The Madisonian

It gives us great pleasure to announce the arrival at the seat of Government of Major General Macomb, who has succeeded in pacifying the Indians of Florida, and has made such an arrangement with them as will effectually put a stop to the further effusion of blood in that Territory. The country to be occupied provisionally by the Indians is situated beyond all former settlements, and the cordon of posts established across the Peninsula from New Smyrna to Tampa Bay, will be furnished with a sufficient number of troops to ensure the faithful observance of the terms dictated by Gen. Macomb, both by the whites and the red men.

Late despatches received from Fort Gibson announce that Gen. Arbuckle, and the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Gen. Armstrong, had, in pursuance of instructions from the Secretary of War, made an arrangement for the future permanent establishment of the Seminoles, perfectly satisfactory to Micanopy and other chiefs, and that the Seminoles now in the West were about to remove there.—Globe.

Headquarters of the Army of the U. States,
Fort King, Florida, May 2, 1839.
Sir: Agreeably to the instructions I had the honor to receive from your hands at Washington on the 20th of March last, I lost no time in repairing to Florida, and arrived at Black Creek, the general depot of the army, on the 5th of April. There I had the good fortune to meet with Brigadier Gen. Taylor, the commander of the forces in this Territory, then on a tour of inspection and review of the troops, and at the same time engaged in his plan of dividing the country, nearest to the settlements, into squares of twenty miles, and establishing posts therein. This fortunate meeting enabled me to place in the hands of General Taylor a copy of your instructions, and to give him orders to co-operate with me in carrying those instructions into effect, directing his attention particularly to the protection of the settlements along the line from Garey's Ferry to Tallahassee, and west of the latter place, authorizing him at the same time, to call into service such a force of militia as mentioned in your instructions.
General Taylor, having with him interpreters, and Indians connected with the hostile party by ties of consanguinity and intermarriage, was desired to open, if possible, a communication with them, and thereby make them acquainted with the fact of my arrival in the country, and my wish to see the chiefs and warriors at this point by the 1st of May instant to hold a conference with them. Colonel Twiggs, who was then commanding at Garey's Ferry, having military authority over a considerable extent of country, was also made acquainted with my instructions, and he rendered a ready and efficient aid in furthering my views. Colonel Warren, of Jacksonville, who heretofore had command of the militia serving in Florida, was highly recommended to me on account of his efficiency and activity as an officer, was invited to rise and take command as Lieut. Colonel of a battalion of mounted militia, to assist in the defence of the settlements east of the Suwannee, and expel the Indians. Although quite inconvenient to him, at the time, on account of his private affairs, the Colonel very promptly complied with my wishes. In the meanwhile, General Taylor was making arrangements with the Governor of Florida in raising, for the defence of the settlements on the west of the Suwannee, a military force. Notwithstanding all these measures, the Indians, dividing themselves into small parties, penetrated the settlements, committed some murders, and fired from their coverts on the expresses and passengers going from post to post.
Under these indications, it was the general belief that no communication could be opened to the hostile parties, especially as it had been given out that the Indians would on no account receive any messages, but would destroy any person that might approach them with a flag. This threat having been executed more than once, confirmed the opinion that it was worse than useless to attempt to communicate with them. Finding at Garey's Ferry, a party of prisoners, consisting of one man, two well grown lads, and a number of women and children, amounting in all to eighteen, it occurred to me that by treating them kindly, I might, through their instrumentality, communicate with the hostile bands. Accordingly, I set them at liberty, and sent them into the country in search of their friends, that they might make known to them, and the Indians generally, the object of my coming among them. Gen. Taylor also sent out his Indians, in whose sincerity and honesty he had great confidence. The first attempt to open a communication entirely failed, Gen. Taylor's Indians having left him and joined the hostile party below Tampa, and those sent by me returned without seeing any whatever. In the mean time, reports were received of the continued hostilities of the Indians, and of their attacking defenceless people and killing them. According to my previous notification that I would be at this post by the 1st of May, I left Garey's Ferry, on the 27th of April, with a guard of dragoons, taking with me the prisoners previously mentioned, and again sent them off, in search of their friends; but it was not, after remaining here, until the 11th instant that any Indians called to visit me.
Knowing the slowness of the Indians in performing any matter of national importance, I did not yield to the general belief that none would attend to my invitation, and I had the gratification to receive a visit from a young chief of considerable importance, accompanied by seven young active warriors. I explained to the chief the object of my mission, telling him that his great father (the President) was sorry that there had been so much fighting between his white and red children, and that for their good he recommended to them to cease firing on each other, and make peace. The chief expressed himself greatly delighted with the prospect of peace. I told him that if the whole nation would retire below Pease creek, that hostilities would cease, and that they might remain there, until further arrangements could be made. He again expressed his gladness at hearing what I said, and promised that he would take my communication and spread it around, being persuaded that it would be well received by all his people. In a few days after he collected a considerable party of his people, consisting of men, women, and children, and paid me another visit. I repeated to him in their presence the same "talk," and they seemed all pleased with it. I then made them some presents, after which they departed much gratified, for they were all in a most destitute condition, as to clothing and other necessaries.
On the 17th instant, Lt. Colonel Harney of the 2d dragoons, who had previously received my directions to open a communication with the Indians in the southern portion of the peninsula, near Key Biscayne, arrived with Chitto-Tustenuggee, principal chief of the Seminoles, who had been recently elected by a council held by the Seminoles and Mickasookies. Chitto-Tustenuggee expressed a great desire that the business on which he was called to meet me, might be speedily attended to. Accordingly, on the next day, a meeting was held, composed of Chitto-Tustenuggee, attended by O-che-Hadjo, a brother of Blue-Snake, who came with him to witness the proceedings at the request of the Council of the Nation, and Halleck-Hadjo, Chief of the Mickasookies in this section of the country, and all his band that had not been despatched by him to call in the warriors who were out in detached parties. After going through the usual ceremonies among Indians of shaking hands and smoking, I explained to the meeting who I was, and the object of my mission among them, at which they immediately evinced great satisfaction. I then dictated to them the terms of peace, which they readily accepted, manifesting great joy on the occasion, and they have since been dancing and singing according to their fashion, in token of friendship and peace, in which many of our officers joined them, all being satisfied of the sincerity of the respective parties. The enclosed general order, announcing the result of the conference, exhibits the terms of peace. Under existing circumstances, I did not think it necessary to enter into a formal written treaty, such an instrument with Indians having but little binding effect. Nor did I think it politic at this time to say any thing about their emigration, leaving that subject open to such future arrangements as the Government may think proper to make with them. No restriction upon the pleasure of the Government in this respect has been imposed, nor has any encouragement been given to the Indians that they would be permitted permanently to remain in Florida.
There is every reason to believe that when the Indians remaining in Florida shall learn the prosperous condition of their brethren in Arkansas, they will, at no distant period, ask to be permitted to join them.
I have the honor to be, sir
Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
ALEX. MACOMB,
Maj. Gen. Commanding-in-Chief.
HON. J. R. POINSETT,
Secretary of War, Washington City.

GENERAL ORDER.
Head Quarters of the Army of U. S.
Fort King, Florida, May 18, 1839.
The Major-general-commanding-in-chief has the satisfaction of announcing to the army in Florida, to the authorities of the Territory, and to the citizens generally, that he has this day terminated the war with the Seminole Indians, by an agreement entered into with Chitto-Tustenuggee, principal chief of the Seminoles, and successor to Ar-pi-eka, commonly called Sam Jones, brought to this post by Lieut. Col. Harney, of the 2d dragoons, from the southern part of the peninsula. The terms of the agreement are, that hostilities immediately cease between the parties; that the troops of the United States, and the Seminole and Mickasookie chiefs and warriors, now at a distance, be made acquainted as soon as possible with the fact that peace exists, and that all hostilities are forthwith to cease on both sides; the Seminoles and Mickasookies agreeing to retire into a district of country in Florida below Pease creek, the boundaries of which are as follows, viz: beginning at the most southern point of land between Charlotte harbor and the Caloosahatchee or Sanibel river, opposite to Sanibel Island; thence into Charlotte harbor by the southern pass between Pine Island and said point, along the eastern shore of said harbor to Talak-Chopko or Pease creek; thence up that river to Hatchee Thloko or Big creek; thence up said creek to its source; thence easterly to the northern point of lake Istokpoga; thence along the eastern outlet of said lake, called Istokpoga creek, to the Kissimmee river; thence southwardly down the Kissimmee to lake Okeechobee; thence south through said lake to Econfinee or Shark river; thence down said river westwardly to its mouth; thence along the sea shore northwardly to the place of beginning; that sixty days be allowed the Indians north and east of that boundary to remove their families and effects into said district, where they are to remain until further arrangements are made, under the protection of the troops of the United States, who are to see that they be not molested by intruders, citizens, or foreigners, and that the said Indians do not pass the limits assigned them, except to visit the posts which will be hereafter indicated to them. All persons are therefore forbidden to enter the district assigned to said Indians, without written permission from some commanding officer of a military post.
ALEX. MACOMB
Major General Commanding-in-Chief.
By command of the General:
E. SCHRIVER, A. A. General.