Chapter II: Part 2

We sailed and rowed many miles up the river, and halted at a pretty spot, called afterwards Live Oak Camp. Here we found evident signs of Indians; the ashes of fire recently extinguished, green hides, two live fowls, which were quickly smoking in the General’s quarters, and several razors and other articles supposed to have been the property of the murdered collector of customs.

20th--Again embarked and rowed a few miles up the stream, but were forced to return on account of the obstructions. We left the boats at Live Oak Camp, with a few men to guard them, shouldered our knapsacks and tramped through the woods. We expected to fall in with some live stock but were disappointed. We marched up the river through the best land we had yet seen, and observed the recent tracks of cattle, horses and dogs. Towards night we fell in with an old Indian encampment close to a brook of excellent water. We built ourselves huts of palmettoes and boughs and slept comfortably in spite of the rain. We called this spot Camp Cowpens, from a large cattle pen close by.

21st--Passed through several large prairies; near one of them we observed the figure of an Indian rudely carved in the bark of a tree. We soon after waded the river nearly four feet deep; the guide followed by the General, leading the way. A halt was called on the other side and the people amused themselves swimming.

A Dutchman who could not swim, contrived to get out of his depth and was seen struggling very hard. He sank several times and at length raised his head and shouted alligator. The river abounds with them. Captain Green of the revenue cutter, Lieutenant Powell and General Smith, who were ashore, jumped in and brought him out alive but nearly exhausted. We saw no Indians or village on that or the following day, and the provisions being out, returned to Live Oak Camp on the morning of the 23d. At a short distance from it the advance guard fired on a deer, while the rear were threading their way through a hammock. We all thought the Philistines were surely upon us, and rushed forward as fast as possible. The deer bounded along the whole line and offered a mark to almost every man, but escaped uninjured.

We had suffered not a little from hunger; our expectation was to return in a day at farthest, to Live Oak Camp; we therefore left most of our provisions with the boats, and felt the want of them severely as we were absent three days.

After breakfast we again embarked and descended the river to the camping ground of the regiment. We had every reason to congratulate ourselves on our return in safety. The expedition might have proved as disastrous as that of Major Dade: a small body of the enemy might have cut us off on the river, which is in some places not twenty yards wide. They might have fired on us with perfect security to themselves.

The summer, indeed, is scarcely the fit time for attacking them; the leaves are then so numerous that it is impossible to see them, and the weather is so hot that it is as impossible to carry the knapsack, provisions and accoutrements. The expedition has answered one good purpose; it has given some knowledge of a very interesting and before unknown section of the territory. The land is excellent and the river may be made navigable for steamboats at a very trifling expense; it is besides adjacent to the Orleans market.

We embarked on the 24th, and reached Tampa Bay on the 27th. On the following morning Colonel Chisme returned to the Fort with a party composed of the fourth Regular Infantry, commanded by Colonel Foster, and the Alabama volunteers. Colonel Chisme had been despatched to bring in the garrison and military stores from Fort Alabama, which was considered untenable.

The Colonel carried off or destroyed the stores and placed a spring gun in the magazine, disposed in such a manner that on opening the door, the magazine itself should explode. The army had not marched more than a mile, when a tremendous explosion was heard, and there is little doubt that many of the red-skins were despatched to the hunting grounds of their great Manitto. On the same day (27th) fourteen miles from Fort Brooke, the army seven or eight hundred in number, was attacked by the Indians from a hammock. The regulars complain that the Alabama troops were not as willing to charge the hammocks as their old friends from Louisiana. Some of them acted like brave men, but the greater part hung back and lost the most favorable opportunity yet presented, of paying the Indians for old scores. The regulars charged the hammock and beat them off. The loss on our side was five killed and fourteen or fifteen wounded. Major Sandes had his horse shot under him. The horse of one of the Alabama volunteers was shot and fell on his rider: an Indian rushed from the hammock, intending to scalp him, but the gallant fellow though entangled beneath his horse, contrived to shoot the Indian, and reload his piece for a second enemy, but he was soon discovered, and relieved from his painful situation. If all his regiment had acted with the like resolution, the Indians would have had but little to boast of.

May 1st--General Scott had proceeded to the Ouithlacouchy, on his return to Fort Drane, and had left the following order:

Head Quarters of the Army of Florida, } TAMPA BAY, _April 16th, 1836_. }

ORDER--No. 37.

The Louisiana Regiment of Volunteers, under the gallant Colonel Persifor F. Smith, will on its return to this place, immediately proceed to New Orleans, in the best transports the Quarter Master’s department can supply. It will first turn into store the arms and other property of the United States, in its possession, and which may not be necessary to the comfort of the regiment on its passage home.

At New Orleans, Major Clarke or other United States officer, shall muster the regiment out of the service of the United States, and it will at the same time be paid by the paymaster of the army, stationed in that city.

What may be the result of the expedition to Charlotte’s harbor and Pees creek, in which the Regiment is at present engaged, cannot be known to the Commanding General in some weeks. Judging from the past, the result cannot fail to be highly honorable to the Colonel, the officers and men of that efficient corps, which is already entitled to the thanks of the country. Doctor Lawson, the senior Surgeon of the United States army, who under a commission from the state of Louisiana, has served as Lieutenant Colonel of the regiment, and who has superadded the distinction of arms to his high medical reputation, will temporarily take charge of the general Hospital at this place. As soon as the great body of the sick shall have been restored and sent off to their respective States, Surgeon Lawson will return to his proper station.

(Signed) WINFIELD SCOTT.

By command of Major General Scott,

K. JOHNSTON,

Aid de Camp and Act’g Ass’t Adj’t General.

* * * * *

The following order was issued by General Smith:

CAMP GEORGIA, _April 28th, 1836_. } Head Quarters, Louisiana Volunteers. }

ORDER--No. 18

The Regiment having completed the duties assigned to it by the Commanding General, he has ordered it to be transported to New Orleans, and there honorably discharged: the arms and accoutrements being deposited here.

The transports furnished are the schooners Emeline and Cumberland, the brigs Calvin, Martha and Caroline, and a steamboat. The troops are assigned to these transports as follows:

To the schr. Emeline, Capts. Mark’s and Edwards’ Company.
“ “ Cumberland, “ Kerr and Williams’ “
“ brig Calvin, “ Abodi and Burt’s “
“ “ Martha, “ Lee and Barr’s “
Steamboat Magee, “ Rogers, Smith and Thistle’s “

Major Marks and Dr. Cushman will embark in the schooner Cumberland;
Adjutant Barron, and Serg’t Major Hand, in the Emeline; Surgeon
Harrall and the Quarter Master Sergeant in the brig Calvin, and
Lieut. Colonel Lawson with Lieuts. Balls and Dyer in the steamboat.

Fifteen days provisions will embark with each detachment.

As each transport arrives in New Orleans, the senior officer on
board will require of the Quarter Master and Assistant Commissary
the necessary quarters and provisions, until the troops are
mustered out of the service.

By order of Colonel PERSIFOR F. SMITH.

* * * * *

Colonel Smith left Tampa Bay on 30th April in the cutter Dallas to meet General Scott at St. Marks, by order of the General.

May 1st--My company and that of Captain Lee received fifteen days rations and embarked in the schooner Martha, Captain Baker: the brig Calvin and schooners Emeline and Cumberland had sailed before us. We put to sea on the second, and soon bid adieu to the shores of fair Florida, with every prospect of soon exchanging the soldier’s bed of sand for the citizen’s couch of down, without the laborious precaution of erecting a breastwork, and of enjoying the luxury of lounging through the streets without an ass load of provisions on our backs.

The following are among the orders issued after our arrival at Fort Brooke:

Head Quarters, Western Department, } FORT BROOKE, _10th Feb., 1836_. }

ORDER--No. 4.

I.--Captain E. A. Hitchcock, of the first Regiment United States
Infantry, is hereby appointed to act as Assistant Inspector General
of the Department.

II.--The troops of this post, consisting of A. B. G. and H.
companies of the second Regiment of Artillery, and A. B. E. G. H.
I. and K. companies of the fourth Infantry, with the Louisiana
volunteers under Adj’t General Smith, will constitute a brigade, to
be designated the Light Brigade, and shall be commanded by Lieut.
Colonel D. E. Twiggs of the fourth Infantry.

III.--Lieut. I. Izard of the Dragoons, will perform the duties of Brigade Major and will report to Colonel Twiggs accordingly.

By order of Major General Gaines, GEORGE A. M’CALL, Aid de Camp, Acting Assistant Adjutant.

* * * * *

Head Quarters, Western Department, } FORT BROOKE, _Feb. 11th, 1836_. }

SPECIAL ORDER--No. 10.

The Quarter Master, Captain Shannon, will furnish Howersacks or materials for making them, together with such camp equipage as may be necessary for the troops under command of Lieutenant Colonel Twiggs, proper requisitions being made for the same.

By order of Major General Gaines, G. A. M’CALL, A. D. C., Acting Assistant Adjutant.

* * * * *

Head Quarters, Light Brigade, } FORT BROOKE, FLORIDA, _Feb. 10th, 1836_. }

ORDER--No. 1.

1. In obedience to Western Department Order--No. 4, the undersigned assumes the command of the Light Brigade.

2. Orders will be received through Lieutenant Izard and Buchanan, and Battalion Adjutants will report for Orders, at the Head Quarters of the Brigade, at the sound of the Adjutant’s Call.

3. The troops will be in readiness to march on the morning of the 12th inst. They will take with them ten days’ rations, of which five shall be carried in the knapsacks. Each man shall also take with him twenty extra cartridges in his knapsack.

4. Where the strength of the Company is fifty or under, each shall take with it eight axes and slings and eight spades, and where over fifty, a proportioned number at that rate.

5. The officers and men shall not be permitted to leave their companies, without special permission from the Commanders of their respective companies.

D. E. TWIGGS, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding.

* * * * *

Head Quarters, Light Brigade, } FORT BROOKE, FLORIDA, _Feb. 12th, 1836_. }

1. The troops of this Fort will march to-morrow morning, and Commandants of Corps are directed to inspect their respective commands, and report the condition of their companies by 4 o’clock this afternoon.

2. Brevet Major R. M. Sandes’ fourth Infantry will remain in command of Fort Brooke. All the Regulars not able to march, together with one hundred and fifty men and a suitable number of Officers, to be detailed by Colonel Smith from his Regiment, will also remain. Assistant Surgeon Heistell will determine what men of the sick are unable to march.

3. First Lieutenants S. M’Kenzie, second Artillery, and G. Morris, fourth Infantry will remain at Fort Brooke, in discharge of their Staff duties. Lieutenant M’Kenzie, will retain Sergeant Armstrong of H. Company second Artillery, as the Ordnance Sergeant of the Post. Corporal Sunderland of B. Company third Artillery, will remain and report himself to Lieutenant J. C. Casey, second Artillery, acting Assistant Quarter Master, upon his arrival at this post.

(Signed,) D. E. TWIGGS, Lieutenant Colonel Commanding.

* * * * *

Head Quarters, &c., } _Feb. 12th, 1836_. }

ORDER--No. 15.

The Regiment will be inspected at 12 o’clock to day, when every company will be prepared to march in the morning. Each man is to have forty rounds of ammunition, and ten days’ rations, five of which are to be carried in the knapsacks.

By order of A. G. BARROW, Adjutant.

* * * * *

ORDER--No. 20.

The Regiment is organized in two Battalions, the first is composed of the companies of Captains Burt, Lee, Williams, Rogers and Thistle, the second of the companies of Captains Marks, Ker, Magee, Smith, Abodi and Barr. Lieutenant Colonel Lawson is chief of the first Battalion, and Major Marks of the second. The companies will form in the order here named.

By order of A. G. BARRON, Adjutant.

* * * * *

Head Quarters, Western Department, } FORT IZARD, on the Outhlacouchy, Florida, _March 9, 1836_. }

ORDER--No. 7.

1. Called to East Florida, by the savage massacre and conflagrations of the 28th December, and the following month, the Commanding General hastily collected together in Louisiana, the forces which accompany him from that patriotic State. These forces have, in the short space of thirty-six days, marched by land and sea, nearly eight hundred miles, one hundred and forty of which was through the country occupied by the enemy, whose principal force they have met, beaten, and forced to sue for a peace.

2. These important objects of the campaign have been accomplished, with the hearty and cordial co-operation of Brigadier General Clinch, to whose sound judgment the defence of this frontier had been confided, and by whose gallantry the enemy had been chastised on the 31st of December, and since held in check, as far as his limited means would allow: the troops from Louisiana are placed under his command, to guard against the known faithlessness of the enemy, until the arrival of the forces with the Officer charged with the diplomatic arrangements of the War Department. Whenever, and so soon as that Officer shall mature his plan of operations, and accomplish the duties assigned him, the forces from Louisiana, will return to New Orleans.

3. The Commanding General cannot, consistently with his views of propriety, take leave of the troops by whom he has been so manfully sustained, without tendering to them his grateful acknowledgements, for the constancy and courage with which they have performed every duty, and borne privations, the recital of which could not fail to command the admiration of the virtuous and the wise, in every section of the Republic. The officers and soldiers, comprehending the whole force, (including the Artillery from Tampa Bay,) acting as the Light Brigade, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Twiggs, of the fourth Infantry, have performed their duty so much to the satisfaction of the General, that he cannot discriminate between the relative claim of officers or individuals of corps, without the risk of invidious distinctions. All did their duty cheerfully and gallantly, and when it became necessary to meet the question, whether to eat the meat of their own horses, or to abandon an important position, all cheerfully resolved to prefer this unpleasant species of subsistence, to any movement which might endanger the frontier. The horse meat was accordingly eaten by officers and men, until the enemy was beaten, and sued for peace, when a timely supply of subsistence arrived, escorted by the brave Georgians, Floridians and Regulars, under General Clinch, at the moment the pacific proposals of the enemy were being answered; and the Indians were fired on by the General’s light troops, before he could be notified of the object of their being so near the camp. They have since disappeared.

4. The General deeply regrets the fall of first Lieutenant I. F. Izard, of the Dragoons, acting Brigade Major, and in command of the advanced guard. He fell at the head of his corps, and, though mortally wounded, had the heroic presence of mind to cry, “keep your position men, and lie close.” Second Lieutenant Duncan, of the second Artillery, was slightly wounded. Captain Sanders, commanding the friendly Indians, was severely wounded, and Captain Armstrong, of the U. S. Schooner Motto, slightly. The two last mentioned were in the advance, where their services had been very useful. Lieutenant E. P. Smith, of Captain Williams’ company of Louisiana Volunteers, received three wounds; this officer, and two non-commissioned officers and soldiers of other companies of this Regiment, evinced their gallantry by their good conduct, as well as by their honourable wounds. The General is convinced, that he has never commanded a finer corps; its chiefs would do honour to any service. The officers of the medical department, meet the approbation of the General, for the attention and skilful manner in which their duties were discharged.

Killed--Sergeant F. Dunn, second Artillery, 1
L. Bohe, Louisiana Volunteers, 1
V. Beck, do 1
H. Butler, do 1
--
4

Wounded, of non-commissioned and privates of Louisiana Volunteers, 29
“ “ “ Regulars, 13
--
42

By order of General Gaines, GENERAL A. M’CALL, A. D. C. Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

General Scott also had a few men killed and several wounded. The names of the killed as far as I can ascertain, are, Roame, Bilson, Robinson, of Captain Edwards’ company Louisiana Volunteers, and one Regular; there were several wounded, some of them have since died. The country is now in the hands of the savages, with the exception of Fort Brooke, Fort King and Fort Drane. Forts Cooper and Alabama, have been evacuated, and the Georgian and Alabamian Volunteers have returned home. The Indian may exult in his exploits, and dance round the scalps of his victims, until the approach of winter; then let the other States follow the example so nobly set by Louisiana; let them raise such men as she sent out, and like her place active and skilful Commanders over them: or if a cautious Fabius be appointed, let him have a Major Reed for his Marcellus; they may then cope with our Western Hannibal; but if the war must be prolonged, for the benefit of Army Contractors and others, then let the Fabian family come alone; “this the Seminoles wish, this Powell would purchase at a great price.”

* * * * *

Head Quarters of the centre of the Florida Army, } FORT BROOKE, _April 7th, 1836_. }

ORDER--No. 22.

In pursuance of Order No. 19, dated this day, at the Head Quarters of the Florida Army, the senior officer of the Louisiana Volunteers with the troops of that command who were left at this post, on the 13th of February last, and are now for duty, will join his Regiment.

The non-commissioned officers and privates, belonging to the Army are included in said Order, with the exception of those on extra duty in the Ordnance, Quarter Master’s and Subsistence Departments, and will join their respective companies.

Lieutenant M’Kenzie, second Artillery, will relieve Captain Barr, in the immediate command of the post.

The Quarter Master’s department will furnish the necessary transportation.

By order of Colonel W. Lindsay, Commanding the centre of the Florida Army. I. GREEN. Acting Assistant Adjutant General.

* * * * *

Typographical errors corrected by the etext transcriber:

Gen. Porsifor F. Smith volunteered his services=> Gen. Persifor F. Smith volunteered his services {pg 4 (Persifor Frazer Smith, 1798-1858)}

received tidings from Florida of a very alaming=> received tidings from Florida of a very alarming {pg 3}

Colonel: the latter gentlemen, the head physician=> Colonel: the latter gentleman, the head physician {pg 4}

The enlistment was commencad on the 24th January=> The enlistment was commenced on the 24th January {pg 4}

he received no answer to he third challenge=> he received no answer to the third challenge {pg 5}

hors du combat=> hors de combat {pg 10}

but the alarm was groudless=> but the alarm was groundless {pg 5}

had promissed him=> had promised him {pg 11}

his clothes had been striped off=> his clothes had been stripped off {pg 12}

but the Colonels timidity=> but the Colonel’s timidity {pg 13}

from each cantact with the earth=> from each contact with the earth {pg 14}

around the breatswork=> around the breastwork {pg}

and a single buiscuit=> and a single biscuit {pg 17}

28th.--They reached Camp Izzard=> 28th.--They reached Camp Izard {pg 19 [Camp Izard (1836-1842)]}

Fort Izzard=> Fort Izzard {pg 30 [Camp Izard (1836-1842)]}

III.--Lieut. I. Izzard of the Dragoons=> III.--Lieut. I. Izard of the Dragoons {pg 28 [James Farley Izard: Born 1811. Mortally Wounded Feb. 28, 1836.]}

2. Orders will be received through Lieutenant Izzard=> 2. Orders will be received through Lieutenant Izard {pg 28 [James Farley Izard: Born 1811. Mortally Wounded Feb. 28, 1836.]}

4. The General deeply regrets the fall of first Lieutenant I. F. Izzard,=> 4. The General deeply regrets the fall of first Lieutenant I. F. Izard, {pg 31 [James Farley Izard: Born 1811. Mortally Wounded Feb. 28, 1836.]}

cannot, consitently with his views=> cannot, consistently with his views {pg 30}

species of subsitence=> species of subsistence {pg 31}