GEORGIA MILITARY INDIAN WARS Draft Jan 1836 ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Lindy Hard ssautyvalleyfarm@worldnet.att.net 29 Jan 1836 MILITARY DRAFT-The Commander in chief having, in general orders, required a draft of one hundred and ten men from the first brigade, and two hundred and thirty from the second brigade, of the third division, G. M. Major Gen. J. W. A. Sanford, has issued orders requiring officers commanding regiments in those brigades, forthwith to assemble their commands and detail proportionate numbers of men, by draft, or voluntary enlistment, for the Florida service. Twenty men will be drafted from the Baldwin regiment, under the command of Col. A. HAMMOND, on Saturday, the 30th inst. AID TO FLORIDA.-The Governor has issued orders for a draft of thirty five hundred men, from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, divisions of militia, to be held, in readiness for an immediate march to Florida. He has also ordered the following Volunteer Companies of Infantry to march without delay, to aid the force already in Florida, viz: The Hancock Blues, Captain A. S. Brown; the State Fencibles, of Putnam, Captain J. A. Merriwether; the Morgan Guards, Captain N. G. Foster; the Monroe Musqueteers, Captain J. Cureton; and the Macon Volunteers, Captain J. Seymore. The three first of these companies will rendezvous at Milledgeville, and will join the other two at Macon; from whence they will proceed by water to Picolata. The Governor has also ordered the Washington Cavalry, Captain C. J. Malone, and the Baldwin Cavalry, to march immediately to Florida. The last corps has elected A. H. Kenan Esq. to its command during the expedition. These corps will constitute a force of about three hundred infantry, and between one and two hundred cavalry. The Richmond infantry, comprising one hundred men, left Augusta, for Florida, proceeding by water, down the Savannah river, on the 23rd instant. Colonel Bankhead, of the U. S. army, will take command of the artillery in Florida. 5 Feb 1836 THE WAR IN FLORIDA-Major General Scott has been designated by the War Department for the command of the troops in Florida; and it is a source of the highest gratification, that our fellow citizens who will take part in the approaching campaign, will be placed under the command of an officer so gentlemanly and accomplished, so scientific and talented. The splendid victories which he achieved against the best soldiers of England, are a sufficient tuarantee, that the operations against the Seminoles will be conducted with vigor and ability. He has had a conference with governor Schley, in Milledgeville, in relation to the preparations for the campaign. Three gallant companies, from Hancock, Morgan, and Putnam, making about two hundred men, have marched from Milledgeville.-The Baldwin cavalry will march on the 10th instant. May the God of battles shield them in danger, grant success to their arms, and restore them in safetly to their friends, when they shall have thoroughly subdued the savage enemy! A company of Hussars, under captain Bones, containing seventy-four men, have left Augusta, for Florida; and many additional volunteers have preceeded from Savannah. On the 18th inst, about 40 volunteers from St. Augustine, under the command of Maj. Putnam, were attacked at Mrs. Anderson's plantation, on Hallifax river, by a party of about 150 Indians. The buildings on the plantation had been previously burnt by the savages. The whites defended themselves for an hour and a half successfully, from behind the ruinous walls of the burnt houses; dring which time they did not lose a man; and but one of their party was wounded. But the savages then made a movement on their flank, and the party from St. Augustine, fearing that they would be cut off, fled in confusion to their boats. During this unhappy flight, seventeen of them were wounded, several mortally. The water near the landing was shallow; all of their guns, but one, were rendered useless by being wet; and it was with difficulty that, in this alarming situation they got their boats beyond the reach of the fire of the Indians. Information has been received from Key West, that the family of Wm. Cooley Esq., near the Light House, on Cape Florida, has been shockingly massacred by a party of Seminoles. Major Hart, with seventy men, Florida militia, has been engaged in patroling the country from Picolatla to the head of the Santafee north and west of St. Johns. Col. Mills has been employed, with sixty men, also from Florida militia, in scouring the country froom Julington creek, on the St. Johns eastward to the sea coast. About the middle of January, Col. Parish of Middle Florida, with about a hundred men, encountered a part of about one hundred Indians, in the direction of Wetumka, and drove them from the ground. The Indian loss was seven killed; that o fthe whites was only two wounded.