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 F. P. Blair—President Jackson’s order in regard to it—Secretary of War orders General Scott to Washington, and General Jessup to take command—General Call in temporary command of the Army—Court of Inquiry2—Osceola attacks Micanopy—Major Heilman’s gallant3 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 Creeks4—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 Valor6 of the Exiles and Indians—Loss of Creeks—They become Disheartened.
When General Scott took command of the army in Florida, the Administration and the country confidently expected that he would bring the war to an immediate7 close. There was but little known of the combined strength, or the determined8 purpose, of the Seminoles and Exiles. They were regarded as few in number, and were supposed to be fighting without any very definite purpose. The difficulties of collecting an army in that territory, procuring9 supplies and arranging a campaign, were great; and the most effective mode for penetrating10 the strongholds of the allied11 forces could only be ascertained12 by experience.
The inhabitants of Florida had urged on the war. They held their enemy in great contempt. They were slaveholders, accustomed to look upon the negro as an inferior being, possessed14 of very limited reasoning powers, and devoid15 of the nobler sentiments which adorn16 the human character. They do not appear to have supposed the African capable of noble aspirations17, or of manly18 effort. They were also accustomed to look upon the Indians with about the same degree of contempt. Regarding the war as commenced and prosecuted19 for their own benefit, they felt authorized20 in some degree to dictate21 the manner in which it should be conducted.
General Scott, bred to the profession of arms, and conscious of that self-respect which was due to an officer of his rank, paid but little attention to their attempts at interference with his official duties. This was regarded as offensive, and the delegate in Congress from that Territory demanded his withdrawal22 from the command.
General Jessup, at that time in command of the army in Georgia, operating against the Creek5 Indians, in order to compel them to emigrate West, also wrote a letter (June 20), addressed to a private citizen of Washington City,[86] criticising General Scott’s policy. This letter was placed in the hands of President Jackson, who, after reading it, indorsed upon it as follows:
“Referred to the Secretary of War, that he forthwith order General Scott to this place, in order that an inquiry may be had into the unaccountable delays in prosecuting23 the Creek war, and the failure of the campaign in Florida. Let General Jessup assume the command.[87]
A. J.”
It is very evident that General Jackson, when speaking of the “unaccountable delays” of a few months, had little expectation that under the direction of his most favorite officer the war would continue during his life, and that he would leave another generation involved in hostilities, for the purpose of enslaving persons whom he had ordered to be “returned to their masters” twenty years previously24. But it is also apparent that neither the President, nor Congress, nor the officers of the army, had any just conceptions of that love of liberty which nerved the Exiles to effort, and stimulated25 them to encounter every hardship and privation, and suffering and danger, rather than be delivered over to degrading bondage26.
Congress, participating in the general astonishment27 at the failure of our arms to conquer a handful of Indians and negroes, adopted a resolution, calling on the President for information touching28 that subject. In answer to this resolution, General Cass, Secretary of War, transmitted voluminous papers to Congress, which may be found in the Executive Documents of the second session, Twenty-fourth Congress, from which much of our information is derived29.
The Secretary of War issued the order for General Scott to retire, and another for General Jessup to assume the command.
A court of inquiry was duly convened30 for the purpose of ascertaining31 the cause of delay under General Scott.[88]
Several months now passed without any important incident to mark the progress of hostilities. As the summer approached and the sickly season commenced, General Scott left Florida, and the command of the army, for the time, devolved on General C. K. Call. The allied forces seemed to have retired32 to the interior, and were supposed to be engaged in raising corn and other provisions, for their support during the coming winter, and all appeared quiet.
Osceola, after the death of Thompson at Fort King, had become a master-spirit among the Seminoles. He had conducted bravely during the battle with General Clinch33, and equally so in the several conflicts with General Gaines, and had been raised to the dignity of a chief. He now conceived, and executed, one of the boldest movements ever made by savages34 against a fortified35 post manned by regular troops.
On the ninth of June, with three hundred warriors36, some sixty of whom were negroes, he attacked the stockade37 at Micanopy, garrisoned38 by an equal force of disciplined troops, under the command of Major Heilman. The assault was maintained with determined obstinacy39 for an hour and a half, the assailants boldly facing the artillery40, which was brought to bear upon them; and when they left the scene of action, they carried away their dead and wounded.
Although this attack proved unsuccessful, it gave the country to understand, in some degree, the character of the enemy with whom our Government was contending.
Major Heilman, in his report, regrets the severe wound of Capt. Lee; but says nothing of his other loss, or that of the allies, either in killed or wounded. He himself died soon after, from excessive fatigue41 during the action.
Soon after this attack the allies became again active, making their appearance at various points on the frontier, again spreading devastation42 wherever they went.
Major General Jessup continued in Georgia, engaged in constraining43 the Creeks to emigrate. In this he was very successful, and for that reason was ordered to take command of the army in Florida. With this view he repaired to Tallahasse, where he met General Call, who laid before him a plan, which he had conceived, for an expedition to Withlacoochee. General Jessup, not having received his instructions for prosecuting the campaign, refused to assume the command at that time, leaving General Call to carry out his contemplated44 movement.
General Clinch owned a plantation45 some twenty miles northwesterly of Fort King. During the early part of the season he had encamped there with his troops, and planted sugar-cane, and other crops; and, being occupied as a military post, he gave it the name of “Fort Drane.”
In consequence of the constant depredations46 committed by the enemy, he was directed to fall back to an Indian town called “Micanopy,” which thereby47 became an outpost. He left Fort Drane in July, when his crops were growing luxuriantly; and Osceola, being in the vicinity with about a hundred followers48, consisting of Indians and Exiles, took possession of this plantation, and occupied it with apparent pride, at having driven its veteran owner back farther towards the settlements.
On the twelfth of August, Major Pearce, being in command at Micanopy, left that station, with one piece of artillery and one hundred and ten regular troops, for the purpose of attacking the allies at Fort Drane. He reached the plantation, situated49 eight miles from Micanopy, at sunrise, and commenced the attack. Osceola and his followers fell back to a hommock, where they made a stand. The number of men engaged were about equal; Major Pearce and Osceola were known as gallant warriors; of course, the battle was warm and well contested.
After an engagement of an hour and a quarter, Major Pearce fell back; and the allied forces showing no disposition50 to follow him into the open fields, he retreated to Micanopy, leaving them in possession of the field of battle. Major Pearce’s loss was reported to be one killed and sixteen wounded.
Before leaving Alabama, John A. Campbell, aid to General Jessup, acting51 under direction of that officer, entered into a written contract with certain Creek chiefs and warriors. Being somewhat extraordinary in its character, and rendered still more so by the construction given to it by the Administration and the Indians, it is deemed worthy52 of being inserted. The following is the language of the instrument:
“The State of Alabama, Tallapoosa County.
This contract, entered into between the United States of America on the first part, and the Creek tribe of Indians on the other part, Witnesseth: That upon the consideration hereafter mentioned, the party of the first part agrees to advance to the party of the second part the sum of thirty-one thousand nine hundred dollars, to be applied53 to the payment of the debts due by the Creek Nation of Indians. And the party of the second part hereby covenants54, and agrees to furnish from their tribe, the number of from six hundred to one thousand men, for service against the Seminoles, to be continued in service until the same shall be conquered; they to receive the pay and emoluments55, and equipments, of soldiers in the army of the United States, and such plunder56 as they may take from the Seminoles.”
“And the party of the second part releases, transfers and assigns to the party of the first part, all their right, title, claim, interest and demand in and to the annuity57 granted by the party of the first part to the party of the second part, for the year 1837. In witness whereof, I, John A. Campbell, on the part of the United States, do hereby set my hand and affix58 my seal, the 28th of August, 1836.”
“JOHN A. CAMPBELL, [L.S.]”
“In witness whereof, we, the Chiefs and Head-men of said tribe, on the behalf of said Nation, do hereby set our hands and affix our seals, the 28th of August, 1836.”
“HYPOTHLE YOHOLA, his X mark, [L.S.]
LITTLE DOCTOR, his X mark, [L.S.]
TUCKABATCHEE MICO, his X mark, [L.S.]
YELCO HAYO, his X mark,[L.S.]”
“Attest: EDWARD HAWICK,
BARENT DUBOIS.”
The real character of this contract will at once be seen when the reader shall be reminded, that the laws of the United States had, in the most specific manner, prescribed the amount to be paid each man who should enter the military service of the Government, and the manner and time of payment; nor had there been any act passed enabling General Jessup, or the Secretary of War, or the President, to employ any other persons in the army except those enlisted59 in the ordinary mode; yet this contract was duly approved by the War Department, at that time under the direction of General Cass. That provision which gives to the Creek warriors such plunder as they might capture, has been denounced as “piratical;” and we are constrained60 to admit there is some degree of propriety61 in this denunciation, when we find that General Jessup, by whose orders it was framed, and General Cass, Secretary of War, who approved it, and the Creek Warriors who signed it, all understood that the Creeks were to hold as slaves all the negroes they might capture, while engaged in the service of the United States. It was this construction which subsequently involved the War Department in difficulties, from which it has never been able to extricate62 itself.
The barbarous practice of enslaving prisoners captured in war, had been repudiated63 by all Christian64 nations for more than two hundred years. The civilization of the sixteenth century had brought that atrocious practice into disrepute, which was now resorted to and renewed in the nineteenth, by this American Republic, so boastful of its refinement65 and Christianity. While the laws of the United States provided for an ignominious66 punishment of those who seize the stupid heathen of Africa and enslave them, our nation was taxing its resources, employing our army and paying out its funds, to employ heathen allies to capture and enslave a people who for generations had been free.
On the nineteenth of September, General Armstrong, with a brigade of twelve hundred Tennessee militia67, was ordered to Suwanee “Old Town.” Here he was met by a detachment of two hundred Creek warriors, under Major Brown, and a battalion68 of Florida militia, under Colonel Warren; and with this formidable army, Governor Call moved upon Withlacoochee. On coming near the stream he encamped.
During the darkness of night the allies fired upon his troops, and kept them in a state of alarm. In the morning it was found that the river had suddenly risen, which rendered it difficult for the troops to cross; and this gallant army returned to Fort Drane for supplies without firing a gun or seeing an enemy, leaving the allies in peaceful possession of the country.
But the Indians and Exiles now found themselves almost daily threatened in their own fastnesses. Along the Withlacoochee were many small villages and plantations69 occupied almost exclusively by Exiles. Large crops of corn and other vegetables had been raised there during the season, and it was known that stores of provisions were located upon various islands surrounded by the swamps lying along that river, and in the great morass70 called the “Wahoo Swamp;” while it was equally known that many families of the Exiles were residing in that vicinity. It was therefore deemed important to destroy those villages and obtain the supplies which they contained.
General Armstrong, with five hundred mounted men, while marching toward these villages on the fourteenth of November, encountered a strong force consisting of Indians and Exiles. The conflict was spirited. In forty minutes, eleven of Armstrong’s men fell before the deadly aim of the allies. He, however, drove them from the field, but they took with them their dead and wounded. This fact with savages is regarded the only test of success in battle: they never acknowledge defeat while they hold possession of their dead and wounded.
But the time drew near when they were constrained to acknowledge a defeat. On the eighteenth of November, a regiment71 of Tennesseeans, consisting of about five hundred, encountered a body of the enemy whose numbers are not given by any officer or historian whom we have consulted. They were posted in a hommock. The Tennesseeans were the assailing72 party. The battle continued more than two hours, when the allies fled, leaving upon the field twenty-five Indians and Africans slain73 in battle; while the loss of the assailants was still larger. This was the best contested battle which occurred during the campaign of 1836, and the first in which the allies left their dead in possession of our troops.
This defeat appears to have taught the allies to be cautious, and stimulated a desire to wipe out the impression which their defeat was calculated to make upon the public mind.
General Call having formed a junction74 with Major Pearce of the regular service, with nearly three hundred regular troops under his command, making in all more than one thousand men, entered the great Wahoo Swamp on the twenty-first of November. Their intention was to obtain the provisions supposed to be deposited in the villages situated upon the islands in that extensive morass. But they were attacked soon after entering the swamp. The fire at first was principally concentrated upon the Creek Indians, the mercenary troops employed by General Jessup. Major Pearce hastened to their relief. The fire then became general. The men were in a swamp which was nearly covered with water, and much of it with a thick underbrush. After maintaining the battle for a time, the Indians fell back, crossed the river, and formed upon its bank, each man protected by a log or tree. The river was turbid75 and appeared difficult to pass. As our troops approached it, the fire upon them was severe. Captain Moniac, of the Creek warriors, was killed while examining the stream to ascertain13 if it could be forded. Others were wounded. The allied force appeared determined to make their final stand upon this stream. Behind them were their wives and children, their provisions, their homes and firesides.
General Call and his troops now obtained an opportunity of fighting the enemy; a privilege which he had long sought, though he embraced it under disadvantageous circumstances. Our troops had great inducements to advance, but the dangers corresponded with the advantages to be gained.[89] General Call, however, concluded to withdraw; and after sustaining a heavy loss he retreated and left the allies in possession of the field. They very correctly, feeling that their success depended greatly upon the position they had taken, did not pursue General Call, who, with his whole force, retired to Volusi to recruit. His loss was fifteen killed and thirty wounded.
It is certain the allies manifested great skill in selecting their place of attack, and the position for their final stand. Their success greatly encouraged them, and the gallantry displayed by the Exiles served to increase their influence with the Indians.
The Creek warriors had shown themselves very efficient in this expedition, but they suffered severely76; and at no subsequent period did they maintain their former character as warriors. They had been greatly stimulated in this conflict with the expectation of capturing women and children, whom they expected to seize and sell as slaves. But so far as that object was concerned, their warriors who fell in this battle died ingloriously, and the result discouraged the survivors77.
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1
hostilities
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| n.战争；敌意(hostility的复数)；敌对状态；战事 | |
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inquiry
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| n.打听，询问，调查，查问 | |
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3
gallant
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| adj.英勇的，豪侠的；(向女人)献殷勤的 | |
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creeks
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| n.小湾( creek的名词复数 )；小港；小河；小溪 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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valor
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| n.勇气，英勇 | |
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immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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procuring
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| v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条 | |
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penetrating
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| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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allied
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| adj.协约国的；同盟国的 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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devoid
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| adj.全无的，缺乏的 | |
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adorn
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| vt.使美化，装饰 | |
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aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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prosecuted
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| a.被起诉的 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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dictate
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| v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令 | |
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withdrawal
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| n.取回，提款；撤退，撤军；收回，撤销 | |
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prosecuting
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| 检举、告发某人( prosecute的现在分词 )； 对某人提起公诉； 继续从事（某事物）； 担任控方律师 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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stimulated
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| a.刺激的 | |
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bondage
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| n.奴役，束缚 | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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convened
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| 召开( convene的过去式 )； 召集； （为正式会议而）聚集； 集合 | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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clinch
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| v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench | |
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savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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fortified
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| adj. 加强的 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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stockade
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| n.栅栏，围栏；v.用栅栏防护 | |
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garrisoned
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| 卫戍部队守备( garrison的过去式和过去分词 )； 派部队驻防 | |
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obstinacy
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| n.顽固；（病痛等）难治 | |
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40
artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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41
fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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42
devastation
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| n.毁坏；荒废；极度震惊或悲伤 | |
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43
constraining
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| 强迫( constrain的现在分词 )； 强使； 限制； 约束 | |
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44
contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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45
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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46
depredations
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| n.劫掠，毁坏( depredation的名词复数 ) | |
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47
thereby
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| adv.因此，从而 | |
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48
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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49
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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50
disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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51
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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52
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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53
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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54
covenants
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| n.（有法律约束的）协议( covenant的名词复数 )；盟约；公约；（向慈善事业、信托基金会等定期捐款的）契约书 | |
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55
emoluments
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| n.报酬，薪水( emolument的名词复数 ) | |
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56
plunder
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| vt.劫掠财物，掠夺；n.劫掠物，赃物；劫掠 | |
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57
annuity
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| n.年金；养老金 | |
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58
affix
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| n.附件，附录 vt.附贴，盖(章)，签署 | |
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59
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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60
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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61
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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62
extricate
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| v.拯救，救出；解脱 | |
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63
repudiated
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| v.（正式地）否认( repudiate的过去式和过去分词 )；拒绝接受；拒绝与…往来；拒不履行（法律义务） | |
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64
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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65
refinement
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| n.文雅；高尚；精美；精制；精炼 | |
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66
ignominious
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| adj.可鄙的，不光彩的，耻辱的 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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battalion
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| n.营；部队；大队(的人) | |
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69
plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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morass
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| n.沼泽，困境 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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assailing
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| v.攻击( assail的现在分词 )；困扰；质问；毅然应对 | |
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slain
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| 杀死，宰杀，杀戮( slay的过去分词 )； (slay的过去分词) | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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