, 1876-08-28
THE FLORIDA WAR.
"Reminiscences of the Memorable
Struggle with the
Seminoles.
Incidents Of tho Voyage from Now
York to Garcy's Ferry.
Gen. Jesup-Hard-Looking Southwestern
Volunteors-0apture Of 0soeola.

Fbr the tribune.
On the 21st Of September, 1887, resigned my
position In the B,ack-Ball Ltne Of Liverpool
packets, and accepted the post of salltng-mastcr
Of the United States steamer Potnsctt, then
ntttng-out at New York for corporation With
the army-forces ip the war against the Scminolcs,
in Florida.
My carly experiences in that delightful
"Aowcry land +" were Of tho most pleasant and
exciting character; and, IN tho hopo that tllis
publication may prove interesting TO tho read
crs Of TnH TRIBUNE, I have drawn upon my
daily notebook for some Of the thrilling incl
dents Of that memorable campa'gn.
INDIAN WARFARE,
nt this iuucturc, when Sitting Bull Is boldly
challenging our most accomplished military
chieftalns, must naturally prove Of absorbing
interest; and, mayhap, sons Of the carly en-
pcrlcnccs Of our army in Florida may prove
beneficial to our Indian f'ghters on the plains
Then, as now, tho hostile rcd-mon were supplied
with tho most approved firearms, both OF home
and foreign manufactures; and our border
merchants made large fortunes BY forwarding to
the scninoles rifles Of tho very best fabrica-
tIon. and abundant supplies OF ammunition.
Tho Poinsctt, amply manned and equipped,
left Now York OH the 9th Of September for the
St. JOINTS River, touching at Norfolk, Va,
where we were employed for several DAYS carry
ing troops from Old Point Comfort to q large
trnnsfcr-ship, tho Caledonia Brander, then lying
In tho roads, and bound for the same dcstina-
tfon rs ourselves.
TRANsronT-scENEs.
THIS transportation Of troops, though tcdi-
Gus operation, was attended with many ANUS
jvlr ~ a {tnf
note tho bearing Of tho young, upstart officers,
frcsh irom West Point, and the funny-lookng
privatcs, majority OF whom Werc natives Of
the Emerald Islc, with Just dash Of that rich-
cat uf sll bTogues.
"IIand mo me napsic's, Pat Doosan!"
"ArraI,l bad luck till yces, yn'll be atther
losing ycr head j!st new, I'm thinking"
"Do 1abers! but We costa unclo Sam q dale
Of ne ya II e IT, rs ov
ca1nc rushing IN at our .gapgways, like crowd
Of children broke loose from country-schoof at
recess-hour.
Lieut. Armstrong assured ME that 'among the
recruits were many young men WIN had recent
" been bohkkoepcra In the first mercantile
houses In New York, and large number OF
professional gentlemcn,'-lawTors, phyaicfans,
What less than actual starvation staring ot,a
In the face could Induce educated men to enllst,
aud in aucl, scryite, too, WAS n mystery to INC.
6wamp-fevcrs on The one hand and hostile Indians
ou the other, whilc, between tho two, thought
tho majority q those aronnd mo would, Gro
On tho I'd Of October wo left Norfolk for
Charleston, but were forced by an adverse gale
to seek shelter IN Beaufort Beau Hssbo.' o1s q te
proved q source Of great amusement to tho
aftcr-guard. He WRa d regular Ynnkce,-gawhy
Ii his gait and talk. At table he sat IN his
ahtrt-sleeycs, and talked about one jim ucnry,
1,.Ir kn u F~r11S $Srr,1., nAn
like that air plate, and could whip the best six
men tn Norfolk. Jim went on spree to Bcau-
fort with Bob Adams. and In tho bax,room!
strctcheI him CIT stitf Bob told tho landlord
to bfing him hamncs an some nails. Land
lord aatod what he wanted on lem. SPY c.,
LII sas s eon' 4a m IL s as IL s Ssa Sa nee[ e
al strc4ched out fore he'd dono With 'en.''
Leaving Charleston un the 18th of October We
ran dowh TO st. Johns Bar, and anchored at
look for q piiot,-there being no signs OF one,
OF Of any entrance, while tho white breakers
wero tu1nbling about Ia wild and fonmy fury.
pulled directly tor the blufI aboyo the light
housc, and soon found myself surrounded BY
formidable breakere,-tleir melancholy
'ssough" rendering tho scene ono OF much
sn1Ioty and subllmIty. I must confess that my
thoughts wero far from comfortable, and tho
prospect before mo far from enylable or aafe,
begsanl mo to return to tie steamer but /
quIcted their fears, and We reached tho mouth
81 tho liver at last Ii safety.
an uauxPxcTsp LAnDLApT..
Invent up 70 the only house IN sight, which
Just sitting down to their eyentng-meal, and we
were hospltsbly invited to join them. 1 noticed
ono OF MY passengers heartily shaking
hands With the lady Of tho house
$crs uf rshfrf 7 Nn utttf&