Details
TAYLOR, Zachary (1784-1850), President. Letter signed ("Z. Taylor"), as Brigadier General, to General R. Jones, Headquarters, Army of the South, Fort Brooke, 10 August 1838. 4 pages, 4to, clean separation at first horizontal fold, second horizontal crease repaired.
"THE INDIANS ARE DETERMINED TO CARRY ON TO THE LAST EXTREMITY THE MOST DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE WAR"
Zachary Taylor writes in the midst of the Seminole War "in relation to murders recently committed by the Indians supposed to be refugee Creeks, in Jefferson and Gadsen Cos." This territory had been quiet throughout the war, but now white settlers were "occasionally falling victim to some of the Murderous bands of the several tribes of Indians scattered over it." Taylor is surprised to learn from a recent issue of the Army and Navy Chronicle that a treaty had just been concluded with the Appalachicola tribe, "by which they had disposed of their lands, and were to go West by the 20th Oct., the time fixed on by the treaty for their Emigrating, which appears now to be the same...for the Indians to commence hostilities against the whites. As to the causes which have brought this state of things, I have nothing to do further than to keep the Dept. advised of such outrages as may grow out of them, to use every means in my power to suppress them and to afford as far as practicable, the exposed Inhabitants within the limits of my Command every protection. Also to suggest from time to time such a course as is best calculated to rid the country of these people."
Taylor then summarizes his plans: he will send a militia force into "Middle Florida," he will consult with Governor Call in Tallahassee. But he warns that "the Indians are determined to carry on to the last extremity the most deadly and destructive war, not only against the greater portion of the border settlers, but thro' the very heart and center of the Territory." Many more troops and officers would be needed for defense. "Some plan or system of this kind must be adopted and fully carried out or there is no telling when this war will end." Although his language here seems harsh, Taylor advocated fair dealings with the Indians. He criticized the U. S. government for failing to honor treaties, and often had whites pushed out of volatile areas when their presence seemed likely to provoke violence. But when, as in the case of the Appalachicola, the Indians turned to indiscriminate, terrorist violence, Taylor was prepared to use the full force of the military against them.
"THE INDIANS ARE DETERMINED TO CARRY ON TO THE LAST EXTREMITY THE MOST DEADLY AND DESTRUCTIVE WAR"
Zachary Taylor writes in the midst of the Seminole War "in relation to murders recently committed by the Indians supposed to be refugee Creeks, in Jefferson and Gadsen Cos." This territory had been quiet throughout the war, but now white settlers were "occasionally falling victim to some of the Murderous bands of the several tribes of Indians scattered over it." Taylor is surprised to learn from a recent issue of the Army and Navy Chronicle that a treaty had just been concluded with the Appalachicola tribe, "by which they had disposed of their lands, and were to go West by the 20th Oct., the time fixed on by the treaty for their Emigrating, which appears now to be the same...for the Indians to commence hostilities against the whites. As to the causes which have brought this state of things, I have nothing to do further than to keep the Dept. advised of such outrages as may grow out of them, to use every means in my power to suppress them and to afford as far as practicable, the exposed Inhabitants within the limits of my Command every protection. Also to suggest from time to time such a course as is best calculated to rid the country of these people."
Taylor then summarizes his plans: he will send a militia force into "Middle Florida," he will consult with Governor Call in Tallahassee. But he warns that "the Indians are determined to carry on to the last extremity the most deadly and destructive war, not only against the greater portion of the border settlers, but thro' the very heart and center of the Territory." Many more troops and officers would be needed for defense. "Some plan or system of this kind must be adopted and fully carried out or there is no telling when this war will end." Although his language here seems harsh, Taylor advocated fair dealings with the Indians. He criticized the U. S. government for failing to honor treaties, and often had whites pushed out of volatile areas when their presence seemed likely to provoke violence. But when, as in the case of the Appalachicola, the Indians turned to indiscriminate, terrorist violence, Taylor was prepared to use the full force of the military against them.