Details
TAYLOR, Zachary, President. Letter signed ("Z. Taylor"), to Colonel Persifer F. Smith, Fort Basinger [on the Kississimmee River], Florida, 22 February 1838. 3 pages, 4to. In very fine condition.
TAYLOR AFTER THE BATTLE OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE
A fine letter from the cypress swamps and canebrakes of Florida, in the wake of Taylor's victory over the Seminoles in the Battle of Lake Okeechobee in late December. To Smith, commander of the Army south of the Withlacoochee, he recommends a vigorous pursuit: "...We should direct our whole force against the main body of the enemy." First, he suggests, they must "ascertain the position of the enemy & whether or not we can reach him by land or Water. Antonio [a scout] ...thinks the main body of the hostiles are in the great cypress Swamp...near the lower end of Lake Okeechobee... 15 days march by land...there is a river...which he calls Kiofinnemee and which can be approached or entered with Steamboats & navigable...and within three days march of the Cypress Swamp... ...Wagons cannot reach the Kiofinnemee." Therefore, he concludes, "they should defer any movement against the enemy until I can hear from Major General Jesup..." Then he will "establish a post near Cape Roman and...move a force by land & water to the South. I will immediately join & cooperate with you against the enemy. In the mean time it might be as well to have the river referred to examined by a Steam boat..." He is grateful for information on "the Caloosahatchu & Fish-eating Creek," and adds that: "Antonio says the outlet of Lake Okeechobee cannot be used for boating."
The Battle of Lake Okeechobee was "the largest clash of the seven-years-long Florida conflict but it was the only time the Indians chose to stand and fight" (Bauer, Zachary Taylor, p.82). Taylor was promoted to Brigadier General, and continued efforts to bring the elusive Indians to battle. Most of the remaining "hostiles" surrendered in late March or early April.
TAYLOR AFTER THE BATTLE OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE
A fine letter from the cypress swamps and canebrakes of Florida, in the wake of Taylor's victory over the Seminoles in the Battle of Lake Okeechobee in late December. To Smith, commander of the Army south of the Withlacoochee, he recommends a vigorous pursuit: "...We should direct our whole force against the main body of the enemy." First, he suggests, they must "ascertain the position of the enemy & whether or not we can reach him by land or Water. Antonio [a scout] ...thinks the main body of the hostiles are in the great cypress Swamp...near the lower end of Lake Okeechobee... 15 days march by land...there is a river...which he calls Kiofinnemee and which can be approached or entered with Steamboats & navigable...and within three days march of the Cypress Swamp... ...Wagons cannot reach the Kiofinnemee." Therefore, he concludes, "they should defer any movement against the enemy until I can hear from Major General Jesup..." Then he will "establish a post near Cape Roman and...move a force by land & water to the South. I will immediately join & cooperate with you against the enemy. In the mean time it might be as well to have the river referred to examined by a Steam boat..." He is grateful for information on "the Caloosahatchu & Fish-eating Creek," and adds that: "Antonio says the outlet of Lake Okeechobee cannot be used for boating."
The Battle of Lake Okeechobee was "the largest clash of the seven-years-long Florida conflict but it was the only time the Indians chose to stand and fight" (Bauer, Zachary Taylor, p.82). Taylor was promoted to Brigadier General, and continued efforts to bring the elusive Indians to battle. Most of the remaining "hostiles" surrendered in late March or early April.