produced from images available at the ,university of ,florida ,digital ,collections47 ,illustration3 ,death of ,waxe hadjo ,,the ,,exiles ,,of ,,florida3 ,,or1 ,,the ,,crimes ,,committed ,,by ,,our ,,government ,,against ,,the ,,maroons1 ,,who ,,fled ,,from ,,south ,,carolina ,,and ,,other ,,slave ,,states1 ,,seeking ,,protection ,,under ,,spanish ,,laws4 ,,by ,,joshua ,r4 ,,giddings4 ,i1 as commander of the army1 pledged the national faith that they should remain under the protection of the ,united ,states4 ,,general ,,jessup4 ,,columbus1 ,,ohio3 ,,published ,,by ,,follett1 ,,foster ,,and ,,company4 #aheh4 ,entered according to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #aheh4 ,,by ,,follett1 ,,foster ,,co41 ,in the ,clerk's ,office of the ,district ,court of the ,united ,states1 for the ,southern ,district of ,ohio4 ,,to ,,my ,,constituents1 ,,the ,,people ,,who ,,have ,,so ,,long ,,honored ,,me ,,with ,,their ,,confidence1 ,,this ,,work ,,is ,,respectfully ,,dedicated4 ,j4 ,r4 ,,giddings4 ,,introduction4 ,discarding that code of morals which teaches the suppression of truth1 for the purpose of upholding the honor1 either of the ,government1 or of the individuals who wield its administration1 the ,author of the following work has endeavored to give a faithful record of those interesting events which appear directly connected with the ,exiles of ,florida4 ,torn from their native land1 their friends and homes1 they were sold in the markets of ,carolina and ,georgia4 ,feeling the hand of oppression bearing heavily upon them1 they fled to ,florida1 and1 under ,spanish laws1 became free4 ,holding lands of the ,spanish ,crown1 they became citizens of that ,territory1 entitled to protection4 ,to regain possession of their truant bondmen1 ,georgia made war upon ,florida1 but failed to obtain her object4 ,at a time of profound peace1 our army1 acting under the direction of the ,executive1 invaded ,florida1 murdered many of these free men1 and brought others to the ,united ,states and consigned them to slavery4 ,an expensive and bloody war followed2 but failing to capture more of the ,exiles1 our army was withdrawn4 ,this war was followed by diplomatic efforts4 ,florida was purchased2 treaties with the ,florida ,indians were made and violated2 gross frauds were perpetrated2 dishonorable expedients were resorted to1 and another war provoked4 ,during its protracted continuance of seven years1 bribery and treachery were practiced towards the ,exiles and their allies1 the ,seminole ,indians2 flags of truce were violated2 the pledged faith of the nation was disregarded4 ,by these means the removal of the ,exiles from ,florida was effected4 ,after they had settled in the ,western ,country1 most of these iniquities were repeated1 until they were driven from our nation and compelled to seek an asylum in ,mexico4 ,men who wielded the influence of ,government for the consummation of these crimes1 assiduously labored to suppress all knowledge of their guilt2 to keep facts from the popular mind2 to falsify the history of current events1 and prevent an exposure of our national turpitude4 ,the object of this work is to meet that state of circumstances2 to expose fraud1 falsehood1 treachery1 and other crimes of public men1 who have prostituted the powers of ,government to the perpetration of murders1 at the contemplation of which our humanity revolts4 ,the ,author has designed to place before the public a faithful record of events appropriately falling within the purview of the proposed history2 he has endeavored1 as far as possible1 to do justice to all concerned4 ,where the action of individuals is concerned1 he has endeavored to make them speak for themselves1 through official reports1 orders1 letters1 or written evidences from their own hands2 and he flatters himself that he has done no injustice to any person4 ,,contents4 ,,page ,,introduction v ,,chapter ,i4 ,circumstances attending the ,early ,history of ,slavery in the ,colonies4 ,exiles3 efforts to restore them #a ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,further efforts to restore ,exiles #af ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,hostilities maintained by ,georgia2 ,first ,seminole ,war commenced #bh ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,general ,hostilities #df ,,chapter ,v4 ,further efforts of the ,government to restore ,exiles to servitude #eg ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,further efforts to enslave the ,exiles #fi ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,commencement of the ,second ,seminole ,war #ig ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,hostilities continued #aae ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,hostilities continued #abe ,,chapter ,x4 ,the ,war continued--,peace declared--,general ,jessup assumes command of the ,army #ace ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,general ,jessup overthrows his own efforts in favor of ,peace #adb ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,the renewal and prosecution of the ,war #aef ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,vigorous prosecution of the ,war #agb ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,great difficulties interrupt the progress of the ,war #ahi ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,difficulties in enslaving ,exiles continued #bad ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,further difficulties in the work of enslaving the ,exiles #bbd ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,total failure of all efforts to enslave the ,exiles #bcc ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,further difficulties in prosecuting the ,war #bea ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,hostilities continued #bgd ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,hostilities continued #bhd ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,close of the ,war #cjh ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,history of ,exiles continued #cag ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,the re-union and final ,exodus #cbc ,,the ,,exiles ,,of ,,florida4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,,circumstances ,,attending ,,the ,,early ,,history ,,of ,,slavery ,,in ,,the ,,colonies4 ,settlement of ,florida--,boundaries of ,carolina--,enslaving ,indians--,they flee from their ,masters--,africans follow the example--,spanish policy in regard to ,fugitive ,slaves--,carolina demands the surrender of ,exiles--,florida refuses--,colony of ,georgia established--,its object--,exiles called ,seminoles--,slavery ,introduced ,into ,georgia--,seminole ,indians separate from ,creeks--,slaves escape from ,georgia--,report of ,committee of ,safety--,report of ,general ,lee--,treaty of ,augusta--,treaty of ,galphinton--,singular conduct of ,georgia--,war between ,creeks and ,georgia--,resolution of ,congress--,treaty of ,shoulderbone--,hostilities continue--,georgia calls on ,united ,states for assistance--,commissioners sent to negotiate ,treaty--,failure--,col4 ,willett's mission--,chiefs1 head men and ,warriors repair to ,new ,york--,treaty formed--,secret article--,extraordinary covenants4 ,florida was originally settled by ,spaniards1 in #aeeh4 ,they were the first people to engage in the ,african ,slave trade1 and sought to supply other nations with servants from the coast of ,guinea4 ,the ,colonists held many slaves1 expecting to accumulate wealth by the unrequited toil of their fellow-man4 ,sidenote3 #afcj4 ,sidenote3 #agjj4 ,carolina by her first and second charters claimed a vast extent of country1 embracing ,st4 ,augustine and most of ,florida4 ,this conflict of jurisdiction soon involved the ,colonists in hostilities4 ,the ,carolinians also held many slaves4 ,profiting by the labor of her servants1 the people sought to increase their wealth by enslaving the ,indians who resided in their vicinity4 ,hence in the early slave codes of that colony we find reference to negro and other slaves4 ,when the boundaries of ,florida and ,south ,carolina became established1 the ,colonists found themselves separated by the territory now constituting1 the ,state of ,georgia1 at that time mostly occupied by the ,creek ,indians4 ,the efforts of the ,carolinians to enslave the ,indians1 brought with them the natural and appropriate penalties4 ,the ,indians soon began to make their escape from service to the ,indian country4 ,this example was soon followed by the ,african slaves1 who also fled to the ,indian country1 and1 in order to secure themselves from pursuit1 continued their journey into ,florida4 ,we are unable to fix the precise time when the persons thus exiled constituted a separate community4 ,their numbers had become so great in #agcf1 that they were formed into companies1 and relied on by the ,floridians as allies to aid in the defense of that territory4 ,they were also permitted to occupy lands upon the same terms that were granted to the citizens of ,spain2 indeed1 they in all respects became free subjects of the ,spanish crown4 ,probably to this early and steady policy of the ,spanish ,government1 we may attribute the establishment and continuance of this community of ,exiles in that territory4#a ,sidenote3 #agch4 ,a messenger was sent by the ,colonial ,government of ,south ,carolina to demand the return of those fugitive slaves who had found an asylum in ,florida4 ,the demand was made upon the ,governor of ,st4 ,augustine1 but was promptly rejected4 ,this was the commencement of a controversy which has continued for more than a century1 involving our nation in a vast expenditure of blood and treasure1 and it yet remains undetermined4 ,the constant escape of slaves1 and the difficulties resulting therefrom1 constituted the principal object for establishing a free colony between ,south ,carolina and ,florida1 which was called ,georgia4#b ,it was thought that this colony1 being free1 would afford the planters of ,carolina protection against the further escape of their slaves from service4 ,these ,exiles were by the ,creek ,indians called ,seminoles1 which in their dialect signifies runaways1 and the term being frequently used while conversing with the ,indians1 came into almost constant practice among the whites2 and although it has now come to be applied to a certain tribe of ,indians1 yet it was originally used in reference to these ,exiles long before the ,seminole ,indians had separated from the ,creeks4 ,some eight years after the ,colony of ,georgia was first established1 efforts were made to introduce ,slavery among its people4 ,the ordinary argument1 that it would extend the ,christian religion1 was brought to bear upon ,whitfield and ,habersham1 and the ,saltzbergers and ,moravians1 until they consented to try the experiment1 and ,georgia became thenceforth a ,slaveholding ,colony1 whose frontier bordered directly upon ,florida2 bringing the slaves of her planters into the very neighborhood of those ,exiles who had long been free under ,spanish laws4 ,sidenote3 #agej4 ,a difficulty arose among the ,creek ,indians1 which eventually becoming irreconcilable1 a chief named ,seacoffee1 with a large number of followers1 left that tribe--at that time residing within the present limits of ,georgia and ,alabama--and continuing their journey south entered the ,territory of ,florida1 and1 under the ,spanish colonial policy1 were incorporated with the ,spanish population1 entitled to lands wherever they could find them unoccupied1 and to the protection of ,spanish laws4#c ,from the year #agej1 ,seacoffee and his followers rejected all ,creek authority1 refused to be represented in ,creek councils1 held themselves independent of ,creek laws1 elected their own chiefs1 and in all respects became a separate ,tribe1 embracing the ,mickasukies1 with whom they united4 ,they settled in the vicinity of the ,exiles1 associated with them1 and a mutual sympathy and respect existing1 some of their people intermarried1 thereby strengthening the ties of friendship1 and the ,indians having fled from oppression and taken refuge under ,spanish laws1 were also called ,seminoles1 or runaways4 ,after ,georgia became a ,slaveholding ,colony1 we are led to believe the practice of slaves leaving their masters1 which existed in ,south ,carolina1 became frequent in ,georgia4 ,but we have no definite information on this subject until about the commencement of the ,revolutionary ,war 7#agge71 when the ,council of ,safety for that colony sent to ,congress a communication setting forth1 that a large force of ,continental troops was necessary to prevent their slaves from deserting their masters4#d ,it was about the first communication sent to ,congress after it met1 in #aggf1 and shows that her people then sought to make the nation bear the burthens of their slavery1 by furnishing a military force sufficient to hold her bondmen in fear2 and if she adheres to that policy now1 it merely illustrates the consistency of her people in relying upon the freemen of the ,north to uphold her system of oppression4 ,sidenote3 #aggf4 ,general ,lee1 commanding the military forces in that colony1 called the particular attention of ,congress to the fact1 that slaves belonging to the planters1 fled from servitude and sought freedom among the ,exiles of ,florida4 ,there also yet remained in ,georgia many descendants of those who1 at the establishment of that colony and since that time1 had opposed the institution of ,slavery4 ,these people desired to testify their abhorrence of human servitude4 ,they assembled in large numbers1 in the district of ,darien1 and publicly resolved as follows3 ,to show the world that we are not influenced by any contracted or interested motives1 but by a general philanthropy for all mankind1 of whatever climate1 language or complexion1 we hereby declare our disapprobation and abhorrence of slavery in ,america4 ,the public avowal of these doctrines1 naturally encouraged slaves to seek their freedom by such means as they possessed4 ,one day's travel would place some of them among friends1 and in the enjoyment of liberty2 and they were sure to be kindly received and respectfully treated1 soon as they could reach their brethren in ,florida4 ,of course many availed themselves of this opportunity to escape from service4 ,the ,exiles remained in the undisturbed enjoyment of liberty during the war of the ,revolution4 ,the ,creeks were a powerful and warlike people1 whose friendship was courted during the sanguinary struggle that secured our ,national ,independence4 ,during those turbulent times it would not have been prudent for a master to pursue his slave through the ,creek country1 or to have brought him back to ,georgia if once arrested4 ,the ,exiles being thus free from annoyance1 cultivated the friendship of their savage neighbors2 rendered themselves useful to the ,indians1 both as laborers and in council4 ,they also manifested much judgment in the selection of their lands for cultivation--locating their principal settlements on the rich bottoms lying along the ,appalachicola and the ,suwanee ,rivers4 ,here they opened plantations1 and many of them became wealthy in flocks and herds4 ,sidenote3 #aghc4 ,immediately after the close of the war1 the authorities of ,georgia are said to have entered into a treaty with the ,creek ,indians1 at ,augusta1 in which it is alleged that the ,creeks agreed to grant to that ,state a large tract of land1 and to restore such slaves as were then resident among the ,creeks4 ,but we find no copy of this treaty in print1 or in manuscript4 ,as early as #aghi1 only six years after it was said to have been negotiated1 ,hugh ,knox1 ,secretary of ,war1 in a communication to ,congress1 declared that no copy of this treaty was then in the possession of ,congress2 and it has not been since reprinted4 ,indeed1 it is believed never to have been printed4 ,sidenote3 #aghe4 ,the difficulty between ,georgia and the ,creeks becoming more serious1 the aid of the ,continental ,congress was invoked1 for the purpose of securing that ,state in the enjoyment of what her people declared to be their rights4 ,congress appointed three commissioners to examine the existing causes of difficulty1 and if possible to negotiate a treaty with the ,creeks that should secure justice to all the people of the ,united ,states4 ,communities1 like individuals1 often exhibit in early life those characteristics which distinguish their mature age1 and become ruling passions when senility marks the downhill of life4 ,thus ,georgia1 in her very infancy1 exhibited that desire for controlling our ,national ,government which subsequently marked her manhood4 ,possessing no power under the ,constitution to enter into any treaty except by consent of ,congress1 her ,executive appointed three ,commissioners to attend and supervise the action of those appointed by the ,federal ,legislature4 ,the time and place for holding the treaty had been arranged with the ,indians by the ,governor of ,georgia4 ,at ,galphinton1#e the place appointed1 the ,commissioners of the ,united ,states met those of ,georgia1 who presented them with the form of a treaty fully drawn out and ready for signatures1 and demanded of the ,commissioners of the ,united ,states its adoption4 ,this extraordinary proceeding was treated by the ,federal ,commissioners in a dignified and appropriate manner1 in their report to ,congress4 ,one important provision of this inchoate treaty stipulated for the return to the people of ,georgia of such fugitive negroes as were then in the ,indian country1 and of such as might thereafter flee from bondage4 ,the ,commissioners appointed by ,congress waited at ,galphinton several days1 and finding only two of the one hundred towns composing the ,creek tribe represented in the council about to be held1 they refused to regard them as authorized to act for the ,creek nation1 and would not consent to enter upon any negotiation with them as representatives of that tribe4 ,this course was not in accordance with the ideas of the ,commissioners appointed by ,georgia4 ,after those of the ,united ,states had left1 they proceeded to enter into a treaty with the representatives from the two towns1 who professed to act for the whole ,creek nation4 ,this pretended treaty gave the ,state of ,georgia a large territory2 and the eighth article provided1 that the ,indians shall restore all the negroes1 horses and other property1 that are or may hereafter be among them1 belonging to the citizens of this ,state1 or to any other person whatever1 to such person as the governor shall appoint4#f ,this attempt to make a treaty by the ,state of ,georgia1 in direct violation of the articles of ,confederation1 and to bind the ,creek nation by an act of the representatives of only two of their towns1 constitutes the first official transaction of which we have documentary evidence1 in that long train of events which has for seventy years involved our nation in difficulty1 and the ,exiles of ,florida in persecutions and cruelties unequaled under ,republican governments4 ,the ,commissioners of the ,united ,states made report of their proceedings to ,congress2 and those of ,georgia reported to the governor of that ,state4#g ,their report was transmitted to the ,legislature1 and that body1 with an arrogance that commands our admiration1 passed strong resolutions denouncing the action of the ,federal ,commissioners1 commending the action of those of ,georgia1 and asserting her ,state sovereignty in language somewhat bombastic4 ,sidenote3 #aghf4 ,sidenote3 #aghg4 ,soon after the making of this pretended treaty1 the ,creeks commenced hostilities1 murdering the people on the frontiers of ,georgia1 and burning their dwellings4 ,the ,spanish authorities of ,florida were charged with fomenting these difficulties1 and the ,congress of the ,united ,states felt constrained to interfere4#h ,the ,commissioners previously appointed to form a treaty with the ,creeks1 were1 by a resolution of the ,continental ,congress1 adopted ,oct4 #bf1 instructed to obtain a treaty with the ,indians which would secure a return of all prisoners1 of whatever age1 sex or complexion1 and to restore all fugitive slaves belonging to citizens of the ,united ,states4#i ,this resolution was the first act on the part of the ,continental ,congress in favor of restoring fugitive slaves4 ,it was adopted under the articles of ,confederation1 before the adoption of our present constitution1 and of course constitutes no precedent under our present government2 yet it introduced a practice that has long agitated the nation1 and may yet lead to important and even sanguinary results4 ,sidenote3 #aghh4 ,without awaiting the action of ,congress1 the authorities of ,georgia1 by her agents1 entered into another treaty1 at a place called ,shoulderbone1 by which the ,creeks appear to have acknowledged the violation of the ,treaty of ,galphinton1 and again stipulated to observe its covenants4#aj ,we have no reliable information as to the number of the ,creek towns represented at the making of this third treaty by ,georgia4 ,the whole transaction was by the ,state1 in her own name1 by her own authority1 without consent of ,congress1 and all papers relating to it1 if any exist1 would of course be among the manuscript files of that ,state4 ,it is believed that ,georgia never printed any of these treaties2 and we can only state their contents from recitals which we find among the ,state papers of the ,federal ,government4 ,it is however certain1 that the ,creeks denied that any such treaty had been entered into2 and they continued hostilities1 as though no such treaty had been thought of by them4 ,this pretended ,treaty of ,shoulderbone exerted no more moral influence among the ,creeks than did that of ,galphinton4 ,the war continued between the people of ,georgia and the ,creeks4 ,the savages appeared to be aroused to indignation by what they regarded as palpable frauds4 ,excited at such efforts to impose upon them stipulations degrading to their character1 they prosecuted the war with increased bitterness4 ,sidenote3 #aghh4 ,the natural results of such turpitude1 induced ,georgia to be one of the first in the sisterhood of ,states to adopt the ,federal ,constitution 7,aug4 #bh74 ,her statesmen expected it to relieve their ,state from the burthens of the war which then devastated her border4 ,sidenote3 #aghi4 ,soon as the ,federal ,government was organized under the constitution1 the authorities of ,georgia invoked its aid1 to protect her people from the indignation of the ,creek ,indians4 ,general ,washington1 ,president of the ,united ,states1 at once appointed ,commissioners to repair to the ,indian country1 ascertain the real difficulty1 and if able1 they were directed to negotiate a suitable treaty1 in the name of the ,united ,states4 ,the ,state of ,georgia claimed title to the territory ceded by the treaties of ,galphinton and ,shoulderbone2 while the ,creeks entirely repudiated them1 declaring them fraudulent1 denying their validity1 and refusing to abide by their stipulations4 ,the governor of ,georgia placed in the hands of the ,commissioners of the ,united ,states1 a list of property which had been lost since the close of the ,revolution by the people of ,georgia1 for which they demanded indemnity of the ,creeks4 ,this list contained the names of one hundred and ten negroes1 who were said to have left their masters during the ,revolution1 and found an asylum among the ,creeks4 ,the ,treaty of ,galphinton contained a stipulation on the part of the ,creeks1 to return all prisoners1 of whatever age1 sex or color1 and all negroes belonging to the citizens of ,georgia1 then residing with the ,creeks4 ,arrangements had already been made with the chiefs1 warriors and principal men of the ,creek nation1 to meet the ,commissioners of the ,united ,states at ,rock ,landing1 on the ,oconee ,river4 ,the ,commissioners were received by the ,indians with great respect and formality2 but soon as they learned that the ,commissioners were not authorized to restore their lands1 they broke off all negotiation1 promising to remain in peace1 however1 until an opportunity should be presented for further negotiations4 ,the failure of this mission was followed by the appointment of ,col4 ,willett1 an intrepid officer of the ,revolution1 who was authorized to proceed to the ,creek nation1 and1 if possible1 to induce its chiefs and headmen to repair to ,new ,york1 where they could negotiate a new treaty1 without the interference of the authorities or people of ,georgia4 ,col4 ,willett was successful4 ,he induced the principal chief1 ,mc,gillivray1 the son of a distinguished ,indian trader1 together with twenty-eight other chiefs and warriors1 to come on to ,new ,york1 for the purpose of forming a treaty with the ,united ,states1 and settling all difficulties previously existing between ,georgia and their nation4 ,on their way to ,new ,york1 they were received at ,philadelphia1 by the authorities of that city1 with great ceremony and respect4 ,their vanity was flattered1 and every effort made to induce them to believe peace with the ,united ,states would be important to both parties4 ,at ,new ,york they found ,congress in session4 ,here they mingled with the great men of our nation4 ,the ,columbian ,order1 or ,tammany ,society1 was active in its attentions4 ,they escorted the delegation to the city1 and entertained them with a public dinner2 and made ,mc,gillivray1 the principal chief1 a member of their society4 ,in this way1 the minds of the ,indians were prepared for entering into the treaty which followed4 ,sidenote3 #agij4 ,there was1 among the people of the entire nation1 an intense anxiety to render every part of the ,union satisfied and pleased with the ,federal ,government1 then just formed1 as they felt that their only hope of prosperity depended upon a continuance of the federal union4 ,there was also a general sympathy throughout the nation with the slaveholders of the ,south1 who were supposed to have suffered much1 by the loss of their servants1 during the war of the ,revolution2 few people at that time realizing the moral guilt of holding their fellow-men in bondage4 ,while the revolutionary contest was going on1 many slaves in the ,southern ,states escaped from the service of their masters1 and1 under the proclamations of various ,british commanders1 enlisted into the service of his ,britannic ,majesty2 and having taken the oath of allegiance to the crown of ,england1 were regarded as ,british subjects4 ,others escaped with their families1 and getting on board ,british vessels1 sailed to the ,west ,indies1 where they settled as free persons4 ,thus1 while one class of masters had sustained great losses by the enlistment of their slaves1 another class had suffered by the escape of their bondmen1 through the aid of ,british vessels2 while a third sustained an equal loss by the escape of their servants to the ,seminoles in ,florida4 ,these three different interests united in claiming the aid of government to regain possession of their slaves1 or to obtain indemnity for their loss4 ,the timely arrival of ,mr4 ,pinckney1 secured the insertion of a clause in the ,treaty of ,paris1 providing that his ,britannic ,majesty should withdraw his troops from all ,american forts1 arsenals1 shipyards1 etc41 without destroying ordnance or military stores1 or carrying away any negroes or other property of the inhabitants4 ,this provision was regarded by the slaveholders of the ,south as securing a compensation to all those whose slaves had enlisted in the ,british army1 as well as to those whose slaves had escaped to the ,british ,west ,india ,islands by aid of ,english vessels2 while those whose servants were quietly living with the ,seminoles1 had not been provided for by the treaty of peace4#aa ,these circumstances rendered the owners of the ,exiles more clamorous for the interposition of the ,state ,government1 inasmuch as the federal authority had entirely omitted to notice their interests1 while it was supposed to have secured a compensation to the other two classes of claimants4 ,it was under these circumstances1 that ,general ,washington proceeded to the negotiation of the first treaty1 entered into under our present form of government4 ,the chiefs1 headmen and warriors of the ,creek nation were present at ,new ,york3 ,georgia was also there by her senators and representatives1 who carefully watched over her interests2 and ,general ,knox1 the ,secretary of ,war1 was appointed commissioner to negotiate a treaty1 thus to be formed1 under the personal supervision of the ,president4 ,the object of the ,president was effected1 a treaty was formed1 and bears date ,august #a1 #agij4 ,it constitutes the title-page of our diplomatic history4 ,this first exercise of our treaty-making power under the constitution1 was put forth for the benefit of the ,slave interests of ,georgia4 ,it surrendered up to the ,creeks certain lands1 which the authorities of ,georgia claimed to hold under the treaty of ,galphinton1 but retained substantially the stipulation for the surrender of negroes1 which had been inserted in that extraordinary compact4 ,by the third article of this new treaty1 it was stipulated as follows3 ,the ,creek nation shall deliver1 as soon as practicable1 to the commanding officer of the troops of the ,united ,states stationed at ,rock ,landing1 on the ,oconee ,river1 all citizens of the ,united ,states1 white inhabitants or negroes1 who are now prisoners in any part of the said nation4 ,and if any such prisoners or negroes should not be so delivered1 on or before the first day of ,june ensuing1 the governor of ,georgia may empower three persons to repair to the said nation1 in order to claim and receive such prisoners and negroes4 ,historians have referred to this clause as containing merely a stipulation for the surrender of prisoners2#ab but the manner in which the term negroes stands connected in the disjunctive form with that of prisoners1 would appear to justify1 at least to some extent1 the subsequent construction put upon it1 so far as regarded negroes then resident with the ,creeks2 but it certainly makes no allusion to those who were residing with the ,seminoles in ,florida4 ,it is a remarkable feature of this treaty1 that the ,creek chiefs1 principal men and warriors should1 in its first article1 profess to act1 not only for the ,upper and ,lower ,creek ,towns1 but for the ,seminoles who were in ,florida1 protected by ,spanish laws4 ,they had not been invited to attend the negotiation1 had sent no delegate1 were wholly unrepresented in the ,council2 indeed1 so far as we are informed1 were wholly ignorant of the objects which had called such a council1 and of the fact even that a council was held1 or a treaty negotiated4 ,our fathers had just passed through seven years of war and bloodshed1 rather than submit to taxation without representation2 but this attempt to bind the ,seminole ,indians to surrender up the ,exiles1 who were their friends and neighbors1 and who now stood connected with them by marriage1 and in all the relations of domestic life1 without their consent or knowledge1 constitutes an inconsistency which can only be accounted for by the desire then prevalent1 to gratify and please those who wielded the slaveholding influence of our nation4 ,another extraordinary feature of this treaty may be found in the secret article1 by which the ,united ,states stipulated to pay the ,creeks fifteen hundred dollars annually1 in all coming time4 ,the reason for making this stipulation secret is not to be learned from any documentary authority before the public1 and cannot now be accounted for1 except from the delicacy which the authorities of our nation then felt in taxing the people of the free ,states1 to pay southern ,indians for the return of those ,exiles4 ,and it is interesting at this day to look back and reflect1 that for nearly seventy years the people of the nation have contributed their funds to sustain the authority of those slaveholders of ,georgia over their bondmen1 while ,northern statesmen have constantly assured their constituents1 they have nothing to do with that institution4 ,it would be uncharitable to believe1 that ,general ,washington was at that time conscious that he was thus precipitating our nation upon a policy destined to involve its government in difficulties1 whose termination would be uncertain4 ,after the treaty had been agreed to by the parties making it1 ,general ,washington met the chiefs1 headmen and warriors1 assembled in the ,hall of ,representatives1 in the presence of members of ,congress and a large concourse of spectators4 ,the treaty was publicly read1 and to each article the ,indians expressed their assent1 and signed it in the presence of the people1 each receiving from the ,president a string of wampum4 ,the ,president then shook hands with each1 which concluded the ceremonies of the day4 ,the treaty was transmitted on the following day to the ,senate1 accompanied by a ,message from the ,president1 saying3 ,i flatter myself that this treaty will be productive of present peace and prosperity to our ,southern frontier4 ,it is to be expected1 also1 that it will be the means of firmly attaching the ,creeks and neighboring tribes to the interests of the ,united ,states4 ,the ,president also alluded in his message to the treaty of ,galphinton1 as containing a stipulation to cede to ,georgia certain other lands1 which it was believed would be detrimental to the interests of the ,indians1 and1 therefore1 that covenant had been disregarded in the treaty of ,new ,york4 ,in another ,message to the ,senate1 on the eleventh of ,august1 the ,president says3 ,this treaty may be regarded as the main foundation of the future peace and prosperity of the ,southwestern frontier of the ,united ,states4 ,on the ninth of ,august1 a motion was made in the ,senate to refer the treaty to a select committee1 which was rejected by a vote of ten nays to eight yeas2 and on the twelfth1 it was approved by a vote of fifteen yeas to four nays2 but we have no report of any discussion upon the subject1 nor do we know at this day the objections which dictated the votes given against its ratification4#ac ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,,further ,,efforts ,,to ,,restore ,,exiles4 ,seminoles repudiate ,treaty of ,new ,york--,attempts to induce ,spanish authorities to deliver up the ,exiles--,their refusal--,lower ,creeks hostile to ,treaty--,mc,gillivray--,his parentage and character--,georgia hostile to ,treaty--,makes war upon ,creeks--,general ,washington announces failure to maintain ,peace--,general ,knox's recommendation--,decision of ,united ,states ,court--,exertions--,combination of various classes of ,claimants--,washington finds his influence powerless--,appoints ,judge ,jay--,failure of claims on ,england--,condition and habits of ,exiles--,effect on ,slaves of ,georgia--,treaty of ,colerain--,commissioners of ,georgia leave ,council in disgust--,election of the elder ,adams--,his ,administration--,election of ,jefferson--,his ,administration4 ,the long pending difficulties between ,georgia and the neighboring tribes of ,indians were now 7#agia7 believed to be permanently settled1 and it was thought the new government would proceed in the discharge of its duties without further perplexity4 ,but it was soon found impossible for the ,creeks to comply with their stipulations4 ,the ,seminoles refused to recognize the treaty1 insisting that they were not bound by any compact1 arrangement or agreement1 made by the ,united ,states and the ,creeks1 to which they were not a party1 and of which they had no notice2 that they were a separate1 independent tribe2 that this fact was well known to both ,creeks and the ,united ,states2 and that the attempt of those parties to declare what the ,seminoles should do1 or should not do1 was insulting to their dignity1 to their self-respect1 and only worthy of their contempt4 ,they therefore wholly discarded the treaty1 and repudiated all its provisions4 ,they resided in ,florida1 under the jurisdiction of ,spanish laws1 subject only to the crown of ,spain4 ,there they enjoyed that liberty so congenial to savages1 as well as civilized men4 ,the ,creeks dared not attempt to bring back the ,exiles by force1 and the ,government of the ,united ,states was unwilling to invade a ,spanish colony for the purpose of recapturing those who had escaped from the bonds of oppression1 and had become legally free4 ,sidenote3 #agib4 ,in this state of affairs1 an agent by the name of ,seagrove was sent to ,florida for the purpose of negotiating with the ,spanish authorities for the return of the ,exiles4 ,he had been agent to the ,creek ,indians1 and well understood their views in regard to the treaty4 ,when he reached ,florida1 he found the authorities of that ,province entirely opposed to the surrender of any subjects of the ,spanish crown to slavery4 ,the ,exiles were regarded as holding the same rights which the white citizens held2 and it was evident1 that the representatives of the ,king of ,spain encouraged both the ,seminole ,indians and ,exiles1 to refuse compliance with the treaty of ,new ,york4#ad ,nor was the ,creek nation united upon this subject4 ,the lower ,creeks1 or those who resided on the southern frontier of ,georgia1 were not zealous in their support of the treaty2 and it was said that ,mc,gillivray1 the principal chief of the ,creeks1 was himself becoming unfriendly to the ,united ,states1 and rather disposed to unite with the ,spanish authorities4 ,this man exerted great influence with the ,indians4 ,he was the son of an ,indian trader1 a ,scotchman1 by a ,creek woman1 the daughter of a distinguished chief4 ,he had received a good ,english education2 but his father had joined the ,english during the ,revolution1 and he1 having been offended by some leading men of ,georgia1 had taken up his residence with the ,indians and become their principal chief1 in whom they reposed implicit confidence4 ,amid these difficulties1 the people of ,georgia manifested an equal hostility to the treaty1 inasmuch as it surrendered a large territory to that ,state1 which the authorities of ,georgia pretended to have obtained by the treaty of ,galphinton4 ,the general feeling in that ,state was far from being satisfied with the action of the ,federal ,government4 ,seagrove1 writing to the ,secretary of ,war on this subject1 declared1 that to such lengths have matters gone1 that they 7the ,georgians7 now consider the troops and servants of the ,united ,states who are placed among them1 nearly as great enemies as they do the ,indians4#ae ,under these circumstances1 the ,governor of ,georgia was addressed1 by order of the ,president2 but he evidently participated in the popular feeling of his ,state4 ,while the ,spanish authorities and ,seminoles1 both ,indians and ,exiles1 repudiated the treaty of ,new ,york1 ,governor ,tellfair1 of ,georgia1 declared that the people of his ,state would recognize no treaty in which her commissioners were not consulted4 ,instead of observing its stipulations of peace1 he proceeded to raise an army2 invaded the ,creek country1 attacked one of their towns said to be friendly to ,georgia1 killed some of their people1 took others prisoners1 burned their dwellings1 and destroyed their crops4 ,sidenote3 #agid4 ,the ,creeks declared their inability to return the ,exiles1#af and1 on the thirtieth of ,january1 ,general ,washington1 in a ,special ,message to ,congress1 announced the failure of all efforts to maintain tranquillity between the people of ,georgia and the ,creek ,indians4 ,such were the difficulties surrounding the subject of regaining the ,exiles1 that ,general ,knox1 ,secretary of ,war1 in a written communication addressed to the ,president1 recommended that ,congress should make an appropriation to their owners1 from the public treasury1 as the only practicable manner in which that matter could be settled4#ag ,this communication was transmitted to ,congress by the ,president1 accompanied by a special message1 recommending it to the consideration of that body2 but the members appeared unwilling to adopt the policy thus suggested4 ,they seem to have entertained doubts as to the propriety of appropriating the money of the people to pay for fugitive slaves4 ,they respectfully laid the ,message1 and the recommendation of the ,secretary of ,war1 upon the table1 and ordered them to be printed4#ah ,the claimants of the ,exiles were again encouraged and strengthened in their expectations by the excitement prevailing in the southern portion of the ,union1 arising from a decision of the ,circuit ,court of the ,united ,states1 held at ,richmond1 ,virginia4 ,at the commencement of the war1 the ,states prohibited the collection of debts due ,british subjects from citizens of the ,colonies4 ,these debts had remained unpaid for some sixteen years2 and although the debtors entertained an expectation of paying them at some future period1 many intended meeting those demands by the funds which they supposed would be awarded them as indemnity for slaves carried away in ,british vessels during the ,revolution1 and for those enlisted into the ,british army4 ,these laws1 enacted at the commencement of the ,revolution1 were declared by the ,court to have been superseded by the treaty of peace1 in #aghc2 and the debtors in the several ,states thus became liable to the payment of those debts1 while their demands of indemnity for slaves were pending1 and the ,british ,government had thus far refused to acknowledge their validity4 ,these claimants became impatient of delay1 and demanded that another treaty be formed with ,england1 by which they could obtain indemnity for the loss of their slaves4 ,these uniting with those who claimed a return of the ,exiles in ,florida1 constituted an influential portion of the people of the ,southern ,states1 whose joint influence was exerted to involve the ,government in the support of slavery4 ,notwithstanding these clamors1 the ,government was powerless as to obtaining relief for either class4 ,the ,british ,ministry refused indemnity1 and the ,seminoles1 supported and encouraged by the ,spanish authorities1 were inexorable in their refusal to surrender the ,exiles4 ,at that early period of our history1 the subject of slavery greatly perplexed the ,federal ,administration2 nor was the genius1 or the influence of ,washington1 sufficiently powerful to silence the malcontents4 ,he was fortunate in selecting ,judge ,jay1 of ,new ,york1 as a ,minister ,plenipotentiary1 for negotiating a treaty with ,great ,britain4 ,this illustrious patriot possessed great purity of character2 had long been distinguished for his devotion to the welfare of the nation2 and1 although a ,northern man1 ,southern slave claimants could raise no objection to him4 ,but every step towards the adjustment of the claims arising for slaves carried away by the ,english ships1 or enlisted into the ,british army1 had the effect to render the owners of ,exiles more importunate4 ,there was only one recourse1 however1 left for the ,administration2 they could do no more than to call on the ,creeks for a new treaty1 in order to adjust these claims4 ,sidenote3 #agie ,as the ,president was about to take measures for obtaining another treaty with the ,creeks1 news arrived from ,england that ,judge ,jay1 in forming a new treaty with the ,british ,crown1 had been constrained to surrender all claims of our citizens for slaves carried from the ,united ,states in ,british vessels during the war1 or for those who had enlisted into the ,british service4 ,this news created much excitement among the slaveholders of the ,southern ,states4 ,the treaty was denounced by the public ,press1 and a strong effort was made to defeat its approval by the ,senate4 ,but failing in that1 the slave power was rallied in opposition to making any appropriation1 by the ,house of ,representatives1 for carrying the treaty into effect1 and perhaps at no time since the ,union was formed1 has it been in greater danger of disruption2 but the friends of the treaty prevailed in both ,houses of ,congress1 and it became a paramount law of the nation4 ,while those incidents were transpiring1 the ,exiles were engaged in cultivating their lands1 extending their plantations and increasing their flocks and herds1 and consolidating their friendships with the ,indians around them4 ,of all these facts the bondmen of ,georgia had full knowledge4 ,it were impossible for them to contemplate their friends1 in the enjoyment of these rights and privileges1 without a strong desire to share in those blessings of freedom4 ,the example of the ,exiles was thus constantly exerting an influence upon those who remained in bondage4 ,many of them sought opportunities to flee into ,florida1 where they1 in like manner1 became free subjects of ,spain4 ,sidenote3 #agif4 ,this condition of things induced ,general ,washington to make another effort to remedy existing evils1 and prevent their recurrence in future4 ,he took measures to obtain the attendance of the ,chiefs1 head men and warriors of the ,creek nation1 at a place called ,colerain1 for the purpose of forming another treaty4 ,he again appointed ,benjamin ,hawkins1 ,george ,clymer and ,andrew ,pickens1 ,commissioners1 to meet the ,indians in ,council1 and agree upon the proper adjustment of pending difficulties4 ,these men were interested in the institution of ,slavery1 and were supposed to be perfectly acceptable to the claimants1 as well as to the authorities of ,georgia4 ,the parties met at the place appointed1 and proceeded to the consideration of the proposed treaty4 ,the ,creeks were not disposed to make further grants of territory2 nor were they able to give any better assurance for the return of the ,exiles than had been given at ,new ,york4 ,they insisted that1 by the treaty of ,new ,york1 they were only bound to return those negroes who had been captured since the treaty of peace between the ,united ,states and ,great ,britain2 these they had delivered up1 so far as they were able to surrender them4 ,they admitted there were more negroes among them1 whom they might probably obtain at some future day1 and expressed a willingness to do so4 ,it is however evident1 from the talk of the various ,chiefs1 that they had no idea of returning those ,exiles who were residing in ,florida--no allusion being made to them by either of the ,commissioners1 on the part of the ,united ,states1 nor by the ,indians4 ,the ,council was also attended by ,commissioners on the part of ,georgia1 who attempted to dictate the manner of transacting the business1 and1 even in offensive language1 charged the ,commissioners of the ,united ,states with improper conduct2 but in no instance did they name the ,seminoles1 nor allude to any obligation1 on the part of the ,creeks1 to return the ,exiles resident among the ,seminoles4 ,it should however be borne in mind1 that these ,commissioners on behalf of ,georgia left the council in disgust1 before the close of the negotiation4 ,in the treaty itself1 however1 there is a stipulation that the treaty of ,new ,york shall remain in force1 except such parts as were expressly changed by that entered into at ,colerain2 and that portion of the treaty of ,new ,york by which the ,creeks assumed to bind the ,seminoles1 was not changed4#ai ,the seventh article of the ,treaty of ,colerain reads as follows3--,the ,creek nation shall deliver1 as soon as practicable1 to the ,superintendent of ,indian ,affairs1 at such place as he may direct1 all the citizens of the ,united ,states1 white inhabitants and negroes1 who are now prisoners in any part of the said nation1 agreeably to the treaty at ,new ,york2 and also all citizens1 white inhabitants1 negroes and property1 taken since the signing of that treaty4 ,and if any such prisoners1 negroes1 or property1 should not be delivered on or before the first day of ,january next1 the ,governor of ,georgia may empower three persons to repair to the said nation1 in order to claim and receive such prisoners1 negroes and property1 under the direction of the ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,this stipulation was understood by the ,creeks1 and they were willing to perform it2 but it is very obvious1 from all the circumstances1 that they had no idea of binding the ,seminoles to return the ,exiles resident in ,florida4 ,the ,state of ,georgia obtained very little territory by this treaty1 and no further indemnity for the loss of their fugitive bondmen4 ,the people of that ,state1 therefore1 were greatly dissatisfied with it4 ,but the extraordinary feature of this treaty1 consists in the subsequent construction placed upon it by the authorities of ,georgia1 who1 twenty-five years subsequently1 insisted that the ,seminoles were in fact a part of the ,creek tribe1 bound by the ,creek treaties1 and that the ,creek nation were under obligation to compel the ,seminoles to observe treaties made by the ,creeks4 ,in each of the treaties made between the ,state of ,georgia and the ,creeks1 as well as in that made at ,new ,york1 between the ,united ,states and the ,creek nation1 attempts had been made to bind the ,seminoles1 although that tribe had steadily and uniformly denied the authority of the ,creeks to bind them2 and being sustained by the ,spanish authorities1 it became evident that all further efforts to induce them to submit to the government of the ,creeks would be useless4 ,this independence they had maintained for nearly half a century4 ,they had in no instance acknowledged the authority of the ,creeks since they left ,georgia1 in #agej2 nor is it reasonable to suppose the authorities of that ,state1 or those of the ,united ,states1 were ignorant of that important circumstance4 ,the flagrant injustice of holding the ,creeks responsible for fugitive slaves resident in ,florida1 and under protection of the ,spanish crown1 must be obvious to every reader2 and the inquiry will at once arise4 ,why did the ,creek chiefs at ,new ,york consent to such a stipulation8 ,the answer perhaps may be found in the secret article of that treaty1 giving to the ,creeks fifteen hundred dollars annually1 forever1 and to ,mc,gillivray twelve hundred dollars during life1 and to six other chiefs one hundred dollars annually4 ,these direct and positive bribes could not fail to have effect4 ,the necessity for keeping this article secret from the ,indians generally1 and from the people of the ,united ,states1 is very apparent2 as the propriety of thus taking money1 drawn from the free ,states to bribe ,indian chiefs to obligate their nation to seize and return fugitive slaves1 would have been doubted by savages as well as civilized men4 ,but the duty of the ,creeks to seize and return the ,exiles was legally recognized by the treaty of ,colerain1 which admitted the treaty of ,new ,york to be in force4 ,this was regarded as a continuance of the claims of ,georgia1 although the ,creeks appear to have had no idea of entering into such stipulations4 ,sidenote3 #agig4 ,many circumstances now combined to quiet the apprehensions of the fugitive bondmen in ,florida4 ,the elder ,adams had been elected ,president in the autumn of #agif1 and assumed the duties of his office on the fourth of ,march following4 ,a descendant of the ,pilgrims1 he had been reared and educated among the lovers of liberty2 he had long served in ,congress2 he had reported upon the rights of the people of the ,colonies in #aggd1 and was chairman of the committee who reported the ,declaration of ,independence1 in #aggf1 and to its doctrines he had ever exhibited an unfaltering devotion4 ,from such an ,administration the claimants in ,georgia could expect but little aid4 ,another consideration1 cheering to the friends of ,freedom1 was the total failure of the claims on ,great ,britain1 for slaves lost during the ,war of the ,revolution4 ,the influence of those claimants was no longer felt in the ,government4 ,the public indignation was also somewhat excited against the institution of ,slavery by incidents of a barbarous character1 which had then recently transpired in ,north ,carolina4 ,after the promulgation of the ,declaration of ,independence1 the ,quakers of that ,state1 conscious of its momentous truths1 proceeded in good faith to emancipate their slaves2 believing that the only mode in which they could evince their adherence to its doctrines4 ,the advocates of oppression were offended at this practical recognition of the equal right of all men to liberty1 and1 to manifest their abhorrence of such doctrines1 arrested the slaves so emancipated as fugitives from labor4 ,the ,quakers1 ever true to their convictions of justice1 lent their influence1 and contributed their funds1 to test the legal rights of the persons thus set at liberty1 before the proper tribunals of the ,state2 and the question was carried to the ,court of ,appeals1 where a final judgment was rendered in favor of their freedom4 ,this decision appears to have disappointed general expectation among the advocates of slavery1 and created much excitement throughout the ,state4 ,at the next session of the ,legislature1 an act was passed authorizing persons possessing landed property to seize and renslave the people thus emancipated4 ,but the planters of that ,state were usually possessed of wealth and intelligence1 and1 holding principles of honor1 they refused to perform so degrading a service2 and the liberated negroes continued to enjoy their freedom4 ,but the opponents of liberty became so clamorous against the example thus set in favor of freedom1 that the ,legislature passed an amendatory act1 authorizing any person to seize1 imprison and sell1 as slaves1 any negro who had been emancipated in said ,state1 except those who had served in the army of the ,united ,states during the war of the ,revolution4 ,persons of desperate character1 gamblers1 slave-dealers and horse thieves1 were now authorized to gratify their cupidity1 by seizing and selling persons who had for years enjoyed their liberty2 and the scenes which followed1 were in no respect creditable to the ,state1 to the civilization or ,christianity of the age4 ,emancipated families were broken up and separated for ever4 ,in some instances the wife escaped1 while the husband was captured4 ,parents were seized1 and their children escaped4 ,bloodhounds were employed to chase down those who fled to the forests and swamps1 in order to avoid men more cruel than bloodhounds4 ,the ,quakers1 so far as able1 assisted these persecuted people to escape to other ,states4 ,some left ,north ,carolina on board ships2 others fled north by land2 and many reached the free ,states1 where their descendants yet live4 ,but even our free ,states did not afford a safe retreat from the cruelty of inexorable slave-catchers4 ,those free persons were seized in ,philadelphia1 and1 under the fugitive slave law of #agic1 were imprisoned in that city2 and1 what excites still greater wonder1 were delivered up and carried back to bondage4#bj ,some of these people1 while in ,pennsylvania1 sent petitions to ,congress1 praying protection against such barbarity2 and great excitement was aroused among ,southern members by the presentation of such petitions4 ,the ,quakers of that ,state1 and of ,new ,jersey1 also sent petitions to ,congress1 praying that these people may be protected against such piratical persecution4 ,the popular feeling of the nation was shocked at these things1 and great indignation against the institution1 generally1 was aroused4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we have no record of further attempts on the part of the claimants to obtain a return of the ,exiles1 after the ,treaty of ,colerain1 until the close of ,mr4 ,adams's administration4 ,during that period1 the fugitives remained quietly in their homes1 undisturbed by their former masters4 ,their numbers were often increased by new arrivals1 as well as by the natural laws of population1 and they began to assume the appearance of an established community4 ,in #ahja1 ,mr4 ,jefferson entered upon the duties of ,president4 ,he had himself penned the ,declaration of ,independence1 and manifested a deep devotion to its doctrines4 ,nor do we find that any attempt was made by him for the return of the ,exiles2 nor were there any measures adopted to obtain indemnity for the loss of the claimants during the eight years of his ,administration4 ,in #ahjb1 a new law regulating intercourse with the ,indian tribes was enacted1 by which the holders of slaves were secured for the price or value of any bondmen who should leave his master and take up his residence with any ,indian tribe resident in the ,united ,states1 or ,territories thereof--at least such was the construction given to this statute4 ,the ,creeks1 ,cherokees1 and other ,southern tribes1 had gradually adopted the institution of ,slavery1 so long practiced by their more civilized neighbors1 and thus became interested in every effort to extinguish the hope cherished among their own bondmen1 of regaining freedom by fleeing from their masters4 ,and many circumstances now appeared to favor the idea1 that no more attempts would be made to compel a return of the ,exiles to bondage4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,,hostilities ,,maintained ,,by ,,georgia4 ,mr4 ,madison's election--,his character--,desire of people of ,georgia to enslave ,exiles--,they demand annexation of ,florida--,congress passes a law for taking possession of that ,territory--,general ,mathews appointed ,commissioner--,declares insurrection--,takes possession of ,amelia ,island--,spanish ,government demands explanation--,the ,president disavows acts of ,mathews--,governor ,mitchell succeeds ,mathews--,georgia raises an ,army--,florida ,invaded--,troops surrounded by savage foes--,their danger--,their retreat--,stealing ,slaves--,lower ,creeks join ,seminoles--,georgia demands their surrender--,chiefs refuse--,georgia complains--,president refuses to ,interfere--,another ,invasion of ,florida--,towns burned2 ,cattle stolen--,troops withdrawn from ,amelia ,island--,public attention directed toward our ,northern frontier--,lord ,cockrane enters ,chesapeake ,bay--,issues ,proclamation to ,slaves--,dismay of ,slaveholders--,slaves go on board ,british ships--,several vessels enter ,appalachicola ,bay--,col4 ,nichols lands there with ,troops--,gathers around him ,exiles and ,indians--,builds a ,fort1 arms it1 and places ,military ,stores in ,its ,magazines--,treaty of ,peace with ,england--,provision in regard to ,slaves taken away during ,war--,claimants of the ,exiles encouraged--,col ,nichols delivers ,fort to the ,exiles--,their plantations1 wealth1 and social condition--,our ,army--,general ,gaines represents ,fort as in possession of ,outlaws--,plans for its destruction--,correspondence--,general ,jackson's order--,col4 ,clinch's ,expedition--,met by ,sailing-,master ,loomis and two gun-boats--,fort blown up--,destruction of human life--,negroes captured and enslaved--,property taken--,claimed by ,governor of ,florida--,first ,seminole ,war commenced4 ,when ,mr4 ,madison assumed the duties of ,president 7,march #d1 #ahji71 the ,exiles were quietly enjoying their freedom2 each sitting under his own vine and fig-tree1 without molestation or fear4 ,many had been born in the ,seminole country1 and now saw around them children and grand-children1 in the enjoyment of all the necessaries of life4 ,many1 even of those who fled from ,georgia after the formation of that colony1 had departed to their final rest2 but their children and friends had been comparatively free from persecutions since the ,treaty of ,colerain1 in #agif4 ,discarding all connection with the ,creeks1 and living under protection of ,spain1 and feeling their right to liberty was self-evident1 they believed the ,united ,states to have tacitly admitted their claims to freedom4 ,with these impressions1 they dwelt in conscious security1 believing no further attempts would be made to renslave them4 ,mr4 ,madison had penned the memorable ,address of ,congress to the people of the ,united ,states1 published near the close of the old ,confederation1 in which was reiterated1 in glowing language1 the doctrines of the ,declaration of ,independence2 and in the ,convention that framed the ,constitution1 he had declared it would be wrong to admit1 in that instrument1 that man can hold property in man4 ,sidenote3 #ahaj4 ,the people of ,georgia were not satisfied with the existing state of things4 ,they were greatly excited at seeing those who had once been slaves1 in ,south ,carolina and in ,georgia1 now live quietly and happily in the enjoyment of liberty1 with their flocks and their herds1 their wives and their little ones1 around them2 but they were on ,spanish soil1 protected by ,spanish laws4 ,the only mode of enslaving them was1 firstly1 to obtain jurisdiction of the ,territory2 and the annexation of ,florida to the ,united ,states was1 accordingly1 urged upon the ,federal ,government4 ,sidenote3 #ahaa4 ,spain had acquired her ,american territories by conquest1 and was too proud to part with them4 ,an excitement1 however1 was raised in favor of its annexation2 and this anxiety to secure the slave interests of the ,south1 soon extended to ,congress1 and infused itself into the ,executive policy of the nation4 ,a law was passed by the two ,houses1 in secret session1 and approved by the ,president1 for taking possession of ,florida4 ,gen4 ,mathews1 a slaveholder of ,georgia1 was appointed ,commissioner for that purpose4 ,a few malcontents were found in the northeastern part of the ,territory2 their numbers were increased by men of desperate fortunes from ,georgia2 and an insurrection was proclaimed by the ,acting ,general4 ,mathews1 commanding the insurgents1 took possession of ,amelia ,island1 and of the country opposite to it on the main land4 ,the ,spanish ,government1 on learning the outrage1 remonstrated with our ,executive1 who disavowed the acts of ,mathews1 whom he recalled2 and proceeded to appoint ,general ,mitchell1 the ,governor of ,georgia1 to act as ,commissioner1 in place of ,mathews4 ,mitchell1 however1 continued to hold military possession of the island and part of the main land1 and1 in fact1 continued to carry forward the policy which ,mathews had inaugurated4 ,these things occurred while our nation was professedly at peace with ,spain1 and constituted a most flagrant violation of our national faith4 ,sidenote3 #ahab4 ,the ,executive of ,georgia1 apparently entertaining the idea that his ,state was competent to declare war and make peace1 raised an army1 which1 under the command of the ,adjutant ,general1 entered ,florida with the avowed intention of exterminating the ,seminoles1 who had so long refused to surrender the ,exiles2 while the real object was the recapture and renslavement of the refugees4 ,the ,creeks of the ,lower ,towns1 however1 took sides with the ,seminoles1 in opposing this piratical foray of slave-catchers4 ,the army having penetrated a hundred miles or more into ,florida1 found itself surrounded with hostile savages4 ,their supplies were cut off2 the men1 reduced almost to a state of starvation1 were compelled to retrace their steps2 and with great loss the survivors reached ,georgia4 ,but they robbed those ,spanish inhabitants who fell in their way of all their provisions1 and left them to suffer for the want of food4 ,nor were the ,georgians satisfied with taking such provisions as were necessary to support life2 they also took with them a large number of slaves1 owned by ,spanish masters1 with whom they resided4#ba ,the people1 and the authorities of ,georgia1 were greatly incensed at the ,creek ,indians1 who had assisted the ,seminoles in defending themselves2 and the ,governor of that ,state demanded of the chiefs a surrender of those individuals who had thus offended against the sovereignty of that commonwealth4 ,the chiefs refused to deliver up their brethren1 and the ,governor complained to the ,president of this disregard of slaveholding comity by the ,creeks4 ,the ,federal authorities appear to have felt very little interest in the matter1 and ,georgia determined to redress her own grievances4 ,the ,legislature of that ,state1 deeming their interests neglected by the ,federal ,government1 passed resolutions declaring the occupation of ,florida essential to the safety and welfare of their people1 whether ,congress authorized it or not2 and they passed an act for raising a force to reduce ,st4 ,augustine and punish the ,indians4 ,under this declaration of war by the sovereign power of ,georgia1 another army was raised4 ,hunters1 trappers1 vagabonds1 and men of desperate fortunes1 were collected from that ,state1 from ,east ,tennessee1 and from other ,southern ,states1 to the number of five hundred2 and ,florida was again invaded4 ,this expedition was more successful1 in some respects1 than the first4 ,they burned two or three of the smaller ,seminole towns1 destroyed several cornfields that had been planted by the ,exiles1 and drove back to ,georgia large herds of cattle1 which they had stolen from the negroes2 yet the principal object of the ,expedition failed3 ,they were unable to capture an individual1 or family1 of the ,exiles4 ,there were no ,spanish inhabitants in that part of ,florida from whom they could capture slaves1 and they were compelled to return without human victims1 but with the loss of several individuals of their own party4 ,thus1 after a struggle of more than two years 7ending ,may1 #ahac71 the ,state of ,georgia found itself unable to conquer ,florida or the ,seminoles1 or to capture the ,exiles4 ,further prosecution of the war was given up1 the troops were withdrawn from ,amelia ,island1 and peace was restored4 ,this extraordinary proceeding1 on the part of ,georgia1 appears to have excited very little attention at the time2 probably in consequence of the more important operations that were then being carried forward1 upon our ,northern and ,northwestern frontiers4 ,harrison at ,tippecanoe1 and at ,maumee2 and ,scott and ,van ,rensselaer at ,queenston1 and along the ,niagara frontier1 were gallantly confronting the ,british army1 aided by powerful allies from the various neighboring tribes of savages2 and so greatly was the attention of the people of the ,northern ,states absorbed in these operations1 that they were scarcely conscious of the slave-catching forays carried on by the ,state of ,georgia4 ,indeed1 during these operations1 the public men of that ,state were among the most vehement advocates for a strict construction of the ,federal ,constitution1 and for maintaining the ,american ,union4 ,sidenote3 #ahad4 ,these transactions upon our ,southern frontier1 called attention of ,british ,ministers to the ,seminoles and the ,exiles4 ,a hostile fleet entered ,chesapeake ,bay1 under ,lord ,cochrane1 who issued a proclamation inviting all persons 7meaning slaves71 who desired to emigrate from the ,united ,states1 to come with their families on board his ,britannic ,majesty's ships of war2 assuring them of the privilege of entering his ,majesty's naval service1 or of settling with their families1 as free persons1 in either of the ,british ,west ,india ,islands4 ,this proclamation was widely circulated1 and spread very general consternation along our ,southern seaboard3 it gave the slaveholders of ,georgia occasion to look to their own protection1 and to secure the fidelity of those bondmen who yet remained in the service of their masters4#bb ,illustration3 ,gopher ,john1 ,seminole ,interpreter4 ,two ,british sloops of war and some smaller vessels suddenly appeared in ,appalachicola ,bay1 where they landed a body of troops1 under ,lieut4 ,colonel ,nichols1 of the ,british ,army1 for the purpose of lending support and protection to the ,exiles and their ,indian allies4 ,he opened communications with them1 furnished them with arms and ammunition1 and soon drew around him a considerable force of ,indians as well as negroes4 ,his encampment was on the east side of the ,appalachicola ,river1 some thirty miles above its mouth4 ,in ,november1 he completed a strong fort on the bank of that stream4 ,some eight pieces of heavy ordnance were mounted upon its walls1 and its magazine was well stored with the material of war4#bc ,it was evidently intended as a defense against the forays of slave-catchers1 who were not expected to bring with them heavy artillery4 ,the plan was well conceived4 ,even the plundering expeditions authorized by the ,state of ,georgia1 would have been unable to make any impression on this fortification4 ,but neither ,nichols1 nor the ,exiles1 appear to have anticipated the employment of the ,united ,states navy in a piratical work1 discarded by most ,christian nations and people1 and allowed to be carried on only upon the ,african coast4 ,the ,british fleet withdrew from the coast of ,georgia1 and the slaveholders of that ,state were relieved1 for a time1 from those apprehensions of slave insurrection which had been excited by the proclamation of ,lord ,cochrane4 ,in the meantime the ,treaty of ,ghent was ratified1 and peace restored to the country4 ,in that treaty the interests of ,slavery had not been forgotten2 and the same stipulations were inserted1 in regard to the withdrawal of his ,majesty's troops and navy1 without taking or carrying away any negroes or other property of the citizens1 which characterized the treaty of #aghb4 ,the owners of slaves who had fled from service under the proclamation of ,lord ,cochrane1 now determined to obtain compensation for their loss4 ,this general feeling again aroused the cupidity of those whose fathers had once claimed to own those ,exiles1 who fled from ,georgia some thirty or forty years previously4 ,in the spring of #ahae1 ,colonel ,nichols and his troops withdrew from ,florida1 leaving the fort1 with its entire armament and magazine of military stores1 in the possession of the ,exiles1 who resided in the vicinity4 ,their plantations extended along the river several miles1 above and below the fort4#bd ,many of them possessed large herds of cattle and horses1 which roamed in the forests1 gathering their food1 both in summer and winter1 without expense or trouble to their owners4 ,the ,pioneer ,exiles from ,south ,carolina had settled here long before the ,colony of ,georgia existed4 ,several generations had lived to manhood and died in those forest-homes4 ,to their descendants it had become consecrated by many an oft told tale of early adventure1 of hardship and suffering2 the recollection of which had been retained in tradition1 told in story1 and sung in their rude lays4 ,here were the graves of their ancestors1 around whose memories were clustered the fondest recollections of the human mind4 ,the climate was genial4 ,they were surrounded by extensive forests1 and far removed from the habitations of those enemies of freedom who sought to enslave them2 and they regarded themselves as secure in the enjoyment of liberty4 ,shut out from the cares and strifes of more civilized men1 they were happy in their own social solitude4 ,so far from seeking to injure the people of the ,united ,states1 they were only anxious to be exempt1 and entirely free from all contact with our population or ,government2 while they faithfully maintained their allegiance to the ,spanish crown4 ,sidenote3 #ahae4 ,peace with ,great ,britain1 however1 had left our army without active employment4 ,a portion of it was stationed along our ,southern frontier of ,georgia1 to maintain peace with the ,indians4 ,the authorities and people of ,georgia maintained social and friendly relations with the officers and men of the army4 ,by means of ,indian spies1 the real condition of the ,exiles was also ascertained and well understood4 ,what means were used to excite the feelings or prejudices of the military officers against these unoffending ,exiles1 is not known at this day4 ,most of the officers commanding in the ,south were1 however1 slaveholders1 and probably felt a strong sympathy with the people of ,georgia in their indignation against them1 for obtaining and enjoying liberty without permission of their masters4 ,general ,gaines1 commanding on the ,southern frontier of ,georgia1 making ,fort ,scott his head-quarters1 wrote the ,secretary of ,war 7,may #ad71 saying1 certain negroes and outlaws have taken possession of a fort on the ,appalachicola ,river1 in the ,territory of ,florida4 ,he assured the ,secretary1 that he should keep watch of them4 ,he charged them with no crime1 imputed to them no hostile acts4 ,he was conscious that they had taken possession of the fort solely for their own protection2 but he styled them negroes1 which1 in the language of that day among slaveholders1 was regarded as an imputation of guilt2 and outlaw was supposed to be a proper term with which to characterize those who had fled from bondage and sworn allegiance to another government4#be ,for more than a year subsequently to the date of this letter1 ,general ,gaines made the ,exiles a subject of frequent communication to the ,war ,department4 ,in this official correspondence1 he at all times spoke of them as runaways1 outlaws1 pirates1 murderers1 etc42 but in no instance did he charge them with any act hostile to the ,united ,states1 or to any other people or government4 ,of these communications the ,exiles were ignorant4 ,they continued in peaceful retirement1 cultivating the earth1 and gaining a support for themselves and families4 ,in the autumn of #ahae1 they gathered their crops1 provided for the support of the aged and infirm1 as well as for their children4 ,they carefully nursed the sick2 they buried their dead2 they lived in peace1 and enjoyed the fruits of their labor4 ,the following spring and summer found them in this enviable condition4 ,sidenote3 #ahaf4 ,while the ,exiles living on the ,appalachicola were thus pursuing the even tenor of their ways1 plans were ripening among the slaveholders and military officers of our army for their destruction4 ,a correspondence was opened by the ,secretary of ,war with ,general ,jackson1 who commanded the ,southwestern ,military ,district of the ,united ,states1 holding his head-quarters at ,nashville1 ,tennessee4 ,various letters and communications passed between those officers in regard to this ,negro ,fort1 as they called it4 ,power is never more dangerous than when wielded by military men4 ,they usually feel ambitious to display their own prowess1 and that of the troops under their command2 and no person can read the communications of ,general ,gaines1 in regard to the ,exiles who had gathered in and around this fort1 without feeling conscious that he greatly desired to give to the people of the ,united ,states an example of the science and power by which they could destroy human life4#bf ,at length1 on the sixteenth of ,may1 ,general ,jackson wrote ,general ,gaines1 saying1 ,i have little doubt of the fact1 that this fort has been established by some villains for the purpose of rapine and plunder1 and that it ought to be blown up1 regardless of the ground on which it stands2 and if your mind shall have formed the same conclusion1 destroy it and return the stolen negroes and property to their rightful owners4#bg ,without attempting to criticise this order of ,general ,jackson1 we must regard a fort thus situated1 at least sixty miles from the border of the ,united ,states1 as a most singular instrument for the purpose of rapine1 or plundering our citizens4 ,nor could ,general ,jackson have entertained any apprehensions from those who occupied the fort4 ,the entire correspondence showed them to be refugees1 seeking only to avoid our people2 indeed1 his very order shows this1 for he directs ,general ,gaines to return the stolen negroes to their rightful owners4 ,the use of opprobrious epithets is not often resorted to by men in high official stations3 yet it is difficult to believe1 that ,general ,jackson supposed these negroes to have been stolen2 for1 neither in the official correspondence on this subject1 nor in the papers accompanying it1 embracing more than a hundred documentary pages1 is there a hint that these negroes were stolen1 or that they had committed violence upon any person1 or upon the property of any person whatever4 ,they had sought their own liberty1 and the charge of stealing themselves1 was used like the other epithets of outlaws1 pirates and murderers1 to cast opprobrium upon the character of men who1 if judged by their love of liberty or their patriotism1 would now occupy a position not less honorable in the history of our country than is assigned to the patriots of #aggf4 ,nor is it easy to discover the rule of international law1 which authorized the ,executive of the ,united ,states1 or the officers of our army1 to dictate to the crown of ,spain in what part of his territory he should1 or should not1 erect fortresses2 or the constitutional power which they held for invading the territory of a nation at peace with the ,united ,states1 destroy a fort1 and consign its occupants to slavery4 ,but those were days of official arrogance on the one hand1 and popular submission on the other4 ,the ,exiles1 or their ancestors1 had once been slaves4 ,they now were cultivating the richest lands in ,florida1 and possessed wealth2 they were occupying a strong fortress4 ,many slaves during the recent war had escaped from their masters1 in ,georgia1 and some were supposed to be free subjects of ,spain1 living in ,florida2 and if the ,exiles were permitted to enjoy their plantations and property in peace1 it was evident that the institution in adjoining ,states would be in danger of a total overthrow4 ,these facts were apparent to ,general ,jackson1 as well as to ,general ,gaines and the slaveholders of ,georgia4 ,general ,gaines only awaited permission from his superior to carry out the designs of the slaveholders1 who had become alarmed at the dangers to which their peculiar institution was subjected4 ,upon the receipt of the order above quoted1 he detailed ,lieut4 ,col4 ,clinch1#bh of the regular troops1 with his regiment and five hundred friendly ,creek ,indians1 under ,mc,intosh1 their principal chief1 to carry out the directions of ,general ,jackson4 ,colonel ,clinch was directed to take with him two pieces of artillery1 for the purpose of cannonading the fort if necessary4#bi ,this commencement of the first ,seminole war was1 at the time1 unknown to the people of the ,united ,states4 ,it was undertaken for the purposes stated in ,general ,jackson's order1 to blow up the fort1 and return the negroes to their rightful owners4 ,historians have failed to expose the cause of hostilities1 or the barbarous foray which plunged the nation into that bloody contest which cost the people millions of treasure and the sacrifice of hundreds of human lives4 ,it was ,july before the arrangements were fully made by ,colonel ,clinch and his savage allies for descending the river1 with suitable artillery and supplies1 to accomplish the object of their mission4#cj ,the ,creeks1 having entered into the treaties of ,new ,york and ,colerain1 by which they bound themselves1 twenty years previously1 to return those ,exiles who fled from ,georgia1 and having failed to perform those stipulations1 now cheerfully united with the ,american army in this first slave-catching expedition undertaken by the ,federal ,government4 ,of these movements the ,exiles had been informed by their neighbors1 the friendly ,creeks2 for1 among the ,lower ,creeks1 were individuals who at all times sympathized with them1 and kept them informed of the measures adopted for their destruction4 ,all the families living on the river and in the vicinity of the fort1 fled to it for protection4 ,they had no idea of the advantages arising from scientific warfare2 they believed their fortification impregnable4 ,colonel ,nichols had erected it for the purpose of affording them protection1 and they had no doubt of its efficiency for that purpose4 ,such were the delays attending the journey1 in consequence of difficulties in transporting heavy guns and provisions1 that the troops did not reach the vicinity of the fort until the twenty-fourth of ,july4 ,in the meantime1 ,commodore ,patterson1 in pursuance of orders from the naval department1 had detailed ,sailing-,master ,loomis1 with two gun-boats1 to assist in carrying out the order of ,general ,jackson4#ca ,on the twenty-fourth of ,july1 ,colonel ,clinch commenced a reconnoisance of the fort4 ,on the twenty-fifth1 he cleared away the brush and erected a battery1 and placed upon it two long eighteen-pounders1 and commenced a cannonade of the fortress4 ,at the time of this investment1 there were about three hundred ,exiles in the fort1 including women and children1 besides thirty-four ,seminole ,indians3#cb yet in the official report of ,colonel ,clinch1 he makes no mention of his fire being returned2 nor does he say that any of his men were killed or wounded by the occupants of the fort4 ,on the twenty-sixth of ,july1 ,sailing-,master ,loomis1 with his command1 reached a point on the river some two miles below the fort4 ,colonel ,clinch met him at that place1 for consultation1 and informed him that his fire had thus far proved ineffectual1 and that a nearer approach of artillery by land would be difficult4#cc ,judging from the language used in his official dispatch1 ,sailing-,master ,loomis must have entertained some feelings of distrust towards ,colonel ,clinch1 as they evidently separated in bad temper3 yet no officer in the service of the ,united ,states ever exhibited greater prudence in his preparations1 or more firmness in battle1 than ,colonel ,clinch4 ,he was1 however1 a man of kind and humane feelings1 and high notions of honor4 ,it has been supposed by many of his friends1 that he shrank from the perpetration of the outrage which he had been detailed to commit4#cd ,on the morning of the twenty-seventh1 ,loomis1 with his boats1 ascended the river and cast anchor opposite the fort1 while ,colonel ,clinch and the ,creek ,indians took positions so as to cut off retreat by land4 ,the cannonade was resumed1 and the land and naval forces of the ,united ,states were engaged in throwing shot and shells for the purpose of murdering those friendless ,exiles1 those women and children1 who had committed no other offense than that of having been born of parents who1 a century previously1 had been held in bondage4 ,mothers and children now shrieked with terror as the roar of cannon1 the whistling of balls1 the explosion of shells1 the war-whoops of the savages1 the groans of the wounded and dying1 foretold the sad fate which awaited them4 ,the stout-hearted old men cheered and encouraged their friends1 declaring that death was to be preferred to slavery4 ,the struggle1 however1 was not protracted4 ,the cannon balls not taking effect upon the embankments of earth1 they prepared their furnaces and commenced the fire of hot shot1 directed at the principal magazine4 ,this mode proved more successful4 ,a ball1 fully heated1 reached the powder in the magazine4 ,the small size of the fort1 and the great number of people in it1 rendered the explosion unusually fatal4 ,many were entirely buried in the ruins1 others were killed by falling timbers1 while many bodies were torn in pieces4 ,limbs were separated from bodies to which they had been attached1 and death1 in all its horrid forms1 was visible within that doomed fortress4#ce ,of three hundred and thirty-four souls within the fort1 two hundred and seventy were instantly killed2 while of the sixty who remained1 only three escaped without injury4#cf ,two of the survivors--one negro and one ,indian--were selected as supposed chiefs of the allied forces within the fort4 ,they were delivered over to the ,indians who accompanied ,colonel ,clinch1 and were massacred within the fort1 in the presence of our troops2#cg but no report on record shows the extent of torture to which they were subjected4 ,we have no reliable information as to the number who died of their wounds4 ,they were placed on board the gun-boats1 and their wounds were dressed by the surgeons2 and those who recovered were afterwards delivered over to claimants in ,georgia4 ,those who were slightly wounded1 but able to travel1 were taken back with ,colonel ,clinch to ,georgia and delivered over to men who claimed to have descended from planters who1 some three or four generations previously1 owned the ancestors of the prisoners4 ,there could be no proof of identity1 nor was there any court authorized to take testimony1 or enter decree in such case2 but they were delivered over upon claim1 taken to the interior1 and sold to different planters4 ,there they mingled with that mass of chattelized humanity which characterizes our ,southern ,states1 and were swallowed up in that tide of oppression which is now bearing three millions of human beings to untimely graves4 ,sailing-,master ,loomis informed the ,naval ,department1 through ,commodore ,patterson1 that the value of the property captured in the fort was not less than two hundred thousand dollars4 ,he also stated that a portion of this property was delivered over by ,colonel ,clinch to the ,indians who had accompanied him1 on the express agreement that they should share in the plunder4 ,another portion of property was held by ,colonel ,clinch1 as necessary for the use of the troops4 ,a list of the articles thus taken is given in the report3 it embraces spades1 shovels1 pickaxes1 swords1 sword-belts1 pistols and muskets4 ,the remainder of the property was taken on board the gun-boats1 and held subject to the order of the ,secretary of the ,navy4#ch ,the ,governor of ,florida demanded1 in the name of his ,most ,christian ,majesty the king of ,spain1 possession of the property thus captured in the fort2 denying the right of either our army or navy to invade the territory of ,spain1 and take and carry away property from its fortifications4 ,to this claim ,sailing-,master ,loomis replied1 that the property did not belong to the ,spanish crown1 but to the ,exiles1 who were in possession of it1 from whom it was taken by conquest4 ,this correspondence between his ,excellency the ,governor of ,florida and the ,commander of the two gun-boats1 was duly transmitted to our ,government at ,washington1 and may now be found in our ,national ,archives4#ci ,some twenty-two years subsequent to the capture of this property1 and the massacre of those who were in possession of it1 a bill was reported in the ,house of ,representatives1#dj granting five thousand dollars to the officers1 marines and sailors who constituted the crews of those gun-boats1 as compensation for their gallant services4 ,whether the honorable ,chairman of the ,naval ,committee who reported the bill1 or any member of the ,house who voted for it1 was aware of the true character of the services rendered1 is a matter of doubt2 but the bill passed without opposition1 became a law1 and the people of the ,united ,states paid that bonus for the perpetration of one of the darkest crimes which stains the history of any civilized nation4#da ,the official correspondence connected with this massacre was called for by resolution1 adopted in the ,house of ,representatives1 and was communicated to that body at the second session of the fifteenth ,congress4 ,but no action appears to have been proposed in regard to it2 nor does it appear that public attention was at that time particularly called to this most wanton sacrifice of human life4 ,in this massacre1 nearly every ,exile resident upon the ,appalachicola ,river1 including women and children1 perished or was renslaved4 ,their homes were left desolate2 their plantations1 and their herds of cattle and horses1 became the property of those who first obtained possession of them4 ,probably one-third of all the ,exiles at that time resident in ,florida1 perished in this massacre1 or were renslaved by ,colonel ,clinch2 yet the atrocious character of the transaction appears to have attracted very little attention at the time4 ,general ,jackson was popular as a military officer1 and the ,administration of ,mr4 ,madison was regarded with general favor4 ,no member of ,congress protested against the transaction1 or made known its barbarity to the people2 while the ablest members taxed their ingenuity1 and brought all their rhetoric to bear1 in vindication of those concerned in the outrage4#db ,while ,mr4 ,clay and others severely condemned the technical invasion of ,florida1 as an act of hostility toward the ,king of ,spain1 they omitted all reference to this wanton massacre of the ,exiles3 nor have we been able to learn that any member even intimated that the bloody ,seminole war of #ahaf-ag and #ah1 arose from efforts of our ,government to sustain the interests of ,slavery2 or that our troops were employed to murder women and children because their ancestors had once been held in bondage1 and to seize and carry back to toil and suffering those who escaped death in that barbarous massacre4 ,the officers of ,government1 and historians of that day1 appear to have avoided all reference to the fact1 that the people thus murdered had been far longer in the wilderness than were the children of ,israel2 that they were contending for that ,liberty which is the rightful inheritance of every human being4 ,indeed1 more than twenty years elapsed after this massacre1 before a distinguished ,philanthropist gave to the public the first intimation that such a people as the ,exiles had existed4#dc ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,,general ,,hostilities4 ,the ,troops along the ,florida frontier become active--,the ,exiles on ,suwanee and ,withlacoochee prepare for ,war--,general ,gaines's representation of their numbers--,depredations committed during the ,spring and ,summer of #ahag--,massacre of ,lieutenant ,scott and his party--,its ,effect upon the ,country--,congress not consulted as to this ,war--,general ,gaines authorized to ,invade ,florida--,general ,jackson ordered to the ,field--,mr4 ,monroe assumes the ,duties of ,president--,his ,cabinet--,character of ,congress--,public ,sentiment in regard to discussion of ,subjects connected with ,slavery--,general ,jackson concentrates his ,army at ,fort ,scott--,proceeds to ,mickasukie--,battle--,destruction of the ,town--,marches to ,st4 ,marks--,indian ,chiefs decoyed on board a ,vessel--,hanged by order of ,general ,jackson--,the ,army moves upon ,suwanee--,its ,situation--,exiles prepare for a decisive ,battle--,severe ,conflict--,general ,jackson takes the ,town--,captures ,indian ,women and ,children--,burns the ,villages of that region--,returns to ,pensacola--,capture and ,trial of ,arbuthnot and ,ambrister--,their ,execution--,invasion of ,florida condemned by some of our ,statesmen1 and vindicated by others4 ,the nation having been precipitated into war 7#ahaf71 the ,officers of ,government1 and the army1 at once became active in carrying it on4 ,orders were sent to ,general ,gaines1 exhorting him to vigilance1 caution and promptitude4 ,he was on the southern frontier of ,georgia1 where it was naturally supposed the first blow1 in retaliation for the massacre of ,blount's ,fort1 would fall4 ,his scouts were constantly on the alert1 his outposts strengthened1 and his troops kept in readiness for action4 ,the ,seminole ,indians had lost some thirty men1 who had intermarried with the ,exiles1 and were in the fort at the time of the massacre4 ,they entertain the opinion that the souls of their murdered friends are never at rest while their blood remains unavenged2 nor could it be supposed that the ,exiles would feel no desire to visit retributive justice upon the murderers of their friends4 ,long did this desire continue1 in the minds of the surviving ,exiles1 until1 many years subsequently1 their vengeance was satiated1 their hands were stained1 and their garments saturated1 in the blood of our troops4 ,the surviving ,exiles had their principal remaining settlements upon the ,suwanee and ,withlacoochee rivers1 and in the ,mickasukie towns4 ,these settlements were on fertile lands1 and were now relied upon to furnish provisions for their support during hostilities4 ,savages are usually impetuous2 but the ,exiles were more deliberate4 ,colonel ,clinch had returned to ,georgia2 ,sailing-,master ,loomis was at ,mobile ,bay1 and no circumstances demanded immediate action4 ,they gathered their crops1 obtained arms and ammunition from ,british and ,spanish merchants1 and made every preparation for hostilities4 ,during the summer and autumn of #ahaf1 ,general ,gaines reported slight depredations on the frontiers of ,georgia1 but in ,february1 #ahag1 he reported that larger bodies of ,indians were collecting in some of their villages2 and in one of his letters he stated that seven hundred negroes were collected at ,suwanee1 and were being daily drilled to the use of arms4 ,this number of fighting men would indicate a larger population of ,exiles than is warranted by subsequent information4 ,sidenote3 #ahag4 ,during the ,spring and ,summer1 both parties were in a state of preparation--of constant readiness for war4 ,a few predatory excursions to the frontier settlements1 marked the action of the ,indians and ,exiles1 while the army1 under ,general ,gaines1 often sent parties into the ,indian country1 without any important incident or effect4 ,the first effective blow was struck in ,november4 ,a boat was ascending the ,appalachicola river1 with supplies for ,fort ,scott1 under the escort of a ,lieutenant and forty men1 in company with a number of women and children4 ,information of this fact was communicated to the ,exiles and ,indians resident at ,mickasukie1 and a band of warriors at once hastened to intercept them4 ,they succeeded in drawing them into ambush1 a few miles below the mouth of ,flint ,river1 and the ,lieutenant1 and all his men but six1 and all the children1 and all the women but one1 were massacred on the spot4 ,six soldiers escaped1 and one woman was spared and taken to ,suwanee as a prisoner4 ,here she was kept by the ,exiles through the winter1 and treated with great kindness1 residing in their families and sharing their hospitality4 ,she had thus an opportunity of learning their condition1 and the state of civilization to which they had attained1 as well as their desire to be at peace with mankind1 in order to enjoy their own rights and liberties4 ,sidenote3 #ahah4 ,this massacre was regarded by the country as a most barbarous and wanton sacrifice of human life4 ,the newspapers blazoned it forth as an exhibition of savage barbarity4 ,the deep indignation of the people was invoked against the ,seminoles1 who were represented as alone responsible for the murder of ,lieutenant ,scott1 and his men4 ,probably nine-tenths of the ,editors1 thus assailing the ,seminoles1 were not aware of the atrocious sacrifice of human life at ,blount's ,fort1 in ,july of the previous year4 ,even the ,president of the ,united ,states1 in his ,message 7,march #be71 relating to these hostile movements of the ,seminoles1 during the previous year1 declared ,the hostilities of this ,tribe were unprovoked1 as though the record of the massacre at ,blount's ,fort had been erased from the records of the moral ,universe4 ,notwithstanding our army had1 in a time of profound peace1 invaded the ,spanish ,territory1 marched sixty miles into its interior1 opened a cannonade upon ,blount's ,fort1 blown it up1 with an unprecedented massacre1 in which both ,seminole ,indians and negroes were slain1 and two of their principal men given over to barbarous torture2 yet1 the ,president1 in his ,message1 as if to falsify the history of current events1 declared that as almost the whole of this ,tribe inhabit the country within the limits of ,florida1 ,spain was bound1 by the ,treaty of #agie1 to restrain them from committing depredations against the ,united ,states4 ,such were the efforts made to misrepresent facts1 in relation to the first ,seminole ,war4 ,with its commencement1 the people had nothing to do2 they were not consulted1 nor were their ,representatives in ,congress permitted to exercise any influence over the subject4 ,the correspondence between ,general ,gaines and the ,secretary of ,war1 in regard to the occupation of the fort by the ,exiles1 had commenced on the fourteenth of ,may1 #ahae4 ,it was continued while ,congress was in session1 in #ahae and #ahaf1 but no facts in regard to the plan of destroying it1 and entering upon a war1 for the purpose of murdering or enslaving the ,exiles1 had been communicated to ,congress or the public4 ,orders were now issued to ,general ,gaines1 authorizing him to carry the war into ,florida1 for the purpose of punishing the ,seminoles4 ,general ,jackson was ordered to take the field1 in person1 with power to call on the ,states of ,tennessee and ,georgia for such militia as he might deem necessary1 for the due prosecution of the war2 and the most formidable arrangements were made for carrying on hostilities upon a large scale4 ,mr4 ,monroe had assumed the duties of ,president in ,march1 #ahag4 ,he had appointed ,hon4 ,john ,quincy ,adams ,secretary of ,state1 at the commencement of his administration2 but the office of ,secretary of ,war was not filled by a permanent appointment1 for some months1 in consequence of ,governor ,shelby's refusal to accept it1 on account of his advanced age4 ,it was finally conferred on ,hon4 ,john ,c4 ,calhoun1 who1 through his entire official life1 was distinguished for his devotion to the institution of ,slavery2 and this war having been entered upon for the support of that institution1 it may well be supposed that he exerted his utmost energies for its vigorous prosecution4 ,the fifteenth ,congress assembled in ,december1 #ahag4 ,most of the members from the free ,states had not enjoyed the advantages of having served long in that body4 ,they afterwards showed themselves able men2 but the business of legislation requires experience1 industry1 and a perfect knowledge of the past action of government4 ,this cannot be obtained in one session1 nor in one ,congress2 it can only be gathered by the labors of an active life4 ,it is1 therefore1 not surprising that ,congress granted to the ,war ,department whatever funds the ,president required to carry on the war4 ,it is not our province to applaud1 or condemn1 public men2 but history represents no member of the fifteenth ,congress as having proclaimed the cause of this war1 or the atrocious massacre which characterized its commencement4 ,on the contrary1 those who spoke on the subject1 represented it as entirely owing to the ,indian murders on the frontiers of ,georgia1 and to the massacre of ,lieutenant ,scott and his men4 ,there was great delicacy exhibited1 and had been for many years previously1 in regard to the agitation of any question touching the institution of ,slavery2 and the people of the free and slave ,states appeared to feel that silence on that subject was obligatory upon every citizen who desired a continuance of the ,union4 ,these circumstances rendered it easy for the ,administration to prosecute the war1 with whatever force they deemed necessary for the speedy subjection of ,indians and ,exiles4 ,on entering the field of active service1 ,general ,jackson called on the ,state of ,tennessee for two thousand troops4 ,he repaired to ,harford1 on the ,ockmulgee1 where a body of volunteers1 from ,georgia1 had already assembled1 and organizing them1 he requested the aid of the ,creek ,indians also4 ,they readily volunteered1 under the command of their chief1 ,mc,intosh1 ready to share in the honors and dangers of the approaching campaign4 ,with the ,georgia volunteers and ,creek ,indians1 ,general ,jackson marched to ,fort ,scott1 where he was joined by about one thousand regular troops4 ,with this force1 he moved upon the ,mickasukie towns1 situated near the ,lake of that name1 some thirty miles south of the line of ,georgia4 ,it was the nearest place at which the ,exiles had settled in considerable numbers4 ,there were several small villages in the vicinity of this ,lake1 inhabited almost entirely by blacks4 ,a large quantity of provisions had been stored there4 ,there were also several ,seminole towns between ,mickasukie ,lake and ,tallahasse1 on the west4 ,the ,exiles appear to have viewed the approach of ,general ,jackson with coolness and firmness4 ,they had evidently calculated the result with perfect accuracy4 ,their women and children were removed to places of safety1 and their herds of cattle were driven beyond the reach of the invading army2 and some of their ,indian allies followed the example thus set them by the ,exiles2 yet others were not equally careful in calculating future events4 ,neither ,indians nor negroes had made these towns their general rendezvous2 nor did they expect a decisive battle to occur at that point2 yet they prepared to meet ,general ,jackson1 and his army1 in a becoming manner4 ,most of their forces were collected prior to the arrival of our troops4 ,in making the requisite dispositions for battle1 the ,indians were formed in one body1 and the negroes in another--each being under their respective chiefs4 ,general ,jackson encountered the allied forces at some little distance from the ,mickasukie towns1 ,april first4 ,the battle was of short duration4 ,the ,indians soon fled4 ,the ,exiles fought with greater obstinacy4 ,their fire was so fatal that a reinforcement was ordered to that part of the field1 and the ,exiles were driven from their position1 leaving twelve of their number dead upon the field4 ,in his official report of this battle1 ,general ,jackson insisted that ,british officers had drilled the negroes1 and ,british traders had furnished them ammunition4 ,he also reported that he burned more than three hundred dwellings1 and obtained a supply of provisions and cattle for his army4 ,the ,exiles1 generally1 retreated to ,suwanee1 and the ,indians continued to hang around the ,american army1 watching its movements4 ,general ,jackson1 however1 directed his course towards ,st4 ,marks1 a ,spanish fort1 situated on the river of that name1 some fifty miles southwest of ,mickasukie ,lake4 ,the ,american army reached ,st4 ,marks on the seventh of ,april1 and remained there several days4 ,one of the ,american vessels lying in ,appalachicola ,bay1 hoisted ,british colors1 in order to decoy some ,indians who were looking at them from the shore4 ,two of the ,red ,stick band ventured on board2 they were said to be chiefs1 and in alliance with the ,seminoles4 ,general ,jackson ordered them to be hanged1 without trial or ceremony1 justifying the act by charging them with having participated in the massacre of ,lieutenant ,scott and his party1 during the previous autumn1 apparently unconscious that1 by his own orders1 two hundred and seventy people1 including innocent children and women1 had been most wantonly and barbarously murdered at the fort on ,appalachicola1 and that ,lieutenant ,scott and thirty men were murdered in retaliation for that act1 according to savage warfare4 ,he appears to have felt it due to offended justice1 that these men should die for being suspected of participating in that act of retaliation4 ,in all these cases1 the most assiduous efforts were exerted to misrepresent the real state of facts4 ,the time occupied in the approach and capture of ,fort ,st4 ,marks1 gave to the ,exiles and ,indians full opportunity to concentrate their forces at ,suwanee4 ,it constituted the most populous settlement of the ,exiles1 after the destruction of that upon the ,appalachicola4 ,it was regarded as their stronghold4 ,surrounded by swamps1 it was approached only through narrow defiles1 which rendered it difficult for an army to reach it4 ,here many of the ,exiles had been born and reared to manhood4 ,here were their homes1 their firesides4 ,here their chief1 ,nero1 resided2 and here they concentrated their whole force4 ,they had removed their women and children1 their provisions and cattle1 to places of safety1 and coolly awaited the approach of ,general ,jackson's army4#dd ,scouting parties were1 however1 sent out to harrass his advance guard1 and delay his approach1 and render it more difficult2 but1 notwithstanding these obstacles1 the army steadily advanced1 and on the nineteenth of ,april reached the ,old ,town of ,suwanee1 and found the allied forces in order of battle1 prepared to contest the field4 ,the ,indians were again formed on the right1 and the ,exiles constituted the left wing1 bringing them in conflict with the right wing of ,general ,jackson's forces4 ,with the ,exiles1 there was no alternative other than war or slavery2 and they greatly preferred death upon the battle field1 to chains and the scourge4 ,we may well suppose they would fight with some degree of desperation1 under such circumstances2 and the battle of ,suwanee gave evidence of their devotion to freedom4 ,they met the disciplined troops1 who constituted ,general ,jackson's army1 with firmness and gallantry4#de ,at the commencement1 their fire was so fatal that the right wing of the ,american army faltered1 and ceasing to advance1 gave signs of falling back4 ,but the left wing1 opposed to the ,indians1 made a successful charge2 the ,indians gave way1 and the reserve was suddenly brought into action to sustain the right wing1 when a general charge was ordered1 and the ,exiles were compelled to fall back4#df ,general ,jackson1 in his official report of this battle1 refers to the desperation with which the negroes fought1 and says they left many dead upon the field1 but does not mention their number4 ,he entered the town and set fire to the buildings1 and burned all the villages in the vicinity4 ,he also captured some three hundred ,indian women and children1 while those belonging to the ,exiles had been carefully removed beyond the reach of the ,american army4 ,this superior caution and provident care appears to mark the character of the ,exiles in all their conduct2 while the ,indians appear to have practised none of these precautions4 ,but the allied forces1 defeated1 and their warriors scattered in various directions1 were pursued by ,mc,intosh and his ,creek warriors1 who had accompanied ,general ,jackson1 until fearing the ,seminoles might rally in force against them1 they returned and again united with the ,american army4 ,this battle substantially closed the war of #ahah4 ,it had been commenced for the destruction of the ,exiles2 they had shared in its dangers1 and by their energy and boldness1 had given intensity to its conflicts4 ,from the time they united in the expedition for the destruction of ,lieutenant ,scott and his party1 in ,november1 #ahag1 until the close of the battle of ,suwanee1 they had been active participants in every skirmish1 and had uniformly displayed great firmness2 bearing testimony to the truth of those historians who have awarded to the ,african race the merit of great physical courage4 ,general ,jackson appears to have spoken as little of the ,exiles as duty would permit1 when communicating with the ,secretary of ,war2 yet he was more free to complain of them in his correspondence with the ,governor of ,pensacola4 ,in a letter to that officer1 dated a few days after the battle of ,suwanee1 he says3 ,negroes who have fled from their masters1 citizens of the ,united ,states1 have raised the tomahawk1 and1 in the character of savage warfare1 have spared neither age nor sex4 ,helpless women have been massacred1 and the cradle crimsoned with blood4 ,we can1 at this day1 scarcely believe that this eloquent description of savage barbarity was from the pen of a man whose order for the massacre of defenseless women and children1 at the ,fort on ,appalachicola1 bore date less than two years before writing this letter2 nor can we readily comprehend the effrontery of him who thus attempted to justify the invasion of ,florida1 by reference to acts done by the ,exiles long after the army under his command had entered that territory1 and committed the most atrocious outrages ever perpetrated by civilized men upon an unoffending people4 ,after the battle of ,suwanee1 ,general ,jackson returned to ,st4 ,marks1 being unable to follow the ,indians and ,exiles into the more southern portions of ,florida4 ,while at ,st4 ,marks1 he ordered a court-martial1 constituting ,general ,gaines president1 in order to try ,arbuthnot and ,ambrister4 ,the history of their trial and execution is familiar to the reader4 ,the first and principal charge against ,ambrister was1 that he excited the negroes and ,indians to commit murder upon the people of the ,united ,states2 the second charge was for supplying them with arms4 ,on these charges he was convicted and executed4 ,it was also alleged1 that he was present at the battle of ,suwanee2 and some writers say he commanded the ,exiles on that occasion1 and had previously taught them military discipline4 ,in ,may1 ,general ,jackson issued an ,address to his troops1 declaring the war at an end2 and wrote the ,executive1 asking permission to retire to his home in ,nashville1 there being no further use for his services in the field4 ,the ,exiles now returned to their homes4 ,they had full leisure to contemplate their situation4 ,many of their best men had fallen4 ,nearly the entire population residing upon the ,appalachicola ,river had been massacred4 ,their villages at ,mickasukie and ,suwanee had been burned2 and it is probable that nearly one half of their entire population had been sacrificed1 in this first war waged by the ,united ,states for the murder and recapture of fugitive slaves4 ,the invasion of ,florida by ,general ,jackson was condemned by many public men1 and was approved by others with equal ability4 ,even the then ,secretary of ,state1 ,john ,quincy ,adams1 in his correspondence with ,don ,onis1 the ,spanish ,minister1 defended the invasion with great ability4 ,but in the discussions of this subject1 we find no allusion to the massacre at ,blount's ,fort2#dg that appears to have been regarded as a subject of too delicate a nature for public scrutiny4 ,in the alcoves of our ,national ,library1 we find many volumes of documents touching this war1 embracing some thousands of pages1 in which there is the strongest censure expressed against the ,seminoles for provoking the war1 and condemnation for the barbarous manner in which they conducted it2 but we search them in vain to find any condemnation1 by ,american statesmen1 of the object for which the war was commenced1 or the unprovoked and worse than savage massacre which marked its beginning4 ,,chapter ,v4 ,,further ,,efforts ,,of ,,the ,,government ,,to ,,restore ,,exiles ,,to ,,servitude4 ,effects of the ,war--,situation of the ,exiles--,servility of ,northern ,statesmen--,determination of ,southern ,slaveholders--,the purchase of ,florida demanded--,causes which led to it--,territory obtained--,authorities of ,georgia demand a new ,treaty with ,creeks--,mr4 ,calhoun ,secretary of ,war--,his efforts in favor of the ,claimants--,georgia appoints ,commissioners--,they attempt to dictate those appointed by the ,united ,states--,correspondence--,mr4 ,calhoun dissatisfied with those whom he had appointed--,they resign--,new ,commissioners appointed--,their relation to the subject--,difficulties--,indian ,talks--,treaty effected--,agreement--,assignment of ,fugitive ,slaves to ,united ,states in trust for the ,creek ,indians--,claims adjudicated--,slaveholders claim the funds belonging to the ,creek ,indians4 ,the first ,seminole war1 like most other wars1 was attended with great sacrifice of blood and treasure4 ,it had corrupted the morals of the nation2 but the ,administration had entirely failed to attain the objects for which it had been commenced4 ,not ten slaves had been captured1 if we except those who were wounded and taken prisoners at ,blount's ,fort1 one half of whom had died of their wounds4 ,under such circumstances1 the ,government could not1 with propriety1 condescend to make a treaty with a community of black men1 whose ancestors had fled from slavery4 ,such act would1 in the opinion of slaveholders1 have compromised the dignity of the ,slaveholding ,states2 nor could they treat with the ,seminole ,indians as a separate tribe1 for the ,administration was endeavoring to hold the ,creeks responsible for the acts of the ,seminoles1 who1 the slaveholders insisted1 were a part of the ,creek tribe4 ,the army was therefore withdrawn from ,florida1 without any treaty whatever4 ,but the act of withdrawing the army and permitting the ,exiles to remain in a state of freedom and independence1 constituted an acknowledgment of the inability of our ,government to renslave them1 although it was constantly asserted that they were a degraded race1 incapable of supporting themselves if set at liberty4 ,in looking over the official reports of our officers1 the action of ,congress1 and the tone of the public press1 we are forcibly impressed with the constant and unceasing efforts to hide from the popular mind of the nation the real questions involved in this war4 ,nor can we account for it upon any other hypothesis1 than the popularity of ,president ,monroe's ,administration4 ,the old ,federal party had ceased to exist4 ,they had been the only party opposed to ,mr4 ,monroe2 and no member of ,congress appears to have possessed the requisite independence1 information and ability1 to take a position distinctly against his policy4 ,soon as our army was withdrawn from ,florida1 peace was of course restored1 and things remained as they were prior to the invasion under ,colonel ,clinch1 in #ahaf4 ,the ,exiles were again left in peace1 as they had been prior to the commencement of the war4 ,nothing had been gained to the ,united ,states by the vast expenditure of blood and treasure which attended the prosecution of hostilities4 ,the ,exiles had maintained their liberty for at least a century1 and now they had set the ,american ,government at defiance4 ,these considerations operated upon the minds of the slave population of ,georgia and ,alabama1 who now became more anxious to join them2 and their numbers were thus increased almost daily by slaves from those ,states4 ,from #agij1 our ,government had endeavored to renslave these people4 ,no ,northern statesmen objected to the policy2 while those of the ,south had come to believe that1 although the ,union may not have been formed solely for the purpose of capturing slaves1 yet that duty was regarded by them as one of its most important objects4 ,it had now become evident that no military force could pursue them into their retired fastnesses1 or seek them out when scattered among the hommocks1 the swamps and everglades of that singular country4 ,southern statesmen now turned their attention to the purchase of ,florida4 ,that would deprive the ,indians and ,exiles of the nominal protection of ,spanish laws1 and would bring them under the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states2 they therefore addressed themselves to that policy with renewed assiduity4 ,recent events had convinced the authorities of ,spain that it was impossible for them to maintain the dignity of the ,spanish crown1 or the sanctity of her soil from invasion against an ,american army1 when in pursuit of fugitive slaves4 ,she had seen her territory invaded2 her forts at ,pensacola and at ,st4 ,marks captured1 and that upon the ,appalachicola destroyed2 her subjects massacred2 her authority despised1 and her rights as a nation treated with indignity by our army4 ,there was1 indeed1 no other way for her but to accede to the proposition of the ,united ,states4 ,sidenote3 #ahai4 ,a treaty was negotiated 7,february #bb71 and in consideration of five millions of dollars1 ,florida was transferred to the ,united ,states1 and the ,seminoles were brought within the jurisdiction which they most dreaded4 ,the slaveholders of ,georgia1 who had so long pressed their claims for fugitive slaves1 now became more clamorous4 ,they saw1 with intense interest1 the pertinacity with which the ,executive had pressed the claims of those who lost slaves1 in the then recent war with ,england4 ,under the ,treaty of ,ghent1 the ,president insisted upon full indemnity to those whose slaves had left the country1 under ,british aid2 and when the ,english ministry refused1 and insisted upon the same construction as that placed upon the treaty of #aghc1 which contained the same words1 the ,american ,executive refused1 and the question was referred to the umpirage of the ,autocrat of ,russia1 who held an entire nation in slavery1 and could not be expected to decide in any other manner1 than that most favorable to the institution4#dh ,sidenote3 #ahbj4 ,the influence of the slave power having increased so greatly since #agif1 as to induce the ,british ,government to change its policy1 adopted at the framing of ,jay's ,treaty1 was now believed competent to compel the ,creek ,indians to comply with the treaties of ,new ,york and ,colerain4 ,a quarter of a century had passed1 since the signing of the last of these treaties1 and they had been forgotten by many2 but the people of the free ,states1 and their ,representatives and ,senators in ,congress1 had quietly submitted to this prostitution of our national character and influence1 and none appeared to doubt the propriety of continuing these efforts4 ,sidenote3 #ahba4 ,georgia now demanded of the ,federal ,government a new treaty with the ,creek ,indians1#di in order to obtain from them indemnity for the slaves she had lost1 subsequent to the close of the ,revolution1 and prior to the act of #ahjb4 ,to this demand the ,federal ,executive assented4 ,the ,secretary of ,war1 ,mr4 ,calhoun1 with his attachment to the institution1 could do no less than to exert what influence he was able to wield1 in assisting ,georgia to obtain a compensation for the loss of her slaves4 ,on him devolved the burthen of selecting commissioners to negotiate the contemplated treaty4 ,careful to place the subject in the hands of men who would be likely to wield their power for the benefit of the peculiar institution1 he appointed ,general ,andrew ,pickens of his own ,state1 and ,general ,thomas ,flournoy of ,georgia1 to conduct the negotiation4 ,in his letters of instruction to those gentlemen1 he was careful to inform them that the treaty was to be negotiated for the benefit of ,georgia2#ej that she would also appoint commissioners to attend the negotiation1 and watch over the interests of her people4 ,the commissioners proceeded to make arrangements for the treaty4 ,they appointed the time and place for holding it2 employed an agent to furnish the requisite supplies1 and made arrangements for the necessary payments4 ,at this point a correspondence arose between them and the commissioners of ,georgia1 who assumed to dictate the terms on which the treaty was to be founded4 ,the commissioners of the ,united ,states1 finding those of ,georgia inclined to dictate the course of action which they were to pursue1 were unwilling to submit to such dictation1 and reported the difficulty to the ,secretary of ,war2 while the commissioners on the part of ,georgia1 feeling perfect confidence in the devotion of that officer to the interests of slavery1 made their report of the matter to him also4#ea ,the ,secretary returned an answer1 reproving the commissioners whom he had himself appointed1 so severely for their refusal to obey the dictation of those appointed by ,georgia1 that they both immediately resigned their offices1 appearing to feel that their own self-respect must be compromised by acting under the instruction of the ,state ,commissioners4#eb ,apparently determined to appoint no man who should again prove refractory1 the ,executive--probably at the instance of the ,secretary of ,war--next selected as commissioner1 in the place of ,mr4 ,flournoy1 ,david ,meriwether1 who had1 up to the time of receiving the appointment1 acted as commissioner on the part of ,georgia4 ,at the request of the ,secretary of ,war1 he resigned his office of commissioner on behalf of the ,state1 and accepted the appointment from the ,federal ,government4 ,hon4 ,d4 ,m4 ,forney1 of ,north ,carolina1 was selected as the other commissioner1 in place of ,mr4 ,pickens4 ,these commissioners were expressly instructed to assist the ,state of ,georgia in obtaining the objects for which she was striving4#ec ,these preliminary arrangements could not fail to foreshadow the character of the treaty negotiated under such auspices4 ,anticipating no other motive for the treaty than the settlement of the boundary between the ,state of ,georgia and the ,creeks1 the chiefs1 head-men and principal warriors of the tribe assembled at the time and place appointed4 ,after the ordinary formalities on such occasions1 the commissioners on the part of the ,united ,states opened the business by simply stating1 that the people of ,georgia complained to the ,president that the ,creeks had not returned the property 7negroes1 cattle and horses71 which they were under obligations to return to their owners in ,georgia1 by the treaties of ,new ,york and ,colerain4 ,the commissioners on the part of ,georgia now delivered their talk1 saying1 that by the treaty of ,augusta 7#aghc71 of ,galphinton 7#aghe71 and of ,shoulderbone 7#aghf71 the ,creeks had agreed to return to their owners1 negroes who had left their masters1 and other property2 that these treaties were all made before the formation of the government of the ,united ,states under their present ,constitution2 but they were ratified by the treaty of ,new ,york 7#agij71 and of ,colerain 7#agif71 made with the ,united ,states1 and ,georgia now demanded compensation for the loss of her negroes and other property4 ,on the following day1 ,general ,mc,intosh1 principal chief of the ,creeks1 replied1 that he came to meet the commissioners of the ,united ,states1 and had no expectation of meeting those of ,georgia2 nor had he or his friends any idea that such claims were to be presented4 ,that the chief1 ,mc,gillivray1 when he returned1 after the treaty of ,new ,york1 informed them that they were to deliver up such negroes as were then in the nation2 that they were to pay for none who had removed or died2 that they all so understood that treaty1 and that nothing was then said about any other claims than for negroes2 that the prisoners1 both black and white1 were delivered up under the treaty of ,new ,york2 that the claims now presented were also presented at the treaty of ,colerain1 in #agif1 but the ,creeks then absolutely refused to acknowledge any further obligation than that contained in the treaty of ,new ,york1 and by that they were under obligation to surrender no property except persons held as prisoners1 and negroes then in the nation4 ,that many of these negroes were carried away by the ,british1 during the war of #ahab2 that others were in the fort at ,appalachicola1 when he and his warriors went with ,colonel ,clinch and blew it up1 and killed nearly all who were in it2 and the others were with the ,seminoles1 and not with the ,creeks4 ,to this answer the commissioners of ,georgia replied1 that by the treaties of ,augusta1 and ,galphinton1 and ,shoulderbone1 the ,creeks were bound to deliver all negroes who had left their masters in ,georgia2 that1 if they had done so1 the ,british would not have carried them off1 nor would they have been killed in the fort2 that the ,seminoles were a part of the ,creek nation1 who were responsible1 not only for the slaves and their increase1 but also for the loss of the labor which they would have performed had they remained in bondage4 ,of the means used to obtain the treaty1 we have no other information than appears of record4 ,those acquainted with the usual modes of negotiating ,indian treaties1 by the use of intoxicating liquors1 by bribery1 and those appliances generally used on such occasions1 will not wonder at the stipulations contained in the ,treaty of ,indian ,spring4 ,by the first article1 the ,creeks ceded to the ,united ,states1 for the benefit of ,georgia1 about five million acres of their most valuable territory4 ,the second article provided for the reservation of certain lands1 to be retained by those who were then living upon them4 ,the third reserved certain lands for the use of the ,united ,states agency2 and the fourth is in the following words3 ,it is hereby stipulated and agreed1 on the part of the ,united ,states1 as a consideration for the land ceded by the ,creek nation1 by the first article1 that there shall be paid to the ,creek nation1 by the ,united ,states1 ten thousand dollars in hand1 the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged1 forty thousand dollars as soon as practicable after the ratification of this convention1 five thousand dollars annually for two years thereafter1 sixteen thousand dollars annually for five years thereafter1 and ten thousand dollars annually for six years thereafter2 making in the whole fourteen payments1 in fourteen successive years1 without interest1 in money or goods1 and implements of husbandry1 at the option of the ,creek ,nation1 seasonably signified1 from time to time1 through the agent of the ,united ,states residing with said nation1 to the ,department of ,war4 ,and as a further consideration for said cession1 the ,united ,states do hereby agree to pay to the ,state of ,georgia1 whatever balance may be found due by the ,creek ,nation to the citizens of said ,state1 whenever the same shall be ascertained1 in conformity with the reference made by the commissioners of ,georgia and the chiefs1 head-men and warriors of the ,creek ,nation1 to be paid in five annual installments1 without interest1 provided the same shall not exceed the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars2 the commissioners of ,georgia executing to the ,creek ,nation a full and final relinquishment of all the claims of the citizens of ,georgia against the ,creek ,nation1 for property taken or destroyed prior to the act of ,congress1 of one thousand eight hundred and two1 regulating the intercourse with the ,indian tribes4 ,the fifth article merely provides for running the boundaries of the several reservations4 ,it was duly signed and witnessed1 and bears date on the eighth of ,january1 #ahba4 ,deeming the treaty not sufficiently explicit in its terms1 the commissioners on the part of ,georgia1 entered into a further agreement with the ,indians1 which reads as follows3 ,whereas at a conference1 opened and held at the ,indian ,spring1 in the ,creek ,nation1 the citizens of ,georgia1 by the aforesaid commissioners1 have represented that they have claims to a large amount against the said ,creek ,nation of ,indians3 ,now1 in order to adjust and bring the same to a speedy and final settlement1 it is hereby agreed by the aforesaid commissioners1 and the chiefs1 head-men and warriors of the said ,nation1 that all the talks had upon the subject of these claims1 at this place1 together with all claims on either side1 of whatever nature or kind1 prior to the act of ,congress of one thousand eight hundred and two1 regulating the intercourse with the ,indian tribes1 with the documents in support of them1 shall be referred to the decision of the ,president of the ,united ,states1 by him to be decided upon1 adjusted1 liquidated and settled1 in such manner and under such rules1 regulations and restrictions as he shall prescribe3 ,provided1 however1 if it should meet the views of the ,president of the ,united ,states1 it is the wish of the contracting parties1 that the liquidation and settlement of the aforesaid claims shall be made in the ,state of ,georgia1 at such place as he may deem most convenient for the parties interested2 and the decision and award thus made and rendered1 shall be binding and obligatory upon the contracting parties4 ,there was also an assignment of the title1 or right of property claimed1 executed to the ,united ,states by the ,commissioners of ,georgia1 which is in the following language3 ,whereas a treaty1 or convention1 has this day been made and entered into1 by and between the ,united ,states and the ,creek ,nation1 by the provisions of which the ,united ,states have agreed to pay1 and the commissioners of the ,state of ,georgia have agreed to accept1 for and on behalf of the citizens of the ,state of ,georgia having claims against the ,creek ,nation1 prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and two1 the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars3 ,now know all men by these presents1 that we1 the undersigned1 commissioners of the ,state of ,georgia1 for and in consideration of the aforesaid sum of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars1 secured by the said treaty1 or convention1 to be paid to the ,state of ,georgia1 for the discharge of all bona fide and liquidated claims which the citizens of the said ,state may establish against the ,creek ,nation1 do1 by these presents1 release1 exonerate and discharge the said ,creek ,nation from all and every claim and claims1 of whatever description1 nature or kind the same may be1 which the citizens of ,georgia now have1 or may have had1 prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and two1 against the said ,nation4 ,and we do hereby assign1 transfer and set over unto the ,united ,states1 for the use and benefit of the said ,creek ,nation1 for the consideration hereinbefore expressed1 all the right1 title and interest of the citizens of the said ,state to all claims1 debts1 damages1 and property of every description and denomination1 which the citizens of the said ,state have or had1 prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and two1 as aforesaid1 against the said ,creek ,nation4 ,it were useless for the historian to criticise the language of these several instruments4 ,the claims mentioned in them1 and referred to the ,president1 were mostly for slaves who left their masters during the ,revolution1 and prior to #ahjb2 at least such was the construction given to the treaty1 the agreement and assignment by the parties2 and we cannot1 at this day1 assert that they did not understand their own compacts4 ,the ,creeks were to receive two hundred thousand dollars in cash2 and the ,united ,states agreed to pay to ,georgia her claims1 provided they did not exceed two hundred and fifty thousand dollars4 ,the amount due to ,georgia was to be ascertained by the ,president1 and paid by the ,united ,states4 ,the third1 and a very important point was the assignment to the ,united ,states1 for the benefit of the ,creek ,indians1 of the interest vested in the claimants to the property and persons claimed--the ,united ,states to hold such interest in trust for the ,creek ,indians4 ,by this arrangement1 our ,government became owners of the ,exiles referred to1 in trust for the benefit of the ,creeks1 according to the construction which the ,indians1 the authorities of the ,united ,states and those of ,georgia1 placed upon the assignment1 the agreement and treaty4 ,this important point1 if borne in mind1 will aid the reader in understanding the subsequent action of the ,federal authorities in relation to this subject4 ,sidenote3 #ahbb4 ,in pursuance of this treaty1 the ,president promptly appointed a commissioner to ascertain the amounts due the several claimants4 ,but great difficulties had to be encountered4 ,the claims commenced in #agge and extended down to #ahjb1 and it was extremely difficult to obtain evidence of facts which transpired so long prior to the examination4 ,sufficient proof was produced1 however1 to satisfy the commissioner that ninety-two slaves had1 within the periods mentioned1 left their masters1 in ,georgia1 and fled to the ,indians2 and the estimated value of slaves and other property lost to the owners in this manner1 amounted to one hundred and nine thousand dollars4#ed ,sidenote3 #ahbc4 ,this amount of money was duly appropriated by ,congress4 ,so far as we are informed1 no member of the ,house of ,representatives1 or of the ,senate1 appears to have entertained doubts as to the propriety of this governmental slave-dealing4 ,the whole negotiation and arrangement had been conducted and managed by ,southern men1 and ,northern statesmen quietly submitted4 ,thus1 after a struggle of thirty-eight years1 the ,slaveholders of ,georgia1 by the aid of our ,federal ,government1 obtained compensation for the loss of their fugitive bondmen4 ,after the distribution of the amount found due to the claimants1 there yet remained in the hands of the ,president one hundred and forty-one thousand dollars1 being the remainder of the two hundred and fifty thousand appropriated by the treaty to secure the payment of these claims4 ,this money apparently belonged to the ,indians4 ,the claimants for slaves could not have any title to it1 for they had expressly stipulated1 that the award of the commissioner should be conclusive upon the parties4 ,the claimants1 by that award1 received full compensation for their loss2 yet they next demanded of the ,president the hundred and forty-one thousand dollars which remained in his hands4 ,notwithstanding the commissioners on the part of ,georgia expressly agreed to abide by the award1 and had assigned all interest in the property and in the persons residing with the ,indians1 to the ,united ,states1 and had received their money in full1 under the treaty2 yet they desired to get the remainder1 which was considerably larger than the amount awarded them by the commissioner4 ,,chapter ,,vi4 ,,further ,,efforts ,,to ,,enslave ,,the ,,exiles4 ,indians and ,exiles on the ,appalachicola ,river--,other ,exiles at ,withlaeoochee1 ,st4 ,john's1 ,cyprus ,swamp1 ,waboo ,swamp--,indians in various parts of ,territory--,difficulty of the subject--,president's ,message--,committee of ,congress--,interrogations--,mr4 ,penieres' ,answer--,general ,jackson's ,answer--,he relies on ,force--,united ,states recognize the ,florida ,indians as an ,independent ,band--,willing to treat with them--,difficulties--,instructions to ,commissioners--,treaty of ,camp ,moultrie--,reservations--,covenants on part of ,united ,states--,covenants on part of the ,seminoles--,congress makes no objection--,effect of ,treaty--,its ,objects--,election of the younger ,adams--,his ,policy--,indian ,agent1 ,colonel ,humphreys--,william ,p4 ,duval's ,instructions--,claimants complain of the ,agent--,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs reproves him--,his ,letter--,reply--,difficulty of ,agent--,dangers which threaten the ,exiles--,colored ,man seized and enslaved--,indians ,protest--,colonel ,brooke's ,advice--,united ,states ,judge expresses his ,opinion--,effect on ,exiles--,mrs4 ,cook's ,slave--,demand for ,negroes--,suggestions of ,agent--,practice of ,government--,treaty of ,payne's ,landing--,its ,stipulations--,abram--,his ,character--,chiefs become ,suspicious--,delegations sent ,west--,executive ,designs--,supplemental ,treaty--,major ,phagan--,petition of the ,people of ,florida--,indorsement thereon--,treaties approved by ,senate--,creeks remonstrate--,payment of #ada1jjj to ,slave ,claimants--,supineness of ,northern ,statesmen--,creeks demand ,exiles or ,slaves--,georgians kidnap ,exiles--,their ,danger--,they dissuade from ,emigration--,their ,warriors--,wiley ,thompson's ,statement--,general ,clinch's ,interest--,colonel ,eaton's ,views--,general ,cass's ,reply--,his ,address to ,indians--,he authorizes ,slave trade--,effects of such ,license--,agent and others ,remonstrate--,he replies--,agent rejoins--,exiles prepare for ,war4 ,after the close of the war of #ahah1 many of the ,seminole ,indians took possession of the deserted plantations and villages along the ,appalachicola ,river1 whose owners had fallen in the massacre of ,blount's ,fort1 in #ahaf2 and some of the ,exiles united in reoccupying the lands which had been reduced to cultivation by their murdered brethren4 ,some six or eight small bands of ,indians thus became resident along that river4 ,the fertile bottom lands1 near that stream1 constituted the most valuable portion of ,florida1 so far as agriculture was concerned4 ,these towns afforded convenient resting places for fugitive slaves1 while fleeing from their masters in ,georgia1 ,alabama1 ,tennessee and ,louisiana1 to the interior portions of ,florida4 ,the ,united ,states1 nor the slaveholders of the ,states named1 could with any propriety whatever hold the ,creek ,indians responsible for the many refugees1 who were now almost daily increasing the number of fugitives located far in the interior of ,florida2 and the difficulties attending the holding of slaves increased in exact proportion as the slaveholding settlements extended towards these locations2 while the greater portion of the ,exiles were taking up their residence farther in the interior of the territory1 upon the ,withlacoochee1 the ,st4 ,john's1 the ,big ,cypress ,swamp1 the ,islands in the ,great ,wahoo ,swamp1 and places far retired from civilization4 ,the ,seminole ,indians were scattered extensively over different portions of the country2 and although the ,united ,states now owned the unoccupied lands1 it was difficult to determine upon any course of policy by which the difficulties1 so long existing1 could be terminated4 ,sidenote3 #ahbb4 ,the subject was alluded to by the ,president in his ,annual ,message to ,congress 7,dec4 #c71 and a select committee was appointed to take that portion of it into consideration4 ,the committee propounded interrogatories to various officers of government1 who were supposed capable of giving useful information in regard to the subject4#ee ,in answer to these interrogatories1 ,mr4 ,penieres1 ,sub-,agent for the ,florida ,indians1 replied1 stating the number of ,indians at more than five thousand1 while the number of slaves which they held were estimated at only forty4 ,these he declared to be far more intelligent than the slaves resident among the white people1 and possessing great influence over their ,indian masters4 ,he alluded to the ,exiles in the following language3 ,it will be difficult 7says he7 to form a prudent determination with respect to the 'maroon negroes1' 7,exiles71 who live among the ,indians1 on the other side of the little mountain of ,latchiouc4 ,they fear being again made slaves1 under the ,american ,government1 and will omit nothing to increase or keep alive mistrust among the ,indians1 whom they1 in fact1 govern4 ,if it should become necessary to use force with them1 it is to be feared that the ,indians will take their part4 ,it will1 however1 be necessary to remove from the ,floridas this group of freebooters1 among whom runaway negroes will always find a refuge4 ,it will1 perhaps1 be possible to have them received at ,st4 ,domingo1 or to furnish them means of withdrawing from the ,united ,states6 ,this gentleman appears to have had more knowledge of the ,exiles1 than was possessed by the officers of the ,united ,states1 generally1 who supposed that each negro must have a legitimate master4 ,he appears1 also1 to have had sufficient humanity to suggest the plan of their removal1 rather than their enslavement4 ,in answer to the interrogatories of this committee1 ,general ,jackson proposed to compel the ,seminoles to renite with the ,creeks1 by leaving ,florida and returning to the ,creek country2 and closed his recommendation by saying1 this must be done1 or the frontier will be much weakened by the ,indian settlements1 and be a perpetual harbor for our slaves4 ,these runaway slaves1 spoken of by ,mr4 ,penieres1 ,,must ,,be ,,removed from the ,floridas1 or scenes of murder and confusion will exist4#ef ,this suggestion of ,general ,jackson for the removal of the ,seminoles1 both ,indians and negroes1 bears date ,september second1 #ahbb1 and is the first suggestion1 of that precise character1 of which we have knowledge4 ,general ,jackson was a warrior1 and had more faith in the bayonet than in moral truths4 ,he trusted much to physical power1 but had little confidence in kindness1 or in justice or moral suasion4 ,he was an officer of great popularity1 however1 and it is not unlikely that his views had greater weight with those who followed him in official life1 than their intrinsic merits entitled them to4 ,it is certain that his policy of removing the ,indians and ,exiles from ,florida1 was subsequently adopted by him while ,president1 and has continued to be the cherished object with most of his successors in that office4 ,the controversy between the ,state of ,georgia and the ,creeks had been settled at ,indian ,springs4 ,in the treaty entered into at that place1 the ,united ,states had held the ,creek ,nation responsible for the action of the ,seminoles1 under the plea that they were a part of the ,creek ,nation4 ,having obtained two hundred and fifty thousand dollars from the ,creeks in this way1 to satisfy the slave claimants of ,georgia1 the ,executive now suddenly became satisfied that the ,seminoles were a distinct and independent tribe1 and he prepared to treat with them as such4 ,commissioners were appointed for that purpose1 and efforts made to collect their chiefs1 warriors and principal men1 in order to carry out this object4 ,sidenote3 #ahbh4 ,suspicious of the objects which prompted this proposal1 the ,indians were unwilling to meet the commissioners4 ,runners were sent to the different bands1 and eventually some thirty or forty were collected4 ,these were declared by the commissioners to represent a majority of the ,seminole tribe1 and 7,sept4 #ah7 they proceeded to form the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie4 ,the letter of instructions1 from the ,secretary of ,war1 was specific on one point only4 ,the commissioners were directed to so arrange the treaty1 as to constrain the ,indians to settle within the territory south of ,tampa ,bay1 excluded from the coast on all sides by a strip of country at least fifteen miles in width4 ,this would have taken from them their most fertile lands on the ,suwanee ,river1 the ,appalachicola ,river1 and in the vicinity of the ,mickasukie ,lake4 ,some six chiefs1 who had taken possession of the plantations which had been opened and cultivated by the ,exiles murdered at ,blount's ,fort1 refused to sign the treaty4 ,they were1 however1 prevailed upon to agree to the treaty1 when it had been so modified as to give them each a reservation of fertile lands1 to meet their own necessities4 ,by agreeing to these stipulations1 the commissioners obtained their signatures to the treaty--the ,united ,states guaranteeing to the ,indians peaceable possession of the country and reservations assigned them4 ,they also covenanted to take the ,florida ,indians under their care and patronage1 and ,,afford ,,them ,,protection ,,against ,,all ,,persons ,,whatsoever1 and to restrain and prevent all white persons from hunting1 settling1 or otherwise intruding1 upon said lands4 ,they also agreed to pay the ,indians six thousand dollars in cattle and hogs1 furnish them with provisions to support them one year1 and pay them five thousand dollars annually for twenty years4 ,but one great object of the treaty was embraced in the seventh ,article1 which was expressed in the following language3 ,the chiefs and warriors aforesaid1 for themselves and tribes1 stipulate to be active and vigilant in preventing the retreating to1 or passing through1 the district1 or country assigned them1 of any absconding slave1 or fugitives from justice2 and they further agree to use all necessary exertions to apprehend and deliver the same to the agent1 who shall receive orders to compensate them agreeably to the trouble and expense incurred4 ,it is worthy of note1 that the commissioners1 acting under instructions of the ,secretary of ,war1 now assured the ,seminoles that they had been a separate and independent tribe more than a century2 while other commissioners1 acting under instructions from the same ,secretary1 only twenty months previously1 insisted that the ,seminoles were1 at that time1 a part of the ,creek tribe2 and on that assumed fact1 the ,creeks were held responsible for the value of such slaves as left their masters during the ,revolution and prior to #ahjb1 and took up their residence with the ,seminoles4 ,but these contradictory positions appeared to be necessary to sustain the slave interest4 ,it may be remarked that from the signing of this treaty1 there was no longer any controversy between our ,government and the ,creeks in relation to fugitive slaves4 ,that quarrel was transferred to the ,seminoles2 and now1 after thirty-four years have passed away1 and many millions of treasure have been expended1 and thousands of human lives sacrificed1 at the moment of writing these incidents1 our army is actively employed in carrying on the contest which arose1 and for more than the third of a century has been almost constantly maintained1 for the recapture and return of these people2 and although our members of ,congress from the free ,states had witnessed the long and expensive contest1 and the vast sacrifice of blood and treasure1 which had been squandered in efforts to regain possession of the ,exiles2 yet we do not find any objection to have been raised or protest uttered against this new treaty1 in either branch of our ,national ,legislature4 ,indeed1 so far as we have information on the subject1 the appropriations for carrying it into effect were cheerfully made1 without objection4 ,this compact drew still more closely the meshes of the federal power around the ,exiles4 ,the ,united ,states now held what is called in slaveholding parlance the legal title to their bones and sinews1 their blood and muscle1 while the ,creek ,indians were vested with the entire beneficial interest in them4 ,but neither the ,united ,states nor the ,creek ,indians had been able to reduce them to possession4 ,the white settlements were1 however1 gradually extending1 and the territory of the ,seminoles was diminishing in proportion2 and it was easy to foresee the difficulties with which they were soon to be surrounded4 ,by the treaty1 many of their cultivated fields1 and most of the villages1 which they had recently defended with so much bravery1 were given up to the whites1 and those who had so long occupied them1 were compelled to retire still further into the interior1 and commence new improvements4 ,a few ,exiles remained with the chiefs who held reservations upon the ,appalachicola4 ,those who remained1 however1 were persons who had become connected by marriage with the ,indians belonging to those small bands1 from whom they were unwilling to separate4 ,to this treaty some writers have traced the causes which produced the recent ,florida ,war4 ,they attribute to its stipulations that vast sacrifice of treasure1 and of national reputation1 which has rendered that territory distinguished in history4 ,with that war1 our present history is connected only so far as the ,exiles were concerned in its prosecution2 but it would appear difficult for any historian to overlook the important fact that obtaining possession of fugitive slaves constituted the moving consideration for this treaty1 and the primary cause of both the first and second ,seminole wars4 ,sidenote3 #ahbd4 ,most of this year was occupied in removing the ,indians to their new territory4 ,they also suffered severely for the want of food1 and the attention of both ,indians and officers of ,government appears to have been occupied with these subjects4 ,sidenote3 #ahbe4 ,in the autumn1 ,mr4 ,adams was elected ,president4 ,but his policy was in part unfavorable to the ,exiles4 ,removals from office under his administration were limited4 ,if an officer were removed1 it was not until after it had been ascertained that just cause existed for the removal4 ,this policy continued nearly every man in office who had been connected with the ,indian ,department under the former ,administration4 ,colonel ,gad ,humphreys had been appointed ,agent for the ,seminoles as early as #ahbb4 ,he was a resident of ,florida1 and a slaveholder1 deeply interested in maintaining the institution2 but so far as his official acts have come before the public1 he appears to have performed his duty with a good degree of humanity4 ,indeed1 such were his efforts in behalf of justice to the oppressed1 that he became obnoxious to ,southern men1 and was eventually removed from office on that account4 ,william ,p4 ,duval was also continued in the office of ,governor1 and ex-officio ,superintendent of ,indian ,affairs for the ,territory of ,florida4 ,he was also a slaveholder1 and resident of the territory2 but even ,southern men found little cause to complain of his devotion to liberty or justice4 ,he1 and many other officers1 appear to have supposed the first important duty imposed on them1 consisted in lending an efficient support to those claims for slaves which were constantly pressed upon them by unprincipled white men4 ,early as the twenty-fifth of ,january1 ,governor ,duval1 acting ,superintendent of ,indian ,affairs for the ,territory1 wrote ,colonel ,humphreys1 giving him general directions in regard to the course which he should pursue in all cases where fugitive slaves were claimed4 ,on the subject 7said he7 of runaway slaves among the ,indians1 within the control of your agency1 it will be proper in all cases1 where you believe the owners can identify the slaves1 to have them taken1 and delivered over to the ,marshal of ,east ,florida1 at ,st4 ,augustine1 so that the ,federal ,judge may inquire into the claim of the party1 and determine the right of property4 ,but in all cases where the same slave is claimed by a white person and an ,indian1 if you believe the ,indian has an equitable claim to the slave1 you are directed not to surrender the slave1 except by the order of the ,hon4 ,joseph ,l4 ,smith1 ,federal ,judge residing at ,st4 ,augustine2 and in that case1 you will attend before him1 and defend the right of the ,indian1 if you believe he has right on his side4 ,in all these cases1 the slave or colored man1 whether bond or free1 was to be treated in the same manner as a brute4 ,he was permitted to say nothing upon the subject of his own right to liberty4 ,his voice was silenced amidst the despotism with which he was surrounded4 ,no law was consulted4 ,the belief of a slaveholding ,agent decided the fate of the person claimed4 ,those who claimed to own their fellow men1 would always find persons to testify to their claims1 and it was in vain for an ,indian to attempt litigation with a slaveholding white man before a slaveholding ,judge4#eg ,the ,exiles were not the property of the ,indians in any sense4 ,the ,indians did not claim to own them4 ,under the rule prescribed1 if a white man could get one of the ,exiles within his power1 he could at any time prove some circumstance that would entitle him to claim some negro2 when he proved this1 the law of ,florida presumed every colored man to be a slave1 unless he could prove his freedom4 ,this1 no ,exile could do2 and1 when seized1 they were uniformly consigned to bondage4 ,the only safety for the ,exile was1 to entirely avoid the whites1 who were not permitted to enter the territory except upon the written permit of some officer4 ,the slave-catchers1 therefore1 had recourse to the practice of describing certain black persons1 in the ,indian country1 as their slaves1 and demanding that the ,agent should have them seized and delivered to him4 ,but the ,agent1 knowing these claims to be merely fictitious in some instances1 paid no attention to them4 ,the claimants1 intent on obtaining wealth by catching negroes1 and selling them as slaves1 complained of the ,agent to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 who1 on the eighth of ,february 7#ahbg71 wrote the ,agent1 reproving him for his remissness in failing to capture and return fugitive slaves1 saying3 ,frequent complaints have been made to the ,department1 respecting slaves claimed by the citizens of ,florida1 which are in possession of the ,indians2 all which have been acted on here1 in issuing such orders to you as it was expected would be promptly obeyed2 99 99 99 and that these proceedings would be followed by the proper reports to the ,department4 ,nothing satisfactory has been received4 ,sidenote3 #ahbf4 ,thus the ,indian ,bureau1 at ,washington1 took upon itself the responsibility of deciding particular cases1 upon the ex parte testimony which the claimants presented2 and the commissioner concluded his letter by a peremptory order to ,colonel ,humphreys1 directing him to capture and deliver over two slaves1 said to be the property of a ,mrs4 ,cook4 ,to this order the ,agent replied in the language of dignified rebuke4 ,after stating that one of the slaves had been captured by the ,indians1 and given up1 he says3 but they will not1 ,i apprehend1 consent further to risk their lives in a service which has always been a thankless one1 and has recently proved so to one of their most respected chiefs1 who was killed in an attempt to arrest a runaway slave4#eh ,the love of liberty is universal4 ,we honor the individual who gives high evidence of his attachment to this fundamental right1 with which ,god has endowed all men1 and we applaud him who manfully defends his liberty1 whether it be a ,washington with honors clustering upon his brow1 or the more humble individual who defends his liberty in ,florida1 by slaying the man who attempts to deprive him of it4 ,but these views were not recognized by the agents of our ,government4 ,sidenote3 #ahbg4 ,while the ,department at ,washington supposed the ,agent to have neglected his duty1 the ,superintendent of ,indian ,affairs for the territory supposed the ,agent had been quite too faithful to the slaveholders4 ,on the twentieth of ,march he wrote ,colonel ,humphreys1 saying1 ,many slaves belonging to the ,indians ,,are ,,now ,,in ,,possession ,,of ,,the ,,white ,,people4 ,these slaves cannot be obtained for their ,indian owners without a lawsuit2 and he then directed the ,agent to submit the claim1 in all cases where there was an ,indian claimant1 to the chiefs for decision4 ,in these contests between barbarians and savages1 concerning the rights which they claimed to the bodies of their fellow men1 the ,exiles had no voice4 ,they well understood that the rapacity of the slave claimants was unbounded and inexorable2 they therefore endeavored to avoid all contact with the whites1 and to preserve their freedom by affording the piratical slave-catchers no opportunity to lay hands on them4 ,these demands for negroes alleged to be among the ,indians1 continued to excite the people of ,florida and to perplex the officers of ,government1 threatening the most serious results1#ei and continually enhancing the dangers of the ,exiles4 ,sidenote3 #ahbh4 ,the troops at ,fort ,king were called on to aid in the arrest of fugitive slaves2 but their efforts merely excited the ridicule and contempt of both ,indiana and negroes4 ,these circumstances becoming known to the slaves of ,florida1 naturally excited them to discontent2 and while their masters were engaged in efforts to arrest negroes to whom they had no claim1 their own servants in whom they had reposed every confidence1 suddenly disappeared and became lost among the ,exiles of the interior4 ,the white people became irritated under these vexations4 ,their indignation against the ,indians was unbounded4 ,the ,agent1 ,colonel ,humphreys1 gave a vivid description of their barbarity1 in a letter to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs4#fj ,but remonstrances with the ,indian ,department appeared to have no effect4 ,peremptory orders for the arrest and delivery of slaves continued to reach the ,agent4 ,these orders he could not carry into effect1 as he could command no force adequate to the arrest of the fugitives4 ,governor ,duval began to regard the ,agent as remiss in his efforts1 and so reported him to the ,war ,department4 ,some of the most wealthy ,seminoles had purchased slaves of the white people1 and for many years1 perhaps we may say for generations1 had been slaveholders4 ,they held their slaves in a state between that of servitude and freedom2 the slave usually living with his own family and occupying his time as he pleased1 paying his master annually a small stipend in corn and other vegetables4 ,this class of slaves regarded servitude among the whites with the greatest degree of horror4 ,the owners of fugitive slaves1 or men who pretended to have lost slaves1 when able1 would seize and hold those belonging to the ,indians4 ,the ,indians being ignorant of legal proceedings1 were unable to obtain compensation from those who thus robbed them of what the slaveholders termed property4 ,this practice became so common that1 on the seventeenth of ,april1 many of the chiefs and warriors assembled at the ,agency1 and made their protest to the ,agent1 declaring that many of their negroes1 horses1 cattle1 etc41 were in the hands of the white people1 for which they were unable to obtain compensation4 ,contrary to the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie1 white men were at that time in the ,indian country searching for slaves1 and the chiefs demanded of the ,agent the reason why the white people thus violated the treaty to rob the ,indians8 ,the ,agent could only reply1 that the white men were there by permission given them by the ,secretary of ,war4#fa ,so flagrant were these outrages upon the ,indians and negroes1 that ,colonel ,brooke1 of the ,united ,states ,army1 at that time commanding in ,florida1 took upon himself the responsibility of addressing the ,agent1 advising him not to deliver negroes to the white men1 unless their claims were made clear and satisfactory4#fb ,the ,district ,judge of the ,united ,states for the ,territory1 also wrote ,colonel ,humphreys1 giving his construction of the rules adopted by the ,indian ,bureau4 ,he thought1 in no case1 should a negro be delivered up1 where the ,indians claimed him1 until proofs had been made and title established before judicial authority4#fc ,no law was looked to as the rule by which officers of ,government were to be controlled in their official duties4 ,the opinion1 the judgment1 of the individual constituted his rule of action4 ,during the nineteenth century1 perhaps no despotism has existed among civilized nations more unlimited1 or more unscrupulous1 than that exercised in ,florida1 from #ahbc to #ahdc4 ,this state of affairs determined the ,exiles not to be arrested by white men4 ,thus1 when ,governor ,duval ordered a compensation for a slave claimed by ,mrs4 ,cook1 to be retained from their annuities1 the chiefs held a talk with the ,agent1 and assured him that the man was born among the ,seminoles1 and had never been out of the nation4#fd ,these demands for negroes increased in number2 and the whites became more and more rapacious1 and the ,indians more and more indignant1 until hostilities appeared inevitable4 ,the ,agent1 from long association with the ,indians and his knowledge of facts1 naturally sympathised with them4 ,he assembled a number of the chiefs at the ,agency1 and suggested to them the absolute necessity of submitting to the white people2 and for the purpose of avoiding further difficulties1 advised them to emigrate west of the ,mississippi1 or1 rather1 to send a delegation to examine the country2 and1 as an inducement1 offered to accompany their chiefs and warriors on such a tour4 ,to this proposition a few of them consented1 and the ,agent notified the ,department of the fact4#fe ,it was easy to see that1 under the existing state of affairs1 hostilities could not long be avoided4 ,up to the period of which we are speaking1 the action of our ,government had been dictated by those who sought to uphold and encourage ,slavery2 nor could it be expected that this long-established policy would be suddenly changed1 unless such change were peremptorily demanded by the people4 ,there was apparently but one course to be pursued under this policy--that was the removal of the ,indians from ,florida4 ,this plan had been recommended by ,general ,jackson ten years previously1 and he now being ,president1 had an opportunity of carrying out his proposed policy4 ,to effect this purpose1 it would be necessary to negotiate a treaty by which the ,indians should consent to abandon ,florida and remove west of the ,mississippi4 ,it had long been the policy of those who administered the ,government1 to select ,southern men to act in all offices in which the institution of slavery was likely to be called in question4 ,from the time ,general ,washington sent ,colonel ,willett to ascertain facts in regard to the controversy between the ,state of ,georgia and the ,creek ,indians1 in #aghi1 to the period of which we are now speaking1 no ,northern man was appointed to any office which required his personal attention to the situation of the ,exiles4#ff ,sidenote3 #ahcb4 ,in accordance with this practice1 ,general ,cass1 acting as ,secretary of ,war1 appointed ,colonel ,james ,gadsden1 of ,south ,carolina1 to negotiate the treaty of ,payne's ,landing4 ,by the preamble of this treaty1 the ,seminoles stipulated that eight of their principal chiefs should visit the ,western country1 accompanied by their faithful interpreter1 ,abraham1 7an ,exile1 and a man of great repute among both ,exiles and ,indians17 and should they be satisfied with the character of the country1 and of the favorable disposition of the ,creeks to reunite with the ,seminoles as one people1 they would1 in such case1 agree to the stipulations subsequently contained in said treaty4 ,the first article merely makes an exchange1 by the ,seminoles1 of lands in ,florida for an equal extent of territory1 west of the ,mississippi1 adjoining the ,creek ,nation4 ,the second article provides compensation for the improvements1 and specifically stipulates1 that ,abraham and ,cudjoe 7two ,exiles who acted as interpreters7 should receive1 each1 two hundred dollars4 ,the third provides for the distribution of blankets and frocks among them4 ,the fourth article provides for certain annuities1 etc4 ,the fifth merely stipulates the manner in which the personal property of the ,seminoles shall be disposed of in ,florida1 and the same articles supplied them in their new homes at the ,west4 ,illustration3 ,negro ,abraham4 ,the sixth is in the following language3 ,the ,seminoles1 being anxious to be relieved from the repeated vexatious demands for slaves and other property1 alleged to have been stolen and destroyed by them1 so that they may remove to their new homes unembarrassed1 the ,united ,states stipulate to have the same properly investigated1 and to liquidate such as may be satisfactorily established1 provided the amount does not exceed fourteen thousand dollars4 ,the seventh article stipulates that a portion of the ,indians should remove in #ahcc1 and the remainder in #ahcd4 ,two leading features of this treaty attract the attention of the reader4 ,the first is the removal of the ,seminoles2 second1 their reunion with the ,creeks4 ,the ,creeks1 having paid the slaveholders of ,georgia for their loss of ,exiles1 had permitted the subject to rest in silence1 and1 so far as we are informed1 no formal claim had yet been asserted by the ,creeks to seize and hold the ,exiles as slaves2 but it is evident that the negotiators of this treaty intended to place the ,seminoles1 when settled in their western homes1 within the power1 and under the jurisdiction1 of the ,creeks4 ,yet it was well known that1 from the time of their separation1 in #agej1 up to the signing of this treaty1 they had disagreed and1 at times1 had been in open war with each other4 ,general ,cass1 the ,secretary of ,war1 as well as the ,president1 must have known that ,mc,intosh1 the principal chief of the ,creeks1 had accompanied ,colonel ,clinch1 with five hundred warriors1 when he invaded ,florida for the purpose of massacreing the ,exiles at ,blount's ,fort1 in #ahaf2 that the ,creeks shared in that massacre1 and had publicly tortured and murdered one ,indian and one negro1 whom they styled chiefs4 ,it is difficult to believe that any man could expect them to live together in peace1 with the recollection of those scenes resting on the mind2 nor has any explanation yet been given1 nor reason assigned1 for the anxiety of our officers to place the ,seminoles within the power of the ,creeks1 except a desire to enslave the ,exiles4 ,abraham1 who acted as interpreter1 had been born among the ,seminoles4 ,his parents had fled from ,georgia1 and died in their forest-home4 ,he appears to have been a man of unusual influence with his more savage friends2 and although he insisted on emigrating to the ,west1 in opposition to many of his brethren1 yet he has to this day maintained a high reputation among his people4 ,cudjoe was less known1 and1 subsequently1 was less conspicuous than ,abraham2 indeed1 we know but little of him4 ,but the experience of ,abraham1 nor the learning of ,cudjoe1 could detect that vague use of language which was subsequently seized upon for justifying the fraud perpetrated under this treaty4 ,in the preamble1 it was stipulated that the ,seminoles were to send six of their confidential chiefs to view the western country2 and if they were satisfied with the country1 etc4 ,the ,seminoles supposed the pronoun they had relation to the ,tribe2 while ,general ,jackson construed it to refer to the chiefs sent ,west4 ,if they were satisfied1 he held the ,tribe bound to emigrate at all events2 and his efforts were1 therefore1 directed to satisfying the chiefs who went to view the country4 ,but the leading men of the ,seminoles became suspicious of the design of the ,creeks to enslave the ,exiles1 before their delegation left ,florida1 and publicly expressed their suspicion4#fg ,the ,president appears to have determined on securing the emigration of the ,indians at all hazards and at any sacrifice4 ,for that purpose he appointed commissioners to go west and obtain from the ,seminole delegation1 while yet in the western country1 and absent from the tribe1 an acknowledgment that the country was suitable for a residence1 and that the ,creeks were anxious to unite with them as one people4 ,this was to be obtained before the ,seminole delegation should return to ,florida1 or make report to their nation1 or give the ,tribe an opportunity to judge or act upon the subject4 ,sidenote3 #ahcc4 ,his object was accomplished 7,march #bh74 ,the commissioners obtained an additional treaty1 signed by the ,seminole delegation sent ,west1 without any authority from their ,nation to enter into any stipulation2 nor had the commissioners1 on the part of the ,united ,states1 authority to form any treaty whatever3 yet this additional treaty1 as it was called1 after reciting some of the stipulations contained in that of ,payne's ,landing1 declares that the chiefs sent to examine the country are well satisfied with it2 and then stipulates1 that the ,seminole ,indians shall emigrate to it so soon as the ,united ,states shall make the necessary preparations4 ,there was also another provision in this additional treaty of vast importance to the ,exiles2 it designated and assigned to the ,seminoles a certain tract of country1 giving its metes and bounds1 to the separate use of the ,seminoles forever4 ,their agent1 ,major ,phagan1 appears to have been willing and capable of performing his part in this diplomatic intrigue4 ,we have no knowledge of the means used to obtain this additional treaty1 nor the bribery by which it was secured2 but it is known that the chiefs1 before they went ,west1 expressed their dislike of reuniting with the ,creeks2 that when they returned1 they denied having agreed to settle under ,creek jurisdiction2 it is also certain that the additional treaty stipulates that the ,seminoles shall have their lands separate from the ,creeks4 ,when they returned1 their agent1 ,major ,phagan1 represented them as having stipulated for the positive removal of the ,seminoles4 ,the chiefs denied it1 and insisted they had understood their authority as extending only to an examination of the country1 and to report the result to the ,nation4 ,they requested that the chiefs1 head-men and warriors be assembled to hear their report1 and to express their own determination4 ,but the agent refused to call such council1 and assured them that their homes and heritage were already sold1 and that nothing now remained for them to do but to prepare for removal4 ,the people of ,alachua ,county1 ,florida1 feeling indignant at the determination of the ,seminoles to remain in that ,territory1 addressed a protest to the ,president of the ,united ,states1 declaring that the ,seminoles did not capture and return the fugitive slaves who fled to the ,indian country1 according to their stipulations in the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie1 but rather afforded protection to them4 ,they further stated that while the ,seminoles remained in the country no slaveholder could enjoy his property in peace4 ,this protest was signed by ninety of the principal citizens of said county1 and forwarded to the ,president4 ,this statement aroused the ire of the ,president1 who at once indorsed on the back of the petition an order to the ,secretary of ,war to inquire into the alleged facts1 and if found to be true1 to direct the ,seminoles to prepare to remove ,west and join the ,creeks4 ,the order was characteristic of the author4 ,he waited not for the approval or ratification of any treaty2 with him the whole depended upon the alleged fact of the ,seminoles failing to bring in fugitive slaves--not upon treaty1 nor upon the ratification of treaties4#fh ,sidenote3 #ahcd4 ,the ,senate of the ,united ,states was subsequently called on by the ,president to approve the treaty after the lapse of nearly two years from its date4 ,this was done1 and the ,president by his proclamation immediately declared it in force4 ,it was said by public officers1 then in ,florida1 that had the ,seminole delegation been permitted to give an unbiased opinion to their people1 there would not have been a man in the ,nation willing to migrate4#fi ,the whole ,nation became indignant at this treatment1 and such was the feeling against the agent that he deemed it prudent to retire from the agency4 ,general ,wiley ,thompson was appointed to succeed him4 ,general ,clinch was appointed to the command of the troops1 and every preparation was made to insure the speedy removal of the ,indians and ,exiles west of the ,mississippi4 ,in the meantime1 the ,creeks learning that a tract of country was1 by the additional treaty1 agreed to be set off to the separate use of the ,seminoles1 saw clearly the influence which ,abraham had exercised in the matter1 and1 fearing their own designs for obtaining slaves would be defeated through their principal chiefs1 addressed a protest to the ,hon4 ,lewis ,cass1 then ,secretary of ,war1 remonstrating against the policy of giving the ,seminoles a separate country4 ,these chiefs were sagacious men1 who had attained distinction with the ,creeks by their manifestation of superior intelligence4 ,two of them1 ,rolley ,mc,intosh and ,chilley ,mc,intosh1 sons of a ,scotch trader who lived with the ,indians1 had been educated1 and were regarded as among the able politicians of the day4 ,they1 together with ,toshatchee ,mieco and ,lewis1 urged the propriety of uniting the two tribes as one people1 without any separate organization4 ,the next day they addressed another letter to ,secretary ,cass1 giving additional reasons and arguments why the ,seminoles should not have separate lands4#gj ,the ,president had already adopted the policy of compelling the ,seminoles to unite under one government with the ,creeks3 and this stipulation for separate lands was introduced into the additional treaty1 by commissioners who were not fully informed of the ,president's views4 ,this compact1 entered into at ,fort ,gibson1 erroneously called an additional treaty1 was known to be void3 neither the ,seminole chiefs nor the ,united ,states commissioners had authority to negotiate any treaty whatever2 and this stipulation1 for holding separate lands by the ,seminoles1 appears to have been totally disregarded by the ,executive1 as will more fully appear hereafter4 ,another circumstance had induced the ,creeks to remain silent in regard to the ,exiles4 ,by the treaty of ,indian ,spring1 they had placed at the ,president's disposal #bej1jjj1 out of which the slaveholders of ,georgia were to be paid for slaves and property lost prior to #ahjb4 ,the commissioners appointed to make the examination found but #aji1jjj due the claimants under this stipulation1 leaving in the hands of the ,president #ada1jjj belonging to the ,creeks4 ,this1 however1 was claimed by the slaveholders1 in addition to the amount allowed by the treaty4 ,to obtain this money the slaveholders sent their petition to ,congress4 ,the subject was referred to a committee1 of which ,mr4 ,gilmer1 of ,georgia1 was ,chairman4 ,the committee made a very elaborate report1 setting forth that the claimants had an equitable right to this money as an indemnity for the loss of the offspring which the ,exiles would have borne to their masters had they remained in bondage1 and it is among the inexplicable transactions of that day1 that the bill passed1 giving the money to those claimants without the uttering of a protest1 or the statement of an objection1 by any ,northern representative or senator4 ,the ,creeks now having paid the full amount stipulated in the treaty1 and being robbed of the #ada1jjj1 to compensate the slaveholders for children who had never been born1 were excited to madness4 ,they believed themselves to hold the beneficial interest in the bodies of the ,exiles1 and determined to obtain possession of them4#ga ,they immediately sent a delegation to the ,seminoles to demand possession of the ,exiles as their slaves4 ,while the ,creeks were thus demanding possession of the refugees1 the ,executive of the ,united ,states and his officers were endeavoring to compel them to go ,west1 where the ,creeks could1 without opposition1 lay hands upon them and enslave them4 ,the six ,seminole chiefs holding reservations upon the ,appalachicola ,river owned some slaves1 and with those slaves some of the ,exiles had intermarried4 ,each chief1 by the terms of the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie1 was permitted to name the men who were to reside with him1 and such chief became responsible for the conduct of the persons thus named2 while the ,united ,states stipulated to afford the chiefs and their people protection against all persons whatsoever4 ,the white settlements had extended to the vicinity of these reservations1 and the ,exiles and ,seminole slaves living on them were more immediately exposed to the rapacity of the whites than were those in the interior of the territory4 ,sidenote3 #ahce4 ,the mania for obtaining slaves by piratical violence1 seems to have reached a point almost incredible to the people of the free ,states4 ,e-con-chattimico was one of the chiefs whose reservation lay on the west side of the river4 ,he had long been highly respected by the whites4 ,he owned some twenty slaves1 who were residing with him in a state of partial freedom--paying him an annual stipend of provisions for their time1 and holding such property as they could acquire4 ,connected with these slaves1 and with some of the ,indians on the ,reservation1 were about an equal number of ,exiles1 who had never known slavery1 but whose ancestors1 in former generations1 had toiled in bondage4 ,unwilling to separate from their intimate friends and connexions1 they had1 as stated in a former chapter1 come here to occupy1 with ,e-con-chattimico and his friends1 one of the extensive plantations which had been occupied by their brethren who fell at ,blount's ,fort1 in #ahaf4 ,the chief had named them as his friends1 and a record of the fact had been deposited in the office of the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs2 and for their conduct ,e-con-chattimico was responsible1 under the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie2 while1 by the same instrument1 the faith of the nation had been solemnly pledged to protect them against all persons whatsoever4 ,the piratical slave-dealers of ,georgia looked upon these people1 both ,exiles and slaves1 with strong desire to possess them4 ,one of these fiends in human shape1 named ,milton1 residing in ,columbus1 ,georgia1 professed to have purchased them from a ,creek ,indian4 ,the claim was presented to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 and by him referred to ,judge ,cameron1 of the ,united ,states ,district ,court in ,florida1 for examination4 ,the chief being a man of influence and respected by the whites1 found friends to espouse his cause4 ,the claimant began to doubt his success under such circumstances1 and proposed to withdraw his claim2 but so flagrant was its fraudulent character1 that ,judge ,cameron felt it his duty to report upon it1 showing it to be void4#gb ,this report was duly transmitted to the proper department at ,washington1 and the ,old ,chief1 with his people1 once more reposed in apparent security4 ,it has been alleged1 that men who so far paralyze their own moral sensibilities as to rob their fellow-men of their labor1 their liberty1 their manhood1 and hold them in degrading bondage1 can not entertain any clear conceptions of right and wrong4 ,however this may be1 it is certain that men who deal in slaves1 are ever regarded1 even by slaveholders1 as destitute of moral sentiment4 ,in this case1 ,milton1 finding that ,judge ,cameron had reported the claim to be fraudulent and void1 professed to sell his interest in these people to certain other slaveholders1 of ,columbus4 ,these men provided themselves with chains1 and fetters1 and bloodhounds1 and all the paraphernalia of regular slave-dealers upon the ,african coast1 and descending the river in a steamboat1 intended to surprise their victims before any notice should be given of their approach4 ,but some friendly white1 who had learned the intentions of the pirates1 had whispered to the aged chief the danger which threatened his people4 ,they were soon armed1 and prepared to defend themselves or die in the attempt4 ,the desperadoes landed upon the ,reservation2 but finding the people armed1 and ready to receive them in a becoming manner1 they retired into the country and alarmed the settlers1 by proclaiming that ,e-con-chattimico had armed his people and was about to make war upon the whites4 ,the news flew in all directions2 troops were mustered into service2 an army was organized and marched to the ,reservation1 and the proper officer sent1 with a white flag1 to demand the object and intentions of the chief1 in arming his people4 ,the old man was most indignant that his honor should be impugned in such manner4 ,he fully explained the cause which induced his people to convene1 and assume a hostile attitude towards those who had come to rob them of their liberty4 ,the officers1 who sympathized with the pirates1 were sustained by military force4 ,they assured the old man that no persons should be allowed to injure him or his people2 that the country was alarmed1 and the public mind could only be pacified by a surrender of his arms and ammunition4 ,to this proposition he was constrained to yield4 ,they took his arms and ammunition1 and left him defenseless4 ,they remained undisturbed1 however1 during the night2 but the next morning the slave-hunters returned1 fully armed4 ,they seized every negro residing upon the ,reservation1 including both ,exiles and the slaves of ,e-con-chattimico1 and1 fastening the manacles upon their limbs1 hurried them off to ,georgia1 where they were sold into interminable bondage4#gcgd ,they1 and their ancestors1 had enjoyed a hundred years of freedom2 but they were suddenly precipitated into all the sufferings and sorrows of slavery1 and now toil in chains1 or have departed to that land where slavery is unknown4 ,e-con-chattimico petitioned ,congress for indemnity1 but obtained no redress4 ,neither the ,president1 nor the ,secretary of ,war1 manifested any interest in maintaining our most solemn treaty obligations with the ,indians1 or attempted any redress for their violation4 ,disheartened and broken down in spirits1 ,e-con-chattimico yielded to ,general ,jackson's orders1 emigrated to the western country1 and spent the remainder of his days in poverty and want4 ,nor were the piracies of the white people confined to the crime of kidnapping ,exiles4 ,they robbed the ,indians and ,exiles of horses1 cattle and money4 ,a chief named ,blunt also held a reservation on the river1 under the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie4 ,he had some friends among the ,exiles who preferred to occupy1 with him1 one of the plantations left destitute by the murder of the people at ,blount's ,fort1 in #ahaf4 ,he too had named his friends and become responsible for their conduct1 and relied upon the pledged faith of the nation to protect them4 ,some desperadoes1 said to have come from ,georgia1 entered his plantation1 robbed him of a large amount of money1 and carried away all the negroes living on the ,reserve4 ,another chief named ,walker1 also residing on a reservation1 with some slaves and ,exiles1 discovered that a notorious slave-catcher from ,georgia1 named ,douglass1 and some associates1 were hanging around his plantation1 with the apparent intention of capturing and enslaving the colored people4 ,warned by the outrage committed upon ,e-con-chattimico and his people1 both ,indians and negroes collected together1 armed themselves1 and determined to resist any violence that should be offered them4 ,when the piratical ,georgians approached1 they fired upon them4 ,finding the people armed and determined to resist1 the manstealers retreated and disappeared4 ,feeling they were in danger1 ,walker wrote the ,agent of the ,seminoles1 calling for protection1 according to the stipulations of the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie4 ,in his letter he says1 ,are the free negroes 7,exiles71 and negroes belonging to this town 7slaves71 to be stolen away publicly in the face of law and justice--carried off and sold to fill the pockets of those worse than land pirates8 ,this appeal was in vain4 ,the ,agent paid no attention to it4 ,the kidnappers were vigilant and watchful1 and when their victims supposed themselves safe1 they stole upon them1 seized them1 and hurried them off to the interior of ,alabama1 and sold them into slavery4 ,the scenes so often witnessed upon the slave coast of ,africa became common in ,florida2 while ,georgia1 and ,alabama1 and ,florida1 afforded a class of men in no respect superior in morals to those outlaws and pirates who pursue the foreign slave trade4 ,the dangers threatening the ,exiles now became imminent4 ,they saw clearly they were to be enslaved1 or compelled to resort to arms in defense of their liberties4 ,their entire influence was exercised to prevent emigration1 as they feared that would subject them to ,creek jurisdiction and enslavement4 ,these objections were made known to the ,department at ,washington by the ,agent of the ,seminoles1 ,wiley ,thompson1 who1 in plain and unmistakable language1 informed the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 that the principal objection to removing ,west which operated upon the minds of the ,seminoles arose from the claim of the ,creeks to those people who had fled from ,georgia prior to #ahjb1 and extending back to the commencement of the ,revolutionary ,war4 ,he assured the ,department1 that if the ,seminoles were compelled to remove ,west1 these descendants of the ,exiles would be enslaved by the ,creeks1 and if they remained in ,florida1 they would be enslaved by the whites4 ,he told the ,department in plain language1 that many of those negroes who had been born and raised among the ,indians had been enslaved by the people of ,florida and of ,georgia1 and were then held in bondage4#ge ,among other officers who espoused the cause of humanity at that period1 so interesting to the ,exiles1 was the veteran ,general ,clinch4 ,he was a man of great probity of character--one of the most gallant officers in the service--at the time in actual command of the troops in ,florida4 ,he had long been acquainted with the ,indians1 and no man perhaps better understood the character of the ,exiles4 ,he had twenty years before commanded1 the troops at the massacre of ,blount's ,fort1 and well understood the persecutions to which the ,exiles had been subjected4 ,in strong language1 he pointed out the wrong about to be perpetrated upon them1 as well as upon the ,seminoles4 ,he informed the ,secretary of ,war1 in direct and positive language1 that if the ,seminoles and their negro allies were sent ,west1 the negroes would be enslaved by the ,creeks4#gf ,hon4 ,john ,h4 ,eaton1 ,governor of ,florida1 a warm personal and political friend of the ,president1 in whom it was believed the ,executive reposed great confidence1 also wrote the department1 delineating the wrongs about to be perpetrated upon these colored people1 who for several generations had resided with the ,seminoles4 ,these and other officers of ,government united in the opinion1 that these negroes1 as they were generally called1 exerted a controlling influence over the ,indians1 and that it would be in vain to attempt the removal of the ,indians under these circumstances4 ,to these remonstrances1 the ,hon4 ,secretary of ,war1 ,general ,cass1 replied1 with apparent determination to remove the ,indians at any expense of blood1 of treasure1 and of national reputation4 ,the appeals made to the justice of our ,government were stigmatized as the promptings of a false philanthropy2 and our agents and officers were directed to inform the ,seminoles1 in peremptory language1 that they must emigrate to the western country4 ,laboring under the delusion that official station would add a controlling influence to his language1 ,general ,cass transmitted to the ,indian ,agent a speech1 addressed to the ,seminoles and their allies1 in which he endeavored to persuade them to emigrate and join the ,creeks1 and subject themselves to ,creek authority4 ,the ,seminoles and their friends listened to the speech with that respectful attention which would be expected from men who knew their lives and liberties were in danger4 ,it was at one of these consultations1 in the presence of their ,agent1 that ,osceola1 at that time a young warrior1 attracted attention by saying1 this is the only treaty ,i will ever make with the whites1 at the same time drawing his knife and striking it forcibly into the table before him4#gg ,it was at this period that abandoned white men conceived the plan of buying negroes from ,seminoles while in a state of intoxication1 and selling them to the white people4 ,if they could get an ,indian drunk1 they could of course obtain from him a bill of sale of any negro they pleased1 whether the ,indian had any title to him or not4 ,this plan of separating the ,seminoles from their colored friends1 it was thought would conduce to their removal4 ,applications to enter the ,indian ,territory for the purpose of purchasing slaves were referred by the ,secretary of ,war to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 and by the latter officer to the ,attorney ,general ,felix ,grundy1 who gravely reported1 that he saw no good reason why the white people should not be permitted to buy slaves of the ,indians2 and the ,president having considered the matter1 ordered permission to be granted for that purpose4 ,officers who were in ,florida saw at once that this policy would kindle the smothered indignation of the ,indians and ,exiles into a flame4 ,the ,agent of the ,seminoles1 refusing to obey the orders thus given1 remonstrated against the policy in a letter addressed to the head of the ,department1 in which he says3 ,the remark in your letter that it is not presumed the condition of these negroes 7the ,exiles7 would be worse than that of others in the same section of country is true2 yet you will agree that the same remark would apply to you1 to me1 or to any other individual of the ,united ,states1 as we should1 if subjected to slavery1 be in the precise condition of other slaves4 ,so general and so great was the indignation excited by this order for establishing a commerce in human flesh with drunken ,seminoles1 that it was soon after countermanded2 yet the immediate emigration of the ,indians was urged with increased earnestness1 although the ,department of ,war was informed by nearly every officer in the military and ,indian service of ,florida1 that they could not be induced to emigrate1 so long as the ,exiles should be regarded as in danger of being subjected to ,creek authority4 ,but the stern decree had gone forth that the ,indians should prepare to emigrate ,west and join the ,creeks2 and the necessary preparations were hurried forward both in the ,military and ,civil ,departments of ,government4 ,the ,exiles and ,seminoles saw clearly the terrible alternative to which they were soon to be driven1 and they turned their attention to active preparations for the conflict4 ,their crops were carefully secured2 their cattle driven far into the interior2 and their women and children removed from the frontier to places of safety4 ,they omitted no opportunity of securing powder and lead2 and while associating with the white people1 they manifested a bold contempt and dislike for them1 which gave gloomy forebodings of the future4 ,,chapter ,,vii4 ,,commencement ,,of ,,the ,,second ,,seminole ,,war4 ,the number of ,exiles in ,florida--,spanish ,maroons--,seminole ,slaves--,osceola--,his ,parentage--,his ,character--,his ,wife--,her ,parentage and sad ,fate--,imprisonment of ,osceola--,his ,release--,he swears ,vengeance against ,mr4 ,thompson--,decree of ,general ,council--,fate of ,charley ,e4 ,mathler--,osceola and followers seek the life of ,thompson--,lay in wait near ,fort ,king--,fate of ,mr4 ,thompson and ,lieut4 ,smith--,of the ,sutler and his ,clerks--,general ,clinch orders ,major ,dade to ,fort ,king--,the ,major seeks a faithful ,guide--,engages the ,services of ,louis1 a ,slave--,his ,learning and ,character--,he meditates the ,massacre of ,dade and his men--,councils with the ,exiles--,arranges the plan of ,massacre1 and informs them of the time--,exiles and ,indians rendezvous in ,wahoo ,swamp--,dade's ,approach--,the preparation--,the ,massacre--,osceola and ,louis--,the ,exiles and ,indians again meet in the ,swamp for the night--,digression--,incidents4 ,the number of ,exiles at the commencement of the ,second ,seminole ,war1 has been variously estimated4 ,probably their whole number1 including women and children1 was not less than twelve hundred4 ,to these may be added the slaves belonging to the ,seminoles1 estimated at two hundred1 making a population of fourteen hundred blacks4 ,most of the slaves lived with the ,exiles1 separate and apart from their masters1 paying a certain quantity of vegetables annually1 for the partial freedom which they enjoyed4 ,there were many half-breeds1 however1 some of whom resided with the ,indians1 and others were located with the ,exiles4 ,the ,spanish population called the ,exiles ,maroons1 after a class of free negroes who inhabit the mountains of ,cuba1 ,jamaica1 and other ,west ,indian islands4 ,indeed1 some of the ,maroons of ,cuba appear to have found their way to ,florida1#gh and many of the ,exiles passed from that ,territory to the ,west ,india ,islands4 ,many officers of ,government appear to have known or cared little for these people1 while others manifested much intelligence and humanity in regard to them4 ,we have already noticed the efforts of ,mr4 ,thompson1 the ,indian ,agent1 of ,colonel ,clinch1 and of ,colonel ,eaton1 in behalf of the ,exiles1 who had long resided in ,florida4 ,during the summer1 the ,indians committed various depredations upon the white people1 such as stealing horses and killing cattle2 but the first open hostilities occurred on the twenty-eighth of ,december1 when two important and bloody tragedies took place1 which left the country no longer in doubt as to the actual existence of war4 ,a young and gallant warrior1 named ,osceola1 was the principal actor in one of these scenes4 ,he was the son of an ,indian trader1 a white man1 named ,powell4 ,his mother was the daughter of a ,seminole chief4 ,he had recently married a woman said to have been beautiful4 ,she was the daughter of a chief who had married one of the ,exiles2 but as all colored people by slaveholding laws are said to follow the condition of the mother1 she was called an ,african slave4 ,osceola was proud of his ancestry4 ,he hated slavery1 and those who practiced the holding of slaves1 with a bitterness that is but little understood by those who have never witnessed its revolting crimes4 ,he visited ,fort ,king1 in company with his wife and a few friends1 for the purpose of trading4 ,mr4 ,thompson1 the ,agent1 was present1 and1 while engaged in business1 the wife of ,osceola was seized as a slave4 ,evidently having negro blood in her veins1 the law pronounced her a slave2 and1 as no other person could show title to her1 the pirate who had got possession of her body1 was supposed of course to be her owner4 ,illustration3 ,as4se4he4ho4lar4 7known as ,osceola1 or ,powell47 ,osceola became frantic with rage1 but was instantly seized and placed in irons1 while his wife was hurried away to slaveholding pollution4#gi ,he remained six days in irons1 when1 ,general ,thompson says1 he became penitent1 and was released4 ,from the moment when this outrage was committed1 the ,florida ,war may be regarded as commenced4 ,osceola swore vengeance upon ,thompson1 and those who assisted in the perpetration of this indignity upon himself1 as well as upon his wife1 and upon our common humanity4 ,the ,exiles endeavored to stimulate the ,indians to deeds of valor4 ,in general council1 they decreed that the first ,seminole who should make any movement preparatory to emigration1 should suffer death4 ,charley ,e4 ,mathler1 a respected chief1 soon after fell a victim to this decree4 ,osceola commanded the party who slew him4 ,he had sold a portion of his cattle to the whites1 for which he had received pay in gold4 ,this money was found upon his person when he fell4 ,osceola forbade any one touching the gold1 saying it was the price of the red man's blood1 and with his own hands he scattered it in different directions as far as he was able to throw it4 ,but his chief object appeared to have been the death of ,general ,thompson4 ,other ,indians and ,exiles were preparing for other important operations2 but ,osceola seemed intent1 his whole soul was absorbed1 in devising some plan by which he could safely reach ,mr4 ,thompson1 who was the object of his vengeance4 ,he1 or some of his friends1 kept constant watch on the movements of ,thompson1 who was unconscious of the danger to which he was exposed4 ,osceola1 steady to his purpose1 refused to be diverted from this favorite object4 ,thompson was at ,fort ,king1 and there were but few troops to protect that fortress4 ,but ,indians seldom attempt an escalade1 and ,osceola sought an opportunity to take it by surprise4 ,with some twenty followers1 he lay secreted near the fort for days and weeks1 determined to find some opportunity to enter by the open gate1 when the troops should be off their guard4 ,near the close of ,december1 a runner brought him information that ,major ,dade1 with his command1 was to leave ,fort ,brooke on the twenty-fifth of that month1 and that those who intended to share in the attack upon that regiment1 must be at the great ,wahoo ,swamp1 by the evening of the twenty-seventh4 ,this had no effect whatever upon ,osceola4 ,no circumstance could withdraw him from the bloody purpose which filled his soul4 ,on the twenty-eighth1 in the afternoon1 as he and his followers lay near the road leading from the fort to the house of the sutler1 which was nearly a mile distant1 they saw ,mr4 ,thompson and a friend approaching4 ,that gentleman and his companions had dined1 and1 on taking their cigars1 he and ,lieut4 ,smith1 of the ,second ,artillery1 had sallied forth for a walk1 and to enjoy conversation by themselves4 ,at a signal given by ,osceola1 the ,indians fired4 ,thompson fell1 pierced by fourteen balls2 ,smith received about as many4#hj ,the shrill war-whoop followed the sound of the rifles1 and alarmed the people at the fort4 ,the ,indians immediately scalped their victims1 and then hastened to the house1 where ,mr4 ,rogers1 the sutler1 and two clerks1 were at dinner4 ,these three persons were instantly massacred and scalped4 ,the ,indians took as many valuable goods as they could carry1 and set fire to the building4 ,the smoke gave notice to those in the fort of the fate that had befallen the sutler and his clerks4 ,but the condition in which the commandant found his troops1 forbade his sending out any considerable force to ascertain the fate of ,thompson and his companion4 ,near nightfall1 a few daring spirits proceeded up the road to the hommock1 and brought the bodies to the fort2 but ,osceola and his followers had hastened their flight1 not from fear of the troops1 but with the hope of joining their companions at ,wahoo in time to engage in scenes of more general interest4 ,general ,clinch had foreseen that hostilities were unavoidable1 and1 as early as the fifteenth of ,november1 had sought to increase the number of troops at ,fort ,king by such reinforcements as could be spared from other stations4 ,for this purpose1 he ordered ,major ,dade1 then at ,fort ,brooke1 near ,tampa ,bay1 to prepare his command for a march to ,fort ,king4 ,the distance was one hundred and thirty miles1 through an unsettled forest1 much diversified with swamps1 lakes and hommocks4 ,no officer nor soldier could be found who was acquainted with the route1 and a guide was indispensable3 yet men competent to the discharge of so important a trust were rarely to be found1 for the lives of the regiment might depend upon the intelligence and fidelity of their conductor4 ,at this point in our history1 even before the commencement of general hostilities1 we are led to the acquaintance of one of the most romantic characters who bore part in the stirring scenes of that day4 ,on making inquiry for a suitable guide1 the attention of ,major ,dade was directed to a colored man named ,louis4 ,he was the slave of one of the old and respectable ,spanish families1 named ,pacheco1 who resided in the vicinity of ,fort ,brooke4 ,major ,dade applied to the master1 ,antonio ,pacheco1 for information concerning his slave1 and was assured that ,louis1 then near thirty years of age1 was one of the most faithful1 intelligent1 and trustworthy men he had ever known4 ,he had also been well bred1 was polite1 accomplished1 and learned4 ,he read1 wrote1 and spoke1 with facility1 the ,spanish1 ,french1 and ,english languages1 and spoke the ,indian1 and was perfectly familiar with the route to ,fort ,king1 having frequently traveled it4 ,pleased with the character and appearance of ,louis1 ,major ,dade entered into an agreement with the master for his services in conducting the troops through the forest to ,fort ,king1 at the rate of twenty-five dollars per month1 and stated the time at which the service was to commence4 ,the contract was made in the presence of ,louis1 who listened attentively to the whole arrangement1 to which he of course gave his own consent4 ,louis ,pacheco was too enlightened to smother the better sympathies of the human heart4 ,he was well informed1 and understood the efforts that were making to renslave his brethren1 the ,exiles4 ,with many of them he had long been acquainted2 he had witnessed the persecutions to which they had been subjected1 the outrages heaped upon them1 and now saw clearly the intention to subject them to slavery among the ,creeks4 ,he had spent his own life thus far in servitude1 and1 although his condition was regarded with envy by the plantation servants around him1 he yet sighed for freedom4 ,blessed with an intellect of no ordinary mould1 he reflected deeply upon his condition1 and determined upon his course4 ,hostilities had not yet commenced1 and he was in the daily habit of conversing with ,indians1 and often with ,exiles4 ,he was well acquainted with the character of each1 and knew the men to whom he could communicate important information with safety4 ,to a few of the ,exiles1 men of integrity and boldness1 he imparted the facts that ,dade1 with his troops1 would leave ,fort ,brooke about the twenty-fifth of ,december1 for ,fort ,king1 and that he1 ,louis1 was to act as their guide2 that he would conduct them by the trail leading near the ,great ,wahoo ,swamp1 and pointed out the proper place for an attack4#ha ,this information was soon made known to the leading and active ,exiles1 and to a few of the ,seminole chiefs and warriors4 ,the ,exiles1 conscious that the war was to be waged on their account1 were anxious to give their friends some suitable manifestation of their prowess4 ,they desired as many of the ,exiles capable of bearing arms as could assemble at a certain point in the ,great ,wahoo ,swamp1 to meet them there as early as the twenty-seventh of ,december1 armed1 and prepared to commence the war by a proper demonstration of their gallantry4 ,information was sent to ,osceola and his followers1 inviting them to be present4 ,they were lying secreted near ,fort ,king1 too intent upon the death of ,thompson to turn their eyes for a moment from their victim4 ,however1 many other chiefs and warriors assembled at the time and place designated1 in order to witness what they supposed would be the first scene in the great drama about to be acted4 ,their spies detached for that purpose1 arrived at their rendezvous almost hourly1 bringing information of the commencement of ,dade's march1 the number of men forming his battalion1 and their places of encampment each night4 ,in the evening of the twenty-seventh1 their patrols brought word that ,dade and his men had arrived within three miles of the point at which they intended to attack them4 ,of course every preparation was now made for placing themselves in ambush at an early hour1 along the trail in which it was expected the troops would pass4 ,the scouts reported that precisely one hundred and ten men constituted the force which they expected to encounter1 and the official report fully confirms the accuracy of their intelligence4 ,the ,exiles looked to the coming day with great intensity of feeling4 ,more than two hundred years since1 their ancestors had been piratically seized in their own country1 and forcibly torn from their friends--from the land of their nativity4 ,for a time they submitted to degrading bondage2 but more than a century had elapsed since they fled from ,south ,carolina1 and found an asylum under ,spanish law in the wilds of ,florida4 ,there their fathers and mothers had been buried4 ,they had often visited their graves1 and mourned over the sad fate to which their race appeared to be doomed4 ,for fifty years they had been subjected to almost constant persecution at the hands of our ,government4 ,the blood of their fathers1 brothers and friends1 massacred at ,blount's ,fort1 was yet unavenged4 ,they had seen individuals from among them piratically seized and enslaved4 ,their friends1 residing with ,e-con-chattimico and with ,walker1 had been openly and flagrantly kidnapped1 and sold into interminable servitude1 where they were then sighing and moaning in degrading bondage4 ,in looking forward1 they read their intended doom1 clearly written in the slave codes of ,florida and the adjoining ,states1 which could only be avoided by their most determined resistance4 ,if they behaved worthy of men in their condition1 their influence with their savage allies would be confirmed1 and they would be able to control their action on subsequent occasions4 ,every consideration1 therefore1 tended to nerve them to the work of death which lay before them4 ,in the meantime1 their victims were reposing at only four or five miles distant in conscious security4 ,their encampment had been selected according to military science4 ,the men and officers were encamped in scientific order4 ,their guards were placed1 their patrols sent out1 and every precaution taken to prevent surprise4 ,they had seen service1 and cheerfully encountered its hardships1 privations1 and dangers1 but had no suspicion of the fate that awaited them on the coming day4 ,at early dawn1 the men were paraded1 the roll called1 and the order for regulating the day's march given4 ,they were then dismissed for breakfast1 and at eight o'clock1 resumed their march1 and proceeded on their way in the full expectation of reaching their destination by the evening of that day4 ,but the insidious foe had been equally vigilant4 ,they had left their island encampment with the first light of the morning1 and each had taken his position along the trail in which the troops were expected to march1 but at some thirty or forty yards distant4 ,each man was hidden by a tree1 which was to be his fortress during the expected action4 ,a few rods on the other side of the trail lay a pond of water1 whose placid surface reflected the glittering rays of the morning sun4 ,all was peaceful and quiet as the breath of summer4 ,unsuspicious of the hidden death which beset their pathway1 the troops entered this defile1 and passed along until their rear had come within the range of the enemies' rifles1 when1 at a given signal1 each warrior fired1 while his victim was in full view and unprotected4 ,one-half of that ill-fated band1 including the gallant ,dade1 fell at the first fire4 ,the remainder were thrown into disorder4 ,the officers endeavored to rally them into line2 but their enemy was unseen1 and ere they could return an effective shot1 a second discharge from the hidden foe laid one-half their remaining force prostrate in death4 ,the survivors retreated a short distance toward their encampment of the previous night1 and1 while most of the ,exiles and ,indians were engaged in scalping the dead and tomahawking those who were disabled1 they formed a hasty breastwork of logs for their defense4 ,they were1 however1 soon invested by the enemy1 and the few who had taken shelter behind their rude defenses were overcome and massacred by the ,exiles1 who conversed with them in ,english1 and then dispatched them4#hb ,only two individuals beside ,louis1 the guide1 made their escape4 ,their gallant commander1 his officers and soldiers1 whose hearts had beat high with expectation in the morning1 at evening lay prostrate in death2 and as the sable victors relaxed from their bloody work1 they congratulated each other on having revenged the death of those who1 twenty years previously1 had fallen at the massacre of ,blount's ,fort4 ,the loss of the allied forces was--three killed and five wounded4 ,after burying their own dead1 they returned to the island in the swamp long before nightfall4 ,to this point1 they brought the spoils of victory1 which were deemed important for carrying on the war4 ,night had scarcely closed around them1 however1 when ,osceola and his followers arrived from ,fort ,king1 bringing intelligence of the death of ,thompson and ,lieutenant ,smith1 together with the sutler and his two clerks4 ,there1 too1 was ,louis1 the guide to ,dade's command4 ,he was now free6 ,he engaged in conversation with his sable friends4 ,well knowing the time and place at which the attack was to be made1 he had professed necessity for stopping by the way-side before entering the defile2 thus separating himself from the troops and from danger4 ,soon as the first fire showed him the precise position of his friends1 he joined them2 and swearing eternal hostility to all who enslave their fellow men1 lent his own efforts in carrying forward the work of death1 until the last individual of that doomed regiment sunk beneath their tomahawks4 ,the massacre of the unfortunate ,dade and his companions1 and the murder of ,thompson and his friends1 at ,fort ,king1 occurred on the same day1 and constituted the opening scenes of the second ,seminole ,war4 ,sidenote3 #ahdg4 ,we bespeak the indulgence of the reader1 while we digress from the chronological narration of events which followed consecutively upon this opening of the second ,seminole ,war1 in order to give a short sketch of some incidents which occurred in ,congress1 and were connected with the employment of ,louis1 and his subsequent service with the enemy4 ,twelve years after the massacre of ,dade's command1 ,antonio ,pacheco presented his petition to ,congress1 setting forth that he had been the owner of a valuable slave named ,louis2 that he hired him as guide to ,major ,dade to conduct his command from ,fort ,brooke to ,fort ,king2 that at the time of ,dade's defeat1 ,louis had been captured by the ,indians1 and by them had been subsequently surrendered to ,major ,general ,jessup1 and by that officer sent to the ,indian country1 west of the ,mississippi1 whereby he became lost to his owner1 who1 therefore1 prayed ,congress to grant him full indemnity for his loss4 ,among the proofs accompanying this petition was a letter from ,general ,jessup1 setting forth that1 after ,louis had been employed to act as guide1 he had kept up a correspondence with the ,seminole negroes1 informing them of the intended march of ,major ,dade1 etc4 ,he also represented ,louis as a man of extraordinary intellect and learning1 declaring that he regarded him as a dangerous man2 that he would have had him tried and hanged1 instead of sending him ,west1 if he had found leisure to attend to it2 that from prudential motives he had sent him to the ,indian country2 and stated that he was worth a thousand dollars4 ,the case was most interesting in its character4 ,louis was probably the most dangerous enemy of the ,united ,states at that time in ,florida4 ,with his intelligence1 he must have felt an inveterate hostility to the ,government and the people1 who robbed him of his most sacred right to liberty4 ,probably his former master and family were in greater danger from his vengeance than any other persons4 ,he had surrendered to ,general ,jessup as prisoner of war with arms in his hands2 had been treated--very properly treated--as a prisoner of war3 therefore1 the master called on the people of the nation to pay him a thousand dollars for protecting him1 his family1 friends and nation from the fury of his own slave2 and ,general ,jessup and many ,northern ,representatives exerted their personal and political influence to sustain the claim4 ,the petition and accompanying papers were referred to the committee on ,military ,affairs1 a majority of whom were known to be favorable to the interests of slavery4 ,at the head of it was the ,hon4 ,armisted ,burt1 of ,south ,carolina1 a man of intelligence and influence4 ,he appeared devoted to the interests of the peculiar institution4 ,sidenote3 #ahdh4 ,having examined the case1 he presented it to the consideration of the committee1 and a majority at once agreed to sustain a bill giving to the owner a fair compensation for the loss of his slave4 ,the ,chairman agreed to draw up a report sustaining the bill1 and present it to the committee the next morning4 ,hon4 ,john ,dickey1 of ,beaver ,county1 ,pennsylvania1 now deceased1 was also a member of the committee4 ,he boarded at the same house with the author of this narrative4 ,while at tea that evening1 ,mr4 ,dickey remarked1 that his committee were about to report a bill to pay for this slave1 and said1 if he were familiar with the subject1 he would draw up a minority report against the bill4 ,a gentleman sitting at the table remarked1 that other gentlemen1 who were familiar with the subject1 would doubtless feel willing to lend him any aid in their power4 ,all however agreed1 that an evening was too short a time to draw up a suitable report on so important a question2 yet it was known that slaveholders controlled the action of the ,house1 and they showed no courtesy to those opposed to the peculiar institution1 and would of course grant no time to draw up a minority report4 ,after tea1 ,mr4 ,dickey and another gentleman retired to a room by themselves1 and before sunrise the next morning1 had completed the report1 which now appears among the ,house ,documents1 ,thirtieth ,congress1 first session1 numbered #ahg1 filling sixteen heavy octavo pages of printed matter4 ,at ten o'clock the committee met1 and1 having listened to the report of their ,chairman1 they were called on to hear that of ,mr4 ,dickey1 which took distinct and unmistakable grounds against the right of men to hold their fellow-beings as property1 under the ,federal ,constitution4 ,this case furnishes the first instance in which the records of the nation show a minority report from any committee against slavery4 ,mr4 ,dickey1 having taken his position1 stood firmly upon the doctrines he had avowed in his report2 and the other members of the committee took their choice between the report of ,mr4 ,burt and that of ,mr4 ,dickey4 ,general ,dudley ,marvin1 of ,new ,york1 ,general ,james ,wilson1 of ,new ,hampshire1 and ,hon4 ,david ,fisher1 of ,ohio1 signed the report of ,mr4 ,dickey2 while the four ,democratic members1 all of whom resided in the slave ,states1 signed that of ,mr4 ,burt4 ,so far as the committee were concerned1 the five ,democratic members assumed the position now occupied by that party1 to wit1 that under our ,federal ,constitution1 man may hold1 sell and transfer human beings as property2 while the four ,whig members based their action upon the doctrine now occupied by the ,republican party--that1 under our ,federal ,constitution1 men cannot be transformed into brutes2 nor can one man hold property in another4 ,the reports of the majority and minority were printed1 and attracted attention among the members2 but the bill did not come up for discussion until the next session4 ,on the twenty-third of the following ,december1 the committee of the whole ,house1 in passing through its calendar of private claims1 reached this case4 ,mr4 ,dickey led off in a short1 but well-arranged argument1 sustaining his report4 ,his remarks were so well directed and so pertinent1 that1 near the close of his speech1 ,mr4 ,burt called him to order1 for discussing the subject of slavery4 ,upon the conclusion of ,mr4 ,dickey's remarks1 ,general ,wilson of ,new ,hampshire obtained the floor1 and the ,house adjourned4 ,the bill did not come up again for discussion until the twenty-ninth4 ,before going into committee on that day1 ,mr4 ,rockwell1 of ,connecticut1 ,chairman of the committee on ,claims1 offered a resolution closing debate on this bill at half-past one o'clock1 allowing but one hour and a quarter for the discussion of this important question1 which now agitates the whole ,union2 but it was regarded at that time as meritorious in any member to prevent agitation of the subject of slavery1 and the resolution passed with little opposition4 ,when the ,house resolved itself into committee of the whole1 ,mr4 ,wilson1 of ,new ,hampshire1 delivered his views1 sustaining the report of the minority of the committee2 making the question distinctly to depend upon the right of men to hold property in men1 under the ,federal ,constitution4 ,mr4 ,brown1 of ,mississippi1 followed in a few remarks1 taking strong ground in favor of the principle1 that slaves are property1 to the same extent that horses and cattle are property4 ,mr4 ,cabel1 of ,florida1 followed in a few words to the same point4 ,here the time for closing the debate arrived2 but ,mr4 ,burt1 having reported the bill1 held the right to speak one hour1 under the rules1 in reply to those who opposed its passage4 ,he had evidently expected the bill would pass without serious opposition1 and had become somewhat excited by the difficulties with which he had to contend2 confident however of final success1 he at once declared the only question to be1 that of property in human flesh4 ,many ,northern men were unwilling to meet this bald question4 ,mr4 ,collamer1 of ,vermont1 interrupted ,mr4 ,burt1 inquiring1 if there were not other questions of law involved8 ,burt replied1 with some degree of arrogance1 that he would leave no other loop-hole for gentlemen to escape4 ,this supercilious bearing of ,mr4 ,burt greatly delighted some ,northern members1 while it appeared greatly to embarrass others2 but his speech was the last1 and1 there being no opportunity for reply1 every thing gave promise of a triumphant victory to the slaveholders4 ,after the conclusion of this speech1 the vote was taken in committee1 where no record was kept1 and stood for the bill seventy1 against it forty-four--the majority being even greater than the slaveholders expected4 ,the bill was then reported to the ,house1 and ,mr4 ,crowell1 of ,ohio1 moved to lay it on the table1 and called for the yeas and nays2 and the recorded vote stood1 ayes sixty-six1 noes eighty-five--being a majority of nineteen in favor of the claim4 ,the bill was then ordered to a third reading without division4 ,soon as this result was announced1 the ,author moved a reconsideration of this vote4 ,the reconsideration being a privileged question1 he held the floor1 and was proceeding to deliver his views1 but gave way for an adjournment4 ,sidenote3 #ahdi4 ,on the sixth of ,january1 the bill again came up in the regular order of business1 and ,mr4 ,giddings concluded his remarks4 ,he endeavored to meet the arrogance of ,mr4 ,burt1 clearly and as fully as his abilities would permit4 ,he accepted the challenge thrown out by that member1 that he would leave no other loop-hole for gentlemen to escape1 than by meeting the question of property in human flesh4 ,to this point he directed his remarks1 attempting to show the doctrine of ,mr4 ,burt to be opposed to the ,declaration of ,independence1 to the ,constitution of the ,united ,states1 to civilization1 to the dictates of our common humanity4#hc ,when he concluded his remarks1 he withdrew his motion to reconsider1 in order to test the sense of the ,house on the passage of the bill1 which would be the next question in order4 ,as the roll was called1 and the votes given1 the result became doubtful1 and much interest was manifested in all parts of the hall4 ,the bill and discussion had been thrust upon the ,house by slaveholders3 its whole merits were based upon the most vital principles of slavery4 ,the question of property in human flesh1 constitutes one of the essential elements of the institution1 without which it could not survive one hour4 ,the slave power had not for many years been defeated on any proposition touching slavery1 and it appeared painful for those interested in that institution to have their influence doubted4 ,the ,clerk 7a deputy7 was engaged a long time in counting the votes1 and ascertaining the result4 ,he was a slaveholder1 and appeared perplexed2 some members1 even before he made report of the vote1 expressed doubts of his accuracy4 ,at length he passed his report to the ,chair4 ,the ,speaker1 ,mr4 ,winthrop of ,massachusetts1 casting his eye upon the figures1 rose from his seat1 and announced the vote--ayes ninety1 noes eighty-nine1 and then remarking that the rules of the ,house made it his duty to vote in all cases when such vote would change the result1 began to give his reasons for the vote he was about to record1 and as he proceeded it became evident that he was opposed to the bill4 ,the ,clerk then handed him another paper1 and the ,speaker1 after reading it1 announced that the ,clerk had mistaken the vote1 and without saying more1 announced--ayes ninety-one1 noes eighty-nine1 and declared the bill passed4 ,the interest had now become intense in all parts of the hall4 ,it was perfectly natural that men should be suspicious of the ,clerk4 ,mr4 ,dickey1 in particular1 had taken a deep interest in the question4 ,he was sitting near the ,author1 and expressed freely the opinion1 that the ,clerk had reported the vote incorrectly4 ,so strong was this belief1 that he went to the ,clerk1 and demanded a copy of the record giving the ayes and noes4 ,the ,clerk promised to give it soon4 ,dickey waited a short time1 and renewed his call on the ,clerk1 who again promised4 ,dickey1 after waiting a proper time1 went to the ,clerk's table1 and took the record of yeas and nays1 and brought it to the seat of the ,author1 and requested his assistance in counting the vote4 ,they counted and re-counted several times1 but were unable to make the vote other than eighty-nine ayes1 and eighty-nine noes--showing a tie vote2 which1 without the ,speaker's vote1 would have defeated the bill4 ,dickey returned the record to the ,clerk1 and then called the attention of the ,house and the ,speaker to the fact1 that the ,clerk had inaccurately reported the vote4 ,the ,speaker replied1 if an error had occurred1 the proper time to correct it would be the next morning1 on reading the ,journal1 when a motion to correct the entry would be in order1 in preference to any other business4 ,on looking over the list1 it was subsequently discovered1 that the vote of ,hon4 ,john ,w4 ,farrelly of ,crawford county1 ,pennsylvania1 was not recorded4 ,this added intensity to the interest already felt on the subject4 ,the next meeting of the ,house was on ,monday1 when the ,speaker recited the facts as they occurred on ,saturday1 and declared that1 on a more careful examination1 it was found that the vote stood--ayes eighty-nine1 noes eighty-nine4 ,mr4 ,farrelly inquired1 if his vote was recorded8 ,the ,speaker informed him it was not1 but that it was his right to have it recorded1 if he had actually voted on the passage of the bill4 ,that gentleman declared that he had voted no1 on the passage of the bill1 and the vote being recorded1 the ,speaker declared the result to be ayes eighty-nine1 noes ,,ninety1 and then announced the bill lost6 ,the friends of freedom were greatly cheered1 from the consideration1 that party ties had not been strong enough to control members on this important vote4 ,of the twenty-one members from ,ohio1 only ,mr4 ,ritchey of ,perry1 ,mr4 ,cummins of ,tuscarawas1 and ,mr4 ,taylor of ,ross1 voted with the slaveholders2 while such ,democrats as ,messrs4 ,faran1 ,fries1 ,kennon1 ,lamb1 ,miller1 ,morris1 ,sawyer and ,starkweather voted against the doctrine that men and women may be held and treated as property4 ,indeed1 there were but few ,representatives from the free ,states willing to recognize that doctrine4 ,no member from ,new ,hampshire1 ,massachusetts1 ,rhode ,island1 ,connecticut1 ,vermont1 ,michigan1 ,wisconsin or ,iowa voted for it4 ,from ,maine1 ,messrs4 ,clapp1 ,clarke and ,williams2 from ,new ,york1 ,messrs4 ,birdsal1 ,mc,clay1 ,murphy1 ,necoll and ,tallmadge2 from ,pennsylvania1 ,messrs4 ,brady1 ,bridges1 ,brodhead1 ,charles ,brown1 ,c4 ,j4 ,ingersol1 ,levin and ,job ,mann2 from ,indiana1 ,messrs4 ,dunn1 ,r4 ,w4 ,thompson and ,wick2 and from ,illinois1 ,messrs4 ,mc,clernand and ,richardson voted to pay ,pacheco a thousand dollars1 because ,general ,jessup sent a most dangerous enemy out of ,florida4 ,mr4 ,burt1 and the friends of slavery generally1 appeared irritated by defeat4 ,they had driven their ,northern allies to revolt4 ,the more they reflected upon the subject1 the more important the issue appeared4 ,they had caused great agitation1 while professing to deprecate all discussion in regard to slavery4 ,if slaves were not property under the ,federal ,constitution1 they must be regarded as persons4 ,if the civilized world looked upon them as persons1 those who held them in bondage must of course be considered as oppressors of mankind1 and could have no claim to the title of ,democrats or of ,christians4 ,in every point of view1 the result appeared disastrous to the slave power4 ,it was under these circumstances1 that the ,hon4 ,william ,sawyer of ,ohio1 was induced to move a reconsideration of the vote by which the bill was lost4 ,from the fact that none but those voting in the negative could by the rules of the ,house move a reconsideration1 and that he subsequently voted against his own motion1 it is probable he made it from personal kindness to those who supported the bill4 ,on this motion1 a long discussion subsequently arose1 which did not terminate until the nineteenth of ,january1 when the motion to reconsider prevailed1 and on the final passage of the bill the vote stood--ayes #aja1 noes #ie4 ,so the bill was passed by the ,house of ,representatives1 and the struggle in that body terminated4 ,but the bill was never brought up for discussion in the ,senate1 and the claim was never more moved in either ,house of ,congress4 ,the question of property in human flesh1 however1 continued to be discussed by the people1 and in ,congress1 until it has become one of the great issues on which political parties now base their action4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,note4--,the life of this slave ,louis is perhaps the most romantic of any man now living4 ,born and reared a slave1 he found means to cultivate his intellect--was fond of reading2 and while gentlemen in the ,house of ,representatives were engaged in discussing the value of his bones and sinews1 he could probably speak and write more languages with ease and facility than any member of that body4 ,in revenge for the oppression to which he was subjected1 he conceived the purpose of sacrificing a regiment of white men1 who were engaged in the support of slavery4 ,this object effected1 he asserted his own natural right to freedom1 joined his brethren1 and made bloody war upon the enemies of liberty4 ,for two years1 he was the steady companion of ,coacoochee1 or1 as he was afterwards called1 ,wild ,cat1 who subsequently became the most warlike chief in ,florida4 ,they traversed the forests of that territory together1 wading through swamps and everglades1 groping their way through hommocks1 and gliding over prairies4 ,they bivouacked together2 suffered heat and cold1 hunger and thirst1 together4 ,for two years1 they stood shoulder to shoulder in every battle2 shared their victories and defeats together2 and when ,general ,jessup had pledged the faith of the nation that all ,indians who would surrender should be protected in the enjoyment of their slaves1 ,wild ,cat appeared at head quarters1 followed by ,louis1 whom he claimed as his property1 under slaveholding law1 as he said he had captured him at the time of ,dade's defeat4 ,the ruse took4 ,general ,jessup1 being a slaveholder1 and believing that slaves1 like horses and cattle1 were the subjects of capture1 immediately sent ,louis with other black warriors to ,fort ,pike1 near ,new ,orleans1 and thence with the first emigrating party of ,seminoles to the western country1 where he was three years subsequently joined by ,coacoochee1 and these friends1 again united1 became intimate1 sharing together the fortunes which awaited them1 of which we shall speak in due time4 ,,chapter ,,viii4 ,,hostilities ,,continued4 ,the ,allies in their ,camp--,news of ,general ,clinch's advance--,two hundred men volunteer to meet him--,his force--,the ,allies await his approach in ambush--,he crosses the river in another place--,they attack him--,the battle--,his intrepidity saves his army--,the loss of the ,allies--,the loss of ,general ,clinch--,escape of ,florida slaves--,their blood-thirsty conduct--,families murdered--,dwellings burned--,inhabitants flee to villages--,their suffering--,effects of the ,war--,general ,jackson--,members of ,congress--,general ,cass--,his views and policy--,orders ,general ,scott to ,florida--,general ,gaines moves upon ,florida with his ,brigade--,reaches the scene of ,dade's massacre--,buries the dead--,visits ,fort ,king--,while returning1 is attacked--,ino1 the ,exile ,chief--,his character--,the ,allies surround ,general ,gaines--,his position--,is closely invested--,sends for assistance--,provisions fail--,unauthorized ,interference of ,csar--,flag of ,truce--,general ,clinch arrives1 and fires upon the ,allies--,they flee--,general ,gaines returns to ,fort ,brooks--,general ,clinch returns to ,fort ,drane4 ,the night after the massacre of ,dade and his companions was spent in exultation by the allies4 ,osceola and his friends brought with them from the sutler's store various goods1 with which they decorated their persons2 while the numerous scalps taken from the heads of their enemies1 were displayed as trophies of victory4 ,they had also found among the stores with which ,major ,dade's party were provided1 sufficient rum and whisky to intoxicate most of them1 and their rejoicings and felicitations continued1 for hours1 amid the darkness of night4 ,it was a late hour in the morning when they awoke from the stupor occasioned by severe labors of the previous day1 and the night's debauch4 ,before they had refreshed themselves with the morning's meal1 their scouts arrived1 bringing intelligence that troops were advancing towards the ,withlacoochee1 in pursuit of ,indians and ,exiles4 ,general ,clinch had been lying at ,fort ,drane4 ,he clearly saw the evidence of approaching hostilities2 and1 although wholly unconscious of the danger which had threatened ,major ,dade1 had felt it his duty to raise such forces as he could command1 and advance into the ,indian country as far as the ,withlacoochee4 ,he gathered about two hundred ,regulars1 from the #ast1 #b;d and #c;d ,artillery1 and1 with some four hundred ,florida volunteers1 under ,general ,c4 ,k4 ,call1 had nearly reached the ,withlacoochee before the captors of ,dade were informed of his approach4 ,about two hundred warriors1 fifty of whom were ,exiles1 volunteered to meet this army1 of three times their own number1 under the command of one of the most able and gallant officers at that time in the service of the ,united ,states4 ,osceola and ,halpatter-,tustenuggee commanded the allies4 ,they hastened to the crossing of the ,withlacoochee1 and there lay awaiting the approach of ,general ,clinch4 ,here the water was not more than two feet in depth1 and they entertained no doubt that the advancing forces would seek this place for the purpose of fording the stream4 ,here they waited until the morning of the thirtieth1 when they learned that ,general ,clinch1 with his two hundred ,regulars1 had already passed the stream some two miles below4 ,he had effected his passage by the aid of a bark canoe1 which carried only eight men at a time4 ,having attained a position on the south side of the river with his ,regulars1 ,general ,clinch was ready for battle2 although the four hundred volunteers were yet on the north side of the stream4 ,the ,indians and ,exiles immediately engaged these veteran troops1 although sustained by a heavy force of volunteers1 who were yet on the opposite side of the river4 ,at twelve o'clock1 on the thirtieth of ,december1 the contending forces engaged1 and a severe and deadly conflict followed4 ,as ,osceola now for the first time engaged in battle1 he felt anxious to distinguish himself by his intrepidity4 ,his voice was heard on every part of the field1 urging on his troops to deeds of daring4 ,undaunted by the shrill war-whoop1 and the constant report of ,indian rifles and the whistling balls around him1 ,general ,clinch charged his enemy4 ,the allies fell back1 and he continually advanced until he drove them from the thick hommock into the open forest4 ,the gallant general coolly passed along the lines during the action encouraging his men1 and stimulating them to effort by his presence and bravery4 ,a ball passed through his cap and another through the sleeve of his coat1 to which he paid no attention1 but continued to encourage his men4 ,the ,exiles also displayed unusual gallantry4 ,feelings which had descended from father to son through several generations1 had been recently inflamed to the highest degree of indignant hatred4 ,conscious that they were contending for their homes1 their firesides1 their families1 their liberties1 they fought with desperation1 and their aim was fatal4 ,unfortunately1 ,osceola was wounded and disabled early in the contest1 and it was said that the ,indians did not exhibit that undaunted firmness on the field that was manifested by their more dusky allies4 ,they suffered less than our troops4 ,two negroes and one ,indian were killed1 and three negroes and two ,indians wounded--the loss of the ,exiles being twice as great as that of the ,indians1 although they numbered but one-fourth of the allied force4 ,the battle continued an hour and twenty minutes4 ,during this time1 the regular troops under ,colonel ,clinch were subjected to a brisk fire1 and their loss was severe4 ,eight men were killed and forty wounded1 of whom about one-third died of their wounds4 ,several officers were also wounded4 ,the militia consulted their own safety by refusing to expose themselves to the fire of the enemy2 while the regular troops lost1 in killed and wounded1 nearly one-fourth of their number4 ,the allies drew off1 leaving ,colonel ,clinch in possession of the field2 but the victory had been won at great expense of blood2 and the determined coolness and gallantry of the veteran officer who commanded our forces1 saved them from a total defeat4 ,the blows thus far had fallen most heavily upon our own troops4 ,it became evident1 that the carrying out of ,general ,jackson's policy1 of removing the ,exiles and ,indians from ,florida1 in order to encourage and sustain slavery1 was to be attended with great sacrifice of blood and treasure4 ,but while the ,government and people were looking at these unexpected exhibitions of firmness and love of liberty1 on the part of the allied forces1 other scenes were presented to their view4 ,the fugitive slaves who had recently left their masters in ,florida and joined the ,exiles1 were stimulated with that hatred which slavery alone can engender in the human breast4 ,they thirsted for revenge upon those who had held them in bondage2 who had scourged and tortured them4 ,they were acquainted with the location of the small settlements throughout the ,territory4 ,uniting with the more daring spirits among the ,indians and ,exiles1 they proceeded rapidly and stealthily from plantation to plantation1 burning buildings1 destroying property1 and scattering devastation throughout the border settlements2 at times murdering whole families1 killing and scalping such individuals as fell in their way4 ,men who had urged on the war with the hope of seizing and enslaving the maroons of the interior1 now saw their own plantations laid waste1 and in frequent instances mourned the loss of wives and children1 instead of rejoicing over captured slaves1 whom they had intended to acquire by piratical force4 ,farms1 and the smaller villages on the frontier1 were abandoned to the enemy2 and the inhabitants fled to the larger villages1 where they banded together for mutual defense4 ,the citizens of ,florida who had petitioned ,general ,jackson for the forcible removal of the ,indians1 because they failed to capture and return slaves1 were now compelled to flee1 with their families1 before the infuriated servants who had left them subsequently to the signing of that petition4 ,driven from their homes--their property destroyed1 their servants fled--many families1 who but a few months previously had been regarded as wealthy1 were now suffering from the want of bread4#hd ,the whole scene was calculated to impress statesmen and people with that religious philosophy which teaches1 that every violation of justice or of moral principle1 is1 by the immutable law of the ,creator1 inseparably connected with an appropriate penalty4 ,all that the ,exiles or ,indians had ever asked or desired of the ,american ,government1 was to leave them to themselves2 to permit them to remain as they were1 as they had been for many generations4 ,the war on our part had not been commenced for the attainment of any high or noble purpose4 ,no desire to elevate mankind1 or confer benefits upon our race1 had guided our national policy in commencing the war4 ,our national influence and military power had been put forth to renslave our fellow men2 to transform immortal beings into chattels1 and make them the property of slaveholders2 to oppose the rights of human nature2 and the legitimate fruits of this policy were gathered in a plentiful harvest of crime1 bloodshed and individual suffering4 ,the great body of the people were ignorant as to the real causes of the war4 ,general ,jackson had been popular as a military officer1 and was not less so as ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,with his political friends his will was law4 ,the opposing political party were comparatively few in numbers4 ,they feared his power2 and no member of either ,senate or ,house of ,representatives appeared willing to expose the great moral crimes which the ,government was committing against humanity4 ,hence ,congress granted whatever supplies were demanded for carrying on this piratical war1 and enabling the ,president to slay those who refused to be enslaved4 ,sidenote3 #ahcf4 ,general ,cass1 a statesman with whose character the present generation is familiar1 was ,secretary of ,war4 ,on him devolved the duty of controlling the movements of the army4 ,unfortunately for him and for mankind1 he appears to have regarded moral and political duties as separate and distinct in their character4 ,he evidently believed that no moral turpitude was attached to movements of the army1 and the outrages committed upon the ,indians and ,exiles1 in order to compel them to emigrate to the western country4 ,he ordered ,major ,general ,scott to the field1 as ,commanding ,general of the army in ,florida 7,jan4 #bj71 with authority to call on the ,governors of ,south ,carolina1 ,georgia and ,alabama for such troops as he should deem necessary4 ,general ,eustis1 commanding at ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina1 was directed to repair at once to ,florida with such forces as were stationed in that city and ,savannah1 and to accept the services of such number of volunteers as he might deem necessary under the circumstances4 ,major ,general ,gaines1 commanding the western military department1 holding his head quarters at ,new ,orleans1 hearing of the sad fate of ,major ,dade and his regiment1 embarked at once with a brigade of eleven hundred men1 and reached ,fort ,brooke on the tenth of ,january4 ,on the thirteenth1 he took up his line of march for ,fort ,king1 and on the nineteenth1 encamped upon the same ground which ,major ,dade had occupied on the night of the twenty-seventh of ,december4 ,the next day they took possession of the field of massacre1 and buried the bodies of those who had fallen in that unfortunate conflict4 ,he then proceeded to ,fort ,king1 where he arrived on the twenty-second4 ,leaving ,fort ,king on the twenty-fifth1 he took a more westerly route back toward ,fort ,brooke4 ,on the twenty-seventh1 as he was seeking a place at which to cross the ,withlacoochee1 the allied forces opened a fire upon his advanced guard from the opposite bank4 ,the firing increased as other forces were brought into action1 and continued for more than two hours1 ceasing with the nightfall4 ,there were resident at different points upon the ,withlacoochee many families of ,exiles4 ,their commander was named ,ino of whom ,general ,jessup speaks in respectful terms4 ,he is said to have been their principal counselor1 and one of the most important chiefs among the ,exiles4 ,he1 and such of his men as could be collected1 hastily joined the allied forces already in the field1 and shared in the dangers of that and of several following days4 ,both parties bivouacked upon the field1 on the different sides of the river1 and at daylight the next morning every man had his arms in readiness for renewing the conflict4 ,at sunrise1 ,general ,gaines moved down the river three miles1 where he expected to find a suitable ford2 but on reaching it1 the ,indians and ,exiles opened a brisk fire upon his men4 ,lieutenant ,izard of the dragoons1 endeavoring to rally his men to ascertain the possibility of fording the stream1 fell by a shot from the opposite bank4 ,finding it impossible to ford the river1 attempts were made to construct rafts2 but the fire upon the men employed was so galling that they were ordered back out of the range of the enemies' shot4 ,during these movements1 the ,exiles1 understanding the ,english language1 kept up a conversation with the whites on the opposite side of the river1 and tauntingly defied them4 ,general ,gaines was too well acquainted with the ,indian mode of warfare to attempt a retreat1 under the circumstances with which he was surrounded4 ,he at once dispatched an express to ,general ,clinch1 who was at ,fort ,drane1 directing that officer to repair as soon as possible to his relief with such troops as he could at the moment bring with him4 ,general ,gaines soon after retired with his forces into a pine barren1 half a mile from the river1 threw up a breastwork of logs for the protection of his men1 and awaited reinforcements4 ,the allied forces were estimated by ,general ,gaines at fifteen hundred1 though subsequent reports show they did not exceed five hundred ,indians and two hundred negroes4 ,he was immediately invested in his fortified camp1 but he coolly awaited the arrival of ,general ,clinch4 ,as the enemy crossed the river in large forces1 and became more bold in their advances toward the breastwork1 their fire became more annoying4 ,in a few days his provisions were nearly exhausted1 and his men appeared to feel unsafe1 and expressed solicitude for the arrival of ,general ,clinch4 ,on the first of ,february1 the allied forces made a vigorous attack upon the fortified camp1 but they were repulsed after an hour of steady firing4 ,on this day1 ,general ,gaines directed all the corn in the camp to be collected and dealt out to the men in equal quantities4 ,it gave to each one pint4 ,on the third1 they commenced killing horses1 and appropriating the flesh to sustain the lives of the men4 ,the fire of the allied forces was kept up on the fourth and fifth1 while the troops had nothing but horse flesh for food1 and no tidings had yet arrived from ,general ,clinch4 ,at this time great enthusiasm prevailed among the allies4 ,their women were at the camp1 a mile distant1 casting balls1 cooking food for the men1 and doing what they could to cheer them on to victory1 which they began to regard as almost certain4 ,in the meantime1 the situation of ,general ,gaines and his army was constantly becoming more critical4 ,his troops were depressed with a sense of their situation2 while the allies were becoming hourly more enthusiastic4 ,they had destroyed ,dade's regiment2 had maintained a severe battle with ,general ,clinch in the open forest4 ,they knew their power1 and that any attempt to retreat from them would be fatal2 while it would be impossible for our troops to remain much longer in camp1 as their stock of horses must soon fail4 ,twenty-one years had passed since ,general ,gaines transmitted a letter to the ,war ,department1 giving the first official notice that the ,exiles were collecting at ,blount's ,fort4 ,he then despised the friendless people who were seeking liberty4 ,he had himself detailed ,colonel ,clinch and the regiment under his command1 attended by ,creek ,indians1 with ,general ,jackson's orders to destroy the fort1 and return the slaves to their rightful owners4 ,he then called the ,exiles outlaws1 supposed them incapable of taking care of themselves1 even if in full possession of their liberty4 ,but he and his gallant army were now surrounded by them and their friends1 who were killing his men whenever they exposed themselves to view4 ,on the fifth of ,march1 he had lost four men killed and thirty wounded4 ,a circumstance occurred on the night of the fifth of ,february1 which has never been fully explained4 ,about ten o'clock in the evening1 ,john ,csar1 one of the ,exiles residing at ,micanopy1 an old man and somewhat of a privileged character among both ,indians and ,exiles1 advanced in the darkness near the camp of ,general ,gaines1 and hailed the nearest sentinel on duty4 ,speaking in good ,english1 the sentinel supposed him a messenger from ,general ,clinch2 but1 on learning his true character1 he was inquired of as to his object4 ,he declared that the allies were tired of fighting1 and wished to come in and shake hands with ,general ,gaines and his men4 ,he was told to come in the morning with a white flag4 ,csar returned to the allied camp and reported his conversation4 ,he had spoken to our troops as if authorized1 while all the chiefs and head-men denied his authority1 and many were for inflicting upon him the penalty of immediate death for this unauthorized act4 ,osceola1 now raised to the dignity of a chief1 interposed to save him4 ,he had headed the party who put to death ,charley ,e4 ,mathler1 a brother chief1 for consenting to go ,west1 and with his own hands had scattered the gold found on his person1 declaring it to be the price of the red man's blood3 ,while now a black man1 one of their allies1 had committed a far greater impropriety1 he interposed to save him4 ,all agreed that their honor had been pledged1 although ,csar had no authority for his conduct4#he ,the next day some of their warriors left in disgust1 after it had been determined to send in a flag of truce1 according to ,csar's agreement4 ,but those who remained to carry out the arrangement1 formed at twelve o'clock into line1 some forty rods in the rear of ,general ,gaines's camp4 ,three of their number1 gaily dressed1 advanced with a white flag4 ,adjutant ,barrow of the ,louisiana ,volunteers1 met them4 ,osceola told him that he desired a talk with ,general ,gaines4 ,while these arrangements were going forward1 ,general ,clinch arrived in sight of the ,indians1 on his way to relieve ,general ,gaines4 ,seeing the enemy thus drawn up1 facing the camp1 he at once deployed his column1 and opened a fire upon them4 ,the allies supposing themselves to have been betrayed fled precipitately1 and the forces under ,general ,clinch united with those under ,general ,gaines4 ,it is said that up to the time the allies received the fire of ,general ,clinch1 they had not lost a man4 ,that fire killed two ,indians and one negro1 and wounded five others4 ,one of the ,exiles1 residing upon the ,withlacoochee1 who1 after the compact with ,general ,jessup in #ahch1 surrendered1 with others1 and emigrated ,west1 stated that he assisted ,osceola in counting the sticks handed in by each warrior engaged in this affair1 and there were seven hundred present2 and another bunch of sticks numbering one hundred had been sent by a party who expected to reach the scene of action the next day1 when a general and determined attack was to have been made4 ,but their forces disbanded upon the arrival of ,general ,clinch1 and they separated to their different homes4 ,the officers under ,general ,gaines charged the allies with bad faith1 intending to massacre them under pretense of treating with them2 while the allies charged our troops with a treacherous effort to shoot them while their flag of truce was floating over them1 and they engaged in peaceful negotiation4 ,general ,gaines proceeded to ,fort ,brooke1 and thence returned to ,new ,orleans2 while ,general ,clinch conducted his troops back to ,fort ,drane4 ,,chapter ,,ix4 ,,hostilities ,,continued4 ,general disappointment in regard to the continuance of the ,war--,its ,difficulties--,feelings of the ,people of ,florida--,letter of their ,delegate in ,congress--,letter of ,general ,jessup to ,f4 ,p4 ,blair--,president ,jackson's order in regard to it--,secretary of ,war orders ,general ,scott to ,washington1 and ,general ,jessup to take command--,general ,call in temporary command of the ,army--,court of ,inquiry--,osceola attacks ,micanopy--,major ,heilman's gallant ,defense--,general ,jessup meets ,general ,call at ,tallahasse--,refuses to assume ,command--,major ,pearce's ,expedition to ,fort ,drane--,meets ,osceola with an equal force--,severe ,contest--,major ,pearce retires to ,micanopy--,general ,jessup's contract with ,creeks--,its ,character--,resumes barbarous practice of ,enslaving ,prisoners--,general ,call's ,expedition to ,withlacoochee--,its ,failure--,further attempts to destroy ,stores on that ,river--,armstrong's ,battle--,another severe ,battle--,another ,expedition to ,withlacoochee--,its ,failure--,skill and ,valor of the ,exiles and ,indians--,loss of ,creeks--,they become ,disheartened4 ,when ,general ,scott took command of the army in ,florida1 the ,administration and the country confidently expected that he would bring the war to an immediate close4 ,there was but little known of the combined strength1 or the determined purpose1 of the ,seminoles and ,exiles4 ,they were regarded as few in number1 and were supposed to be fighting without any very definite purpose4 ,the difficulties of collecting an army in that territory1 procuring supplies and arranging a campaign1 were great2 and the most effective mode for penetrating the strongholds of the allied forces could only be ascertained by experience4 ,the inhabitants of ,florida had urged on the war4 ,they held their enemy in great contempt4 ,they were slaveholders1 accustomed to look upon the negro as an inferior being1 possessed of very limited reasoning powers1 and devoid of the nobler sentiments which adorn the human character4 ,they do not appear to have supposed the ,african capable of noble aspirations1 or of manly effort4 ,they were also accustomed to look upon the ,indians with about the same degree of contempt4 ,regarding the war as commenced and prosecuted for their own benefit1 they felt authorized in some degree to dictate the manner in which it should be conducted4 ,general ,scott1 bred to the profession of arms1 and conscious of that self-respect which was due to an officer of his rank1 paid but little attention to their attempts at interference with his official duties4 ,this was regarded as offensive1 and the delegate in ,congress from that ,territory demanded his withdrawal from the command4 ,general ,jessup1 at that time in command of the army in ,georgia1 operating against the ,creek ,indians1 in order to compel them to emigrate ,west1 also wrote a letter 7,june #bj71 addressed to a private citizen of ,washington ,city1#hf criticising ,general ,scott's policy4 ,this letter was placed in the hands of ,president ,jackson1 who1 after reading it1 indorsed upon it as follows3 ,referred to the ,secretary of ,war1 that he forthwith order ,general ,scott to this place1 in order that an inquiry may be had into the unaccountable delays in prosecuting the ,creek war1 and the failure of the campaign in ,florida4 ,let ,general ,jessup assume the command4#hg ,a4 ,j4 ,it is very evident that ,general ,jackson1 when speaking of the unaccountable delays of a few months1 had little expectation that under the direction of his most favorite officer the war would continue during his life1 and that he would leave another generation involved in hostilities1 for the purpose of enslaving persons whom he had ordered to be returned to their masters twenty years previously4 ,but it is also apparent that neither the ,president1 nor ,congress1 nor the officers of the army1 had any just conceptions of that love of liberty which nerved the ,exiles to effort1 and stimulated them to encounter every hardship and privation1 and suffering and danger1 rather than be delivered over to degrading bondage4 ,congress1 participating in the general astonishment at the failure of our arms to conquer a handful of ,indians and negroes1 adopted a resolution1 calling on the ,president for information touching that subject4 ,in answer to this resolution1 ,general ,cass1 ,secretary of ,war1 transmitted voluminous papers to ,congress1 which may be found in the ,executive ,documents of the second session1 ,twenty-fourth ,congress1 from which much of our information is derived4 ,the ,secretary of ,war issued the order for ,general ,scott to retire1 and another for ,general ,jessup to assume the command4 ,a court of inquiry was duly convened for the purpose of ascertaining the cause of delay under ,general ,scott4#hh ,several months now passed without any important incident to mark the progress of hostilities4 ,as the summer approached and the sickly season commenced1 ,general ,scott left ,florida1 and the command of the army1 for the time1 devolved on ,general ,c4 ,k4 ,call4 ,the allied forces seemed to have retired to the interior1 and were supposed to be engaged in raising corn and other provisions1 for their support during the coming winter1 and all appeared quiet4 ,osceola1 after the death of ,thompson at ,fort ,king1 had become a master-spirit among the ,seminoles4 ,he had conducted bravely during the battle with ,general ,clinch1 and equally so in the several conflicts with ,general ,gaines1 and had been raised to the dignity of a chief4 ,he now conceived1 and executed1 one of the boldest movements ever made by savages against a fortified post manned by regular troops4 ,on the ninth of ,june1 with three hundred warriors1 some sixty of whom were negroes1 he attacked the stockade at ,micanopy1 garrisoned by an equal force of disciplined troops1 under the command of ,major ,heilman4 ,the assault was maintained with determined obstinacy for an hour and a half1 the assailants boldly facing the artillery1 which was brought to bear upon them2 and when they left the scene of action1 they carried away their dead and wounded4 ,although this attack proved unsuccessful1 it gave the country to understand1 in some degree1 the character of the enemy with whom our ,government was contending4 ,major ,heilman1 in his report1 regrets the severe wound of ,capt4 ,lee2 but says nothing of his other loss1 or that of the allies1 either in killed or wounded4 ,he himself died soon after1 from excessive fatigue during the action4 ,soon after this attack the allies became again active1 making their appearance at various points on the frontier1 again spreading devastation wherever they went4 ,major ,general ,jessup continued in ,georgia1 engaged in constraining the ,creeks to emigrate4 ,in this he was very successful1 and for that reason was ordered to take command of the army in ,florida4 ,with this view he repaired to ,tallahasse1 where he met ,general ,call1 who laid before him a plan1 which he had conceived1 for an expedition to ,withlacoochee4 ,general ,jessup1 not having received his instructions for prosecuting the campaign1 refused to assume the command at that time1 leaving ,general ,call to carry out his contemplated movement4 ,general ,clinch owned a plantation some twenty miles northwesterly of ,fort ,king4 ,during the early part of the season he had encamped there with his troops1 and planted sugar-cane1 and other crops2 and1 being occupied as a military post1 he gave it the name of ,fort ,drane4 ,in consequence of the constant depredations committed by the enemy1 he was directed to fall back to an ,indian town called ,micanopy1 which thereby became an outpost4 ,he left ,fort ,drane in ,july1 when his crops were growing luxuriantly2 and ,osceola1 being in the vicinity with about a hundred followers1 consisting of ,indians and ,exiles1 took possession of this plantation1 and occupied it with apparent pride1 at having driven its veteran owner back farther towards the settlements4 ,on the twelfth of ,august1 ,major ,pearce1 being in command at ,micanopy1 left that station1 with one piece of artillery and one hundred and ten regular troops1 for the purpose of attacking the allies at ,fort ,drane4 ,he reached the plantation1 situated eight miles from ,micanopy1 at sunrise1 and commenced the attack4 ,osceola and his followers fell back to a hommock1 where they made a stand4 ,the number of men engaged were about equal2 ,major ,pearce and ,osceola were known as gallant warriors2 of course1 the battle was warm and well contested4 ,after an engagement of an hour and a quarter1 ,major ,pearce fell back2 and the allied forces showing no disposition to follow him into the open fields1 he retreated to ,micanopy1 leaving them in possession of the field of battle4 ,major ,pearce's loss was reported to be one killed and sixteen wounded4 ,before leaving ,alabama1 ,john ,a4 ,campbell1 aid to ,general ,jessup1 acting under direction of that officer1 entered into a written contract with certain ,creek chiefs and warriors4 ,being somewhat extraordinary in its character1 and rendered still more so by the construction given to it by the ,administration and the ,indians1 it is deemed worthy of being inserted4 ,the following is the language of the instrument3 ,the ,state of ,alabama1 ,tallapoosa ,county4 ,this contract1 entered into between the ,united ,states of ,america on the first part1 and the ,creek tribe of ,indians on the other part1 ,witnesseth3 ,that upon the consideration hereafter mentioned1 the party of the first part agrees to advance to the party of the second part the sum of thirty-one thousand nine hundred dollars1 to be applied to the payment of the debts due by the ,creek ,nation of ,indians4 ,and the party of the second part hereby covenants1 and agrees to furnish from their tribe1 the number of from six hundred to one thousand men1 for service against the ,seminoles1 to be continued in service until the same shall be conquered2 they to receive the pay and emoluments1 and equipments1 of soldiers in the army of the ,united ,states1 and such plunder as they may take from the ,seminoles4 ,and the party of the second part releases1 transfers and assigns to the party of the first part1 all their right1 title1 claim1 interest and demand in and to the annuity granted by the party of the first part to the party of the second part1 for the year #ahcg4 ,in witness whereof1 ,i1 ,john ,a4 ,campbell1 on the part of the ,united ,states1 do hereby set my hand and affix my seal1 the #bhth of ,august1 #ahcf4 ,,john ,a4 ,,campbell1 ,l4,s4 ,in witness whereof1 we1 the ,chiefs and ,head-men of said tribe1 on the behalf of said ,nation1 do hereby set our hands and affix our seals1 the #bhth of ,august1 #ahcf4 ,,hypothle ,,yohola1 his ,x mark1 ,l4,s4 ,,little ,,doctor1 his ,x mark1 ,l4,s4 ,,tuckabatchee ,,mico1 his ,x mark1 ,l4,s4 ,,yelco ,,hayo1 his ,x mark1,l4,s4 ,attest3 ,,edward ,,hawick1 ,,barent ,,dubois4 ,the real character of this contract will at once be seen when the reader shall be reminded1 that the laws of the ,united ,states had1 in the most specific manner1 prescribed the amount to be paid each man who should enter the military service of the ,government1 and the manner and time of payment2 nor had there been any act passed enabling ,general ,jessup1 or the ,secretary of ,war1 or the ,president1 to employ any other persons in the army except those enlisted in the ordinary mode2 yet this contract was duly approved by the ,war ,department1 at that time under the direction of ,general ,cass4 ,that provision which gives to the ,creek warriors such plunder as they might capture1 has been denounced as piratical2 and we are constrained to admit there is some degree of propriety in this denunciation1 when we find that ,general ,jessup1 by whose orders it was framed1 and ,general ,cass1 ,secretary of ,war1 who approved it1 and the ,creek ,warriors who signed it1 all understood that the ,creeks were to hold as slaves all the negroes they might capture1 while engaged in the service of the ,united ,states4 ,it was this construction which subsequently involved the ,war ,department in difficulties1 from which it has never been able to extricate itself4 ,the barbarous practice of enslaving prisoners captured in war1 had been repudiated by all ,christian nations for more than two hundred years4 ,the civilization of the sixteenth century had brought that atrocious practice into disrepute1 which was now resorted to and renewed in the nineteenth1 by this ,american ,republic1 so boastful of its refinement and ,christianity4 ,while the laws of the ,united ,states provided for an ignominious punishment of those who seize the stupid heathen of ,africa and enslave them1 our nation was taxing its resources1 employing our army and paying out its funds1 to employ heathen allies to capture and enslave a people who for generations had been free4 ,on the nineteenth of ,september1 ,general ,armstrong1 with a brigade of twelve hundred ,tennessee militia1 was ordered to ,suwanee ,old ,town4 ,here he was met by a detachment of two hundred ,creek warriors1 under ,major ,brown1 and a battalion of ,florida militia1 under ,colonel ,warren2 and with this formidable army1 ,governor ,call moved upon ,withlacoochee4 ,on coming near the stream he encamped4 ,during the darkness of night the allies fired upon his troops1 and kept them in a state of alarm4 ,in the morning it was found that the river had suddenly risen1 which rendered it difficult for the troops to cross2 and this gallant army returned to ,fort ,drane for supplies without firing a gun or seeing an enemy1 leaving the allies in peaceful possession of the country4 ,but the ,indians and ,exiles now found themselves almost daily threatened in their own fastnesses4 ,along the ,withlacoochee were many small villages and plantations occupied almost exclusively by ,exiles4 ,large crops of corn and other vegetables had been raised there during the season1 and it was known that stores of provisions were located upon various islands surrounded by the swamps lying along that river1 and in the great morass called the ,wahoo ,swamp2 while it was equally known that many families of the ,exiles were residing in that vicinity4 ,it was therefore deemed important to destroy those villages and obtain the supplies which they contained4 ,general ,armstrong1 with five hundred mounted men1 while marching toward these villages on the fourteenth of ,november1 encountered a strong force consisting of ,indians and ,exiles4 ,the conflict was spirited4 ,in forty minutes1 eleven of ,armstrong's men fell before the deadly aim of the allies4 ,he1 however1 drove them from the field1 but they took with them their dead and wounded4 ,this fact with savages is regarded the only test of success in battle3 they never acknowledge defeat while they hold possession of their dead and wounded4 ,but the time drew near when they were constrained to acknowledge a defeat4 ,on the eighteenth of ,november1 a regiment of ,tennesseeans1 consisting of about five hundred1 encountered a body of the enemy whose numbers are not given by any officer or historian whom we have consulted4 ,they were posted in a hommock4 ,the ,tennesseeans were the assailing party4 ,the battle continued more than two hours1 when the allies fled1 leaving upon the field twenty-five ,indians and ,africans slain in battle2 while the loss of the assailants was still larger4 ,this was the best contested battle which occurred during the campaign of #ahcf1 and the first in which the allies left their dead in possession of our troops4 ,this defeat appears to have taught the allies to be cautious1 and stimulated a desire to wipe out the impression which their defeat was calculated to make upon the public mind4 ,general ,call having formed a junction with ,major ,pearce of the regular service1 with nearly three hundred regular troops under his command1 making in all more than one thousand men1 entered the great ,wahoo ,swamp on the twenty-first of ,november4 ,their intention was to obtain the provisions supposed to be deposited in the villages situated upon the islands in that extensive morass4 ,but they were attacked soon after entering the swamp4 ,the fire at first was principally concentrated upon the ,creek ,indians1 the mercenary troops employed by ,general ,jessup4 ,major ,pearce hastened to their relief4 ,the fire then became general4 ,the men were in a swamp which was nearly covered with water1 and much of it with a thick underbrush4 ,after maintaining the battle for a time1 the ,indians fell back1 crossed the river1 and formed upon its bank1 each man protected by a log or tree4 ,the river was turbid and appeared difficult to pass4 ,as our troops approached it1 the fire upon them was severe4 ,captain ,moniac1 of the ,creek warriors1 was killed while examining the stream to ascertain if it could be forded4 ,others were wounded4 ,the allied force appeared determined to make their final stand upon this stream4 ,behind them were their wives and children1 their provisions1 their homes and firesides4 ,general ,call and his troops now obtained an opportunity of fighting the enemy2 a privilege which he had long sought1 though he embraced it under disadvantageous circumstances4 ,our troops had great inducements to advance1 but the dangers corresponded with the advantages to be gained4#hi ,general ,call1 however1 concluded to withdraw2 and after sustaining a heavy loss he retreated and left the allies in possession of the field4 ,they very correctly1 feeling that their success depended greatly upon the position they had taken1 did not pursue ,general ,call1 who1 with his whole force1 retired to ,volusi to recruit4 ,his loss was fifteen killed and thirty wounded4 ,it is certain the allies manifested great skill in selecting their place of attack1 and the position for their final stand4 ,their success greatly encouraged them1 and the gallantry displayed by the ,exiles served to increase their influence with the ,indians4 ,the ,creek warriors had shown themselves very efficient in this expedition1 but they suffered severely2 and at no subsequent period did they maintain their former character as warriors4 ,they had been greatly stimulated in this conflict with the expectation of capturing women and children1 whom they expected to seize and sell as slaves4 ,but so far as that object was concerned1 their warriors who fell in this battle died ingloriously1 and the result discouraged the survivors4 ,,chapter ,x4 ,,the ,,war ,,continued--,,peace ,,declared4 ,general ,jessup assumes command of the ,army--,number of ,troops in the ,field--,his ,advantages--,his energetic ,policy--,orders ,crawford to the ,withlacoochee--,capture of fifty two ,women and ,children--,they are held as plunder by the ,creeks--,wild ,cat and ,louis attack ,fort ,mellon--,severe ,battle--,allies retire with their dead and wounded--,death of ,captain ,mellon--,our loss in killed and wounded--,caulfield's ,expedition to ,a-ha-popka ,lake--,capture of nine ,women and ,children--,expedition to ,big ,cypress ,swamp--,capture of twenty-five ,women and ,children--,general ,jessup seeks ,negotiation--,abram and ,alligator meet him preparatory to a more general ,council--,several ,chiefs agree upon terms of ,capitulation--,difficulty in regard to ,exiles--,jessup yields--,express ,stipulation for their ,safety--,indians and ,exile come into ,tampa ,bay--,are ,registered for ,emigration--,general ,jessup discharges ,militia and ,volunteers--,transports prepared--,he declares the ,war at an end1 and asks to be relieved from active duty4 ,on the eighth of ,december1 #ahcf1 ,major ,general ,jessup joined ,general ,call at ,volusi1 and relieved that officer from the further command of the army in ,florida4 ,he had now eight thousand troops in the field well provided in all the material of war4 ,they were in fine spirits1 and he was in all respects prepared to push the campaign with energy4 ,he had all the advantages which experience of the previous campaign had furnished1 and endeavored to profit by it4 ,he was careful to order no large body of troops1 nor any artillery1 into the uninhabited portions of the country4 ,he employed only light troops for such purposes4 ,his first attention was directed to the settlements of ,exiles on the ,withlacoochee who had up to that time defied our army4 ,they had been the object of frequent attacks1 and the scene of as frequent defeats4 ,he directed a battalion of mounted men under ,major ,crawford1 accompanied by two battalions of ,creek ,indians1 to make a sudden descent upon those villages4 ,but the allies had removed their provisions1 and most of the people had abandoned the settlements4 ,a few only were left4 ,the warriors fled to the swamps2 and the troops seized and secured fifty-two women and children4 ,these were the first prisoners captured during the war2 and ,general ,jessup made a formal report of this important victory4 ,it was a victory over defenseless women and helpless children1 obtained by the aid of ,creek ,indians1 who claimed both women and children as plunder under their contract4 ,but this victory stimulated the allies to strike in retaliation for the injury thus inflicted upon non-combatants4 ,sidenote3 #ahcg4 ,fort ,mellon1 on the south side of a small body of water called ,lake ,monroe1 some thirty miles west of the ,atlantic1 was supposed by the allies to be in a weak condition1 and they determined to surprise it4 ,preparatory to this1 however1 they sent spies to examine and report the condition of the troops at that station4 ,their report being favorable1 ,wild ,cat1 acting in conjunction with ,louis1 the slave of ,pacheco1 who1 it will be recollected1 concerted the massacre of ,major ,dade1 made their arrangements for an assault4 ,with a force of two hundred and fifty warriors the allies invested this fort1 which they supposed to be garrisoned by not more than one hundred men4 ,unfortunately for the assailants1 however1 other troops arrived after the ,indian spies had left the vicinity of the fort1 and the allied forces unexpectedly met superior numbers protected by defenses which are always regarded as safe against savage foes4 ,the attack was made with great determination1 and continued for three hours1 when the assailants retired without leaving either dead or wounded upon the field4 ,lieutenant ,colonel ,faning commanded our troops1 numbering some three hundred men4 ,a steamboat was lying in the lake1 near the fort1 having a field-piece on board4 ,this was also brought to bear upon the left wing of the allied forces1 so as to completely drive them from that part of the field4 ,captain ,mellon1 who had entered the military service of the ,united ,states in #ahab1 fell early in the action4 ,midshipman ,mc,laughlin and seventeen others were wounded2 some of them mortally4 ,it may well be doubted1 whether history furnishes an instance in which savage troops have beset a superior number of disciplined forces in a fortified position with such daring and obstinacy as that which was manifested at ,fort ,mellon4 ,there was a small settlement of ,exiles and ,indians upon the south side of ,a-ha-popka ,lake1 situated about the twenty-eighth degree of north latitude1 and nearly equi-distant between the ,atlantic and the ,gulf of ,mexico4 ,on the twenty-second of ,january1 ,lieutenant ,colonel ,caulfield with his regiment was ordered to visit that settlement1 attended by the ,creek ,indians4 ,a sub-chief of the ,seminoles1 named ,osuchee1 with his band of warriors1 hastened to the defense of their friends1 as soon as they ascertained the object of our troops2 but they were unable to resist the large force under ,caulfield4 ,osuchee and three warriors were killed2 and nine ,exiles1 all of them women and children1 were taken prisoners4 ,all the disposable forces under ,general ,jessup were now put into active employ4 ,with the main body of the army he penetrated far into the ,indian territory4 ,his report1 dated at ,fort ,armstrong1 ,february seventh1 after stating the commencement of his march1 says1 ,on approaching the ,thla-pac-hatchee1 on the morning of the twenty-seventh ultimo1 the numerous herds of cattle feeding on the prairies1 and the numerous recent trails in various directions1 indicated the presence of the enemy4 ,he goes on to say3 ,on the twenty-eighth1 the army moved forward1 and occupied a strong position on ',ta-hop-ka-liga' ,lake1 where several hundred head of cattle were obtained4 ,these immense herds of cattle show to some extent the means of subsistence which the allies possessed4 ,the commander of our army1 however1 proceeds to state that the enemy was found on the ,hatchee-lustee1 in and near the great ,cypress ,swamp1 and gallantly attacked4 ,lieutenant ,chambers of the ,alabama ,volunteers1 by a rapid charge1 succeeded in capturing the horses and baggage of the enemy1 with twenty-five ,indians and negroes1 principally women and children4 ,this language was novel in the military reports of our officers4 ,a charge made by a body of armed troops upon horses1 women and children1 is termed by the commanding ,general gallant4 ,the next day one of the prisoners was directed to return to the two principal chiefs1 ,abraham1 with whom the reader is already acquainted1 and ,alligator1 who commanded the ,indians1 with a message of peace1 desiring them to meet the commanding ,general in council4 ,abraham was1 perhaps1 the most experienced and best informed chief in the allied forces4 ,he had lived at ,micanopy2 and his familiar acquaintance with the treaty of ,payne's ,landing1 and the supplemental treaty entered into at the ,west1 qualified him to exert a powerful influence with the ,exiles4#ij ,the ,indians1 also1 appear to have held him in the highest respect4 ,alligator was an active warrior and chief4 ,he was a bold leader2 but was supposed to be much under the influence of ,micanopy1 a chief somewhat advanced in years1 said to be very corpulent1 and too indolent to be otherwise than pacific in his desires4 ,it is related of him1 that he was actually carried1 by the younger and more enthusiastic warriors1 into battle on one occasion1 in the early part of the war4 ,it is not unlikely that both ,abraham and ,alligator were influenced in some degree by ,micanopy to visit ,general ,jessup1 and make arrangements to hold a conference with him1 at ,fort ,dade1 on the eighteenth of ,february4 ,lieut4 ,colonel ,henderson1 of the ,united ,states ,marines1 serving on land1 also made a very successful excursion into the ,indian ,country1 with a pretty large force of mounted men and friendly ,indians4 ,in his report1 he states the capture of twenty-three negroes1 young and old2 over a hundred ponies1 with packs on about fifty of them2 together with all their clothes1 blankets1 and other baggage4 ,in this expedition1 his loss was two men killed and five wounded4 ,on the first of ,march1 the troops under the command of ,major ,general ,jessup had captured one hundred and nine women and children of the ,exiles1 and some fifteen belonging to the ,indians4 ,the fortunes of war now bore hard upon those friendless and persecuted people2 but not a warrior had fallen into the hands of our troops4 ,it is a remarkable fact1 that in all the conflicts which had occurred1 no ,seminole ,indian nor negro warrior had surrendered1 even to superior numbers4 ,they had fought gallantly1 they had died freely2 but they preferred death to that slavery which they knew would follow a surrender4 ,general ,jessup now ordered the cessation of hostilities1 in the hope of getting the ,indian and negro chiefs to assemble in council1 in order to negotiate for their emigration ,west4 ,after his interview with ,abraham and ,alligator1 he appears to have felt confident of success4 ,the ,exiles and ,indians also began to feel that it would soon be necessary for them to plant corn1 potatoes and pumpkins1 for their support during the coming season4 ,every effort was made by ,general ,jessup to acquaint the different chiefs with this arrangement1 and to induce them to come in1 or send by some sub-chief or warrior an expression of their willingness to emigrate to the western country4 ,agreeably to these arrangements1 a few of their principal men met ,general ,jessup at ,fort ,dade1 near the ,withlacoochee1 on the sixth of ,march4 ,only five chiefs were present1 either in person or by proxy4 ,the principal chiefs in attendance were ,halatoochie and ,jumper4 ,but the former difficulty was again encountered1 at the very commencement of the negotiation4 ,the ,indians would enter upon no arrangement that did not guarantee to the ,exiles equal protection and safety as it did to the ,indians4 ,such stipulation would constitute an abandonment of the objects for which the war had been commenced and prosecuted2 but1 after sixteen months occupied in hostilities1 and the expenditure of much blood and treasure1 this question lay directly across the path of peace4 ,but the ,indians were firm4 ,not one of the ,exiles1 except ,abraham1 now dared trust himself within the power of our troops2 yet ,abraham's influence was powerful with the ,indians4 ,general ,jessup yielded4 ,the articles of capitulation were drawn up and considered4 ,the fifth reads as follows3--,major ,general ,jessup1 in behalf of the ,united ,states1 agrees that the ,seminoles and their allies1 who come in and emigrate ,west1 shall be secure in their lives and property2 that their negroes1 their bona fide property1 shall also accompany them ,west2#ia and that their cattle and ponies shall be paid for by the ,united ,states4 ,the language of this article could not be misunderstood4 ,the black men then residing with the ,indians1 in the ,indian ,country1 who were acting with them1 and fighting our troops by the side of the ,seminoles1 were their allies3 and to show that the capitulation was not a surrender of property1 they were careful to have the compact expressly state1 that their own negroes1 their bona fide property 7for many ,seminoles owned slaves71 should accompany them2 and that their cattle and ponies1 which would become the property of the captors by virtue of an ordinary surrender1 under their ideas of warfare1 were to be paid for by the ,united ,states4 ,there was no room left for cavil or dispute on these points2#ib nor could it be supposed that ,abraham1 with his experience and shrewdness1 would leave such an important point doubtful4 ,under these articles1 the ,exiles were to enjoy that security for which they had contended during a century and a half4 ,it was for this that their ancestors left ,south ,carolina1 ,georgia1 ,alabama and ,florida2 to attain it1 they were willing to leave the graves of their fathers--the country in which they had lived during many generations4 ,abraham now entered upon the work of inducing all his brethren1 both ,indians and negroes1 to go to the ,western ,country1 where they could be free from persecutions4 ,those willing to emigrate1 were to assemble within a district of ten miles square1 marked out for that purpose1 near ,tampa ,bay4 ,many of the ,indian chiefs visited that station2 spoke encouragingly of the prospect2 that the whole ,nation would emigrate at no distant day4 ,even ,osceola1 the most inveterate of all the ,seminole chiefs1 visited ,fort ,mellon1 avowing his intention to emigrate2 while ,abraham made report of a like feeling among the ,exiles4 ,twenty-six vessels1 employed to transport the emigrants to ,new ,orleans1 were anchored in ,tampa ,bay4 ,hundreds of ,indians and negroes had reached the camp assigned to the emigrants1 near ,fort ,brooke4 ,their names were duly registered2 they drew their rations1 and made every preparation to go ,west4 ,general ,jessup announced the war at an end1 dismissed the militia and volunteers1 and asked of the ,department leave to retire from active duty4 ,,chapter ,,xi4 ,,general ,,jessup ,,overthrows ,,his ,,own ,,efforts ,,in ,,favor ,,of ,,peace4 ,mr4 ,van ,buren's advent to the office of ,president--,follows the policy of his predecessor--,general ,jessup's stipulation in favor of the ,exiles--,sustained by precedent1 and by ,national ,law--,not contrary to ,general ,jackson's object in commencing the ,war--,citizens of ,florida protest--,compact ratified by ,war ,department--,general ,jessup for a time endeavors to carry out ,articles of ,capitulation--,begins to yield--,promises to make arrangements with ,chiefs to deliver up ,slaves who had left their ,masters during the ,war--,then declared he had done so--,no such ,compact found by the ,author--,subsequent history shows that he had made such arrangement1 by parol1 with ,co-,hadjo only--,he also uses army to seize and return ,exiles claimed by citizens of ,florida--,revokes ,order ,no4 #gi--;,indians and ,exiles take alarm--,flee to their fastnesses--,general ,jessup acknowledges all is lost--,the ,war renewed4 ,on the fourth of ,march1 ,mr4 ,van ,buren assumed the duties of ,president of the ,united ,states1 and ,general ,jackson retired to private life4 ,belonging to the same political party to which ,general ,jackson had attached himself1 ,mr4 ,van ,buren was not expected to make any particular change in the administration of the ,government4 ,indeed so popular had ,general ,jackson been1 that it would have required great boldness in his successor to attempt any very obvious change in our national policy2 and so far as the ,florida war was concerned1 there was none whatever4 ,it was therefore fortunate that1 under the administration of ,general ,jackson1 the existence of the ,exiles1 as a distinct people1 had been acknowledged4 ,in the articles of capitulation1 they were again recognized as the allies of the ,indians4 ,in entering into this stipulation1 ,general ,jessup went no farther than his legitimate powers extended4 ,the peace of the country in that region was entrusted to his judgment1 under the direction of the ,president4 ,if necessary to secure peace1 he had the undoubted right to send every slave1 of whatever description1 from the ,territory of ,florida2 and it would appear1 that no doubt whatever could arise as to his authority to transport to the ,western ,country1 all who were engaged in actual hostilities against our nation1 and that too without stopping to inquire whether one portion of the people were1 or were not1 claimed as property by the people of ,florida4 ,general ,jackson had set a noble example on this subject which was well worthy of imitation4 ,when ,new ,orleans was threatened by the ,british1 in #ahad1 he proclaimed martial law--ordered men into service without inquiring whether they were slaves or freemen4 ,many of them were slaves1 and on the day of battle were emancipated by being captured or killed by the enemy4 ,the same powers had been exercised by our officers almost constantly during the ,revolution4 ,it is a principle understood by all intelligent men1 that when war exists1 peace may be obtained by the emancipation of all the slaves held by individuals1 if necessary4#ic ,these articles of capitulation were duly transmitted to the ,war ,department1 and were regularly approved by the ,executive4 ,it would appear impossible that ,general ,jessup1 or any other person1 could either misapprehend or fail to understand this stipulation1 which was in no respect modified by other covenants4 ,but this solemn covenant was in direct conflict with the views and feelings of the slaveholders in ,florida and the adjoining ,states4 ,they understood the war to have been commenced for the purpose of renslaving the ,exiles4 ,these articles of capitulation constituted not only an abandonment of that policy1 but actually operated as an emancipation of all the slaves who1 having fled from service in ,florida1 ,georgia and ,alabama1 had joined the ,seminoles and taken up arms against their oppressors4 ,the slaveholders were indignant at this stipulation1 nor did they fail to express their indignation4 ,a few gentlemen of distinction1 who1 with their families1 had been driven from the ,territory1 were residing at ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina4 ,having learned the character of the capitulation from private sources1 without waiting for its publication1 they at once addressed the ,secretary of ,war1 stating they had casually learned from a gentleman who was present1 that a treaty of peace had been concluded with the ,seminole ,indians which contained no stipulation for indemnity1 on the part of the ,indians1 for such property of the inhabitants as had been captured by said ,indians1 and destroyed4 ,nor 7say they7 is it1 we are told1 exacted from them that they should even make restitution of such stolen and other property1 to wit1 ,,negroes1 etc41 as they now have in possession1 or as has been invited into their country and allowed refuge from its owners4 ,we respectfully conceive1 that the termination of the war on such terms1 anxiously as we desire peace1 would be a sacrifice of the national dignity1 and an absolute and clear triumph on the part of the ,indians1 who cannot fail to view the proposition made to them1 to close hostilities1 followed up by a treaty permitting to them such extraordinary terms1 as a virtual suing for peace on the part of the ,united ,states1 and evidencing a want of confidence in their ability to conclude the war through the means of their belligerent and physical strength4#id ,but the most singular portion of this memorial is the reference to the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie1 by which the ,indians agreed to arrest and return fugitives2 and the memorialists insisted that unless the ,indians be compelled to perform this stipulation the owners may never regain their slaves4 ,the gentlemen who thus attempted to control the action of our ,national ,government appear to have forgotten that the treaty of ,camp ,moultrie had been abrogated by that of ,payne's ,landing1 which our ,government was now professing to enforce4 ,by this latter treaty1 the ,indians agreed to pay seven thousand dollars as an indemnity for all slaves then in their territory4 ,this was accepted as a full indemnity1 and the slaves then resident with the ,indians became free in law4 ,this memorial1 though written at ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina1 bears date only twelve days later than the articles of capitulation1 entered into at ,fort ,dade in ,florida4 ,of this movement of the slaveholders1 ,general ,jessup appears not to have been informed at the time2 nor is there any doubt that he then intended to carry out this solemn compact in good faith4 ,on the nineteenth of ,march1 we find his aid-de-camp ,colonel ,chambers1 by order of ,general ,jessup1 writing ,lieutenant ,colonel ,harney1 stationed at ,fort ,mellon1 directing him not to permit the friendly ,indians 7the ,creeks7 to pass into the country occupied by the ,seminoles1 and to distinctly inform the ,creeks they must make no more captures of property2 and if they had made any since the signing of the treaty1 7meaning the capitulation17 ,harney was directed to take a list of such captures4 ,but the first serious difficulty suggested to ,general ,jessup1 in carrying out his stipulations with the allies1 appears to have been a letter from ,major ,thomas ,child1 commanding at ,fort ,armstrong1 informing him that a ,colonel ,dill1 a citizen of ,florida1 was at that post1 wishing to pass into the ,indian country for the purpose of reclaiming certain negroes which he professed to have owned1 but who were then supposed to have fled to the ,seminoles4 ,in reply to this note ,colonel ,chambers said3 ,i am instructed by the commanding ,general to say1 that ',colonel ,dill1' the person whom you report having detained at ,fort ,armstrong1 must not be permitted to pass1 but be required to return from whence he came with all convenient dispatch4 ,hereafter1 no person1 not in the employment of the ,government1 or express rider1 must be allowed to pass your post4 ,the necessity of this order1 and the strict enforcement of it1 arise from the necessity1 that1 if persons come forward to urge their claims to negroes1 it will evidently prevent the negroes from coming in2 and if they do not come in1 the commanding ,general is decidedly of opinion1 that the ,indians themselves will be greatly delayed1 if not entirely prevented1 from compliance with the terms of capitulation4 ,the termination of the war had been regarded as certain by the commanding officer1 and by him so reported4 ,the first article in the capitulation1 provided for the cessation of hostilities4 ,but they were renewed soon after1 and the ,indians and ,exiles charged with a breach of faith1 both by ,general ,jessup and by the ,executive4 ,and it becomes important to the truth of history1 that facts should be stated4 ,the articles of capitulation pledged the faith of the nation for the safety of both persons and property of the ,seminoles and their allies4 ,those allies could have been no other people than the black men who were with them contending against a common foe4 ,it is also evident that ,abraham and the ,exiles who came in for the purpose of emigrating so understood it4 ,it is equally certain that the people of ,florida who memorialized the ,secretary of ,war so understood it2 and we need only read the letters and orders of ,general ,jessup to learn that he surely so understood it3 and the whole conduct of the ,indians shows that they put the same construction upon it4 ,while1 therefore1 justice should be done to ,general ,jessup1 we should be careful to do no injustice to either the ,seminoles or the ,exiles4 ,as further evidence of ,general ,jessup's good faith at the time1 we quote an extract from a letter1 bearing date six days later than the one last referred to4 ,it was addressed to ,lieutenant ,colonel ,miller1 commanding at ,tampa ,bay1 and is dated ,march twenty-seventh1 #ahcg4 ,it is signed by ,general ,jessup himself1 who says3 ,i have also been informed that ,mr4 ,cooley's business at ,tampa ,bay is to look after negroes4 ,if that be so1 he must be sent away2 a trifling circumstance would light up the war again4 ,any interference with the negroes which would produce alarm on their part would inevitably deprive us of all the advantages we have gained4 ,i sympathize with ,mr4 ,cooley in his afflictions and losses2 but responsible as ,i am for the peace of the country1 ,i cannot and will not permit that peace to be jeopardized by his imprudence4 ,but these demands for slaves increased4 ,the slaveholders were indignant at the loss of slaves1 and it soon became apparent that the stipulation of safety to the allies of the ,seminoles was unpopular in ,florida4 ,on the twenty-ninth of ,march1 ,general ,jessup wrote ,colonel ,warner1 of the ,florida ,militia1 saying1 ,there is no disposition on the part of the great body of the ,indians to renew hostilities2 and they will1 ,i am sure1 faithfully fulfill their engagements1 if the inhabitants of ,florida be prudent3 but any attempt to seize their negroes1 or other property1 would be followed by an instant resort to arms4 ,i have some hopes of inducing both ,indians and ,indian negroes to unite in bringing in the negroes taken from the citizens during the war4 ,in this letter1 ,general ,jessup begins to modify his former position4 ,he still entertains no fear of the ,indians1 if their negroes or other property be not interfered with1 and suggests the hope that he may effect an arrangement with the ,indians and ,indian negroes to bring in 7that is1 to surrender up17 the negroes taken during the war4 ,this letter gives the first evidence1 which we find on record1 of ,general ,jessup's intention to modify or disregard the solemn compact he had made1 or to make another with the ,indians and ,indian negroes by which they should betray those who had fled to them during the war4 ,but that he did make some arrangement of that character with the chiefs1 we are led to infer from a letter bearing date ,may fifth1 #ahcg1 addressed to ,general ,jessup by the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 informing him that his articles of capitulation with the ,seminoles had been submitted to the ,secretary of ,war1 together with his letters of the first and fifteenth of ,april1 and had been approved2 and the writer then adds3 ,in relation to the negroes captured by the ,seminoles and to be surrendered1 ,i am directed to say1 that your arrangement for having them delivered to officers of posts on the ,st4 ,john's ,river1 is approved4#ie ,this letter also directs ,general ,jessup to keep a registry of all negroes delivered to citizens1 showing their names1 age1 sex1 etc4 ,a general order1 dated ,tampa ,bay1 ,april fifth1 and numbered seventy-nine1 announces first1 ,the commanding ,general has reason to believe that the interference of unprincipled white men with the negro property of the ,seminole ,indians will prevent their emigration1 and lead to a renewal of the war4 ,responsible as he is for the peace and security of the country1 he will not permit such interference under any pretense whatsoever4 ,and he therefore orders that no white man1 not in the service of the ,united ,states1 be allowed to enter any part of the territory1 between the ,st4 ,john's and the ,gulf of ,mexico1 south of ,fort ,drane4 ,on the eighth of ,april1 ,general ,jessup wrote ,colonel ,harney1 saying1 ,i have made an arrangement with the chiefs to-day to surrender the negroes of white men1 particularly those taken during the war4 ,with what particular chiefs this arrangement was made1 or what were the terms of the arrangement1 the ,author has not learned2 yet1 as we shall see hereafter1 he represented it to have been made at ,fort ,king with ,co-,hadjo1 an unimportant chief1 and then attempted to hold the ,seminole ,nation responsible for ,co-,hadjo's promise4 ,but under these circumstances1 the reader will ask what consideration was paid ,co-,hadjo to bribe him to enter into such a contract8 ,that chief and ,general ,jessup and ,general ,cass1 ,secretary of ,war1 must have known he possessed no power to bind the ,seminole ,nation1 nor to surrender those persons to slavery4 ,it will long remain a subject of inquiry4 ,why did the ,war ,department sanction this violation of the solemn articles of capitulation1 which these officers termed a treaty1 and which certainly possessed all the solemnity and binding force of a treaty8 ,there is also an inexplicable obscurity attending this subject4 ,general ,jessup wrote ,colonel ,harney1 on the eighth of ,april1 that he had that day made the arrangement1 etc42 while the ,secretary of ,war states that he had learned of this arrangement by ,general ,jessup's two letters1 dated the first and fifteenth of ,april4 ,one of these letters appears to bear date seven days before1 and the other seven days after1 the day on which he declares the arrangement was made4 ,the withholding of such fact seven days from the ,war ,department would be as incompatible with military duty as the giving it seven days before its existence1 is irreconcilable with the common perceptions of mankind4 ,in several instances1 ,general ,jessup had foretold that a renewal of the war would follow any attempt to deliver up negroes to the claimants in ,florida1 and it would appear that he must have expected that result2 but he communicated to the commandants of nearly all the different posts1 that he had made arrangements with the chiefs for returning slaves captured during the war4 ,but1 up to the twenty-sixth of ,april1 he steadily insisted that no obligation rested upon the ,indians to bring in runaway negroes who had fled to them before the war4 ,on the twenty-sixth1 he wrote ,colonel ,brown1 of ,st4 ,augustine1 saying3--,i have made arrangements with the ,indians for the delivery of the negroes captured during the war4 ,they are to be delivered1 if they can be taken without delaying the ,indians in their movements1 at the posts on the ,st4 ,john's4 ,the ,indians are not bound to surrender runaway negroes4 ,they must1 and shall1 give up those taken during the war3 at all events1 they shall not take them out of the country4 ,further than that1 ,i shall not interfere4 ,but while relating facts on this subject1 we should be unfaithful to the truth of history were we to omit the letter which this officer wrote1 on the following day1 to ,hon4 ,j4 ,l4 ,smith1 a citizen of ,florida4 ,this letter1 bearing date at ,tampa ,bay on the twenty-seventh of ,april1 #ahcg1 says3 ,i received1 yesterday1 your letter of the eighteenth1 with a list of the slaves which you claim4 ,ansel is the only one of the three who has been taken4 ,i have him employed1 at one of the interior posts1 as an interpreter4 ,the negroes generally have taken the alarm1 and but few of them come in2 and those who remain out1 prevent the ,indians from coming4 ,but for the premature attempts of some citizens of ,florida to obtain possession of their slaves1 a majority of those taken by the ,indians during the war1 as well as those who absconded previous to it1 would have been secured before this time4 ,more than thirty negro men were in and near my camp1 when some of the citizens1 who had lost negroes1 came to demand them4 ,the ,indian-negroes immediately disappeared1 and have not been heard of since4 ,it is believed that1 in the conducting of this second ,seminole war1 no act of any public officer will hereafter appear more inexplicable than the conduct of ,general ,jessup1 in regard to this stipulation in favor of the ,exiles4 ,no person can suppose there was any doubt in regard to the original design of this stipulation4 ,he at first appears determined to carry it out in good faith2 this was before he learned the complaint of the slaveholders of ,florida1 made to the ,secretary of ,war4 ,he next expressed his intention to make an arrangement with the chiefs to surrender negroes captured during the war--as though the chiefs were authorized to consign their allies to slavery4 ,he next says he had made such an arrangement1 but fails to say with whom4 ,at length it comes out1 in the future history1 that he alleges it to have been made with ,co-,hadjo1 an obscure chief1 in no way a party to the capitulation1 or connected with it4 ,and finally1 in this letter to ,judge ,smith1 he intimates that he would have betrayed many of those allies to slavery1 if the people of the ,territory had been quiet4 ,our present duty1 however1 is to record facts1 without asking attention to the intended treachery or fraud of individuals2 but this avowed intention of entrapping the negroes by inducing them to come in under the expectation of emigrating ,west with their ,seminole friends1 and then consign them to bondage1 must attract the attention and excite the wonder of ,christian men4 ,this wonder is increased by the fact1 that language is constantly used by slaveholders apparently intended to mislead the ,northern reader4 ,for instance1 ,general ,jessup speaks of slaves captured during the war1 as though the ,indians made prisoners of slaves4 ,this is believed to be entirely without foundation4 ,slaves being regarded by ,southern men as property1 incapable of thought1 whenever they fled from their masters and sought an asylum with the ,indians1 the masters spoke of them as captured4 ,soon us it was known that slaves were to be seized and returned1 claims were preferred from all quarters4 ,the correspondence on this subject1 now in the ,department of ,war1 would of itself form a volume1 if quoted at length4 ,spaniards sent in claims for slaves lost while the ,territory was in possession of ,spain1 in #ahjb and #ahjc4 ,claims from ,south ,carolina1 from ,georgia1 ,alabama and ,florida1 and from ,creek ,indians1 were presented to the commandants of different posts4 ,slaveholders evidently felt that they were to be permitted to seize such colored prisoners as they could lay their hands upon1 and enslave them4 ,they no longer waited for black prisoners to be brought to the ,st4 ,john's1 or other posts1 but like wolves greedy for their prey1 they hurried into the ,indian ,country1 and risked their lives in order to secure victims for the slave-markets4 ,the ,legislative ,council of ,florida became affected with this general mania1 and in the most formal manner declared the right of masters to regain possession of their slaves1 without regard to the ,federal ,government or its officers4 ,finding ,general ,jessup incapable of resisting the popular clamor1 the claimants for slaves openly demanded a revocation of the ,general ,order1 by which they were prohibited from entering the ,indian territory for the purpose of seizing slaves4 ,a public meeting of the citizens of various parts of ,florida1 was held at ,san ,augustine1 and a committee appointed to remonstrate with ,general ,jessup1 and procure a rescission of his order1 ,no4 #gi1 prohibiting them from entering the ,territory1 between the ,st4 ,john's ,river and the ,gulf of ,mexico1 south of ,fort ,drane4 ,the committee addressed him in a long1 written protest1 in which they declare1 the regaining of their slaves constitutes an object of scarcely less moment than that of peace to the country4#if ,general ,jessup now began to modify his order1 ,no4 #gi1 so as to admit citizens to enter the ,territory as far south as the road leading from ,withlacoochee to ,volusi2 and1 on the first of ,may1 so informed ,major ,mc,clintock1 commanding at ,fort ,drane4 ,on the day following1 he addressed a letter to ,brig4 ,general ,armistead1 directing that officer to consider ,order ,no4 #gi so far modified1 that citizens will be permitted to visit any of the posts on the ,st4 ,john's1 and to traverse or remain in any part of the country south of ,withlacoochee4 ,there are large herds of cattle in that part of the country which no doubt belong to the citizens1 and by allowing them to go into the country1 they may perhaps secure a large portion of them4 ,it will be recollected1 that ,general ,scott would not permit the people of ,florida to interfere in the discharge of his official duties1 and that they1 through their representative in ,congress1 had demanded his removal from command of the army4 ,they now applied directly to the ,secretary of ,war1 remonstrating against the action of ,general ,jessup2 and it is possible that officer deemed it prudent to yield to their dictation4 ,be that as it may1 it is certain that he now lent the power of the army to carry out the wishes of the citizens4 ,officers and men were detailed to take black prisoners--who had come in and surrendered with the expectation of emigrating ,west--from their places of rendezvous to certain points where it would be most convenient for claimants to receive them4 ,on the seventeenth of ,april1 ,major ,churchill1 aid to ,general ,jessup1 wrote ,colonel ,harney1 saying1 ,i am instructed by the commanding ,general to acknowledge the receipt to-day of your letter of the seventh instant1 and to inform you that the negro prisoners captured from the ,indians1 and supposed to belong to the white people1 were sent from this place1 on the eleventh instant1 to ,lieutenant ,d4 ,h4 ,vinton1 at ,st4 ,marks1 for the purpose of being returned to their owners4 ,the ,indians have agreed to send all slaves1 taken from white people during the war1 to ,fort ,mellon and ,volusi2 and runners are now employed in the interior on that service4 ,on the same day1 information was given to ,william ,de ,payster1 that seven of the number sent to ,volusi probably belonged to him4 ,on the same day also1 ,a4 ,forrester was informed of the fact1 that those slaves had been sent to ,st4 ,marks1 and that six of the number probably belonged to him4 ,other plans were devised for securing slaves1 as we are informed by a letter from ,general ,jessup to ,e4 ,k4 ,call1 ,governor of ,florida1 dated eighteenth of ,april1 #ahcg1 in which he says3 ,if the citizens of the territory be prudent1 the war may be considered at an end2 but any attempt to interfere with the ,indian negroes1 or to arrest any of the chiefs or warriors as debtors or criminals1 would cause an immediate resort to arms4 ,the negroes control their masters2 and have heard of the act of your legislative council4 ,thirty or more of the ,indian negro men were near my camp on the ,withlacoochee in ,march last2 but the arrival of two or three citizens of ,florida1 said to be in search of negroes1 caused them to disperse1 and ,i doubt whether they will come in again2 at all events the emigration will be delayed a month ,i apprehend in consequence of this alarm among the negroes4 ,the emigration of those ,indians who had come in to ,fort ,brooke1 and registered themselves as ready for emigration1 was delayed in consequence of the difficulty of collecting those who were expected2 and ,general ,jessup began to see the effects which his violation of the articles of capitulation had wrought on the minds of both ,indians and negroes4 ,indeed1 he had in plain and distinct language repeatedly affirmed that the negroes controlled the ,indians2 that any interference with the negroes would cause a resort to arms2 yet he himself subsequently ordered negroes to be sought out1 separated from their friends1 and delivered over to slavery4 ,the ships were yet lying in the harbor4 ,about seven hundred ,indians were encamped ready for emigration1 and had been waiting for others to join them4 ,impatient at delay and disappointment1 on the twenty fifth of ,may1 he wrote ,colonel ,harney1 as follows3 ,if you see ,powell 7,osceola7 again1 ,i wish you to tell him that ,i intend to send exploring and surveying parties into every part of the country during the summer1 and that ,i shall send out and take all the negroes who belong to the white people1 and he must not allow the ,indians or ,indian negroes to mix with them4 ,tell him ,i am sending to ,cuba for bloodhounds to trail them1 and ,i intend to hang every one of them who does not come in4 ,this intention to renslave the ,exiles who had recently taken up their residence with the ,seminoles became known1 and created general alarm4 ,many of the blacks1 who had come in for the purpose of emigrating1 became alarmed and fled2 and ,general ,jessup1 doubtful whether more could be obtained by peaceful means1 seized about ninety ,exiles who were confined within the pickets at ,tampa ,bay1 on the second of ,june1 and at once ordered them to ,new ,orleans1 under the charge of ,lieutenant ,g4 ,h4 ,trevitt1 of the ,united ,states ,marines4 ,this struck the ,indians and ,exiles with astonishment4 ,the chiefs1 warriors and families1 numbering some seven hundred1 who had collected at ,tampa ,bay for the purpose of emigrating to the western country1 thinking themselves betrayed1 now fled to their former fastnesses1 far in the interior1 and once more determined to defend their liberties or die in the attempt4 ,a few1 however1 were secured at other posts1 and sent to ,new ,orleans1 where they were delivered over to ,quarter-,master ,clark1 and confined at ,fort ,pike4 ,on the fourteenth of ,june1 ,general ,jessup1 writing ,general ,gadsden of ,south ,carolina1 says3 ,all is lost1 and principally1 ,i fear1 by the influence of the negroes--the people who were the subject of our correspondence4 99 99 99 ,i seized1 and sent off to ,new ,orleans1 about ninety ,indian negroes1 and ,i have about seventeen here4 ,i have captured ninety1 the property of citizens2 all of whom have been sent to ,st4 ,marks and ,st4 ,augustine1 except four at this place1 twelve at ,fort ,mellon1 and six who died4 ,general ,jessup now saw that both ,seminole ,indians and negroes had clear conceptions of justice and honor4 ,that his efforts to deliver over negroes to slavery had defeated the entire object of the articles of capitulation of the eighteenth of ,march4 ,the ,indians had fled4 ,the negroes1 except those who were imprisoned1 had fled4 ,the twenty-six vessels1 collected at ,tampa ,bay to transport them to ,new ,orleans1 were yet idle2 and1 to use his own words1 all was lost6 ,abraham1 acting for his brethren while ,west1 in #ahcc1 had caused the article to be inserted in the supplemental treaty1 giving the ,seminoles a separate country for their settlement4 ,in forming the articles of capitulation with general ,jessup1 he again exhibited his capacity for negotiation2 obtaining the insertion of an article which1 if carried out1 would have proved a triumphant vindication of their cause4 ,but from this second manifestation of his powers for negotiation1 the ,government of the ,united ,states found it necessary to recede1 in order to maintain its designs of enslaving the ,exiles4 ,,chapter ,,xii4 ,,the ,,renewal ,,and ,,prosecution ,,of ,,the ,,war4 ,objects of the first and second ,seminole ,war--,action of ,general ,jessup and the ,executive in regard to the ,capitulation--,his alleged arrangement--,resumes hostilities with intent to carry out original design of ,general ,jackson--,establishes a series of forays for the capture of ,negroes--,choctaws and ,delawares employed--,cherokees refuse--,send a ,delegation to make peace--,ross1 the ,cherokee ,chief1 addresses a ,letter to ,wild ,cat1 ,osceola1 and others--,difficulty with ,creek ,warriors--,general ,order--,general ,jessup's policy--,creek ,warriors discharged--,capture of ,king ,phillip--,his message to ,wild ,cat--,influence of ,cherokees--,wild ,cat bears plume1 etc41 from ,osceola to ,general ,jessup1 proposing to negotiate--,jessup sends back answer--,wild ,cat1 ,osceola and ,exiles come in to ,fort ,peyton--,are betrayed--,seized as prisoners--,imprisoned at ,san ,augustine--,wild ,cat escapes--,thrilling ,narrative--,cherokee ,delegation induce ,micanopy1 ,cloud and others to visit ,general ,jessup--,they too are seized1 and one hundred ,exiles captured--,extraordinary conduct of ,general ,jessup--,cherokees leave in disgust4 ,by the articles of capitulation1 entered into on the sixth of ,march 7#ahcg71 the second ,seminole ,war had been terminated4 ,general ,jessup so regarded it1 and so declared it4 ,the ,exiles and ,indians so regarded it1 and some eight hundred came in under it and registered their names for emigration1 in good faith4 ,the people of ,florida regarded it in that light1 and remonstrated against it4 ,they declared it a treaty of peace2 but complained of its terms1 for the reason that it gave up the slaves whom they claimed to own4 ,learning this dissatisfaction to exist among the slaveholders of ,florida1 ,general ,jessup expressed1 in his correspondence1 an intention of making an arrangement with the chiefs1 by which the slaves belonging to the citizens of ,florida1 captured during the war1 should be given up4 ,why those claimed by the citizens of ,florida should be given up1 and those escaped from ,georgia and ,alabama remain free1 he has failed to show6 ,why those who escaped1 or1 as he expresses it1 were captured during the war1 should be returned1 and those who escaped or had been captured the day previous to the commencement of hostilities1 should not be returned1 he has not explained2 but he soon announced1 that he had made an arrangement with the chiefs to deliver up these persons2 and at once set the army at work to restore them4 ,this restoration of slaves1 of itself1 constituted a renewal of the war4 ,it had caused the first ,seminole war1 in #ahaf3 it had caused this second ,seminole war1 and ,general ,jessup was himself conscious that such interference with the ,exiles would induce a renewal of hostilities4 ,that class of ,exiles was numerous2 they constituted a portion of the allies for whose safety he had solemnly pledged the faith of ,government4 ,it were useless for the friends of the then existing ,administration to say1 that ,general ,jessup made an arrangement with the ,indian chiefs for delivering up these people4 ,the ,exiles were the persons interested in their own safety1 for which they had fought4 ,no chiefs had authority to sell them1 or to deliver them over to interminable bondage4 ,but the reader will inquire1 with what particular chiefs was this arrangement made8 ,when1 and where was it made8 ,what were its terms8 ,the only answers1 so far as we are informed1 are to be found in the interrogatories propounded to ,osceola and other chiefs1 when they were captured1 at ,fort ,peyton1 on the twenty-first of ,october following4 ,general ,jessup's first written interrogatory was1 ,are they 7the chiefs7 prepared to deliver up the negroes taken from the citizens8 ,why have they not surrendered them already1 as promised by ,co-,hadjo1 at ,fort ,king8 ,here he merely claimed a promise from ,co-,hadjo1 an obscure chief1 who was not a party to the capitulation--did not sign it1 and so far as we are informed1 was not present when it was entered into4 ,but1 to show that no obligation whatever rested on the chiefs in this matter1 his next interrogatories were1 ,have the chiefs of the ,nation held a ,council in relation to the subjects of the talk at ,fort ,king8 ,what chiefs attended that ,council1 and what was their decision8 ,these questions seem to admit1 that ,co-,hadjo had merely promised to lay the subject before the chiefs in ,council2 and here we find the reasons1 on the part of ,general ,jessup1 for not laying the arrangement before the people3 yet1 under these circumstances1 that officer charges bad faith upon the ,indians and ,exiles1 in renewing the war4 ,the ,exiles possessed no means of informing the ,american people1 and other nations1 as to these facts1 or of maintaining their honor against this charge of having violated their plighted faith4 ,in renewing hostilities1 ,general ,jessup appears to have fully determined on carrying out the designs of ,general ,jackson1 in #ahaf1 when he directed ,general ,gaines to destroy the fort1 and return the slaves to their owners4 ,from this time forward1 he lent his energies1 and the power of the army1 to the object of capturing and returning slaves4 ,he also deemed it necessary to change the mode of prosecuting the war1 and to make it a series of forays for the capture and enslavement of the ,exiles4 ,he had1 the previous year1 entered into a contract with the ,creek ,indians1 by which he stipulated to pay them a large pecuniary compensation1 and to allow them to hold all the plunder 7negroes7 whom they might capture1 as property4 ,he now evidently believed that such inducements1 held out to the ,florida militia1 would have an effect to stimulate them to greater effort4 ,on the eleventh of ,june1 he wrote ,colonel ,warren1 saying1 ,there is no obligation to spare the property of the ,indians2 they have not spared that of the citizens4 ,their negroes1 cattle and horses1 as well as other property which they possess1 will belong to the corps by which they are captured4 ,the same orders were communicated to the ,commandants of other posts1 and to the militia from other ,states2 and the system by which the negroes and other property were to be distributed among the captors1 was prescribed in a letter to ,colonel ,heilman1 declaring the field officers entitled to three shares1 the company officers to receive two shares1 and the non-commissioned officers and soldiers one share each4 ,these arrangements were1 of course1 all duly certified to the ,war ,department1 and approved1 and thereby became acts of the ,administration4 ,the letters of ,general ,jessup1 written during the summer and autumn of #ahcg1 to ,colonel ,crowell1 at ,fort ,mitchell1 ,alabama2 to ,colonel ,mills1 of ,newmansville1 ,florida2 to ,thomas ,craghill1 ,esq41 of ,alabama2 to ,captain ,david ,s4 ,walker1 ,captain ,bonneville and ,captain ,armstrong2#ig all show1 conclusively1 that the war was to be conducted by the organization of slave-catching forays1 in which the troops were expected to penetrate the ,indian ,country for the purpose of capturing negroes4 ,during the sickly season no active operations against the allies could be carried on1 and the time was occupied in preparing for the more vigorous prosecution of hostilities1 so soon as the unhealthy months should be passed4 ,in order to carry out these forays1 the ,indians residing west of the ,mississippi were applied to for assistance4 ,the ,choctaws and ,delawares furnished many individuals whose low moral development did not prevent their engaging in the proposed piratical expeditions1 for seizing and enslaving their fellow-men2 but of the precise number of individuals thus furnished1 we have no authentic information4 ,the ,cherokees however appear to have rejected a proposition which1 to them1 appeared incompatible with the civilization of that tribe2 they evidently felt deep sympathy for their brethren1 the ,seminoles1 as well as for the ,exiles4 ,they agreed to furnish a delegation who should1 in a friendly manner1 visit the ,seminoles1 state to them the condition of the ,western ,country1 and advise them in good faith to emigrate4 ,at that period ,john ,ross was acting as principal chief of the ,cherokee ,nation4 ,he was the son of a wealthy white man1 who had long been engaged as an ,indian trader4 ,his mother was a ,cherokee4 ,ross had been educated3 had seen the advantages of civilization1 and of ,christianity1 and was at the time1 and had long been engaged1 in promoting civilization among his own people4 ,it will readily be supposed1 that the feelings of such a man would revolt at a proposition for his people to engage in the capture and enslavement of any portion of the human family4 ,the correspondence between ,ross and the ,secretary of ,war is interesting1 and its perusal would well compensate the curious reader4#ih ,this delegation from the ,cherokees consisted of some twelve of their most influential men4 ,they bore with them an address from ,ross1 written with great ability and sincerity4 ,among other things1 he assured the ,seminoles that they might confide in the justice and honor of the ,united ,states4#ii ,this address was directed to ,micanopy1 ,osceola and ,wild ,cat1 the three most powerful and warlike chiefs among the ,seminoles4 ,the ,creek warriors had engaged to serve until the ,seminoles were conquered2 but after the death of ,captain ,moniac1 and their other friends who fell in the ,great ,wahoo ,swamp1 they had shown a disposition rather to avoid danger than to catch negroes2 and it was deemed proper to discharge them4 ,but difficulties intervened in regard to the division of the negroes claimed to have been captured by them1 while acting in concert with our troops4 ,some ninety negroes had been captured1 in whose bones and muscles1 blood and sinews1 seven hundred ,creek warriors claimed an interest2 while the ,tennesseeans1 and other troops1 had been in the field acting with the ,creeks at the time of capture2 and the ,creeks could1 in equity1 claim only a pro rata interest4 ,general ,jessup however met the difficulty with promptness1 and1 to put an end to all future strife and discontent1 he issued the following3 ,,order ,no4 #age4 ,,tampa ,,bay1 ,sept4 #f1 #ahcg4 #a4 ,the ,seminole negroes captured by the army1 will be taken on account of ,government and held subject to the orders of the ,secretary of ,war4 #b4 ,the sum of eight thousand dollars will be paid to the ,creek chiefs and warriors by whom they were captured1 or who were present at their capture1 in full for their claims2 the amount to be apportioned among the battalions in proportion to the numbers respectively taken by each1 viz3 ,to the first battalion1 five thousand seven hundred dollars2 to the second battalion1 two thousand dollars2 and to the spy battalion1 three hundred dollars4 #c4 ,to induce the ,creeks to take alive1 and not destroy1 the negroes of citizens who had been captured by the ,seminoles1 a reward was promised them for all they should secure4 ,they have captured and secured thirty-five1 who have been returned to their owners4 ,the owners have paid nothing1 but the promise to the ,indians must be fulfilled4 ,the sum of twenty dollars will be allowed them for each1 from the public funds4 #d4 ,lieutenant ,frederick ,searle is charged with the execution of this order4 ,he will cause accounts to be made1 in the name of the ,united ,states1 and receipts taken from the ,indians in full1 for all claims to the negroes1 both of the ,seminoles and citizens4 ,lieutenant ,searle will call on the ,commanding ,general for funds to enable him to comply with this order4 #e4 ,until further orders1 the ,seminole negroes will remain at ,fort ,pike1 ,louisiana1 in charge of the ,assistant ,quarter-,master at ,new ,orleans1 and in custody of the ,commanding ,officer of the post4 ,they will be fed and clothed at the public expense4 ,this order was reported to the ,secretary of ,war1 and on the seventh of ,october was approved and became the act of the ,executive2 and the people of the nation became the actual owners of these ninety slaves1 so far as the ,executive could bind them to the ownership of human flesh4 ,such was1 undoubtedly1 the view of ,general ,jessup1 who1 on the fourteenth of ,september1 wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 saying1 ,the ,seminole negro prisoners are now the property of the public4 ,i have promised ,abraham the freedom of his family1 if he prove faithful to us2 and ,i shall surely hang him if he be not faithful4#ajj ,this refinement in cruelty by which the life and liberty of a man and his family is held out as a bribe to induce him to prove traitor to his own kindred and nation1 or to be hanged1 and his family enslaved in case of refusal1 appears worthy a place in the history of our ,government1 in order that our successors may have a correct idea of its administration4 ,the intention to enslave ,abraham's wife1 who was an ,indian woman and had been the wife of the former chief of the nation1 and now the wife of the principal chief of the ,exiles1 exhibits a total disregard of the feelings and sympathies of the human heart1 as well as of the prejudices and condition of both ,exiles and ,seminoles4 ,these ,exiles were at ,fort ,pike1 near ,new ,orleans1 where we will leave them for the present1 to pursue our narrative of events which were transpiring in ,florida4 ,on the ninth of ,september1 ,general ,jessup wrote ,lieutenant ,searle1 as follows3 ,you will muster the ,creek regiment out of service1 and honorably discharge them4 ,then you will proceed to ,new ,orleans1 and obtain funds to pay the ,creeks for the captured negroes4 ,the chiefs and warriors who were actually in the field at the time of the capture of negroes are alone to receive any part of the sum allowed4 ,those who remained in camp and did not march are to receive nothing4 ,you will examine the prisoners at ',fort ,pike1' 7the ninety ,exiles17 and cause an accurate description to be taken of them1 specifying their names1 ages1 height1 sex1 and such other particulars as you may deem important4 ,they must all be comfortably clothed1 at the public expense1 immediately1 by the ,assistant ,quarter-,master at ,new ,orleans1 who will keep them properly clad4 ,it would appear that some difficulty arose with the ,choctaw and ,delaware warriors1 who had expected to receive higher wages than the law allowed for serving in the army4 ,such had been done with the ,creeks1 and undoubtedly had been promised the ,choctaws and ,delawares4 ,to quiet these discontents1 ,general ,jessup wrote ,colonel ,davenport1 on the seventh of ,november1 saying1 ,i regret the circumstance to which you refer4 ,the importance of fulfilling all our engagements with the ,indians with the most scrupulous good faith1 is unquestionable4 ,to dismiss them now1 might not only cost us another campaign1 but may cause us difficulties on our western border4 ,we must retain them at all hazards4 ,i wish you to assure them1 that our laws do not authorize the payment of the sum stipulated2 but that the enemy has a large property1 consisting of ponies1 cattle and negroes1 and that ,i will pay them for all the cattle they take1 and they will be paid fifty dollars for every negro4 99 99 99 ,represent to them also1 that our country is just1 and if they will serve well1 ,i will take their chiefs to ,washington1 and represent their case to the ,great ,council 7,congress71 and ,i have no doubt they will get all that has been promised them4 ,he also wrote ,captain ,armstrong of the ,choctaw agency1 and ,captain ,bonneville1 commanding the ,choctaw warriors1 encouraging the ,indians to faithful effort in order to obtain negroes4 ,some of the ,georgia volunteers appeared anxious to know definitely the terms on which they were to expose their lives in these slave-catching forays2 and a letter was addressed to ,brigadier ,general ,c4 ,h4 ,nelson1 commanding the ,georgia volunteers1 by ,j4 ,a4 ,chambers1 aid to ,general ,jessup1 saying1 ,we have not the order book with us at this moment2 but the ,general directs me to say1 that all ,indian property captured belongs to the capturers4 ,on the same day1 ,general ,hernandez of the ,florida militia1 found means to secure ,king ,phillip1 an aged chief1 who lived some distance south of ,san ,augustine1 with eleven others of his tribe4 ,it may be regarded as somewhat unfortunate1 that history has failed to give us the particulars of this capture4 ,the subsequent conduct of ,general ,hernandez may lead the reader to look back upon this incident of the war with some desire to know the manner of ,king ,phillip's capture2 to understand whether it was peaceful or hostile2 and whether any1 and how many1 white men1 and how many ,indians and ,exiles1 fell in the conflict8 ,but we must pass over these particulars1 as we have no authentic account concerning them4 ,general ,jessup1 when called on to report to the ,secretary of ,war as to violations of the flag of truce1 merely remarks1 incidentally1 that ,king ,phillip and his companions were captured by ,general ,hernandez4 ,phillip had long been regarded as a chief of influence among the ,seminoles4 ,finding himself a prisoner1 he became anxious to see1 and converse with1 some of his friends2 and ,general ,hernandez1 at his request1 gave permission1 for one of the prisoners to carry this talk to his family1 inviting them to come and visit him in his captivity4 ,the message was faithfully delivered to his oldest son1 already known to the reader as ,wild ,cat4 ,he had been an active warrior at the massacre of ,dade's battalion2 had been subsequently elevated to the dignity of a chief2 had visited ,general ,jessup1 under the articles of capitulation of ,march1 #ahcg1 and at that time delivered up ,louis as his slave1 demanding his transportation ,west under those articles2 and when he learned the intention of ,general ,jessup to deliver up a portion of the ,exiles to slavery1 he left ,fort ,brooke1 and again swearing vengeance upon the enslavers of mankind1 became one of the most active warriors in the ,seminole ,nation4 ,illustration3 ,coacoochee4 7,wild ,cat47 ,the ,cherokee ,delegation had reached the ,indian country4 ,the address of ,john ,ross was directed to ,wild ,cat and ,osceola1 as two of the principal ,seminole chiefs4 ,they were together1 and received the talk of ,ross1 the ,cherokee chief1 assuring them of the integrity and honor of the ,united ,states4 ,after due consideration1 it was determined that ,wild ,cat should comply with the filial obligations due to his aged father1 bearing with him the peace token of ,osceola1 consisting of a neatly wrought bead pipe1 together with a beautiful white plume1 to be presented to ,general ,hernandez1 as the assurance of ,osceola's pacific desires4 ,co-,hadjo1 another chief1 bore a similar message and emblems4 ,these were received by ,general ,hernandez1 who communicated immediate information thereof to ,general ,jessup4 ,they were propositions for negotiating a peace1 forwarded at the special request and advice of the ,cherokee ,delegation1 who were active in their efforts to stop the effusion of blood1 and restore harmony between our nation and the ,seminoles4 ,by direction of ,general ,jessup1 ,hernandez returned various presents to ,osceola by ,co-,hadjo1 saying1 that ,general ,jessup and himself would be glad to hold a conference with them4 ,the same assurances and presents were given to ,wild ,cat1 who also became the messenger between ,general ,jessup and ,general ,hernandez on the one hand1 and his brethren on the other4 ,with the hope of effecting an arrangement beneficial to his friends and to mankind1 ,wild ,cat left ,san ,augustine with the promise to return in ten days4 ,punctual to the day1 he returned with the very satisfactory assurance1 that ,osceola1 and one hundred ,indians and as many ,exiles1 were on their way toward ,san ,augustine1 for the purpose of entering upon negotiations4 ,with the intention of hastening their arrival1 and manifesting an earnest desire for peace1 ,general ,hernandez proceeded1 with ,wild ,cat and other friendly ,seminoles1 to meet the advancing chiefs1 some twenty miles south-west of ,san ,augustine1 at a place called ,pelican ,creek4 ,here he learned that ,osceola would join them at evening4 ,general ,hernandez left a quantity of provisions with them1 and1 desiring them to select their encampment for the next day 7,oct4 #bb7 somewhere near ,fort ,peyton1 at which place he would meet them with a proper escort1 left them1 and returned to ,san ,augustine4 ,they accordingly encamped the next day near ,fort ,peyton1 situated seven miles south-west from ,san ,augustine4 ,they approached their encampment with great formality3 ,osceola and other chiefs bearing white flags1 expecting to meet a suitable escort under ,general ,hernandez1 with the well-understood intentions of entering upon diplomatic negotiations with that grave dignity for which the ,indian is so much distinguished4 ,these flags were kept flying in their encampment through the night and the next morning4 ,at ten o'clock 7,oct4 #bc71 ,general ,hernandez1 accompanied by his staff and by most of ,general ,jessup's staff1 in full dress1 met them as had been promised1 with the apparent purpose of escorting them to head-quarters at ,san ,augustine4 ,after the ordinary salutations had been exchanged1 instead of preparing to march1 ,general ,hernandez1 from a written paper signed by ,general ,jessup1 read the following questions addressed to ,osceola3 ,are you prepared at once to deliver up the negroes taken from the citizens8 ,why have you not surrendered them already1 as promised by ,co-,hadjo at ,fort ,king8 ,have the chiefs of the nation held a council on this subject8#aja ,osceola exhibited the most perfect astonishment at hearing these questions propounded at such a moment4 ,he appeared1 however1 instantly to comprehend his situation4 ,turning to ,co-,hadjo1 he said to him in his own dialect1 ,you must answer2 ,i am choked1 at the same time exhibiting unusual emotion for an ,indian chief4#ajb ,at this moment1 by a concerted signal1 armed troops at once surrounded the whole encampment1 gathered rapidly in upon the occupants1 made prisoners of them1 and at once disarmed them4 ,they were then marched to ,san ,augustine1 and closely imprisoned in the ancient castle of that city4 ,there was about an equal number of ,exiles captured1 at this violation of our plighted faith2 they were1 however1 sent to ,tampa ,bay for safe keeping4 ,wild ,cat1 having been made the instrument for betraying ,osceola and other friends1 felt great indignation at what he regarded as the perfidy practiced upon him and his brethren1 and determined to escape from his imprisonment so soon as an opportunity should offer4 ,but he was imprisoned in the ,castle of ,san ,augustine1 whose gray walls1 lofty turrets1 battlements and ,catholic chapel1 must have presented to the young warrior a spectacle in striking contrast with the rude huts in which he was accustomed to lodge1 in the interior of the ,territory4 ,we prefer letting him tell the story of his escape1 which we copy from the works of one who was then serving in our army4#ajc ,said ,wild ,cat3 ,we were in a small room1 eighteen or twenty feet square4 ,all the light admitted was through a hole 7embrasure7 about eighteen feet from the floor4 ,through this we must effect our escape1 or remain and die with sickness4 ,a sentinel was constantly posted at the door4 ,as we looked at it from our bed1 we thought it small1 but believed that1 could we get our heads through1 we should have no further or serious difficulty4 ,to reach the hole was the first object4 ,in order to effect this1 we from time to time cut up the forage bags allowed us to sleep on1 and made them into ropes4 ,the hole ,i could not reach when upon the shoulder of my companion2 but1 while standing upon his shoulder1 ,i worked a knife into a crevice of the stone-work as far as ,i could reach1 and upon this ,i raised myself to the aperture1 when ,i found that1 with some reduction of person1 ,i could get through4 ,in order to reduce ourselves as much as possible1 we took medicine five days4 ,under the pretext of being very sick1 we were permitted to obtain the roots we required4 ,for some weeks we watched the moon1 in order that1 on the night of our attempt1 it should be as dark as possible4 ,at the proper time we commenced the medicine1 calculating on the entire disappearance of the moon4 ,the keeper of this prison1 on the night determined upon to make the effort1 annoyed us by frequently coming into the room1 and talking and singing4 ,at first we thought of tying him and putting his head in a bag1 so that1 should he call for assistance1 he could not be heard4 ,we first1 however1 tried the experiment of pretending to be asleep1 and1 when he returned1 to pay no regard to him4 ,this accomplished our object4 ,he came in and went immediately out2 and we could hear him snore1 in the immediate vicinity of the door4 ,i then took the rope we had secreted under our bed1 and1 mounting on the shoulder of my comrade1 raised myself upon the knife worked into the crevice of the stone1 and succeeded in reaching the embrasure4 ,here ,i made fast the rope1 that my friend might follow me4 ,i then passed through the hole a sufficient length of it to reach the ground upon the outside 7about fifty feet71 in the ditch3 ,i had calculated the distance when going for roots4 ,with much difficulty ,i succeeded in getting my head through1 for the sharp stones took the skin off my breast and back4 ,putting my head through first1 ,i was obliged to go down head foremost until my feet were through1 fearing every moment the rope would break4 ,at last1 safely on the ground1 ,i awaited with anxiety the arrival of my comrade4 ,i had passed another rope through the hole1 which1 in the event of discovery1 ,talmeco-,hadjo was to pull1 as a signal to me upon the outside that he was discovered1 and could not come4 ,as soon as ,i struck the ground1 ,i took hold of the signal for intelligence from my friend4 ,the night was very dark4 ,two men passed near me1 talking earnestly1 and ,i could see them distinctly4 ,soon ,i heard the struggle of my companion1 far above me2 he had succeeded in getting his head through1 but his body would come no farther4 ,in the lowest tone of voice1 ,i urged him to throw out his breath and then try2 soon after1 he came tumbling down the whole distance4 ,for a few moments ,i thought him dead4 ,i dragged him to some water close by1 which restored him2 but his leg was so lame he was unable to walk4 ,i took him upon my shoulder to a scrub1 near town4 ,daylight was just breaking3 it was evident we must move rapidly4 ,i caught a mule in the adjoining field1 and1 making a bridle of my sash1 mounted my companion4 ,the mule we used one day2 but fearing the whites would track us1 we felt more secure on foot in the hommock1 though moving very slowly4 ,thus we continued our journey for five days1 subsisting on berries1 when ,i joined my band1 then assembled on the head-waters of the ,tomoka ,river1 near the ,atlantic coast4 ,i gave my warriors the history of my capture and escape1 and assured them that they should be satisfied my capture was no trick of my own1 and that ,i would not deceive them4 ,while ,wild ,cat and his friends were imprisoned at ,san ,augustine1 the ,cherokee ,delegation had been actively engaged in exertions to induce other chiefs and warriors to come in1 for the purpose of ascertaining what negotiations could be effected with ,general ,jessup in favor of peace4 ,their objects were of the most humane character4 ,anxious to stop the further shedding of human blood1 they had come a thousand miles upon this errand of mercy4 ,after great effort1 ,micanopy1 the most important chief in the ,nation1 ,choud1 ,toskogee1 and ,nocose ,yoholo1 agreed to accompany a portion of the ,cherokee ,delegation to ,general ,jessup's camp1 for the purpose of negotiation1 or rather to ascertain whether further negotiation were practicable4 ,they were accompanied by about seventy-five ,indians and forty ,exiles4 ,they approached the ,american camp under a flag of truce1 that emblem of peace1 which is recognized as such by all civilized nations1 and treated with respect4 ,they reached ,general ,jessup's camp on the third of ,december1 in company with a part of the ,cherokee ,delegation1 and confided themselves to the power of the commanding officer1 trusting to the honor of our nation4 ,they were received with apparent respect and good faith1 and remained in camp under the expectation of further negotiation2 of which there was much said1 and frequent conversations held4 ,after a few days spent in this way1 the ,seminole chiefs and warriors were unsuspectingly seized1 disarmed1 made prisoners1 hurried on board a steamboat1 and sent to ,san ,augustine as prisoners of war4 ,as the ,cherokees saw this violation of the flag1 they were struck with astonishment1 and began to remonstrate against an act which1 to them1 appeared an outrage upon the rules of civilized warfare1 and which involved them in its guilt4 ,finding remonstrance of no avail1 they requested permission of ,general ,jessup to converse with the ,seminoles1 in order to assure them that they1 the ,cherokees1 had acted in good faith1 and were in no degree cognizant of the fraud practiced upon the ,seminoles1 or implicated in the discreditable violation of the flag of truce4 ,this privilege1 however1 was denied them4 ,feeling indignant1 and conscious that the ,seminoles would charge them with complicity1 in this violation of faith1 they next demanded that their principal chief should have an opportunity1 in the presence of such officer or officers as ,general ,jessup may appoint1 to see the ,seminoles1 and explain to them that the ,cherokees had in no respect participated in the perfidy practiced upon them4 ,to enforce this request1 they stated to ,general ,jessup that1 if the ,seminoles were sent ,west1 they would thereby become neighbors to the ,cherokees1 and1 if they believed the ,cherokee ,delegation to have participated in this transaction1 they would never forget it1 but would thereafter be hostile to them4 ,general ,jessup at length consented to permit the chief of the ,cherokees to explain these facts to the ,seminoles1 in the presence of himself and officers2 but would not suffer any other member of the delegation to attend him4#ajd ,the ,seminoles were sent to ,san ,augustine2 and that portion of the ,cherokees who had accompanied them to ,general ,jessup's camp1 at once refused all further efforts to restore peace1 and returned to their homes2 leaving1 however1 some four or five of their brethren in the ,seminole country1 who1 ignorant of the occurrences just related1 continued to urge other ,seminoles to make peace upon such terms as they believed just--assuring them that the ,americans demanded nothing more4 ,,chapter ,,xiii4 ,,vigorous ,,prosecution ,,of ,,the ,,war4 ,general ,zachary ,taylor--,his character and past service--,his expedition--,battle of ,okechobee--,his loss--,returns to ,withlacoochee--,repudiates the work of catching ,slaves--,exiles delivered over to bondage--,regular ,troops despise such ,employment--,indian prisoners indignant at the outrages perpetrated against the ,exiles--,separated from ,exiles--,are sent to ,charleston--,exiles to ,tampa ,bay--,further efforts to re-enslave ,exiles--,general ,jessup moves ,south--,skirmish of ,loca ,hatchee--,erects ,fort ,jupiter--,is persuaded to propose peace on basis of permitting ,indians and ,exiles to remain in ,florida--,sends one of the ,exiles to the enemy with these propositions--,he returns with ,hallec ,hajo--,parties agree to hold ,council and endeavor to form ,treaty on that basis--,indians and ,exiles meet for that purpose--,letter to ,secretary of ,war--,his answer--,indians and ,exiles treacherously seized--,their numbers--,alligator and others surrender--,exiles sent to ,fort ,pike--,indians sent to ,charleston4 ,sidenote3 #ahcg4 ,general ,zachary ,taylor was in command of an efficient force in the western part of ,florida1 holding his head-quarters at ,tampa ,bay4 ,he had been thirty years in service2 had distinguished himself in battle1 and was regarded as an officer of great merit4 ,looking to the honor of our flag and the prestige of the service1 he appears to have borne himself entirely above all efforts to prostitute the powers of the nation to the renslavement of the ,exiles4 ,he was particularly opposed to the plan of ,general ,jessup1 directing that all negroes captured should be the slaves of the captors4#aje ,it now became evident that there was hard fighting to be done4 ,general ,taylor was at all times ready for such service4 ,it is one of the imperfections of human government1 that the men who conceive and direct the perpetration of great national crimes are usually exempt from the immediate dangers which beset those who act merely as their instruments in the consummation of transcendent wrongs4 ,had ,general ,jackson and ,general ,cass been assured they would have been the first individuals to meet death in their efforts to enslave the ,exiles1 it is doubtful whether either of them would have been willing to adopt a policy which should thus consign them to premature graves4 ,or had ,mr4 ,van ,buren1 or his ,cabinet1 at the time of which we are now writing1 been conscious that1 in carrying on this war for slavery1 they would fall victims to their own policy1 it may well be doubted whether either of them would have laid down his life for the safety of that institution2 yet they were evidently willing to sacrifice our military officers and soldiers1 to maintain the degradation of the ,african race4 ,general ,jessup had written ,general ,taylor1 that all hope of terminating the war through the agency of the ,cherokees1 was at an end2 that ,sam ,jones and the ,mickasukies had determined to fight to the last4 ,he1 therefore1 directed ,general ,taylor to proceed1 with the least possible delay1 against any portion of the enemy he might hear of within striking distance4 ,general ,taylor at once concentrated such force as he deemed necessary for the contemplated expedition4 ,his little army was composed of regulars and volunteers1 including nearly one hundred ,delaware and ,shawnee ,indians1 who had been induced to join the army under the expectation of obtaining plunder by the capture of slaves4 ,his whole force amounted to nearly eleven hundred men4 ,conscious that he was expected to encounter the full force of the enemy1 if he could succeed in bringing them to action1 he left his artillery2 divested his troops of all heavy baggage1 and prepared1 as far as possible1 for a rapid movement4 ,with him were some of the most valued officers in the service of ,government2 men on whom he could rely with confidence1 and who were worthy to command veteran troops4 ,with this force1 he left his encampment on the morning of the nineteenth of ,december1 and directed his coarse southeastwardly in the direction where1 it was said1 ,sam ,jones and his forces were encamped4 ,as he advanced into the interior1 he discovered signs of ,indians2 and1 through the efforts of ,captain ,parks1 a half-breed chief1 who commanded the ,delawares and ,shawnees1 he induced ,jumper1 and a few families of the ,seminoles and some few ,exiles1 to come in and emigrate under the articles of capitulation of ,march previous4 ,on the twenty-second of ,december1 being the third day of their march1 they found conclusive evidence that they were in the vicinity of the enemies' principal force1 but found it difficult to bring them to action4 ,that night every precaution was taken against surprise4 ,the necessary patrols were kept out1 sentinels doubled1 and the troops slept upon their arms4 ,they confidently expected to engage the enemy the next day4 ,but the allies were cautious2 they passed from swamps1 through hommocks1 and over prairies1 constantly keeping too far in advance of our army to incur any danger4 ,in this manner the whole of that day was occupied4 ,at night the troops bivouacked as on the previous night4 ,they were in the deepest recesses of the ,indian ,country1 surrounded by swamps1 everglades and hommocks3 through these they had groped their way for a hundred miles4 ,up to this time1 the mounted volunteers had managed to keep their horses with them1 knowing they might be useful in battle4 ,but the enemy indicated an unwillingness to encounter our troops with the advantages which the mounted men would possess over them4 ,early on the morning of the twenty-fourth1 the troops were again put in motion3 the enemy keeping sufficiently in advance to be beyond the reach of musket or rifle balls4 ,general ,taylor and his followers were in close pursuit2 and as the allies left a swamp1 or hommock1 or prairie1 ,taylor and his men entered it1 hoping to bring on a general action4 ,at about ten o'clock1 the enemy were traced to a swamp of some three-fourths of a mile in width1 thickly covered with saw-grass1 not less than four feet in height4 ,through it flowed a turbid stream1 whose current was scarcely perceptible1 while it seemed to stretch away to the left in an endless savanna1 and to the right it appeared to deepen into an impassable morass4 ,after the proper reconnoissance1 it was found that it could not be passed by horses2 and on the farther side a thick hommock reached down to the very edge of the swamp4 ,it was now plain that the enemy intended to make a stand at this point1 and give battle4 ,perhaps the whole territory did not furnish a more advantageous position than that now occupied by the allied forces4 ,general ,taylor saw at a glance the difficulties which lay before him4 ,he well understood the superiority of the enemy's position1 but determined to maintain the honor of the service4 ,he did not hesitate in entering upon the conflict4 ,his arrangements were soon made4 ,the volunteers were directed to dismount1 and act on foot4 ,knowing well that the battle was to be fought here if anywhere1 he directed his troops to divest themselves of all baggage1 which together with the horses1 was left under the charge of a small guard4 ,his troops entered the swamp in two lines4 ,the first was composed of the volunteers1 spies1 and friendly ,indians1 under the command of ,colonel ,gentry4 ,they were ordered to engage the enemy1 and maintain their ground until reinforced2 or1 if compelled to fall back1 they were directed to form immediately in rear of the second line1 and await orders4 ,they entered the swamp in this manner at about twelve o'clock4 ,the sun was shining pleasantly1 and a quiet stillness appeared to pervade the scene around them4 ,they passed the stream in safety1 and the front line was approaching the thick hommock in front4 ,there1 too1 all was silent2 not an enemy to be seen2 no voice was heard1 nor could they discover any evidence of animal life within the dense forest before them4 ,there1 however1 lay ,wild ,cat and his band1 and the prophet and other mighty chiefs of the nation with their followers4 ,wild ,cat had been stimulated to desperation by what he regarded the perfidy of ,general ,jessup1 and his imprisonment at ,san ,augustine1 from which he had just escaped4 ,most of the ,exiles1 who remained among the ,seminoles1 and were capable of bearing arms1 were collected here under their respective leaders4 ,they had retreated to this point for the purpose of separating our troops from their horses1 and then engaging them at such superior advantage as would be most likely to insure victory4 ,their spies had climbed into the very tops of the trees1 whence they had witnessed every movement of our troops in the swamp1 and given constant information to their comrades who were on the ground1 and who1 acting under the information thus received1 were enabled to place themselves directly in front of those who were pursuing them4 ,every warrior was protected by a tree1 and the thick foliage of the hommock shielded every movement from the scrutiny of our spies and officers4 ,soon as the first line1 commanded by ,colonel ,gentry1 came within point-blank shot of the hommock1 the allies opened a heavy fire upon them4 ,the saw-grass was so high as partially to protect the bodies of our men from view2 but the fire was very fatal4 ,colonel ,gentry1 the gallant commander of the volunteers1 fell at the first fire2 his son1 an interesting youth1 acting as sergeant-major1 was wounded almost at the same moment4 ,captain ,childs1 and ,lieutenants ,rogers and ,flanagan1 of the same regiment1 and ,acting ,major ,sconce1 and ,lieutenants ,hare and ,gordon of the spies1 and twenty-four men1 fell wounded at the very commencement of the action4 ,it was hardly to be expected that militia would stand such a fire4 ,they broke1 fell back1 and instead of halting in the rear of the regulars as directed1 they continued their flight across the swamp1 to the place where they left their horses2 nor were the officers of ,general ,taylor's staff able to induce them again to join their comrades1 who soon became engaged in a most deadly conflict4 ,but the regulars moved steadily to the charge1 under ,colonel ,thompson1 a most gallant and estimable officer4 ,general ,taylor says3 ,the weight of the enemy's fire seemed to be concentrated upon five companies of the #fth ,infantry1 which not only stood firm1 but continued to advance until their gallant commander1 ,lieut4 ,colonel ,thompson1 and his adjutant1 ,lieutenant ,center1 were killed2 and every officer1 with one exception1 as well as most of the non-commissioned officers1 including the sergeant-major1 and four of the five orderly sergeants1 were killed or wounded4 ,when that portion of the regiment retired a short distance and re-formed1 it was found that one of these companies had but four men untouched4 ,amid these difficulties1 ,lieut4 ,colonel ,foster of the #dth ,infantry1 with six companies1 numbering about one hundred and fifty men1 gained the hommock in good order1 and1 after maintaining his ground a short time1 charged upon the allies and drove them from the field1 with the loss of nine ,indians and one of the ,exiles killed1 and eleven wounded4 ,the battle commenced at half-past twelve ,m41 and continued nearly three hours1 and proved the most desperate1 and to our troops the most fatal conflict which occurred during the war4 ,it was past three o'clock in the afternoon when the allies gave up the field1 for which they had contended against a force more than double their own numbers4 ,general ,taylor and his surviving officers were now left to ascertain their loss1 and contemplate the expense of subduing even a savage people1 fighting for their homes1 their firesides1 their liberties4 ,and we are led to think if those ,northern statesmen who1 for many years subsequent to that date1 were accustomed to inquire1 ,what has the nation to do with slavery8 had been present and propounded that question to ,general ,taylor or his officers1 they would have been silently pointed to twenty-six dead bodies of their deceased comrades1 then lifeless upon the ground1 and to one hundred and twelve wounded officers and soldiers1 who were prostrated in that swamp and hommock1 suffering all the pangs which mortals are capable of enduring2 but the language of their gallant commander better expresses his feelings than any which we can command4 ,in his official report1 ,general ,taylor says3 ,we suffered much1 having twenty-six killed and one hundred and twelve wounded1 among whom are some of our most valuable officers4 99 99 ,soon as the enemy were completely broken1 ,i turned my attention to taking care of the wounded1 to facilitate their removal to my baggage1 where ,i had ordered an encampment to be formed4 99 99 ,and here ,i trust ,i may be permitted to say1 that ,i experienced one of the most trying scenes of my life2 and he who could have looked on it with indifference1 his nerves must have been very differently organized from my own4 ,besides the killed1 among whom were some of my personal friends1 there lay one hundred and twelve officers and soldiers1 who had accompanied me one hundred and forty-five miles1 through an unexplored wilderness1 without guides2 who had so gallantly beaten the enemy1 under my orders1 in his strongest positions2 and who had to be conveyed back1 through swamps and hommocks1 from whence we set out1 without any apparent means of doing so4 ,the next day was occupied in burying the dead1 making litters for the transportation of the wounded1 and preparing for their return to ,withlacoochee4 ,one hundred and thirty-eight men had fallen in this single conflict1 victims to the policy of our ,government1 in attempting to restore to a state of slavery men who abhorred and had fled from it4 ,the allies had also suffered severely4 ,general ,taylor reported that ten of their dead and wounded were left on the field4#ajf ,but no prisoners were taken1 no slaves were captured2 and those ,indians who had come from ,arkansas to ,florida1 for the purpose of sharing in slave-catching forays1 found it a far more dangerous employment1 and one of more difficulty1 than they had expected4 ,on the morning of the twenty-sixth1 ,general ,taylor1 with his sick and wounded1 left his encampment1 and1 after encountering great difficulties1 reached ,withlacoochee on the thirty-first of ,december2 having been absent twelve days4 ,he made a brief official report of this expedition1 and of the severe battle he had fought4 ,this report was quietly filed away in the ,war ,department1 and but few1 even of our public men1 appeared to be fully conscious that he had performed meritorious service in the ,florida war4#ajg ,but while ,general ,taylor was thus quietly engaged in the most hazardous service1 ,general ,jessup was active in securing negroes1 and employing the military power of the nation1 so far as able1 to seize and return fugitives to their owners4 ,it would exceed the limits of our present work1 were we to notice the efforts of various individuals claiming to have lost slaves4 ,the ,indian ,bureau at ,washington was engaged in this service1 and applications were constantly made for slaves to the commanding officer4 ,these applications were usually referred to some quarter-master1 or pay-master1 for decision2 and if such inferior officer belonged to the militia1 the person claimed was usually delivered over to bondage1 whether the claimant had ever seen him previously or not4 ,it is a matter of astonishment that our ,national ,administration1 guided by a ,northern ,president 7,mr4 ,van ,buren71 should have permitted a pay-master or quarter-master of militia1 to sit in grave examination of the right of their fellow-men to liberty2 to act as judge1 jury and counselor1 in cases involving the rights with which the ,god of ,nature had endowed them4 ,but to the honor of our army1 it was said that both officers and men of the regular service1 generally held the work of catching slaves in supreme contempt4 ,more than three hundred heavy documentary pages were communicated to ,congress on this subject1 nearly all of which are filled with extracts of letters1 reports1 orders1 opinions and directions concerning slaves1 connected with this ,florida war4#ajh ,great difficulty arose among the ,indians in consequence of the renslavement of their friends1 the ,exiles4 ,they felt the outrage with as much apparent keenness as though it had been perpetrated upon themselves4 ,to prevent these difficulties1 ,general ,jessup separated the ,exiles from their ,indian allies1 whenever they surrendered or were taken prisoners4#aji ,in pursuance of this plan1 he sent ,osceola and the other ,indians seized at ,fort ,peyton2 and ,micanopy1 and others who had come into his own camp for the purpose of negotiating a treaty1 to ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina2 while the ,exiles were sent1 some to ,tampa ,bay and other places1 to be subjected to the inspection of men who professed to have been their previous owners4 ,general ,jessup1 in the very elaborate defense of his proceedings1 dated ,july1 #ahch1 justifies this policy of separating the ,indians and ,exiles by saying1 that he learned the year previous1 from prisoners captured1 that the ,indians through the ,seminole negroes had entered into arrangements with their slaves that so soon as hostilities should commence1 the latter were to join their masters1 and take up arms against the whites4 ,this information1 representing the ,indians as entering into negotiation with their own slaves through the ,seminole negroes 7,exiles71 bears the character of fiction2 yet it is gravely set forth in an official report1 and we are bound to treat it respectfully4#aaj ,under this arrangement--separating the ,indians and ,exiles--all the relations of domestic life were disregarded4 ,the ,indian husband was separated from the wife he had selected among the daughters of the ,exiles2 and the ,indian wife was separated from her more sable husband4 ,the darker colored prisoners were hurried to ,tampa ,bay1 and the red men and women were sent to ,charleston for safe keeping4 ,up to the commencement of the year #ahch1 ,general ,jessup appears to have been mostly employed in efforts to obtain peace by negotiation and in directing the movements of various detachments of the army1 who did not require his personal attendance1 and making arrangements for the delivery of negroes to their supposed former owners2 but had found very little time to mingle in the dangers of the field4 ,brigadier ,general ,taylor had performed a most hazardous service2 and it appeared proper that the ,commanding ,general should also strike a blow that would distinguish his administration of the military department of the territory4 ,sidenote3 #ahch4 ,early in ,january1 he moved south1 with about five hundred mounted men1 well provided4 ,on the twenty-fourth1 at about twelve o'clock1 he encountered the allies1 near the ,locka-,hatchee1 and a short skirmish followed1 in which the ,general was himself wounded somewhat severely in the arm4 ,he lost seven men killed and thirty wounded4 ,the enemy yielded the field to our troops1 but left neither dead nor wounded upon the scene of conflict1 nor is it known whether they sustained any loss whatever4 ,general ,jessup expresses the belief that there were not more than a hundred warriors engaged on the part of the enemy4 ,on the twenty-fifth1 he erected a stockade called ,fort ,jupiter4 ,here he lay until the fifth of ,february1 when he moved forward some twelve miles1 where1 it is said1 some of his officers--,general ,eaton and others--proposed that ,general ,jessup should make terms with the ,indians and their allies1 and permit them to remain in the country1 confining them to the southern portion of the ,territory4 ,he1 however1 moved forward another day's march1 when1 being called on by ,colonel ,twiggs1 and learning that it was the general desire of the officers1 he says he determined to send a messenger to the ,indians1 offering them peace4 ,the first messenger dispatched on this service was one of the ,exiles1 or1 as ,general ,jessup called him1 a ,seminole negro4 ,this man soon returned with several ,indians1 among whom was a sub-chief named ,hallec ,hajo1 who was willing to hold a conference1 and expressed a desire to remain in the country2 but said1 if compelled1 they must go ,west4 ,general ,jessup insisted that ,toshkogee1 the principal chief in that neighborhood1 should attend1 and hold a ,council the next day2 and that the ,indians should give up their arms4 ,hallec ,hajo at once refused to comply with such condition4 ,he would meet in ,council1 but would never surrender his arms4 ,on the morning of the eighth of ,february1 ,toshkogee and ,hallec ,hajo met ,general ,jessup agreeably to appointment4 ,an interchange of opinions and views took place1 and the ,general agreed to recommend the conclusion of a peace upon the basis of allowing the allies to remain in the country1 and occupy a suitable portion of the southern part of the ,territory4 ,it was also agreed that a certain territory1 near the place of negotiation1 should be occupied by the ,indians and their families1 where they should be safe1 and might remain until the views of the ,executive should be ascertained4#aaa ,in pursuance of this arrangement of treating upon the basis of permitting the allies to remain in the country1 many of the ,seminoles and ,exiles collected with the expectation that the agreement was to be carried out in good faith4 ,on the next day1 ,general ,jessup addressed a long communication to the ,secretary of ,war1 in which he gives his views upon the policy of immediate emigration somewhat at length1 and advises its abandonment in the following language3 ,in regard to the ,seminoles1 we have committed the error of attempting to remove them when their lands were not required for agricultural purposes2 when they were not in the way of the white inhabitants1 and when the greater portion of their country was an unexplored wilderness1 of the interior of which we were as ignorant as of the interior of ,china4 ,we exhibit in our present contest the first instance1 perhaps1 since the commencement of authentic history1 of a nation employing an army to explore a country1 7for we can do little more than explore it17 or attempting to remove a band of savages from one unexplored wilderness to another4 ,as a soldier1 it is my duty1 ,i am aware1 not to comment upon the policy of the ,government1 but to carry it out in accordance with my instructions4 ,i have endeavored faithfully to do so2 but the prospect of terminating the war in any reasonable time is any thing but flattering4 ,my decided opinion is1 that1 unless immediate emigration be abandoned1 the war will continue for years to come1 and at constantly accumulating expense4 ,is it not1 then1 well worthy the serious consideration of an enlightened ,government whether1 even if the wilderness we are traversing could be inhabited by the white man1 7which is not the fact17 the object we are contending for would be worth the cost8 ,i do not certainly think it would2 indeed1 ,i do not consider the country south of ,chickasa-,hatchee worth the medicines we shall expend in driving the ,indians from it4 ,to this communication the ,secretary of ,war replied3 ,in the present stage of our relations with the ,indians residing within the ,states and ,territories east of the ,mississippi1 including the ,seminoles1 it is useless to recur to the principles and motives which induced the ,government to determine their removal to the ,west4 ,the acts of the ,executive1 and the laws of ,congress1 evince a determination to carry out the measure1 and it is to be regarded as the settled policy of the country4 ,in pursuance of this policy1 the treaty of ,payne's ,landing was made with the ,seminoles2 and the character of the officer employed on the part of the ,government is a guarantee of the perfectly fair manner in which that negotiation was conducted and concluded4 ,whether the ,government ought not to have waited until the ,seminoles were pressed upon by the white population1 and their lands become necessary to the agricultural wants of the community1 is not a question for the ,executive now to consider4 ,the treaty has been ratified1 and is the law of the land2 and the constitutional duty of the ,president requires that he should cause it to be executed4 ,i cannot1 therefore1 authorize any arrangement with the ,seminoles by which they will be permitted to remain1 or assign them any portion of the ,territory of ,florida as their future residence4 ,the ,department indulged the hope1 that1 with the extensive means placed at your disposal1 the war by a vigorous effort might be brought to a close this campaign4 ,if1 however1 you are of opinion that1 from the nature of the country and the character of the enemy1 such a result is impracticable1 and that it is advisable to make a temporary arrangement with the ,seminoles1 by which the safety of the settlements and posts will be secured throughout the summer1 you are at liberty to do so4 ,general ,jessup had previously represented the subjection of the ,seminoles as an object easily to be accomplished4 ,he had so represented in his letter to ,mr4 ,blair1 in #ahcf1 which occasioned the withdrawal of ,general ,scott1 and his own appointment to the command of the army in ,florida4 ,he had himself been in command more than a year1 and the ,war ,department was doubtless somewhat astonished at his recommendation now to adopt the policy which the ,indians and ,exiles had from the first been ready to accept4 ,he was probably somewhat mortified at seeing his proposition so coldly received1 and the whole responsibility of carrying it out placed upon himself1 upon condition that he was satisfied nothing better could be accomplished4 ,he had done all in his power to effect the objects so much cherished by the ,administration4 ,but the ,secretary of ,war still urged the carrying out of the treaty of ,payne's ,landing1 not according to its letter and spirit1 but according to the unnatural and unexpected construction which ,general ,jackson placed upon it1 after complaints were made against the ,seminoles by the people of ,florida4 ,it is also evident that no intention of executing it according to the supplemental treaty entered into by the ,seminole ,delegates while at the ,west1 was entertained by the ,administration4 ,no measures had been taken for establishing the boundaries between the ,seminoles and the ,creeks2 nor do we hear of any intention to fulfill that stipulation4 ,on the contrary1 it had been constantly asserted by the ,secretary of ,war1 that the ,seminoles and ,creeks were to be united as one people4 ,the ,commanding ,general1 in the opinion of many statesmen1 had compromited the honor of the service1 and violated the plighted faith of the nation by treacherously seizing ,indians and ,exiles who had approached the army under the white flag1 which had so long been regarded as a sacred emblem of peace by all civilized nations2 yet1 notwithstanding these circumstances1 his propositions were in spirit rejected1 although in language he had been authorized to negotiate a temporary peace upon the basis he had proposed4 ,it is believed that the substance of this answer had become to some extent known1 or suspected by the ,indians1 for ,general ,jessup admits he received the decision of the ,secretary of ,war on the seventeenth2 and on the nineteenth1 he directed the chiefs to meet him in ,council on the twentieth1 at twelve o'clock4 ,for some cause1 the ,indians and their allies appear to have been indisposed to do this1 and he directed ,colonel ,twiggs to seize them1 and hold them prisoners2 and he reported to the ,war ,department that1 by this movement1 five hundred and thirteen ,indians1 and one hundred and sixty-five negroes1 were secured4#aab ,of this transaction we can only speak from the account given of it by ,general ,jessup4 ,from his report1 certain important facts are clearly understood4 ,for instance1 he announces to the ,indians and ,exiles a proposition to treat with them1 upon the basis of permitting them to remain in the country4 ,that1 for the purpose of entering into such a negotiation1 they collected near ,fort ,jupiter2 and that1 without any attempt to negotiate1 and while they were in his camp1 they were unexpectedly seized against their will2 and that ,passac ,micco1 and fourteen others1 escaped capture4 ,nor does ,general ,jessup pretend that one of those six hundred and seventy-eight persons voluntarily surrendered4 ,it is certain1 that however honorable the intentions of ,general ,jessup were1 the ,indians and the ,exiles were deceived1 and1 as they believed1 treacherously dealt with4 ,the official register of colored persons seized at ,fort ,jupiter1 represents one hundred and fifty-one as properly belonging to the ,seminoles1 or as ,seminole negroes1 the term usually applied to the ,exiles by ,general ,jessup and his officers2 and fourteen are represented as the slaves of citizens of ,florida4 ,these people were soon hurried off to ,tampa ,bay1 where they were confined within the pickets1 under a strong guard4 ,fort ,brooke now presented to the eye of a stranger all the external appearances of a first class slave factory upon the ,african coast4 ,the ,exiles who had been betrayed at ,fort ,peyton and other places1 and not delivered over to slave-hunters1 were also here2 and the number had so greatly increased1 that many had to be sent to ,new ,orleans for safe keeping4 ,when the ,exiles seized at ,fort ,jupiter arrived at ,tampa ,bay1 they found1 among those already there1 many old acquaintances1 friends and relatives1 who had been taken at other places4 ,families1 in some instances long separated1 were once more united2 husbands1 whose wives and children had been seized and long imprisoned at ,tampa ,bay1 now rejoined their families1 and were in some degree compensated for the mortification of having been made prisoners by treachery4 ,but fathers and husbands1 whose children and wives were captured by the ,creeks near ,withlacoochee and other places during the previous year1 now looked around for their families in vain4 ,on making inquiry1 they were informed their friends had been taken to ,fort ,pike1 which had now become a general depot for the imprisonment of ,exiles4 ,the ,indians who had been captured by this coup d'etat1 were sent to ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina1 for safe keeping2 and the negroes reported upon the registry as slaves of citizens of ,florida1 were without ceremony delivered over to those who claimed to be their masters4 99 99 99 99 99 ,we have now reached a period of the war at which we are constrained to admit our inability to give a full or accurate history of the various captures of ,exiles1 or of the renslavement of those captured4 ,captain ,sprague1 who had the advantages of personal observation and experience during the war1 says that ,general ,hernandez of the ,florida ,militia1 serving principally in the eastern part of the ,territory1 captured some important chiefs1 and restored to citizens more than three hundred negroes who had been captured by the ,indians4 ,but the means which he used for their capture is not stated4 ,general ,jessup informs us1 also1 that ,abraham1 the negro chief1 and two ,indians1 were sent to the ,seminoles west of the ,okechobee1 and prevailed upon ,alligator1 and three hundred and sixty ,indians and negroes1 to surrender to ,colonel ,smith and ,general ,taylor4 ,but what proportion of this number were ,exiles1 we are not informed2 nor are we told of the means used1 or the assurances given1 to induce them to surrender4 ,it is certain1 that many of the chiefs alleged that the ,cherokee ,delegation assured their friends1 that they would be permitted to remain in their own country1 and that the ,president was desirous of making peace upon those terms2 and ,general ,jessup says1 that the negro chief ,abraham1 and another negro interpreter named ,auguste1 gave the same information4 ,abraham had in fact dictated the supplemental treaty1 entered into by the delegation while in the ,western ,country1 and was made to believe1 at all times1 that the ,government would fulfill1 and abide by1 the terms of this supplemental treaty4 ,it was on this conviction that he acted1 and he appears never to have doubted the good faith of the ,executive until he actually arrived in the ,western ,country4 ,,chapter ,,xiv4 ,,great ,,difficulties ,,interrupt ,,the ,,progress ,,of ,,the ,,war4 ,john ,ross1 the ,cherokee ,chief1 demands the release of ,wild ,cat and other ,chiefs--,answer of ,secretary of ,war--,mr4 ,everett's resolution in ,congress--,secretary's ,report--,general ,jessup's answer--,agitation in ,congress--,hon4 ,john ,quincy ,adams--,hon4 ,william ,slade--,difficulty with ,creek ,warriors--,the ,exiles who had been captured by the ,creeks--,arrangements for emigrating both ,indians and ,exiles--,indians at ,charleston1 and ,negroes at ,tampa ,bay1 transported to ,fort ,pike--,families again united--,sympathy excited--,general ,gaines becomes engaged in their behalf--,his noble conduct--,embarrassment of ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 and of the ,secretary of ,war--,singular arrangement--,discrepancies unexplained--,a ,slave-dealer professes to purchase ninety of the ,exiles1 in order to relieve the ,government--,appoints his brother-in-law an ,agent to receive them--,department furnishes the necessary vouchers--,sudden change of policy--,sixty ,exiles claimed by a ,slave-dealer named ,love--,general ,gaines appears on behalf of ,exiles--,his able defense--,court renders judgment discharging ,rule--,thirty-six ,exiles released by ,love--,lieutenant ,reynolds with the ,indians1 and all but these thirty-six ,exiles1 take passage for ,fort ,gibson4 ,while ,general ,jessup was engaged in carrying out the designs of the ,administration by artifice1 and by force1 events of a serious character were transpiring at ,washington which demanded the attention of both the ,executive and himself4 ,john ,ross1 principal chief of the ,cherokee ,nation1 learning the manner in which ,osceola1 ,wild ,cat1 and other ,seminole chiefs and warriors1 had been betrayed and seized1 while visiting ,general ,jessup under a flag of truce1 by advice and at the suggestion of the ,cherokee ,delegation1 wrote an able and very spirited letter to the ,secretary of ,war1 demanding the release of the prisoners thus captured in violation of the principles of civilized warfare4 ,the ,secretary attempted a vindication of ,general ,jessup1 and an interesting correspondence followed1 marked with great ability1 in which ,ross1 with much force1 exhibits what he seemed to regard as the perfidious treatment to which the ,seminoles had been subjected1 while acting under the advice of himself and his country-men1 and protected by the flag of truce1 which had ever been recognized and held sacred as the inviolable emblem of peace4 ,this was the first exposure of the manner in which this disastrous war had been conducted4 ,up to that time no member of ,congress1 or ,executive officer1 appears to have uttered an objection or protest against the war1 or against the manner in which it was carried on4 ,ross was at the city of ,washington1 and mingled freely with members of ,congress1 and in private conversations called their attention to the facts stated4#aac ,mr4 ,everett1 of ,vermont1#aad a man of great experience and ability1 moved a resolution 7,march #ba7 in the ,house of ,representatives1 calling on the ,secretary of ,war for such information as he possessed touching the capture of ,indians1 while visiting the ,american army under flags of truce4 ,the resolution was adopted1 and1 in reply1 the ,secretary of ,war 7,april #aa7 transmitted the answer of ,general ,jessup1 in which he rests his justification1 upon the bad faith which1 he alleges1 the ,indians had previously exhibited towards the ,united ,states4 ,this answer occupies some fifteen documentary pages1 most of which are filled with the facts already known to the reader4 ,after the report of the ,secretary of ,war had been printed1 ,mr4 ,everett gave his views upon the facts1 in a speech which attracted much attention in the country4 ,the people were already turning their attention to the subject of slavery4 ,petitions were sent to ,congress calling on that body to abolish the institution within the ,district of ,columbia4 ,the ,hon4 ,john ,quincy ,adams had thrown the weight of his influence in behalf of the right of petition1 and was known to be opposed to the institution4 ,hon4 ,william ,slade1 a member of the ,house of ,representatives from ,vermont1 had openly avowed his deep and heart-felt sympathy with the ,abolitionists1 who were striving to direct the popular mind to the crimes of the peculiar institution1 as slavery was then called4 ,it was evident1 that a full exposure of the causes which led to the ,florida war1 and of the manner in which it had been prosecuted1 would tend to defeat the ,democratic candidate in the next ,presidential campaign4 ,it was therefore clearly the policy of that party1 and of the ,administration1 to maintain as great a degree of silence as possible upon all these subjects4 ,among the early difficulties presented to the consideration of the ,war ,department1 was the settlement with the ,creek warriors who had served under the contract made by order of ,general ,jessup1 in #ahcf1 to give them a certain gross amount in cash1 and all the plunder they could capture--which ,general ,jessup and the ,creeks understood to embrace negroes1 as well as horses and cattle4 ,the ,general1 by his order1 had directed eight thousand dollars to be paid to them1 and twenty dollars for each negro belonging to citizens1 who had been captured by them and delivered over to the claimants4 ,this disposal of the public treasure by an individual1 was most clearly unauthorized1 either by law or by the constitution2 yet the order had been approved by the ,executive1 and had been made the act of the ,president1 who thus assumed the moral and political responsibility attached to this gross violation of law1 and of the ,constitution4 ,the question how this charge upon the treasury was to be met1 seems to have borne heavily upon the mind of the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 and he expressed this difficulty to ,general ,jessup4 ,that officer1 being less familiar with matters of finance than with those of a strictly military character1 replied1 that the amount might with propriety be charged to the annuities due the ,seminoles2 but as that fund was under the supervision of ,congress1 it would not do to charge it over to that appropriation1 lest it should create agitation4 ,another difficulty was1 as to the disposal of the negroes themselves4 ,they were now said to be the property of the ,united ,states2 and the question very naturally arose1 what shall be done with them8 ,this question was also propounded to ,general ,jessup by the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs4 ,the ,general replied1 that he thought it best to send them to ,africa1 for the benefit of civilization on that coast4 ,but that could not be done except by appropriations made by ,congress2 and it was feared that1 to ask ,congress for an appropriation of that character1 might lead to the disclosure of unpleasant facts4#aae ,in the meantime1 arrangements were made to send the prisoners1 both ,indians and ,exiles1 to the ,western ,country1 without any particular decision in regard to the ninety negroes captured by the ,creek warriors1 and sent to ,fort ,pike as the property of the ,united ,states1 and fed and clothed at the public expense for more than a year4 ,agreeably to orders from the ,war ,department1 ,general ,jessup detailed ,lieutenant ,j4 ,g4 ,reynolds to superintend the emigration1 as disbursing agent1 and ,w4 ,g4 ,freeman as an assistant4 ,these appointments were approved by the ,department2 and transports were engaged to take such prisoners as were at ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina1 around the peninsula of ,florida to ,tampa ,bay1 on the western coast1 and thence to ,new ,orleans4 ,there were at that time many negroes at ,tampa ,bay1 intentionally separated from the ,indians1 who had been sent1 at the same time1 to ,charleston4 ,major ,zantzinger wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 to know how these negroes at ,tampa ,bay were to be disposed of4 ,the ,commissioner immediately answered by letter1 directed to ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 saying1 ,i have to instruct you1 that all of those negroes mentioned by ,major ,zantzinger1 which are the property of the ,seminoles1#aaf are to be received with1 and to constitute a portion of1 the emigrating party for all purposes of transportation and subsistence4 99 99 99 99 ,you will consider it your duty to call at ,tampa ,bay1 receive this party1 and transport it to the ,west with the detachment now at ,new ,orleans4 ,this direction required ,lieutenant ,reynolds to transport the ninety ,exiles1 sent to ,new ,orleans on the second of ,june1 #ahcg1 to the ,western ,country2 for they constituted a part of the detachment at ,new ,orleans1 which he was directed to transport ,west4 ,they had been captured while fleeing from our army1 and of course were nearly all of them women and children1 who1 by the fortunes of war1 had been separated from their husbands1 and fathers1 and brothers1 that were left behind in the ,indian ,country4 ,those husbands1 brothers and fathers1 were among the first to capitulate in order to rejoin their families from whom they had thus been separated4 ,many ,exiles had been betrayed and seized at ,fort ,peyton4 ,some had surrendered at ,volusi2 others had capitulated at ,fort ,jupiter2 others had come in and given themselves up at different posts3 and all these were assembled for transportation at ,tampa ,bay1 where they awaited arrangements for sending them to the ,western ,country4 ,major ,general ,gaines was at that time commanding the south-western division of the army of the ,united ,states2 and ,fort ,pike was situated within his military district4 ,lieutenant ,reynolds had taken the prisoners at ,charleston on board the transports2 had sailed around the peninsula of ,florida2 called at ,tampa ,bay2 had taken on board the negroes assembled at that point1 and had reached ,fort ,pike4 ,members of families long separated were now united4 ,fathers embraced their wives and children1 whom they had not seen for more than a year2 brothers and sons embraced their sisters and mothers2 and all exhibited those deep sympathies of the human heart1 which constitute the higher and holier emotions of our nature4 ,the officers and soldiers who witnessed this scene could not but feel interested in these people1 many of whose ancestors had fled from oppression generations previously1 and who1 for more than half a century1 had been subjected to almost constant persecution4 ,it was undoubtedly owing to these circumstances1 that so many of the officers of our army became deeply interested in securing their freedom4 ,major ,zantzinger was in command at ,fort ,pike2 but he could only act under the direction of his superior officers4 ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 therefore1 applied to ,major ,general ,gaines for orders to ,major ,zantzinger to deliver the ,exiles at ,fort ,pike to him for emigration4 ,from the peculiar language used in this order1 it is most evident that ,general ,gaines expected some effort would be made to prevent the emigration of the ,exiles1 then resident at ,fort ,pike4 ,the order is so unusual in its tone and language1 that we insert it1 as follows3 ,to ,major ,zantzinger1 or the officer commanding at ,fort ,pike1 or the officer who has charge of the slaves1 or other servants1 belonging to1 or lately in possession of1 ,seminole ,indians1 now in charge of ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 destined to the ,arkansas3 ,you will1 on receipt hereof1 deliver to the said ,reynolds all such slaves or servants belonging to1 or claimed by1 or lately in possession of1 the said ,seminole ,indians to be conducted by him in their movements to the ,arkansas ,river1 where the ,indians1 or their slaves or servants1 are to be permanently located and settled3 taking triplicate receipts for said slaves or servants1 one of which will be forwarded to the undersigned4 ,,edmund ,p4 ,,gaines1 ,maj4 ,gen4 ,u4 ,s4 ,a41 ,commanding4 ,the above order was dated on the twenty-first of ,march4 ,the next day ,lieutenant ,reynolds inclosed a copy to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 saying1 he should commence his voyage ,west with the emigrants1 and adding1 ,it is not my intention to remove the negroes from ,fort ,pike until ready for departure1 as ,i am convinced that many individuals with fraudulent claims are in a state of readiness1 and only waiting the arrival of the negroes in this city 7,new ,orleans7 to carry their object into effect4 ,the measures ,i shall adopt will bar their intention4 ,this letter explains the reason of the precise and specific terms in which the order of ,general ,gaines was expressed4 ,it is due to the memory of ,general ,gaines1 and to the character of ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 that their determined efforts to preserve the liberties of these people1 so far as they were able1 should find a place in history4 ,the war had been commenced and prosecuted for the purpose of seizing and returning to bondage all those people whose ancestors had once fled from oppression4 ,it was the avowed policy of the ,administration to prevent these ninety ,exiles1 who had been captured by the ,creek ,indians1 from going to the ,western ,country1 preferring to have them consigned to slavery in ,georgia or ,florida1 rather than enjoy freedom in the new homes assigned to the ,indians in the ,west4 ,this feeling had encouraged desperate men to make unfounded claims to their persons3 and it should be recorded to the honor of many of our officers1 that they were active and vigilant in their efforts to defeat these piratical claims1 and the exertions of the ,president and heads of the various ,executive ,departments1 to consign these people to interminable bondage4 ,in order to do justice on this subject1 it is necessary to permit all concerned to speak for themselves1 so far as convenience will allow4 ,to carry out this object1 the reader will excuse our frequent quotations from official documents4 ,on the twenty-sixth of ,march1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 dating his letter at ,new ,barracks1 below ,new ,orleans1 saying1 ,the ,indian negroes will be received at ,fort ,pike1 and brought to this place1 via the ,mississippi ,river4 ,this course was adopted with the concurrence of ,general ,gaines4 ,everything will be in readiness to embark soon as the boat arrives4 ,general ,gaines has directed that the guard under the direction of ,lieutenant ,wheaton shall proceed with me4 ,major ,zantzinger1 who commanded at ,fort ,pike1 appears to have felt some delicacy at delivering up the negroes on the order of ,general ,gaines1 and1 with those impressions1 wrote ,general ,jessup1 inquiring as to that point4 ,he received an answer1 dated seventh of ,april1 approving his course1 and saying1 the removal of the negroes was proper2 they were either free1 or the property of the ,indians4 ,all these proceedings were reported to the proper ,department at ,washington4 ,about the time1 or soon after1 they would naturally reach that city1 ,william ,armstrong1 ,acting ,superintendent of the ,indians in the ,western ,territory1 evidently in the joint service of our ,government and of the ,creek ,indians1 addressed a note to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 dated at ,washington ,city1 ,april twenty-third1 #ahch1 saying1 ,when ,general ,jessup called upon volunteers to go to ,florida1 he promised them all the property they could capture4 ,accordingly1 the ,creeks captured near one hundred negroes1 which they left in possession of the officers of the ,united ,states4 ,what has become of these negroes8 ,will they receive them1 or their value1 as promised8 ,the difficulty attending the transformation of men into chattels now increased so much1 that the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs addressed a letter to the ,hon4 ,secretary of ,war1 which is so characteristic of the manner in which the administration of our ,government was then conducted1 that we give the letter in full3 ,,war ,,department1 ,office of ,indian ,affairs1 ,may #a1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,i have the honor to submit for the consideration and decision of the ,department a question that has been presented by the ,superintendent of the ,western ,territory1 7,captain ,armstrong47 ,in ,september last1 ,general ,jessup advised the ,department that he had purchased from the ,creek warriors all the negroes 7about eighty in number71 captured by them1 for #h1jjj1 and this purchase was approved on the seventh of ,october4 ,at a subsequent date1 he wrote that he had supplied ,lieutenant ,searle with funds1 and directed him to make the payment4 ,it is believed1 however1 that the warriors refused to take the sum named1 ,lieutenant ,searle having made no such payment1 and the delegation here asserting that they never received it4 ,it is now asked1 whether they will be permitted to take the negroes1 or be paid their value8 ,it was suggested by ,general ,jessup1 that the consideration for the captives would be a proper charge on the ,seminole annuity4 ,but this would deprive the friendly portion1 who have emigrated1 of what they are justly1 and by law1 entitled to1 and to a certain extent would be paying the ,creeks with their own money2 for the fourth ,article of the ,treaty with the ,seminoles1 of ,may ninth1 #ahcb1 provides1 that 'the annuities then granted shall be added to the ,creek annuities1 and the whole amount be so divided that the chiefs and warriors of the ,seminole ,indians may receive their equitable proportion of the same as members of the ,creek confederation4' ,independently of this difficulty1 ,i would respectfully suggest1 whether there are not other objections to the purchase of these negroes by the ,united ,states8 ,it seems to me1 that a proposition to ,congress to appropriate money to pay for them1 and for their transportation to ,africa1 could its authority for that course be obtained1 or for any other disposition of them1 ,,would ,,occasion ,,great ,,and ,,extensive ,,excitement4 ,such a relation assumed by the ,united ,states1 for however laudable an object1 would1 it appears probable1 place the country in no enviable attitude1 especially at this juncture1 when the public mind here and elsewhere it so sensitive upon the subject of slavery4 ,the alternative would seem to be1 to deliver the negroes to the ,creeks1 as originally agreed on4 ,the subject involves so many delicate considerations1 that ,i respectfully invite your attention to it1 and your direction as to the answer to be given to the delegation now in the city4 ,as early a decision of this question as practicable1 is very desirable3 the ,indians intending to leave this place in four or five days1 and being anxious that this matter should be disposed of before they go4 ,very respectfully1 ,your most obedient servant1 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris1 ,commissioner4 ,captain ,s4 ,,cooper1 ,acting ,sec'y of ,war4 ,p4 ,s4--,if it should be determined to deliver them to the ,creeks1 ,i would suggest1 as the opinion of this office1 that it would be impolitic for them to be taken to the country ,west1 and that so far as the ,department may of right interfere in regard to the ultimate disposition1 it should endeavor to have it effected ,,in ,,some ,,other ,,mode4 ,c4 ,a4 ,h4 ,it is no part of our duty to comment on these proceedings2 yet we are constrained to say1 that no historian has1 or can explain the reason of delay on the part of the ,creek ,indians1 in regard to their claim to these people1 for more than an entire year1 upon any principles of consistent action4 ,general ,jessup said1 in his official communications1 they had received their pay1 and that the negroes were the property of the ,government2 and the ,department had approved his whole course on this subject4 ,the ,creeks1 so far as we can learn1 left the country and went ,west1 perfectly satisfied4 ,this ,delegation had been some months in ,washington1 and1 as the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs says1 were to leave in four or five days2 when1 for the first time1 they mentioned the subject1 although the negroes had been detained from them1 as they allege1 in direct violation of their contract4 ,they appear to have rested satisfied until difficulties from other quarters were presented to the ,administration4 ,and these letters may all easily be explained1 as the carrying out of a previous understanding between these officers and the ,creek ,indians4 ,however that may be1 the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs wrote ,captain ,armstrong1 ,superintendent of the ,western ,territory1 as follows3 ,,war ,,department1 ,office of ,indian ,affairs1 ,may #e1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,the ,secretary of ,war has directed that the negroes belonging to the ,seminoles1 and captured by the warriors in ,florida1 shall be placed at the disposal of the ,delegation now in this city4 ,but before this can be carried into effect1 it will be necessary to be satisfied that the warriors have not received the #h1jjj promised in the agreement with ,general ,jessup2 to ascertain accurately their number and identity1 and the claims of citizens upon any of them4 ,for all to which such claims can be established1 #bj each will be allowed4 ,from the information now here1 the number is supposed to be between sixty and seventy1 the original number having been reduced by sickness4 ,all the facts herein indicated will be required as early as practicable2 but some time must necessarily elapse4 ,it is the opinion of the ,department1 that it will be impolitic to take these negroes ,west1 and that they should be otherwise disposed of4 ,any arrangement the ,delegation may make respecting them1 and submit to this office1 will be sanctioned1 and instructions given for such action as may be proper on the part of the ,government4 ,very1 c41 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris4 ,capt4 ,,wm4 ,,armstrong1 ,washington4 ,one feature in these communications stands out prominently to the view of the reader3 the number of these victims appears to have undergone constant diminution4 ,general ,jessup reported the number sent to ,fort ,pike at ninety4 ,in his previous letter1 addressed to the ,secretary of ,war1 ,commissioner ,harris states the number at eighty2 and in this communication1 written four days subsequently1 he states the number to be between sixty and seventy2 while the official registry shows there was one hundred and three--of whom some1 however1 undoubtedly died4 ,if the honorable ,secretary of ,war intended these people should be delivered over to the ,creek ,indians as their property1 it would be difficult to understand by what law he should himself attempt to control them1 in the subsequent disposition of their legalized chattels1 or by what authority he should object to their going ,west4 ,it will however be seen that one point yet remained undecided4 ,the negroes were not to be delivered until it was ascertained that the ,creeks had not received the eight thousand dollars1 agreeably to the order of ,general ,jessup in ,september1 #ahcg4 ,fortunately1 a ,lieutenant ,sloan1 who had acted as a disbursing agent of the ,united ,states1 was at that precise time in ,washington ,city4 ,he stated to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 in a letter dated ,may sixth1 being the day after this decision of the ,secretary of ,war1 assuring him that he had learned from ,lieutenant ,searle himself that the ,indians refused to accept the eight thousand dollars for their interest in the negroes4 ,these statements constituted a series of supposed facts1 which appears to have been regarded as necessary to authorize the subsequent proceedings4 ,this evidence was1 accordingly1 deemed satisfactory2 and the ,creek ,indians were now declared to be the owners of these ninety ,exiles1 under the original contract made between them and ,general ,jessup1 in #ahcf3 thus abrogating the order of ,general ,jessup1 ,no4 #age1 and setting aside the approval of that order by the ,department of ,war itself--which was dated the seventh of ,october1 #ahcg--leaving the ,united ,states to sustain the loss incurred by feeding and clothing the prisoners1 and guarding them for thirteen months4 ,at this time a slave-dealer by the name of ,james ,c4 ,watson1 said to reside in ,georgia1 happened to be also at the seat of ,government1 as was common for ,southern gentlemen during the sessions of ,congress4 ,to this man the officers of ,government now applied for aid1 in extricating themselves from the difficulty into which they had been brought by this slave-dealing transaction4 ,even the ,secretary of ,war is said to have encouraged ,watson to purchase those negroes of the ,creek ,indians4#aag ,by request of these public functionaries1 and at their instance1 ,mr4 ,watson declares he was induced to purchase the negroes1 and to give between fourteen and fifteen thousand dollars for them4#aah ,it was perhaps the heaviest purchase of slaves made in the city of ,washington during that year1 and certainly the most dignified transaction in human flesh that ever took place at the capital of our nation1 or of any other civilized people2 inasmuch as the high officers of this enlightened and ,christian confederation of ,states constituted a negotiating party to this important sale of human beings4 ,the purchase appears to have taken place on the seventh of ,may2 and ,watson1 being unable to go immediately to ,new ,orleans1 authorized his brother-in-law1 ,nathaniel ,f4 ,collins of ,alabama1 as his agent and attorney1 to repair to that city and take possession of the prisoners4 ,yet the whole business appears to have been carried on in the name of the ,creek ,indians4 ,on the eighth of ,may1 five persons1 styling themselves chiefs1 head-men and delegates of the ,creek ,tribe of ,indians1 filed with the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs a request1 stating that they had appointed ,nathaniel ,f4 ,collins1 ,esq41 of ,alabama1 their agent and attorney1 to demand and receive from ,general ,jessup the negro slaves which the ,creek warriors had captured in ,florida1 under their agreement with that officer1 made in ,september1 #ahcf1 and requesting the ,department to furnish the proper order for obtaining possession of the slaves from the officer having them in charge4 ,this request was communicated to the ,secretary of ,war the next day1 by the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 and constitutes a part of the record2 and1 coming from that department of government most implicated in this slave-dealing transaction1 we place it before the reader3 ,,war ,,department1 ,office of ,indian ,affairs1 ,may #i1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,the decision made a few days since1 requesting that the negroes captured by the ,creek warriors in ,florida1 should1 in compliance with the engagement of ,general ,jessup1 be delivered to the ,delegation now here1 has been communicated to them with the intimation that1 when they had determined what disposition would be made of them1 and communicated information of the same to this ,department1 the necessary orders would be issued4 ,in a communication just received from the ,delegation1 they state they have appointed ,nathaniel ,f4 ,collins1 of ,alabama1 their attorney in fact to receive the negroes4 ,i have the honor to request that an order be issued to the commanding officer at ,fort ,pike2 to ,major ,isaac ,clark1 at ,new ,orleans2 to the commanding officer in ,florida1 and to any other officer who may have charge of them1 to deliver to ,mr4 ,collins all the negroes in question4 ,he will1 of course1 hold them subject to the lawful claims of all white persons4 ,abraham and his family should be excepted1 in consequence of a promise made by ,general ,jessup4 ,the officers should be instructed to use due caution1 so as to deliver only those captured by the ,creeks4 ,it is proper to remark1 that it appears from a letter received from ,lieutenant ,sloan1 that these ,indians refused to receive the #h1jjj1 offered them under the direction of ,general ,jessup1 for their interest in these negroes4 ,very respectfully1 ,your most obedient servant1 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris4 ,capt4 ,s4 ,,cooper1 ,acting ,sec4 of ,war4 ,on the same day1 ,mr4 ,collins was furnished with written instructions1 which1 being also important1 are presented to the reader3 ,,war ,,department1 ,office of ,indian ,affairs1 ,may #i1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,having been notified by the ,creek ,delegation that they have appointed you their agent and attorney in fact1 to receive the negroes captured by their warriors in ,florida1 which1 by the decision of the ,secretary of ,war1 are to be delivered up to them1 in conformity to the agreement made with them by ,general ,jessup1 ,i have the honor to transmit herewith the copy of a communication to the ,secretary of ,war on the subject1 which has received his approval4 ,orders will be given to the officers therein named to carry the measure into effect1 in conformity to the recommendation4 ,captain ,morrison1 ,superintendent of ,seminole ,emigration at ,tampa ,bay1 and ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 engaged in removing a party of the same1 at ,new ,orleans1 have been instructed to assist and coperate in the matter4 ,herewith you will receive the copy of a list of negroes captured by ,general ,jessup1 which1 it is believed1 embraces the negroes to which the ,creeks are entitled2 but as this is not certain1 much caution should be used in identifying them4 ,it is supposed that all these negroes now alive are at ,fort ,pike2 but some of them may be at ,tampa ,bay1 or other places3 it will be for you to find them4 ,no expense of any nature whatever1 growing out of this matter1 will be paid by the ,united ,states4 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris1 ,comm'r4 ,n4 ,f4 ,,collins1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,preparations being now perfected1 and the whole matter being fully understood1 ,mr4 ,collins left ,washington on the following morning1 prepared to bring those fathers1 and mothers1 and children1 back to servitude in ,georgia1 from which their ancestors had fled nearly a hundred years previously2 and this nefarious work was thus encouraged and sanctioned by our ,government4 ,of these movements the ,exiles were ignorant4 ,many hearts were moved in sympathy for them1 and many of our military officers were active in their endeavors to defeat the machinations of the ,president and the ,war ,department4 ,lieutenant ,reynolds found it necessary to return to ,florida before leaving ,new ,orleans with his party of ,emigrants4 ,while he was absent1 the efforts of slaveholders to renslave these people appeared to increase1 and they became more bold1 although ,collins had not yet appeared1 clothed with the authority of ,government1 to effect their enslavement4 ,general ,gaines1 commanding the ,western ,military ,district of the ,united ,states1 and residing at ,new ,orleans1 as if premonished of the arrival of this national slave catcher1 issued his peremptory order 7,april #bi71 directing ,major ,clark1 ,acting ,quarter-,master at ,new ,orleans1 to make arrangements for the immediate embarkation and emigration of the ,seminole ,indians and black prisoners of war1 at that time in ,louisiana1 to the place of their destination on the ,arkansas ,river1 near ,fort ,gibson4 ,major ,clark being thus placed in charge of the prisoners for the purpose of emigrating them1 at once informed the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 that claims were made for about seventy of the ,seminole negroes1 and the courts here have issued their warrants to take them4 ,the ,united ,states ,district ,attorney has been consulted4 ,he gives it as his opinion1 that the ,sheriff must be allowed to serve the process4 ,it appears they are claims from ,georgia1 purchased from ,creek ,indians4 ,no movement of the ,indians or negroes can be made at present4 ,the ,indians are almost in a state of mutiny4 ,this state of feeling arose from these attempts again to separate the ,indians and negroes4 ,many of them were intermarried3 they had been separated2 their families broken up1 but were now reunited1 and they determined to die rather than be again separated4 ,the ,exiles had also fought boldly beside the ,indians2 they had encountered dangers together1 and had become attached to each other2 and soon as the subject of surrendering the ,exiles to bondage was named1 the ,indians became enraged1 threatening violence and death to those who should attempt again to separate them from the ,exiles4 ,the claimants mentioned by ,major ,clark1 were from ,georgia4 ,the pirates who robbed ,e-con-chattimico and ,walker of their slaves and seized the ,exiles resident with those chiefs1 as stated in a former chapter1 were from ,georgia4 ,watson1 the more dignified dealer in human flesh1 and acting in accordance with the advice of the ,secretary of ,war1 was also from ,georgia2 and all these claims were said to be derived from ,creek ,indians1 who1 as we have seen1 professed to own all the ,exiles who fled from ,georgia after the close of the ,revolution1 and prior to #ahjb1 together with their descendants4 ,information1 respecting these difficulties of renslaving the ,exiles1 reached the authorities at ,washington1 and created great embarrassment4 ,the ,war ,department appears never to have anticipated that negroes1 who were already prisoners of war1 would find friends or means to awaken the sympathy of others4 ,but it was clear that any litigation would make the public acquainted with the facts4 ,it will be recollected that on the tenth of ,may1 the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs wrote an order1 directed to ,general ,jessup1 to deliver up near one hundred of these ,exiles to ,collins1 the ,agent of ,watson1 and two days later--that is1 on the twelfth of ,may--he wrote ,thomas ,slidell1 ,district ,attorney of the ,united ,states at ,new ,orleans1 saying1 ,it is represented to this ,department1 that the emigration of the ,seminoles1 now near ,new ,orleans1 has been impeded by claims set up to some of their negroes4 ,i am directed by the ,secretary of ,war to request that you will give the ,indians your advice and assistance1 and by all proper and legal means protect them from injustice and from harrassing and improper interferences with their property and persons4 ,it is of the highest importance that1 if possible1 no impediments should be suffered to be thrown in the way of their speedy conveyance to their country1 west of ,arkansas4 ,it is a historical curiosity1 that the ,secretary of ,war should so often change his policy4 ,he had1 as the reader is aware1 exerted his influence to prevent those ,exiles1 who had been captured by the ,creeks1 from going ,west4 ,on the fifth of ,may1 ,commissioner ,harris declared--it is the opinion of the ,department that it will be impolitic to take these negroes ,west2 and on the ninth1 acting under the direction of the ,secretary of ,war1 he furnished ,mr4 ,collins with authority to demand and receive these people1 and instructions were also issued to the officer commanding at ,fort ,pike2 to ,major ,isaac ,clark at ,new ,orleans2 to the commanding officer at ,florida1 and to any other officer who may have the negroes in charge1 to deliver them to ,mr4 ,collins2 while three days afterwards he assures ,mr4 ,slidell1 as before stated1 ,it is of the highest importance that1 if possible1 no impediments should be suffered to be thrown in the way of their speedy conveyance to their country1 west of ,arkansas4 ,this letter to ,mr4 ,slidell was inclosed in another of the same date1 addressed to ,major ,clark1 as follows3 ,,sir3 ,i have the honor to acknowledge the receipt to-day of your letter of the third instant4 ,the enclosed copy of a letter of this date to the ,united ,states ,district ,attorney will show you what measures have been adopted in relation to the claims set up to the ,seminole negroes4 ,this is all that this ,department can do in this matter4 ,it is very much to be regretted1 that anything has occurred to prevent the speedy emigration of these ,indians4 ,i will be greatly obliged to you1 should no emigrating agent be at ,new ,orleans1 to give all the aid in your power in removing the difficulties which are thrown in their way4 ,while the ,executive officers at ,washington1 the ,creek ,indians1 and the slave-dealer ,watson1 were arranging their contracts and perfecting their plans for enslaving those ,exiles1 who had been captured with the assistance of the ,creek warriors1 an important and most spirited contest was progressing in ,new ,orleans4 ,before one of the courts of the ,state of ,louisiana1 a slave-dealer by the name of ,love1 claimed title to the bodies1 the bones and muscles1 the blood and sinews1 of some sixty of these persons1 held by the ,united ,states as prisoners of war4 ,they had been captured by our troops as hostiles2 had been held for thirteen months as prisoners of war2 had been fed1 and clothed1 and guarded1 at the expense of the people of the ,united ,states3 but they were now claimed as the property of ,love4 ,this absurdity was presented before an enlightened court as a grave question of international law2 and a determined effort was put forth before that ,state tribunal to change the law of nations2 to modify the law of ,nature and of ,nature's ,god1 so far as to transform men into chattels1 and declare these prisoners of war to be the property of their fellow men4 ,love demanded the ,exiles of ,general ,gaines1 who was in actual command of the ,western ,military ,district of the ,united ,states1 and by virtue of his office held control of the ,exiles while in his district4 ,bred to the profession of arms1 he had made himself familiar with those principles of natural1 of international1 law which point out the rights of belligerents1 whether they belong to the victorious or the vanquished nation4 ,being advised that efforts were making to get possession of these ,exiles for the purpose of renslaving them1 he indicated to the officer in command at the barracks the propriety of retaining possession of them as he would of other prisoners of war4 ,on the second of ,may1 the ,sheriff of ,new ,orleans appeared at the barracks1 and desired to pass the line of sentinels for the purpose of serving his process2 but the sentinel1 punctilious to his duty1 refused to let him enter4 ,the ,sheriff then returned his writ with the following indorsement thereon3 ,received ,may second1 #ahch1 and demanded the within slaves of ,general ,gaines1 the defendant1 who answered me1 that he never had the within described slaves in his possession1 or under his control4 ,i found the slaves at the barracks of the ,united ,states1 but the officers in charge of the same refused to deliver them to me4 ,returned ,may eighth1 #ahch4 ,,frederick ,,buisson1 ,sheriff4 ,the ,exiles still remained in the barracks under the officers in charge of them2 and on the ninth of ,may1 ,general ,gaines sued out a rule to set aside the order of sequestration upon the grounds1 that the negroes were 'prisoners of war' of the ,united ,states1 taken in combat with the ,seminole ,indians2 that the control of the ,united ,states over said negroes1 and their right to the control of such negroes as prisoners of war1 could not be taken away by the sequestration issued4 ,thus was the manhood of these colored people asserted by this military officer of the ,united ,states at that day1 when few members of ,congress would have hazarded their reputation by the avowal of similar doctrines4 ,twenty-three years previously1 as the reader has already been informed1 ,general ,gaines gave to the ,war ,department notice that fugitives and outlaws had taken possession of a fort on the ,appalachicola ,river4 ,twenty-two years previously1 he had detailed ,general ,clinch1 with his regiment and five hundred ,creek warriors1 to destroy ,blount's ,fort1 and take the fugitive slaves and return them to their owners4 ,he had only two years previously gone to ,florida1 marched into the ,indian ,territory1 and fought them bravely for several days4 ,he now saw these ,exiles and ,indians in a different situation4 ,he witnessed their attachment to each other as parents and children1 as husbands and wives1 as members of the human family1 and his sympathy was aroused--his humanity was awakened4 ,his finer feelings being called forth1 he possessed the firmness1 the independence1 to act according to the dictates of his conscience and judgment4#aai ,he assumed the responsibility of paying costs and damages1 caused himself to be made defendant in the case1 and1 having obtained a rule on the sheriff to show cause why the negroes should not be delivered as prisoners of war to him1 as commander of that ,military ,district1 he appeared in person at the bar of the court1 and ably vindicated the rights of ,government1 of himself1 and of the prisoners4 ,the laws 7said he7 of the ,united ,states authorize the late and existing war against the ,seminole nation of ,indians1 and against all persons in their service4 ,the negroes claimed by the plaintiff were found in the service of the ,indians1 speaking the same language1 and1 like the inhabitants of all savage nations1 aiding and assisting in the war4 ,they were captured and taken by the ,united ,states forces as prisoners of war1 and they are now in charge of a ,united ,states officer1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 acting pursuant to the orders of the ,president of the ,united ,states1 directing him to superintend their transportation from the theatre of war in ,florida1 to a place set apart for their location1 west of the ,state of ,arkansas1 as prisoners of war1 as well as servants of the ,seminole ,indians1 who are also prisoners of war4 ,the laws of war1 as embraced in the works of ,brynkershoeck1 ,vattel and ,wheaton1 clearly sanction the principle1 that all persons taken in battle1 or who may be forced to surrender1 whether officers1 soldiers1 or followers of the enemy's army1 are prisoners of war4 99 99 99 ,among savage nations1 it is universally known and admitted1 that in war they have no non-combatants1 excepting only such as are physically incapable of wielding arms4 ,every man1 without regard to age or color2 every boy able to fire a gun1 or wield a hatchet1 or an arrow1 is a warrior4 ,and every woman is a laborer1 in the collection and preparation of subsistence and clothing for the warriors3 all are therefore liable1 when captured in a state of hostility1 to be treated as prisoners of war4 ,he declared himself lawlessly taxed with this investigation1 and lawlessly threatened with heavy damages and costs1 and forced to be defendant1 without any legal or rational grounds of action against him4 ,i am 7said he7 authorized1 in virtue of my official station as ,major ,general1 commanding the ,western ,division of the ,army of the ,united ,states of ,america1 to serve them honestly and faithfully against their enemies and opposers1 whomsoever1 and to obey the orders of the ,president of the ,united ,states1 etc4 ,under this official pledge1 ,i deem it my duty to afford every officer of the army whatever facilities may be necessary and proper1 to enable them to perform whatever duty is confided to them by the ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,in pursuance of this authority1 ,i ordered ,major ,clark to furnish transportation1 for enabling ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 and the officers on duty with him1 to convey the prisoners of war to the place of their destination in the ,western ,country4 ,but it seems that the counsel for the claimant has flattered himself that ,i should make the most convenient and accommodating defendant imaginable4 ,i was expected to take the responsibility of doing whatever the voracious claimant might desire1 without coming into this honorable court4 ,i take leave to apprise the court1 for the benefit of all concerned1 that ,i have never hesitated to assume the responsibility of doing my duty1 or of doing justice2 but ,i have not yet learned1 while acting in my official capacity on oath1 to take the responsibility of doing that which is repugnant to law1 unjust and iniquitous1 as ,i verily believe any favor shown to this claim would be4 ,the court appears to labor under the impression1 that the negroes in question were captured by the ,seminole ,indians1 in the course of their hostile incursions upon our frontier inhabitants4 ,is this the fact8 ,i will assume1 for the learned counsel of the claimant1 that he will never have the temerity to assert that they are among the number taken from our frontier inhabitants in the present1 or in any former war4 ,the gallant ,general1 as well as some other well informed officers1 appears to have been conscious of the real character of these ,exiles1 as will have been noticed in his last remark1 assuring the court1 that they were never captured from the white people in the present1 or in any former war4 ,the ground which he assumed1 that the captives were prisoners of war1 subject to the orders of the ,executive1 was so self-evidently true that it could not be met or overthrown1 by reason or by argument4 ,his honor the ,judge1 in delivering his opinion discharging the rule1 disregarded all claims to right on the part of the ,exiles4 ,they being black1 under the laws of ,louisiana1 were presumed to be slaves to some person2 and he spoke with exultation of the fact1 that neither ,general ,gaines nor the ,united ,states had claimed them as slaves2 and he declared it would be infinitely more wise and natural for the ,united ,states to hold them as lawful prize to the captors1 than it would be to send them with the ,indians to cultivate their lands in time of peace1 and swell the number of our enemies in times of war2 but1 on this motion1 he thought the court bound to regard the facts set forth in the plaintiff's claim as true1 and he therefore discharged the rule1 and made the order of sequestration absolute4 ,there now appeared no hope of escape for these people2 they seemed to be the sport of fortune4 ,for more than a century they and their ancestors had set at defiance the efforts of slaveholders1 assisted by ,government1 to renslave them2 but they now appeared to be within the power of those who were anxious to consign them to bondage4 ,on the fifteenth of ,may1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 having returned to ,new ,orleans1 wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 saying1 ,i arrived at this place from ,tampa ,bay yesterday2 was detained longer than ,i expected to be1 in consequence of the absence of ,general ,jessup from ,fort ,brooke4 ,arrangements are made for the embarkation of the party for ',fort ,gibson1' with the exception of sixty-seven of the negroes1 who are claimed by persons from ,georgia4 ,the civil authorities1 ,i understand1 require that these negroes be not removed4 ,it appears that ,general ,gaines presented himself as defendant1 and contended1 that as the negroes were prisoners of war1 the civil authority had no right to wrest them from the ,government's hands4 ,the court however decided contrary1 acknowledging the ,indians alone as prisoners1 and the negroes as the property of the ,indians4 ,the case will not come on for some time1 and1 deeming 7from all that ,i can learn7 that the claim is fraudulent1 it will be necessary that they remain4 ,lieutenant ,reynolds was delayed until the twenty-first of ,may before he was able to embark the other prisoners4 ,one steamer left on the nineteenth2 and on the twenty-first1 he wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 saying1 ,thirty-one of the negroes1 out of the sixty-seven1 have been selected by the claimants4 ,these negroes1 ,i am informed1 do not belong to the ,indians on whom the claims have been made4 ,this opened up new hopes for those to whom the claimants admitted they had no title4 ,there is1 however1 something about this surrender which we are not able to explain4 ,it is certain that ,lieutenant ,reynolds left ,new ,orleans on the twenty-first of ,may with all the prisoners1 both ,indians and negroes then at that city1 except thirty-one left in charge of the sheriff1 and seven ,spanish maroons1 whom he discharged4 ,the remaining thirty-one were left in the charge of the sheriff1 with the slave-catching vultures watching1 and eager to fasten their talons upon them so soon as opportunity should permit4 ,the separation was painful4 ,families were again severed3 parents were torn from their children1 and brothers and sisters compelled to bid adieu to each other2 and as they could see no escape for those left at ,new ,orleans1 they regarded the separation as final4 ,but the other prisoners were on board4 ,lieutenant ,reynolds and other officers had done what they could1 and they desired soon as possible to get the hapless ,exiles1 who yet remained in their possession1 beyond the reach of slave-hunters and slave-catchers4 ,that mysterious power1 steam1 was now applied2 and rapidly the vessel was driven against the strong current of the ,mississippi1 as the sable passengers cast their last1 lingering look toward their friends who remained behind1 the victims of a tyranny--an oppression--which yet disgraces the civilization of the age in which we live4 ,the ,indians were also thoughtful and sad1 as they cast their eyes back towards their beloved ,florida1 the scenes amidst which they had been born and reared2 where they had fought2 where their brethren had been slain2 where their fathers rested peacefully in their graves4 ,many bitter sighs were heard1 and many tears fell from the eyes of those prisoners as they resumed their voyage1 for unknown homes in the ,western ,country4 ,,chapter ,,xv4 ,,difficulties ,,in ,,enslaving ,,exiles ,,continued4 ,collins1 ,agent for the ,slave-dealer1 reaches ,fort ,pike--,prisoners gone--,he repairs to ,new ,orleans--reaches that ,city one day after the ,exiles and ,indians had left--,he follows them up the ,river--,whole number of ,prisoners on the two boats--,they stop a few hours at ,vicksburg--,collins overtakes them--,hands his ,order to ,reynolds--,they consult together--,difficulty in separating ,indians from ,negroes--,they all proceed together--,reynolds and ,collins endeavor to persuade ,indians to deliver over ,negroes--,they refuse--,they reach ,little ,rock--,call on ,governor ,roane for military aid--,his emphatic ,answer--,they proceed to ,fort ,gibson--,call on ,general ,arbuckle to separate them--,he refuses--,collins gives up all as lost--,his ,letter to ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs4 ,collins1 the agent of ,watson1 left the ,city of ,washington on the tenth of ,may with full powers to act for the ,creek chiefs as well as for his principal2 fully provided1 also1 with orders from the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 directing all officers of the ,united ,states1 in whose custody the ,exiles might be1 to deliver them to this agent of the slave-dealer4 ,expecting to find his victims at ,fort ,pike1 he repaired to that place2 but on his arrival found they had left for ,new ,orleans some days previously4 ,he forthwith followed them1 and reached that city on the twenty-second of ,june1 being one day after ,reynolds and his prisoners had left that city for ,fort ,gibson4 ,thus it will be seen1 that the efforts of ,general ,gaines1 and the active vigilance of ,major ,clarke and ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 had barely succeeded in getting these people under way for their western homes1 when the authority for their renslavement arrived4 ,vexed and mortified at this disappointment1 ,collins took passage on the first packet bound up the river1 determined to secure the victims of ,watson's cupidity wherever he should find them4 ,while ,collins was thus speeding his way up the river1 ,reynolds and his charge1 unconscious that the slave-hunter was on their track1 stopped at ,vicksburg for a few hours to obtain supplies for their journey4 ,while passing up the river1 ,reynolds wrote a report to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 stating that on the boat which left ,new ,orleans on the nineteenth1 six hundred and seventy-four prisoners had been placed for emigration2 that on the boat which left the twenty-first1 on which he had taken passage1 there were four hundred and fifty-three--making in all twelve hundred and twenty-one ,indians and negroes1 who were now emigrating to the ,western ,country4 ,while they were lying at ,vicksburg1 ,collins arrived1 and1 as he states1 succeeded in getting the order of the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs handed to ,reynolds4 ,this was undoubtedly correct1 for ,reynolds wrote the ,department the same day1 saying1 ,since my letter this morning1 enclosing an abstract of my muster-roll1 ,mr4 ,collins1 the attorney1 recognized by you1 has sent off various papers1 in relation to certain claims for negroes taken by the ,creek ,volunteers1 and your order has been received4 ,i have therefore made arrangements with ,mr4 ,collins to accompany me to ,little ,rock on board of my boat1 that no time may be lost in the emigration on the passage from here thither4 ,due care will be had in selecting such only as come within your order1 as also to apprise the chiefs and other ,indians with regard to the claim4 ,the excitement evinced at ,new ,orleans on the part of the ,indians1 convinced me of the necessity of this measure4 ,i think that1 between this and ,little ,rock1 ,i will be enabled to persuade them to consent without any resistance on their part4 ,as stated in this letter1 ,mr4 ,collins took passage at ,vicksburg with ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 and agreed to go on with him and his prisoners1 until they could persuade the ,indians to separate from their friends and companions1 their wives and children1 or until they could obtain a military force sufficient to compel the separation4 ,mr4 ,reynolds says that the excitement on the part of the ,indians at ,new ,orleans1 had convinced him of the necessity of this measure2 and the only doubt of his perfect sincerity rests on the assertion1 that he thought he could1 while on the voyage1 induce the ,indians to consent to such separation4 ,on the twenty-seventh1 they left ,vicksburg for ,fort ,gibson4 ,while on their passage1 they had full opportunity to deliberate and consult together as to the best mode of carrying out the plan of transforming this small portion of mankind into property2 but the universal laws of ,nature and of ,nature's ,god appeared to conflict with this slave-dealing theory4 ,while on the passage up the river1 ,mr4 ,reynolds assembled the ,indian chiefs and warriors1 and laid before them the facts concerning the claim of ,watson1 and1 as he says1 explained every thing calculated to appease them4 ,but the result we give in his own words1 expressed in a letter dated at ,little ,rock1 ,arkansas1 ,june second1 being one week after they left ,vicksburg1 in which he says3 ,they 7the ,indians7 at once demurred3 ,micanopy taking the lead1 saying1 it was contrary to the express words of ,general ,jessup1 and would listen to nothing calculated to dispossess them of their negroes4 ,finding them thus determined1 ,i prevented any communication with them on the subject until reaching this place1 when they were again called together1 and ,i repeated all that had been mentioned to them before4 ,i told them it was needless to object2 my orders were positive1 and must be obeyed4 ,all was of no use2 they became1 if anything1 more vexed than before1 and left me much exasperated4 ,mr4 ,collins witnessed my exertions to carry out your instructions2 indeed1 sir1 ,i have been excessively perplexed with these ,indians and negroes4 ,i see no method in the absence of force by which possession of the negroes can be had4 ,the authorities here show a decided inclination to protect the ,indians1 and there is no doubt every attempt will fail on our part4 ,i have in no instance acted with duplicity4 ,the statements made1 have been as they actually exist4 ,thirty-one of the number left at ,new ,orleans are on the official list handed me by ,mr4 ,collins4 ,the whole party were detained several days at ,little ,rock in consequence of the low stage of water4 ,while waiting here1 ,collins appears to have become impatient1 and anxious to get possession of the negroes4 ,indeed1 from the closing remark of ,mr4 ,reynolds's letter1 last quoted1 we are led to suspect that little sympathy existed between ,reynolds and this agent of the slave-dealer2 nor is it unlikely that an officer1 bred up in the cultivation of a high and chivalrous sense of honor1 would feel some repugnance at being constrained to associate with any man employed in the business which brought ,collins to the ,western ,country4 ,knowing1 however1 that the ,executive of the ,united ,states had become in fact a party in this disreputable transaction1 he endeavored to manifest at least a respect for those officers of ,government who had become participants in it4 ,on the third of ,june1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds addressed an official letter to ,samuel ,c4 ,roane1 ,governor of ,arkansas1 stating the circumstances in which he was placed4 ,he set forth the claim of the ,creeks1 and their sale to ,watson1 together with the fact that ,collins was then at ,little ,rock1 anxious to obtain possession of the negroes2 that he 7,reynolds7 could not deliver them to ,collins without assistance1 and on that account demanded of his ,excellency assistance of the civil authority to aid him in carrying out the policy of the ,federal ,government4 ,here again the workings of the human heart1 and the laws of human nature1 cast insurmountable obstacles in the way of carrying out the ,executive designs4 ,true1 ,arkansas was a slave ,state1 and her ,governor was a slaveholder1 characterized by that bold and generous nature which usually distinguishes the pioneers of the ,west2 but his letter breathes such a spirit of independence1 such a bold and unhesitating regard for justice and propriety1 that we prefer to let his ,excellency speak for himself4 ,the letter is couched in the following language3 ,,executive ,,office1 ,little ,rock1 ,june #dth1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,your note of this day has been duly received1 in which you call on me as the ,executive of the ,state of ,arkansas to furnish you military force1 sufficient to coerce obedience to your instructions to surrender a number of negroes1 now with the ,seminole ,indians under your command2 and stating that the ,indians manifest a hostile determination not to permit the negroes in question to be surrendered to the agent or attorney of the ,creek ,indians4 ,i have also examined the copies of the order from the ,war ,department1 directed to you on this subject1 as well as the schedule of the negroes and letter of attorney1 in the possession of ,mr4 ,n4 ,f4 ,collins1 the ,creek agent or attorney1 to receive the negroes in controversy4 ,after due reflection on the subject1 ,i have determined not to afford you any assistance to carry these instructions into effect1 and respectfully request of you not to attempt to turn over those negroes to the claimants within the ,state of ,arkansas1 and more especially in the neighborhood of ,little ,rock4 ,and ,i require of you to proceed with your command of ,indians and negroes to their place of destination with the least practicable delay1 that the citizens of ,little ,rock and its vicinity may be relieved from the annoyance of a hostile band of ,indians and savage negroes4 ,without prejudging the claim of the ,creek ,indians to the negroes1 from the nature of things it is wholly impracticable for the claimants to make a proper designation of the negroes claimed4 ,there are no witnesses here that can identify the negroes--not even the person setting up the claim4 ,and had the ,government intended to dispose of those negroes to the ,creek ,indians1 it should have been done in ,florida1 and not bring ,indians and negroes into ,arkansas1 the vicinity of their future residence1 and then irritate the ,indians to madness1 and turn them loose on our frontier1 where we have no adequate protection--the massacre of our citizens would be the inevitable consequence4 ,i have just visited the chiefs of your command1 and assured them that their negroes should not be taken from them1 and they have pledged themselves that their people should go on to their country peaceably4 ,your immediate departure will insure peace and avert the outrages you had such good cause to expect4 ,you will transmit this note to the proper ,department at ,washington as a justification of the course you may pursue in accordance with it4 ,i am1 respectfully1 ,your obedient servant1 ,,jno4 ,g4 ,,reynolds1 ,,sam4 ,c4 ,,roane4 #ast ,lieut4 ,u4 ,s4 ,m4 ,c41 and ,disb'g ,agent1 ,ind4 ,dep't4 ,this letter of ,governor ,roane certainly indicated to ,mr4 ,collins a strong repugnance to the policy adopted by the ,war ,department1 and must have convinced him that his mission was1 at least1 unpopular among men removed from the moral atmosphere in which the ,executive appeared to live4 ,we are not informed of its effects upon ,mr4 ,reynolds2 but that gentleman could not have been very greatly disappointed1 as he had clearly predicted the failure of all attempts to separate the ,indians and negroes4 ,a rise in the ,arkansas ,river enabled them to resume their journey4 ,they reached ,fort ,gibson on the twelfth of ,june1 and both ,indians and negroes were turned over to the care of ,captain ,stephenson1 the agent appointed to reside with the ,western ,seminoles4 ,here ,mr4 ,reynolds and ,mr4 ,collins expected to make a final effort to separate the ,indians and negroes1 in order that the latter might be transported back to that interminable slavery which all knew awaited their return to ,georgia4 ,for this purpose1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds addressed ,brigadier ,general ,arbuckle1 in command at ,fort ,gibson2 but1 as the correspondence between these officers brought the important mission of ,mr4 ,collins in that ,western ,country to a close1 we will present these letters to the reader4 ,on the twelfth of ,june1 the day of his arrival1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds addressed ,general ,arbuckle the following note3 ,,general3 ,i herewith enclose orders1 received from the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 for the surrender of a certain number of negroes1 belonging to the ,seminole ,indians1 to ,mr4 ,n4 ,f4 ,collins1 the attorney appointed by the ,creek ,delegation which recently visited ,washington1 which appointment has been ratified by the ,department2 and feeling myself bound to turn over all in my possession1 in obedience to such orders1 and the ,seminole chiefs and ,indians refusing positively to give them up1 ,i have to request the employment of such a force1 ,general1 as you may deem adequate for carrying into effect my instructions4 ,i am1 ,general1 very respectfully1 ,your obedient servant1 ,,jno4 ,g4 ,,reynolds1 #ast ,lieut4 ,u4 ,s4 ,m4 ,c41 and ,disb'g ,agent1 ,ind4 ,dept4 ,general ,m4 ,,arbuckle1 ,commanding1 etc41 ,fort ,gibson4 ,general ,arbuckle was in command of the military forces of the ,united ,states in that ,western ,country1 and of course felt great responsibility in regard to maintaining peaceful relations with the ,indians of that region4 ,having maturely reflected upon the communication of ,mr4 ,reynolds1 he returned the following answer3 ,,head ,,quarters ,,western ,,department1 ,,third ,,division1 ,fort ,gibson1 ,june #acth1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,i have received your letter of the #abth instant1 with the papers accompanying it1 in which you request me to furnish such a force as ,i deem adequate1 to enable you to turn over a number of negroes that were captured by the ,creek warriors in ,florida1 to ,nathaniel ,f4 ,collins1 their attorney4 ,i have given your application much reflection1 and have determined to decline a compliance therewith for the following reasons3 ,first4 ,the difficulty and uncertainty of identifying the negroes actually captured by the ,creek warriors1 who are now with their former owners1 and in company with a large number of other ,indian negroes1 and there being no individual of character present 7as far as ,i am informed7 who could with certainty designate them4 ,secondly4 ,the ,seminole chiefs positively declare that ,general ,jessup promised that the negroes taken from them by the ,creek warriors should be returned2 and there is reason to believe that such a promise was made1 other than the declaration of the chiefs4 ,in addition to the above1 it is proper that ,i should state1 that the ,seminole chiefs1 at the council ,i held with them yesterday1 voluntarily pledged themselves to give up the negroes in question1 provided the ,president of the ,united ,states should1 after being informed of the facts in the case1 so decide2 yet they state that many of the negroes have died1 and that several are claimed to have been captured that were brought in by their owners when they surrendered4 ,i am1 ,sir1 very respectfully1 ,your obedient servant1 ,m4 ,,arbuckle1 ,brevet ,brigadier ,general1 ,commanding4 ,j4 ,g4 ,,reynolds1 #ast ,lieut4 ,u4 ,s4 ,m4 ,c41 and ,disb'g ,agent1 ,ind4 ,dept4 ,collins now gave up all as lost4 ,he appears to have realized1 that almost every officer of the army west of ,florida1 had conspired against this policy of enslaving the ,exiles1 while he himself seemed to entertain no doubt of the honor and rectitude of his own position2 and in order to do him justice1 and render our narrative brief as consistent1 we here insert so much of his report to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 drawn up after his return to ,alabama1 as relates to his mission up to the time of leaving ,fort ,gibson1 on his return4 ,it is as follows3 ,,tuskogee1 ,,alabama1 ,july #bi1 #ahch ,,sir3 ,immediately after my arrival 7about the first of this month71 ,i was taken sick with the fever1 from which ,i am just recovering1 which will account for the delay in communicating the result of my mission to procure the ,seminole negroes that were to have been turned over to me1 as agent of the ,creek ,indians4 ,i left ,washington on the #ajth of ,may1 and arrived in ,new ,orleans on the #bb;d1 the day after ,lieutenant ,reynolds had left there with the ,indians and all the negroes1 except thirty-two that were detained by the civil authority1 at the instance of ,love4 ,i did not overtake ,reynolds until he arrived at ,vicksburg1 when1 after some exertion1 ,i succeeded in having his order handed to him2 and he came ashore1 and suggested the probability of his being able to induce the ,indians to consent to deliver the negroes willingly 7between thirty-five and forty of which1 by a comparison of our lists1 we found he had in his possession71 if ,i would go on board and proceed up the river with him4 ,this ,i acceded to1 as ,i was anxious to pursue such a course as would tend1 ever so remotely1 to conciliate the ,indians1 and harmonize with the views of the officer in charge4 ,the experience of a day or two however proved that these calculations were erroneous1 and ,i went on to ,little ,rock1 to get a force to coerce their delivery4 ,on our arrival there1 ,lieutenant ,r4 called upon the acting ,governor of ,arkansas for assistance2 but from some cause or other he refused it1 as will be seen by the correspondence forwarded you by ,lieutenant ,r4 ,i then proceeded with the party to ,fort ,gibson1 calculating certainly on being able to obtain the necessary assistance at that place4 ,lieutenant ,r41 on arriving within three miles of the fort1 landed one of the boats1 and proceeded with the other 7having all the negroes and some ,indians7 directly to the fort1 and made known to ,general ,arbuckle the situation of the affair1 and presented him with all the papers4 ,he held a lengthy interview with the ,seminole chiefs1 in which the various talks and promises of ,general ,jessup were detailed1 the number and identity of the negroes denied1 and the validity of the whole transaction questioned1 etc42 and hence the conclusion1 as he had received no order in relation to the negroes1 he should not interfere2 and directed ,lieutenant ,r4 to land them with the ,indians4 ,first1 however1 to conclude the farce1 he exacted from each chief separately the promise1 if the ,president should decide that the negroes should be given up1 that they would deliver them to him4 ,this of course they promised2 any explanation or remonstrance urged by me was unavailing4 ,,chapter ,,xvi4 ,,further ,,difficulties ,,in ,,the ,,work ,,of ,,enslaving ,,the ,,exiles4 ,general ,gaines in person defends those left at ,new ,orleans--,he appeals from the judgment--,effect of appeal--,authorities at ,washington informed of difficulties--,general ,jessup retires from the command--,general ,taylor succeeds him--,he refuses to follow policy of ,general ,jessup--,recognizes no prisoners as slaves--,letter from ,adjutant ,general--,he promptly refuses to have any thing to do in ,watson's slave-dealing transaction--,this indignant answer is received without reply by ,department--,other persons claim the ,exiles detained at ,new ,orleans--,commissioner driven to the necessity of declaring correct law on the subject--,same as that avowed by ,general ,gaines1 by ,general ,taylor1 and by ,hon4 ,j4 ,q4 ,adams--,claim of ,colonel ,humphreys for slaves--,jessup's answer--,reynolds returns from ,fort ,gibson to ,new ,orleans--,collins reaches the city same day--,inquires as to the situation of the thirty-one ,exiles left there--,is referred to ,major ,clark--,clark's answer--,collins leaves city in disgust--,his ,letter to ,secretary of ,war charging ,reynolds with misconduct--,exiles remaining at ,new ,orleans are delivered to ,reynolds--,are sent to ,fort ,gibson--,join their friends--,all are left however without permanent homes or lands--,intention of the ,administration to compel them to unite with the ,creeks--,they refuse--,cherokees tender them lands--,they settle upon ,cherokee territory4 ,sidenote3 #ahch4 ,after the emigrating company of ,indians and ,exiles had left ,new ,orleans1 under charge of ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 ,gen'l ,gaines assumed upon himself the whole responsibility of defending the thirty-one who remained in that city2 for as yet there had been no trial upon the merits of the case1 although it was pretty evident that the judge was strongly impressed in favor of renslaving them4 ,the cause was duly brought to a hearing1 and1 after argument and consideration1 the court gave judgment in favor of the claimants4 ,this was no more than had been expected4 ,general ,gaines1 faithful to his own convictions of justice1 took an appeal to a higher tribunal2 and this appeal rendered it necessary for the court to fix a time within which the claimants should enter bail for costs and damages1 or the negroes would be delivered up to ,general ,gaines by the sheriff4 ,in the meantime1 the ,executive officers at ,washington had become informed of the difficulties which had lain across the path of ,mr4 ,collins1 and felt it to be desirable that the whole matter should be arranged with as little discussion as possible4 ,general ,jessup retired from the command of the army in ,florida on the fifteenth of ,may1 and returned to ,washington1 leaving ,general ,zachary ,taylor as commander-in-chief of our military forces in that ,territory4 ,he had shown himself prompt in the execution of all orders2 cool1 deliberate1 and firm in battle2 faithful to his men1 to himself and his country2 but1 up to this time1 he had manifested no particular zeal in the capture of negroes4 ,indeed1 although he had penetrated farther into the ,indian ,country than any other officer--had fought the bloodiest battles of any commander in ,florida1 yet he refused to draw any distinctions among his prisoners4 ,with him ,indians and negroes were equally prisoners of war1 and entitled to the same treatment4 ,nor would he listen to men who professed to own the persons whom he captured1 or who had surrendered themselves as prisoners4 ,the ,administration having been a party in the sale to ,watson1 determined to carry out the slave-dealing arrangement with him2 at least so far as regarded the thirty-one negroes who yet remained in ,new ,orleans4 ,in order to effect this object1 it was deemed necessary to have the coperation and aid of ,general ,taylor4 ,the ,adjutant ,general1 therefore1 addressed him on the subject1 enclosing to him the letter of the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 dated the ninth of ,may1 addressed to the ,secretary of ,war1 and heretofore referred to4 ,general ,taylor evidently thought the honor of the service would be compromited by this slave-dealing transaction4 ,he subsequently became ,president of the ,united ,states2 and as the reader will feel anxious to understand precisely the views which he entertained1 we give that portion of his letter to the ,adjutant ,general which relates to this subject4 ,it is in the following words3 ,i have the honor to acknowledge your communication of the tenth of ,may1 #ahch1 accompanied by one of the ninth from the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 addressed to ,captain ,cooper1 ,acting ,secretary of ,war1 on the subject of turning over certain negroes1 captured by the ,creek warriors in ,florida1 to a ,mr4 ,collins1 their agent1 in compliance with an engagement of ,general ,jessup4 ,i know nothing of the negroes in question1 nor of the subject1 further than what is contained in the communication above referred to2 but ,i must state distinctly for the information of all concerned1 that1 while ,i shall hold myself ever ready to do the utmost in my power to get the ,indians and their negroes out of ,florida1 as well as to remove them to their new homes west of the ,mississippi1 ,i ,,cannot ,,for ,a ,,moment ,,consent ,,to ,,meddle ,,with ,,this ,,transaction1 or to be concerned for the benefit of ,collins1 the ,creek ,indians1 or any one else4 ,this language was received at the ,war ,department without reproof1 although the ,secretary was from ,south ,carolina1 bred up in the chivalrous doctrines of the ,palmetto ,state4 ,he quietly suffered a ,brigadier ,general thus plainly to express his contempt for this slave-dealing transaction1 in which not only the ,war ,department1 but the ,president of the ,united ,states1 was involved4 ,he appears to have been willing to encounter almost any kind of disrespect1 rather than call public attention to the subject4 ,in the meantime other claims were presented to the ,department for those ,exiles1 or portions of those1 who had been captured by the ,creeks4#abj ,gad ,humphreys filed with the ,secretary of ,war a list of forty-seven slaves who had fled from him in #ahcj1 stating that they had gone to the ,seminoles1 and that a part of them had been sent to ,fort ,pike4 ,colonel ,humphreys appeared to regard himself as entitled to the possession of those people2 although by the treaty of ,payne's ,landing the ,seminoles had paid for all slaves residing with them prior to #ahcb2 and had been released from all further demands on account of such slaves4 ,colonel ,humphreys stated that his claim had been examined by the late agent1 ,general ,wiley ,thompson1 and decided against him2 but insisted that the decision was wrong1 and avowed his ability to show it erroneous by proper proof whenever he should have an opportunity1 and again demanded that the slaves should be brought back to ,florida1 where he could present his proof without trouble4 ,this letter was inclosed in one directed to ,mr4 ,downing1 ,delegate in ,congress from ,florida1 and by him transmitted to the ,secretary of ,war1 and by that officer referred to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs4 ,thus driven to the wall1 the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs came out in plain and unmistakable language1 asserting the doctrine1 that the ,government held the power and constitutional right to dispose of prisoners taken in war1 whatever their character may be4 ,this doctrine had been eloquently sustained by ,general ,gaines1 on the trial in ,new ,orleans4 ,it was the doctrine avowed by ,hon4 ,john ,quincy ,adams in the ,house of ,representatives1 during the next session of ,congress2 but it called down upon him much abuse in that body1 and in the ,democratic papers of the country4 ,the ,commissioner's report to the ,secretary of ,war set forth in distinct language1 that the claims of individuals to slaves were precluded by the action of the ,government in sending these people ,west2 that they had been captured by the army and disposed of by the ,executive1 and the action of the ,department could not be changed in consequence of individuals claiming them as slaves4 ,in short1 he repeated the doctrine advanced by ,general ,gaines at ,new ,orleans4 ,the report also confirmed the policy of ,general ,taylor in disregarding the claims of individuals to persons captured by the army1 and was a tacit condemnation of that pursued by ,general ,jessup1 and previously sanctioned by the ,secretary of ,war4 ,this report was passed over to the ,secretary4 ,that officer 7,mr4 ,poinsett7 having received this report1 transmitted it to ,colonel ,humphreys4 ,this drew from that gentleman a still more elaborate argument in favor of his claim1 which occupies nearly four heavy pages in documentary form4 ,this was also transmitted to ,mr4 ,downing1 and by him passed over to the ,secretary of ,war2 but we are not informed whether the ,secretary of ,war replied to this second argument or not4 ,it is1 however1 important to the truth of history to notice this recognition of the doctrine by a slave-holding ,secretary of ,war1 that the ,executive in time of war may separate slaves from their masters1 and send them out of the country1 without regard to the relation previously subsisting between them and their owners4 ,the principle was thus recognized by ,mr4 ,poinsett1 although a citizen of ,south ,carolina1 acting under the advice and direction of ,mr4 ,van ,buren1 a ,democratic ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,general ,jessup also1 in a report to the ,war ,department1 declared1 that1 in his opinion1 the treaty of ,payne's ,landing exonerated the ,indians from all claims for slaves which accrued prior to that date1 and that ,colonel ,humphreys and other claimants could only demand a proportion of the seven thousand dollars allowed by the ,indians for slaves then residing among them4 ,this suggestion was obviously just1 and was approved by the ,secretary of ,war2 and we are naturally led to inquire1 why the same obviously just rule was not applied to some hundreds of other cases precisely like that of ,colonel ,humphreys8 ,in the meantime1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds having accomplished his mission1 so far as the emigration of the captives shipped on board the two boats which left ,new ,orleans on the nineteenth and twenty-first of ,may were concerned1 returned to that city in order to complete the duties assigned him in regard to the thirty-one prisoners who had been detained there by legal sequestration4 ,collins1 faithful to the trust reposed in him1 also returned to ,new ,orleans with the full purpose of securing those people as slaves to ,watson4 ,they reached the city on the twenty-third1 and found the slaves still in the possession of the ,sheriff2 as the time assigned by the court within which the plaintiff was to enter bail had not expired4 ,on the twenty-fifth of ,june1 ,mr4 ,collins addressed a note to ,mr4 ,reynolds1 inquiring whether there had been any decision of the court upon the claim of ,love to the ,seminole negroes left at that place2 and what number he 7,reynolds7 was satisfied belonged to the ,creek ,indians2 and demanding that such as belonged to them should be delivered to him1 under the order of the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs4 ,mr4 ,reynolds replied that he understood the case had been dismissed2 but as he 7,reynolds7 was then acting under a superior officer 7,major ,clark71 he would refer ,mr4 ,collins to him4 ,on the following day1 ,collins addressed ,major ,clark on the subject2 but receiving no answer1 and becoming vexed and disgusted with the business1 he left the city on the twenty-seventh for his home in ,alabama4 ,in justice to ,mr4 ,collins1 we let him speak for himself1 and quote the remainder of his report to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 being that portion which relates to his efforts to get possession of these thirty-one ,exiles4 ,it reads as follows3 ,on arriving at ,new ,orleans on my return1 ,i found the representatives of ,love had withdrawn their claim against those thirty-two negroes that were left there1 thirty-one of which ,lieutenant ,r4 expressed himself satisfied belonged to the claim4 ,i addressed a note to ,lieutenant ,r4 requesting that such of the negroes as he was satisfied of the identity might be turned over to me2 he in turn referred me to ,major ,clark who was his senior officer1 and who had received similar instructions to his own4 ,i had1 in company with ,lieutenant ,r4 the day before1 called upon ,major ,clark1 and learned his determination in relation to the negroes4 ,he did not recognize the validity of his order1 inasmuch as ',by order of the ,secretary of ,war' did not precede your signature1 and had even the hardihood to state1 that1 by an examination of the lists1 none of those negroes in ,new ,orleans were embraced in the claim ,i presented1 and subsequently ordered ,lieutenant ,reynolds to send the negroes forthwith to ,arkansas4 ,after ,i saw a settled and determined purpose to thwart me there as well as elsewhere1 ,i left ,new ,orleans on the next day for this place1 and since my arrival here1 ,i have learned by a letter from ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 that the negroes were sent off the next day after ,i left4 ,captain ,morrison ,i did not see4 ,not perhaps being as fruitful in expedients as some others of them1 he stopped at ,fort ,jackson1 and sent to ,new ,orleans for transportation outfit1 etc41 and passed the city on his way up1 without but few knowing who he was1 or anything else in relation to him4 ,i learned indirectly from ,major ,clark1 7who probably did not intend this admission for me17 that he had between twenty and thirty of the negroes on board belonging to this claim4 ,i am1 sir1 with the highest respect1 ,yours1 etc41 ,n4 ,f4 ,,collins4 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris1 ,esq41 ,comm'r ,indian ,affairs1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,it is most obvious that ,collins believed that the military officers of ,government1 who were serving at a distance from ,washington1 viewed his mission with no particular favor1 and he evidently retired from ,new ,orleans with some degree of indignation4 ,in the meantime1 the claimant ,love1 despairing of obtaining the negroes1 refused to enter bail for costs and damages1 in case the suit should be determined against him in the higher court1 and the sheriff delivered them over to ,mr4 ,reynolds on the same day that ,collins left the city4 ,on the next day1 ,mr4 ,reynolds wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 saying1 ,the thirty-one negroes who were arrested1 seized from me and lodged in the jail of this city1 were last evening surrendered to me4 ,the ,creek attorney 7,n4 ,f4 ,collins1 ,esq47 nor any authorized agent being present1 and not wishing to detain them at the expense of the ,government1 they were immediately embarked and dispatched ,west1 with twenty-five days' provisions1 under the charge of ,assistant ,conductor ,benjamin1 who1 to satisfy the ,indians1 had been left with the negroes at the period of the service of the process2 of which fact ,i informed the ,department at the time4 ,these thirty-one prisoners who had been thus detained1 were now once more under way for their western home4 ,their hearts appeared to beat more freely as the noble steamer1 which bore them on their way to their friends and future homes1 cut loose from her moorings and sped her way toward her destined port4 ,on board that happy craft1 also1 were many smiles and hearty congratulations exchanged among those children of the forest1 who had been borne along on the tide of ever-varying circumstances4 ,although helpless and penniless1 and apparently friendless1 they had almost miraculously escaped the meshes which our ,government and the slave-dealers had spread for their destruction4 ,in due time they reached ,fort ,gibson1 and were delivered over to the care of the proper agent1 who conducted them to their friends4 ,and now some nine hundred ,seminoles1 and some three to four hundred ,exiles1 had reached the ,indian ,country2 they constituted the first party of that nation who1 driven from their homes--their native wilds--had consented to be taken to a strange land4 ,they had been assured by ,general ,jessup and all officers who spoke for the ,government1 that the treaty of ,payne's ,landing was to be complied with4 ,to enforce that treaty had been the order of ,general ,jackson4 ,general ,cass had declared that the ,indians must comply with that treaty2 while1 to our ,indian agents1 he asserted it to be the policy of the ,government to unite the ,creeks and ,seminoles as one people4 ,but the ,indians and ,exiles were constantly assured1 that they were to have a tract of country set off to their separate use2 and when they entered into the articles of capitulation with ,general ,jessup1 on the eighteenth of ,march1 #ahcg1 that officer1 on behalf of the ,united ,states1 had stipulated to protect the ,indians and their allies in the enjoyment of their lives and property4 ,but now the turpitude and guilt of the ,executive were revealed4 ,the orders of the agent directed him to take them on to the territory assigned to the ,creeks4 ,this would subject them to ,creek jurisdiction and ,creek laws2 and they were perfectly conscious that every ,exile would be immediately enslaved4 ,yet there was no country which they could call their own4 ,the perfidious pretense of enforcing the treaty of ,payne's ,landing1 without giving them a separate territory according to the supplemental treaty1 now stood exposed in its proper light4 ,abraham was a man of influence with his brethren4 ,he had used his utmost efforts to induce them to emigrate4 ,he had been honest4 ,he believed in the integrity of our nation1 of its people1 its government2 but his error had been fatal4 ,the ,exiles were in the ,western ,country1 without a home1 and with no means of support1 except the stipulation of ,government to furnish them provisions for one year4 ,it was at this time1 when a ,christian government had violated its faith1 most solemnly pledged1 in order to enslave a people who for ages had been free1 that a ,pagan government performed towards the ,exiles and ,seminoles the ,christian duty1 the hospitality1 of furnishing them temporary homes4 ,the ,cherokees had volunteered to exert their influence with the ,indians and ,exiles in favor of peace4 ,they had induced many of them to come into the ,american camp under flags of truce which had been violated1 and their persons seized1 held prisoners1 and sent ,west4 ,they had themselves1 apparently1 been involved in this treachery practiced by our ,government1 and1 under these circumstances1 they consented to share their own possessions with the ,seminoles and ,exiles until further arrangements were made2 they consented to have the ,seminoles and ,exiles settle on their land for the present1 until the ,government could be induced to fulfill its most sacred compacts with these victims of slaveholding persecutions4 ,,chapter ,,xvii4 ,,total ,,failure ,,of ,,all ,,efforts ,,to ,,enslave ,,the ,,exiles4 ,indians and ,exiles complain--,government disregards their complaints--,further efforts to enslave ,exiles--,they fail--,general ,arbuckle's ,report--,collins charges ,reynolds with misconduct--,reynolds called on to explain--,his reply and proofs--,collins desires claim to be made against ,creek ,warriors--,they refuse to notice it--,political feelings--,watson presents his claim to ,congress--,resolution of that body calling for information--,answer--,house ,doc4 #bbe--;,digression--,proceedings on claim before ,congress--,its final settlement4 ,sidenote3 #ahch4 ,the ,indians and ,exiles who had emigrated1 now found themselves separated at the distance of more than a thousand miles from their brethren in ,florida1 with whom they could hold no intercourse4 ,they were without a country--without permanent homes--residing upon the lands of the ,cherokees1 at the mere sufferance of that ,tribe1 whose humanity had been awakened1 and whose sympathy had been extended to them4 ,their situation and discontent were duly communicated to the ,executive2 but it appears to have been regarded as of too little importance to receive attention4 ,but while the ,president and the ,war ,department disregarded all complaints coming from the ,seminoles and ,exiles1 they relaxed no effort to secure ,watson in the possession of the ninety human beings whom he had purchased of the ,creek ,indians1 at the request of the ,executive4 ,as the last resort1 instructions were sent to ,general ,arbuckle1 commanding in the ,west1 to make investigations1 and ascertain what more could be done for the renslavement of those people4 ,that officer replied to this communication as follows3 ,,head ,,quarters #b;,d ,,department1 ,,western ,,division1 ,fort ,gibson1 ,aug4 #bgth1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,i had the honor1 on the #bb;d instant1 to receive your instructions of the #bast ultimo1 together with the papers to which they refer4 ,i extremely regret that the ,united ,states is liable to suffer loss in consequence of the ,creek warriors having sold1 and received pay1 for the negroes they captured from the ,seminole ,indians in ,florida2 and these negroes having been imprudently returned to the possession of their former owners at ,new ,orleans1 and brought to this place1 with two hundred or more other negroes belonging to the ,seminoles4 ,owing to these transactions1 it would be extremely difficult1 if not impossible1 to identify at most but few of them2 and from the present position of this case1 it is not probable that one of the negroes will be obtained except by force4 ,for further information in relation to this subject1 ,i beg leave to refer you to my letter to ,captain ,armstrong1 ,acting ,superintendent of the ,western ,territory1 of this date1 a copy of which is herewith enclosed4 ,i shall do all in my power to prevent loss to the ,government1 and will at an early period have the honor to advise you of the measures taken in the case4 ,i have the honor to be1 ,sir1 with great respect1 ,your obedient servant1 ,m4 ,,arbuckle1 ,brevet ,brig4 ,gen'l1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,hon4 ,j4 ,r4 ,,poinsett1 ,secretary of ,war4 ,the letter to ,captain ,armstrong1 ,superintendent of the ,western ,territory1 was as follows3 ,,head ,,quarters #b;,d ,,department1 ,,western ,,division1 ,fort ,gibson1 ,aug4 #bg1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,i received by the last mail1 from the honorable the ,secretary of ,war1 a communication under date of the #bast ultimo1 on the subject of the negroes captured by the ,creek warriors1 together with a letter from the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs to the ,secretary of ,war1 under date of the #aith ultimo1 relating to this subject1 copies of which are herewith enclosed4 ,all other papers or transactions in relation to this matter1 it is presumed1 you are apprized of4 ,it will be seen by the communication first referred to1 that it was not known at ,washington1 at the date of that letter1 that the ,creek warriors had been paid for the negroes4 ,that circumstance1 however just to the warriors and proper1 so far as you have had an agency in the affair1 will increase the difficulty of obtaining the negroes1 as it is believed the ,creek warriors will not now give themselves any trouble to have the negroes delivered to the individuals to whom they sold them4 ,and notwithstanding the pledge of the ,seminole chiefs to me1 to surrender the negroes in the event the ,government should so require 7after reconsidering their claim to them71 ,i do not believe they will comply with their promise1 with the knowledge that the negroes are to be taken from this country as the servants of a white man4 ,finally1 as the ,seminoles are greatly under the influence of their negroes1 there is scarcely a hope that the captured negroes will be surrendered without the application of force 7which is not required72 and1 in that event1 it is not probable they could be had1 as they would no doubt run away the moment they are informed a military force is to be employed to take them4 ,and in such case1 it is believed1 they would be assisted1 when necessary1 by most of the ,seminoles1 and by all the ,seminole and ,creek negroes2 and if the captured negroes could be placed in the possession of the ,creek agent1 he would not detain them a moment without he had a suitable guard for that purpose4 ,i am therefore of the opinion1 that the best means that can now be resorted to1 to prevent loss to the ,united ,states1 is1 if possible1 to induce the ,seminoles to refund1 from their annuity1 the sum paid to the ,creek warriors for the negroes1 and the interest on the same until paid4 ,i will be much gratified if you can visit this post in six or eight days1 when the ,seminole chiefs can be assembled here1 with the object of inducing them to agree to the measure proposed1 or such other as may be deemed advisable4 ,in the event that it may not be convenient for you to be at this post at an early period1 ,i request that you will favor me with your views on the subject of this communication by the return of mail4 ,i am1 ,sir1 with much respect1 ,your obedient servant1 ,m4 ,,arbuckle1 ,brevet ,brig4 ,gen'l1 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,capt4 ,w4 ,,armstrong1 ,acting ,sup't ,w4 ,ter41 ,choctaw ,agency4 ,this correspondence might well have concluded the efforts of the ,executive to deliver these ninety ,exiles to the slave-dealer4 ,it were unnecessary to say1 that ,general ,arbuckle's labors in this behalf proved useless4 ,he had foretold such failure in his letter to the ,war ,department4 ,in ,january1 #ahcg1 the ,creek warriors captured these people1 and for almost two years the influence of the ,executive had been exerted to enslave them2 but a series of incidents1 unequaled in real life1 had constantly succeeded each other1 preventing the consummation of this intended crime2 yet the slave power was inexorable in its demands4 ,these circumstances failed to convince the ,president that it was useless for the ,executive of a great nation to contend against the plainest dictates of justice2 against those convictions of right which dwell in the breast of every human being who has not extinguished the moral feelings of his nature4 ,collins having returned to his plantation in ,alabama1 deliberately1 drew up and transmitted his report to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 which we have heretofore quoted4 ,but when he was subsequently informed that the thirty-two ,exiles who were in the hands of the ,sheriff at ,new ,orleans had1 on the day of his leaving that city1 been delivered over to ,reynolds1 and sent ,west1 his indignation was further excited1 and he immediately wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs again more distinctly charging the officers engaged in the emigration of these people with bad faith4 ,he wrote as follows3 ,,montgomery1 ,,alabama1 ,aug4 #h1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,since writing you a week since1 ,i have understood that ,lieutenant ,reynolds has informed you that on his arrival in ,new ,orleans the negroes that were detained there had been surrendered to him1 and that1 in consequence of my not being there1 they were sent off to1 etc4 ,after seeing so much duplicity and management as has been manifested by the officers with whom ,i have recently had intercourse1 particularly ,lieutenant ,r41 ,i am not surprised at the above statement4 ,lieutenant ,r4 is well apprised that the negroes had been turned over to him while ,i was in ,new ,orleans2 and it is also susceptible of proof that during my stay there arrangements were privately making to charter a boat to transport them4 ,after ,i learned this1 ,i purposely threw myself in his way2 but he said not a word to me in relation to the negroes1 until ,i addressed him the note which is herewith enclosed4 ,after receiving his answer1 ,i1 in his presence1 addressed the enclosed copy to ,major ,clark2 but before ,i had procured a messenger to carry it to ,major ,c41 ,lieutenant ,r41 after being a short time absent from the room1 returned1 and informed me he had seen the ,sheriff1 and he had refused to turn over the negroes to him1 which rendered it1 as ,i conceived1 unnecessary to send the note to ,major ,c4 ,after my return home1 he wrote that 7the next day after ,i left it seems7 the ,sheriff reviewed his decision1 and a second time turned them over to ,lieutenant ,r42 and as he states in his letter to me1 that ,major ,clark ordered them to proceed forthwith to ,arkansas4 ,why was it necessary1 then1 for me to have been there1 since he had yielded everything to his senior officer1 and that officer he knew had determined not to respect the order he had received1 and had determined 7as his previous statement and subsequent conduct prove7 to send them forthwith to ,arkansas8 ,it is about such a subterfuge as the ,sheriff turning the negroes and withholding them after my letter to ,major ,c4 was seen1 and then turning them over again after it was known ,i had left4 ,it is due ,lieutenant ,r4 to observe1 that he stated to me the ,sheriff had told him a lie4 ,i know not what object he could have had in view in doing so4 ,i remained in ,new ,orleans four days1 in which time ,i became convinced from the maneuvering that was evinced that nothing would be gained by a longer stay1 and as the sickly season was approaching1 ,i left with the conviction that the ,sheriff would alter his decision as soon as ,i left there4 ,i am1 with the highest respect1 sir1 ,yours1 etc41 ,n4 ,f4 ,,collins1 ,agent ,creek ,warriors4 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris1 ,esq41 ,commissioner ,indian ,affairs4 ,it is worthy of notice that this agent of a slave-dealer should thus address1 to one of the ,executive ,departments of this august nation1 complaints against the sworn officers of our ,government2 but it is still more worthy of note that the ,war ,department should call on its authorized and sworn agents to respond to complaints coming from such a source4 ,copies of ,collins's two letters were immediately enclosed to ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 accompanied by a letter from ,commissioner ,harris1 of which we give a copy3 ,,war ,,department1 ,office of ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 ,august #bg1 #ahcg4 ,,sir3 ,i enclose copies of two letters from ,n4 ,f4 ,collins1 ,esq41 7one of the twenty-ninth ultimo and the other of the eighteenth instant17 in relation to the negroes which you were directed to turn over to him as the agent of the ,creeks4 ,from these papers1 and from other information received here1 it would seem there has been great disregard1 if not a violation1 of the orders of the ,war ,department in this matter4 ,i trust you will be able to make such explanations of your conduct as will relieve you from censure--a prompt answer is desired4 ,it may not be amiss to inform you that1 when on duty in the ,indian ,department1 you are bound to obey the orders of no military officer1 unless you have been placed under his direction4 ,captain ,morrison is the only army officer authorized to control your movements4 ,very1 etc41 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris1 ,commissioner4 ,lieut4 ,j4 ,g4 ,,reynolds4 ,these intimations to ,lieutenant ,reynolds of censure1 and the distinct call for explanations1 could be neither misinterpreted nor misunderstood2 and1 although the complaints and charges had been preferred not merely by a man in private life1 but by an individual whose very employment as an assistant slave-dealer had rendered him odious and infamous among honorable men1 yet this officer who had fought under the flag of his country1 and was ready at any moment to peril his life in the support of his country's honor1 was now constrained to meet charges coming from an infamous source4 ,the surprise of ,lieutenant ,reynolds at this procedure was expressed in the following letter3 _/99 ,,new ,,orleans1 ,sept4 #bj1 #ahch4 99_/ ,,sir3 ,your letter1 dated twenty-seventh ultimo1 enclosing copies of two communications received at your office from ,mr4 ,n4 ,f4 ,collins1 the ,creek attorney1 came to hand on the tenth instant4 ,i was surprised at being called upon to answer for 'my conduct' toward ,mr4 ,collins1 as also the ,department for disregarding its orders4 ,indeed1 sir1 ,i have been1 in my own estimation1 too faithful a servant in the special department in which it was the pleasure of ,general ,jessup to assign1 and you to continue1 me1 to make a defense to the allegations advanced by ,collins4 ,at the time of ,mr4 ,collins's departure from this city1 he did not evince that virulence of feeling that he has thought proper to express in his letter2 on the contrary1 he was then apparently under the full conviction that ,i had done all that was possible to aid him1 and carry out the orders received in relation to the negroes in question4 ,what object could ,i possibly have in wishing clandestinely1 and in the very face of orders1 to send those negroes to ,arkansas8 ,had ,mr4 ,collins been here1 sir1 so far as ,i was concerned1 he should have had the negroes upon identity4 ,i enclose papers1 sir1 from various gentlemen to disprove the assertion of ,mr4 ,collins1 'that the negroes were in my possession during the time he was here2' on the contrary1 they did not come into my hands until some time after his departure4 ,it is true1 ,i have frequently referred to ,major ,clark for advice in matters relative to my official situation4 ,it was on account of the high regard ,i have of his character as a gentleman1 and an officer of long standing and experience1 and whose integrity stands preeminently and deservedly high4 ,i have the honor to be1 sir1 very respectfully1 ,your obd't servant1 ,,jno4 ,g4 ,,reynolds1 ,u4 ,s4 ,m4 ,c4 ,disb4 ,agent1 ,ind4 ,dep't4 ,c4 ,a4 ,,harris1 ,com4 ,ind4 ,affairs1 ,washington ,city1 ,d4 ,c4 ,we have too little space in this work to copy official papers to any considerable extent4 ,those which accompanied ,lieutenant ,reynolds's reply were-- ,first4 ,a full statement of facts from ,sheriff ,buisson1 showing that the thirty-one prisoners1 who had been in his charge1 were not turned over to ,major ,clark until the twenty-eighth of ,june1 #ahch4 ,second4 ,a full statement of facts by ,george ,whitman1 owner of the steamboat1 who contracted to carry the prisoners ,west4 ,third4 ,a similar statement by ,major ,clark of the facts that came within his knowledge1 accompanied by a copy of a communication from ,jno4 ,c4 ,casey1 ,acting ,seminole ,agent4 ,all these statements showed that ,lieutenant ,reynolds had strictly obeyed his orders2 and whether they proved satisfactory to the ,war ,department or not1 we are unable to state4 ,it is1 however1 believed1 that no further proceedings were had in relation to the conduct of that officer4 ,mr4 ,collins1 finding that he possessed some influence with the ,war ,department1 on the eighteenth of ,october1 wrote the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 saying1 ,i have now to request that1 should ,general ,arbuckle be unable to comply with the instructions ,i understand he has received1 7which from my knowledge of the ,indian character ,i have no doubt he will17 this claim may be laid before the agent who may be appointed to investigate the claims of the ,creeks with the necessary documents2 that it may be examined and reported on by him4 ,in answer to this letter1 ,mr4 ,crawford1 ,acting ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 replied1 stating that ,general ,arbuckle had1 on the twenty-eighth of ,september1 informed the ,department that the negroes could only be obtained by military force4 ,mr4 ,crawford also assured ,mr4 ,collins that ,general ,arbuckle had been instructed to act in concert with ,captain ,armstrong for the purpose of obtaining a treaty with the ,indians by which provisions for this claim would be made2 and that the necessary papers had been transmitted to those gentlemen to enable them to act with a correct understanding of the subject4 ,but the ,creek ,indians appear to have become impressed with the opinion1 that the whole proceeding was either unjust or dishonorable1 and they wholly refused to participate any further in the transaction4 ,the ,exiles and ,indians were now living on the ,cherokee lands4 ,the ,creeks would have nothing further to do with ,watson1 nor with the ,united ,states1 in regard to the captured negroes4 ,the ,seminole ,indians showed no disposition to surrender them to slavery1 and the ,exiles themselves exhibited no intention of going voluntarily into bondage4 ,general ,arbuckle advised against the employment of military force to effect that object2 and to all present appearances these ninety ,exiles had1 through a train of mysterious incidents1 been preserved from bondage4 ,the ,florida ,war had become unpopular2 and ,watson1 the purchaser of the supposed slaves1 had warm personal friends among the ,whigs of ,georgia4 ,they were quite willing to subject ,mr4 ,van ,buren to any degree of odium in their power4 ,watson1 therefore1 sent his petition to ,congress1 asking indemnity for the loss of slaves whom he had purchased of the ,creeks at the instance1 and by the recommendation1 of the ,executive officers of ,government4 ,in order to sustain the claim of ,watson1 it was necessary to place the facts attending this transaction before the ,house of ,representatives4 ,for this purpose a resolution was adopted1 on the twenty-eighth of ,january1 #ahci1 calling on the ,secretary of ,war for such information as was to be found in his office touching the capture of negroes and other property from the hostile ,indians1 during the present war in ,florida4 ,in answer to this resolution1 the ,secretary of ,war1 on the twenty-seventh of ,february1 made report1 embracing one hundred and twenty-six pages of printed matter4 ,it was numbered ,h4 ,doc4 #bbe1 and ordered to be printed4 ,from that document much information has been obtained in regard to the capture and emigration of this first party of ,indians and ,exiles to the ,western ,country4 ,the result of this speculation in human flesh is so essential to a correct appreciation of the whole transaction1 that we deem it proper to give1 in this connection1 the proceedings of ,congress upon that subject2 although it may appear to be rather a digression from the chronological narration of events which constitute the subject of our history4 ,it will be recollected that the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 in his letter to the ,secretary of ,war1 dated the first of ,may1 #ahch1 suggests that it might create agitation1 were the ,department to ask ,congress for an appropriation of money to carry these ,exiles to ,africa1 or for any other disposition of them2 that1 to suppress all discussion in ,congress upon the subject of slavery1 gag-resolutions and gag-rules had been adopted at each session since #ahce4 ,it was under the operation of these rules that the advocates of slavery expected to pass a bill to indemnify ,watson for his loss in failing to enslave these ,exiles4 ,sidenote3 #ahci4 ,during the summer of #ahci1 the document1 ,no4 #bbe1 above referred to1 was printed4 ,according to the practice of that day1 few1 even of the members of ,congress1 examined these documents4 ,a copy of this1 however1 was placed on file1 with ,watson's petition and other papers1 as evidence on which his claim rested4 ,at the commencement of the next session1 the ,author of this work1 being a member of the ,house of ,representatives1 was placed upon the committee of ,claims2 at the head of which was ,hon4 ,david ,russel1 of ,washington ,county1 ,new ,york1 a man of great industry1 integrity and ability2 always independent1 according to the general views of that day1 and upright in the discharge of official duties4 ,hon4 ,william ,c4 ,dawson1 of ,georgia1 was also a member of that committee1 and appeared to take much interest in this claim4 ,he was a man of much suavity of manner2 one of that class of ,southern statesmen who felt it necessary to carry every measure by the influence of personal kindness1 and an expression of horror at all agitation of the slave question1 under the apprehension that it might dissolve the ,union4 ,mr4 ,dawson was anxious to get this claim of ,watson through ,congress1 and1 not expecting the ,chairman of the committee on ,claims to favor its passage1 requested the ,author to examine and give support to it4 ,it was that examination which gave him the first information as to the real cause of the ,florida ,war4 ,after a full and thorough investigation1 he assured ,mr4 ,dawson that he would be constrained to oppose the passage of any bill giving indemnity to ,watson4 ,at that time it was the usual practice for the committee on ,claims to leave all petitions asking pay for slaves1 or which involved the question of slavery1 without reporting upon them1 lest they should cause agitation4 ,there being no prospect of obtaining from the committee a favorable report1 the case was at the next session of ,congress referred to the committee on ,indian ,affairs1 who reported in its favor1 providing for the payment of the full sum which ,watson gave the ,creeks1 and interest thereon from the time of the contract up to the time of passing the bill4 ,sidenote3 #ahda4 ,this bill was placed on the calendar1 and in #ahda the ,author endeavored to call attention to it1 in a speech made in the ,house of ,representatives on the ,florida ,war4 ,this led some members to examine it2 and some of them1 more independent than others1 declared their hostility to its passage4 ,in the ,twenty-eighth ,congress1 the ,author1 having become obnoxious to the slaveholders1 was removed from the committee on ,claims1#aba and ,watson's petition was again referred to that committee1 in order that it should receive the prestige of its influence2 but it was reported upon late1 and was so low on the calendar that it was not reached during that ,congress4 ,sidenote3 #ahdh4 ,sidenote3 #ahdi4 ,in the ,thirty-first ,congress1 ,mr4 ,daniels1 ,chairman of the committee on ,claims1 reported it in ,february4 ,but ,general ,crowell1 of ,trumbull ,county1 ,ohio1 being on the committee1 opposed its passage1 and caused a postponement for that session2 and at the next session it was1 after a short discussion1 passed over without any final action upon it4 ,at the ,thirty-second ,congress1 the committee on ,claims was yet more favorably constituted for the slave interest--,mr4 ,sacket1 of ,new ,york1 and ,mr4 ,rantoul1 of ,massachusetts1 being the only two members upon it who openly resisted the slave power4 ,mr4 ,edgerton1 of ,ohio1 ,mr4 ,seymour1 of ,connecticut1 and ,mr4 ,curtis1 of ,pennsylvania1 being ,northern ,democrats1 remained silent during the discussion of this claim4 ,it was however again reported by the ,chairman1 ,mr4 ,daniels1 of ,north ,carolina1 at an early day1 and a full determination to carry it through was manifested by the slaveholders4 ,both of the great political parties were at that time 7#aheb7 endeavoring to suppress all agitation of the slave question4 ,southern men1 particularly1 were horrified at every appearance of discussion in relation to the pecculiar institution2 and they hoped to pass this bill without even an examination of its merits before the ,house4 ,but the opponents of slavery were not idle4 ,efforts were privately made to call attention of gentlemen to this claim1 that they might examine its merits before it came up for discussion2 and on looking into it1 a number of members prepared to oppose its passage4 ,sidenote3 #aheb4 ,after one or two postponements1 it came on for discussion on the twentieth of ,february1 #aheb4 ,mr4 ,sacket1 of ,new ,york1 met the case at once1 in a speech which showed that he had studied it very thoroughly1 and understood it perfectly4 ,he insisted that slaves were not plunder1 and did not come within the contract of ,general ,jessup1 which gave to ,creeks the plunder they might capture4 #b;d4 ,that the whole transaction was one of speculation on the part of ,watson1 inasmuch as the report set forth that the negroes were worth at least sixty thousand dollars1 while he paid only fourteen thousand and six hundred dollars--being less than one-fourth their value1 evidently taking upon himself all risk of title and possession4 #c;d4 ,that the officers of ,government had no authority to involve the nation in this slave-dealing transaction4 #dth4 ,that those officers were not the ,government1 and could not bind the people to pay their funds for human flesh4 ,mr4 ,abercrombie1 of ,alabama1 was in favor of the claim4 ,he declared that he was in ,florida at the time of this contract1 and knew all about it1 and that it was well understood that the term plunder did include slaves4 ,mr4 ,daniels1 ,chairman of the committee1 felt called on by the effort of ,mr4 ,sacket to speak early in the discussion4 ,he insisted that ,general ,jessup1 the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs and ,secretary of ,war1 fully understood the case2 that it was understood by the parties that the term plunder did include slaves2 that ,watson was drawn into this matter1 partly1 to relieve the ,government from the transaction in which it had become involved4 ,he insisted that the negroes captured were slaves of the ,seminoles2 but when inquired of on that point1 could only say1 that officers engaged in the ,florida ,war had spoken of them as such4 ,he was much embarrassed by interrogatories propounded to him by ,mr4 ,stanton1 of ,ohio1 and other gentlemen4 ,mr4 ,mace1 of ,indiana1 a ,democrat1 took a short and comprehensive view of the case4 ,he1 nor any other man could tell whether these negroes were slaves or freemen4 ,on the part of the officers of ,government1 there was not a single impulse of humanity manifested in regard to these people2 but all their endeavors were put forth to enslave them4 ,he was entirely opposed to the bill4 ,hon4 ,john ,w4 ,howe1 of ,pennsylvania1 would never give his vote in favor of regarding men1 and women1 and children1 as plunder4 ,he commented with much force upon the contract1 and the documentary evidence before the ,house1 and would maintain the humanity of all prisoners captured in war4 ,he sustained the position of ,general ,gaines1 that they were prisoners of war4 ,on the tenth of ,march the bill came up again for consideration1 when ,mr4 ,johnson1 of ,georgia1 advocated its passage in a very elaborate speech4 ,he differed from ,mr4 ,sacket1 ,mr4 ,howe1 and those who opposed the bill1 mostly upon the great question--insisting that slaves were property under our ,federal ,constitution2 that the people captured by the ,creek ,indians were not possessed of any rights2 that they were to be regarded as mere chattels3 indeed1 this point lay at the foundation of the entire discussion4 ,he however sought to add strength to the claim by reading letters from ,mr4 ,crawford1 ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 and from ,mr4 ,poinsett1 ,secretary of ,war1 to show that they sympathized with the slave-dealer1 and were desirous that this bill should pass4 ,mr4 ,welch1 of ,ohio1 in few words1 declared his conviction that these negroes were prisoners of war1 to be treated as such1 and not to be regarded as slaves or chattels4 ,mr4 ,evans1 of ,maryland1 thought it difficult to understand the case1 but would adopt the views of ,judge ,iverson1 of ,georgia2 that gentleman had been a member of the ,house of ,representatives1 and his statements could be relied upon4 ,he read a long affidavit showing the recollections of ,mr4 ,iverson1 and1 as the ,united ,states had the property in possession1 he would vote for the bill4 ,mr4 ,stuart1 of ,michigan1 now a ,democratic ,senator1 thought the ,government had been in great difficulty in getting these ,seminoles to go ,west2 they would not go without the negroes1 many of whom had intermarried with the ,seminoles4 ,by the treaty which ,general ,jessup made1 in #ahcg1 our ,government was bound to send the negroes ,west1 and having done so1 was bound to pay ,watson for his loss4 ,mr4 ,skelton1 of ,new ,jersey1 a ,democrat1 recognized no power in this or any other government to treat prisoners of war as slaves4 ,the discussion had become interesting1 and1 in some degree1 constituted an agitation of the slave question2 and as the committee rose without taking a vote upon the bill1 ,mr4 ,orr1 of ,south ,carolina1 moved a resolution precluding further debate upon it2 but the ,house adjourned without taking a vote on the resolution4 ,the case came up again on the tenth of ,april1 when a resolution to close debate in one hour was adopted4 ,the ,house then resolved itself in committee2 and ,mr4 ,bartlett1 of ,vermont1 a ,democrat1 took the position that the ,government1 nor its officers1 had power to enter into any agreement with ,indians or white men1 by which they should enjoy any privilege1 or receive any compensation1 not authorized by law2 that the contract between ,general ,jessup and the ,creeks was of no validity1 but absolutely void2 and every transaction touching the enslavement of the ,exiles was without authority1 and of no effect4 ,mr4 ,walsh1 of ,maryland1 insisted that the ,indian tribes were not nations1 and ought not to be treated as such2 that it was not incumbent on the friends of the bill to show that slavery existed among the ,seminoles2 if they lived within a slave ,state1 they might hold slaves2 that the ,government had the right to enslave the negroes when captured4 ,mr4 ,sweetzer1 of ,ohio1 ,democrat1 denied the authority of ,general ,jessup to make any contract for the services of the ,creek warriors other than the law had provided2 nor could he have authority to make any stipulation as to the disposal of prisoners when captured4 ,mr4 ,southerland1 of ,new ,york1 a ,whig1 thought the question of slavery was not necessarily involved in this case2 that the ,united ,states1 having sent the negroes ,west1 were bound to indemnify ,watson for his loss4 ,mr4 ,daniels1 by the rules of the ,house1 had one hour to reply1 after the expiration of the time for closing debate4 ,he attempted to reply to some of the arguments offered against the bill1 but advanced no new position4 ,at the expiration of his speech the vote was taken1 and the bill reported to the ,house as agreed to in committee4 ,the previous question was then called1 and under its operation the bill passed--seventy-nine members voting in favor of its passage1 and fifty-three against it4 ,one member from the slave ,states1 ,williamson ,r4 ,w4 ,cobb1 of ,alabama1 voted against the bill4 ,all the other members from the slave ,states voted for it2 and were aided by the votes of members from the free ,states1 as follows3 ,from ,new ,hampshire3 ,harry ,hibbard--#a4 ,massachusetts3 ,wm4 ,appleton1 ,zeno ,scudder--#b4 ,new ,york3 ,abram ,m4 ,schemmerhorn1 ,james ,brooks1 ,gilbert ,dean1 ,f4 ,s4 ,martin1 ,abram ,p4 ,stevens1 ,joseph ,southerland--#f4 ,connecticut3 ,collins ,m4 ,ingersoll--#a ,new ,jersey3 ,r4 ,m4 ,price--#a4 ,pennsylvania3 ,joseph ,r4 ,chandler1 ,thomas ,florence1 ,joseph ,h4 ,kuhns1 ,joseph ,mc,nair1 ,andrew ,packer1 ,john ,robbins1 ,thomas ,ross--#g4 ,ohio3 ,john ,l4 ,taylor--#a4 ,indiana3 ,sam'l ,w4 ,parker1 ,richard ,w4 ,thompson--#b4 ,michigan3 ,e4 ,s4 ,penniman1 ,charles ,e4 ,stuart--#b4 ,iowa3 ,lincoln ,clark1 ,bernard ,henn--#b4 ,california3 ,joseph ,w4 ,mc,corkle--#a4 ,in all the free ,states twenty-five4 ,the vote against the bill was given by the following members1 from the free ,states3 ,from ,maine3 ,e4 ,k4 ,smart1 ,israel ,washburn1 jr4--#b4 ,new ,hampshire3 ,jared ,perkins1 ,amos ,tuck--#b4 ,massachusetts3 ,orrin ,fowler1 ,z4 ,goodrich1 ,horace ,mann--#c4 ,new ,york3 ,henry ,bennet1 ,george ,briggs1 ,john ,g4 ,floyd1 ,timothy ,jenkins1 ,daniel ,f4 ,jones1 ,preston ,king1 ,william ,murray1 ,joseph ,russel1 ,wm4 ,a4 ,sacket1 ,w4 ,w4 ,snow1 ,hiram ,s4 ,wallbridge1 ,john ,wells--#ab4 ,new ,jersey3 ,charles ,skelton1 ,n4 ,t4 ,stratton--#b4 ,vermont3 ,thomas ,w4 ,bartlett1 ,james ,meacham--#b4 ,connecticut3 ,charles ,chapman--#a4 ,pennsylvania3 ,james ,allison1 ,john ,l4 ,dawson1 ,james ,gamble1 ,galusha ,a4 ,grow1 ,john ,w4 ,howe1 ,thomas ,m4 ,howe1 ,milo ,m4 ,dimmick1 ,thaddeus ,stevens--#h4 ,ohio3 ,nelson ,barrere1 ,joseph ,cable1 ,alfred ,p4 ,edgerton1 ,j4 ,m4 ,gaylord1 ,alex4 ,harper1 ,wm4 ,f4 ,hunter1 ,john ,johnson1 ,eben ,newton1 ,edson ,b4 ,olds1 ,charles ,sweetzer--#aj4 ,indiana3 ,samuel ,brenton1 ,john ,g4 ,davis1 ,graham ,n4 ,fitch1 ,thomas ,a4 ,hendricks1 ,daniel ,mace--#e4 ,illinois3 ,wyllis ,allen1 ,r4 ,s4 ,molony--#b4 ,wisconsin3 ,james ,d4 ,doty1 ,solomon ,durkee1 ,ben4 ,c4 ,eastman--#c4 ,these fifty-two members1 with ,mr4 ,cobb1 of ,alabama1 made up the entire opposition to the bill in the ,house of ,representatives4 ,in the ,senate there was very little opposition to its passage2 and after thirteen years1 the people of the ,united ,states paid for the slaves whom ,watson bought on speculation1 but of whom he failed to obtain possession4 ,the ,northern advocates of the bill justified their support of it more generally upon the principle1 that our officers sent the negroes ,west1 and thereby rendered it difficult1 if not impossible1 for ,watson to obtain possession of them2 and they insisted that1 in refunding to ,watson his money1 they did not pay him for human flesh1 but for the money he had paid out at the instance of federal officers4 ,this vote closed the controversy in regard to ,general ,jessup's contract1 to give the ,creek warriors such plunder as they might capture from the enemy4 ,,chapter ,,xviii4 ,,further ,,difficulties ,,in ,,prosecuting ,,the ,,war4 ,emigrants under ,captain ,morrison--,feeling among the ,regular ,troops--,they detest the practice of catching ,negroes--,another party ,emigrate--,still further ,emigration--,situation of the ,exiles--,deep depravity of the ,administration--,general ,mc,comb's ,treaty--,his general order--,peace cheers the ,nation--,citizens of ,florida return to their homes--,administration congratulates its friends--,more murders perpetrated--,planters flee to villages for protection--,massacre of ,colonel ,harney's party--,indians seized at ,fort ,mellon--,exiles refuse to participate in those massacres--,they would make no ,treaty--,administration paralyzed--,report of ,secretary of ,war--,its character--,barbarous sentiments of ,governor ,reid--,resolution of ,legislature of ,florida in favor of employing blood-hounds--,original object in obtaining them--,the effort proves a failure--,general ,taylor retires from command of ,army--,is succeeded by ,general ,armistead4 ,we now resume our chronological narration of events connected with the ,exiles of ,florida1 during the year #ahch4 ,on the fourteenth of ,june1 ,captain ,morrison arrived at ,new ,orleans from ,tampa ,bay in charge of some three hundred ,indians and thirty negroes1 on their way to the ,west2 he having been assigned to that particular duty4 ,these ,indians and ,exiles had most of them come to ,fort ,jupiter by advice of the ,cherokees1 and surrendered under the capitulation of ,march1 #ahcg4 ,at the time they reached ,new ,orleans1 ,lieutenant ,reynolds was absent with his first emigrating party2 and the thirty-one negroes left at ,new ,orleans were at that time in the hands of the ,sheriff4 ,captain ,morrison felt it his duty to hasten the emigration of those whom he had in charge1 and on the sixteenth1 he left that city with his prisoners for the ,indian ,country without waiting the return of ,lieutenant ,reynolds4 ,on reaching ,fort ,gibson1 he delivered them over to the officer acting as ,seminole ,agent for the ,western ,country1 and they soon rejoined their friends who were located on the ,cherokee lands4 ,it may not be improper to state1 that1 in several of our recent chapters1 we have quoted from official documents pretty freely1 for the reason that many living statesmen1 as well as many who have passed to their final rest1 were deeply involved in those transactions1 and we desired to make them speak for themselves as far as the documents would enable us to do so4 ,but as we have narrated most of the scenes involving individuals in transactions of such deep moral turpitude1 we hope to be more brief in our future history4 ,when ,general ,taylor assumed the command of the army1 there was a feeling of deep disgust prevalent among the regular troops at the practice of seizing and enslaving the ,exiles4 ,we have already noticed the fact1 that the citizens of ,florida supposed the war to have been commenced principally to enable them to get possession of negroes whom they might enslave4 ,indeed1 they appear not to have regarded it as material1 that the claimant should have previously owned the negro4 ,if they once obtained control of his person1 he was hurried into the interior of ,georgia1 ,alabama1 or ,south ,carolina1 where he was sold and held as a slave4 ,and the ,florida volunteers1 while nominally in service1 appear to have been far more anxious to catch negroes than to meet the enemy in battle4 ,this feeling was so general among the people and troops of ,florida1 that ,general ,call1 ,governor of the ,territory1 recommended to the ,secretary of ,war that military expeditions should be fitted out for the purpose of going into the ,indian ,country1 in order to capture negroes1 who1 when captured1 should be sold1 and the avails of such sales applied to defray the expenses of the war4 ,it is easy to see that this feeling would lead the regular troops to entertain great contempt for the volunteers of ,florida2 and a corresponding feeling of hostility would arise on the part of such volunteers toward the regular troops4 ,these feelings operated upon ,president ,jackson in ordering the withdrawal of ,general ,scott2 and ,general ,jessup sought to appease this hostility by obeying the dictates of the slave power4 ,indeed1 whatever appears like a violation of pledged faith1 or bears the evidence of treachery on the part of ,general ,jessup1 may probably with great justice be attributed to the popular sentiment of the ,territory4 ,he had assiduously captured1 and delivered over to bondage1 hundreds of persons whom he had most solemnly covenanted to protect in their persons and property4 ,general ,taylor discarded this entire policy4 ,his first efforts were to make the ,indians and ,exiles understand that he sought their emigration to the ,western ,country1 for the advancement of their own interest and happiness4 ,owing to these circumstances there was scarcely any blood shed in ,florida while he had command4 ,the army was no longer employed to hunt and to chase down women and children1 who had been reared in freedom among the hommocks and everglades of that ,territory4 ,there were yet remaining several small bands of ,indians upon the ,appalachicola ,river1 and in its vicinity4 ,most of the ,exiles who had a few years previously resided with these bands1 had been captured by pirates from ,georgia1 and taken to the interior of that ,state and sold1 as the reader has been already informed4 ,those of ,e-con-chattimico's and of ,blunt's and of ,walker's bands were nearly all kidnapped2 but of the number of ,exiles who remained with the other remnants of ,indian ,tribes1 resident upon the ,appalachicola ,river1 we have no reliable information4 ,we are left in doubt on this point1 as ,general ,taylor drew no distinctions among his prisoners2 he neither constituted himself nor his officers a tribunal for examining the complexion or the pedigree of his captives4 ,he denied the right of any citizen to inspect the people captured by the army under his command1 or to interfere in any way with the disposal of his prisoners4 ,he repaired to the ,apalachee towns with a small force about the first of ,october4 ,neither the ,indians nor ,exiles made any resistance2 nor did they oppose emigration4 ,they readily embarked for ,new ,orleans on their way westward4 ,their emigration was not delayed in order to give planters an opportunity to examine the negroes4 ,under the general term of ,apalachees1 two hundred and twenty persons were quietly emigrated to the ,western ,country2 but1 as we have already stated1 how many of them were negroes1 we have no information4 ,these people were also delivered over to the agent1 acting for the ,western ,indians1 and settled with their brethren upon the ,cherokee lands4 ,general ,taylor now entered upon a new system for prosecuting the war1 by establishing posts and manning them1 and by assigning to each a particular district of country1 over which their scouts and patroles were to extend their daily reconnoisances4 ,sidenote3 #ahci4 ,small parties of ,indians and negroes occasionally came in at different posts1 and surrendered under the articles of capitulation of ,march1 #ahcg2 and1 on the twenty-fifth of ,february1 one hundred and ninety-six ,indians and negroes were embarked at ,tampa ,bay for the ,western ,country4 ,but the proportion of negroes1 compared with the whole number1 is not stated in any official report4 ,general ,taylor1 in his communications1 speaks of them as prisoners1 and occasionally uses the terms ,indians and negroes4 ,thus1 in less than a year1 ,general ,taylor shipped more than four hundred prisoners for the ,western ,country without bloodshed4 ,these prisoners were also delivered over to the ,indian ,agent of the ,western ,country1 and immediately reunited with their brethren already located on the ,cherokee lands4 ,there were1 at that time1 a colony of more than sixteen hundred of these people living upon the territory assigned to the ,cherokees4 ,they were without homes1 or a country of their own3 whereas the ,government had constantly held out to them the assurance that1 if they emigrated ,west1 they should have a country assigned to their separate use1 on which they could repose in safety4 ,at this point in our history1 ,mr4 ,van ,buren's administration exhibited its deepest depravity4 ,since the ratification of the supplemental treaty of #ahcc1 the ,executive1 through all its officers1 had assured the ,indians and ,exiles that they should enjoy its full benefits1 by having a territory set off to their separate use1 where they could live independent of ,creek laws4 ,under these assurances they had received the pledged faith of the nation1 that they should be protected by the ,united ,states in their persons and property4 ,with these pledges1 and with these expectations1 a weak and friendless people had emigrated to that western region2 and when thus separated from their friends and country1 with the slave-catching vultures of the ,creek ,nation watching and intending to make them their future victims1 the ,president deliberately refused to abide by either the treaty or the articles of capitulation4 ,he left them unprotected1 without homes1 and without a country which they could call their own4 ,true1 many of them had been betrayed1 treacherously seized and compelled to emigrate2 but this was done in violation of the existing treaty and pledged faith of the nation1 which they were constantly assured should be faithfully observed2 and these circumstances enhanced the guilt of those who wielded the ,executive power to oppress them4 ,major ,general ,mc,comb arrived in ,florida 7,may #bj7 for the purpose of effecting a new treaty with the ,seminoles upon the basis of permitting them to remain in their native land4 ,the war had been waged with the intent and for the purpose of compelling the ,indians to emigrate ,west and settle with the ,creeks1 and become subject to the ,creek laws4 ,it had continued three years at a vast expenditure of treasure and of national reputation4 ,many valuable lives had also been sacrificed2 and1 although some two thousand ,indians and ,exiles had emigrated ,west1 not one ,exile had settled in the ,creek ,country1 or become subject to ,creek laws4 ,some hundreds had been enslaved and sold in ,florida1 ,georgia1 ,alabama and ,south ,carolina2 but a remnant of that people1 numbering some hundreds1 yet maintained their liberties against all the machinations and efforts of ,government to renslave them4#abb ,the vast expenditure of national treasure had called forth severe animadversion in ,congress2 while the entire policy of the slave power forbid all explanation of the real cause of this war1 and of the objects for which its prosecution was continued4 ,thus1 while the nation was involved in a most expensive and disastrous contest for the benefit of slavery1 the ,house of ,representatives had adopted resolutions for suppressing all discussion and all agitation of questions relating to that institution4 ,general ,scott1 a veteran officer of our army1 had exhausted his utmost science2 had put forth all his efforts to conquer this indomitable people2 or rather to subdue the love of liberty1 the independence of thought and of feeling1 which stimulated them to effort2 but he had failed4 ,the power of our army1 aided by deception1 fraud and perfidy1 had been tried in vain4 ,general ,jessup1 the most successful officer who had commanded in ,florida1 had advised peace upon the precise terms which the allies demanded at the commencement of the war2 and ,general ,mc,comb1 ,commander-in-,chief of the army of the ,united ,states1 was now commissioned to negotiate peace on those terms4 ,but the first difficulty was to obtain a hearing with the chiefs who remained in ,florida1 in order to enter upon negotiations touching a pacification4 ,to effect this object1 recourse was had to a negro1 one of the ,exiles who knew ,general ,taylor1 and in whom ,general ,taylor confided4 ,at the request of ,general ,mc,comb1 this man was dispatched with a friendly message to several chiefs1 requesting them to come into the ,american ,camp for the purpose of negotiation4 ,his mission proved successful4 ,a ,council of several chiefs1 and some forty head men and warriors1 was convened at ,fort ,king1 on the sixteenth of ,may1 #ahci1 and the terms of peace agreed upon2 but no treaty appears to have been drawn up in form4 ,on the eighteenth of ,may1 ,general ,mc,comb1 at ,fort ,king1 his head-quarters1 issued the following general orders3 ,,head ,,quarters ,,of ,,the ,,army ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states1 ,fort ,king1 ,florida1 ,may #ah1 #ahci4 ,the ,major ,general1 commanding in chief1 has the satisfaction of announcing to the army in ,florida1 to the authorities of the ,territory1 and to the citizens generally1 that he has this day terminated the war with the ,seminole ,indians by an agreement entered into with ,chitto-,tustenuggee1 principal chief of the ,seminoles and successor to ,arpeika1 commonly called ,sam4 ,jones1 brought to this post by ,lieutenant ,colonel ,harney1 #b;d ,dragoons1 from the southern part of the peninsula4 ,the terms of the agreement are--that hostilities immediately cease between the parties2 that the troops of the ,united ,states and the ,seminole and ,mickasukie chiefs and warriors1 now at a distance1 be made acquainted with the fact1 that peace exists1 and that all hostilities are forthwith to cease on both sides--the ,seminoles and ,mickasukies agreeing to retire into a district of country in ,florida1 below ,pease ,creek1 the boundaries of which are as follows3 viz1 beginning at the most southern point of land between ,charlotte ,harbor and the ,sanybel or ,cooloosahatchee ,river1 opposite to ,sanybel ,island2 thence into ,charlotte ,harbor by the southern pass between ,pine ,island and that point along the eastern shore of said harbor to ,toalkchopko or ,pease ,creek2 thence up said creek to its source2 thence easterly to the northern point of ,lake ,istokopoga2 thence along the eastern outlet of said lake1 called ,istokopoga ,creek1 to the ,kissimee ,river2 thence southerly down the ,kissimee to ,lake ,okeechobee2 thence south through said lake to ,ecahlahatohee or ,shark ,river2 thence down said river westwardly to its mouth2 thence along the seashore northwardly to the place of beginning2 that sixty days be allowed the ,indians1 north and east of that boundary1 to remove their families and effects into said district1 where they are to remain until further arrangements are made under the protection of the troops of the ,united ,states1 who are to see that they are not molested by intruders1 citizens or foreigners2 and that said ,indians do not pass the limits assigned them1 except to visit the posts1 which will be hereafter indicated to them4 ,all persons are1 therefore1 forbidden to enter the district assigned to the ,indians without written permission of some commanding officer of a military post4 ,by command of the ,general3 ,,alexander ,mc,c,o,m,b1 ,major ,general ,commanding4 ,,edmond ,,shriver1 ,captain and ,a4 ,a4 ,general4 ,the country now again rejoiced at what the people regarded as the restoration of peace4 ,by the terms agreed upon1 the ,indians retained as large a territory in proportion to the number left in ,florida as was held by them at the commencement of the war4 ,the people of ,florida had originally petitioned ,general ,jackson for the forcible removal of the ,indians1 because they would not seize and bring in their fugitive slaves4 ,they had protested against peace upon any terms that should leave the negroes1 whom they claimed1 in the ,indian ,country4 ,these citizens of ,florida had long since been driven from their homes and firesides by the enemy whom they so much despised2 and they now desired peace4 ,the ,indians and ,exiles were also anxious to cultivate corn and potatoes for the coming winter1 and were glad to be able to do so in peace4 ,thus1 the people of ,florida1 as they supposed1 in perfect safety1 returned to their plantations1 and resumed their former habits of life4 ,and the political party in possession of the ,government1 congratulated themselves and the country upon the fortunate conclusion of a war which had involved them in difficulties that were inexplicable4 ,but this quiet continued for a short time only4 ,early in ,july1 travelers and express-riders were killed by small parties of ,indians2 plantations were attacked and the occupants murdered2 buildings burned and crops destroyed2 families fled from their homes1 leaving all their property1 in order to assemble in villages in such numbers as to insure safety to their persons2 and the ,florida ,war again raged with accumulated horrors4 ,as an illustration of the manner in which it was carried on1 we quote the following3 ,,assistant ,,adjutant ,,general',s ,,office1 ,,army ,,of ,,the ,,south1 ,fort ,brooke1 ,east ,florida1 ,july #bi1 #ahci4 ,,sir3 ,it becomes my painful duty to inform you of the assassination of the greater part of ,lieutenant ,colonel ,harney's detachment1 by the ,indians1 on the morning of the #bc;d instant1 on the ,coloosahatchee ,river1 where they had gone1 in accordance with the treaty at ,fort ,king1 to establish a trading-house4 ,the party consisted of about twenty-eight men1 armed with ,colt's rifles2 they were encamped on the river1 but unprotected by defenses of any kind1 and1 it is said1 without sentinels4 ,the ,indians1 in large force1 made the attack before the dawn of day1 and before reveill2 and it is supposed that thirteen of the men were killed1 among whom were ,major ,dalham and ,mr4 ,morgan1 sutlers4 ,the remainder1 with ,colonel ,harney1 escaped1 several of them severely wounded4 ,it was a complete surprise4 ,the ,commanding ,general1 therefore1 directs that you instantly take measures to place the defenses at ,fort ,mellon in the most complete state of repair1 and be ready at all times to repel attack1 should one be made4 ,no portion of your command will1 in future1 be suffered to leave the garrison except under a strong escort4 ,the detachment will be immediately withdrawn4 ,should ,fort ,mellon prove unhealthy1 and the surgeon recommend its abandonment1 you are authorized to transfer the garrison1 and reinforce some of the neighboring posts4 ,i am1 ,sir1 ,,geo4 ,h4 ,,griffin1 ,assistant ,adjutant ,general4 ,lieutenant ,w4 ,k4 ,,hanson1 ,commanding at ,fort ,mellon4 ,the ,indians killed ten men belonging to the military service1 and eight citizens1 employed by the sutlers2 while ,colonel ,harney and fourteen others escaped4 ,the ,indians obtained fourteen rifles1 six carbines1 some three or four kegs of powder1 and about three thousand dollars worth of goods4 ,lieutenant ,hanson1 commanding at ,fort ,mellon1 on receiving the order which we have quoted1 seized some thirty ,indians at that time visiting ,fort ,mellon1 and sent them immediately to ,charleston1 ,south ,carolina2 whence they were embarked for the ,indian ,country1 west of ,arkansas1 where they joined their brethren1 who still resided upon the ,cherokee ,territory4 ,in these transactions1 the ,exiles who remained in ,florida appear to have taken no part1 at least so far as we are informed4 ,they labored to obtain the treaty of peace2 but such was the treachery with which they had been treated1 that they would not subject themselves to the power of the white people1 and were not of course present at the treaty2 nor were they recognized by ,general ,mc,comb as a party to the treaty1 or in any way interested in its provisions4 ,indeed1 we are led to believe that ,general ,mc,comb adopted the policy on which ,general ,taylor usually practiced1 of recognizing no distinctions among prisoners or enemies4 ,the ,administration appeared to be paralyzed under this new demonstration of the power and madness of the ,seminoles4 ,at the commencement of the war1 some officers had estimated the whole number of ,seminoles at fifteen hundred1 and the negroes as low as four hundred4 ,they had now sent some two thousand ,indians and negroes to the ,western ,country2 and yet those left in ,florida1 renewed the war with all the savage barbarity which had characterized the ,seminoles in the days of their greatest power4 ,indeed1 they exhibited no signs of humiliation4 ,the ,secretary of ,war1 ,mr4 ,poinsett1 a ,south ,carolinian1 probably exerted more influence with the ,president in regard to this war than any other officer of ,government4 ,his predecessor1 ,general ,cass1 had treated the ,exiles as mere chattels1 having no rights4 ,he had advised the employment of ,creek ,indians1 giving them such negroes as they might capture2 he had officially approved the contract made with them by ,general ,jessup4 ,after he left the office1 his successor1 ,mr4 ,poinsett1 approved the order purchasing some ninety of them on account of ,government4 ,he had advised ,watson to purchase them2 had done all in his power to consign them to slavery in ,georgia4 ,he was1 however1 constrained to make an official report upon the state of this war1 at the opening of the first session of the ,twenty-sixth ,congress1 which assembled on the first ,monday of ,december1 #ahci4 ,that report1 when considered in connection with the events which gave character to the ,florida ,war1 constitutes a most extraordinary paper4 ,notwithstanding all the difficulties which he had encountered in his efforts to enslave the ,exiles1 to prevent at least ninety of them from going ,west1 and the complaints of the ,seminoles who had emigrated to the ,western ,country1 at finding themselves destitute of homes and of territory on which to settle1 he made no allusion to their troubles2 nor did he give any intimation of the difficulties arising on account of the ,exiles2 nor did he even intimate that such a class of people existed in ,florida4 ,sidenote3 #ahdj4 ,he declared the result of ,general ,mc,comb's negotiation had been the loss of many valuable lives4 ,our people 7said he7 fell a sacrifice to their confidence in the good faith and promises of the ,indians1 and were entrapped and murdered with all the circumstances of cruelty and treachery which distinguish ,indian warfare4 99 99 99 ,the experience of the last summer brings with it the painful conviction1 that the war must be prosecuted until ,florida is freed from these ruthless savages4 ,their late1 cruel and treacherous conduct is too well known to require a repetition of the revolting recital2 it has been such as is calculated to deprive them of the sympathy of the humane1 and convince 'the most peaceable of the necessity of subduing them by force4 ,it appeared necessary to raise the cry of treachery and cruelty against the ,indians and ,exiles4 ,they had no friend who was acquainted with the facts1 that could call attention of the nation to the treachery which had been practiced on them by the order1 and with the approval1 of the ,secretary of ,war4 ,no man was able to say how many fathers and mothers and children were1 by the influence of that officer1 consigned to a fate far more cruel than that which awaited the men1 under ,colonel ,harney1 at ,coloosahatchee4 ,in his report the ,secretary most truly remarked3 ,if the ,indians of ,florida had a country to retire to1 they would have been driven out of the ,territory long ago2 but they are hemmed in by the sea1 and must defend themselves to the uttermost1 or surrender to be transported beyond it4 ,and he might well have added3 ,when they shall be thus transported1 they will have no country--no home4 ,indeed1 the whole report shows that he relied on physical force to effect an extermination of the ,indians and their allies2 he looked not to justice1 nor to the power of truth1 for carrying out the designs of the ,executive4 ,men in power appear to forget that justice sits enthroned above all human greatness2 that it is omnipotent1 and will execute its appropriate work upon mankind4 ,thus1 while the people of ,florida and ,georgia had provoked the war1 by kidnapping and enslaving colored men and women1 to whom they had no more claim than they had to the people of ,england2 while they had sent their petition to ,general ,jackson1 asking him to compel the ,indians to seize and bring in their negroes1 and had protested against the peace negotiated by ,general ,jessup1 in #ahcg2--,mr4 ,reid1 ,governor of ,florida1 in an official ,message to the ,territorial ,legislature1 in ,december1 #ahci1 used language so characteristic of those who supported the ,florida ,war1 that we feel it just to him and his coadjutors to give the following extract3 ,the efforts of the ,general and ,territorial ,governments to quell the ,indian disturbances which have prevailed through four long years1 have been unavailing1 and it would seem that the prophecy of the most sagacious leader of the ,indians will be more than fulfilled2 the close of the fifth year will still find us struggling in a contest remarkable for magnanimity1 forbearance and credulity on the one side1 and ferocity and bad faith on the other4 ,we are waging a war with beasts of prey2 the tactics that belong to civilized nations are but shackles and fetters in its prosecution2 we must fight 'fire with fire2' the white man must1 in a great measure1 adopt the mode of warfare pursued by the red man1 and we can only hope for success by continually harrassing and pursuing the enemy4 ,if we drive him from hommock to hommock1 from swamp to swamp1 and penetrate the recesses where his women and children are2 if1 in self-defense1 we show as little mercy to him as he has shown to us1 the anxiety and surprise produced by such operations will not fail1 it is believed1 to produce prosperous results4 ,it is high time that sickly sentimentality should cease4 ',lo1 the poor ,indian6' is the exclamation of the fanatic1 pseudo-philanthropist2 ',lo1 the poor white man6' is the ejaculation which all will utter who have witnessed the inhuman butchery of women and children1 and the massacres that have drenched the ,territory in blood4 ,in the future prosecution of the war1 it is important that a generous confidence should be reposed in the ,general ,government4 ,it may be that mistakes and errors have been committed on all hands2 but the peculiar adaptation of the country to the cowardly system of the foe1 and its inaptitude to the operations of a regular army2 the varying and often contradictory views and opinions of the best informed of our citizens1 and the embarrassments which these cases must have produced to the authorities at ,washington1 furnish to the impartial mind some excuse1 at least1 for the failures which have hitherto occurred4 ,it is our duty to be less mindful of the past than the future4 ,convinced that the present incumbent of the ,presidential ,chair regards with sincere and intense interest the afflictions we endure2 relying upon the patriotism1 talent and sound judgment of the distinguished ,carolinian who presides over the ,department of ,war1 and confident in the wisdom of ,congress1 let us prepare to second1 with every nerve1 the measures which may be devised for our relief4 ,feeling as we do the immediate pressure of circumstances1 let us exert1 to the extremest point1 all our powers to rid us of the evil by which we are oppressed4 ,let us1 by a conciliatory course1 endeavor to allay any unkindnesses of feeling which may exist between the ,united ,states army and the militia of ,florida1 and by union of sentiment among ourselves1 advance the happy period when the ,territory shall enjoy what she so much needs--a long season of peace and tranquillity4 ,perhaps no vice is more general among mankind than a desire to represent ourselves1 and our country and government1 to mankind and to posterity as just and wise1 whatever real truth may dictate4 ,surely1 if ,general ,jessup's official reports be regarded as correct1 the people of ,florida should have been the last of all who were concerned in that war1 to claim the virtue of magnanimity or forbearance1 or to charge the ,seminoles or ,exiles with ferocity or bad faith4 ,the expression that it is high time that sickly sentimentality should cease1 manifests the ideas which he entertained of strict1 equal and impartial justice to all men4 ,this message was an appropriate introduction to the legislative action which immediately succeeded its publication4 ,it was that legislative body which first gave official sanction to the policy of obtaining blood-hounds from ,cuba to aid our troops in the prosecution of this war4 ,of this atrocious and barbarous policy much has been said and written1 and its authorship charged upon various men and officers of ,government4 ,at the time of the transaction1 it was represented that the blood-hounds were obtained for the purpose of trailing the ,indians1 and historians have so stated2#abc but for various reasons1 we are constrained to believe they were obtained for the purpose of trailing negroes4 ,it was well known that these animals were trained to pursue negroes1 and only negroes4 ,they would no more follow the track of a white man than they would that of a horse or an ox4 ,it was the peculiar scent of the negro that they had been trained and accustomed to follow4 ,no man concerned in obtaining these animals1 could have been ignorant that they had1 in all probability1 never seen an ,indian1 or smelt the track of any son of the forest4 ,every slaveholder well understood the habits of those ferocious dogs1 and the manner of training them1 and could not have supposed them capable of being rendered useful in capturing ,indians4 ,the people of ,florida appear to have been stimulated in the commencement and continuance of this war solely by a desire to obtain slaves1 rather than to fight ,indians2 and while acting as militia or as individuals1 they were far more efficient in capturing negroes and claiming those captured by other troops than in facing them on the field of battle4 ,nor can we resist the conviction1 that catching negroes constituted1 in the mind of ,general ,jessup1 the object for which those animals were to be obtained4 ,such was evidently his purpose when he wrote ,colonel ,harney1 as quoted in a former chapter1 ,if you see ,powell 7,osceola71 tell him that ,i intend to send exploring and surveying parties into every part of the country during the summer2 and that ,i shall send out and take all the negroes who belong to white people1 and he must not allow the ,indians or ,indian negroes to mix with them4 ,tell him ,i am sending to ,cuba for blood-hounds to trail them1 and ,i intend to hang every one of them who does not come in4 ,we cannot close our eyes to the fact1 that ,general ,jessup intended the blood-hounds to be used in catching the negroes belonging to the white people1 as he said4 ,those white people were mostly slaveholders of ,florida2 those who proposed in the legislative assembly of that territory the obtaining of the animals1 and adopted a resolution authorizing their purchase4 ,they did not wait for the ,president to act1 nor for the ,secretary of ,war1 whom the ,governor of ,florida characterized as that distinguished ,carolinian on whose judgment and patriotism the people of ,florida so much relied4#abd ,by resolution1 ,colonel ,fitzpatrick was authorized to proceed to ,havana1 and procure a kennel of blood-hounds1 noted for tracking and pursuing negroes4 ,he was fortunate in his mission4 ,he not only obtained the animals1 but he accomplished the journey1 and reached ,st4 ,augustine as early as the sixth of ,january1 #ahdj1 with a reinforcement for the army of the ,united ,states of thirty-three blood-hounds well trained to the work of catching negroes4 ,they cost precisely one hundred and fifty-one dollars seventy-two cents1 each1 when landed in ,florida4 ,he also procured five ,spaniards who were accustomed to using the animals in capturing negroes2 and as the dogs had been trained to the ,spanish language1 they would have been useless under the control of persons who could only speak the dialect of our own country4 ,the very general error that existed throughout the country1 at the time of this transaction1 arose from a misapprehension of the facts4 ,there had been much said in regard to these blood-hounds before they were actually obtained4 ,when the report of the ,war ,department1 under the resolution of the ,house of ,representatives of the twenty-eighth of ,january1 #ahci1 was published1 containing the letter of ,general ,jessup addressed to ,colonel ,harney1 which we have quoted1 many members of ,congress appeared indignant at what they regarded as a stain upon our national honor in obtaining and employing blood-hounds to act in concert with our troops and our ,indian allies in this war4 ,party feelings ran high1 and southern members of ,congress1 who were acting with the ,whig party1 were willing to seize upon any circumstance that would reflect discreditably upon the then existing ,administration4 ,on the twenty-seventh day of ,december1 #ahci1 the ,hon4 ,henry ,a4 ,wise1 a member of the ,house of ,representatives from ,virginia1 addressed a letter to the ,secretary of ,war1 inquiring as to facts relating to the employment of blood-hounds in aid of our troops4#abe ,to this letter ,mr4 ,poinsett1 the ,secretary of ,war1 replied on the thirtieth of ,december1 as follows3 ,,war ,,department1 ,december #bj1 #ahci4 ,,sir3 ,i have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the twenty-seventh instant1 inquiring into the truth of the assertion made by the public papers1 that the ,government had determined to use blood-hounds in the war against the ,florida ,indians2 and beg to assure you it will give me great pleasure to give you all the information on this subject in possession of the ,department4 ,from the time ,i first entered upon the duties of the ,war ,department1 ,i continued to receive letters from officers commanding in ,florida1 as well as from the most enlightened citizens in that ,territory1 urging the employment of blood-hounds as the most efficient means of terminating the atrocities daily perpetrated by the ,indians on the settlers in that ,territory4 ,to these proposals no answer was given1 until in the month of ,august1 #ahch1 while at the ,virginia ,springs1 there was referred to me1 from the ,department1 a letter1 addressed to the ,adjutant ,general by the officer commanding the forces in ,florida 7,general ,taylor71 to the following effect3 ,,head ,,quarters ,,army ,,of ,,the ,,south1 ,fort ,brooke1 ,july #bh1 #ahch4 ,,sir3 ,i have the honor to inclose you a communication this moment received1 on the subject of procuring blood-hounds from the ,island of ,cuba to aid the army in its operations against the hostiles in ,florida4 ,i am decidedly in favor of the measure1 and beg leave to urge it as the only means of ridding the country of the ,indians1 who are now broken up into small parties that take shelter in swamps and hommocks1 making it impossible for us to follow or overtake them without the aid of such auxiliaries4 ,should this measure meet the approbation of the ,department1 and the necessary authority be granted1 ,i will open a correspondence with ,mr4 ,evertson on the subject1 through ,major ,hunt1 ,assistant ,quarter ,master at ,savannah1 and will authorize him1 if it can be done on reasonable terms1 to employ a few dogs with persons who understand their management4 ,i wish it distinctly understood1 that my object in employing dogs is only to ascertain where the ,indians can be found1 not to worry them4 ,i have the honor to be1 sir1 ,your obedient servant1 ,z4 ,,taylor1 ,brev4 ,brig4 ,gen4 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,commanding4 ,general ,r4 ,,jones1 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c4 ,on this letter ,i indorsed the following decision1 which was communicated to ,general ,taylor3 ',i have always been of opinion that dogs ought to be employed in this warfare to protect the army from surprises and ambuscades1 and to track the ,indian to his lurking place2 but supposed if the ,general believed them to be necessary1 he would not hesitate to take measures to secure them4 ,the cold-blooded and inhuman murders lately perpetrated upon helpless women and children by these ruthless savages1 render it expedient that every possible means should be resorted to1 in order to protect the people of ,florida1 and to enable the ,united ,states forces to follow and capture or destroy the savage and unrelenting foe4 ,general ,taylor is therefore authorized to procure such number of dogs as he may judge necessary3 it being expressly understood that they are to be employed to track and discover the ,indians1 not to worry or destroy them4' ,this is the only action or correspondence1 on the part of the ,department1 that has ever taken place in relation to the matter4 ,the ,general took no measures to carry into effect his own recommendation1 and this ,department has never since renewed the subject4 ,i continue1 however1 to entertain the opinion expressed in the above decision4 ,i do not believe that description of dog1 called the blood-hound1 necessary to prevent surprise or track the ,indian murderer2 but still ,i think that every cabin1 every military post1 and every detachment1 should be attended by dogs4 ,that precaution might have saved ,dade's command from massacre1 and by giving timely warning have prevented many of the cruel murders which have been committed by the ,indians in middle ,florida4 ,the only successful pursuit of ,indian murderers that ,i know of1 was1 on a late occasion1 when the pursuers were aided by the sagacity of their dogs4 ,these savages had approached a cabin of peaceful and industrious settlers so stealthily1 that the first notice of their presence was given by a volley from their rifles1 thrust between the logs of the house2 and the work of death was finished by tomahawking the women1 after tearing from them their infant children1 and dashing their brains out against the door posts4 ,are these ruthless savages to escape and repeat such scenes of blood1 because they can elude our fellow citizens in ,florida1 and our regular soldiers1 and baffle their unaided efforts to overtake or discover them8 ,on a late occasion1 three of our estimable citizens were killed in the immediate neighborhood of ,st4 ,augustine1 and one officer of distinguished merit mortally wounded4 ,it is in evidence1 that these murders were committed by two ,indians1 who1 after shooting down the father and beating out the son's brains with the butts of their rifles1 upon hearing the approach of the volunteers1 retired a few yards into the woods and secreted themselves1 until the troops returned to town with the dead bodies of those who had been thus inhumanly and wantonly butchered4 ,it is to be regretted that this corps had not been accompanied with one or two hunters1 who1 with their dogs1 might have tracked the blood-stained footsteps of those ,indians2 have restored to liberty the captives they were dragging away with them1 and have prevented them from ever again repeating such atrocities2 nor could the severest casuist object to our fellow citizens in ,florida resorting to such measures1 in order to protect the lives of their women and children4 ,very respectfully1 ,your most obedient servant1 ,j4 ,r4 ,,poinsett4 ,hon4 ,,henry ,a4 ,,wise1 ,house of ,representatives4 ,it is no part of our present duties to comment on the code of morals which the ,secretary of ,war had adopted4 ,he undoubtedly felt1 that neither the ,indians nor negroes possessed any rights which white men were bound to respect4 ,he was not1 he could not1 have been ignorant of the cold-blooded massacre of nearly three hundred ,exiles and ,indians at ,blount's ,fort1 in #ahaf2 nor of the manner in which the present war had been brought on2 nor of the objects for which it was prosecuted2 nor does it appear possible that he1 a large slaveholder of ,south ,carolina1 could have expected these blood-hounds would follow the trail of ,indians4 ,but we must bear in mind that he had been exceedingly vexed with the indomitable resistance of the ,exiles4 ,they appeared perfectly determined not to be enslaved1 and that determination had given him much trouble2 and he must have foreseen the defeat of his party in the next ,presidential contest1 should all these facts become known to the public4 ,with these feelings1 he was prepared to apply almost any epithets to the ,indians1 as the friends and allies of a people to whose real character he dared not publicly allude1 although they were occasioning the ,administration so much trouble4 ,having shown that no blood-hounds had been previously employed1 he proceeded to argue the propriety of employing them in future1 by adopting the policy proposed by the ,legislature of ,florida1 who1 as we have already seen1 had taken measures to obtain them some twenty days prior to the date of this communication4 ,the ,secretary of ,war thus exonerated himself and the ,federal ,executive from the responsibility of employing blood-hounds1 on the thirtieth of ,december2 and the animals arrived in ,florida1 under charge of ,colonel ,fitzpatrick1 just one week subsequently to that date4 ,one feature was most obvious1 in the commencement and prosecution of this war3 we allude to the very respectful1 almost obsequious obedience of the ,executive to the popular feeling in favor of slavery1 in every part of the country where that institution existed4 ,this war had been commenced at the instance of the people of ,florida4 ,general ,jessup attempted to change the articles of capitulation which he had signed1 when the people of ,florida protested against peace1 unless attended by a restoration of slaves2 and now1 when the popular voice of the nation had paralyzed the ,executive arm in regard to obtaining blood-hounds1 the people of ,florida1 in their ,legislature1 took up the subject and carried the policy into practice1 so far as to obtain the animals2 but that would be of no use unless they could be employed by the army of the ,united ,states4 ,preparatory to this adoption of the purchase made by the ,legislature of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,poinsett had argued the propriety of their employment1 in his letter to ,mr4 ,wise2 and twenty-six days afterwards1 he wrote ,general ,taylor as follows3 ,,war ,,department1 ,jan'y #bf1 #ahdj4 ,,sir3 ,it is understood by the ,department1 although not officially informed of the fact1 that the authorities of the ,territory have imported a pack of blood-hounds from the ,island of ,cuba4 ,and ,i think it proper to direct1 in the event of those dogs being employed by any officer or officers under your command1 that their use be confined altogether to tracking the ,indians2 and in order to insure this1 and to prevent the possibility of their injuring any person whatever1 that they be muzzled and held with a leash while following the track of the enemy4 ,very respectfully1 ,your most obedient servant1 ,j4 ,r4 ,,poinsett4 ,brig4 ,gen'l ,z4 ,,taylor1 ,com'd'g ,army of the ,south1 ,florida4 ,from the commencement of this war1 the officers of our army had found it necessary to employ persons who could communicate with the ,indians in their own tongue4 ,this was usually done through negroes1 who could safely approach both ,exiles and ,indians2 they were1 in fact1 the only class of persons who could safely go from our posts to those of the enemy4 ,no ,indians could do it unless by arrangement made through those negroes2 inasmuch as ,creeks1 ,chickasaws and ,choctaws were employed to act with our troops in hunting down the ,seminoles1 who shot those ,creeks1 ,choctaws and ,chickasaws1 when opportunity permitted1 with just as little ceremony as they did white men4 ,when those negroes visited the ,seminoles1 they were supposed to convey to them as accurate intelligence in regard to our troops1 as they brought back respecting the enemy's forces2 they were1 therefore1 supposed to have put their brethren1 the ,exiles1 upon their guard in respect to the blood-hounds4 ,understanding perfectly the nature and education of those animals1 it does not appear very extraordinary to us that the ,exiles remained for a time in the interior1 where neither blood-hounds nor civilized troops were accustomed to penetrate4 ,this policy of the ,exiles rendered useless the whole expenditure of money and honor1 made in the purchase of blood-hounds and ,spaniards1 with a view to their capture4 ,but the animals had been obtained1 and authority given to our officers to employ them4 ,the ,spaniards attended them4 ,the dogs were attached to different regiments1 and fed liberally on bloody meat2 young calves were provided1 and driven with each scouting party1 to supply food for them4 ,the ,spaniards were supplied with a sufficient number of assistants to keep the dogs in their leashes4 ,thus provided1 several parties1 composed of regular troops1 militia1 ,indians1 ,spaniards1 dogs and calves1 started for the interior4 ,their marches continued in some instances for days before they found even the track of an enemy2 but when they found foot-prints of ,indians1 and the dogs were looked to with confidence to lead on the warlike host1 while some more humble officer1 following the canine leaders1 ,spaniards and ,indians1 was expected to bear aloft the glorious stars and stripes1 as they engaged in deadly conflict with the wily foe2--lo6 just at that moment1 when all hearts were palpitating2 while hope was at its height2 when the stern resolve clothed each brow with the dark scowl of battle1 the dogs were blithe and frolicsome1 but paid no more attention to the tracks of the ,indians than to those of the ponies on which they sometimes rode4 ,this grand experiment for closing the ,florida ,war was now pronounced a dead failure2 and the use of dogs1 and calves1 and ,spaniards1 was discarded2 and the whole affair served no other purpose than to bring odium upon the ,administration1 and ridicule upon the officers who proposed the employment of blood-hounds to act as allies of the ,american army4 ,general ,taylor1 having had command of the army in ,florida nearly two years1 and the sickly season having commenced1 requested to be relieved from that responsible station4 ,his request was granted1 and he left ,florida for his plantation in ,louisiana4 ,brevet ,brigadier ,general ,armistead1 by order of the ,war ,department1 assumed the position from which ,general ,taylor retired4 ,,chapter ,,xix4 ,,hostilities ,,continued4 ,presidential ,election of #ahdj--,the ,war discussed as one of the issues--,effect on the ,election--,publication of ,jay's ,view--,action of the ,executive paralyzed--,spanish ,indians--,destruction of ,indian ,key--,troops inactive--,allies commit new depredations--,new ,expedient--,its failure--,chiefs invited to ,fort ,king--,exiles refuse to treat--,massacre of ,lieutenant ,sherwood and party--,melancholy fate of ,mrs4 ,montgomery--,white men disguised as ,indians--,murder of ,cora ,tustenuggee--,order of ,secretary of ,war--,letter to ,general ,armistead--,bribery of ,indians--,mr4 ,thompson's ,bill--,discussion of the causes of the ,war in ,congress--,enemy find protection in large swamps--,their renewed depredations--,general distress--,people of ,florida again driven from their homes--,employed in public service--,their ,slaves employed--,they become interested in continuing the ,war4 ,sidenote3 #ahdj4 ,the ,presidential election of this year was conducted differently from any that had preceded it4 ,the opponents of ,mr4 ,van ,buren arraigned him before the people for his extravagance in the expenditure of the public treasure1 and the immense losses which the nation sustained by the default and irresponsibility of officers appointed by him4 ,it constitutes an era in our political history1 from which we date the practice of calling directly upon the people to pass judgment of condemnation upon the action of our ,national ,executive4 ,every honorable means was resorted to for the purpose of exposing the errors of the ,administration during the previous four years4 ,among the subjects made prominent before the country1 was that of the extravagant expenditures in prosecuting the ,florida ,war4 ,speeches were made in ,congress exposing the various practices by which the people's money was squandered in that unfortunate conflict2 the policy of attempting to compel the ,indians to emigrate1 and the cruelty practiced towards them1 were commented on with severity4 ,these speeches were printed in pamphlet form1 and sent to the people in vast numbers3 but the real cause of the war1 the deep depravity of that policy which sought the enslavement of the ,exiles1 was not mentioned2 nor does it appear that any member of ,congress was conscious1 even1 that such a people as the ,exiles was living in ,florida4#abf ,but1 nevertheless1 it is quite certain that this war proved one of the principal causes of ,mr4 ,van ,buren's defeat2 and1 during the pendency of the election1 these complaints paralyzed the action of the ,executive4 ,another cause operated to call public attention to the war4 ,hon4 ,william ,jay1 of ,new ,york1 published a small book upon the action of our ,government in regard to slavery4 ,it was a work of much merit1 and1 coming from the pen of one so intimately associated with the best interests of the country1 it exerted an influence upon the public mind4 ,it had been published some two or three years2 but at the time of which we are writing1 it attracted attention in most of the free ,states1 and gave public men to understand that their official acts were to be made known to coming generations4 ,the intimate relation which this war bore to slavery1 rendered every movement in regard to it dangerous to the ,executive character1 and caused our army to be almost inactive for several months2 but the allies1 driven to desperation1 prepared to wreak their vengeance on every white person who should venture within their reach4 ,a small band1 composed of ,spanish negroes and ,indians1 among whom were said to be some maroons from ,cuba1 resided far down in the ,peninsula of ,florida4 ,they were called ,spanish ,indians1 and had remained neutral up to the period of which we are speaking2 but finding their brethren driven from their own possessions1 and compelled to encroach upon the territory so long occupied by themselves1 they took up arms against the ,united ,states4 ,every vessel that happened to be wrecked upon their coast was plundered1 and the crews massacred4 ,on the morning of the seventh of ,august1 a number of these people1 said to have been led on by ,spanish maroons1 crossed over to a small island called ,indian ,key1 situated at some twenty miles distant from the main land1 and attacked the dwellings1 burned the storehouses1 and destroyed most of the property belonging to the inhabitants4 ,there were but four or five families resident on the island4 ,of these1 ,dr4 ,perrine1 a man of some distinction1 was murdered in his own house2 but1 by his valor1 he enabled the other members of his family to escape1 amid the darkness of night4 ,the allies obtained much plunder1 but found no powder1 which was said to have been the principal object of the foray4 ,during the summer and autumn1 our troops in ,florida were inactive4 ,the season was sickly1 and the officers and men lay supinely in their encampments4 ,the enemy felt secure in their strong-holds--sallying forth in occasional forays1 murdering the people1 and plundering the settlements with impunity4 ,the ,administration appeared astonished at the audacity with which a few ,indians and negroes hurled defiance at our army and the nation4 ,the expedient of employing savages to assist in the war had failed2 the more questionable policy of employing blood-hounds1 had not only failed1 but was supposed by many to reflect discredit upon the army and nation4 ,nearly five thousand troops were kept in ,florida1 maintained at vast expense2 but they could neither conquer the ,indians1 nor even protect the white people4 ,under these circumstances1 the ,executive saw but one resource2 of that he availed himself4 ,by his direction1 twelve ,seminole and ,mickasukie ,indians1 who had emigrated ,west1 were induced by sufficient pecuniary considerations to leave their families in the ,western ,country and return to ,florida1 for the purpose of persuading the ,indians and ,exiles to emigrate4 ,thus1 after four years of war and constant expenditure of blood and treasure1 the ,president discovered that moral power is greater and stronger than physical violence4 ,but this discovery came too late4 ,he could no longer do justice to those fathers and mothers and children who had been slain1 nor to those who had been enslaved2 who had been taken far into the interior1 sold and transferred from hand to hand like brutes4 ,they had passed from ,executive control4 ,the crime now stained our national escutcheon1 and no effort could wash it out4 ,the very means which he adopted to close the war1 operated to prolong it4 ,these ,seminoles and ,mickasukies informed their brethren of their own condition1 of the manner in which they were treated1 and the violations of faith on the part of our ,government in not giving them a territory for their separate use1 as stipulated in the treaty1 and constantly represented to them by our officers2 that they were without a home and without a country1 residing on ,cherokee lands1 under ,cherokee protection1 to prevent the ,creeks from enslaving their friends1 the ,exiles4 ,many officers at the time doubted their desire to induce the emigration of their brethren4#abg ,they1 however1 obtained an interview between the ,commanding ,general and two ,seminole chiefs at ,fort ,king4 ,the chiefs were attended by some forty warriors1 who remained in that vicinity four or five days1 receiving food and articles of clothing from the ,united ,states2 but they suddenly disappeared1 and it was believed they originally came with hostile1 rather than pacific1 intentions4 ,when it was found they had left clandestinely1 the troops attempted to follow them1 but were unable to find any traces of their flight4 ,while these things were transpiring1 the army lay idle in their quarters2 neither the ,executive1 nor the ,secretary of ,war1 nor the ,commanding ,general1 knowing what to do4 ,the ,exiles learned from the ,seminoles and ,mickasukies1 who visited them from the ,west1 that many of their brethren who surrendered under the articles of capitulation1 had been renslaved1 in violation of our plighted faith2 and they refused to hold further intercourse with the agents of our ,government4 ,to them there appeared but one alternative--victory or death2 and they greatly preferred the latter to slavery4 ,taking their families far into the interior1 they hastened to renew the war with vigor and energy4 ,a party of some thirty ,indians and ,exiles were lurking about ,micanopy1 when1 on the twenty-eighth of ,december1 ,lieutenant ,sherwood1 ,lieutenant ,hopson1 ,sergeant ,major ,carrol1 and ten privates of the #gth ,infantry1 left ,micanopy for the purpose of escorting ,mrs4 ,montgomery1 wife of a ,lieutenant of that regiment1 through the forest to ,watkahoota1 eight miles distant4 ,the lady was on horseback1 while others of the party rode in a wagon drawn by mules1 and some marched on foot4 ,the enemy having observed their movements1 preceded them to a hommock1 about four miles from ,micanopy1 where they secreted themselves1 and awaited the approach of ,mrs4 ,montgomery and party4 ,when they were fairly within the hommock1 through which the road passed1 they were fired upon1 and two privates fell dead4 ,the war-whoop was raised1 and the little party found themselves confronted by savages4 ,lieutenant ,sherwood is said to have rallied his escort with promptness4 ,mrs4 ,montgomery1 attempting to get into the wagon1 was shot dead4 ,sherwood very discreetly retreated to the open forest1 and dispatched ,lieutenant ,hopson to ,micanopy for a reinforcement4 ,knowing the impossibility of retreating from ,indians1 and conscious that they gave no quarter1 he bravely determined to defend himself or die on the field4 ,but his assailants numbered three times as many warriors as he had4 ,they out-flanked and surrounded his ill-fated party1 all of whom with himself fell victims to that policy which had brought this war1 with all its crimes1 upon our nation4 ,we cannot withhold our sympathy from those patriotic men who enter the public service expecting to act in an honorable sphere in favor of just measures2 but who are often made the instruments of injustice1 and their lives sacrificed to the spirit and policy of oppression4 ,our officers and soldiers1 serving in this ,florida ,war1 were duly conscious of the dishonorable employment in which they were engaged2 that they were daily subjected to dangers and death for the purpose of enabling the people of ,florida to seize men and women1 and sell them into interminable bondage4 ,officers and men who would cheerfully meet danger and death upon the field of honorable warfare in defense of freedom1 were compelled to meet death in all its various and revolting forms in ,florida to uphold oppression1 to sustain an institution which they abhorred2 nor can we wonder that the consciousness of these facts should have created a feeling of hostility between our regular troops and the slaveholders of ,florida1 who were constantly charging them with inefficiency and want of energy in the capture of negroes4 ,this feeling ran so high that the white men of ,florida were charged with disguising themselves as ,indians1 and actually committing murders and robberies upon mail carriers and express riders1 in order to continue hostilities and keep up the war4#abh ,this feeling greatly increased the embarrassment of the ,executive4 ,a chief named ,cora ,tustenuggee1 after due consultation with the interpreters sent to induce him to emigrate1 concluded to surrender1 and go ,west4 ,he collected his band1 numbering about one hundred in all4 ,among them were some half breeds1 descendants of the pioneer ,exiles4 ,they had intermarried with ,indians of this band1 and were treated as ,indians4 ,while on their way to one of our posts1 near ,palaklikaha ,lake1 they were fired upon by a party at dragoons who were said to have been conscious of the intentions of the ,indians4 ,this supposed violation of faith was greatly aggravated by the subsequent wanton murder of the chief1 after he and his band had quietly submitted as prisoners4 ,these people were immediately sent to ,tampa ,bay1 and then embarked for the ,western ,country1 where they joined their brethren1 still resident on the ,cherokee lands1 and under ,cherokee protection4 ,the ,presidential election being past1 the ,executive felt more untrammeled2 and ,mr4 ,poinsett1 ,secretary of ,war1 resisting the instruction which he might have drawn from four years of unfortunate experience1 appears to have determined to leave this ,florida ,war in as unpromising condition as he found it4 ,he sent instructions to the ,commanding ,general to renew the war with whatever force he could bring into the field4 ,it is a somewhat singular fact1 that when the ,secretary understood1 and the country was fully informed1 that he would leave the ,department on the fourth of ,march1 he wrote the commanding officer on the eighteenth of ,february1 thirteen days prior to his own political dissolution1 saying1 ,the ,department entertains the well-grounded hope that you will be able to bring the war to a close upon the terms required by the treaty of ,payne's ,landing1 and by the interests and feelings of the people of ,florida4 ,the reader must be aware that the feelings and interests of the people of ,florida required the capture and enslavement of the ,exiles2 for which the ,secretary of ,war had so long labored1 and which appeared to be his ruling passion--strong in the hour of his political death4 ,to effect this object1 recourse was had to the bribery of certain chiefs4 ,money was now offered certain influential men of the ,seminoles and ,exiles to induce them to exert their influence with their friends to emigrate4 ,it was reported that slaves who had but a few years since left their masters1 and intermarried with the ,seminoles1 dare not surrender1 knowing that slavery awaited such act4 ,without them1 their relatives and connexions would not remove4 ,it was therefore proposed that ,congress should make an appropriation for the purpose of purchasing such ,exiles2 yet the bill making it was general in its provisions1 granting a hundred thousand dollars to be expended by the ,secretary of ,war for the subsistence and benefit of certain chiefs and warriors of the ,seminole ,indians who wished to emigrate4 ,the subsistence of such emigrants was provided for in other bills2 but the benefits for which this money was to be expended was to purchase the pretended interest of certain white men to individual ,exiles whom they claimed as property4 ,by thus disguising the real intention and object of the bill1 it was evidently expected it would pass without scrutiny1 under the rules which prohibited the discussion of all questions involving the subject of slavery4 ,the better to carry out this design1 ,hon4 ,waddy ,thompson of ,south ,carolina1 a ,whig member of the ,house of ,representatives1 but fully sympathizing with the ,executive in his policy of conducting the war in the manner required by the interests and feelings of the people of ,florida1 was regarded as the proper agent to introduce the bill and superintend its passage4 ,sidenote3 #ahda4 ,the information found in the public documents had awakened previous investigation2 and when this bill came up for action 7,feb4 #i71 the policy of this war1 with the causes which led to its commencement1 were exposed4 ,every effort was made by slaveholding members to prevent the public discussion of this subject4 ,they insisted that the gag-rules1 as they were called1 prohibiting the discussion of slavery1 forbid this exposure2 but the presiding officer 7,mr4 ,clifford of ,maine7 adhering to the parliamentary law1 decided that an examination of the causes which led to the war was legitimate1 and the discussion proceeded4 ,this discussion was published and widely circulated among the people2 and is supposed to have given to the public the first information touching the real causes of the war4#abi ,the bill passed by a large majority2 and the report of the ,secretary of ,war the next year1 showing the expenditures of his department1 exhibited the manner in which the money appropriated and entrusted to his care was expended4 ,another bill1 however1 making an appropriation of more than a million of dollars for suppressing ,indian hostilities in ,florida was passed1 giving to the ,war ,department all the powers desired for bribery1 and tempting ,indian chiefs to emigrate to the ,western ,country4 ,by reference to the map of ,florida1 it will be perceived that the great swamps1 extensive everglades1 hommocks1 ponds and lakes1 which spread over that ,territory1 must present great difficulties in the progress of troops embodied in military force2 while a small party1 following the footsteps of their leader1 would pass over1 around or through them with facility4 ,the ,great ,okefenoka ,swamp1 lying on the south line of ,georgia and the northern portion of ,florida1 afforded a retreat for small parties of ,indians and ,exiles1 from which they sallied forth and committed depredations upon the people of southern ,georgia1 murdering families1 burning buildings and devastating plantations4 ,the swamps bordering on the ,withlacoochee1 the ,great ,wahoo ,swamp1 and other fastnesses on the western portion of the ,peninsula1 gave shelter to other bands1 who1 in like manner1 wreaked their vengeance upon the inhabitants of that portion of the ,territory4 ,so also the ,big ,cypress ,swamp1 lying farther south1 afforded shelter for others1 who laid waste the settlements along the ,st4 ,john's ,river1 and in the vicinity of the ,atlantic ,coast4 ,from these1 and numerous other strong-holds1 the ,indians and their allies came forth in small bands1 spreading devastation and death throughout the ,territory and the southern portion of ,georgia4 ,the people of ,florida who had sought this war1 and protested against peace except on such terms as would secure them in the exercise of that oppression which they deemed so necessary to their happiness1 now felt the full force of that appropriate penalty which some philosophers believe attaches to every violation of the law of righteousness4 ,some died by the hands of the very individuals whom they had oppressed1 and whom they again sought to enslave2 others were again driven from their homes1 unable even to obtain food2 their wives and children receiving rations from the public stores1 and subsisting by the charity of the ,united ,states4 ,but this condition of things superinduced another most extraordinary feature of this war4 ,our officers1 and the ,executive1 naturally feeling some degree of sympathy for a people thus driven from their homes1 on whom the evils of war fell with so much force1 extended to them every aid in their power4 ,some were employed in the ,commissary's ,department2 some as contractors for transporting provisions2 and others as attendants upon the army in all the various departments of service1 so numerous in a time of war4 ,even the slaves who remained in the service of their masters were employed by the officers as guides1 interpreters and employees at high wages4 ,in this manner they earned for their owners far more than they could by labor upon plantations4 ,this system was carried so far1 that the war actually afforded to many greater profits than they could acquire in any other way2 and consequently it became a matter of interest with such men to prolong hostilities1 and they were said to exert all their influence to effect that object4 ,,chapter ,,xx4 ,,hostilities ,,continued4 ,general ,harrison assumes the duties of ,chief ,executive--,much expected of him--,his sudden death--,his successor--,political feeling--,general ,armistead retires--,is succeeded by ,general ,worth--,instructions to ,general ,worth--,he discharges all unnecessary employees--,halec ,tustenuggee--,general ,worth's attempt to capture him--,wild ,cat--,his character and adventures--,general ,worth sends message to him--,he and some companions come in--,his manner and bearing--,meets his daughter--,interesting scene--,is seized by ,colonel ,childs--,placed in irons and sent to ,new ,orleans--,general ,worth orders his return--,meets him at ,tampa ,bay--,arrangements--,wild ,cat sends messengers to his friends--,sympathy for him--,chief ,micco--,he brings in his people--,wild ,cat's band comes in--,he is released from his irons--,meets his friends--,his wife and child--,general ,jessup's policy as to ,exiles--,consults ,wild ,cat--,hospetarche and ,tiger-tail--,otulke comes in--,hospetarche is suspicious--,wild ,cat brings him in--,army suffers from sickness--,general change of policy from that adopted at the commencement of the ,war--,army reduced--,wild ,cat visits ,tiger-tail--,singular adventure--,embarkation of ,emigrants--,parting scene between ,wild ,cat and ,general ,worth--,the ,emigrants reach ,fort ,gibson and join their friends--,wild ,cat's position in his new home4 ,sidenote3 #ahda4 ,on the fourth of ,march1 ,general ,harrison was inaugurated ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,much was expected of him in regard to the war4 ,the ,whigs had condemned it throughout the ,presidential struggle1 and it was anticipated that he would bring it to a successful and honorable termination2 but before he even entered upon the consideration of this subject1 he was called from this to another sphere of existence1 and was succeeded by the then ,vice ,president1 ,john ,tyler1 of ,virginia4 ,nor is it easy to see what great reform ,general ,harrison could have effected in regard to this war1 had he lived to complete his term of service4 ,the policy of so directing the energies of the ,federal ,government as to support the interests of slavery1 had long existed2 he was not expected to make any substantial changes in that respect4 ,but whatever may have been his designs1 he had no opportunity to carry them into effect2 and ,mr4 ,tyler1 after coming into office1 soon ceased to enjoy the confidence of the ,whig party1 who generally declared themselves no longer responsible for his acts4 ,the new ,administration soon identified itself with this war by the following order3 ,,adjutant ,,general',s ,,office1 ,washington ,city1 ,may #ai1 #ahda4 ,,sir3 ,brigadier ,general ,armistead1 being about to relinquish the command of the ,florida ,army1 as you will see by the instructions communicated to him of this date1 of which a copy is herewith enclosed2 as the officer next in rank1 you will relieve him and assume the command accordingly4 ,i am directed1 by the ,secretary of ,war1 to advise you of the earnest desire of the ,department to terminate1 as speedily as possible1 the protracted hostilities in ,florida1 and to cause the most perfect protection and security to be given to the frontiers1 and to those citizens who may be disposed to penetrate the country1 for lawful purposes of trade or settlement4 ,for the attainment of these important objects1 you are considered as being clothed with all the powers of a commander in the field1 under the laws and regulations of the army4 ,it is expected the troops under your command will be kept in a perfect state of discipline1 and that you make such disposition of them as to be in readiness to meet any contingency that may all for active and energetic movements1 the execution of which is left entirely at your own discretion4 ,if you should deem it indispensable for the protection of the frontier1 the ,president directs that you make a requisition upon the ,governor of ,florida for militia1 not exceeding one regiment1 which1 if called out1 you will cause to be mustered into the service of the ,united ,states1 in the manner prescribed by the regulations1 for any period authorized by the constitution and laws4 ,the ,secretary of ,war1 placing1 as he does1 entire confidence in your ability and patriotism1 desires me to say1 that every possible aid and support will be afforded to enable you to bring to a close this protracted and most embarrassing war4 ,as the commander of ,florida1 you will exercise a sound discretion in the use of the means placed at your disposal2 and while these should be employed with the greatest efficiency1 the ,secretary of ,war directs that you will1 consistently with the primary object in view1 diminish1 in a spirit of sound economy1 all unnecessary drains upon the ,treasury1 by discharging all persons employed in a civil capacity whose services you shall not deem indispensable to the duties of your command1 and by regulating and reducing as far as practicable all other expenses1 in accordance with the just expectations of the ,government and the country4 ,i am1 ,sir1 your obedient servant1 7,signed7 ,r4 ,,jones1 ,adjutant ,general4 ,col4 ,j4 ,w4 ,,worth1 #hth ,infantry1 ,tampa1 ,florida4 ,general ,worth now applied himself1 with commendable zeal1 to the work assigned him4 ,his first object was to discharge all employees not necessary to the operations of the army1 and in every department to curtail the expenditures as far as possible2 thereby rendering the war unprofitable to those who had been seeking to prolong it4 ,early in ,june he issued the following order3 ,,head ,,quarters1 ,,army ,,of ,,the ,,south1 ,no4 #a4 ,fort ,king1 ,june #h1 #ahda4 ,i4 ,hereafter no expenditures of money will be made on account of barracks-quarters1 or other buildings at temporary posts1 except for such slight covering as may be indispensably necessary for the protection of the sick and security of the public stores1 without previous reference to1 and authority obtained from1 head-quarters4 ,,ii4 ,all safe-guards or passports granted to ,indians prior to this date1 are hereby revoked4 ,any ,indian presenting himself at any post1 will be seized and held in strict confinement1 except when commanding officers may1 in the exercise of sound discretion1 deem it advisable to send out an individual runner to communicate with others4 ,,iii4 ,when the garrisons are not too much reduced by sickness1 detachments will be sent out as often as once in seven days1 or more frequently if circumstances indicate a necessity1 to scour and examine in all directions to the distance of eight or ten miles4 ,,iv4 ,all restraints heretofore imposed upon district commanders1 in respect to offensive field operations1 are hereby revoked2 on the contrary1 the utmost activity and enterprise is enjoined4 ,district commanders will give instructions to commanders of posts accordingly4 ,v4 ,brief reports of the operations carried on under the foregoing orders1 setting forth the strength of the detachments1 and by whom commanded1 with such observations as may be deemed useful or interesting to the service1 will be made to district commanders on the #ajth1 #bjth1 and last of every month1 by whom they will be transmitted to these head-quarters4 ,by order of ,colonel ,,worth3 7,signed7 ,g4 ,,wright1 ,capt4 #hth ,infantry1 and ,a4 ,a4 ,a4 ,general4 ,halec ,tustenuggee was regarded as the most active and vindictive of the hostile chiefs4 ,among his followers were some forty ,indian warriors and ten or twelve ,exiles capable of bearing arms4 ,they and their families1 numbering in all some two hundred souls1 were supposed to be somewhere in the neighborhood of ,lake ,fonee-,safakee1 among the extensive swamps and hommocks of that region4 ,some few of this band had surrendered and gone ,west4 ,among those who came in to ,fort ,jupiter for the purpose of emigrating1 were several ,exiles who had been born in that region1 and had ever been connected with this small tribe4 ,some of those who had previously surrendered1 were retained as guides and interpreters1 with the expectation that they might be made useful in persuading their friends to emigrate also4 ,it was thought very desirable to capture this band1 if possible2 and guides1 and interpreters1 and scouts were sent in every direction1 where it was supposed they might be discovered1 in order to open a communication with them4 ,at length it was reported that a trail had been discovered leading to one of their favorite haunts1 where it was believed they might be found4 ,we cannot better exhibit the dangers which constantly beset the ,exiles who remained hostile1 or the vigilance with which they and their friends watched for their own safety1 than by giving a short account of ,colonel ,worth's expedition for the capture of this small party1 which we copy from ,sprague's ,history of the ,florida ,war4 ,says that author3 ,the negro guides1 recently of the band1 represented it as his favorite resort from its seclusion1 where he held his green corn dances and councils4 ,measures were at once adopted to follow it up4 ,colonel ,worth1 with one hundred men of the #b;d ,infantry1 accompanied by ,lieutenant ,colonel ,riley and ,major ,plympton1 together with ,captain ,b4 ,l4 ,beall's company #b;d ,dragoons1 and forty men of the #hth ,infantry1 in command of ,first ,lieutenant ,j4 ,h4 ,harvil1 moved from ,fort ,king for ,fort ,mc,clure or ,warm ,spring2 thence1 under the guidance of ,indian negroes1 to the neighborhood of the lake4 ,at midnight1 on the night of the tenth1 the swamp was reached2 the troops having marched forty-four miles4 ,to surprise the ,indian camp just at break of day1 was the only chance of success4 ,the guides represented it to be on the opposite side of the swamp1 five or six miles through4 ,the horses were picketed1 and the baggage left with a small guard on the margin of the swamp4 ,the soldier carried only a musket and his ammunition2 the officers a rifle or sword4 ,quietly and resolutely the command moved1 confident of success4 ,the water became colder and deeper at every step2 halts were frequently made to extricate the officers and soldiers from the mud4 ,the night was dark1 which added to the dismal gloomy shadows of a cypress swamp4 ,the command could only follow by the splashing of water1 and the calm but firm intonations of the word of command4 ,the negroes in advance1 followed closely by the most hardy and active1 guided these two hundred men to what was believed to be the stronghold of the enemy4 ,every hour and step confirmed this conviction4 ,the advance reached the opposite side just before the break of day4 ,anxiously they awaited and greeted every officer and soldier as he emerged from the swamp1 covered with mud and water4 ,day broke2 when silently the command was given--',fall in6' ,eleven officers and thirty-five privates were present4 ,occasionally a straggler would arrive1 and report those in the rear as coming4 ,the ,indian huts1 by the gray dawn of morning 7twenty-four in number71 could be discerned through the scrub1 which separated the white and red man1 three hundred yards distant4 ,at this hour the ,indian around his camp fire feels secure4 ,from the number of huts1 and their location1 they outnumbered the assailants4 ,to await the arrival of the entire force1 the day would be far advanced2 and discovery was a total defeat4 ,it was determined with the number present to make a vigorous assault1 and1 if outnumbered1 to rely upon those in the rear4 ,each man reprimed his musket1 and cautiously1 on his hands and knees1 worked his way through the dense undergrowth to within a few yards of the cluster of huts and temporary sheds4 ,not a word was uttered4 ,eagerly each man grasped his musket1 anxious for the first whoop1 when he would be rewarded for his toil4 ,a musket was discharged to arouse the inmates1 and meet them on their retreat4 ,it sent back its dull heavy reverberation1 causing disappointment and chagrin4 ,not a human being occupied the huts1 or was upon the ground4 ,large fields of corn were before them2 they had been carefully cultivated1 and gave incontestable proof that the allies had just left4 ,this place had been the temporary residence of a strong force2 but their patrols had discovered the approach of our troops1 and communicated information to the party in time to enable them1 with their wives and children1 to escape from danger4 ,the officers and soldiers looked about a while with wonder1 and then commenced the work of destroying the cabins and crops1 which being effected1 they retraced their steps to head-quarters1 fully satisfied that a disciplined army was not adapted to the work of surprising ,indians and ,exiles4 ,perhaps no act or policy of ,general ,worth contributed so much to the favorable prosecution of the war1 as his treatment of ,coacoochee1 or ,wild ,cat1 as he was more recently called4 ,this extraordinary personage became conspicuous in #ahda4 ,during the entire war he deeply sympathized with the ,exiles--was always attended by some of his more dusky friends1 in whose welfare he took a deep interest2 nor has he yet forsaken them4 ,even at the time of writing this narrative1 he is supposed to be with them2 and a short notice of some of his more than romantic experience in this war may interest the reader in the fortunes of a man who may yet fill a large space in the history of our country4 ,he was the son of ,king ,philip1 a ,seminole chief of some reputation4 ,he is now 7#aheg7 about fifty years of age2 five feet eight inches in height2 well proportioned2 exhibiting the most perfect symmetry in his physical form4 ,his eye is dark1 full and expressive2 and his countenance youthful and pleasing4 ,his voice is clear1 soft and musical2 his speech fluent2 his gestures rapid and violent4 ,his views are always ingenious and clearly expressed2 and he never fails to infuse all his measures with spirit1 and to exert a controlling influence over his followers4 ,he was born near ,ahapopka ,lake1 where he resided at the commencement of the ,florida ,war2 but soon after sought a more secure retreat in the large swamps1 near ,fort ,mellon and ,lake ,okechobee4 ,his band at that time numbered some two hundred souls1 among whom were several families of ,exiles4 ,in these sable warriors he is said to have reposed much confidence4 ,he accompanied them at the massacre of ,major ,dade and his battalion in ,december1 #ahce4 ,here he formed his acquaintance with ,lewis ,pacheco1 who acted as guide to ,major ,dade4 ,lewis is said to have attended him1 and to have shared in every battle in which ,wild ,cat participated1 until the capitulation of #ahcg4 ,after that capitulation had been agreed to1 he visited ,general ,jessup's camp with the apparent intention of emigrating ,west4 ,he brought in some of his friends1 among whom was ,lewis ,pacheco1 whom he claimed as his slave1 and declared that he had captured him at ,dade's massacre4 ,lewis1 being a negro1 was placed within the stockade at ,tampa ,bay1 but ,wild ,cat of course went among his friends in the vicinity4 ,when he found that ,general ,jessup was violating the articles of capitulation1 and delivering over to slavery those ,exiles who were claimed by the people of ,florida1 instead of securing them in their lives and property1 for which the faith of the nation had been pledged1 he became indignant1 and insisted that every ,indian and ,exile who was enjoying his liberty1 should leave the encampment where they were receiving food and raiment from the ,united ,states1 and flee to their own homes4 ,micanopy1 one of the most wealthy and influential chiefs1 refused1 and expressed his determination to emigrate4 ,wild ,cat and ,osceola 7,powell71 two young and daring chiefs1 came to the tent of ,micanopy1 at midnight1 and compelled him1 at the peril of his life1 to leave and flee to the ,indian country4 ,he did so1 and with him every ,indian and ,exile1 who was outside the stockade at ,tampa ,bay1 made their escape4 ,at the battle of ,fort ,mellon1 on the eighth of ,february1 #ahcg1 he is said to have commanded two hundred warriors1 many of whom were ,exiles4 ,he was at the battle of ,okechobee1 on the twenty-fifth of ,december1 #ahcg2 the severest battle ever fought in ,florida4 ,nearly all his warriors were with him4 ,he was posted on the left of the ,indian line1 occupying the hommock1 when ,general ,taylor approached4 ,he declared that not an ,indian gave way until the charge of ,colonel ,foster1 although he said the fire of our men sent a stream of bullets among his warriors4 ,he stated the whole loss of the allied forces in that memorable conflict to be thirteen killed and nineteen wounded1 being less than one-fourth of ,general ,taylor's loss4 ,his father 7,king ,philip7 being imprisoned at ,st4 ,augustine in #ahch1 naturally felt desirous that his son should go with him to the ,western ,country1 where he knew he must emigrate4 ,he sent out a confidential friend with a message to ,wild ,cat1 inviting him to come and see him4 ,general ,jessup also sent assurances of his perfect safety1 if he wished to come and visit his father4 ,the messenger found him1 and faithfully delivered the message which his father sent4 ,there were also other ,indians and ,exiles going to ,fort ,peyton1 under the peaceful invitation and assurance of safety which ,general ,jessup sent them4 ,wild ,cat left his band2 and1 arrayed in his best robes1 bearing a white flag1 went with them and was betrayed1 through the agency of ,general ,hernandez1 into the power of ,general ,jessup1 as we have heretofore shown4 ,he was imprisoned in the castle at ,st4 ,augustine with his friend ,talmas-,hadjo4 ,accustomed to roam in the forests at will1 and enjoy the free air of ,heaven1 this confinement bore down their spirits and affected their physical health4 ,he and his friend ,talmas-,hadjo made their escape1 an account of which was given in a former chapter4 ,his father remained with the other prisoners--was sent to ,charleston2 and subsequently died on his passage to ,fort ,gibson in #ahcg1 with the first party of emigrants under ,lieut4 ,reynolds4 ,wild ,cat now became one of the most active warriors in ,florida4 ,with his followers1 he repaired to the ,okefenoke ,swamp1 and1 encamping in its fastnesses1 sallied forth1 as occasion permitted1 and spread death and devastation in the southern settlements of ,georgia4 ,from thence he returned south1 and committed constant depredations both east and west of the ,st4 ,john's4 ,in #ahdj1 his daughter1 an interesting girl of twelve years of age1 fell into the hands of our troops1 in a skirmish near ,fort ,mellon4 ,this was regarded as a most fortunate circumstance1 as it would be likely to procure an interview with the father4 ,micco1 a sub-chief and friend of ,wild ,cat1 was dispatched with a white flag1 on which were drawn clasped hands in token of friendship1 with a pipe and tobacco4 ,he found ,wild ,cat1 and delivered the message of the ,commanding ,general1 requesting an interview4 ,wild ,cat agreed to come in1 and gave ,micco a bundle of eight sticks1 denoting the days which would elapse before he appeared in camp4 ,micco returned1 and made his report4 ,on the fifth of ,march1 ,wild ,cat was announced as approaching the ,american camp with seven of his trusty companions4 ,he came boldly within the line of sentinels1 dressed in the most fantastic manner4 ,he and his party had shortly before killed a company of strolling theatrical performers1 near ,st4 ,augustine1 and1 having possessed themselves of the wardrobe which their victims had with them1 he now decorated himself and followers in the most grotesque style4 ,he approached the tent of ,general ,worth1 calm and self-possessed1 and shook hands with the officers4 ,he addressed the ,commanding ,general in fluent and dignified language1 saying1 he had received the talk and white flag sent him2 that1 in pursuance of the invitation1 he had come to visit the ,american camp with peaceful intentions2 that1 relying upon the good faith of the officer in command1 he had entrusted himself to their power1 in order to promote the designs of peace which had been tendered him4 ,the dignity of his manner1 the gracefulness of his gestures1 the musical intonations of his voice1 the blandness of his countenance1 won the sympathy1 and commanded the attention1 of all around him4 ,at this moment his little daughter escaped from the tent1 where it was intended she should remain until ,general ,worth should feel that the proper time had arrived for him to present her to her father4 ,with the feelings and habits of her race1 she presented him musket balls and powder1 which she had by some means obtained and secreted until his arrival4 ,on seeing his child1 he could no longer command that dignity of bearing so much the pride of every ,indian chief4 ,his self-possession gave way to parental emotions2 the feelings of the father gushed forth2 he averted his face and wept4 ,having recovered his self-possession1 he addressed ,colonel ,worth1 saying1 ,the whites dealt unjustly by me4 ,i came to them1 when they deceived me4 ,i loved the land ,i was upon2 my body is made of its sands4 ,the ,great ,spirit gave me legs to walk over it2 eyes to see it2 hands to aid myself2 a head with which ,i think4 ,the sun1 which shines warm and bright1 brings forth our crops2 and the moon brings back the spirits of our warriors1 our fathers1 our wives and children4 ,the white man comes2 he grows pale and sickly2 why can we not live in peace8 ,they steal our horses and cattle1 cheat us1 and take our lands4 ,they may shoot us--may chain our hands and feet2 but the red man's heart will be free4 ,i have come to you in peace1 and have taken you all by the hand4 ,i will sleep in your camp1 though your soldiers stand around me thick as pine trees4 ,i am done3 when we know each other better1 ,i will say more4 ,general ,worth assured him of the good faith with which he should be treated2 that the feelings which he had expressed were honorable to him and to his people2 that the emotions manifested on seeing his child1 were highly creditable to him as a father2 assured him that his child should not be separated from him2 that the ,american officers and soldiers highly respected the parental affection which he had exhibited4 ,he then entered upon a consultation with him concerning the best mode of obtaining a peace4 ,wild ,cat spoke with great sincerity2 frankly stated the condition and feelings of this people2 stated the friendly attachment between the ,exiles and ,indians2 said that they would not consent to be separated2 that nothing could be done until their annual assemblage in ,june1 to feast on the green corn2 that1 hard as the fate was1 he would consent to emigrate1 and would use his influence to induce his friends to do so4 ,after remaining four days in camp1 he and his companions left1 accompanied by his little daughter1 whom he presented to her mother on reaching his own encampment4 ,prompt to his engagement with ,general ,worth1 he returned on the tenth day after his departure4 ,he stated that he could do nothing until ,june2 but expressed his desire to see ,general ,armistead1 the former commander1 who was yet at ,tampa ,bay4 ,with that officer he also made arrangements to do whatever was in his power to induce his friends to emigrate4 ,there appears no good evidence on which to doubt the sincerity of ,wild ,cat2 yet it appears that ,general ,armistead1 before leaving ,florida1 ordered ,colonel ,childs1 commanding at ,fort ,pearce1 to seize ,wild ,cat1 if he should come within his power1 with such followers as should attend him1 and send them to ,tampa ,bay for emigration4 ,general ,armistead retired to ,washington soon after issuing this order1 leaving ,general ,worth in command4 ,on the twenty-first of ,may1 ,wild ,cat and his brother1 together with an uncle1 a brother of his father ,king ,philip1 and twelve other ,indians and three ,exiles1 came into ,fort ,pearce1 where ,colonel ,childs was in command4 ,wild ,cat and his friends had reposed perfect confidence in the honor and good faith of ,general ,worth4 ,he had been betrayed by ,general ,hernandez1 acting under ,general ,jessup's orders2 had been imprisoned1 and suffered much2 but from the manner and bearing of ,general ,worth1 he had been led to repose the most implicit confidence in his sincerity4 ,colonel ,childs1 however1 punctilious in his obedience to orders1 at once seized and sent him and his companions in irons to ,tampa ,bay1 where they were immediately placed on board a transport and sent to ,new ,orleans1 en route for ,fort ,gibson4 ,the people of ,florida heartily approved this transaction1 feeling that the ,territory was now rid of one of its most dangerous foes4 ,general ,worth soon learned the manner in which ,wild ,cat had been again seized as a prisoner1 in violation of the pledged faith of ,government4 ,mortified and chagrined1 he at once dispatched a faithful officer1 with explicit directions1 to bring ,wild ,cat and his friends back to ,florida at the earliest moment at which he should be able4 ,the officer found them at ,new ,orleans1 and forthwith started with them on his return to ,tampa ,bay4 ,this measure of ,general ,worth1 though bold1 and in direct opposition to the popular sentiment of ,florida1 probably tended as much to the pacification of that ,territory as any movement during the war4 ,general ,worth set out to meet the distinguished chief1 and reached ,tampa ,bay on the third of ,july4 ,the next day he went on board the ship1 where he met ,wild ,cat and his companions2 they were yet in irons4 ,as they met upon the deck1 the ,general took him cordially by the hand2 assured him of his sincere friendship2 of the mistake by which he had been arrested2 but assured him1 that so great was his renown as a warrior1 and such were the fears which the people entertained of him1 that1 as commanding ,general1 he was constrained to hold him a prisoner4 ,perhaps nothing so touches the vanity of a savage as an expression of his greatness2 and the consummate policy of ,general ,worth was never more apparent than in the manner of his treating this savage chief4 ,after recounting the devastation and death which ,wild ,cat had scattered throughout the ,territory1 he told him1 with great emphasis1 that he had the power to put an end to the war4 ,he then told him he was at liberty to select five of his most trusty friends1 and send them to his band with such a message as would inform them of the precise state of facts1 to name the time necessary to gather his band1 and have them at ,fort ,brooke2 that1 if they failed to come in at the appointed time1 he and his followers1 who should remain with him1 should be hanged4 ,wild ,cat listened with emotion2 most of his followers wept4 ,after ,general ,worth had closed his remarks1 he arose1 and1 with great force of eloquence and truth1 portrayed the wrongs to which he and his friends had been subjected4 ,he then added1 that they had fought the white people bravely1 had killed many1 but they were too numerous and too strong for them to contend with2 that they were compelled to submit4 ,then1 in conclusion1 he said he would send out his friends1 and do what he could to induce his band to surrender1 for emigration4 ,while he was speaking1 the hour of twelve arrived1 and an armed ship lying in port1 opened her ports and commenced firing a national salute1 in honor of the day4 ,wild ,cat stopped1 and1 turning to ,general ,worth1 inquired the cause4 ,it was explained to him1 and he readily contrasted his own situation and that of his friends1 who were sitting around him in irons1 with the condition of the freemen to whom they were prisoners4 ,after he had concluded his remarks1 he gathered around him his friends1 and1 having consulted with them1 he selected his five messengers1 one of whom was taken from the ,exiles1 and the other four from the ,indians4 ,the five messengers were brought together1 and he addressed them in their own language1 apparently with deep emotion2 but when he came to inform them of the message they were to deliver to his wife and child1 the feelings of the husband and father again overpowered him3 he turned aside and wept2 and such was the deep and thrilling interest which pervaded those around him1 that the hardy sailors who had long been accustomed to danger1 and the soldier who had become familiar with death in its various forms1 were melted to tears4 ,the sympathy became general2 and all present seemed to acknowledge the reality of those holy affections of the human heart which ,god has implanted deep down in its core and center4 ,silence pervaded the whole assemblage4 ,the order was given by ,general ,worth in a low and solemn voice to remove the fetters from the limbs of the five messengers4 ,it was done quietly1 and all looked on with interest4 ,after the irons had been taken from their limbs1 and all was prepared for their departure1 ,wild ,cat shook hands with each as they passed over the side of the ship4 ,to the last he handed a silk handkerchief and a breast-pin1 saying1 give them to my wife and child4 ,the time which ,wild ,cat had voluntarily set for their return1 was forty days4 ,the band was supposed to be on the ,kissimee or ,st4 ,john's ,river2 and much interest was felt by all in the result4 ,they greatly feared that delay might take place in finding and communicating with them4 ,officers and soldiers participated in the excitement2 and the messengers were instructed by them to inform the commanding officer at that post1 if any great delay should occur4 ,the success of this mission was regarded as the turning point of the ,florida ,war1 and in its perfect success all felt a deep interest2 as it was believed that his example would be followed by other chiefs of sufficient influence to bring this long protracted war to a close4 ,the officers visited ,wild ,cat and his friends1 on board the ship1 daily1 and endeavored to cheer them by constantly expressing their confidence in the fidelity of the messengers4 ,he endeavored to surmount the anxiety and apprehension which his situation naturally brought to his mind2 but his care-worn countenance and anxious manner showed the corroding solicitude which he felt4 ,old ,micco1 the ,indian chief who at first induced ,wild ,cat to come in to ,fort ,cummings1 was at ,tampa ,bay at the time the messengers left4 ,he was aged1 but continued active4 ,he had been the confidential friend of ,king ,philip1 the father of ,wild ,cat1 and was now the warm friend of the son4 ,he volunteered to accompany the messengers1 assuring ,wild ,cat that he would himself return in ten days with such tidings as he should be able to gather in that time4 ,the old man1 faithful to his engagement1 on the tenth day appeared at ,tampa ,bay with six warriors and a number of women and children1 and reported that others were on their way4 ,the return of ,micco with such intelligence cheered his followers and friends1 and gave to our officers and soldiers confidence in the entire success of the plan2 but the chief continued to exhibit gloom1 and at times he evinced despondency of spirits4 ,in the meantime1 his people continued to arrive daily1 and in less than thirty days1 his entire band were encamped at ,tampa ,bay4 ,he had informed ,general ,worth of the precise number of his warriors by delivering to him a bundle containing one stick for each warrior4 ,on the last day of ,july1 it was found that the number of warriors1 including ,exiles1 exactly corresponded with the number of sticks4 ,when informed that his warriors were all in1 he resumed his natural cheerfulness2 his countenance became lighted up with hope and intelligence2 his bearing was lofty and independent4 ,several officers went on board to congratulate him4 ,he was warmly greeted4 ,he now1 turning to the officer of the guard1 in a tone of confident assurance1 requested that his irons might be removed1 and he permitted to address his warriors1 as he said1 like a man4 ,his shackles were taken off2 and he then dressed himself in a manner which he deemed fitting the occasion4 ,his turban was of crimson silk1 from which three ostrich plumes were gracefully suspended2 his breast was covered with glittering silver ornaments2 his many-colored frock was fastened around his waist by a girdle of red silk1 into which was thrust his scalping knife1 enclosed in its appropriate scabbard4 ,red leggins and ornamented moccasins completed his attire4 ,he was attended on shore by several officers1 who took seats with him in the boat4 ,as they approached the shore1 and he saw his friends who had gathered at the landing to greet him1 his heart seemed to swell with emotion2 but gathering himself for the occasion he became dignified and haughty in his deportment1 and as he stepped on shore be waived his hand1 beckoning them all to stand back4 ,they impulsively obeyed2 and raising his form to its utmost height he sent forth a shrill war-whoop1 which reached every ear in the vicinity1 as the announcement of his freedom4 ,a hearty response at once came back from every warrior of the band4 ,the crowd simultaneously opened to the right and left1 when1 without noticing the presence of any person1 he at once proceeded to the head-quarters1 where he met ,general ,worth1 whom he saluted in the most respectful manner4 ,he then turned to his people and addressed them1 stating the arrangement with ,general ,worth1 thanking them for so cheerfully coming to him1 declared they were now at peace with the white people4 ,he then inquired for his wife and child1 who had remained silent spectators of the whole scene4 ,they at once came forward1 and as he saw them1 the feelings of the husband and father again overcame him for an instant2 but resuming his lofty demeanor he mingled again with those faithful and tried followers1 who had so often stood beside him in times of peril4 ,such were the fortunes1 and such the character1 of one of those chieftains whom the incidents of the ,florida ,war brought into public notice4 ,he is now introduced to the reader1 and will continue to receive occasional attention until the close of our narrative1 and perhaps he may again appear in the future history of the people to whose trials and persecutions we are now directing attention4 ,we have felt this sketch due to the cause of truth1 inasmuch as during the war1 and even up to the present day1 public newspapers have spoken of ,wild ,cat as a cruel and vindictive savage4 ,his efforts in behalf of freedom have been represented by public officers as crimes1 and he has been held up to the public as an unprincipled brigand4 ,we would judge him1 as we would all others1 by his acts4 ,wild ,cat's band1 now convened at ,tampa ,bay1 had been previously diminished by emigration4 ,it now numbered seventy-eight warriors1 sixty-four women and forty-seven children--making in all one hundred and eighty-nine souls4 ,we have no official statement of the number of ,exiles who surrendered with this band4 ,we suppose1 however1 from the warm interest which ,wild ,cat always took in behalf of the ,exiles1 that more would have flocked to his standard than to those of other chiefs2 but we have no evidence that such was the fact4 ,probably the ,exiles constituted about one-sixth of the band--that being the proportion of ,exiles who accompanied him to ,fort ,cummings1 and were seized with him by ,colonel ,childs4 ,indeed1 we have had no official data by which to determine the proportion of ,exiles who constituted the several parties that surrendered after ,general ,jessup left the army4 ,no subsequent commander in ,florida appears to have drawn distinctions as to the color of his prisoners4 ,they were all reported as ,seminoles1 and the term negro occurred only incidentally in their official reports1 when speaking of the class of interpreters and agents who were employed2 nor do we find that ,general ,worth made any effort to send any of his prisoners into slavery4 ,so far as we are informed1 like ,general ,taylor1 he treated them all as prisoners of war1 entitled to the same rights1 the same respect1 and the same attentions1 agreeably to the doctrine advanced by ,general ,gaines at ,new ,orleans4 ,general ,worth appears to have felt authorized to send every ,exile who surrendered1 to the ,western ,country4 ,if any of them were claimed by the slaveholders of ,florida1 he directed the proofs of ownership to be taken and the value of the negro estimated1 and then1 without waiting for further contest1 the negro was treated as other prisoners1 and sent ,west with his ,seminole friends1 leaving the ,government to pay for the slave or not1 as the ,executive and ,congress should determine4#acj ,it was this policy which enabled ,general ,worth to conduct the war with so much greater success than his predecessors4 ,it enabled him to avail himself of all the influence of ,wild ,cat1 now exerted in favor of emigration2 while ,general ,jessup1 by delivering over the ,exiles to slavery1 had induced the same chief to exert absolute violence to prevent emigration4#aca ,general ,worth1 having secured the friendship and coperation of ,wild ,cat1 entered into consultation with him as to the best method of carrying out his plan of peaceful surrender of the ,indians and ,exiles1 and their emigration ,west4 ,those in the eastern part of the ,territory1 under ,hospetarche and ,tiger-tail and ,sam ,jones1 were bitterly opposed to emigration4 ,they determined1 in council1 to kill any messenger sent to them for the purpose of persuading them to surrender1 or any one who should attempt to leave them for the purposes of emigration4 ,notwithstanding this determination1 some three or four families1 numbering in all about twenty souls1 made their escape 7,aug4 #aj71 and1 though closely pursued1 reached the military post on ,pease ,creek1 and were sent to ,tampa ,bay1 where they joined ,wild ,cat's band4 ,otulke1 a brother of ,wild ,cat1 lived in the vicinity of those people who had become so indignant1 and it was deemed important to inform him of ,wild ,cat's determination to go ,west4 ,the chief had also a younger brother1 now with the band at ,tampa ,bay1 who volunteered to perform the hazardous duty of carrying a message to ,otulke4 ,much solicitude was felt for his safety1 but he accomplished his mission successfully4 ,otulke1 with some six warriors and their families1 obeyed the call1 and came to ,tampa ,bay and joined the party destined for emigration4 ,otulke also brought a message from ,hospetarche1 an aged chief1 the head of a small band numbering nearly one hundred souls4 ,he was said to be eighty-five years of age2 but was yet active1 and possessed great energy4 ,he sent a message to ,wild ,cat that he1 too1 was coming in to see him4 ,he was from the ,great ,cypress ,swamp1 whose inhabitants were regarded as very treacherous1 and altogether destitute of integrity4 ,a few days after ,otulke arrived1 ,hospetarche sent a boy with a white flag to ,tampa ,bay1 saying1 he was old and fatigued1 and wanted whisky and provisions to enable him to reach ,fort ,brooke4 ,these were sent him2 but the next day another message of the same character was received1 and complied with4 ,this practice continued for five days4 ,and such was the desperate character of the old chief1 that none of the friendly ,indians dared go out to meet him1 particularly as they learned that he was attended only by warriors2 they believed he was intent on hostility rather than peace1 and they feared him4 ,wild ,cat had been absent for some days4 ,when he returned1 he ascertained the situation of ,hospetarche1 with whom he had long been acquainted4 ,the next morning he dressed himself in his gayest attire1 and1 taking his rifle1 mounted his favorite horse1 which had been brought to ,tampa ,bay by his followers4 ,the officers who witnessed his departure1 declared that the noble animal exhibited evidence of having recognized his master4 ,no sooner had ,wild ,cat mounted1 than he began to champ his bit and paw the earth1 as if impatient to bear forth his rider to the hunting grounds4 ,wild ,cat1 sitting upon his spirited horse1 shook hands with ,general ,worth and the other officers1 and then dashed into the forest2 and before sunset1 returned with his venerable friend1 ,hospetarche1 and eighteen warriors4 ,after they arrived1 they were treated kindly1 but placed under a strong guard4 ,they sent confidential friends however to their homes1 who in a few days returned1 bringing with them the women and children of the whole band4 ,there were now at ,tampa ,bay nearly three hundred prisoners ready for emigration1 including ,exiles1 supposed to be about sixty in number4 ,while ,general ,worth was thus successful in his efforts to induce the ,indians and their allies peacefully to emigrate1 he was pained to witness the sufferings to which his army were subjected4 ,as an illustration of the sacrifice which our nation made in this effort to enslave the ,exiles1 we would state1 that the #ast regiment of ,infantry1 under ,colonel ,miller1 came to ,florida in #ahch1 and left in ,august1 #ahda4 ,it numbered some six hundred men1 and during the three years of its residence in ,florida1 one hundred and thirty-five soldiers and six commissioned officers died of sickness4 ,this we believe to be nothing more than the average loss of the troops who served in that war1 in proportion to the time of service4 ,the official reports for ,july1 #ahda1 showed two thousand four hundred and twenty-eight men on the sick list1 unfit for duty1 being considerably more than one half of the whole army4 ,a few ,indians and ,exiles1 from various bands1 occasionally arrived at ,tampa ,bay1 and joined the emigrating party4 ,throughout the different families1 they appeared to believe that ,general ,worth was acting in good faith4 ,the whole character of the war had undergone a change4 ,it had originally been commenced and prosecuted for the purpose of renslaving ,exiles3 now that object1 so far as they could discover1 appeared to have been given up4 ,exiles and ,indians were treated alike4 ,wild ,cat1 their most active and popular chief1 and the leading ,exiles with him1 were acting with sincerity in favor of emigration4 ,the war was in fact suspended1 for the adoption of a more pacific policy1 which seemed to promise success4 ,tiger-tail was yet inexorable and inveterate4 ,he was said to have murdered his own sister for proposing to surrender2 yet a small party from his band escaped to ,tampa ,bay1 and were protected4 ,a few other ,indians and ,exiles were captured without bloodshed2 and such were the prospects of returning peace1 that by the commencement of ,september1 ,general ,worth informed the ,war ,department that the #c;d regiment of ,artillery could be spared from the service in ,florida2 and that he hoped1 within a month1 to discharge the #dth and #eth ,infantry1 and the #c;d ,dragoons4 ,illustration3 ,thlocklo ,tustenuggee4 7,tiger ,tail47 ,wild ,cat visited ,tiger-tail in his retreat1 which was regarded as a most hazardous undertaking4 ,with six followers he started on a visit to this barbarous chief4 ,he reached the vicinity of his camp near nightfall1 but deemed it prudent not to approach at that late hour of the day4 ,he and his friends fearing discovery1 bivouacked in a grove1 supposing they had not been noticed by any one4 ,in the darkness of the night1 they heard slight movements near them4 ,wild ,cat suspected it was the wary chief1 preparing to massacre himself and friends4 ,he boldly called out1 announcing his own name1 and telling ,tiger-tail not to come upon him like a coward1 by stealth1 but to speak frankly1 or come up boldly to a personal conflict4 ,tiger-tail1 surprised and astonished at this course1 commenced conversation4 ,wild ,cat1 referring to their former friendship1 avowed his desire to renew the attachment2 or1 if ,tiger-tail insisted on fighting1 then he would meet him in a manner becoming a bold warrior4 ,the ferocity of ,tiger-tail gave way4 ,they agreed to meet next day1 when a long consultation was held4 ,the savage chief gave assurances of his peaceful disposition1 and promised to reflect upon the propriety of emigrating4 ,wild ,cat also sent to other chiefs messages1 assuring them of his intention to emigrate2 that his band1 and that of ,hospetarche1 with individuals from other villages1 were at ,tampa ,bay with the intention of soon embarking for the ,western ,country4 ,tiger-tail insisted on seeing ,alligator1 a ,seminole chief1 who emigrated in #ahcg1 saying1 if ,alligator would come back and advise him to go ,west1 he would comply with such advice4 ,a messenger was accordingly sent ,west to bring ,alligator to ,florida4 ,in the meantime1 ,wild ,cat declared to ,general ,worth that he desired to see his own people on their way2 and assigned as the reason for such desire1 that ,indians were a restless people1 and could not be long kept inactive1 with no employment for either body or mind4 ,the advice was received by ,general ,worth with respect1 and he at once gave orders to prepare for the journey4 ,transports had been employed1 and were then in waiting4 ,the women and children were engaged in cracking corn1 to serve as food for their journey4 ,amid all the cares which surrounded him1 ,general ,worth endeavored to make both ,indians and ,exiles comfortable1 and render them cheerful4 ,they were a wronged and persecuted people1 about to leave their homes1 their native country1 and go to a distant region1 of which they were ignorant4 ,driven from the graves of their fathers1 they were about to be separated from scenes which had been familiar to them from childhood4 ,of those who had come in for emigration1 fifteen had died4 ,wild ,cat detailed from his band seven1 and ,hospetarche detailed ten warriors1 who1 with their families1 making some eighty souls in all1 were to remain with ,general ,worth for a while in order to exert what influence they could with their friends in favor of emigrating to the ,west4 ,the number who actually embarked was little more than two hundred and fifty1 exclusive of fourteen ,mickasukies1 who persisted in drawing their rations1 and in all things being separated from the others4 ,some fifty ,exiles are supposed to have been among those who embarked1 and two of the seventeen families who remained at ,tampa ,bay were of mixed blood4 ,the emigrants were all on board the transports1 when ,general ,worth and staff paid them a last visit4 ,the scene was said to be affecting4 ,hospetarche1 venerable for his years1 sat in silence1 resting his head upon his hands1 and looking back upon his native land4 ,he appeared disqualified for holding conversation with any one1 and none appeared willing to disturb his seeming melancholy reflections4 ,the women--both ,exiles and ,indians--were weeping and sighing1 unrestrained by that dignity so much cultivated by savages of the other sex4 ,the warriors--black and red--were solemn and silent4 ,this appeared to give ,wild ,cat pain4 ,he stood upon the quarter deck with his sub-chiefs around him4 ,as ,general ,worth was about to take leave1 ,i am looking 7said ,wild ,cat7 at the last pine tree of my native land4 ,i am about to leave ,florida for ever2 and ,i can say that ,i have never done anything to disgrace the land of my birth4 ,it was my home3 ,i loved it as ,i loved my wife and child4 ,to part from it1 is like separating from my own kindred4 ,but ,i have thrown away the rifle2 ,i have shaken hands with the white man1 and ,i look to him for protection4 ,he then addressed ,general ,worth1 thanked him for all his kindness and confidence2 and on behalf of his people he expressed a high sense of gratitude for the humanity and friendship extended to them4 ,then extending his hand to the ,general he bade him farewell4 ,general ,worth1 in taking leave1 expressed the hope that they would have a pleasant journey1 and find themselves happy in their western homes4 ,they parted2 the anchor was hauled up1 the sails hoisted2 and the unhappy emigrants soon cast their last lingering look upon the long-loved scenes of their childhood4 ,they were hurried on their way as rapidly as wind and steam could propel the ships in which they embarked4 ,they made a short stay at ,new ,orleans2 and in two weeks from the time they left ,tampa ,bay1 they landed at ,fort ,gibson1 and were conducted to the settlement made by their brethren who had previously emigrated4 ,here ,wild ,cat found himself in a new sphere4 ,respected and beloved by his followers for his gallant bearing2 his undoubted courage2 his devotion to the interests of his people2 his truth and justice--distinguished above all others of his tribe by his warlike exploits1 he was qualified and prepared to enter upon the trying scenes which awaited his future life4 ,,chapter ,,xxi4 ,,close ,,of ,,the ,,war4 ,delegation from ,emigrants return to ,florida--,their efforts in favor of ,peace--,pacific indications--,troops discharged--,indians and ,negroes surrender--,foray of ,captain ,wade--,waxe ,hadjo surrenders--,massacre at ,mandarin--,people of ,georgia and ,florida dissatisfied with ,general ,worth--,they insist on furnishing ,troops--,gen4 ,worth refuses to employ ,militia--,general ,mc,donald and ,volunteers from ,georgia take the field--,demand the withdrawal of the ,regular ,troops--,they are withdrawn--,call for ,provisions--,general ,worth refuses to furnish them--,militia disband--,tustenuggee ,chapco surrenders--,more ,troops discharged--,general ,worth states the number of ,enemy1 and recommends cessation of ,hostilities--,propositions rejected by ,executive--,battle with ,halec ,tustenuggee--,his character--,his capture--,he and his people sent ,west--,president reconsiders ,general ,worth's advice--,adopts the proposed policy--,general ,worth calls ,council--,terms of ,peace agreed upon--,general ,order--,general ,worth retires--,war ended--,its object--,its cost--,number of lives sacrificed--,character of ,indians and ,exiles who remained in ,florida4 ,sidenote3 #ahda4 ,on the fourteenth of ,october1 ,alligator1 with two other chiefs1 and one of the leading ,exiles1 named ,james1 reached ,fort ,brooke1 on their return from the ,western ,country4 ,they came at the request of ,general ,worth to exert their influence with ,tiger-tail and others in favor of emigration4 ,the next day they left for the interior1 and after an absence of seven days returned with ,tiger-tail4 ,the ,general held several conversations with him1 and kindly expressed his sympathy for the ,indians1 explaining his own situation and duty1 and advising the ,indians to emigrate as their best policy4 ,tiger-tail1 after remaining in camp four days1 returned for his band2 and friendly ,indians were dispatched by ,general ,worth to ,sam ,jones and other chiefs to induce them also to come in4 ,some thirty ,indians deserted ,halec ,tustenuggee 7,nov4 #aj71 and came to ,fort ,brooke4 ,the appearance of ,indians and ,exiles was so pacific that the ,commanding ,general discharged from further service in ,florida five companies of dragoons1 who were ordered to the western frontier4 ,the ,indians and ,exiles who remained at ,fort ,brooke when ,wild ,cat and his party left for the ,west1 were active in their endeavors to induce their other friends to emigrate4 ,in these efforts they were at least partially successful4 ,small parties from the bands of ,tiger-tail and ,nethloke-,mathla arrived occasionally1 and with the apparent consent of those chiefs2 but ,tiger-tail himself appeared suspicious and wary4 ,he would not come in then1 but promised to do so at some future day4 ,the influence of most of the ,exiles now remaining in ,florida was exerted in favor of emigration4 ,it is believed that nearly every family of pure ,exile blood had left2 that the last of that class had departed with ,wild ,cat1 particularly all of the descendants of those pioneers who remained unconnected with the ,indians by marriage4 ,there were yet remaining a few who had more recently fled from their masters in ,florida and ,georgia4 ,they dared not trust themselves within the power of our troops1 lest they should be reconsigned to slavery4 ,they exerted a strong influence with the ,indians against emigration4 ,there were also1 in almost every band and small village of ,indians1 ,exiles who had intermarried with ,indian families4 ,they could not well separate from their family connexions1 and therefore refused to surrender for emigration1 until those relatives would go with them4 ,by the twentieth of ,november1 fifty-two warriors and a hundred and ten women and children--making in all one hundred and sixty-two people--were gathered from the bands of ,tiger-tail and ,nethloke-,mathla2 some thirty of whom were ,exiles1 intermarried with the ,indians and half-breeds4 ,captain ,wade made a foray into the ,indian ,country1 and captured some sixty-five ,indians and ,exiles of two different bands1 by surprise1 and without bloodshed4 ,they were mostly women and children1 and were at once sent forward to ,tampa ,bay for emigration4 ,about the close of ,november1 ,waxe-,hadjo1 a young chief from the ,cypress ,swamp1 with seventeen warriors and more than thirty women and children--some ten or twelve of whom were half-breeds1 descendants of ,exiles and ,seminoles--surrendered1 and were sent to ,fort ,brooke for emigration4 ,while everything thus wore the appearance of peace1 and all were regarding the war as near its close1 a small settlement of white people1 at a place called ,mandarin1 twenty-two miles from ,jacksonville1 was assailed in open day1 and five of the people murdered4 ,this attack was conducted by a small party of ,indians1 less than twenty in number1 who had come from the interior1 and in a stealthy manner approached this settlement1 committed the murders1 and retired before any troops could be brought to the scene of slaughter4 ,near the close of the year1 the authorities of ,georgia and ,florida gave evidence of their dissatisfaction of the manner in which ,general ,worth was conducting the war4 ,the militia of neither ,florida nor ,georgia were called on to participate in the war4 ,no opportunities were afforded them of seizing negroes and selling them into slavery2 none but the regular sutlers were permitted to encamp with or near the troops2 in short1 the war1 as then conducted1 afforded them but little profit4 ,general ,worth had encouraged the return of the people to their homes and plantations1 and very few of them now drew rations from the public stores for their support4 ,he had discharged citizens and their slaves from public employment1 and the war was carried on without permitting the people1 or politicians of ,georgia or ,florida1 to interfere or dictate the manner of its prosecution4 ,this proceeding of ,general ,worth greatly excited the people and ,executive of ,georgia1 who insisted upon furnishing militia to carry on the war4 ,the ,secretary of ,war referred the matter at once to ,general ,worth1 and a most interesting and amusing correspondence followed between the ,executive of ,georgia and the ,commanding ,general4 ,the latter refusing to call for militia from that ,state1 they were mustered without his authority1 and he was requested by ,governor ,mc,donald to withdraw the ,united ,states forces from the ,georgia frontiers4 ,as there was then no enemy near that ,state1 and no danger to the inhabitants1 he removed the troops1 and the ,georgia militia were ordered by the ,governor to take their place4 ,they did so with the confident expectation that ,general ,worth would furnish rations and hospital supplies and arms from the ,united ,states stores4 ,but he refused to do this1 and the gallant militia of that ,state immediately retired to their homes in order to dine4 ,the correspondence on this subject continued until ,may1 #ahdb1 and shows the skillful management of individuals to get up alarms in regard to the supposed presence of hostile ,indians1 and thereby manifest the necessity of posting troops in certain localities1 where there had probably never been an enemy4 ,to give importance to these counterfeited alarms1 letters were written1 and presentments were made by ,grand ,juries4 ,the ,delegate from the ,territory of ,florida demanded of the ,executive the employment of militia for the protection of the frontier1 and that such militia be authorized to act independently of the ,commanding ,general4 ,hon4 ,john ,c4 ,spencer1 ,secretary of ,war1 replied1 that the ,department could see no particular advantage to be derived from such a division of the duties of the ,commanding ,general2 and1 as he had no doubt ,general ,worth would do whatever was proper1 he referred the whole matter to his consideration4 ,had ,general ,jessup1 in #ahcf and '#cg1 adopted the policy which guided ,general ,worth2 had he sent his prisoners to the ,western ,country without permitting the militia1 or the people of ,florida1 to seize and enslave those whom he had engaged to protect and defend1 there is little doubt that the war would have been closed during the time he was employed in ,florida4 ,during the last days of ,december1 ,tustenuggee ,chopco1 a sub-chief1 and about seventy followers1 consisting of warriors1 women and children1 a proportion of whom were ,exiles and half-breeds1 surrendered near the ,great ,cypress ,swamp1 and were also sent to ,fort ,brooke for emigration4 ,sidenote3 #ahdc4 ,at the commencement of this year several more companies of troops were discharged1 the number of the enemy being so far diminished as to render their presence useless4 ,on the fifth of ,february1 some three hundred and fifty ,indians and ,exiles were embarked at ,tampa ,bay for the ,western ,country4 ,they in due time reached ,fort ,gibson1 and took up their residence with those who had gone before them1 and were still residing upon the lands of the ,cherokees4 ,on the fourteenth of ,february1 ,general ,worth addressed the ,commanding ,general of our army1 at ,washington ,city1 a communication1 giving a detailed statement of the number of ,indians yet remaining in ,florida--amounting in all to three hundred1 according to the best information he had been able to obtain4 ,he also stated the impossibility of capturing these individuals1 scattered as they were over a vast extent of country1 and advising that they be dealt with1 henceforth1 in a peaceful manner2 and that at least five-sixths of the troops then employed in ,florida be withdrawn1 and an equal proportion of the expenses of the war be curtailed4 ,he proposed sending a portion of those friendly ,indians who remained at ,fort ,brooke1 among the hostiles1 to continue with them1 and exert what influence they could in favor of peace and of emigration2 with the assurance1 that no further hostilities would be prosecuted by the ,united ,states while the ,indians remained peaceful4 ,the proposition1 however1 was rejected by the ,executive2 and ,general ,worth continued to carry forward the work which he had prosecuted thus far with such signal success4 ,he dismissed more troops from service in ,florida2 discharged employees in the various departments under his command1 and made such retrenchments as he was able to effect1 without detracting from the efficiency of the public service4 ,on the sixteenth of ,april1 the troops fell in with ,hallec ,tustenuggee1 who1 with some seventy warriors of his own and other bands1 was encamped upon an island in the ,great ,wahoo ,swamp1 and after an irregular fight of two hours1 routed them4 ,the loss was slight on both sides4 ,our troops had one man killed1 and four wounded2 the allies three wounded1 whom they carried from the field4 ,this was the last battle fought in the ,florida ,war4 ,the ,indians scattered in various directions1 and in that way evaded pursuit4 ,halec ,tustenuggee was a most skillful warrior3 bold and daring in his policy1 yet capable of dissimulation and treachery4 ,he had been the object of pursuit for two years4 ,his unceasing vigilance had enabled him to bid defiance to civilized troops4 ,he was now nearly destitute of powder and provisions1 and1 as an alternative1 professed a desire for peace4 ,he came into the ,american camp boldly1 shook hands with ,general ,worth1 and proclaimed his pacific purpose4 ,his professions were treated with great apparent respect4 ,he wanted provisions for his band4 ,they were encamped within three miles of ,general ,worth's head-quarters1 and were fed at public expense4 ,and when the whole band had come within the lines1 for the purpose of attending a feast1 they were secured as prisoners1 and immediately sent to ,tampa ,bay for emigration2 and1 on the fourteenth of ,july1 this entire band1 consisting of one hundred and twenty persons1 embarked for ,fort ,gibson1 by way of ,new ,orleans4 ,they reached their destination in safety2 and most of them took up their residence with their brethren1 the ,seminoles2 while others joined the ,creeks4 ,the ,federal ,executive1 having more maturely considered the suggestions of ,general ,worth1 at length concluded to accede to his propositions for a pacification with the remaining hostiles in ,florida4 ,that officer1 having secured ,halec ,tustenuggee and his band1 and sent them ,west1 now dispatched his messengers to those small bands of hostiles which remained1 inviting them to hold a council and enter into an arrangement1 based upon the condition1 that the allies should remain in the southern portion of the ,peninsula of ,florida1 confined to certain limits1 and abstain from all acts of aggression upon their white neighbors4 ,most of these small bands sent chiefs1 or sub-chiefs1 to attend the council2 and terms of peace were agreed to1 and the following ,general ,order was issued3 ,,order1 ,,head ,,quarters ,,ninth ,,military ,,department1 ,no4 #bh4 ,cedar ,key1 ,florida1 ,august #ad1 #ahdc4 ,it is hereby announced1 that hostilities with the ,indians within this ,territory have ceased4 ,measures are taken to pass the few remaining ,indians within certain limits--those in the far south immediately2 those west of the ,suwanee in a few days1 who1 meantime1 there is every reasonable assurance1 will conduct inoffensively if unmolested in their haunts4 ,the lands thus temporarily assigned1 as their planting and hunting grounds1 are within the following boundaries1 to wit3 ,from the mouth of ,talockchopco1 or ,pease ,creek1 up the left bank of that stream to the fork of the southern branch1 and1 following that branch1 to the head or northern edge of ,lake ,istokpoga2 thence down the eastern margin of that lake to the stream which empties into the ,kissimee ,river1 following the left bank of the said stream and river to where the latter empties into ,lake ,okeechobee2 thence down1 due south1 through said lake and everglades to ,shark ,river1 following the right bank of that river to the ,gulf2 thence along the ,gulf shore 7excluding all islands between ,punta ,rosa and the head of ,charlotte's ,harbor7 to the place of beginning4 ,the foregoing arrangements are in accordance with the instructions of the ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,by order of ,col4 ,,worth3 ,s4 ,,cooper1 ,a4 ,a4 ,general4 ,most of the troops were now withdrawn from ,florida4 ,general ,worth retired from the command1 and the ,florida ,war was supposed to have ended4 ,it had been commenced with a determination to renslave the ,exiles4 ,that object was1 in part1 attained4 ,more than five hundred persons were seized and enslaved1 between the first of ,january1 #ahce1 and the fourteenth of ,august1 #ahdc4 ,probably one half of them had been born free2 the others had themselves escaped from slavery4 ,to effect this object1 forty millions of dollars were supposed to have been expended4 ,eighty thousand dollars was paid from the public treasury for the enslavement of each person1 and the lives of at least three white men were sacrificed to insure the enslavement of each black man4 ,the deterioration of our national morality was beyond estimate1 and the disgrace of our nation and government are matters incapable of computation4 ,the suffering of the ,indians and ,exiles amidst such prolonged persecution1 such loss of lives and property1 we cannot estimate4 ,the friends and families who were separated1 the number of those who were made wretched for life1 the broken hearts1 we will not attempt to enumerate4 ,nearly one half of the whole number were consigned to the moral death of slavery1 and many to that physical death which was dreaded far less than slavery4 ,after wandering in the wilderness thrice forty years1 they fell under the oppression1 the persecution1 the power of a mighty nation1 which boasts of its justice1 its honor1 and love of liberty4 ,we lament the sad fate of those who died in that struggle2 but with deeper anguish1 and far keener mortification1 we deplore the unhappy lot of those who were doomed to drag out a miserable existence1 amidst chains and wretchedness1 surrounded by that moral darkness which broods over the enslaved portion of our fellow-beings in the ,southern ,states4 ,there are yet remaining in ,florida a few descendants of the pioneer ,exiles4 ,they are intermarried with the bands of ,billy ,bowlegs1 and of ,sam ,jones1 sometimes called ,aripeka2 they are now mostly half-breeds1 and are rapidly becoming amalgamated with the ,indian race4 ,besides these1 there are a number of ,spanish ,refugees1 or colored people who fled from ,spanish masters and took up their residence with those called ,spanish ,indians4 ,these did not engage in the war until #ahdj3 nor did they then engage in any of the battles with our army2 they contented themselves with plundering ships wrecked on their coast1 and the foray upon ,indian ,key4 ,they refused to send delegates to the council summoned by ,general ,worth1 to establish terms of pacification4 ,they live independent of the white people1 subsisting mostly on fish and the natural products of the soil1 holding very little intercourse with either white men or other ,indians4 ,descendants of ,exile parents1 they have the complexion and appearance of pure ,spaniards2 but they are rapidly blending with the ,indians1 and forming a mixed race4 ,these different bands1 remaining in ,florida1 and aggregating into a distinct people1 have on several occasions since #ahdc1 given evidence of implacable hostility to the whites4 ,and at the time of writing this narrative1 they are engaged in open war2 while the ,government of the ,united ,states is endeavoring to secure peace in the same manner and upon the same terms on which ,general ,worth obtained it1 in #ahdc4 ,their future history may1 hereafter1 occupy the pen of some other historian4 ,,chapter ,,xxii4 ,,history ,,of ,,exiles ,,continued4 ,character of ,abraham--,his knowledge of the ,treaty of ,payne's ,landing--,its stipulations--,general ,jessup's assurances--,confirmed by other ,officers of ,government--,disappointment of ,exiles on reaching ,western ,country--,they refuse to enter ,creek jurisdiction--,creeks disappointed--,general ,cass's policy of reuniting ,tribes--,agent attempts to pacify ,exiles--,hospitality of ,cherokees--,discontent of all the ,tribes--,seminoles loud in their complaints--,hostilities apprehended--,conduct of ,executive--,agents selected to negotiate another ,treaty--,treaty stipulations--,attempts to falsify history--,executive action unknown to the people4 ,sidenote3 #ahdd4 ,the ,exiles were now all located on the ,cherokee lands1 west of the ,state of ,arkansas4 ,they had been removed from ,florida at great expense of blood and treasure2 but they were yet free1 and the object of the ,administration had not been attained4 ,conscious of the designs of the ,creeks1 the ,seminoles and ,exiles refused to trust themselves within ,creek jurisdiction4 ,they were tenants at will of the ,cherokees1 whose hospitality had furnished them with temporary homes until the ,government should fulfill its treaty stipulations1 in furnishing them a territory to their separate use4 ,abraham was1 perhaps1 the most influential man among the ,exiles4 ,he had been a witness and interpreter in making the treaty of ,payne's ,landing1 and had dictated the important provision in the supplemental treaty2 he had exerted his influence in favor of emigration2 to him1 therefore1 his people looked with more confidence than to any other individual4 ,in all his intercourse with our officers1 he had been assured of the intention to fulfill those treaties2 and when he found the ,government hesitating on that point1 he became indignant1 and so did others of his band4 ,but he could only express his indignation to the ,agent appointed to superintend their affairs and supply their wants4 ,these complaints were made known to the ,indian ,bureau1 at ,washington2 but they were unheeded1 and the ,exiles and their friends lived on in the vain hope that the ,administration would at some day redeem the pledged faith of the nation1 and assign them a territory for their separate use1 where they could live independent of the ,creeks1 as they had done for nearly a century past4 ,nor is it easy for men at this day to appreciate that feeling which so stubbornly sought their enslavement2 we can only account for this unyielding purpose1 from the long-established practice of so wielding the power and influence of the nation as best to promote the interests of slavery4 ,it is certain1 that it would have cost the ,united ,states no more to set off to the ,exiles and ,seminole ,indians a separate territory1 on which they could live free and independent1 than it would to constrain them to settle on the ,creek lands1 and subject them to ,creek laws1 and ,creek despotism1 and ,creek servitude4 ,general ,jackson1 in #ahaf1 had ordered ,blount's ,fort to be destroyed and the negroes returned to those who owned them4 ,to effect this latter object1 in #ahbb1 he proposed to compel the ,seminole ,indians to return and reunite with the ,creeks4 ,if at any time there were other reasons for the frauds committed upon the ,exiles and ,indians--for the violations of the pledged faith of the nation--it is hoped that some of the officers who acted a prominent part in those scenes of treachery and turpitude1 or their biographers1 will yet inform the public of their existence4 ,settled1 as the ,seminoles and ,exiles now were on the ,cherokee lands1 all parties concerned were necessarily dissatisfied4 ,the ,creeks were disappointed1 and greatly dissatisfied at not having the ,exiles in their power1 and charged our ,government with bad faith in not delivering that extraordinary people into their hands4 ,the ,cherokees had assured the ,seminoles and ,exiles that our ,government would deal honorably with them1 and would faithfully carry out the treaty of ,payne's ,landing1 with the proviso contained in the supplemental treaty2 and they were now greatly dissatisfied at the refusal of the ,executive to observe this solemn stipulation2 while the ,seminoles and ,exiles were indignant at the deception1 fraud and perfidy practiced upon them4 ,complaints against the ,government now became general among all these tribes4 ,all had been deceived2 all had been wronged2 and all became loud in their denunciations of the ,government4 ,this feeling became more intense as time passed away4 ,it was in vain that our ,indian agents and military officers at the ,west endeavored to quiet this state of general discontent4 ,the newspapers of that day gave intimations of difficulties among the ,indians at the ,west2 they stated1 in general terms1 the danger of hostilities1 but omitted all allusion to the cause of this disquietude4 ,the ,executive appeared to be paralyzed with the difficulties now thrown in his way4 ,he urged upon the ,indian agents and military officers to use all possible efforts to suppress these feelings of hostility1 which now appeared ready to burst forth upon the first occasion2 coolly insisting that1 at some future day1 the ,seminoles and ,exiles would consent to remove on to the ,creek territory4 ,at length the danger of hostilities became so imminent1 that the ,executive deemed it necessary to enter upon further negotiation in order to effect the long cherished purpose of subjecting the ,exiles to ,creek jurisdiction and consequent slavery4 ,to effect this object it was necessary to select suitable instruments4 ,four ,indian ,agents1 holding their offices by the ,executive favor1 were appointed to hold a ,council with their discontented tribes1 and if possible to negotiate a new treaty with them4 ,it is somewhat singular that no statesman1 no person favorably known to the public1 or possessing public confidence1 was selected for so important a service4 ,sidenote3 #ahde4 ,of course any treaty formed under such circumstances and by such agents would conform to the ,executive will4 ,the treaty bears date on the twenty-fifth of ,january2 and we insert the preamble and those articles which have particular relation to the subject matter of which we are speaking4 ,they are as follows3 ,articles of a ,treaty made by ,wm4 ,armstrong1 ,p4 ,m4 ,butler1 ,james ,segan and ,thomas ,s4 ,judge1 ,commissioners in behalf of the ,united ,states1 of the first part2 the ,creek ,tribe of ,indians of the second part1 and the ,seminole ,indians of the third part3 ,,whereas1 ,it was stipulated in the fourth article of the ,creek ,treaty of #ahcc1 that the ,seminoles should thence forward be considered a constituent part of the ,creek nation1 and that a permanent and comfortable home should be secured for them on the lands set apart in said treaty as the country of the ,creeks2 and whereas1 many of the ,seminoles have settled and are now living in the ,creek ,country1 while others1 constituting a large portion of the tribe1 have refused to make their homes in any part thereof1 assigning1 as a reason1 that they are unwilling to submit to ,creek laws and ,government1 and that they are apprehensive of being deprived by the ,creek authorities of their property2 and whereas1 repeated complaints have been made to the ,united ,states ,government1 that those of the ,seminoles who refuse to go into the ,creek ,country have1 without authority or right1 settled upon lands secured to other tribes1 and that they have committed numerous and extensive depredations upon the property of those upon whose lands they have intruded3 ,now1 therefore1 in order to reconcile all difficulties respecting location and jurisdiction2 to settle all disputed questions which have arisen1 or may hereafter arise1 in regard to rights of property2 and1 especially1 to preserve the peace of the frontier1 seriously endangered by the restless and warlike spirit of the intruding ,seminoles1 the parties to this treaty have agreed to the following stipulations3 ,,article #a4 ,the ,creeks agree that the ,seminoles shall be entitled to settle in a body1 or separately1 as they please1 in any part of the ,creek ,country2 that they shall make their own town regulations1 subject1 however1 to the general control of the ,creek ,council in which they shall be represented2 and1 in short1 that no distinction shall be made between the two tribes in any respect1 except in the management of their pecuniary affairs2 in which neither shall interfere with the other4 ,,art #b4 ,the ,seminoles agree that those of their tribe who have not done so before the ratification of this treaty1 shall immediately thereafter remove to1 and permanently settle in1 the ,creek ,country4 ,,art4 #c4 ,it is mutually agreed by the ,creeks and ,seminoles that all contested cases between the two tribes1 concerning the right of property growing out of sales or transactions that may have occurred previous to the ratification of this treaty1 shall be subject to the decision of the ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,the leading feature of this treaty1 is a studied effort to make no allusion to the ,exiles1 or to recognize their existence in any way4 ,general ,jessup1 in the articles of capitulation1 had expressly stipulated for the protection of the persons and property of the allies of the ,seminoles2 but for half a century efforts had been made to exclude them from the page of our national history1 and never was that policy more strikingly illustrated than in this treaty4 ,as heretofore stated1 the ,seminoles were said to own some forty slaves2 but the ,author has been unable to find any hint or intimation that any one of those slaves was claimed by the ,creeks3 yet efforts were made to falsify the truth of history by representing the four or five hundred ,exiles now living with the ,seminoles to be slaves to their friends and allies4 ,the next extraordinary feature of the treaty1 is the recital of the ,creek treaty as binding upon the ,seminoles1 when they had been no party to it1 nor even had knowledge of its existence4 ,but the third article is that on which both ,exiles and ,seminoles appear to have relied4 ,thinking the ,president would do justice2 feeling themselves subject to the power of the ,executive1 and pressed on all sides to accede to terms of pacification1 they signed the treaty as the best alternative that lay before them4 ,in accordance with the past policy of the ,administration1 this treaty was withheld from publication4 ,it was of course submitted to the ,senate in secret session for approval4 ,it was then amended1 and still kept from the public for nearly two years after its negotiation4 ,,note4--,at the session of ,congress1 #ahde-f1 a bill containing1 among many other things1 an appropriation to carry out this treaty1 was reported by the committee on ,ways and ,means1 of the ,house of ,representatives4 ,the treaty itself yet lay concealed in the office of the ,secretary of the ,senate1 where it had been ratified in secret session1 and not a member of the ,house of ,representatives had seen it1 unless it was the ,chairman of the committee of ,ways and ,means1 or other confidential friends of the ,executive1 to whom it was given for personal examination4 ,the bill was printed1 and the ,author seeing this provision1 determined to know something of the treaty1 before voting money to carry it into effect4 ,for this purpose1 he called on one of the ,senators from ,ohio 7,hon4 ,thomas ,corwin71 to get a copy of the treaty4 ,mr4 ,corwin went with him to the office of the ,secretary of the ,senate1 and after much inquiry1 and passing from one clerk to another1 a copy was obtained4 ,when the bill came up for discussion1 inquiry was made as to the treaty1 its character and object4 ,no member appeared to have any knowledge of it1 save the ,chairman of the committee of ,ways and ,means1 7,mr4 ,mc,kay of ,north ,carolina74 ,the ,author of this work endeavored to give the ,house some idea of its origin1 and1 in the course of his remarks1 referred to the manner in which the ,state of ,georgia had been implicated in the persecution of the ,exiles4 ,this reference to the ,state of ,georgia awakened the ire of ,mr4 ,black1 a ,representative from that ,state1 who advanced toward the ,author with uplifted cane1 as if to inflict personal chastisement1 and quite a scne followed1 which at the time created some sensation in the country4 ,,chapter ,,xxiii4 ,,the ,,reunion ,,and ,,final ,,exodus4 ,difficulties in effecting a reunion of ,tribes--,its objects--,exiles and ,seminoles move on to ,creek ,lands--,they settle in separate ,villages--,creeks demand ,exiles as ,slaves--,exiles arm themselves--,they flee to ,fort ,gibson--,demand protection of the ,united ,states--,general ,arbuckle protects them--,reports facts to ,department--,administration embarrassed--,call on ,general ,jessup for facts--,he writes ,general ,arbuckle--,reports facts to the ,president--,president hesitates--,refers question to ,attorney ,general--,extraordinary opinion of that ,officer--,manner in which ,mr4 ,mason was placed in office--,exiles return to their ,village--,slaveholders dissatisfied--,slave-dealer among the ,creeks--,his offer--,they capture near one hundred ,exiles--,they are delivered to the ,slave-dealer--,habeas ,corpus in ,arkansas--,decision of ,judge--,exiles hurried to ,new ,orleans and sold as ,slaves--,events of #ahej--;,exiles depart for ,mexico--,are pursued by ,creeks--,battle--,the ,exiles continue their journey--,they settle near ,santa ,rosa--,the fate which different portions of the ,exiles met--,incidents which occurred after their settlement in ,mexico--,conclusion4 ,sidenote3 #ahdf4 ,the ,creeks and ,seminoles had been separated for nearly a century4 ,they had most of that time lived under separate governments4 ,each ,tribe had been controlled by their own laws2 and each had been independent of the other4 ,they had often been at war with each other2 and the most deadly feuds had been engendered and still subsisted among them4 ,to unite them with the ,creeks1 and blot the name of ,seminole from the page of their future history1 in order to involve the ,exiles in slavery1 had long been a cherished object with the administration of our ,government4 ,it was now fondly hoped1 that that object would be accomplished without further difficulty4 ,but at no period had the ,seminole ,indians regarded the ,exiles with greater favor than they did when removing on to the territory assigned to the ,creeks4 ,although many of them had intermarried with the ,seminoles1 and half-breeds were now common among the ,indians2 yet most of the descendants of the pioneers who fled from ,south ,carolina and ,georgia maintained their identity of character1 living by themselves1 and maintaining the purity of the ,african race4 ,they yet cherished this love of their own kindred and color2 and when they removed on to the ,creek lands1 they settled in separate villages3 and the ,seminole ,indians appeared generally to coincide with the ,exiles in the propriety of each maintaining their distinctive character4 ,during the summer and autumn both ,indians and ,exiles became residents within ,creek jurisdiction2 and the ,executive seemed to regard the trust held under the assignment made at ,indian ,spring1 twenty-four years previously1 as now fulfilled4 ,regarding the ,creeks as holding the equitable or beneficial interest in the bodies of the ,exiles1 under the assignment from their owners to the ,united ,states1 and they being now brought under ,creek jurisdiction1 subject to ,creek laws1 the ,executive felt that his obligations were discharged1 and the whole matter left with the ,creeks4 ,this opinion appears also to have been entertained by the ,creek ,indians2 for no sooner had the ,exiles and ,seminoles located themselves within ,creek jurisdiction1 than the ,exiles were claimed as the legitimate slaves of the ,creeks4 ,to these demands the ,exiles and ,seminoles replied1 that the ,president1 under the treaty of #ahde1 was bound to hear and determine all questions arising between them4 ,the demands were1 therefore1 certified to the proper department for decision4 ,but this setting in judgment upon the heaven-endowed right of man to his liberty1 seemed to involve more personal and moral responsibility than was desirable for the ,executive to assume1 and the claims remained undecided4 ,the ,creeks became impatient at delay2 they were a slaveholding people1 as well as their more civilized but more infidel brethren1 of the slave ,states4 ,the ,exiles1 living in their own villages in the enjoyment of perfect freedom1 had already excited discontent among the slaves of the ,creek and ,choctaw ,tribes1 and those of ,arkansas4 ,the ,creeks appeared to feel that it had been far better for them to have kept the ,exiles in ,florida1 than to bring them to the ,western ,country to live in freedom4 ,yet their claims under the treaty of #ahde1 thus far1 appeared to have been disregarded by the ,president2 they had been unable to obtain a decision on them2 and they now threatened violence for the purpose of enslaving the ,exiles1 unless their demands were peacefully conceded4 ,the ,exiles1 yet confident that the ,government would fulfill its stipulations to protect them and their property1 repaired in a body to ,fort ,gibson1 and demanded protection of ,general ,arbuckle1 the officer in command4 ,he had no doubt of the obligation of the ,united ,states to lend them protection1 according to the express language of the articles of capitulation entered into with ,general ,jessup1 in ,march1 #ahcg4 ,he1 therefore1 directed the whole body of ,exiles to encamp and remain upon the lands reserved by the ,united ,states1 near the fort1 and under their exclusive jurisdiction1 assuring them that no ,creek would dare set foot upon that reservation with intentions of violence towards any person4 ,accordingly the ,exiles1 who yet remained free1 now encamped around ,fort ,gibson1 and were supported by rations dealt out from the public stores4 ,soon as he could ascertain all the facts1 ,general ,arbuckle made report to the ,war ,department relative to their situation1 and the claims which they made to protection under the articles of capitulation1 together with the rights which the ,creeks set up to renslave them4 ,this state of circumstances appears to have been unexpected by the ,executive4 ,indeed1 he appears from the commencement to have under-rated the difficulties which beset the enslavement of a people who were determined upon the enjoyment of freedom2 he seems to have expected the negroes1 when once placed within ,creek jurisdiction1 would have yielded without further effort4 ,but he was now placed in a position which constrained him either to repudiate the pledged faith of the nation1 or to protect the ,exiles in their persons and property1 according to the solemn covenants which ,general ,jessup had entered into with them4 ,yet the ,president was disposed to make farther efforts to avoid the responsibility of deciding the question before him4 ,general ,jessup had entered into the articles of capitulation1 and the ,president appeared to think he was competent to give construction to them2 he therefore referred the subject to that officer1 stating the circumstances1 and demanding of him the substance of his undertaking in regard to the articles of capitulation with the ,exiles4 ,general ,jessup appears to have now felt a desire to do justice to that friendless and persecuted people4 ,without waiting to answer the ,president1 he at once wrote ,general ,arbuckle1 saying1 ,the case of the ,seminole negroes is now before the ,president4 ,by my proclamation and the convention made with them1 when they separated from the ,indians and surrendered1 they are free4 ,the question is1 whether they shall be separated from the ,seminoles and removed to another country2 or be allowed to occupy1 as they did in ,florida1 separate villages in the ,seminole ,country1 west of ,arkansas8 ,the latter is what ,i promised them4 ,i hope1 ,general1 you will prevent any interference with them at ,fort ,gibson1 until the ,president determines whether they shall remain in the ,seminole ,country1 or be allowed to remove to some other4 ,general ,arbuckle1 faithful to the honor of his ,government1 continued to protect the ,exiles4 ,he fed them from the public stores1 not doubting that the ,executive would redeem the pledge of the nation given by ,general ,jessup1 its authorized agent4 ,but the ,president 7,mr4 ,polk7 himself a slaveholder1 with his prejudices and sympathies in favor of the institution1 did not understand the articles of capitulation according to the construction put upon them by ,general ,jessup2 he appears1 therefore1 to have called on the ,general for a more explicit report of facts4 ,in reply to this call1 he reported1 saying1 ,at a meeting with the three ,indian chiefs1 and the negro chiefs1 ,auguste and ,carollo1 ,i stipulated to recommend to the ,president to grant the ,indians a small tract of country in the south-eastern part of the ,peninsula2 but it was distinctly understood that the negroes were to be separated from them at once1 and sent ,west1 whether the ,indians were permitted to remain in ,florida or not4 ,with the negroes1 it was stipulated that they should be sent ,west1 as a part of the ,seminole nation1 and be settled in a separate village1 under the ,,protection ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,in another letter1 addressed to the ,secretary of ,war1 he says3 ,a very small portion of the ,seminole negroes who went to the ,west1 were brought in and surrendered by their owners1 under the capitulation of ,fort ,dade4 ,over these negroes the ,indians have all the rights of masters2 but all the other negroes1 making more than nine-tenths of the whole number1 either separated from the ,indians and surrendered to me1 or were captured by the troops under my command4 ,i1 as commander of the army1 and in the capacity of representative of my country1 solemnly pledged the national faith that they should not be separated1 nor any of them sold to white men or others1 but be allowed to settle and remain in separate villages1 ,,under ,,the ,,protection ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states4 ,but even with these explicit statements before him1 the ,president appears to have been unable to form an opinion2 and he referred the matter to the ,attorney ,general1 ,hon4 ,john ,y4 ,mason1 of ,virginia1 who had been bred a slaveholder1 and fully sympathized with the slave power4 ,he1 having examined the whole subject1 delivered a very elaborate opinion1 embracing seven documentary pages2#acb but concluding with the opinion1 that although the ,exiles were entitled to their freedom1 the ,executive could not interfere in any manner to protect them1 as stipulated by ,general ,jessup1 but must leave them to retire to their ,towns in the ,indian ,territory1 where they had a right to remain4 ,sidenote3 #ahdh4 ,we should be unfaithful to our pledged purpose1 were we to omit certain important facts connected with this opinion of the ,attorney ,general4 ,nathan ,clifford1 of ,maine1 was appointed ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states in #ahdf1 soon after the report of ,general ,arbuckle concerning the situation of the ,exiles reached ,washington4 ,the subject was before the ,president more than two years4 ,this delay we cannot account for1 unless it were to save ,mr4 ,clifford 7being a ,northern man7 from the responsibility of deciding this question1 involving important interests of the slaveholding portion of our ,union4 ,in #ahdh ,mr4 ,clifford was appointed ,minister to ,mexico1 and ,hon4 ,isaac ,toucey1 of ,connecticut1 was appointed ,attorney ,general4 ,but he1 too1 was from a free ,state1 and it would throw upon him great responsibility were he constrained to act upon this subject4 ,were he to decide in favor of the ,exiles1 it might ruin his popularity at the ,south2 and if against them1 it would have an equally fatal effect at the ,north4 ,under these circumstances1 recourse was had to an expedient4 ,before ,mr4 ,toucey entered upon the discharge of his official duties1 ,mr4 ,mason1 himself a slaveholder1 was appointed to discharge the duties ad interim4 ,he entered the office1 wrote out the opinion referred to1 and then resigned the office and emoluments to ,mr4 ,toucey2 having decided no other question1 nor discharged any other duty1 than this exercise of official influence for the enslavement of the ,exiles4 ,the ,president affirmed the principles decided by the ,attorney ,general1 and the ,exiles were informed that they had the right to remain in their villages1 free from all interference1 or interruption from the ,creeks4 ,they had no other lands1 no other country1 no other homes4 ,many of their families were connected by marriage with the ,seminoles4 ,they and the ,seminole ,indians had1 through several generations1 been acquainted with each other2 they had stood beside each other on many a battle field4 ,seminoles and ,exiles had fallen beside each other1 and were buried in the same grave2 they had often sat in council together1 and the ,exiles were unwilling to separate from their friends4 ,wild ,cat and ,abraham and ,louis1 and many leading men and warriors of the ,exiles and ,seminoles1 having deliberated upon the subject1 united in the opinion1 that the ,exiles should return to their villages and reside upon the lands to which they were entitled4 ,in accordance with this decision1 they returned to their new homes1 resumed their habits of agriculture1 and for a time all was quiet and peaceful2 but their example was soon felt among the slaves of ,arkansas1 and of the surrounding ,indian tribes4 ,nor is it to be supposed that the holders of slaves in any ,state of the ,union1 would be willing to admit that so large a body of servants could1 by any effort1 separate from their masters1 for a century and a half maintain their liberty1 and after so much effort to renslave them1 be permitted to enjoy liberty in peace4 ,hundreds of them had been seized in ,florida and enslaved4 ,the laws of slave ,states presumed every black person to be a slave2 and it was evident1 that if they could once be subjected to the will of some white man1 the laws of ,arkansas would enable him to hold them in bondage4#acc ,an individual1 a slave-dealer1 appeared among the ,creeks and offered to pay them one hundred dollars for each ,exile they would seize and deliver to him2 he stipulating to take all risk of title4#acd ,sidenote3 #ahdi4 ,this temptation was too great for the integrity of the ,creeks1 who were smarting under their disappointment1 and the defeat of their long cherished schemes1 of renslaving the ,exiles4 ,some two hundred ,creek warriors collected together1 armed themselves1 and1 making a sudden descent upon the ,exiles1 seized such as they could lay their hands upon4 ,the men and most of the women and children fled2 but those who had arms collected1 and presenting themselves between their brethren and the ,creeks who were pursuing them1 prepared to defend themselves and friends4#ace ,the ,creeks1 unwilling to encounter the danger which threatened them1 ceased from further pursuit1 but1 turning back1 dragged their frightened victims1 who had been already captured1 to the ,creek villages1 and delivered them over to the slave-dealer1 who paid them the stipulated price4 ,sidenote3 #ahej4 ,the ,seminole ,agent1 learning the outrage1 at once repaired to the nearest ,judge in ,arkansas1 and obtained a writ of habeas corpus4 ,the ,exiles were brought before him in obedience to the command of the writ1 and a hearing was had4 ,the ,agent showed the action of ,general ,jessup2 the sanction of the capitulation of ,march1 #ahcg1 by the ,executive2 the opinion of the ,attorney ,general1 and action of the ,president1 deciding the ,exiles to be free1 and in all respects entitled to their liberty4 ,but the ,judge decided that the ,creeks had obtained title by virtue of their contract with ,general ,jessup2 that neither ,general ,jessup1 nor the ,president1 had power to emancipate the ,exiles1 even in time of war2 that the ,attorney ,general had misunderstood the law2 that the title of the ,creek ,indians was legal and perfect2 and they1 having sold them to the claimant1 his title must be good and perfect4#acf ,no sooner was the decision announced1 than the manacled victims were hurried from their friends and the scenes of such transcendent crimes and guilt4 ,they were placed on board a steamboat1 and carried to ,new ,orleans4 ,there they were sold to different purchasers1 taken to different estates1 and mingling with the tide of human victims who are septennially murdered upon the cotton and sugar plantations of that ,state1 they now rest in their quiet graves1 or perhaps have shared the more unhappy fate of living and suffering tortures incomparably worse than death4 ,the year #ahej was distinguished by a succession of triumphs on the part of the slave power4 ,while the ,president and his ,cabinet1 and members of the ,senate and of the ,house of ,representatives1 were seeking the passage of the ,fugitive ,slave ,law2 while slaveholders and their northern allies appeared to be aroused in favor of oppression within the ,states of our ,union1 their savage coadjutors of the ,indian territory were equally active4 ,there yet remained some hundreds of ,exiles in that far-distant territory unsubdued1 and enjoying liberty4 ,they had witnessed the duplicity1 the treachery of our ,government often repeated1 toward themselves and their friends--they had1 most of them1 been born in freedom--they had grown to manhood1 had become aged amidst persecutions1 dangers and death--they had experienced the constant and repeated violations of our national faith3 its perfidy was no longer disguised2 if they remained1 death or slavery would constitute their only alternative4 ,one1 and only one1 mode of avoiding such a fate remained--that was1 to leave the territory1 the jurisdiction of the ,united ,states1 and flee beyond its power and influence4 ,mexico was free6 ,no slave clanked his chains under its government4 ,could they reach the ,rio ,grande8 ,could they place themselves safely on ,mexican soil1 they might hope yet to be free4 ,a ,council was held4 ,some were connected with ,seminoles of influence4 ,those who were intimately connected with ,indian families of influence1 and most of the half-breeds1 feeling they could safely remain in the ,indian territory1 preferred to stay with their friends and companions4 ,of the precise number who thus continued in the ,indian ,country1 we have no certain information2#acg but some three hundred are supposed to have determined on going to ,mexico1 and perhaps from one to two hundred concluded to remain with their connexions in the ,indian ,country4 ,abraham had reached a mature age2 had great experience1 and retained influence with his people4 ,louis ,pacheco1 of whom we spoke in a former chapter1 with his learning1 his shrewdness and tact1 was still with them1 and so were many able and experienced warriors4 ,wild ,cat1 the most active and energetic chief of the ,seminole ,tribe1 declared his unalterable purpose to accompany the ,exiles2 to assist them in their journey1 and defend them1 if assailed4 ,other ,seminoles volunteered to go with them4 ,their arrangements were speedily made4 ,such property as they had was collected together1 and packed for transportation4 ,they owned a few ,western ponies4 ,their blankets1 which constituted their beds1 and some few cooking utensils and agricultural implements1 were placed upon their ponies1 or carried by the females and children2 while the warriors1 carrying only their weapons and ammunition1 marched1 unencumbered even by any unnecessary article of clothing1 prepared for battle at every step of their journey4 ,after the sun had gone down 7,sept4 #aj71 their spies and patrols1 who had been sent out for that purpose1 returned1 and reported that all was quiet2 that no slave-hunters were to be seen4 ,as the darkness of night was closing around them1 they commenced their journey westwardly4 ,amid the gloom of the evening1 silent and sad they took leave of their western homes1 and fled from the jurisdiction of a people who had centuries previously kidnapped their ancestors in their native homes1 brought them to this country1 enslaved them1 and during many generations had persecuted them4 ,many of their friends and relatives had been murdered for their love of liberty by our ,government2 others had been doomed to suffer and languish in slavery--a fate far more dreaded than death4 ,at the period of this exodus1 their number was probably less than at the close of the ,revolution4 ,when the slaveholding ,creeks learned that the ,exiles had left1 they collected together and sent a war party in pursuit1 for the purpose of capturing as many as they could1 in order to sell them to the slave-dealers from ,louisiana and ,arkansas1 who were then present among the ,creeks1 encouraging them to make another piratical descent upon the ,exiles for the capture of slaves4 ,this war party came up with the emigrants on the third day after leaving their homes4 ,but ,wild ,cat and ,abraham1 and their experienced warriors1 were not to be surprised4 ,they were prepared and ready for the conflict4 ,with them it was death or victory4 ,they boldly faced their foes4 ,their wives and children were looking on with emotions not to be described4 ,with the coolness of desperation1 they firmly resolved on dying1 or on driving back the slave-catching ,creeks from the field of conflict4 ,their nerves were steady1 and their aim fatal4 ,their enemies soon learned the danger and folly of attempting to capture armed men who were fighting for freedom4 ,they fled1 leaving their dead upon the field2 which is always regarded by savages as dishonorable defeat4#ach ,the ,exiles resumed their journey1 still maintaining their warlike arrangement4 ,directing their course south-westerly1 they crossed the ,rio ,grande1 and continuing nearly in the same direction1 they proceeded into ,mexico1 until they reached the vicinity of the ancient but now deserted town of ,santa ,rosa4#aci ,in that beautiful climate1 they found a rich1 productive soil4 ,here they halted1 examined the country1 and finally determined to locate their new homes in this most romantic portion of ,mexico4 ,here they erected their cabins1 planted their gardens1 commenced plantations1 and resumed their former habits of agricultural life4 ,there they yet remain4 ,forcibly torn from their native land1 oppressed1 wronged1 and degraded1 they became voluntary ,exiles from ,south ,carolina and ,georgia4 ,more recently exiled from ,florida and from the territory of the ,united ,states--they are yet free6 ,after the struggles and persecutions of a hundred and fifty years1 they repose in comparative quiet under a government which repudiates slavery4 ,to the pen of some future historian we consign their subsequent history4 ,before taking leave of the reader1 we would call his attention to a review of the fate which attended different portions of the ,exiles1 and to a few further incidents1 for some of which we have only newspaper authority2 but from all the circumstances we have no doubt they actually transpired4 ,of the ,exiles and their descendants1 twelve were delivered up at the treaty of ,colerain in #agif1 and consigned to slavery2 two hundred and seventy were massacred at ,blount's ,fort in #ahaf2 thirty were taken prisoners--these all died of wounds or were enslaved4 ,at the different battles in the first ,seminole ,war in #ahah1 it is believed that at least four hundred were slain1 including those who fell at ,blount's ,fort4 ,in the ,second ,seminole ,war1 probably seventy-five were slain in battle1 and five hundred were enslaved2 and at least seventy-five were seized by the ,creek ,indians1 in #ahej1 and enslaved4 ,probably a hundred and fifty connected with the ,seminoles now reside in the ,western ,country1 and will soon become amalgamated with the ,indians2 while three hundred have found their way to ,mexico1 and are free4#adj ,making1 in all1 thirteen hundred and fifty souls2 being some hundreds less than was reported by the ,officers of ,government1 in #ahcf4 ,this discrepancy is accounted for by the fact1 that the ,exiles captured by individual enterprise1 and by the ,georgia and ,florida militia1 were never officially reported to the ,war ,department1 and we have no reliable data on which we can fix an estimate of the number thus piratically enslaved4 ,there are also a few yet in ,florida1 not included in the above estimate4 ,sidenote3 #aheb4 ,as to their present situation1 we can give the reader but little further information4 ,in the summer of #aheb1 ,wild ,cat suddenly appeared among his friends1 the ,seminoles1 who yet remained in the ,indian ,country4 ,his appearance excited surprise among the ,creeks4 ,they at that time maintained a guard1 composed of mounted men3 these were at once put in motion for the purpose of arresting this extraordinary chieftain4 ,but while they were engaged in looking for him1 he and a company of ,seminoles1 attended by a number of ,exiles and black persons1 previously held in bondage by the ,creeks1 were rapidly wending their way towards their new settlement4#ada ,this visit of ,wild ,cat to the ,western ,country occasioned much excitement in that region1 as well as astonishment at ,washington1 and constituted the occasion of a protracted correspondence between the ,war ,department and our ,military ,officers and ,indian ,agents of that country4 ,wild ,cat was denounced as a pirate--robber--,,outlaw2 and nearly all the opprobrious epithets known to our language were heaped upon him1 for thus aiding his fellow men to regain those rights to life and liberty with which the ,god of ,nature had originally endowed them4 ,during the year #aheb1 while our commissioners1 appointed to establish the boundary between the ,united ,states and ,mexico1 were engaged in the discharge of their official duties1 a small party of armed men was in attendance for their protection4 ,some eight of these were said to have been engaged in patroling the country1 when they fell in with ,wild ,cat and a portion of this band of ,exiles1 who were at all times prepared for friends or foes4 ,the whites were made prisoners without bloodshed1 and taken to their village4 ,a council was called4 ,abraham was yet living1 and the white men declared that he was regarded as a ruling prince by his people4 ,they were evidently suspicious of the intentions of our men2 but upon inquiry and consideration1 they became satisfied that no hostile intentions had brought our friends to that country2 they were accordingly treated with becoming hospitality1 and dismissed4 ,these brief statements appeared in some of the newspapers of that day1 which constitutes our only authority for stating them4 ,sidenote3 #ahec4 ,complaints were subsequently made through the ,texan newspapers1 that slaves escaped from that region of country and found an asylum in ,mexico1 on the other side of the ,rio ,grande2 and intimations were thrown out that a party of volunteers1 without authority from the ,united ,states1 were about to visit the settlement1 which thus encouraged slaves to seek their freedom4 ,the suggestion was so much in character with the slaveholders of ,texas1 that it excited attention among those who were aware of the settlement of ,exiles in the region indicated4 ,it was believed that those men who were about to visit ,wild ,cat and ,abraham and ,louis and their companions1 for the purpose of seizing and enslaving men1 would find an entertainment for which they were not prepared4 ,some few months subsequently1 a brief reference was made in the newspapers of ,texas to this expedition1 giving their readers to understand that it had failed of accomplishing the object intended1 and had returned with its numbers somewhat diminished by their conflict with the blacks4 ,as was naturally expected1 after the lapse of some six months1 great complaint was heard through the public press of ,indian depredations upon the frontier of ,texas4 ,plantations were said to be destroyed2 buildings burned2 people murdered1 and slaves carried away4 ,this foray was said to have been made by ,camanche ,indians1 led on by ,wild ,cat4 ,he appears yet ready to make war upon all who fight for slavery2 and many of the scenes which were enacted in ,florida1 will most likely be again presented on our south-western frontier1 where the same causes exist which formerly existed in ,florida1 and the same effects will be likely to follow4 ,typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber3 ,general ,call at ,talahasse ,general ,call at ,tallahasse pg #abe visited ,fort ,mellen visited ,fort ,mellon pg #ada ,any inteference with the negroes ,any interference with the negroes pg #adg ,members of familes ,members of families pg #agd prefering to have them preferring to have them pg #aie arrrangements were privately making arrangements were privately making pg #bcg ,acting ,commmissioner ,acting ,commissioner pg #bda to those gentleman to enable them to those gentlemen to enable them pg #bda he was in ,forida at the time he was in ,florida at the time pg #bde all prisoner captured in war all prisoners captured in war pg #bdf ,this feelng was ,this feeling was pg #beb betrayed1 treachererously betrayed1 treacherously pg #bee ,this ,message was ,this message was pg #bfc that ,territoy that ,territory pg #bhb outnumbered the asssailants outnumbered the assailants pg #bhi disppointment and chagrin disappointment and chagrin pg #bhi died of sicknes died of sickness pg #cjc sense of gatitude sense of gratitude pg #cjf were sacrified were sacrificed pg #cae ,blount's ,fourt ,blount's ,fort pg #cah 99 99 99 99 99 ,,footnotes3 #a ,vide ,bancroft's and ,hildreth's ,histories of the ,united ,states4 #b ,vide both ,histories above cited4 #c ,vide ,schoolcraft's ,history of ,indian ,tribes4 #d ,vide ,american ,archives1 ,vol4 ,i4 ,fifth ,series3 #aheb4 #e ,this was the residence of ,george ,galphin1 an ,indian trader1 who1 in #aggc1 aided in obtaining a treaty by which the ,creek ,indians ceded a large tract of land to the ,british ,government4 ,georgia succeeded the ,british ,government in its title to these lands1 by the treaty of peace in #aghc4 ,some fifty years afterwards1 the descendants of ,galphin petitioned the ,state of ,georgia for compensation1 on account of the services rendered by ,galphin in obtaining the treaty of #aggc4 ,but the ,legislature repudiated the claim4 ,the heirs1 or rather descendants of ,galphin1 then applied to ,congress1 who never had either legal or beneficial interest1 in the lands obtained by the treaty4 ,the ,representatives from ,georgia and from the ,south generally supported the claim4 ,northern men yielded their objections to this absurd demand1 and in #ahdh a bill passed both ,houses of ,congress by which the descendants of ,galphin1 and their attorneys and agents1 obtained from our ,national ,treasury #bdc1hga #hf1 and the term ,galphin has since become synonymous with peculation upon the public ,treasury4 #f ,vide ,report of ,hugh ,knox1 ,secretary of ,war1 to the ,president1 dated ,july #f1 #aghi4 ,american ,state ,papers4 ,vol4 ,v4 page #ae1 where the ,treaty is recited in full4 #g ,vide papers accompanying the ,report of the ,secretary of ,war1 above referred to1 marked ,a1 and numbered #a1 #b and #c4 #h ,vide letter of ,james ,white to ,major ,general ,knox1 of the #bdth ,may1 #aghg4 ,american ,state ,papers1 ,vol ,,ii1 ,indian ,affairs4 #i ,american ,state ,papers1 ,vol4 ,v1 page #be4 #aj ,vide ,documents accompanying the ,treaty of ,new ,york2 ,am4 ,state ,papers1 ,vol4 ,i1 ,indian ,affairs4 #aa ,the reader need not be informed1 that these demands of indemnity for slaves were promptly rejected by the ,english government2 and ,jay's ,treaty of #agid1 surrendered them forever4 #ab ,hildreth1 in his ,history of the ,united ,states1 speaks of in that light4 #ac ,vide ,annals of ,congress1 ,vol4 ,i1 pages #ajfh-gj-gd4 #ad ,vide ,correspondence on this subject between ,seagrove and the ,war ,department4 ,american ,state ,papers1 ,vol4 ,v1 pages #cjd-e1 #cbj1 #ccf1 #chg1 and #cib4 #ae ,american ,state ,papers1 ,indian ,affairs4 ,vol4 ,,ii1 p4 #cjf4 #af ,vide talk of principal ,chief at ,treaty of ,colerain4 #ag ,vide ,annals of ,congress of that date4 #ah ,vide papers accompanying the ,treaty of ,colerain4 ,american ,state ,papers1 ,vol4 ,i1 ,indian ,affairs4 #ai ,vide the papers accompanying this ,treaty when submitted to the ,senate4 ,they are collected in the second volume of ,american ,state ,papers1 entitled ,indian ,affairs4 ,they will afford much interesting matter as to the doctrines of ,state ,rights and ,nullification1 which it is unnecessary to embrace in this work4 #bj ,vide ,annals of ,i,vth ,congress1 #b;d ,session #ba ,the claims of these ancient ,spanish inhabitants for indemnity against these robberies1 have been pressed upon the consideration of ,congress for the last twenty-five years1 and were recently pending before the ,court of ,claims4 ,when the bill for their relief was under discussion before the ,house of ,representatives1 ,in #ahdc1 ,hon4 ,john ,quincy ,adams presented a list of some ninety slaves1 for the loss of whom the owners claimed compensation from the ,united ,states4 ,but the discussions which arose on private bills were not at that time reported2 and neither this exhibit1 nor the speech of ,mr4 ,adams1 are to be found in the ,congressional ,debates of that day4 #bb ,many slaves actually fled from their masters and found an asylum on board ,british vessels4 ,some sixty1 belonging to a planter named ,forbes1 who resided in ,georgia1 left his plantation and took shelter on board the ship commanded by ,lord ,cochrane4 ,they were transported to ,jamaica1 where they settled and lived as other free people4 ,after the restoration of peace1 ,forbes sued his ,lordship1 before the ,british courts1 for damages sustained by the loss of these slaves4 ,the case elicited much learning in regard to the law of ,slavery and1 next to that of ,sommerset1 may be regarded as the most important on that subject ever litigated before an ,english court4 #bc ,monette1 ,in his ,history of the ,valley of the ,mississippi1 says ,woodbine erected this fort in the summer of #ahaf2 and such were the representations made before the ,committee appointed in #ahai1 to investigate the conduct of ,general ,jackson1 in taking possession of ,florida4 ,but the reader will notice the ,letter of ,general ,gaines1 hereafter quoted1 which bears date on the #adth ,may1 #ahae1 and officially informed the ,secretary of ,war that negroes and outlaws have taken possession of a ,,fort ,,on ,,the ,,appalachicola ,,river4 ,this was more than a year before the time of erecting the fort1 according to ,monette4 ,the parapet of the fort was said to be fifteen feet high and eighteen thick1 situated upon a gentle cliff1 with a fine stream emptying into the river near its base1 and a swamp in the rear1 which protected it from the approach of artillery by land4 ,on its walls were mounted one thirty-two pounder1 three twenty-four pounders1 two nine pounders1 two six pounders1 and one brass five and a half-inch howitzer4 ,vide ,official ,report of ,sailing-,master ,loomis4 #bd ,this is the official account of ,sailing-,master ,loomis1 who commanded the naval expedition subsequently sent to reduce this fortress4 ,monette1 in his ,history of the ,valley of the ,mississippi1 says1 ,near the ,fort the fields were fine1 and extended along the river nearly fifty miles4 #be ,the reader will at once see1 that these people were as much under the protection of ,spain1 as the fugitive slaves now in ,canada are under the protection of ,british laws4 ,they were as clearly ,spanish subjects as the latter are ,british subjects4 ,by the law of nations1 ,spain had the same right to permit her black subjects to occupy ,blount's ,fort1 that the ,queen of ,england has to permit ,fort ,malden to be occupied by her black subjects4 ,the only distinction between the two cases is1 ,spain was weak and unable to maintain her national honor1 and national rights2 while ,england has the power to do both4 #bf ,vide the voluminous ,correspondence on this subject contained in ,ex4 ,doc4 #aai1 #b;d ,session1 ,x,vth ,congress4 #bg ,perhaps no portion of our national history exhibits such disregard of ,international law1 as this unprovoked invasion of ,florida4 ,for thirty years1 the slaves of our ,southern ,states have been in the habit of fleeing to the ,british ,provinces4 ,here they are admitted to all the rights of citizenship1 in the same manner as they were in ,florida4 ,they vote and hold office under ,british laws2 and when our ,government demanded that the ,english ,ministry should disregard the rights of these people and return them to slavery1 the ,british ,minister contemptuously refused even to hold correspondence with our ,secretary of ,state on a subject so abhorrent to every principle of national law and self-respect4 ,our ,government coolly submitted to the scornful arrogance of ,england2 but did not hesitate to invade ,florida with an armed force1 and to seize the faithful subjects of ,spain1 and enslave them4 #bh ,hon4 ,duncan ,l4 ,clinch4 ,he left the service in #ahda1 and was subsequently a ,member of ,congress for several years1 and died in #aheb4 #bi ,war was thus waged against ,spain1 by ,executive authority1 without consulting ,congress2 and no member of that body uttered a protest1 or denunciation of the act4 #cj ,in ,ex4 ,doc4 ,no4 #aai1 #b;d ,session1 ,x,vth ,congress1 may be found the official correspondence between the ,war ,department and ,general ,jackson2 also that between ,general ,jackson and ,general ,gaines1 together with the orders of each1 as well as the correspondence between the ,secretary of the ,navy and ,commodore ,patterson2 and the order of the latter officer to ,sailing-,master ,loomis2 and the final report of ,sailing-,master ,loomis and ,general ,clinch4 ,in none of these papers is there any act of hostility mentioned or referred to as having been committed by the ,exiles1 or the ,seminole ,indians1 prior to their reaching the vicinity of the ,fort4 #ca ,hildreth states that three gun-boats were detailed on that occasion2 but the report of ,sailing-,master ,loomis speaks only of two4 #cb ,hildreth states the number to have been about three hundred1 partly ,indians and partly negroes4 #cc ,monette says this expedition was undertaken by ,col4 ,clinch upon his own responsibility1 to enable some boats laden with provisions to pass up the river4 ,a strange misapprehension of facts1 as shown by official documents4 #cd ,at this conference1 ,sailing-,master ,loomis informed ,colonel ,clinch that1 on the day previous1 while a party of his men were on shore1 they were fired on by ,indians and one man killed4 ,this was the first and only act of hostility against our troops4 ,it was committed by ,indians1 not by ,exiles2 but it was subsequently seized upon and published as a justification for carrying out ,general ,jackson's order1 bearing date more than two months prior to the occurrence1 directing ,general ,gaines to destroy the fort and return the negroes to slavery4 #ce ,monette says1 ,the scene in the fort was horrible beyond description4 ,nearly the whole of the inmates were involved in indiscriminate destruction2 not one-sixth of the whole escaped4 ,the cries of the wounded1 the groans of the dying1 with the shouts and yells of the ,indians1 rendered the scene horrible beyond description4 #cf ,vide ,official ,report at ,sailing-,master ,loomis1 ,ex4 ,doc4 #aai3 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,vth ,cong4 #cg ,some years since1 the author wrote a short sketch of the general ,massacre1 but omitted this point as too revolting to the feelings of humanity1 and too disgraceful to the ,american arms1 to be laid before the popular mind in such an article2 and he would most gladly have omitted it in this work1 could he have done so consistently with his duty to the public4 #ch ,monette says that three thousand stands of arms and six hundred barrels of powder were destroyed by the explosion4 ,this is probably somewhat of an exaggeration4 ,we have no fact to warrant the assertion1 that there was any addition made to the stores left by ,col4 ,nichols1 when he delivered the fort to the ,exiles4 ,the same author states1 that one magazine1 containing one hundred and sixty barrels of powder1 was left unharmed by the explosion2 but no mention of such fact is found in the ,official ,report1 by ,sailing-,master ,loomis4 #ci ,vide ,documents before the ,committee of ,congress appointed to investigate the cause of ,general ,jackson's invasion of ,florida3 ,x,vth ,congress1 #b;d ,session4 #dj ,this bill was reported by ,mr4 ,ingham of ,connecticut1 ,chairman of the ,committee on ,naval ,affairs4 #da ,vide ,statutes enacted at #b;d ,session1 ,x,x,v,ith ,congress4 ,the author was then a member of the ,house of ,representatives1 but had not learned to watch the movements of slaveholders and their allies1 so closely as subsequent experience taught him would be useful4 #db ,vide ,speeches of ,hon4 ,george ,poindexter and others on the ,seminole ,war1 in #ahai4 #dc ,hon4 ,william ,jay1 of ,new ,york1 published his ,views of the action of the ,federal ,government in #ahhg4 #dd ,monette says ,arbuthnot sent word to the ,negroes and ,indians1 notifying them of the approach of ,general ,jackson2 but the official report of that ,officer shows that his advance guard was daily engaged in skirmishing with the ,indians4 #de ,vide ,general ,jackson's ,official ,report of this battle1 ,ex4 ,doc4 #age1 #b;d ,session ,x,vth ,congress4 #df ,williams1 in his ,history of ,florida1 states that three hundred and forty ,negroes again rallied after the first retreat1 and fought their pursuers1 until eighty of their number1 were killed on the field4 ,monetta also states the same fact2 but ,general ,jackson1 in all his ,reports1 evidently avoided1 as far as possible1 any notice of the ,exiles1 as a people4 ,indeed such was the policy of the ,administration1 and of its officers1 and of all slaveholders4 ,they then supposed1 as they now do1 that slavery must depend upon the supposed ignorance and stupidity of the colored people2 and scarcely an instance can be found1 where a slaveholder admits the slave to possess human intelligence or human feeling2 indeed1 to teach a slave to read the ,scriptures1 is regarded as an offense1 in nearly every slave ,state1 and punishable by fine and imprisonment4 #dg ,various names have been given this ,fort4 ,the author1 having heretofore adopted that of ,blount's ,fort1 prefers to continue that name4 ,it was equally known1 however1 as the ,negro ,fort1 and as ,fort ,nichols4 #dh ,the people of the free ,states should understand1 that almost every question touching slavery which has arisen between our ,government and that of ,england1 the latter has yielded1 since the formation of ,jay's ,treaty in #agie4 ,the payment for slaves who were shipwrecked on board the ,comet1 the ,encomium1 and the ,enterprise1 and found freedom by being landed on ,british soil1 constitute rare instances in which slaveholdlng arrogance has proved successful in the arts of diplomacy4 ,the case of the ,creole constitutes another admirable illustration of successful effrontery4 ,in this case1 the slaves took possession of the ship1 guided it to ,nassau1 a ,british ,island1 went on shore and became free4 ,the officers of the slave ship demanded that the ,british authorities should seize the negroes1 and return them to the ship4 ,they refused4 ,daniel ,webster1 ,secretary of ,state1 became the voluntary ,agent1 ,attorney and ,solicitor1 for the slave dealers1 who should have been hanged1 instead of receiving the encouragement of our ,government4 ,but the subject was submitted to the umpirage of a man1 said to have once lived in ,boston1 who1 principally upon the authority of ,mr4 ,webster1 decided that the people of the ,british government should pay the slave dealers for these parents and children2 and after fifteen years of continued effort1 the money was obtained4 #di ,vide ,letter from the ,secretary of ,war to ,messrs4 ,plckens and ,flournoy1 ,august #h1 #ahbj4 ,am4 ,state ,papers1 ,vol4 ,,vi1 p4 #bdi4 #ej ,vide ,letter of the ,secretary of ,war to ,gen4 ,flournoy1 of the #aith of ,october1 #ahbj4 ,ibid1 #bej4 #ea ,vide ,papers transmitted to ,congress1 in connection with the ,treaty of ,indian ,spring4 ,am4 ,state ,papers1 ,indian ,affairs1 ,vol4 ,i1 ,no4 #agd4 #eb ,ibid4 #ec ,ibid4 ,letter of ,instructions contained in the papers referred to on preceding page4 #ed ,vide ,report of ,commissioner on this subject2 also1 the ,report of ,wm4 ,wirt1 ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states1 to whom the ,president referred the subject4 ,opinions of the ,attorney ,general1 #ahbb4 ,mr4 ,wirt states the price paid for those slaves was from two to three times their real value4 #ee ,vide ,reports of ,committee ,x,v,i,ith ,congress1 #b;d ,session1 ,no4 #abe4 #ef ,vide ,am4 ,state ,papers1 ,vol4 ,,vi1 pages #daa1 #dab4 ,it will be observed that ,general ,jackson discarded the term maroon1 used by ,penieres1 as that in ,jamaica1 signifies free negroes of the mountains1 who once fled from service1 but have maintained their liberty so long that they cannot be identified1 and are therefore admitted to be free4 #eg ,it is an interesting fact1 that the doctrine recently avowed by the ,supreme ,court of the ,united ,states1 that black men have no rights which white men are bound to respect1 was recognized and practiced upon in ,florida1 more than thirty years since1 by the officers of ,government4 #eh ,vide ,executive ,documents1 ,no4 #bga1 #b;d ,session ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #ei ,captain ,sprague1 of the ,united ,states ,army1 so states1 in his ,history of the ,war4 #fj ,vide ,letter of the ,agent1 dated sixth of ,march1 #ahbg4 #fa ,vide ,minutes of ,talk held at ,seminole ,agency1 with ,treskal1 ,mathla1 and other ,chiefs4 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bga1 #ast ,sess4 ,x,x,i,vth ,congress4 #fb ,vide ,letter of ,col4 ,brooke to ,col4 ,humphreys1 #f ,may1 #ahbh1 contained in the above cited ,document4 #fc ,vide ,letter of ,judge ,smith1 ,may #aj1 #ahbh1 contained in same ,document4 #fd ,vide ,statement of ,john ,hick1 #ae ,august1 #ahbh4 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bga1 before quoted4 #fe ,vide ,letter of ,gad ,humphreys1 ,oct4 #bj1 #ahbh4 ,it probably was the first time the proposition was submitted to the ,seminoles4 #ff ,even ,mr4 ,adams1 when ,president1 continued in office those men who had been placed there by his predecessors4 #fg ,vide ,sprague's ,history of the ,florida ,war4 #fh ,vide ,documents relating to the ,florida ,war1 #ast ,session1 ,x,x,i,vth ,congress4 #fi ,vide ,sprague's ,history of the ,florida ,war4 #gj ,vide ,ex4 ,doc4 #bga1 ,x,x,i,vth ,congress1 #ast ,session1 pages #dc and #dd4 #ga ,the ,author1 while serving in ,congress in #ahdg-h was1 by the ,speaker1 placed upon the committee of ,indian ,affairs4 ,while serving on that committee1 the ,creek ,indians applied for the return of this money which had belonged to them1 but had been wrongfully paid over by ,congress to the slaveholders of ,georgia1 some fourteen years previously4 ,the case was referred to the ,author1 as sub-committee1 who reported that the money1 in justice1 in equity1 and in law1 belonged to the ,indians2 that its payment to the slaveholders was unjust and wrong1 and that it ought to be paid to the ,indians4 ,the report was confirmed1 and the money paid to the ,indians4 ,the justice of the cause was so obvious that it met with no opposition1 and by the vote of both ,houses it now stands acknowledged and declared that this sum of #ada1jjj was taken from the pockets of the laboring men of our ,nation1 and paid to those slaveholders for imaginary slave children who were never born2 nor have we been able to learn that an objection was raised1 or protest uttered1 by any ,northern member of ,congress4 #gb ,vide ,opinion of ,judge ,cameron1 pages #ce and #cf of ,doc4 #bga1 last quoted4 #gc ,,note4--,when the author1 in #ahda1 denounced this transaction1 in the ,house of ,representatives1 and spoke of these slave-catchers as ,pirates1 ,hon4 ,mark ,a4 ,cooper1 of ,georgia1 became indignant at the denunciation2--said he was well acquainted with the men who seized and enslaved these people2 that they were honorable men1 and that he took them by the hand almost daily while at home4 #gd ,the statement of these facts may be found in ,ex4 ,document1 #ast ,sess4 ,x,x,i,vth ,congress4 #ge ,vide ,ex4 ,doc41 #ast ,sess4 ,x,x,i,vth ,congress1 page #ad4 #gf ,vide his letter at length in the ,document last quoted4 #gg ,vide ,sprague's ,florida ,war4 #gh ,lieutenant ,reynolds1 while conducting the first party of emigrants ,west1 in #ahda1 found among the ,exiles persons who possessed so much ,spanish blood1 that he offered to leave them at ,new ,orleans1 and some of them accepted the offer4 ,he left them in that city1 and they probably now pass for ,spaniards4 #gi ,vide account of this transaction by ,h4 ,m4 ,cohen1 given in the ,quarterly ,anti-,slavery ,magazine1 vol4 ,,ii1 page #dai4 ,mr4 ,thompson1 the ,agent1 in his letter to the ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 bearing date soon after1 says3 ,powell used such language1 that ,i was constrained to order him into irons4 ,mr4 ,sprague1 in his history of the ,florida ,war1 reiterates the statement of ,mr4 ,thompson4 ,but neither ,sprague1 nor ,thompson1 nor any other person who was present1 it is believed1 has ever denied the relation which ,mr4 ,cohen has given4 #hj ,sprague's ,history of the ,florida ,war4 #ha ,vide ,testimony accompanying ,pacheco's ,petition to ,congress for indemnity4 #hb ,vide ,statement of ,tustenuggee1 a ,seminole ,chief1 who was present1 and whose account of this massacre is given in ,sprague's ,history of the ,florida ,war4 #hc ,these ,speeches may be found in the ,congressional ,globe1 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,xth ,congress4 #hd ,sprague's ,history of the ,war4 #he ,osceola1 though a fierce and gallant warrior1 entertained high notions of honor2 and1 although a savage1 he was punctilious on those points1 and finally fell a victim to the treachery of those calling themselves civilized men4 #hf ,francis ,p4 ,blair1 who is yet living1 7#ahfh47 #hg ,vide ,ex4 ,doc41 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress1 ,no4 #gh1 pages #eeh-i4 #hh ,his vindication before the court was triumphant1 and he was honorably acquitted from all censure4 #hi ,sprague1 in his ,history of the ,florida ,war1 says there were two hundred negro warriors in this battle2 that their women and children were a short distance in their rear1 mounted on their ponies1 and ready to flee1 if their husbands1 brothers and fathers had been compelled to retreat4 #ij ,general ,jessup was undoubtedly somewhat ignorant as to the history of the ,exiles4 ,speaking of ,abraham1 that officer says3 ,he is married to the wife of the former chief of the ,nation2 is a good soldier1 and an intrepid leader4 ,he is the negro chief1 and the most cunning and intelligent negro we have here2 he claims to be free4 #ia ,general ,jessup subsequently reported his determination to separate the negroes1 or ,exiles1 from the ,indians4 ,he therefore stipulated for their safety1 and1 at the same time1 agreed that the slaves of the ,indians should accompany their owners1 and not be separated from them4 ,these facts will appear as we proceed in our history4 #ib ,vide these articles at length1 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #ic ,general ,jessup at all times practiced upon this principle4 ,when ,louis1 the guide who planned the defeat and massacre of ,major ,dade1 became a prisoner and ,wild ,cat claimed to have captured him1 ,general ,jessup disregarded the claim of ,pacheco1 the owner1 and sent the negro ,west2 and1 in other instances1 he kept those known to have been slaves as guides1 and1 at a proper time1 sent them to the ,western ,country1 as freemen4 ,he even bribed negroes to act as guides to his army by promising them liberty1 and carried out such arrangement4 #id ,vide this ,memorial at length1 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #ie ,all these communications may be found at length in the ,fifth ,vol4 ,ex4 ,doc41 #c;d ,session ,x,x,vth ,congress4 ,but these arrangements made with the chiefs are supposed to have rested entirely in parole4 ,no copy of any such agreement has been found by the ,author1 who is fully of opinion that it does not exist in any authentic form4 #if ,vide ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #ig ,these ,letters may be found in ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #ih ,this ,correspondence may be found in the #hth vol4 ,ex4 ,doc41 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,cong41 ,no4 #bhe4 #ii ,of this declaration he had subsequent cause to repent1 and most eloquently he expressed his mortification1 in a letter to the ,secretary of ,war4 ,vide his ,letter or ,jan4 #b1 #ahci1 in the ,document last quoted4 #ajj ,these facts may all be found officially recorded in ,ex4 ,doc4 #gh1 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress1 and ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #aja ,the ,interrogatories were embraced in a paper1 of which the following is a copy3 ,,memoranda ,,of ,,specific ,,questions ,,to ,,be ,,addressed ,,to ,,osceola4 ,ascertain the object of the ,indians in coming in at this time4 ,also their expectations4 ,are they prepared to deliver up the negroes taken from the citizens1 at once8 ,why have they not surrendered them already1 as promised by ,co-,hadjo at ,fort ,king8 ,have the chiefs of the nation held a ,council in relation to the talk at ,fort ,king8 ,what chiefs attended that ,council1 and what was their determination8 ,have the chiefs sent a messenger with the decision of the ,council8 ,have the principal chiefs ,micanopy1 ,jumper1 ,cloud and ,alligator sent a messenger8 and if so1 what is their message8 ,why have not those chiefs come themselves8 7,signed7 ,,thos4 ,s4 ,,jessup1 ,major ,general ,commanding4 ,,san ,,augustine1 ,august #bast1 #ahcg4 #ajb ,from the first and second interrogatories1 the reader will see that ,general ,jessup was fully conscious1 that the attempt to deliver over those negroes to slavery who were claimed by the citizens of ,florida1 had been the sole cause for renewing the war4 ,he dictated the first and most important interrogatory propounded to ,osceola--,are you prepared at once to deliver up the negroes taken from the citizens8 ,but the second shows an important fact which had1 so for as we have information1 been kept from the public3 ,the words1 ,why have they not already surrendered them1 as promised by ,co-,hadjo at ,fort ,king8 ,this shows that the arrangement reported by him to have been made with the chiefs1 was made with ,co-,hadjo only4 ,it will be recollected1 that after the articles of capitulation1 in ,march1 when the people of ,florida began to demand their negroes1 ,general ,jessup said he would endeavor to make an arrangement with the chiefs for delivering up those negroes who had been captured during the war4 ,after the protest of the people of ,florida had been addressed to the ,secretary of ,war1 against the peace1 unless they were to get their negroes1 and the public meeting held at ,san ,augustine1 which expressed the same views1 he reported that he had made such arrangement with the chiefs2 but with how many1 or with which particular chiefs1 was unknown until this interrogatory disclosed the fact1 that it was made with one obscure chief only4 ,and whether he were intoxicated1 or sober1 at the time he attempted to act without any authority1 to consign hundreds of his fellow-beings to slavery1 without their knowledge or consent1 does not appear4 ,but every reader at once propounds the question1 ,what were the terms of that arrangement8 ,if it existed1 it should have been reported verbatim to the ,war ,department1 and made known to the public4 #ajc ,capt4 ,sprague1 of the ,regular service4 #ajd ,this statement is taken entirely from the ,letters of ,john ,ross1 chief of the ,cherokees1 to the ,secretary of ,war4 ,in these letters1 he relates the whole transaction with great force and apparent candor1 and1 in the name of the ,cherokee ,nation1 boldly arraigns the ,war ,department for this treachery1 practiced by a ,christian nation towards a people called heathens4 ,these letters may be found at length in ,ex4 ,doc4 #cbg1 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,cong41 vol4 #h4 #aje ,vide letter of ,general ,taylor to ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #ajf ,mr4 ,sprague says there were three hundred ,indian and negro warriors engaged in this battle1 and that their loss was ten ,indians and one negro killed1 and eleven wounded2 showing a great disparity between their loss and ,general ,taylor's4 #ajg ,in #ahdh1 ,general ,taylor was the ,whig candidate for ,president of the ,united ,states2 and so little was the history of this war known to our statesmen or politicians1 that it is believed no newspaper1 or stump orator1 or advocate of his election1 ever related or referred to this most gallant act of his life4 ,he had himself1 during the war1 exhibited no particular sympathy in the work of catching and enslaving negroes2 on the contrary1 he had expressed his detestation of that policy4 ,of course the slave power1 not willing to make open war upon him1 had permitted his name to rest without connecting it with the performance of any brilliant or humane acts4 ,the casuist may say1 that he ought not to have served in such a war1 and that no gallantry displayed in such a cause ought to reflect credit upon any man4 ,but ,general ,taylor1 like other men1 should be judged by the times1 the customs1 the morality of the age in which he lived4 #ajh ,vide ,ex4 ,doc41 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress1 ,no4 #bbe4 #aji ,vide ,general ,jessup's letter to ,general ,arbuckle1 #h ,vol4 ,ex4 ,doc41 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #aaj ,vide ,general ,jessup's letter to ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 above referred to4 #aaa ,this is the view which ,general ,jessup gives of the transaction1 ,ex4 ,doc41 #hth ,vol41 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress #aab ,vide ,report of ,general ,jessup to the ,secretary of ,war1 ,ex4 ,doc41 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #aac ,these facts may all be found in the #dth1 #eth1 #gth1 #hth1 #aath #abth vols4 of ,ex4 ,doc41 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress2 the letters of ,ross and correspondence of ,general ,jessup1 and official reports1 occupying several hundred pages4 #aad ,horace ,everett1 who was many years a ,representative in ,congress1 an ardent ,whig1 and constant opponent of ,jackson and ,van ,buren4 ,after the report of the ,secretary of ,war in answer to his resolution had been received1 ,mr4 ,everett made a speech on the subject1 exposing the manner in which the war had been conducted1 and intimated that it was more immediately connected with the support of slavery than it ought to be4 ,but while he was careful to say nothing exceptionable to the slave interest1 he certainly entitled himself to the honor of being the first member who assailed the war1 and the first to hold the ,administration responsible for the manner in which it was prosecuted4 ,the speech may be found at length in the ,appendix to the ,congressional ,globe of that session4 #aae ,vide ,letter of ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs to ,secretary of ,war1 #ith ,may1 #ahch4 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #b;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #aaf ,major ,zantzinger1 like many other officers1 appears to have thought that every negro must have a master1 and he called these ,exiles the property of the ,seminoles1 although the ,agent for that ,tribe had reported a few years previously1 that the number of slaves owned by them did not exceed forty4 #aag ,vide ,watson's ,petition and proofs1 in support of his claim1 presented to ,congress--#ast ,sess4 ,x,x,v,ith ,cong4--now on file in the office of the ,clerk of the ,house of ,representatives4 #aah ,vide ,watson's ,statement of facts in this case1 on file with the above papers4 #aai ,several years after this transaction1 the ,author happened to meet this war-worn veteran1 and as the old hero recounted this incident of his life with warm and glowing eloquence1 his eye kindled1 his countenance lighted up with pleasure1 and he spoke of it with more apparent satisfaction than he ever referred to his most brilliant military achievement4 #abj ,vide ,letter of ,major ,isaac ,clark to ,commissioner of ,indian ,affairs1 ,sept4 #ah1 #ahch4 ,ex4 ,doc4 #bbe1 #c;d ,sess4 ,x,x,vth ,congress4 #aba ,hon4 ,elisha ,whittlesey1 the predecessor of ,mr4 ,giddings1 long and ably presided over the committee on ,claims4 ,he was a man of untiring industry2 and when he found it necessary to report on a slave case1 in #ahce1 he wrote the ,register of the ,treasury1 inquiring if slaves had ever been paid for by the ,united ,states as property4 ,the reply stated they had not2 and the committee reported adversely to the case1 although it was one of the strongest character possible4 ,francis ,larche1 living near ,new ,orleans1 owned a horse1 cart and slave4 ,the day before the battle below that city1 in #ahad1 they were impressed into the service2 and while thus held by the ,united ,states authorities1 on the day of the battle1 the horse and slave were killed by cannon shot1 and ,larche petitioned ,congress for compensation for the loss of his slave4 ,mr4 ,whittlesey drew up an able report refusing such compensation4 ,at the commencement of the ,twenty-seventh ,congress1 ,mr4 ,giddings was placed at the head of that committee2 but1 being obnoxious to the advocates of slavery1 he was removed from that position at the commencement of the ,twenty-eighth ,congress2 yet there seemed to be an ,impression that his successor should be taken from ,ohio1 and ,hon4 ,joseph ,vance was made ,chairman4 ,he was a man at that time somewhat advanced in life1 and not accustomed to legal investigations4 ,cases which required research1 were usually consigned to some subordinate member of the committee4 ,it was while he was acting as ,chairman1 that this case of ,watson was first reported upon favorably by the committee on ,claims1 although it had never before been regarded by that committee as entitled to any encouragement4 #abb ,there is little doubt that the real number of ,exiles was unknown to ,general ,jackson1 or to ,general ,cass1 at the commencement of the war4 ,they appear to have regarded their number far less than it was estimated1 during the first ,seminole ,war of #ahah4 #abc ,captain ,sprague's ,history of the ,florida ,war so represents the subject4 #abd ,not having the ,statutes of ,florida before us1 we make this statement on the authority of ,captain ,sprague4 #abe ,we have no copy of ,mr4 ,wise's letter1 and have never seen the letter itself2 but we state the fact that he wrote the ,secretary of ,war by authority of that officer1 who says in the letter quoted1 ,i have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the #bgth inst41 inquiring1 etc4 #abf ,the ,author was at that time a member of the ,house of ,representatives4 ,he had then no conception of the real objects of this war3 indeed1 it had long been the practice for members to say nothing on the subject of slavery2 and it was equally the practice for newspapers to print nothing on that delicate subject1 as it was called4 ,of course the people knew very little concerning it4 #abg ,captain ,sprague1 in his history of the ,florida ,war1 says1 ,the truth1 when made known to the ,indians who remained in ,florida1 constituted the strongest argument why they should not emigrate4 ,had they 7says that author7 been kept in ignorance1 better results might have been anticipated2 but what they gathered from the honest confessions and silence of their brothers tended to make them venerate with more fidelity and increased love the soil which they had defended with heroic fortitude for five consecutive years4 #abh ,captain ,sprague1 in his history1 declares1 that it was proven in two instances that white men1 disguised as ,indians1 actually committed depredations and murdered white people4 #abi ,this first speech had been carefully prepared by the ,author of this work1 and contained little more than a collation of facts from public documents4 ,it was made with the design of testing the application of the gag rules more than for the purpose of exposing the character of the war4 ,hon4 ,john ,q4 ,adams1 ,wm4 ,slade1 and the ,author1 often consulted with each other as to the best means for inducing the ,house to repeal those obnoxious rules4 ,the ,author suggested the plan of alluding to slavery while publicly discoursing matters with which it was incidentally connected4 ,mr4 ,adams and ,mr4 ,slade insisted that the ,author should try his plan4 ,aware that appropriations for this war would be called for1 he prepared this speech1 showing the causes of the war2 and when the bill above referred to came before the ,house1 he proceeded to test his plan4 ,he was frequently called to order1 and great excitement was produced2 but he succeeded in delivering the speech4 ,when he was through1 a southern member replied1 declaring that the gag-rules may as well be repealed as kept in force1 if they permitted such discussions4 ,the position was evidently correct1 and those disgraceful rules were repealed by the next ,congress4 #acj ,this statement is founded upon the authority of ,captain ,sprague4 ,it is however certain1 that many of the claimants actually received compensation from the public treasury for the loss of their slaves4 ,the power to pay for them was assumed by ,executive officers1 under the appropriation act of ,march1 #ahda1 without reference to ,congress4 #aca ,captain ,sprague1 in his history1 enters into a somewhat lengthened apology for this practice of ,general ,worth1 by saying1 the negroes were the most active and vindictive of the hostile forces2 that1 from the peculiar situation of the country1 ten negroes could keep it in a state of constant alarm2 that many of them had intermarried with the ,seminoles and become identified with them1 had acquired their habits1 and would have been useless to their owners had they been delivered to them2 that the negro would have remained in service but a few days1 when he would have again taken to the swamps and hommocks1 when he could elude pursuit1 and would have been more vindictive than before4 #acb ,vide opinions of the ,attorney ,generals1 from #ahch to #ahea1 page #aidd1 ,senate ,doc4 #ee4 ,it is a singular fact that1 in the whole of this elaborate opinion1 no allusion is made to the real condition of the ,exiles2 nor would any person suspect1 from reading it1 that the ,attorney ,general had any knowledge of the claim which the ,creeks preferred4 ,although he quotes the clause in the articles of capitulation1 which expressly and emphatically declares that ,major ,general ,jessup1 in behalf of the ,united ,states1 agrees that the ,seminoles and their allies1 who come in and emigrate1 shall be protected in their lives and property2 yet he appears never to have conceived the idea that such a stipulation could impose any duties upon our ,government in favor of negroes2 nor does he attempt to define the meaning of this most explicit covenant4 #acc ,under this law1 which is general in all slave ,states1 free colored citizens of nearly every free ,state of the ,union have been seized and enslaved1 and are now toiling in chains4 #acd ,hon4 ,r4 ,w4 ,johnson1 a ,representative from ,arkansas1 spoke of this wretch as having come from ,louisiana2 but from manuscript letters on file in the ,war ,department1 the ,author is led to think he came from ,florida1 and had previously participated in kidnapping ,exiles in that ,territory4 #ace ,the ,author1 being unable to obtain a publication of the documents showing these facts1 states them upon the best authority he possesses4 ,during the discussions upon what is called the ,indian ,appropriation ,bill for #aheb1 in the ,house of ,representatives of the ,united ,states1 the following colloquial debate occurred1 and is now cited as a part of the evidence on which these facts are stated4 ,it will be found in the ,congressional ,globe of #aheb1 vol4 #bd1 part #c;d1 pages #ahjd1 #ahje3 ,mr4 ,,giddings4 ,i rise for a different purpose than that of expressing my approbation of the amendment which has just been read4 ,i ask the especial attention of gentlemen to some interrogatories which ,i desire to propound for the purpose of obtaining information2 and that the information may go to the country1 ,i will observe1 that ,i desire to have the experience of the able ,chairman of the committee on ,indian ,affairs 7,mr4 ,johnson of ,arkansas71 to obtain this intelligence4 ,according to reliable information which ,i received in the summer of #ahej1 these ,creek ,indians1 to whom attention has been turned1 with force and violence1 seized from seventy to one hundred free persons of color in the ,indian ,territory1 or at least those claiming to be free1 and enslaved1 sold and transported them to the ,state of ,louisiana1 where they are now in servitude as slaves4 ,i will state that this was done in violation of the treaty entered into in #ahde1 and in subversion of our solemn faith1 entered into with these negroes during the ,seminole ,war1 in #ahcg4 ,the official information upon this subject is in the ,indian ,department1 where it has been received2 and from which that we have not been able to obtain any intelligence by resolution1 although a resolution for that purpose has been in my desk since the first day of the session4 ,the questions ,i desire to propound to those gentlemen are--,first1 ,is it a fact that those persons of color were seized and sold into slavery2 and1 second1 by what claim of right or pretended title did these ,creek ,indians enslave and sell those people8 ,mr4 ,,johnson4 ,i have no official knowledge in the matter at all4 ,then as to the knowledge ,i have obtained incidentally1 ,i do know that there has been a great contest in relation to a portion of these ,creek ,indian negroes2 ,i do know that the matter has been looked into here in the ,executive ,departments2 ,i do know that the matter has never been before the ,house at all1 unless it has strangely escaped my notice2 ,i know it has not been before my committee2 ,i know the ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states has declared his opinion as to the title of these negroes3 ,i think there were seventy of them1 though it might have been more or less4 ,so1 then1 ,i have no official information on the subject to which the gentleman alludes4 ,some two or three years ago1 ,i know of a contest going on about the title to these negroes1 and that it was decided that they belonged to those ,indians4 ,they had established themselves in a free town1 which they maintained with force and arms4 ,there were heavy disturbances existing there in the ,indian nation1 amounting at times almost to civil war3 ,i believe before it was done with1 it was quite civil war4 ,i know they were taken2 but what was done with them1 ,i do not know4 ,they were taken1 and carried out of the nation1 with the design of holding them as property1 when they could not hold them in the nation on account of the disturbance which they created4 ,i know the decision of the ,attorney ,general of the ,united ,states1 as to the title to these negroes2 and that is the whole statement in regard to the matter as far as ,i can give it4 #acf ,the ,author has written many letters1 and made frequent efforts1 to obtain a copy of the record of this writ1 if any had been kept1 and the proceedings1 together with the opinion of the ,judge thereon1 but has not succeeded4 ,the statement1 therefore1 rests on the verbal reports1 current at the time in the ,indian ,country1 and communicated to the ,author by individuals who happened to be there at the time4 #acg ,the ,author has been unable to obtain official data of the number of ,exiles who remained in the ,indian ,country4 #ach ,the ,author has been compelled to rely on verbal reports received from individuals for these facts4 ,he also understood ,mr4 ,johnston1 the ,representative from ,arkansas1 in the debate referred to in a former note1 to say distinctly1 that the ,creeks pursued the ,exiles1 and that a battle was fought1 but he was unable to state particulars4 #aci ,vide ,official ,report of ,major ,emory1 in regard to the boundary line between the ,united ,states and ,mexico4 ,he states the location of ,wild ,cat and the ,seminole ,indians1 but omits all reference to the ,exiles4 #adj ,this number has been increased by fresh arrivals from the ,indian ,country1 since #ahej4 #ada ,vide ,manuscript ,letters now on file in the ,indian ,bureau at ,washington4