Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-23
HARNEY's REVENGE.
An interesting "reminiscences Of
the Seminole War.
ao. colonsi Harvey Avenged the Mss-
dsr of His Troops st Calooss-
hsfehie-A Hanging Bee
IA Florida
(. Ned Buntline." in n. Y. worla.l

eiAlct TIE truce WHICH 1ad lOK q DftSi liiits
suspended operations against the Semi
noles, tue war opened with renewed aetiv-
ity. The naval force on tbs coast-to
which tae writer hereof, then a midship-
man, acting as Lieutenant, was attached
consisted Of the topsal -seho0ners flirt,
Wave and otsego, commanded respective
" by Lieutenant Commanding j. I. Nc
Laugh n, Lieutenant John Rodgers llate
AdmiFal) and Passed Midshipman Edmund
1empfar Shubrick, about whom l will
shortly write tragic history. The army
force consisted Of the Third Artillery,
Sixth Infantry, Second Dragons and .
part OF the Seventh Infantry. The Eighth
Infantry came later, under command of
ColoEel Worth, who soon after was pro-
noted, and, relieving General Zachary
Taylor, pushed active operations until the
war was practically ended. l am thus
particular now because ia these papers all
these parties will have place.
Colonel Harney was raging mad when
he reached Key Biscayne on our schooner,
swearing the bitterest vengeance on the
red murderers OF his brave men. For 1t
was murder in the broadest sense. The
men fell not as soldiers in battle, but were
surprised in bed, shot down, slain and
scalped, with no chance for resistance. On
the island which forms Cape Florida there
were several companies of the Third Ar
tillery and two companies Of the Second
Dragons. Harney as Lieutenant Colonel
ranked all the officers at the post, and the
naval men having large number of cy-
press canoes that had been made expressly
for our use in following the Indians up the
rivers, lagoons and bays along the coast,
made his plans easy of accomplishment.
Calling for volunteers TO go on the expe-
ditiOn, the brave Harney soon had two
hundred picked men, soldiers and sailors,
ready for a start. l am almost sure that
General Sherman, now retired, was one
for he was at the post q Lieutenant.
know that the late General Ord was there,
as will be seen in later lines in this sketch.
Lieutenant Rodney, of Delaware, a gallant
dragoon, also Captain Fulton, of the same
regiment Francis Kee Murray, John Con-
tee and Lieutenant Rodgers were in the
naval contingent
''Youug man." said Harney TO me when
we were fitting out the canoes, have you
any small, strong rope on board Of the
Otsego?"
"Ycs, Colonel. Here is coil of deep-s
lead line, which will hold q strain of five
hundred pounds, and 1t Is small, as you
sect"
1T is the very tn ng! Send that coil Of
rope TO my boat. III make good use of 1t
before we get back !" he answered, clinch-
ing his remark with one of his usual bitter
oaths against the numbering red niggers."
To make the story short, we got away
just after dark, provisioned for ten days,
but armed and munitioned for a week 8
steady fighting, If it came to that. We had
thirty boats and canoes, averaging about
seven men in each. We padded as silently
as possible up to old Fort Dallas, at the
mouth of the Little Miami River, and en-
teriug it pushed rapidly up into the ever
glades. Every thing depended on our TAX
ing the Indians by surprise. The strictest
orders were given not to fire gun or even
give an order in loud tone An expert
enced guide was in the first canoe, and the
others followed in line as close as one
could be kept to another.
1t took all night to pass up the shallow,
sinuous stream and get fairly into the
glades. Then, fearing to be discovered
we lay all day close on a little island
watching through our glasses for smoke OF
signs of occupation on distant islands In
sight of us. Our vigilance and care were
rewarded. We saw on one of the largest
islands evident signs of occupation, but nc
sign of alarm to show that our presence in
the gladcs had been discovered. We knew
that we were near the haunts of "San
JONES'" or Arpiaka, the oldest Chief in the
Seminole Nation, and of Chikiki, the giant
fishing Chief, who was supposed to have
been at the head of the party that commit
ted the massacre we were now TO avenge.
All day, resting and sleeping as much a,
we could, we laid by, eating cooked pro-
visions, making no fire, and waiting fol
night TO cover our further movements
ADJ right glad we were when II came, and
b,s, cloudy enough--not too dark-to cover
on = approach 10 the island, which we knew
was occupied. Every man was now on the
alert Arms were inspected, orders giver
20 keep in line until close TO the island
Then certain detailed boats were to lay of
around il 20 cut Off escnpe, while three
landing parties ~ere TO advance and sur
prise the enemy not shot to be fred unit
we were discovered by the Indians
''Then." said Harney, with bitter oath
ego in ior work. Kill OF capture all yor
see-young or old, be or she. Spare then
only as they spared my roor boys over on
the CaloosaAstchieW
On. slowly snd steadily, muffied paddles
rising and falling with measured cadence
We pushed through shallow water and stiff
saw-grass. II was not more than six OF
seven miles. apparently, that we had 10 go
yet we were til midnight getting into po
sition for action, close up to the tree-cov
cred island. We had so far heard no souns
except the occasional yslp OF some Indisr
dog on the island. But now, und erstand
ing thsir orders. the officers OF each de
tachrsat moved forward.
Harvey and his dragons. with carbines
took the center. the ertillerymeu. arme'
with muskets. the right; the navy men tn
left, supplied with United States Ysge
rifles.
Soon the landing parties were on shore