lished by the nation, to which the faithful soldier of his country can retire, after years of honorable service. These living records of history recall the exploits and illustrate the glory of a nation. They are living monuments inscribed with the scar-written deeds of their country, to which the youthful soldier may look with feelings of patriotism, and a kindred desire to engage in the service and promote the happiness of his native land. The republican maxim that a man's reward is in the hearts of his countrymen, may do well for him who is above the pinchings of want, and attended by the acclamations of the multitude; but the demands of the humble soldier are too often overlooked or discountenanced amid the plaudits of a crowd. Let an asylum, then, supported and nourished by the general government, be the home and resting-place of the faithful soldier, instead of the sepulchre which now receives them-the alms-house, and a scanty, secluded grave.

CHAPTER XII.

MARCH, APRIL, AND MAY, 1842.

A crisis in the affairs of Florida.-The army discouraged by the rejections of the proposed means to end the war. The course pursued: Retrenchment, reduction of force, discharge of employées from the service. The Prophet's and Sam Jones's influence destroyed.-Holatter Micco, or Billy Bowlegs, proclaimed chief. The scattered condition of the enemy.-The influence and conduct of Tiger-Tail among the Creeks.-The Indians assemble in the Wahoo swamp to concert means of safety.-Tracks seen.Negotiation at an end; capture or death.-Embarkation of Indians for New-Orleans in charge of L. G. Capers, Esq., of the Indian department.-Departure of the chief Nethlockemathlar; his character and influence; his life.-Indians at New-Orleans.-The army in the field, in pursuit of Halleck-Tustenug. gee; Peter, an Indian, sent to him; he never returned.-Combined movement of the army on the Wahoo swamp and surrounding country.-Detachments of the 21, 4th, and 8th infantry enter the swamp; disappointment.-Farther preparations for pursuit.-The chief, Holartcoche, baffled by the enemy; he rides around the country and discovers a single Indian track, leading to the Palacklakaha hammock, supposed to be a spy upon the troops.-The troops take up the line of march, and encamp at Abraham's old town.-Preparations made to attack the enemy.-Holartooche visits the commander's tent at midnight, and pleads for the life of women and children in the approaching conflict.-The troops on the march for the hammock; conduct of guides and negro interpreters.-Sagacity of Holartooche; a foot print discovered and followed three miles to the hammock.-Spirited attack upon the Indians in their camp, protected by logs and palmetto, led on by Col. Garland, 4th infantry.-Assailed by Colonel Worth, with a company of dragoons, cutting off the enemy's retreat.-The Indians separate into small parties, giving battle in all quarters.-Total defeat; troops in their camp-Burial of Private Wandell, 2d dragoons; killed and wounded.-Detachments follow up trails leading from the hammock.-Capture of O-son-e-Micco (the Old Man of the Lakes), son-in-law of Halleck-Tustenuggee, who desires to take a talk to the chief. He to return in five days and meet the command at Warm Springs.-The number of Indians engaged in the affair.-Embarrassments of the troops in advancing-The appearance of Halleck-Tustenuggee in the fight.-Indians painted red; in a state of nudity. Their last battleground. Their fire concentrated upon the Indian guides and interpreters.-Interpreters Gopher John and Morris in the fray.-The appearance and valor of the chief Holartooche.-Indians' first discharge effectual; manner of loading in battle.-The spirit, gallantry, and forbearance of officers and men in the affair.-Colonel Worth's report. -The return of O-son-e-Micco to the camp at Warm Spring,-He reports Halleck-Tustenuggee, with his band, six miles off-Halleck-Tustenuggee comes into camp with his two wives and children.-His appearance and reception.-Officers assemble to meet him.-Colonel Worth's private conversation with him.-He not inclined to leave the country.-His good feelings secured.-Sends five messengers to Octiarche, the Creek chief.--Large demands for provisions.-Insolent conduct and language of Halleck-Tustenuggee and followers.-His fidelity much doubted.-Major Graham, Captain McCall, and Lieutenant Sprague, visit his camp, to rconnoitre, to surprise and capture. From its position, deemed impracticable.-Other means resorted to.-The Indians become shy and suspicious. The chief and his wives accompany Colonel Worth to Fort King; his object in going there to purchase powder and lead.-Orders left with Colonel Garland to seize the entire band in the absence of Halleck-Tustenuggee.-Colonel Garland effects the object, ties the Indians, and sends them to Tampa Bay. The measures adopted to accomplish it, and the conduct of the Indians.-Col. Worth announces to Halleck-Tustenuggee, at Fort King, the capture of his band, and that he now was a prisoner. His anger and appearance on the occasion.-Proceeds under guard to Fort Wacassassa.-Arrival there of the five messengers sent to Octiarche.-They taken prisoners.-A midnight scene between Halleck-Tustenuggee and these five men, who upbraided the chief for selling his followers and land. His patriotism.-Meeting at Horse Key of both parties; their haggard appearance, arising from intemBe one hundred and ffay empts suicide. East Florida relieved from apprehension. Indians guarded one hundred and fifty men on Horse Key.-Halleck-Tustenuggee harmless.-The activity of the army, 7th and 3d infantry, in pursuit of the Creeks in Middle Florida.-Two months in the field; results. A party of eight Indians attack the settlements under Halpatter-Tustenuggee; commit murders, and defeat six soldiers-Closely pursued, overtaken, abandoning their plunder, and whipped.-They join Octiarche, who disapproves of their conduct, as peace was restored.-Citizens abandon their homes, and flee for safety-The army discouraged; no end to the war.-The approach of the summer; prospects of another summer campaign.-Movements of troops unavailing; calculated to exasperate the enemy, without capturing or defeating.-Usefulness of Halleck-Tustenuggee, who takes the terms of peace to the Creeks -His reception and their promises.-The terms of peace.-The Creek Indians on the Ocklockonnee river obtain an interview with Colonel Vose, through two white men.-The terms of peace accepted.-Assembling for emigration.-Departure of the 2d regiment of infantry for the north, its length of service in Florida, and efficiency.-Deaths of officers.-N. C. officers and soldiers -Death of Captain Samuel Russell, by the enemy.-Orders issued for the departure of the five remaining companies of the 2d dragoons; character and length of their service in Florida.-Death of Officers.-N. C. officers and privates.-The sick report of the army for March, April, and May.-The Florida war approaching a close.-State of the army and prevailing feeling.

THE crisis in the contest with the Indians in Florida having arrived, perceptible to the most casual observer, the army looked with interest and anxiety for the confirmation, by the authorities.

in Washington, of the measures proposed for bringing the war to a speedy and final close. It was with feelings of surprise and regret that the intelligence was received, that the course recommended in the communication from the colonel commanding, of February 14th, was condemned. The success attending the vigorous and unceasing efforts of officers and soldiers during the past six months, gave no guarantee to the inexperienced and distant observer, that the opinions of those who were participants, were based upon reflection and dear-bought experience. The war was to be prosecuted while retrenchment was called for, and the expulsion of the Indian demanded. The citizen was to be protected, but the manner, as dictated by experience and a regard for the various interests involved, as well as the drain upon the national treasury, were unheeded, and the commander, unguided and uninstructed, was left to his own discretion; to bear the burden of rebuke, if unsuccessful, or to share with the government the meed of praise if good fortune crowned his efforts. Whatever course might be pursued, the approbation and reward, condemnation or censure, depended entirely upon results accomplished. How to close the affair, was an open question, left very much to the option of those into whose hands its management fell. Notwithstanding this peculiar situation of things, retrenchment, long since begun, was continued, cutting deep into the vitals, so long diseased, without the administration either of antidotes or restoratives. The appliances in the way of militia, increased means, and outlay of money, only tended to provoke the appetite, magnifying the numbers (by current report), the activity and cruelties of the enemy, relatively, with the necessities of the multitude depending upon public expenditure for support. Outposts were abandoned, the strength of the army concentrated, thereby reducing the means of transportation; horses, mules, wagons, and forage, were dispensed with; clerks, teamsters, wagon-masters, stable-keepers, mechanics, daily laborers, steamboats, and sail vessels, were discharged, thus confining operations strictly within the means of the military, adequate to the numbers and dispersed condition of the enemy. Lieutenant-Colonel H. Whiting, deputy quartermaster-general, stationed at Palatka, entered cordially into the measures so manifestly demanded, with that intelligence and scrutiny for which he had been distinguished during his long service in various departments of the army. The force in Florida now consisted of five companies of the second regiment of dragoons, the 2d, 3d, 4th (six companies), 7th and 8th infantry, numbering two thousand rank and file. The second regiment of infantry had already been recommended to be withdrawn. The number and energies of the enemy were much reduced and subdued. The Indians in the southern extremity of the Peninsula,

had broken the spell of the Prophet (Otulke-Thlocko), and had renounced the influence and authority of Arpeika, or Sam Jones. Holatter-Micco, or Billy Bowlegs, had been proclaimed chief, and Fuse-Hadjo elected his sense-bearer or lawyer. The enemy was scattered in parties of five and ten, wandering from one region of the country to the other. The military force, though much reduced, was as competent, and could act with as much prospect of success, as five times the number. Limiting the means of warfare to a scale corresponding with the number of the foe, induced the Indians to act in large bodies, and to be less cautious than when crowded by troops in such a manner as to intercept families fleeing to their secluded retreats for safety. The chiefs were inclined to keep their bands together, considering themselves strong enough to encounter successfully the troops they had seen in the field. The military were alike confident of success, with detachments of seventy-five or one hundred men. The cunning and vicious influences of Tiger-Tail, whose hostility was inflamed by his failure to defeat the exertions of his brother and put him to death, and thus place himself at the head of a band, now began to be felt and displayed among the Creeks, with whom he was living, and whom he excited to revenge and brutal acts upon the citizens and express-riders. Tracks and trails were seen in all quarters leading to the Withlacooche river and the Wahoo swamp, where, from the most authentic information, it was believed that a council was to convene of the various bands, to concert measures of safety and defence. The friendly Indians at Fort Brooke were told that negotiation was at an end. Hereafter it was to be "capture and death," as the repeated offers of peace and surrender had only been the precursor of treachery and delay. The Creeks had threatened to scalp them if caught in the woods. This was calculated to excite a retaliatory feeling, stimulating them to exertion and usefulness. Vigilance was enjoined upon commanders of posts, detached camps, and escorts, as it could not be known at what point, or in what numbers the enemy would first be heard from.

Added to these embarrassments, the pressure of public feeling in Florida was felt in Washington City, causing the secretary of war still to doubt the efficiency of the troops in the field. He required further information in regard to the unfortunate murders committed at Mandarin in January. In answer, the commander of the army transmitted the following communication on the 16th of March.

Head-Quarters, Army of Florida, March 16th, 1842. "On the 4th instant I had the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a communication from Assistant-Adjutant-General

Thomas, made by order of the honorable secretary of war. Recurring to that communication, I have to state, all the facts of the case (Mandarin murders) having already been submitted to the adjutant-general's office, the special report which I am instructed to make will consist of copies of my reports and reference to those of my subordinates, the originals having been forwarded. Current reports of every circumstance in any way connected with this transaction, as also of the remedial measures, were promptly transmitted to the adjutant-general, after sixty days of uninterrupted pursuit and search. The enemy was tracked, attacked, and routed, with loss on both sides. (See Major Plympton's report.) Still continuing the pursuit, and making use of the prisoners as guides, the enemy was again encountered on the 26th ultimo, and a noted chief, Short Grass, with his own immediate family and connections, captured. The enemy then, notwithstanding the ample force around and about, on land and on the river, acting by his better knowledge of the country, managed to get across the St. John's. To this crossing he was trailed, the river passed, and the pursuit renewed; and I am informed this day that he has been marked to a crossing high up on the Ocklawaha. Several days since, detachments were thrown out from Forts King and Russell, in anticipation of his line of retreat towards the Withlacooche.

"The assistant-adjutant-general says, 'At present, the secretary does not see how a band of Indians could penetrate so far north as Mandarin settlement, commit depredations, and return south, unseen and unmolested by the troops;' nor will the honorable secretary make this discovery, until (which God forbid) he becomes more intimately acquainted with this country and the Indian habit and character. As to how they could penetrate,' &c., there was in the adjutant-general's office evidence which might, and, in justification to the troops, I must add, ought to have been placed before him, to show that the enemy did not escape unseen, ay, or unpunished too.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

Gen. R. JONES, Adj. Gen. U. S. A.,

Washington, D. C.

W. J. WORTH, Colonel Commanding.”

The number of Indians assembled for emigration at Fort Brooke being larger than caution would justify, one hundred were embarked for New-Orleans on the 10th of April, in charge of L. G. Capers, Esq., disbursing agent of Indian affairs, an officer prompt and efficient in the discharge of the complicated and important duties of his department. Twenty-five men, with their families, remained behind, to act as trackers and guides. The