was ordered for an inspection of arms. On their advance they burned a large village called Powelltown, formerly the head quarters of the nation, and a little farther on, halted at Clinch’s battle ground. While burying some of his dead who had been disinterred and abused by the savages, the left wing was attacked, the enemy firing from the other side of the river. Their fire was warmly answered for three quarters of an hour, when the bugles sounded a retreat from the banks of the river. One man was killed on our side and six wounded; the loss of the enemy is not known. A breastwork was thrown up, during the night, round that of General Clinch. Next morning the troops marched down the river, in search of a fording place, in order to cross over and come at close quarters, with the enemy. The advanced guard reached the bank and received an unexpected volley while attempting to sound the stream. Here fell Major Izard, the commander of the advance, an officer universally respected and esteemed; he was on horseback, a fair mark for the Indians, and received a bullet through his head. There was one man besides the Major killed, and there were several wounded; among the latter were Captain Saunders, chief of the friendly Indians, the main guide, and Captain Armstrong, of the United States schooner Motto. As it was impossible to ford the stream in the face of the enemy’s fire, independent of its depth, the General took measures for building a bridge. Some of the men were employed felling pine trees, others hollowing them canoe fashion, while a third party kept the Indians in play. Towards night all hands commenced a breastwork a few yards from the river, and lay, I shall not say, slept within them.

March 1st—A party of one hundred and fifty men was sent out to skirmish, while the main body was employed preparing the bridge. They crept silently down the river, keeping a sharp lookout, each man posted behind a tree or log. About eleven o’clock, A. M., an attack was commenced by the Indians from the other side of the river, and in a few minutes from all sides. They had crossed in two large bodies above and below the camping ground, and poured in a volley from all quarters. The fire was answered by the army, and the six pounder was used on the side the enemy appeared to me strongest. At one time they set the woods on fire to windward, expecting to burn down the breastwork, and conceal themselves behind the smoke, but they were disappointed, when the fire caught the breastwork, it was quickly extinguished by throwing water and sand on it, and the grape and canister from the field piece soon routed them from their lurking places; the wind too shifted suddenly and the smoke was driven back on themselves. After an engagement of two hours and three quarters they were forced to retreat. The loss in killed and wounded was considerable. General Gaines himself was wounded in the mouth.

On the previous night he had despatched ten men on horseback to Fort Drane, with an express to General Clinch, stating that the provisions were nearly exhausted, and requesting a reinforcement, as he found the Indians too numerous.

On the night of the 1st March, another express was forwarded to the same purpose, with a report of the killed and wounded; the breastworks were raised one log higher.

On the morning of the 2d March the enemy commenced a dropping fire from small parties, which obliged our men to keep within the breastwork, as the ammunition was nearly exhausted, and they could not afford to throw away a single shot. At night the Indians lit large fires around the camp and kept a strict look out. This game continued eight days. The troops were totally destitute of provisions, during the last four days, and were forced to subsist on horses, dogs and roots; the rations even of these, were so small, that some of the men cleaned the very guts and devoured them; the hind quarter of a dog sold for five dollars, and a single biscuit was purchased at the same price. A third express was dispatched to Fort Drane for provisions and reinforcements; all three arrived safe.

On the night of the 8th, a stentorian voice was heard outside the breastwork, stating that the Indians were tired of fighting, and were desirous of a treaty. The herald asked if a flag of truce would be respected, and on being answered in the affirmative, promised to return in the morning, with provisions and other necessaries for a “dog feast.” He returned in a half an hour saying that the chiefs would come in on the following morning, at nine o’clock, and requested the General to allow no work on that day.

9th—The chiefs, according to promise, came at the appointed time; Powell, Alligator, Jumper and the interpreter, who was also the herald of the preceding night, a very tall negro, rejoicing in the name of Dr. Johnston. The Indians, about five hundred in number, were paraded a short distance in rear of the camp; the chiefs approached within one hundred and fifty yards, and requested an equal number of our people to meet them for a talk. Adjutant Barron with the Interpreter and other officers went out and parleyed with them for an hour and a half. One of the chiefs asked the Adjutant if he was not hungry, and received an answer far from the truth, with this addition, that there was plenty of provisions within the breastwork. The chiefs rose and promised to return in the evening with a decisive answer, at the same time requesting General Gaines to give them some brandy and tobacco. He told them that the last of the brandy had been served out that morning, and, to save appearances, supplied them with some tobacco by levying a contribution on the army. At four o’clock, P. M., they again made their appearance and asked a longer time to deliberate, but General Gaines would not consent. They were still talking and about to come to terms, when General Clinch made his appearance with five hundred men. Jumper saw him arrive, and noticed it to our officers. He then ordered his men to retreat across the river immediately, and promised to return next morning. General Clinch, seeing the Indians retreat, and not knowing their object, fired on them with little effect, but our officers soon explained to him the state of affairs.

He brought with him two hundred horsemen, three hundred foot, one sixpounder, five or six carts, and better still, two days provisions, besides live stock. At night, the sable ambassador, Doctor Johnston again made his appearance, requesting a truce of three days, as Powell had gone away to see his wife and collect his warriors. General Gaines replied that if the enemy would not come in and surrender their arms on the following morning, he himself would cross the river and attack them. [Exit, Dr. Johnston.]

10th—Ten o’clock came but no Indians. The troops remained a few days longer in this encampment, which was called Camp Izard, from the death of the Major, and subsequently Camp Misery, from the sufferings of the people. At the expiration of a few days they marched with Clinch’s command to Fort Drane where they halted several days, recruiting after their fatigues. The post occupied by the regulars was called Camp Twiggs, that held by the volunteers Camp Smith. The men complain heavily of the commissary who had the conscience to sell them their own biscuit at the exhorbitant price of ten dollars per barrel. Previous to this, while Corporal Dyre of the Louisiana Greys, he had sold the provisions of the company, to Mr. Simmonds of Tampa Bay, to pay for his own board and that of a few friends; and the coffee and sugar belonging to the company, he had appropriated to himself and the commissioned officers, who neither drew nor bought provisions. He was afterwards obliged to refund the bread and pork. This is but a small specimen of the man: I need mention no more.

General Gaines left the army at Fort Drane, on account of some