Future President Zachary Taylor, Sent to Florida to Pacify and Remove the Indians, Reports to the U.S. Army Adjutant General That Floridians Want Their Whole Territory to Be Part of the United States

He is, however, skeptical about settler claims of Indian atrocities, but promises to defend the settlers nonetheless

 

“While I am constantly informed of murders committed on our citizens, houses burned and other depredations on their property in situations where they are ten times more numerous than the enemy who they say committed them. I shall however do all in my power to give protection to the Inhabitants even should I be compelled to abandon a part of my original plan of campaign.”

In 1832 in Florida, a number of Seminole leaders signed a treaty under which they agreed to leave Florida for Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Other Seminoles refused to recognized the treaty, and took refuge in the Florida Everglades. In the Second Seminole War, the military spent seven years putting down resistance at a cost of $20 million and 1500 casualties, and even then succeeded only after the treacherous act of seizing the Seminole leader Osceola during peace talks.

Future president Brevet General Zachary Taylor commanded the campaign against the Seminoles. He built 35 forts throughout Middle Florida to assist in the “pacification of the territory.” One of these forts, Fort Frank Brooke was built on the lower Steinhatchee River. Early maps refer to the river as “Achenahattchee” or “Esteen-hatchee” and “Esteen-E-Hatachre. “As early as the 1700s, maps labeled the river mouth and bay as “Dead Man Bay.” This military presence pressured the Indian groups and accelerated their retreat into southern Florida’s everglades region. The white settlers then could populate the area.

Roger Jones was Adjutant General of the United States Army, holding that post longer than any other man. Taylor wrote him a report on the state of affairs in Florida,

Report signed, three pages, Hd. Qrs. Army of the South, Fort Frank Brooke, Dead Man’s Bay, 21st December 1838, to Jones, showing skepticism about settler claims of Indian atrocities, but promising to defend the settlers nonetheless.

“Sir, I have the honor to inform you that immediately after my communication to you at Fort Clench, I left that place with one Co. of Dragoons for Fort Fanning which I reached on the evening of the 9th inst., having passed four days on the way examining the swamps and hammocks for the enemy, without discovering any, or in fact any recent signs of them, from every appearance they have abandoned that section of country. I found at Fort Fanning two companies of the 2nd Infy. which had reached that place a few days before from the North and having learned on my arrival that the Indians had stopped a train of four wagons belonging to citizens near Waccasassa and robbed the drivers (Negroes) of their clothing and wagon covers, departed without committing any other acts of outrage, I determined to proceed to this place with the Infantry and Dragoons referred to and have the country between the Lawrence and Tallahassee completely scoured and the enemy driven from it before I left it. Having procured transportation I left Fort Fanning on the 15th and reached here on the 17th where I found four companies of the 6th Infy. under the command of Major Noel, and where a small picket work had been constructed and a road laid out to intersect the Federal road near Fort Jackson. Several reconnoitering parties had been sent out by Major Noel in various directions, one of whom fell in with and captured one Indian, who afterwards however made his escape. Many recent signs of them were found indicating that they were in considerable force and although much less has been accomplished in this quarter, than ought to have been done in this season of the year, owing to the reduced number of the 6th Infy. and the late arrival of the recruits from Jefferson Barracks. Yet as the companies have been increased by the arrival of the recruits referred to – it is hoped that the Enemy will be driven from Middle Florida, and entire security given to the inhabitants in a very short time. Since my arrival here I have placed four commands in motion to scour the country, who I will see are actively employed, as long as I can remain in this part of the Territory.

“Since my last Col. Twiggs reports that some outbuildings within three miles of Black Creek were burnt by the hostiles (where there were from three to four hundred troops) who also fired on the house, in which was a woman and six or seven children, the elder of whom a boy of 15 or 16 having discharged a gun at them. The Indians, if Indians they were, ran off, he also states that a cart accompanied by two men was robbed by the hostiles in the same section of country where Tupper’s family was murdered and a man was fired at and shot through the arm between Fort Heilman and Jacksonville – all of which from reports appears to have been committed by a few Indians and one Negro.

“Three comps. of Dragoons and two of Militia which Col. Twiggs is authorized to receive has been assigned to the protection of the inhabitants residing in that quarter, but I fear nothing else will satisfy the people of East Florida as also a portion of those of Middle Florida short of bringing bringing the whole of them into the service of the United States. It is somewhat singular notwithstanding that Troops have been pushed in where hostiles were supposed to be and where no doubt many of them were skulking. Expresses have been sent and hunters permitted to go singly and in small parties in every direction for several months past up the St. Johns to Fort Mellon and between that river & the Atlantic to New Smyrna on both sides of the Ocklawaha above Fort King, on the Ubithlacoockee Enutaliga, Ubacasassa, and various other directions, without coming in collision with a single Indian. While I am constantly informed of murders committed on our citizens, houses burned and other depredations on their property in situations where they are ten times more numerous than the enemy who they say committed them. I shall however do all in my power to give protection to the Inhabitants even should I be compelled to abandon a part of my original plan of campaign.” Jones has docketed and signed on the verso.

This report gives a fascinating insight into conditions in Florida during the Second Seminole War, including the actual views of the commander. We don’t ever recall seeing a similar document with such candid representations.