advance partly along their flanks, filed past them, and formed upon the left.

After they halted, the stones were stil! hurled unremittingly. Many of the soldiers were seriously injured. The stocks of several of the muskets were split by the missiles. The air was filled with them. The sheriff, who was by the side of the Captain of the Infantry during the whole march, repeatedly commanded the mob to desist, but those orders were wholly unavailing. It having now become manifest that no other means existed by which the riot could be suppressed, or the lives of the men preserved, the sheriff directed the Captain to fire. The Captain then gave the word, 'ready.' Here a momentary pause took place. The stones were still thrown with the greatest violence, and exclamations were vociferated, Fire and be damned.' The Captain turned to the sheriff and asked, 'Shall I fire?' Perceiving that the crisis had at length arrived, and that the danger was imminent, he replied, Yes, you must fire.' The further orders were then given, Aim-Fire.' A discharge followed in a somewhat scattering manner.* After the order was thus executed, a second was immediately given to cease firing. The most perfect silence ensued, not a sound was heard, and all violence instantly ceased. In about five minutes, it being evident the mob was now quelled, the Infantry assumed a new position in the line on the east side of Main-street, facing westwardly with the Cavalry on their left.

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At the moment these two companies passed the bridge on their march eastward, the shouts were so violent, and the attacks upon them appeared so alarming, that the Governor, apprehensive for their safety, ordered the company of Cadets to march double quick time to their support. The firing of the Infantry was heard immediately after. The Cadets were then moving down, but had not passed below the point where the Governor with the Ar tillery and volunteer companies remained. They how ever continued their march, crossed the bridge, and proceeded down Canal-street to Weybosset bridge, dispersing Four persons were killed.-Ed.

the mob before them. After the firing ceased, informa tion was brought to the Governor, that the multitude was separating. Before leaving the hill, the Governor requested Dr. Parsons, who was with him, to attend upon the wounded, and render them every possible assistance. Throughout this investigation, the committee have not been able to conceal from their view the disastrous conse quences of a predominance of the mob over the Infantry, on the night of the 24th. The Dragoons had been driven upon the Infantry, and forced partly around their flank; the men could stand the pelting no longer. Surrounded as they were, no effectual use could be made of the bayonet. They were obliged to fire, or suffer their ranks to be broken. Had their ranks been broken, the lives of many if not all of the soldiers would have been sacrificed, and their arms fallen into the possession of the mob.

The Committee therefore are of unanimous opinion, that the necessity of a discharge by the Infantry was forced upon them by the mob, and that it was strictly in defense of their lives.

127. Florida or Seminole War.

As early as 1821, General Jackson, at that time governor of Florida, urged upon the national government the necessity of removing the Creeks, who, in the difficulties with the Indians in 1814 and 1818, had fled to Florida and incorporated themselves with the Seminoles. It was feared that the increase of the Indian population east of the Mississippi would, sooner or later, produce bad consequences.

These representations were so far disregarded, that a treaty was held with these and other Indians on the peninsula of Florida, in September, 1823, at Camp Moultrie, which stipulated for their continuance in the territory during twenty years. By this treaty, the Seminoles relinquished all their claim to lands in Florida, with the exception of a tract of about five millions of acres, on

which they bound themselves to continue. A further treaty was made at Payne's Landing, in 1832, by which they gave up all their reservations, and conditionally agreed to remove. This last treaty was generally considered by the Seminoles as unfair and treacherous.

In 1834, General Thompson was sent to Florida to take measures for the emigration of the Indians. He soon found that the greater part of the Indians were unwilling to remove In June, 1835, General Thompson, while holding a conference with the Indians, got into a personal dispute with Osceola, the favorite chief of the Indians, and being somewhat irritated with his manner, arrested and put him in irons, and confined him for a day in prison. Osceola was deeply exasperated and bent on revenge. He dissembled his feelings; seemed penitent; signed a treaty to remove, and was released.

As the Indians had difficulties among themselves with regard to the treaty, some being for, others against it, the Government ordered troops from the southern posts, to repair to Fort Brooke at Tampa Bay, in order to settle their differences. The command was given to General Clinch, who was at Camp King. On the 28th of December, 1835, while Major Dade, with 117 men, was marching from Fort Brooke to Camp King, about forty miles from the latter place, he was suddenly attacked by a large body of Indians lying in ambush. Major Dade and many of his men fell dead on the first fire. The command now devolved upon Captain Gardiner, who when the Indians were driven to some distance, directed a breastwork to be thrown up for the protection of his men. Owing to the little time they had for the purpose, they were not able to erect one more than about two and a half feet high. The Indians being reinforced, advanced upon the little breast work and shot down every man who attempted to work the field-piece they had with them. These brave men, although obliged to lie down to load and fire their guns, continued the conflict to the last extremity. At length their ammunition gave out, and the Indians broke into the enclosure, and every man was either killed, or so badly wounded as to be unable

o make resistance; only three men survived the action, one or two of whom subsequently died of their wounds.'

On the same day that Major Dade and his men were xilled, General Thompson and some of his companions were waylaid and killed, in sight of Fort King, by a body of Indians headed by Osceola, who now fully glutted his revenge.

The next event of importance which occurred after these tragedies, was the action of Withlacoochee. General Clinch, previously to this event, was lying in garrison at Fort Drane, about thirty miles from Fort King.

The spot where these brave men fell was passed by the army under General Gaines, on their route from Fort Brooke to the north, on the 20th of February, 1836. The following account is given by an officer of the army: Resuming their march at daybreak on the 20th, they pursued the even tenor of their way until about nine o'clock, when the appearance of large vultures but too plainly foretold the approach of the army to the sad spot of slaughter. The advance guard having passed the battle ground without halting, the general and his staff came upon one of the most appalling and affecting scenes that the human eye ever beheld. A short distance in the rear of the little field-work lay a few broken cartridge-boxes, fragments of clothing, here and there a shoe, or an old straw hat, which perhaps had been exchanged for a military cap; then a cart partly burnt, with the oxen still yoked lying dead near it; a horse had fallen a little to the right; and here, also, a few bones of the hapless beings lay bleaching in the sun; while the scene within and beyond the triangular enclosure baffles all description. One would involuntarily turn aside from the horrible picture to shed a tear of sorrow, and wish that he had nothing known or nothing seen.' From the positions in which the bodies of this devoted little band were found, it was evident that they had been shot down in the faithful discharge of their duty; their bodies were stretched with striking regu larity, nearly parallel with each other; and it is very doubtful whether the Indians touched them after the battle, except to take some few scalps, and to divest the officers of their coats. A short distance further, in the middle of the road, was the advance guard, about twenty-eight in number; and immediately in the rear lay the remains of poor Dade, while a few feet to the right, in the rear, were those of the estimable Captain Frazer. To guard against surprise, our troops had been immediately formed into a quadrangular line, and soon after a detail of the regulars commenced the pleasing though mournful task of consigning the remains of their mutilated brethren in arms to whence they came. Within the enclosure two large graves were dug, into which the bodies of ninety-eight non-commissioned officers and privates were placed; and outside of the northeast angle of the work, another grave received the bodies of eight officers, at the head of which, the field-piece which had been spiked and concealed by the enemy, but recovered, was planted vertically. The regular troops, formed into two columns and led by the immediate friends of the deceased officers, then moved, with reversed arms, in an opposite direction, three times around the breastwork, while the bands played the Dead March."

Being joined by about 500 volunteers from the adjoining counties, he set out on an expedition against the Indian head-quarters. When the army in part had crossed the Withlacoochee river, they were attacked by Osceola and his warriors, who had concealed themselves at this spot for the purpose. The troops stood firm, and finally, after a conflict of an hour, succeeded in driving the Indians away. In this conflict 4 men were killed and 52 wounded, some of whom died of their wounds. The Indian loss is supposed to have been greater.

General Clinch was obliged to return to Fort Drane without effecting his object, and his position was ren. dered critical. General Scott sent troops to his relieî. General Gaines, with a force of about 1,000 men from New Orleans, landed at Tampa Bay, February 4, 1836. Four days afterwards, General Scott arrived at St. Augustine. General Gaines marched for the Withlacoochee to attack the Seminoles; he was opposed by them at and near this place, and suffered some loss; Major Izard, of the United States Dragoons, was killed. Osceola contrived to deceive General Gaines by a parley, till the Indian women and children were removed South, among the everglades and hammocks.

After General Scott left Florida, Major General Jesup was appointed to the command. Having a large force under his orders, he was quite confident of bringing the war to a close in a short time; but his efforts were equally unsuccessful as those before, and a great deal of time was wasted by fruitless negotiations with the Indians.

A body of about 1,000 men under Colonel Taylor being directed against the enemy, on the 25th of December, 1837, a battle was fought at Okee-Chobee lake, at the edge of the everglades, about 70 or 80 miles from Tampa Bay. A small party of Indians being seen at this place, they were pursued till they reached a hammock, where the Indians were posted in great numbers. This position was chosen with great judgment; the everglades over which the whites were to pass were cut down to give effect to their fire. When the whites ad