a few miles from Fort Brooke, on the other side of the river. The men
looked very different from the gay, gallant set of fellows who had
marched away three months before, their clothes were torn, their shoes
worn out, and they themselves were thin and dirty. General Scott gave
them the highest praise, and promised to send them home direct from
Tampa. 8th.--An order was issued, that my company which had remained in
garrison, should return to the Louisiana Volunteers. We immediately
crossed the river, and were once more with our regiment. On the morning
of the 9th, an Indian prisoner was brought to Fort Brooke by one of the
Revenue Cutters. He had been taken in the following manner: some days
before a party of seamen, commanded by Lieutenant Powell, had been
dispatched from the Sloop of War Vandalia, to Charlotte’s harbour, in
consequence of some outrages committed by the Indians in that quarter.
The seamen had built a Fort large enough to accommodate themselves and
the families of several Spanish fishermen. The Collector of Customs had
been murdered a short time before by the Indians, and the Spaniards were
much alarmed. The prisoner was the particular object of their terror and
aversion. He was known to be a determined fellow, was a suspected
accomplice in the Custom house Officer’s murder, and had sworn vengeance
against several of the Spaniards. His sister, (a reputed prophetess,)
was married to one of them. Lieutenant Powell went with his party to a
house at night, and demanded admittance; some one within, shouted Hallo!
and immediately after the door was opened, and out rushed three Indians.
Two of them were shot down, and three sailors seized the third, but he
made a desperate struggle, and succeeded in escaping: the men might have
killed him, but the orders were to take him alive. His retreat, a well
chosen one, was discovered a few days after:--A tree grew on the outer
end of a sand bar, which was covered with water at flood tide; the tree
was then a mile from the shore, and the water was scarce a foot deep.
The Indian had rigged a very convenient sleeping place for himself,
among the boughs, whence he would observe every thing passing around,
with very little danger of discovery. He was, however, watched by the
Spaniards, who dreaded him, his retreat was reported to Lieutenant
Powell, and he himself was seized, whilst asleep, and conducted to Tampa
Bay. He reported that there were a considerable number of Indians,
besides Negroes, and a large quantity of ammunition, in the
neighbourhood of Charlotte’s harbour, and declared his readiness to
conduct a party to the spot, stipulating, that he should afterwards
recover his freedom. General Smith, immediately volunteered the services
of himself and Regiment; his offer was accepted, and on Sunday the 10th,
we embarked in the brigantine Calvin and the Schooner Cumberland, for
Charlotte’s harbour, distant seventy or eighty miles. We had light
winds, and were not landed till the Sunday following. Five days’ rations
of provisions were then issued, and orders given for a march on the
following day. The men were much dissatisfied: their clothes and shoes
were worn out, their feet blistered, and General Scott, having first
expressed his perfect satisfaction at their conduct, had promised to
them, home direct from Tampa Bay. A statement to this effect was sent in
to General Smith, on the evening previous to our march; but was not
noticed. Next morning (18th,) we started with five days’ provisions, and
marched seven or eight miles. The day was very hot, and the men dropped
behind in considerable numbers. We halted at 12 o’clock, and the General
gave orders, that all who chose to go forward, should step on in front,
and that the others should return to our camping ground, at the
_embouchure_ of the Maijaka river. About one hundred and twenty
volunteers stepped out, making with the seamen from the Sloop of War
Vandalia and the Revenue Cutter, one hundred and sixty men; too small a
party to face the enemy; but General Smith was willing to expose his
life on this, and indeed all other occasions, and it was our duty to
follow. Those who remained behind had every reason to do so: some were
unwell, some had no shoes or canteens: they had all undergone much
fatigue, and the General told them, it was no disgrace to return. They
shared their provisions with us, and wished us success. The bugle
sounded forward, and we soon struck the river, where we found a fleet of
canoes, waiting to receive our baggage. One half of the party ascended
the stream in boats to a convenient camping ground, and the rest
marched through the woods towards the same point, with the Indian for a
guide; he was strictly watched, although he showed no desire to attempt
an escape. The march was longer than we expected, and some of the
officers were very impatient with and suspicious of the guide, his
language was a mixture of Spanish and Indian, and no one of the party
could understand him correctly: the road, too, winded circuitously
through the hammocks and along the bayous, with which the banks of the
river are indented, and we were forced to march several miles, to gain
one in the right direction. About 10 o’clock at night, we came to a
hammock which seemed scarce penetrable: the guide said that General
Smith with the boats, lay half an hour’s march on the other side; but
the officers suspected treachery, and determined to halt. We placed a
strict guard over the prisoner, built our fires, and spent the night
round them. We started early next morning, and in half an hour’s walk,
came on the General’s camping ground, as the Indian had told us the
previous night. The whole party here embarked in the canoes, the right
under command of Lieutenant Lawson, the left under Captain Ross of the
mariners. Our object was supposed to be the burning of an Indian village
in the interior. The river was very beautiful, and for the most part
deep; there is some excellent land on the banks, and plenty of timber.
The Live Oak, Pine, Pickon and Cabbage Trees, are most numerous. It is
no wonder that the red men are so unwilling to depart from the land of
their fathers. It is a perfect Eden. The woods abound with game, the
rivers with fish, and the soil produces almost spontaneously the few
articles of food needed by the Indian.
We sailed and rowed many miles up the river, and halted at a pretty
spot, called afterwards Live Oak Camp. Here we found evident signs of
Indians; the ashes of fire recently extinguished, green hides, two live
fowls, which were quickly smoking in the General’s quarters, and several
razors and other articles supposed to have been the property of the
murdered collector of customs.
20th--Again embarked and rowed a few miles up the stream, but were
forced to return on account of the obstructions. We left the boats at
Live Oak Camp, with a few men to guard them, shouldered our knapsacks
and tramped through the woods. We expected to fall in with some live
stock but were disappointed. We marched up the river through the best
land we had yet seen, and observed the recent tracks of cattle, horses
and dogs. Towards night we fell in with an old Indian encampment close
to a brook of excellent water. We built ourselves huts of palmettoes and
boughs and slept comfortably in spite of the rain. We called this spot
Camp Cowpens, from a large cattle pen close by.
21st--Passed through several large prairies; near one of them we
observed the figure of an Indian rudely carved in the bark of a tree. We
soon after waded the river nearly four feet deep; the guide followed by
the General, leading the way. A halt was called on the other side and
the people amused themselves swimming.
A Dutchman who could not swim, contrived to get out of his depth and was
seen struggling very hard. He sank several times and at length raised
his head and shouted alligator. The river abounds with them. Captain
Green of the revenue cutter, Lieutenant Powell and General Smith, who
were ashore, jumped in and brought him out alive but nearly exhausted.
We saw no Indians or village on that or the following day, and the
provisions being out, returned to Live Oak Camp on the morning of the
23d. At a short distance from it the advance guard fired on a deer,
while the rear were threading their way through a hammock. We all
thought the Philistines were surely upon us, and rushed forward as fast
as possible. The deer bounded along the whole line and offered a mark to
almost every man, but escaped uninjured.
We had suffered not a little from hunger; our expectation was to return
in a day at farthest, to Live Oak Camp; we therefore left most of our
provisions with the boats, and felt the want of them severely as we were
absent three days.
After breakfast we again embarked and descended the river to the camping
ground of the regiment. We had every reason to congratulate ourselves on
our return in safety. The expedition might have proved as disastrous as
that of Major Dade: a small body of the enemy might have cut us off on
the river, which is in some places not twenty yards wide. They might
have fired on us with perfect security to themselves.
The summer, indeed, is scarcely the fit time for attacking them; the
leaves are then so numerous that it is impossible to see them, and the
weather is so hot that it is as impossible to carry the knapsack,
provisions and accoutrements. The expedition has answered one good
purpose; it has given some knowledge of a very interesting and before
unknown section of the territory. The land is excellent and the river
may be made navigable for steamboats at a very trifling expense; it is
besides adjacent to the Orleans market.
We embarked on the 24th, and reached Tampa Bay on the 27th. On the
following morning Colonel Chisme returned to the Fort with a party
composed of the fourth Regular Infantry, commanded by Colonel Foster,
and the Alabama volunteers. Colonel Chisme had been despatched to bring
in the garrison and military stores from Fort Alabama, which was
considered untenable.
The Colonel carried off or destroyed the stores and placed a spring gun
in the magazine, disposed in such a manner that on opening the door, the
magazine itself should explode. The army had not marched more than a
mile, when a tremendous explosion was heard, and there is little doubt
that many of the red-skins were despatched to the hunting grounds of
their great Manitto. On the same day (27th) fourteen miles from Fort
Brooke, the army seven or eight hundred in number, was attacked by the
Indians from a hammock. The regulars complain that the Alabama troops
were not as willing to charge the hammocks as their old friends from
Louisiana. Some of them acted like brave men, but the greater part hung
back and lost the most favorable opportunity yet presented, of paying
the Indians for old scores. The regulars charged the hammock and beat
them off. The loss on our side was five killed and fourteen or fifteen
wounded. Major Sandes had his horse shot under him. The horse of one of
the Alabama volunteers was shot and fell on his rider: an Indian rushed
from the hammock, intending to scalp him, but the gallant fellow though
entangled beneath his horse, contrived to shoot the Indian, and reload
his piece for a second enemy, but he was soon discovered, and relieved
from his painful situation. If all his regiment had acted with the like
resolution, the Indians would have had but little to boast of.
May 1st--General Scott had proceeded to the Ouithlacouchy, on his return
to Fort Drane, and had left the following order:
Head Quarters of the Army of Florida, }
TAMPA BAY, _April 16th, 1836_. }
ORDER--No. 37.
The Louisiana Regiment of Volunteers, under the gallant Colonel Persifor
F. Smith, will on its return to this place, immediately proceed to New
Orleans, in the best transports the Quarter Master’s department can
supply. It will first turn into store the arms and other property of the
United States, in its possession, and which may not be necessary to the
comfort of the regiment on its passage home.
At New Orleans, Major Clarke or other United States officer, shall
muster the regiment out of the service of the United States, and it will
at the same time be paid by the paymaster of the army, stationed in that
city.
What may be the result of the expedition to Charlotte’s harbor and Pees
creek, in which the Regiment is at present engaged, cannot be known to
the Commanding General in some weeks. Judging from the past, the result
cannot fail to be highly honorable to the Colonel, the officers and men
of that efficient corps, which is already entitled to the thanks of the
country. Doctor Lawson, the senior Surgeon of the United States army,
who under a commission from the state of Louisiana, has served as
Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and who has superadded the
distinction of arms to his high medical reputation, will temporarily
take charge of the general Hospital at this place. As soon as the great
body of the sick shall have been restored and sent off to their
respective States, Surgeon Lawson will return to his proper station.
(Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT.
By command of Major General Scott,
K. JOHNSTON,
Aid de Camp and Act’g Ass’t Adj’t General.
* * * * *
The following order was issued by General Smith:
CAMP GEORGIA, _April 28th, 1836_. }
Head Quarters, Louisiana Volunteers. }
ORDER--No. 18
The Regiment having completed the duties assigned to it by the
Commanding General, he has ordered it to be transported to New Orleans,
and there honorably discharged: the arms and accoutrements being
deposited here.
The transports furnished are the schooners Emeline and Cumberland, the
brigs Calvin, Martha and Caroline, and a steamboat. The troops are
assigned to these transports as follows:
To the schr. Emeline, Capts. Mark’s and Edwards’ Company.
“ “ Cumberland, “ Kerr and Williams’ “
“ brig Calvin, “ Abodi and Burt’s “
“ “ Martha, “ Lee and Barr’s “
Steamboat Magee, “ Rogers, Smith and Thistle’s “
Major Marks and Dr. Cushman will embark in the schooner Cumberland;
Adjutant Barron, and Serg’t Major Hand, in the Emeline; Surgeon
Harrall and the Quarter Master Sergeant in the brig Calvin, and
Lieut. Colonel Lawson with Lieuts. Balls and Dyer in the steamboat.
Fifteen days provisions will embark with each detachment.
As each transport arrives in New Orleans, the senior officer on
board will require of the Quarter Master and Assistant Commissary
the necessary quarters and provisions, until the troops are
mustered out of the service.
By order of
Colonel PERSIFOR F. SMITH.
* * * * *
Colonel Smith left Tampa Bay on 30th April in the cutter Dallas to meet
General Scott at St. Marks, by order of the General.
May 1st--My company and that of Captain Lee received fifteen days
rations and embarked in the schooner Martha, Captain Baker: the brig
Calvin and schooners Emeline and Cumberland had sailed before us. We put
to sea on the second, and soon bid adieu to the shores of fair Florida,
with every prospect of soon exchanging the soldier’s bed of sand for the
citizen’s couch of down, without the laborious precaution of erecting a
breastwork, and of enjoying the luxury of lounging through the streets
without an ass load of provisions on our backs.
The following are among the orders issued after our arrival at Fort
Brooke:
Head Quarters, Western Department, }
FORT BROOKE, _10th Feb., 1836_. }
ORDER--No. 4.
I.--Captain E. A. Hitchcock, of the first Regiment United States
Infantry, is hereby appointed to act as Assistant Inspector General
of the Department.
II.--The troops of this post, consisting of A. B. G. and H.
companies of the second Regiment of Artillery, and A. B. E. G. H.
I. and K. companies of the fourth Infantry, with the Louisiana
volunteers under Adj’t General Smith, will constitute a brigade, to
be designated the Light Brigade, and shall be commanded by Lieut.
Colonel D. E. Twiggs of the fourth Infantry.
III.--Lieut. I. Izard of the Dragoons, will perform the duties of
Brigade Major and will report to Colonel Twiggs accordingly.
By order of Major General Gaines,
GEORGE A. M’CALL, Aid de Camp,
Acting Assistant Adjutant.
* * * * *
Head Quarters, Western Department, }
FORT BROOKE, _Feb. 11th, 1836_. }
SPECIAL ORDER--No. 10.
The Quarter Master, Captain Shannon, will furnish Howersacks or
materials for making them, together with such camp equipage as may be
necessary for the troops under command of Lieutenant Colonel Twiggs,
proper requisitions being made for the same.
By order of Major General Gaines,
G. A. M’CALL, A. D. C.,
Acting Assistant Adjutant.
* * * * *
Head Quarters, Light Brigade, }
FORT BROOKE, FLORIDA, _Feb. 10th, 1836_. }
ORDER--No. 1.
1. In obedience to Western Department Order--No. 4, the undersigned
assumes the command of the Light Brigade.
2. Orders will be received through Lieutenant Izard and Buchanan, and
Battalion Adjutants will report for Orders, at the Head Quarters of the
Brigade, at the sound of the Adjutant’s Call.
3. The troops will be in readiness to march on the morning of the 12th
inst. They will take with them ten days’ rations, of which five shall be
carried in the knapsacks. Each man shall also take with him twenty extra
cartridges in his knapsack.
4. Where the strength of the Company is fifty or under, each shall take
with it eight axes and slings and eight spades, and where over fifty, a
proportioned number at that rate.
5. The officers and men shall not be permitted to leave their companies,
without special permission from the Commanders of their respective
companies.
D. E. TWIGGS,
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding.
* * * * *
Head Quarters, Light Brigade, }
FORT BROOKE, FLORIDA, _Feb. 12th, 1836_. }
1. The troops of this Fort will march to-morrow morning, and Commandants
of Corps are directed to inspect their respective commands, and report
the condition of their companies by 4 o’clock this afternoon.
2. Brevet Major R. M. Sandes’ fourth Infantry will remain in command of
Fort Brooke. All the Regulars not able to march, together with one
hundred and fifty men and a suitable number of Officers, to be detailed
by Colonel Smith from his Regiment, will also remain. Assistant Surgeon
Heistell will determine what men of the sick are unable to march.
3. First Lieutenants S. M’Kenzie, second Artillery, and G. Morris,
fourth Infantry will remain at Fort Brooke, in discharge of their Staff
duties. Lieutenant M’Kenzie, will retain Sergeant Armstrong of H.
Company second Artillery, as the Ordnance Sergeant of the Post. Corporal
Sunderland of B. Company third Artillery, will remain and report himself
to Lieutenant J. C. Casey, second Artillery, acting Assistant Quarter
Master, upon his arrival at this post.
(Signed,) D. E. TWIGGS,
Lieutenant Colonel Commanding.
* * * * *
Head Quarters, &c., }
_Feb. 12th, 1836_. }
ORDER--No. 15.
The Regiment will be inspected at 12 o’clock to day, when every company
will be prepared to march in the morning. Each man is to have forty
rounds of ammunition, and ten days’ rations, five of which are to be
carried in the knapsacks.
By order of
A. G. BARROW, Adjutant.
* * * * *
ORDER--No. 20.
The Regiment is organized in two Battalions, the first is composed of
the companies of Captains Burt, Lee, Williams, Rogers and Thistle, the
second of the companies of Captains Marks, Ker, Magee, Smith, Abodi and
Barr. Lieutenant Colonel Lawson is chief of the first Battalion, and
Major Marks of the second. The companies will form in the order here
named.
By order of
A. G. BARRON, Adjutant.
* * * * *
Head Quarters, Western Department, }
FORT IZARD, on the Outhlacouchy, Florida, _March 9, 1836_. }
ORDER--No. 7.
1. Called to East Florida, by the savage massacre and conflagrations of
the 28th December, and the following month, the Commanding General
hastily collected together in Louisiana, the forces which accompany him
from that patriotic State. These forces have, in the short space of
thirty-six days, marched by land and sea, nearly eight hundred miles,
one hundred and forty of which was through the country occupied by the
enemy, whose principal force they have met, beaten, and forced to sue
for a peace.
2. These important objects of the campaign have been accomplished, with
the hearty and cordial co-operation of Brigadier General Clinch, to
whose sound judgment the defence of this frontier had been confided, and
by whose gallantry the enemy had been chastised on the 31st of December,
and since held in check, as far as his limited means would allow: the
troops from Louisiana are placed under his command, to guard against the
known faithlessness of the enemy, until the arrival of the forces with
the Officer charged with the diplomatic arrangements of the War
Department. Whenever, and so soon as that Officer shall mature his plan
of operations, and accomplish the duties assigned him, the forces from
Louisiana, will return to New Orleans.
3. The Commanding General cannot, consistently with his views of
propriety, take leave of the troops by whom he has been so manfully
sustained, without tendering to them his grateful acknowledgements, for
the constancy and courage with which they have performed every duty, and
borne privations, the recital of which could not fail to command the
admiration of the virtuous and the wise, in every section of the
Republic. The officers and soldiers, comprehending the whole force,
(including the Artillery from Tampa Bay,) acting as the Light Brigade,
under command of Lieutenant Colonel Twiggs, of the fourth Infantry, have
performed their duty so much to the satisfaction of the General, that he
cannot discriminate between the relative claim of officers or
individuals of corps, without the risk of invidious distinctions. All
did their duty cheerfully and gallantly, and when it became necessary to
meet the question, whether to eat the meat of their own horses, or to
abandon an important position, all cheerfully resolved to prefer this
unpleasant species of subsistence, to any movement which might endanger
the frontier. The horse meat was accordingly eaten by officers and men,
until the enemy was beaten, and sued for peace, when a timely supply of
subsistence arrived, escorted by the brave Georgians, Floridians and
Regulars, under General Clinch, at the moment the pacific proposals of
the enemy were being answered; and the Indians were fired on by the
General’s light troops, before he could be notified of the object of
their being so near the camp. They have since disappeared.
4. The General deeply regrets the fall of first Lieutenant I. F. Izard,
of the Dragoons, acting Brigade Major, and in command of the advanced
guard. He fell at the head of his corps, and, though mortally wounded,
had the heroic presence of mind to cry, “keep your position men, and lie
close.” Second Lieutenant Duncan, of the second Artillery, was slightly
wounded. Captain Sanders, commanding the friendly Indians, was severely
wounded, and Captain Armstrong, of the U. S. Schooner Motto, slightly.
The two last mentioned were in the advance, where their services had
been very useful. Lieutenant E. P. Smith, of Captain Williams’ company
of Louisiana Volunteers, received three wounds; this officer, and two
non-commissioned officers and soldiers of other companies of this
Regiment, evinced their gallantry by their good conduct, as well as by
their honourable wounds. The General is convinced, that he has never
commanded a finer corps; its chiefs would do honour to any service. The
officers of the medical department, meet the approbation of the General,
for the attention and skilful manner in which their duties were
discharged.
Killed--Sergeant F. Dunn, second Artillery, 1
L. Bohe, Louisiana Volunteers, 1
V. Beck, do 1
H. Butler, do 1
--
4
Wounded, of non-commissioned and privates of Louisiana Volunteers, 29
“ “ “ Regulars, 13
--
42
By order of General Gaines,
GENERAL A. M’CALL,
A. D. C. Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
General Scott also had a few men killed and several wounded. The names
of the killed as far as I can ascertain, are, Roame, Bilson, Robinson,
of Captain Edwards’ company Louisiana Volunteers, and one Regular; there
were several wounded, some of them have since died. The country is now
in the hands of the savages, with the exception of Fort Brooke, Fort
King and Fort Drane. Forts Cooper and Alabama, have been evacuated, and
the Georgian and Alabamian Volunteers have returned home. The Indian may
exult in his exploits, and dance round the scalps of his victims, until
the approach of winter; then let the other States follow the example so
nobly set by Louisiana; let them raise such men as she sent out, and
like her place active and skilful Commanders over them: or if a cautious
Fabius be appointed, let him have a Major Reed for his Marcellus; they
may then cope with our Western Hannibal; but if the war must be
prolonged, for the benefit of Army Contractors and others, then let the
Fabian family come alone; “this the Seminoles wish, this Powell would
purchase at a great price.”
* * * * *
Head Quarters of the centre of the Florida Army, }
FORT BROOKE, _April 7th, 1836_. }
ORDER--No. 22.
In pursuance of Order No. 19, dated this day, at the Head Quarters of
the Florida Army, the senior officer of the Louisiana Volunteers with
the troops of that command who were left at this post, on the 13th of
February last, and are now for duty, will join his Regiment.
The non-commissioned officers and privates, belonging to the Army are
included in said Order, with the exception of those on extra duty in the
Ordnance, Quarter Master’s and Subsistence Departments, and will join
their respective companies.
Lieutenant M’Kenzie, second Artillery, will relieve Captain Barr, in the
immediate command of the post.
The Quarter Master’s department will furnish the necessary
transportation.
By order of Colonel W. Lindsay,
Commanding the centre of the Florida Army.
I. GREEN.
Acting Assistant Adjutant General.
[Illustration: INDIAN CHIEF POWELL.]
* * * * *
Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:
Gen. Porsifor F. Smith volunteered his services=> Gen. Persifor F. Smith
volunteered his services {pg 4 (Persifor Frazer Smith, 1798-1858)}
received tidings from Florida of a very alaming=> received tidings from
Florida of a very alarming {pg 3}
Colonel: the latter gentlemen, the head physician=> Colonel: the latter
gentleman, the head physician {pg 4}
The enlistment was commencad on the 24th January=> The enlistment was
commenced on the 24th January {pg 4}
he received no answer to he third challenge=> he received no answer to
the third challenge {pg 5}
hors du combat=> hors de combat {pg 10}
but the alarm was groudless=> but the alarm was groundless {pg 5}
had promissed him=> had promised him {pg 11}
his clothes had been striped off=> his clothes had been stripped off {pg
12}
but the Colonels timidity=> but the Colonel’s timidity {pg 13}
from each cantact with the earth=> from each contact with the earth {pg
14}
around the breatswork=> around the breastwork {pg}
and a single buiscuit=> and a single biscuit {pg 17}
28th.--They reached Camp Izzard=> 28th.--They reached Camp Izard {pg 19
[Camp Izard (1836-1842)]}
Fort Izzard=> Fort Izzard {pg 30 [Camp Izard (1836-1842)]}
III.--Lieut. I. Izzard of the Dragoons=> III.--Lieut. I. Izard of the
Dragoons {pg 28 [James Farley Izard: Born 1811. Mortally Wounded Feb.
28, 1836.]}
2. Orders will be received through Lieutenant Izzard=> 2. Orders will be
received through Lieutenant Izard {pg 28 [James Farley Izard: Born 1811.
Mortally Wounded Feb. 28, 1836.]}