up by a boat from the schooner Medium. The boat in which the family escaped was one that the Indians were loading with plunder from the store; it had in it a barrel of flour, one box of tobacco, soap, brandy, and molasses, and part of a musquito-bar. When they reached the vessel they found it to be one o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Howe, wife, and five children, Captain Houseman and wife, and Captain Otis, had reached the vessel before. Mrs. Perrine and children were immediately taken down into the cabin, and told to take any thing they could find to cover themselves with, having escaped from the house in their nightclothes. Mr. Howe afterwards found some dresses that the Indians had scattered, which were distributed. Friday and Saturday night they were on board the transport, where every service and attention that was in their power was rendered by the captain of the transport, and officers McCreery and Murray, of the United States navy.

"On Saturday night they were very much alarmed by hearing the report of two rifles, a signal which had been agreed upon, in case the Indians attacked Tea-Table Key, but it afterwards proved to have been a false alarm. Although there was a violent storm and a heavy sea, they begged to be permitted to get into an open boat and leave the vessel, thinking every moment the Indians would be upon them; but the captain kindly refused to permit them to leave the vessel in such a storm, and thus saved them from a watery grave. On Saturday the United States schooner Flirt arrived, and Captain McLaughlin, immediately on learning the situation of those on board the Medium, kindly offered the use of his private state-room, which was accepted. On Monday the Flirt proceeded to Cape Florida, where she waited until Saturday for the steamer Santee, in which Dr. Perrine's family took passage for St. Augustine.

"Gratefully will ever be recollected by the sufferers the manifold kindnesses and attention received at the hands of Captain McLaughlin and his officers, in their destitute situation."

CHAPTER IV.

FROM JUNE 1840, TO MAY 1841.

State of affairs in Florida.-General Z. Taylor relinquishes the command of the army to General Armistead.-Strength of the army, regulars and militia.-Appropriations.-Attack of the Indians upon a detachment of the 7th infantry between Fort Micanopy and Watkahoota.-Murder of Mrs. Montgomery.-Death of Lieutenant W. M. Sherwood, commanding the party, and Sergeant-Major CarollAffair with Halleck Tustenugge and band at Orange Creek.--Resolute conduct of Lieutenant Alburtis, 2d infantry, and his men.-Troops take the field.-Colonel Worth's interview with Coacoochee or Wild Cat, at Camp Cummings.-Consents to assemble his band, and cease hostilities.-His appearance, and that of his followers, in coming into camp.-His talk.-He goes out again and returns.-Proceeds to Fort Brooke to see General Armistead.-Entire failure of negotiations through friendly Indians.-Coacoochee promises to assemble his band at Fort Pierce-His supposed infidelity there-Orders transmitted for his seizure.-General Armistead, in compliance with orders from Washington, relinquishes the command of the army to Colonel W. J. Worth, 8th regiment of infantry.

On the 1st of January, 1841, the Florida war was no nearer a conclusion than the year previous. The difficulties which had obstructed the efforts of commanders still existed, without any apparent or possible means of attaining success. The Indians in their fastnesses were intractable, defying the exertions of troops, or the overtures of friendly messengers. Those who sought interviews with the whites, came to procure provisions, and practice the duplicity and cunning which had distinguished their conduct throughout this protracted war.

Brevet Brigadier-General W. R. Armistead, 3d artillery, U. S. A., relieved Brevet Brigadier-General Z. Taylor, 6th infantry, U. S. A., on the 6th of May, 1840, and established his head-quarters at St. Augustine, East Florida. Expeditions were dispatched in various quarters, which, as was reported, from the extreme heat of the season, the unknown haunts of the Indians, and sickness among the troops, frustrated the operations of the commanding general, who otherwise conducted the campaign' with zeal and energy. These results, at this period, had caused, in the army and country, a general feeling of despair. All resources seemed to be exhausted; the troops lay in camp unoccupied, and the enemy roamed unmolested, striking a blow wherever and whenever his inclination or wants dictated. Peace and war, friendship and hostility, went hand in hand, so often alternated, that defeat and disappointment were the inevitable result. The strength of the army present for duty was 3403 non-commissioned officers and privates, and 241 commissioned officers; 564 comprised the number sick, together with seven commissioned officers. The aggregate of the army of Florida, present and absent, was 4941 men; this was composed of ten companies 2d

dragoons, nine companies 3d artillery, and the 1st, 2d, 3d, 6th, 7th, and 8th regiments of infantry. This force was posted at the numerous points throughout the territory, to prevent, if possible, the encroachments of the Indians upon the settlements, and occasionally make excursions, as circumstances required, without any organized system of co-operation. 1500 militia, 1000 mounted, and 500 foot, were being raised, to co-operate with the regular troops in protecting the border and subduing the enemy. Brigadier-General Leigh Reid, of Tallahassee, was placed in command; an officer of intelligence and merit. This fatal paralysis, neither peace nor war, prostrated every exertion, and crushed the ardent anticipations of officers and men. If Indians were found, they availed themselves of the truce, received kindness and attention, obtained subsistence and ammunition; improving the first opportunity to effect their escape, exulting among their companions at their own sagacity and the supineness of the white men. A party of twelve Seminoles and Mickasukies, from Arkansas, were operating in a friendly manner to obtain interviews with the hostiles. The sincerity of their acts and professions were often doubted; they, however, with difficulty could approach the enemy, either from cowardice or want of knowledge, in the almost impenetrable hammocks. Through their exertions, the commanding general obtained an interview with Halleck-Tustenuggee and Tigertail, two most crafty and notable chiefs, near Horse-Shoe Hammock, in the vicinity of Fort King, on the 10th of November, 1840. These chiefs came with forty warriors, artfully designing to strike a fatal blow, as inducement offered, or sagaciously improve the proffers of peace, and supply themselves with subsistence and ammunition. The general approached the hammock accompanied by several officers, when Halleck-Tustenuggee cautiously came out to meet him, bearing a white flag. His manner was humble and subdued; he talked calmly and feelingly upon the long and sanguinary continuance of hostilities, 'manifesting much interest that the contest should be closed. After earnest persuasion, he consented to return with the general to Fort King. His warriors, during the conversation, lay secreted in the hammock. At Fort King he remained four days, visited constantly by small parties of his band, who returned by sundown to their unknown camp, supplied with enough to eat and to drink. In this way they lingered about the camp, giving the most ardent assurances of peace and friendship, by repeated talks, until the morning of the 14th of November, when it was announced that the entire party had fled! headed by the chiefs who commanded it. Both the chiefs slept in camp that night, with twenty men. Their wants were supplied; their object was accomplished; farther intercourse with the whites consequently

ceased. Pursuit by the troops in camp was immediately given, but without success; not even a track could be discovered. This, it was supposed, was enough to blast all hopes of success through the interposition of friendly Indians, or by the allurements of friendship and kindness, and cause activity in the command, to chastise the temerity of such proceedings, and vindicate the acknowledged sagacity of the white man. Yet the army was idle in camp, waiting for some anticipated result, the nature of which was neither understood nor expressed.

The head-quarters of the army were established at Fort Brooke, Tampa, Florida. Here was concentrated the largest portion of the disposable force; from which point it was contemplated to move, to strike an effectual blow at the proper time. The occurrence of some event was anticipated, whether it was the re-enacting of cruel murders, or the voluntary surrender of the enemy, were questions often mooted in the minds of those who suffered under feelings of disappointment and regret, and who were yet to bear the burden of the toil resulting from procrastination.

The intelligence of the attack upon Lieutenant Sherwood, 7th infantry, his death, the brutal murder of Mrs. Montgomery, (wife of Lieutenant Montgomery, 7th infantry,) caused the indignation of officers and soldiers, created alarm, and aroused the spirit of retaliation throughout the country. This occurred on the 28th of December, 1840. The party consisted of SecondLieutenant Walter Sherwood, Lieutenant N. Hopson, SergeantMajor Carroll, and ten privates, 7th infantry, as an escort to Mrs. Montgomery, who were proceeding on horseback from Micanopy to Watkahoota, eight miles, accompanied by a wagon and five mules. The detachment had advanced about four miles, when from a strip of hammock known as Martin's Point, within twenty yards of the road, they received the fire of the enemy, followed immediately by the well-known war-whoop and savage yell: two privates fell dead. Lieutenant Sherwood rallied his escort, determined to stand his ground; and to protect Mrs. Montgomery persuaded her to dismount and get into the wagon; in the act of so doing she received a ball in her breast, which was fatal. A general panic ensued; the mules became entangled in the harness, and were killed on the spot. Lieutenant Hopson returned to Micanopy for reinforcement. With the few that remained, Lieutenant Sherwood fought hand to hand with the savages as they advanced from the wood; redoubled in fury by the havoc before them, until exhausted from the loss of blood, and overpowered by numbers, he fell a sacrifice to his own intrepidity and bravery, with the sergeant-major by his side. The Indians, after scalping the killed, and otherwise mutilating the bodies, re

turned to the hammock. This party consisted of thirty warriors, headed by Halleck-Tustenuggee and Cosa-Tustenuggee. They came out for the purpose of plunder, secreted themselves in the palmettoes and scrub, and thus approached the most frequented route, where the hammocks formed a junction with the highway. The cold-blooded atrocity of this act intimidated Cosa-Tustenuggee, who sought the first opportunity to surrender, still relying upon the forbearance and credulity of the agents of the government. He assembled his band near Palaklikaha, when he was unexpectedly fired upon by a scouting party of dragoons, who took them prisoners and conducted them to Fort King. This act fortunately broke up the amicable relations supposed to exist between the enemy and the whites. The band was secured, consisting of thirty-two warriors and sixty women and children, and was embarked for Arkansas on the 20th of June. The infamy of his own acts, accident, and the resolution of the detachment of dragoons, (which at first caused the arrest of the officer in command,) had relieved Florida of an Indian chieftain, cruel, cowardly, and vindictive.

The authorities at Washington, harassed by the repeated and loud complaints of the citizens of the territory, rescinded the instructions to the commanding general to urge the Indians to amicable surrender, and required him to prosecute the war with vigor, under the stipulations of the treaty of Payne's Landing: "The department entertains the well-grounded hopes," says this communication, of February 1st, 1841, "that you will be able to bring the war to a close upon the terms required by the treaty, and by the interests and feelings of the people of Florida." Five years' experience had taught no lesson of instruction; these terms had been persevered in, under various suggestions and different forms, but every successive campaign had caused a large expenditure of money and life, without effecting the objects of the government, the wishes of the people, or the anticipations of officers and soldiers. Congress, disgusted with the sound of Florida War, continued its liberality in appropriating means to defray the expenses of any newly-devised scheme to bring the contest to a close. On the 18th of January $100,000 was appropriated, to be expended under the direction of the secretary of war, for the removal, subsistence, and benefit, of such of the Seminole Indian chiefs and warriors as might surrender for emigration. On the 3d of March $1,061,816 was appropriated for suppressing Indian hostilities in Florida. This placed in the hands of the commander abundant means to renew the war with vigor; at the same time granting him broad discretion in the use of money, to tempt the Indian to emigrate. This was the most favorable and important season of the year to find the haunts of