And it was believed that no communication could be opened with them. However the general was determined to make the attempt, and finding some prisoners at Gary's Ferry, he treated them kindly for a while, then set them at liberty, with the request that they would proceed to the hostiles and invite them to a parley. At or about the same time Gen. Taylor sent out some of "his Indians, in whose sincerity and honesty he had great confidence;" but these joined the enemy and never returned, and the prisoners returned after some time, and said they could not find their people. In the mean time, on the 22 April, about 100 Tallabassies, under the chief Nea Stoco Matla, marched to Tampa in the night, and forced away about 30 of their countrymen, who were waiting there to be shipped to the west. At length, on the 17th of May, the general got a number of chiefs together, from the southern part of the peninsula, by the negotiation of Col. Harney, and an amicable arrangement was made, by which they were to remain in the country for the present, or until they could be assured of the prosperous condition of their friends who had emigrated. The general then left Florida. On the 3 May, five persons were killed on the Santa Fee. On the same day Lieut. Hulbert and a man named O'Driscoll were killed at Fourteenmile Creek. The express rider between Fort Frank Brooke and Fort Andrews not arriving as usual, Lieut. Hulbert went out with ten men to learn the cause. Being in advance of his men, he fell into an ambush, and was thus cut off. He belonged to New York, and had graduated at West Point. About sunset on the 28 May, a body of Indians surround the dwelling of Mr. James Osteen, of Alligator, shoot him near his stable, badly wound a Mr Dell, and also a sister of Mr. Osteen. Mrs. Osteen and her children escape to the nearest house. These and numerous other equally horrid affairs happening immediately after the treaty just made, destroyed all confidence in its utility. The people of Florida declared they would take the management of the war into their own hands, and early in June the government of the territory offered a reward of 200 dollars for every Indian killed or taken. And Soon after, TIGERTAIL, the chief of the Tallahassies, issued a proclamation declaring the treaty made between Gen. Macomb and Chitto Tustenuggee null and void. It does not appear that the two principal chiefs of the Seminoles, Tigertail and Sam Jones, had any thing to do with Gen. Macomb's treaty. On the 13 July, between 9 and 10 at night, a small party of Indians attack the family of Mr. G. Chairs, 10 miles from Tallahassee, and kill Mrs. Chairs and two children. On the 23d, Col. Harney was attacked on the Colooshatchie or Synebal River, and had 13 out of 18 of his men killed. The colonel had gone to this place to establish a trading house, agreeably to the treaty made at Fort King between some of the Seminoles and Gen. Macomb, before spoken of. Thus that treaty (which was only verbal) was either made on the part of the Indians to deceive the general, or some Indians made it without any authority from their nation; the latter was doubtless the fact. When the news of Col. Harney's surprise reached Fort Mellon, on the 31st, some 50 Indians, who had come into that neighborhood, were alarmed for their safety, and fled; but soon after, about 45 of them came in to talk with Lieut. Hanson, and were surrounded and taken; two men, in attempting to escape, were shot down and killed. About this time, as a company of soldiers were building a bridge in Middle Florida, about two miles from a post on the Suanee, they were surprised by the Indians, and 6 of their number killed. At Fort Wheelock, two or three soldiers are killed while bathing in Orange Lake. On the 27 September, a party fall upon the family of a Mr. Bunch, on the Wakulla, murder Mrs. Bunch and one child, and burn the house. Mr. Whitaker, a near neighbor, is severely wounded. Early in October, it was announced that 7,000 regular troops were to pe sent to Florida, and that Gen. Taylor had been authorized to send to Cuba for a large number of bloodhounds, to enable them to scent out the In lians. When it was known throughout the country that dogs were to be employed against them, there was a general burst of indignation; but though it is a fact that the dogs were procured and brought to Florida, with Spaniards to direct them, yet we believe they entirely failed in the experiment; there being but here and there a solitary instance of their performing the service for which they were intended. If the originators of this dog-scheme had in view the destruction of the Indians in the manner they were destroyed by the fol lowers of Columbus, they deserve not the rights of humanity, but should rather be hunted out of society by beasts as savage as themselves, if such could be found. How much was effected by the hounds, it is difficult to tell, for long before their arrival in the country, the editors of papers in that re gion had probably concluded upon what course they would pursue, when official accounts from dogs should be offered for publication; but occasionally a reckless fellow dropped a paragraph like the following: "The Cuba dogs have proved quite beneficial. They caught five Indians the other day, in Middle Florida, handsomely." In March, (1840,) "Col. Twiggs made a 15 days' scout up the St. Johns River with the bloodhounds. On his return, it was stated that they were found to be perfectly useless; all attempts to induce them to take the trail of the Indians proving unsuccessful. These and other trials are evidences sufficient to put an end to all further anxiety on the part of the northern sentimentalists." From such statements we are left to make up such accounts as we may, of what was effected by the bloodhounds They will be noticed in the order of time as we proceed. During this expedition, two Indians were discovered in a boat and shot one of whom was said to be a brother of Sam Jones. On the 19 October, a party of dragoons were fired upon while crossing the Oscilla, and had 7 of their number killed. Some Indians, pretending friendship, had encamped about two miles from the fort, on New River; and having become familiar with the soldiers, invited them all to a dance, which they were to have on the night of the 27 September; but three, however, had the temerity to go, and they were all killed. It was supposed they intended or were in hopes of drawing out the whole garrison, which if they had, their fate would have been the same. This was but a retaliation. A baggagewagon passing between Micanopy and Fort Wheelock, with an escort of seven men, was taken by the Indians on the 3 November; the driver was mortally wounded, and another man severely; killing and wounding some 6 or 7 mules and horses; 50 Indians were said to have done this mischief; but if there had been half that number, it is exceeding doubtful whether either of the seven men would have escaped. The climate, as well as the Seminoles, continued to do its work also. On the 5 November, Lieut. Rodney died at St. Augustine, and the next day, Quartermaster M'Crabb died at the same place. On the 9 November, the house of Mr. John Johnson was attacked, on the Oscilla, in which four negroes and one white boy were killed. Four days after, a party took Alfred Oliver's house, on the Ocloknee, 12 miles to the westward of Tallahassee, and killed his son. On the 25th, as Capt. Searle is proceeding in a carriage from St. Augustine to Picolata, he was fired upon, when about 6 miles out, and mortally wounded; a young man, a Polander, who was riding on horseback behind him, was killed upon the spot. On the same day, a Mr. Weedman, with his son, proceeded to visit his farm, three and a half miles only from St. Augustine, on the same road. It was the first time he had made the attempt since the war began, and by it he now lost his life, being shot dead by some concealed Indians; and his son was badly wounded. During this month, Gov. Call, with some 200 or 300 men, scoured Middle Florida, and "drove up all the Indians" in their lines of march. They presumed they would not "light down again" for some time. However, in a few days after, the house of Maj. J. S. Taylor, about 6 miles from Monticello, was burnt down, but the family escaped. This act was laid to the Indians, and we cannot undertake to say they did not do it, for they certainly were the possessors of the country CHAPTER XXL EVENTS OF THE YEAR 1840. A train of wigons taken-Lieut. Whedan killed-Dog exploits-Families destroyed~ Defeat of Capt. Ruins-Lieut. Sanderson's defeat-Col. Riley's exploit-Col. Green's-Col. Harney's-A company of players attacked-Cow Creek skirmishIndian Key destroyed-Lieut. Arthur's exploit-Eleven families destroyedCapt. Beall's fight-Lieut. Hanson's battle-Indian hanged-Pacification attemptor through a deputation of Seminoles from Arkansas-It fails-Whites taken in aid ing Indians-Wild Cat's exploit-Sad accident-L'eut. Judd ambushed-Fort Hanson burnt-Col. Harney's voyage to the Everglades-Hangs nine Indians-The chief CHIAKIKA killed-Fort Walker attacked-Capt. Davidson dies-Lieut. Sher wood's ambush, and death of Mrs. MONTGOMERY. "You plough the Indian's grave; you till his land Is there no blood, white man, upon your hand? WE have now arrived at the beginning of the year 1840. On the first day of February of this year, a detachment of men, sent in pursuit of deserters were fired on near Fort Brooke, by which three of the detachment wer wounded. A sergeant, whose horse was shot from under him, was supposed to have been killed. Four days after, some 10 or 15 Indians captured a train of 12 wagons, about 10 miles from Gary's Ferry, as they were returning to that place with provisions and stores from the interior. They killed one man, and wounded four or five mules, and made off with the property. On the 22 February, as Lieut. Whedan, with a detachment of volunteers. was in pursuit of Indians upon a fresh trail near the Calico Hills, in the vicinity of Magnolia, he fell into an ambush, and was killed; his men ran away and left him to the Indians. About a month after, namely, March 18, the Indians made a spirited attempt to add to their stock of provisions. They attacked another train of wagons on its way from Post No. 2 to Micanopy, killed three men and wounded others; but found no booty, as the wagons were only going after stores. This was done in spite of what a company of soldiers could do, who were present as an escort. But a few days previous, (March 8th,) two men are killed between "Charles Old Town" and Micanopy; and, on the 10th, a Methodist minister, named M'Rea, was killed at "Suggs Old Place," between Wahcahota and Micanopy. Ou the 26 March, some Indians crawled up within 200 yards of the pickets at Fort King, aud killed two soldiers. About the beginning of March, somewhere in Middle Florida, two bloodhounds captured an Indian; one seized him by the throat, while the whites came up and took him. He was greatly terrified, and pointed out where others might be found; and soon after they captured four more. On 13 March, nine dogs were announced as having arrived at Gary's Ferry, and that they were to be employed by Col. Twiggs, of the 2d dragoons, ou a contemplated expedition to the Ocklawaha. The officers under whom they were to serve, were probably desirous to know how much they might depend upon them, and, therefore, on the next Sunday, made the following experiment in their tactics. An Indian prisoner was sent out, (without the knowledge of the dogs,) with orders to climb a tree at some five miles' distance. He did so; and the bounds were put upon his trail. The dog captain, or leader, went directly to the tree, and attempted to climb it, and had actually got up six feet, when the others arrived. Such was the report of the affair; which report, whether from the principal officer under whose conduct it was performed, or from the chief leader of the dogs, we are uninformed. Towards the end of April, a small band of Indians attacked a guard of six men, who were convoying a wagon from Fort Fanning to Deadman's Bay The officer commanding was badly wounded; but the fight was continued several hours, until all their ammunition was spent, when they charged the Indians, and made good their retreat. The attacking party lost one man and "a big negro." About the same time, the family of a Mr. M’Lane, on the Togolee, was assaulted, and Mrs. M'Lane and three of her children were barbarously murdered. About 8 miles from Blount's Town, the family of a Mr. Lamb was destroyed; and before the end of the month three others met the same fate. On the 28 April, as Capt. Rains was returning from a scout, with 18 men, he was fired upon from an ambush by a large body of Indians, within two miles of Fort King, and had 4 men killed, and 5 wounded; among the latter was the captain, severely. The whites reported that they killed three of the Indians. From another source, the affair of Capt. Rains is related as follows:Some of his men had been lately killed by the Indians, "as they left the garrison" of Fort King, and he was determined to show them the same kind of play; accordingly, he placed some shells under a blanket, within hearing distance, and in the night he heard an explosion. Next morning, he took 18 men, and marched to the place where the shells had been deposited. He found no Indians, either dead or alive, but traces of blood, pony tracks, and fragments of garments. While examining these, all at once the Indians rose up, as it were, out of the ground, and nearly surrounded him and his little band; the terrible HALEC TUSTENUGGE was at their head, and with the most deafening yells rushed to the fight. The whites charged, and the Indians took to the trees, and thus prolonged the battle. At length, Halec, after desperately wounding Capt. Rains, fell himself, and was borne off by his warriors. The captain would doubtless have been despatched by the mighty arm of the chief, had not Serg. Jackson, too, badly wounded, rushed to his rescue, and shot Tustenugge. At this stage of aflairs, the fight seems to have ended, and, as usual, the whites hastened away to report a victory. They rated the Indians at 93; but how they came by this minute information, we are not informed. But their bravery and courage are, probably, far less questionable than their statement of the number of their equally brave enemy. The same night, or the next, some Indians went to Stanley's plantation, within three miles of Newnansville, where they killed 12 hogs, cut down the fruit-trees, and burnt the buildings, by which 800 bushels of corn were consumed. About the same time, a volunteer, named Sanders, was killed, about four miles from Newnansville; and another man, in company with him, was badly wounded. On the 19 May, as Lieut. Martin and three other men were proceeding from Micanopy to Wakahoota, in charge of a government wagon, they were all cut off. The wagoner escaped, and carrying the intelligence to Micanopy, Lieut. Sanderson sallied out with 17 men, and pursued the Indians. He soon fell in with them, but was defeated, and himself, with 9 men, killed, besides three bloodhounds and their keepers; four other men were missing. Some time in June, Col. Riley surprised an Indian camp on the Ouithlaroochee, killed two warriors, and took a man, woman, and child, prisoners. The man soon after escaped, and in pursuit of him, Capt. Mason was accidentally shot by his own men. About the same time, Col. Greene fell upon a small party of Indians in Middle Florida, killed three, and a white man with them. Towards the end of the month, Col. Harney returned from a long expedition, in which he captured Wild Cat's mother and daughter, liberated a negro, who had been a prisoner near two years, and was the only survivor of the crew of a vessel wrecked at New Smyrna. He also destroyed 27 cornfields of the Indians. When Dr. Cotton Mather was about to write the history of a sanguinary massacre, which happened at Durham in New Hampshire, he began with the ominous expression of "Bloody fishing at Oyster River!" We have now to record a bloody tragedy among tragedians A Mr. Forbes, it appears, was not satisfied with what tragedies he could manufacture elsewhere, but must needs go to that country of tragedies, Florida, with his theatrical corps, as though the people there would prefer counterfeit to the real ones, or had not enough of both; doubtless the whites much preferred the former; but not să with the Indians, where they could have a hand in them. This company of players was in two wagons, passing from Picolata to St. Augustine, on the 23 May, and when within 5 or 6 miles of the latter place, were attacked by a arge number of Indians under WILD CAT, and four of them killed. How many were in the company we are not told; but Forbes and the females escaped. The Indians, immediately after, surrounded Fort Searle, danced about it in defiance, and dared the soldiers to come out and fight; but the garrison was too weak to make a sortie. We have to close the relation of this tragedy with a comedy. The Indians had found time, before appearing at Fort Searle, to dress themselves in such of the actors' clothes as they had taken. Wild Cat had got on the turban of Othello; and others had sashes and spangles, which they took care to display to advantage. Wild Cat showed a rich velvet dress to some negroes who afterwards came in, and told them he would not take a hundred head of cattle for it. At Cow Creek Hommock, near Fort White, there was a skirmish, on the 12 July, between Serg. Zeigler and three or four men, and 21 Indians. A corporal and two soldiers were killed, and the others were wounded. On the 7 August, there happened a most horrid massacre at Indian Key. Six persons were killed by the Indians in their barbarous manner; among whom was Dr. Henry Perrine, formerly of Connecticut, a scientific gentleman, who had located himself there for the purpose of cultivating some rare plants which he had obtained in South America, while residing there as consul. There were upon Indian Key, at the time of this massacre, 44 people, all of whom had the good fortune to escape, except the six before named. All the houses were burned except one. The number of Indians was said to be 100 or 150. On the 10 August, word was brought to Fort Barkee, that an encampment of Indians was discovered, about seven miles from thence, on the road to Fort Mitchell. Lieut. B. H. Arthur immediately marched out, with "a company of soldiers," to surprise them. The object was effected; two Indians were killed, one wounded, and 3 rifles taken. Early in the morning of the same day, the house of Mr. Wyley Jones, on the Econfina, about 6 miles north of the St. Joseph's, was attacked and burnt: the Indians shot Mrs. Jones and one of her children; a little daughter of 13 conveyed away four of her younger brothers and sisters to a safe place, and then returned to see what had become of her mother. She found her only time enough to see her expire! and then made a second escape! About the middle of August, eleven fainilies are said to have been broken up, on the Suanee River, and a great number of people killed. Among them was the family of a Mr. Courcy. He was from home at the time, and on his return, found his wife and six children murdered, and left in the most bar. barous manner, here and there lying about the fields where they fell. Of Mr. Howell's family, his wife and one child were killed, and three other chil dren escaped. A Mrs. Green and one child were also murdered. A Mrs. Patrick was shot in her house while preparing a bed for her children! Mr. Thomas Davis and two children, and Mr. Patrick's daughter, all murdered. On the 4 September, as Capt. B. L. Beall, with 10 or 12 men, was upon a scout, he came suddenly upon about 30 Indians, who all escaped but four; the rest secured themselves in a swamp on Wacoosasa River. One of the prisoners was said to be Holatoochee, a sub-chief of the Mikasaukies. With these prisoners several guns were taken "in good ›rder,” and “a large deerskin full of honey." But two days after, Lieut. W. K. Hanson had a smart battle with some Seminoles, near Fort Wekahoota. Word being brought to the seutenant then at that post, that Indians were in the vicinity, he immediately marched cut with 35 regulars; and when one and a half miles from the fort, was fired upon from a gloomy hommock, which obliged him to retreat about 300 yards to an open wood, closely pursued by the Indians. Here he made a stand, and continued the fight about half an hour, at which time the Indians, to decoy him, retreated again to the hommock; but Lieut. Hanson, having now five of his men killed and wounded, concluded to retreat while he was at lib erty to do so. The firing had brought out a reënforcement under Capt. Haw |