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24 chapters
INTRODUCTION.
INTRODUCTION.
D ISCARDING that code of morals which teaches the suppression of truth, for the purpose of upholding the honor, either of the Government, or of the individuals who wield its administration, the Author of the following work has endeavored to give a faithful record of those interesting events which appear directly connected with the Exiles of Florida. Torn from their native land, their friends and homes, they were sold in the markets of Carolina and Georgia. Feeling the hand of oppression bearing
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CHAPTER I. CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THE EARLY HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THE COLONIES.
CHAPTER I. CIRCUMSTANCES ATTENDING THE EARLY HISTORY OF SLAVERY IN THE COLONIES.
Settlement of Florida—Boundaries of Carolina—Enslaving Indians—They flee from their Masters—Africans follow the example—Spanish policy in regard to Fugitive Slaves—Carolina demands the surrender of Exiles—Florida refuses—Colony of Georgia established—Its object—Exiles called Seminoles—Slavery Introduced Into Georgia—Seminole Indians separate from Creeks—Slaves escape from Georgia—Report of Committee of Safety—Report of General Lee—Treaty of Augusta—Treaty of Galphinton—Singular conduct of Georgi
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CHAPTER II. FURTHER EFFORTS TO RESTORE EXILES.
CHAPTER II. FURTHER EFFORTS TO RESTORE EXILES.
Seminoles repudiate Treaty of New York—Attempts to induce Spanish authorities to deliver up the Exiles—Their refusal—Lower Creeks hostile to Treaty—McGillivray—His parentage and character—Georgia hostile to Treaty—Makes war upon Creeks—General Washington announces failure to maintain Peace—General Knox’s recommendation—Decision of United States Court—Exertions—Combination of various classes of Claimants—Washington finds his influence powerless—Appoints Judge Jay—Failure of claims on England—Cond
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CHAPTER III. HOSTILITIES MAINTAINED BY GEORGIA.
CHAPTER III. HOSTILITIES MAINTAINED BY GEORGIA.
Mr. Madison’s election—His character—Desire of people of Georgia to enslave Exiles—They demand annexation of Florida—Congress passes a law for taking possession of that Territory—General Mathews appointed Commissioner—Declares insurrection—Takes possession of Amelia Island—Spanish Government demands explanation—The President disavows acts of Mathews—Governor Mitchell succeeds Mathews—Georgia raises an Army—Florida Invaded—Troops surrounded by savage foes—Their danger—Their retreat—Stealing Slave
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CHAPTER IV. GENERAL HOSTILITIES.
CHAPTER IV. GENERAL HOSTILITIES.
The Troops along the Florida frontier become active—The Exiles on Suwanee and Withlacoochee prepare for War—General Gaines’s representation of their numbers—Depredations committed during the Spring and Summer of 1817—Massacre of Lieutenant Scott and his party—Its Effect upon the Country—Congress not consulted as to this War—General Gaines authorized to Invade Florida—General Jackson ordered to the Field—Mr. Monroe assumes the Duties of President—His Cabinet—Character of Congress—Public Sentiment
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CHAPTER V. FURTHER EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO RESTORE EXILES TO SERVITUDE.
CHAPTER V. FURTHER EFFORTS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO RESTORE EXILES TO SERVITUDE.
Effects of the War—Situation of the Exiles—Servility of Northern Statesmen—Determination of Southern Slaveholders—The purchase of Florida demanded—Causes which led to it—Territory obtained—Authorities of Georgia demand a new Treaty with Creeks—Mr. Calhoun Secretary of War—His efforts in favor of the Claimants—Georgia appoints Commissioners—They attempt to dictate those appointed by the United States—Correspondence—Mr. Calhoun dissatisfied with those whom he had appointed—They resign—New Commissi
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CHAPTER VI. FURTHER EFFORTS TO ENSLAVE THE EXILES.
CHAPTER VI. FURTHER EFFORTS TO ENSLAVE THE EXILES.
Indians and Exiles on the Appalachicola River—Other Exiles at Withlaeoochee, St. John’s, Cyprus Swamp, Waboo Swamp—Indians in various parts of Territory—Difficulty of the subject—President’s Message—Committee of Congress—Interrogations—Mr. Penieres’ Answer—General Jackson’s Answer—He relies on Force—United States recognize the Florida Indians as an Independent Band—Willing to treat with them—Difficulties—Instructions to Commissioners—Treaty of Camp Moultrie—Reservations—Covenants on part of Unit
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CHAPTER VII. COMMENCEMENT OF THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR.
CHAPTER VII. COMMENCEMENT OF THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR.
The number of Exiles in Florida—Spanish Maroons—Seminole Slaves—Osceola—His Parentage—His Character—His Wife—Her Parentage and sad Fate—Imprisonment of Osceola—His Release—He swears Vengeance against Mr. Thompson—Decree of General Council—Fate of Charley E. Mathler—Osceola and followers seek the life of Thompson—Lay in wait near Fort King—Fate of Mr. Thompson and Lieut. Smith—Of the Sutler and his Clerks—General Clinch orders Major Dade to Fort King—The Major seeks a faithful Guide—Engages the S
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CHAPTER VIII. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED.
CHAPTER VIII. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED.
The Allies in their Camp—News of General Clinch’s advance—Two hundred men volunteer to meet him—His force—The Allies await his approach in ambush—He crosses the river in another place—They attack him—The battle—His intrepidity saves his army—The loss of the Allies—The loss of General Clinch—Escape of Florida slaves—Their blood-thirsty conduct—Families murdered—Dwellings burned—Inhabitants flee to villages—Their suffering—Effects of the War—General Jackson—Members of Congress—General Cass—His vie
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CHAPTER IX. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED.
CHAPTER IX. HOSTILITIES 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 Inquiry—Osceola attacks Micanopy—Major Heilman’s gallant Defense—General Jessup meets General Call at Tallahasse—Refuses to
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CHAPTER X. THE WAR CONTINUED—PEACE DECLARED.
CHAPTER X. THE WAR CONTINUED—PEACE DECLARED.
General Jessup assumes command of the Army—Number of Troops in the Field—His Advantages—His energetic Policy—Orders Crawford to the Withlacoochee—Capture of fifty two Women and Children—They are held as plunder by the Creeks—Wild Cat and Louis attack Fort Mellon—Severe Battle—Allies retire with their dead and wounded—Death of Captain Mellon—Our loss in killed and wounded—Caulfield’s Expedition to A-ha-popka Lake—Capture of nine Women and Children—Expedition to Big Cypress Swamp—Capture of twenty
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CHAPTER XI. GENERAL JESSUP OVERTHROWS HIS OWN EFFORTS IN FAVOR OF PEACE.
CHAPTER XI. GENERAL JESSUP OVERTHROWS HIS OWN EFFORTS IN FAVOR OF PEACE.
Mr. Van Buren’s advent to the office of President—Follows the policy of his predecessor—General Jessup’s stipulation in favor of the Exiles—Sustained by precedent, and by National Law—Not contrary to General Jackson’s object in commencing the War—Citizens of Florida protest—Compact ratified by War Department—General Jessup for a time endeavors to carry out Articles of Capitulation—Begins to yield—Promises to make arrangements with Chiefs to deliver up Slaves who had left their Masters during the
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CHAPTER XII. THE RENEWAL AND PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.
CHAPTER XII. THE RENEWAL AND PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.
Objects of the first and second Seminole War—Action of General Jessup and the Executive in regard to the Capitulation—His alleged arrangement—Resumes hostilities with intent to carry out original design of General Jackson—Establishes a series of forays for the capture of Negroes—Choctaws and Delawares employed—Cherokees refuse—Send a Delegation to make peace—Ross, the Cherokee Chief, addresses a Letter to Wild Cat, Osceola, and others—Difficulty with Creek Warriors—General Order—General Jessup’s
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CHAPTER XIII. VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.
CHAPTER XIII. VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF THE WAR.
General Zachary Taylor—His character and past service—His expedition—Battle of Okechobee—His loss—Returns to Withlacoochee—Repudiates the work of catching Slaves—Exiles delivered over to bondage—Regular Troops despise such Employment—Indian prisoners indignant at the outrages perpetrated against the Exiles—Separated from Exiles—Are sent to Charleston—Exiles to Tampa Bay—Further efforts to re-enslave Exiles—General Jessup moves South—Skirmish of Loca Hatchee—Erects Fort Jupiter—Is persuaded to pr
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CHAPTER XIV. GREAT DIFFICULTIES INTERRUPT THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
CHAPTER XIV. GREAT DIFFICULTIES INTERRUPT THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR.
John Ross, the Cherokee Chief, demands the release of Wild Cat and other Chiefs—Answer of Secretary of War—Mr. Everett’s resolution in Congress—Secretary’s Report—General Jessup’s answer—Agitation in Congress—Hon. John Quincy Adams—Hon. William Slade—Difficulty with Creek Warriors—The Exiles who had been captured by the Creeks—Arrangements for emigrating both Indians and Exiles—Indians at Charleston, and Negroes at Tampa Bay, transported to Fort Pike—Families again united—Sympathy excited—Genera
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CHAPTER XV. DIFFICULTIES IN ENSLAVING EXILES CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XV. DIFFICULTIES IN ENSLAVING EXILES CONTINUED.
Collins, Agent for the Slave-dealer, reaches Fort Pike—Prisoners gone—He repairs to New Orleans—reaches that City one day after the Exiles and Indians had left—He follows them up the River—Whole number of Prisoners on the two boats—They stop a few hours at Vicksburg—Collins overtakes them—Hands his Order to Reynolds—They consult together—Difficulty in separating Indians from Negroes—They all proceed together—Reynolds and Collins endeavor to persuade Indians to deliver over Negroes—They refuse—Th
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CHAPTER XVI. FURTHER DIFFICULTIES IN THE WORK OF ENSLAVING THE EXILES.
CHAPTER XVI. FURTHER DIFFICULTIES IN THE WORK OF ENSLAVING THE EXILES.
General Gaines in person defends those left at New Orleans—He appeals from the judgment—Effect of appeal—Authorities at Washington informed of difficulties—General Jessup retires from the command—General Taylor succeeds him—He refuses to follow policy of General Jessup—Recognizes no prisoners as slaves—Letter from Adjutant General—He promptly refuses to have any thing to do in Watson’s slave-dealing transaction—This indignant answer is received without reply by Department—Other persons claim the
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CHAPTER XVII. TOTAL FAILURE OF ALL EFFORTS TO ENSLAVE THE EXILES.
CHAPTER XVII. TOTAL FAILURE OF ALL EFFORTS TO ENSLAVE THE EXILES.
Indians and Exiles complain—Government disregards their complaints—Further efforts to enslave Exiles—They fail—General Arbuckle’s Report—Collins charges Reynolds with misconduct—Reynolds called on to explain—His reply and proofs—Collins desires claim to be made against Creek Warriors—They refuse to notice it—Political feelings—Watson presents his claim to Congress—Resolution of that body calling for information—Answer—House Doc. 225—Digression—Proceedings on claim before Congress—Its final settl
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CHAPTER XVIII. FURTHER DIFFICULTIES IN PROSECUTING THE WAR.
CHAPTER XVIII. FURTHER DIFFICULTIES IN PROSECUTING THE WAR.
Emigrants under Captain Morrison—Feeling among the Regular Troops—They detest the practice of catching Negroes—Another party Emigrate—Still further Emigration—Situation of the Exiles—Deep depravity of the Administration—General McComb’s Treaty—His general order—Peace cheers the Nation—Citizens of Florida return to their homes—Administration congratulates its friends—More murders perpetrated—Planters flee to villages for protection—Massacre of Colonel Harney’s party—Indians seized at Fort Mellon—
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CHAPTER XIX. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XIX. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED.
Presidential Election of 1840—The War discussed as one of the issues—Effect on the Election—Publication of Jay’s View—Action of the Executive paralyzed—Spanish Indians—Destruction of Indian Key—Troops inactive—Allies commit new depredations—New Expedient—Its failure—Chiefs invited to Fort King—Exiles refuse to treat—Massacre of Lieutenant Sherwood and party—Melancholy fate of Mrs. Montgomery—White men disguised as Indians—Murder of Cora Tustenuggee—Order of Secretary of War—Letter to General Arm
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CHAPTER XX. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XX. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED.
General Harrison assumes the duties of Chief Executive—Much expected of him—His sudden death—His successor—Political feeling—General Armistead retires—Is succeeded by General Worth—Instructions to General Worth—He discharges all unnecessary employees—Halec Tustenuggee—General Worth’s attempt to capture him—Wild Cat—His character and adventures—General Worth sends message to him—He and some companions come in—His manner and bearing—Meets his daughter—Interesting scene—Is seized by Colonel Childs—
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CHAPTER XXI. CLOSE OF THE WAR.
CHAPTER XXI. CLOSE OF THE WAR.
Delegation from Emigrants return to Florida—Their efforts in favor of Peace—Pacific indications—Troops discharged—Indians and Negroes surrender—Foray of Captain Wade—Waxe Hadjo surrenders—Massacre at Mandarin—People of Georgia and Florida dissatisfied with General Worth—They insist on furnishing Troops—Gen. Worth refuses to employ Militia—General McDonald and Volunteers from Georgia take the field—Demand the withdrawal of the Regular Troops—They are withdrawn—Call for Provisions—General Worth re
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CHAPTER XXII. HISTORY OF EXILES CONTINUED.
CHAPTER XXII. HISTORY OF EXILES CONTINUED.
Character of Abraham—His knowledge of the Treaty of Payne’s Landing—Its stipulations—General Jessup’s assurances—Confirmed by other Officers of Government—Disappointment of Exiles on reaching Western Country—They refuse to enter Creek jurisdiction—Creeks disappointed—General Cass’s policy of reuniting Tribes—Agent attempts to pacify Exiles—Hospitality of Cherokees—Discontent of all the Tribes—Seminoles loud in their complaints—Hostilities apprehended—Conduct of Executive—Agents selected to negot
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CHAPTER XXIII. THE REUNION AND FINAL EXODUS.
CHAPTER XXIII. THE REUNION AND FINAL EXODUS.
Difficulties in effecting a reunion of Tribes—Its objects—Exiles and Seminoles move on to Creek Lands—They settle in separate Villages—Creeks demand Exiles as Slaves—Exiles arm themselves—They flee to Fort Gibson—Demand protection of the United States—General Arbuckle protects them—Reports facts to Department—Administration embarrassed—Call on General Jessup for facts—He writes General Arbuckle—Reports facts to the President—President hesitates—Refers question to Attorney General—Extraordinary o
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