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Florida War, continued, under Command of General Worth - General Worth, having been informed that Coacoochee had arrived at Tampa, proceeded to that point to hold an interview with him. The Indian chief and his companions 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 presence 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, " Coacoochee, 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 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 throughout 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 to for you that through the exertions of yourself and your men you might induce your entire band to emigrate. I wish you to state how 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 fulfill your demands, 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 it. 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. 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; l am 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 children; 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 Coacoochee 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." 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 permitted 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 companions to bear his message. After reciting his past services and claims upon his band, he concluded: (1) 'My feet are chained, but the head and heart of Coacoochee 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 anxiety 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 the month, all had come in, numbering seventy-eight warriors, 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 General Worth, then, turning to the crowd, said, "Warriors, Coacoochee speaks to you! You have listened 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 himself 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 emigrate. At his instance, the active operations of the army were to some degree suspended. Detachments, however, continued to operate on the frontier, 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 desperate 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 proposed 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 absence 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 surrender, 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 Hospetarkee 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 Coacoochee, 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 Arpeika 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 energetic 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 considered their homes in the Big Cypress and in the islands of the Everglades inaccessible, and they went on the warpath 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 prosecution of hostilities began to tell upon and discourage them. The following graphic summary of the Big Cypress expedition 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 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 Everglades 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 20th 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 seventeen 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. 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 10th of April one hundred more were sent to the same destination. 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 surrender. 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 detachment 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 hammock 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, captured 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 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 entire 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, attacked 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 communication 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 suggesting 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 temporary arrangement; that being confined within limits far distant from the white settlements, with a knowledge of their own weakness, they would remain quiet and inoffensive. This proposal was not at first approved, but subsequently, in a message to Congress, of May 1842, President Tyler approved of General Worth's suggestions, and orders were issued accordingly. On the 14th of July, Halleck-Tustenuggee, forty warriors, 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 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 9th 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 pursuit, 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 instructions, on the 22nd of September, to Colonel Vose, directing him to muster into service a militia force, and push vigorously for the capture and punishment of the enemy. Colonel Vose suspended the execution of these orders, explaining to the War Department 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 submerging the whole island. On the 1st 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 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 remaining 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 common consent, it was admitted that the credit of finally closing the Florida War was attributable to the rare combination 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 predecessors and embarrassed the government. Like other commanders, he was at times severely criticized 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 chivalrous general who could win laurels upon so unpromising a 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-two; 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, Captain Sprague, who 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 expenditures at upwards of nineteen millions. The number of troops, of all descriptions, employed during the several years was as follows:
The number of deaths among the regular troops during the war amounted to an aggregate of fourteen hundred and 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 campaign 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 supporting themselves by hunting and fishing.
(1) Lieutenant C. R. Gates's Journal, Sprague, 370. ©Genealogy Trails |
