memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第4章

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ies　had　been　washed　ashore；　torn　all　to　pieces　by　the　sharks；　which　literally　swarmed　the　inlet　at　every　new　tide。　　In　a　few　days　the　weather　moderated；　and　the　steamer　returned　from　the　south；　but　the　surf　was　so　high　that　she　anchored　a　mile　off。　　I　went　out　myself；　in　the　whale　or　surf　boat；　over　that　terrible　bar　with　a　crew　of；　soldiers；　boarded　the　steamer；　and　learned　that　none　other　of　Ashlock's　crew　except　the　one　before　mentioned　had　been　saved；　but；　on　the　contrary；　the　captain　of　the　steamer　had　sent　one　of　his　own　boats　to　their　rescue；　which　was　likewise　upset　in　the　surf；　and；　out　of　the　three　men　in　her；　one　had　drifted　back　outside　the　breakers；　clinging　to　the　upturned　boat；　and　was　picked　up。　　This　sad　and　fatal　catastrophe　made　us　all　afraid　of　that　bar；　and　in　returning　to　the　shore　I　adopted　the　more　prudent　course　of　beaching　the　boat　below　the　inlet；　which　insured　us　a　good　ducking；　but　was　attended　with　less　risk　to　life。

I　had　to　return　to　the　fort　and　bear　to　Mrs。　Ashlock　the　absolute　truth；　that　her　husband　was　lost　forever。

Meantime　her　sister　had　entirely　recovered　her　equilibrium；　and　being　the　guest　of　the　officers；　who　were　extremely　courteous　to　her；　she　did　not　lament　so　loudly　the　calamity　that　saved　them　a　long　life　of　banishment　on　the　beach　of　Indian　River。　　By　the　first　opportunity　they　were　sent　back　to　St。　Augustine；　the　possessors　of　all　of　Ashlock's　worldly　goods　and　effects；　consisting　of　a　good　rifle；　several　cast…nets；　hand…lines；　etc。；　etc。；　besides　some　three　hundred　dollars　in　money；　which　was　due　him　by　the　quartermaster　for　his　services　as　pilot。　　I　afterward　saw　these　ladies　at　St。　Augustine；　and　years　afterward　the　younger　one　came　to　Charleston；　South　Carolina；　the　wife　of　the　somewhat　famous　Captain　Thistle；　agent　for　the　United　States　for　live…oak　in　Florida；　who　was　noted　as　the　first　of　the　troublesome　class　of　inventors　of　modern　artillery。　　He　was　the　inventor　of　a　gun　that　〃did　not　recoil　at　all；〃　or　〃if　anything　it　recoiled　a　little　forward。〃

One　day；　in　the　summer　of　1841；　the　sentinel　on　the　housetop　at　Fort　Pierce　called　out；　〃Indians！　　Indians！〃　Everybody　sprang　to　his　gun；　the　companies　formed　promptly　on　the　parade…ground；　and　soon　were　reported　as　approaching　the　post；　from　the　pine…woods　in　rear；　four　Indians　on　horseback。　　They　rode　straight　up　to　the　gateway；　dismounted；　and　came　in。　　They　were　conducted　by　the　officer　of　the　day　to　the　commanding　officer；　Major　Childs；　who　sat　on　the　porch　in　front　of　his　own　room。　　After　the　usual　pause；　one　of　them；　a　black　man　named　Joe；　who　spoke　English；　said　they　had　been　sent　in　by　Coacoochee　（Wild　Cat）；　one　of　the　most　noted　of　the　Seminole　chiefs；　to　see　the　big　chief　of　the　post。　　He　gradually　unwrapped　a　piece　of　paper；　which　was　passed　over　to　Major　Childs；　who　read　it；　and　it　was　in　the　nature　of　a　〃Safe　Guard〃　for　〃Wild　Cat〃to　come　into　Fort　Pierce　to　receive　provisions　and　assistance　while　collecting　his　tribe；　with　the　purpose　of　emigrating　to　their　reservation　west　of　Arkansas。　　The　paper　was　signed　by　General　Worth；　who　had　succeeded　General　Taylor；　at　Tampa　Bay；　in　command　of　all　the　troops　in　Florida。　　Major　Childs　inquired；　〃Where　is　Coacoochee？〃　and　was　answered；　〃Close　by；〃　when　Joe　explained　that　he　had　been　sent　in　by　his　chief　to　see　if　the　paper　was　all　right。　Major　Childs　said　it　was　〃all　right；〃　and　that　Coacoochee　ought　to　come　in　himself。　　Joe　offered　to　go　out　and　bring　him　in；　when　Major　Childs　ordered　me　to　take　eight　or　ten　mounted　men　and　go　out　to　escort　him　in。　　Detailing　ten　men　to　saddle　up；　and　taking　Joe　and　one　Indian　boy　along　on　their　own　ponies；　I　started　out　under　their　guidance。

We　continued　to　ride　five　or　six　miles；　when　I　began　to　suspect　treachery；　of　which　I　had　heard　so　much　in　former　years；　and　had　been　specially　cautioned　against　by　the　older　officers；　but　Joe　always　answered；　〃Only　a　little　way。〃　　　At　last　we　approached　one　of　those　close　hammocks；　so　well　known　in　Florida；　standing　like　an　island　in　the　interminable　pine…forest；　with　a　pond　of　water　near　it。　　On　its　edge　I　noticed　a　few　Indians　loitering；　which　Joe　pointed　out　as　the　place。　　Apprehensive　of　treachery；　I　halted　the　guard；　gave　orders　to　the　sergeant　to　watch　me　closely；　and　rode　forward　alone　with　the　two　Indian　guides。　　As　we　neared　the　hammock；　about　a　dozen　Indian　warriors　rose　up　and　waited　for　us。　When　in　their　midst　I　inquired　for　the　chief；　Coacoochee。　　He　approached　my　horse　and；　slapping　his　breast；　said；　〃Me　Coacoochee。〃　　He　was　a　very　handsome　young　Indian　warrior；　not　more　than　twenty…five　years　old；　but　in　his　then　dress　could　hardly　be　distinguished　from　the　rest。　　I　then　explained　to　him；　through　Joe；　that　I　had　been　sent　by　my　〃chief〃　to　escort　him　into　the　fort。　　He　wanted　me　to　get　down　and　〃talk〃　I　told　him　that　I　had　no　〃talk〃　in　me；　but　that；　on　his　reaching　the　post；　he　could　talk　as　much　as　he　pleased　with　the　〃big　chief；〃　Major　Childs。　　They　all　seemed　to　be　indifferent；　and　in　no　hurry；　and　I　noticed　that　all　their　guns　were　leaning　against　a　tree。　　I　beckoned　to　the　sergeant；　who　advanced　rapidly　with　his　escort；　and　told　him　to　secure　the　rifles；　which　he　proceeded　to　do。　　Coacoochee　pretended　to　be　very　angry；　but　I　explained　to　him　that　his　warriors　were　tired　and　mine　were　not；　and　that　the　soldiers　would　carry　the　guns　on　their　horses。　　I　told　him　I　would　provide　him　a　horse　to　ride；　and　the　sooner　he　was　ready　the　better　for　all。　　He　then　stripped；　washed　himself　in　the　pond；　and　began　to　dress　in　all　his　Indian　finery；　which　consisted　of　buckskin　leggins；　moccasins；　and　several　shirts。　He　then　began　to　put　on　vests；　one　after　another；　and　one　of　them　had　the　marks　of　a　bullet；　just　above　the　pocket；　with　the　stain　of　blood。　　In　the　pocket　was　a　one…dollar　Tallahassee　Bank　note；　and　the　rascal　had　the　impudence　to　ask　me　to　give　him　silver　coin　for　that　dollar。　　He　had　evidently　killed　the　wearer；　and　was　disappointed　because　the　pocket　contained　a　paper　dollar　instead　of　one　in　silver。　　In　due　time　he　was　dressed　with　turban　and　ostrich…feathers；　and　mounted　the　horse　reserved　for　him；　and　thus　we　rode　back　together　to　Fort　Pierce。　　Major　Childs　and　all　the　officers　received　him　on　the　porch；　and　there　we　had　a　regular　〃talk。〃　　Coacoochee　〃was　tired　of　the　war。〃　　〃His　people　were　scattered　and　it　would　take　a　'moon'　to　collect　them　for　emigration；〃　and　he　〃wanted　rations　for　that　time；〃　etc。；　etc。

All　this　was　agreed　to；　and　a　month　was　allowed　for　him　to　get　ready　with　his　whole　band　（numbering　some　one　hundred　and　fifty　or　one　hundred　and　sixty）　to　migrate。　　The　〃talk〃　then　ceased；　and　Coacoochee　and　his　envoys　proceeded　to　get　regularly　drunk；　which　was　easily　done　by　the　agency　of　commissary　whiskey。　　They　staid　at　Fort　Pierce　daring　the　night；　and　the　next　day　departed。　　Several　times　during　the　month　there　came　into　the　post　two　or　more　of　these　same　Indians；　always　to　beg　for　something　to　eat　or　drink；　and　after　a　full　month　Coacoochee　and　about　twenty　of　his　warriors　came　in　with　several　ponies；　but　with　none　of　their　women　or　children。　　Major　Childs　had　not　from　the　beginning　the　least　faith　in　his　sincerity；　had　made　up　his　mind　to　seize　the　whole　party　and　compel　them　to　emigrate。　　He　arranged　for　the　usual　council；　and　instructed　Lieutenant　Taylor　to　invite　Coacoochee　and　his　uncle　（who　was　held　to　be　a　principal　chief）　to　his　room　to　take　some　good　brandy；　instead　of　the　common　commissary　whiskey。　　At　a　signal　agreed　on　I　was　to　go　to　the　quarters　of　Company　A；　to　dispatch　the　first…sergeant　and　another　man　to　Lieutenant　Taylor's　room；　there　to　seize　the　two　chiefs　and　secure　them；　and　with　the　company　I　was　to　enter　Major　Childs's　room　and　secure　the　remainder　of　the　party。　Meantime　Lieutenant　Van　Vliet　was　ordered　to　go　to　the　quarters　of　his　company；　F；　and　at　the　same　signal　to　march　rapidly　to　the　rear　of　the　officers'　quarters；　so　as　to　catch　any　who　might　attempt　to　escape　by　the　open　windows　to　the　rear。

All　resulted　exactly　as　prearranged；　and　in　a　few　minutes　the　whole　party　was　in　irons。　　At　first　they　claimed　that　we　had　acted　treacherously；　but　very　soon　they　admitted　that　for　a　month　Coacoochee　had　been　quietly　removing　his　women　and　children　toward　Lake　Okeechobee　and　the　Everglades；　and　that　this　visit　to　our　post　was　to　have　been　their　last。　　It　so　happened　that　almost　at　the　instant　of　our　seizing　these　Indians　a　vessel　arrived　off　the　bar　with　reenforcements　from　St。　Augustine。　　These　were　brought　up　to　Fort　Pierce；　and　we　marched　that　night　and　next　day　rapidly；　some　fifty　miles；　to　Lake　Okeechobee；　in　hopes　to　capture　the　balance　of　the　tribe；　especially　the　families；　but　they　had　taken　the　alarm　and　escaped。　　Coacoochee　and　his　warriors　were　sent　by　Major　Childs　in　a　schooner　to　New　Orleans　en　route　to　their　reservation；　but　General　Worth　recalled　them　to　Tampa　Bay；　and　by　sending　out　Coacoochee　himself　the　women　and　children　came　in　voluntarily；　and　then　all　were　shipped　to　their　destination。　　This　was　a　heavy　loss　to　the　Seminoles；　but　there　still　remained　in　the　Peninsula　a　few　hundred　warriors　with　their　families　scattered　into　very　small　parcels；　who　were　concealed　in　the　most　inaccessible　hammocks　and　swamps。　　These　had　no　difficulty　in　finding　plenty　of　food　anywhere　and　everywhere。　　Deer　and　wild　turkey　were　abundant；　and　as　for　fish　there　was　no　end　to　them。　　Indeed；　Florida　was　the　Indian's　paradise；　was　of　little　value　to　us；　and　it　was　a　great　pity　to　remove　the　Seminoles　at　all；　for　we　could　have　collected　there　all　the　Choctaws；　Creeks；　Cherokees；　and　Chickasaws；　in　addition　to　the　Seminoles。　　They　would　have　thrived　in　the　Peninsula；　whereas　they　now　occupy　lands　that　are　very　valuable；　which　are　coveted　by　their　white　neighbors　on　all　sides；　while　the　Peninsula；　of　Florida　still　remains　with　a　population　less　than　should　make　a　good　State。

During　that　and　preceding　years　General　W。　S。　Harney　had　penetrated　and　crossed　through　the　Everglades；　capturing　and　hanging　Chekika　and　his　band；　and　had　brought　in　many　prisoners；　who　were　also　shipped　West。　　We　at　Fort　Pierce　made　several　other　excursions　to　Jupiter；　Lake　Worth；　Lauderdale；　and　into　the　Everglades；　picking　up　here　and　there　a　family；　so　that　it　was　absurd　any　longer　to　call　it　a　〃war。〃　　These　excursions；　however；　possessed　to　us　a　peculiar　charm；　for　the　fragrance　of　the　air；　the　abundance　of　game　and　fish；　and　just　enough　of　adventure；　gave　to　life　a　relish。　　I　had　just　returned　to　Lauderdale　from　one　of　these　scouts　with　Lieutenants　Rankin；　Ord；　George　H。　Thomas；　Field；　Van　Vliet；　and　others；　when　I　received　notice　of　my　promotion　to　be　first　lieutenant　of　Company　G；　which　occurred　November　30；　1841；　and　I　was　ordered　to　return　to　Fort　Pierce；　turn　over　the　public　property　for　which　I　was　accountable　to　Lieutenant　H。　S。　Burton；　and　then　to　join　my　new　company　at　St。　Augustine。

I　reached　St。　Augustine　before　Christmas；　and　was　assigned　to　command　a　detachment　of　twenty　men　stationed　at　Picolata；　on　the　St。　John's　River；　eighteen　miles　distant。　　At　St。　Augustine　were　still　the　headquarters　of　the　regiment；　Colonel　William　Gates；　with　Company　E；　Lieutenant　Bragg；　and　Company　G；　Lieutenant　H。　B。　Judd。　The　only　buildings　at　Picolata　were　the　one　occupied　by　m