Defeat of the Seminole Indians, &c. protection of that portion of the frontier on our side of the line, unless your impression should be decidedly different from that I have stated; in which event, you will take post at any point which you may judge proper within the country possessed by the Indians. On the east of the Appalachicola you may station the troops on either side of the line, as you may judge proper. Fort Gadsden, besides admitting of great facility for supplies, appears to be a very commanding position, and ought not to be evacuated. Should you think so, you will retain it, and garrison it with a sufficient force. as Fort Jackson, and there the necessary provis. ions may be obtained and packed to answer their immediate wants, until they are intercepted by supplies from below. Major Fanning has been despatched to Fort Hawkins to purchase and forward on these supplies to the most convenient point of interception. I have advanced to him two thousand dollars, with authority to draw on the quartermaster general for any additional sums wanted, and imposed upon him the temporary duties of deputy quartermaster general. I am compelled to this arrangement from an impression that there can be no officer of the quartermaster's department in the vicinity of Fort Hawkins, and Colonel Gibson could not po-sibly reach that neighborhood to effect the objects I trust you will be able to make such a distribution of your command as to afford, with vigilance, effectual protection to the frontier, without resorting to the militia. It is of great import-wished. ance, if the militia can be dispensed with, not to call them into actual service, as it is harassing to them and exhausting to the Treasury. Protection is the first object, and the second is protection by the regular force. I have, &c. J. C. CALHOUN. Brevet Major Gen. E. P. GAINES, DEPARTMENT OF WAR, August 19, 1818. SIR: I send the enclosed extract from the letter of the Secretary of State to the Spanish Minister, in relation to St. Mark's and Pensacola. My instructions to you, of the 14th instant, contained the substance of this extract; and my object in communicating it now, is, that you may be in possession of the precise ideas communicated to the Spanish Minister, in case any difficulty should occur. I have, &c. J. C. CALHOUN. General E. P. GAINES. HEADQ'RS, DIVISION OF THE SOUTH, Nashville, January 20, 1818. SIR: In a communication to you of the 12th instant, I acknowledged the receipt of your order of the 26th ultimo, and advised you of the appeal I had made to the patriotism of the West Tennesseeans. On yesterday, the officers who had so gallantly headed the Tennessee mounted volunteers, during the Creek campaigns, met me at this place, and gave every assurance of their ability to assemble two regiments of mounted gun-men by the 31st instant, at any designated point within the western part of this State. I have ordered them to rendezvous at Fayetteville, and as many as may appear on the 31st instant, or the 1st of February, to be mustered and received into service for six months (if not sooner discharged) by my inspector general. The contractor has instructions to issue to these troops twenty days' rations, and every measure has been adopted to facilitate their march, via Fort Jackson, by the most practicable route, to Fort Scott. These troops will be well supplied as far My inspector general, Colonel Hayne, (no brigadier general having volunteered his services,) is charged with conducting the march of the two regiments of Tennessee volunteers to the southern frontier. From the contents of Colonel Arbuckle's and Major Muhlenburg's letters, copies of which are herewith enclosed, you will readily perceive that the former must remain inactive, and that the latter is in a dangerous situation. Every information from our southern frontier justifies the decisive measures I have taken, and urges the prompt movement of the volunteers called into same light, and that my arrangements may meet service. I trust you will view the subject in the with your entire approbation. boundary, reinforced with the Tennessee volunThe troops now assembled on our southern teers called into service, will enable me to inflict Seminoles. I remain here to facilitate every arspeedy and merited chastisement on the deluded rangement for the prompt movement of the Tennessee detachment, but will leave this on the 22d instant for Fort Scott, via Fort Hawkins. From Colonel Arbuckle's letter I am advised of the departure of General Gaines from Fort Scott; and the newspapers communicate the information of the Georgia contingency being commanded by a Brigadier General. As he must, consequently, be the commanding officer of the forces in the neighborhood of Fort Scott, I have this day directed instructions to him by no means to precipitate himself into a general engagement with the Seminoles, but at all hazards to relieve, if possible, Major Muhlenburg from his present situation, and cover his ascent up the Appalachi cola river. I have further advised him of my movements, and directed that he should remain on the defensive, collect all the necessary supplies, and have every preparation made for an active campaign as soon as reinforced by the Tennes seeans. General Gaines has been notified of this order. I have no later advices from him than that of the 2d of December, informing me of the catastrophe of Lieutenant Scott and party. Your letter, enclosing your general order of the 29th ultimo, has been received. Like yourself, I have no other feelings to gratify than those con Defeat of the Seminole Indians, &c. retary of War, dated nected with the public good, and it gives me | Extract of a letter from General Jackson to the Secpleasure to find that we coincide in those opinions calculated to produce it. Responsibility now rests where it should, on the officer issuing the order; and the principle acknowledged is calculated to insure that subordination so necessary to the harmonious movement of every part of the military machine. HARTFORD, GEORGIA, Feb. 14, 1818. I arrived at this place on the evening of the 12th, and here met with General Gaines. From a letter received from the Governor of Georgia, advising of the movement of the militia from the several counties to the designated point of rendezIt would afford me much pleasure to commu-vous, as well as the punctuality with which the nicate with you on all military points which my troops have assembled here under General Gaines's experience may enable me to elucidate. With respect, &c. Major General commanding. Hon. JOHN C. CALHOUN, Sec'y of War. requisition, has induced a hope that I shall be enabled to make a prompt and speedy march for the relief of Fort Scott. I enclose you a copy of a letter from Colonel B. G. Orr to Captain Callis, contractor's agent at Fort Hawkins. From the sum with which he states to have furnished his agents in this country, you can judge how far efficient means have been adopted to insure the necessary supplies to the troops heretofore in service, as well as those summoned to the field under the late requisition. The mode of provisioning an army by contract is not adapted to the prompt and efficient movement of troops. It may answer in time of profound peace, where a failure or delay cannot produce any serious ill consequences; but where Extract of of a letter from the Secretary of War to active operations are necessary, and success deMajor General Andrew Jackson, dated DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Feb. 6, 1818. I have the bonor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, and to acquaint you with the entire approbation of the President of all the measures which you have adopted to terminate the rupture with the Indians. The honor of our arms, as well as the interest of our country, requires that it should be as speedily terminated as practicable; and the confidence reposed in your skill and promptitude assures us that peace will be restored on such conditions as will make it honorable and permanent. Extract of a letter from General Andrew Jackson to the Secretary of War, dated FORT HAWKINS, February 10, 1818. I reached this place last evening, when I learned, by sundry communications received from Brevet Major General Gaines, that the Georgia militia, under General Glasscock, had all returned home, leaving the frontier in a very exposed situation. The regular troops at Fort Scott have been out of provisions, but the means adopted by Major General Gaines to remedy that evil, induces a strong presumption that they are by this time supplied; which, with the stores ordered by me from New Orleans, will, I trust, afford us an ample supply for the campaign. The contractor having failed, General Gaines has, by my order, directed the quartermaster to purchase provisions, in which he has succeeded so far as to procure one thousand one hundred hogs, and a sufficiency of bread stuff; this will march the troops to and from the seat of war. I am without any official advice as to the preparation and march of the late requisition from the State of Georgia. 15th CoN. 2d SESS.-69 pendent on prompt and quick movements, there is no dependence to be placed on the contractor. His views are purely mercenary; and where the supplies will not insure him a profit, he hesitates not on a failure, never regarding how far it may defeat the best devised plans of the commanderin-chief. Experience has confirmed me in this opinion, and the recent failure has prompted me again to express it. The plan which has been adopted to procure the necessary supplies for the army, to transport them to Fort Scott, and the quantity otherwise ordered to that point, will, I hope, relieve me from any embarrassment on that account, until a decisive blow has been struck upon the enemy. I have been so frequently embarrassed from the failures of contractors, that I cannot but express a hope that some other more efficient and certain mode of supplying our army may be adopted: such a plan as will render those charged with the execution of so important a trust responsible to military authority, and exposed to severe and merited chastisements, whenever defaulters, at the discretion of a court-martial. HEADQ'RS, DIVISION OF THE SOUTH, Fort Early, February 26, 1818. SIR: In my last letter from Hartford, Georgia, of the 14th instant, I expressed a hope that the plans adopted to procure supplies for the detachment from Georgia to transport them to Fort Scott, together with the quantity ordered to that point, would relieve me from many embarrassments on that account, until a decisive blow could be struck upon the enemy. The Georgia detachment marched from their encampment near Hartford on the 19th instant, and on that night General Gaines received a let Defeat of the Seminole Indians, fc. ter from Lieutenant Colonel Arbuckle, commanding at Fort Scott, containing such intelligence of his intention to abandon that post, in the event of not receiving supplies in a short given time, as induced him (General Gaines) to set out that night, and, if possible, by reaching the place in time to prevent such a disastrous movement. The General has, as he communicated to me, ordered a large supply of provisions to the Creek agency to be transported in boats to Fort Scott and this place, which would serve until that ordered from Mobile (by himself) should arrive; and under that order did calculate on meeting two boats loaded with flour, on his reaching this place, but was deceived, having arrived here on the night of the 20th, which he left on the evening of the 21st, in a small boat with twelve men. On the night of the 22d I received by express a letter directed to General Gaines, and dated the 19th instant, from Captain Melvin, of the 4th infantry, who had been charged by General Gaines to build the boats at the agency, and have the provisions transported thence, stating that two boats would be finished in two days which would transport upwards of one hundred barrels of flour each; these I had strongly calculated on, but they have not arrived. The excessive rains have rendered the roads so bad that I ordered the troops, on their march here, to take their baggage on the wagon horses, and abandon the wagons; this facilitated their march to this place, which they reached to-day; and eleven hundred men are now here without a barrel of flour or bushel of corn. We have pork on foot; and to-morrow I shall proceed to Fort Scott, and endeavor to procure from the Indians a supply of corn that will aid in subsisting the detachment until we reach that place. How those failures have happened under the superintendence of regular officers I cannot imagine, but blame must rest somewhere, and it shall be strictly investigated as soon as circumstances will permit. The waters are unusually high, and the ground so rotten that it is with much difficulty that even pack-horses can pass. Every stream we are compelled either to bridge or swim. I have the honor to be, &c. ANDREW JACKSON, Major General commanding. Hon. J. C. CALHOUN, Sec'y of War. HEADQ'RS, DIVISION OF THE SOUTH, Fort Gadsden, March 25, 1818. SIR: At 7 o'clock P. M., on the 9th instant, I reached Fort Scott, with the brigade of Georgia militia nine hundred bayonets strong, and some of the friendly Creeks who had joined me on my march a few days before, where finding but one quart of corn per man, and a few poor cattle, which, added to the live pork I brought along, would give us three days' rations of meat, determined me at once to use this small supply to the best advantage. Accordingly, having been advised by Colonel Gibson, quartermaster general, that he would sail from New Orleans on the 12th of February with supplies, and being also advised that two sloops with provisions were in the bay, and an officer had been despatched from Fort Scott in a large keel-boat to bring up a part of their loading, and deeming that the preservation of these supplies would be to preserve the army, and enable me to prosecute the campaign, I assumed the command on the morning of the 10th ; ordered the live stock slaughtered, and issued to the troops with one quart of corn to each man, and the line of march to be taken up at twelve meridian. Having to cross the Flint river, which was very high, combined with some neglect in returning the boats during a very dark night, I was unable to move from the opposite bank until nine o'clock, on the morning of the 11th, when I took up my line of march down the east bank of the river for this place, touching the river as often as practicable, looking for the provision boats which were ascending, and which I was fortunate enough to meet on the 13th, when I ordered an extra ration to the troops, they not having received a full one of meal or flour since their arrival at Fort Early. On that day my patroles captured three prisoners, and found some hidden corn. On the morning of the 14th I ordered the boat down the river to this place, whilst I descended by land, and reached here, without interruption, on the 16th. The eligibility of this spot as a depot de termined me, and I immediately directed my aidde-camp, Lieutenant Gadsden, of the engineer corps, to furnish a plan for, and superintend the erection of, a fortification. His talents and indefatigable zeal, displayed in the execution of this order, induced me to name it Fort Gadsden, to which he is justly entitled. On my arrival here I immediately despatched the boat to the bay for the balance of the provisions known to be there, and to ascertain whether the flotilla, in charge of Colonel Gibson, had reached there; and which returned on the 19th with the unpleasing intelligence that nothing had been heard from the flotilla from New Orleans, since it was seen passing Fort Bowyer. I immediately put the troops on half rations, and pushed the completion of the fort for the protection of the provisions, in the event of their arrival, intending to march forthwith to the heart of the enemy, and endeavor to subsist upon him. In the mean time, I despatched Major Fanning, of the corps of artillery, to take another look into the bay, whose return, on the morning of the 23d, brought the information that Colonel Gibson, with one gunboat and three transports, and others, in sight, were in the bay. On the same night I received other information that no more had arrived. I am, therefore, apprehensive that some of the smaller vessels have been lost, as one gunboat went to pieces, and another, when last spoken, had one foot of water in her hold; all the vessels had been spoken after a gale that dispersed them. A north and north west wind has prevailed for six days, but has fortunately changed this morning. I am now awaiting a boat from the bay (which is expected today) to complete eight days' rations for my troops, Defeat of the Seminole Indians, &c. upon which I mean to march. From information Finding it very difficult to supply Fort Crawford on the Canecub by land I have ordered the supplies for that garrison by water, and written to the Governor of Pensacola, that, if he interrupts them during the present Indian war, I shall view it as aiding our enemy, and treat it as an act of hostility; and stated to him the propriety, under existing circumstances, of his affording all facilities to put down their own as well as our enemies, and that our Governments, while negotiating, can take the subject under consideration, but, in the mean time, our provisions must pass to Fort Crawford by water without interruption. In mine of the 14th February, from Hartford, I informed you of the means adopted to procure supplies, and in my last of the 26th, from Fort Early, I informed you of their situation. To those communications I beg leave to refer you. I have only to add that I left Fort Early for Fort Scott, and subsisted my troops on ground peas, corn, and pork, that I could occasionally procure from the Indians, with some pork I had on foot, the whole subsistence for man and horse not costing five hundred dollars. Of all the supplies purchased for the relief of Fort Scott, and the support of the Georgia militia, not one pound was received until 1 passed Fort Scott. I said in my last that blame rested somewhere. The cause of those failures will, in due time, be a subject of investigation, and Colonel Brearly has been arrested on the application of General Gaines. By some strange fatality, unaccountable to me, the Tennessee volunteers have not yet joined me; they promptly left their homes, and through the inclement weather reached Fort Mitchell, where I had ordered them supplies, and where Colonel Hayne, who led them, met my instructions to pass by Fort Gaines, where he would get a supply of corn that would enable him to reach Fort Scott; but the idea of starvation had stalked abroad, a panic appears to have spread itself every where, and he was told that they were starving at Fort Gaines and Fort Scott, and he was in duced to pass into Georgia for supplies. His men and officers, as reported to me, were willing to risk the worst of consequences on what they had to join me; however, they have been marched from their supplies to a country stripped of them, when every consideration should have induced his advisers to have urged him on to secure the supplies in the bay, and preserve themselves and Fort Scott from starvation. I have a hope they will join me before I reach St. Marks, or the Mickasuky towns; this would be desirable, as the troops ordered from New Orleans, to protect the supplies, have not reached the bay, and leaving garrisons at Forts Scott and Gadsden weakens my force much; the whole effective strength of the regulars being but three hundred and sixty privates. In mine of the 26th ultimo, from Fort Early, stated that despatches received by General Gaines on the 19th instant, from the commanding officer at Fort Scott, induced him to set out that night for Fort Scott to prevent its abandonment, &c. In his passage down the Flint he was shipwrecked, by which he lost his assistant adjutant general, Major C. Wright, and two soldiers, (drowned.) The General reached me six days after, nearly exhausted by hunger and cold, having lost his baggage and clothing, and being compelled to wander in the woods four and a half days without anything to subsist on, or any clothing except a pair of pantaloons. I am happy to have it in my power to say that he is now with me, at the head of his brigade, in good health. The great scarcity of subaltern officers, in the 4th and 7th regiments of infantry, has induced me to appoint several young men, present, as second lieutenants in the regiments, who, from personal knowledge, and good recommendations, I have no doubt, will prove themselves worthy, and, I trust, will meet with, the approbation of the President. A list of their names, and the regiments to which they are attached, will be furnished the adjutant and inspector general, by my adjutant general. ANDREW JACKSON, P. S. Since writing the above, I have the pleasure to inform you that the boat from the bay has arrived with provisions; also Colonel Gibson and Captain McKeever of the Navy. I shall move to-morrow, having made the necessary arrangements with Captain McKeever for his co-operation in transporting my supplies around to the bay of St. Marks, from which place I shall do myself the honor of communicating with you. Should our enemy attempt to escape with his supplies and booty to the small islands, and from thence carry on a predatory warfare, the assistance of the navy will prevent his escape. General McIntosh, commanding the friendly Creeks, who had been ordered to reconnoitre the right bank of the Appalachicola, reported to me on the 19th that he had captured, without the fire of a gun, one hundred and eighty women and Defeat of the Seminole Indians, &c. COOSADA, NEAR FORT JACKSON, March 27, 1818. SIR: Having arranged the affairs of the territory, as far as was practicable, I left St. Stephen's the 14th instant, with the intention of proceeding to Georgia for my family. At the town of Claiborne, the next day, intelligence reached me that, on the night of the 13th, a party of Indians had attacked a house on the Federal road, about sixty-five miles distant from that place, and murdered eight persons. I immediately ordered a detachment of mounted militia into service, and proceeded with them to the place. At the same time, apprehending the murderers might attempt to escape to Florida, the asylum for our enemies, I transmitted a communication, by express, to the commanding officer at Fort Crawford, notifying him of my arrangements, and desiring a force to be sent from the fort, in two detachments, along certain routes, to the place of rendezvous. The express was also instructed to overtake me. I accordingly received information from Major Young that my request had been executed. The detach ments were marched with a promptitude honora ble to the major, and I trust they will be enabled, with the aid of the militia, to arrest the progress of the hostile party. dred regulars at Fort Crawford, and two-thirds of the militia of the territory are not yet organized. Nor can I organize them, and appoint the officers, until the country is laid off into proper beats. So soon as the Legislature arranged the counties, I issued the necessary instructions on that subject; but owing to high waters, and the want of bridges, it is impossible to have them executed at present. There is not, moreover, nor has there been one dollar in our treasury. You will readily perceive my embarrassments, and I earnestly entreat you to place funds at my disposal for the protection of the people, and, if practicable, to order a much larger number of regular troops to our frontiers. I shall make this my headquarters for some weeks. I have the honor to be, &c. Camp near St. Mark's, April 8, 1818. SIR: I wrote you from Fort Gadsden, communicating the embarrassments under which I had labored, previous to my arrival at that post, and my determination, being then in a situation to commence active operations, to penetrate immediately into the centre of the Seminole towns. My army marched on the 26th ultimo, and, on the 1st of April, was reinforced by the friendly Creek warriors, under General McIntosh, and a detachment of Tennessee volunteers, commanded by Colonel Elliott. On the same day, a mile and a half in advance of the Mickasukian villages, a small party of hostile Indians were discovered Understanding that the inhabitants, in this judiciously located on a point of land projecting quarter, considered themselves in much danger, into an extensive marshy pond; the position deI issued the necessary orders for the disposition signated, as since understood, for the concentraof the troops, and proceeded hither. I have since ting of the negro and Indian forces to give us been correctly informed, that the morning I left battle. They sustained, for a short period, a the place of rendezvous, five men, riding on the spirited attack from my advanced spy comparoad in that neighborhood, were fired on by the nies, but fled and dispersed in every direction, Indians-three killed, and one wounded; in this upon coming in contact with my flank columns, state of things it is indispensable to the safety of and discovering a movement to encircle them. the country, that troops should be stationed at The pursuit was continued through the Mickaseveral points; and I have taken measures, as far sukian towns, until night compelled me to enas I can, for that object. I have also issued an camp my army. The next day detachments were order, that all Indians who are hunting in our sent out, in every direction, to reconnoitre the woods depart forthwith to their nation. It has country, secure all supplies found, and reduce to become necessary to their safety, and to the re- ashes the villages. The duty was executed to pose of the inhabitants. We cannot distinguish my satisfaction; nearly three hundred houses the hostile from the friendly party; and such is were consumed, and the greatest abundance of the state of alarm, that the sight of an Indian corn, cattle, &c., brought in. Every indication creates among the women and children the most of a hostile spirit was found in the habitations of frightful apprehensions. I have sent a letter to their chiefs. In the council house of Kenhagee's the Big Warrior, requesting him to call his peo- town, the King of the Mickasukians, more than ple home, and assuring him that my order is dic-fifty fresh scalps were found; and, in the centre tated by the most friendly motives. of the public square, the old Red Stick's stanIs it not probable that when the Seminoles are dard, a red pole, was erected, crowned with the pressed by General Jackson, in the neighborhood scalps, recognised by the hair, as torn from the of Appalachicola, they will retreat to our fron-heads of the unfortunate companions of Scott. tiers, and take revenge on our defenceless inhab-As I had reason to believe that a portion of the itants? I look for it, and am without the means hostile Indians had fled to St. Marks, I directed of resistance. There are not more than one hun-my march towards that fortress. As advised, I |