releasing the prisoners he determined
to return informed by the Indian negroes about
all ,rl,s, MED baI
in with the distinct understanding that they not to
return He prisoner who had violated his parole
he had killed of my messengers in time of truce,
when going under the sanctity of. flag with message
to chiefs in his negbborhood and he would have killed
second messenger but for the energetic interference OF
Appiacca Sam Jones the Mccasuky chief now In Flor
d. who intcrposed syed him. and sent him back to
at Tampa Bay he had also violated the last truce made
by me with the chiefs By either of these acts he
had forfeited his life by the laws and usagcs of
recognised by civilized nations.
Had allowed myself to be trifed WITH and my sol
emn assurances the chiefs that to in
but to remain to be fsfed should have received
would have deserved their and contempt II
my duty to the country to detan thcm and directed
that all should be secured and detained.
In the closing report Of the operations of the army
under my command dated the 9th Of July, 1885, which
called for by resolution of the Senate and printed
by order of that body and thus became part Of the doc
history of the country stated all the facts in
regard to the detention Of osceola which could then be
country and under Indian control, and embarrassing
my successor In command; but facts then given
sufficient TO the complete understanding of the merits Of
the case. For the truth of that report then,
am now both officially and personally responsible The
prominent facts of the report stated by Col Benton
in speech in the Senate aud by Judge Underwood in the
House without contradiction. Every who has read
the Articles of War is aware that my commission
pledged for the truth Of my report in all its parts.
here ready to meet any investigation either before
Congress before court of my peers but my report
have TO know, satisfactory to the govern
Incnt as believe it every fair minded and honest
man in the country who read it at the time.
Occoa had by his repeated violations Of the usagcs of
war; forfeited his life particularly by his attempt TO
flag for hostile purposes at St Augustine which made
him spy we'll by the laws Of nations as by own
Articles of War. Whether he should be punished
spy at the time merely question Of policy with me.
could have convicted him but TO have done so should
have lost the services of oil who would have testified
against him. not of them could have returned
the Indian country without the certainty of being put to
death could not afford to lose the services of the wit
noses in future operations, had been inclined to
proceed against him ciminally, which Twas not. Had
we been at with Britain France, however and
Osceoa been British French general his fate would
have been that of Andre. But though an intelligent
and talented man. he belonged to savage tribe not sup
posed to be acquainted with the laws of nations or the
usages Of war and in place of furnishing him. sent
him out of the country, to Charleston, prisoner In my
course that occasion Influenced alone by the
high obligations Of public duty and IL called upon 10
ret in similar to-day the circumstances tho
same should consider it my duty to the country to act
us acted then. TIL. S. JESUP.
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On the night of the 9th inst the freight depot Of tho