- Collection:
- Southeastern Native American Documents, 1730-1842
- Title:
- Letter, 1836 Jan. 17, Tallahassee [Florida to] Gov[ernor] W[illia]m Schley / John H. Eaton
- Creator:
- Florida. Governor (1834-1835 : Eaton)
- Date of Original:
- 1836-01-17
- Subject:
- Fugitive slaves
Military assistance
Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842 - Location:
- United States, Florida, 28.75054, -82.5001
United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018 - Medium:
- letters (correspondence)
military records - Type:
- Text
- Format:
- text/html
image/jpeg - Description:
- This letter dated January 17, 1836 from John Eaton, Governor of the Florida Territory, to Governor William Schley (Governor of Georgia, 1835-1837) informs Schley of an attack on December 28, 1835, in which Major Dade and almost all of his troops were killed by Indians. Eaton asks Schley to send troops to aid Florida forces in battling the Seminoles, and he also warns that any more victories for the Seminoles and their black allies might induce slaves to run away and join forces with the Indians.
Digital image and encoded transcription of an original manuscript, scanned, transcribed and encoded by the Digital Library of Georgia in 2001, as part of GALILEO, funded in part by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. - Local Identifier:
- tcc559
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc559
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc559#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/dlg_zlna_tcc559/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [title of item], Telamon Cuyler, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, presented in the Digital Library of Georgia
- Extent:
- 3 pages/leaves
- Original Collection:
- Manuscript held by the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries, Telamon Cuyler, box 50, folder 04, document 12.
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
Page: [1]
Tallahassee
17. Jany. [January] Sunday evening
Dr [Dear] Sir
This moment an exp fr [express from] [added text: Judge Steel ] has arrived here from Tampa Bay, bringing to me the sad intelligence, that on the 28th ulto [ultimo], Majr. [Major] Dade of the ( USA, in advancing for the Bay, to effect a junction with genl [general] Clinch, at Camp King, was attacked on the way by a large combined force of Indians and negroes; & horrible to say, the entire detachment, two [unclear text: Corps ] was destroyed with the exception of three privates, who reached the Bay again, altho [although] severely wounded. A general & complete massacre took place after the battle; and there three privates escaped miraculously, by being overlooked on the field. Under cover of the night, wounded as they were, they succeeded in returning to the place whence they had set out on their march -- Every officer lies dead upon the field of carnage; (and about 100 of our home soldiers) -- viz Major Dade & Captains, Gardiner & Frasier. Lieutenants [unclear text: Bessenger ], Mudge Henderson, & Keias; & Dr. Gatlin.
I hasten to communicate to you, this intelligence, and to ask if your patriotic citizens will not come forth to avenge their murdered countrymen.
In great haste
most respectfully
[Signed] Jn. [John] H Eaton gov. of Florida
Wm. [William] Schley Gov. of Georgia
Page: [2]
Another victory to those savages may be of serious import; those already gained will protract the war. Let another be won, and with their negro [unclear text: force influence ], many of our slaves, growing confident from what they hear, may run off & join them. 5 or 600 men are all I expect to raise here, which is about a fifth of the male force. If as many could come from Georgia these two Brigades, aided by the Regular forces, might speedily end the war. A junction could be effected on the [unclear text: Simenoles ], & the whole force moving [illegible text], would put down at once this insolent foe I pray you do what you can. I have no doubt the govt. [government] will not only approve your action; but will thank you for it. A proclamation from you would soon rouse your volunteers to move forward to the field
I can yet hear nothing about arms -- we have
[Signed] J. H E [John H. Eaton]
The enclosed printed sheets will show you what we are doing & hope to do
Page: [3]
Letter
Governor Eaton of Florida
17 January 1836.
Florida Expedition