cognized the people as the band of Lew-fall-micco, and estimated the whole number of those who had been at the camp at fifty. They supposed them to be anxious to come in, and Alec-Yohola and Ahha-Tustenuggee were sent to communicate with them with this view, and directed to return, or send a runner from them with intelligence of their movements that evening, both of which they failed to do, neither sending nor coming back themselves. After waiting for them four days, with the continued hope of their return, we finally prosecuted our route to the eastward, on the 12th instant. The whole country here abounds in signs of the recent presence of Indians. Following a large trail, it carried us near the Okechobee, which we entered on the evening of the 13th instant, in latitude 26° 58' N., longitude 81° 03 W., having crossed that morning a beautiful lake, hitherto unknown to us, called by the Indians Haik-Pachee. This lake is about six miles in length and four in breadth, and is situated (its centre) in latitude 26° 46' N., longitude 81° 00' W. Following the south shore of the Okechobee, we re-entered the Everglades through the Cypress, on the 16th instant, in latitude 26° 52' N., longitude 80° 32′ W., having been prevented from continuing our course around the lake by a very heavy wind and sea, in which several of the canoes had already swamped. We did not reach the source of the Loo-cha-hatchee until the 19th instant, when it would have been impossible to descend that river to Jupiter, and return here in time for the intended cooperation with Colonel Worth on the 25th instant. We accordingly hurried through, and reached here last night, by way of Snake Creek, Rio Ratones, and Key Biscayne. A chart of this scout will be transmitted to you as soon as it can be prepared. If our labors have not been rewarded with the capture of any of the enemy, they have at least gained us information of an extensive country which had never heretofore been explored, and exhibited an imposing force in the heart of a country hitherto deemed impenetrable; the tendency of which will be to strengthen the wavering and doubtful in their inclinations to submit. Respectfully, sir, I have the honor to be, Hon. A. P. UPSHUR, Secretary of the Navy, Washington City. (Signed) JOHN MCLAUGHLIN, Lieut. Com. Expedition." "Punta Rossa, November 3d, 1841. "SIR-In obedience to instructions from the head-quarters of the army of Florida, I left Fort Dallas on the 9th ultimo with sixty-two men, two officers, and two guides, to form a junction and to co-operate with the naval forces under Captain McLaughlin. "I arrived at Chikikos island on the evening of the 11th, and was joined by the naval forces at that place. On the 13th ultimo, the united forces, about two hundred and sixty strong, proceeded en route to the lower landing, at which place we arrived on the 14th. Owing to some equivocation or misunderstanding with the Spanish Indian guide, it was deemed best to return towards the Gulf coast, among the Mangrove islands lying between Shark river and a point well up in the Everglades, supposed to bear about northeast of Fort Harrold about thirty miles: the route pursued could alone be ascertained by the guide. After traversing many broad lagoons or lakes, and apparent rivers, which had the semblance, or were, perhaps, arms of the Gulf, the command entered an impenetrable (until you were into it) ravine, which took about three-quarters of a day to traverse. We cleared every difficulty, and arrived in a broad Everglade about twelve o'clock during the storm of the 19th ultimo. The naval force was in advance, and discovered a canoe with two men in it: a large force was immediately pushed after them; but the Indians left their canoe, and were pursued to a cabbage hammock and pumpkin field-their whole number, from six to twelve, having barely time to make their escape. Upon the arrival of the army force, I immediately ordered a pursuit of trails, but the only result was the capture of a hastily abandoned canoe. Every point of the country within striking distance was penetrated, and the command returned to their camp after dark the same day. The next day the united forces, with three days' rations, moved into the pine woods, with view to discover more extensive settlements and more permanent locations of the Indians. The country was covered with water, and a few trails were discovered of the party pursued the day previous, which appeared to be seeking safety towards the Big Cypress. The command took a back trail, which brought them to another abandoned canoe; and at the expiration of one and a half days, they returned to their former camps. It was now decided to fall down to the Gulf, coast along its shores to the Carloosahatchee, and proceed to Bowleg's town by the head of that river. We arrived at Punta Rossa on the 28th ultimo, and encamped opposite on Synabel Island, where our arrival was communicated to the commander of the Florida army. On the 2d instant I gave the necessary orders, under renewed instructions from head-quarters, for the expedition to return to the Atlantic side, by the way of the Carloosahatchee and Lacha-Hutchee: and being taken very ill, turned over the command to the ranking officer, Lieutenant Ketchum. "I have to report the death of one man, a private of my command, at this post. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, MAJOR THOMAS CHILDS, } M. BURKE, Captain, 3d artillery, U. S. Army.” The operations of the army were not so extended and active during the months of September and October as in the preceding months. Scouts were made with small detachments, by officers who were directed to negotiate with the enemy, or punish them. if thought convenient or expedient. The detached camps and occasional scouts were calculated to watch the movements of the Indians, but were not far enough extended to interrupt those who were the bearers of messages from the commander of the army and the friendly chiefs. The strength of the army present on the last of September was 3911 rank and file, and 182 commissioned officers: 1811 men were reported "taken sick," during the month; 1793 out of the total number of sick of the army were returned to duty, 26 died, 13 discharged, and 14 sent to general hospital. At the expiration of the month of October the army numbered, present, 4659, rank and file and 202 commissioned officers. Of this force 1878 were reported "taken sick" during the month; 1794 men of the total sick of the army were restored to duty during the month; 32 died; 13 invalids discharged, and 68 sent to the general hospital. CHAPTER VIII. Extracts translated from the Manuscript of the Commandant of St. Augustine, East Florida, Manuel de Montiano, deposited in the public archives at St. Augustine, describing the bombardment of the fort in 1740, by General Oglethorpe. CASTLE MARCO, or St. Marks, now called Fort Marion, at St. Augustine, East Florida, is the oldest fort in the United States, and is in a remarkable state of preservation. Its gray moss-grown walls, turrets, and battlements, together with the Catholic chapel inside, give to the work a high degree of romance and interest. Soon after the cession of the Floridas to the United States, in 1821, a dungeon was accidentally discovered, fourteen feet square, immediately under the high turret represented in the view. Human bones were found within, and other evidences of cruel imprisonment. It being some fourteen feet under ground, and the long, dark avenues leading to it, have induced many to believe it to be a remnant of the Inquisition, and that the punishment was a lingering death. Over the principal entrance of the fort, crossing the ditch by a draw-bridge, is the coat of arms of Spain, of which the following is a fac-simile : Beneath the coat of arms is the following inscription, now quite imperfect from exposure and age, many of the letters defaced, and others entirely gone. Don Ferdinand the sixth being King of Spain, and the Field Marshal Don Alonzo Fernando Hereda being Governor and Captain General of this place, St. Augustine of Florida, and its province. This fort was finished in the year 1756. The works were directed by the Captain engineer Don Pedro de Brazas y Garay. The work is a regular polygon of four equal curtains, and four equal bastions, surrounded by a ditch forty feet wide. Its situation is upon low ground, just at high-water mark. In 1737, the Spanish commandant of St. Augustine, Governor Montiano, completed the western curtain and the southwestern bastion. Then there were no outworks; merely the naked walls. Inside, there were a few temporary old buildings, and the ascents to the bastions were almost useless. With the labor of one hundred and sixty-eight convicts from Mexico, and some fifteen exiles, the commandant finished six casemates; there are now eighteen. At that period there was no outwork or glacis. In August, 1737, he was industriously engaged in putting the place in a proper state of defence, and finished the covered way. Two eighteen-pound shot-holes can now be seen, low down on the eastern curtain, thrown from the battery planted by General Oglethorpe, on Anastasia island, about a mile and a half distant, on the coast, a mile from the bar. The fort, for many years, has been used as a prison by the civil and military authorities. The casemate in which Coacooche or Wild Cat was confined, and the embrasure through which he and his companion effected their escape, attract many visitors. The supposed traces of the Inquisition; the dungeon in which it is believed fellow beings lingered without a ray of light or hope, causes much interest and speculation regarding the characters, habits, and laws, of the former inhabitants of this ancient town. The correspondence of the commandant, written in the years 1737-8-9-40 and 41, now |