Page images
PDF
EPUB

the attack has begun. Sabbath after Sabbath, anathemas are hurled from the pulpit against them. Creeds, litanies, symbols, and ceremonials of every kind, are denounced as unspiritual. Those who use them are decried, as neglecting the inward life, and minding only external show. Every means is taken to destroy the few existing rites and symbols, and to prevent the revival of others. Yet, however great the efforts of the Anti-Formalists, they must all be in vain. They are striving to oppose the advancing progress of the age, and sooner or later they will be swept along with it. All things are hastening on to the final consummation, to the days of millennial glory, when all the elements of human nature shall combine in the expression of religious truths, and the material and spiritual worlds be united in the worship of Jehovah.

[blocks in formation]

RECOLLECTIONS OF A CAMPAIGN IN FLORIDA.

(Concluded from page 80.)

WHILST active preparations were making to carry the war into the heart of the enemy's country, runners were sent to the principal chiefs and warriors, to proffer once more the olive-branch, and in case of its rejection, to threaten the most vigorous measures. In consequence of these messages, Micanope, the principal chief or king of the Seminoles, together with Cloud, Coa Hadjo, and other chiefs and braves, to the number of about twenty, with their families and slaves, surrendered themselves at Fort Mellon, and expressed their willingness to migrate to their new home west of the Mississippi. They were probably led to this step, by a knowledge of the vast preparations making for their capture, and a consciousness that their destiny could no longer be averted. Of a peaceful and quiet disposition by nature, Micanope had been forced into this war, contrary to his wishes, and against his better judgment; but, like a brave man and true patriot, being involved in the struggle, he had kept the field as long as there was a glimmering ray of hope for success; when resistance could at best but defer the evil day, and eventual capture or death was inevitable, he wisely resolved to throw himself into the hands of a foe whose generosity he well knew.

This fallen chieftain, with his little band of faithful followers, as they wended their way in mournful silence, to lay at their conquerors' feet the last and dearest remnant of their former power and greatnesstheir personal liberty-presented a spectacle which excited, at once, admiration of the bravery and skill that had so long defended this priceless jewel against great odds, and pity for the misfortunes which had deprived them of it. Long and faithfully had they fought for their country; freely had shed their blood in her defence; now, for the last time, they tread her soil as freemen; a moment more, and they are conquered slaves. Their approach to the camp was unheralded, and the first intimation of it was a white flag borne by Micanope, who, in person, led his little retinue. In addition to the warriors, he was followed by a motley train of squaws, negroes, and children, who seemed glad to escape from the horrors and frequent starvations of war, to share the well-known kindness of their foes. Among the female followers of the chief, were the two wives of Osceola, who was as famous for his gallantry in love, as for his bravery in arms.

Besides his own family and those of his followers, there were with him the families of several braves who were unwilling themselves to surrender, until they had tried once more the fortunes of the field. This game was frequently played during the later campaigns of the war, and it was no uncommon sight to see a single warrior, often old and crippled, with a useless rifle and empty powder-flask, present himself before our lines with a white flag, and demand protection for himself and convoy, consisting of the wives, children and negroes of his whole band. So pressed were they by the troops, and so straitened for provisions, that they were compelled to adopt this policy to avoid cap

ture or starvation. It is a sufficient commentary upon the character of the war, so far as the whites were concerned, that they were thus willing to commit to their care these dearest of all pledges.

While Micanope and his companions were at Fort Mellon, they were treated with perfect kindness, and allowed unrestrained liberty within the pickets, during the daytime. It was during this period, that news reached us of the death of Osceola at Charleston. I was standing near the chiefs, upon the wharf, when the intelligence was communicated to them, and felt curious to know what effect it would have upon them. On being informed of the fact, Micanope simply turned to Cloud and observed, "Assin-ya-ho-la is dead!" Whatever feelings may have been excited by this news, they exhibited none. Whether this was the result of Indian stoicism, or whether they really cared much about it, is questionable; for Osceola was never regarded with a favorable eye by the legitimate chieftains, and was looked upon by some of them as the principal author of their misfortunes. We have already seen that he was the first to take up arms.

About Christmas, the main body of the army, under the immediate command of General Jessup, with a heavy train of stores and provisions, left the encampment, and commenced their slow and wearisome march towards Jupiter Inlet, on the Atlantic coast. Encumbered as they were by a heavy train of wagons and artillery, the troops made slow progress in their journey over hammock and swamp, and at the end of a week were not more than fifty miles distant.

In a few days after the departure of the main body, our little battalion of infantry was ordered to proceed to the upper part of the St. John's, and establish a post on the western bank of Lake Harney, ninety miles south of Fort Mellon. The battalion consisted of one hundred and seventy men, about one half of whom were veterans, inured to the service, the rest recruits. Our journey was to be performed in open boats of light draught, and we were encumbered with a large quantity of stores and provisions. On the first day we made about thirty miles, through a level and uninteresting country, and in the evening encamped in a grove by the river's side, after managing to lose our way in a large lagoon. While the men were busily engaged in securing the boat and preparing a place for the encampment, Lieutenant C. and myself, taking our muskets, passed up the shores of the lagoon in quest of ducks, with which, in the winter season, every lake and river in the Peninsula abounds. Having passed out of the hammock, and gained a small eminence beyond, we were suddenly surprised by the sight of a solitary horseman, rapidly approaching us. Whether he was a friend or foe, the dimness of twilight rendered uncertain. Throwing ourselves behind two palmetto trees, we waited the issue in a few moments more the horseman was abreast of us, and in answer to a hurried challenge, replied, that he was Colonel Harney. He had left his men on the opposite bank of the river, and had crossed it in search of a fording. The meeting was equally unexpected by both parties; we supposing him to be fifty miles distant with the army, and he supposing us to be at Fort Mellon. Returning to the encampment, we spent the night beneath the branches of the over

hanging trees, and early next morning pursued our onward course. The St. John's, as we proceeded, grew gradually narrower, and its banks became more barren and elevated. The hammocks which skirt the banks of the lower St. John's, here give place to pine barrens and prairies, dotted here and there with clumps of palmettoes. Occasionally, the banks assumed the shape of sandy bluffs of considerable emi

nence.

As we passed between two of these bluffs, where the river contracts itself to about thirty yards in width, our guide, a young negro who had been with Osceola in some of his warmest fights, raised himself upon the prow of the boat, and pointing to a clump of palmettoes, which crowned an eminence some twenty feet above us, said, "There, last winter, Osceola, with his band, waited fourteen days for the white man to pass; and if he had come," said he, raising himself to his fullest height, while his bright eye flashed with the exciting recollection, they would have seen fighting." It was a glorious place for an ambuscade, and a few well-directed volleys from the impending banks, would have left but few to tell the tale. Osceola, however, was now in his grave, and his warriors scattered, or employed in other parts of the Territory, so that we were safe from the dangers of an ambuscade.

On the evening of the third day after leaving Fort Mellon, we entered Lake Harney, and just as the sun was setting, landed on its western bank. The traces of Indians were so numerous and recent, and the hour so late, that it was judged best to pass the night on board the boats, out of reach of danger from the shore. Early next morning a site was chosen for the new post, and such was the activity of the troops, and the abundance of the material, that before sunset Fort Lane was considered in a defensible state.

This Fort is beautifully situated on the banks of a lovely sheet of water, some five miles in length by three in width, which bore the Indian name of " Wea-poluxa," or "water in a round hole." It had been discovered during the previous year by a party engaged in exploring the St. John's, and by them named Lake Harney, in honor of the brave Colonel of the second Dragoons.

About two miles in rear of the post was the town of Philip, a large village of some fifty well built lodges, strongly situated between three little lakes or ponds of excellent water, and inaccessible to an attacking force except on two sides. Hither, Philip had withdrawn with his people at the commencement of the war, and being unmolested for several years, had made from this unsuspected retreat those bloody forays, in which he was wont to carry death and destruction to the settlements. The situation of this town was never known until discovered by our troops in their scouting expeditions. It then bore many marks of recent desertion, and was probably abandoned soon after the establishment of Fort Lane. It was surrounded by extensive clearings of well cultivated land, and seems to have been the main storehouse from which Philip had drawn his supplies during the later campaigns of the war. Its central position between the Atlantic and Gulf shores, rendered it a place of great importance to either party, and its

occupation by our troops materially embarrassed the operations of the Indians during the campaign that followed.

After a few weeks of activity in building the Fort, and perfecting its arrangements, varied with an occasional scout after the Indians, our life began to grow monotonous, aud we eagerly desired some kind of excitement. To be cooped up in the narrow limits of a Fort, in a country whose mid-winter resembles a New England June, and where every thing conspires to invite the idler to stroll over its green, grassy plains, or to pluck the fragrant flower, is no pleasant condition to those accustomed to an active life. A soldier's life, to be enjoyed, must be interspersed with the stirring scenes of the battle-field, the toilsome march, and the listless inactivity of the camp. Each of these serves as a condiment to the others, and the dish thus served up, is by no means unpleasant.

We were not suffered long, however, to remain in idleness. One morning, before day-break, an express arrived from the army in hot haste; the drums at once beat to arms, and the troops hastily assembled, eager to know the cause of this new and strange movement. Orders were then given for a detachment of a hundred and fifty men, to equip themselves within an hour as light infantry, with fifty rounds of cartridge, and ten days' provisions, prepared for the march. As the movement

required the greatest dispatch, the troops were ordered to leave their knapsacks behind, and to carry nothing more than was absolutely necessary to sustain their own lives, or, which was equally important, to take the lives of the Indians, if they should find any.

At sunrise we set off in a southwesterly direction, and marched onward with a rapidity and constancy exceedingly wearisome to the uninitiated, until noon, when we halted, for the first time, by a large spring of fetid sulphur water. It was the first water of any kind we had seen since morning, and to our parched tongues it tasted really delicious, though its smell was any thing rather than pleasant. After halting a few hours, to allow the stragglers to come up and refresh themselves, we again set out upon the march. Our route was through an open pine barren, where the sand lay so loosely as to yield at every step, so that the march was exceedingly painful. We suffered much also from thirst and the heat. Not a spring, or even a stagnant pond, was seen during the afternoon. At sunset we prepared to encamp for the night, in an open pine grove, about twenty five miles from the Fort, and sought to shelter ourselves as best we might from the cold, piercing dews, beneath the branches of the lofty pines. Our situation promised to be noways comfortable; but I found that a long and fatiguing march was more potent than the fabled waters of Lethe, in producing oblivion of life's ills and discomforts. With my head upon my cartridge-box, I slept as soundly as ever upon a couch of down."

Next morning, at daylight, we renewed the march, through a country of much pleasanter aspect than that traversed on the preceding day. The pine barren had given place to prairie, interspersed with hammocks and occasional orange groves, loaded with blossoms and fruit, and intersected by numerous small streams of the purest water, which, with the juice of the sour oranges, made excellent lemonade. In the eve

« PreviousContinue »