Alexandria Gazette

Disastrous News from Florida.

The apprehensions which we expressed, a few days ago, as to the probable character of the next news we should receive from the seat of war in Florida, are already, unhappily, too far realized.

An action has been fought between a detachment of the Regulars and Missouri volunteers, under the command of Col Taylor, and the Indians, said to have been commanded by Sam Jones, which appears to have resulted most disastrously to our troops, twenty-eight (including several valuable officers) having been killed, and one hundred and eleven wounded.

The following, are all the particulars that have reached us; each account, however, confirming the other in all essential particulars:

Savannah, Jan. 6—2 o'clock, P. M.

From Florida—From Capt. Mills, of the steamer Camden, from Garey's Ferry, arrived this morning, we learn that on the 28th ult., between Pease creek and the Big Cypress swamp, a small party of Indians was seen and pursued; and when the pursuing party reached the hammock, the Indians were discovered in great force, and a severe contest immediately ensued, in which twenty-eight of our gallant troops were killed, and 111 wounded. Among the killed are Col. Thompson, Capt. Van Swearingen, Lieut. Brook, and Lieut. Center, all of the Army, and Col. Gentry, Captain Andrews, and Lieut. Walker, volunteers. Wounded, Col Gentry has since died.

The loss of the Indians not ascertained, but presumed to be large. A few days previous, Gen. Jesup captured 27 Indians near Fort Lane.

Since the above was written we have been politely furnished with the following extra, which painfully confirms the above statement.

From the Jacksonville Courier.

We hasten to give to the Public the following intelligence of a battle recently fought between our troops and the Indians. The place, as stated in the letter, is not known to us, or to the writer—

Such accounts cannot but convince all that the foe we are pursuing and fighting is not to be contemned.

To the Editor of the Jacksonville Courier

GAREY'S FERRY Jan. 2. 1838.

Dear Sir: I hasten to inform you that a battle was fought a few days since (place not known) between the Indians and part of the 6th Regiment of Infantry We lost in killed and wounded, 139; loss of the enemy not known. The officers killed are Lieutenant Colonel Thompson, Captain Van Swearingen, Lieutenant, Brooks and Center, Col. Gentry, of the volunteers. Wounded 111; killed 28.

Yours, in haste.

RICHARD WEIGHTMAN.

Extract of a letter received from Black Creek

January 2. 1838.

An express reached here this morning, in 40 hours from Tampa Bay, bringing the intelligence of a battle having been fought between the Seminoles under Sam Jones and Alligator, and the regular forces under Col. Z. Taylor, 1st infantry It is not distinctly stated where the action took place, but presume it must have been in the immediate vicinity of Kissimmee, as we know by previous accounts, he was there on the 23d of December. Both parties must have fought with the most determined bravery. We have met with a severe loss. Lieutenant Colonel Thompson, Captain Van Swearingen, and Lieuts. Center and Brooks killed. Capt Geo. Andrews and Lieut. Walker severely wounded; Col. Gentry, of the Missouri volunteers, mortally wounded (since dead.) Killed and wounded 139; say 111 wounded, and 28 killed. The loss of the Indians we have not ascertained, but they were completely cut up.