The Origin, Progress, and Conclusion of the Florida War (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Origin, Progress, and Conclusion of the Florida War

In presenting this volume to my comrades, and to the public, I am aware that I have much to answer for, but I have the satisfaction of feeling that my sins are those of omission, rather than commission.

Frequent interruptions in the preparation of the work have compelled me to pass over incidents and events in too cursory a manner, involving much that is due to a faithful history of the Florida War, as well as to individual reputation and character.

The voluminous correspondence illustrative of the origin of the war, appears at first sight to be a defence of the Seminole Agent, Colonel Gad Humphreys. This is not designed, nor is it necessary. The letters to and from the various parties connected with the General and Territorial Government, as well as the Talks of the Indian chiefs, speak for themselves. They are official papers, records of the times, a part of a nations history, and if they exhibit a state of affairs discreditable and pernicious, it is but right the facts should be known, that the remedy may be applied to the borders of our country, where the evil is liable to exist, thereby obviating bloodshed, sorrow and poverty. The causes of the difficulties in Florida must be apparent to the minds of careful and intelligent readers; causes not springing up in a day, but nourished for years, aggravated as opportunities offered to enrich adventurers, who had the temerity to hazard the scalping-knife and rifle, and were regardless of individual rights or of law. It must be remembered that Florida, at the period referred to, was an Indian border, the resort of a large number of persons, more properly temporary inhabitants of the Territory than citizens, who sought the outskirts of civilization to perpetrate deeds which would have been promptly and severely punished if committed within the limits of a well regulated community. This is the case on all frontiers. It is unavoid…

John Titcomb Sprague was born in Massachusetts, but after receiving a commission as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps in 1834, he was sent to fight the Seminoles in Florida in the regiment led by Col. Archibald Henderson, the Commandant of the Corps. Probably at the prompting of Major General Thomas S. Jesup, Quartermaster General of the United States Army, he resigned from the Marines and entered the Army as second lieutenant in the Fifth Infantry Regiment in 1837, thus beginning 33 years of service as a soldier and rising in rank to become Brevet Captain.