a tribe with which they had had continued feuds and collisions. This band was well armed with rifles, selected with care from among the citizens and soldiers murdered on the highway; and provided with ammunition obtained in the same manner, and turned into a common depository, subject to the arbitrary authority of their chief.

Halleck-Tustenuggee was a savage by nature, without a virtue either of the head or heart to redeem his character. Adroit in his movements, bold and intrepid in action, cruel and revengeful, he had made the pioneer feel, as well as the army, that he was no ordinary antagonist. These decisive traits of character were as well known to his band, as to his enemies. To guard against his assaults, additional force was sent to St. Augustine, Picolata, and to the general hospital at the St. John's Bluff. A patrol of twenty men were going constantly on the main road from the St. John's to the Atlantic coast.

A command of sixty men of the 2d infantry were in boats moving up and down the river to cut off the retreat of the enemy. Three companies of the 2d infantry, in conjunction with these measures, took the field on the 2d of January, in command of Major J. Plympton, whose perseverance in the execution of his duty was only equalled by those under his command. For their arduous service of two months, they were rewarded by defeating the band so long hunted for; compelling them to abandon their strong-holds and recross the St. John's; and terminated with the capture of Powis-Fixico or Short-Grass and party. Major Plympton, after examining Graham's and Bulow's swamp, Tomoka river, Spring Garden, and the hammocks and scrubs bordering and intervening, and destroying abandoned huts and fields, followed, day after day, a solitary track, when, on the 25th of January, he came upon the enemy, posted in a hammock. The Indians for a short time resolutely stood the ground, whooping and yelling to intimidate and prevent approach. The troops closed in, after a well-directed volley, with rapidity and vigor, causing the Indians to retreat in confusion, leaving two wounded upon the field.

Though the command was for some time exposed to the unceasing fire of the enemy, secreted in a dense hammock, but one man was killed and two wounded. This, as informed by the wounded prisoners, was the band of Halleck-Tustenuggee, who, finding no security or rest, was making his way over the St. John's river. The stand here taken was to cover the retreat of the women and children, who were one day in advance. A detachment followed the trail to the river, where it was found that the chief had crossed in haste at the southern end of Lake

George. His rafts and a canoe could be seen on the opposite shore. This information having reached Palatka, then for the moment the head-quarters of the army, Captain Silas Casey, 2d infantry, with one hundred men in boats, proceeded at once to the place of crossing, with orders to take up the trail and follow it to its termination. Orders were also sent to Lieutenant Wessels, 2d infantry, at Fort King, to ascend the Ocklawaha river in canoes with fifty men, and intercept this band, if possible, when crossing that river. Captain Casey, with an earnestness and hardihood deserving a better result, took up the trail on the west bank of the St. John's, and followed it to a swamp three miles wide, through which the officers and men transported their provisions and camp equipage on their backs; the mud and water varying from one to three feet deep. Upon emerging on the opposite side, the foot-prints were completely lost. The Indians had taken the precaution to scatter in small parties, and set fire to the scrub; thus obliterating every vestige by which the negro guides and trailers could ascertain in what direction they had fled. While the command under Lieutenant Wessels was eagerly waiting in ambush at various fording-places on the Ocklawaha, Halleck-Tustenuggee, apprehending this, crossed ten miles south any known ford, into a dense swamp, which heretofore had been considered by the Indian guides as impassable.

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Major Plympton, with an Indian by the name of Tommy, who was retained at Fort Mellon, when coming there with petitions for food from Halleck-Tustenuggee, proceeded to a swamp in which he believed there were Indians secreted. He said that if he was permitted, he could induce them to surrender. farther interrogating him, it was discovered that Short-Grass, his father, was living there. Advantageous positions were taken around and in the swamp, when this boy was dispatched, with assurances that his father should be treated kindly, but if taken in arms his death was inevitable. He soon returned with PowisFixico (Short-Grass) and four warriors. These men were the most active participators in the attack upon Mandarine.

On the westward side of the peninsula, events of interest and importance had occurred. The favorable result looked for at the mouth of the Withlacooche river-the anticipated surrender of Octiarche and the Creeks, was not realized. Instead of complying with their promises, they were maturing a plan to put to death the chief Nethlockemathlar; then, through Tiger-Tail, induce those encamped at Fort Brooke to join them in a farther, but more vigorous prosecution of the war. Nethlockemathlar was at the mouth of the Withlacooche on the day appointed (the 12th of January), and was four days in communion with Octiarche

and his followers. But they declined, under various pretexts, visiting the steamboat, at the mouth of the river, or coming in to Fort Brooke, at the time appointed.

Though professing much friendship, there was sufficient to excite the suspicions of the old chief, who reluctantly remained on shore after the fourth day. He was urged to send two of his young men into the swamp, to induce others, who timidly declined coming in, from a fear that the whites would ensnare them. While these young men were gone, a Mickasukie Indian informed the chief of a plan maturing by the Creeks to put him to death, by waylaying those already out, and at midnight assailing him, and slaying him in his sleep. Unwilling to give credence to this tale, revealed not from friendship to him, but from enmity to the Creeks, he, with that calmness and resolution which marked his character, awaited two days the return of his messengers. They not coming, and having for two successive nights heard strange noises around his camp at midnight, he at last returned to the steamboat. One of those presentments, believed to be supernatural by Indians, occasioned the chief to become convinced that his young men had been cruelly murdered. They want the red-man's blood," said he; "they shall have it, and mine too, if they can get it."

He returned immediately to Fort Brooke, resolved to take the field to gratify his revenge. To keep alive this feeling was of the utmost importance. It was evident that Octiarche and his band could not be secured by military measures, or be induced to surrender, either through bribes or intimidation. The only hope of ever getting him, was to awaken a kindly feeling towards the whites, thus subdue his vindictiveness, and induce him to restrain his warriors and to abstain from violent acts upon the frontier. This course, with the aid of an Indian force, might cause him to listen to terms of pacification.

Nethlockemathlar called a council of the warriors there, to whom he related all that had transpired, and detailed, with much feeling, the plan that had been laid to put him to death, Though advanced in years, the spark of valor was not yet quenched in his breast. He rose in tone and emphasis, and became animated as he enlarged on the infamy of the design, and the audacity of its instigators. He proposed that they should see those Creeks, offer them terms of peace, and if these were declined, punish them upon the spot. A hearty concurrence was given by all present, except Tiger-Tail, who professed to be indignant at the recital of his brother's wrongs, and the meditated attempt upon his life.

To send into the woods a body of Indians, armed with rifles, and provided with ammunition, provisions, and horses, was a

hazardous undertaking, but the object was worthy of the enterprise. Thirty warriors were selected, armed complete, and Nethlockemathlar was placed at their head. Tiger-Tail declined going, from indisposition. The party left Fort Brooke for Fort Clinch, on the Withlacooche river, eighty miles distant, determined to accomplish their object. On the second night after their departure, there was a manifest confusion and dissatisfaction in the camp of those remaining. The women and children were passing in and out with small bundles, which caused the officer in charge to suspect that something was in contemplation, and to satisfy himself as to the truth of his suspicions, he went to the tent of Tiger-Tail. He was not there, nor could he be found. He had fled, in spite of the watch kept over him, taking with him his wife and child, and all his baggage. The small packages which had been carried past the chain of sentinels, was his baggage, smuggled out by those participating in the plot, in such a manner as not to excite suspicion.

Though it was late at night, the camp was promptly surrounded by soldiers, and pursuit immediately given. This was so rapid and efficient, under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel Clarke, 8th infantry, and the zeal and activity of Lieutenants L. Smith, and A. T. Lee, that Tiger-Tail's wife, his son, and five women, were recaptured. Two of these were wives of his younger brothers, absent with the armed party. Three men, it was found, accompanied Tiger-Tail. Two of the number had come in with him the day before, having joined him, as he stated, when hunting.

They were doubtless messengers from Octiarche. How far this disaffection extended, it was impossible to tell. No alternative remained, but to break it up without delay. Fears were entertained that the armed party were privy to it. Captain T. P. Guynn, 8th regiment, was dispatched with a mounted force to Fort Clinch, at which post Lieutenant-Colonel Loomis was in readiness to take the field. He was instructed to seize and disarm every Indian, and put them under guard, on board a steamboat in the river, and send them to Cedar Key, thence to Fort Brooke. Captain Guynn arrived at midnight. The entire war party were within the chain of sentinels. The officers, together with the sentinels on post, were at this hour attentively listening to signals on the opposite side of the river. This led to the belief that there was a concert of action between those who were giving these signals, and some of the armed party who were in camp, awaiting the appointed and opportune moment for action. Whatever may have been designed, it was now too late. Every Indian was required to come to the commanding officer's tent and lay down his arms, when what had transpired at Fort Brooke, and the escape of Tiger-Tail, was made known to them. To the innocent,