More Fights for Peaceful Folk
ceeded fifteen millions, less than 4,000 soldiers were supposed to guard the sea coast, the Canadian frontier, and a vast territory which swarmed with hostile Indians. We must have opened that Florida War with a left-handed can opener, so awkwardly and negligently that it spun out to interminable length, with an utterly unnecessary loss of life and property. Major Dade and his command of 110 men were massacred by the Seminoles; only three escaped. That happened on the 28th day of December, 1835. The next day General Clinch, with about 200 regular troops, proceeded to attack the Seminoles on the Withlacoochee River. Governor Call of Florida marched out to help him, with between 400 and 500 volunteers. On December 31st General Clinch crossed the Withlacoochee River and was attacked by a large body of Indians, whom he defeated. Out of the 200 regulars 67 were killed or wounded, including four officers — 33⅓ per cent. What about the volunteers? Of them 400 or 500 had joined General Clinch for the avowed pur-
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