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Exiles of Florida

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<hr class="full" /> <ANTIMG src="images/cover.jpg" width-obs="327" height-obs="550" alt="image of bookcover" title="image of bookcover" /> <ANTIMG src="images/ill_front_sml.jpg" width-obs="550" height-obs="367" alt="Death of Waxe hadjo" title="Death of Waxe hadjo" /> Death of Waxe hadjo <h1>THE EXILES OF FLORIDA:</h1>     OR, THE CRIMES COMMITTED BY OUR GOVERNMENT AGAINST THE MAROONS, WHO FLED FROM SOUTH CAROLINA AND OTHER SLAVE STATES, SEEKING PROTECTION UNDER SPANISH LAWS.     BY J O S H U A   R.   G I D D I N G S.     ——— <div class="poem"> “I, as commander of the army, pledged the national faith that they should remain under the protection of the United States.” GENERAL JESSUP.</div> ———     C O L U M B U S,   O H I O: PUBLISHED BY FOLLETT, FOSTER AND COMPANY. 1858.     Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858. BY FOLLETT, FOSTER & CO., In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Southern District of Ohio.     TO M Y   C O N S T I T U E N T S, THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SO LONG HONORED ME WITH THEIR CONFIDENCE, THIS WORK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. J. R. GIDDINGS.     <h2>INTRODUCTION.</h2> DISCARDING that code of morals which teaches the suppression of truth, for the purpose of upholding the honor, either of the Government, or of the individuals who wield its administration, the Author of the following work has endeavored to give a faithful record of those interesting events which appear directly connected with the Exiles of Florida. Torn from their native land, their friends and homes, they were sold in the markets of Carolina and Georgia. Feeling the hand of oppression bearing heavily upon them, they fled to Florida, and, under Spanish laws, became free. Holding lands of the Spanish Crown, they became citizens of that Territory, entitled to protection. To regain possession of their truant bondmen, Georgia made war upon Florida, but failed to obtain her object. At a time of profound peace, our army, acting under the direction of the Executive, invaded Florida, murdered many of these free men, and brought others to the United States and consigned them to slavery. An expensive and bloody war followed; but failing to capture more of the Exiles, our army was withdrawn. This war was followed by diplomatic efforts. Florida was purchased; treaties with the Florida Indians were made and violated; gross frauds were perpetrated; dishonorable expedients were resorted to, and another war provoked. During its protracted continuance of seven years, bribery and treachery were practiced towards the Exiles and their allies, the Seminole Indians; flags of truce were violated; the pledged faith of the nation was disregarded. By these means the removal of the Exiles from Florida was effected. After they had settled in the Western Country, most of these iniquities were repeated, until they were driven from our nation and compelled to seek an asylum in Mexico. Men who wielded the influence of Government for the consummation of these crimes, assiduously labored to suppress all knowledge of their guilt; to keep facts from the popular mind; to falsify the history of current events, and prevent an exposure of our national turpitude. The object of this work is to meet that state of circumstances; to expose fraud, falsehood, treachery, and other crimes of public men, who have prostituted the powers of Government to the perpetration of murders, at the contemplation of which our humanity revolts. The Author has designed to place before the public a faithful record of events appropriately falling within the purview of the proposed history; he has endeavored, as far as possible, to do justice to all concerned. Where the action of individuals is concerned, he has endeavored to make them speak for themselves, through official reports, orders, letters, or written evidences from their own hands; and he flatters himself that he has done no injustice to any person. <h2>CONTENTS.</h2> <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" summary="" style="margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:60%;"> <tr><td colspan="2" align="right">PAGE</td></tr> <tr><td>INTRODUCTION </td><td align="right">v</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER I.</td></tr> <tr><td>Circumstances attending the Early History of Slavery in the Colonies. Exiles: efforts to restore them</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">1</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER II.</td></tr> <tr><td>Further efforts to restore Exiles</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">16</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER III.</td></tr> <tr><td>Hostilities maintained by Georgia; First Seminole War commenced</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">28</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER IV.</td></tr> <tr><td>General Hostilities</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">46</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER V.</td></tr> <tr><td>Further efforts of the Government to restore Exiles to servitude</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">57</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER VI.</td></tr> <tr><td>Further efforts to enslave the Exiles</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">69</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER VII.</td></tr> <tr><td>Commencement of the Second Seminole War</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">97</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER VIII.</td></tr> <tr><td>Hostilities continued</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">115</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER IX.</td></tr> <tr><td>Hostilities continued</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">125</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER X.</td></tr> <tr><td>The War continued—Peace declared—General Jessup assumes command of the Army</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">135</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XI.</td></tr> <tr><td>General Jessup overthrows his own efforts in favor of Peace</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">142</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XII.</td></tr> <tr><td>The renewal and prosecution of the War</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">156</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XIII.</td></tr> <tr><td>Vigorous prosecution of the War</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">172</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XIV.</td></tr> <tr><td>Great difficulties interrupt the progress of the War</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">189</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XV.</td></tr> <tr><td>Difficulties in enslaving Exiles continued</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">214</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XVI.</td></tr> <tr><td>Further difficulties in the work of enslaving the Exiles</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">224</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XVII.</td></tr> <tr><td>Total failure of all efforts to enslave the Exiles</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">233</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XVIII.</td></tr> <tr><td>Further difficulties in prosecuting the War</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">251</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XIX.</td></tr> <tr><td>Hostilities continued</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">274</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XX.</td></tr> <tr><td>Hostilities continued</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">284</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XXI.</td></tr> <tr><td>Close of the War</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">308</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XXII.</td></tr> <tr><td>History of Exiles continued</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">317</td></tr> <tr><td colspan="2" align="center">CHAPTER XXIII.</td></tr> <tr><td>The re-union and final Exodus</td><td align="right" valign="bottom">323</td></tr> </table> <h1>THE E X I L E S   O F   F L O R I D A.</h1> <div style="break-after:column;"></div>

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