Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-07-01
The Exiles of Florida.

The follow ing extract is taken from th
d forthcoming volume entitled "The Exile
IS of Florida" by Hon. Joshua R. Gliding.
l 1t is full of spirit, and is fair specimen c
. the vigor which characterizes the Who'll
o work. In this volume will be found, de
tailed with truthfulness and effect, tn
$ crimes and iniquities perpetrated by ou
government to uphold and sustain SLAYER
! and the Slare Poseer:
The Cherokee Delegation had reache
the Indian country. The address of Johr
Ross was directed to Wild Cat and Osceola
as two of the principle Seminole Chiefs
They we're together. and received the tall
of Ross, the Cherokee chief, assuring then
of the integrity and honor of the Unite'
States. After due consideration, it wa
determined that Wild Cat should comply
with the fil:al obligations due to his aget
father, bearing with him the peace toker
of Osceoia, consisting of neatly wseUgh
bead pipe, together with bea utiful white
plume, to oe presented to General Her.
nandez, as the assurance of Osceola's pacific
desires. Co-Hadjo, another chief, bore g
similar message and emblems.
These were received by General Her.
nandez, who communicated immediate infor-
nation thereof to General Jessup. They
were propositions for negotiating peace,
forwarded at the specia request and advice
of the Cherokee Delegation, who were
active in their efforts to stop the effusion
1'5f blood, and restore harmony between our
nation and the Seminoles. By direction of
General Jessup, Hernandez returned various
presents to Osceola by Co-Hadjo, saying,
that General Jessup and himself would be
glad to hold conference with them. The
same assurances and presents were given to
Wild Cat. who also became the messenger
between General Jessup and General
Hernandez on the one hand, and his breth.
rem on the other. With the hope of effece-
ing an arrangement beneficial to his friend
and to mankind, Wild Cat left San Angus,
tine with the promise to return in ten days.
Punctuai to the Day, he returned with the
very satisfactory assurance, that Osceola
and one hundred Indians and as many Exiles
were on their way toward San Augustine,
for the purpose of entering upon negotia-
tions. With the intention of fastening
their arrival. and manifesting an earnest
desire for peace, General Hernandez pro-
ceeded, with Wild Cat and other fri endly
Seminoies. to meet the advancing chiefs,
some twenty miles south-wes of San Au-
gustine, at place called pelican Creek !"
Here he learned that Osceola would join
them at evening. General Hernandez left
a quantity Of provisions with them, and, &C.
string them to select their encampment for
the next day (Oct. 22) somewhere near
Fort Peyton, at which lace he would meet
them with proper escort, left :hem, and
to San Augustine. They accord
ingly encamped the next day near Fort Pey-
ton, situated seven miles sou,h.w from
San Augustine. They approached their
encampment with great formality. Osceola
and other chiefs bearing white flags, expect
ing to meet a suitable escort under General
with the well.understood inten-
tions of entering upon diplomatic negotia-
tions with that great dignity for which the
Indian lis So much distinguished. These
flags we're kept flying in their encampment
through :he night and the next morning.
At ten O'Clock (Oct 22) General Hern-
andez, accompanied by his staff and by most
of General Jessup's staff, in full dress, met
them as had been promised, with the ap-
parent purpose of escorting them to head
quarters at San Augustine. After the Or
dinary salutations had been exchanged. in
stead of preparing to march, General Hern-
andez, from written paper signed by Gen.
eral Jessup, read the following questions
to Osceola: care you prepared
at once to deliuer up the negroes taken J, ON
the citizens? Why have you not surrender
ed them already, as promised by Co -Hadjo
at Fort King! Have the chiefs of The na-
tion held a council on this subject!"
Osceola exhibited the most perfect as
at hearing these questions pro-
pounded at such moment. He appears,
however, instantly TO comprehend his slua.
ton. Turning to Co-Hadjo, he said to him
in his own dialect, "You must answer;
am choked," at the same time exhibiting
emotion for an Indian chief. I
,At this moment, by concerted signal,
armed troops Al once surrounded the whole
The inteuogatories were embraced in paper,
Of which the following is copy:
MEMORANDA OF sPAcIFIc QUESTIONS To BE ADDRESS
ED TO oscEoLA-
Ascertain the object Of the Indians in coming
~, A 49,
they prepared TO deliuer up The negroes taken from
The citizens, at oncei Why have they not surren.
dered them already ,:assproniisei by Co. II adio at
Fort Kingi Have the chiefs OF ths nation held
Council in relation TO the talk at Fort Kingl
What chiefs attended that Council and what was
their determination Have the chiefs sent q mes
senger with the decision of the Councill Have
the principal chiefs Micanopy, Jumper, Cloud and
Alligator sent a messengeR and if so, what is
their message' Why have no. those chiefs come
"(signed) THos S. JEssUP. Major General
Commanding.
SAN AUGUSTINE, August 2lst. 1887"
tFrom the first and second interroga tories, the
reader will see that General Jessup was fully con.
scious, that the attempt 10 deliver over those ne.
groes to slavery who were ciuimed by the citizens
OF Florida, had been the sole cause for renewing
the war. He dictated the iirst and most import
art in:errogstory propounded TO Osceola-"dre
you prepared at once to deper up the negroes taken
from the citizcnsf"
But the second shows an important fact which
had, SO far MS we have information, been kept
from the public: The words, "Why have they no
already surrendered thom as promised by Co.
Hadjo at Fort Kirg!" This shows TINT the ar.
reported by him to have been made
with the chiefs. was made with CO. Hadjo only
u viii be recolleced, that after the article of cap
ituaiion, in March when the people of Florida
began TO demand their negroes. Genci al Jessup
said he would endesvor to make an arrangement