The Daily Herald

From the Savannah Georgian, May 3.

LATEST FROM FLORIDA

The steam packet Florida, Capt. Hebbard, arrived yesterday morning from Picolata, via Jacksonville, freighted with the gallant corps of Capt. Robinson and Capt. Bones, from Augusta, whom, officers and men, we welcome back to their native State, after the perilous campaign they have encountered. Their conduct, and that of all the brave volunteers who sacrificed their comforts at home for the perils of the camp, must ever be a source of unmixed gratification, to those, whose names are more than ever identified with the country, from whose bosom they have sprung. We regret that these gallant men returned so much earlier than was expected, thereby depriving our citizens of the opportunity of making some preparation for their reception.

Messrs. Andrew Low, Jr. Wm. D. Berrien, Elw. Purse, and Wm. Reed, of this city, returned with the Richmond Blues.

Major Pemberton, senior editor of the Augusta Chronicle, was also a passenger in the Florida. He returned from Fort Drane, via Jacksonville, having been with the army on the route to Tampa, and back to Fort Drane. To his politeness we are indebted for the following information.

One of the divisions of the army under Gen. Clinch left Tampa on the 14th ult. for Fort Drane. Having proceeded 3 days on their march, they arrived within 4 miles of Fort Cooper, where Major Cooper had been left with his battalion from Georgia. Gen. Clinch encamped and detached the two companies of mounted men from Jefferson and Washington counties, under command of Capt. Malone of the Washington corps, with wagons to Major Cooper, and instructions to join him. When this detachment had proceeded about 2 or 3 miles, they were fired upon by Indians, stationed in a hammock near the road, and Mr. Howard and Cornet Duncan of the Washington troop were wounded. Mr. Howard received three wounds, but is in a fair way of recovery. Cornet D. received a wound, (not dangerous,) in the leg. The Indians retreated before the fire of Capt. Malone's men, and Capt. M. on informing Gen. Clinch, received a reinforcement of a corps of infantry, who scoured the hammock, but without discovering the Indians. This was on the 18th ult. The detachment proceeded to Fort Cooper without further molestation. There they learned that a considerable body of Indians had attacked the encampment of Major C. on the third or fourth day after Gen. Scott's command left them, but they were successfully repulsed by the brave Georgians. The Indians renewed their attack upon Major Cooper, for 13 successive days, but with no better success than unfortunately killing Mr. Zarock Cook, of the Morgan Guards, commanded by Capt. N. G. Foster.

After the junction of Major C. with Gen. Clinch, the latter returned about two miles to take an Indian trail, and after proceeding a day or two without meeting any Indians, heard the cannon of Col. Lindsay, fired at 10 o'clock, A. M. as a signal. They reached Col. L's camp before evening. He was encamped on the great Withlacoochee,—had been suffering as well as several of his men from sickness, but was recovering. Col. L. stated that he left Tampa on the 14th ult. and was attacked by a party of Indians while crossing the Hillsborough river, and had one of his men unfortunately killed, Mr. James Branham, of the Alabama Volunteers, a son of Dr. Henry Branham of Putnam county, in this State, a young volunteer whose loss was sincerely regretted.

Gen. Clinch's division having separated from Col. Lindsay's (the latter intending to return to Tampa) proceeded on their way to Fort King. On their march, before reaching Fort King, one of the mounted flankers, Mr. Bostwick of the Jefferson troop, was fired upon by Indians, and wounded, though not severely. His horse was, however, so badly wounded as to die shortly after. The Indians, although fired upon, escaped. This division reached Fort King without any other incidents, except passing over the interesting battle ground of Major Dade, and falling in with, at two different times, near two hundred head of cattle and three ponies—with halters. They arrived at Fort King on the 25th, where they learned that the Indians had made prisoners of two friendly squaws who were washing about one hundred yards from the Fort. One is the wife of Indian Billy, who, with his son, was with our army at the time. At Fort King they first learned that Fort Drane had been attacked, and some negroes and several horses captured, while outside the Fort. Major Cooper's battalion was left at Fort Drane on the 27th ult., and expected soon to be discharged. The mounted men from Georgia had been discharged, as also the Augusta Volunteers. Gen. Scott has, we learn from another source, reached Picolata via Volusia, to which latter place he accompanied Gen. Eustis. Thus, it seems, has ended this unfortunate campaign, and the Red man stalks unpunished over the graves of Dade and his martyred associates.

Col. McIntosh's cotton house in the vicinity of Fort Drane was burnt to the ground on the night of the 25th ult. and about sixty bales of cotton therein consumed.

Several officers of the army were passengers in the Florida. Some have proceeded on in the Seabrook for the North, via Charleston.

We sympathise—deeply sympathise, with our bleeding brethren in Florida.