TAYLOR, Zachary (1784-1850), President . Letter signed ("Z. Taylor," Col Commdg") to Colonel Persifor F. Smith (1798-1858), "Headquarters, 1st Brigade Army South of the Withlacoochee," Fort Basinger [on the Kissimmee River, Florida] , 1 April 1838. 1 page, 4to, integral blank, minor water staining, one edge tipped to a larger sheet . TAYLOR OUTLINES HIS PLAN OF OPERATIONS IN THE MIDST OF THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR A letter in which the future President, recent victor of the Battle of Okechobee, outlins military operations during the long and costly war against Seminole Indians in Florida. In the 1830s, in compliance with a national policy endorsed by Andrew Jackson to resettle all Native-Americans to lands west of the Mississippi, the army began active operations to enforce removal of all those unwilling to leave their homes; the Seminoles in particular resisted this wholesale eviction: "No commander could devise a successful means of countering an elusive foe who operated from bases in the swampy, nearly impenetrable middle of the peninsula, and no political or military leader could design a settlement which would entice the Indians to agree to an abandonment of their lands" (Bauer, Zachary Taylor , pp. 75-76). Taylor, posted to Florida to command the Army South of the Withlacoochee, won the army's first major victory on December 25, 1837 at Okeechobee, "the bloodiest in all the history of nineteenth-century Indian warfare" (Bauer, 82). Three months after his success at Okeechobee, Taylor directs Smith, Colonel of Louisiana Volunteers, praising his recent operations and spelling out plans to use Indian allies in pursuit of the elusive Cherokee leader, Sam Jones: "I am glad you have placed a detachment at the place which the Indians cross out of Pai-hai-oku, for Genl. [Thomas] Jesup has a command in pursuit of Sam Jones who had fled towards that place and it is not impossible but that he may attempt to cross over to the west side of Pai-hai-oku, if so, you may intercept him before you withdraw." Taylor explains to Smith that various Indian allies and guides are in route: "I sent Oulatoocku, Antonio & several other Indians out with Abraham. Antonio with our other Indians is to go to you. I did not send Oulatoocku because he preferred going in a different direction & I thought it advisable to gratify him." He notes that his force will be moving out shortly: "I intend to make an excursion to Fish Eating Creek & on Friday or Saturday intend to be at Fort Deynand, when I anticipate the pleasure of meeting you & when I wish to consult with you as to what is the best disposition to be made of the regular troops with you, on the Volunteers being withdrawn." The Seminole Wars lasted for seven years and resulted in the death of nearly half of the Seminole population and at least 1500 United States soldiers. Most of the native Floridians eventually were forced to surrender and were relocated west in the 1840s.
TAYLOR, Zachary (1784-1850), President . Letter signed ("Z. Taylor," Col Commdg") to Colonel Persifor F. Smith (1798-1858), "Headquarters, 1st Brigade Army South of the Withlacoochee," Fort Basinger [on the Kissimmee River, Florida] , 1 April 1838. 1 page, 4to, integral blank, minor water staining, one edge tipped to a larger sheet . TAYLOR OUTLINES HIS PLAN OF OPERATIONS IN THE MIDST OF THE SECOND SEMINOLE WAR A letter in which the future President, recent victor of the Battle of Okechobee, outlins military operations during the long and costly war against Seminole Indians in Florida. In the 1830s, in compliance with a national policy endorsed by Andrew Jackson to resettle all Native-Americans to lands west of the Mississippi, the army began active operations to enforce removal of all those unwilling to leave their homes; the Seminoles in particular resisted this wholesale eviction: "No commander could devise a successful means of countering an elusive foe who operated from bases in the swampy, nearly impenetrable middle of the peninsula, and no political or military leader could design a settlement which would entice the Indians to agree to an abandonment of their lands" (Bauer, Zachary Taylor , pp. 75-76). Taylor, posted to Florida to command the Army South of the Withlacoochee, won the army's first major victory on December 25, 1837 at Okeechobee, "the bloodiest in all the history of nineteenth-century Indian warfare" (Bauer, 82). Three months after his success at Okeechobee, Taylor directs Smith, Colonel of Louisiana Volunteers, praising his recent operations and spelling out plans to use Indian allies in pursuit of the elusive Cherokee leader, Sam Jones: "I am glad you have placed a detachment at the place which the Indians cross out of Pai-hai-oku, for Genl. [Thomas] Jesup has a command in pursuit of Sam Jones who had fled towards that place and it is not impossible but that he may attempt to cross over to the west side of Pai-hai-oku, if so, you may intercept him before you withdraw." Taylor explains to Smith that various Indian allies and guides are in route: "I sent Oulatoocku, Antonio & several other Indians out with Abraham. Antonio with our other Indians is to go to you. I did not send Oulatoocku because he preferred going in a different direction & I thought it advisable to gratify him." He notes that his force will be moving out shortly: "I intend to make an excursion to Fish Eating Creek & on Friday or Saturday intend to be at Fort Deynand, when I anticipate the pleasure of meeting you & when I wish to consult with you as to what is the best disposition to be made of the regular troops with you, on the Volunteers being withdrawn." The Seminole Wars lasted for seven years and resulted in the death of nearly half of the Seminole population and at least 1500 United States soldiers. Most of the native Floridians eventually were forced to surrender and were relocated west in the 1840s.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
