HOSTILITIES¹ CONTINUED.

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

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