Class 
 
 P^IL 
 
 BookJ^// 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 i 
 
Zd^i'Ji 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA 
 
 FROM ITS DISCOVERY BY PONCE DE LEON, 
 
 IN 15 1 2, TO THE CLOSE OF THE 
 
 FLORIDA WAR, IN 1842. 
 
 BY 
 
 GEORGE R. FAIRBANKS. 
 
 PHILADELPHIA: 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO, 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, FLA.: 
 
 COLUMBUS DREW. 
 1871. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 187 1, by 
 
 J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO., 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. 
 
 T3 
 
 w 
 
 1 
 
TO THE MEMORY OF MY HONORED FRIEND, 
 
 ISAAC H. BRONSON, 
 
 THE FIRST JUDGE OF THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT, NORTHERN DISTRICT 
 OF FLORIDA, 
 
 A CITIZEN . 
 
 WHOSE PRIVATE LIFE AND PUBLIC VIRTUES SHED LUSTRE UPON THE 
 STATE OF HIS ADOPTION, 
 
 THIS VOLUME 
 
 IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR. 
 
 (V) 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 Apart from the interest attached to Florida from its 
 having been the first portion of the United States occu- 
 pied by Europeans, it is associated with some of the most 
 interesting and romantic events in American history. 
 Portions of its long and eventful history have been writ- 
 ten in the Latin, French, Spanish, and English languages. 
 As early as 1591, De Bry published, in the Latin language, 
 an account of the settlement of the Huguenots and the 
 destruction of their colony, illustrated by fifty well-exe- 
 cuted engravings ; and many later writers have treated of 
 the history, climate, and natural productions of Florida, 
 among whom may be mentioned La Vega, Fernandez, 
 Biedma, Barcia, De Vaca, Herrera, Hakluyt, Roberts, 
 Stark, Romans, De Brahm, Bartram, Vignoles, Forbes, 
 and Darby; Williams published a very complete gazet- 
 teer in 1837; and to these should be added the valuable 
 work of General Sprague, of the United States Army, 
 ''The History of the Florida War." Buckingham Smith, 
 Esq., formerly Secretary of Legation to Spain, whose life 
 has been devoted to the investigation of Spanish and 
 Indian antiquities, has edited, with valuable critical and 
 
 (vii) 
 
viii PREFACE. 
 
 descriptive notes, several of the most interesting works 
 upon Florida. But, although so much has been written 
 in reference to Florida, hitherto no connected history of 
 the State has been published ; and it has been the object of 
 the writer of this work to bring within a moderate compass 
 a complete and authentic history of the State, from its 
 discovery by Ponce de Leon to the close of the Florida 
 War. 
 
 For obvious reasons, the events of the late civil war 
 have not been incorporated in the present volume. They 
 will, doubtless, at some future time, form the material of a 
 chapter of no inconsiderable interest. 
 
 University of the South, Seivanee, Tenn., Jan. 1871. 
 
 / 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon — Expeditions of De 
 Ayllon, Miruelo, Cordova, Alaminos, and Verazzano 
 
 PAGE 
 
 3 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Expedition and Shipwreck of Panfilo de Narvaez, and Adven- 
 tures of Cabe9a de Vaca, the Discoverer of the Mississippi . 29 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Expedition of Hernando de Soto " 48 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 Expedition of Hernando de Soto, continued . . . .60 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Route of De Soto's Expedition through Florida . . . '73 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Other Expeditions to Florida — Occupation of Santa Maria by 
 Tristan de Luna — Expedition to the Borders of Tennessee and 
 
 the Province of Coca 77 
 
 (ix) 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Huguenot Settlements at Charles Fort under Ribaut, and at Fort 
 Caroline under Laudonniere ....... 92 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 French Expedition of Ribaut to relieve Fort Caroline — Spanish 
 Expedition of Menendez to expel the Huguenots — Capture of 
 Fort Caroline by Menendez, and Massacre of the Garrison . 1 1 1 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Shipwreck and Massacre of Ribaut and his Followers . .121 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Situation of Matters at St. Augustine, and Explorations made by 
 Menendez 133 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 Recapture of Fort Caroline, and the Notable Revenge of Dominic 
 de Gourgues 142 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Return of Menendez — Attack on St. Augustine by Sir Francis 
 Drake — Missions to the Indians, and Massacre of the Mission 
 Fathers — Attack on St. Augustine by Captain Davis — Estab- 
 lishment of a Spanish Settlement at Pensacola . . .156 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Governor Moore's Attack on St. Augustine — Invasion of Moore, 
 with the Creek Indians, of the Indian Missions and Spanish 
 Posts in Middle Florida — Erection of a Fort at St. Mark's — 
 Capture of Pensacola by the French — Recapture of Pensacola 
 by the Spaniards — Recapture of Pensacola by the French — 
 Transfer of Pensacola to Spain 171 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Attack on St. Augustine by Oglethorpe — Attack of Monteano on 
 St. Simon's Island — Transfer of Florida to Great Britain . . igo 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Policy of the English Government for the Settlement of Florida — 
 Land-Grants — Dr. Turnbull's Colony of Greeks and Minor- 
 cans at Smyrna — Governor Grant's Administration — Governor 
 Tonyn's Administration — First Colonial Assembly — Revolution- 
 ary War — Burning of Effigies of Hancock and Adams . . 210 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 English Occupation, continued — Capture of Pensacola by De 
 Galvez — Capture of New Providence by the English — Retrans- 
 fer of Florida to Spain ........ 228 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Condition of the Province after its Recession to Spain — Notice of 
 McGillivray — Operations of Bowles — Patriot Rebellion — Oper- 
 ations of United States Troops in Florida — Indian Hostilities, 
 between the Americans and King Payne the Seminole . . 244 
 
 CHAPTER XV II I. 
 
 Occupation of Pensacola by the English — English driven from 
 Pensacola by General Jackson— Destruction of Negro Fort on 
 Apalachicola by Colonel Clinch — Defeat of Florida Indians by 
 General Jackson — Occupation of Pensacola by General Jackson 
 — Treaty with Spain, ceding Florida to United States . . 260 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Organization of Territory of Florida — Condition of the Indians — 
 Treaty of Fort Moultrie — Indian Agency — Treaty of Payne's 
 Landing — Collisions between the Races 269 
 
xii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 PAGB 
 
 Hostile Disposition of the Indians — Murder of General Thomp- 
 son, Indian Agent — Massacre of Major Dade's Command — 
 Battle of the Withlacoochee — General vScott's Campaign . . 284 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Florida War, continued — General Jesup in Command — Indian 
 Assault on Fort Mellon — Capitulation of Fort Dade — Flight of 
 the Indians from Fort Brooke — Capture of King Philip, Coa- 
 coochee, and Osceola — Battle of Okechobee — Escape of Coa- 
 coochee — Surrender of HalleckHajo and others — Results of 
 General Jesup's Operations — General Taylor appointed to the 
 Command . . . . . . . . . . 303 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Florida War, continued, under General Taylor — Removal of Apa- 
 lachee Indians — General Macomb's Treaty with the Indians — 
 Proclamation that the War was ended — Resumption of Hostili- 
 ties — Massacre of Colonel Harney's Detachment — Tragical Fate 
 of Mrs. Montgomery — The Cuba Bloodhounds — Expedition of 
 Colonel Worth to Okechobee — Recapture of Coacoochee . 318 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Florida War, continued, under Command of General Worth — In- 
 terview between General Worth and Coacoochee at Tampa 
 Bay — Surrender of Coacoochee's Band — Active Operations of 
 General Worth in the Everglades — Surrender of various Bands 
 — Close of the Florida War 335 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon — Expeditions of De Ayllon, 
 Miruelo, Cordova, Alaminos, and Verazzano. 
 
 1512— 1525. 
 
 The discovery of Florida is one of the romantic epi- 
 sodes of history. Cohimbus and his successors had, rather 
 by chance than design, pursued a southerly line of explora- 
 tion, which had led them to the discovery, in the first in- 
 stance, of the West India Islands, and, subsequently, of the 
 mainland of South America and a small part of Central 
 America. Even the shores of the vast Pacific had been 
 reached by Balboa before the southeastern portion of the 
 United States had been discovered. This seems the more 
 singular, as the pursuit of a westerly course from Spain 
 would have brought an expedition in sight of land on the 
 coasts of North America much sooner than the southwest- 
 erly course, v/hich carried the navigators to the islands and 
 shores of the Caribbean Sea. 
 
 It has been claimed that Sebastian Cabot, in the year 
 1497, sailing under a commission granted by Henry VII. 
 of England, coasted along the shores of North America 
 from 61*^ to the southern extremity of Florida. It is, 
 however, very doubtful whether he went south of Cape 
 Hatteras, in lat. ^6°, the whole statement resting upon 
 
 2 (13) 
 
X4 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 a passage in Peter Martyr, in which it is stated " that Cabot 
 sailed so far toward the west that he had the island of 
 Cuba on his left hand, in manner, in the same degree of 
 longitude."* 
 
 This expression, in connection with the previous state- 
 ment that he had sailed as far southward as the Straits of 
 Gibraltar, would indicate Cape Hatteras as the southern 
 limit of his voyage. At the period of these early voyages 
 the name of Florida was applied to the whole coast, from 
 the Chesapeake southwards. 
 
 The generally received opinion, however, confers the 
 credit of the discovery of Florida upon Juan Ponce de 
 Leon, in the year 15 12. The origin of the expedition 
 which resulted in the discovery, and the object of its pros- 
 ecution by the romantic old cavalier, have associated Flor- 
 ida with the Fountain of Youth so long embalmed in ancient 
 fable. 
 
 Juan Ponce de Leon was one of the companions of Co- 
 lumbus upon his second voyage, and subsequently remained 
 on the island of Hispaniolaas an officer of some reputation 
 under Ovando. While thus employed he visited the island 
 of Porto Rico, and eventually received a commission to 
 conquer and colonize that island. After various turns of 
 fortune, checkered with successes and adversities, he at 
 length succeeded in accomplishing its subjugation, only to 
 find himself, as was not infrequent in those days, superseded 
 
 * " Thus seeing such heapes of yce before him, he was enforced to 
 turne his saile and follow the west, so coasting still by the shore that 
 he was thereby brought so farre into the south by reason of the land 
 bending so much southwards that it was thereby almost equal in lati- 
 tude with the vStraits of Herculaneum, having the North Pole elevate 
 in a manner with the same degree. He sailed likewise in this tract so 
 far toward the west that he had the island of Cuba on his left hand, 
 in manner, in the same degree of longitude." — HaklUYT, vol. iii. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 15 
 
 by some newer favorite of the court. Thus deprived of his 
 dignity as Adelantado of Porto Rico, the restless old sol- 
 dier turned, naturally enough, to the setting on foot of some 
 new expedition, which should redound to his honor and 
 profit. 
 
 The explorations to the south and west had already en- 
 gaged the attention of many others, and it was the fashion 
 in those days to apportion limits, which would preclude all, 
 except the duly commissioned parties, from visiting or ex- 
 ploring within certain degrees of latitude and longitude. 
 
 This arrangement was the more readily made, inasmuch 
 as at the outset of the discoveries in the western seas Pope 
 Alexander VI. had, by special grant, given to his Catholic 
 Majesty of Spain — no diplomatic notes of protest being made 
 by other powers, those most interested being ignorant of 
 the concession — unlimited sway over all the countries, na- 
 tions, and people lying to the westward of those previously 
 assigned to the crown of Portugal. 
 
 While casting about in his mind as to what direction to 
 give to his proposed enterprise, the veteran was informed 
 by some of those purveyors of the marvelous who can always 
 manage to supply the appetite of the credulous, that there 
 was a famous land, lying to the northwest, which contained 
 within its borders all the treasures of El Dorado, and, more- 
 over, to its other wonders added that of possessing a stream 
 the waters of which were gifted with the power of confer- 
 ring upon those who should bathe themselves therein the 
 freshness of youth and a renovation of all their faculties. 
 
 This enticing description appealed to Ponce de Leon by 
 many considerations, among the most prominent of which 
 was the natural craving for gold felt by him in common 
 with all the adventurers ; and, moreover, to one sensibly 
 declining in years and strength, nothing could be more 
 desirable than to obtain a fresh lease of youthful vigor and 
 
1 6 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 enjoyment ; while to these potent reasons was added the 
 expectation that the honor which would crown the happy- 
 discoverer of this wonderful land would exceed that of all 
 his predecessors in the field of discovery. 
 
 The veteran officer had acquired some degree of wealth 
 in his public employments, and was thus enabled, from his 
 own means, to equip three vessels for his expedition. He 
 easily obtained followers to accompany him, as credulity 
 was not a rare quality, and the real wonders of the New 
 World were apparently as strange as any that could be 
 invented. 
 
 Departing from Porto Rico in the spring of 151 2, Ponce 
 de Leon directed his course, in the first instance, towards 
 the supposed location of Bimini, an island which shared 
 with the other unknown region the possession of one of 
 these wonderful fountains, and was said to lie near at hand 
 in the Lucayan group. A long cruise amid the Bahama 
 cluster of rocks and islets gave no satisfactory result to his 
 search for the fabled Bimini, and, like many other wonders, 
 more seemed to be known about it at a distance than in 
 the locality where it was said to exist. 
 
 Unable, after a long exploration, to find Bimini, he then 
 determined to seek the more distant land which had tempted 
 his covetousness and his ambition. It is highly probable 
 that, in cruising among the Bahamas, he received informa- 
 tion of the existence of land to the northwest of them, as the 
 Strait of Florida is but some fifty miles in width, and the 
 natives had, doubtless, some intercourse across the calm 
 summer seas with their neighbors of the main. He first 
 made land on the eastern coast of Florida on Sunday, the 
 27th of March, 15 12, but did not set foot upon its shores 
 until the 2d of April, in lat. 30° 8', at a point probably a 
 short distance northerly of St. Augustine. The Indian 
 name of the country is said to have been Cautio, but Ponce 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 n 
 
 de Leon, following the custom of the times, by reason of 
 having come upon the coast on Palm-Sunday — Pascua Flo- 
 rida, as it is called in Spanish — and probably delighted with 
 the green verdure and flowing glades which opened upon 
 his view, gave to his supposed island the name of Florida. 
 The usual ceremony of planting a cross and taking posses- 
 sion of the country in the name of the Spanish monarch, 
 swearing allegiance to his throne, and throwing the royal 
 t)anner to the breeze, was observed, and the country came 
 thereby to be considered by their Catholic Majesties a 
 Spanish province by right of discovery. 
 
 They remained on the coast some two months, exploring 
 the interior to some extent, and visiting various portions 
 of the shores of the supposed island. The inhabitants they 
 found to be fierce and implacable, and the explorations 
 made brought to light neither riches nor treasures of any 
 kind ; nor could the eager De Leon obtain any tidings of 
 the fabled fountain which was to renew his youth. Finally, 
 discouraged with the fruitless results of his expedition, he 
 returned to Porto Rico, carrying with him nothing of value 
 but the report of his discovery. 
 
 Whether the story of the Fountain of Youth, and of the 
 golden treasures of the mainland, was a pure fable, or 
 whether it was merely a poetic and exaggerated description 
 of the country, may well admit of a doubt : I am inclined, 
 however, to the belief that the latter is the more reason- 
 able view of it. 
 
 While much of Florida is in one sense comparatively 
 barren, yet the evergreen and luxuriant foliage which 
 covers its soil and hangs in rich masses along the banks 
 of its streams, the pleasant equability of its climate, a 
 country affording in its rivers, its forests, and its produc- 
 tions, easy means for the support of life to a savage race — 
 while the passion for display could be gratified by the gold 
 
1 8 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 and pearls obtained, with no great difficulty, from the 
 streams and hills of Georgia — might well cause it to be ac- 
 counted by the occasional visitors from the adjoining isles 
 as indeed a rich and pleasant country, and even the fabled 
 fountain might seem to find a realization in some of the 
 remarkably beautiful springs which exist in various portions 
 of the country. Who that has ever floated on the bright 
 waters of Silver Spring, or the bosom of the Wakulla, has 
 not felt his pulses thrill with delight at the almost unreaf 
 character of the scenf^ — the waters so pellucid that one 
 seems suspended in mid-air; the shadoAvs from the skies 
 above rest in changing beauty in its depths ; while the 
 bright sunlight flecks the silvery rocks below with rays of 
 dazzling brightness, and an azure tinge encircles every ob- 
 ject and surrounds it with a halo of purplish light. It is 
 not strange that they should be deemed to possess a reno- 
 vating elixir, and to promise, to those who would dwell 
 by their banks and disport in their waters, a restoration of 
 youthful vigor and energy. 
 
 Ponce de Leon, on leaving Florida, again searched for 
 the renowned island Bimini, but with no better success 
 than before, and thence returned to Porto Rico, putting 
 the best face on the matter, and determined to gain what- 
 ever credit might attach to his discovery of a new region 
 of country; doubtless to enhance its importance, he made 
 a flattering report of its riches and value. The purpose of 
 his expedition had in the mean time become widely known, 
 and the wits of the Spanish court rallied him not a little 
 upon his pursuit of the Fountain of Youth. 
 
 He sought for, and obtained, however, from the crown, 
 the title and privileges, whatever they might be worth, 
 of Adelantado of Florida, agreeing to transport thither 
 three hundred men, and to conquer and colonize it for his 
 Majesty. He was to commence his enterprise within one 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 19 
 
 year, and to explore the country within three years. He 
 did not appear, however, to be in any haste to revisit it, 
 and accepted the command of an expedition against the 
 Canto Indians, in which he was unsuccessfuL 
 
 In the mean time, in the year 15 16, Diego Miruelo, a 
 pilot, sailed from Cuba with a single vessel, and, directing 
 his course to Florida, obtained from some of the natives he 
 encountered, pieces of gold, but without much exploration 
 returned to Cuba, where he gave most glowing accounts of 
 the richness of tlmt country and its neighboring islands, 
 and excited the wish among a large number of persons to 
 undertake an expedition to its shores. 
 
 In the following year an expedition landed in Florida 
 from a vessel commanded by Fernandez de Cordova. 
 Bernal Diaz, afterwards so well known in connection with 
 the conquest of Mexico, accompanied this party. Al- 
 though they placed sentinels upon their landing, and took 
 every precaution against surprise, they were unexpectedly 
 attacked by a large body of natives, who wounded six and 
 killed one of their number. The attack was made so vig- 
 orously that the Spaniards escaped with difficulty to their 
 vessel, and were glad to return to Cuba, where their leader 
 died of his wounds. 
 
 One Anton de Alaminos was of this party, and, upon his 
 arrival in Cuba, undertook to make a full report of what 
 he had observed upon the coasts of New Spain and Florida, 
 to the governor of Jamaica, Don Francisco de Garay, 
 giving a glowing account of the extent and riches of those 
 regions. 
 
 De Garay gave such encouragement to Alaminos that he 
 went with three vessels to the coast of Florida, landed 
 twice upon its shores, and was each time forced by the 
 Indians to re-embark, and, pursuing his voyage, coasted the 
 Mexican Gulf as far as the river Panuco. His patron, 
 
20 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 assured of the truth of the representations he had made, 
 applied to the Spanish crown for the Adelantadoship and 
 government of the country. As no further action was had 
 by De Garay, it is presumable that he did not succeed in 
 his application. 
 
 Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, an officer of some distinction, 
 holding several profitable employments in Hispaniola, and, 
 as a consequence, very rich, formed a company on joint 
 venture, in 1520, with six of his neighbors, having for its 
 principal object the procuring slaves from among the 
 Caribs, to work the mines of that island. The capture 
 of these Caribs was an ingenious device of the settlers to 
 replenish their supply of labor, which their hard usage of 
 the natives had much diminished. The remonstrances and 
 efforts of Las Casas had induced the Spanish court to issue 
 decrees calculated to insure better treatment ; but it was 
 found that the inhabitants of some of the islands were 
 entirely impracticable, and the story was started that these 
 Caribs were cannibals, and they were thus placed beyond 
 the pale of humanity; so that it was not difficult to exclude 
 them from the benefit of the humane laws framed to re- 
 press the rapacity and cruelty of the colonists. Of course, 
 if it was deemed necessary to obtain labor, nothing was 
 easier than to discover an island of Caribs. 
 
 De Ayllon made his preparations for a descent upon the 
 inhabitants of the Lucayan Isles, a quiet and inoffensive 
 people, among whom Columbus had first landed, and from 
 whom he had received every mark of unsophisticated kind- 
 ness; but they happened to be near at hand, and some one 
 could be found to declare that they were Caribs and can- 
 nibals, if it was the interest of others to have it so. 
 
 For the purpose of this expedition, De Ayllon fitted out 
 tv/o vessels, and made sail for these islands. Unsuccessful 
 in entrapping the natives, and driven off by severe weather, 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 21 
 
 he passed to the northward, and came to the land of Chi- 
 cora, on the coast of South Carolina. 
 
 Of this wonderful land, two remarkable things are re- 
 lated with much gravity by the ancient chronicler. They 
 say he reports that the royal personages of Xapida, a 
 neighboring province, were giants, made so artificially. 
 The mode in which this was accomplished was as follows: 
 While in tender infancy, certain Indian masters of the 
 art took the young prince and princess, and softened their 
 bones like wax, with plasters made of certain herbs, until 
 they left them lifeless in appearance. The nurse who 
 suckled the children was fed with very nutritious food. 
 After some days, the professors in charge of the matter 
 returned and stretched the bones of the infants, and did 
 the same with the nurse, until they had arrived at such a 
 stage of progress as would enable them to increase more 
 than any others in stature, according to their experience 
 in such matters. Others say, upon the authority of the 
 Indians, that they grew so large because they were fed 
 upon such rare and efficacious herbs that their growth was 
 forced. This wonderful art may be considered as one of 
 those lost of old, and these rare and curious plants are no 
 longer known, even to the weird sisters. 
 
 Another remarkable thing, which De Ayllon learned 
 upon this expedition, was the existence of a race of beings 
 with a caudal appendage, similar to that of the equine race, 
 which was whisked about with great vigor. The diet of 
 these singular beings was raw fish. 
 
 Subsequent explorers seem never to have encountered 
 these races, unless Gulliver's visit to the Houyhnhnms 
 be considered as authentic history. Such are the mixed 
 creations of the imagination, interspersed with realities, 
 which characterize the relations of the early voyagers. 
 
 De Ayllon landed at various points, and received only 
 
22 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 kindness at the hands of the natives. By gifts and pro- 
 testations of friendship, he enticed some one hundred and 
 thirty of them on board his vessels, and set sail for His- 
 paniola. 
 
 So sudden and treacherous an act struck his captives 
 with amazement, and aroused their fierce indignation ; no 
 kindness or attention could reconcile them to their fate, 
 and no artifice could divert the minds of the proud and 
 high-spirited sons of Chicora from their grief and proud 
 despair. They were of a different race and spirit from 
 the natives of the Antilles, and would not submit to the 
 restraints sought to be placed upon them. They were of 
 an unconquerable spirit, and their successors upon the soil 
 of Chicora, the gallant sons of Carolina, have vindicated 
 their claim to be considered their descendants, in their 
 spirit of independence and bold assertion of their rights 
 and liberties. 
 
 One of the two vessels foundered at sea, and went down 
 with all on board. The other arrived in Hispaniola; but 
 De Ayllon was severely censured for the artifices used to 
 entrap the people of Chicora; and the final history and 
 result of the expedition are thus briefly and pointedly told : 
 ^^y los Indios 7io sirvieroJi de nada,porqiLe casitodos murieron 
 de enejoy tristecay (These Indians profited them nothing, 
 because they all died of care and grief.) 
 
 Some years had now elapsed since the veteran Juan 
 Ponce de Leon had obtained the title and privileges of 
 Adelantado of Florida and Bimini ; but, discouraged by 
 the reception which he had met with at the hands of the 
 warlike Floridians, and by the ill success which he had 
 encountered in his attempts to chastise the Caribs, he had 
 remained inactive in his alcaldeship of the town of Porto 
 Rico, yet not unobservant of the reports brought by the 
 various expeditions which had, in the mean while, visited 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 23 
 
 the shores of Florida. The voyages of Miruelos and 
 Alaminos in the Gulf of Mexico, and of De Ayllon on 
 the Atlantic coast, had proved that Florida was not, as he 
 had supposed, an island, but a continent of illimitable 
 extent, and of greater richness and value than his own 
 observation had led him to believe. 
 
 His ambition and his avarice were again aroused, and he 
 looked forward with renewed hope, not to finding his 
 Fountain of Youth, but to founding an empire which should 
 give to his name an enduring celebrity. During the year 
 15 21 he concluded' his arrangements for another expe- 
 dition to Florida: Cortez had commenced his wonderful 
 enterprise of effecting the conquest of Mexico two years 
 previously, and the reports of his exploits had doubtless 
 reached the sturdy Ponce de Leon and infused into his 
 veins new ardor to undertake a similar enterprise. He 
 fitted out two vessels at his own expense, and absorbed his 
 entire fortune in his outfit. He reached Florida, after 
 severe storms at sea, and landed on the nearest shore, eager 
 to anticipate all others in planting his standard on the soil 
 of his Adelantadoship. Doubtless his first act, upon land- 
 ing, was to cause his notary to make proclamation of his 
 sovereignty and right to the allegiance of the natives, as 
 their governor-general, and to require their obedience, as 
 was the custom of the great captains in those days. The 
 answer of his liege subjects on this occasion was of a most 
 unsatisfactory character, for they attacked his forces with the 
 utmost fierceness and impetuosity, killing great numbers of 
 the Spaniards, and wounding the governor himself severely, 
 forcing them to retreat precipitately to their ships and to 
 leave their coasts. 
 
 Ponce de Leon, grievously wounded and sick at heart, 
 and doubtless depressed at the apparent ill fortune which 
 seemed to attend all the enterprises of his declining years. 
 
24 
 
 HISTOR Y OF FL OR IDA. 
 
 and, perhaps, believing, with the superstitious feeling of 
 his countrymen, that some malignant fate overshadowed 
 his destiny, rankling with pain of both head and heart, 
 succumbed to the adverse winds of fortune, abandoned the 
 shores of Florida, and the prospective honors before him, 
 and sailed to the neighboring coast of Cuba, where, after 
 a few days, he died, regretted and honored by many who 
 had known the bold and adventurous cavalier in his earlier 
 years. This simple epitaph was inscribed on his monu- 
 ment : — * 
 
 Mole sub hoc fortis 
 
 Requiescunt ossa Leonis 
 
 Qui vicit factis 
 
 Nomina magna suis. 
 
 Which was rendered into Spanish by Castellano, as fol- 
 lows: — 
 
 Aquesto lugar estrecho 
 
 Es sepulcro del varon 
 
 Que en el nonibre fue Leon 
 
 Y mucho mas en el hecho.f 
 
 Ponce de Leon left a son named Louis, upon whom the 
 emperor conferred the Adelantadoship and honors of his 
 father. It does not appear, however, that he ever made 
 any use of his privileges, or attempted to carry out the de- 
 signs of his father ; and he is heard of no more in connection 
 with the history of Florida. 
 
 Of all the historic names associated with its long history, 
 De Soto alone perhaps excepted, the name of Ponce de 
 Leon stands out more prominently than "any other : the 
 romantic character of his expedition has won 'for him a 
 
 ■^ Irving's Spanish Voyages of Discovery. 
 
 f In this sepulchre rest the bones of a man who was a Lion by name 
 and still more by nature. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 25 
 
 name and a remembrance which the real importance of 
 anything he attempted or accomplished, in that or any 
 other quarter, would have failed to give him — so true it is 
 that the folly or credulity of mankind often makes more 
 impression upon the public mind than distinguished vir- 
 tues. 
 
 In the mean time, De Ayllon, not discouraged by the 
 profitless results of his abduction of the natives of Chicora, 
 and trusting, by renewed effort, to make an advantageous 
 lodgment upon that coast, proceeded first to Spain, taking 
 with him one of the natives of Chicora, named Francisco, 
 a captive whom he had instructed in the faith and language [/ 
 of the Spaniards. Having presented himself at court, De 
 Ayllon related to the ministers of the crown the events 
 of the voyage he had undertaken to Chicora, described the 
 situation of the country, its fruits and productions, as well 
 as the manners and customs of its inhabitants, and sought 
 the privilege of its conquest and settlement. This was 
 granted, with the additional honor of being created a 
 Knight of the Order of St. lago. 
 
 The agreement entered into between the king and De 
 Ayllon contained, however, a special article, which for- 
 bade the subjection of the natives, or the granting of 
 repartimientos, which, up to that period, had been usually 
 given, and had been deemed a necessary privilege granted 
 to the Royal Adelantados and conquerors. This clause 
 was probably due to the untiring efforts of Las Casas to 
 ameliorate the condition of the poor natives, and may also 
 have had some reference to the previous foray of De Ayllon 
 upon the people of Chicora. It is an interesting fact in 
 this connection that a greater amount of consideration 
 was accorded to the natives of the mainland of our own 
 section of country, than to the people of the islands which 
 the Spaniards had occupied. By the tenor of the Royal 
 
 3 
 
26 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Assiento with De Ayllon, the natives of Florida were to 
 be treated as freedmen and vassals, and to receive com- 
 pensation for their labor. 
 
 Owing to delays in making his preparations, it was not 
 until 1524 that De Ayllon was enabled, in conformity with 
 his agreement, to dispatch two vessels to begin the explo- 
 ration of that portion of the mainland embraced within his 
 contract, which was from the 35th to the 37th degree of N. 
 latitude. These vessels soon returned, bringing specimens 
 of gold, silver, and pearls, and with so favorable a report 
 of the country which they had visited, that De Ayllon de- 
 termined to set out at once and take possession of his prov- 
 ince of Chicora. He refitted the two vessels which had 
 just returned, and, adding a third, again set sail, and safely 
 reached his destination. Choosing a favorable point for 
 landing, with the view of establishing a settlement, he dis- 
 embarked, and was received by the natives with affected 
 cordiality and pleasure, and this was carried to such an ex- 
 tent as to disarm him of all suspicion. He at once con- 
 cluded that his design would readily be accomplished, and 
 congratulated himself upon the ease and dexterity with 
 which he had glided into his government. For the purpose 
 of exploring the country, he dispatched a party of two 
 hundred men to visit a town a day's journey from the coast. 
 This party was hospitably entertained and feasted by the 
 natives for four days, and all precautions on the part of the 
 Spaniards being laid aside, they were suddenly set upon, 
 and the whole company destroyed, not one being left to 
 carry to De Ayllon the news of the disaster. A vigorous 
 attack was then made upon those who had remained in 
 charge of the ships, who, getting on board with much dif- 
 ficulty, made sail. 
 
 It is said that De Ayllon himself perished in this massa- 
 cre, and shared in the terrible retribution which was vis- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 27 
 
 ited upon the expedition, on account of the duplicity and 
 treachery of which De Ayllon had been guilty upon his 
 first expedition. The son of De Ayllon sought of the 
 crown the rights and privileges of his father, which were 
 granted to him; but, being unable to equip an expedition, 
 he died in Spain, it is said, of melancholy, in consequence 
 of his disappointment. 
 
 About this period, Juan Verazzano, an Italian navigator 
 in the French service, came upon the coast of North. Amer- 
 ica in about latitude 35°, landed at various points as he 
 coasted northward, enjoying the most friendly intercourse 
 with the natives, and coasted as far north as Cape Cod. He 
 returned thence to France, and gave a brief account of his 
 voyage and of the manners, customs, and appearance of 
 the different tribes of Indians whom he from time to time 
 encountered at different points on the coast. He made a 
 second voyage to America, and was never again heard of, 
 having perished probably at sea.* 
 
 Public attention in Spain and the islands was now di- 
 rected for many years to the progress of events in Mexico, 
 where Cortez was prosecuting his successful career of con- 
 quest, surpassing in the brilliancy of his deeds all that had 
 hitherto been accomplished upon the shores of America, 
 and giving a new stimulus to the love for adventure in all 
 classes. 
 
 From the success of Cortez, it seemed probable to the 
 public mind that in the interior of both North and South 
 America regions existed of great fertility, and abounding 
 in gold, silver, and pearls, only requiring the stout arm and 
 brave heart of a Cortez to give to whomsoever should dis- 
 cover them the like rewards. 
 
 An expedition for the conquest and settlement of Florida 
 
 * Hakluyt, vol. iii. p. 295. 
 
28 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 was about to be undertaken upon a much larger scale, and 
 under fairer auspices, than those which had preceded it. 
 
 It was hoped that a new empire would be conquered, 
 north and east of Mexico, in an indefinitely located region 
 described as lying between the River of Palms (near Tam- 
 pico) and the limits of Florida, which latter was, in those 
 days, a general designation of the countries bordering upon 
 the Atlantic. 
 
 This long shore-line, from the Capes of Labrador south- 
 ward to the Gulf of Mexico, was claimed at a subsequent 
 period by two different parties, with about equal justice. 
 The discovery of Florida by Ponce de Leon was considered 
 by the Spanish crown as establishing their prior claim and 
 right of dominion over the whole coast, while the English 
 fell back upon the voyage of Cabot in 1497, and the view 
 he obtained of the coast, as establishing theirs. Subse- 
 quently France, as a third party, interposed the much 
 stronger claim of actual occupation to much of the country. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Expedition and Shipwreck of Panfilo de Narvaez, and Adventures of 
 Cabe9a de Vaca, the Discoverer of the Mississippi. 
 
 1527. 
 
 Those familiar with the history of the conquest of Mexico 
 will recollect that after the successful march of Cortez upon 
 the city of Mexico, and his occupation of the capital of 
 the Aztec Empire, Velasquez, the governor of Cuba, under 
 whose orders he had originally commenced the enterprise, 
 became jealous of the success and position of Cortez, and 
 sent his lieutenant, Panfilo de Narvaez, to supersede the 
 daring adventurer. 
 
 The gallant and astute conqueror of Mexico felt no dis- 
 position to have his laurels thus plucked from him, and 
 although Narvaez had brought with him a force of nine 
 hundred Spaniards and one thousand Indians of Cuba, while 
 Cortez had less than three hundred at his command, yet he 
 determined, by a sudden and bold attack, to seize his rival 
 and frustrate his intentions. His plan, favored by a stormy 
 night, during which his opponents slept in fancied security, 
 was entirely successful. Narvaez was taken prisoner, having 
 lost an eye in the melee, and his forces submitted willingly, 
 for the most part, to the leadership of the gallant Hernan 
 Cortez. 
 
 Narvaez appears to have been a leader of some military 
 capacity, although negligent and lax in his discipline. He 
 
 3* (29) 
 
30 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 possessed undoubted courage, but this quality was rendered 
 nugatory by an overweening confidence in his own powers, 
 which made him deaf to the suggestions of others more 
 sagacious than himself. He was altogether deficient in that 
 prudent and calculating foresight demanded in a leader who 
 has to travel out of the beaten track, face unforeseen ob- 
 stacles and an active and enterprising foe. 
 
 Disappointed and crestfallen, after his release by Cortez, 
 Narvaez returned to Spain, and endeavored to obtain re- 
 dress at court, but his sagacious opponent had already ren- 
 dered his own version of the affair, and had vindicated 
 himself from the charge of disloyalty to the crown, while 
 the lustre and interest attached to the report of his memor- 
 able adventures in the subjugation of the Mexican capital 
 effaced all the detractions which had been so industriously 
 sent home by his rival. 
 
 Failing to enlist any sympathy in his complaints against 
 Cortez, Narvaez next turned his attention to getting up 
 some new expedition, and asked the authority of the crown 
 to undertake the conquest of Florida, with the title of Ade- 
 lantado of all the regions which he might discover and 
 conquer within certain limits. Hitherto the march of the 
 Spanish explorers in America had, with few exceptions, been 
 unchecked, and the path of discovery had become the road 
 to successful conquest. Mexico, Panama, and the Spanish 
 Main, as well as most of the islands in the Caribbean Sea, 
 had submitted to the Spanish rule, and a mere handful of 
 Spaniards had sufficed to rout thousands of defenseless 
 natives. The native was consequently despised, and suc- 
 cessful resistance was never anticipated. 
 
 Duly commissioned to conquer and govern the provinces 
 of the mainland, extending from the River of Palms (near 
 Tampico) to Cape Florida, Narvaez left the port of San 
 Lucar, in Spain, on the 17th of June, 1527, with five ves- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 31 
 
 sels, carrying six hundred men. He stopped at Hispaniola, 
 with the purpose of refitting and provisioning his vessels. 
 While thus delayed, one hundred and forty of his men 
 withdrew from the enterprise, preferring to remain in St. 
 Domingo. After a sojourn of forty-five days, the vessels 
 sailed to the port of St. lago, in Cuba, and there made 
 arrangements for procuring provisions, which he found he 
 could obtain at Trinidad, a port a hundred leagues to the 
 west. He dispatched two of his vessels to that point, where 
 they were overtaken by a hurricane, and totally destroyed, 
 with all on board, some seventy souls. Owing to this dis- 
 aster, he was compelled to defer his expedition until the 
 spring. He purchased other vessels to supply the place of 
 those which had been wrecked, and found some additional 
 followers to accompany him. 
 
 He finally embarked in April, 1528, with a company of 
 four hundred men-at-arms and eighty horses, under the 
 pilotage of Miruelo, before mentioned, who claimed to be 
 familiar with the coast. They made land on the 12th of 
 April, and on Holy Thursday, the 14th of April, they an- 
 chored near the shore, in the mouth of a bay which is con- 
 jectured to have been Clear Water Bay,* just north of that 
 now known as Tampa Bay, but a long time known by its 
 Spanish designation of the Bay of Espiritu Santo. The 
 expedition had unwittingly passed the entrance of the la.rger 
 bay, and supposed themselves to be still south of it. This 
 error led to most fatal consequences. 
 
 At the head of the bay in which they had anchored they 
 saw Indian houses, one of which is said to have been very 
 large, and of sufficient capacity to hold more than three 
 hundred persons. On Good-Friday, a day of bad omen 
 for the expedition, the governor took formal possession of 
 
 * Buckingham Smith's Notes to Letter of De Soto, 1854. 
 
32 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 the country in the name of his Catholic Majesty, and as- 
 sumed the government of the province. 
 . The natives received them with a bold fearlessness, yet 
 not in an unfriendly manner, but at once made signs to 
 them to go back to their ships. Upon a consultation of 
 the principal officers, and, as De Vaca* says, against his 
 decided opposition, it was determined to march along the 
 coast to the large bay which their pilot had spoken of, 
 and that the vessels should coast along to the bay and 
 await them there. It was an unwise determination ; but 
 they had barely escaped shipwreck on their voyage, were 
 weary of the sea, and anxious to try their fortunes on land. 
 An exploring party had met some of the natives wearing 
 gold ornaments. Inquiring by signs of the Indians as to 
 where they obtained this precious metal, they pointed 
 northward, and gave the name of Abalachie, and indicated 
 that there was an abundance of it to be had there, and 
 that it was a province a long way off. The Indians told 
 them truly, and meant the head-waters of the Apalachee 
 River, in the gold regions of Upper Georgia; but as the 
 name of Apalachee attached to the whole course of the 
 river, and there were Apalachian villages near the Gulf 
 coast, they were misled by their Indian guides, whom 
 they forced to accompany them. In an exploration, before 
 starting, they had come to the shore of the Bay of Espiritu 
 Santo, but were not aware that it was the bay of which 
 they were in search. 
 
 One hundred men remained on board the vessels, which 
 were placed under the command of one Caravallo. The 
 remainder, numbering some three hundred, with forty 
 horses, which remained out of the eighty put on board, 
 constituted the land expedition. They seem to have 
 
 * Cabe9a de Vaca, Relacion, p 31, Valladolid, 1555, Paris, 1837. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 33 
 
 brought but a scanty supply of provisions with them, as 
 the allowance on which they commenced their march 
 amounted to but two pounds of bread and half a pound 
 of meat to each man. On this scanty provision they 
 marched fifteen days, without seeing a village, a house, or 
 a single living soul. They then came to a river, which 
 was probably the Withlacoochee, on the banks of which 
 they were met by twelve hundred Indians, who conducted 
 them to their village, which was near by. 
 
 A party was sent to the seashore, which they were told 
 was not far distant, to look out for the ships ; they found 
 a shoal, marshy, and sandy shore, but no appearance of the 
 bay or their ships, and returned next day. Uncertain as to 
 any point where they could meet their vessels, they de- 
 termined to proceed to Apalachee, where they might find 
 the treasures they were in quest of. Resuming their march, 
 they came to a river of considerable size and rapid current, 
 which they crossed with difficulty. This was doubtless 
 the Suwanee, and it is likely they crossed it some distance 
 from the coast. After passing this river, they encountered 
 much opposition from the Indians, and their guides led 
 them through a most difficult country, much obstructed 
 with the trunks of fallen trees of large size. They had 
 occasionally in their march found fields of maize, but 
 were now seven or eight days at a time without seeing 
 any signs of cultivation. As no mention is made of cross- 
 ing the Santa Fe River, they must have passed over 
 the Natural Bridge, or at some point below its junction 
 with the Suwanee. From the Suwanee they marched seven 
 days, and reached the neighborhood of what was repre- 
 sented to them as the Apalachee they were in quest of. 
 Narvaez and his companions seemed to have anticipated 
 that this famed Apalachee was almost a second Mexico, 
 where they were to receive the reward of all the privations 
 
34 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 and sufferings they had previously endured ; but, much to 
 their disappointment, they found only a petty Indian town, 
 of some forty small cabins, made of thatch and built close 
 to the ground. 
 
 The country through which they had passed is described 
 as level, the soil sandy but firm, the trees large, and con- 
 sisting of gum, cedar, oak, pine, and palms, with much 
 fallen timber, and with numerous lakes. Maize was culti- 
 vated by the natives, and the country was said to abound 
 in deer, rabbits, hares, bears, lions, and kangaroos.'^ The 
 lions and kangaroos must have been exterminated since 
 then, as none have been found by subsequent explorers. 
 Falcons, gerfalcons, sparrow-hawks, merlins, and other 
 birds are mentioned. By the name of falcon and ger- 
 falcon they probably meant the chicken-hawk. 
 
 The town of Apalachee visited by them, it is supposed, 
 was not the principal Indian town, but a small village 
 of the Apalachees. De Soto's expedition took up their 
 quarters in a village called Anhayea, which is said to have 
 contained two hundred and fifty houses, f ancj the location 
 of which is believed to have been near Tallahassee, and the 
 existence of numerous towns of fifty or sixty houses is 
 spoken of. 
 
 The town called Apalachee by De VacaJ was situated 
 on a lake, and there was another village across the lake, 
 which was possibly Miccasukie Lake. 
 
 The Spaniards remained at this Indian town of Apala- 
 chee for about a month, a grievous infliction, no doubt, 
 upon the natives, who kept up a continued state of warfare, 
 and discouraged them greatly as to the nature and re- 
 
 * Cabe^a de Vaca. 
 
 f L'Inca, Hist, de Florida, p. 74. 
 
 X Cabe9a de Vaca, p. 50. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 35 
 
 sources of the country, telling them that there were few 
 people in it, and that it was poor and sterile; but that 
 nine days' journey towards the sea there was a town called 
 Aute or Haute, abounding in corn, squashes, and gourds, 
 and well supplied with fish, being near the sea. 
 
 Narvaez exhibited no enterprise in exploring the country 
 around him, but remained supinely in Apalachee with his 
 whole force of three hundred men, without an effort to 
 penetrate farther or to verify the accuracy of the accounts 
 the Indians gave him. He was really in the midst of a 
 rich, populous, and abundant country, but was incompetent 
 for the position of a leader. 
 
 Following the interested advice of the Indians, he set 
 out for Aute. His march was contested at every step by the 
 Indians, who, from behind trees and ambuscades, dis- 
 charged showers of arrows, and eluded all pursuit. Some 
 of the Spaniards were willing to make oath that the force 
 with which the Indians discharged their arrows was so great, 
 that they had seen red oaks, as thick as the calf of a man's 
 leg, shot through and through ; and the narrator adds that 
 this is nothing wonderful, for he himself had seen an arrow 
 driven into an elm a span in depth. He says, further, that 
 these Apalachee Indians were of such great stature, that 
 at a distance they appeared to be gia?its, men of fine pro- 
 portions, very tall, and of very great strength, and dis- 
 charged their arrows with great force from bows eight feet 
 in length, with entire precision at a distance of two hundred 
 yards. 
 
 After nine days of constant molestation, the forces of 
 Narvaez reached Aute, but the inhabitants, doubtless ap- 
 prised of their approach, had abandoned their village and 
 burned their dwellings. They had on their journey passed 
 a river which they called Magdalena, and which was prob- 
 ably the Choctawhatchee. 
 
36 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Aute was one day's journey from an entrance to the sea, 
 and has been by some supposed to have been located near 
 St. Mark's; but the probabilities are that it was near the 
 Bay of Apalachicola.* 
 
 Finding the town destroyed, and neither corn nor pump- 
 kins, they were consoled by being able to procure an 
 abundance of fish and oysters, but they were not allowed 
 to rest in peace ; whenever they went out they were way- 
 laid, and could not leave their camp without danger. The 
 wearied Spaniards, with insufficient food, kept in constant 
 apprehension by the assaults of the natives, and unaccus- 
 tomed to the country, were subjected to the miasma of the 
 lowlands about them, now, in August, becoming noxious, 
 and soon began to be prostrated by fevers. 
 
 The alluring hopes which had led them on to Apalachee, 
 and thence to Aute, had now no further basis to rest upon. 
 The gold and abundance which was to reward them at 
 Apalachee had not been found, and the plenty which was 
 to await them at Aute had vanished. Their dreams of the 
 conquest and spoils of a barbarous and wealthy people like 
 that of Mexico and Peru were miserably dissipated ; they 
 had now no further hope than self-preservation, or desire 
 except to leave the country. Their vessels they had never 
 heard of; sickness was daily thinning their ranks and less- 
 ening their ability to proceed farther, or even to defend 
 themselves where they were. Theirs was indeed a pitiful 
 case, destitute alike of resources for ren aining in, or means 
 of leaving, these fatal shores. 
 
 The reflections of Narvaez, as he wearily and wistfully 
 looked over the expanse of sea stretching towards Cuba 
 and the Spanish possessions, must have been painful indeed, 
 as he recalled with bitterness the bright hopes with which 
 
 * De Vaca, p. 66. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 37 
 
 he had set out from Cuba, empowered, as the lieutenant of 
 the powerful Governor Velasquez, to wrest from Cortez the 
 wealth and magnificence of Mexico, and vested with almost 
 vice-regal powers, to play the sovereign of a great empire ; 
 then his inglorious defeat, and the renewed hopes with 
 which he set out with a larger force to establish in Florida, 
 as he believed, a government more than equal to that of 
 Mexico ; and now to find himself a wanderer, cut off from 
 even the knowledge of his countrymen, hemmed in by 
 cruel and relentless foes, faint with sickness and dis- 
 couraged by disappointment, a miserable, defeated, and 
 helpless man. 
 
 Utterly dispirited, he called a council of his followers, to 
 consider how they could escape from the country before 
 they all perished of disease and hunger. Their determina- 
 tion, as indeed they could have come to no other, was to 
 construct boats, and endeavor to reach the coasts of Cuba 
 or Mexico. This seemed almost a hopeless undertaking; 
 they had no ship-carpenters, nor any materials to build 
 with, but they had the energy of desperation and the in- 
 cital of hope. A smith of the company said he could 
 make bellows from deer-skins, and would forge the neces- 
 sary bolts, nails, etc. from their swords, arms, and equip- 
 ments.* This he immediately put into execution. Others 
 cut timber and hewed it into shape ; others gathered pal- 
 mettos and made a substitute for tow for the caulking of 
 the seams. Such ^v?S the diligence of despair, that, with but 
 one single carpenter, they completed within six weeks five 
 boats one hundred and thirty feet in length. They made 
 cordage from the fibre of the palmetto, and from the tails 
 and manes of the horses ; the sails they made from their 
 
 ■^' Cabe9a de Vuca, p. 66. 
 4 
 
38 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 clothing, and out of the hides of their horses they made 
 bottles to carry water. 
 
 During their stay at Aute, they lost ten men, who were 
 killed while seeking provisions, and forty had died from 
 disease, leaving two hundred and forty to embark in the 
 boats. They embarked on the 2 2d of September, 1528, 
 having killed their remaining horses to furnish themselves 
 with meat. Narvaez commanded the first boat ; the second 
 was in charge of Enriquez, the Controller, and Juan Suarez, 
 the Commissary ; in the third went Captains Castillo and 
 Dorantes; in the fourth. Captains Tellezand Penalosa; and 
 in the fifth, Cabe^a de Vaca, each boat carrying about 
 forty-eight men. 
 
 After the provisions and clothing had been put on board, 
 their gunwales, it is said, were not more than six inches 
 out of water, and they were so crowded they could hardly 
 move. "So much," says the narrator,* " can necessity do, 
 which drove us to hazard our lives in this manner, running 
 into a sea so turbulent, with not a single one of the party 
 having a knowledge of navigation." 
 
 It was indeed a most desperate undertaking for these 
 tv\^o hundred and forty famished, sick, and down-hearted 
 men, to launch upon an unknown and, at that season, 
 stormy sea, with no knowledge of navigation, and scantily 
 provisioned, in wretched, hastily- built boats, loaded down 
 to the gunwales, and open to every swell of the sea. How 
 different from their disembarkation a few months before, in 
 the Bay of the True Cross, when, with banners displayed, 
 and the sound of trumpets, they formally took possession 
 of the country from which it was now their chief anxiety 
 to escape ! 
 
 They named the bay upon which they launched their 
 
 * Cabe9a de Vaca, p. 68. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 39 
 
 boats, the Bay of Cavallos, and their embarkation was 
 probably from the head of the Bay of Apalachicola, as the 
 boats were some days in reaching the Gulf of Mexico, and 
 the water is said to have been shallow. When De Soto's 
 expedition visited the country, eleven years afterwards, the 
 Indians conducted them to the spot, where they saw the 
 traces of Narvaez's camp, the forge used in making the 
 spikes, scraps of iron, and the bones of the horses, and 
 their guide pointed out to them where the ten Spaniards 
 had been killed in the neighborhood of Aute.* 
 
 For several days the boats kept within the sound, and 
 went out to sea at a pass which was probably that now 
 known as Indian Pass, formed by St. Vincent's Island and 
 the main. They then sailed westward along the coast in 
 quest of the River of Palms. 
 
 The question naturally suggests itself, as to the motive 
 which induced them to go westwardly to seek a port mor e 
 than a thousand miles distant, when it would seem to 
 have been so much more rational to try to regain the 
 shores of Cuba, not more than four or five hundred miles 
 distant. The real reason lay in their ignorance of the true 
 position of the port which they wished to reach. The River 
 of Palms is located on the old maps in the neighborhood 
 of Tampico, and Panuco was the most northerly of the 
 settlements occupied by the Spaniards on the coast of 
 Mexico. The position of Florida, in reference to Mexico, 
 was long misapprehended, and Narvaez and his companions 
 supposed, when they embarked in their boats, that they 
 would not have far to proceed before reaching the Spanish 
 settlements in Mexico. Upon several ancient maps in 
 existence, the Bay of Apalachee is represented as about 
 equidistant from the Capes of Florida and the Bay of 
 
 * Historia de I^'Inca, lib. iii. chap. v. 
 
40 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Tampico, and De Narvaez and his companions supposed 
 it would be safer to coast along to Panuco, rather than 
 cross over to Cuba. It is subsequently mentioned that a 
 party of four started by land for Panuco, which was be- 
 lieved to be near, and, later, Esquivel refused to join De 
 Vaca in an effort to reach Mexico, because he had under- 
 stood from the friars in the expedition that Panuco had 
 been already passed. Panuco was, in fact, twelve hundred 
 miles distant from the Bay of Apalachee. Had they turned 
 to the south and east, they could have coasted along Florida, 
 often protected by islands, and procured fish and oysters in 
 abundance, and would have been, when they reached the 
 Tortugas, in the track of vessels going to Mexico. The 
 remnant of De Soto's expedition, with better fortune, coasted 
 westwardly from the mouth of the Mississippi, until they 
 reached in safety the Spanish settlements in Mexico. 
 
 After passing into the Gulf, Narvaez and his followers 
 coasted westwardly along the shore, and soon began to 
 suffer from hunger and thirst, and were in constant danger 
 of shipwreck. They occasionally ran into the coves and 
 creeks, and sometimes encountered Indians engaged in 
 fishing. Entering St. Joseph's Bay, they landed, and were 
 hospitably received by an Indian chief, but in the night 
 were attacked by the Indians. In the melee, they took 
 from the chief his blanket, which was made of the skins 
 of the civet-marten ; with this other chiefs were occa- 
 sionally seen decorated. Afterwards they landed upon an 
 island, which appears to have been the island of Santa 
 Rosa. Here their boats got aground, and they nearly 
 perished from cold and hunger. The natives of this place 
 treated them with great kindness, supplying them with fish 
 and a kind of root which was like a walnut in size and 
 obtained from under the water with much labor. 
 
 De Vaca's party, attempting to get their boat off in 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 4, 
 
 order to re-embark, lost three of their number, who were 
 drowned by the boat capsizing, one of whom was Alonzo 
 de Salis, the Assessor. The sympathy of the Indians was 
 much excited on their behalf, and every assistance in their 
 power was freely given. By this disaster they lost their 
 boat and all their clothing, and suffered severely from the 
 cold winds of November. The boat of Captains Dorantes 
 and Castillo was also wrecked on this island. The Span- 
 iards soon exhausted the small amount of provisions fur- 
 nished by the Indians, and were reduced to such extremity 
 that they lived on the bodies of such as died, and in a 
 short time, of eighty souls who had come in the two boats, 
 but fifteen remained alive.* The fate of those who were in 
 the other three boats was equally disastrous. The boat of 
 Enriquez the Controller and Juan Suarez was wrecked near 
 Pensacola Bay, and they proceeded along the shore to the 
 Perdido, across which they were carried by the governor's 
 boat. Afterwards, the rest of his men having gone on 
 shore, Narvaez persisted in remaining on board, having 
 w^ith him only the cockswain and a lad, and having on board 
 neither provisions nor water. At midnight the wind arose 
 off shore, and his boat, being anchored with only a stone, 
 was driven to sea, and nothing more was ever heard of this 
 renowned Captain-General and Adelantado of Florida, 
 Panfilo de Narvaez. 
 
 The survivors of these two boats, some ninety in number, 
 gradually died from hunger and starvation, the living sub- 
 sisting upon the dried flesh of their comrades, endeavoring 
 to prolong their own existence until they too succumbed 
 to their fate. 
 
 The fifth and last boat, that of Captains Tellez and Pena- 
 
 * C.msidering the abundance of fish and oysters in that vicinity, this 
 statement is remarkable. 
 
42 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 losa, continued on across Mobile Bay, and as far as Pass 
 Christian, where they landed among a people called the 
 Camones, and, according to the report given to De Vaca 
 by the Indians, were all killed by the natives, having become 
 so feeble that they could offer no resistance.* 
 
 Of the three hundred who started on the land march 
 from the Bay of the True Cross with Narvaez, but four are 
 known to have escaped. These were Cabega de Vaca, the 
 Treasurer, Captain Alonzo Castillo, Captain Andreas Do- 
 rantes, and Estevanico, an Arabian negro or Moor. Juan 
 Ortiz, who was found among the Indians by De Soto, and 
 was his interpreter, was decoyed on shore from one of the 
 vessels after Narvaez had begun his march. 
 
 When Narvaez began his land march, he left three vessels 
 in the bay, with one hundred men and ten women on board, 
 and with a very small amount of stores. These vessels 
 were to have sailed along the coast, as near the shore as 
 possible, and to enter the best port they could find and there 
 await Narvaez. They accordingly followed the coast for 
 some distance without finding any harbor, and then sailed 
 to the southward, and five or six leagues below where they 
 had landed on their arrival they found a bay which pene- 
 trated into the land seven or eight leagues. Two of the 
 vessels continued the search for Narvaez for nearly a year, 
 and then sailed to Mexico. 
 
 It is a curious circumstance that a woman who was on 
 board one of the vessels had, before they began their march, 
 predicted to Narvaez all the misfortunes which befell the 
 party; he assumed to place little faith in the revelation, 
 but doubtless, in so credulous an age, was depressed and 
 dispirited by it.f 
 
 The survivors, Cabega de Vaca and the others, owed 
 
 * Cabe?a de Vaca, p. 155. f Ibid,, p. 296. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 43 
 
 their preservation to an idea which the Indians entertained 
 that they were skilled in the healing art, and they were 
 soon installed as great medicine-men. They rather hesi- 
 tated at first about assuming the responsibilities of a pro- 
 fession of which they were entirely ignorant ; but the In- 
 dians insisted on their practicing, and their success exceeded 
 their anticipations. De Vaca thus describes their modus 
 operandi, and it may be considered quite as rational as 
 many systems now in vogue. He says, the custom of the 
 Indians was, upon finding themselves sick, to send for a 
 physician, and after the cure they gave him not only every- 
 thing they themselves owned, but sought among their rela- 
 tives for more to add to the gift, in order to evince their 
 gratitude. 
 
 The medicine-man was also privileged to have two wives 
 instead of one. De Vaca's style of practice was, to ''bless 
 the sick, breathe upon them, recite a Paternoster and an 
 Ave Maria, praying with all earnestness to God our Lord 
 that he would give them health and influence them to do 
 us some great good, in his mercy;" and he piously says 
 that "He willed that all those for whom we supplicated 
 should, directly after we made the sign of the cross over 
 them, tell the others that they were sound and in health."* 
 
 Prior to his advancement to the dignity of a Great 
 Medicine, De Vaca engaged in the business of an itinerant 
 trader, carrying shells, conchs, etc. from the coast, and 
 exchanging them for skins, ochre, flints for arrow-heads, 
 and other articles. He went by day entirely without 
 clothing, having a covering of deer-skins at night. 
 
 De Vaca remained six years among the coast Indians, 
 whom he calls the Mariannes, busily obtaining such in- 
 formation as would enable him to find his way back to the 
 
 * Cabe9a de Vaca, p. 162. 
 
44 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Spanish settlements. Of a tribe called the Yezagues, he 
 says, ''Their support is principally roots, which are very 
 bitter, and require two days in roasting. Occasionally 
 they kill deer, and at times obtain some fish, but the 
 quantity is so small and the famine so great, that they eat 
 spiders, the eggs of ants, worms, lizards, salamanders, snakes 
 and vipers which are poisonous, and earth and wood;" 
 and, says De Vaca, ''if there were stones in that land, I 
 verily believe they would eat them.'' The men carried no 
 burdens, but devolved all menial and severe labor upon 
 the old men and the women : the latter worked hard. 
 These Indians, he says, were great thieves, great liars, and 
 great drunkards, from the use of a certain liquor. They 
 were so accustomed to running that, without rest or fatigue, 
 they could follow a deer from morning until night. In this 
 way they killed many, for they pursued them until tired 
 down, and sometimes overtook them in the chase. Their 
 houses were of matting, placed upon four hoops; they car- 
 ried them on their backs, and moved every three or four 
 days in search of food. They planted nothing, but were a 
 very merry people, considering the hunger they suffered, 
 and, notwithstanding, never ceased to dance, or to observe 
 their festivities. To them the happiest part of the year was 
 the season of eating prickly pears, for then they had a season 
 of plenty, and could eat their fill, passing their time in 
 dancing and eating day and night. They peeled and dried 
 them, packing them in baskets like figs. 
 
 Mosquitoes were of three sorts, and all of them abun- 
 dant in every part of the country, and their bite poisoned 
 and inflamed the body. The Indians used to set the plains 
 and the woods within their reach on fire, to drive away the 
 mosquitoes, and to drive out lizards ; they also fired the 
 woods to drive in the deer, and to attract the cattle to 
 young grass. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 45 
 
 It will be seen by this brief statement of Indian customs, 
 as given by De Vaca, that some of the usages of the pine- 
 barren regions of Florida are inherited from the original 
 occupants of the soil. A singular custom is mentioned of 
 one tribe, that they suckled their children until twelve 
 years old, and the reason given was, that they might not 
 suffer in times of scarcity of food. 
 
 At the end of six years, De Vaca, Castillo, Dorantes, 
 and Estevanico, having become thoroughly versed in the 
 language and customs of the Indians, and, we may suppose, 
 by exposure and the use of pigments, coming closely to 
 resemble them, determined to carry out their cherished 
 purpose of reaching Panuco, in Mexico. 
 
 Leaving the Mariannes at a favorable moment, they 
 came to a tribe called the Avavares, and, having effected 
 some remarkable cures among them, the medicine-men ac- 
 quired an extraordinary reputation, and were considered 
 superior beings. As such, they were carried upon their 
 journey in great state, by large detachments of Indians, 
 and had every want supplied. At times they were accom- 
 panied by as many as two or three thousand of the natives. 
 They at length came to a large river, where they saw an 
 Indian with a sword-buckle, and learned that others had 
 seen white men upon the river in boats, and with horses 
 upon the land, and at some distance from them came upon 
 traces of the presence of Europeans; shortly afterwards 
 they encountered a party of Spaniards who had come out 
 eastwardly from the Spanish settlements in Mexico. 
 
 Cabe^a de Vaca and his companions, after their long 
 sojourn of seven years among the Indians, at length reached 
 the abodes of civilized men, and were received with the 
 greatest sympathy by the Spanish authorities in Mexico. 
 He was enabled to return to Spain, where, upon his arrival, 
 he addressed to his Catholic Majesty an interesting narra- 
 
46 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 tive of his adventures, with observations upon the manners 
 and customs of the countries through which he had passed.* 
 It appears that he desired to secure the privilege of re- 
 turning to Florida and to have the appointment of gov- 
 ernor; but other parties of greater position and influence 
 were seeking those privileges, and the governorship of La 
 Plata was given to De Vaca, who failed to give satisfaction 
 in the administration of the government of that country, 
 and was sent home in disgrace. His narrative of the ex- 
 pedition and shipwreck of Narvaez and of his own personal 
 adventures is exceedingly interesting, as containing the 
 observations of the first European who traversed the 
 region now known as the Cotton States, and the first 
 white man who beheld the Mississippi and crossed the 
 
 ■^ The following cotemporary notice of his return is found in the 
 Relation of De Soto's Expedition, by Alvarez Fernandez, usually 
 called the Narrative of the Portuguese Gentleman : — 
 
 " When Dom Fernando had obtained the government, there came a 
 gentleman from the Indies to the Court, named Cabeza de Vaca, which 
 had been with the Governor Pamphilo de Narvaez, which died in 
 Florida, who reported that Narvaez was cast away at sea, with all the 
 company y' went with him, and how he with four more escaped and 
 arrived in 'Nueva Espana. Also he brought a relation in writing of 
 that which he had scene in Florida ; which said in some places, In such 
 a place I have scene this, and the rest which here I saw I leave to con- 
 ferre of between his Majestic and myselfe. Generally he reported 
 the misery of the country and the troubles which he passed, and hee 
 told some of his kinsfolke, which were desirous to go into the Indies, 
 and urged him very much to tell them whether he had scene any rich 
 country in Florida, that he might not tell them, because hee and another 
 whose name was Orantes (who remained in Nueva Espana with pur- 
 pose to return into Florida) for which intent he came into Spaine to 
 beg the government thereof of the Emperor, had sworn not to discover 
 some of the things which they had scene, because no man should pre- 
 vent them in begging the same, and he informed them that it was the 
 richest country of the world." 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 47 
 
 great Father of Waters. The discovery of the Mississippi 
 has for a long time been erroneously attributed to De Soto; 
 but Cabe^a de Vaca and his companions had rested upon its 
 banks years before De Soto set out on his expedition ; and 
 upon some high bluff by that wondrous stream should be 
 erected a column bearing the simple inscription: — 
 
 Alvar Nunez Cabe^a de Vaca 
 
 IN HOC LOCO PRIMUS OMNIUM EUROP^ORUM FUIT, 
 A.D. MDXXXV. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Expedition of Hernando de Sotc. 
 1539. 
 
 Those who have had occasion to consult the relations of 
 the early adventurers who attempted the conquest or coloni- 
 zation of Florida, cannot fail to have been struck with the 
 fact that the country is eulogized by them all as a very 
 rich and fertile country. Thus, in the English translation 
 of the relation of the Portuguese Gentleman, by Hakluyt, 
 it is said, '' Wherein are truly observed the riches and 
 fertilities of these parts, abounding with things necessary, 
 pleasant, and profitable for the life of man." And in the 
 same work it is said that Cabe^a de Vaca reported, upon 
 his return to Spain, '^ that it was the richest country of the 
 world." Doubtless to most persons this will seem so ab- 
 surd and exaggerated, as to cast discredit upon the veracity 
 of the narrator. 
 
 But this flattering estimate of the country by the 
 early explorers and voyagers may be explained upon 
 grounds perfectly consistent with the idea of sincerity on 
 their part. It must be recollected, in the first place, that 
 the name of Florida then designated a vast extent of 
 country, stretching from the Gulf of Mexico, north- 
 westwardly, towards unknown regions. The divisions of 
 the country, as marked upon the maps, were Florida at 
 the south, extending to the north of the Chesapeake, and 
 meeting New France. In speaking of Florida, therefore, 
 (48; 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 49 
 
 in those days, reference was had to a much larger scope of 
 country than is now designated by the name. v^ 
 
 The main object of all expeditions at that day was the dis- 
 covery of precious me'tals, and, coming from the Old World, 
 men had no standard of comparison by which to measure 
 the agricultural value of the New. The shores of Florida 
 presented to their eyes a more grateful and pleasing pros- 
 pect than the sands of the Tierra Caliente of Mexico, or 
 the swampy, impassable mesquite groves of South America. 
 
 Let us suppose for a moment a vessel, long tempest- 
 tossed upon the wild waste of waters, entering one of 
 the harbors of Florida. As the shores are approached, 
 there opens a gentle and placid bay, land-locked, and re- 
 flecting with glassy stillness the shadows of the evergreen 
 and towering trees of the forest. The fleeting clouds of 
 heaven pass over its polished surface, and changing points 
 of beauty are being constantly developed. The white- 
 winged water-fowl skim quietly along its surface ; the 
 waving moss droops from the hanging boughs; pleasant '' 
 coves and sylvan retreats border its banks. 
 
 The appearances upon the land are equally flattering : the 
 green grass, even in midwinter, gives a vernal beauty to the 
 landscape. 
 
 The evergreen forests, flUed with birds of song and 
 beauty, the magnolia grandiflora, with its glistening leaves 
 and splendid flowers, the tall palm-trees, with their leafy 
 canopies, the stalwart live-oak, the mournful cypress, the 
 brilliant dogwood and honeysuckle, all give an air of 
 enchantment and beauty to the scene. T]ie antlers of the 
 noble buck, and the glossy plumage of the wild turkey of the 
 forest, signal both food and noble pastime. An oriental 
 and tropical richness and profusion of vegetable life seem 
 to invite to enjoyment and ease. 
 
 The voyagers ascend the gentle current of the placid 
 
 5 
 
50 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 rivers, and new beauties are met at every turn. They seem 
 to float amid flowers and perfume ; the drooping vines, trail- 
 ing in the water, mingle with water-plants of various tints ; 
 everything is tinged with richness and beauty ; and from 
 some captured savage they hear always of the gold of some 
 distant province, which animates their hopes and expec- 
 tations. 
 
 Is it strange that such a country should, where everything 
 was new and marvelous and exaggerated, impart, without 
 much license of the imagination, a pleasant glow of beauty 
 and richness to the narrations of those who for the first 
 time landed on its coasts? 
 
 The progress of discovery and of conquest had gone on 
 in the south with almost uninterrupted success ; a great and 
 unexplored region was known to exist at the north, and 
 the imagination had full scope to create for itself new fields 
 for the acquisition of glory and of wealth. 
 
 Panfilo de Narvaez had miserably perished, with all his 
 noble men-at-arms and splendid equipment, and Cabega de 
 Vaca had returned to Spain, himself and three others the 
 only survivors of this unfortunate expedition. 
 
 Hernando de Soto, it would seem, had already projected 
 an expedition for the conquest of Florida. 
 
 There was at that period no cavalier who occupied a 
 more exalted position at the Spanish court than Hernando 
 de Soto. He was a native of the town of Villa Nueva de 
 Baccarota, in the southern part of Spain, near Xerez, and was 
 of a good family. At an early age, living near one of the 
 ports, San Lucar, whence sailed the expeditions for dis- 
 covery and conquest of the New World, he went out under 
 Don Pedro Arias D'Avilas, then Governor of the West 
 Indies, by whom he was shortly promoted to the command 
 of a troop of horse, and in 1531 was dispatched with one 
 hundred men and a supply of horses by Arias to join 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 51 
 
 Pizarro, then on his way to undertake the conquest of 
 Peru. 
 
 He proved a most welcome and valuable auxiliary, and 
 soon rose to be second in command to Pizarro himself. He 
 shared the varying fortunes of the invaders, and acquired a 
 large experience and great reputation as an accomplished 
 and gallant leader. Daring, yet prudent, brilliant, yet 
 cautious, he was always foremost and always successful. 
 Under Pizarro, with a small force, he captured the Inca, 
 and left two thousand slain upon the field. After the con- 
 quest was achieved, and foreseeing the rivalries and difficul- 
 ties about to spring up between the leaders, he withdrew, 
 with a splendid booty of 180,000 ducats, which had fallen 
 to his share, and, with some valiant comrades, returned to 
 Spain in 1536. 
 
 In addition to the permission to undertake the conquest 
 of Florida, he received the government of the island of 
 Cuba, and the title of Adelantado of Florida, and marquis 
 of the lands he might conquer. 
 
 Florida was then a terra incognita. Expeditions had 
 touched upon the shores, and Narvaez had gone inland a 
 short distance, but of the great extent of country reaching 
 from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from the Gulf of 
 Mexico to the Arctic seas, very little was known ; the gen- 
 eral impression, however, was that Florida was an island, 
 and that a passage was to be found to the northward, similar 
 to that around Cape Horn. 
 
 The prestige of De Soto's name and reputation, and the 
 evidences of his preceding good fortune, shown in the 
 immense treasures he had brought back with him, and which 
 were lavished by him with a calculating and magnificent 
 prodigality, attracted to his standard a splendid retinue of 
 followers, burning for adventure, and still more anxious, it 
 is presumable, to share in the ransom of any Incas or Em- 
 
52 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 perors they might find in the ''richest country in the 
 world," to the certain conquest and subjugation of which 
 they confidently looked forward. ^'■Possimt quia posse vi- 
 dentur" (they are successful who believe they will be so) 
 was the practical motto upon which the Spanish adventurers 
 acted, and, believing themselves invincible, they really 
 achieved prodigies of valor and manly prowess. 
 
 One of the most distinguished of the associates of De 
 Soto in the expedition was Vasco de Porcallo, one of the 
 proprietary lords of the island of Cuba, who, although 
 somewhat advanced in years, felt the spirit of both honor 
 and gain within him. It was of a steward of this cavalier 
 that the somewhat whimsical story is related by Alonzo 
 Fernandez, "that understanding that his slaves would de- 
 stroy themselves, he went for them with a cudgel in his 
 hand at the place where they were to meet, and told them 
 that they could neither do nor think anything that he did 
 not know before, and that he came thither to kill himself 
 with them, to the end that if he had used them badly in 
 this world he might use them worse in the world to come ; 
 and this was a means, it is said, that they changed their 
 purpose, and turned home again, to do that which he com- 
 manded them. ' ' 
 
 De Soto first made a general rendezvous for his forces in 
 Cuba, and recruited his command ; while staying here, he 
 sent two brigantines, with fifty men, to discover the ports 
 of Florida, and from thence they brought two Indians taken 
 upon the coast, ''wherewith" (as well because they might 
 be necessary as guides and for interpreters, as because they 
 said by signs that there was much gold in Florida) "the 
 governor and all the company received much contentment, 
 and longed for the hour of their departure, thinking in 
 himself this was the richest country that unto that day had 
 been discovered." 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 53 
 
 De Soto left Cuba on the i8th of May, 1539, and landed 
 at Tampa Bay on Whitsunday, the 25th of May, and the 
 name of Esph-itu Santo was given to the bay in honor of the 
 day. The number disembarked was about one thousand 
 men-at-arms with three hundred and fifty horses, a force far 
 more respectable in numbers and quality, in equipment and 
 appurtenances, than had ever gone forth in any previous 
 expedition. 
 
 The fleet entered the bay, on the west coast of Florida, 
 now called Tampa Bay, and landed, probably at Gadsden's 
 Point, a few miles from an Indian town belonging to a 
 chief called Hirrihigua, and which stood on the site of the 
 present town of Tampa. The house of the chief was upon 
 an artificial eminence, which still remains, after more than 
 three hundred years, to awaken the interest of the anti- 
 quary and certify the truth of ancient chronicles. While 
 at this place, the two Indians whom they had been training 
 for guides and interpreters escaped, to the great disap- 
 pointment of De Soto. From some captured women, 
 however, he learned that a Spaniard, left by Narvaez, was 
 in the keeping of a neighboring chief. This man was Juan 
 Ortiz, whose history would have been of itself a most inter- 
 esting one had he possessed the skill to write it, or had he 
 escaped with his life to Spain to relate it. 
 
 After Narvaez landed, he had sent back to Cuba, to his 
 wife, one of his smaller vessels, on board of which was 
 this Juan Ortiz, to convey intelligence of his landing. She 
 immediately sent additional supplies by the same vessel, and 
 they arrived at the bay after Narvaez had entered upon his / 
 march. Observing a letter fixed in the cleft of a stick on ^ 
 shore, they asked some Indians whom they saw to bring it to 
 them, which the savages refused, and made signs to come for 
 it. Juan Ortiz, then a youth of eighteen, with a comrade, 
 took the boat and went on shore, when they were immedi- 
 
 5* 
 
^4 HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 ately captured by the Indians, and taken to the chief, who 
 was greatly enraged against the Spaniards on account of 
 injuries he had received from Narvaez, and the companion 
 of Ortiz was at once sacrificed upon his attempting resist- 
 ance. The chief ordered Ortiz to be stretched out upon a 
 staging of poles like a gridiron, and a fire to be built under 
 him. He was of a young and interesting age, and when 
 this cruel order was given, and the victim was about under- 
 going this torture, a scene ensued which deservedly arouses 
 our sympathies and admiration, and recalls at once the 
 better-known and more widely appreciated incident of 
 Pocahontas. The cruel Hirrihigua had a beautiful daugh- 
 ter, about the same age as Ortiz, who, when she saw the 
 dreadful fate to which the young Spaniard was doomed, 
 was moved to that pity and compassion which, to the credit 
 of her sex be it spoken, are always aroused in woman's 
 breast by misfortune and suffering. Narvaez had been 
 guilty, it seems, of acts of atrocious cruelty towards the 
 mother of the chief, and the wrong had sunk deep and in- 
 effaceably into his heart. Overcoming her own natural 
 feelings of resentment against the race, and braving the 
 anger of her father, this noble Indian maid threw herself 
 at her father's feet and implored him to spare the life of 
 the captive youth, urging upon him that this smooth- 
 cheeked boy could do him no injury, and that it was more 
 noble for a brave and lofty chief like himself to keep the 
 youth a captive, than to sacrifice so mere a lad to his re- 
 venge. 
 
 The intercession of the noble girl was successful, and 
 the young Spaniard was loosed and his wounds cared for 
 by the gentle hands of her who had saved his life. 
 
 After some months his life was again in jeopardy, and he 
 was about to be sacrificed to the supposed requirements of 
 the Demon of Evil, when his fair deliverer again inter- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 55 
 
 posed, warned him of his peril, and advised him to flee 
 to Mucoso, a neighboring chief; and at the dead hour 
 of night she herself led him half a league upon his way, 
 and, placing him in the path of safety, gave him her true 
 woman's blessing and hopes for his welfare. He reached 
 Mucoso, who received him well and protected him from 
 that period until the arrival of De Soto, twelve years after- 
 wards. It adds not a little to the romance of the story, 
 to repeat, that the daughter of Hirrihigua was affianced 
 to the chief Mucoso, and that, owing to the refusal of 
 Mucoso to surrender Ortiz upon the repeated demands of 
 Hirrihigua, the proposed alliance was refused by that chief, 
 and his daughter sacrificed her love to her humanity, 
 and Mucoso his bride to his sense of honor. Savages 
 though they were, they gave an example of noble virtues 
 seldom equaled in any society more polished or more re- 
 fined. 
 
 A party of horse sent by De Soto met Ortiz on his way 
 to their camp, where he was received with great rejoicings, 
 and the first question addressed to him from the very depths 
 of their hearts was whether he knew of any neighboring 
 country rich in the precious metals. 
 
 Some of the cavaliers had participated in the ransom of 
 the Inca of Peru, and had entered upon this expedition 
 with similar expectations. The others, excited by the suc- 
 cess of the followers of Pizarro, were greedy to search some 
 land rich in gold. What they hoped from a country which 
 they supposed to be the richest of any yet discovered, may 
 be inferred from an examination of that chapter of the 
 Conquest of Peru devoted to the recital of the almost fabu- 
 lous amount of treasure obtained as the ransom of Atahu- 
 alpa, which, it was said, filled with gold a room twenty- 
 two feet long, seventeen feet wide, and nine feet high; 
 an amount of treasure which perhaps it would not be rash 
 
56 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 to say could not be obtained in gold, if Florida even now, 
 at the end of three hundred years, were pillaged anew. 
 
 A dim vision of some distant and ever-receding city, re- 
 splendent with magnificence, and like Cuzco, ''where the 
 roofs of the temples were plated with gold, while the walls 
 were hung with tapestry, and the floors inlaid with tiles of 
 the same precious metal," was ever before their eyes, and, 
 like an ignis-fatuus, led them for weeks and months and 
 years, ever disappointed and ever credulous to the last, dis- 
 believing everything else told them by the savage races, and 
 believing every promise of this.* 
 
 Juan Ortiz was of much less real value to them as a guide 
 than they expected. He had been kept within the limits 
 of a single tribe, and knew little or nothing of the country 
 beyond. The excursions of the troops soon became dis- 
 couraging. The vessels were sent back, and Porcallo, the 
 lieutenant of De Soto, found the hardships too great, and, 
 
 * In vol. iii. of Hakluyt will be found the relations of Pedro 
 Morales, whom Sir Francis Drake brought from St. Augustine, in 
 Florida, in 1586, in which he says : " There is a great city sixteene 
 or twentie dayes journey from St. Helena northwestward, which the 
 Spaniards call La Gi-and Copal, which they thinke to bee very rich and 
 exceeding great, and have been in sight of it some of them." (P. 
 361.) There is also a relation of Nicolas Burguignon, alias Haly, 
 whom Sir Francis Drake brought from Florida. 
 
 " He further affirmeth that there is a citie northwestward from St. 
 Helena in the mountains, which the Spaniards call La Grand Copal, 
 and is very great and rich, and that in these mountains there is great 
 store of christal, gold, and rubies and diamonds; and that a Span- 
 iard brought from thence a diamond which was worth ;i^5000. He 
 saith also that to make passage unto these mountains it is needful to 
 have store of hatchets to give unto the Indians, and store of pickaxes 
 to break the mountains, zvhich shine so bright in the day in some places 
 that they cannot behold them, and therefore they travel unto them by 
 night." Ibid., p. 361. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 57 
 
 leaving the honor to the younger candidates for glory, he 
 returned to Cuba. 
 
 They then commenced their march to the northward, 
 and, having no great supply of provisions, were soon re- 
 duced to the necessity of depending upon the Indian fields ; 
 but, it is said, " they were sore vexed with hunger and evil 
 ways, because the countries were very barren of maiz, low, 
 and full of water, bogs, and thick woods. Wheresoever 
 any town was found, there were some beets, and they that 
 came first, and sodden with water and salt, did eat them 
 without any other thing, and such as could not get them 
 gathered stalks of maiz, which, because they were young, 
 had no maiz in them. When they came to the river (the 
 Withlacoochee, it is supposed) they found palmettos upon 
 low palm-trees like those of Andalusia." 
 
 They went thence to Ocali, which is described as being 
 a fertile region, and where they found abundance of corn, 
 and other provisions, as well as plums, grapes, nuts, and 
 acorns. After leaving Ocali, situated in the neighborhood, 
 it is supposed, of the present town of that name, they entered 
 the domain of a chief called Vitachuco, who gave them 
 battle in every form, and exerted his utmost efforts to de- 
 stroy them. Those who have read Irving' s Conquest of 
 Florida will recall the bloody contest which took place on 
 a level plain between two lakes, and the somewhat marvel- 
 ous fact stated, that some two hundred Indians plunged 
 into the lake, and remained there swimming for twenty- 
 four hours without touching foot to the ground. This 
 circumstance the chronicler La Vega thinks remarkable, 
 and hardly credible, but for the fact that his informants 
 were all honorable men. Hardships, and a fierce resist- 
 ance to their farther progress, soon made their journey 
 painful and disastrous; but De Soto was too determined a 
 leader and too good a soldier to feel other than his mar- 
 
58 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 tial ardor excited by opposition, and he with prudent 
 sagacity overcame all the obstacles in his path. His line 
 of march lay parallel to the shores of the gulf, and he 
 probably at this time reached the neighborhood of Talla- 
 hassee. A party whom he dispatched to the coast were 
 shown by the Indians the remains of De Narvaez's encamp- 
 ment at Aute, and the bleaching skeletons of his horses. 
 
 De Soto's treatment of the Indians was probably better 
 than that practiced by most of the discoverers, and in fact 
 this was forced upon him as a matter of policy, for he 
 found the natives of Florida far superior to the effeminate 
 races of South and Central America, trained to combat, 
 and filled with the most indomitable courage and persever- 
 ance. In some instances they may have been treated with 
 cruelty by him as a measure of policy, to overawe and 
 terrify them. 
 
 In one of the illustrations to De Bry, is a large plate, 
 showing the cutting off of the hands of a number of chiefs 
 by De Soto ; and many instances of his severity are scattered 
 through the Portuguese narrative. 
 
 It is said that '* after the well-fought battle of Vitachuco, 
 some of the youngest of the prisoners the governour gave 
 to them which had good chaines and were careful to look 
 to them that they got not away. All the rest he com- 
 manded to be put to death, and they being tied to a stake, 
 in the midst of the market-place, the Indians of the Para- 
 coussi did shoot them to death." 
 
 In another place, it is said that ^'they took an hundred 
 men and women, of which, as well there as in other places 
 where they made any inroades, the captain chose one or 
 two for the governour, and divided the others to himself 
 and the rest that went with him. They led these Indians 
 in chaines, with yron collars about their neckes, and they 
 served to carry their stuffe, and to grind their maiz, and 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 59 
 
 for other services that such captives could do. Some- 
 times it happened that, going for wood or maiz with them, 
 they killed the Christian that led them, and ran away 
 with the chain. Others filed their chaines by night with a 
 piece of stone, wherewith they cut them, and use it in- 
 stead of yron. The women and young boys, when they 
 were once an hundred leagues from their countrie, and had 
 forgotten things, were let go loose, and so they served, and 
 in a very short space they understood the language of the 
 Christians." 
 
 A very creditable circumstance is mentioned, in the 
 accounts of the expedition, of the attachment of the Indians 
 to their wives. On one occasion the Spaniards found two 
 men and a woman gathering beans : the men might have 
 escaped, but one of them, being husband to the woman, 
 would not leave her, and they fought most bravely until 
 they were slain, having wounded three horses. 
 
 Their style of dress is thus described: ''They have 
 mantles like blankets, made of the inner rind of the barks of 
 trees (probably the cabbage-palmetto), and some were made 
 of a kind of grass like nettles, which on being beaten be- 
 comes like flax." The grass referred to is evidently the 
 bear-grass, which has a strong and flexible fibre, suitable 
 for cordage or cloth, and is very abundant in Florida. 
 The women covered themselves with these mantles; one 
 was fastened on the shoulders, and worn with the right 
 arm out; they wore another fastened at the waist, and ex- 
 tending down towards the feet. The men wore a similar 
 mantle over the shoulders, and deer-skins around the loins. 
 The deer-skins were well dressed, and so well colored that 
 they resembled very fine cloth. They made their mocca- 
 sins of the same material. It would appear from this that 
 the Indian costume of 1539 was the same as that of 1839. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Expedition of Hernando de Soto, continued. 
 1540. 
 
 The Spaniards under De Soto, leaving Apalachee, in the 
 country east of the Apalachicola, turned to the northeast, 
 and came to a town called Yupaha, the sound of which is 
 suggestive of the Alapaha, a tributary of the Suwanee. 
 Here the following notable speech is put into the mouth of 
 an Indian chief, which has a strong smack of Castilian 
 diplomatic grandiloquence : 
 
 ''Right high, right mightie and excellent lord, those 
 things which seldome happen doe cause admiration : what 
 then may the sight of your lordship and your people doe 
 to me and mine whom we never saw? especially being 
 mounted on such fierce beasts as your horses are, entering 
 with such violence and fury into my country, without any 
 knowledge of your coming. It was a thing so strange, and 
 caused such fear and terror in our minds, that it was not in 
 our power to stay and receive your lordship with the solem- 
 nities due to so high and renowned a prince as your lord- 
 ship is," (a diplomatic way of saying they could not help 
 running away ;) ''and, trusting in your greatness and singu- 
 lar virtues, I do not only hope to be freed from blame, but 
 also to receive favours, and the first which I demand of 
 your lordship is that you will use me, my country and sub- 
 jects, as your own ; and the second, that you will tell me 
 ( 60 ) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 6i 
 
 who you are, and whence you come, and whither you go, 
 and what you seek, that I the better may serve you thereto." 
 
 To this courteous speech the governor replied, '' that he 
 was very much obliged to him ; that he was the son of the 
 sun, and came from those parts where he is, and sought the 
 greatest lord and richest province in it." 
 
 De Soto here '' left a very high crosse of wood sett up in 
 the middest of the market-place." 
 
 The populousness of the country he had now entered, 
 upon the Altamaha, maybe inferred from the fact mentioned 
 that a chief sent him "two thousand Indians, with a pres- 
 ent, to wit : many conies and partridges, bread of maize, 
 two hens, and many dogs, which last, it is said, were es- 
 teemed as if they had been fat wethers ; and when they 
 came to any town and found thirty or forty dogs, he that 
 could get one and kill it thought himself no small man ; 
 and he that killed it and gave not his captain one quarter, 
 if he knew it, he frowned on him, and made him feele it on 
 the watches." 
 
 In another tribe four Indians were taken, and none of 
 them would confess anything but that they knew of no 
 other habitation. 
 
 The governor commanded one of them to be burned, 
 and presently another confessed, and gave the information 
 they desired. 
 
 Feminine chieftainship is an unfrequent occurrence among 
 savage tribes ; but near the Atlantic coast in South Carolina 
 De Soto came into the territories of an Indian queen, in- 
 vested with youth, beauty, and loveliness, who is styled by 
 the old chronicles ''the Ladie of the countrie." Upon De 
 Soto's approach, he was met by a lady ambassadress, sister 
 of her Majesty, who delivered a courteous speech of wel- 
 come, *' and within a little time the Ladie came out of the 
 town in a chaire, whereon certain of the principal Indians 
 
 6 
 
62 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 brought her to the river. She entered into a barge, which 
 had the sterne tilted over, and on the floor her mat ready 
 laid, with two cushions upon it, one upon another, where 
 she sat her down, and with her came her principal Indians, 
 in other barges, which did wait upon her." She went to 
 the place where the governor was, and at her coming she 
 made this speech: '' Excellent lord, I wish this coming of 
 your lordships into these your countries to be most happy ; 
 although my power be not answerable to my will, and my 
 services be not according to my desire, nor such as so high 
 a prince as your lordships deserveth, yet such the good will 
 is rather to be accepted than all the treasures of the world 
 that without it can be offered ; with most unfailable and 
 manifest affection I offer you my person, lords, and subjects, 
 and this small service. ' ' 
 
 After this courteous and graceful speech from the throne, 
 to which it maybe inferred that so gallant a cavalier as 
 De Soto must have replied in equally complimentary style, 
 the princess caused to be presented to the Adelantado 
 rich presents of the clothes and skins of the country, and — 
 far greater attraction for them — beautiful strings of pearls. 
 Her Majesty, after some maiden coyness, took from her 
 own neck a great cordon of pearls and cast it about the 
 neck of the governor, entertaining him with very gra- 
 cious speeches of love and courtesy, and as soon as he 
 was lodged in the town she sent him another present, of 
 not quite so delicate and refined a character, but no doubt 
 considered by her of far greater value, namely, some 
 hens. 
 
 Perceiving that they valued the pearls, she advised the 
 governor to send and search certain graves that were in 
 that town, and that he should find many. They sought 
 the graves, and there found fourteen ^' measures" of pearls, 
 weighing two hmidred and ninety-two pounds, and little 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 63 
 
 babies and birds made of them, reminding one of the 
 recent excavations at Cliiriqui. 
 
 The people were brown, well made and well propor- 
 tioned, and more civil than any others that were seen in 
 all the country of Florida, and all of them went shod and 
 clothed. 
 
 The Spaniards, wearied with their long and fruitless 
 travel, and worn down by their hardships, urged upon 
 their leader that it was a good country to inhabit, and in 
 a temperate climate, and that ships going and coming from 
 Spain might touch there, and that it was a productive 
 country. 
 
 But the governor, it is said, '^ since his intent was to 
 seek another treasure like that of Atahualpa, Lord of Peru, 
 was not contented with a good country, nor with pearls, 
 though many of them were worth their weight in gold. 
 And being a stern man, and of few words, though he was 
 glad to sift and know the opinion of all men, yet after he 
 had delivered his own he would not be contraried, and 
 always did what he liked himself, and so it is said all men 
 did condescend unto his will, and though it seems an 
 errour to leave that country, yet there was none that would 
 say anything against him after they knew his resolution." 
 
 The fair princess seems to have been ill requited for her 
 hospitable reception of the Spaniards. Held as a hostage 
 (for the good behavior of the Indians, it is to be presumed), 
 De Soto insisted upon her accompanying him, which she 
 did for many days, until one day, turning aside into the 
 forest upon some slight pretext, she disappeared, not with- 
 out suspicion of design, as there happened to be missing 
 at the same time one of the Spaniards, who report said 
 had joined the fair princess for weal or for woe, and had 
 returned with her to her tribe. Upon this meagre inci- 
 dent, the romance-writer of the South, VV. Gilmore Simms, 
 
64 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 has woven an ingenious and pleasant tale in his story of 
 Andres Vasconselos. 
 
 The journey of De Soto was thence to the borders of the 
 Tennessee, meeting no opposition in his march. By one 
 tribe he was met with a present of seven hundred hens, 
 and by another with twenty baskets of mulberries, and on 
 one occasion three hundred dogs were brought to him. 
 
 Led on by the indefinite stories of the Indians, whose 
 motive was probably to mislead him, he traveled through 
 the upper parts of South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama, 
 until he changed his course to the southwest, and arrived 
 at a town called Mauvilla. 
 
 The tribes through which they had passed in the upper 
 country seem to have offered no opposition, and were 
 probably of a more peaceable disposition than those along 
 the gulf. 
 
 Mauvilla was the scene of a bitter and sanguinary conflict. 
 The pearls and baggage which the Spaniards had borne thus 
 far were left in the hands of the Indian slaves, who were 
 suddenly surprised by the Mauvillians and carried into the 
 town. De Soto, determined to strike a blow which should 
 carry terror to the natives, attacked the place with great 
 impetuosity, and set fire to the buildings, consuming alike 
 the stores of the Indians and his own baggage, and — what 
 they seem to have most regretted — their stores of pearls. 
 The number of Indians slain in this encounter is stated to 
 have been twenty-five hundred, while of the Spaniards 
 eighteen men were killed and one hundred and fifty 
 wounded. 
 
 After this battle De Soto learned that Francisco Mal- 
 donado, who had been sent by him from Apalachicola 
 with the brigantines to look for a port to the westward, 
 awaited him at the port of Ochuse — (Pensacola), six days' 
 journey from Mauvilla. This Mauvilla is supposed to have 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 65 
 
 been on the Alabama River, and the name of Mobile is 
 derived from it. 
 
 It might naturally be that De Soto, having now trav- 
 eled several hundred leagues through the country, and 
 finding his hopes ever disappointed, would, at the end of 
 these eighteen months of travel, gladly embrace the means 
 of extrication afforded by this opportune arrival of his 
 vessels. 
 
 But the pride of the noble cavalier would not permit 
 him to turn back while a glimmering hope remained of 
 accomplishing his designs. He instructed Juan Ortiz to 
 keep Maldonado's arrival a secret, because, it is quaintly 
 said, ^'he had not accomplished that which he determined 
 to do, and because the pearls were burnt there which he 
 meant to have sent to Cuba for a show, that the people 
 hearing the news might be desirous to come to that coun- 
 try." He feared also ''that if they should have news of 
 him, without seeing from Florida either gold or silver or 
 anything of value, the country would get such a name that 
 no man would seek to go thither when' he should have 
 need of people; and so he determined to send no news 
 of himself until he had found some rich country." 
 
 And thus he deliberately turned his face forever from 
 the shores of his native land, and from all the wealth and 
 distinction of his viceroyalty in Cuba, intent on carrying 
 out to its full solution the problem of the wealth and riches 
 of Florida. 
 
 Maldonado long awaited the arrival of De Soto at 
 Ochuse, and at last, despairing of ever'again meeting him, 
 turned his sails sorrowfully to bear to the Lady Isabella 
 the report of the probable fate which had befallen the 
 expedition. 
 
 De Soto changed his course thence to the northwest, sore 
 in body and sore in spirit, and was met at every step with 
 . 6* 
 
66 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 demonstrations of enmity; the towns were burned over 
 their heads, and night -attacks were frequent. In the 
 province of Quinague he was waited upon by six principal 
 chiefs, who made this remarkable declaration: "That they 
 came to see what people they were, and that long ago they 
 had been informed by their forefathers that a white people 
 should subdue them, and that therefore they would return 
 to their cacique, and bid him come presently and serve 
 the governour." 
 
 The Spaniards were then near to the Father of Waters, 
 which they called the Great River — Rio Grande. They 
 described the river as ''about half a league broad. If a 
 man stood still on the other side, it could not be dis- 
 cerned whether he were a man or no. The river was of 
 great depth, and of a strong current ; the water was always 
 muddy; there came down the river, continually, many 
 trees and timber, which the force of the water and stream 
 brought down. There was a great store of fish in it of 
 sundrie sorts, and the most of it differing from the fresh- 
 water fish of Spain." From the cottonwood-trees on its 
 banks, De Soto constructed boats large enough to carry 
 three horses at a time, and crossed over at night without 
 interruption from the natives. He spent the summer and 
 autumn in exploring the regions beyond the Mississippi, 
 and wintered, it is supposed, upon the White River. He 
 here concluded that in the spring he would go to the 
 seacoast, and dispatch a vessel to Cuba and another to 
 Mexico, with the view of sending to his wife, the Lady 
 Isabella, who '"as in Cuba, intelligence of himself, and for 
 another outfit to enable him further to prosecute his expe- 
 dition. Up to this time he had lost two hundred and fifty 
 men and one hundred and fifty horses. 
 
 About the middle of April he returned to the banks of 
 the Mississippi, with the view of going to the coast, and at 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 67 
 
 once began to make inquiries about the country, but could 
 get little intelligence. He then sent out an expedition to 
 the southward, but it could make no progress on account 
 of the numerous creeks and canebrakes. 
 
 The gallant chief, who had so long borne up under every 
 species of discouragement, who had ever responded with 
 alacrity to the call to battle, w^ho bore himself always as a 
 prudent and brave commander, now began to sink into 
 despondency; and visions of the past, and a certain home- 
 sickness, it may well be imagined, came upon him. A slow 
 and wearing fever daily detracted from his strength, and he 
 soon felt that the hour approached wherein he was to leave 
 this present life. He called his followers around him to re- 
 ceive his parting words, and said to them, '' that now he was 
 to go to give an account before the presence of God of all 
 his life past, and since it pleased God to take him in such 
 a time, and that the time was come ; that he knew his 
 death drew near, and that he. His most unworthy servant, 
 did yield to Him many thanks therefor ; and desired all that 
 were present and absent (whom he confessed himself to be 
 much beholding unto for their singular virtues, love, and 
 loyalty, which himself had well tried in the travels which 
 they had suffered, which always in his mind he did hope to 
 satisfy and reward when it should please God to give him 
 rest with more prosperities of his estate) that they would 
 pray to God for him, that for His mercy He would forgive 
 him his sins and receive his soul into eternal glory, and 
 that they would quit and free him of the charge which he 
 had over them, and that they would pardon him for some 
 wrongs which they might have received of him ; and, to 
 avoid some divisions which upon his death might fall out 
 upon the choice of his successor, he requested them to 
 elect a principal person and able to govern, of whom all 
 should like well, and, when he was elected, they should 
 
68 ' HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 swear before him to obey him ; and that he would thank 
 them very much in so doing, because the grief that he had 
 would somewhat be assuaged, and the pain that he felt be- 
 cause he left them in so great confusion, in leaving them 
 in a strange country where they knew not where they 
 were." 
 
 Baltazar de Gallegos answered in the name of all the 
 rest; and first of all, comforting him, "he set before his 
 eyes how short the life of this world was, and with how 
 many troubles and miseries it is accompanied, and how 
 God showed him a singular favor which soonest left it, and 
 many other things proper for the occasion ; and besought 
 that he would himself appoint his successor." He there- 
 fore named Luis Muscoza de Alvarado his captain-general. 
 The next day, being the 21st of May, 1542, ''departed out 
 of this life the valorous, virtuous, and valiant Captaine 
 Don Fernando de Soto, Governour of Cuba and Adelan- 
 tado of Florida," whom, says the chronicler, "fortune 
 advanced as it useth to do others, that he might have the 
 higher fall. He departed in such a place and such a time, 
 and in his sickness he had but little comfort." 
 
 They attempted to conceal De Soto's death, but, the 
 Indians suspecting the place of his burial, he was taken up 
 at a late hour of a dark night, and, wrapped in his mantle, 
 was conveyed by the dim light of the stars to the middle 
 of the Mississippi, and buried beneath its stream, in sorrow 
 and silence, with a low whispered De Profundis from 
 noble and saddened hearts, who seemed to bury with 
 their chief beneath those dark waters almost the last ray 
 of hope, and to look forward to the future with heavy 
 forebodings. 
 
 The choice of a successor made by De Soto was ratified 
 without dissent by his followers, and their first and only 
 aim was to escape as soon as possible from a country which 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 69 
 
 had disappointed all their hopes, and given not even the 
 barren rewards of honorable fame. 
 
 They endeavored^ at first, to follow the supposed route 
 of Cabe^a de Vaca, and reach Mexico, then called New 
 Spain, by land ; but after traveling to the southwest for 
 some time they became discouraged, and concluded to 
 build boats and attempt to coast along the shore. Finding 
 a suitable place, called Minoya, the governor commanded 
 them " to gather all the chaines which they had to lead the 
 Indians," and collect the timber and material necessary 
 for building boats. They built seven large boats and floated 
 down the Mississippi, and, after several encounters with 
 the natives, reached the open sea, and coasted along to the 
 westward until they reached the northern Spanish settle- 
 ments at Panuco, where they were joyfully received and 
 treated with great kindness. Many went on shore "and 
 kissed the ground, and kneeling on their knees, and lifting 
 up their hands and eyes to heaven, they all ceased not to 
 give God thanks." 
 
 Of those constituting De Soto's expedition who came out 
 of Florida, there arrived at Panuco three hundred and 
 eleven persons, the only survivors of the thousand brave 
 men who, four years before, had landed at the harbor of 
 Espiritu Santo. 
 
 The main interest of this extraordinary expedition cen- 
 tres in the person of the gallant chief with whom it orig- 
 inated, and who staked his name, his fortune, and his life 
 upon the success of the enterprise ; and as long as the great 
 Father of Waters shall roll in resistless flood towards the 
 sea, so long will the name of De Soto be recalled in con- 
 nection with this expedition, and the sad fate which ter- 
 minated his life upon its borders will excite a throb of 
 sympathy for one who, at the early age of forty-two, 
 passed from this world, second to none of his day or age 
 
70 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 in the practice of all manly virtues and deeds of knightly 
 prowess. 
 
 We can hardly trace this long journey of De Soto through 
 a trackless wilderness without astonishment at the persever- 
 ance and hardihood which, under such circumstances, could 
 traverse thousands of miles unprovided with means of sub- 
 sistence, marching from tribe to tribe and country to coun- 
 try, wherever the information of the hour produced hope 
 for the future. 
 
 Let us, for a moment, carry ourselves back in imagination 
 three hundred and thirty-one years. From the beautiful 
 pine-glades of Florida we see issuing forth the gallant 
 troops of the Adelantado. Three hundred mounted men, 
 on noble Andalusian steeds, richly caparisoned, lead the ad- 
 vance. These are all gentlemen and noble cavaliers, hidal- 
 gos of rank and scions of the noblest families of Spain, 
 officered by brave captains, whose names are emblazoned 
 for their valor under the banner of Pizarro. Following 
 these come six hundred and fifty men-at-arms, on foot, in 
 close and serried ranks, and in their midst several hundred 
 of the natives, bearing the burdens of their masters. These 
 are the slaves, native Indians, whom they have impressed 
 into their service ; many are led by chains, and others man- 
 acled, to prevent escape. When a sufficient number of 
 some other tribe are taken to supply their place, these will 
 be relieved and allowed to return to their homes, and the 
 others substituted, to be again relieved in like manner. 
 Riding behind the cavaliers appear twelve men in long, 
 black soutaines, who are evidently non-combatants. These 
 are the clericos, priests and friars, and in their train are 
 those who bear the ornaments and plate for celebrating 
 mass. At each encampment an altar is erected, draped 
 with rich altar-cloths, and surmounted with a golden cruci- 
 fix, while lofty candelabra throw their pale light upon the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 71 
 
 worshipers. The priests, in their gorgeous vestments, cele- 
 brate mass in the sight of the whole army, drawn up in 
 hollow square ; and, kneeling amid their Christian masters, 
 the natives of the forest, in mute wonderment, bow their 
 heads in adoration of the Christians' God. 
 
 So, day by day and week by week, proceeded the march. 
 Wherever an Indian field was found, its harvest was gathered ; 
 and wherever an Indian store-house or granary was dis- 
 covered, its contents were speedily appropriated. For three 
 years and a half this long march proceeded, without rein- 
 forcements or additional supplies. This fact of itself speaks 
 volumes for the energy and generalship of this distinguished 
 leader. 
 
 With but a thousand men, De Soto conquered and over- 
 ran a country containing hundreds of thousands of inhab- 
 itants, and for over three years subsisted his troops and 
 maintained the discipline of his forces in a wild and track- 
 less country, without, so far as we know, a single murmur 
 of discontent being raised against him by his devoted fol- 
 lowers. 
 
 For three hundred years the red and white races have 
 fought for supremacy over the countries traversed by De 
 Soto, and now, at the end of more than three hundred 
 years, the descendants of the warlike chiefs of Hirrihigua, 
 Vitachuco, and Ocali still possess, amid the grassy ever- 
 glades and cypress swamps beyond the Espiritu Santa, the 
 hunting-grounds and graves of their ancestors. 
 
 Three hundred and thirty years ago, the advent of the 
 horses of the adventurers, which the Indians invested with 
 supernatural proportions, first struck with terror the savage 
 races of Florida, and seemed to be the terrible precursors 
 and forerunners of the domination of the white race, ''the 
 children of the sun;" and now the iron horse of an ad- 
 
72 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 vancing civilization is startling those same pine forests 
 with its shrill scream, indicating the fulfillment of that 
 manifest destiny which was to strike forever from the 
 land of their forefathers the last remains of the aboriginal 
 races. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Route of De Soto's Expedition through Florida. 
 
 The long sojourn of De Soto in the region bordering 
 upon the Gulf of Mexico and on the banks of the Missis- 
 sippi, and the remarkable adventures which he encountered, 
 enhanced by his personal character and prowess, have in- 
 vested the expedition of this gallant adventurer with unusual 
 interest, and it has long been an important subject of in- 
 quiry to ascertain the route pursued by him and the locali- 
 ties of the more important events of his journey, beginning 
 upon the beautiful bay of Espiritu Santo and ending with 
 the descent of the great Father of Waters. 
 
 The task of thus tracing the steps of De Soto is by no 
 means devoid of difficulty. We have to encounter not 
 only the uncertainties of connecting names with localities 
 imperfectly described, but have to be governed in these 
 descriptions by three separate accounts of the expedition, 
 exhibiting very important differences and discrepancies. 
 The most voluminous of these is that of Garcilasso de la 
 Vega, commonly called LTnca. The next in extent is 
 the work of a gentleman of Elvas, who accompanied the 
 expedition, and who is commonly called the Portuguese 
 Gentleman. The third and briefest is the narration of 
 Lewis de Biedma. 
 
 The point where De Soto landed is stated by all to have 
 been at Espiritu Santo Bay, on the western coast of Florida, 
 and now known as Tampa Bay, a beautiful sheet of water, 
 
 7 (73) 
 
74 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 some thirty-six miles in length, and the largest bay on the 
 Gulf of Mexico. There are two heads to the bay, one open- 
 ing northerly and the other easterly. De Narvaez probably 
 landed near and visited the northerly or old Tampa por- 
 tion of the bay. De Soto, it is likely, landed near Gads- 
 den's Point, where the shoal water begins, and beyond 
 which it was of insufficient depth to carry his vessels. 
 Their first day's march was to the village of Hirrihigua, 
 two leagues northeasterly, and the location of which, as 
 described by L'Inca, corresponds to the present town of 
 Tampa.* The village consisted, it is said, of several large 
 houses, built of wood and thatched with palm-leaves. In 
 an opposite part of the village, near the water, upon an 
 artificial eminence so constructed as to serve as a fortress, 
 stood the dwelling of the cacique or chief. 
 
 From Hirrihigua, proceeding in a northeast course, at 
 the end of two days De Soto came to the village of Mucoso, 
 the chief who had befriended Ortiz. This may have been 
 Hichipucsassa. They next, at a distance of twenty-five 
 leagues from Hirrihigua, reached a town they call Urri- 
 barracaxi, which was likely on the Withlacoochee, as they 
 there crossed a river. They next reached a town they name 
 Ocali, which was on the banks of a river. This location is 
 uncertain, but has been supposed to indicate the neigh- 
 borhood of the present town of Ocali and the Ocklawaha. 
 
 From Ocali they went to Vitachuco — from the descrip- 
 tion of the adjacent country, indicating a location near 
 Wacahootee. After leaving Vitachuco, they reached a 
 great river, too deep to ford, which must have been the 
 Suwanee.f Crossing this river, they reached Osachile, 
 which is said to have been ten leagues from Vitachuco. J 
 
 * Irving's Conquest of Florida, p. 58. 
 t Ibid., p. 127. + Ibid., p. 128. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 75 
 
 From Osachile they marched three days, and on the fourth 
 came to the Great Morass.* Passing this, they entered a 
 fruitful country covered with fields of grain and containing 
 many villages. In four days after passing the Great Morass 
 they came to the village of Anhayea. The line of march 
 from Vitachuco west would carry them to the Suwanee, 
 near Suwanee Old Town ; thence, bearing too far to the 
 west, they were involved in one of the great coast swamps, 
 but thence going northwestwardly they entered the fertile 
 region embraced in the present counties of Madison, Jef- 
 ferson, and Leon, and their Anhayea is thought to have 
 been in the vicinity of Tallahassee. From Anhayea two 
 exploring parties were sent out, one north and one south. 
 The party which went north returned reporting very favor- 
 ably of a rich and well inhabited country. The party which 
 went down towards the coast found a sterile country, full 
 of ponds and swamps. These descriptions would corre- 
 spond very well with the country north and south of Monti- 
 cello or Tallahassee. The village of Aute was twelve leagues 
 from Anhayea, and not far from the Bay of Apalachee. De 
 Soto sent back to Espiritu Santo and had his vessels brought 
 into this bay. Afterwards he sent vessels coasting west- 
 wardly. At a distance of seventy leagues they entered a 
 beautiful and spacious bay, called by them Ochuse, which 
 was evidently Pensacola Bay. They reported that it was 
 land-locked and completely sheltered with bold shores, 
 and large enough for a fleet to anchor in. De Soto does 
 not appear to have crossed the Apalachicola or Chatta- 
 hoochee River, but, having made an appointment for 
 vessels to be sent from Cuba to meet him in the fall at 
 Ochuse, he determined to proceed to a province to the 
 northeast, abounding in gold, pearls, etc. Leaving Anhayea, 
 
 * Irving's Conquest of Florida, p. 130. 
 
^6 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 he traveled northeast, and at the end of three days came 
 to Copachique; this was probably on the Savannah River. 
 Two days farther travel brought them to Atapaha. This 
 name so closely resembles Alapaha that it is reasonable to 
 suppose they are the same, and that the town was on the 
 river of that name, which, passing through a portion of 
 Georgia, discharges itself into the Suwanee, in Hamilton 
 County, Florida. Traveling still in the same direction, it is 
 supposed they crossed successively the Altamaha and the 
 Savannah River, and reached the region of Middle Georgia 
 between Milledgeville and Augusta. They marched thence 
 northwestwardly to the mineral regions of Upper Georgia, 
 where they had been informed the gold which they saw in 
 possession of the natives had been procured. De Soto then 
 passed to the Etowah River, and visited a large Indian town 
 situated at the confluence of the Coosa and Etowah, called 
 Chiapa, the location now occupied by the present city of 
 Rome, Georgia. He then passed southwardly through a 
 rich and fertile country called Coosa, and eventually reached 
 Maubila or Mauvilla, which was situated, it is supposed, at 
 Choctaw Bluff. He here heard of the arrival of his vessels 
 at Ochuse, on Pensacola Bay, and at first contemplated 
 going to meet them, but, fearing that once near his vessels 
 his men would insist on leaving the country, he determined 
 to pursue his march westward. At Maubila he was not 
 more than one hundred and fifty miles from Pensacola. His 
 course was then northwestward to the Mississippi, and it is 
 conjectured that he crossed a few miles below Memphis. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Other Expeditions to Florida— Occupation of Santa Maria by Tristan 
 de Luna — Expedition to the Borders of Tennessee and the Province 
 of Coca, 
 
 1543— 1561. 
 
 While De Soto was thus traversing Florida and the coun- 
 try east of the Mississippi, Mendoza, the Viceroy of 
 Mexico, had fitted out an expedition to enter upon the 
 route of De Vaca. It consisted of but thirty horsemen, 
 under the command first of Juan de Caldivar, and after- 
 wards of Coronado, who passed as far north as Missouri, 
 and crossed several rivers, to which he gave names, but 
 which are described with so little accuracy as to give but 
 slender aid to their being now identified. Passing through 
 a province called Quivira, they were informed of four white 
 men having been there, whom they supposed must have 
 been De Vaca and his comrades. After the return of Co- 
 ronado, the zealous brothers of the order of St. Francis 
 determined to visit Quivira, which, having undertaken 
 with a small party, these worthy men fell martyrs to their 
 Christian zeal, being murdered by the natives, with all of 
 their party, except two men who escaped to Mexico by dif- 
 ferent routes. Upon the arrival of Don Luis Muscoza de 
 Alvarado in Mexico with the remnant of De Soto's expe- 
 dition, Mendoza, the Viceroy, endeavored to induce some 
 of them to lead an expedition he was anxious to fit out for 
 Florida; but they were unwilling again to enter upon this 
 enterprise. 
 
 7* (77) 
 
jS HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 In the following year, 1544, Julian de Samano and Pedro 
 de Ahumada, being satisfied that Florida abounded in 
 pearls and fine furs, and believing that mines of gold, sil- 
 ver, and other metals could be opened, sought the privilege 
 of conquering the country, but failed to obtain the desired 
 permission. 
 
 A treasure-ship, on a voyage to Spain from New Mexico, 
 was lost, on the eastern coast of Florida, in the year 1545, 
 and of some two hundred persons on board who escaped 
 to the land, all were sacrificed by the Indians except a few 
 who were reduced to servitude. One of these made his 
 way to Laudonniere twenty years afterwards, and s»everal 
 others escaped to Menendez. 
 
 The religious zeal of the Franciscans again induced an 
 attempt to plant the cross on the shores of Florida. It is 
 probable that had this attempt preceded the armed expedi- 
 tions which had landed on these shores, they would have 
 been received with the kindness which seems to have wel- 
 comed the first comers to the shores of America. But the 
 natives had learned to associate all white men with the 
 armed invaders of their soil, and they could make no dis- 
 tinction between the sword of the one and the cross of 
 the other. 
 
 Four Franciscan brothers, Fra Luis Cancer de Bastro, 
 of the order of St. Dominic, who had been in Mexico, and 
 held the office of Provincial Vicar of Guatemala and Chi- 
 apas, Fra Gregorio de Betata, Fra Diego de Penalosa, Fra 
 Juan Garcia, and one Donado, called Fuentes, sailed from 
 Havana in the year 1549, and landed at Espiritu Santo Bay. 
 Penalosa and Fuentes, attempting to penetrate into the 
 country, were set upon at once and massacred by the 
 natives. The others had remained on board their vessel in 
 the harbor, and, while lying there, a Spaniard came off to 
 them, named Juan Munoz, who was a page of Captain 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 79 
 
 Calderon, an officer of De Soto's expedition. He had 
 been captured by the Indians, and held by them ten years, 
 and now most gladly availed himself of this opportunity of 
 escape. Fra Luis, t*he chief of the clerical party, was not 
 discouraged by the fate of Penalosa and Fuentes, and, not- 
 withstanding the earnest efforts of Munoz and others to dis- 
 suade him from the attempt, he determined to try his 
 power of persuasion upon the hostile natives. His Chris- 
 tian zeal could not be restrained by the dictates of prudence, 
 and, unwilling to give up the object of his journey thither 
 without a final effort to reach the hearts of those people, 
 he prepared to sacrifice his life, if necessary, in the attempt. 
 
 Accordingly, he insisted upon landing alone among the 
 dusky throng of warriors who lined the shores of the Espi- 
 ritu Santo. Scarcely had the zealous priest touched the 
 beach before he fell beneath the war-clubs of the infuriated 
 savages, a martyr to his zeal ; and the shores of this most 
 beautiful bay were reddened with the blood of one whose 
 Christian devotion and unselfishness formed a marked con- 
 trast to the characters of those whose lust for gold had 
 brought them to the New World. 
 
 The companions of Fra Luis de Cancer, deterred by his 
 fate from making any further effort to Christianize the 
 natives of Florida, abandoned the expedition, and set sail 
 for Cuba. 
 
 Some three years afterwards, a Spanish plate fleet, which 
 had left Vera Cruz with upwards of one thousand persons 
 on board, was wrecked on the coast of Florida. Stopping, 
 as usual, at Havana, the fleet had again set sail for Spain, 
 when it was overtaken by one of those tremendous gales 
 which prevail with such terrific efl'ect in the southern seas, 
 and driven before its resistless power. The whole fleet, with 
 the exception of a single vessel, was cast upon the inhos- 
 pitable shores of Florida, somewhere within the Gulf of 
 
So HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Mexico, probably very considerably to the west. Of the 
 thousand persons on board, only three hundred reached 
 the shore. They endeavored to reach Mexico by passing 
 along the shores, making rafts to cross the mouths of the 
 rivers, but, incessantly harassed by the Indians, and over- 
 come by fatigue, they gradually decreased in numbers until 
 all had perished except one Francis Marcos. He had been 
 left by his companions, in a dying condition, buried in the 
 sand, wirh only his face exposed; but, reviving sufficiently 
 to exert himself a little further, he crawled along the coast 
 until he was discovered and taken up by two friendly Indians, 
 who carried him in a boat to Panuco. With the exception 
 of the few who were in the vessel that escaped shipwreck, 
 this Francis Marcos was the sole survivor of more than a 
 thousand persons who had left the shores of New Spain full 
 of joyful anticipations of a return to their native land, 
 where they would become famous among their country- 
 men as those who had visited far countries, performed great 
 feats, seen wonderful things, and returned enriched with 
 some of the treasures of Mexico. 
 
 Notwithstanding the many disasters that had befallen 
 those who had approached the shores of Florida, and 
 which seemed to promise to the future invaders only disap- 
 pointment and death, there yet appeared to exist some 
 great attraction for the adventurous, and a belief in the 
 hidden treasures of this country induced renewed efforts 
 for its conquest. 
 
 In 1556 a memorial was addressed to the emperor by 
 the Viceroy of Mexico, and the Bishop of Cuba, to whose 
 diocese Florida belonged, setting forth the great richness 
 of Florida, and the immense benefits which would result to 
 the cause of religion and to the empire from its acquisition. 
 
 In consequence of this memorial, orders were transmitted 
 to the Viceroy of New Spain to prepare an expedition for 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 8i 
 
 the conquest and settlement of Florida, and it was said 
 that such were the accounts given by those who had been 
 in the expeditions of Narvaez and De Soto, of the exceed- 
 ing richness of the country, that there was a widespread 
 desire to engage in the enterprise. 
 
 The expedition, which was to leave Vera Cruz in the 
 spring of 1559, was planned upon an extensive scale. It 
 consisted of fifteen hundred soldiers, and a large number of 
 friars and zealous preachers, burning for the conversion of 
 the Indians, all under the command of Don Tristan de 
 Luna and other officers of experience. 
 
 They sailed from Vera Cruz amid salvos of artillery and 
 shouts of good will and kind wishes from the assembled mul- 
 titude, and, gayly flinging their pennons to the breeze, they 
 went forth with the most brilliant anticipations of success. 
 
 On the 14th of August the fleet cast anchor in a bay to 
 which they gave the name of Santa Maria, and described 
 as a spacious and convenient harbor. This was doubtless 
 the Bay of Pensacola, which we find frequently mentioned 
 afterwards in the Spanish relations as the Bay of Santa 
 Maria. 
 
 Upon their arrival at this point, dispatch-vessels were 
 sent to Mexico and Spain to announce their progress and 
 confirm the opinions entertained of the value of the country. 
 Reconnoitring expeditions were sent along the rivers, and 
 preparations made for exploring the interior. On the 20th 
 of August, six days after their arrival, there was a terrible 
 gale, which wrecked the entire fleet, and destroyed a large 
 portion of their provisions. Don Tristan de Luna en- 
 couraged his followers to persevere in their course, assur- 
 ing them that supplies would soon reach them from the 
 viceroy, and he directed an expedition to be fitted out, 
 composed of four companies, to penetrate the country 
 which was called the Province of Coca. 
 
82 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 With the remainder of his men he established himself at 
 the port, with the hope that some opportunity would offer 
 by which he might inform the viceroy of their unfortunate 
 condition. 
 
 The sergeant-major, with the four companies, traveled 
 for forty days through an uninhabited country, until he 
 arrived upon the banks of a river which he was unable to 
 cross. Following along the banks of this river, which was 
 undoubtedly the Alabama, they at length came upon' an 
 Indian village, from which, on the approach of the Span- 
 iards, the inhabitants all fled. They found within the 
 houses a considerable supply of corn, beans, and other 
 vegetable products. 
 
 In examining the surrounding country they encountered 
 some of the natives, whom they propitiated with beads 
 and other trifling presents, and who, although they seemed 
 surprised, made no attempt at escape. By means of an 
 Indian interpreter, the Spaniards asked the name of the 
 town and province, why it was deserted, and what country 
 lay beyond it. They replied that the town was called 
 Napicnoca ; that it had been very large and well peopled, 
 but that other strangers, like the Spaniards, had destroyed 
 it, and forced the inhabitants to fly, except a few who 
 remained to gather the harvest.* 
 
 The sergeant-major sent out several detachments to ex- 
 amine the adjacent country, but they were greatly dis- 
 couraged on finding only vast deserts and solitudes. Re- 
 turning to Napicnoca, sixteen men were sent back to Santa 
 Maria to report the progress of the expedition. 
 
 In the mean time Don Tristan de Luna, who had with 
 him at Santa Maria a force of over one thousand men, 
 receiving no intelligence from the sergeant-major, and con- 
 
 Undoubtedly the other strangers were De Soto and his party. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. Zt^ 
 
 eluding from the time which had elapsed that the explor- 
 ing party had been cut off by the natives, determined to 
 remain no longer at the bay, where they were suffering 
 from the want of provisions, their supplies being now ex- 
 hausted. 
 
 While preparing to go into the interior, the sixteen men 
 sent back by the sergeant-major arrived, and, learning from 
 them that at Napicnoca were corn and other supplies, De 
 Luna determined to proceed with his men to that town, 
 some going by land and others by the river. Upon his 
 arrival, Don Tristan named the place Santa Cruz de Napic- 
 noca. The large number of persons to be provisioned 
 soon consumed the supplies which the sergeant-major had 
 gathered, and they were obliged to rely upon such chance 
 food as they could obtain, living upon acorns, which they 
 partially relieved of their bitterness by boiling them first 
 in salt water and afterwards in fresh water. The women 
 and young children, unable to eat the acorns, lived upon 
 the tender leaves and young twigs of the forest trees. They 
 were soon reduced to the last stage of hunger and de- 
 spair, looking forward to death as their only relief, when 
 they were told of the province of Coca, which had the 
 reputation of being an abundant and rich province, of 
 which they had before heard, but were ignorant of the 
 route to reach it. This information was gladly received; 
 some of the party, who had probably visited that province 
 with De Soto, assuring them that if they could once reach 
 •there they would find an abundance of everything. 
 
 De Luna thereupon sent the sergeant-major, with two 
 hundred men, to explore the route to Coca, two worthy 
 friars accompanying the expedition. The sergeant-major, 
 now hopeful for the future, moved northwardly, forced to 
 rely for food upon the roots and branches of trees ; seeming 
 to have been too unskillful to obtain game. They were 
 
84 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 forced to eat even their thongs and straps, and seven of 
 their number died of starvation and from eating poisonous 
 shrubs. They found no habitations, and encountered none 
 of the natives, and were so reduced as to be almost in- 
 capable of either advancing or returning to their comrades ; 
 but they still pushed on, until they at length entered a 
 wooded country, abounding in chestnuts and hickory-nuts. 
 Relieved of their sufferings, they now felt cheered to prose- 
 cute their journey, and, fifty days after leaving Napicnoca, 
 they came to Indian settlements upon the banks of a river 
 which the Indians called Olibahaki, and farther on they 
 came to small towns. 
 
 Making friendly advances to the natives, they procured 
 provisions of them in limited quantities, the natives mani- 
 festing much caution and distrust. 
 
 A miracle is reported to have occurred while they were 
 in this settlement, which is illustrative of the veneration 
 entertained by the Spaniards for the mysteries of their faith. 
 A rude chapel had been erected, of boughs, for the purpose 
 of celebrating mass, and while the priest was in the act of 
 consecrating the Host, he perceived upon the edge of the 
 chalice a disgusting and probably poisonous worm, so situ- 
 ated that an attempt to remove it would cause its fall within 
 the chalice. Perplexed by so unfortunate a circumstance, 
 the priest fell upon his knees and earnestly prayed that the 
 worm might not be permitted to fall into the holy sacra- 
 ment, and immediately the worm fell from the cup to the 
 altar, devoid of life. The priest, regarding it as a miracu- 
 lous answer to his prayer, made use of the occasion to urge 
 upon the company constancy and conformity in their works, 
 at all times, to the will of God.* 
 - The sergeant-major remained quite as long as was accept- 
 
 * Barcia, Ensayo Cronologico, p 34. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 85 
 
 able to his host on the Olibahaki, and they soon devised a 
 plan for relieving themselves of their guests, which was no 
 less cunning than amusing. Dressing up one of their num- 
 ber en g7'and seignevr, with proper attendants, they sent him 
 to the camp of the Spaniards to represent himself to them 
 as an ambassador from the cacique of the province of Coca, 
 empowered to extend to them an urgent invitation to visit 
 that province, and offering to act as a guide. The Span- 
 iards gladly accepted the invitation, made much of the 
 supposed ambassador, and informed him that they would at 
 once set out with him for Coca. They marched out with 
 high expectations, but at the close of the first day's march 
 their guide disappeared, leaving them to find their way to 
 Coca as best they could. 
 
 Finding themselves duped, some counseled a return to 
 Olibahaki, but the majority preferred to go on, and a few 
 days afterwards reached the object of their search, — the 
 far-famed province of Coca. The principal town of this 
 province contained about thirty houses, and there were 
 seven other towns belonging to this tribe. The land, in 
 consequence of the want of cultivation, did not appear so 
 productive as had been reported in Mexico by the sur- 
 vivors of De Soto's expedition. The neglect of the soil 
 was attributed by the Indians to the fact that the people 
 had fled from their habitations and fields, and been dis- 
 persed by the followers of De Soto. 
 
 The sergeant-major remained at Coca seven days, receiv- 
 ing every mark of attention from the natives. Learning that 
 the people of Coca were at war with a neighboring tribe, 
 the Spaniards proposed, in recompense for the kindness 
 they had received, to assist their friends of Coca, — a pro- 
 posal which the Indians gladly accepted. Meanwhile, the 
 friars were not unmindful of the spiritual purposes of their 
 mission, and sought to enlighten the minds and reach the 
 
 8 
 
86 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 hearts of the natives, portraying to them, to the best of their 
 ability, the truths of the gospel ; but with little success, 
 the Indians, it is said, being more intent upon punishing 
 their enemies than upon the salvation of their own souls. 
 The expedition against the Napaches, by the aid of the 
 Spaniards, proved successful, no loss being sustained on 
 either side, and a satisfactory treaty being made between 
 the tribes. 
 
 The sergeant-major proceeded to examine the country 
 with a view to settlement, and in the mean time dispatched 
 an officer with twelve men to report to the general, who, 
 with eight hundred of his followers, had remained at 
 Napicnoca. 
 
 De Luna, having remained at the latter place for some 
 time, and receiving ^no intelligence from the sergeant- 
 major, concluded to return to the Bay of Santa Maria. 
 Some of his party during their stay at the Indian town had 
 died of hunger, and others had become greatly enfeebled. 
 Before leaving, he buried at the foot of a tree a vase con- 
 taining a scroll, with directions for any of the Coca expe- 
 dition who should return there ; and on the tree he cut the 
 words, '■'■Dig below.'' The Spaniards arrived at Santa Maria 
 after a journey of severe toils and sufferings. At their own 
 request, the friars were permitted to set sail Avith two small 
 vessels for Havana, and to proceed thence to New Spain to 
 procure succor for their companions. 
 
 The twelve soldiers dispatched by the sergeant-major 
 reached Napicnoca in twelve days, traversing in this space 
 of time the distance which the Spaniards had taken seventy 
 days to pass over upon their advance. Arriving at Napic- 
 noca, the detachment were surprised to see no signs of the 
 Spaniards who had been left there, but, entering the town, 
 they observed the inscription upon the tree, and disinterred 
 the vase containing instructions for them, and rejoiced to 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 87 
 
 learn that their friends were still living. Then pushing on 
 with all haste to Santa Maria, which was forty leagues dis- 
 tant, they reached there in three days, when they met with 
 a joyful reception from their friends. 
 
 The party which had been sent by the sergeant-major 
 delivered the letters with which he had intrusted them for 
 the general ; and to the inquiries eagerly made in the camp 
 as to "the character of the country which they had visited, 
 they replied, making a very unfav^orable report of the 
 regions which they had passed through, enlarging upon 
 the trials and sufferings they had undergone, and depre- 
 ciating the province of Coca. These reports caused great 
 discontent in the camp, and disposed a large number to 
 advocate the instant abandonment of such a country. 
 
 Juan de Ceron, the master of the camp, and others of 
 the principal officers, expressed their opinion openly, and 
 De Luna, in calling his officers together to announce to 
 them his determination to proceed to the province of Coca, 
 was met by a stout opposition on the part of De Ceron 
 and those who entertained his views. The general, in reply 
 to those who had no faith in the value of Coca, charged 
 them with a desire to avoid the labor and trials attending 
 the march and settlement of the country, and said that 
 they were influenced more by their indolence than other 
 reasons, and issued his orders that all should prepare for 
 the march to Coca. But the discontent had already ex- 
 tended to the larger part of the army, and, supported in 
 their opposition by their officers, they set at defiance the 
 authority of the general, and secretly sent word to the 
 sergeant-major to return to Santa Maria. The messenger 
 sent by them arrived safely at Coca, and informed the 
 sergeant-major that the general commanded his return, as 
 the army was about to leave the country. The Indians of 
 Coca parted from the Spaniards with great regret, accom- 
 
88 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 panying them two or three days' journey, and crying with 
 great demonstrations of affection. The sergeant-major 
 arrived at Santa Maria in the beginning of November, 
 having been engaged some seven months in this explora- 
 tion of the country. 
 
 Events often derive their importance from the skill 
 with which they are narrated; and had this journey of 
 the sergeant-major been sufficiently fortunate to have a 
 chronicler like Cabe^a de Vaca, doubtless it would have 
 been regarded with as much interest as the expeditions of 
 Narvaez and De Soto. The route pursued cannot be very 
 well traced, the slight notices of natural objects and the 
 unrecognizable names of towns giving no clue to identifi- 
 cation. It is quite probable that the river encountered on 
 their march to Napicnoca was the Alabama, and that the 
 Indian town was somewhere near Camden. The twelve 
 days' travel thence to Coca was through the pine-barrens 
 and sand-hills of South Alabama, and the Olibahaki was 
 the Coosa or Alabama. The province of Coca was the 
 Coosa country in the northeastern part of Alabama. 
 
 Upon the return of the sergeant-major to the Bay of 
 Santa Maria, the camp still remained divided. The gen- 
 eral retained his purpose to remain in the country, and the 
 disaffected were equally determined to depart from that 
 region. All respect for authority was weakened, and the 
 quarrel became so violent as to render useless the efforts 
 of the priests to reconcile it. The general, jealous of his 
 authority and indignant at the opposition of his officers, 
 became daily more harsh and irritable. 
 
 In the mean time, the two vessels which had gone with 
 the friars to procure relief reached Havana in safety, and 
 thence proceeded to Vera Cruz, where they carried to the 
 unwilling ears of the Viceroy their tale of the sufferings 
 and disappointments which had attended the expedition. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. gc^ 
 
 He was loath to credit the information; but the high char- 
 acter of the envoy, Don Pedro de Feria, afterwards Bishop 
 of Chiapa, gave no room to doubt the painful truth. It 
 was a sad disappointment, after all the flattering accounts 
 which had been brought to Mexico of the riches and fer- 
 tility of the country, to be compelled to believe otherwise. 
 The viceroy promptly sent off the two vessels loaded with 
 provisions to Santa Maria. 
 
 This opportune relief produced no change in the condi- 
 tion of affairs at the camp of Don Tristan de Luna. Five 
 long months they lingered on the shores of Santa Maria, 
 each party inflexibly adhering to its resolution, so that the 
 general could not proceed with his expedition, nor could 
 the disaff"ected leave the hated shores. A reconciliation 
 was finally effected, from the foot of the altar, by the skill 
 and energy of Father Domingo. 
 
 At length there arrived at the port of Santa Maria, Don 
 Angel de Villafane, who had been sent out by the Viceroy 
 of Cuba as Governor of Florida, with instructions to make 
 an examination of the shores of the gulf, which, in con- 
 sequence of the continual storms, he had been imable to do. 
 Upon his arrival, councils were held by the officers as to 
 the course which it was advisable to pursue. The general 
 and a few others desired to continue the enterprise, but the 
 larger number preferred to abandon the country. Those 
 who desired to leave embarked on the vessels of Don 
 Angel de Villafane. 
 
 Don Tristan de Luna, with a few of his followers, re- 
 mained at the Bay of Santa Maria, and communicated to 
 the Viceroy of Mexico the events which had occurred, the 
 obstacles he had encountered, and his views of the manner 
 of remedying them; but the Viceroy, discouraged by the 
 failures which had hitherto attended the expedition, and 
 
go HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 unwilling further to pursue it, recalled De Luna, and aban- 
 doned his efforts for the conquest of Florida. 
 
 Thus ended the most considerable and best-appointed 
 expedition which had ever landed on the shores of Florida, 
 and which, under better management, might have been 
 measurably successful in planting a colony on the banks of 
 the Coosa. Although no such terrible disaster attended 
 this as had befallen the previous expeditions, yet the priva- 
 tions and sufferings which were undergone were well calcu- 
 lated to deter others from a renewal of the attempt. 
 
 The cavalier Don Tristan de Luna remained to the last, 
 unwilling to turn his back upon a country the conquest of 
 which had been assigned to him, and which he was satisfied 
 was really valuable and productive. The clergy, who had 
 in considerable numbers been attached to the expedition, 
 added their voices to those who felt unwilling to remain, 
 and De Luna was forced to abandon the beautiful Bay of 
 Santa Maria, and leave the occupation of the country he 
 had explored to be accomplished by succeeding generations. 
 
 It seems evident, upon comparing the narrative of the 
 expedition of the sergeant-major of De Luna with the ac- 
 counts of Cabe^a de Vaca and De Soto, that the sergeant- 
 major must have wandered through some barren portion of 
 Lower Alabama, and failed to reach more than the out- 
 skirts of the numerous Indian settlements in the country 
 bordering on the Coosa and the Tennessee Rivers, and 
 which De Vaca and De Soto had rightly described as rich 
 and fertile. 
 
 This expedition of De Luna possesses much interest, as 
 establishing the fact that a settlement of Spaniards occupied 
 the shores of the Bay of Pensacola in 1561, and that the 
 whole of that region was known to them. Moreover, this 
 was the last of the exploring expeditions which visited 
 Florida, and occurred only a year prior to the landing of 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. . ^I 
 
 the French Huguenots, under Ribaut, on the eastern coast, 
 and only antedated by four years the permanent settlement 
 of Florida, effected by Pedro de Menendez. It is but just 
 that among the historic names connected with the discovery 
 and exploration of Florida should be remembered that of 
 Don Tristan de Luna. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 Huguenot Settlements at Charles Fort under Ribaut, and at Fort 
 Caroline under Laudonniere. 
 
 1562— 1564. 
 
 We have hitherto accompanied through the wilds of 
 Florida the cavaliers of Spain, who, with the sound of the 
 trumpet and the battle-cry of St. lago, carried devastation 
 and slaughter in their march. They styled themselves 
 Conquistadors ; their purpose was conquest, and their 
 principal object the acquisition of gold, silver, and pearls. 
 A country which promised rich rewards to the patient and 
 laborious pursuits of the agriculturist offered no induce- 
 ments to them. They had been corrupted and engorged 
 with the plunder of Mexico and the spoil of Peru. They 
 sought not to create wealth, but to seize and appropriate it 
 wherever found, and they had little regard to the amount 
 of suffering they caused the unhappy natives of the land, 
 if either by torture or destruction they could force the dis- 
 covery of their treasures. 
 
 Their efforts in Florida had proved fruitless. Where they 
 had looked for easy conquest and great reward they had 
 found only privation and toils, and had met a race fierce 
 and implacable, who lacked only the means of offensive 
 warfare to sweep their invaders from their shores. Narvaez 
 and his followers had perished ingloriously in their attempt 
 to leave a land hostile at every step, and the miserable 
 remnant of the force of De Soto, baffled in all their efforts, 
 
 (90 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 93 
 
 had barely escaped into Mexico. The fruitless expedition 
 of De Luna had failed of its object, and the whole of the 
 vast country, from Mexico to the Polar Seas and from the 
 Atlantic to the Pacific, contained not a single settlement of 
 the white race. The dreams of conquest were over, and 
 the adventurers were well satisfied to leave in peace "the 
 richest country of the world." 
 
 An entirely different class of persons now made their 
 appearance upon the shores of Florida, the principal 
 aim of whom was colonization and settlement. They 
 were of a different race and had come from different 
 motives. 
 
 The weak and vacillating Charles IX. was King of 
 France, and the Admiral De Chastellan, better known as 
 the famous Coligny, was at the head of the Protestant 
 party. Civil war raged between the votaries of the two 
 religious bodies between whom the kingdom was divided. 
 The transatlantic discoveries and settlements of the Span- 
 iards in Mexico, Peru, and the Spanish Main suggested 
 to the astute mind of the admiral the idea of founding be- 
 yond the sea a new empire which might extend the pos- 
 sessions of France, and at the same time strengthen, and, 
 in case of need, afford a refuge to, the Huguenots, if borne 
 down in their contest at home. 
 
 An expedition was fitted out, and sailed in February, 
 1562, consisting of two good vessels, under Captain Jean 
 Ribaut, an officer of much experience and considerable 
 reputation. A prosperous voyage brought them directly to 
 the coast of Florida, in the neighborhood of St. Augustine. 
 Sailing to the northward, they discovered the entrance of 
 the St. John's River, landed, and erected a monument of 
 stone, on which was engraved the arms of France, it being 
 placed, it is said, within the said river, and not far 
 from the mouth thereof, upon a little sandy knap. They 
 
94 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 named the river the river May, because they entered it 
 upon the first day of that month. 
 
 Re-embarking, they sailed to the northward, landing 
 occasionally, and being received with kindness by the 
 numerous Indians they encountered, to whom they gave 
 presents of trifling value, such as looking-glasses and tin 
 bracelets, with which they were much pleased. 
 
 After sailing about ninety leagues to the north, they 
 entered the harbor of Port Royal, and anchored. For 
 several days they made excursions up the adjoining rivers, 
 making peaceable overtures to the Indians, with whom they 
 were now upon terms of amity. 
 
 Ribaut finally concluded to plant his colony at this 
 point, but it was a question as to what portion of his fol- 
 lowers would be willing to remain alone upon these un- 
 known shores. 
 
 He thereupon called his men together and made them a 
 skillful oration, which is reported to us with all the fullness 
 of a modern "Herald" report. Adorning and illustrating 
 his speech by various references to classical antiquity, he 
 closed by saying, " How much, then, ought so many worthy 
 examples to move you to plant here, considering also that 
 you shall be registered forever as the first that inhabited 
 this strange country ! I pray you therefore all to advise 
 yourselves thereof, and to deliver your mind freely unto 
 me, protesting that I will so well imprint your names in 
 the king's ears and the other princes, that your renown 
 shall hereafter thrive unquenchably through our realms of 
 France." Such has ever been the peculiarity of the Gallic 
 race ; they appeal, not to the appetite for gain, not to the 
 riches to be acquired, but, from Charlemagne to Napoleon 
 III., honor to France and renown to themselves have been 
 the incentives to performance of duty and great enterprise. 
 Ribaut judged rightly of the effect of such an appeal to the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 95 
 
 hearts of Frenchmen. He had hardly ended his oration 
 when the majority of the soldiers replied that a greater 
 pleasure could never betide them, perceiving well the ac- 
 ceptable service which by this means they do unto their 
 prince, besides that this thing should be for the increase 
 of their honors ; whereupon, it is said, Jean Ribaut, being 
 as glad as might be to see his men so well willing, deter- 
 mined at once to search out a place most fit and convenient 
 to be inhabited. The matter was a momentous one — an 
 empire was to be founded, and a continent taken possession 
 of; \X was felt to be a great occasion, and the minds of the 
 little band ran forward to the time when a New France, 
 with its peopled cities, its rich and fertile fields, its coasts, 
 whitened with the sails of commerce, would be in existence, 
 and they remembered in those after-days as the first occu- 
 pants of this vast country. 
 
 A small fort was erected upon a little island and named 
 Charles Fort ; twenty-five men were selected to remain, and 
 placed under the command of Captain Albert. Supplies of 
 ammunition and provisions were left, and with a parting 
 salute of artillery, replied to from the fort, the vessels left 
 the infant settlement, and the destinies of New France were 
 centred in that little fort. The Indians were on terms of 
 amity, and everything promised fair for the future. 
 
 Ribaut, satisfied with this beginning, returned to France, 
 having been absent about four months. 
 
 The colony left at Charles Fort prospered for some 
 time, and made various excursions among the Indians, 
 by whom they were well received and lovingly entreated. 
 Indeed, the French seemed to have a peculiar faculty of 
 ingratiating themselves ; and the whole history of their ex- 
 plorations, in every part of America, shows most uniform 
 and remarkable success in conciliating and securing the 
 affection of the savage tribes. 
 
gS HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 The secret consists most probably in the peculiarly 
 adaptable and versatile talent of the French, enabling them 
 to accommodate themselves with ease to any customs or 
 usages, and putting them at once at home wherever they 
 may happen to be placed. Another reason is, that they 
 are skilled in the art of pantomime, the only language at 
 all available upon first meeting with a tribe whose language 
 is unknown. The Frenchman, with his varying gestures, 
 his expressive shrug, his flexible features, his animated 
 manner of expressing himself, would soon be on a good 
 footing and smoking a pipe with the cacique, where the 
 stately Don would be expressing his pleasure in pure Cas- 
 tilian and making gestures at the end of his lance, or the 
 Englishman, with his phlegmatic temperament, would be 
 attempting a direct negotiation. Whether as missionaries, 
 explorers, or traders, the French have ever been foremost 
 in the facility with which they have managed their red 
 brethren. A very little additional aid to French coloniza- 
 tion would have made the United States indeed a New 
 France. 
 
 Captain Albert made an excursion to a country called the 
 Ouade, probably the Savannah River, where the cacique, 
 after supplying them with corn, it is said, gave them a cer- 
 tain number of exceeding fair pearls, two stones of fine 
 crystal, and certain silver ore, and being inquired of where 
 the ore and crystals came from, they answered that it came 
 ten days' journey, and that the inhabitants there dig the 
 same at the foot of certain high mountains, referring, it is 
 quite evident, to the gold regions of Georgia. 
 
 It had been the intention of Ribaut, when he left the 
 colony, to return immediately with a much larger force, 
 and provided with everything necessary to establish a per- 
 manent settlement ; but, when he returned to France, 
 civil war was raging, and nothing could be done, and the 
 
' HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 97 
 
 existence of Captain Albert and Charles Fort was almost 
 forgotten. 
 
 Anxiously did the little garrison await the promised re- 
 turn. Their provisions were becoming more scarce, and, 
 day by day, they in vain scanned the horizon in the hope 
 of descrying relief; but none came, and with disappoint- 
 ment came discontent. 
 
 Their captain became exacting and tyrannical and the 
 men careless and disobedient. A difficulty arising with one 
 Guerlache, a poor drummer, he was ordered to be hung by 
 the captain, and this conclusive evidence of civilization was 
 carried into effect ; another he placed on an island to starve, 
 and then it was determined to remove Albert by taking his 
 life, which they soon did. Months had rolled past since Ri- 
 baut was to have returned. After the death of Albert they 
 chose one Nicolas Barre as their captain; and finally, de- 
 spairing of the return of Ribaut, they determined to attempt 
 to get away. They had not a single ship-carpenter among 
 them, but they managed to build a small pinnace, probably a 
 mere shallop. They covered it with moss, made the cordage 
 of palmettos, and the sails of their shirts and linen. In this 
 miserable little affair, caulked with moss, and with such sails, 
 this little band attempted to cross the stormy ocean which 
 separated them from their native land. It would seem as 
 though the first shock of a tempest would have buried them 
 beneath the waves. They had not laid in sufficient provisions 
 for their long voyage, and, although the calms they encoun- 
 tered were favorable to their safety, they were soon placed 
 in danger of starvation. Listlessly floating upon the sea, 
 becalmed for many days, they were reduced to terrible ex- 
 tremities, until at last they cast lots for the life of one of 
 their number, and Leclerc was sacrificed, and his flesh di- 
 vided equally — ''a thing so pitiful," says the writer, "that 
 my pen is loath to write it." Fortunately, they were 
 
 9 
 
98 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 soon after fallen in with by an English vessel and rescued. 
 It seems wonderful that they should have escaped at all, 
 for so crazy a craft never crossed the Atlantic. 
 
 After the truce between the contending parties in France, 
 Coligny turned his attention to the occupation of Florida, 
 and on the 22d of April, 1564, he dispatched thither three 
 vessels, respectively, of one hundred and twenty, one hun- 
 dred, and sixty tons burden, under command of Rene de 
 Laudonniere, who- had accompanied Ribaut in the first 
 expedition. 
 
 This Rene seems to have been a clever young man, some- 
 what fussy and undecided, and considerably elevated by 
 his first command. In person, if Le Moyne's pictures are 
 correct, he was small and slight, with a pleasant counte- 
 nance. The Indian chiefs are represented as towering a 
 head and shoulders above him. 
 
 On Thursday, the 2 2d day of June, 1564, about three 
 o'clock in the afternoon, Laudonniere says he came to the 
 land, went on shore near a little river which is 30° distant 
 from the equator, and ten leagues above Cape Frangois, 
 drawing towards the south, and about 30° above the river 
 May. "After wx had stricken sail and cast anchor athwart 
 the river, I determined to go on shore to discover the same. 
 Therefore being accompanied with Monsieur d'Ottigni and 
 Monsieur d'Arlac, my ensigne, and a certain number of 
 soMiers, I embarked myself about 3 or 4 of the clock in 
 the evening, and arrived at the mouth of the river. I 
 caused the channel to be sounded, which was found to be 
 very shallow, although that further within the same the 
 water was there found reasonably deep, which separated 
 itself with two great arms, whereof one runneth toward 
 the south and the other toward the north. Having thus 
 searched the river, I went on land to speak with the In- 
 dians which waited for us on the shore, which, at our 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 99 
 
 incoming on land, came before us crying with a loud voice 
 their Indian language, Antipola, benassan, which is as much 
 as to say, brother, friend, or some such thing. After they 
 had seen very much of us they showed us their paracoussi, 
 that is to say their king and governor, to whom I presented 
 certain toyes, wherewith he was well pleased ; and for mine 
 own part I pray God continually for the great love which I 
 have found in these savages, which were sorry for nothing but 
 that the night approached and made us retire unto our 
 ships. For though they endeavoured by all means to make 
 us tarry with them, and showed by signals the desire they 
 had to present us with some rare things, yet, nevertheless, 
 for many and reasonable occasions^ I would not stay on shore 
 all night, but excusing myself for all their offers, I embarked 
 myself again and returned toward my ships. Howbeit, 
 before mine departure, I named their river the River of 
 Dolphins, because that at mine arrival I saw there a great 
 number of dolphins which were playing in the mouth 
 thereof." 
 
 This account by Laudonniere himself, of his first landing 
 on the coast of Florida, is given at length, for the reason 
 that it is the harbor of St. Augustine which he describes; 
 and the spot where that city is now built was the scene of 
 the interview which he here relates. The two arms of the 
 river, running to the north and south, are the North River 
 and the Matanzas River, and the shallow water on the bar, 
 and the gentle and pleasant courtesy which characterized 
 the natives, may be said to be perpetuated to this day. In 
 the volume of De Bry, relating to Florida, the first plate 
 contains a striking picture of the River of Dolphins, a boat 
 with Captain Laudonniere about landing, a large number 
 of the natives on the shore. One group represents the 
 paracoussi, seated upon a carpet of green leaves, surrounded 
 with his people, awaiting the landing of the French, whose 
 
lOo HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 three vessels are at anchor. The pahii, the pine, and the 
 cedar are represented as growing on the shore. 
 
 On the next day they sailed for the mouth of the river 
 May, the St. John's, where Laudonniere was shown by the 
 Indians the column erected by Ribaut. After examining 
 various localities, Laudonniere concluded to establish his 
 settlement at the point now known as St. John's Bluff. 
 
 The reasons which induced a location upon the St. John, 
 as given by Laudonniere himself, were that *'to the south- 
 ward there was nothing but a flat, marshy country, unfit to 
 inhabit, and, from the report of those who were left at 
 Charles Fort, the country thereabouts was not productive, 
 while the means of subsistence seemed to abound on the 
 river May ; and upon their first visit they had seen gold and 
 silver in the possession of the natives, a thing which put 
 me in hope," he says, " of some happy discovery in time 
 to come." 
 
 The poetic nature of the Frenchman, and his eye for 
 natural beauty, was kindled as he explored the margin of 
 the river; and to one place which pleased his fancy, at the 
 request of his soldiers, he gave the name of the Vale of 
 Laudonniere — his eye charmed with the green meadows and 
 bright visions of spring. 
 
 Having fixed upon the spot upon which to erect the fort, 
 he commanded the trumpet to sound, and assembled his 
 men, to return thanks to God for their favorable and happy 
 arrival. ^'Thus they sang hymns of praise to the Lord, 
 supplicating that His holy grace might be continued to His 
 poor servants, and aid them in all undertakings which they 
 desired should redound to His glory and the advancement 
 of our Holy Faith." They laid out their fort in the form 
 of a triangle, and received some assistance from the Indians 
 in its construction. 
 
 An expedition went up the river in boats, and at twenty 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. TOi 
 
 leagues' distance, probably about Mandarin, they came to 
 an Indian town called Thimagua, and by the Indians of 
 this tribe he was informed of nine other kings or caciques, 
 named Cadecha, Chilili, Eclanan, Enacoppe, Calany, Ana- 
 charagua, Anitagua, ^quera, Mucoso. The last named 
 will be recognized as the protector of Juan Ortiz, thirty 
 years before. From time to time, boat expeditions were 
 made to the tribes settled along the river, and they had 
 frequent applications to assist the caciques in their wars 
 against each other, and on several occasions did so. to 
 strengthen themselves with their neighbors. 
 
 On the 29th of August, 1564, it is said ''a lightning 
 from heaven fell within half a league of our fort, more 
 worthy to be wondered at and put in writing than any of 
 the strange signs which have been seen in times past, and 
 whereof histories have been written. For although the 
 meadows were then green, and half covered with water, 
 nevertheless the lightning, in one instant, consumed about 
 five hundred acres, therewith, and burned, with the ardent 
 heat thereof, all the souls which took their pasture in the 
 meadows, which thing continued for three days space, 
 which caused us not a little to muse, not being able to 
 judge whereof the fire proceeded. For one while we 
 thought the Indians had burned their houses and aban- 
 doned their places for fear of us. Another while we 
 thought they had discovered some ships at sea, and that, 
 according to their customs, they had kindled many fires 
 here and there to signify that their country was inhabited ; 
 nevertheless, being not assured, I was upon the point to 
 send some one by boats to discover the matter, when six 
 Indians came to me from Paracoussi Allimicany, which, at 
 their first entry, made me a long discourse, and a very long 
 and ample oration (after they had presented me with cer- 
 tain baskets full of maize, of pumpkins, and of grapes) of the 
 
 9* 
 
I02 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 loving amity which AUimicany desired to continue with 
 me, and that he looked from day to day where it would 
 please me to employ him in my service. Therefore, con- 
 sidering the serviceable affection that he bore unto me, he 
 found it very strange that I thus discharged mine ordinance 
 against his dwelling, which had burnt up an infinite sight 
 of green meadows, and consumed even down unto the 
 water, and came so near unto his mansion that he thought 
 he saw the fire in his house ; wherefore he besought me 
 most humbly to command my men that they would not 
 shoot any more towards his lodgings, otherwise he would 
 be constrained to abandon his country, and to retire him- 
 self unto some place farther off from us," 
 
 The French commander, seeing that the Indians thought 
 this wonderful stroke of lightning had proceeded from 
 their cannon, encouraged the idea, and informed them he 
 was glad they were inclined to be peaceable ; that he could 
 easily have reached his house, some miles distant, if he had 
 chosen, but that he only fired half-way to show them his 
 power. All this the Indians believed, and the paracoussi 
 would not come within twenty-five leagues of the fort for 
 two months. "Two days afterward there followed such an 
 excessive heat in the air, that the river became so hot that 
 I " think it was almost ready to seethe, for there died so 
 great abundance of fish, and that of so many divers sorts, 
 that in the mouth of the river only there were found dead 
 enough to have laden fifty carts, whereof there issued a 
 putrefaction in the air which bred many dangerous dis- 
 eases amongst us, inasmuch as most of my men fell sick and 
 almost ready to end their days. Yet, notwithstanding, it 
 pleased our merciful God so far to provide by his Provi- 
 dence, that all our men got well." 
 
 In September one of the Frenchmen pretended that by 
 the secret art of magic he had discovered a mine of gold 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 103 
 
 and silver, far up within the river, and that their captain 
 was intending to conceal it from them. Acting upon the 
 credulity of others, he soon organized a conspiracy to make 
 way with Laudonniere. 
 
 At this time Laudonniere sent a small vessel back to 
 France, under the command of Captain Bourdett, and with 
 him seven or eight of those whose fidelity he suspected. 
 He was subsequently prostrated by fever, and the dis- 
 contented in his garrison proceeded to an open con- 
 spiracy. They seized his person, and confined him upon 
 a small vessel in the river for fifteen days. 
 
 For the purpose of explorations by water, Laudonniere 
 had constructed two small vessels. These they seized, and 
 taking from the fort whatever they required, they set out 
 upon a freebooting expedition against the Spaniards, or 
 anybody else they might meet. The vessels were separated, 
 and each went on its course. One of them captured the 
 first vessel they met, and abandoned their own ; afterwards, 
 cruising among the islands, they made another capture, 
 and were finally most of them taken and destroyed. A 
 small brigantine, escaping pursuit, returned to Fort Caro- 
 line, and Laudonniere had them tried by court-martial, and 
 the four leaders were sentenced to be hung. It is related 
 " that when they found their proximity to Fort Caroline, 
 in a kind of mockery, they counterfeited judges; but 
 they played not this prank until they had tippled well 
 of the wine they had on board. One counterfeited the 
 judge, another Captain Laudonniere ; another, after he 
 had heard the matter pleaded, concluded thus: 'Make you 
 your causes as good as it pleases you, but if, when you come to 
 the Fort Caroline, the captain causes you not to be hanged, T 
 will never take him for an honest man. ' Others thought that, 
 his choler being past, he would easily forget the matter." 
 
 Being out of provisions, they were obliged, however, 
 
I04 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 to enter the river and submit to Laudonniere. The only 
 modification of the sentence of death upon the four leaders 
 was that, being soldiers, they should be first shot before 
 being hung. Being led out to execution, one of them en- 
 deavored to excite a rescue ; but they were all four shot, 
 and then hanged upon gibbets at the mouth of the river. 
 Thus early did this sad emblem of crime and human de- 
 pravity succeed the planting of the sign of man's redemp- 
 tion upon our shores. 
 
 During this period, Laudonniere heard that two white 
 men were living at a distance among the Indians. He at 
 once sent word to the caciques of the neighboring tribes 
 that he would give a large reward to have them brought to 
 him. He soon obtained them. They were naked, wear- 
 ing their hair long to their hips, in the Indian fashion. 
 They were Spaniards by birth, but had been fifteen years 
 among the Indians, having been wrecked upon the keys 
 called the Martyrs. They said a considerable number 
 were saved, and among them several women, who had 
 married among the Indians and had families, so that pos- 
 sibly the descendants of these Spaniards may be among 
 the Seminoles to this day. Among other excursions which 
 were made, was one to the widow of King Hia-caia, whose 
 domain seems to have been at St. Mary's. It is said ''she 
 courteously received our men, sent me back my barks full 
 of beans and acornes, with certain baskets of cassina, where- 
 with they make their drinke. And the place where this 
 widow dwelleth is the most plentiful of any that is in all 
 the coast, and the most pleasant. It is thought that the 
 queene is the most beautiful of all the Indians, and of whom 
 they make the most account, yea, and her subjects honor 
 her so much, that almost continually they carry her on 
 their shoulders, and will not suffer her to go on foot." In 
 De Bry there is an engraving made from a sketch of Jacques 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 105 
 
 Morgues,* who accompanied this deputation, representing 
 her Majesty in her state procession. At the head appear 
 two trumpeters blowing upon reeds. Then follow six 
 chiefs bearing a canopied platform, on which is seated, 
 shaded by a leafy canopy, her Majesty in the person of a 
 beautiful female. Around her neck is a cordon of pearls ; 
 bracelets and anklets adorn the person, et prceterea nihil. 
 On each side walk other chiefs, holding large feather shades 
 or fans; beautiful young girls bearing baskets of fruits and 
 flowers follow next to the queen, and then warriors and her 
 household guards. 
 
 An excursion to Lake George and the island at its mouth 
 — now called Drayton Island — is thus mentioned : 
 
 " I sent my two barks to discover along the river, and up 
 towards the head thereof, which went so far up that they 
 were thirty leagues good beyond a place named Matthiaqua; 
 and there they discovered the entrance of a lake, upon the 
 one side whereof no land can be seen, according to the re- 
 port of the Indians, which was the cause that my men went 
 no further, but returned backe, and in coming home went to 
 see the Island of Edelano, situated in the midst of the 
 river, as faire a place as any that may be seen through the 
 world, for, in the space of three leagues that it may contain 
 in length and breadth, a man may see an exceeding rich 
 country and marvellously peopled. At the coming out of 
 the village of Edelano to go unto the river's side, a man 
 must pass through an alley about three hundred paces long 
 and fifty paces broad, on both sides whereof great trees are 
 planted ; the boughs thereof are tied like an arch, and meet 
 together so artificially, that a man would think that it were 
 an arbor made of purpose, as fair, I say, as any in all Chris- 
 tendom, although it be altogether natural." 
 
 * Sometimes called Le Moyne. 
 
lo6 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 They had expected succor from France, by the end of 
 April, 1545, at the uttermost, and had not been prudent 
 in the saving of their provisions. They had latterly lived 
 upon the provisions they obtained from the Indians, but 
 as spring and summer came on they began to suffer from 
 want, and, the season wearing on, they despaired of re- 
 ceiving help from home, and resolved to leave the country 
 so soon as they could repair their vessels, or build another. 
 They were now in great straits to keep from starvation, 
 and besought the Indians to furnish them. But the natives 
 now became very exacting, and soon exhausted the store 
 of articles suitable for presents which the French had with 
 them. At last, finding themselves unable to procure of the 
 savages provisions to victual their vessels, they determined 
 to abandon the peaceful policy which they had hitherto 
 pursued towards the Indians, and, by capturing one of the 
 leading chiefs, force a large amount of provisions for his 
 ransom. They thereupon seized Olata Utina, a great chief, 
 and held him prisoner, but they failed to procure the ex- 
 pected ransom, and embittered the Indians fruitlessly. 
 Afterwards they obtained some relief from the new corn in 
 he Indian fields near them, and the fair queen, before 
 spoken of, gave them a liberal quantity. In the mean 
 time they pushed forward with all diligence their prepara- 
 tions for leaving. 
 
 In August there appeared on the coast four vessels, 
 being the fleet of Sir John Hawkins, returning from an ex- 
 pedition to the Spanish Main. They came in for a supply 
 of water, and were received and entertained by Laudon- 
 niere with the best he had, even, he says, ''killing certain 
 sheep and poultry which he had hitherto carefully preserved 
 to stock the country withal." 
 
 Sir John, seeing the distress they were in, generously of- 
 fered to transport them all back to France, which Laudon-' 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 107 
 
 niere declined, because, he says, he was "in doubt upon 
 what occasion he made so large an offer, for I knew not how 
 the case stood between the French and English ; and though 
 he promised me, on his faith, to put me on land, in France, 
 before he would touch England, yet I stood in doubt least 
 he should attempt somewhat in Florida in the name of his 
 mistress. Therefore I flatly refused his offer. ' ' The garrison, 
 however, hearing of the offer made by the English general, 
 had no such scruples, and said they would go, unless he 
 made some arrangement for their departure. Laudonniere 
 finally effected the purchase of the smallest of the English 
 vessels. The English commander acted very handsomely, 
 leaving the French to put their own valuation upon the 
 vessel, who judged it worth seven hundred crowns. In pay- 
 ment of this sum, he delivered them four pieces of artillery, 
 one thousand of iron, and one thousand of powder. 
 
 Seeing the small amount of provisions the French had on 
 hand. Sir John most generously supplied them with twenty 
 barrels of meal, five pipes of beans, a hogshead of salt, one 
 hundred pounds of wax, to make candles with ; forasmuch, 
 as it is said, he saw the French soldiers were barefoot, he 
 took compassion upon them and gave them fifty pairs of 
 shoes ; besides this, he made presents to all the officers. 
 As soon as Sir John had sailed, they made all diligence to 
 get their stores ready for their departure, and by the 15 th of 
 August they had everything ready, and awaited fair winds. 
 
 It was with no pleasant feelings they prepared to leave 
 a country to which they seemed to have become much at- 
 tached. Laudonniere says, " There was none of us to whom 
 it was not an extreme grief to leave a country wherein we 
 had endured so great travails and necessities, to discover 
 that which we must forsake through our own countryman's 
 fault. I leave it your cogitation to think how near it went 
 lo our hearts to leave a place abounding in riches, as we 
 
lo8 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 were thoroughly enformed thereof in coming whereunto, and 
 doing service unto our prince, we left our own country, 
 wives, children, parents, and friends, and passed the perils 
 of the sea, and were therein arrived, as in a plentiful trea- 
 sure of all our hearts' desire." 
 
 The question naturally suggests itself, how did it happen 
 that, in a country abounding in the means of subsistence, 
 this colony should have been reduced to such distress? 
 Theirs was no peculiar case; in every instance of an at- 
 tempt at settlement withm the limits of the United 
 States the same thing occurred : after they had eaten up 
 what they had brought with them and what they could ob- 
 tain of the Indians, they invariably starved. They were 
 generally either soldiers, or persons not accustomed to 
 labor, and their idea of obtaining the means of subsistence 
 was the commissary's store, or the market ; the labor of 
 their own hands in the field they never looked to, and did 
 not seem to know how to avail themselves of the resources 
 of hunting and fishing. At this very period the river 
 which ran by Fort Caroline abounded in fish and oysters, 
 and, when literally starving, the Indians caught fish before 
 their eyes, and demanded such prices as they chose. The 
 example of the Indian fields of maize was before them, and 
 yet they planted not a seed. 
 
 In interesting juxtaposition with Laudonniere's own ac- 
 count of his troubles, and of the visit of the English fleet, 
 we have the account of this visit from one of Sir John 
 Hawkins's expedition, who, after speaking of the condi- 
 tion in which he found the French, says : ^'Notwithstanding 
 the great want that the Frenchmen had, the ground doth 
 yield victuals sufficient, if they would have taken pains to 
 get the same ; but they, being soldiers, desired to live by 
 the sweat of other men's brows. The ground yieldeth 
 naturally grapes in great store, for in the time the French- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 109 
 
 men were there, they made twenty hogsheads of wine. 
 Also it yieldeth roots, passing good; deeres marvellous 
 good, with divers others beasts and fowl serviceable to the 
 use of man. There be things wherewith a man may live, 
 having maize wherewith to make bread, for maize maketh 
 good savory bread and cakes, as fine as flour; also it 
 maketh good meale, beaten and sodden with water, and 
 eateth like pap wherewith we feed children, a good drink, 
 nourishable, which the French did use to drink of in the 
 morning, and it assuageth their thirst, so that they had no 
 neede to drink all the day after.* 
 
 *'The commodities of this land are more than are yet 
 known to any man ; for besides the land itself, whereof 
 there is more than any Christian king is able to inhabit, it 
 flourisheth with meadow pasture-ground, with woods of 
 cedar and Cyprus, and other sorts, as better cannot be in 
 the world. They have for apothecary, herbs, roots, and 
 gums great store, as storax liquida, turpentine, gum myrrhe, 
 and frankincense. 
 
 ''Of beasts in the country, besides deer, foxes, hares, 
 pole-cats, conies, ounces, and leopards, I am not able cer- 
 tainly to say, but it is thought that there are lions and 
 tigers, as well as unicorns ; lions especially. Also venom- 
 ous beasts, such as crocodiles, whereof there is a great 
 
 * " The Floridians, when they travel, have a kind of herbe dried, 
 who, with a cane, and earthen cup in the end with fire and the dried 
 herbs put together, doe suck throu a cane the smoke thereof, which 
 smoke satisfieth their hunger, and therewith they live four or five days 
 without meate or drinke ; and this all the Frenchmen used for this pur- 
 pose; yet doe they hold, withal, that it causeth them to reject from 
 their stomachs, and spit out water and phlegm." 
 
 This wonderful weed, or dried herb, was, of course, tobacco; al- 
 though, from a defect in the quality, probably, it does not now " keepe 
 us from hunger three or four days at a time." 
 
 10 
 
no HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 abundance ; adders of great bigness, whereof our men 
 killed some a yard and a half long. On these adders" 
 (rattlesnakes, probably) ''the Frenchmen did feed, to no 
 little admiration of us, and affirmed the same to be a deli- 
 cate meat," A tolerably accurate description of the dif- 
 ferent kinds of fish and birds is given, and the writer seems 
 to have been particularly struck with the advantages of the 
 country for raising cattle. "The houses of the Indians," 
 he says, ''are not many together, for in one house an hun- 
 dred of them do lodge, they being made much like a great 
 barn, and in strength not inferior to ours, for they have 
 stanchions and rafters of whole trees, and are covered with 
 palmetto leaves, having no place divided but one small 
 room for their king and queen. In the midst of this 
 house is a hearth, where they make great fires all night, and 
 they sleep upon certain pieces of wood, hewn in for the 
 bowing of their backs, and another place made high for 
 their heads." 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 French Expedition of Ribaut to relieve Fort Caroline — Spanish Expe- 
 dition of Menendez to expel the Huguenots — Capture of Fort 
 Caroline by Menendez, and Massacre of the Garrison. 
 
 1565 
 
 The settlement at Fort Caroline, although neglected by 
 France, had not been forgotten by its illustrious patron ; 
 but the civil commotions which distracted the country had 
 rendered it impossible to forward the succors which were 
 so much needed. Reports had reached France from the 
 little colony, bearing unfavorably upon Laudonniere, set on 
 foot by those who had been in the conspiracy against him. 
 Among other things, they had accused him of playing the 
 viceroy, of living in great state, and of aggrandizing him- 
 self. As soon as the admiral was enabled to devote his 
 attention to the subject, an expedition of considerable 
 magnitude was set on foot, to be under the command of 
 Captain Ribaut, who had been in command in the first 
 voyage. A fleet of seven vessels, some of considerable 
 size, was provided, and ample provision made for a per- 
 manent occupation of the country. Some six hundred and 
 fifty persons were embarked, and among the adventurers 
 were representatives from many of the first families of 
 France. By some means, and, as is charged by many, in 
 accordance with direct information from the French court, 
 the expedition of Ribaut destined to succor and insure the 
 permanent establishment of the French Huguenots in 
 
 (III) 
 
112 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 America was made known to Philip II. There was at 
 the Spanish court at that period, unemployed, a man 
 of considerable distinction, Menendez by name, who 
 had acquired a high reputation by the success of many 
 naval expeditions in which he had been engaged. He 
 had shortly before learned that a son who had sailed from 
 Mexico on board a treasure-fleet bound for Spain, which 
 had been wrecked upon the coast of Florida, was a cap- 
 tive among the savage tribes who inhabited its shores. 
 This man, soured by some difficulties and annoyances he 
 had encountered, sorrowing over a favorite son whose fate 
 presented itself to his imagination as worse than death, 
 and largely imbued with the spirit of the military propa- 
 gation of the faith, was led to seek the command of an 
 expedition to Florida. His own principal tliought was 
 undoubtedly the recovery of his son, but the leading con- 
 sideration he placed before the king was the salvation 
 of the souls of the tribes of Florida. The coast of Florida 
 had already acquired a bad reputation, on account of 
 the numerous shipwrecks which had occurred there, and 
 it was thought that a more thorough examination and 
 acquaintance with its shores, harbors, currents, and sound- 
 ings would enable such disasters to be avoided for the 
 future. 
 
 The Spanish crown had long claimed an exclusive right 
 to Florida, and under this designation included all of the 
 country in North America which had been or might be 
 discovered. The existence of the settlement made in 1564 
 by the French, on the St. John's River, must have been 
 well known to the Spanish court, and would naturally have 
 been considered an aggression upon their rights, although 
 they had never been able themselves to occupy or take 
 possession of any portion of the immense country claimed 
 by them. It added not a little, undoubtedly, to their sensi- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 113 
 
 tiveness relative to this settlement, that it was made by the 
 Huguenots of France, who were regarded by the Spaniards 
 as the most detestable of the human race and beyond the 
 pale of humanity. In view of the misfortunes which had 
 attended every expedition to the shores of Florida, it 
 seems as though it would have been a hopeless effort to 
 procure the means or the men for another enterprise in 
 that direction, and so undoubtedly it would have been, 
 but for the character of the man who undertook it and 
 the religious motives which urged him, and which have 
 so often proved that no stronger passion can control 
 the human heart than religious zeal, even among those 
 who conform to none of the obligations of a religious 
 life. 
 
 Although the sad fate of Narvaez's and De Soto's expedi- 
 tions must have been fresh in their minds, yet the name of 
 Florida had not lost its charm, and the appeal of Menendez 
 was responded to by greater numbers than he could provide 
 transportation for. The number to be furnished at the ex- 
 pense of the crown was to have been five hundred men-at- 
 arms, but only two hundred and forty-nine of the force 
 were actually provided. Notwithstanding this, a force 
 amounting to two thousand six hundred persons were 
 embarked on board of thirty-four vessels of various sizes, the 
 largest of which was of near one thousand tons, and carried 
 over one thousand persons, — a large vessel and a very large 
 complement of passengers for that day. Menendez had 
 expended in the equipment of the expedition nearly a mil- 
 lion of ducats, the crown having provided but a single 
 ship, and had embarked in the expedition all of his own 
 means and all that he could obtain either by loan or gift 
 from his friends. Although he had made the religious 
 welfare of the natives of Florida the principal object of his 
 mission in his interviews with the king, the number of the 
 
 10* 
 
114 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 clerical party provided was not commensurate with so ex- 
 tensive a work, — twenty-six priests, brothers, and monks 
 being the entire number mentioned out of the two thousand 
 six hundred and fifty who embarked. The agreement with 
 the king had authorized Menendez to take with him five 
 hundred slaves, the third part to be men for his own service 
 and that of his people, in order that he might build, settle, 
 and cultivate Florida with more facility, and plant corn 
 and put up sugar- works ; but so great was the anxiety of the 
 people to accompany him, it is said, that he found it unneces- 
 sary to carry with him the five hundred slaves. 
 
 The expedition of Ribaut, which set sail from Dieppe 
 on the 23d of May, 1565, consisted of five hundred men, 
 besides some families of artisans who accompanied the ex- 
 pedition ; the fleet numbered seven sail, some of which 
 must have been of considerable size, as four of the vessels 
 were obliged to anchor outside the bar of the river May, 
 now known as the St. John's. For nearly a month after 
 their getting to sea they were detained on the coasts of 
 France by contrary winds, and, when fairly on their course, 
 were two months in reaching Florida. Making first one of 
 the Bahamas, they came upon the coast of Florida north of 
 Cape Canaveral, and probably first landed at Mosquito, 
 where they found a Spaniard, who had been wrecked upon 
 the coast twenty years before, and who informed them, 
 upon the report of the natives, that Laudonniere's colony 
 was about fifty leagues northward. Coasting along, they 
 sounded the bar of the River of Dolphins, at St. Augustine, 
 and, proceeding farther north, entered the river May (St. 
 John's) on the 29th of August, 1565. 
 
 The three smaller vessels only were able to enter the 
 river, as has been already stated. For several days they 
 were employed in landing the stores and provisions in- 
 tended for the colony, and disembarking the most of the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 115 
 
 people, leaving on board the vessels outside the bar but 
 little more than their ordinary crew. 
 
 Menendez had pushed forward his preparations with 
 the greatest vigor, and was extremely anxious to reach 
 Florida before the French should be enabled to fortify and 
 intrench themselves. He made all possible dispatch, and, 
 leaving a portion of his fleet to follow after him, set sail 
 from Cadiz on the ist of July, 1565, with about two-thirds 
 of the whole number who were to join in the expedition. A 
 severe tempest which they encountered after leaving the 
 Canaries wrecked and dispersed a portion of the fleet, so that 
 when the general arrived at Porto Rico, on the 9th of Au- 
 gust, he had but a third part of his expedition under his 
 command. He learned here that a dispatch-vessel, sent with 
 orders to him from Spain, had been intercepted by the 
 French, and intelligence of his movements probably con- 
 veyed to the French colony in Florida. Menendez at 
 once decided to pursue his voyage with all expedition, 
 without awaiting the coming up of his other vessels ; and, 
 refitting as well as he was able, he sailed northward, by an 
 untried route, among the Lucayan Islands, and on the 28th 
 of August, being the day devoted in the calendar of the 
 Roman Church to the memory of St. Augustine, they 
 came in sight of Florida and landed on her coast. Upon 
 the same day the French fleet, under Ribaut, had cast 
 anchor at the mouth of the St. John's River, — the two hos- 
 tile fleets being thus within fifty miles of each other, and 
 landing simultaneously at two neighboring points, each 
 unconscious of the proximity of the other. 
 
 It adds not a little interest to this concurrence of events 
 to recall the fact that on the 4th of the same month the 
 English fleet, under the celebrated Sir John Hawkins, had 
 anchored and landed at the St. John's, thus bringing into 
 close proximity the fleets of the then three great maritime 
 
it6 history of FLORIDA. 
 
 powers; although upon all the great continent lying north 
 of the Gulf of Mexico neither of them possessed a single 
 foot of ground, except that occupied by the feeble detach- 
 ment of the French at Fort Caroline, which was preparing 
 to return to France on the very day that Ribaut's fleet ap- 
 peared. Another day's detention, and Ribaut probably 
 might not have landed to occupy the deserted fort. Me- 
 nendez would have found no heretical colony to extirpate, 
 and would probably not then have remained, and the first 
 chapter of the colonization and permanent settlement 
 might have been deferred for a long period. The Spaniards, 
 on landing, had learned from the Indians that the French 
 were at twenty leagues' distance to the north, and, re-em- 
 barking eight leagues beyond, they arrived at the harbor 
 of St. Augustine, to which, in honor of the day upon which 
 they arrived on the coast, they gave the name which it 
 has now borne for nearly three hundred years. Again 
 coasting northward, on the 4th of September they de- 
 scried the four large vessels of the French anchored at the 
 mouth of the St. John's River. 
 
 A council of war was now held by the Spanish captains, 
 and the opinions of a majority were in favor of withdraw- 
 ing to Hispaniola and preparing a more powerful expedi- 
 tion to attack the French in the spring. The Adelantado 
 could not, however, brook this timid counsel, and declared 
 his intention of making an attack at once. Preparations 
 were accordingly made, and about daybreak the Spanish 
 vessels began to move up towards the French trans- 
 ports. These, distrusting the intentions of the Spaniards, 
 hoisted sail and prepared to slip their cables. Confirmed 
 in their suspicions by the actions of the Spaniards, the 
 officers of Ribaut's fleet put to sea, and the Spaniards, per- 
 ceiving this, fired upon them from their heavy guns, at too 
 great a distance, however, to effect any injury. Pursuit was 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. ny 
 
 kept up all day, but they were unable to overtake the 
 French vessels, and at nightfall they abandoned the pur- 
 suit, sailed to the southward, and cast anchor in the 
 river Seloy, called by the French the River of Dolphins, 
 now known as the port of St. Augustine, whither they were 
 followed at a distance by one of the French vessels, in 
 order to observe their further movements. There they 
 were seen to disembark their forces, victuals, and muni- 
 tions, three of their vessels entering the harbor and three 
 remaining outside. Having made a reconnoissance, the 
 French vessel returned, and reported to Ribaut that the 
 Spaniards had landed and commenced fortifying them- 
 selves. That zealous officer at once conceived the idea of 
 surprising them, and by the capture of their ships so far 
 disabling them as to prevent any molestation of his colony 
 on their part. Calling a council of his officers, he laid his 
 views before them. Laudonniere and his other captains re- 
 monstrated against his enterprise, deeming it altogether too 
 hazardous and uncertain in its results — Laudonniere, by his 
 own account, especially opposing it because of the severe 
 gales which prevailed along the coast at that season of the 
 year. But to all of these objections Ribaut replied that he 
 was instructed not to allow his colony to be encroached 
 upon, and that the landing and fortifications commenced 
 by the Spaniards indicated that hostile intentions were 
 entertained. 
 
 He accordingly, on the 8th of September, re-embarked 
 all of his effective force, and with them most of the able- 
 bodied men of Laudonniere, to the number of thirty-eight, 
 leaving him an invalid force with which to defend Fort 
 Caroline. Ribaut did not anticipate an absence of more 
 than two days, as the Spaniards were within fifteen leagues 
 of him. He was, however, by a fatal mischance, two days 
 too early or too late, for, sailing on the loth of September, 
 
n8 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 on that very day he encountered a terrible tempest, which 
 drove him, helpless to resist, far down the coast. In the 
 mean time, his rival, Menendez, was influenced by similar 
 wishes to act promptly, and discussed with his captains an 
 expedition by land to attack the Huguenots in their fort. 
 His own force was estimated at six hundred, and he sup- 
 posed the French garrison to be about the same number — 
 perhaps a little stronger. Having secured guides, Menen- 
 dez determined, against the advice of his officers, to under- 
 take the expedition. The storm which now raged along 
 the coast, accompanied with a deluge of rain, seemed to 
 favor his design of surprising the French at a time and by 
 a mode of attack which they could hardly anticipate. He 
 felt almost confident, however, that the French fleet was at 
 sea, and that even if it escaped shipwreck it would be 
 hardly possible for it to regain the harbor for several days. 
 On the 17th of September, Menendez set out at the head 
 of five hundred men, to pursue a most difficult march over 
 an almost impassable country, guided by two Indian chiefs 
 who were enemies to the French. Their march was much 
 impeded by the effects of the heavy rains, which had over- 
 flowed the streams and made the marshes almost impassa- 
 ble. They were three days in reaching the vicinity of Fort 
 Caroline, and during the whole march were exposed to heavy 
 rains. Many of the ofiEicers and men wished to return, and 
 much dissatisfaction was felt, but the character and energy 
 of their leader restrained them from deserting him. 
 
 In the mean time, Laudonniere had done his best to repair 
 the injuries to his works which had been made preparatory 
 to their abandonment, and endeavored to infuse some 
 spirit into and restore some order to his invalid garrison. He 
 was himself very ill, and had only sixteen or seventeen well 
 men in the fort. Of Ribaut's men, whom he had left be- 
 hind, there were some who had never drawn a sword — four 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. up 
 
 being boys who kept Ribaut's dogs; one cook; a car- 
 penter, Nicholas Chaleux, who wrote an account of his 
 escape ; a beer-brewer ; an old cross-bow maker ; two shoe- 
 makers; four or five men who had wives; a player on the 
 virginals — in all, about fourscore and five or six, counting 
 lackeys and women and children. Two captains of the watch 
 were appointed, and a strict guard was kept up for several 
 days. But the terrible tempest which prevailed relaxed 
 their vigilance, they thinking it absurd to expect an at- 
 tack at such a time. The night of the 19th of September 
 was very stormy, and at dawn the sentinels were with- 
 drawn under shelter, and the officer of the watch himself 
 retired to his quarters. 
 
 At break of day the forces of Menendez reached the fort, 
 and commenced the attack. A sudden rush, a quick alarm, 
 a surprise, a feeble resistance by a bewildered garrison, 
 and the fort was taken. Laudonniere, by his own account, 
 tried to rally his men, and fought in person, as long as 
 there was hope ; but, finding himself recognized and pur- 
 sued, he fled to the neighboring forest, and there fell in 
 with other fugitives from the fort. With much difficulty 
 they made their way through the sedge that lined the 
 banks of the river, and, reaching some vessels that lay 
 at its mouth, they escaped. In the first assault on the fort, 
 many of the garrison were cut down, without regard to age 
 or sex; a statement which may well be believed, in view of 
 the more deliberate cruelty afterwards practiced. When' 
 we recall in how many instances religious rancor has carried 
 men into the extremes of cruelty, it will not seem incredi- 
 ble that even women and children fell victims to the fero- 
 cious soldiery who accompanied Menendez. The Spanish 
 account of the massacre admits that an indiscriminate 
 slaughter took place until checked by an order from Me- 
 nendez that no woman, child, or cripple, under the age of 
 
I20 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 fifteen, should be injured, — by which it is said that seventy 
 pers6ns were saved. "The rest were killed." Some of the 
 prisoners were hung upon the neighboring trees, and this 
 inscription placed over them, — ''No por Franceses, sino 
 porLuteranos." ("Not as Frenchmen, but as Lutherans.") 
 
 Menendez changed the name of the fort to San Mateo, 
 in honor of the apostle whose festival occurred on the day 
 subsequent to its capture. The Spaniards also changed the 
 name of the river May to San Mateo. Menendez repaired 
 the fort, and made such arrangements as were necessary 
 to fortify the post against an attack should Ribaut return ; 
 garrisoning it with three hundred men-at-arms under Gon- 
 zalez de Villareal. Before leaving, he had crosses erected 
 in prominent situations, and marked out the site of a 
 church, to be built of the timber which Laudonniere had 
 prepared for building vessels. 
 
 Taking a small number of his men with him, he returned 
 to St. Augustine, finding even greater difficulty than before 
 in crossing the swamps and creeks. His arrival at St. 
 Augustine was signalized by great rejoicings, and a solemn 
 mass was celebrated, and a Te Deum sung, in commemo- 
 ration of the victory. 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Shipwreck and Massacre of Ribaut and his Followers. 
 1565. 
 
 Ribaut' s unfortunate vessels, which had encountered the 
 gale the night after leaving port, were driven down the 
 coast at the mercy of the storm, which increased in vio- 
 lence, and, after ineffectual efforts to keep out to sea, they 
 were driven ashore between Matanzas and Mosquito Inlet. 
 Such is the character of the shelvy beach on the eastern 
 coast of Florida that but little danger to life attends a ship- 
 wreck there. The low and sandy shore is devoid of rocks, 
 and vessels are ofttimes driven high upon the land, and, at 
 the fall of the tide, one may pass almost dry-shod from the 
 stranded ship. But one person was lost from Ribaut' s ves- 
 sels, a Captain La Grange, who had opposed the expedi- 
 tion, and only at the last moment consented to share the 
 perils of which he was the first victim. Of the occurrence 
 of this fatal expedition of Ribaut we have no account from 
 his own party, except that given by Le Moyne, as having 
 been related to him by a sailor, a native of Dieppe, who 
 escaped the massacre, having been left for dead. There 
 are two detailed Spanish accounts extant, emanating from 
 chaplains attached to Menendez's colony. 
 
 The information of the disaster that had befallen Ribaut's 
 vessels was brought to St. Augustine by the Indians, who 
 gave Menendez to understand, by signs, that a large num- 
 ber of persons were at an inlet, four leagues distant, which 
 
 II ( 121 ) 
 
1 2 2 HI ST OR Y OF FL OR ID A. 
 
 they were unable to cross. Menendez at once set out with 
 a party of his men, and, arriving the same evening at Ma- 
 tanzas Inlet, he saw in the morning, on the opposite side of 
 the inlet, quite a number of men with standards, one of 
 whom swam across to Menendez and told him they were a 
 portion of the French forces under Ribaut, whose vessels 
 had all been wrecked, twenty leagues distant from each 
 other, along the coast below. The first question of Menendez 
 was, "Are they Catholics or Lutherans?" The reply was, 
 " They are all of the New Sect," a fact known, of course, 
 to Menendez; but the question was intended to justify the 
 course he intended to pursue towards them. He allowed 
 the man to return to his comrades, with a guarantee of 
 protection for his captain and four or five of his followers, 
 should they choose to cross over. The captain and four 
 men came across, and held an interview with Menendez. 
 The Spanish chaplain, De Solis, gives a minute account of 
 the conversation, and says that the French captain informed 
 Menendez that he was the commander of one of the vessels 
 which had been wrecked ; that he desired a boat to cross 
 this river and one four leagues farther on, at St. Augustine, 
 in order to reach the fort, twenty leagues beyond. To this 
 Menendez replied at length, informing him of the capture 
 of Fort Caroline and the slaughter of the garrison. The 
 captain then desired to be furnished with a pilot and vessels 
 to carry them to France, as there was no war existing be- 
 tween their respective sovereigns, who were friends and 
 brothers. Menendez thereupon replied that this was true, 
 and as Catholics or friends he would favor them, and feel 
 that he was serving both kings in doing so ; but as for those 
 of the new sect, he considered them enemies, and would 
 wage war upon them with fire and sword, and this he in- 
 tended to do to all such as should come into those seas or 
 countries where jtie governed as viceroy and captain-gen- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 123 
 
 eral for his sovereign ; that he had come to plant the Holy 
 Evangelist in this land, in order tha,t the savages might 
 be enlightened and brought to the knowledge of the Holy 
 Catholic Faith of ('hrist our Lord, as declared by the 
 Roman Church {^' la Iglesia Romana''), and that if they 
 desired to surrender their standards and arms, and yield 
 themselves to his mercy, they could do so, ''in order that 
 he might do to them what should be directed him by the 
 grace of God.'"^' 
 
 This is the precise language attributed to Menendez by 
 De Solis; and as in the course of his narrative he refers to 
 charges of cruelty made at the time, and as he was writing 
 an apology for the acts of his brother-in-law, it is not to be 
 doubted that he would give such a statement of the trans- 
 actions as would be most favorable to Menendez. The 
 language attributed to Menendez by De Solis was certainly 
 evasive, and by his allusion to their trusting to his mercy, 
 and his intention of following divine guidance, the French 
 were naturally deceived, as it seems very evident he in- 
 tended they should be, into yielding themselves as prisoners 
 into his hands. The French captain returned to his men, 
 and reported the result of his conference with the Spanish 
 leader. Among Ribaut's men were many of wealth and 
 noble birth, who were willing to pay as much as fifty thou- 
 sand ducats as a ransom for their lives; and the offer was 
 made to Menendez, but he refused, in an evasive manner, 
 to accept it. The French finally agreed to surrender their 
 standards and all their arms, and cast themselves upon the 
 clemency of Menendez. They were brought over ten at a 
 time, and when the first party reached the shore, Menen- 
 dez said to them, "As I have but a few men, and you are 
 
 * " Para que il haga de ellos lo que Dios le diere de gracia." — Ensayo 
 Cronologho, p. 86. 
 
124 ITT STORY OF FLORTDA. 
 
 numerous, it will be easy for you to revenge yourselves 
 upon us for the destruction of your fort and people : it is 
 necessary, therefore, that you should march, with your hands 
 tied behind you, four leagues from here, to my camp." 
 
 To this the French assented, and they were marched 
 behind a clump of trees, where they could not be seen by 
 their comrades, and their hands were strongly secured be- 
 hind them ; the same course being pursued with each suc- 
 ceeding party that came over, to the number, it is said, of 
 two hundred and eight persons. Upon being questioned, 
 eight of their number declared themselves to be Catholics, 
 and were sent in a boat to St. Augustine ; the others were 
 ordered to march in that direction by land, probably along 
 the beach of Anastasia Island; and orders were given by 
 Menendez to the officers in charge of them, that when they 
 reached a designated spot in the path, the prisoners should 
 be killed.* The order was carried out, and Menendez and 
 his men returned to St. Augustine the same night. The 
 next day Menendez was informed by the same Indians who 
 had brought the first report that a much larger party of 
 Christians were at the same place. Menendez supposed 
 that this must be Ribaut himself, and, taking one hundred 
 and fifty soldiers with him, marched to the spot, where he 
 saw, on the opposite bank, a considerable force, with stand- 
 ards displayed, who had constructed a raft for the purpose 
 of crossing, but found much difficulty in managing it on 
 account of the strength of the tide. One of the party had 
 been allowed to swim over and obtain a boat, in which 
 the sergeant-major crossed. Menendez informed this officer 
 that he had destroyed the French fort and all its garrison, 
 as well as a portion of those who had been shipwrecked, 
 and caused the bodies of those slain on the previous day 
 
 * Barcia, Ensayo Cronologico. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 1 25 
 
 to be pointed out to him. He directed the sergeant-major 
 to guarantee Ribaut safe conduct, if he chose to come over 
 and confer with him. Ribaut accordingly crossed with 
 eight of his officers, held a long conference with the Spanish 
 general, and was handsomely entertained by him. Menendez 
 repeated to Ribaut the story of the capture of Fort Caro- 
 line, and he was allowed to converse with one of the gar- 
 rison who accompanied Menendez. He, too, was shown 
 the bodies of his cruelly murdered men. 
 
 To Ribaut' s offer of a very large amount for the ransom 
 of himself and party, Menendez turned a deaf ear, and 
 would give no assurance as to the treatment he would re- 
 ceive. Ribaut returned to consult with his officers and 
 men, and the next morning they gave themselves up as 
 prisoners, to the number of one hundred and fifty, with all 
 their arms, standards, etc. Two hundred of his party re- 
 fused to surrender, and withdrew during the night. Ribaut 
 and his comrades were carried across in parties of ten, as 
 upon the former occasion, and the same pretense was urged 
 to induce them to have their hands tied behind them. Ribaut 
 himself, with the philosophy of a stoic and the firmness of 
 a Christian, when he saw the fate that awaited him, began 
 to sing the psalm Domme, memento met, and, that finished, 
 he said, ''From earth we came, and to the earth we must 
 return; that twenty years of life, more or less, did not 
 matter, and the Adelantado might do unto them what he 
 wished." 
 
 One would suppose that the noble. Christian, and serene 
 deportment of Ribaut would have touched the chivalry of 
 Menendez' s nature, and that the spectacle of a gentleman, 
 his equal in rank, reduced by shipwreck to suffering and 
 helplessness, appealing to his generosity for aid and to his 
 humanity for life, helpless, powerless, and prostrate, would 
 have called forth some spark of sympathy from a heart yet 
 
 II* 
 
126 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 sore under the loss of a son whom he believed to have 
 been cast, like Ribaiit, upon a savage coast, and who 
 doubtless, like him, was bound by the chains of his ene- 
 mies. But, alas! Menendez's was a nature full of deadly 
 hatred, and it was now roused almost to a frenzy towards 
 the unfortunate Frenchman. His apologist closes the drama 
 with these words : E iitandando el Adelantado los matasen 
 (and the Adelantado directed them to be killed). The 
 entire number, one hundred and fifty, were massacred at 
 the same spot and in the same manner as their comrades 
 who had gone before them. 
 
 The account given by the Dieppe sailor of the death of 
 Ribaut is somewhat different. He says that, after the 
 shipwreck, Ribaut sent a boat to the river May, and upon 
 its arrival they discovered the Spanish flag floating over 
 Fort Caroline. The messenger immediately returned and 
 informed Ribaut, who was overwhelmed with distress at 
 the intelligence, and sent a second time, directing his 
 messenger to communicate with the Spaniards and find 
 out what had become of the French garrison. Meeting 
 some Spaniards, they were informed by them that the 
 Spanish general, a most humane man, had sent all of the 
 French garrison in a large vessel to France, well pro- 
 visioned and equipped, and that he would treat Ribaut and 
 his followers with like humanity. Upon this intelligence, 
 Ribaut himself, distrustful of the Spanish clemency, called 
 a council of his officers. Being on the verge of starvation, 
 and hopeless of relief from any quarter, a majority were in 
 favor of yielding themselves up to Menendez, and an 
 envoy, one La Caille, was sent to obtain terms. He was 
 taken before the Spanish commander, who pledged his 
 faith by the most solemn assurances, by religious invoca- 
 tions and sacred oaths in the presence of his followers, and 
 promised, without fraud, faithfully, and as a true man, that 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 127 
 
 he would spare the lives of Ribaut and of all his people. La 
 Caille returned with these assurances, which some received 
 with great joy, while to others they carried but little hope. 
 Yet all consented, in their desperation, to surrender, and 
 came to the river, which was near the fort. Ribaut and 
 Ottigny alone were taken into the fort. Here appearances 
 soon indicated the fate that awaited them. Ribaut demanded 
 an audience with Menendez, and Ottigny indignantly re- 
 quired a pledge of safety. To Ribaut no reply was given, 
 and Ottigny received only contemptuous laughter. Ribaut 
 again demanded to see Menendez, when a soldier asked him 
 if he was not Ribaut, the French commander. He replied, 
 ''Yes." Then said the soldier, "When you issue orders 
 to your men, do you not expect obedience?" "Certainly," 
 replied Ribaut. "Thus," said the soldier, "do I desire 
 to obey my commander. I have been directed to kill you." 
 And thereupon he plunged his dagger to the heart of Ribaut, 
 and immediately after Ottigny fell by the same hand. The 
 rest were killed outside the fort, three musicians alone 
 being spared.* The author of this account, whose name 
 is not given by Le Moyne, was left for dead, but his 
 wounds were not mortal, and he escaped during the night 
 to the Indians, with whom he remained some months, but 
 was finally given up to Menendez, who was doubtless not 
 aware of his having belonged to Ribaut' s party, and sent 
 him to Havana, and thence to Spain ; but on this voyage 
 he was released by a French vessel, and so reached France. f 
 Other accounts, cotemporaneous with the event, say that 
 Ribaut was quartered and his dissevered body placed on 
 the four angles of the fort, and that his beard was sent as a 
 
 * De Bry, Brevis Narratio — Secunda Pars, Florida, p. 29. 
 f This sailor and another, named Pompierre, mentioned in Ensayo 
 Cronologico, p. 135. 
 
128 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 trophy to Spain — a statement indignantly denied by Spanish 
 authorities. 
 
 Besides this account, we find in De Bry a statement 
 given in a supplicatory letter addressed to Charles IX., 
 offered in the name of the widows, orphans, and rela- 
 tives of those who were slaughtered by the Spaniards in 
 this expedition."^ This letter states that Menendez gave 
 them his faith that if they would surrender they should 
 receive no injury, but would be forwarded with vessels 
 and provisions to enable them to return to France, but 
 that they were tied, and led after the manner of brute 
 beasts to the castle, where they were received with taunts 
 and jeering mockery by the Spanish soldiers, subjected to 
 abuse and insults, and then most cruelly massacred ; that 
 Ribaut, after being forced to witness the slaughter of his 
 men, vainly appealing to the faith of Menendez, was struck 
 down from behind, his body treated with the grossest in- 
 dignity, his beard cut off and sent as a trophy to Spain, 
 and his head quartered and stuck upon spears in the area 
 of the fort. This letter, bearing date 1565, the same year 
 in which the destruction of the Huguenot colony occurred, 
 shows at least what were the accredited reports received 
 in France. But these statements are denied by Spanish 
 writers, whose representations of the course of Menendez, 
 his pledges to Ribaut, and treatment of his body after he 
 had been killed, are so utterly at variance that the his- 
 torian has no mems of deciding upon facts, and can only 
 state the probabilities of the case, which on this point lean 
 in favor of the Spaniards, — divesting Menendez' s conduct 
 of none of its enormity, but relieving the tragedy of some 
 of the horrors with which the French records surround it. 
 The atrocity of the deed struck all Europe with horror, 
 
 * Brevis Narratio, Epis. Supp. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 329 
 
 even in that day; and the shocking story has been per- 
 petuated over three hundred years, giving the name of 
 Menendez a stain of infamy which time cannot wipe out. 
 
 Of those who accompanied Ribaut, two hundred refused 
 to surrender, and, withdrawing to the southward, made 
 preparations to construct vessels with which they might 
 leave the coast. Some twenty days afterwards a party of 
 Indians came in, and informed Menendez that at a distance 
 of eight days' journey southward, near Canaveral, the 
 French were building a fort and a ship. Menendez, after 
 getting part of the garrison from San Mateo, sent vessels 
 by sea, and marched himself by land with three hundred 
 men, to attack the French, who, on the approach of the 
 Spaniards, fled to the woods. A messenger was sent out, 
 offering them protection, and telling them that they should 
 have the same treatment as Spaniards if they would come 
 in. One hundred and fifty surrendered, and, it is said, 
 received kind treatment. Twenty others sent word -that 
 they would rather be devoured by the Indians than sur- 
 render to the Spaniards."^ The fort was destroyed, the 
 vessel burnt, and the cannon spiked. A small garrison was 
 left at a fort the Spaniards built and called St. Lucia. The 
 names of Canaveral and St. Lucia are still found on the 
 eastern coast of Florida. 
 
 The Spanish forces returned to St. Augustine accom- 
 panied by their French prisoners, who were incorporated 
 into the colony. Some of them eventually returned to 
 France; others remained, renouncing their faith and ac- 
 cepting that of their captors. 
 
 * The subsequent history of these twenty is unknown. Those who 
 desire to follow in the path of their probable adventures will find in 
 "The Lily and the Totem" an interesting story, of which D'Erlach 
 and his companions are the heroes. 
 
130 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Let us now return to Laudonniere and the few survivors 
 of the massacre at Fort Caroline. 
 
 There were two small vessels remaining to the French, 
 at the mouth of the river, and some eighteen or twenty of 
 the fugitives, with Laudonniere, were received on board. 
 On the 25th of September, these two vessels put out to sea, 
 one commanded by Laudonniere, the other by Jean Ribaut, 
 the son of the admiral. After a long voyage, and much 
 suffering, Laudonniere arrived on the coast of Wales about 
 the middle of November. He here left his vessel, and re- 
 turned to France, where he was badly received by the 
 court, and died in obscurity. The other vessel, under Cap- 
 tain Ribaut, had proceeded prosperously some five hundred 
 leagues, when they fell in with a Spanish vessel, with which 
 they had a severe encounter. The French claim the vic- 
 tory, having lost but one man, their cook ; but they were 
 unable to secure their prize. Pursuing their voyage, they 
 reached Rochelle, where they were most kindly received 
 and entertained. 
 
 Thus ended the efforts of the, French to establish a 
 colony on the southern coast of America. The Lilies of 
 France had been trampled in the dust, and the flag of 
 Spain waved over St. Augustine, San Mateo, and San 
 Lucia. ^ 
 
 The destruction of the Huguenots excited the utmost 
 gratification at the court of Spain; and the conduct of 
 Menendez was approved and commended by his Catholic 
 
 * Laudonniere, after his return to France, wrote an account of the 
 attempted settlement by the French, under the title of " L'Histoire des 
 trois Voyages des Frangois en la Floride," which was published in 
 the year 1586, by M. Basanier, to which was added a relation of a 
 fourth voyage, by De Gourgues. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 13 
 
 Majesty, the bigoted Philip 11.,* and even drew forth a 
 letter of gratitude from the pontiff, Pius V.f 
 
 *"0f the great success that has attended your enterprise we 
 have the most entire satisfaction ; and as to the retribution you have 
 visited upon the Lutheran pirates who sought to occupy the country, 
 and to fortify themselves there in order to disseminate in it their wicked 
 creed, and to prosecute there those wrongs and robberies which they 
 have done, and were doing, against God's service and my own, we be- 
 lieve that you did it with every justification and propriety, and we con- 
 sider ourselves to have been well served in your so doing." — Ensayo 
 Cronologico, p. 115. 
 
 f Letter of St. Pius V. to Pedro Menendez. 
 
 " To our beloved son and nobleman, Pedro Menendez Aviles, Vice- 
 roy in the Province of Florida, in the Indies : Beloved son and noble- 
 man, Grace and Benediction of our Lord be with you, Amen. — We 
 greatly rejoice that our much-beloved, dear son in Christ, Philip, the 
 most Catholic King, had appointed and honored you by the govern- 
 ment of Florida, making you Adelantado of the country ; for we had 
 received such accounts of your person, and the excellencies of your 
 virtues, your worth and dignity were so satisfactorily spoken of, that 
 we believed, without doubt, that you would not only fulfill faithfully, 
 and with care and diligence, the orders and instructions which had 
 been delivered to you by so catholic a king ; but we also fully trusted 
 that you would with discretion do all that was requisite, and see car- 
 ried forward the extension of our Holy Catholic Faith, and the gaining 
 of souls for God. I would that you should well understand that the 
 Indians should be governed in good faith and prudently, that those 
 who may be weak in the faith, being newly converted, be strength- 
 ened and confirmed ; and the idolaters may be converted and receive 
 the faith of Christ, that the first may praise God, knowing the benefits 
 of his divine mercy, and the others who are yet infidels, by the ex- 
 ample and imitation of those who are already freed from blindness, 
 may be led to the knowledge of the Faith. But there is no one thing 
 that is more important for the conversion of the Indian idolaters, than 
 to endeavor by every means that they shall not be scandalized by the 
 vices and bad habits of those who pass from our Western shores to 
 those parts. This is the key of this holy enterprise, in which are in- 
 
132 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 The French court seem to have received the news of 
 the destruction of their colony and the atrocious massacre 
 of their countrymen with perfect indifference. This is 
 believed to have arisen from the religious animosities that 
 existed at that period, and which destroyed all sympathy 
 between those of different faith. The sufferings of the 
 Huguenots excited no pity in the hearts of the opposite 
 party, to which the court of Charles IX. belonged. This 
 must have excited great indignation among the people, and 
 particularly among the Huguenots. The narratives of the 
 survivors were published, and the widows and orphans of 
 the slain sent up a memorial to the king, calling upon him 
 for a speedy revenge upon the Spaniards for the acts of 
 Menendez ; but his Majesty made no response, and it was 
 left to private individuals to resent the indignities to the 
 flag and honor of France, and to avenge the wrongs of her 
 people. 
 
 eluded all things requisite. Well understand, most noble man, that I 
 declare to you that a great opportunity is offered to you in the carry- 
 ing out and management of these matters, which shall redound on the 
 one hand to the service of God, and on the other to the increase of the 
 dignity of your king, esteemed of men, as well as loved and rewarded 
 by God. Wherefore, we give you our Paternal and Apostolic Bene- 
 diction, We seek and charge you to give entire faith to our brother, 
 the Archbishop of Rossini, who in our name will signify our wishes 
 in more ample words. 
 
 " Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, with the ring of the Fisherman, the 
 1st of August, 1569; the 3d year of our Pontificate." 
 
CHAPTER X. 
 
 Situation of Matters at St. Augustine, and Explorations made by 
 Menendez. 
 
 1566— 1567. 
 
 One purpose of the expedition of Menendez was now 
 accomplished. He had destroyed the French colony, and, 
 for the present, at least, put an end to the efforts of that 
 much-despised sect, the Lutheran, to establish itself in the 
 New World. He needed now to strengthen his own posi- 
 tion, and guard against any attempts the French might 
 make to reoccupy the country which he was so anxious to 
 secure to the Spanish crown. Unlike those who had pre- 
 ceded him, Menendez had, by accident and good fortune, 
 placed his settlement at a peculiarly favorable point. The 
 harbor, while affording ample accommodation for vessels 
 bringing in supplies for the garrison, was inaccessible to 
 those of a larger class, and he was thus effectually protected 
 from the attack of any hostile fleet, and, being on a penin- 
 sula of moderate size, he could without much difficulty 
 guard against attack from the Indians. A still more favor- 
 able feature in the location of Menendez' s garrison was its 
 great healthiness. Surrounded by salt marshes, free from 
 all miasmatic exhalations, the balmy and pure sea-air pre- 
 served the colonists almost wholly from those fatal diseases 
 which had swept away so many of the first settlers on this 
 continent. 
 
 The old towQ of St. Augustine is built upon the precise 
 12 (133) 
 
134 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 point that was occupied by Menendez. Its Indian name 
 was Seloy, and the Spaniards found several habitations of 
 considerable size which had been built by the natives. 
 Satisfied that his position was a good one, Menendez pro- 
 ceeded to fortify it. A fort was constructed of logs at 
 a point commanding the approaches by sea and by land, 
 and made as effective as the limited means at hand would 
 permit. Other buildings were erected, and the forms of 
 civil as well as military government were instituted in the 
 province. Among the buildings erected was, undoubtedly, 
 one in which the rites of the Roman Church were celebrated, 
 and we may probably say without hesitation that the first 
 Roman Catholic church on the Atlantic coast of North 
 America was erected at St. Augustine. Menendez did all 
 in his power to advance the cause of religion wherever he 
 gained a footing in the New World, and never forgot this 
 feature in the object of conquest. 
 
 Having done all that he could -for the comfort and 
 security of his garrison, Menendez proceeded to strengthen 
 Fort Mateo, formerly Fort Caroline, and erected further 
 detenses nearer the mouth of the river. In the mean time 
 he had caused explorations to be made into the interior, 
 but with what result we are not informed. 
 
 The Spaniards were not left very long in undisturbed 
 possession of their ground. The most powerful of the 
 neighboring chiefs who were hostile to them soon came 
 and waged war upon them. The soldiers of Menendez 
 could not venture out of camp in any direction without 
 being fired upon by their savage foe, and day after day, one 
 after another of those who went out fishing or hunting, were 
 cut ofi", until more than a hundred men and several officers 
 fell victims. The Indians came up to the lines of the fort, 
 and on one occasion succeeded in setting fire to a maga- 
 zine and a great number of the thatched houses, causing 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 35 
 
 great destruction of property and provisions, and much 
 suffering. Menendez finally determined to ask aid from 
 the Governor of Cuba, but none was granted him, and he 
 was obliged to send a vessel to Campeachy. Up to this 
 time he had in vain sought tidings of his lost son, and, 
 while waiting the return of the vessel from Campeachy, he 
 determined to make search himself on the part of the coast 
 where he was reported to have been shipwrecked, and for 
 this purpose took a vessel and sailed along the coast of 
 South Florida. Landing at Cape Florida, he found there, 
 at an Indian settlement, seven Spaniards who had been, 
 with many others, wrecked on the coast some twenty years 
 before, these alone surviving the cruelty and hardships to 
 which all had been subjected. From these Spaniards the 
 Indians had obtained the name of Carlos, which we find 
 given to one of the tribes of South Florida. Hearing that 
 their king, the greatest king in all the world, was called 
 Carlos, the Indians adopted the name in their royal family, 
 thinking thereby to attain to greater power and honor. 
 
 Releasing his countrymen from captivity, Menendez re- 
 ceived them on board his vessel, and returned to St. Augus- 
 tine, much depressed at the failure of all his efforts to 
 recover his child. New trials and difficulties awaited him. 
 Increasing distress at St. Augustine and Fort Mateo had 
 created disaffection. Both garrisons mutinied, and de- 
 termined to abandon the colony. The officers left in com- 
 mand were unable to control the mutineers at St. Augustine, 
 who seized one of the vessels and sailed for the West Indies. 
 Of the garrison at Fort Mateo, consisting of one hundred 
 and fifty persons, all but twenty-one mutinied, and de- 
 termined to leave the country. A vessel of seventy tons 
 arriving with provisions, they seized upon it, intending to 
 sail to the West Indies or Peru. 
 
 Menendez returned after the mutineers had embarked, 
 
136 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 but had not yet sailed, and tried to arrest their movements 
 and induce them to return to the garrison. But the greater 
 number were obstinately determined to go, and of one 
 hundred and thirty on board the vessel only thirty-five ex- 
 pressed their willingness to remain. These the mutineers 
 placed on board a bateau, but before they could reach St 
 Augustine they were fired upon by the Indians, and most 
 of them killed. Those who escaped turned their course, 
 hoping to reach Cuba, but were wrecked on Cape Florida, 
 and remained among the Indians of Carlos. 
 
 Of the garrison at St. Augustine, over one hundred, at 
 the head of whom was Juan de Vicente, forced Menendez 
 to allow them to return to Porto Rico. Crowded upon a 
 small vessel, they suffered much from heat and sickness, 
 and during a long voyage many of them died. 
 
 Relieved of the disaffected portion of his command, 
 Menendez restored what order he could ; but his position 
 was a most discouraging one, and under a less resolute 
 leader the enterprise must have failed. Many of the de- 
 serters returned to Spain, and, by their unfavorable reports 
 of the country, greatly abated the interest which Menendez 
 had excited, and prevented other colonists from joining 
 him. The Adelantado now undertook a voyage to the 
 north, visiting and making overtures of peace to the chiefs 
 along the coast of Georgia and South Carolina, and is sup- 
 posed to have sailed as far north as the Chesapeake. The 
 points especially mentioned are Quale, Avista, and St. 
 Helena. At St. Helena he left a number of his men to erect 
 a fort; and also at Avista and all the Indian settlements 
 which he visited he insisted upon building forts. Return- 
 ing south, Menendez ascended the San Mateo River, 
 visiting several Indian tribes on its borders. It seems to 
 have been supposed by Menendez that this river commu- 
 nicated with the sea at some point in the lower part of the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 37 
 
 peninsula, and the Indians told him of a lake, called 
 Miami, that communicated with the sea and with this river. 
 They may have alluded to that extensive savanna now 
 known as the Everglades, which is more or less covered 
 with water at all times, and in seasons of heavy rains may 
 have afforded access by light canoes to the head-waters of 
 the St. John's. One of the outlets to the Everglades, near 
 Cape Florida, is now known as the Miami River, and we 
 find the same name given to two rivers of Ohio, from which 
 circumstance we may suppose it probable that the original 
 inhabitants of these States, Ohio and Florida, had a com- 
 mon origin and language. 
 
 Menendez revisited his posts at St. Helena, Avista, and 
 Guale, and took measures for their secure establishment; 
 and at these and all other places which he visited he 
 caused the cross to be planted, and left religious teachers, 
 who were to instruct the natives. He seems to have been 
 gratified with the willingness of most of them to receive 
 instruction and become Christians. One of the chiefs, 
 however, Satourioura, always stood aloof, and showed no 
 good feeling for the Spaniards, who, notwithstanding this 
 fact, ventured to visit his tribe. On one occasion, seven- 
 teen of them going out to the Indian houses, about two 
 leagues from Fort Mateo, were fallen upon and eight of 
 their number killed, the rest returning to camp covered 
 with wounds. The distress for provisions continued, and 
 Menendez was compelled to go himself to the West Indies 
 to seek relief for his colonists. 
 
 During his absence a fleet of fifteen sail arrived, bringing 
 heavy reinforcements, which were greatly needed, for, in 
 addition to the loss sustained at Fort Mateo and St. Au- 
 gustine by mutiny and desertion, the greater part of the 
 garrison left at St. Helena had deserted. Seizing upon a 
 transport, they made sail for Cuba, but were cast upon that 
 
 12* 
 
138 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 fatal coast of North Florida, and there fell in with the 
 wrecked mutineers from Fort Mateo, who most gladly 
 welcomed this accession to their numbers. 
 
 About this time a vessel arrived off the coast with three 
 Jesuit fathers of some distinction, — the first of their order 
 who had visited this part of the New World, — all of the 
 priests who had come over before being Franciscans. 
 Father Martinez, having landed in a small boat, proceeded 
 with the crew in search of the fort which was their point of 
 destination, but, a sudden squall coming up, the vessel was 
 driven out to sea, and the good priest and his boat's crew 
 were left on shore defenseless and without provisions. 
 
 Falling in with a party of Indians, they were directed to 
 Fort Mateo ; but within half a league of the mouth of the 
 river they were attacked by another party of savages, and 
 Father Martinez and three of his men were slaughtered on 
 the shores of St. George's Island. 
 
 When Menendez returned from Cuba he was much en- 
 couraged at finding the reinforcements which had arrived 
 during his absence, and he proceeded at once to strengthen 
 his garrisons at Fort Mateo and St. Helena. Leaving them 
 in good condition, he started on an expedition to South 
 Florida, wishing to visit all the tribes who occupied the 
 lower part of the peninsula. The most southerly of these 
 was that of Tequesta, and next were the tribes of Carlos, 
 the most powerful of all the Indian tribes of this peninsula, 
 and whose limits extended from one coast to the other. 
 Within their domain, probably near Cape Florida, Me- 
 nendez built a small fort and left a garrison. In reply to 
 inquiries made here relative to Lake Miami and its con- 
 nection with the San Mateo River, the Indians directed 
 him to the country of the Tocobayo, fifty leagues to the 
 north. 
 
 Before leaving Fort Mateo he had given orders that a 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 139 
 
 vessel should be sent up the San Mateo River to search 
 for Lake Miami, and to meet him, if possible, on the north 
 coast of Florida. Three vessels were accordingly sent; 
 but, finding the course of the river very tortuous and its 
 borders inhabited by numerous Indians, in whose good 
 feeling they felt no confidence, the commanders deter- 
 mined to return to the fort. From the country of Carlos 
 Menendez came to Tocobayo and obtained permission to 
 erect a fort and leave some religious teachers to bring them 
 to a knowledge of the true faith. 
 
 From Tocobayo three days' march brought him to Fort 
 Mateo, from which we may suppose that the location of 
 Tocobayo was about that of Cape Canaveral. The Ade- 
 lantado is said to have met at Tocobayo more than fifteen 
 hundred Indians, and at a council held there twenty-nine 
 caciques were present. 
 
 At Fort Mateo Menendez found Juan Pardo, who had 
 been sent out with one hundred and fifty men to explore 
 the country to the west and see if there was any commu- 
 nication open with New Spain by means of rivers having 
 their course in that direction. Pardo penetrated some one 
 hundred and fifty leagues to the Apalachian Mountains, 
 making friendly overtures to the caciques of the country, 
 and building a fort in the territory of one named Coava. 
 Leaving a garrison and religious teachers here, Pardo re- 
 turned to Felipe. 
 
 Upon the river Mateo several caciques had rule, the 
 most powerful of whom was Otima, whose territory was 
 on the west bank of the river, near the Ocklawaha. To 
 the north was the domain of Macaya, and to the south 
 that of Ays. Satourioura, the bitter enemy of the Span- 
 iards, occupied the country between St. Augustine and the 
 San Mateo River, east and north, and so cut off all com- 
 munication between the Spanish forts by land. The hos- 
 
140 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 tility of this chief could not be appeased, and his prox- 
 imity to the two most important posts was peculiarly 
 annoying to Menendez, who determined to attack Satouri- 
 oura with all the available force he could command. Four 
 detachments of seventy men each, one of them under the 
 command of Menendez himself, marched out, hoping to 
 surprise the Indian chief; but the wily savage was on the 
 alert, and, after a fruitless effort, the Spaniards returned to 
 their posts. 
 
 It seemed highly important, at this stage of affairs, that 
 Menendez should visit Spain. He was aware that injuri- 
 ous reports had been circulated against him at home, and 
 many complaints and accusations made before the Spanish 
 court, all of which he believed it his duty to refute in 
 person before his sovereign. 
 
 Within the eighteen months that had elapsed since his 
 landing in Florida, Menendez had carefully examined the 
 entire coast from Cape Florida to St. Helena, had built 
 forts at St. Augustine, San Mateo, Avista, Guale, and St. 
 Helena, and had established block-houses at Tequesta, 
 Carlos, Tocobayo, and Coava, in all of which he had left 
 garrisons and religious teachers. In most of this work 
 Menendez had been personally engaged, while he was re- 
 sponsible for all ; and mind and body now required change 
 and relaxation. 
 
 Believing that the interest of the colony, as well as his 
 own, would be advanced by his going to Spain, Menendez 
 caused a small vessel of twenty tons to be built, and in the 
 spring of 1567 he set sail in his frail bark, accompanied 
 by thirty-eight persons, including the crew. Fair weather 
 and favorable winds brought them rapidly on their way, 
 and in seventeen days they reached the Azores, making, it 
 WHS said, seventy-two leagues a day, — a statement hardly to 
 be believed. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 141 
 
 They arrived safely in Spain, and Menendez was received 
 with great favor at court. But empty honors were not 
 what the Adelantado wanted. He required prompt and 
 substantial aid to enable him to carry on his enterprise; 
 and this he found not easily to be obtained. He was kept 
 in anxious suspense at court, chafing under unnecessary 
 delay and the obstacles thrown in his way, all the while 
 fearful that the French might avail themselves of his ab- 
 sence and make an attack upon his colony in retaliation 
 for the massacres at Matanzas and Fort Caroline. Indeed, 
 rumors of such designs had already reached him. Those who 
 escaped those terrible massacres and returned home had 
 scattered widely through France the bloody story of their 
 countrymen's sufferings at the hands of the Spanish leader, 
 and the indignation of the people grew stronger day by 
 day as they witnessed the indifference of the French court. 
 It was said that they intended to take the matter into their 
 own hands, and that an avenger was about to appear. 
 
CHAPTER XI. 
 
 Recapture of Fort Caroline, and the Notnble Revenge of Dominic de 
 Gour<iues. 
 
 1567. 
 
 The name of Dominic de Gourgues occupies a place 
 secondary in interest to none, perhaps, in the history of 
 Florida. Associated as he is with one of the most remark- 
 able and dramatic incidents on record, we find a more 
 than usual attraction in the character and circumstances of 
 his early life. 
 
 This self-constituted champion of his country's wrongs 
 and of the rights of humanity was a native of Marsan, in 
 Guienne.* In those day^all persons of gentle birth adopted 
 the profession of arms, and Dominic entered the service of 
 his king as a private soldier, deeming it honor enough to 
 be allowed, even in this humble position, to serve France. 
 Winning promotion on the field, he obtained the rank of 
 captain, a place at that time of greater distinction than 
 now. He was charged with the defense of a place near 
 Sienna, with only thirty soldiers at his command, and, 
 being attacked by a largely superior force, made a despe- 
 rate resistance, but all his followers were slain, and he fell 
 into the hands of the Spaniards. 
 
 To show their appreciation of his signal bravery, and, as 
 the French chronicler with bitter sarcasm remarks, with 
 
 •5^ " He was a brother of the Governor of Guienne." — Efisayo Cro- 
 nologico, p. 133. 
 (142) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 U3 
 
 rare Spanish generosity, De Gourgues, instead of being put 
 to death, was condemned to the galleys. The vessel upon 
 which he was placed as a galley-slave was captured by the 
 Turks, and he was carried to Rhodes and Constantinople, 
 and had the good fortune afterwards to be recaptured, 
 and, by the French commander at Malta, restored to his 
 country. He did not remain long unemployed, but em- 
 barked with an expedition to Brazil and the South Seas, 
 where he probably acquired a considerable fortune. 
 
 From this voyage Dominic returned in time to sympa- 
 thize in the grief and indignation excited throughout France 
 by the massacre of the Huguenots at Fort Caroline, and the 
 fate of Ribaut and his shipwrecked companions. The treat- 
 ment De Gourgues had received at the hands of the Span- 
 iards, and the fetters of his galley-life, had left scars on 
 his soul which nothing could efface, and it may well be 
 supposed that this new tale of horrors stirred to its depths 
 all the concentrated hatred of his nature. The spirit of 
 retaliation was fully aroused, and he felt that the blood of 
 his countrymen, no less than his own wrongs, cried for 
 vengeance. 
 
 It has been seen that the destruction of the Huguenots 
 in Florida was treated by the king and court of France 
 with an indifference that greatly embittered the people, 
 many of whom had religious sympathies with the sufferers, 
 while others doubtless lost friends and relatives in the 
 bloody massacre. Of the faith of De Gourgues we know 
 nothing,* and are only told of his sympathy with his ill- 
 treated countrymen, and his determination to resent their 
 wrongs. He seems to have deemed it unwise or unsafe to 
 make his feelings public by asking aid of the king, and it 
 
 * The Spanish account says he was a terrible heretic — Herege ter- 
 rible. — Ens ay Cron., p. 133. 
 
144 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 is not improbable that had he done so he would have met 
 with strong opposition at court, and that his plans would 
 have been communicated to the Spaniards. He more pru- 
 dently concealed his intentions, and began his preparations 
 professedly with the design of making a trip to the coast of 
 Africa to procure slaves. Fortunately, the king's lieutenant 
 in Guienne, Monsieur Montluc, was a friend of De Gour- 
 gues, and readily granted the necessary license for a voyage 
 to Africa. * 
 
 Dominic did not underrate the difficulties that lay before 
 him. He had reason to believe that the Spaniards in 
 Florida were strongly fortified, and that their conscious- 
 ness of guilt, while probably making cowards of them all, 
 would yet point out the necessity of being always on the 
 alert and prepared for an attack from those they had so 
 cruelly wronged. He felt the justice of his own cause, and 
 trusted to this, and to his utter fearlessness of danger, rather 
 than to the strength of any force he might possibly be able 
 to command. His own resources were not large, for it 
 was said of him "that in all his life he had sought to 
 attain honor rather than wealth," and the sale of his 
 estate did not bring him means sufficient to enable him to 
 equip an expedition. He was compelled therefore, how- 
 ever reluctantly, to borrow money from his friends. With 
 the assistance thus obtained, he was able to procure and fit 
 out three vessels, — one of them quite small, and intended 
 to be used only as a tender, with either sails or oars. 
 De Gourgues then enlisted one hundred men (many of 
 whom are said to have been gentlemen) and eighty-four 
 mariners, who were expected in any emergency to take up 
 arms as soldiers. By the 2d of August, 1567, he had all 
 things in readiness to put to sea, but, being detained twenty 
 days by a long and very severe gale, he could not com- 
 mence his voyage until the 22d of the same month. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 145 
 
 He at first proceeded to the coast of Africa, where he 
 encountered another violent gale, and was attacked by- 
 three African chiefs, whom he repulsed. Turning west- 
 ward, he made land at Dominica, and then touched at St. 
 Domingo, where he repaired his vessels, but was not 
 allowed to procure supplies or even to take in water. 
 
 It was not until after leaving St. Domingo, and on the 
 point of sailing for Florida, that De Gourgues made known 
 to his men his real place of destination and the object of 
 his expedition. 
 
 He then addressed them most eloquently, depicting the 
 wrongs their countrymen had received at the hands of the 
 Spaniards, the indignity their nation and flag had suf- 
 fered, and the shame that rested upon France for leaving 
 so long unavenged an act so wicked and base as the murder 
 of the Huguenots and the destruction of the French colony. 
 He told them that the work that lay before them was to 
 punish the Spaniards, and wipe out the stain that rested 
 upon their own country, and explained, as fully as he could, 
 his plans, and the means by which he hoped to attain suc- 
 cess, expressing entire confidence in his men, and hoping, 
 as he said, they would not disappoint the high expecta- 
 tions he had formed when he selected them from the many 
 who had been eager to join in this expedition. 
 
 His words fell upon willing ears, and the hearts of his 
 followers burned with anxiety to reach the shore and begin 
 their work of revenge. A favorable wind soon brought 
 them to the coast of Florida, and, passing near the mouth 
 of the San Mateo River, they were descried from the forts 
 at its entrance. The garrison, supposing they were Span- 
 ish vessels, fired a salute, which De Gourgues returned, in 
 order to keep up the deception. A few leagues north of 
 the San Mateo they entered the fine harbor of Fernandina, 
 near the mouth of the St. Mary's River, called by the 
 
146 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 natives Tacatacouron, and, by the French, La Seine. At 
 daybreak, the morning after their arrival, they beheld the 
 shores of the harbor lined with savages in hostile array, 
 ready to prevent their landing, for the Indians supposed 
 them to be Spaniards. Fortunately, the trumpeter on board 
 De Gourgues's vessel was well acquainted with the Indian 
 language, having been out with Laudonniere, and he was 
 sent on shore to give assurances of friendship, and to en- 
 gage their services. The trumpeter was soon recognized by 
 the Indians, and received with demonstrations of joy. 
 Satourioura, the bitter foe of the Spaniards, was present, 
 and welcomed De Gourgues as the friend of Laudonniere. 
 The complaints of the Indians against the Spaniards were 
 very bitter, and they expressed an impatient desire for re- 
 venge. Having explained, as far as was prudent, his plans 
 to the Indians, De Gourgues started out on a reconnoi- 
 tring expedition to the mouth of the San Mateo, in order to 
 make himself thoroughly acquainted with the position of 
 the Spanish forts and the strength of their garrisons; then, 
 returning to his vessel, he awaited the assembling of the In- 
 dians, who, under their chiefs Olocatora and Satourioura, 
 were to join him in the assault. They had promised to 
 return in three days and bring their warriors with them, 
 and, true to their word, they came in on the third day 
 with thousands of dusky followers. 
 
 Satourioura brought with him a youth of sixteen or 
 seventeen, by the name of Peter de Bre, who had escaped 
 from Fort Caroline, and had been all this time with the 
 Indians. The Spaniards had made many efforts to get pos- 
 session of De Bre, but the Indians faithfully protected him 
 and now allowed him to join De Gourgues. He proved 
 most useful as an interpreter, and informed De Gourgues of 
 the strength of the three forts on the river, which he said 
 contained in all but four hundred men-at-arms. The French 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 147 
 
 were rejoiced to find themselves supported by the Indians, 
 and De Gourgues skillfully availed himself of their enmity 
 towards the Spaniards, to further his own purposes. The 
 attack was to be made upon the fort on the north side of the 
 river; and, guided by Helicopali, one of the chiefs, the 
 French arrived in the neighborhood of the fort just at dawn, 
 but were obliged to wait until the ebb tide should enable 
 them to reach the island on which it stood. At mid-day 
 they passed over, and, the sentinel not being at his post, the 
 French troops had nearly reached the fort before they were 
 discovered. The Spaniards, though for three years they had 
 been dreading this attack, were at last taken by surprise, and 
 the cry which now reached their ears — "The French! the 
 French!" — struck terror to every heart. The sentinel flew 
 to his post and fired a culverin twice at the enemy, and was 
 on the point of firing a third time when Olocatora leaped 
 on the platform and transfixed him with a pike. Ignorant 
 from what direction the French had come upon them, and 
 probably only expecting an attack to be made by sea, the 
 garrison rushed to the gates, hoping to escape, but were 
 met by De Gourgues's men, and their entire number, sixty 
 in all, either killed or captured. The inmates of the fort 
 on the opposite side of the river, observing the contest, 
 opened fire upon the French, who, being now in possession 
 of the first fort, turned the captured guns upon their assail- 
 ants, and returned their fire with good effect. In the mean 
 time De Gourgues's vessels had come around to the mouth 
 of the river and commenced an attack by sea, while the 
 Indians, in large numbers, swam across the stream to the 
 fort. The Spaniards, finding themselves thus surrounded, 
 gave up all for lost, and endeavored to escape, hoping to 
 reach Fort Mateo by passing through the woods along the 
 shores of the river. But De Gourgues, suspecting their 
 purpose, intercepted their flight, and, with the aid of the 
 
148 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Indians, succeeded in killing or capturing their entire num- 
 ber. Among the fifteen taken prisoners was an old sergeant, 
 who gave much important information respecting the posi- 
 tion, height, and strength of Fort Mateo, towards which 
 point De Gourgues was next to turn his attention. He pru- 
 dently determined, however, first to fortify himself in one of 
 the forts already captured, and thus guard against surprise 
 from any attack the Spaniards might make upon him. He 
 also busied himself with preparations for an assault upon 
 Fort Mateo, making scaling-ladders, etc., and sending 
 out reconnoitring parties to observe the operations of the 
 Spaniards. One of these parties, headed by the youilg 
 chief Olocatora, seized a Spaniard disguised as an Indian, 
 and brought him in to De Gourgues. The Spaniard pro- 
 fessed to have escaped from one of the captured forts, and 
 said that he had disguised himself in order, as he hoped, 
 to escape being killed by the Indians; but, being con- 
 fronted with the old sergeant, he was found to be a spy 
 from Fort Mateo, sent out to discover the strength of the 
 enemy and obtain any other useful information he could. 
 He said that the Spaniards supposed the French to be over 
 two thousand strong, while their own garrison consisted of 
 only two hundred and sixty men, and that they felt wholly 
 unable to defend themselves against such vastly superior 
 numbers. De Gourgues at once determined to hasten an 
 attack upon the Spaniards, and so avail himself of an ad- 
 vantage which their overestimate of his strength would 
 give him. Coming out under cover of night, he dis- 
 posed his Indian forces in ambuscade around the fort to 
 await the moment when their services would be required ; 
 and at day-dawn he approached wkh his own men, and 
 was soon discovered and fired upon from a battery that 
 had been so constructed as to cover the approach to the 
 fort by water. De Gourgues fell back a little, and, turning 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. ' 149 
 
 aside, secured a position in which he was protected from 
 the fort, while he could himself observe all the movements 
 of the Spaniards. He soon discovered a party of some 
 sixty armed men issue from the fort on a reconnoissance. 
 As soon as they had advanced far enough from the fort to 
 admit of it, De Gourgues threw some of his men in their 
 rear, in order to intercept their return, and then, rushing 
 out of his concealment, attacked the Spaniards in their 
 front. They quickly fled before him, and, falling in with 
 the French in their rear, were cut to pieces. 
 
 The garrison, becoming panic-stricken, attempted no 
 resistance, and sought safety in flight ; but, being sur- 
 rounded on all sides by the French and their Indian 
 allies, only a few, including the commander of the fort, 
 escaped. 
 
 Most of them fell under the swords of the Frenchmen or 
 the clubs of the Indians, while the few who were taken 
 alive were reserved for a more awful doom. 
 
 There were found in the fort five double culverins, four 
 mignons or moyennes, and other smaller pieces of iron 
 and brass, besides corselets, arquebuses, pikes, etc., and 
 eighteen large cakes of powder. The artillery De Gour- 
 gues had placed upon his vessels, but before he could 
 secure anything more an accident occurred which de- 
 stroyed everything. An Indian, broiling fish near the fort, 
 set fire to a train leading to the magazine and store- 
 houses, by which they were entirely destroyed. 
 
 The Spaniards who were taken prisoners were soon led 
 out to the spot on which, in September, 1565, Menendez 
 had caused the Huguenots of Fort Caroline to be hung. 
 De Gourgues here arraigned them at the assizes of retribu- 
 tive justice. He told them of the wrongs they had done to 
 the French king, how they had murdered his unprotected 
 
 13* 
 
I^o HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 subjects, destroying the forts they had built, and taking pos- 
 session of the country they had conquered. Such base 
 treason and detestable cruelty could not go always unpun- 
 ished, and he had taken upon himself, at his own risk and 
 expense, to avenge the wrongs of his countrymen. He 
 could not make them suffer as they justly ought, but must 
 mete out to them such punishment as an enemy might 
 fairly inflict, in order that their fate might be a warning 
 unto others. 
 
 Having thus spoken, he caused the poor wretches to be 
 suspended from the branches of the spreading oaks under 
 whose shade the unfortunate Huguenots had suffered ; and 
 then, in place of the inscription which Menendez had 
 written in Spanish over his bloody deed — ''I do this, not 
 as unto Frenchmen, but as to Lutherans" — De Gourgues 
 caused to be engraved, on a tablet of pine, with a red-hot 
 iron, ''I do this, not as unto Spaniards, nor as to outcasts, 
 but as to traitors, thieves, and murderers." 
 
 He now called together the Indian chiefs and their war- 
 riors, and told them that he had fulfilled his promises to 
 them, and with their aid successfully carried out his pur- 
 poses of retaliation upon the Spaniards, that their wrongs 
 had been avenged, and that it only remained, to make 
 their work complete, that the forts should be destroyed. 
 This the Indians gladly undertook to accomplish, and so 
 great was their zeal that by nightfall, it is said, not one 
 stone remained upon another at Fort Mateo. They were 
 anxious that De Gourgues should attack the fort at St. Au- 
 gustine, but he felt that his means were altogether inade- 
 quate to such an enterprise. Moving down the river to the 
 forts at its mouth, the thirty prisoners who had been cap- 
 tured and secured there were brought out and hung, and 
 the forts totally destroyed. Among these last Spaniards 
 who were put to death was one who confessed that he had 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 151 
 
 taken part in the massacre at Fort Caroline, and had with 
 his own hands hung five of the Huguenots. Acknowledg- 
 ing his guilt, he reproached himself greatly, and recognized 
 the hand of God in the just punishment he was about to 
 suffer. 
 
 De Gourgues now prepared to return to his vessels, which 
 lay at the mouth of the river Tacatacouron ; and as he 
 marched along he found the paths everywhere filled with 
 Indians, who had come to do him honor and offer him 
 presents. Having reached his vessels and found them 
 ready for sea, he assembled the Indians, and, addressing 
 their chiefs, thanked them in his own behalf, and in the 
 name of his countrymen, for their service, and exhorted 
 them to continue the friendship which they had ever shown 
 for the King of France and his subjects, who hoped ever 
 to maintain peaceful relations with the Indians, and would 
 protect them from the Spaniards and all other enemies. 
 He warned them to be on their guard against surprise 
 until his Majesty could send a sufficient force to protect 
 them. The Indians parted from the French with tears and 
 lamentations, and could be pacified only by a promise from 
 De Gourgues to return to them within a twelvemonth with 
 a larger force than he now had. 
 
 After weighing anchor, De Gourgues assembled his ship's 
 company and called upon them to return thanks to God 
 for the great success He had vouchsafed to their enter- 
 prise. "It was not," said he, "other than God who pre- 
 served us from shipwreck at the Cape Finisterre, and from 
 our enemies at the Isle of Cuba, and at the river Hali- 
 camini, where He moulded the hearts of the savages to 
 join with us. 'Twas God who blinded the understanding 
 of the Spaniards, so that they were unable to discover 
 the number of our forces or to know how to employ 
 their own. They were four to our one in numbers, — had 
 
1^2 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 strong fortresses, well provided with artillery, ammunition, 
 arms, and provisions. We had the just cause, and con- 
 quered those who contended without the right. Thus it 
 was God alone, and not ourselves, who won the victory. 
 Let us then always give thanks to Him, and pray Him 
 ever to continue his favors to us, and now beg Him to 
 guide and protect us on our homeward journey, and ask 
 Him so to dispose the hearts of men that the dangers in 
 which we have been placed and the labors we have under- 
 gone, shall find grace and favor before our sovereign, — 
 and, before all, France, — for that we have sought nothing 
 else than the service of our king and the honor of our 
 country." 
 
 On Tuesday, the 3d day of May, 1568, they set sail for 
 France with favorable winds, and on the 6th of June ar- 
 rived at Rochelle, having lost on the passage the ''tender" 
 with eight men ; a few had been killed at the assault on the 
 forts. 
 
 De Gourgues was received with great honor and applause 
 at Rochelle, but, the report of his exploits having reached 
 Spain, a fleet was dispatched to capture him, which arrived 
 at Rochelle the very day he had sailed for Bordeaux, and 
 he was pursued as far as Blays. De Gourgues presented 
 himself at court, gave an account of his doings in Florida, 
 and tendered his services to the king to regain the posses- 
 sion of that country ; but the anti-Huguenot party was then 
 in power, and the temper of the court was not favorable 
 to such an exploit, and, though there were doubtless many 
 who rejoiced that the slaughter of Ribaut had been avenged, 
 De Gourgues met with a cold reception, and was compelled 
 to seek safety in concealment. Philip of Spain, the same 
 king who had shortly before bestowed commendation and 
 honor upon Menendez for his bloody acts in Florida, now 
 
JHSTOR V OF FL OR IDA. 
 
 153 
 
 had the unblushing assurance to demand of the French 
 king the head of De Gourgues. The President of Parlia- 
 ment, De Marigny, and the Receiver, Vacquieux, shielded 
 De Gourgues from the demands of Philip, and, after some 
 years spent in obscurity, he was appointed by the king to 
 the command of the French fleet, and died suddenly in 
 the year 1582, greatly regretted.* 
 
 One can hardly fail to be struck with surprise at the suc- 
 cess of this remarkable expedition. From the day of the 
 destruction of Fort Caroline, Menendez had lived in hourly 
 fear of the return of the French to avenge the slaughter of 
 the Huguenots. Every passing sail, and every reverbera- 
 tion, had caused the Spaniards to grasp their arms and 
 hasten to their ramparts to meet the expected foe. The 
 fort, under its new name of San Mateo, had been rebuilt, 
 and strengthened in such a manner that the Chaplain Men- 
 doza records the boast, "that half of France could not 
 take it;" The Spaniards further strengthened their posi- 
 tion, by erecting two forts near the mouth of the San Mateo 
 River, and mounted guns of considerable calibre to com- 
 mand the passage of the river. Forts had been built at 
 several points on the coast, every effort made to conciliate 
 the Indians, and, in fact, Menendez had done all in his 
 power to prepare his colony against any sudden surprise or 
 attack. 
 
 Such was the condition of affairs when De Gourgues 
 planned and executed his scheme of vengeance. Looking 
 at the limited means and small force he had at his com- 
 mand, his enterprise seems the extreme of recklessness. 
 With only two small vessels and a tender, a force of one 
 
 * We have followed the account given in Ternaux Compans, taken 
 from a manuscript in the Royal Library of France, — " Reprise de la 
 Floride." 
 
154 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 hundred armed men and sixty sailors, without artillery, he 
 was to attack a foe outnumbering his own four to one, oc- 
 cupying three forts which were mounted with heavy guns 
 and provided with abundance of military stores, ammuni- 
 tion, etc. 
 
 On his arrival in Florida, De Gourgues had been met by 
 a few Indian chiefs who were hostile to the Spaniards, and 
 who were eager, with their followers, to join his expedi- 
 tion ; but their only weapons were their bows and arrows, 
 and no great dependence could be placed upon such allies. 
 The success of his plan could be looked for only through 
 one of those chances or accidents of war that sometimes 
 reward confidence and audacity. The boldness of the 
 assailants certainly deceived the Spaniards, who could not 
 believe that any inferior force would assault them in their 
 strongholds, and with a natural dread of the French they 
 preferred to seek safety in flight, rather than stand their 
 ground and risk the fate which would inevitably follow their 
 defeat. Had the commander of Fort Mateo sustained the 
 attack, De Gourgues must inevitably have been driven off, 
 and compelled to abandon his purpose, or but imperfectly 
 accomplish it in the capture of the smaller forts. Well 
 might he be thankful for the success, and attribute it to the 
 intervention of a higher power. We cannot, in this age 
 of a more enlightened and refined Christianity, approve all 
 the acts of De Gourgues. We feel that it would have been 
 more noble to have spared his captives, and given an illus- 
 trious example of magnanimity to his enemies ; but at that 
 day such an instance of generosity would have been con- 
 sidered egregious folly. De Gourgues had himself, in re- 
 ward for deeds of valor, been consigned by the Spaniards to 
 the galleys, and was embittered alike by the remembrance 
 of this personal grievance, and by the cruelty practiced 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 155 
 
 upon his countrymen, the memorials of which perhaps still 
 remained to animate his purpose of revenge. Thus incited, 
 he believed that he was the minister of divine vengeance 
 to execute justice upon "traitors, thieves, and murderers ^ 
 The atrocities of Menendez, and the vengeance of De 
 Gourgues, are alike sad records of the cruelty and vindic- 
 tiveness of the human race. 
 
CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Return of Menendez — Attack on St. Augustine by Sir Francis Drake 
 — Missions to the Indians, and Massacre of the Mission Fathers — 
 Attack on St. Augustine by Captain Davis — Establishment of a 
 Spanish Settlement at Pensacola. 
 
 1568 — 1696. 
 
 While De Gourgues was thus visiting with swift destruc- 
 tion the Si^anish forts and garrisons on the St. John's River, 
 Menendez still tarried in restless impatience at the Spanish 
 court. He finally succeeded in obtaining a partial reim- 
 bursement of the funds he had expended, and procured 
 from the Duke of Borja ten missionaries to accompany him 
 on his return to Florida, who were to engage in the propa- 
 gation of the faith among the Indians. Menendez had also 
 been honored by being appointed Governor of Cuba, an 
 appointment then considered of less importance than the 
 command of Florida. He set sail on the 17th of March, 
 1568, and arrived in Florida shortly after the departure of 
 De Gourgues, of whose attack he only learned upon his 
 arrival there. His proud spirit must have chafed with un- 
 availing rage at the severe blow which had been dealt 
 upon his colony by so insignificant a force, but he had 
 come too late to prevent or revenge it. 
 
 Menendez found his garrison demoralized, suffering from 
 hunger and insufficiency of clothing. The Indians, aroused 
 by the inroad of De Gourgues, were everywhere in open 
 hostility, and he found ample occupation in restoring 
 
 (156) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. . 157 
 
 order, and re-establishing his posts along the coast. He 
 gave particular attention to the missionary operations 
 among the Indians, and, to his credit be it said, devoted 
 himself with zeal and earnestness to this good work. The 
 success of the missionaries was not equal to their labors, 
 for it is said that although the Indians asked many ques- 
 tions, and gave apparent attention to the explanations and 
 instructions of the worthy fathers while the corn which was 
 daily given to them lasted, yet when that was gone they 
 also disappeared ; and notwithstanding four of the fathers 
 labored in one locality most assiduously for a year, they 
 succeeded in baptizing only seven persons within that 
 period, of whom four were children and the others at the 
 point of death. 
 
 These missions were soon extended through a large 
 region; beginning at Cape Florida, they reached along 
 the coast to St. Helena on the coast of Georgia, and an 
 attempt was made, even at this early period, to plant a 
 mission on the shores of the Chesapeake, then called the 
 province of Axiocan. 
 
 Menendez had brought back with him an Indian who had 
 been carried to Spain some time previously and educated 
 in the Roman Catholic faith. This convert now proposed 
 to guide a band of missionaries to his native province, of 
 which his brother was the cacique or chief. An expedi- 
 tion having been fitted out^ a party of missionaries, con- 
 sisting of Father Segura, vice-provincial, with five other 
 priests, and four junior brothers of the order of St. 
 Francis, under the guidance of Don Luis, sailed to the 
 Chesapeake, where they landed ; and the treacherous con- 
 vert, pretending to conduct them into the country, caused 
 the massacre of the whole party, one of the junior brothers 
 alone escaping, who was afterwards surrendered to Me- 
 nendez. 
 
 14 
 
1^8 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. < 
 
 Having learned of this bloody massacre of the mission- 
 aries, Menendez in the following year sailed to Axiocan. 
 captured some of the Indians who had participated in 
 it, and executed eight of them. Others of the mission 
 were desirous to renew the attempt for the conversion of 
 these Indians; but Menendez, in consideration of the dis- 
 tance from his settlements and the duplicity shown in the 
 treatment of Segura and his companions, would not give 
 his consent to their going. Had this company of mis- 
 sionaries succeeded in establishing themselves on the shores 
 of the Chesapeake, it is not improbable that Virginia would 
 have become one of the most important of the Spanish set- 
 tlements in America. 
 
 The importance of Florida soon diminished in public 
 estimation. None of the rich rewards which had been 
 anticipated had followed its occupation, and 'it was only 
 by the constant importation of provisions that the inhabit- 
 ants could be sustained. The colony languished, and was 
 supported only by the personal exertions of Menendez, 
 to whom it was a profitless position, impoverishing him 
 daily. Finally, leaving the government in the hands of his 
 relative, the Marquis de Menendez, he returned to Spain, 
 where his high reputation gave him position at court as one 
 of the counselors of his Majesty, and it is said that no im- 
 portant enterprise was undertaken without his advice. 
 
 In the year 1574 he was appointed captain-general of 
 the Spanish fleet, and at the mature age of fifty-five, at the 
 summit of his honors, and surrounded with devoted fol- 
 lowers, attracted by his brilliant reputation, when on the 
 eve of assuming the command of a grand armada of over 
 three hundred vessels, he was attacked by a violent fever, 
 to which he succumbed after a short illness. It was said by 
 some that he put an end to his own existence. 
 
 Menendez combined with many admirable and heroic 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 759 
 
 qualities others which have left a stain upon his name and 
 memory. He was distinguished for the perseverance and 
 energy of his movements, the fortitude with which he bore 
 hardships and sufferings in the prosecution of his enter- 
 prise, and the possession of many of the virtues which con- 
 stitute a great leader, and which, on a larger field, would 
 have made him illustrious. Unfortunately, he was a cruel 
 bigot, and was placed in a position calculated to develop 
 the worst traits of his character. His portrait bears some 
 resemblance to that of Henry VIH. of England — the 
 forehead and upper portion of the face noble and full of 
 intelligence, while the wide mouth and heavy chin be- 
 speak the cruelty and selfishness of character which alike 
 belonged to them. Under a leader of less resolution, the 
 settlement of Florida would have been abandoned ; and he 
 is justly entitled to the credit of establishing the first per- 
 manent colony in the United States. 
 
 The settlement of the country progressed but slowly, 
 consisting mainly of garrisons established at a few points. 
 In 1586 Sir Francis Drake, returning from a freebooting 
 expedition against the Spanish settlements in the West 
 Indies, observed a lookout upon the shores of Anastasia 
 Island, near the entrance to the harbor of St. Augustine. 
 The English landed with a piece of ordnance, and, planting 
 it at the nearest point, fired two shots, the first of w^hich 
 passed through the royal standard of Spain waving over 
 the fort, and the second struck the ramparts. As it was 
 nearly dark, the English suspended any further demonstra- 
 tions until the following day. During the evening, several 
 officers, making a reconnoissance in a boat, were fired at 
 three or four times from the fort, which was at the same 
 time being evacuated by the Spanish garrison to the number 
 of one hundred and fifty, they supposing that the whole 
 English force was about to attack them. 
 
i6o HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 In the mean time the boat had returned to the English 
 camp, when a French fifer, playing the Prince of Orange's 
 March, approached in a canoe. He reported himself as 
 one of the garrison, informed them of the flight of the 
 Spaniards, and offered to act as a guide to the English 
 forces.* The boats were immediately manned, and, upon 
 approaching the fort, two shots were fired from it by some 
 of the garrison who had remained ; but, upon landing, the 
 English found the place entirely deserted, the garrison 
 having left in such haste that the treasure-chest, containing 
 two thousand pounds sterling, destined for the pay of the 
 troops, fell into the hands of Sir Francis. The fort then 
 existing was constructed of the trunks of pine-trees, set 
 upright as a palisade, but was without ditches; the plat- 
 forms were of trees laid horizontally and filled in with 
 earth; but the works were in an unfinished state, and not 
 capable of defense against a superior force. Owing to 
 heavy rains and some intervening creeks, it is said, the 
 English were not able to approach the town by land. Upon 
 their arriving at the town, after a slight show of resistance, 
 the garrison and inhabitants fled, the former going to San 
 Mateo. The English sergeant-major, pursuing the fugi- 
 tives, was shot from an ambush, in retaliation for which the 
 English pillaged and then burnt the town. Understanding 
 that there was another Spanish settlement at St. Helena on 
 the coast, and also that of San Mateo, Sir Francis deter- 
 mined to attack these points, but was unable, on account of 
 the tempestuous weather, to make a landing. 
 
 St. Augustine, at the time of its destruction by Drake, 
 boasted of a hall of justice, a parish church, and a mon- 
 astery. 
 
 * This French fifer bore the name of Nicolas de Bourgoyne, and 
 was one of the musicians said to have been spared at the time of 
 Ribaut's massacre. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. l6l 
 
 The combined garrisons of St. Augustine and San Mateo 
 then numbered but four hundred men, and the only other 
 post of any importance was St. Helena. With the de- 
 parture of Menendez, the importance of the province had 
 sensibly diminished, and, as no discoveries of the precious 
 metals had been made, it was difficult to procure colonists 
 to engage in mere agricultural pursuits. 
 
 After the departure of Drake, the Spanish governor re- 
 turned to St. Augustine and commenced to rebuild the 
 town. In the year 1593, twelve brothers of the order of 
 St. Francis were sent to Florida to continue the missions 
 among the natives, and were distributed at different points 
 along the coast, the principal mission being on the island 
 of Guale. 
 
 Five years afterwards the son of the chief of Guale, dis- 
 satisfied with the restrictions and reproaches of the priests, 
 incited a general conspiracy for the destruction of the mis- 
 sionaries. 
 
 In the suburbs of St. Augustine were two Indian villages, 
 called respectively Tolomato and Topiqui. At midnight, 
 the young chief and his followers made an attack upon 
 Father Corpa, who had charge of the mission of Tolomato, 
 and dispatched him with their hatchets. Then, being 
 urged by their chief to complete their cruel work, the band 
 hastened to Topiqui, where they entered the habitation of 
 Father Rodriguez, who begged the privilege of celebrating 
 mass before he died. He had no sooner concluded tlian 
 they fell upon him with the utmost fury, killing him at the 
 very foot of the altar, and from thence dragging his life- 
 less body, they cast it into the fields. They then went to the 
 Indian town of Assopo, on the island of Guale, where were 
 two friars, Fathers Auiion and Badazoz, whom they quickly 
 dispatched, their bodies being afterwards buried by their 
 friends at the foot of a high cross, which Father Auiion 
 
 14* 
 
1 62 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 had himself erected. From Guale, the infuriated savages 
 went to the Indian town of Asao, where a friar resided by 
 the name of Velascola, a man of great humility and piety, 
 but endowed with remarkable strength, and of whom the na- 
 tives stood in great awe. Becoming aware of their hostile 
 intentions, he embarked for St. Augustine in a canoe. En- 
 raged at his escape, the Indians hastened to intercept him, 
 if possible, at the point of his landing near St. Augustine. 
 Reaching this place in advance of him, they concealed 
 themselves in the thickets, and, stealing upon him, seized 
 him from behind and struck him repeated blows with their 
 clubs and hatchets until they had deprived him of life. 
 
 Their thirst for blood still unslaked, they proceeded to 
 Ospo, where Father Davila was stationed, who, hearing 
 their yells and being made aware of his danger, sought 
 safety by flight to the woods. But the night being clear, 
 and the moon at the full, they soon discovered him and 
 wounded him with their arrows. As he was seized and was 
 about being sacrificed, he was saved by the intercession of 
 an Indian woman, who claimed him as a captive and car- 
 ried him to the interior, where he was forced to perform 
 the lowest menial service, accompanied with much ill usage 
 and severe treatment. Tired of their captive, they at last 
 determined to complete their measure of vengeance against 
 the missionaries by burning him alive. He was brought 
 out for this purpose, and bound with thongs to an upright 
 post in the ca^npiLs of the town ; the fuel was heaped about 
 him, and the torch about to be applied, when an Indian 
 mother, whose son was held prisoner by the Spaniards at 
 St. Augustine, begged that the priest might be delivered 
 to her that she might procure the exchange of her son for 
 him. With great difficulty she at last succeeded in having 
 the father released from his great peril, and delivered to 
 his friends in exchange for the Indian youth. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 163 
 
 The savages had now visited all the missions except that 
 of the island of San Pedro. With upwards of forty canoes 
 they made a vigorous assault upon that mission, but were 
 repulsed by the friendly cacique, whose tribe was at enmity 
 with that of the assailants, and who followed up his success 
 with such vigor that all who had already landed were de- 
 stroyed, and the remainder forced to seek safety in flight. 
 
 In this massacre of the missionaries perished five priests, 
 and another, Davila, was so maltreated that when he re- 
 turned to his friends they were unable to recognize him. 
 
 The Spanish governor proceeded immediately to visit 
 the murderers with exemplary punishment, — burning the 
 dwellings and granaries of those whom he could not more 
 directly reach. 
 
 In the course of the years 161 2 and 161 3, thirty-one 
 missionaries of the order of St. Francis were sent to Flo- 
 rida, which was now erected into a religious province of 
 that order, by the name of St. Helena ; the principal house 
 of which was established at Havana, and Juan Capelles 
 chosen the first provincial.* 
 
 A catechism in the Indian language had already been 
 prepared and printed, being probably the first work ever 
 published in the Indian language. f 
 
 Three years later, twelve brothers of the order were 
 added to the mission of St. Francis, and such progress 
 was made in the ensuing two years that there were now 
 twenty missions established in the principal Indian towns 
 
 * Ensayo Cronologico, p. l8i. 
 
 f Mr. Buckingham Smith, former Secretary of Legation to Spain, to 
 whose indefatigable labors Florida owes so much, in his reseaixhes 
 abroad, discovered a copy of this Indian catechism, called " La Doc- 
 trina Cristiana," in the Timuqua language — a tribe occupying the 
 larger part of the coast below St. Augustine, the name of which is 
 still preserved in the Tomoka River. 
 
164 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 through the country, and many of the friars preached to the 
 natives with great success. 
 
 In the year 1638 a war broke out between the Spanish 
 colonists and the Apalachee Indians, and although the 
 garrison was very weak, not being able to furnish over one 
 hundred effective men, the governor succeeded in repelling 
 the assaults of the Indians and driving them back to their 
 own province. A considerable number of Indians of this 
 tribe, who had been captured, were set to work on the for- 
 tifications of St. Augustine, and they and their descendants 
 were kept thus employed for sixty years. 
 
 St. Augustine remained the principal town of the Span- 
 iards, and so slow was the progress of settlement that, al- 
 though the recipient of government patronage and aid, in 
 1647 it is stated, with some degree of exultation, that the 
 number of families or householders had reached three hun- 
 dred, and that there were then domiciled in the city, at 
 the convent of St. Francis, fifty members of that order. 
 
 The succession of the house of Menendez to the govern- 
 orship of Florida had now terminated, — Hernando de Alas 
 being the last of that family. Pedro Menendez, the nephew 
 of the governor, had perished at the hands of the Indians, 
 and De Alas had married his daughter Carolina. . Diego 
 de Rebellado was captain-general from 1655 to 1675, when 
 Don Juan Hita de Salacar succeeded him, and held the 
 government until 1680. He was succeeded by Don Juan 
 Marquez Cabrera. 
 
 The settlement of Virginia had been commenced in 
 1607, and the other colonies to the north had been planted 
 by the English and Dutch without opposition on the part 
 of the Spanish crown. The wide separation of the Spanish 
 and English settlements, for a time prevented difficulties 
 between them, and the spirit of Menendez no longer ani- 
 mated his successors. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 165 
 
 It was not until 1663, when the charter of Carolina was 
 granted by Charles II., that the English settlements trenched 
 on the ground which the Spaniards had at any time claimed 
 by possession. With the settlement of Carolina there at 
 once grew up a hostile state of feeling, which lasted for a 
 century, between these neighboring colonies. At this 
 period the buccaneers or free rovers filled the seas, to the 
 destruction of the Spanish commerce, and to the great dis- 
 turbance of the Spanish settlements. 
 
 In 1665, one of these piratical expeditions, under the 
 command of Captain John Davis, made a descent upon St. 
 Augustine, with some seven small vessels, and pillaged the 
 town.* The garrison, consisting of two hundred men, do 
 not appear to have resisted the attack, which, it is probable, 
 was made from the south by boats. The fort is said to have 
 been an octagon, with two round towers. f 
 
 The ill feeling existing between Florida and Carolina 
 continued to increase ; the Spaniards alleging that the 
 pirates who preyed upon their commerce were received and 
 sheltered in the harbors of Carolina, an accusation which 
 was but too true. The Carolinians, on the other hand, 
 complained that the Spanish authorities endeavored to 
 incite the Indians to acts of hostility against them, and 
 also seduced their servants from them and gave them pro- 
 tection at St. Augustine. 
 
 The Spaniards sent a force to attacki^some of the colo- 
 nists on the Ashley River in the year 16/6, but, the settlers 
 having thrown up intrenchments for their protection, the 
 Spaniards retreated. Two years later, an expedition, con- 
 sisting of three galleys, from St. Augustine, made an attack 
 
 * Buccaniers of America, 53, London, 1684. 
 
 f This description of the fort is evidently erroneous; it was then un- 
 finished, but was square, with bastions. 
 
1 66 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 upon a Scotch settlement on Port Royal Island, which 
 had been established by Lord Cardross. The settlers were 
 too few ni number to protect themselves, and their houses 
 were pillaged. From thence the galleys ascended the 
 North Edisto River to Bear's Bluff, where they made a 
 landing, burnt the houses, and plundered the settlers. This 
 expedition inflicted severe injury upon the colony, then in 
 its infancy, and was characterized by all the atrocities 
 of savage warfare. The property of the settlers was carried 
 off, and their persons maltreated by the infliction of every 
 indignity ; one gentleman, of the name of Morton^ abrother 
 of the governor of the colony, was allowed to perish by 
 the burning of the galley upon which he was confined. 
 The utmost indignation was excited throughout the colony 
 by these acts. 
 
 It was a part of the original contract with Menendez 
 that he should carry into Florida five hundred negro slaves 
 from the coast of Africa, but he does not appear to have 
 complied with it, having introduced but a small number. 
 One hundred years later, we find the privilege of introducing 
 slaves accorded to one De Aila as a reward for meritorious 
 services, and his arrival, in 1687, with negroes, seems to 
 have occasioned much rejoicing in the colony. 
 
 Renewed efforts were made at this period to extend mis- 
 sions among the natives, and large numbers of priests and 
 friars were sent across from Cuba to labor in Florida. 
 The natives of South Florida had begun to have consider- 
 able commercial intercourse with Havana, carrying across 
 skins, fish, and fruit in exchange for merchandise suited to 
 their wants. 
 
 Don Juan Marquez Cabrera, the governor, about 1681 
 attempted to remove the various Indian tribes of Apala- 
 chees, Cowetas, and Casicas, as well as those of San Felipe, 
 San Simon, San Catalina Sapala, and others, to the islands 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 167 
 
 on the coast, and along the St. John's. This occasioned 
 an insurrection of all these tribes, and several of them re- 
 moved within the limits of Carolina, and subsequently 
 made a sudden incursion into Florida, attacked the towns 
 of the Timuquas, robbed the church and convent of St. 
 Francis of the vestments and plate, burnt the town of To- 
 muqua, killed a large number of the Christian Indians, and 
 carried many others away as prisoners to St. Helena, where 
 they were made slaves of.* 
 
 At this comparatively late period in the history of 
 America, by the energy and perseverance of Monsieur de 
 la Salle, the course of the Mississippi was traced from the 
 regions of the Illinois to the points of its discharge into 
 the Gulf of Mexico. Although one hundred and seventeen 
 years had passed since the actual settlement and occupation 
 of Florida by the Spaniards, the spirit of enterprise and 
 discovery had so far died out, that the information they 
 had already derived from the expeditions of Narvaez, De 
 Soto, and De Luna, apprising them of vast and fertile re- 
 gions and magnificent rivers, had not stimulated them to 
 undertake further explorations and occupation of the rich 
 regions lying within the limits -claimed by them as a part of 
 Florida. 
 
 It was left to the insignificant expedition of La Salle — 
 embarked in slight canoes and almost unarmed — to trace 
 the mighty floods of the great rivers of the west to the sea, 
 and thus to confer on France, by the claim of discovery, 
 the right of appropriating the fairest portion of the Amer- 
 ican continent, the great valley of the Mississippi, to 
 which they applied the name of Louisiana. 
 
 Spain, indifferent to other motives, was always accessi- 
 ble to the impulse of jealousy ; and the successful voyage 
 
 Ensayo Cronologico, p. 287. 
 
1 68 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 of La Salle aroused her to the necessity of presenting her 
 claims to the extensive regions about to pass under the sway 
 of France. Hitherto she had been content to occupy the 
 single fortified post at St. Augustine, and to make some 
 feeble attempts at colonization. In 1692, however, an ex- 
 pedition was fitted out by the Viceroy of New Spain to 
 explore the harbors on the western coast of Florida, and es- 
 pecially that of Santa Maria de Galva (which De Luna had 
 occupied in 1561). In the year 1696, a Spanish colony 
 was planted, called Pengacola, — a name derived from the 
 locality having been formerly that of the town of a tribe 
 of Indians called Pengacolas, which had been entirely ex- 
 terminated in conflicts with neighboring tribes. 
 
 A fort of quadrilateral form, a church, and other public 
 buildings were erected. To the fort the name of Charles 
 was attached, in honor of Charles II. of Spain. Andres de 
 Arriola was the first governor of the province ; Don Lauseano 
 de Torres was at that time governor of East Florida. 
 
 Two years later, DTberville arrived on the coast with 
 three vessels sent out by Louis XIV. to establish a colony 
 in Louisiana. He touched at Pensacola, then occupied by 
 three hundred Spaniards. Sailing thence to the west, he 
 entered Mobile Bay, and landed on an island, called by 
 him Massacre Island, and subsequently known as Dauphin 
 Island, where he established a colony. 
 
 The Spaniards, at this period, called the Mississippi the 
 River of Palisades, from the number of tall trees standing 
 singly along its shores. The English called it Mes-sa-che- 
 be. While France and Spain were thus planting their col- 
 onies in the western portion of Florida, England was con- 
 templating a similar enterprise, and three vessels were sent 
 by King William to take possession of the country border- 
 ing on the Mississippi. But they were too late; DTber- 
 ville had already occupied the country. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 69 
 
 The interior of Florida was occupied by the Apalachians 
 beyond the Suwanee. The tribes of Calos or Carlos were 
 in the southern portion, and the Timuquans along the coast 
 north and south of St. Augustine.* Many of these Indian 
 names are still attached to various localities in Florida. 
 There does not seem to have been much progress made in 
 the civilization of the Indians during the Spanish rule; 
 the natural ferocity of these savage tribes, their freedom 
 from restraint, and their warlike propensities, made them 
 impenetrable to the claims of a faith which inculcated love 
 and forbearance towards one another. 
 
 Over one hundred years had now elapsed since Menen- 
 dez had planted the standard of Spain on the coast of 
 Florida, and a vast amount of labor and treasure had been 
 expended in the almost fruitless effort to occupy and chris- 
 tianize the country. At the beginning of the seventeenth 
 century no European colony existed on the Atlantic coast 
 of North America, except St. Augustme. In 1607, and 
 forty-two years after the founding of St. Augustine, the 
 settlement of Virginia, by the English, began at James- 
 town, and thirteen years later the Plymouth colony landed 
 in New England. In the course of the next fifty years set- 
 tlements were made on the whole coast by the French, 
 English, Dutch, and Swedes ; and from the Gulf of St. 
 Lawrence to Port Royal harbor in Carolina, flourishing 
 settlements had arisen and a very considerable commerce 
 had grown up under the fostering care of their respective 
 governments. 
 
 During the seventeenth century, Spain possessed, by 
 
 * These were apparently tlie dialects, the Timuquan being the 
 language used at San Mateo, San Pedro, Asila, Machua, etc., as 
 shown in the memorials in the Timuquan and Apalachian languages 
 found by Buckingham Smith, Esq., in the Spanish archives at 
 Madrid. 
 
 15 
 
lyo HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 right of discovery and conquest, the claim to the most val- 
 uable portion of the American continent, but the history 
 of this hundred years of Spanish domination is barren and 
 fruitless. It is a record of feeble and spasmodic efforts at 
 colonization, with a timid exploration of the regions ad- 
 joining the military posts. 
 
 Pensacola and St. Mark's had been established as isolated 
 posts, and a few others. The history of Florida, during 
 this period, presents but little more than a chronicle of the 
 changes of governors, and petty details of local events. 
 Having the fertile valley of the Mississippi, the rich plains 
 of Texas, and the productive uplands of Alabama, Missis- 
 sippi, and Tennessee within their reach, no exploration 
 had been made, no colonies planted, no empire founded, 
 and in this magnificent and then vacant domain the results 
 of over one hundred years of Spanish domination were, 
 three small fortified towns, and a few mission-houses. It 
 is indeed quite probable that in the year 1 700 they actually 
 knew less of the country than did Menendez within ten 
 years of his settlement. The mines of Mexico and the 
 riches of the Spanish Main had drawn the attention of the 
 Spanish monarchy from the more enduring wealth and 
 power to be derived from a fertile and populous agricultural 
 region, and the colony in Florida was allowed to languish, 
 presenting but little more than a bare existence. 
 
CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 Governor Moore's Attack on St. Augustine — Invasion of Moore, with the 
 Creek Indians, of the Indian Missions and Spanish Posts in Middle 
 Florida — Erection of a Fort at St. Mark's — Capture of Pensacola by 
 the French — Recapture of Pensacola by the Spaniards — Recapture 
 of Pensacola by the French — Transfer of Pensacola to Spain. 
 
 1696 — 1722. 
 
 From the time of the settlement of Carolina, constant 
 sources of irritation and difficulty sprang up between the 
 English and Spanish settlements, arising from their mutual 
 jealousies. The aid of the Indian tribes was sought by 
 both parties, and friendship towards one was regarded as 
 necessarily involving hostility towards the other. The 
 Spaniards, it will be recollected, had, in the year 1686, 
 invaded the English settlements at Port Royal, inflicted 
 great injury upon the settlers, and aroused great indignation 
 throughout the colony. Prudential reasons had prevented 
 the colonists from then resenting the attack by an invasion 
 of Florida, but the purpose to do so was only deferred, not 
 abandoned. More amicable relations had, however, sprung 
 up subsequently between the colonies under the judicious 
 administration of Governor Archdale. Unfortunately for 
 the peace of the country, Governor Archdale was succeeded 
 in the government of Carolina by Governor Moore, an am- 
 bitious man, who had secured his appointment by question- 
 
 (171) 
 
172 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 able means, and who was desirous of acquiring reputation 
 by some signal enterprise. 
 
 By the influence of Governor Moore, the Assembly of 
 South Carolina were induced to authorize an expedition 
 against St. Augustine, which they had been informed was 
 not in a very defensible condition, and might readily be 
 reduced. Many of the settlers in the province of Carolina 
 had lost servants, who had fled to Florida and been har- 
 bored and protected by the Spanish authorities, and many 
 others of the inhabitants, doubtless, were quite willing to 
 procure labor by making an inroad upon the Spanish In- 
 dians and reducing them to a state of servitude.* 
 
 A rupture had occurred between England and Spain, and 
 Governor Moore, with the motive, as is charged by his 
 enemies, of enriching himself, embraced the opportunity 
 thus afforded of setting on foot an expedition against the 
 Spaniards of Florida. Many of the inhabitants, with the 
 recollection of former injuries sustained from the invasion 
 of the Spaniards, seconded his plans, while others supported 
 the proposal from mercenary motives. 
 
 The governor assured the people that the conquest of 
 Florida would be an easy undertaking, and that the capture 
 of considerable treasures of gold and silver would reward 
 the enterprise. Some, however, opposed the project, and 
 directed attention to the known strength of the castle at 
 St. Augustine, the great expense certain to be incurred, 
 and the fruitless nature of the enterprise. As is usual in 
 such cases, the bold outnumbered the prudent, and the 
 Provincial Assembly sanctioned the expedition, and voted 
 two thousand pounds for the purpose, a sum which, although 
 
 * The failure of the expedition caused so much controversy between 
 the friends and enemies of Governor Moore that it is not easy to find 
 an impartial account of it by contemporaneous writers. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 173 
 
 it seems insignificant compared with the cost of modern 
 contests, was no inconsiderable amount to be raised by a 
 poor colony of some five or six thousand people burdened 
 with the expenses of a new government. 
 
 The force deemed sufficient to carry out this enterprise 
 was placed at six hundred provincial militia, to be assisted 
 by an equal number of friendly Indians. They were di- 
 rected to rendezvous at Port Royal, in September, 1702. 
 The plan of operations contemplated a march by land of 
 one division, and an expedition by sea of the other, in 
 order to effect a combined naval and land attack upon St. 
 Augustine. The land forces were to proceed in boats by 
 the inland passage to the St. John's River, and to ascend 
 that river to the neighborhood of Picolata, whence they 
 were to march across and invest the town in the rear. 
 Colonel Daniel was assigned to the command of this por- 
 tion of the expedition, the governor himself taking command 
 of the naval force. 
 
 In the mean time the Spaniards, learning of the pro- 
 posed attack, had availed themselves of all the means of 
 defense in their power ; provisions were stored in the 
 castle, and preparations were made to sustain a long siege. 
 The governor, Don Joseph Cuniga, had moreover succeeded 
 in procuring some reinforcements. 
 
 The forces under command of Colonel Daniel, notwith- 
 standing their circuitous route, reached St. Augustine in 
 advance of the naval part of the expedition, and imme- 
 diately attacked and gained possession of die town ; the 
 troops and inhabitants retiring to the protection of the 
 castle. Governor Moore, with the vessels, soon after 
 arrived, and invested the fortifications, but, on account of 
 the want of siege-guns of larger calibre, no impression could 
 be made upon the walls of the fort. Colonel Daniel was 
 sent to Jamaica to procure heavier guns. While absent on 
 
 15* 
 
174 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 this mission, two Spanish vessels appeared off the harbor. 
 Alarmed by this circumstance, and fearing that his retreat 
 might be cut off, Governor Moore hastily raised the siege, 
 abandoning or destroying such of his stores and munitions 
 as he was unable to remove. Before withdrawing, he com- 
 mitted the barbarity of burning the town. He was obliged 
 to sacrifice his transports, fearing to encounter the Spanish 
 vessels if he went to sea. Colonel Daniel returned shortly 
 after, having succeeded in obtaining some mortars and 
 heavy guns, and, being ignorant of the withdrawal of 
 Governor Moore, narrowly escaped capture. Governor 
 Moore carried the forces back to Carolina without the loss 
 of a man.* 
 
 The expedition cost the colony of South Carolina some 
 six thousand pounds, and led to the issue of the first paper 
 money ever circulated in America. 
 
 In the same year the Spaniards had incited the Apala- 
 chian Indians to make an attack upon the English settle- 
 ments in Carolina. The Apalachees had assembled a force 
 of nine hundred warriors, and had commenced their march, 
 when they were encountered by five hundred Creek Indians 
 who were allies of the English and were organized by the 
 Creek traders to repel the attack. The Creeks suspended 
 their blankets in their camp, as though quietly reposing by 
 their camp-fires, and placed themselves in ambush. The 
 Apalachees, confident of an easy victory, 'rushed forward 
 upon the supposed sleeping camp with great impetuosity, 
 when they fell into the ambush prepared for them by the 
 Creeks, and were routed with great loss.f 
 
 Although unsuccessful in this attack on St. Augustine, 
 
 ^ Carroll's Hist. Col. S. C, vol. ii. ; Fairbanks's Hist. St Augustine, 
 
 131- 
 
 f MS. Report of Com. S. C. Assembly. St. Papers. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 175 
 
 Moore appears to have been a man of much energy, and 
 had influence enough to organize another expedition in the 
 latter part of the following year, to attack the Indian towns 
 under the Spanish protection, which were scattered mainly 
 through the region between the Suwanee and Apalachicola 
 Rivers, in what is now known as Middle Florida. 
 
 After being in the castle for three months, the inhabit- 
 ants of St. Augustine were enabled, upon the retreat of 
 Moore, to leave the close quarters in which they had been 
 confined, but it was to find their homes destroyed and 
 themselves without shelter until they could rebuild. 
 
 Aid to some extent w^as sent from Spain to help them 
 to rebuild, but the prosperity of the unfortunate city must 
 have received a great blow. Urgent representations were 
 made by Governor Cuniga to the home government of the 
 necessity for an increased force and larger means to 
 strengthen the colony against its English neighbors. He 
 pointed out the propriety of placing small garrisons at 
 Apalachee,* eighty leagues distant from St. Augustine, at 
 Timuqua,f thirty leagues south, and at Guale,J eighteen 
 leagues north from St. Augustine. He also proposed to 
 build a strong fort at the town of Ys,§ and on the coast 
 below Cape Canaveral. || 
 
 The Indians of Apalachee, who for sixty years had been 
 laboring upon the fortifications of St. Augustine, as a pun- 
 ishment for their revolt in 1640, were now, at the solicita- 
 tion of their chiefs, released under a promise to renew 
 their labors when it should become necessary. 
 
 Governor Moore, with a small force of militia, some 
 fifty in number, and about one thousand Creek Indians, 
 attacked the Spanish Indian towns with great impetuosity. 
 
 * St. Mark's. f New Smyrna, % Amelia Island. 
 
 \ Indian River. || Ensayo Cronologico, p. 322. 
 
176 HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 Entering the province from the direction of the Flint 
 River, he first attacked a town containing fifty warriors, 
 which he reduced after a stout resistance. On the follow- 
 ing day, the commander of the principal town. Fort San 
 Luis, with a force of twenty- three Spaniards and four hun- 
 dred Indians, encountered the English and Creek forces. 
 Don Juan Mexia, the Spanish commander, was killed in the 
 battle, with eight of the Spanish soldiers. The Apalachian 
 Indians lost two hundred of their number. This battle 
 decided the fate of all the Indian towns. The King of 
 Atimiaca, who occupied a strong fort with a garrison of 
 one hundred and thirty men, terrified by the defeat and 
 death of Mexia, and by the terrible slaughter of the Indians 
 on that occasion, offered his submission. Moore then vis- 
 ited all of the other Indian towns, without experiencing 
 further resistance. Five of the towns were fortified, 
 and it is probable th:it had Mexia met the English and 
 Creeks behind his intrenchments he might have repelled 
 their attack and rallied sufficient force to drive them 
 from the province. Moore is said to have destroyed en- 
 tirely two of the Indian towns, and to have carried away 
 most of the people of seven others, to be held as slaves, 
 leaving only one town undisturbed, which either by its 
 strength or wealth was able to make terms with him. 
 
 The towns of San Luis* and Ayavallaf were burnt, with 
 their churches and forts. All of the towns were plundered 
 and robbed of everything of value, including the church 
 plate and the sacred vestments ; and desolation and ruin 
 marked the track of the invaders. 
 
 There is much discrepancy in the accounts of the strength 
 of the Spanish forces. A note attached to a manuscript map 
 
 * San Luis was two miles west of Tallahassee. 
 -}- Ayavalla was near the St. Mark's River, 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 177 
 
 found in the English State Paper Office says, '' On the 15th 
 of January, 1703, was a battle fought between the Caroli- 
 nians, commanded by Colonel Moore, and the Spaniards, 
 commanded by Don Juan Mexia, wherein eight hundred 
 Spaniards were killed, whereupon the whole country sub- 
 mitted, being destroyed. Fourteen hundred Apalachee 
 Indians removed to the savana towns, under English gov- 
 ernment."* 
 
 There seems to be also some discrepancy in the dates, 
 some accounts giving the year 1703 and some 1704. Wil- 
 liams's account says that Mexia had a garrison of four hun- 
 dred men ; if it is meant that he had a Spanish garrison of 
 four hundred men, it is certainly an error, as there were at 
 that time not more than forty or fifty Spanish soldiers in 
 that part of the country, and it is not likely Mexia had 
 more than half of these. 
 
 The Indian missions in that part of the country were 
 thoroughly broken up, and, it would seem, without excuse 
 or provocation. The remains of these mission stations 
 may be traced at several localities in Florida, and tradition 
 has assigned to them far greater antiquity than they are 
 really entitled to. A fort and chapel were erected together, 
 and were surrounded with earthworks and ditches, with 
 palisades sufficient to withstand an attack from Indians, the 
 only enemies they were likely to require protection from. 
 The outlines of these earthworks may be very distinctly 
 traced at Lake City and elsewhere. 
 
 It is a sad reflection that the humble chapels, where the 
 worthy fathers were accustomed to assemble congrega- 
 tions of the dusky sons of the forest to be instructed in 
 
 * I am indebted to Professor Rivers, of Columbia, S. C, for a copy 
 of the manuscript map procured by him from the State Paper Office in 
 England It appears to be one of the original manuscript maps from 
 which the map of Florida in Molls' Atlas was compiled. — {Author.) 
 
1 78 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 the knowledge of the true God, and the altars erected to 
 his worship, should have been ruthlessly swept away by the 
 arms of a nation professing itself to be Christian, and by a 
 leader who claimed to be animated by peculiar zeal for the 
 Christian faith, and that from the poor natives of Florida 
 should be thus taken the light of eternal truth, glim- 
 mering feebly though it may have been, and that the altars 
 thus thrown down were never more, so far as we know, 
 restored. 
 
 We have a striking evidence of the manner in which in- 
 terest sways the conviction of right and wrong, when we 
 read that "the governor received the thanks of the pro- 
 prietors for his patriotism and courage, who acknowledged 
 that the success of his arms had gained their province a 
 reputation;'"*" and the historian seems to utter a bitter sar- 
 casm on the patriotism attributed by the proprietors to 
 Governor Moore, when he adds, '' but, what was of greater 
 consequence to him, he wiped off the ignominy of the St. 
 Augustine expedition, and procured a number of Indian 
 slaves, whom he employed to cultivate his fields or sold for 
 his own profit and advantage. "f 
 
 The war between Great Britain, France, and Spain still 
 continued to be carried on in Europe, and in the year 1 706 
 an expedition was projected by the French and Spanish to 
 make a descent upon Carolina. Monsieur Le Febvre com- 
 manded a French frigate and four sloops, with which he 
 touched at St. Augustine to take on board a Spanish land- 
 force to co-operate in an attack upon Charleston. The 
 Spanish troops having been taken on board, the fleet pro- 
 
 "^ Hewitt, in Carroll's Hist. Col. S. C, p. 140. 
 
 f The Atimacian and Apalachian Indians, before Governor Moore's 
 attack, had made some progress in civilization, and received instruction 
 from the Roman Catholic missionaries, being very loyal to the Spanish 
 government. Hewitt, in Carroll's Hist. Col., 203; Ibid,, p. 140. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 179 
 
 ceeded to the coast of Carolina, where, by mistake, the 
 frigate entered Sewee Bay, the other four entering Charles- 
 ton harbor. By the exercise of great prudence and some 
 stratagem, the governor of Carolina was enabled to repel 
 the attack with but slight loss, and eventually captured the 
 frigate with a large number of the allies. The defeat of 
 the French-Spanish expedition was complete, and the at- 
 tempt at molestation of the colony was not repeated. 
 
 In 1708, Colonel Barnwell, of South Carolina, made an 
 excursion to the Apalachian province of Florida, by way 
 of the Flint River.* After visiting San Luis, and the re- 
 gion occupied by the mission towns, he passed on to the 
 Alachua country and the St. John's River. It was perhaps 
 at this period that Captain T. Nairn, of South Carolina, 
 with a party of Yemassee Indians, penetrated to the head- 
 waters of the St. John's, and the vicinity of Lake Okecho- 
 bee, and and returned with a number of captives or slaves, 
 as noted on a map of Molls' Atlas of 1719. 
 
 The year 1714 was signalized by a general outbreak of 
 the Indian tribes in Carolina. This was charged to the in- 
 stigation of the Spaniards, who, it is said, sent emissaries 
 from Florida to stir up the Indian tribes bordering upon 
 the English settlements to attempt their extermination ; 
 and, as evidence of the complicity of the Spaniards, it is 
 said that the Indians, before conmiencing hostilities, re- 
 moved their women and children to Florida, and placed 
 them near to, and under the protection of, the Spanish 
 garrisons. The Indians made a combined and powerful 
 attack upon the English settlements, but were defeated and 
 driven out of the province, retreating south to the Spanish 
 
 ■^ On the MS. map before referred to, there is a note saying that 
 the Apalachian region of Florida was destroyed hy Carolinians in 
 1706. 
 
l8o HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 possessions, and were welcomed at St. Augustine " with 
 bells ringing and guns firing, as if they had returned vic- 
 toriously from the field."* Above four hundred of the 
 people of South Carolina lost their lives by this Indian 
 outbreak before the Indians were overcome. 
 
 In the mean time, considerable progress had been made 
 in establishing French settlements on the shores of the 
 Gulf of Mexico. Injudicious locations had been made at 
 the outset for these settlements, which had to be afterwards 
 abandoned and better positions sought, and the usual diffi- 
 culties and obstacles attending new settlements had re- 
 tarded the rapid progress of French colonization ; but, by 
 the perseverance of those intrusted with the charge of the 
 colonists, and the fostering care of the parent country, 
 which supplied all their wants, even to the furnishing of 
 their wives, the colonists succeeded in establishing them- 
 selves permanently, and were soon in a prosperous condi- 
 tion. The settlements at Mobile and Pensacola were in 
 too close proximity to avoid jealousies and collisions, each 
 charging the other with encroachments upon their terri- 
 tory. 
 
 For a long period all the Spanish plate fleets which were 
 sent from Mexico to Spain pursued the route known as the 
 Bahama channel, passing near the shores of Florida. In 
 1 715, one of these fleets, consisting of fourteen vessels 
 laden with a very large amount of gold and silver, was 
 wrecked on Carysfort reef, and an immense amount of 
 treasure was lost. Much of this was afterwards recovered by 
 the wreckers employed for that purpose, but the knowledge 
 of this recovery coming to the English at Jamaica they 
 sent an expedition to the point where the wreckers were 
 engaged, and robbed them of the amount saved, which was 
 
 . . ■ e — 
 
 * Hewitt, Hist. Col. S. C, vol. i. p. 199. 
 
'history of FLORIDA. l8i 
 
 upwards of three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. The 
 captors no doubt received great credit for this profitable 
 exploit. 
 
 The Yemassees, who had been driven out of Carolina 
 into Florida, maintained a constant and harassing warfare 
 upon the settlements in Carolina, committing great havoc 
 among the scattered families along the frontiers. The . re- 
 lation of the horrors of Indian warfare has ever drawn 
 forth the sympathies of mankind. With a strange incon- 
 sistency, the most harrowing scenes of suffering occurring 
 under our daily observation pass almost unnoticed, while the 
 captivity and sufferings endured by some sturdy frontiers- 
 man or his family call forth all our sympathy and compas- 
 sion. In every New England household the story of the 
 sufferings of the Williams family, of the Dustans, and of 
 Miss McCrea, excited the most tender emotions of pity. 
 The history of the Southern colonies presents hundreds of 
 such instances. It seems to be well established that the 
 Spanish authorities in Florida instigated and protected 
 these savage allies. A historian of Carolina relates that 
 at this period a scalping-party of Yemassees from Florida 
 penetrated as far as the Euhati lands, where, having sur- 
 prised John Lent and two of his neighbors, they knocked 
 out their brains with their tomahawks. They then seized 
 Mrs. Barrows and one of her children, and carried them 
 away with them. The child, frightened by the presence 
 of the savages, began to cry, when it was immediately killed 
 in its mother's presence, who was warned to cease her 
 demonstrations of grief or she should share the fate of the 
 child. She was then carried to St. Augustine, where she was 
 delivered to the Spanish governor and thrown into prison, 
 against the remonstrances of one of the Yemassee chiefs, who 
 stated that he had known her a long time and that she was 
 
 i6 
 
1 82 HISTORY OF FLORIDA* 
 
 a good woman. The Spaniards, it is said, rejoiced with 
 the Indians for the goodly number of scalps they had 
 brought. Subsequently, Mr. Barrows went to St. Augus- 
 tine to obtain his wife's release, but was thrown into prison, 
 and died shortly afterwards. She, eventually, was permitted 
 to return to Carolina, and gave an account of the barbarous 
 treatment she had received. She reported that rewards 
 were given to the Indians to incite them to these incur- 
 sions, and that they were instructed to spare none but 
 negroes, who were to be brought to St. Augustine.* Don 
 Juan de Ayala was at this time governor of East Florida, 
 and Don Gregorio de Salinas governor of Pensacola. 
 Salinas was succeeded in 171 7 by Don Juan Pedro Meta- 
 moras. 
 
 The increasing settlements of the French in Louisiana 
 had already occasioned much uneasiness to the governor 
 of Pensacola, and he had represented to the Viceroy in 
 Mexico the importance of strengthening the fortifications 
 of Pensacola. These representations were acted upon, and 
 the requisite instructions given to Don Pedro, the new 
 governor. 
 
 At the instance of the chief of the Apalachee Indians, 
 the governor of St. Augustine sent Captain Don Jose 
 Primo de Ribera to erect a fort at St. Mark's, in March, 
 1 718, which was named San Marcos de Apalache. During 
 the same year a small fortification was erected at St. 
 Joseph's Bay by the French, and called Fo?'t Creveccsur, 
 which seems to have been a favorite name with the French, 
 although the heart of a Frenchman is not so easily broken 
 as the name would seem to imply. The Spanish governor 
 at Pensacola remonstrated against this occupation of the 
 territory of Spain, and in a few months the fort was evac- 
 
 * Hewitt, Hist. Coll. S. C, vol. i. p. 213. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 183 
 
 uated by the French. A Spanish fort was erected at the 
 same place, but afterwards abandoned. Don Antonio de 
 Benavides was appointed to succeed Juan de Ayala as gov- 
 ernor at St. Augustine. 
 
 Monsieur de Bienville, the French commander at Mobile, 
 upon being informed that hostilities existed between France 
 and Spain, fitted out an expedition against Pensacola, and, 
 having sent a large force of Indians by land, embarked with 
 his troops, on board of three vessels, to make a sudden 
 descent, in the hope of capturing the fort by surprise. 
 He landed upon the island of Santa Rosa, where an out- 
 post was situated, the garrison of which he soon over- 
 powered, and some of the French, putting on the Spanish 
 uniform of their captives, awaited the arrival of a detach- 
 ment sent down to relieve the post, and captured and 
 disarmed them. Taking the boat the Spaniards had 
 brought, the French, still disguised, passed over to the 
 fort, seized the sentinel on duty, and took possession of 
 the guard-house and fort, making the commander a pris- 
 oner in his bed, and thus capturing the place without 
 firing a shot. Such is the French account of the matter. 
 The Spanish authorities confirm the statement of the sur- 
 prise at the outpost at Point Siguenza, which was occu- 
 pied by an officer and ten men only, but say that the 
 fort was assaulted by four French frigates, which opened 
 fire upon the Castle de San Carlos, and, after five hours of 
 cannonading, the castle, being unable to reply effectively, 
 and having only a garrison of one hundred and sixty 
 effective men and provisions for fifteen days, and having 
 sustained the loss of one man, agreed to capitulate, upon 
 the following terms offered by Governor Metamoras : 
 
 That the garrison should march out with the honors of 
 war, and retain all private property ; that they should retain 
 one cannon, with three charges of powder ; that they 
 
1 84 HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 should be transported in French vessels to Havana ; and 
 that the town should not be sacked, nor private property 
 molested.* 
 
 The garrison was taken by two French vessels to Havana, 
 where, by the perfidy of the Spanish commander at that 
 place, the vessels were seized and their officers and crews 
 cast into prison. An expedition for its recapture was 
 immediately equipped, at the suggestion of Governor 
 Metamoras. 
 
 The fort at Pensacola had been garrisoned by De Bien- 
 ville with a force of some sixty men, under the command 
 of Sieur de Chateaugue. The Spaniards had fitted up the 
 French vessel called the Due de Noailles, and a. Spanish 
 frigate, to retake the fort; and a ruse was adopted by 
 sending in the French ship first, which, on being hailed, 
 ran up the French flag and gave the name of the French 
 captain who had commanded her, and was thereupon 
 allowed to pass into the port. When abreast of the fort, 
 she was joined by her consort, the flag of Spain w^as dis- 
 played, and the garrison summoned to surrender. A brisk 
 cannonade ensued, with but trifling damage to the garrison. 
 In order to gain time, Chateaugue asked for an armistice 
 of four days. The Spanish admiral allowed him two days, 
 and Chateaugue dispatched a messenger to Mobile asking 
 for reinforcements, which De Bienville was unable to send. 
 At the expiration of the armistice, the action was renewed 
 until night, during which most of the garrison deserted, 
 
 * The Spanish account seems far more to be relied upon than 
 that of the French. It is hardly credible that a force which could 
 be transported in a single guard-boat could surprise a well-equipped 
 fort and garrison and capture the governor in his bed, and, as the 
 frigates were there, it is more probable that a bombardment effected 
 the surrender. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 185 
 
 and on the following day the French commander surren- 
 dered the fort.* 
 
 The Spanish account of the recapture of the fort places 
 their own force at eight hundred and fifty men and that 
 of the garrison at three hundred and fifty, and says the 
 armistice was for but one day, when the fort surrendered, 
 as well as the vessels lying in the harbor. So difficult is 
 it ever to find an exact agreement in reference to the 
 most simple transactions. The French who were cap- 
 tured were sent to Havana as prisoners of war. 
 
 The Spanish general proceeded immediately to strengthen 
 the fortifications, and, having sufficiently secured his post 
 from assault, he set out, with the forces under his com- 
 mand, to attack the French settlement on Dauphin Island. 
 Owing to the skill and courage of Bienville, the Spaniards, 
 although superior in point of numbers, were unable to 
 effect a landing, and were forced, by the arrival of five 
 French vessels, to retire to Pensacola. 
 
 The French, now strongly reinforced, determined to 
 attempt the recapture of Pensacola, and returned there in 
 September, 1719. A force was landed on the Perdido, to 
 assail the town in the rear, and the fleet proceeded to the 
 bar. A difficulty here presented itself in carrying in the flag- 
 ship, the Hercules, which drew twenty-one feet of water ; 
 but, by the skill of a Canadian pilot, the ship was carried 
 safely in.f 
 
 * The Spanish soldiers were much discontented at not being per- 
 mitted to plunder the town, and, in order to gratify them, a detach- 
 ment was sent by water to an Indian town not far distant, where a 
 large number of slaves belonging to the French Company were, and 
 one hundred and sixty of them wex'e captured and given to the troops 
 as plunder. — Ensayo Cronologico, p. 234, 
 
 f The pilot was afterwards rewarded for this service with a patent 
 of nobility. 
 
 16* 
 
1 86 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 The French say that upon the appearance of their land- 
 forces, accompanied by a large number of Indians, in rear 
 of the fort, the garrison, after a very feeble resistance, re- 
 tired to a new fort, which they had hastily erected at Point 
 Siguenza, called Principe de Asiurias. The Spanish ac- 
 counts, however, contend that their troops fought with 
 most heroic bravery until their guns were dismounted at 
 Point Siguenza and their vessels forced to surrender, and 
 that, the French vessels having then entered the port, the 
 castle was forced to surrender, which took place on the i8th 
 of September, 17 19. 
 
 The French accounts of the capture award great credit 
 to the commander at Fort Principe de Asturias for his 
 gallant defense, which was continued until his ammunition 
 failed, while it is said the commander at Fort San Carlos 
 displayed great cowardice. On the following day a 
 Spanish vessel entered the port with supplies and dispatches 
 from the governor of Havana to the governor at Pensacola, 
 the dispatches saying that he was confident the Spanish 
 forces had succeeded in conquering all the places held by 
 the French in that country, and directing him to send all 
 the prisoners to work in the mines, in order to avoid the 
 expense of feeding them. 
 
 The French, feeling unable to afford the amount of force 
 necessary to hold the place, concluded to destroy the forti- 
 fications and public buildings and burn the town, leaving 
 only a few small buildings to shelter a guard who were left 
 in charge of one small battery. 
 
 Before leaving, the French commander caused the fol- 
 lowing inscription to be placed upon a tablet erected on 
 the ruins of the fort: — 
 
 ''In the year 1719, upon the i8th day of September, 
 Monsieur Desnade de Champmeslin, commander of the 
 squadron of his Most Christian Majesty, took this place by 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 187 
 
 force of arms, as well also the island of Santa Rosa, by order 
 of the King of France." 
 
 Returning first to Dauphin Island, the French fleet sailed 
 for France, carrying with them the Spanish garrison of 
 Pensacola as prisoners of war. 
 
 Thus, after having been thrice assaulted and thrice cap- 
 tured within a period of three months, Pensacola was laid 
 in ashes, and the quiet of desolation allowed to rest over 
 its remains ; for there was no longer anything to capture or 
 anything to defend. 
 
 The town first built by the Spaniards in 1696, and which 
 was thus destroyed in 1719, was built where Fort Barrancas 
 now stands, the fort being placed in the centre. On the 
 opposite point, called Point Siguenza, Fort Principe de As- 
 turias had stood, and was destroyed at the same time as Fort 
 Carlos. When reoccupied in 1722 by the Spaniards, the 
 town was rebuilt on Santa Rosa Island, near where Fort 
 Pickens now stands. This location continued to be occu- 
 pied until some time between 1743 and 1763, the inhabit- 
 ants having begun to plant upon the northern side of the 
 bay, and the location upon the island being peculiarly 
 sterile and sandy, the settlement was gradually transferred, 
 so that in 1763 it was laid out in the form of a city, the 
 streets crossing at right angles, making squares four hun- 
 dred by two hundred feet, with a large common fronting 
 on the bay, about fifteen hundred feet in length by one 
 thousand in breadth.* The present city of Pensacola may 
 be considered to date back its existence to about the year 
 1750, being nearly two hundred years the junior in age of 
 St. Augustine. 
 
 After the treaty of peace made in 1722 between France 
 
 * An engraved view of the town as it appeared in 1743 may be seen 
 in Roberts's Florida, London, 1743. 
 
1 88 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 and Spain, Pensacola was restored to the Spanish crown 
 and a new town built on Santa Rosa Island, as has just 
 been stated. 
 
 The difficulties between the neighboring provinces of Flo- 
 rida and Carolina had increased. The Spanish authorities 
 at St. Augustine for many years harbored as well as encour- 
 aged the desertion of the negroes from the English settle- 
 ments, against the continual and earnest remonstrances 
 of the authorities of Carolina. The Spanish governors 
 or officials had connived at, if not actually incited, the 
 plundering incursions of the Yemassees upon the exposed 
 frontiers of the English colony. To guard against these 
 forays, a small fort had been erected on the banks of the 
 Altamaha, called Fort King George. This was considered 
 by the Spaniards an encroachment upon the Spanish terri- 
 tory, and representations were accordingly made to the 
 British crown. A conference of the two governors was 
 thereupon directed to be held, to endeavor to settle amica- 
 bly the points in dispute between the two provinces. For 
 this purpose Don Francisco Menendez and Don Jose 
 Ribera came to Charleston, in 1725, to confer with Gov- 
 ernor Middleton. In reply to their claim that the fort on 
 the Altamaha was within the limits of Florida, Governor 
 Middleton appealed to the chartered limits of Carolina in 
 confirmation of the English claim to that region. This 
 was, of course, no evidence of that claim; but as the Spanish 
 governor could show no actual prior occupation since the 
 days of Menendez, he could hardly gainsay the English 
 claim. On the other hand. Governor Middleton demanded 
 an explanation of the course pursued by the Spanish au- 
 thorities at St. Augustine in enticing away slaves from the 
 English colonists and offering refuge and protection to 
 criminals and debtors, and refusing to surrender these 
 fugitives. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 189 
 
 The Spanish commissioners expressed their willingness 
 to surrender the criminals and debtors, but said they were 
 instructed by the Spanish crown not to surrender the fugi- 
 tive slaves, on account of the great concern their king and 
 master had for their souls, but that compensation would be 
 made to their owners for their value. As might be inferred, 
 no agreement was come to, and these irritating difficulties 
 remained unsettled. 
 
 The incursions of the Yemassees became afterwards more 
 frequent and injurious to the colonists. Murders were fre- 
 quent, and every negro that could be reached was carried 
 off. To put a stop to this state of things. Colonel Palmer, 
 an energetic officer, in the year 1727 collected a militia 
 force of some three hundred men, with a body of friendly 
 Indians, made a rapid and unexpected descent upon the 
 Indian and Spanish settlements in Florida, and carried 
 desolation and destruction over the whole province, push- 
 ing forward to the very gates of St. Augustine, sparing 
 nothing which was destructible, and driving off all the 
 stock which fell in their way. The Yemassee towns were 
 destroyed, many of the natives killed, and a great number 
 carried off prisoners.* This chastisement seems to have 
 repressed further incursions on the part of the Spanish In- 
 dians for a time, and a few years of comparative quiet 
 ensued. 
 
 * One of these Yemassee towns, called Macariz, was about one mile 
 north of St. Augustine. 
 
CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 Attick on St. Augustine by Oglethorpe — Attack of Monteano on St. 
 Simon's Island — Transfer of Florida to Great Britain. 
 
 1722 — 1762. 
 
 The settlement of the new colony of Georgia, in 1732, 
 increased the strength of the English settlements, and in- 
 terposed another barrier between the Indians and Spaniards 
 of Florida and the colonists of Carolina. The Altamaha 
 was claimed as the southern boundary of the new colony, 
 and a settlement of Scotch Highlanders was planted on the 
 banks of that river. A fort was also built at Frederica, to 
 command the approach to the settlements on St. Simon's 
 Island. In the year 1736, the Spanish government, look- 
 ing upon the settlement of Georgia as an encroachment 
 upon their limits, sent a commissioner to Oglethorpe re- 
 quiring him at once to surrender and evacuate all the terri- 
 tories south of St. Helena's Sound, as they belonged to the 
 King of Spain, who was determined not to allow of their 
 occupation by any other nation. Oglethorpe maintained 
 the right of the English crown to all the territory occupied 
 by him, and declined to comply with the requirements of 
 the Spanish governor. From the imperious nature of the 
 demand, Oglethorpe rightly conjectured that he might ex- 
 pect an armed invasion of his territory, and proceeded at 
 once to England to direct the attention of the crown to 
 ( 190) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 191 
 
 the dangers that menaced the infant colony. English com- 
 merce had already suffered severely from the interference 
 of Spain, and a feeling of hostility to the Spanish preten- 
 sions occupied the public mind. Supported by the king, 
 and aided by popular sentiment, Oglethorpe was able to 
 make strong preparations for the protection of Georgia 
 against the anticipated attack. He returned in 1739, 
 with the commission of major-general, a regiment of 
 soldiers, and considerable pecuniary aid, and proceeded 
 to erect forts on the coast and put the province in a state 
 of defense. The Spanish force at St. Augustine was also 
 strengthened, and both parties labored assiduously to pre- 
 pare themselves /or the impending conflict by securing the 
 alliance of the Indian tribes of the adjacent regions. Of 
 these tribes the Creeks were the most powerful, and they 
 took the British side of the dispute. 
 
 Negotiations were meanwhile pending between the two 
 governments. The English demanded redress for the in- 
 juries inflicted on their commerce, for which the Spaniards 
 agreed to award compensation, provided the lands occupied 
 by Oglethorpe were given up to them. This was refused, 
 and the negotiations failed. The Spaniards at St. Augus- 
 tine sent emissaries to the borders of Carolina to entice 
 away the negroes, promising them freedom and protection. 
 Many negroes had gone to them from time to time, — a suffi- 
 cient number, it was said, to enable the Spaniards to form a 
 regiment, with officers of their own, placed on the same 
 footing, as to pay and uniform, as the Spanish regulars. In 
 October, 1739, war was declared by Great Britain against 
 Spain, and a squadron was sent to the West Indies to co- 
 operate with General Oglethorpe in his intended operations 
 against the Spanish provinces in Florida. Oglethorpe at 
 once set on foot an expedition to operate against St. Augus- 
 tine, and visited South Carolina to engage assistance from 
 
192 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 that colony, which was readily given, and a joint expedi- 
 tion, to operate by land and sea, was agreed upon. 
 
 A regiment of four liundred men was raised in Carolina, 
 under Colonel Vanderdussen. The assistance of several 
 Indian tribes was sought, and a naval force, to consist of 
 four twenty-gun ships and two sloops, was to take part in 
 the attack. Oglethorpe had ascertained that the garrison 
 at St. Augustine was not very formidable in point of num- 
 bers, and was poorly provisioned, and therefore urged for- 
 ward his preparations with great vigor, in order to make 
 his attack before they could be reinforced. The expedition 
 was not ready to march, however, before the latter part of 
 April, 1740. In the mean time, the energetic governor of 
 Florida, Don Manuel de Monteano, was making every 
 preparation to strengthen his defenses against the menaced 
 attack of Oglethorpe. The garrison was increased, the ap- 
 proaches to the fort were guarded, and the most urgent 
 solicitations made for a supply of provisions from Cuba. 
 There were at this time several outposts, where a few 
 soldiers, under sub-officers, were stationed. One of these 
 was on Cumberland Island, but was withdrawn on account 
 of its distance and isolation. Another fort, called St. Nico- 
 las, was on the St. John's River, a few miles above its mouth. 
 At Picolata there were two forts : the larger, on the west 
 bank of the river, and called Poppa,* was garrisoned by 
 sixty men; the other, at Picolata, had only ten men. These 
 forts were designed to keep in check the Indians, and to pro- 
 tect the passage of detachments marching from St. Augus- 
 tine to Apalachee. An attack had been made upon Fort 
 Poppa by a party from the English settlement, in Decem- 
 ber, which had proved unsuccessful. In January, however, 
 
 * The remains of Fort Poppa are still visible, near the feny-house 
 on the west bank of the St. John's River, opposite Picolata. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 193 
 
 the fort at Picolata was taken, and Oglethorpe seemed to 
 expect that the garrison at St. Augustine, being short of 
 provisions, would become dissatisfied and desert in large 
 numbers to him, while the rest, when driven into their 
 castle and bombarded, would speedily surrender.* The 
 vessels that composed the English squadron were the Flam- 
 borough, Captain Pearce, the Squirrel, Captain Warren, 
 the Phoenix, Captain Fanshaw, and the Tartar, Captain 
 Townshend, each of twenty guns. The force Oglethorpe 
 had at his command in Georgia consisted of a regiment 
 of regulars just arrived from England, a company of 
 Scotch Highlanders from the Altamaha, under Captain 
 Mcintosh, and an inconsiderable body of Indians. The 
 place of rendezvous appointed for the land-forces was the 
 mouth of the St. John's River. 
 
 Oglethorpe felt the necessity of proceeding with the utmost 
 energy ; but, as is usual with such expeditions, made up of 
 contingent forces and without regular military organiza- 
 tion and discipline, there were delays, so that it was late in 
 May — the 24th — before the land-forces reached the mouth 
 of the river, about forty miles from St. Augustine. 
 
 About midway stood a fort, called San Diego, garrisoned 
 by a few men, who fell back to St. Augustine and left the 
 fort in the hands of Oglethorpe's party. On the ist of 
 June they reached a small fort, called Fort Moosa, about 
 two miles north of St Augustine, and generally called 
 The Negro Fort, it having been constructed for the fugi- 
 tive slaves from South Carolina, and used by them as a 
 place of security. This fort is described as being about 
 twenty miles from Fort Diego, and within two miles' dis- 
 tance and in full sight of the castle of St. Augustine, and 
 situated near the creek which runs between Point Cartel 
 
 * Report of Com. S. C, p. 430. 
 17 
 
194 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 and the castle up to Fort Diego. Fort Moosa was built in 
 the middle of a plantation, to protect the negroes from the 
 Indians. It was square, with a flanker in each corner, 
 banked around with earth, having a ditch without on all 
 sides lined with prickly palmetto royal, and contained a 
 house, a well, and a lookout. The English found this 
 fort deserted, and, for some reason, concluding to destroy 
 it, the gate and the house within the fort were burnt, and 
 two breaches made in the ramparts, probably with the view 
 of preventing its reoccupation by the enemy. Afterwards, 
 concluding to garrison it. Colonel Palmer was sent there 
 with one hundred and thirty-three men, consisting of Mc- 
 intosh's Highlanders and some infantry, forty mounted 
 men, and thirty-five Indians. Palmer protested against re- 
 maining with so small a force.* 
 
 Lieutenant Bryant was sent out to obtain information, 
 and, returning, reported the town to be in great confu- 
 sion, the inhabitants "screeching and crying," and recom- 
 mended an immediate attack. Oglethorpe then made a re- 
 connoissance in person, and, concluding that he would not 
 be justified in* exposing his men in so hazardous an attempt, 
 determined to fall back to Fort Diego until joined by 
 the remainder of his forces. It was not until the 6th of 
 June that Colonel Vanderdussen arrived with his Carolina 
 regiment, marching along the sea-beach to Point Cartel, 
 and about the same time the fleet took position, and the 
 siege was formally begun on the 20th of June. 
 
 On the 24th of Junq the English opened fire upon the 
 town and castle from three batteries which they had 
 erected on Anastasia Island. One of these batteries was 
 on the point of the island opposite the fort, and consisted 
 of five pieces, — four eighteen-pounders and one nine- 
 
 * MS. Report of Expedition to St. Augustine, S. C, p. 437. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 195 
 
 pounder ; another battery was on the margin of some high- 
 wooded ground on the same island, and consisted of two 
 eighteen-pounders ; the third battery was on the north 
 beach, on North River Point, called San Mateo, and had 
 seven pieces, six of which were of iron and one of bronze. 
 The mortars and ^'mortarets" were thirty-four in num- 
 ber, — two of large size, two medium, and thirty of small 
 calibre.* 
 
 On Sunday night, the 25th of June,t a force of three 
 hundred men attacked Fort Moosa, then held by Colonel 
 Palmer (who, it will be remembered, had remonstrated 
 against being left there with so small a garrison). There 
 had been much dissatisfaction from the first among the 
 officers. Colonel Palmer believed the fort to be untenable, 
 and desired his officers to go out and scout about the 
 country^ which they declined doing. There was some dif- 
 ficulty, too, about the command, between Colonel Palmer 
 and Captains Mcintosh and McKay, and this led to in- 
 subordination, and the garrison was not in condition to 
 make as firm a resistance as would have been otherwise 
 maintained and as might have proved effectual. As it 
 was, they were taken by surprise and overcome. 
 
 As there was at that time much discussion and recrimi- 
 nation in reference to this matter, it may be as well to in- 
 sert, verbatim, the account of one of the party engaged in 
 the affair, as given before an investigating committee of 
 the Carolina House of Assembly. The account is as 
 follows : — 
 
 ^'On the 15th of June, about ten o'clock p.m., one of 
 my rangers reported he had heard the Indian war-dance. 
 
 * Monteano MS. Dispatch, No. 205. 
 
 •}• The English account says 15th June. The discrepancy may arise 
 from the difference in computation, — Old Style and New Style. 
 
196 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Thereupon Colonel Palmer said we might expect a brush 
 before day, and ordered the men to lie down and take a 
 nap, and he would awake them by three or four o'clock. 
 Accordingly he did so, and all the rangers got up imme- 
 diately and stood to their arms. Then the colonel went 
 into the fort and aroused the garrison, and, telling them 
 the danger they were in, urged them to stand to their arms. 
 But, as usual, not regarding him, they all lay down again. 
 This put him into a great passion, and, coming out, he said 
 he did not know what they trusted to, — that the Spaniards 
 would surely attack them after the Indian manner, and re- 
 peated that the general had sent them there to be sacrificed. 
 He stood for some time after in the gateway, talking with 
 one Jones. On a sudden one of the sentinels called out 
 that there was a party of men coming. Colonel Palmer 
 called out aloud, ' Stand to your arms \ not a man of you 
 fire ; receive their first fire, then half of you fire and fall 
 back, making room for the rest to come up, and we will 
 kill them like dogs.' Some of the Highlanders, then upon 
 guard in the bastions, fired notwithstanding. Directly the 
 enemy poured in a large volley, upon which the colonel 
 said, 'Are these the men I have to trust to ? I thought so 
 before,' and betook himself to the ditch. The rangers, 
 who were about twelve yards without, followed the colonel 
 as he had before directed them, because they would be in 
 as much danger from the fire of the Highlanders within 
 the fort as from the enemy without. Jones ran into the 
 fort and got all the Indians together in one flanker, there 
 being great hurry and confusion among the men, some be- 
 ing dressed and some undressed. Jones went into every 
 flanker three times, yet could not find Captain Mcintosh or 
 see anything of the soldiers. He found Captain McKay 
 in one of them, just got up, in his shirt, with a small-sword 
 and a musket. Jones advised Captain McKay to support 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 197 
 
 the gate with the Highlanders, but to no purpose. In the 
 mean time the enemy, attacking in different parties, par- 
 ticularly endeavored to force their way into the fort through 
 the gate. But it was so well defended during a constant fire 
 on all sides for a quarter of an hour, from the two flankers 
 that commanded that side, and by Colonel Palmer, who kept 
 forming and encouraging his men, that they were repulsed 
 twice. At length they came on again, sword in hand, and 
 entered the gate, being led by an officer whom Jones shot at 
 his entrance. At the same time another party entered at one 
 of the breaches, and soon the fort was full of Spaniards, it 
 being now about half an hour before day. McKay immedi- 
 ately jumped over into the ditch, sword in hand, and ad- 
 vised all to shift for themselves. Soon after Mcintosh was 
 carried out, a prisoner. They continued some time longer 
 at club-work, cutting and slashing as fast as they could, 
 until, the Spaniards being evidently masters, all that were 
 able jumped into the ditch and made their way off through 
 the enemy that surrounded the fort. Among these were 
 Jones and six Indians, who on their way were joined by 
 Colonel Palmer's two sons, the captain and his brother, 
 and one of the rangers, who all together kept firing as they 
 marched, and so, opening a way for themselves, escaped, 
 Captain Palmer in particular killing a Spanish Indian. All 
 this time Colonel Palmer maintained the ditch, with only 
 two of his company by his side. At last he was shot from 
 within the fort, and, bleeding very much inwardly from the 
 mouth, he yet loaded his gun, and, when almost gone, 
 reeling and panting, he cried out as he fell, ' Huzza, my 
 boys ! the day is ours ! I have been in many a battle, and 
 never lost one yet!' " 
 
 Others escaped to Point Cartel by the creek. Fifty 
 whites and Indians were killed, and twenty prisoners were 
 taken. Colonel Palmer was the only Carolinian killed. 
 
 17* 
 
1^8 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 The enemy's force consisted of three hundred forzadas 
 (convicts) and negroes. They lost two officers, including 
 their commander, and had as many killed as the English. * 
 
 Governor Monteano says that the attack on Fort Moosa 
 was made with three hundred men, at eleven o'clock at 
 night, with such impetuosity that sixty-eight of the Eng- 
 lish were left dead on the field and thirty-four were 
 taken prisoners. The English force was stated by pris- 
 oners to be from one hundred and forty to one hundred 
 and seventy, of whom thirty-five were Indians, Ychies and 
 Uchies, commanded by a white chief. That an Indian- 
 reported he saw the body of Colonel Palmer, headless. 
 Monteano acknowledges the loss of Lieutenant Don Jose 
 de Aguilar and nine soldiers, and says his forces destroyed 
 the fort and buried the dead. 
 
 It appears pretty clearly, from the accounts on both 
 sides, that, although not actually surprised, the greater part 
 of Palmer's forces were entirely unprepared and had made 
 no preparations for a successful resistance. The number 
 of killed would show that there was a somewhat desperate 
 hand-to-hand conflict, and from Colonel Palmer's remark 
 it would appear that many of the English suffered from 
 the misdirected aim of their comrades in the fort. 
 
 Disorganization and want of discipline, and the lack of 
 unity in the counsels at Fort Moosa, led to the natural 
 result. The success of the Spaniards greatly encouraged 
 them to make strenuous efforts for the defense of the castle, 
 while the besiegers became depressed and anxious, and 
 
 * Captain Mcintosh, in a letter written while he was a prisoner in 
 Spain, says, " Seven hundred Spaniards sallied out to attack us. They 
 did not surprise us, but put on with numbers. Twenty were taken 
 prisoners, a few got off; the rest killed. The Spaniards lost three 
 hundred killed on the spot, besides wounded." — MS. in Ga. Hist. 
 Soc. Library ; Fairbanks' s Hist. St. Augustine, p. 147. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 199 
 
 were daily suffering from the effects of the midsummer heat 
 in this exposed position, where, too, they were annoyed by 
 swarms of insects, from which they could invent no protec- 
 tion. 
 
 Oglethorpe, however, proceeded with his offensive opera- 
 tions, and, having completed his first battery, on the 19th 
 of June formally summoned the Spanish garrison to sur- 
 render. On the following day. Governor Monteano re- 
 turned his answer, in which he '' swore by the Holy Cross 
 that he would defend the castle to the last drop of his 
 blood, and hoped soon to kiss his Excellencie's hand within 
 its walls." It is said, however, on English authority, that 
 the majority of the people of St. Augustine were in favor 
 of a surrender, on condition that they should be permitted 
 to go to Havana ; but the governor and bishop, who, it is 
 said, had come to a knowledge of the time our men-of- 
 war intended to stay, would not consent.* This statement 
 refers to a determination made by the commander of the 
 fleet, and communicated to General Oglethorpe on the 6th 
 of June, that he should deem it unsafe to remain on the 
 coast later than the 5 th of July, and which communication 
 may have reached the ears of the Spanish government 
 through deserters,"!" or through prisoners captured at Fort 
 Moosa. A few days afterwards, some Chickasaw Indians 
 brought into camp the head of a Spanish Indian, and pre- 
 sented it as a trophy to General Oglethorpe, who, wholly 
 unaccustomed to the barbarities of savage warfare, spurned 
 the offering and called the Indians barbarous dogs. This 
 surprised and greatly exasperated them, and they soon 
 after deserted. The batteries continued to play upon the 
 town and fort, but with indifferent success, owing to the 
 
 ■^ Report of Com. S. C. House of Assembly, pp. 453-4- 
 f Monteano says a deserter came over on the 14th of June. 
 
200 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 short range of the guns and the want of precision in 
 handling them, but still more to the peculiar nature of 
 the material of which the castle was built ; being con- 
 structed of a stone formed by the aggregation of small 
 shells, thoroughly compacted, soft and yielding in appear- 
 ance, but offering very much the same resistance to cannon- 
 shot as that of moss or cotton on the face of a sand battery. 
 The balls penetrated the stone to about their own depth, 
 but made no fracture. Probably a continuous battering 
 with modern rifled cannon might have cut through these 
 walls and brought them down ; but with such guns as were 
 then used the castle was impregnable. The English claimed 
 that all the shells fired except three broke either in the 
 town or castle ; but Monteano, in a report to the governor 
 of Cuba, says that up to the 6th of July, although one 
 hundred and fifty-three shells had fallen, his garrison and 
 people had received no injury. 
 
 Oglethorpe knew that the Spaniards were short of pro- 
 visions, and vigilantly guarded the entrances to St. Augus- 
 tine by the main bar and Matanzas Inlet, but neglected 
 to blockade a port some sixty miles south, at Mosquito. 
 This port communicated by tide-water within a few miles 
 of the head of the Matanzas River, so that vessels might 
 unload their cargoes at Mosquito, to be transshipped, by 
 small boats to the intervening haul-over, and thence again 
 to St. Augustine. It seems a little singular that in this 
 fruitful country the people should have been so entirely 
 dependent upon supplies furnished from abroad ; but this 
 was the case with all of the early settlers ; and had Ogle- 
 thorpe effectually blockaded Mosquito, or placed a vessel 
 inside Matanzas River to cut off that communication, the 
 Spanish garrison would soon have been reduced by starva- 
 tion, for the tenor of Monteano' s letters to his superior in 
 Cuba was, ''■ Provisions, or I starve." The communication 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 20 1 
 
 with Cuba was kept up by way of Apalachee, and also by 
 canoes sent to the Florida Keys, there to connect by fish- 
 ing-smacks with Cuba. 
 
 The Spaniards had within the harbor some half-galleys, 
 upon which they had mounted a few guns, and from time 
 to time greatly annoyed the English by threatening a night- 
 attack, so that they were kept in a continual state of anxiety. 
 On the I St of July there were fifty reported sick in the 
 English camp, and Captain Wright, with the South Caro- 
 lina volunteers, determined to return home. About this 
 time, also, several deserters went over to the Spaniards, 
 among them an Irishman,* and a man from New England, 
 who reported to Monteano the condition of things in Ogle- 
 thorpe's garrison. The latter had learned the inefficiency 
 of his batteries, but still hoped to reduce the castle by 
 starvation, until on the 27th of June he was informed by 
 the captain of the vessel which lay off Matanzas Inlet 
 that he had seen lying at Mosquito Bar a large sloop, two 
 schooners, and some launches. Monteano says that on the 
 7th of July he received intelligence, through Luis Gomez, 
 that vessels had arrived at Mosquito bringing him supplies ; 
 so it seems that, allowing for the difference in computation 
 of time between the English and Spaniards, Monteano 
 and Oglethorpe must have been informed about the same 
 time of the arrival of the vessels which brought to the 
 former confidence and relief and to the latter discourage- 
 ment. On the same day the commander of the fleet in- 
 formed Oglethorpe that, as the easterly winds were coming 
 in, he felt obliged to ship his anchors and stand off. 
 
 Oglethorpe seems to have then concluded to make a 
 night-assault upon St. Augustine, as a deserter informed 
 
 * Bayley, an Irishman, deserted, but was caught by a negro, tried by 
 court-martial, and shot. — S. C, Rep. 
 
202 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Monteano of the intention of the English to attack him 
 during one of the dark nights that were approaching. In the 
 mean time, the supply-vessels were safely discharged at Mos- 
 quito, and the transshipment by the inland route was com- 
 menced and carried on securely, until rendered unnecessary 
 by the removal of the English ships, which made it safe 
 for small vessels to enter at Matanzas Inlet. On the 3d of 
 July Colonel Vanderdussen's scouts on Anastasia Island dis- 
 covered launches coming up Matanzas River, and he there- 
 upon went with a detachment to the narrows, hoping to cut 
 off the passage of the launches, but was driven off by the 
 armed galleys that now guarded the river. The next day 
 the question of abandoning the siege was discussed by the 
 English commanders, and Colonel Vanderdussen, it is 
 said, was opposed to withdrawing. But Oglethorpe felt 
 that the force at his command was wholly inadequate for 
 prosecuting the siege. Many of his men were sick, the 
 fleet had withdrawn, and, the Spanish garrison having re- 
 ceived supplies, there was no longer a hope of reducing 
 them by starvation. It was therefore decided to raise the 
 siege and abandon the enterprise for the present. On the 
 7th of July most of the guns from the batteries were placed 
 on board the ships, which crossed the bar and went out on 
 the 9th. Three six-pounders were buried in the sand at 
 Point Cartel, and one eighteen-pounder at the battery 
 nearest the fort. 
 
 The amount of stores destroyed did not probably ex- 
 ceed one hundred pounds in value. It is said that ^'the 
 soldiers were loath to part with the liquor, and drank very 
 freely of it." The troops marched on the loth, with ban- 
 ners flying and drums beating, but were unable to provoke 
 an attack from the Spaniards, Monteano doubtless think- 
 ing that "prudence was the better part of valor." The 
 loss at Moosa was the only serious one sustained by the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 203 
 
 English in battle. The Carolina regiment lost but eight 
 men by sickness, four by accident, and two by desertion to 
 the enemy. The small number of deaths speaks well for 
 the healthiness of their encampment on Anastasia Island. 
 But the siege was undertaken too late in the season, when 
 there was much unavoidable suffering from the heat and 
 insects, sand-flies and mosquitos, which must of course 
 have interfered seriously with the efliciency of Oglethorpe's 
 small command. Had he arrived sixty days earlier, he 
 might have accomplished more than he did ; but it is hardly 
 to be supposed that, with his small numbers and insufficient 
 siege-guns, he could at any season have reduced the castle 
 at St. Augustine, fortified as it was with all the equipments 
 known to the military engineers of that day. The shal- 
 lowness of the water on the bar prevented the entrance of 
 the English ships to participate in the attack, while the 
 armed galleys of the Spaniards effectually protected the 
 town from assault by small boats. St. Augustine is situated 
 upon a narrow peninsula formed by the Sebastian and 
 Matanzas Rivers, the waters of which are connected by a 
 ditch at the north end of the town, where the fort stands. 
 Palisades and batteries defended the only open side of the 
 town, in front of which a space of fifteen hundred yards 
 was kept clear of all obstructions, so that in order to attack 
 the town from the land-approaches the enemy would have 
 to pass over this open space under fire from the fort, 
 batteries, and earthworks that protected it. If the town 
 itself had been taken, the castle could have sustained a. 
 siege, unless forced to surrender for want of provisions. 
 Had Oglethorpe effectually blockaded the ports, including 
 Mosquito Inlet, or had he cut off inland communication 
 with Matanzas River, it would have been almost impossible 
 for Monteano to obtain supplies; but these avenues of 
 communication with the Spanish garrison seem not to have 
 
204 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 been known or clearly understood by the English com- 
 mander. 
 
 The failure of his expedition created great dissatisfaction 
 in Carolina, and, as usual, recriminations were indulged in ; 
 disputes arose between the South Carolina and Georgia 
 partisans, each endeavoring to throw the entire respon- 
 sibility of the failure upon the other. The disputes 
 were never settled satisfactorily, and criticisms have ex- 
 tended down even to our own time ; but the conclusion 
 arrived at by those who have thoroughly examined the 
 matter seems to be, that no blame could be attached to 
 either party, and that the want of success was owing 
 to circumstances over which neither the commander nor 
 his troops had any control. The season was certainly 
 most unfavorable, and the force placed at the control of 
 Oglethorpe was felt by him to be insufficient ; but the 
 urgency of the case seemed to admit of no delay, and 
 doubtless, had the attempt not been made, greater dis- 
 satisfaction would have been felt than was created by 
 the failure of the expedition. It has been supposed that a 
 discrepancy existed in the English and Spanish reports as 
 to the date at which supplies arrived from Cuba ; but this 
 is satisfactorily reconciled by observing that the computa- 
 tion in the Spanish accounts was made according to the 
 New Style, and that in the English by the Old Style. 
 
 Monteano was informed by deserters that it was the pur- 
 pose of Oglethorpe to return in the winter or spring with 
 a larger force ; and he accordingly labored with great dili- 
 gence to strengthen his position, and urged upon the gov- 
 ernor of Cuba the necessity of sending him strong rein- 
 forcements. The castle had sustained no material injury 
 in the late bombardment, as its walls now, after a lapse of 
 more than one hundred years, attest ; but more men were 
 needed, for, according to Monteano's statement, he had a 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 205 
 
 nominal force of seven hundred and fifty men, and of these 
 only three hundred and fifty-six could be relied on for 
 active duty. He asked for three hundred and ninety-four 
 to make up the complement of the garrison, and three 
 hundred more to strengthen it against the return of Ogle- 
 thorpe;* these three hundred to be ''men of arms, mulat- 
 toes and free negroes," to be sent out immediately, the 
 regulars and artillery not later than the ensuing December. "j" 
 He urged constantly upon the governor of Cuba the 
 necessity of sending him reinforcements to meet the appre- 
 hended attack of the English ; and it undoubtedly was the 
 intention of Oglethorpe to return to St. Augustine when- 
 ever he had such force as experience had proved to be 
 necessary. 
 
 Eight companies of infantry were sent to Monteano ; 
 and in the following spring, finding the attention of the 
 English apparently withdrawn from further offensive opera- 
 tions, he advised the invasion of South Carolina and 
 Georgia. A destructive fire had occurred in Charleston, 
 consuming three hundred of the best buildings in the place \ 
 and, the province being greatly depressed by the heavy in- 
 debtedness in which the expedition to Florida had involved 
 her, Monteano thought that the misfortunes of his neigh- 
 bors invited an invasion of their province with the greater 
 promise of success. He hoped to strike them with terror 
 by an attack which would threaten them with an insurrec- 
 tion of their slaves, and which, by the destruction of their 
 city and some of their plantations, would create consterna- 
 tion, and perhaps cause the flight of many. 
 
 The proposition of Monteano does not appear to have 
 been acted on immediately, and the year 1741 passed 
 
 ■^ Monteano MS., Carta de 7 Agosto, 1740. 
 f Monteano MS. 
 
 18 
 
2o6 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 away without active operations on either side. Prepara- 
 tions were, however, made by the Spaniards with the view 
 of invading the English colonies with a large force in the 
 following spring. Early in the spring of 1742, the governor 
 of Cuba dispatched an expedition designed to operate 
 against the settlements in Georgia. It consisted of some two 
 thousand men, and went first to St. Augustine, where great 
 delay occurred, from the difficulty of organizing that por- 
 tion of the expedition that was to be formed from the gar- 
 rison at that place. In the mean time, Oglethorpe was 
 apprised of the proximity of the Spanish fleet. He at 
 once called to his aid the friendly Indians attached to his 
 service, and sent a message to Carolina, urging prompt 
 assistance. No effort was spared to strengthen his position 
 and to use to the best advantage his very limited means, 
 and, without professional engineers, he went to work to 
 construct batteries to command the approach to St. Simon's 
 Island. 
 
 The Spanish fleet, consisting of thirty-six sail, received 
 at St. Augustine an additional force of one thousand men, 
 and was placed under the command of Governor Monteano. 
 On the 5th of July, 1742, he entered the harbor of St. 
 Simon's, where he met with strong resistance from Ogle- 
 thorpe, who had mounted guns on two vessels in the harbor, 
 and kept up a steady fire from these and his batteries on 
 the shore. After four hours' engagement, Monteano suc- 
 ceeded in passing these and getting beyond the range of 
 the guns ; whereupon Oglethorpe determined to abandon 
 the works and retire to Frederica. Having destroyed the 
 fort and batteries at St. Simon's, he succeeded in safely 
 retreating to Frederica with several vessels, and there 
 awaited the attack of Monteano. Two days later the 
 Spanish general landed his troops and commenced his 
 march. In order to reach Frederica he was obliged to 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 207 
 
 pass over a narrow causeway through the marshes, and, 
 while crossing this place, he was attacked, and sustained 
 such heavy losses that he fell back to the cover of his camp, 
 leaving many prisoners in the hands of the English. A 
 few days afterwards the Spaniards attempted to ascend the 
 river and attack Frederica Dy water, but they encountered 
 such a warm reception that they again fell back. Ogle- 
 thorpe learned that in the action at the causeway Monteano 
 lost four captains and over two hundred men, and that 
 a number had also been killed at the action with the bat- 
 teries. The English general determined to avail himself 
 of the evident discouragement prevailing in the Spanish 
 camp, and by a night-attack add to their apprehension and 
 dissatisfaction, and accordingly marched his forces to the 
 neighborhood of the Spanish camp. But the desertion of 
 a Frenchman, who betrayed his plans to the enemy, com- 
 pelled him to abandon the attack. This apparently unfor- 
 tunate incident was, however, used to good effect by the 
 ready genius of Oglethorpe. Calling in one of his Span- 
 ish prisoners, he gave him a sum of money and promised 
 him his liberty if he would carry a letter from him to the 
 French deserter. This letter was in French, and purported 
 to be written by a friend of the Frenchman, desiring him 
 to persuade the Spaniards that the English forces were weak 
 and could be easily overcome ; and he was then to induce 
 them (the Spaniards), if possible, to allow him to pilot 
 them up a safe passage to the English fort, but he was to 
 bring them directly upon concealed batteries ; and, if the 
 plan was carried out faithfully, the Frenchman was to re- 
 ceive a liberal reward. When the Spaniard arrived in 
 camp, he was carried immediately before the governor and 
 questioned as to his escape and whether he had letters. 
 He said he had none, but, upon being searched, the letter 
 was found. The Frenchman denied knowing the writer of 
 
2o8 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 it or anything of its contents ; but, on trial, he was con- 
 demned as a double spy, and so the object of Oglethorpe's 
 intrigue Avas effected, in having awakened the distrust of 
 the Spaniards towards the French deserter. Monteano 
 was, however, greatly perplexed by the letter, and re-em- 
 barked his troops. Just at this critical time, three vessels, 
 that had been sent from Charleston to aid Oglethorpe, ap- 
 peared in sight, and Monteano, believing that the English 
 would be heavily reinforced, determined to retire. An 
 attack was made upon Fort William by a portion of the 
 fleet, but was unsuccessful ; whereupon the entire Spanish 
 force retired to Cuba and St. Augustine, deeply chagrined 
 at the failure of their enterprise.* There appears to have 
 been a want of cordiality and co-operation between Ogle- 
 thorpe and the Carolinians on this occasion, caused, it is 
 said, by their distrust of the general's abilities as a military 
 leader, — the unfortunate expedition to St. Augustine being 
 still fresh in their memories; but Oglethorpe's repulse of 
 Monteano restored their confidence and established his 
 reputation as one of the most distinguished colonial gov- 
 ernors on this continent. In March of the next year, 
 1743, Oglethorpe made a sudden descent upon Florida, 
 and marched to the gates of St. Augustine, offering battle, 
 and the Indians attached to his force advanced with so 
 much celerity that they captured and slew forty of the 
 Spanish troops under the very walls of the fort where they 
 were seeking shelter.")* The Spaniards refusing to fight, 
 Oglethorpe retired ; and, though it was reported that troops 
 were to be sent from Havana to destroy the English colonies, 
 no further hostilities occurred, and comparative peace pre- 
 
 * General Oglethorpe's letter to the Duke of Newcastle, July 30, 
 1741. 
 
 f General Oglethorpe's letter, 21st March, 1743. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 209 
 
 vailed for many years, although the Indians in the Spanish 
 interest continued to molest and ravage the English border 
 settlements. The garrison at St. Augustine was greatly 
 reduced after the necessity for defensive operations had 
 ceased, and in 1759 Governor Palazir reports his com- 
 mand as only five hundred men in all on duty there. 
 
 A treaty was concluded between Great Britain and Spain 
 in the year 1748, which caused a suspension of hostilities 
 between the colonies. The progress of French settlements 
 in the West began to create uneasiness, as a conflict of in- 
 terest threatened between the trading- houses of the three 
 rival nations. Upon the renewal of hostilities between 
 Spain and Great Britain, in 1762, Havana fell into the 
 hands of the English, which at once isolated St. Augustine 
 from its home government and sources of supply. England 
 had long desired to complete her colonial boundaries by 
 the acquisition of Florida, and the capture of Havana 
 seemed to offer a favorable opportunity, by arranging for 
 its transfer to Spain in exchange for Florida. This was 
 effected in concluding the treaty between England, France, 
 and Spain, November 3, 1762, and ratified on the loth of 
 February, 1763. By this treaty, the provinces of East and 
 West Florida were ceded to Great Britain, and Cuba was 
 restored to Spain. 
 
CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Policy of the English Government for the Settlement of Florida — Land-" 
 Grants — Dr. Turnbull's Colony of Greeks and Minorcans at Smyrna 
 — Governor Grant's Administration — Governor Tonyn's Adminis- 
 tration — First Colonial Assembly — Revolutionary War — Burning of 
 Effigies of Hancock and Adams. 
 
 1763—1779. 
 
 The change of flags was excessively distasteful to the 
 Spanish population of Florida. Apart from the feelings 
 engendered by the long continuance of hostilities between 
 themselves and the neighboring English colonies, there 
 was the utter repugnance arising from religious prejudices 
 and traditional animosities, extending back to the days of 
 Henry VIII. 
 
 The nineteenth article of the treaty between Spain and 
 England provided that Great Britain should grant to the 
 inhabitants of the countries ceded ''the liberty of the ■ 
 Catholic religion, and that his Britannic Majesty will, in 
 consequence, give the most exact and the most effectual 
 orders that his new Roman Catholic subjects may profess 
 the worship of their religion according to the rites of the 
 Roman Church, so far as the laws of Great Britain per- 
 mit." His majesty further agreed that the Spanish inhab-, 
 itants or others who have been subjects to the Catholic 
 king in the said countries, may retire in all safety and 
 freedom, etc. These guarantees, though in liberality and 
 toleration far in advance of the principles and practice of 
 (210) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 211 
 
 the Catholic King of Spain, were insufficient to overcome 
 the repugnance of the inhabitants to passing under the 
 domination of England. 
 
 On the 7th of October, 1763, the King of Great Britain, 
 taking into consideration the extensive and valuable ac- 
 quisitions in America secured to his crown by the treaty 
 of the preceding year, issued a royal proclamation, in 
 which he declared that, with the advice of his privy coun-~ 
 cil, he had granted letters-patent, under the great seal, 
 '^ to erect, within the countries and islands ceded and con- 
 firmed to us by the said treaty, four distinct and separate 
 governments, styled and called by the names of Quebec, 
 East Florida, West Florida, and Granada." 
 
 The government of East Florida was declared to be 
 bounded to the westward by the Gulf of Mexico and the 
 Apalachicola River ; to the northward, by a line drawn 
 from that part of the said river where the Chattahoochee 
 and Flint Rivers meet, to the source of the St. Mary's 
 River, and by the course of the said river to the Atlantic 
 Ocean ; and to the eastward and southward, by the Gulf of 
 Florida, including all islands within six leagues of the sea- 
 coast. 
 
 The government of West Florida was declared to be 
 bounded to the southward by the Gulf of Mexico, includ- 
 ing all islands within six leagues of the sea-coast, from the 
 river Apalachicola to Lake Pontchartrain ; to the westward, 
 by said lake, the Lake Maurepas, and the river Mississippi ; 
 to the northward, by a line drawn due east from that part 
 of the river Mississippi which lies in thirty-one degrees 
 (31°) of north latitude, to the river Apalachicola or Chat- 
 tahoochee ; and to the eastward, by said river. 
 
 It will thus be seen that" Florida in 1763 embraced all 
 of the coast of Alabama, Mississippi, and a part of that of 
 Louisiana. 
 
212 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 The letters-palent constituting the new governments gave 
 express power and directions to the governors of the respect- 
 ive provinces, that, so soon as the state of the colonies would 
 admit, they should, with the advice and consent of the mem- 
 bers of their several councils, summon General Assemblies 
 within their respective governments, in such manner and 
 form as were used and directed in those colonies and prov- 
 inces in America which were under the king's immediate 
 government. Power was also given to the said governors, 
 with the consent of the councils and the representatives of 
 the people, to make laws for the public peace, welfare, and 
 good government as nearly as might be agreeable to the 
 laws of England, and under such regulations and restric- 
 tions -as were used in other colonies; and until such assem- 
 blies could be called, the governors, with the assent of 
 their respective councils, were authorized to establish 
 courts of judicature in their respective colonies. 
 
 This was the first admission of representative govern- 
 ment within the bounds of Florida, and indicates the 
 source of the unexampled prosperity which attended the 
 efforts of Great Britain in the work of colonization. The 
 narrow and autocratic regulations with which other powers 
 had endeavored to regulate their colonial dependencies, 
 and which were aggravated by the distance from the seat 
 of power, gave no voice in the government to the colonists, 
 and had a tendency to repress all enterprise and chill all 
 public spirit. Colonies are usually increased by the favor- 
 ble representations of their first settlers ; and their opinions 
 will be influenced, favorably or otherwise, quite as much 
 by the institutions of a country as by its physical advan- 
 tages. 
 
 The Spanish system of colonial administration advanced 
 none of the material interests of the country, and the gov- 
 ernment never treated the inhabitants as capable of self- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 213 
 
 government, but collected around its garrisoned posts a 
 crowd of parasites and dependents, who were contented to 
 live in safety under its protection, satisfied with salaries and 
 petty employments. 
 
 With the view of encouraging the speedy settlement of 
 the newly-acquired territories, the English governors were - 
 empowered and directed to grant lands, without fee or re- " 
 ward, to such reduced officers as had served during the late 
 war, and to such private soldiers as had been or should be - 
 disbanded in America, and were actually residing there, 
 and should personally apply for such grants, subject, at the 
 expiration of ten years, to the same quit-rents as other 
 lands in the provinces in which they were granted, as 
 also to the same conditions of cultivation and improve- 
 ment. These grants were to be proportioned to the 
 rank of the applicants. A field-officer was to receive five 
 thousand acres ; a captain, three thousand ; a subaltern 
 or staff-officer, two thousand ; every non-commissioned 
 officer, two hundred acres ; and every private soldier, fifty 
 acres. 
 
 At the period of the cession of Florida, the Spanish 
 flag had floated over the city of St. Augustine for one hun- 
 dred and ninety years. Within that period, the French 
 had made settlements in Louisiana, and on the Mississippi 
 from its mouth to the Falls of St. Anthony, and thence 
 eastward along the great lakes to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
 as well as on the Ohio and other principal rivers. The 
 English had occupied the whole Atlantic seaboard with 
 her colonies, which now comprised a population of nearly 
 three millions. At the close of nearly two hundred years 
 from her occupation of Florida, Spain occupied but little 
 more territory than at the beginning ; and the entire popu- . 
 lation of Florida at the time of the cession hardly ex- 
 ceeded six or seven thousand, and the interior of the 
 
214 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 country was almost as much of a wilderness as ever. The 
 Spanish population was gathered within the towns of St. 
 Augustine and Pensacola and Mobile, and hardly any agri- 
 cultural population existed. The people were mostly de- 
 pendents upon the military and civic employment of the 
 government, and seem to have been greatly deficient in in- 
 dustry and enterprise. 
 
 The change of government of course involved the loss 
 of official employment, and this portion of the inhabitants 
 withdrew at once to the West Indies and Mexico. The 
 oppressive conduct of Major Ogilvie, who held the tem- 
 porary command of the province immediately after its 
 cession, is said to have had much influence upon the re- 
 moval of the Spanish inhabitants, which was so complete 
 that not more than five persons remained ; and had it not 
 been for the efforts of the commanding officer the retiring 
 inhabitants would have destroyed every house and building 
 in St. Augustine. The governor destroyed his fine garden,^ 
 and the inhabitants before they left not only assumed to \ 
 sell their houses in town, but the whole country, to a few I 
 gentlemen who remained there for that purpose.* 
 
 General James Grant was appointed the first English - 
 governor of East Florida in 1763, and proceeded to adopt - 
 the most salutary measures to promote the settlement of 
 the province and to develop its resources. In a procla- 
 mation, issued in October, 1767, he especially refers to the 
 great salubrity of the country and the extreme age which 
 its inhabitants had attained. He refers also to the advan- 
 tages which the climate offers for the production of indigo 
 and the fruits and tropical productions of the West 
 Indies. 
 
 Under the impetus of the patronage of the government, ■ 
 
 * Forbes's Florida, p. 18. ^. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 215 
 
 attention was drawn to Florida, and emigration from the 
 British Islands to its shores encouraged. Public roads 
 were laid out, and so well constructed that they remain to 
 this day the best roads in the State, and are still known 
 as the "king's roads." Bounties were offered upon indigo, 
 naval stores, etc., in order to stimulate their production. 
 Pamphlets descriptive of the country were issued in Eng- 
 land, and letters recounting its many advantages appeared 
 in the newspaper publications of the day, and two or more 
 works with engraved illustrations were issued from the press.* 
 In the year 1765, a general council of the western tribes 
 of Indians Avas held at Mobile, attended by the head-men 
 and warriors of the Chickasaws and Choctaws, and by the 
 British governor of West Florida. At this council a tariff 
 of trade was settled to the satisfaction of the Indians. 
 
 The road from Fort Barrington, on the St. Mary's, to 
 St. Augustine, now called the King's Road, was con- 
 structed in 1765 by the subscription of several public- 
 spirited gentlemen, among whom were Governors Grant 
 and Moultrie, and Messrs. Forbes, Fish, Izard, Pinckney,- 
 Gerard, Walton, Manigault, Oswald, Huger, Henry, Lau- 
 rens, Elliot, Murray, and others, names which indicate 
 that the distinguished families of South Carolina bearing 
 those names once belonged to Florida.']' 
 
 A considerable emigration, consisting of some forty 
 families, went from Bermuda, in 1766, to Mosquito, with 
 the purpose of applying themselves to ship-building. The 
 fine groves of live-oak in that neighborhood had attracted 
 the attention of the British government, and the abundant 
 supply of ship-timber was considered among the most val- 
 uable fruits of the acquisition of Florida. 
 
 * Roberts's Florida, London. 
 
 f Forbes's Florida, 73; Stark's Florida, London, 
 
21 6 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 An association was formed in London, at the head of 
 which was Dr. Andrew TurnbuU, a Scotch gentleman, hav- 
 ing in view the settlement of the large and very valuable 
 body of land lying near Mosquito Inlet. They proposed 
 to accomplish this purpose by procuring settlers from the 
 south of Europe and the Mediterranean islands of Minorca, 
 etc., who, living in a similar climate, might successfully 
 transplant to and cultivate the productions of their country 
 on the rich lands of Florida. 
 
 Sir William Duncan and Dr. Turnbull, at an expense 
 of one hundred and sixty-six thousand dollars, brought 
 from Smyrna, under indentures, fifteen hundred Greeks,' 
 Italians, and Minorcans, who formed a settlement at 
 Mosquito and called it New Smyrna. Their indentures- 
 required them, in consideration of the sums paid for 
 their passage and support, to labor for the proprietors a 
 certain number of years, at the end of which they were 
 to be entitled to receive grants of land in proportion 
 to the number of persons in their families. The location 
 of the settlement was well chosen, on the line below the 
 region of frost, situated upon a river abounding in fish, 
 turtle, and oysters, with a rich and productive soil, in the 
 hammocks bordered by pine ridges favorable to health. 
 Much labor was expended in opening canals and ditches, 
 and in making various permanent improvements, among 
 which was the stone wharf which still remains. The opera- 
 tions of the colony were carried on with much system, and, 
 it is said, with success. Indigo and sugar were the principal 
 articles cultivated, but the vine and fig were planted. 
 
 The settlement of the new town of Pensacola, upon the- 
 mainland, where it now stands, had been commenced by. 
 the Spanish inhabitants before the cession, and the old 
 settlement on Santa Rosa Island almost entirely abandoned. 
 The arrival of the English gave an impulse to the growth- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 217 
 
 of the ii^tv city, and its being now made the capital of the 
 colonial government of the province of West Florida, and 
 the presence of a large garrison, for whose accommoda- 
 tion extensive barracks were constructed, made it a place 
 of considerable importance. The expenditures of the 
 British government in carrying on the government of West 
 Florida during the last three years of the English occupa- 
 tion amounted to the large sum of four hundred and five 
 thousand pounds. Those for East Florida, during the 
 same period, were about one hundred and thirty-five thou- 
 sand pounds. The expenditures of the Spanish govern- 
 ment were for both provinces about one hundred and fifty 
 thousand dollars per annum. The population of West 
 Florida did not increase so rapidly as that of the eastern 
 province, being more distant and less accessible from the 
 Atlantic coast. There seems to have been the usual amount 
 of provincial intrigue and local politics in West Florida, 
 as in other small communities.* 
 
 Published letters, written by officers of the garrison at 
 
 * One of the officers, writing from Pensacola in 1770, says, "Affairs 
 in our unlucky province have as yet been upon a very unstable foot- 
 ing. Whether this ill fate is still doomed to be our lot, or whether we 
 are about to emerge from such unhappy circumstances, a little time 
 will discover." 
 
 " Pensacola has been justly famed for vexatious lawsuits. It is 
 contrived, indeed, that if a poor man owes but five pounds, and has 
 not got so much ready money, or if he disputes some dollars of im- 
 position that may be in the account, or if he is guilty of shaking his 
 fist at any rascal that has abused him, he is sure to be prosecuted ; 
 and the costs of every suit are about seven pounds sterling ... I 
 have known this province for a little more than four years, yet I could 
 name to you a set of men who may brag of one governor resigned, one 
 horse-whipped, and one whom they led by the nose and supported 
 while it suited their purpose and then betrayed him. What the next 
 turn of affairs will be, God knows." — Forbes, p. 180. 
 
 19 
 
2i8 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Pensacola, abound with unfavorable criticisms upon the 
 place and its society. One is often forced to observe how 
 apt persons composing such limited circles are to be - 
 engrossed with the petty details of their narrow limits, - 
 to exaggerate their inconveniences, magnify their own- 
 troubles, and gossip freely of their neighbors ; imputing - 
 sometimes the grossest derelictions in morals upon mere _ 
 conjecture, and illustrating in a thousand ways the weak- 
 nesses and infirmities of poor human nature. The history - 
 of every colony is replete with discussions, backbitings, 
 jealousies, conspiracies, harsh oppression, unjustifiable re- 
 venge, and often bloody retribution. Exiled far from their ~ 
 homes, and requiring every alleviation of sympathy and 
 mutual aid; the colonists oftentimes appeared to exhibit the 
 spirit of the Evil One, increasing and embittering the un- 
 avoidable hardships and privations of their position. 
 
 •Many writers have labored to frame a theoretical form - 
 of government which should be adapted to human society, - 
 wherein all the acknowledged evils and misfortunes of exist- - 
 ing social organization should be remedied, the evil tenden- 
 cies of human nature corrected, its good impulses excited, ■ 
 all that is venerable, good, and pure respected, virtue oc- 
 cupying high places, and the law of justice universally 
 acknowledged. While these theorists might well say to ~ 
 their objectors that no sufficient test could be applied in the ^ 
 midst of old and organized societies, they would find it im- 
 possible to deny that in the settlements of the New World, 
 where the fairest field existed for the successful reformation 
 of the abuses of old societies, these evils became intensi- 
 fied, selfishness exhibiting itself as the main principle of 
 action, and these new settlements were, for the most part, 
 the most wretchedly disagreeable, unsatisfying, and miser- 
 able assemblages of people which could anywhere be 
 found. Those who will carefully peruse the annals of our 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 219 
 
 early colonial settlements will find abundant proof of these 
 observations. 
 
 Many grants of land were made in the province of 
 West Florida in 1776, under the regulations established 
 by the crown, and were mostly located along the banks of 
 the rivers. 
 
 An eminent naturalist, who visited Pensacola in the year 
 1778, says there were at that time some hundreds of houses. 
 The palace of Governor Chester was a large stone edifice, 
 surmounted with a tower, which had been built by the 
 Spaniards. The city was defended by a large fortress, the 
 plan of which was a tetragon, having at each corner a 
 salient angle, and a small round tower was elevated one 
 story above the curtains, upon which were placed the 
 smaller cannon. The fort was constructed of timber : 
 there were contained within the walls the council-chamber, 
 office of records, an arsenal, and magazine, with lodgings 
 for the garrison.* There were in the city many merchants 
 and professional gentlemen, who occupied well-built houses. 
 A fort also existed on the point of Santa Rosa Island, 
 which defended the entrance to the harbor. 
 
 General Grant continued to fill the office of governor of 
 East Florida from 1763 to 1771, and, by his wise and judi- 
 cious administration of public affairs, acquired the respect 
 and affection of his people, as well as the confidence of 
 the home government. During this period the colony re- 
 ceived a large accession of inhabitants of the best class 
 from Carolina, among whom was Major Moultrie, after- 
 wards lieutenant-governor of the province, and William 
 Drayton, Esq., who became chief-justice. Several English 
 noblemen, among whom were Lords Granville, Hillsbor- 
 ough, Egmont, and Hawke, received large grants of land 
 
 •5^ Bartram's Rep. Florida, vol. ii. p. 252, 
 
2 20 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 upon the condition of settlement and cultivation. Several 
 gentlemen of fortune also procured land, upon the same con- 
 ditions, among the most prominent of whom were Richard 
 Oswald and Dennis Rolle. Mr. Oswald established a planta-- 
 tion on the Halifax River, at a place still known as Mount 
 Oswald. Dennis Rolle, Esq., father of Lord Rolle, ob- 
 tained from the British government a grant of forty thou- 
 sand acres, and embarked in 1765 from England with 
 one hundred families, intending to settle in Middle Florida 
 near St. Mark's; but, being driven by stress of weather to 
 enter the St. John's River, and wearied with having been- 
 a long time on shipboard, he decided to remain, and 
 selected a location on the east side of the St. John's River, 
 two or three miles above Pilatka, which he named Char- 
 lottia,* and made his settlement between this point and 
 Dunn's Lake. After incurring very great expense, the set-, 
 tlement, owing to the bad management of his agents, was 
 abandoned, and most of the settlers removed to Carolina. f 
 Traces of the old settlement are still to be seen. 
 
 There was a large plantation opened about the same 
 time on the upper St. John's, known as Beresford, and 
 still bearing that name, and another at Spring Garden. A 
 colony of Scotch Highlanders made a settlement on the 
 St. John's River, and afterwards removed to Georgia. .The 
 cultivation of sugar-cane was begun on the Halifax River, 
 and, under the fostering care of the British government, 
 would, in the course of a few years, have become a very 
 important staple of Florida. s, 
 
 The colony established by Dr. TurnbuU at New Smyrna 
 in 1767 remained until 1776. Having put the land in 
 a proper condition for cultivation, they turned their atten- 
 
 * This place is still known as Rollstown. 
 •j- Bartram, vol. i 177. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 221 
 
 tion to the production of indigo, which then bore a high 
 price in the London market. The net vahie of their first - 
 crop reached the sum of three thousand dollars ; but diffi- 
 culties soon arose between the proprietors and the colonists, 
 the latter alleging that the former had not complied with 
 their agreements, and that they were restricted in the quan- 
 tity of provisions allowed them, and otherwise treated with 
 great tyranny and injustice. 
 
 In 1769 an insurrection had taken place among them, in 
 consequence of the infliction of severe punishments upon 
 some of their number. The insurrection was put down, 
 and the leaders brought to St. Augustine for trial : five of 
 the number were convicted and sentenced to death, two 
 of whom were pardoned by the governor, and a third was 
 released upon the condition of his becoming the execu- 
 tioner of the remaining two. 
 
 The Smyrna colony upon its establishment consisted of , 
 fourteen hundred persons, but in nine years their numbers ^^ 
 had become reduced, by sickness, to about six hundred. 
 In the year 1776, two of their number came to St. Augus- 
 tine, and placed before the attorney-general, Mr. Yonge, 
 a statement of their wrongs and grievances, with the view 
 of finding some means by which they might be relieved 
 from their indentures, and from the thraldom in which 
 they were held by the proprietors. 
 
 The statement of the cruelties practiced upon these col- 
 onists, it is presumable^ is greatly exaggerated, as it does 
 not seem probable that a course so opposed to the dictates 
 of humanity, and not less so to those of self-interest, 
 should have been pursued. 
 
 Proceedings were instituted in the civil tribunals at St. 
 Augustine, which resulted in a decree requiring the inden- 
 tures to be cancelled and the colonists released from their 
 engagements to the proprietors. Liberal offers were now 
 
 19* 
 
:^^- 
 
 • v 
 
 S^'^a HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 made to retain them as freeholders, and to continue the 
 cultivation of their lands ; but the colonists had suffered so 
 greatly from sickness and trouble that they were unwilling 
 to remain. The entire number removed to St. Augustine, 
 where they received allotments of land in the northern part 
 of the city, which are occupied by their descendants at the 
 present day. 
 
 Of the character of Dr. Turnbull we have little knowl- 
 edge, except the prejudicial inferences to be derived from 
 this transaction. He was a Scotchman, and undoubtedly 
 strict and exacting in business matters. His position in 
 the province appears to have been highly respectable, as he 
 was one of the privy council, and possessed great weight 
 in the management of the affairs of the province, and it 
 was expected that he would be appointed governor to suc- 
 ceed Governor Grant in 1771. The colony which he es- 
 tablished at New Smyrna must have proved almost a total 
 loss to him, as it was abandoned before it could have 
 reached the point of success when it would have proved re- 
 munerative. The location, although a highly favorable 
 one, has never been reoccupied to the same extent ; but it 
 is not unlikely that at some future day the lands first settled 
 by the Greek colonists will be the centre of a highly culti- 
 vated and wealthy community. 
 X^ Governor Grant retired from office in 1771, and was 
 
 succeeded by Lieutenant-Governor Moultrie, who had ac- 
 quired some reputation in the Cherokee war under Colonel 
 Montgomery. Governor Moultrie was a brother of Gen- 
 eral Moultrie, a conspicuous officer of the American 
 ,army in the Revolutionary War. The chief-justice of the 
 province, William Drayton, a gentleman of high social 
 position and much political inffiience, was unwilling to 
 yield to Major Moultrie the deference which he claimed in 
 his new position, and these gentlemen were soon at variance 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 223 
 
 in respect to all public measures, and the chief- justice, 
 having taken means to thwart the lieutenant-governor in 
 his official acts, was suspended from his office by Governor 
 Moultrie. Mr. Drayton was charged with being friendly 
 to the revolutionary party in the American colonies, and 
 his appeal to the English ministry for reinstatement to his 
 office was unsuccessful. He retired from East Florida, and, - 
 after remaining some time in England, went to South Caro- 
 lina, where he bore a conspicuous part in the struggle for" 
 American independence.* One of the assistant judges was 
 appointed by Governor Moultrie to the place of chief-jus- 
 tice, but, being suspected of republican principles, his ap- 
 pointment was not confirmed, and a new appointee was 
 sent to fill the place. 
 
 In 1774, Governor Tonyn came out from England to 
 assume the government of East Florida. Upon his arrival, 
 he issued a proclamation to the loyalists of the. colonies \y 
 of Georgia, South Carolina, etc., inviting them to remove to 
 Florida, and promising them the protection and patronage 
 of the government. A considerable number availed them- 
 selves of his invitation, and settled upon plantations in the 
 neighborhood of St. Augustine. 
 
 The transfer of Florida from Spain to Great Britain was 
 too recent, and was too great and favorable a change from 
 its former condition, to allow of the growth of the feeling 
 of disaffection which pervaded the other North American 
 colonies. There were, however, some who sympathized 
 very strongly with the movements of the republicans, and 
 shared their opinions. Upon the news of the adoption by 
 Congress of the Declaration of Independence being re- 
 ceived at St. Augustine, the effigies of John Adams and John 
 Hancock were burnt upon the public square at St. Augus- 
 tine, on the spot where the monument now stands. 
 
 * Forbes's Sketches of Florida, p. 22. 
 
2 24 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 A British vessel, called the Betsey, commanded by Cap- 
 tain Lofthouse, sent from London, and having on board 
 one hundred and eleven barrels of powder, was captured 
 off St. Augustine bar, in August, 1775, by a privateer from 
 Carolina, which ran alongside and discharged her in sight 
 of the ships of war in the harbor and in plain view of the 
 garrison. This capture was very mortifying to the gov-- 
 ernor, and, in order to avenge the insult, he immediately, 
 ordered a predatory expedition to advance upon the fron- 
 tier settlements of Georgia. The expedition was placed 
 under the command of Colonel Brown, who afterwards- 
 became very prominent as a partisan leader, and was one" 
 of the most successful and enterprising officers in the Brit-- 
 ish service. His force was made up of Indians and irreg- 
 ular troops. Privateers were also fitted out, and a fort- 
 erected at the mouth of the St. Mary's for their protection 
 and that of their prizes. 
 
 East Florida, with the inauguration of active hostilities 
 between Great Britain and her colonies, began to assume 
 more importance as a rendezvous and base of operations. 
 The governor called out the militia, in the summerof 1776, 
 to join the royal troops in resisting what he called "the 
 perfidious insinuations" of the neighboring colonists, and 
 repelling their future incursions into the province, and to 
 prevent any more infatuated men from joining their 
 ''traitorous neighbors." It would appear from this that 
 some persons from Florida had joined the Americans. 
 
 President Gwinnett, of Georgia, issued a counter-proc- 
 lamation, offering protection to the persons and property 
 of those "who would join the American standard in oppo- 
 sition to tyranny."* 
 
 In addition to the rangers, who were considered as reg- 
 
 * Forbes's Sketches, p. 26. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 225 
 
 iilarly enrolled, there was a volunteer militia, organized 
 and officered under their own choice when called out. 
 Many loyalists now began to arrive from Georgia and Caro- 
 lina, who increased the effective strength of the province, 
 as well as introduced an element of additional bitterness 
 towards the rebel colonies. 
 
 An invasion of Florida was now contemplated by the 
 patriots in Georgia, and forces for that purpose directed to 
 assemble in Burke County, to march from thence, under 
 command of the governor, against Florida ; but the pur- 
 pose was not carried into effect. The province was at the- 
 same time threatened by the Indian tribes friendly to the- 
 American cause. 
 
 Captain Elphinstone, of the navy, and Captain Mon-- 
 crief, a distinguished officer of the engineer corps, having 
 arrived at St. Augustine with a promise of reinforcements, 
 the fears of an invasion were allayed, and an expedition 
 against Georgia was fitted out and placed under the com- 
 mand of Colonel Fuser, of the 60th Regiment, who, with 
 a force of five hundred infantry and the aid of several 
 pieces of artillery, made an attack on Sunbury. He failed 
 in the object of his expedition, and fell back into Florida 
 to await promised reinforcements. 
 
 During the year 1778 nearly seven thousand loyalists 
 from Carolina and Georgia moved into Florida. Among 
 those who came in 1777 was one Captain Roderick Mcin- 
 tosh, better known as Rory Mcintosh, who had been with 
 the company of Highlanders who were surprised at Fort 
 Moosa in 1740, in the Oglethorpe expedition. At the time 
 he went to Florida he was sixty-five years of age, about six 
 feet in stature, strongly built, with white frizzled bushy hair, 
 fresh complexion, and large muscular limbs. In 1763 he 
 carried a drove of cattle to St. Augustine, and received 
 his pay in Spanish dollars, which, putting in a canvas bag, 
 
2 26 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 he carried on his horse. Some miles from home the bag 
 gave way, and part of the money fell out. ^Paying no at- 
 tention to what had fallen, he fastened the sack and went 
 on, and some years afterwards, being in want of money, 
 he returned to the spot and picked up the amount he re- 
 quired. He had a favorite dog, which he had taught to 
 track his back scent. On one occasion he laid a wager 
 that he would hide a doubloon and send his dog back three 
 miles to fetch it. The dog returned without it. '' Treason !" 
 cried Rory, and returned to the log under which he had^ 
 hidden the gold, but found it had been removed.- Seeing 
 a man in a field some distance off, he galloped up to him, - 
 and, drawing a dirk, threatened to kill him unless he pro- 
 duced the piece of gold, which the man surrendered. 
 Rory threw it back to him. ''Take it, vile caitiff!" said 
 he ; '' it was not the pelf, but the honor of my dog, I cared 
 for!"* 
 
 Governor Houston of Georgia, in conjunction with Gen- 
 eral Howe, projected an attack upon St. Augustine in the 
 spring of 1778; but, owing to sickness among the troops, 
 disagreements among the commanders, and deficiency of 
 supplies, the expedition was not carried out. To meet this ■ 
 attack, a force was organized in Florida, to proceed from 
 St. Augustine, under command of Captain Mowbray, of 
 the navy, and Major Graham, of the i6th Regiment, with 
 one hundred and forty men, and Major Prevost, of the 
 60th, the whole force being under the command of Colonel 
 Fuser, of the 60th Regiment. From the same causes 
 which paralyzed the movements of the American expedi- 
 tion, — the disagreement and jealousies of the commanders 
 of different arms of the service, — the English forces did not 
 cross the St. John's, but contented themselves with erecting 
 
 * White's (jeorgia. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 227 
 
 a fortification at St. John's Bluff. Colonel Fiiser also ordered 
 out all the militia of the province to resist the anticipated 
 invasion. 
 
 Further alarm was created in the province, at this junc- 
 ture, by the sudden death of Captain Skinner, Deputy 
 Superintendent of Indian Affairs, an active and energetic 
 officer. The expedition of the Americans against St. 
 Augustine, if it had been carried out, would probably 
 have met with entire success, as the English forces were 
 then weak in numbers and divided in counsels. 
 
CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 English Occupation, continued — Capture of Pensacola by De Galvez — 
 Capture of New Providence by the English — Retransfer of Florida 
 to Spain. 
 
 1779—1784. 
 
 Reinforcements having been received at St. Augustine, 
 Major Prevost, who had been promoted to the rank of 
 general, leaving the militia to guard the province, advanced, 
 in December, 1778, to join the forces on their way from 
 New York to attack Savannah. Rory Mcintosh had at- 
 tached himself to the 60th Regiment, which was engaged 
 in this expedition. On their way the English forces laid 
 siege to the fort at Sunbury, commanded by Captain, after- 
 wards General, Mcintosh, the same officer who had been 
 taken "^prisoner by the Spaniards in 1740 at Fort Moosa. 
 Rory Mcintosh was in the British lines, in front of the 
 fort at Sunbury. Early one morning, when he had imbibed 
 rather too freely of mountain -dew, he insisted on sallying 
 out to demand the surrender of the fort. His friends 
 could not restrain him, and out he marched, claymore in 
 hand, followed by his slave Tom, and, approaching the fort, '^ 
 roared put, ''Surrender, you miscreants! how dare you \ 
 presume tr resist his Majesty's arms?" Captain Mcintosh, 
 the commander of the fort, knew him, and, seeing his con- x 
 dition, forbade anyone firing on him, and, throwing open ~ 
 the gate, said, ''Walk in, Mr. Mcintosh, and take posses- - 
 sion." "No," said Rory, "I will not trust myself among 
 such vermin; but I order you to surrender." Some one 
 ( 22S ) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 229 
 
 firec" a rifle at him, the ball from which passed through 
 his face immediately below his eyes. Stumbling, he fell, 
 but recovered, and retreated backwards, flourishing his 
 sword. Several shots followed, and Tom called out, 
 "Run, massa! dey kill you." ''Run, poor slave," says 
 Rory; ''thou mayest run, but I am of a race that never 
 runs,"* and succeeded in getting back safely into the 
 lines, t 
 
 The attack upon the fort at Sunbury and Savannah, 
 under General Prevost, proved successful, and that officer's 
 gallant defence of Savannah against the combined attack 
 of the forces of D'Estaing and Lincoln, in 1779, added 
 very greatly to his reputation. 
 
 Don Bernardo de Galvez, a young and enterprising Span- 
 ish general, had been placed in command of the Spanish 
 possessions west of the Mississippi, and of New Orleans 
 and its dependencies. Upon the breaking out of hostili- 
 ties between England and Spain, in September, 1779, he 
 invested the English fort at Baton Rouge, which was within 
 the then limits of West Florida. Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Dickson, who was in command, found himself ^unable to 
 resist the forces brought against him, and surrendered to 
 De Galvez. 
 
 After Charleston had fallen into the hands of the British 
 forces, the general in command at that place, in order to 
 remove from Carolina those whom he supposed to have 
 been the principal promoters of the Revolutionary cause, 
 caused some forty gentlemen, of high standing, to be 
 
 * White's Ga. Hist. Coll., p. 471. ^' 
 
 f When at St. Augustine, upon one occasion, Rory was introduced 
 to a Scotch gentleman of the name of Morrison. Rory addressed him 
 in Gaelic Mr. Morrison regretted his ignorance of that language. " I 
 pity you," said Rory ; " but you may be an honest man, for all that." 
 — White's Ga. Hist. Co 11.,-^. 470. 
 
 20 
 
230 HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 transferred, in August, 1780, to St. Augustine, and at a 
 later period twenty-one others were forwarded to the same 
 point. 
 
 The following list comprises the names of these distin- 
 guished prisoners of state: John Budd, Edward Blake, 
 Joseph Bee, Richard Beresford, John Berwick, D. Bor- 
 deaux, Robert Cochrane, Benjamin Cudworth, H. V. 
 Crouch, J. S. Cripps, Edward Darrell, Daniel Dessaussure, 
 John Edwards, George Flagg, Thomas Ferguson, General 
 A. C. Gadsden, Wm. Hazel Gibbs, Thomas Grinball, 
 William Hall, Thomas Hall, George A. Hall, Isaac Holmes, 
 Thomas Heyward, Jr., Richard Hutson, Noble Wimberley 
 Jones, William Johnstone, William Lee, Richard Lushing- 
 ton, William Logan, Rev. John Lewis, William Massey, 
 Alexander Moultrie, Arthur Middleton, Edward Mc- 
 Cready, John Mouatt, Edward North, John Neufville, Jo- 
 seph Parker, Christopher Peters, Benjamin Postell, Samuel 
 iPrioleau, John Ernest Poyas, Edward Rutledge, Hugh 
 Rutledge, John Sansom, Thomas Savage, Josiah Smith, 
 Thomas Singleton, James Hampden Thompson, John Todd, 
 Peter Timothy, Anthony Toomer, Edward Weyman, Ben- 
 jamin Waller, Morton Wilkinson, and James Wakefield. 
 Subsequently, General Rutherford and Colonel Isaacs, of 
 North Carolina, were added to their number. These gen- 
 tlemen were taken early in the morning from their beds, 
 and placed on the vessels, in violation of the paroles which 
 had been granted to them.* Upon their arrival at St. 
 Augustine, upon giving new paroles, they were allowed the 
 freedom of the city. General Gadsden refused to accept 
 a parole, and, with a sturdy independence, bore a close 
 confinement in the castle for forty-two weeks, rather than 
 give a second parole to a power which had violated the 
 
 * Ramsay's Hist, of S. C, vol. i. pp. 370-373. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 231 
 
 engagements contained in the first. These prisoners of 
 state were officially treated with great indignities at St. 
 Augustine, and were annoyed by being informed of several 
 decisive battles, which were represented as having destroyed 
 all chance of success by the rebels, and told to expect the 
 fate of vanquished rebels; they were also told, from high 
 authority, that the blood of the brave but unfortunate 
 Andre would be required at their hands, and were cut off 
 from all intelligence of their friends. The English gov- 
 ernor, Patrick Tonyn, in an official letter to Lord St. Ger- 
 main, says that ''to prevent" these rebel prisoners "from 
 poisoning the minds of the people, and for their former 
 conduct, they are treated with great contempt, and to have 
 any friendly intercourse with them is considered as a mark 
 of disrespect to his Majesty and displeasing to me." This 
 conduct, it is said, tended to increase the number of the 
 disaffected rather than to excite the inhabitants to acts of 
 aggression against them. These prisoners remained at St. 
 Augustine nearly a year, when they were sent to Philadel- 
 phia, to be exchanged at the general exchange of prisoners 
 in the year 1781. 
 
 An order was issued in 1780, by Sir Guy Carleton, direct- 
 ing the entire evacuation of the province of East Florida, 
 but, remonstrances having been forwarded, the order was 
 countermanded.* 
 
 The letters-patent of the king, in 1763, upon the occu- 
 pation of Florida, had provided that the governors of the 
 colonies, so soon as the state of the country would admit, 
 should summon General Assemblies. This, however, had 
 never been carried into effect in Florida during the seven- 
 teen years of British occupation, the governors having 
 availed themselves of the discretionary power placed in 
 
 * Forbes' s Florida, p. 50. 
 
232 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 their hands as to the period of calling such Assemblies, and 
 being quite willing to withhold as long as possible a par- 
 tition of power. In 1780, the state of public opinion in 
 the province forced Governor Tonyn, apparently a weak- 
 minded and conceited individual, to call a General Assem- 
 bly, which assembled in December, 1780. 
 
 This step was taken very reluctantly by the governor. 
 In a dispatch to the British Secretary of State, he says, 
 "I have, my lord, maturely weighed the expediency, neces- 
 sity, advantages and disadvantages, benefits and danger, 
 of convoking a House of Representatives, and nothing but 
 the necessity of it (to remove deep-rooted prejudices) for 
 the benefit of this province could have induced me to re- 
 quest instructions from your lordship relative thereto, how 
 to proceed further on this point ; but these great objects 
 must actuate my conduct, and determine me to take this 
 arduous and dangerous step. I perceive the cry for a pro- 
 vincial legislature to remedy local inconveniences is as 
 loud as ever, and suggestions are thrown out, that without 
 it people's property is not secure, and that they must live 
 in a country where they can enjoy to their utmost extent 
 the advantages of the British Constitution and laws formed 
 with their consent. But mention the expediency, pro- 
 priety, reasonableness, justice, and gratitude of imposing 
 taxes for the expenses of government, they are all silent, 
 or so exceedingly poor as not to be able to pay the least 
 farthing."* 
 
 In a dispatch of January, 1781, the governor informs 
 the Secretary of State that the first General Assembly of 
 the province had met, and that the freeholders had elected 
 the most substantial, sensible, and best-affected persons in 
 the province as their representatives. The business was 
 
 * Foibes's Sketches, p. 35. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 233 
 
 transacted with moderation and zeal, and the governor 
 seems to have been relieved of the fear of revolutionary- 
 tendencies, very naturally suggested by the example of the 
 neighboring American colonial assemblies. If there were 
 any in the Provincial Legislature of Florida who had sym- 
 pathies with the American cause, they must have been too 
 few in number to make any demonstration. The Assembly 
 appears to have confined itself to the enactment of a few 
 laws of local importance, and the organization of a militia 
 force. 
 
 The governor made an address to the two Houses at the 
 opening of the session, in which he congratulates them 
 that during his administration of the government the 
 province had arrived at such a state of affluence and im- 
 portance as to enable him with propriety to fulfill his Ma- 
 jesty's most gracious engagements in his Royal Proclama- 
 tion of the 7th of October, 1763, by establishing a Provincial 
 Legislature, for the purpose of making constitutions, ordain- 
 ing laws, statutes, and ordinances, as near as may be agree- 
 able to the laws of England, under such regulations and 
 restrictions as are used in other colonies, for the public 
 welfare and good government of the province and its inhab- 
 itants. ''Of late," he says, ''the increase of property from 
 your success in commerce and planting has been consider- 
 able, and the industry and the judgment of a few may evince 
 to Great Britain that ample returns in # produce may be 
 made for money laid out in raising a produce equally bene- 
 ficial to the planter and mother-country, in one of the 
 most healthy and fertile climates upon earth."* 
 
 The condition of the province at this period appears to 
 have been prosperous, and, by the influx of a hardy race 
 of planters from Georgia and Carolina, experienced in 
 
 * Forbes's vSketches, p. 47. 
 20* 
 
234 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 farming and inured to the difficulties and obstacles attend- 
 ing new settlements, a new impetus had been given, and 
 the province had attained a position which promised to 
 make it, aided by the fostering power of the home govern- 
 ment, quite as prosperous as the other colonies. The com- 
 merce of the colony had steadily increased, the agricultu- 
 ral productions, stimulated by the liberal bounties offered 
 upon indigo, rice, and naval stores, had been constantly 
 growing larger, and nothing seemed now to forbid the 
 hope that Florida would become one of the most product- 
 ive and valuable of the English transatlantic possessions. 
 The climate, especially upon the coast, had proved emi- 
 nently favorable to health, and the variety and value of its 
 natural productions gave promise of a bountiful reward to 
 industry and labor. All who had explored Florida gave 
 animated accounts of the beauty of its forests, lakes, and 
 rivers, the wonderful growth of vegetation along its streams, 
 and its adaptation to all the productions of the tropics. 
 Among the most valuable articles which could be profitably 
 cultivated were enumerated sugar-cane, cotton, rice, indigo, 
 oranges, lemons, figs, grapes, bananas, pineapples, etc., 
 while the forests abounded in timber of the best descrip- 
 tion, and the waters teemed with fish, oysters, and turtles. 
 It is hardly to be doubted that had Florida remained a 
 British colony it would at this time have equaled any of 
 the seaboard States of the South in population. One can 
 even now hardly penetrate a swamp or hammock along the 
 Atlantic coast of Florida without finding distinct traces of 
 the English cultivation and remains of improvements made 
 by them. 
 
 As an evidence of the healthiness of the country, the 
 important fact may be referred to that the 9th British Regi- 
 ment remained in St. Augustine eighteen months without 
 losing a single man by sickness j and it was also observed 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 235 
 
 that a detachment of artillery which arrived from the 
 West Indies with a great deal of sickness soon recruited, 
 and left no traces of the contagious disease from which 
 it had suffered. During the whole period of the British 
 occupation there were but ten medical men in East Florida. 
 Mr. Rolle, under date of September i, 1766, indicates the 
 favorable impression made upon him by saying, ''Every- 
 thing in nature seems to correspond towards the cultivation 
 of the productions of the whole world, in some part or 
 other of this happy province, — the most precious jewel of 
 his Majesty's American dominions." 
 
 The exports of the province of East Florida amounted 
 in 1768 to the sum of £14,078; in 1778 they had increased 
 to £48,236; in 1 781 they were £30,715. 
 
 During the year 1770 there were fifty schooners entered 
 the port of St. Augustine coastwise, besides several square- 
 rigged vessels in the trade to London and Liverpool. In 
 1 771, five vessels arrived at St. Augustine from London, 
 seven from New York, and eleven from Charleston ; and 
 there were imported into the province about one thousand 
 negroes, of whom one hundred and nineteen were directly 
 from Africa. 
 
 The Florida indigo brought the highest price of any sold 
 in the London market. Forty thousand pounds were ex- 
 ported in 1772. During the year 1779, forty thousand 
 barrels of naval stores were shipped, and an increase in the 
 quantity was anticipated the following year. The British 
 government allowed the very liberal bounty of ten shillings 
 per barrel upon turpentine shipped from Florida ; its value 
 at St. Augustine was thirty-six shillings per barrel. 
 
 A large trade was also carried on in peltries by several 
 Indian trading-houses, among the more important of whom 
 were Panton & Leslie, Spaulding, Kelsull, McLatchie, 
 Swanson, and McGillivray & Strother; and in West 
 
236 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Florida by Panton, Leslie & Forbes, and Matthew & 
 Morgan. 
 
 The Spanish governor of Louisiana, Don Bernardo de 
 Galvez, who had captured in 1779 ^^ English post at 
 Baton Rouge, made an investment of Pensacola with a 
 vastly superior force, in March, 1781, assisted by a naval 
 force under Admiral Solana. The place was strongly 
 fortified, and held by a garrison of one thousand men, 
 under the command of General Campbell, The English 
 occupied two strong forts, called St. Michel and St. Ber- 
 nard, which were bravely defended for a long time against 
 the heavy bombardment of the troops of Galvez and the 
 ships of Solana. The Spaniards were able to make no im- 
 pression on the works until an unlucky accident occurred, 
 by a chance shell entering the magazine of Fort St. Michel 
 at the moment it was opened to take out ammunition. This 
 explosion carried away the principal redoubt, and enabled 
 the Spanish troops to possess themselves of Fort St. Michel. 
 Preparations were then made to avail themselves of the 
 position, in order to carry Fort St. Bernard by assault. 
 Being satisfied that St. Bernard was now untenable. Gen- 
 eral Campbell capitulated on honorable terms, being al- 
 lowed to withdraw with his whole force, under an engage- 
 ment not to serve against Spain until exchanged. 
 
 In consequence of the necessity of employing all their 
 disposable forces in the military operations with the Amer- 
 ican colonists, the English commanders in America were 
 unable to send reinforcements to General Campbell, and 
 much mortification was experienced at the capture of so 
 important and well-fortified a post. The same causes 
 which prevented the sending of reinforcements made any 
 attempts to recapture it out of the question at that time, 
 and from Pensacola westward to the Mississippi the coun- 
 try and all the military posts remained in the possession of 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 237 
 
 Spain until the treaty of 1781, when they were formally 
 re-ceded to her by Great Britain. 
 
 The mortification which the British government expe- 
 rienced in the loss of West Florida, Pensacola, Mobile, 
 and Baton Rouge was in part compensated by the capture 
 of the Bahama Islands. An expedition fitted out by 
 Colonel Devereux, who had come to Florida from Caro- 
 lina, and had a high reputation for spirit and gallantry, 
 sailed from St. Augustine, in 1783, in two private armed 
 brigs, for the purpose of attacking New Providence. The 
 brigs carried twelve guns each, and the forces on board 
 consisted of some fifty adventurers, who were desperate 
 and reckless enough to engage in an expedition to capture 
 strong fortifications well garrisoned. The vessels stopped 
 at Eleuthera, where they took on board a number of negro 
 recruits. The vessels arrived off the point on which 
 Nassau is built, at night, and the men were landed without 
 discovery on the east side of Fort Montague, which stands 
 at the entrance of the harbor. The garrison, resting in 
 fancied security, exhibited so little vigilance that the 
 English troops reached the ramparts without alarming the 
 Spaniards. Colonel Devereux rushed upon and surprised 
 the sentinel before he could challenge or give an alarm, 
 and without difficulty disarmed the sleeping garrison and 
 obtained possession of the fort. 
 
 The colonel then proceeded to the summit of a ridge oppo- 
 site the governor's house. In order to deceive the inhabitants 
 in reference to their numbers, he arranged a show of boats 
 passing to the fort, crowded with men, and returning appa- 
 rently empty to the vessels, with their occupants concealed 
 by lying down. Men of straw were posted as sentinels on 
 the heights, and some of the party were dressed up and 
 painted as Indians to strike the inhabitants with terror. 
 One or two galleys in the harbor were taken possession of 
 
238 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 with an appearance of being sustained by a considerable 
 force. Colonel Devereux, with a pompous description of 
 his force, summoned the governor to surrender. The gov- 
 ernor hesitating in complying with his demand, he directed 
 a shot to be fired over the governor's house, which pro- 
 duced an immediate capitulation. The Spanish troops, as 
 may well be imagined, were astonished and chagrined 
 when they discovered the number and character of the 
 troops to whom they had surrendered, and by what a mis- 
 erable force they had been deceived.* The consequences 
 of the expedition were very important, as these valuable 
 islands have ever since remained a part of the British 
 Empire. 
 
 At a period when the inhabitants of Florida were flatter- 
 ing themselves with the prospect of a long career of peace- 
 ful prosperity, and when they had attained the fullest meas- 
 ure of constitutional liberty, they found themselves sud- 
 denly made the victims of one of those political set-offs, or 
 equivalents, by which diplomats endeavor to make amends 
 for the ill success of cherished plans, and by a new ar- 
 rangement of political divisions, the acquisition of new 
 territory, and the transfer of equivalents, shield them- 
 selves from the acknowledgment of failure. At the close 
 of the American Revolution, the ministry of Great Bri- 
 tain found themselves compelled to acknowledge the inde- 
 pendence of the colonies. They were also desirous of 
 closing a fruitless war with Spain. In order to effect 
 this, they assumed that tke provinces of East and West 
 Florida, extending from the Atlantic to the Mississippi, 
 and the island of Minorca, were of little value to the 
 crown, as all the colonies north of Florida had passed fro.ui 
 under the British flag, and it was proposed to make a re- 
 
 * Forbes's Sketches, p. 53. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 239 
 
 cession of these provinces, and also of Minorca, for the 
 comparatively insignificant Bahama Islands, important only 
 as a naval station. 
 
 Almost the first intelligence the unfortunate people of 
 Florida received of the coming disaster was the promul- 
 gation of a treaty, entered into on the 3d September, 1783, 
 ceding East and West Florida. In this treaty the religious 
 toleration which was exacted by the King of Spain for his 
 Roman Catholic subjects from his Britannic Majesty in 
 1763 was not reciprocated, but it was simply provided that 
 the English inhabitants might have eighteen months within 
 which to remove with their property, or to dispose of their 
 effects. The evacuation was to take place within three 
 months after the ratification of the treaty. 
 
 The unfortunate inhabitants of Florida, who were thus 
 summarily disposed of, were placed in a most miserable 
 predicament. For years the British government had been 
 offering to its subjects every inducement to establish them- 
 selves in the province ; they had come there relying im- 
 plicitly upon the good faith of the government, and had 
 undergone all the hardships incident to the settlement of a 
 new country. Many of them had left the adjoining col- 
 onies in consequence of their adherence to the royal 
 cause, and could not return. Their property consisted 
 largely in slaves and lands, and they had no point of refuge 
 except the unwelcome rocks and barren islets of New 
 Providence and the Bahamas. 
 
 In June, 1784, Governor Zespedez, the new Spanish gov- 
 ernor, arrived at St. Augustine with a few troops, to take 
 possession of Florida in the name of the King of Spain. 
 The British government had sent to the harbor of Amelia, 
 at the mouth of the St. Mary's River, a fleet of transports 
 to remove the inhabitants of East Florida. Some returned 
 to England, some went to Nova Scotia, some to the Baha- 
 
240 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 mas. A large number of others carried their negroes to 
 Jamaica, where they were received with much jealoi sy, 
 and a system of government and regulations adopted in 
 reference to them, so injurious that they made application 
 to the home government for relief, which was tar ":ly 
 granted, but not until many had sunk under the pressure 
 of difficulties and annoyances. Afterwards, some of the 
 inhabitants of Florida preferred returning to the Amen^an 
 States and trusting to the generosity of their former fellow- 
 citizens to obliterate past differences. Many of those who 
 thus returned to Carolina had emigrated to Florida before 
 the war, and had not therefore to encounter the odium 
 attaching to the tories and refugee loyalists who had taken 
 up arms on the British side. These parties carried back 
 with them to South Carolina one thousand three hundred 
 and seventy-two negroes. Of the number carried to 
 Jamaica and the Bahamas we have no account, but it must 
 have been very considerable. 
 
 The time for removal was extended four months by the 
 Spanish crown, and in April, 1786, a further order v^iis 
 passed in consequence of representations made by "-he jov- 
 ernor of Louisiana, allowing the former inhabitants 10 re- 
 main on condition that they should take a solemn oath of 
 fidelity and obedience to his Catholic Majesty ; that they 
 should not change their residence or go away without leave 
 of the government ; that ''at Natchez, and other places of 
 both Floridas, where it is convenient, parishes oi Irish 
 clergy be established, in order to bring said colonists and 
 their children and families to our religion with the sweet- 
 ness and mildness which it advises."* 
 
 St. Augustine was the only town of any importance in 
 East Florida at the period of the evacuation by the Spaniards, 
 
 ■^" Vignoles, Observations on Florida, p. 196. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 241 
 
 in 1763. It contained tliree thousand inhabitants at that 
 tinikj. All the gardens in the town were well stocked with 
 fruit-trees, such as figs, guavas, plantains, pomegranates, 
 lemons, limes, citrons, shaddocks, bergamot, China and 
 Se' 'He oranges. The city was three-quarters of a mile in 
 length, and about a quarter of a mile in width. It had four 
 churches, ornamentally built of stone in the Spanish style. 
 One was pulled down during the English occupation, the 
 steeple of which was preserved as an ornament to the town. 
 One of the churches was attached to the Convent of St. 
 Francis. The houses were all built of stone, their entrances 
 shaded by piazzas supported by Tuscan pillars or pilasters. 
 Upon the east the windows projected eighteen inches into 
 the street, and were very wide and proportionably high. 
 On the west side the windows were commonly very small, 
 and there was no opening of any kind to the north, upon 
 which side they had double walls, six or eight feet asunder, 
 forming a kind of hall for cellars and pantries. Before 
 most of the entrances, which were from an inner court, 
 V, _re' arbors of vines, producing fine and luscious grapes. 
 NoJ/^ of the houses were supplied with chimneys or fire- 
 place's. For the purposes of warmth, stone urns were filled 
 with coals, and placed in the rooms in the afternoon to 
 moderate the temperature in weather sufficiently cool to 
 require it. 
 
 The governor's residence had piazzas on both sides, also 
 a belvedere and grand portico, decorated with Doric pil- 
 lars and entablatures. At the north end of the town was 
 the castle, a casemated fort, with four bastions, a ravelin 
 counterscarp, and a glacis, built with quarried stone, and 
 constructed according to the system of Vauban. Half a 
 mile to the north was a line, with a broad ditch and bas- 
 tions, running from the Sebastian Creek to St. Mark's 
 River ; a mile from that was another fortified line, with 
 
 21 
 
242 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 some redoubts, forming a second line of communication 
 between a staccata fort upon St. Sebastian River, and Fort 
 Moosa, upon the St. Mark's River.* Within the first line, 
 near the town, was a small settlement of Germans, who 
 had a church of their own. Upon the St. Mark's River, 
 within the second line, was also an Indian town, with a 
 storte church built by the Indians themselves, and in very 
 good taste. 
 
 During the English occupation, large buildings were 
 erected for barracks, of sufficient extent to quarter five 
 regiments of troops. The brick of which they were built 
 was brought from New York, although the island opposite 
 the city afforded a much better building-material, in the 
 coquina stone. The lower story only of the British bar- 
 racks was built of brick, the upper story being of wood, 
 These barracks stood at the southern extremity of the 
 town, to the south of the present barracks, and the length 
 and great extent of the buildings fronting on the bay added 
 greatly to the appearance of the city as viewed from the 
 harbor. 
 
 The city, in English times, contained many gentlemen 
 of distinction, among whom were Sir Charles Burdett, 
 Chief-Justice Drayton, Rev. John Forbes, the Admiralty 
 Judge, General James Grant, Lieut. -Governor Moultrie, 
 William Stark, Esq., the historian. Rev. N. Frazer, Dr. 
 Andrew Turnbull, Bernard Romans, Esq., civil engi- 
 neer, James Moultrie, Esq., and William Bartram, the 
 naturalist. 
 
 Some few English families remained after the evacuation 
 by the British in 1784, and the entire settlement of Greeks 
 
 * These lines may be still distinctly traced. The churches spoken 
 of, outside the city, as well as Forts Moosa and Staccata, have long 
 since disappeared, but their sites are known. The outer line passed 
 through the grounds formerly occupied by the writer. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 243 
 
 and Minorcans, who had come up from Mosquito from Dr. 
 Turnbull's colony. As they were all Roman Catholics, and 
 were accustomed to a language resembling the Spanish, 
 they were not affected to any great degree by the change 
 of rulers. 
 
 It is a sad thing for an entire people to be forced to give 
 up their homes and seek an asylum in some foreign land ; 
 and melancholy was the spectacle presented on all the 
 routes leading to the harbor designated for the embarka- 
 tion of the English inhabitants of Florida. Families sep- 
 arating perhaps forever, long adieus between neighbors and 
 friends who had together shared the privations and pleas- 
 ures of the past, leaving behind them places endeared by 
 the most sacred associations, and containing, perchance, 
 the precious dust of the departed. Homes embowered 
 among the orange-groves, and made pleasant by the fra- 
 grant blossoms of the honeysuckle, the rose, and the acacia; 
 a land where Nature had lavished her choicest beauties, 
 and created a perpetual summer, — such was the land upon 
 which the unfortunate residents of Florida were obliged to 
 turn their backs forever. 
 
CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 Condition of the Province after its Recession to Spain — Notice of Mc- 
 Gillivray — Operations of Bowles — Patriot Rebellion — Operations of 
 United States Troops in Florida — Indian Hostilities, between the 
 Americans and King Payne the Seminole. 
 
 1784— 1813. 
 
 Upon the reoccupation of Florida by the Spaniards, in 
 1784, but few of its former inhabitants returned. Twenty 
 years had scattered them through other lands, where they 
 had made new homes, and new occupations and associa- 
 tions had weakened or wholly destroyed their attachment 
 to Florida. The few inhabitants left in St. Augustine felt 
 their weakness and insecurity, and hardly ventured to go 
 beyond the range of the guns of the castle. 
 
 The fine estates upon the coast, and upon the St. John's 
 River, left by the retiring English proprietors, remained 
 unoccupied, a prey to that rapid decay which so soon re- 
 claims to its native wildness the improvements and cul- 
 tivation which it had been the labor of years to effect. 
 The boldness of the Indians, in their intrusions upon 
 the whites, created a feeling of insecurity, which was 
 greatly increased when, a short time after the departure of 
 the English, they destroyed Bella Vista, the beautiful 
 country-seat of Governor Moultrie, seven miles from St. 
 Augustine. Some attempt was made to induce settlement, 
 by offers of lands,; but they were accompanied with such 
 conditions that very few cared to avail themselves of 
 them. Some of those who had left with the English, and 
 (244) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 245 
 
 gone to the Bahama Islands, became disgusted with the 
 poverty of the soil, from which they found it impossible to 
 reap a subsistence, and, returning to Florida, made a set- 
 tlement at New Smyrna. But the policy of the Spanish 
 government, which seemed always averse to individual 
 prosperity, soon forced them to abandon their settlement 
 and seek homes in the States, where more liberal institu- 
 tions encouraged industry, protected property, and hon- 
 ored integrity. The Spanish authorities soon endeavored 
 to enter into negotiations with the neighboring Indian 
 tribes, upon whose friendship so much depended for the 
 Spaniard. 
 
 At this time the principal chief among the Creeks was 
 Alexander McGillivray. This remarkable person was the 
 son of a half-breed Creek woman and Lachlan McGilli- 
 vray, a Scotchman who was engaged in the Indian trade. 
 The son was carefully educated, and on his return to the 
 nation acquired great influence from his superior intel- 
 ligence, gained the confidence of the tribes, and was 
 made their chief. During the Revolutionary War he at- 
 tached himself to the royalists, and received the rank of 
 colonel from the British government, and was an active 
 and useful ally to them in their operations against the 
 frontiers of Georgia. In 1784 he formed a treaty with 
 the Spanish governor in behalf of the Creeks and Sem- 
 inoles, and engaged to adhere to the government of Spain 
 and prevent all white men from entering their country 
 without a Spanish permit. The Spanish authorities gave 
 him the rank and pay of a colonel in their service, and he 
 was very useful to them in the control he exercised over 
 the neighboring Indian tribes, whom he succeeded in 
 preventing from attaching themselves to the American 
 interest. 
 
 About the year 1789, a bold attempt was made by a 
 
246 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 General William Augustus Bowles to dispossess Spain of 
 Florida by a concerted and general attack of the Indian 
 tribes upon the borders. This individual was a native of 
 Maryland, and held a commission in the British army in 
 the latter part of the Revolutionary War. He sailed with 
 his regiment to Jamaica, and afterwards to Pensacola, 
 where he was dismissed from the service. While he was at 
 Pensacola, a party of Creeks visited the post for the pur- 
 pose of receiving their annuities. Animated by a love of 
 adventure, Bowles returned with them to their nation, 
 where he learned the Indian language and married the 
 daughter of an Indian chief. Gaining the confidence of 
 the Indians, he was able to obtain the command of the 
 party who went as allies to the English at the siege of 
 Pensacola, and by his good conduct on that occasion he 
 was restored to his former position by the English com- 
 mander. After West Florida was ceded to Spain, in 1784, 
 he went to New York, where he joined a company of play- 
 actors, and subsequently went to the Bahamas. While 
 there he followed the profession of comedian, and added 
 to this the business of portrait-painting. The versatility 
 of his talents, and his acquaintance with the Creek Indians 
 and familiarity with their language, induced Lord Dunmore, 
 the governor of the Bahamas, to appoint Bowles as an 
 ageiit to establish a trading-house among the Creeks. His 
 own ambition seems to have led him to hope that he might 
 attain a much higher position, and perhaps be able to es- 
 tablish an extensive empire in the southwest, under Eng- 
 lish protection, in which he might fill a conspicuous and 
 honorable place. 
 
 He left New Providence with about sixty followers, and 
 landed at Mosquito. From thence he crossed over to the 
 St. John's River for the purpose of attacking an Indian 
 trading-house, called Hamblys, near Lake George. The 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 247 
 
 traders had been advised by friendly Indians of Bowles's 
 intention, and the delay occasioned by his attempts to 
 bring from his vessel several small iron cannon gave the 
 traders time to prepare for him, and they had received fifty 
 Spanish soldiers from St. Augustine. Bowles found them 
 so well fortified that he was discouraged from making the 
 proposed attack, and directed his steps towards Cuscowilla, 
 an Indian town in Alachua, which stood near the present 
 site of Micanopy, and was the chief town of the Seminoles 
 under King Payne. 
 
 Finding the Indians here unwilling to join him, his fol- 
 lowers deserted him, and he fled to the Creeks. Here he 
 married a daughter of Pennyman, an Indian chief, and was 
 joined by a Spanish subject, one Daniel McGirth, who had 
 been conspicuous in the border war waged by McGillivray 
 against the Georgians during the Revolutionary War.* 
 They induced the Creeks to believe that the goods con- 
 tained in the various trading-houses were intended as 
 presents for them, and were improperly withheld from them 
 
 * Daniel McGirth was a native of South Carolina, and in the begin- 
 ning of the American Revolution was a valuable partisan scout. While 
 stationed at the Satilla River with the American troops, he was court- 
 martialed for using disrespectful language to an officer who desired to 
 dispossess him of a favorite mare, and he was sentenced to be whipped. 
 This indignity was borne by him in silence, but he soon managed to 
 escape, and became from that day one of the most vindictive, untiring, 
 and revengeful enemies of the Georgians, upon whom he inflicted a 
 vast amount of injury. After the war he remained in Florida, and 
 was concerned with Bowles, and probably on this account was arrested 
 by the Spanish government and thrown into the dungeon of the castle 
 at St. Augustine, where he was confined for five years a close pris- 
 oner. Subsequently, with his health totally destroyed by his long and 
 cruel confinement, he returned to his wife in Sumter District, S. C. A 
 small tributary that empties into the St. John's River, near Jackson- 
 ville, bears his name. — Whitens Hist. Col., page 281. 
 
248 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 by the Indian traders. The Indians credited this story, 
 and several of the chiefs agreed to assist attacking the 
 houses and taking possession of the stores. They estab- 
 lished their head-quarters at Miccosukie, a town in Middle 
 Florida, and, fortunately for their purpose, a vessel arrived 
 at Apalachee, with goods for Bowles, from New Providence. 
 These he distributed among his followers, telling them that 
 they were a part of the same goods the traders had in their 
 possession. Having taught navigation to an Indian crew, 
 he kept a vessel running from New Providence to Apa- 
 lachee, until the traders, having determined to break up his 
 party, prevailed upon the Seminoles to take Bowles pris- 
 oner. McGirth, hearing of the approach of the Seminoles, 
 informed Bowles in time for him to escape to the Oclockony 
 River and hide himself. Nothing is said of the escape of 
 McGirth, who, it is probable, on this occasion fell into the 
 hands of the Spaniards, who had instigated the Seminoles 
 to make the attack. 
 
 The Creeks who were with Bowles and McGirth pro- 
 fessed a willingness to return home, and entered into a 
 treaty of peace; but after the Seminoles had dispersed 
 they again joined Bowles, and aided him in the capture of 
 a vessel laden with goods for the traders. Bowles was em- 
 boldened by his success to make an attack upon St. Mark's, 
 and, finding the garrison off their guard, he captured the 
 fort, and for several weeks kept possession of it, until Gov- 
 ernor O'Neil, coming down from Pensacola, drove him 
 out, without making any effort to capture him or his Indian 
 allies. Orders were afterwards sent out for his arrest, and, 
 a large reward being offered for him, the Indians gave him 
 up. He was sent in chains to Cuba and confined in Moro 
 Castle, where he is said to have died. 
 
 At one time his influence with the Creeks was so great 
 that he destroyed their confidence in their great chief 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 249 
 
 McGillivray, whom he represented to them as a traitor who 
 had sold them to Spain and afterwards to the United 
 States. This accusation was not without foundation, as 
 McGillivray had entered into a treaty with Washington, by 
 which he promised that after a certain date all of the com- 
 merce of the Creek nation should pass through the ports 
 of the United States. This gave great dissatisfaction to 
 the Indians as Avell as to the Spaniards, who now began to 
 distrust McGillivray. It was proved that while receiving 
 thirty-five hundred dollars a year as agent of Spain, he was 
 filling the same office under the United States government 
 with a salary of twelve hundred, sometimes wearing the 
 Spanish uniform, and at other times that of a brigadier- 
 general in the American army. But there is no doubt that 
 he was mainly inclined to the Spanish interest, as it does 
 not appear that he ever carried out the provisions of the 
 treaty with Washington. Carondelet, the Spanish Gov- 
 ernor, endeavored to unite the four Indian nations under 
 McGillivray, and secure their services in his effort to pre- 
 vent the advance of American settlements on the coast, 
 and also on the Mississippi. But the race of McGillivray 
 was run. In 1793 he died, and was buried at Pensacola, 
 with Masonic honors. 
 
 By the treaty of 1 790, in which McGillivray had repre- 
 sented the Creek Nation, the United States had set aside 
 a previous treaty between General Twiggs and the Creeks, 
 and agreed to a new boundary-line, less advantageous to 
 Georgia. This gave great dissatisfaction to General Elijah 
 Clarke, who had been a party to the treaty of General 
 Twiggs, and one of the most active and useful officers in 
 the Georgia service. He was greatly incensed, and de- 
 termined to take possession of the territory so improperly 
 surrendered.* He had no difficulty in finding adherents, 
 
 * Stevens, Ga., p. 401, 
 
250 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 and, having established himself in the disputed territory, 
 made several incursions into Florida, and drove in the 
 Spanish outposts. It was supposed that he was acting in 
 the interest of France ; but the French consul at Savannah 
 denied the charge. Having set at defiance the authorities 
 of Georgia, Clarke crossed the river Oconee, and erected a 
 fort, whereupon an expedition was sent out against him, 
 and he was forced to abandon the enterprise. 
 
 Some ten years after the change of flags, General John 
 Mcintosh removed to Florida with his accomplished and 
 devoted wife, and settled upon the St. John's River, at a 
 plantation which he called Bellevue. He had been a 
 distinguished officer in the War of the American Revolu- 
 tion, and carried with him to Florida several families de- 
 voted to his interests. The Spanish governor, Quesada, 
 jealous and suspicious of the consideration with which 
 General Mcintosh was treated, affected to believe that he 
 was engaged in projects inimical to the interests of Spain. 
 He pretended to be on friendly terms with the general, 
 but upon one occasion, when he was on a visit to St. Au- 
 gustine, Quesada had him arrested and thrown into the 
 castle. A detachment of soldiers was then sent out to the 
 general's plantation, who searched the house, and carried 
 off all the private papers they could find. All communi- 
 cation with his family was prevented, and soon after Gen- 
 eral Mcintosh was sent to Havana and immured in the 
 dungeons of Moro Castle. His resolute wife made every 
 effort in her power to procure his release. Though deprived 
 of her sight, she wrote to the Governor-General of Cuba 
 several able letters, declaring the innocence of her hus- 
 band, and urged that he should be brought to trial and 
 confronted with his accusers. She also appealed to the 
 sympathies of her husband's old comrades in arms, and 
 enlisted the services of Washington himself to procure the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 251 
 
 release of the general. Finally, after having been kept a 
 year in close confinement, the Governor of Cuba released 
 him, and allowed him to return, without trial, to his 
 family. Incensed and disgusted with the treachery of 
 Quesada, General Mcintosh determined to abandon Flor- 
 ida forever, and, gathering his adherents, some of whom 
 had been fellow-sufferers, he descended the river, and 
 returned to Georgia, not without having first destroyed a 
 Spanish fort at the Cowfords, opposite Jacksonville, and 
 several Spanish galleys that lay in the river. General 
 Mcintosh was engaged in the War of 181 2, and died in 
 1826. 
 
 In 1795 Spain receded to France all that portion of West 
 Florida lying west of the Perdido River, thus cutting off 
 from West Florida the most valuable and important por- , 
 tion of her territory. The progress of the great campaigns 
 in Europe, in which the interest of Spain was so deeply 
 involved, left the Floridas with but little care from the 
 home government. White, who was for many years Gov- 
 ernor of East Florida, had strong prejudices against the 
 Americans, and opposed their settlement within his prov- 
 ince. In the mean time, France, becoming satisfied that 
 in the progress of events Louisiana and her West India 
 colonies would be taken from her, entered into negotia- 
 tions with the United States, and, in the year 1803, agreed, 
 for the pecuniary consideration of fifteen millions of 
 dollars, to cede the territory of Louisiana to the United 
 States. 
 
 Thus, at the end of two hundred and thirty years, France 
 withdrew from the last of her possessions in North America. 
 If we examine a map of the country as it was held by vari- 
 ous European powers in the early part of the eighteenth 
 century, we shall see on the north, the great territory of 
 New France, extending along the Gulf of St. Lawrence, 
 
252 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 including part of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Cape Bre- 
 ton, and Canada, lying on both sides of the river St. 
 Lawrence and the lakes, along the Ohio River to its 
 junction with the Mississippi, and the whole valley of the 
 Mississippi, extending on the east to the Alleghany Mount- 
 ains, on the west to the Rocky Mountains, and south to 
 the Gulf of Mexico. Her forts and trading-houses were 
 scattered along the borders of all the great lakes, and upon 
 the Mississippi, from the Falls of St. Anthony to the Gulf 
 of Mexico, and along all the tributaries of this great river. 
 From these vast possessions France had retired step by 
 step, receding from the frost-bound regions of Canada and 
 the Northwest to the mild and sunny borders of the Gulf 
 of Mexico. One by one she had parted with her posses- 
 sions by the fortunes of war and treaty stipulations, and at 
 last transferred, for a few millions of dollars, an empire in 
 extent, reaching from the Gulf of Mexico to the far distant 
 sources of the mighty river Mississippi. The towns upon 
 its banks, the tributaries that swell its flood, the bold bluffs 
 that overhang its currents, all bear to this day the names 
 given them during the French possession. All the saints in 
 the calendar are honored, and many an historic name per- 
 petuated, along with the designation of the various tribes 
 who once inhabited the land. 
 
 The English colonies occupied a narrow strip along the 
 coast, from the St. Croix on the north to the Altamaha 
 on the south, with an average 'breadth of not over three 
 hundred miles, not one-half of which was occupied. Upon 
 the cession of Louisiana, the United States possessed them- 
 selves of the territory lying west of the Perdido, and thus in- 
 closed the Spanish province of Florida within narrow bound- 
 aries. In the year 1811 the difficulties between the United 
 States and Great Britain began to assume a threatening 
 aspect. On the north the provinces of Upper and Lower 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 253 
 
 Canada extended along the entire border, and offered every 
 advantage for assailing the people of the border States. It 
 was suspected that a design was on foot to seize Florida, 
 and thus secure to the British a frontier along the whole 
 southern border. The matter was thought of sufihcient im- 
 portance by the President to bring it to the attention of 
 Congress, and, in secret session, a resolution was passed, 
 authorizing the President, in the event of an attempt being 
 made by Great Britain to get possession of Florida, that 
 territory should be occupied by the American forces. The 
 President appointed General Matthews, of Georgia, and 
 Colonel John McKee, commissioners to confer with the 
 Spanish authorities of Florida and endeavor to procure a 
 temporary cession of the province to the United States. 
 They were, if successful, to establish a provisional govern- 
 ment over the colonies ; if the governor so required, 
 they were to stipulate for the redelivery of the country at 
 some future time to Spain. But, in case of refusal, "should 
 there be room to entertain a suspicion that a design ex- 
 isted on the part of any other power to occupy Florida," 
 they were authorized to take possession of the province 
 with the force of the United States. As might have been 
 anticipated, the Spanish governor declined a surrender of 
 the province, and protested against any trespass upon his 
 rights or domain. The plans of the government of the 
 United States had, however, become generally known, and 
 a number of frontiersmen along the borders of Georgia 
 eagerly awaited an opportunity of making a descent upon 
 Florida. In the spring of 181 2 a number of these persons, 
 and some of the settlers from the northern borders of Flo- 
 rida, assembled near St. Mary's, and organized themselves 
 as patriots seeking to establish republican institutions in 
 Florida. A provisional government was formed, and 
 
 22 
 
254 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 officers were elected.* General John H. Mcintosh was 
 chosen governor or director of the republic of Florida, and 
 Colonel Ashley was appointed military chief. 
 
 Fernandina had been occupied as a Spanish port for some 
 three or four years, and was becoming a place of some im- 
 portance. During the existence of the embargo imposed by 
 the United States in the war of 1 812 with Great Britain, Fer- 
 nandina had become a depot of neutral trade, and as many 
 as one hundred and fifty square-rigged vessels, it is said, 
 could have been counted at one time within her harbor, and 
 the town then contained a population of about six hundred 
 persons. In 181 2 a small Spanish garrison held possession 
 of the place, commanded by Captain Jose Lopez. It was 
 deemed important to secure possession of Fernandina, and 
 nine American gunboats, under the command of Commo- 
 dore Campbell, had come into the harbor, under the 
 pretense of seeking to protect American interests. Gen- 
 eral Matthews, having determined upon the occupation of 
 Amelia Island, used the patriot organization as a cover to 
 effect his purpose. The gunboats were drawn up in line in 
 front of Fernandina, with their guns bearing upon the fort. 
 Colonel Ashley then embarked his patriots in boats, and 
 approached the town with a summons to surrender. The 
 commandant, Don Jose Lopez, seeing a line of gunboats, 
 with their guns bearing upon the town, flying the flag of a 
 neutral power, but prepared to enforce the demand of the 
 soi-disant patriots, had no alternative but to haul down the 
 Spanish flag. Articles of capitulation were entered into at 
 four o'clock on the 17th of March, 1812, between Don Jose 
 Lopez, Commandant, etc., on the part of the Spanish gov- 
 ernment, and John H. Mcintosh, Esq., commissioner 
 named and duly authorized by the patriots of the district 
 
 * A copy of this constitution is in the possession of the writer. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 255 
 
 of the province lying between the rivers St. John's and St. 
 Mary's. The fifth article of capitulation provided "that 
 the island shall, twenty-four hours after the surrender, be 
 ceded to the United States of America, under the express 
 condition that the port of Fernandina shall not be subject 
 to aftiy of the restrictions on commerce that exist at present 
 in the United States, but shall be open, as heretofore, to 
 British and other vessels and produce, on paying the law- 
 ful tonnage and import duties; and, in case of actual war 
 between the United States and Great Britain, the port of 
 Fernandina shall be open to British merchant vessels and 
 produce, and considered a free port until the ist of May, 
 1813." 
 
 The articles were witnessed by George Atkinson, George 
 I. F. Clarke, Charles W. Clarke, and Archibald Clark. 
 
 The succeeding day. Lieutenant Ridgley, of the United 
 States Army, assumed command, and Colonel Ashley, with 
 his patriot army, numbering some three hundred men, were 
 marched towards St. Augustine. On their way they arrested 
 Zephaniah Kingsley, a well-known planter, and afterwards 
 induced him to join in the enterprise. They marched to 
 within two miles of St. Augustine, and camped at the place 
 known as Fort Moosa. Colonel Smith, with a detachment 
 of one hundred regulars, here joined the patriots. Soon 
 after they became dissatisfied with Colonel Ashley, and sus- 
 pended him from the command, and William Craig, one of 
 the Spanish judges, was put in his place. Colonel Estrada, 
 the acting governor of Florida, was unwilling to meet these 
 insignificant forces in the field, but, managing to get some 
 small guns on a schooner, he shelled Fort Moosa from the 
 water approaches, and compelled the patriots and their 
 supporters to fall back to. Pass Navarro and intrench them- 
 selves; but soon, finding that 'their force was wholly insuffi- 
 cient to take St. Augustine, the patriots fell back to the 
 
256 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 St. John's, leaving Colonel Smith and his regulars at the 
 pass. 
 
 The occupation of Fernandina, and subsequent move- 
 ment upon St. Augustine, coming to the knowledge of the 
 Spanish Minister at Washington, he remonstrated with the 
 American government against this violation of treaty stipu- 
 lations, and the British Minister also protested against this 
 invasion of neutral territory. 
 
 The President was in an embarrassing position. General 
 Matthews was his accredited commissioner, and had his 
 written instructions to occupy the country should there be 
 room to entertain a suspicion that a design existed on the 
 part 0/ any other power to take possession of the province. 
 The alternative existed of boldly justifying his own acts, 
 assuming the responsibility, and accepting the consequences, 
 or of sacrificing his agent and disowning his acts. The 
 President pursued the usual course of those in power : he 
 politely ignored the measures that had been taken by his 
 commissioner, and declared that he had transcended his 
 authority ; regretted the mistake, and promised to have it 
 corrected. General Matthews was relieved from his posi- 
 tion, and Governor Mitchell, of Georgia, appointed in his 
 place, with instructions to restore the condition of affairs 
 which existed before the invasion, and to act in harmony 
 with Governor Estrada. While these diplomatic move- 
 ments were in progress, and just after the appointment of 
 Governor Mitchell, an affair took place which was very 
 
 iisgraceful to the Spanish governor and tended greatly to 
 exasperate the United States military authorities. On the^ 
 evening of the 12th of May, a detachment of United States 
 troops, mostly made up of invalids, under the command 
 of Lieutenant Williams, of the United States Marine Corps, 
 with a number of wagons, were on their way from Colonel 
 
 Smith's camp, at Pass Navarro, to Colonel Briggs's camp 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 257 
 
 on the St. John's, when they were attacked by a company 
 of negroes, under the command of a fellow by the name of 
 Prince, sent out by the governor of St. Augustine. These 
 negroes, concealing themselves in Twelve-Mile Swamp at 
 a point where the road is lined on both sides by a dense 
 thicket, poured in upon the unsuspecting party a deadly 
 volley. Lieutenant Williams fell, mortally wounded, 
 pierced with six bullets. Captain Fort, of the Milledge- 
 ville Volunteers, was wounded, and a non-commissioned 
 officer and six privates were killed. The soldiers imme- 
 diately charged upon the negroes, who instantly broke 
 and fled. 
 
 Governor Mitchell promptly called for reinforcements, 
 to enable him to attack St. Augustine. In the mean time, 
 Governor Kindelan had been sent out as Governor of Flo- 
 rida, and in June he made a formal demand for the with- 
 drawal of Colonel Smith from the province, and the Presi- 
 dent, finding that Congress was opposed to entering into 
 any further hostilities with Spain while serious difficulties 
 were threatening with England, felt obliged to make ar- 
 rangements for withdrawing all the United States troops 
 from Florida. The camp at Pass Navarro was broken up, 
 and Colonel Smith withdrew with his command, now 
 greatly reduced by sickness, to Davis's Creek, on the 
 King's Road. In the mean time, the Indians, under their 
 chiefs Payne and Bowlegs, had begun a predatory warfare 
 upon the settlements, carrying off all the live stock they 
 could find, burning houses, and stealing negroes, and were 
 preparing to extend their incursions into Georgia. It was 
 determined to make an effort to disperse the Indians, if 
 possible, before they collected in sufficient numbers to be 
 formidable. Colonel Newnan, of Georgia, the Inspector- 
 General of that State, who was a volunteer, offered to lead 
 a party against Payne's town in Alachua. Organizing a 
 
258 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 command of one hundred and ten men only, from the 
 patriots in Florida, he undertook to penetrate the enemy's 
 country over one hundred miles, and attack two formidable 
 chiefs surrounded by their warriors and with every advan- 
 tage of position and thorough knowledge of the country. 
 
 Crossing at Picolata, Colonel Newnan and his men ar- 
 rived the third day at the foot of Lake Pithlachocco, a few 
 miles from Payne's town. They here unexpectedly encoun- 
 tered an Indian force of about one hundred and fifty, 
 under their leaders Bowlegs and Payne, who had just set 
 out on the war-path. Both sides prepared for the conflict, 
 which began about mid-day. Captain Fort, of the infantry, 
 was posted on the left, Lieutenants Broadnax and Reed in 
 the centre, and Captain Humphreys, with a detachment of 
 marines, held the right. King Payne, mounted on a white 
 horse, displayed great gallantry in leading his men into 
 action. At first they fired from the shelter of a swamp, so 
 well protected on both sides that but little effect was pro- 
 duced by the return fire of Newnan' s men. A feigned re- 
 treat on their part, however, drew the Indians out in pursuit, 
 when, suddenly turning upon them, Newnan killed a great 
 number, and mortally wounded Payne. Dismayed by the 
 loss of their leader, the Indians fled from the field ; but, 
 knowing the Indian character so well, Newnan felt confi- 
 dent they would soon renew the attack, and lost no time in 
 throwing up temporary breastworks to protect his small 
 force. About sundown Bowlegs returned, heavily rein- 
 forced, and began the attack with great vigor. They came 
 forward yelling, and charged nearly up to the intrench- 
 ments. 
 
 Newnan' s forces received them with great coolness, and 
 returned a galling fire, which drove them back with great 
 loss. The Indians returned to the attack several times, but 
 the steady valor of the whites forced them finally to re- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 259 
 
 treat, carrying off their dead and wounded. Confident 
 that Bowlegs would again return, Newnan still further 
 strengthened his position, and prepared for a siege. For- 
 tunately, they killed an ox, and subsisted on that and the 
 one horse they had left, the Indians having carried off all 
 the others. The night of the eighth day they effected a 
 silent retreat, and, carrying their wounded on litters, 
 marched slowly back towards the St. John's. The Indians 
 were not long in discovering that their enemy were on the 
 retreat, and quickly followed in pursuit. Newnan 's party 
 was overtaken when on their way to Picolata, and attacked 
 by a band of fifty Seminoles, under their young governor. 
 Three of the whites were killed at the first fire, but, not- 
 withstanding their exhausted condition, they roused them- 
 selves, and made a charge on the Indians which put them 
 to flight, leaving their chief dead on the field. A few miles 
 farther on, Newnan halted and threw up breastworks, and 
 sent a messenger in for the relief they so much needed. 
 Their provisions were exhausted, and their wounded men 
 suffering for want of care and rest. A party was sent out 
 foraging, but could find nothing but two alligators, and on 
 these they subsisted until the arrival of sixteen horsemen 
 with provisions. The wounded men were mounted, and in 
 two days they all reached Picolata. The death of Payne 
 greatly discomfited the Indians, and for the time put a stop 
 to their preparations for war, but they still continued, in 
 small bands, to annoy the border settlers. Among these 
 was Mr. Kingsley, whose plantation the Indians kept in a 
 state of siege, and carried off his cattle and negroes. The 
 patriots retaliated upon the loyalists, and lawless bands 
 were scattered over the country, plundering and destroying 
 property, until scarcely a house or plantation remained 
 uninjured in the province. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 Occupation of Pensacola by the English — English driven from Pensa- 
 cola by General Jackson — Destruction of Negro Fort on Apalachi- 
 cola by Colonel Clinch — Defeat of Florida Indians by General 
 Jackson — Occupation of Pensacola by General Jackson — Treaty with 
 Spain, ceding Florida to United States. 
 
 1813 — 1821. 
 
 About the year 1812 a party of Georgians visited the 
 Alachua district of country, carrying with them a surveyor 
 to run out the lands which they expected to conquer and 
 occupy. The surveyor was killed by the Indians, and it is 
 said that his field-notes and plots were carried in by the 
 Indians to Geo. I. F. Clarke, Esq., the Spanish Surveyor- 
 General, and formed the basis of all the Spanish land- 
 grants in the Alachua district of country, now covered by 
 Alachua and Marion counties. The promoter of this expe- 
 dition was a General Harris, of Georgia. The Indians 
 attacked the party and forced them to retire. 
 
 The American troops were not finally withdrawn from 
 Florida until the early part of the year 181 3. Governor 
 Mitchell had been superseded by General Pinkney, but no 
 active operations were carried on against the Spanish inhab- 
 itants. This incursion of the United States troops into 
 Florida ruined the agricultural interests of the country, 
 which had begun to revive, and were attended with very 
 encouraging success. The civil war and unbridled license 
 which prevailed for a year and a half broke up and dis- 
 (260) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 261 
 
 heartened the planters, who saw the fruits of their well- 
 applied industry made the prey of lawless invaders, their 
 homes rendered insecure, their stock carried off, their 
 slaves scattered, their crops and fences destroyed, and all 
 they possessed plundered and pillaged under the immunity 
 and protection afforded to the perpetrators of these wrongs 
 by the flag of the United States. The planters retired in 
 despair to St. Augustine, and sought shelter and protection 
 under the guns of the fort. The Spanish forces were too 
 weak to contest with the invaders the possession of the 
 country, and during the years 181 2 and'1813 Florida was 
 virtually in the condition of a conquered province. 
 
 The war of 181 2, between the United States and Great 
 Britain, to some extent involved Florida. In August, 1814, 
 a British fleet entered the harbor of Pensacola, and landed 
 troops, which were placed in garrison in Forts Michel and 
 Barrancas, with the assent of Governor Manrequez; the 
 British flag was raised over the forts, and the Indians of 
 that region taken under British protection and pledged to 
 carry on hostilities against the Americans, being furnished 
 with arms and ammunition and promised liberal bounties. 
 
 General Jackson was directed by the government of the 
 United States to counteract these movements, and, having 
 raised a body of troops, marched against Pensacola in No- 
 vember of the same year. His forces consisted of five 
 thousand Tennessee volunteers and a large force of friendly 
 Indians. A flag which General Jackson had sent forward 
 to open communication with the Spanish governor was fired 
 upon, and he immediately determined to storm the town. 
 Marching his troops to the eastward of the city, he pushed 
 forward his columns for a direct assault. The town was 
 protected by a fort, several batteries, and seven vessels of 
 war lying in front of the city. The advance of General 
 Jackson's column was rapid, and they soon entered the 
 
262 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 streets of the city. A battery of two guns, which had been 
 planted so as to sweep with grape and canister the street 
 upon which they entered, was stormed and captured by 
 Major Laval. The town soon yielded, and with Fort 
 Michel was taken possession of by the American troops. 
 Fort Barrancas was blown up by Colonel Nichols, the Eng- 
 lish commander, who, with the British troops and their 
 Indian allies, escaped on board the vessels and went to sea. 
 The Indians were landed on the Apalachicola River. 
 
 After holding the town two days, and having destroyed 
 the fortifications, General Jackson withdrew his troops and 
 proceeded with his command to New Orleans, then threat- 
 ened by the British forces. The Spanish governor, after 
 General Jackson's forces had withdrawn, commenced re- 
 building the fortifications, declining the assistance proffered 
 by the English for that purpose. 
 
 Colonel Nichols, having been expelled from Pensacola, 
 devoted his attention to organizing an Indian and negro 
 territory on the river Apalachicola, for the purpose of estab- 
 lishing a place of refuge for runaway negroes from the 
 Southern States, who, in connection with the Indians, 
 might operate with effect upon the frontier settlements. 
 Selecting a place admirably suited for the purpose on that 
 river, he superintended the erection of a strong fortification 
 upon a high bluff, making out into the river, well protected 
 by a deep mor.ass in the rear. A garrison of three hundred 
 British troops was placed in it, and it was made a point of 
 rendezvous for the Creek Indians called Bluesticks. During 
 the following year a large number of runaway negroes con- 
 gregated in this region of country, and settled along the 
 banks of the Apalachicola River for some fifty miles, bid- 
 ding defiance to both the Spanish and American govern- 
 ments. After the close of the war with Great Britain, the 
 British garrison was withdrawn, and the fort was left in the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 263 
 
 hands of the runaway negroes, who were closely allied with 
 the Indians, and were under the leadership of a negro 
 by the name of Garcia. The fort was situated on the east 
 side of the river, at the point where Fort Gadsden was 
 afterwards built. The parapet was fifteen feet high and 
 eighteen feet thick, and it was defended by nine pieces of 
 artillery, several of which were of large calibre. Besides 
 the swamp in the rear, it was protected by a large creek 
 above it and a small creek below it. Two large magazines 
 were w^ll supplied with ammunition, and three thousand 
 stand of arms had been furnished by their British allies. 
 Thus situated, the fort commanded the navigation of the 
 Apalachicola River, and of the Flint River also, and men- 
 aced the settlements along the borders, while affording a 
 refuge for all runaway slaves. 
 
 In August, 1 81 6, Colonel Duncan L. Clinch, of the 
 United States Army, was stationed at Camp Crawford, on 
 the Chattahoochee River, about one hundred and fifty 
 miles above the Bay of Apalachicola. General Gaines had 
 directed a supply of provisions, with a quantity of ordnance- 
 stores, two eighteen-pounders, and one howitzer, to ascend 
 the river to Camp Crawford ; and, as the hostile attitude 
 of the Indians and negroes at the negro fort made it 
 probable that some opposition would be made to the pas- 
 sage of the expedition up the river, General Gaines in- 
 structed Colonel Clinch, in case of such opposition, to 
 take measures to reduce the fort. 
 
 An Indian chief by the name of Lafarka was sent down 
 the river from Fort Crawford, to obtain some information 
 of the convoy and vessels guarding it, and soon re- 
 turned with dispatches from Sailing-Master Loomis, ad- 
 vising Colonel Clinch of his arrival in the bay with two 
 gunboats and two transports, with provisions, etc. Col- 
 onel Clinch immediately set out with one hundred and 
 
264 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 sixteen men in boats to descend the river. These forces 
 were divided into two companies, under command of Major 
 Muhlenberg and Captain Taylor. On their way a junction 
 was accidentally effected with a large body of Creek In- 
 dians, who, without any knowledge of the movements of 
 the United States troops, were also on their way to attack 
 the negro fort, and capture the runaways for the benefit of 
 their owners. 
 
 These Indians were under the command of Major Mc- 
 intosh, and the next day were joined by another party, 
 under Captain Isaacs and Kateha-haigo — mad-tiger. A 
 council was held, and the Indians agreed to act in concert 
 with the whites. Scouts were kept in the advance, who 
 captured an Indian with a scalp, which he was carrying 
 into the fort. The prisoner informed Colonel Clinch 
 that the black leader, Garcia, and a Choctaw chief, had 
 been down the bay the day before, saying they had killed 
 several Americans and taken a boat from them. It appears 
 that Lieutenant Loomis, the commander of the gunboats, 
 had sent out Midshipman Luffborough, with four seamen, 
 into the river to get a supply of fresh water, where they 
 were attacked by a party of negroes and Choctaws, who 
 fired upon them, killing the midshipman and two of the 
 seamen ; one was taken prisoner, and the fourth escaped. 
 
 The command of Colonel Clinch landed within a short 
 distance of the negro fort. The Indians were posted 
 around it, so as to cut off all communication, and an irreg- 
 ular fire kept up to harass the besieged. They replied by 
 a constant discharge of artillery, which inflicted no damage 
 upon the besiegers, but greatly reduced their supply of am- 
 munition. Some days before, a party of Indian chiefs had 
 entered the fort and demanded its surrender, but they were 
 received with abuse, and the negro commander told theni 
 that he had been placed in command by the British gov- 
 
HISTORY GF FLORIDA. 265 
 
 ernment, and he intended to sink any American vessels 
 which should attempt to pass his fort, and that when he 
 found that he could not hold the fort he would blow it up. 
 After this declaration, he hoisted the red flag with the 
 English Jack over it. 
 
 The vessels from below were brought up to within four 
 miles of the fort, and, after a careful examination of the 
 ground, a position was selected for a battery on the west 
 side of the river, opposite to the fort. The troops under 
 Major Muhlenberg and Captain Taylor occupied the west 
 side of the river, and Major Mcintosh and his Indians, 
 and a detachment of American troops, invested the fort in 
 the rear. On the morning of the 24th of August, the two 
 gunboats came up and took position in front of the battery. 
 The negroes immediately opened fire upon them from a 
 thirty-two-pounder, which was replied to with such effect 
 that, at the fifth discharge, a hot-shot from Gunboat 154, 
 commanded by Sailing-Master Basset, entered one of the 
 magazines of the fort and blew it up, thus rendering any 
 further defense of the fort impossible. The garrison con- 
 sisted of about one hundred effective men, including 
 tweaty-five Choctaws, and there were over two hundred 
 women and children, of whom not over fifty escaped the 
 effects of the explosion. 
 
 The Americans sustained no loss whatever. A large 
 amount of property was taken, estimated at two hundred 
 thousand dollars in value. One hundred and sixty barrels 
 of powder were saved from an uninjured magazine. The 
 negro commander, Garcia, and the outlawed Choctaw chief, 
 were condemned to death by a council of the friendly 
 Indians, for the murder of the midshipman and seamen. 
 The sentence was carried into effect immediately. The 
 runaway Spanish negroes were turned over to the Spanish 
 Agent, and the American negroes delivered to Colonel 
 
 23 
 
266 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Clinch to be restored to their owners. A body of Semi- 
 noles had come down the river to aid the besieged, but, the 
 news of the capture of the fort having reached them, they 
 scattered to their homes. 
 
 The destruction of this fort broke up for the time the 
 Indian and negro settlements. The English government 
 appear, in this instance, to have encouraged their agents 
 to violate all the rules of civilized and honorable warfare, 
 by permitting them to instigate an atrocious Indian war, in 
 connection with a hostile negro organization, to prey upon 
 the defenseless frontiers of the Southern States. Bounties 
 were offered and paid for the scalps of Americans, a strong 
 fortress w^as built for the protection of outlaws, murderers, 
 and runaway slaves, and large sums of money were spent in 
 supplying them with arms, ammunition, and provisions, and 
 the British flag allowed to float over this mongrel crew. 
 The evil influences of the course pursued by these English 
 agents were felt for a long time, and finally forced the 
 American government, in self-defense, to adopt measures 
 for putting to an end forever the atrocities of the savage 
 allies of Great Britain. 
 
 Instigated by the English emissaries Nichols and Wood- 
 bine, the Seminoles, with scattering bands from other 
 tribes, continued to annoy the border settlements in Geor- 
 gia, and several times attacked transports on the Apalachi- 
 cola River, in one instance mustering twelve hundred men 
 and continuing the fight for several days. In January, 
 1818, General Jackson made a treaty with the Creeks, 
 and engaged them to join him in an attack upon the Semi- 
 noles of Florida. In the spring of the same year, with a 
 force of one thousand militia, five hundred regulars, and 
 nearly two thousand Indians, he started on an expedi- 
 tion against the Seminoles, with the purpose of destroying 
 their power and putting an end to their depredations. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 267 
 
 Marching rapidly upon the Miccosukee towns of East 
 Florida, he destroyed them, and soon afterwards attacked 
 and destroyed the Fowl towns, the Indians making but a 
 feeble resistance. General Jackson then marched upon 
 St. Mark's^ which was strongly fortified and had twenty 
 guns mounted. The fort surrendered without resistance, 
 and Prophet Francis and another Indian chief fell into the 
 hands of the Americans, and were immediately hanged. 
 
 At Miccosukee, General Jackson found three hundred 
 scalps of men, women, and children, most of them fresh, and 
 which had evidently been recently exhibited with triumph. 
 From St. Mark's General Jackson marched to Suwanee, 
 where he dispersed a large number of Indians, and took 
 many prisoners, among them two Englishmen, Arbuthnot 
 and Ambrister, who were accused of being the chief agents 
 in supplying the Indians with arms and ammunition and 
 directing their operations against the whites. A court-mar- 
 tial was held to try them, and both being found guilty were 
 sentenced to suffer death, one by hanging, the other to be 
 shot, and the sentence was promptly executed. This action 
 of General Jackson was severely criticised, both at the time, 
 and subsequently in the political contests in which he be- 
 came engaged. General Jackson afterwards marched against 
 Pensacola, having been infornjed that the Spanish govern- 
 ment, while furnishing arms to the Indians who were hostile 
 to the United States, refused to allow provisions to pass up 
 the Escambia for the American troops. Upon the approach 
 of General Jackson, the Spanish governor retired to Fort 
 Barrancas, which, being menaced by the United States 
 troops, was surrendered after a slight show of resistance. 
 
 A treaty of peace, consisting of sixteen articles, was con- 
 cluded between Spain and the United States on the 2 2d of 
 February, 181 9, ceding the Floridas to the United States. 
 The sixth article of this treaty provided that ''the inhab- 
 
268 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 itants of the territories ceded to the United States should 
 be incorporated into the Union of the United States, as 
 soon as might be consistent with the principles of the Fed- 
 eral Constitution, and admitted to the enjoyment of all the 
 privileges, rights, and immunities of the citizens of the 
 United States." 
 
 The eighth article provided ''that all the grants of land 
 made before the 24th of January, 181 8, by Spain, should 
 be ratified and confirmed to the same extent that the same 
 grants would be valid if the territories had remained under 
 the dominion of Spain." 
 
 The ninth article provided that " the United States would 
 cause satisfaction to be made for the injuries, if any, which 
 by process of law should be established to have been suf- 
 fered by the Spanish officers and individual Spanish inhab- 
 itants by the late operations of the American army in 
 Florida." 
 
 These articles of the treaty have given validity to what 
 are now known as Spanish grants and claims for losses, in 
 which so many of the people of Florida were interested. 
 
 The treaty was finally ratified on the 19th of February, 
 1 82 1. The change of flags in East Florida took place at 
 St. Augustine, loth of July, 1821, under Governor Cop- 
 pinger on the part of Spain, and Colonel Robert Butler 
 on the part of the United States ; in West Florida, at 
 Pensacola, on the 21st of July, 1821, Governor Callava 
 representing the Spanish government and General Jackson 
 that of the United States. 
 
CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 Organization of the Territory of Florida — Condition of the Indians — 
 Treaty of Fort Moultrie — Indian Agency — Treaty of Payne's Land- 
 ing — Collisions between the Races. 
 
 1821— 1833. 
 
 Upon the change of flags the civil administration of 
 affairs devolved upon the military authorities until the 
 passage of an act of Congress, on the 3d of March, 1822, 
 for the establishment of a territorial government in Florida, 
 which provided that the territory ceded by Spain to the 
 United States, known by the name of East and West Flo- 
 rida, should constitute a Territory of the United States, 
 known by the name of the Territory of Florida. The gov- 
 ernment was to be administered by a governor appointed 
 by the President, who was to be ex-oificio Superintendent 
 of Indian Affairs, and aathorized to appoint all local 
 officers. The legislative power was vested in the governor 
 and in " thirteen of the most fit and discreet persons of the 
 Territory," to be called the ^'Legislative Council," to be 
 appointed annually by the President. The judicial power 
 was vested in two superior courts, one for each division of 
 the Territory. The governor was allowed a salary of two 
 thousand five hundred dollars, the secretary fifteen hun- 
 dred dollars, and the judges of the superior courts fifteen 
 hundred dollars each; members of the Council three dol- 
 
 23* C 269 ) 
 
2 70 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 lars per day. The first governor appointed was William 
 P. Duval, of Kentucky. The first Legislative Council mety 
 at 'Pensacola, in June, 1822. An amended act of Con- 
 gress, relative to the civil government of Florida, was 
 passed 3d March, 1823, and the second session of the 
 Legislative Council was held at St. Augustine. At the 
 session of 1822 West Florida was divided into two coun- 
 ties, Escambia and Jackson, and East Florida into the 
 counties of St. John's and Duval. 
 
 Dr. William H. Simmons and John Lee Williams, Esq., 
 were appointed commissioners to select a site for the seat 
 of government. They chose the old Indian fields of Tal- 
 lahassee, then covered in part by a noble growth of live- 
 oaks and magnolias, and in the vicinity of a beautiful cas- 
 cade, which has long since disappeared. Their choice was 
 approved by the Council in October, 1823, and the seat of 
 government permanently established, retaining, with great 
 good taste, the euphonious Indian name of Tallahassee. The 
 first house was erected in the new capital in the spring of 
 1824, and the construction of the State-house began in 
 
 1826, but was not completed for many years. Gadsden 
 and Monroe Counties were established in 1824, and sub- 
 sequently Walton, Leon, Alachua, and Nassau. In 1825, 
 Washington and Mosquito Counties were established. In 
 
 1827, Jefferson County, and, in 1828, Hamilton and Madi- 
 son Counties were set off from Jefferson. 
 
 The settlement of the country would have progressed 
 much more rapidly but for the difficulty of disposing of the 
 Indians, who occupied so large a portion of the country. 
 
 The acquisition of Florida was regarded as a matter of 
 great national importance, occupying, as it did, so large a 
 portion of the Southern coast-line, and rendering its pos- 
 session by an unfriendly power hazardous to the commerce 
 of all the States bordering on the Mississippi and the Gulf 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 271 
 
 of Mexico. It was also regarded with much interest as 
 adding to the United States a tropical region, beyond the 
 limits of frost, where the sugar-cane and tropical fruits could 
 be cultivated. 
 
 The change of flags in Florida transferred the Indian 
 tribes from the mild and timid control, almost nominal in 
 its character, of the Spanish governors, to the exacting and 
 ever-encroaching domination of the Americans. The pre- 
 vious difficulties, caused by the irruptions oT the Georgians 
 under Harris and Matthews, had created a strong feeling of 
 repugnance between the Indians and the border white men. 
 The Indians had so long remained in undisputed control of 
 the country that they had never realized that any authority 
 could be exercised superior to their own, and understood 
 nothing of the idea of a sovereignty over their domain by 
 any government or power. The chastisement inflicted 
 upon them by General Jackson had considerably broken 
 their power and diminished their numbers, but they still 
 occupied the whole interior of Florida. The Spanish set- 
 tlement had never extended far from the coast in the neigh- 
 borhood of St. Augustine and Amelia Island on the east, 
 and Pensacola on the west, while all the extensive range of 
 country lying between the Cape of Florida on the south, 
 the St. Mary's River on the north, and the Perdido on the 
 west, some eight hundred miles in extent, was occupied by 
 the tribes of Seminoles or Miccosukies. 
 
 The Miccosukies were considered to be the original 
 occupants of the country, and th^ Seminoles were, as their 
 name indicates, runaways from the Creek tribes living 
 along the Chattahoochee River. A considerable number 
 came into Florida in the year 1750, under Secoffee, a noted 
 Creek chief, and settled in Alachua, the central part of the 
 peninsula, a country possessing many very attractive fea- 
 tures to an Indian. Secoffee left two sons, who became 
 
2 72 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 head chiefs, Payne and Bowlegs. In 1808 another band of 
 Creeks settled in the vicinity of Tallahassee.* 
 
 The parent nation, originally called Muscogees or Creeks, 
 was one of the most powerful tribes of natives on the con- 
 tinent ; their villages, sometimes numbering two thousand 
 souls, extending along the whole course of the Apalachi- 
 cola and Chattahoochee Rivers. 
 
 The Seminoles were never very numerous, but occupied 
 a vast extent of country. William Bartram, the celebrated 
 botanist, visited a considerable part of the Indian country 
 nearly a century since, in 1773, and gives this flattering 
 account of the Seminoles in that day : 
 
 "They possess all of East Florida and a large part of 
 West Florida, countries which, divided as they are by 
 nature into innumerable islands, hills, and marshes, marked 
 with many rivers, lakes, streams, and vast prairies, offer 
 such a number of desirable localities convenient for settle- 
 ment and inaccessible to enemies. This country, so irreg- 
 ular in its form, and so well watered, furnishes, besides, so 
 great a quantity of the means of subsistence for wild ani- 
 mals, that I do not hesitate to say that no part of the world 
 contains so much game, and so many animals suitable for 
 the support of man. 
 
 " Surrounded with this great abundance, guaranteed from 
 all extraneous attacks, the inhabitants of this region pos- 
 sess the two great requirements for men in their union as a 
 society, — security for person and for property. With the 
 skins of the deer, the bear, the tiger, and the wolf, they 
 purchase from the traders clothing and other necessary 
 articles. They have no wishes to gratify, or wants for 
 which they are required to provide ; no enemies to fear, 
 no disquietudes, unless such as they may entertain from the 
 
 * Sprague's Florida War, 19. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 273 
 
 continual progress of the white settlements. Content and 
 tranquil, they seem as free from care as the birds of the 
 air ; like them they are light and volatile, like them they 
 sing and coo. The Seminole presents the picture of per- 
 fect happiness. The joy, the internal content, the tender 
 love, and the generous friendship, are imprinted on his 
 very countenance, they show themselves in his demeanor 
 and in his gestures, they seem to form his habitual state of 
 existence, and to be a part of his nature, for their impress 
 only departs from him with life."* 
 
 A pressure of interest was brought to bear upon Con- 
 gress and the President, immediately after the cession of 
 Florida to the United States, in order to have the country 
 thrown open to settlement. 
 
 According to the usual practice, the governor was made 
 Superintendent of Indian Affairs, and an Indian Agent ap- 
 pointed. Both were gentlemen of high character and un- 
 blemished reputation, and were, moreover, imbued with a 
 very warm degree of sympathy for the Indians and a deter- 
 mination to protect them from aggression. The Indian 
 Agent was Colonel Gad Humphreys, who had served with 
 credit in the war with Great Britain. 
 
 The number of Indians in Florida, in the year 1822, was 
 ascertained to be about four thousand, with perhaps one 
 thousand negroes associated with them as slaves or other- 
 wise. They had scattered villages throughout the territory, 
 with an inconsiderable amount of land in cultivation, their 
 main dependence being hunting and fishing. 
 
 The first demand made by citizens of the States adjoin- 
 ing Florida, was that the Indians of Florida should be re- 
 moved from the northern and western part of the Territory 
 and restricted within narrower limits. Efforts were at 
 
 •^ Bartram's Voyages, Paris edition, vol. i. p. 363. 
 
2 74 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 once made by Colonel Humphreys, under the direction of 
 the government, to obtain the meeting of a council of the 
 principal chiefs, for the purpose of making a treaty on this 
 subject. 
 
 A considerable number were induced to assemble at Fort 
 Moultrie, six miles below St. Augustine, on the i8th Sep- 
 tember, 1823, where they were met by Governor W. P. 
 Duval, James Gadsden, and Bernardo Segui, as commis- 
 sioners on the part of the United States, and a treaty, 
 called the Treaty of Fort Moultrie, was negotiated, by 
 which the Indians agreed to remove within certain limits, 
 the northern line of which was about twenty miles south 
 of Micanopy, the United States agreeing to compensate 
 them for all improvements they might abandon. A bonus 
 of six thousand dollars was to be paid them, and an annuity 
 of five thousand dollars per year for twenty years. The 
 treaty was signed by a majority of the chiefs, but six of the 
 most influential had to be conciliated by further conces- 
 sions and liberty to retain their improvements. , 
 
 Colonel Humphreys established his agency at Fort King, 
 in the midst of the Indian settlements, and remained in 
 charge of the agency until March, 1830, maintaining, dur- 
 ing the whole period, a sincere and earnest championship 
 for the rights of the people committed to his charge. 
 
 The usual difficulties attended the progress of the settle- 
 ment of the country : the Indians stood in the way of the 
 white settlers, who regarded them with an unfriendly eye. 
 They, moreover, did not confine themselves to their limits, 
 and thus gave ground for complaint. As the population of 
 the country increased, a desire grew up to have the Indians 
 entirely removed from the Territory. 
 
 The Legislature memorialized Congress, asking their 
 speedy removal from the Territory, and "that commis- 
 sioners should be appointed to hold a new treaty with 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 275 
 
 them, stipulating for their immediate removal to the new 
 country west of the Mississippi." 
 
 A considerable number of negroes were living with the 
 Indians, mostly runaways. The parties from whom they 
 had escaped were desirous of reclaiming them. The de- 
 mand was resisted by the Indians, and hence difficulties 
 continually arose. 
 
 On the 29th October, 1828, a talk was held at McKen- 
 zie's Pond, by Colonel G. Humphreys, Indian Agent, with 
 Hicks, head chief, and a number of other chiefs, sub-chiefs, 
 and warriors, for the purpose of prevailing on the chiefs 
 of the Seminoles to send a delegation to examine the coun- 
 try west of the Mississippi, which it was proposed by the 
 government to give to the Indians of Florida. At this talk 
 it was determined by the chiefs that ''they would organize 
 a deputation for that purpose, to start early the ensuing 
 spring, provided the agent himself would accompany the 
 deputation on its tour of exploration; that their expenses 
 should be paid ; and provided, further, that nothing should 
 be inferred from the journey of said deputation in the 
 character of an obligation on the nation (or any part of 
 it) to remove to the country visited by said deputation ; 
 and that such removal was not to be expected from them 
 unless of their own free will and accord, after making the 
 proposed examination." 
 
 This proposition of the Indians was transmitted to the 
 Indian Bureau, but no action was had upon it. Procrasti- 
 nation discouraged the Indians, who soon after declared 
 their determination to remain upon the land.* 
 
 The relations with the Indians became more and more 
 troublesome. The interior of Florida was a fine grazing 
 country, and stock-raising was exceedingly profitable, and 
 
 * Spiague's Florida War, 65." 
 
276 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 was the readiest employment, as well as the most lucrative, 
 to which the white settlers could give their attention. The 
 Indians remained in the best grazing region, and they also 
 owned considerable stock. This stock, both hogs and cattle, 
 was only to be recognized by marks and brands; and, for 
 the purpose of marking and branding, the cattle were 
 gathered every spring by the cattle-drivers. Of course 
 they did not always get up all the stock they had a claim 
 to, and left in the woods a considerable number of wild 
 cattle, unmarked, and called in the Florida vernacular 
 heretics and wild hogs. Collisions and difficulties grew 
 out of the disputed ownership of cattle, and invasions of 
 each other's limits in pursuit of stock were frequent. All 
 losses were naturally charged upon the Indians, and com- 
 plaints were unceasingly made, and demands of indemnity. 
 Another source of trouble was the harboring of fugitive 
 slaves in the Indian towns. From a long period anterior 
 to the change of flags, runaway negroes from Georgia and 
 South Carolina had joined the Indians, and, by intermar- 
 riage, had become connected with and intermingled with 
 them. They naturally received, and were disposed to pro- 
 tect, the runaways who might escape from the neighboring 
 white settlements. The negroes were so numerous among 
 the Seminoles in 181 6 that at the destruction of the negro 
 fort on the Apalachicola, by the United States troops, there 
 were three hundred in the fort who were killed or captured ; 
 and some five hundred negroes were engaged in the battle 
 at Suwanee Old Town, in 1818. Their number in 1836 
 was estimated at fourteen hundred.* It is said by many 
 familiar with the subject that they exercised a very power- 
 ful influence over the Indians ; and they certainly added a 
 very important difficulty to the many others involved in 
 negotiations with the Indians. 
 
 •^ Gidding. Exiles of Florida, p. 97. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 277 
 
 A restlessness and distrust began to pervade both the 
 Indians and white settlers, and a constant pressure began 
 towards an enforced emigration of the Indians to the West. 
 The Indian tribes remaining in Georgia were also a subject 
 of annoyance to the people of that State, and a feeling had 
 grown up and was then generally entertained in the South 
 and Southwest, that all these Indian tribes should be re- 
 moved to the west of the Mississippi. 
 
 The prevalence of intoxication, induced by the fondness 
 of the Indians for strong liquors, and promoted by the un- 
 principled venders of this poison, from the sale of which 
 they not only derived ^large profits, but still larger advan- 
 tages from the trades consummated with drunken Indians 
 for their property while in a state of inebriation, occasioned 
 numberless petty difficulties and brawls, which laid up in 
 the Indian mind revengeful memories. 
 
 The agent. Colonel Humphreys, was accused of being 
 too partial to the Indians, — certainly not a common charge, 
 — and influences were brought to bear, at Washington, by 
 which his removal was effected in 1830. 
 
 He was succeeded by Mr. John Phagan. The secretary 
 and acting governor of the Territory, in an official letter 
 dated 5th November, 1833, said that he found, on his 
 visit to the agency, evidences of fraud and improper con- 
 duct on the part of Major Phagan ; that he had sub-con- 
 tracts with employees of the agency for much less than the 
 amount they receipted for to the government, and that 
 even then he was a defaulter to them."^' It may there- 
 fore be presumed that his character and conduct would 
 have been unsatisfactory to the Indians. 
 
 The proposals made m" Colonel Humphreys, to send a 
 delegation West, were revived, and after many delays 
 
 * Sprague's History of the Florula War, p. 72. 
 
278 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Major Phagan succeeded in getting together a respectable 
 portion of the chiefs of the Seminoles at Payne's Landing, 
 a point on the Ocklavvaha near Orange Springs, on the 9th 
 of May, 1832, where they were met by Colonel James 
 Gadsden, as a commissioner on the part of the United 
 States, and the treaty of Payne's Landing was formed. 
 
 The preamble to this treaty recites that the Seminole 
 Indians, regarding with just respect the solicitude mani- 
 fested by the President of the United States for the im- 
 provement of their condition, by recommending a removal 
 to a country more suitable to their habits and wants than 
 Florida, are willing that their confidential chiefs, Jumper, 
 Fuch-lus-to-had-jo, Charley Emathla, Coi-had-jo, Holati 
 Emathla, Ya-ha-had-jo, and Sam Jones, accompanied by 
 their agent. Major John Phagan, and their faithful inter- 
 preter, Abraham, should be sent, at the expense of the 
 United States, to examine the country assigned to the Creeks 
 west of the Mississippi River, and should they be satisfied 
 with the character of the country, and of the favorable dis- 
 position of the Creeks to reunite with the Seminoles as 
 one people, the articles of the compact and agreement 
 herein stipulated at Payne's Landing, on the Ocklawaha 
 River, the ninth day of May, 1832, between James Gads- 
 den for and on behalf of the United States, and the 
 undersigned chiefs and head - men for and in behalf of 
 the Seminole Indians, shall be binding on the respective 
 parties. 
 
 The first article surrendered their lands in Florida for an 
 equal extent of country west of the Mississippi. 
 
 The second article stipulated for the payment of the 
 sum of fifteen thousand four hundred dollars, to be divided 
 among them. 
 
 The third article provided for giving a blanket, etc. to 
 each, on their arrival at their destination. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 279 
 
 The fourth article gave an annuity of three thousand 
 dollars for ten years. 
 
 The fifth article provided for the payment by the United 
 States for their cattle. 
 
 The sixth was as follows : — 
 
 "The Seminoles being anxious to be relieved from the 
 repeated vexatious demands for slaves and other property 
 alleged to have been stolen and destroyed by them, so that 
 they may remove unembarrassed to their new homes, the 
 United States stipulate to have the same (properly) inves- 
 tigated, and to liquidate such as may be satisfactorily es- 
 tablished, provided the amount does not exceed seven 
 thousand ($7000) dollars." 
 
 The seventh article provided that the Indians would re- 
 move within three years after the ratification of this agree- 
 ment, the emigration to commence as early as practicable 
 in the year 1833, and the remainder of the Indians in equal 
 proportions in the years 1834 and 1835.* 
 
 The language of the preamble, it will be observed, is 
 that the Indians are willing that their confidential chiefs, 
 Jumper, etc., shall be sent out to examine the country 
 west of the Mississippi River, and if they were satisfied 
 with it, then the articles of the treaty relative to their re- 
 moval should be binding on the respective parties. What- 
 ever may have been the understanding and intention of 
 the Indians, the language used is susceptible of but one 
 construction : the pronoun they must necessarily relate to 
 the confidential chiefs just before named, and does not 
 sustain Captain (now General) Sprague's remark that ''the 
 fulfillment of the treaty was clearly conditional. If the In- 
 dians, that is, the nation, were satisfied with the country, 
 
 * For the complete text of the treaty, see Sprague's History of the 
 Florida War, 75. 
 
28o HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 as represented by those sent to explore it, a voluntary 
 emigration would take place." (Page 76.) Even Mr. Gid- 
 dings, with his strong desire to censure the whole transac- 
 tion, does not attempt to raise any question as to the plain 
 language of the treaty, merely referring to it as vague 
 language. * 
 
 The confidential chiefs, or Indian Commissioners, as they 
 may properly be called, commenced their journey in Sep- 
 tember, 1832, accompanied by Major Phagan, their agent, 
 and were engaged in examining the country west of Ar- 
 kansas until the last of March, 1833, — ^ period, one would 
 suppose, permitting of a very careful examination. 
 
 The executive, acting upon the plain language of the 
 treaty, appointed Messrs. Montfort Stokes, H. L. Ells- 
 worth, and J. F. Schermerhorn commissioners on the part 
 of the United States to meet the confidential chiefs, who 
 had been appointed by the Seminoles, at Fort Gibson, to 
 ascertain the result of their examination, and, if satis- 
 factory, to make such other arrangements as might be 
 deemed requisite to carry the treaty into effect. What is 
 called an ''additional treaty" was made at Fort Gibson on 
 the 28th day of March, 1833, by the aforenamed com- 
 missioners on the part of the United States, and by Jumper 
 and all the other delegates of the Seminole nation of 
 Indians on the part of said nation. The preamble recites 
 the principal provisions of the treaty of Payne's Landing, 
 and says that ''Whereas, the special delegation appointed 
 by the Seminoles on the 9th of May, 1832, have since ex- 
 amined the land designated for them by the undersigned 
 commissioners on behalf of the United States, and have 
 expressed themselves satisfied with the same, in and by 
 their letter dated March, 1833, addressed to the under- 
 
 * Exiles of Florida, p. 84. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 281 
 
 signed commissioners: Now, therefore, the commissioners 
 aforesaid, by virtue of the treaty made with the Creek 
 Indians on the 14th February, 1833, hereby designate and 
 assign to the Seminole tribe of Indians, for their separate 
 future residence forever, a tract of land lying between the 
 Canadian River and the North Fork thereof, and extending 
 west to where a line, running north and south between the 
 main Canadian and north branch thereof, will strike the 
 forks of Little River ; and the undersigned Seminole chiefs, 
 delegated as aforesaid on behalf of their nation, hereby 
 declare themselves well satisfied with the location provided 
 for them by the commissioners, and agree that their nation 
 shall commence the removal to their new home as soon as 
 the government will make arrangements for their emigra- 
 tion satisfactory to the Seminole nation."* 
 
 This treaty was ratified by the Senate of the United 
 States, as was also that of Pa)^ne's Landing. 
 
 Looking at the transaction as it appears upon its face, 
 there seems no ground to assume anything but good faith 
 and fair dealing on the part of the government. The 
 country designated for the Seminoles was as fertile and as 
 well situated for their support as the one they surrendered. 
 The climate was colder, and their favorite light-wood was 
 wanting; they were, however, relieved of the vexatious 
 and increasing hostility of their white neighbors ; they had 
 a boundless region lying west of them, and game, including 
 the buffalo, in the greatest abundance. 
 
 It is said that, when they returned, the nation was dis- 
 satisfied with what they had done, and that they disowned 
 their own acts ; that the Seminoles charged them with 
 having been circumvented by the United States. Some of 
 those who had signed the treaty, in deference to the pop- 
 
 * Sprague's Florida War, p. 77. 
 
282 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 iilar clamor, became the warmest opponents of removal, 
 and in the war which succeeded took arms against the gov- 
 ernment. All this may be true, without there being any 
 cause for reflection upon the government or its agents. The 
 removal of the Indian tribes from the States fast settling up 
 with the white race was a necessity, unless the richest and 
 most productive portions of the United States were to be 
 surrendered to them as hunting-grounds. Five thousand 
 Indians were scattered over a country equaling in extent the 
 State of New York. In Georgia and Alabama the Indian 
 tribes still lingered, and there were continually influences at 
 work to induce the Indians to hold possession of the country 
 and to resist all attempts at removal. It is easy, in every 
 community, for the young, the thoughtless, the restless, 
 and the foolish to create resistance to a wise policy or a neces- 
 sity, and to raise a clamor which passes for the voice of 
 the people, when, in fact, it is but the noise of the few 
 prevailing over the silence of the many. Thus it was in 
 Florida; young warriors, who had no experience in war- 
 fare, restless men, who desired excitement, and the run- 
 away negroes, who believed their security imperiled by 
 emigration, excited a resistance which the older men and 
 chiefs had little part in organizing, but had no power to 
 withstand. 
 
 The treaty and additional treaty were ratified by the 
 Senate on the 9th of April, 1834, and a proclamation to 
 that effect was issued by President Jackson on the 12th of 
 April, 1834. 
 
 Measures were at once taken to effect the removal of the 
 Indians. Major Phagan, the Agent, was superseded by 
 General Wiley Thompson, and Colonel Duncan L. Clinch, 
 an experienced army officer, was placed in command of the 
 United States forces. 
 
 General Thompson was informed, in October, 1834, by 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 283 
 
 the United States officers in command at Fort King, of the 
 determination of the influential chiefs not to emigrate, and 
 of the hostility felt towards Charley Emathla, who had 
 declared himself in favor of emigration. 
 
 Violent language was used by some of the chiefs in a 
 council called by General Thompson, and Osceola drew 
 his knife in anger, and, driving it into the table, said, 
 ''The only treaty I Avill execute is with this." As he was 
 only a sub-chief of the Red Sticks, and a half-breed of in- 
 ferior standing, this something like stage- trick attracted but 
 little attention. 
 
 The negroes exercised, it is asserted, a wonderful control,* 
 and they undoubtedly added very much to the barbarity 
 and savage manner with which the war was prosecuted. 
 
 The subject of emigration was, of course, a constant 
 topic of conversation, and, when at the Agency, the In- 
 dians were impudent, and treated the matter of their re- 
 moval with ridicule. Charley Emathla alone, of the old 
 chiefs, took decided ground in favor of emigration, and 
 pointed out to the Indians the destruction and eventual 
 defeat which awaited them. 
 
 General Thompson, in a report to the Secretary of War, 
 of October, 1834, says that he had observed that the 
 Indians were buying powder in considerable quantities, and 
 he understood that they had a deposit of forty or fifty 
 kegs. In November, he writes that he is satisfied that they 
 have been tampered with by designing and unprincipled 
 whites. 
 
 * Sprague's Florida War, 81. 
 
CHAPTER XX. 
 
 Hostile Disposition of the Indians — Murder of General Thompson, 
 Indian Agent — Massacre of Major Dade's Command — Battle of the 
 Withlacoochee — General Scott's Campaign. 
 
 1834— 1836. 
 
 As time elapsed, it became evident to the Indian Agent 
 and the military and civil officers in Florida that the In- 
 dians had determined not to emigrate, and would altogether 
 repudiate the treaty of Payne's Landing and the supple- 
 mentary treaty of Fort Gibson. Ten companies of troops 
 were placed at General Clinch's disposal, to enforce the 
 provisions of the treaty. In February, 1835, the Secretary 
 of War directed General Clinch to fully explain to the 
 Indians the determination of the government to insist upon 
 their removal, and that they should be made fully aware 
 of the consequences of resistance, and then, ''if neces- 
 sary, let actual force be employed and their removal 
 effected." 
 
 General Jackson, then President of the United States, 
 sent a ''talk" to be read to the chiefs, urging their com- 
 pliance with the treaty. Preparations for supplies, trans- 
 portation, etc. were made by the War Department, upon a 
 scale supposed to be fully equal to any probable require- 
 ment. 
 
 On the 24th of April, 1835, another council was held at 
 the Indian Agency, which was attended by Colonel Clinch 
 ( 284 ) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 28s 
 
 and General Thompson, the Agent, and by a large number 
 of the influential chiefs. The chiefs had agreed, before- 
 hand, to interpose an unqualified negative to the proposal 
 for their removal. On their assembling, Jumper acted as 
 their mouthpiece, and declared their determination to re- 
 main in Florida. General Thompson responded with some 
 warmth, which led to recriminations, and a scene of con- 
 fusion ensued. General Clinch interposed, and urged their 
 fulfillment of the treaty, telling them of his orders to use 
 his troops to enforce it. Eight of the chiefs came forward 
 and agreed to emigrate, and five refused to abide by it ; 
 these were Sam Jones, Jumper, Micanopy, Alligator, and 
 Black Dirt. General Thompson at once struck the names 
 of these five from the roll of chiefs, which created great 
 ill feeling and was a most injudicious step, afterwards dis- 
 approved of by the Secretary of War and the President. 
 At the solicitation of the eight chiefs, the time for prepara- 
 tion for removal was extended until the ist of January fol- 
 lowing, when they promised that they would assemble at 
 the points designated for their embarkation. The Indians 
 seemed quieted, for a time at leasts but hoAv far they acted 
 in good faith in making this promise is more than ques- 
 tionable, and it seems quite probable that they sought 
 nothing more than the delay necessary to secure their crops 
 and ammunition and mature their plans. They continued 
 to purchase ammunition and arms, until an order was 
 issued by the Agent forbidding the sale of these articles to 
 the Indians. This the Indians regarded as an act of hos- 
 tility and an insult. Osceola was refused the privilege of 
 purchasing pow^der, and in a burst of savage indignation 
 exclaimed, "Am I a negro — a slave ? My skin is dark, but 
 not black ! I am an Indian — a Seminole ! The white man 
 shall not make me black ! I will make the white man red 
 w^ith blood, and then blacken him in the sun and rain, 
 
2 86 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 where the wolf shall smell of his bones and the buzzard 
 live upon his flesh !" 
 
 This daring and impetuous leader was frequently at the 
 Agency, comporting himself with reserve and sullenness, 
 and using violent and intemperate language, and, on one 
 occasion, carried his disrespect to General Thompson to 
 such an extent that it was deemed necessary to arrest him 
 and confine him in irons several days, until he professed 
 to be penitent : on the solicitation of other chiefs he was 
 released. He then expressed an entire willingness to emi- 
 grate, and subsequently brought in seventy of his followers, 
 who made the same pledge. 
 
 In October, Major Llewellyn Williams and six of his 
 neighbors discovered a party of Indians near the Canna- 
 pa-ha Pond, butchering a beef. As the Indians were a 
 long distance outside of their boundaries, the white party 
 disarmed them and flogged some of them, but one escaped, 
 and two Indian hunters coming up fired on the party of 
 Major Williams. A skirmish ensued, in which two of the 
 Indians were killed, and three of the white men wounded, 
 one mortally. 
 
 About the same time, the express-rider from Tampa Bay 
 to Fort King was murdered by the Indians. 
 
 Charley Emathla had commenced his preparations for 
 removal, and gathered his cattle for appraisement and sale. 
 Osceola, at the head of a party of Miccosukies, met the 
 old chief on the trail to his village, in the latter part of 
 November, and shot him down. A friendly chief, with a 
 large number of women and children, now sought protec- 
 tion at Tampa Bay. 
 
 General Clinch asked for additional troops, and fourteen 
 companies were directed to report to him from various 
 military posts. The estimated number of Indians was 
 three thousand, including women, children, and negroes. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 287 
 
 and, in all, from four to five hundred fighting-men. The 
 number of Indians was very greatly underestimated, as the 
 government soon ascertained ; but upon their estimate the 
 force placed under command of General Clinch seemed 
 ample to compel submission. The ignorance of the gov- 
 ernment agents as to the real number of the Indians in 
 Florida seems strange, considering the intercourse main- 
 tained through the Indian Agency and the traders. The 
 error was a very fatal one, and the remissness of the War 
 Department, in not sending troops in sufficient numbers as 
 soon as the hostile intentions of the Indians were known, 
 was very censurable. The authorities at Washington 
 seem hardly to have comprehended the warlike char- 
 acter of the Seminoles, or their powers of resistance. It 
 is not surprising that this supineness of the government 
 should have emboldened the Indians, the majority of whom 
 were too young to recall the campaign of Jackson in 1818. 
 They had never seen more than a few companies of troops, 
 and had learned to despise the supposed feebleness of the 
 government of the United States, while the many councils 
 and "talks" held with them, to persuade them into acquies- 
 cence, undoubtedly seemed to betoken conscious weakness. 
 Osceola had dissembled his real feelings and intentions 
 to such a degree as to deceive the agent and people into the 
 belief of his sincerity ; but, brooding over his arrest and 
 imprisonment, he thirsted for revenge. Gathering a band 
 of some twenty of his followers, he approached the Indian 
 Agency, seeking an opportunity to glut his vengeance. 
 For two or three days no opportunity presented itself; but, 
 on the afternoon of the 28th of December, General Thomp- 
 son walked out after dinner in company with Lieutenant Con- 
 stantine Smith, enjoying a cigar. The day being pleasant, 
 they extended their walk towards the military sutler's, some 
 distance from the fort. Unsuspicious of danger, they were 
 
288 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 already covered by the watchful eyes and unerring rifles of 
 Osceola and his companions. At a given signal, the whole 
 number of Indians fired upon them. General Thompson 
 and the lieutenant fell, pierced by many balls. The In- 
 dians rushed out with a yell, and scalped and mutilated 
 their victims within sight of the fort. Proceeding to the 
 sutler's store, they fired upon the party within, and, after 
 scalping them and cutting in pieces their bodies, set fire to 
 the building. 
 
 The force in the fort consisted of only forty-six men, 
 and it was supposed that the number of attacking Indians 
 was much larger. It was consequently deemed imprudent 
 to weaken the garrison by sending out any portion of the 
 troops. Osceola and his band, however, contemplated 
 nothing further than the destruction of the agent. General 
 ThompscRi, and the sutler, Mr. Rogers, who had probably 
 also incurred their enmity. The Indians left immediately 
 after they had fired the sutler's store. 
 
 Major Francis L. Dade, of the 4th Infantry, had been 
 ordered from Key West to Fort Brooke, and on the 21st of 
 December arrived at Tampa Bay, with Company A of his 
 regiment, thirty-nine men, and a small supply of ammuni- 
 tion. To this force was joined Captain Gardiner's company, 
 C, of 2d Artillery, and Frazer's company, B, 3d Artillery, 
 fifty men each. This force was directed to proceed to Fort 
 King to strengthen that post. The distance was about one 
 hundred and thirty miles, and the route lay through an 
 entirely unsettled country. No one connected with the 
 expedition being acquainted with the country, Major Dade 
 secured the services of a negro slave named Lewis, be- 
 longing to a sutler of the name of Antonio Pacheco.* 
 
 * Giddings's Exiles of Florida, p. loi. Mr. Giddings makes a very 
 pretty romance out of this negro Lewis, Avho must have been, by his 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 289 
 
 This guide, it is said, informed the Indians of the date of 
 departure and the intended route, with the view of afford- 
 ing them a favorable opportunity of making an attack. The 
 point of rendezvous agreed upon by the Seminole leaders 
 was the Big Wahoo Swamp. Osceola, however, had de- 
 termined to first wreak his vengeance upon General Thomp- 
 son, which he so successfully accomplished. 
 
 The troops under Major Dade commenced their march 
 on the 24th of December. The officers attached to the 
 command were Major F. L. Dade, 4th Infantry, Captain 
 S. Gardiner, Second Lieutenant W. E. Basinger, Second 
 Lieutenant R. Henderson, 2d Artillery, Captain U. S. 
 Frazer, Second Lieutenant R. R. Mudge, Second Lieuten- 
 ant J. L. Reals, 3d Artillery, Assistant Surgeon J. S. Gat- 
 lin, and about one hundred men belonging to the 4th 
 Infantry and 2d and 3d Artillery. One six-pounder field- 
 piece and one light wagon, with ten days' provisions, ac- 
 companied them. On reaching the Hillsborough River 
 they were delayed some time on account of the bridge 
 having been burned by the Indians. 
 
 On the 2 7th they reached the Withlacoochee, and camped. 
 The next morning they continued their march through an 
 open pine country, and in apparent security, utterly unap- 
 prehensive of danger. Their road was skirted, however, 
 by the low palmetto, which afforded a covert for the In- 
 dians, who were stationed on the west side of the road, 
 where it passed near a pond. The troops were marching 
 along in open order, and extending a considerable dis- 
 tance. The Indians, posted near trees, and well concealed, 
 
 account, an Admirable Crichton. " He had been well bred, was polite, 
 accomplished, and learned. lie read, wrote, and spoke with facility 
 the Spanish, French, and English languages, and spoke the Indian." 
 This accomplished negro, it is said, had formerly belonged to Genera 
 Clinch. He was the subject of the celebrated Pacheco Claim' in 1848. 
 
 25 
 
 L 
 
290 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 were to await the signal of attack, to be given by Mica- 
 nopy, when each should select his object. They were 
 mostly within a distance of thirty or forty yards, and, of 
 course, their fire could hardly fail to be destructive. 
 Nearly half the command fell at the first fire, which, pro- 
 ceeding from an unseen foe, gave no opportunity of seek- 
 ing shelter from, or returning it. The number of Indians 
 engaged was, according to the report of Alligator, one 
 hundred and eighty warriors, and, having secured the ad- 
 vantage of the loss inflicted by the first fire, they were 
 enabled to reload. 
 
 Those who escaped the first discharge took shelter be- 
 hind trees, and Lieutenant Basinger poured in five or six 
 rounds of canister upon the Indians, which checked them 
 for some time. They retreated over a small ridge and dis- 
 appeared. Captain Frazer was killed at the first fire ; 
 Lieutenant Mudge was mortally wounded, and Lieutenant 
 Reals had both arms broken ; they were bound up, and he 
 reclined against some logs until he was killed late in the 
 action. Lieutenant Henderson had his left arm broken, 
 but continued to load and fire his piece until late in the 
 second attack, when he too was killed. Captain Gardiner, 
 Lieutenant Basinger, and Dr. Gatlin were the only officers 
 who escaped unhurt by the first volley. 
 
 On the retreat of the Indians, Captain Gardiner com- 
 menced the erection of the breastwork of pine-trees. In 
 about three-quarters of an hour the Indians returned to the 
 attack and commenced a cross-fire on the breastwork with 
 deadly execution. Lieutenant Basinger continued to fire 
 the six-pounder until all the men who served the piece were 
 shot. Captain Gardiner at length fell. Dr. Gatlin, with 
 two double-barreled guns, continued to fire on the Indians 
 until he fell, late in the action ; and Lieutenant Basinger 
 was wounded. About two o'clock the last man fell, and 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 291 
 
 the Indians then rushed into the breastwork, headed by a 
 heavy painted savage, who, believing that all were dead, 
 made a speech to the Indians. They then stripped off the 
 accoutrements of the soldiers and took their arms, without 
 offering any indignity, and retired in a body. 
 
 Soon after the Indians had left, about fifty negroes 
 galloped up on horseback and alighted, and at once com- 
 menced a horrible butchery. If any poor fellow on the 
 ground showed signs of life, the negroes stabbed and 
 tomahawked him. Lieutenant Basinger, being still alive, 
 started up and begged the wretches to spare his life ; they 
 mocked at his prayers, while they mangled him with their 
 hatchets until he was relieved by death. 
 
 After stripping the dead, the negroes shot the oxen and 
 burned the gun-carriages. Shortly after the negroes re- 
 tired, a soldier named Wilson, of Captain Gardiner's com- 
 pany, crawled out, and, discovering that Rawson Clark was 
 still alive, asked him to go back to Tampa with him. As 
 he jumped over the breastwork, an Indian shot him. Clark 
 lay down, and at night, with De Coney, another wounded 
 man, made the best of his way to Tampa. The next day, 
 De Coney was killed by an Indian ; Clark concealed him- 
 self in a scrub, and the following day reached Tampa. 
 Another soldier, named Thomas, bribed an Indian and was 
 allowed to escape. 
 
 Captain Hitchcock, with a detachment of troops, passed 
 over the ground on the 20th of February following, and thus 
 describes the appearance of the battle-ground, which had 
 not before been visited by the United States forces : 
 
 "Our advanced guard had passed the ground without 
 halting, when General Gaines and his staff came upon one 
 of the most appalling scenes that can be imagined. We 
 first saw some broken and scattered boxes, then a cart, the 
 two oxen of which were lying dead, as if they had fallen 
 
292 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 asleep, their yokes still on them ; a little to the right, one 
 or two horses were seen. We then came to a small inclo- 
 sure, made by felling trees in such a manner as to form a 
 triangular breastwork for defense. Within the triangle, 
 along the north and west faces of it, were about thirty 
 bodies, mostly mere skeletons, but much of the clothing 
 was left upon them. These were lying, almost every one 
 of them, in precisely the same position they must have 
 occupied during the fight, — their heads next to the logs over 
 which they had delivered their fire, and their bodies 
 stretched, with striking regularity, parallel to each other. 
 They had evidently been shot dead at their posts, and the 
 Indians had not disturbed them, except by taking the scalps 
 of most of them. Passing this little breastwork, we found 
 other bodies along the road, and by the side of the road, 
 generally behind the trees which had been resorted to for 
 covers from the enemy's fire. 
 
 ''Advancing about two hundred yards farther, we found 
 a cluster of bodies in the middle of the road. These were 
 evidently the advanced guard, in the rear of which was 
 the body of Major Dade, and to the right that of Captain 
 Frazer. 
 
 "These were all, doubtless, shot down at the first fire of 
 the Indians, except perhaps Captain Frazer, who must have 
 fallen very early in the fight. Those in the road and by 
 the trees fell during the first attack. It was during the 
 cessation of the fire that the little band still remaining, 
 about thirty in number, threw up the triangular breastwork, 
 which, from the haste with which it was constructed, was 
 necessarily defective, and could not protect the men in the 
 second attack."* 
 
 * For Alligator's account of the massacre, see Sprague's History of 
 the Florida War, p. 90. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 293 
 
 Osceola and his band arrived at the Wahoo Swamp that 
 night, too late to participate in the fight, but in time to 
 assist in the celebration of the victory. 
 
 It was not until some time afterwards that General Clinch 
 learned the fate of Dade's command. It is said, however, 
 that on the next day after the Dade massacre it was known 
 among the negroes in St. Augustine that a terrible slaughter 
 of white troops had taken place in the interior, the news, 
 it is supposed, having been rapidly communicated by 
 Indian runners through the country, and that the Indian 
 negroes sent word to their relatives in St. Augustine. 
 
 The treacherous negro guide, Luis Pacheco, feigned to 
 fall at the first fire, but joined the Indians at the earliest 
 moment, and ever afterwards remained with and aided 
 them, and was eventually sent to Arkansas, where his ac- 
 complishments seem to have been obscured. 
 
 This massacre astounded the country. No such event had 
 ever before occurred in the annals of Indian warfare. That 
 two entire companies of trained and disciplined soldiers, 
 fully armed and in perfect order and equipment, well and 
 bravely officered, with a field-piece at their command, in an 
 open field and under the bright sun of a Florida sky, should 
 be totally cut off and annihilated by a not very numerous 
 band of half-naked savages, was without a parallel. Alli- 
 gator says that he counted the whole Indian force, amount- 
 ing to one hundred and eighty. Captain Hitchcock esti- 
 mated, from the appearance of the ground afterwards, that 
 there must have been three hundred and fifty. The true 
 number will never be known ; but, even supposing the latter 
 estimate correct, it seems at first sight extraordinary that 
 such a number could accomplish the entire destruction of 
 a body of disciplined troops. 
 
 On the ist of December, General Clinch heard of the 
 murder of Charley Emathla, and at once called for volun- 
 
 25* 
 
294 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 teers, and by the 15th several companies from Nassau and 
 Duval Counties joined General Call, with five hundred 
 men from Middle Florida, at Newnansville. On their way 
 to Fort Drane they encountered two small parties of 
 Indians, and reached Fort Drane on the 24th of December, 
 and formed a junction with General Clinch. As the vol- 
 unteers were levied for only one month, the forces were 
 put in motion for the Withlacoochee as soon as Colonel 
 Fanning, with three companies of artillery from Fort King, 
 could join them. These having arrived, the expedition 
 reached the Withlacoochee on the 31st, and most of the 
 troops had succeeded in crossing, when they were attacked 
 by the Indians, who had anticipated their attempt to cross at 
 the usual ford, and were prepared to dispute their passage 
 at that point, where the advantages of position would have 
 been greatly in their favor. 
 
 The Indians had spent the night of the 28th in a drunken 
 carousal, and were perhaps on that account less watchful 
 than usual. General Clinch had only a canoe to cross 
 with, and some of the volunteers swam their horses over, 
 but the larger number, under General Call, were still on 
 the other side of the river when the attack commenced. 
 The force which had crossed consisted of one hundred and 
 ninety-five regulars and twenty-seven volunteers, and that 
 of the Indians of two hundred and fifty, inclusive of thirty 
 negroes, led by Osceola and Alligator. The Indians fought 
 bravely, and the fortune of the day hung for some time in 
 the balance ; the Indians were protected by a heavy ham- 
 mock and scrub, and poured a galling fire upon the troops, 
 who charged twice up to the hammock and fell back, until 
 at length General Clinch dismounted, addressed his men 
 with much feeling, and ordered another charge, which re- 
 sulted in the total rout of the enemy. The battle was 
 fought within three miles of Osceola's town ; and the Indians, 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 295 
 
 fresh from their victory over Major Dade, fought with im- 
 petuosity and great perseverance. The Indian loss in the 
 engagement, so far as known, was five killed and several 
 wounded. The regulars under General Clinch lost four 
 killed and twenty-five wounded, and the volunteers had 
 fifteen wounded. General Clinch had a ball through his 
 cap and another through his sleeve. The time of the vol- 
 unteers being about to expire. General Clinch returned 
 with his command to Fort Drane unmolested. The volun- 
 teers returned home, and General Clinch was left with but 
 one hundred and fifty men to hold the important positions 
 of Fort King, Fort Drane, and Micanopy, and to guard the 
 wagon-trains which were requisite to supply his troops with 
 provisions. 
 
 The settlements in the interior were at once broken up ; 
 and the inhabitants gathered in stockades or fled to the 
 coast. Below St. Augustine, and in the neighborhood of 
 New Smyrna, extensive sugar plantations had been opened. 
 During the month of January, 1836, sixteen plantations, 
 employing from one hundred to two hundred negroes, were 
 entirely destroyed, with all their buildings and improve- 
 ments. The country was desolated in every direction, and 
 many of the settlers, men, women, and children, were ruth- 
 lessly massacred. The Indians made it literally a war to 
 the knife. On the 17th of January, Major Putnam went to 
 Tomoka in command of two companies of militia ; they 
 camped at Dunlawton, and were attacked by a superior 
 force of Indians, under King Philip, and compelled to re- 
 treat. Seventeen of the volunteers were wounded, two 
 mortally, and a son of Hon. Elias B. Gould fell into the 
 hands of the Indians and was killed by them. 
 
 The public mind was thoroughly aroused, and volunteers 
 came in rapidly from the adjoining States. General Clinch 
 w^as authorized to call for and accept any amount of force 
 
296 HIS TOR V OF FL OR ID A . 
 
 he might require from South Carolina, Georgia, and- 
 Alabama. 
 
 General Gaines was on duty at New Orleans at this 
 time, with a considerable force of regular troops at his 
 command. Upon receiving information of the massacre 
 of Major Dade's command, and a report that Fort Brooke, 
 on Tampa Bay, was invested by a force of negroes and 
 Indians, he deemed the emergency so grave that he ought, 
 with the forces at his command, to proceed with all haste 
 to the rescue, without awaiting the slow progress of 
 official orders from Washington. He dispatched a mes- 
 senger to General Clinch, informing him of his inten- 
 tion to leave at once for Fort Brooke with seven 
 hundred men, and that he would be glad to co-operate 
 with General Clinch for the prompt chastisement of the 
 Indians. 
 
 General Gaines embarked at New Orleans on the 3d of 
 February with a force of eleven hundred men, comprising 
 six companies of the 4th Infantry, who were doubtless 
 eager to avenge the loss of their comrades in Major Dade's 
 command, and a regiment of Louisiana volunteers under 
 command of General Persifer Smith. He reached Fort 
 Brooke on the loth, and on the 13th commenced a march 
 across the country to Fort King. He had no means of 
 transportation, and the men carried ten days' rations on 
 their backs. On the 20th they reached the scene of the 
 Dade massacre, and on the 2 2d of February arrived at Fort 
 King, without having seen a hostile Indian, but not with- 
 out having been watched and seen by them. At Fort King 
 he found one company of artillery, with no surplus pro- 
 visions beyond their own rations. General Clinch was at 
 Fort Drane, equally unprovided, and General Gaines found 
 himself far from any base of supplies, almost out of pro- 
 visions. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 297 
 
 . With great chagrin, the generous and gallant soldier and 
 his comrades concluded that no other course was left to 
 them but to return to Fort Brooke, and, to give a fuller 
 exhibition of his force, he concluded to take a return route 
 considerably to the west of the one by which he had come 
 up, having been assured by his guides that a ford could be 
 found lower down the Withlacoochee. On the 27th, he 
 reached this river, and, while searching for the ford, the 
 Indians opened fire from the opposite bank. The river 
 was here some thirty yards wide, deep and rapid. While 
 trying to ascertain the depth of the water, Lieutenant Izard 
 was mortally wounded. The crossing in face of the enemy 
 was found impracticable. Finding a considerable body of 
 Indians in front of him. General Gaines sent an express to 
 General Clinch, desiring him to bring what force and pro- 
 visions he could spare, and co-operate with him in an attack 
 upon them. This General Clinch was unable to do, as he 
 had been superseded in the command of the forces in 
 Florida by General Scott, and was without provisions. 
 
 General Gaines proceeded to strengthen his position, 
 while at the same time he prepared rafts for crossing the 
 river. On the 29th, a vigorous attack was made upon the 
 troops from all sides, which continued for two hours, during 
 which one man was killed, and three officers and thirty of 
 the men wounded. On the 30th, another express was sent to 
 General Clinch, asking for provisions and a reinforcement. 
 Upon the receipt of General Gaines's letter, inclosed to 
 him by General Clinch, General Scott had written to the 
 latter, expressing a considerable amount of pique against 
 General Gaines, applying to him the term interloper, and 
 saying, ''even if you had sufficient stores and means of 
 transportation, I should command you to send no subsist- 
 ence to him, unless to prevent starvation." There seems 
 to have been a strong personal dislike existing between 
 
298 
 
 HIS TOR Y OF FL OR ID A. 
 
 General Scott and General Gaines, which interfered with 
 prompt relief being furnished to the latter. 
 
 General Clinch, however, on receipt of this second mes- 
 sage of General Gaines, and learning the condition of his 
 command, gathered some cattle, and, taking stores from his 
 own plantation, went, with one hmidred men, to his relief. 
 
 General Gaines was now closely besieged for several 
 days; the rations were reduced to a pint of corn per day, 
 and they began to consume their horses and dogs. 
 
 General Clinch reached their camp on the 6th of March, 
 and on the 9th General Gaines turned over the command 
 of his troops to General Clinch, who returned with them 
 to Fort Drane on the loth. A talk had been held between 
 Captain Hitchcock, of General Gaines's staff, and Osceola, 
 Jumper, and Alligator, on the day of General Clinch's 
 arrival, in which they had consented to make peace if 
 they could be allowed to remain south of the Withlacoo- 
 chee. 
 
 General Scott had now assumed the command in Florida, 
 and planned a campaign on paper, which he felt satisfied 
 would close the war in a single season. 
 
 His plan was to form three wings, which were to move 
 simultaneously from Volusia, on the St. John's River, Fort 
 Drane, near Orange Lake, about the centre of the penin- 
 sula, and Tampa Bay, and to thus inclose the whole Indian 
 force supposed to be about the forks of the Withlacoochee. 
 Unfortunately, this distinguished military commander was 
 not familiar with the nature of the country, or with the 
 character of the foe against whom he had to contend. It 
 was a very great mistake, as is now generally admitted, to 
 supersede General Clinch, who was better calculated than 
 any one else, at that time, to operate against the Indians, 
 and who had achieved the only decided success which had 
 been obtained. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 299 
 
 General Scott's combinations were good only on paper; 
 the delays and obstacles inseparable from movements in 
 such a country met him at every step. Indians, who could 
 slip through the lines in a single night, were not to be 
 caught by a trilateral movement. The campaign was a 
 failure, and operations closed by the ist of June. This 
 was unfortunate, as it left an impression, on the minds of 
 the Indians, of the weakness of the government. 
 
 The wings of General Scott's movement had marched 
 and countermarched between Fort King and Tampa, but, 
 with the exception of a few skirmishes, nothing was ac- 
 complished. 
 
 During the summer of 1836, the regulars were ordered 
 to summer quarters, and the volunteers returned home. 
 General Clinch, disgusted with the treatment he had re- 
 ceived at the hands of the War Department, resigned his 
 commission and retired to his home at St. Mary's. 
 
 About the middle of March, Major McLemore had been 
 ordered to the Suwanee, to procure a quantity of corn and 
 proceed with it to the Withlacoochee River, for the use of 
 the troops. He executed the order, and erected a small 
 block-house, about fifteen miles up the river, and left 
 Captain Halliman with a small party to defend it until 
 General Scott should send for it. Major McLemore died 
 within a few days after making his camp, and his detach- 
 ment at the block-house was lost sight of. On the 12th 
 of April, the Indians attacked them in large numbers, but 
 were spiritedly repulsed. On the 3d of May, Captain Hal- 
 liman was shot, and on the 15th and 24th heavy assaults 
 were made and the roof of the block-house was burned off. 
 The garrison were twenty-eight days subsisting on corn 
 alone, and were finally rescued by sending down three men 
 in a boat, who reported their situation, and a force was sent 
 to relieve them. 
 
300 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 The Indians pursued their predatory incursions, cutting 
 off express-riders and butchering exposed families. In 
 June they made an attack upon the post at Micanopy, some 
 two hundred or more participating in the affair, but they 
 were promptly met by Major Heileman, the gallant officer 
 in command, and driven two miles. Major Heileman died 
 shortly afterwards, from the effects of overexertion during 
 the engagement. - 
 
 In August', a sharp skirmish occurred at Fort Drane, 
 between a force of one hundred and ten men, commanded 
 by Major Pierce, and three hundred Indians, under com- 
 mand of Arpeika. 
 
 On the ist of May, Judge Randall's plantation, east of 
 Tallahassee, was attacked and negroes stolen, and on the 
 8th hostile Indians appeared near St. Mark's. 
 
 Fort King was abandoned about the last of May. The 
 summer of 1836 was a very sickly season, and the troops 
 suffered severely at all the posts. Fort Drane was especially 
 unhealthy, and was ordered to be abandoned in July. A 
 wagon-train, removing the stores from that point with a 
 large escort, was attacked near Micanopy, and would prob- 
 ably have been captured but for the timely arrival of rein- 
 forcements. 
 
 All the settlements east of the St. John's, lying south of 
 the Picolata Road, had been destroyed, and all those south 
 of Black Creek and Newnansville had been broken up. In 
 July, the Indians appeared on the St. John's River, at New 
 Switzerland, and attacked the places of Colonel Hallows, 
 Dr. Simmons, and Mr. Colt, and destroyed the buildings. 
 They afterwards appeared in considerable force at the 
 Travers plantation, at the mouth of Black Creek, and a 
 sharp skirmish ensued with a detachment under Lieutenant 
 Herbert. 
 
 About the last of August the post at Micanopy was 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 301 
 
 broken up, and the whole country between Newnansville 
 and Tampa abandoned to the Indians, ;vvho found abundant 
 supplies on the deserted plantations. 
 
 In September, the Johns family, seventeen miles west 
 from Jacksonville, was attacked, Mr. Johns was killed, 
 Mrs. Johns shot and scalped, and the house burned. A 
 little later a large force of Indians approached Newnans- 
 ville. Colonel Warren marched out to meet them upon 
 the edge of San Felasco Hammock, with a force consisting 
 of one hundred mounted volunteers, twenty-five citizens, 
 and twenty-five United States regulars under Captain Tomp- 
 kins, with a twenty-four-pound howitzer. After about two 
 hours' fighting, the Indians retreated. 
 
 The command of the army in Florida now devolved 
 upon General R. K. Call, of Florida. General Armstrong, 
 with a command of twelve hundred Tennesseeans who 
 had been operating in the Creek country, was ordered to 
 report to General Call for duty in Florida. With these 
 troops, one hundred and forty Florida militia, and one 
 hundred and sixty regulars under Major Pierce, General 
 Call began an offensive movement on the Withlacoochee in 
 October, but, being prevented by high water from crossing, 
 he fell back upon Fort Drane for supplies. 
 
 In November, General Call, reinforced by some regular 
 troops and a regiment of Creek volunteers, advanced again 
 to the Withlacoochee, and crossed and attacked an Indian 
 encampment, which was broken up and the Indians routed. 
 On the 1 8th, five hundred Tennesseeans attacked a con- 
 siderable body of the enemy, posted strongly in a ham- 
 mock. After two hours' hard fighting, the Indians fled, 
 leaving twenty-five dead on the field. On the 20th, Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Pierce, with a detachment of regulars, 
 joined General Call. 
 
 The enemy being reported in large numbers in Wahoo 
 
 26 
 
302 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 vSwamp, an attack was made in that quarter, and an engage- 
 ment ensued, lasting several hours. The Indians being 
 protected by a creek and deep miry swamp, it was found 
 impracticable to dislodge them, and the forces of General 
 Call retired again to Fort Drane for supplies. 
 
 This affair ended military operations for the year 1836. 
 The result of the year's campaign was well calculated to 
 encourage the Indians. They had driven not only the 
 citizens but the troops nearly out of the peninsula, and at 
 its close held their ground in all quarters. They had 
 clearly the advantage thus far. 
 
 In October, General Jesup reached Tampa, and in the 
 latter part of November joined General Call at Volusia, 
 with four hundred men, and, under instructions of the War 
 Department, relieved that officer of the command of the 
 army in Florida. 
 
CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 Florida War, continued — General Jesup in Command — Indian Assault 
 on Fort Mellon— Capitulation of Fort Dade — Flight of the Indians 
 from Fort Brooke — Capture of King Philip, Coacoochee,and Osceola 
 — Battle of Okechobee — Escape of Coacoochee — Surrender of Hal- 
 leck-Hajo and others — Results of General Jesup's Operations — 
 General Taylor appointed to the Command. 
 
 1836-1837. 
 
 General Thomas S. Jesup, upon his assignment to the 
 prosecution of the war in Florida, had the experience of 
 his predecessors, Generals Scott and Call, to warn him 
 against the perils of insufficient preparation and temporary 
 and spasmodic movements. Eight thousand troops were 
 placed at his disposal, and he prepared for a vigorous cam- 
 paign during the winter months, when active movements 
 could best be carried on. 
 
 The official reports of all the movements of troops during 
 the previous year had based the want of successful pursuit 
 upon the want of supplies. General Jesup moved forward 
 with rapidity with mounted troops, both officers and men 
 carrying their rations in their haversacks, the commanding 
 general himself often carrying his own haversack. The 
 stronghold of the Indians was in the neighborhood of 
 the Withlacoochee, which they had successfully defended 
 against every effort to dislodge them. 
 
 Colonel Foster was directed to move up from Tampa and 
 approach the west side of the Withlacoochee, and to scour 
 the hammocks and swamps, General Jesup himself entering 
 
 (303) 
 
304 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 the country lying between the forks of the river and the 
 heart of the Wahoo Swamp. The Indians saw in these 
 movements the indications of a new system of warfare, 
 and that their fastnesses on the Withlacoochee were no 
 longer tenable. The troops thoroughly explored the region, 
 and found the habitations of the Indians but recently 
 deserted ; one solitary native was discovered and taken 
 prisoner. A careful examination indicated that the In- 
 dians had removed to the southeast. 
 
 The term of service of the Tennessee troops, under 
 General Armstrong, being about to expire, they were em- 
 barked for New Orleans. A strong post was established on 
 the Withlacoochee, called Fort Dade, as a depot and post 
 of observation in the region which had heretofore been the 
 centre of the Indian settlements. 
 
 Having ascertained that the Indians had moved in the 
 direction of the Everglades, General Jesup organized several 
 detachments to make a vigorous pursuit. On the 23d of 
 January, Colonel Canfield, with a detachment of Alabama 
 and other troops, attacked Osarchee near Ahapopka Lake. 
 The Indian chief and his son were killed, and several 
 prisoners taken, but the main body escaped. 
 
 Numerous herds of cattle were found on the Thlo-thlo- 
 pop-ka-hatchee Creek, and the Indians were discovered on 
 the Hatchee-Lustee Creek, were attacked by the troops, and 
 dispersed ; their baggage and a number of their women and 
 children were captured. The same evening another camp 
 of Indians was dispersed. The troops then moved forward 
 and took a strong position on Topelika Lake, and several 
 hundred head of cattle were taken on the borders of that 
 lake. An Indian prisoner was sent out to invite Abraham, 
 the Interpreter, to come into the camp. Abraham shortly 
 afterwards made his appearance, and after an interview 
 with General Jesup, returned to the nation to induce the 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 305 
 
 chiefs to enter into negotiations. On the 3d of February, 
 Abraham returned, with Jumper, Alligator, and Hapatophe. 
 The result of the conference was that the Indians expressed 
 their desire to treat for peace, and agreed to meet General 
 Jesup at Fort Dade, with the other chiefs, on the 6th of 
 March, and that in the mean time all hostilities should 
 cease. 
 
 With this understanding, General Jesup withdrew from 
 further pursuit, and returned to Fort Dade. 
 
 A military post had been established at Fort Mellon, on 
 the west side of Lake Monroe, in December, 1836, by 
 Colonel Fanning. The post was occupied by two com- 
 panies of artillery, a battalion of South Carolina volunteers, 
 four companies of dragoons, under Colonel Harney, and a 
 detachment of Creeks. The Indian spies had shortly be- 
 fore reported that there was but a small force at the fort, 
 and King Philip and his son Coacoochee assembled about 
 four hundred Seminoles and made an attack at daylight 
 on the 8th of February, 1837. The Indians fought with 
 great steadiness, against a superior force, for nearly three 
 hours, and then retired. Fortunately, the post had re- 
 ceived considerable reinforcements a day or two before the 
 attack, the arrival of whom was unknown to the Indians. 
 Captain Mellon, a veteran officer of the 2d Artillery, 
 was killed ; Lieutenant McLaughlin, and fourteen others, 
 severely wounded. The Indian loss was said to be about 
 twenty-five. 
 
 The Indians had encountered a succession of defeats, 
 and were being driven from their fields and homes by a 
 superior force. The season for planting was passing away, 
 and they had no assurance of being able to obtain pro- 
 visions in any quarter during the coming season. From 
 conviction of its necessity on the part of some, and from 
 policy on the part of others, it was agreed that the chiefs 
 
 26* 
 
3o6 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 should comply with their agreement to meet General 
 Jesup. 
 
 On the 6th of March, the Indians assembled in large 
 numbers, with their chiefs, at Fort Dade, and entered into 
 articles of capitulation. They agreed that they would cease 
 hostilities, and withdraw south of the Hillsborough River, 
 and stipulated that they would at once prepare to emigrate 
 to the West, in the mean time leaving hostages in the hands 
 of the government. 
 
 General Jesup agreed, on behalf of the United States, 
 that the Seminoles and their allies who come in to emi- 
 grate to the West shall be secure in their lives and prop- 
 erty, that their negroes, their bona fide property, should 
 accompany them to the West, and that their cattle and 
 ponies should be paid for by the United States. 
 
 The capitulation was signed by Jumper, Holatoochee, 
 Hoeth Lee Mathlee, Taholoochee, and Cawaya. 
 
 A location about ten miles from Tampa was agreed upon 
 as the place of rendezvous of the Indians, preparatory to 
 embarkation. 
 
 By the middle of May a considerable number of the 
 Indians had arrived at the rendezvous, and some twenty- 
 five transports were in readiness to take them to Arkansas. 
 They asked for more time, that others belonging to their 
 families might come in and accompany them. 
 
 In the mean time, Osceola, Philip, Coacoochee, and Coe- 
 Hajo, with a large number of Seminoles, gathered in the 
 neighborhood of Fort Mellon, and drew rations from the 
 government, preparing, as they said, to emigrate. 
 
 In consequence of the prevalence of sickness at Fort 
 Mellon, that post was abandoned, and subsequently Volusia 
 was evacuated from the same cause. 
 
 The war was considered at an end. Arrangements were 
 made for withdrawing the troops to healthier localities. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 307 
 
 The settlers prepared to reoccupy their abandoned homes, 
 and others were ready to move into the country. • 
 
 On the 2d of June, Osceola, at the head of two hundred 
 Miccosukies, came to the camp of the Indians, near Tampa, 
 and either forced or persuaded the whole number, upwards 
 of seven hundred, to leave the camp and seek their fast- 
 nesses down towards the Everglades. All the hostages took 
 flight with the rest, and Abraham, the Interpreter, was the 
 only one who remained. 
 
 Various reasons for their flight were given. One was, 
 that a report was spread among the Indians that when they 
 were all embarked their throats were to be cut. Another, 
 given by Osceola, was their fear of the smallpox, the 
 measles having broken out among the soldiers at the fort. 
 
 At the time the troops left Fort Mellon, Colonel Harney 
 said to Coacoochee that unless the Indians complied with 
 the treaty the United States would exterminate them. The 
 young chief replied that the Great Spirit might extermin- 
 ate them, but the pale-faces could not, else why had they 
 not done it before? 
 
 It is supposed by some, and probably by very many, that 
 this treaty of capitulation, entered into by the Indians with 
 General Jesup, was, from the outset, a mere ruse and device 
 to gain time to plant their fields, and to delay operations 
 against them until the warm season should, as in the pre- 
 vious year, force the troops to suspend their movements. 
 This is, however, a supposition drawn from the event 
 rather than from any evidence of prior intentions. The 
 Indians, to the number of seven hundred, did come in, 
 and could at any moment have been placed on the trans- 
 ports. Many of them, including Micanopy, their head- 
 chief, were thoroughly satisfied that they could not with- 
 stand the power of the government of the United States. 
 The younger chiefs, at the head of whom was Osceola, 
 
3o8 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 undoubtedly were treacherous, and anxious to defeat the 
 emigration project, and their leader was reckless enough to 
 be willing to abide the consequences, and he had influence 
 enough to give currency and effect to the two absurd stories 
 wdiich have been mentioned. There was another influence 
 at work which did much, undoubtedly, to induce the break- 
 ing of the stipulations of the Indians for removal. Many 
 negroes had taken refuge with the Indians, and were now 
 liable to be returned to their owners if the emigration 
 should take place. They had, therefore, every motive to 
 induce them to use their influence with the Indians to pre- 
 vent the carrying out of the capitulation agreed upon. 
 
 General Jesup, on the 5th of April, 1837, issued his order 
 No. 79, -in which he says, — 
 
 "The commanding general has reason to believe that 
 the interference of unprincipled white men with the negro 
 property of the Seminole Indians, if not immediately 
 checked, will prevent their emigration and lead to a re- 
 newal of the war. Responsible as he is for the peace and 
 security of the country, he will not permit such interference 
 under any pretense whatever ; and he therefore orders that no 
 white man, not in the service of the United States, be al- 
 lowed to enter any part of the Territory between the St. 
 John's River and the Gulf of Mexico, south of Fort Drane." 
 
 Many persons were desirous of identifying and reclaim- 
 ing their slaves, and this order, which seemed to have both 
 the purpose and effect of depriving them of the power of 
 obtaining their property, was looked upon as arbitrary and 
 oppressive. 
 
 When it was known that the Indians had fled from their 
 camp at Tampa, great consternation prevailed through the 
 country, and the planters, taught by former experience of 
 their insecurity, abandoned their crops and sought refuge 
 near the military posts. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 309 
 
 In June, the Indians killed Captain Walton, the keeper 
 of the light-ship on Carysfort Reef, and one of his men. 
 About the same time, Captain Gilliland was murdered near 
 Ichatuckny Spring. 
 
 General Jesup now determined to prosecute the campaign 
 with effect as soon as the season would permit the resump- 
 tion of active operations. Volunteers were called for from 
 Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Alabama, and 
 Kentucky. On the 24th of October he issued a general 
 order, in which he recites the success attending his pre- 
 vious operations in the field. He truly says, ''When the 
 army took the field in December, the enemy's strongholds 
 were on Orange Lake, Ocklawaha, Withlacoochee, Aunu- 
 tiliga Hammock ; they are now south of Lake Monroe and 
 Tampa Bay. The permanent results of the campaign are 
 thirty Indians and negroes killed, and upwards of five hun- 
 dred prisoners taken." 
 
 On the 4th of September, 1837, several negroes sur- 
 rendered near Fort Peyton. In consequence of informa- 
 tion obtained from them. General Hernandez, with the 
 forces under his command, proceeded south, and captured 
 two camps of Indians and negroes ; among the Indians 
 were several chiefs, one of the most important of whom was 
 King Philip, called Emathla. Philip desired to send a mes- 
 sage to his family, and an Indian having been sent returned 
 with Coacoochee, known better as Wild Cat, a son of Philip, 
 who offered to bring in many others. On the 1 7th of Oc- 
 tober, Wild Cat returned, and said that about one hundred 
 Indians and as many negroes were on their way in. Gen- 
 eral Hernandez met them at Pellicier Creek, and directed 
 them to encamp at Fort Peyton. On the 20th, Osceola 
 and Coe-Hajo sent word they had camped near the fort, 
 and desired to see General Hernandez. Upon the ground 
 that these chiefs and Indians had all capitulated at Fort 
 
3IO HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Dade in March previous, and that Osceola had brought in 
 his family to Fort Mellon and received rations for his band, 
 General Jesup directed General Hernandez to make pris- 
 oners of them and bring them to St. Augustine. Osceola 
 afterwards sought an interview with General Jesup, and 
 told him that Micanopy and Jumper, with the greater part 
 of the Seminoles, were ready to execute the treaty, and 
 asked that messengers might be sent to them and to their 
 own people. 
 
 On the Tst of December, 1837, General Jesup had under 
 his command about nine thousand men, of whom one-half 
 were regulars.* 
 
 The principal Indian force was on the Upper St. John's, 
 except some roving bands through the peninsula. The troops 
 under General Jesup were assigned to duty as follows : 
 Colonel P. F. Smith, on the Calosahatchee, and to operate 
 as far south as Cape Sable ; General Taylor was directed to 
 proceed from Tampa Bay eastwardly, and establish posts at 
 the head of Pease Creek and on Lake Kissimee, and to the 
 St. John's River and Lake Okechobee. General Taylor 
 moved out from Tampa on the 14th of December with a 
 force of about eleven hundred, and proceeded to the neigh- 
 borhood of Lake Okechobee, where he found a large 
 Indian force, occupying a dense hammock, and protected 
 by a miry saw-grass pond in front of them. With great 
 gallantry, and under great disadvantages of position, 
 the troops charged the enemy, and, after a hard-fought 
 battle, routed them, but at a heavy loss. Lieutenant-Col- 
 onel Thompson, Captain J. Van Swearingen, Lieutenant 
 Francis Brooke, and Second-Lieutenant J. P. Center, of the 
 6th Infantry, also Colonel Gentry, of the Missouri Volun- 
 teers, and twenty-two privates were killed. Nine officers 
 
 General Jesup's General Report, July 6, 1838. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 311 
 
 and one hundred and two men were wounded. The Indians 
 were commanded by Alligator, Arpeika, Coacoochee, and 
 Halleck-Tustenuggee, and numbered about four hundred. 
 Eleven Indians and one negro were killed, and nine 
 wounded. The troops fell back after the battle to Tampa. 
 
 General Hernandez moved down with his force to Indian 
 River and the head of the St. John's. The result of his 
 operations was two Indians killed, and two hundred and 
 ninety-seven Indians and negroes taken prisoners. 
 
 Brigadier-General Nelson operated along the coast of the 
 Gulf, along the Suwanee River, and in Middle Florida. 
 In the course of his operations he killed six Indians, and 
 took fourteen prisoners. Colonel Snodgrass was assigned 
 to the occupation of the country south of Black Creek and 
 west of the St. John's, between that river and the Ockla- 
 waha. He destroyed several Indian villages, and expelled 
 the Indians from that region. Other officers were con- 
 stantly moving with detachments, and scouring the country 
 in all directions. 
 
 A Cherokee deputation, headed by John Ross, was sent 
 into Florida to persuade the Seminoles to surrender. Their 
 mission^ according to General Jesup, was not only useless, 
 but injurious, by the loss of valuable time and the suspension 
 of active operations in the field. Coe-Hajo was sent out as 
 a guide to the Cherokees, and returned with many of his 
 people, accompanied by the Cherokees and the Seminole 
 chiefs Micanopy, Cloud, Toskegee, and Nocase Yoholo, 
 with fifteen or twenty of their followers. A council was held ; 
 the chiefs agreed to fulfill their treaty, and sent messengers 
 to collect their people and bring them to camp. The Indians 
 failed to come in, the few who had accompanied the chiefs 
 silently withdrew, and the Indians again scattered. 
 
 The failure to complete these negotiations was attributed 
 to the escape of Wild Cat from the fort at St. Augustine, 
 
312 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 with seventeen of his followers. This chief, with a consid- 
 erable number of other Indians, had been confined within 
 the old Spanish fort for security. They occupied a room 
 on the west side of the fort, immediately adjoining the 
 southwest bastion. A narrow embrasure gave light and air 
 to the room. The embrasure was some twenty-five feet 
 above the ditch or moat, which was dry at all times. Coa- 
 coochee conceived the idea of squeezing through this nar- 
 row aperture and descending into the moat, where he would 
 find himself at once at liberty. The task was easily enough 
 accomplished, and with very little risk. Once at liberty, 
 he hastened to rejoin the Indians in the southern part of the 
 peninsula, and, exasperated by the treatment he had re- 
 ceived, used every influence to prevent the submission of 
 the Seminoles. The active operations of the large body of 
 troops had harassed the Indians greatly, and the difficulty 
 of providing places of security for their women and chil- 
 dren, and of transporting provisions for their sustenance 
 in the winter season, had greatly discouraged them. 
 
 By establishing depots of supplies on the Upper St. 
 John's and at strong posts between Tampa and Lake 
 Monroe, General Eustis was enabled to penetrate the re- 
 gion lying on the northern margin of the Everglades, and 
 many Indian settlements were broken up. General Taylor 
 in the course of his operations captured and secured four 
 hundred and eighty-four Indians and negroes. The battle 
 of Okechobee was a hard-fought engagement, and reflected 
 great credit upon the bravery of the troops, who marched 
 through a deep morass against a foe concealed and pro- 
 tected from their fire; but it was a victory gained at a 
 heavy cost, and the result, it would seem, might have 
 been attained in an easier way. The comparatively slight 
 loss inflicted on the Indians, and their ready escape, 
 would naturally impress them with a consciousness of their 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 313 
 
 great advantages in this kind of warfare. Okechobee was 
 the last general fight in which the Indians engaged. They 
 ever afterwards avoided all engagements, and trusted to 
 the climate, the swamps and morasses, and the almost in- 
 vincible natural obstacles of their country, to fight their 
 battles for them. 
 
 During the summer, General Eustis and other officers 
 urged upon General Jesup the propriety of closing the war, 
 by allowing the Indians to remain within a small territory 
 in the southern part of the peninsula. Colonel Twiggs 
 afterwards, with other superior officers, called upon Gen- 
 eral Eustis, and urged upon him the same views. Anxious 
 as they all were to get out of a region in which they ex- 
 perienced the most extreme hardships, without the com- 
 pensation of even military glory or the excitement of 
 success, it was very natural that they should see no objec- 
 tion to a peace on such terms as would relieve that part of 
 the country which was habitable and desirable from this 
 inconsiderable Indian tribe, and confine them to an almost 
 insular location, where their presence would injure no one, 
 leaving it to the government to decide, at some future 
 period, when the neccesity existed for their removal. As 
 they diminished in numbers, and retreated farther to the 
 south, the more difficult became their pursuit. 
 
 In February, 1838, impressed with these views, General 
 Jesup, at that time encamped near Jupiter Inlet, sent ''a 
 messenger to the Indians, to offer them peace," but deter- 
 mined, he says, " on no account to grant them the privi- 
 lege of remaining in the country, unless the measure should 
 be sanctioned by the general government.'"'' 
 
 Halleck-Hajo and Toskegee came in and had a confer- 
 ence with General Jesup, and, after discussion, it was 
 
 * General Jesup's Report of July 6, 1838. 
 27 
 
314 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 agreed that the Indians should come into camp near Fort 
 Jupiter within ten days, and await the decision of the 
 President whether they should remain in the country.* 
 
 A considerable number of Indians and negroes came in 
 under this arrangement. General Jesup communicated to 
 the War Department the propositions which had been 
 made, and urged that the requisite permission should be 
 given. 
 
 Secretary Poinsett replied, under date of March i, 
 1838, saying that, however desirable such an arrangement 
 might be, it could not be sanctioned, as it was the duty of 
 the President to carry out the provisions of the treaty. f 
 This communication reached General Jesup about the 20th 
 of March, and, as he was satisfied that if the decision of 
 the War Department was known to the Indians they would 
 at once retire to the swamps, he called a council to be held 
 on the 2 2d March, and, in the mean time, directed Colonel 
 Twiggs to secure the Indians. Colonel Twiggs promptly 
 executed the order, securing five hundred and thirteen In- 
 dians and one hundred and sixty-five negroes. Passac- 
 Micco and fourteen others escaped capture. 
 
 The Indians and negroes secured at Jupiter were at once 
 transferred, under a strong guard, to Tampa Bay. Those 
 who had been previously secured at Fort Peyton, with 
 Osceola (Powell), had been transferred to Fort Moultrie, 
 in Charleston harbor. 
 
 It seems proper here to take some special notice of this 
 distinguished leader of the Seminoles, whose name and repu- 
 tation stand perhaps higher in public estimation than those 
 of any other of his race. His true Indian name was As-se- 
 se-ha-ho-lar, or Black Drink, but he was commonly called 
 
 * General Jesup' s Report of July 6, 1838. 
 f Sprague, p. 201. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 315 
 
 Osceola, or Powell. He belonged to a Creek tribe called Red 
 Sticks, and was a half-breed. He removed to Florida with 
 his mother when a child, and lived near Fort King. At 
 the beginning of the Florida war he was about thirty-one 
 years of age, of medium size, being about five feet eight 
 inches in height, resolute and manly in his bearing, with a 
 clear, frank, and engaging countenance. He was undoubt- 
 edly the master-spirit of the war, and by his firmness and 
 audacity forced the nation into the war which a large ma- 
 jority were averse to engaging in, and either broke up every 
 attempt at negotiations or prevented their fulfillment. He 
 was to have been one of the leaders at Dade's massacre, 
 but was detained at Fort King by his determination to 
 gratify his revenge upon General Thompson. He parti- 
 cipated in the battles at the ford of the Withlacoochee 
 and Camp Izard, and led the attack upon Micanopy, where, 
 with his force of less than two hundred and fifty men, 
 within sight of the fort, he attacked upwards of one hun- 
 dred regular troops in an open field, supported by a field- 
 piece. 
 
 His capture by General Hernandez was due to his 
 audacity and self-confidence. Bad faith, and a disregard 
 of the usages of civilization, have been imputed to General 
 Jesup on this occasion, Osceola having come in under a 
 white flag to negotiate ; but that ofiicer contended that 
 Osceola had broken his faith in reference to the Fort 
 Dade capitulation, and was to be treated as an escaped 
 prisoner. 
 
 From all that can be gathered of his character, Osceola 
 was possessed of nobler traits than usually belong to his 
 race. His manners were dignified and courteous, and upon 
 the field he showed himself a brave and cautious leader. 
 It is said that he instructed his people in their preda- 
 tory excursions to spare the women and children. ''It is 
 
3i6 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 not," said he, ''upon them that we make war and draw 
 the scalping-knife. It is upon men. Let us act like men." 
 Osceola has furnished to the poet, to the novelist, and to 
 the lover of romance^ a most attractive subject, and scarce 
 any limit has been placed to the virtues attributed or the 
 exploits imagined in connection with this renowned chief 
 of the Seminoles. A poet has sung of him, — 
 
 " His features are clothed with a warrior's pride, 
 And he moves with a monarch's tread ; 
 He smiles with joy, as the flash of steel 
 Through the Everglades' grass is seen." 
 
 Upon his removal to Charleston he became dejected and 
 low-spirited, and gradually pined away. All efforts to in- 
 terest him in a Western home failed to arouse him, and in 
 a few weeks he died of a broken heart, and was buried 
 just outside of the principal gateway of Fort Moultrie, 
 where his resting-place is inclosed and a monument 
 erected. 
 
 Major Lauderdale, with a company of the 3d Artillery 
 and two hundred Tennessee volunteers, explored the coun- 
 try south, and established a post at New River. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Bankhead, with an additional force, joined Major 
 Lauderdale, entered the Everglades, and captured Pahase- 
 Micco, a sub-chief of Micco, with a band of forty-seven 
 persons, and went in pursuit of Arpeika and his followers. 
 After wading through the mud and water for many miles, 
 they found the Indians upon an island, but were unable to 
 prevent their escape. Afterwards, Colonel Harney came 
 up with Arpeika below Key Biscayne, and attacked him, 
 but was unable to pursue him. General Jesup crossed from 
 Fort Jupiter to Tampa Bay in April, 1837, to attack the 
 Miccosukies and Tallahassees, near the mouth of the With- 
 lacoochee, when the troops were ordered to the Cherokee 
 country and General Jesup was relieved from the command. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 317 
 
 This officer is entitled to great credit for the energy and 
 perseverance with which he performed his duties. After he 
 assumed command, there was no longer the complaint of a 
 want of supplies, or the report of falling back in conse- 
 quence of being short of rations. Within the year and a 
 half during which he held command, the number of Indians 
 and negroes altogether who surrendered or were taken 
 amounted to nineteen hundred and seventy-eight, twenty- 
 three of whom escaped. The number of Indians and 
 negroes taken and killed by the different detachments of 
 the army were equal' to four hundred, making the whole 
 number twenty-four hundred, of whom seven hundred 
 were warriors, — considerably exceeding the entire esti- 
 mated number of Indians in the country at the beginning 
 of the war. 
 
 General Jesup also reported, what he believed to be true, 
 but was only so in part, that the villages of the Indians 
 had all been destroyed, and their cattle, horses, and other 
 stock captured or destroyed, and that the small bands who 
 remained dispersed over the Territory had nothing left but 
 their rifles.* 
 
 The Indians who had been captured or had surrendered 
 were now placed on transports, under charge of Lieutenant 
 J. F. Reynolds, and removed west of Arkansas. Twelve 
 hundred and twenty-nine constituted the first party, which 
 emigrated in May, 1837. In June, another party of three 
 hundred and thirty was sent to the same destination. 
 Captain Stephenson was appointed their agent West. 
 
 On the 15th of May, 1837, General Jesup retired from 
 the command in Florida, which then devolved upon Gen- 
 eral Zachary Taylor. 
 
 * Report of General Jesup to the War Department, Ex. Doc., 8th 
 vol., 2(1 Sess,, 25th Cong. 
 
 27* 
 
CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 Florida War, continued, under General Taylor — Removal of Apalachee 
 Indians — General Macomb's Treaty with the Indians — Proclamation 
 that the War was ended — Resumption of Hostilities — Massacre of 
 Colonel Harney's Detachment — Tragical Fate of Mrs. Montgomery 
 — The Cuba Bloodhounds — Expedition of Colonel Worth to Oke- 
 chobee — Recapture of Coacoochee. 
 
 1838— 1842. 
 
 The first important action of General Taylor after assum- 
 ing command was the removal of some two hundred and 
 twenty Apalachee Indians from West Florida, in October, 
 1838. The winter campaign of 1838-39 was arranged by 
 General Taylor by districting the country under separate, 
 commanders. Lieutenant-Colonel Green was left in Mid- 
 dle Florida ; Colonel Twiggs, with about two regiments, 
 was stationed between the Santa Fe River and the coast, 
 and directed to occupy both sides of the St. John's River 
 to Lake Monroe ; Colonel Davenport, with six companies, 
 was placed to look after the enemy between the Suwanee 
 and Withlacoochee Rivers and along the Gulf coast; Major 
 Loomis was to operate from Okechobee, south, in concert 
 with General Floyd, commanding a force of mounted 
 Georgians; and Colonel Cummings, with four companies 
 of 3d Artillery, was to establish posts, twenty miles apart, 
 between Tampa and Fort Mellon. 
 
 The winter of 1838-39 was spent by the troops in active 
 service in the endeavor to hunt out from their hiding- 
 places the small Indian bands scattered through the coun- 
 try, but with little success, as the Indians, by their better 
 knowledge of the country, were enabled to avoid their pur- 
 (318) 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 3^9 
 
 suers. Occasionally their settlements were reached and 
 broken up, but few of the Indians were seen. 
 
 During the operations of this campaign, one hundred 
 and ninety-six Indians and negroes surrendered or were 
 captured, and sent West. 
 
 The policy of the Indians was now, says General Taylor, 
 to avoid giving battle to regular troops, even in single 
 companies, while, at the same time, every opportunity was 
 seized to wreak their vengeance on the unarmed inhab- 
 itants of the country. Moving by night, rapidly, in small 
 squads, they were able to appear unexpectedly in remote 
 parts of the country, their presence indicated only by their 
 rifles and shrill yells as they approached at daylight the 
 home of some unsuspecting settler. Murders were com- 
 mitted by the Indians within a few miles of Tallahassee 
 and St. Augustine. 
 
 Discouraged at the failure of his efforts either to find the 
 Indians or bring them to a stand, General Taylor adopted 
 the plan of dividing the whole country into squares, and 
 placing a block-house, with a small detachment, in each, a 
 part of the number to be mounted. The officer command- 
 ing was to scout his district every alternate day, thoroughly 
 examining the swamps and hammocks to see that they were 
 clear of Indians. The merits of this plan were not tested, 
 as it was never fully carried out. While the posts were 
 being established, it was the misfortune of Florida to have 
 Major-General Macomb sent out by the President "to 
 make an arrangement with the Seminoles." General Ma- 
 comb arrived at Fort King on the 20th of May, 1839, and 
 runners were sent out to invite the Indian chiefs in to hold 
 a grand council. 
 
 Halleck-Tustenuggee and Tiger-Tail were present, and 
 Sam Jones sent Chitto-Tustenuggee as his representative. 
 Halleck-Tustenuggee was the mouth-piece of the Indians, 
 
320 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 and said they were willing to enter into terms if they were 
 not required to go to Arkansas. 
 
 An arrangement was entered into by General Macomb 
 with the Indians, assigning them temporarily to a portion 
 of the country below Pease Creek and Lake Okechobee; 
 that they should have sixty days to remove within said 
 limits, where they were to remain until further arrange- 
 ments were made ; and they were forbidden to pass out of 
 such limits, and all other persons were forbidden to go 
 within their boundary. 
 
 General Macomb reported to the Secretary of War that 
 the Indians at the council, when he explained to them who 
 he was, and dictated terms of peace, which they readily 
 accepted, manifested great joy, ''and they have since been 
 dancing and singing, according to their fashion, in token 
 of friendship and peace, in which many of our officers 
 joined them, being satisfied of the sincerity of the respect- 
 ive parties."* 
 
 General Macomb, on the i8th of May, issued his general 
 orders, announcing that 
 
 ''The major-general commanding in chief has the satis- 
 faction of announcing to the army in Florida, to the au- 
 thorities of the Territory, and to the citizens generally, 
 that he has this day terminated the war with the Seminole 
 Indians by an agreement entered into with Chitto-Tuste- 
 nuggee, etc."t 
 
 The termination of the war being thus so authoritatively 
 announced, and the terms being so favorable to the Indians, 
 conceding, as they did to them, the privilege of remaining 
 in Florida, and being virtually a capitulation and surrender 
 on the part of the United States of the point at issue, — 
 
 •^ General Macomb's Report of May 22d, 1839. 
 f Sprague, p. 228. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 321 
 
 the question of emigration to the West, — the citizens were 
 led to believe that the war had indeed been closed. Many- 
 prepared to return to their devastated fields, hoping to 
 make at least a partial crop. All were glad to be relieved 
 of the terror and apprehension of the last three years, and 
 to escape from the restraint of their "forted" villages. 
 
 The month of June was quiet and undisturbed, and 
 public confidence increased. General Macomb returned 
 to Washington, and General Taylor resumed command. 
 The season for active operations by the troops had passed, 
 when, early in July, the Indians began hostilities in all 
 parts of the country. Plantations were attacked, and the 
 settlers forced to leave everything behind them. Express- 
 and post-riders and travelers were shot down on the roads, 
 and a feeling of general insecurity revived. 
 
 Colonel Harney had gone down to Charlotte Harbor to 
 establish a trading-post for the Indians after they should 
 have retired beyond Pease Creek. His detachment con- 
 sisted of twenty-five men of the 2d Dragoons, with the 
 store-keeper, Mr. Dalham, and Mr. Morgan, his clerk. 
 They were encamped in the open pine barren near the 
 Calosahatchee, about twenty miles from the mouth. At 
 daybreak on the 2 2d of July they were attacked by some 
 two hundred and fifty Indians, led by Chechika and Billy 
 Bowlegs. Many were killed at the encampment ; others ran 
 to the river, and were shot in the water. Colonel Harney 
 escaped in his shirt and drawers only, and swam to a fishing- 
 smack lying down the river. Out of thirty men, eighteen 
 were killed. The two negro interpreters, Sandy and Sam- 
 son, were taken prisoners. Sandy was killed next day, and 
 Samson kept prisoner for two years. 
 
 The Indians had, up to the time of the attack, professed 
 to be very friendly, coming into camp every day, and talk- 
 ing with the men, professing to be entirely satisfied with 
 the treaty. 
 
322 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Upon receipt of the intelligence of this attack, Lieuten- 
 ant Hanson seized forty-six Seminoles, who had come in 
 for provisions, and shipped them to Charleston. 
 
 This fiasco of a treaty made by General Macomb was 
 due to the action of Congress, which had passed a resolu- 
 tion to that effect, and made an appropriation for that pur- 
 pose. It was an unfortunate interference, and protracted 
 the war, while it fruitlessly placed the government in a 
 humiliating position. 
 
 The prosecution of the war became now extremely dis- 
 couraging, and the end seemed further off than three years 
 before. The Indians had become familiarized with the ex- 
 hibition of military power, and had learned to contemn 
 it. They found themselves at the close of four years still 
 in possession of the country, and powerful for annoyance 
 and to inflict revenge, and their ferocity seemed to increase 
 with its exercise. 
 
 Governor Reid, in his message to the Legislature of 
 Florida, in 1839, said, — 
 
 '' The efforts of the general and territorial governments 
 to quell the Indian disturbances which have prevailed 
 through four years, have been unavailing. The close of 
 the fifth year will find us struggling in a contest remarkable 
 for magnanimity, forbearance, and credulity on the one 
 side, and ferocity and bad faith on the other. We are 
 waging a war with beasts of prey ; the tactics that belong 
 to civilized nations are but shackles and fetters in its pros- 
 ecution ; we must fight 'fire with fire ;' the white man must, 
 in a great measure, adopt the mode of warfare pursued by 
 the red man, and we can only hope for success by continu- 
 ally harassing and pursuing the enemy. If we drive him 
 from hammock to hammock, from swamp to swamp, and 
 penetrate the recesses where his women and children are 
 hidden ; if, in self-defense, we show as little mercy to him 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 323 
 
 as he has shown to us, the anxiety and surprise produced 
 by such operations will not, it is believed, fail to produce 
 prosperous results. 
 
 ''It is high time that sickly sentimentality should cease. 
 'Lo, the poor Indian!' is the exclamation of the fanatic 
 pseudo-philanthropist. ' Lo, the poor white man !' is the 
 ejaculation which all will utter who have witnessed the in- 
 human butchery of women and children, and the massacres 
 that have drenched the Territory in blood." 
 
 The citizens and troops had now become so exasperated 
 against the Indians for their repeated massacres of the 
 feeble and the unprotected that a feeling had grown up that 
 they were deserving of extermination, and that any and 
 every means should be used to hunt and capture or de- 
 stroy them. The great difficulty in so wide an extent of 
 country, abounding in thick hammocks, palmetto and 
 scrubby lands, swamps, islands, and morasses, was to pur- 
 sue them successfully. 
 
 In July, 1838, General Taylor forwarded to the War 
 Department a communication he had received on the sub- 
 ject of procuring bloodhounds from Cuba, to ad the army 
 in its operations against the Indians in Florida. General 
 Taylor says, ''I am decidedly in favor of the measure, and 
 beg leave to urge it as the only means of ridding the coun- 
 try of the Indians, who are now broken up into small parties, 
 that take shelter in swamps and hammocks as the army 
 approaches, making it impossible for us to follow or over- 
 take them without the aid of such auxiliaries. ... I 
 wish it distinctly understood that my object in employing 
 dogs is only to ascertain where the Indians can be found, 
 not to worry them." 
 
 An agent was sent to Cuba to procure bloodhounds, in 
 December, 1839, and brought thirty-three, with five Span- 
 iards to manage them, at a cost of about one hundred and 
 
324 
 
 HISTORY OF FLO R DA. 
 
 fifty dollars for each hound. They did not answer the 
 purpose, and they were soon discarded ; but in the mean 
 time the subject had been taken up in Congress, and a 
 resolution of inquiry passed requiring a report from the 
 Secretary of War, and the employment of these blood- 
 hounds was used as political capital against Mr. Van Buren 
 when a candidate for re-election as President. 
 
 There was a body of Spanish Indians inhabiting the 
 lower part of the peninsula, who had not heretofore taken 
 any part in the contest, but, finding the Seminoles driven 
 down into their region, and probably urged by the savages, 
 who seemed now to have acquired an insatiate thirst for 
 blood, they attacked various settlements upon the islands 
 along the coast, murdered wrecked seamen, and waged war 
 against the fishermen who had frequented the coast for years. 
 One of the most notable of these attacks was made, at Indian 
 Key, upon the family of Dr. Perrine, a botanist of distinc- 
 tion, who was devoting himself to the cultivation of tropical 
 plants. A large party of Indians attacked the settlement 
 on the yth of August, 1840, and plundered and then burned 
 the houses. Mrs. Perrine and her children were saved by 
 concealing themselves under a wharf. The doctor was 
 massacred in the upper part of the house. The family 
 got possession of a boat which the Indians were loading 
 with plunder, and pushed off to a vessel in the harbor. 
 Several others escaped to the same vessel.* 
 
 General Taylor, having now been in command for two 
 years, asked to be relieved from the arduous position he 
 had so faithfully filled. On the 6th of May, 1840, Brevet 
 Brigadier-General W. R. Armistead, 3d Artillery, was 
 assigned to the command. 
 
 * In Sprague's History, p. 244, will be found a very interesting ac- 
 count of the escape of the Perrine family. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 325 
 
 Fruitless expeditions marched out and returned, and 
 failed to find the enemy. The -work of surprise and mas- 
 sacre still went on by invisible bands, who struck the blow 
 and disappeared. The country was discouraged, the troops 
 were disheartened, and the Indians remained unmolested. 
 Instructions had been given to endeavor to procure amica- 
 ble relations. An interview was obtained at one time with 
 Halleck-Tustenuggee, through a Seminole delegation which 
 had been brought from the West, but which accomplished 
 nothing towards bringing matters into a more satisfactory 
 state. Occasionally the Indians came in, professed friend- 
 ship, said they were tired of the war, received subsistence, 
 and then suddenly disappeared, having obtained all they 
 came for. 
 
 On the 28th of December, 1840, Lieutenant Sherwood 
 started from the military post at Micanopy, in company 
 with Lieutenant N. Hopson, a sergeant, and ten privates 
 of the 7th Infantry, to escort Mrs. Montgomery, the wife 
 of Major Montgomery, to the military post at Wacahootee, 
 ten miles distant. About four miles from Micanopy they 
 were' suddenly fired on by a large party of Indians, con- 
 cealed in a hammock which skirted the road. Two privates 
 were killed at the first fire. Lieutenant Sherwood deter- 
 mined to stand his ground, and requested Mrs. Montgom- 
 ery to dismount and get into the wagon, where she would 
 be less exposed. As she was dismounting, she was shot 
 through the breast. Lieutenant Hopson returned to Mica- 
 nopy for reinforcements. Lieutenant Sherwood and his 
 men continued a gallant hand-to-hand fight, until they 
 were overpowered by the greatly superior force of the 
 Indians. The latter were led by Halleck-Tustenuggee and 
 Cosa-Tustenuggee, and consisted of thirty warriors. 
 
 Cosa-Tustenuggee, fearing the consequences of this bar- 
 barous act, prepared to conie in and surrender, when he 
 
326 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 encountered a detachment of dragoons, by whom his whole 
 band, consisting of thirty-two warriors and sixty women 
 and children, were brought in, and the party shortly after 
 sent to Arkansas. '*' 
 
 This tragic event roused anew the indignation of the 
 whole country at the manner in which this miserable war 
 was being carried on, and there sprung up a universal de- 
 mand to have it brought to a close and the Indians driven 
 out. The War Department rescinded the instructions to 
 the commander to urge the Indians to an amicable surren- 
 der, and directed him to prosecute the war. Congress, on 
 the I St of January, made an appropriation of one hundred 
 thousand dollars for the benefit of such of the Indians as 
 might be willing to surrender, and, on the 3d of March, 
 appropriated upwards of one million of dollars for sup- 
 pressing Indian hostilities in Florida. 
 
 The Indians were now occupying all parts of the Terri- 
 tory ; some on the Ocklockonee, some near the Okefinokee 
 Swamp, and some in their old hiding-places on Orange 
 Lake and the Withlacoochee. 
 
 Lieutenant Alburtis was in command of Fort Russell, 
 west of Pilatka, when a party headed by Halleck-Tuste- 
 nuggee killed a corporal and approached the fort with yells 
 of defiance. A spirited attack by Lieutenant Alburtis 
 with some seventeen men only resulted in killing three 
 Indians and wounding two. 
 
 Waxehadjo, who had been a leader in waylaying the ex- 
 press-riders and others, had killed the express from Fort 
 Cross to Tampa Bay, and, after torture, had cut off the head 
 of the unfortunate man and set it upright on the coals of 
 his camp-fire, when a detachment of dragoons, with Captain 
 Lloyd Beall, came up and drove him into a pond, where he 
 was killed. 
 
 '^ Spraguc, p. 249. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 327 
 
 Billy Bowlegs, the Prophet, and Hospetarkee, Shiver 
 and Shakes, were the head-men of a large party of Semi- 
 noles who occupied the country south of Pease Creek. In 
 December, 1840, Colonel Harney, with a detachment of 
 one hundred men, penetrated this hitherto -unexplored 
 region in canoes, and created much alarm among the occu- 
 pants of this almost inaccessible portion of the country. 
 Chekika, the Spanish Indian chief, was overtaken by a 
 detachment of troops and killed, and six of his companions 
 captured and hung on the spot, and, it is said, their bodies 
 were suspended from the trees. 
 
 This expedition, and the summary punishment inflicted 
 by Colonel Harney, greatly intimidated the Indians, and 
 they resorted to their old expedient of having a ^'talk" 
 and expressing a strong desire for peace and amity. As 
 their sincerity could only be tested by the result, their 
 offers were accepted, and they came in and received cloth- 
 ing and subsistence, thus gaining time to plant their fields 
 and devise new measures of security for their families. 
 During the winter and spring, every day they couJd delay 
 operations against them was important. In April, having 
 accomplished their purposes, they again disappeared, leav- 
 ing the baffled officers of the government to speculate once 
 more on the uncertainty of Indian professions. 
 
 Major Belknap, stationed at Fort Fanning on the Suwa- 
 nee, succeeded, during the month of March, 1840, in 
 securing, and sending West, Echo-E-Mathlar, the Talla- 
 hassee chief, with sixty of his band. 
 
 During the early summer, the old artifice of professing 
 to be tired of fighting and willing to emigrate was practiced 
 successfully by small bands of Indians, who would come 
 in with a tale of starvation and ask for subsistence for 
 their families to enable them to reach the military posts. 
 The anxiety of the officers of the government to get them 
 
328 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 in, made them hopeful and desirous of availing themselves 
 of every offer of surrender, and induced them to extend 
 the time and allow still further subsistence. Thus, by 
 cunningly devised stories and well-invented excuses, they 
 drew their subsistence from the government until they 
 were able to dispense with it and the season was too late 
 to operate against them. 
 
 The Territory was divided into seven military districts, 
 extending from Black Creek to Sarasota, each under the 
 charge of a district commander. Five years had elapsed, 
 and still the Indians remained, and the government was 
 in the position of almost a suppliant for peace. The efforts 
 of the troops against the Indians were evaded by the exer- 
 cise of the utmost caution and cunning. With the sagacity 
 and thorough wood-craft of natives of the forest, while the 
 white soldier was plodding his weary way dependent upon 
 guides or the compass for a knowledge of his route, the 
 Indian stopped behind some clump of bushes or peered 
 forth from some leafy covert and saw his pursuers pass by, 
 and then stole back to attack some point in the rear of 
 the pursuing troops, which had been left unprotected. 
 Ill success brought, naturally, criticism and wholesale 
 censure. Those who knew least were wisest in such mat- 
 ters, and had always a plan which, if adopted, would 
 infallibly succeed. Constant changes of plans, of officers, 
 and of troops, made matters worse. An uncertain policy, 
 holding out the olive-branch at one time, and fire and sword 
 at another, alternately coaxing and threatening, gave to the 
 Indians a feeling of distrust mingled with contempt. They 
 thought that they had been deceived by fair words and 
 false professions, and they used the same means to further 
 their own purposes. 
 
 In January, 1841, offensive operations were resumed. 
 Colonel William J. Worth, of the 8th Infantry, had been 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 329 
 
 placed in command of the district of which Tampa was 
 the headquarters, and about the ist of February a battalion 
 of the 8th Infantry, under General Worth, moved out to 
 the Kissimee. The country was found overflowed in all 
 directions. Believing that Coacoochee, the most active 
 and enterprising of the Indian chiefs, was in that region, 
 and that some arrangement might be made through him, a 
 messenger was sent to find and, if possible, bring him in. 
 A few days afterwards, he visited the camp, arrayed in a 
 gorgeous theatrical costume obtained a few months pre- 
 viously when he had attacked a company of actors on 
 the Picolata Road six miles from St. Augustine, several of 
 whom were killed and their theatrical wardrobe became a 
 valuable booty to the handsome young Indian chief. 
 
 At this interview with General Worth he agreed to con- 
 sult his followers and other chiefs, and return in ten days. 
 On the tenth day he returned, regretting that he could not 
 collect his people, but wished to see General Armistead at 
 Tampa Bay, to appoint a day when he would have his 
 people assembled. On the 2 2d of March, he came to Fort 
 Brooke and met General Armistead, when it was agreed 
 that he would bring his band in to Fort Pierce, on Indian 
 River. During April and May he came in frequently to 
 Fort Pierce, expressing great anxiety to emigrate, but say- 
 ing that the movements of the troops had caused his peo- 
 ple to scatter and conceal themselves, and he had great 
 difficulty in finding them. He said a council was to be 
 held at Lake Okechobee, where he would meet Arpeika, 
 Billy Bowlegs, and Hospetarkee, and he would endeavor 
 to induce them to consent to emigrate. From the caution 
 and sobriety evinced by him, and the large requisitions he 
 made for whisky and provisions, Major Childs, command- 
 ing at Fort Pierce, became satisfied that Wild Cat was 
 
 28* 
 
330 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 carrying on a deceptive game, and advised his seizure, and 
 orders were issued for that purpose. 
 
 A band of Indians on the Ocklockonee River, in Middle 
 Florida, kept all that portion of the Territory in continual 
 alarm, and although nearly a regiment of regular troops 
 occupied the country, their commanding officer reported, 
 in April, that he was unable to find or capture them. 
 Another band lurked in and around the Okefinokee Swamp, 
 and disturbed all that region of country. 
 
 One of the most active and treacherous of the remain- 
 ing chiefs, Halleck-Tustenuggee, occupied the country 
 around the Withlacoochee and Ocklawaha. He sent in 
 his sub-chiefs to Major Plympton with a bundle of sticks, 
 representing that he was gathering his people in order to 
 emigrate, and asking for provisions, which being at length 
 refused, he threw off the mask and left in his trail sixty 
 sticks, representing his band, painted with blood. 
 
 Colonel Davenport, commanding at Sarasota, on the 26th 
 of April reported an entire failure in the attempted negotia- 
 tions with the Indians, and that they had all gone back to 
 the woods, and gave a very hostile reception to the mes- 
 sengers sent to urge their return. 
 
 The close of the season of active operations left matters 
 in very little better condition than at the same period in 
 the previous year. General Armistead, in May, 1841, 
 asked to be relieved of the command in Florida. The 
 result of his operations during the previous year was the 
 surrender or capture of four hundred and fifty Indians, of 
 whom one hundred and twenty were warriors. A delega- 
 tion of friendly Indians had been brought from Arkansas 
 to use their influence in persuading the remaining Semi- 
 noles to emigrate. They were instructed to give a favor- 
 able account of the country assigned to the Indians west of 
 Arkansas, and to use every inducement to obtain their sur- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Zl^ 
 
 render. It was doubted whether they did not accomplish 
 more harm than good. General William J, Worth was 
 now assigned to the command, making the eighth com- 
 mander sent out to close the war. No better choice could 
 have been made than that of the distinguished officer who 
 so well earned the distinctive title assigned to him by uni- 
 versal consent, — the gallant Worth. 
 
 No more unpromising field for distinction could have 
 been found than Florida presented at the period when Gen- 
 eral Worth was assigned to the command. As the number 
 of Indians had been reduced, their tactics had been 
 changed. They no longer presented themselves, as at 
 first, to contest the passage of troops in the open field. 
 They now found that by subdividing into small squads they 
 could distract the attention of the troops, and, by the 
 smallness of their number, find ready concealment and 
 elude pursuit. They had become accustomed to the mode 
 of conducting military operations, and knew that with the 
 approach of the summer heats they would remain unmo- 
 lested. Far down in the Everglades there were islands 
 never trodden by the foot of the white man, where they 
 could place their families in security and plant their crops 
 in peace. From these fastnesses they could sally forth upon 
 long expeditions for murder and rapine ; acquainted with 
 coverts to which they might readily fly in all parts of the 
 country, able to support themselves upon the abundant 
 game, they possessed an unlimited power of doing mischief, 
 and were almost as unapproachable as the birds in the air. 
 Where they had been, was easily ascertained by the bodies 
 of the slain victims and the ashes of destroyed homes, but 
 where they were, it was a matter of impossibility to more 
 than conjecture. And when other means of support failed, 
 or it was desirable to check a too active movement in the 
 direction of their camps, they had the convenient resort of 
 
332 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 a friendly talk and peaceful overtures, accompanied with an 
 abundant supply of whisky and rations. 
 
 The officer now in command comprehended fully the task 
 before him. He had seen, in the failures of his predeces- 
 sors, the results of going into summer quarters one-half of 
 the year, and the cessation of hostilities during peace ne- 
 gotiations occupying much of the remaining portion. He 
 had been assigned to the command on 31st May, a period 
 of the year when it was usual to go into summer quarters. 
 General Worth at once inaugurated a different policy. The 
 force at his disposal was about five thousand men in all, 
 but of these over one thousand were unfit for duty. He at 
 once organized his force in the most effective manner, and 
 prepared for a continuous campaign, irrespective of the 
 season ; and the simple injunction, "Find the enemy, cap- 
 ture or exterminate," was to govern the commanders in 
 their operations. General Worth established his head- 
 quarters at Fort King. Early in June a detachment of 
 troops penetrated the swamps surrounding Lake Fanee 
 Suffeekee, with the hope of surprising Halleck-Tustenug- 
 gee, but, after a severe night march, they found his camp 
 deserted. 
 
 On the 15th of June, Major Childs, commanding at Fort 
 Pierce, acting under the orders he had received from Gen- 
 eral Armistead, secured Coacoochee, his brother, a brother 
 of King Philip, together with thirteen warriors and three 
 negroes who came in to his post. They were immediately 
 sent off to Arkansas. General Worth being advised of this 
 capture, and of their being shipped West, sent one of his 
 officers to New Orleans to intercept the vessel on which 
 they had been sent, in order to bring back Coacoochee, 
 whom he desired to make use of in his ulterior operations. 
 Major Capers, the officer sent, intercepted the vessel, 
 Coacoochee expressing the greatest pleasure at being taken 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 333 
 
 back to Florida, and promising to bring in his whole 
 band. 
 
 A simultaneous movement was ordered to take place in 
 each district, for the purpose of breaking up any camps 
 which the Indians might have formed, destroying their 
 crops and stores wherever they might be found. Boat de- 
 tachments ascended the Withlacoochee, found several fields 
 of growing crops, and destroyed them. Every swamp and 
 hammock between the Atlantic and Gulf coasts was visited, 
 and the band of Halleck-Tustenuggee routed out of the 
 Wahoo Swamp. Many fields were found in the hammocks 
 and islands of the Charl-Apopka country, with huts, pal- 
 metto sheds, and corn-cribs. Tiger-Tail had a large field 
 upon one of these islands, which was his reliance for the 
 ensuing year, and from a tree in the hammock he wit- 
 nessed its entire destruction by the troops. Several fields 
 were destroyed on the Suwanee and in Wacasassa Ham- 
 mock. 
 
 The operations of the army were harassing and destruc- 
 tive to the Indians, and they were driven to make use of 
 every expedient to escape pursuit and capture by the troops, 
 who were scouting in every direction. The last of June 
 they held a council to consult upon their situation. They 
 determined not to surrender, but to put to death any mes- 
 senger, whether white, Indian, or negro, who dared to 
 come within their reach. They agreed to keep together 
 for mutual protection, and had scouts out to report the 
 number and approach of troops. 
 
 The detachments thus engaged in scouring the country 
 continued in the field twenty-five days. The number 
 engaged was about six hundred, and about twenty-five per 
 cent, were sent to the hospitals. The thermometer aver- 
 aged 86°, and, considering the heat and exposure, the 
 experiment satisfactorily demonstrated the ability of the 
 
334 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 troops to operate in the summer. In the course of their 
 movements they destroyed thirty-five fields and one hun- 
 dred and eighty huts or sheds. 
 
 The inhabitants were invited to return to their homes, 
 and inducements of subsistence and protection were offered 
 them if they would do so. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 Florida War, continued, under Command of General Worth — Inter- 
 view between General Worth and Coacoochee at Tampa Bay — Sur- 
 render of Coacoochee's Band — Active Operations of General Worth 
 in the Everglades — Surrender of various Bands — Close of the 
 Florida W^ar. 
 
 General Worth, having been informed that Coacoo- 
 chee had arrived at Tampa, proceeded to that point to hold 
 an interview with him. The Indian chief and his com- 
 panions were on board a transport in the harbor, and held 
 in irons to prevent the hope or possibility of escape. 
 
 On the morning of the 4th of July the interview took 
 place on the transport. The stately and soldier-like pres- 
 ence of the commanding general was enhanced by the 
 presence of his staff in full uniform. Nothing was omitted 
 to give impressiveness to the scene. After the general had 
 arrived, and his party had been seated, Coacoochee and 
 his companions came forward, heavily ironed, and moving 
 with difficulty, and sat down on the deck. General Worth 
 rose, and, taking the young chief by the hand, said, '* Coa- 
 coochee, I take you by the hand as a warrior, a brave man ; 
 you have fought long, and with a true and strong heart, for 
 your country. I take your hand with feelings of pride ; 
 you love your country as we do; it is sacred to you; the 
 ashes of your country are dear to you and the Seminole; 
 these feelings have caused much bloodshed, distress, horrid 
 murders ; it is time now the Indian felt the power of the 
 
 (335) 
 
^^6 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 white man. Like the oak, you may bear up for many 
 years against strong winds ; the time must come when it 
 will fall. This time has arrived. You have withstood the 
 blasts of five winters, and the storms of thunder, lightning, 
 and wind of five summers ; the branches have fallen, and 
 the tree, burnt at the roots, is prostrate. 
 
 ''■ Coacoochee, I am your friend ; so is your Great Father 
 at Washington. What I say to you is true. My tongue is 
 not forked like a snake's. My word is for the happiness of 
 the red man. You are a great warrior; the Indians through- 
 out the country look to you as a leader \ by your counsels 
 they have been governed. This war has lasted five years; 
 much blood has been shed, — much innocent blood. You 
 nave made your hands and the ground red with the blood 
 of women and children. This war must now end. You 
 are the man to do it; you must and shall accomplish it. 
 I sent • for you that through the exertions of yourself and 
 your men you might induce your entire band to emigrate. 
 I wish you to state hoAV many days it will require to effect 
 an interview with the Indians in the woods. You can 
 select three or five of these men to carry your talk ; name 
 the time, it shall be granted ; but I tell you, as I wish your 
 relatives and friends told, that unless they ifulfill your de- 
 mands, yourself and these warriors now seated before us 
 shall be hung to the yards of this vessel when the sun sets 
 on the day appointed, with the irons upon your hands and 
 feet. I tell you this that we may well understand each 
 other. I do not wish to frighten you ; you are too brave 
 a man for that; but I say what I mean, and I will do it. 
 It is for the benefit of the white and red man. The war 
 must end, and you must end itf 
 
 Silence pervaded the company as the general closed. 
 Coacoochee rose, and replied, in a subdued tone, — 
 
 ' '■ I was once a boy ; then I saw the white man afar off. 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 337 
 
 I hunted in these woods first with a bow and arrow, then 
 with a rifle. I saw the white man, and was told he was my 
 enemy. I could not shoot him as I would a wolf or bear ; 
 yet like these he came upon me ; horses, cattle, and fields 
 he took from me. He said he was my friend ; he abused 
 our women and children, and told us to go from the land. 
 Still he gave me his hand in friendship ; we took it; while 
 taking it he had a snake in the other; his tongue was 
 forked ; he lied and stung us. I asked but for a small 
 piece of these lands, enough to plant and live upon, far 
 south, a spot where I could place the ashes of my kindred ; 
 a spot only sufficient upon which I could lay my wife and 
 child. This was not granted me. I was put in prison. I 
 escaped. I have been again taken ; you have brought me 
 back; lam here. I feel the irons in my heart. I have 
 listened to your talk. You and your officers have taken us 
 by the hand in friendship. I thank you for bringing me 
 back. I can now see my warriors, my women and chil- 
 dren ; the Great Spirit thanks you ; the heart of the poor 
 Indian thanks you. We know but little; we have no books 
 which tell all things; but we have the Great Spirit, moon, 
 and stars ; these told me last night you would be our friend. 
 I give you my word; it is the word of a warrior^ a chief, 
 a brave ; it is the word of Coacoochee. It is true I have 
 fought like a man ; so have my warriors ; but the whites are 
 too strong for us. I wish now to have my band around 
 me and go to Arkansas. You say I must end the war ! 
 Look at these irons ! Can I go to my warriors ? Coacoo- 
 chee chained ! No ; do not ask me to see them. I never 
 wish to tread upon my land unless I am free. If I can go 
 to them unchained, they will follow me in ; but I fear they 
 will not obey me when I talk to them in irons. They will 
 say my heart is weak, I am afraid. Could I go free, they 
 will surrender and emigrate." 
 
 29 
 
338 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 General Worth, in reply, told him distinctly that he 
 could not go, nor would his irons be taken off until his 
 entire band had surrendered, but that he might select three 
 or five of the prisoners, who should be liberated, and per- 
 mitted to carry his talk ; they should be granted thirty, 
 forty, or fifty days if necessary. He concluded by saying, 
 
 ''I say to you again, and for the last time, that unless 
 the band acquiesce promptly with your wishes, to your last 
 wish, the sun, as it goes down on the last day appointed 
 for their appearance, will shine upon the bodies of each of 
 you hanging in the wind." 
 
 Coacoochee, after consultation, selected five of his com- 
 panions to bear his message. After reciting his past ser- 
 vices and claims upon his band, he concluded : 
 
 '* My feet are chained, but the head and heart of Coa- 
 coochee reach you. The great white chief (Po-car-ger) 
 will be kind to us. He says when my band comes in I 
 shall again walk my land free, with my band around me. 
 He has given you forty days to do this business in : if you 
 want more, say so ; I will ask for more ; if not, be true to 
 the time. Take these sticks ; here are thirty-nine, one for 
 each day ; this, much larger than the rest, with blood upon 
 it, is the fortieth. When the others are thrown away, and 
 this only remains, say to my people that with the setting 
 sun Coacoochee hangs like a dog, with none but white 
 men to hear his last words. Come, then ; come by the 
 stars, as I have led you to battle. Come, for the voice of 
 Coacoochee speaks to you." 
 
 The five messengers were relieved of their irons, and 
 went on their embassy. As time passed, the utmost anx- 
 iety was felt by all for the return of the messengers. Old 
 Micco accompanied them, and in ten days returned with 
 six warriors and a number of women and children. They 
 continued to arrive in small parties, when, on the last of 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 339 
 
 the month, all had come in, numbering seventy-eight war- 
 riors, sixty-four women, and forty-seven children, — one 
 hundred and eighty-nine in all. 
 
 When Coacoochee was told that his people had all come 
 in, he seemed greatly relieved. ''Take off my irons," he 
 said, ''that I may once more meet my warriors like a man." 
 His irons being taken off, he proceeded to the shore ; three 
 ostrich plumes hung from his turban, his breast was covered 
 with silver ornaments, his colored frock and red leggings, 
 a red sash around his waist, containing a scalping-knife, 
 completed his costume. On arriving on shore he gave a 
 shrill whoop, passed on to headquarters and saluted Gen- 
 eral Worth, then, turning to the crowd, said, — 
 
 "Warriors, Coacoochee speaks to you! You have lis- 
 tened to my word and taken it ; I thank you. The Great 
 Spirit speaks in our councils. The rifle is hid, and the 
 white and red man are friends. I have given my word for 
 you; then let my word be true. I am done. By our 
 council-fire I will say more." 
 
 General Worth, by this sagacious use of Coacoochee, 
 had accomplished the first part of his plan, — the securing 
 of this warlike and troublesome band, numbering some 
 two hundred in all. 
 
 Coacoochee was by no means the great warrior his 
 vanity led him to estimate himself. He was vain, bold, 
 and cunning. General Worth had operated upon his weak 
 point by treating him as a great chief. The general now 
 proposed to make still further use of him by procuring his 
 services in bringing in the other bands, which he thought 
 might more easily and certainly be brought to surrender 
 by negotiation than by hostile pursuit. Coacoochee him- 
 self having surrendered, he desired to increase his influence 
 at the West by carrying with him a larger force, and readily 
 consented to use his influence in inducing the rest to emi- 
 
340 HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 grate. At his instance, the active operations of the army 
 were to some degree suspended. 
 
 Detachments, however, continued to operate on the fron- 
 tier, and scouting-parties were patrolling the country. In 
 August a detachment under Captain Gwynn established a 
 post on Pease Creek, twenty miles above its mouth. 
 Shortly afterwards Sole-Micco, accompanied by two other 
 men and twenty women and children, came into the post 
 for protection, being closely pursued by a party of the 
 Prophet's band from the Big Cypress Swamp. 
 
 In this swamp had now gathered a large number of des- 
 perate characters from all the tribes, and runaways from the 
 Creeks in Georgia. The influence of the Prophet, himself 
 a runaway Creek, was supreme. Micco had been sent out 
 from Sarasota to carry a talk to some of the chiefs, but 
 was in peril of his life, and took the first opportunity to 
 escape, bringing in his mother and other relatives. He 
 was able to give important information as to the location 
 and designs of the Indians in that quarter. 
 
 Coacoochee had a brother, Otulkee, whom he was anxious 
 to reach and have come in to go West with him. He pro- 
 posed that his younger brother should go down to Pease 
 Creek with an Indian woman, who was to carry a talk to 
 Arpeika and Billy Bowlegs. This messenger, after an ab- 
 sence of ten days, returned to the post on Pease Creek, 
 bringing with him Otulkee and five others. Otulkee 
 brought a message from Hospetarkee that he was coming 
 to see Coacoochee. General Worth arrived about that 
 time at Pease Creek with Coacoochee, who, learning that 
 Hospetarkee was in camp near there, went out to find him, 
 and succeeded in getting him to come into camp with 
 eighteen of his followers to have a talk. General Worth 
 appointed the talk on board a transport in the river, and, 
 being satisfied that the old chief did not intend to sur- 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 341 
 
 render, he secured him and his warriors. Messengers were 
 sent to procure the coming in of the remainder of his 
 band, with the women and children, who, some weeks 
 afterwards, came in at Punta Rossa, and joined Hospe- 
 tarkee at Fort Brooke. 
 
 In September an embassy arrived from Tiger-Tail and 
 his brother, expressing themselves anxious for peace. A 
 party of fifteen warriors, belonging to Halleck-Tustenuggee, 
 was captured, and another party of fifteen belonging to 
 various bands. Communication was opened with several 
 chiefs, and Coacoochee and Aleck Hajo, a sub-chief, who 
 had been captured, used their influence to bring in others. 
 The negro interpreter Sampson, who had been captured 
 at the attack on Colonel Harney on Carlosahatchee, now 
 came in, having made his escape from the Prophet's band, 
 and gave important information. 
 
 In October, at the solicitation of Hospetarkee and Coa- 
 coochee, their bands were sent to Arkansas with others who 
 were at Tampa. The number sent was two hundred and 
 eleven. 
 
 Alligator, one of the leading chiefs who had been sent 
 by General Jesup to Arkansas, had been sent for to use his 
 influence with Tiger-Tail and Halleck-Tustenuggee, and 
 had an interview with Tiger-Tail shortly after his arrival. 
 During the month of October, thirty of Halleck-Tuste- 
 nuggee's band came in, and a portion of Tiger-Tail's. 
 
 A combined land and naval expedition, under Captain 
 Burke of the army, and Lieutenant McLaughlin of the 
 navy, was made through the Everglades in October. No 
 Indians were captured, but a very thorough scout was 
 made. It was now determined by General Worth to 
 organize a large force and penetrate the southern part of 
 the peninsula by land and in boats, and to attack the 
 stronghold of the Indians in the Big Cypress, where Ar- 
 
 29* 
 
342 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 peika and the Prophet held supreme command. A large 
 naval expedition was to accompany the movement. The 
 examination of the hiding-places of the Indians was 
 thorough and complete. The troops marched through 
 swamps, deep in mud and water ; their boats penetrated 
 every creek and landed upon every island. The Indians, 
 apprised of their presence, fled towards the coast and were 
 seldom seen ; extensive fields were found and destroyed, and 
 every hut and shelter burned. The Indians now saw that no 
 hiding-place was secure, and that, with a vigilant and en- 
 ergetic commander like General Worth to deal with, they 
 were to encounter war in a different form from that which 
 they had previously experienced. They had hitherto con- 
 sidered their homes in the Big Cypress and in the islands 
 of the Everglades inaccessible, and they went on the war- 
 path when it suited their convenience, noiselessly stole 
 upon the unsuspecting traveler, or the isolated family of 
 the settler, and, scattering death and devastation, gathered 
 up their plunder and regained their coverts in security. 
 There was for the savage a horrible fascination in a life 
 like this, and the young Indian lads, who had grown up to 
 manhood during the conflict, hardly knew what a peaceful 
 existence meant. A state of warfare had become habitual. 
 The older warriors clearly perceived now that this state of 
 affairs could not last, and that they must make terms with 
 their foe. Their fields devastated, flying for their lives to 
 new hiding-places, powder and ball becoming too scarce 
 to be used for hunting, and fearful that the sound of their 
 rifles would betray their location, this unceasing prosecu- 
 tion of hostilities began to tell upon and discourage them. 
 The following graphic summary of the Big Cypress ex- 
 pedition is appended to a long and interesting diary kept 
 by an officer. '•' Thus ended the Big Cypress campaign, like 
 all others. Drove the Indians out, broke them up, taught 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 343 
 
 them we could go where they could ; men and officers 
 worn down ; two months in water ; plunder on our backs ; 
 hard times; trust they are soon to end. . . . Indians 
 asking for peace in all quarters. The only reward we ask 
 is the ending of the Florida War."* 
 
 In connection with the expedition entering the Ever- 
 glades from the Gulf, orders were given to Major Wade, 
 commanding at Fort Lauderdale, on the southeastern part 
 of the Atlantic coast of Florida, to scout for any Indians who 
 might be driven out in that direction from the interior. 
 He succeeded in finding two villages, and captured fifty-five 
 Indians and killed eight, destroying twenty canoes, and all 
 their fields and huts. 
 
 While these active measures were going on to reach the 
 main body of the Indians in the Everglades, the small 
 parties lying out in different parts of the country continued 
 to commit murders and evade pursuit. A considerable 
 party was concealed on the Esteen-hatchee and adjacent 
 hammocks, consisting mainly of Creeks under Halpater- 
 Tustenuggee. Another band, headed by Octiarche, were 
 in the Gulf Hammocks, near the Wacasassa. 
 
 On the 2oth of December, 1841, the majority of the 
 men in the Mandarin settlement, on the east side of the 
 St. John's, about twelve miles from Jacksonville, went out 
 on a general hunt. During their absence, a party of seven- 
 teen Indians, belonging to Halleck-Tustenuggee's band, 
 attacked the settlement and killed two men, two women, 
 and a child, and burned the houses. As this attack 
 was made in one of the most thickly settled parts of the 
 country, it created universal fear and consternation. The 
 Indians were traced to the hiding-place of Tustenuggee, on 
 Dunn's Lake. 
 
 * Lieutenant C. R. Gates's Journal, Sprague, 370. 
 
344 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 Major Belknap succeeded in opening negotiations with 
 some of the sub-chiefs of Bowlegs and Sam Jones in the 
 neighborhood of Lake Istokpoga, and secured sixty-seven 
 of their followers, including thirty-two young warriors. 
 
 On the 5th of February, 1842, two hundred and thirty 
 Indians were shipped from Tampa to Arkansas, and on the 
 loth of April one hundred more were sent to the same des- 
 tination. 
 
 General Worth now determined to make a final effort to 
 secure Halleck-Tustenuggee and his band. This cunning 
 and vindictive chief had eluded every effort which had 
 been made to capture him, and laughed to scorn all the 
 messages received from friendly Indians advising his sur- 
 render. He was a complete master of wood-craft, and 
 could conceal his tracks, or so arrange them as to mislead 
 those engaged in the pursuit. He had baffled every detach- 
 ment sent after him, and the commanding general now 
 took command in person. Tustenuggee was finally brought 
 to bay in April, 1842, in the Pilaklikaha Swamp, and his 
 hiding-place surrounded. The troops charged the ham- 
 mock with great gallantry, and received the fire of the 
 Indians, who discharged their rifles rapidly, but soon 
 broke into small parties and escaped, leaving one killed, 
 two wounded, and one prisoner, the loss of the troops being 
 about the same. 
 
 The troops were thus again baffled in their expectation 
 of capturing this noted chief. They had, however, cap- 
 tured his father- in-law, Osane-Micco (the King of the 
 Lakes), through whom a talk was sent to Tustenuggee, and 
 who shortly afterwards influenced the chief to come in to 
 hold a talk with General Worth. General Worth appointed 
 the time for another talk with him at Fort King. Taking 
 advantage of the absence of their chief. Colonel Garland 
 succeeded in getting the entire band to attend a feast, and 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 345 
 
 secured the whole party, and the chief was also secured by 
 General Worth, The capture of the one Indian in the 
 first instance thus resulted, by the sagacious use of this 
 means of communication, in getting possession of the en- 
 tire party, consisting of thirty-two warriors and thirty- 
 eight women and children. This was one of the most 
 important steps towards bringing the war to a close. This 
 band had done more to keep up the general alarm, and 
 disturb the settlements, than all the others. 
 
 The band of Creeks and outlaws still occupied the 
 swamps west of the Suwanee. A large detachment took 
 the field, and made a thorough scout through every part of 
 this region where they were likely to be found. Their 
 fields and settlements were visited and destroyed, and two 
 Indians were killed, and two squaws and three children 
 were -captured. To revenge this pursuit, Halpatter-Tuste- 
 nuggee, with a war-party, crossed the Suwanee River, at- 
 tacked a settler's family near Newnansville, killing a woman 
 and three children, and burned the house. They then 
 turned south, and fired upon a detachment of troops near 
 Blue Peter Pond, west of Wacahootee, killing two soldiers, 
 and, being sharply pursued, joined Octiarche in Wacasassa 
 Hammock. 
 
 In February, 1842, General Worth had addressed a com- 
 munication to the War Department, submitting a statement 
 of the number of Indians remaining in Florida, which, 
 from the best sources of information he could obtain, 
 amounted to one hundred and twelve warriors and one 
 hundred and eighty-nine women and children, and suggest- 
 ing that, with such an insignificant number to deal with, 
 the government might now safely close the war by allowing 
 such of them as chose to remain within certain limits below 
 Pease Creek to have the privilege of doing so as a tempo- 
 rary arrangement ; that being confined within limits far 
 
346 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 distant from the white settlements, with a knowledge of 
 their own weakness, they would remain quiet and inof- 
 fensive. 
 
 This proposal was not at first approved, but subsequently, 
 in a message to Congress, of May lo, 1842, President Tyler 
 approved of General Worth's suggestions, and orders were 
 issued accordingly. 
 
 On the 14th of July, Halleck-Tustenuggee, forty war- 
 riors, and eighty women and children were embarked for 
 Arkansas. 
 
 On the 14th of August, 1842, General Worth issued his 
 General Order, No. 28, announcing that hostilities with 
 the Indians in Florida had ceased, and designating the 
 limits assigned for the temporary occupation of the Indians, 
 being from the mouth of Pease Creek to the fork of the 
 southern branch, thence to the head of Lake Istokpoga, 
 thence down to the Kissimee, thence to Lake Okechobee, 
 and down through the Everglades to Shark River, and 
 along the coast to the place of beginning. 
 
 A part of General Worth's policy had been to reoccupy 
 the habitable part of the country with settlers, who, with 
 block-houses to resort to in case of need, should hold an 
 armed occupation. This plan was successfully carried 
 out, and over three hundred settlers with their families 
 were located. 
 
 On the 17th of August, General Worth turned over the 
 command in Florida, and proceeded to Washington, in 
 pursuance of orders of the War Department. Upon his 
 arrival, he was conducted by the Secretary of War to the 
 President, who expressed his appreciation, and that of the 
 country, of the fidelity with which all grades of the army 
 had discharged their duty in Florida, and handed him the 
 commission of a brevet brigadier-general, conferred by 
 the Senate of the United States, in consideration '' of 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 347 
 
 gallantry and highly-distinguished services as commander 
 of the forces in the war against the Florida Indians." 
 
 The headquarters of the army had been established at 
 Cedar Keys, and negotiations were going on, when the 
 intelligence was brought to Colonel Vose that, on the nth 
 of August, a band often Indians had attacked the settlement 
 at San Pedro, in Madison County, and killed two citizens. 
 Colonel Bailey raised a party, and immediately went in pur- 
 suit, overtook the Indians and killed two and wounded five 
 of their number. This event, occurring in the midst of a 
 populous country, just at the time when General Worth had 
 issued his announcement that hostilities had ceased, caused 
 much anxiety, and induced many persons to censure or 
 distrust the step which had been taken to close the war. 
 
 Public opinion in Florida, acting upon the authorities at 
 Washington, caused the War Department to issue instruc- 
 tions, on the 22d of September, to Colonel Vose, directing 
 him to muster into service a militia force, and push vigor- 
 ously for the capture and punishment of the enemy. 
 
 Colonel Vose suspended the execution of these orders, 
 explaining to the War Departmen,t the true condition of 
 affairs. 
 
 On the 4th and 5th of October, a violent gale caused an 
 unprecedented tidal wave and high water at Cedar Keys, 
 destroying all the government stores, and nearly submerg- 
 ing the whole island. 
 
 On the ist of November, General Worth, under orders 
 of the War Department, resumed command in Florida. 
 
 Octiarche and Tiger-Tail had been for a long time 
 carrying on a negotiation with the commanding officer for 
 surrender and emigration. These negotiations had been 
 accompanied with requisitions for subsistence and whisky, 
 but new excuses for delay were constantly made. Finding 
 that Octiarche would probably be involved in difficulties 
 
348 
 
 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 with Billy Bowlegs, who now claimed to be the head-chief 
 of the Seminoles, General Worth directed that he and his 
 followers should be secured when they next came into Fort 
 Brooke. Shortly afterwards. Tiger-Tail and those remain- 
 ing with him were captured and brought in. 
 
 The Indians remaining on the Oklockonee with Pascoffer, 
 still remained out. Colonel Hitchcock went out with a 
 detachment to operate against them, and, by his energetic 
 and vigilant pursuit, compelled the surrender of that chief 
 and his entire band, numbering fifty-nine, twenty-nine of 
 whom were warriors. Middle and West Florida were, by 
 this surrender of Pascoffer, entirely relieved of Indians, 
 and the surrender of Tustenuggee, Octiarche, and Tiger- 
 Tail had removed nearly all from the central and northern 
 parts of East Florida. These Indians were now all sent to 
 New Orleans, and thence to Arkansas. 
 
 No other Indians now remained in the Territory, except 
 those under Arpeika and Bowlegs, who were within the 
 limits assigned them south of Pease Creek, and there was 
 no longer any apprehension of difficulty, and, by com- 
 mon consent, it was admitted that the credit of finally 
 closing the Florida War was attributable to the rare com- 
 bination of qualifications for this work exhibited by the 
 gallant Worth. Skillful alike in military combinations and 
 in negotiation, he was never outwitted or overreached. 
 His operations were conducted with great economy of life 
 and treasure, and in the space of little more than a year 
 he solved the problem which had so perplexed his prede- 
 cessors and embarrassed the government. Like other com- 
 manders, he was at times severely criticised by those who 
 were unable to comprehend, or were ignorant of, his plans ; 
 but at this day only a sentiment of profound respect and 
 admiration exists for the memory of the able and chival- 
 rous general who could win laurels upon so unpromising a 
 
HISTORY OF FLORIDA, 
 
 349 
 
 field as that presented in Florida, and who earned a nation's 
 gratitude on the plains of Mexico. 
 
 In November, 1843, General Worth estimated the whole 
 number of Indians remaining in Florida as follows : of 
 warriors, Seminoles, forty-tw6 ; Miccosukies, thirty-three ; 
 Creeks, ten ; Tallahassees, ten ; ninety-five warriors in all, 
 and, including women and children, three hundred in all, 
 under Holatter-Micco as head-chief, and Assinwar and 
 Otulko-Thlocko, the Prophet, sub-chiefs. In 1845, Cap- 
 tain Sprague, w^ho had been specially in charge of the 
 Indian department in Florida, estimated the total number 
 at three hundred and sixty. Sam Jones (Arpeika) was 
 only a sub-chief; he was then reputed to be ninety-two 
 years of age. 
 
 The Florida War may be said to have commenced with 
 the massacre of Major Dade's command, on the 28th of 
 December, 1835, and closed, by official proclamation, on 
 the 14th of August, 1842, having lasted nearly seven years. 
 It was generally said to have cost the United States forty 
 millions of dollars, which, before our recent contest, was 
 considered an immense sum of money. Captain (now 
 General) Sprague, in his valuable work, states the expendi- 
 tures at upwards of nineteen millions. 
 
 The number of troops, of all descriptions, employed 
 during the several years was as follows : 
 
 Nov. 30, 1836. 
 
 General Jesup commanding, 
 
 . 4220 
 
 " " 1837. 
 
 
 " 
 
 " 
 
 . . 8866 
 
 " « 1838. 
 
 
 Taylor 
 
 ** 
 
 . . 3471 
 
 1839. 
 
 
 " 
 
 " 
 
 . 3S14 
 
 1840. 
 
 
 Armistead 
 
 " 
 
 . 6034 
 
 1 841. 
 
 
 Worth 
 
 " 
 
 . 3801 
 
 The number of deaths among the regular troops during 
 the war amounted to an aggregate of fourteen hundred and 
 
 30 
 
350 HISTORY OF FLORIDA. 
 
 sixty-six, of whom the very large number of two hundred 
 and fifteen were officers. 
 
 On two subsequent occasions there were difficulties with 
 the Indians, caused by their coming in conflict with white 
 settlers outside of their boundaries. After a brief cam- 
 paign of State troops, they were driven back within their 
 limits. 
 
 An inconsiderable number of Indians still inhabit the 
 more southerly portion of the peninsula, peacefully sup- 
 porting themselves by hunting and fishing. 
 
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 LIPPINCOTT'S PRONOUNCING DICTIONARY 
 
 BIOGRAPHY AND MYTHOLOGY 
 
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 prehensiveness and accuracy, the two 
 great desid^randa in such an undertak- 
 ing."— /"r^w Prof. Jas. Russell Low- 
 ell. 
 
 " It is the most valuable work of the 
 kind in English that I have seen."- -pyovi 
 Gen. R. E. Lee, Washitigton College. 
 
 cec-1'-^-^