The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-04-09
COL. HARNEY's REVENGE,
"Ned Buntline's" "Reminiscences OF the
Seminole War.

DIlcl IlInc suspended operations
against the Seminolcs, writes Ned
Buntlinc" in the New York IY0rid, tho
war opened with renewed activity. The
naval force on the coast-to which the
writer hereof, then midshipmap, act
ing as LIEUTENANT, was attached con-
sisted OF the topsail schooner Flirt,
Wave, and Otscgo, commanded re-
spectivcly by Lieutenant Commanding
j. II. Mclaughlin, Lieutenant John
Rodgers Oatc admiraD and Passed
Midshipman Edmund Templar Shu-
brick, about whom / will shortly write
a tragic history. The army force con-
sisted of the 3D. artillery, 9th infantry,
I'd dragons, and part of the 7th in
fantry. The 9Th infantry came later,
under command of Col. Worth, who
soon after was promoted, and, rclicy-
ing Gen. Zachary Taylor, pushed ac-
tive operations until the war was Drac-
tically ended. | am thus particular
now because i'll these pape,s s AL these
parties will have place.
Col. Harncy was raging mad when
he reached Key Biscaync on our schoon-
er, swearing the bittcrc$t vengeance on
the red murdcrers of / is brave men.
For it was murder in the broadest
! sense. The men fell not rs soldiers in
battle, but were surprised III bed, shot
down, slain and seal; ed, with no
chance for resistance. On the island
which forms Cape Florida there were
several companies Of the Sd artillery
and two companies OF the Sd dr.. goonS.
Harncy rs lieutenant colonel ranked all
the officers at the post, and the naval
men having Il la"gc number of cypress
canoes that had been made expressly
for our use in following the Indians mp
the river, lagoons, and bays along the
coast, made his plans easy of accom-
pfshmcnt.
" Calling for volunteers to go on the
7 expedition, the brave Harney soon had
2OJ picked men, sailors and soldiers,
ready for start. | forget just now
the names of all the officers who went
along. | am almost sure that General
Sherman, now retired, was onc-.or he
was ut the roSt. 4 lieutenant. | know
that the late Gen. Ord was there, as
will be seen in later lines il this sketch.
Lieut.. Rodney, of Delaware, 4 gallant
dragoon, also Capt. Fulton, OF the same
regiment, Francis Key Murray, John
Contec, and Lieut.. Roger, were in the
naval contingent.
Young man." said Uarncy to me
when we were fitting out the canoes,
,have you any small. strong ro.e on
board of the Olscgo?"
"IcS, colo cl. Here is coil of
dccpsca lcad-l nc, wh,ch will hol a
strain of 5 Opounds, and it is small, rs
you SGe!h
"lt is the very thing! Send the oil
of rope TO my boat. I'll make good use
of it before we get hackn he ansN cred,
clinching his remark w tn one of his
usual bitter oaths against The ''murdcr-
ing red niggcrS.'
10 make the story short, we got
away just after dark, provisioncd Tor
ten days, but armed and munitioncd
for weeks ste dy fighting, if it came
to that. We had thirty boats and ca
noes, Averaging about seven men in
ca h. We paddlcd rs silent lis pos j.
bic up to Old Fort Dallas, at the mouth
Of the Little Miami river, "nd entcr;n q
1t pu hc'l rapidly up into the cv T.
gia cS. Everything depended on our
taking the Indians by surprise. The
stricicst ord Is were given not TO fire
gun, o cvcn Gi'c IN order in Il loud
tone. An experienced guide was in the
llrSt cai:or, and the others followed in
line rs close rs one could be kept to
anOth"r.
Ii took all II ght to as.. up tn sha'-
low, SinU0u, stream and ct fa rlv into
the Il ,'rs. TErn. fearing 10 be d s.
go "f",, " lay all day close OF Il little
isiHn.i. W.T. II ng ihrAuGil our m.aSscs
Tor .niU>' or ign; VI occupation on
distant islands in si%ht OF ours. Our
HIglaEre and C.irH were rcWa..urd. We
| saw OaHnr .: Inc i,r:" islands evident
sign Of occupation, but no y on Of
alarm to show that our presence in the
glades had been diScOvcrcd We knew
that we were near the hauntS of Sam
Jones, or Arp aka, the oldest chief in
the Seminole nation, and of Chikiki,
the giant fishing chic<, who was sup
posed TO be ut the head of the party
that committed the mas acre we were
now TO a"enGc.
All !ay, I sting and sleep nc a< much
as VIC could, we laid by, eating cooked
provisions, making no fire, anG VA ting
Tor night TO cover our further move
mcnts And-right glad we were when
1t came, and just cloudy cnough-not
100 darK-t0 cover our approach to tho
island, which We knew was occupied.
Every man was now on the alert. Arms
were Inspected, orders given to keep
IN line until close TO the island. Then
certain detailed boats were to Law off
around it to cut off cscarc, while thrco
landing parties were to advance and
surprise the enemy, not n shot to be
fired until we were discovered by the
Indians. "Thcn," said Harney, with q
bitter oath, "go III for work. Kill or
capture all you see-young or old, he
or she. Spare them only as they spar
ed my poor boys over on the Caloosa-
hatchicn"
On, slowly and steadily, mulllcd pad
dies rising and falling with measured
cadence, we pushed through shallow
water and stilf saw-grass. 1t was not
more than six or seven miles, appar-
emily that we had to go, yet We were
till near midnight getting into position
for action, close up to the tree-covcrcd
island. We had SO far heard no sound
except the occasional yelp of some In
dian dog on the island. But now, un-
dcrstanding their orders, the officers of
each detachment moved forward.
Harvey and his dragons, with car
bincs, took the center, the artillcrymen,
! armed with muSkptS fhp riUht. fhr no