Details
TAYLOR, ZACHARY, President. Letter signed ("Z. Taylor") as Brigadier General, to Colonel William Davenport, Fort Harlee, [Florida], 21 March 1839. 2 1/2 pages, 4to, 240 x 200mm. (9 3/4 x 8 in.), docketed on verso. In good condition.
"I YET HOPE TO DRIVE EVERY INDIAN FROM MIDDLE FLORIDA"
Frustrated by his inability to bring the Creeks and Seminoles into open battle, Taylor writes of his new strategies: "...As you correctly say, 'the enemy strikes a blow and makes his escape, and no-one can tell whence he comes or whether he goeth...' [T]hey can only be driven from the country by minute and specific operations...We must change our former mode of warfare and instead of the wild beast we must hunt the wild man, and carry on our operations in the same manner as we would against the wolf, bear or panther. The Indians must be somewhere, and by covering the whole country, if we do not meet them we shall be certain they are not in it...The moment this plan is carried fully into operations the Indians must fight...or they must abandon the country altogether...
"I yet hope to drive every Indian from Middle Florida before the ensuing summer. I am carrying out my plan in East Florida as rapidly as possible...Your views in relation to the fugitive Creeks...meet my entire approbation and I still hope they will be removed much sooner and with less expense by negotiation than by force. I am authorized to send them by land if they agree to remove..." When the Native Americans continued to evade the United States army, Taylor resigned on 21 April 1841.
"I YET HOPE TO DRIVE EVERY INDIAN FROM MIDDLE FLORIDA"
Frustrated by his inability to bring the Creeks and Seminoles into open battle, Taylor writes of his new strategies: "...As you correctly say, 'the enemy strikes a blow and makes his escape, and no-one can tell whence he comes or whether he goeth...' [T]hey can only be driven from the country by minute and specific operations...We must change our former mode of warfare and instead of the wild beast we must hunt the wild man, and carry on our operations in the same manner as we would against the wolf, bear or panther. The Indians must be somewhere, and by covering the whole country, if we do not meet them we shall be certain they are not in it...The moment this plan is carried fully into operations the Indians must fight...or they must abandon the country altogether...
"I yet hope to drive every Indian from Middle Florida before the ensuing summer. I am carrying out my plan in East Florida as rapidly as possible...Your views in relation to the fugitive Creeks...meet my entire approbation and I still hope they will be removed much sooner and with less expense by negotiation than by force. I am authorized to send them by land if they agree to remove..." When the Native Americans continued to evade the United States army, Taylor resigned on 21 April 1841.