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WELIKA POND

January 17th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleAgain on July 19, 1836, Company D, under Captain James A. Ashby, who had just joined the day before, took an important part in the fight at Welika Pond near Fort Defiance. With twenty-six men from his company and a detachment of artillery, Captain Ashby was escorting a train from Fort Drane to Fort Defiance when attacked by Indians just outside the latter place. In the first part of the fight Captain Ashby was severely wounded but refused to leave his post until the battle was won. After arrival of reinforcements from the fort, the Seminoles were driven from the vicinity and the train proceeded to the post. For this gallant conduct here Captain Ashby was breveted to major. Continue Reading »

ATTACK ON CAMP MONROE

January 16th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleHaving been organized pursuant to G.O. No. 80, W.D., November 30, 1836, Companies E, F, G, and H left Fort Columbus, N.Y., December 27, on the transport America for Fort Monroe, Virginia, where they picked up Companies A and I. After stopping on the way at Charleston, S.C., the transport arrived at the mouth of the St. Johns River in east Florida about the middle of January, 1837. Company A now took station at Fort Micanopy; Company E, at Fort Mellon; Companies F, G, and H at Fort Call; and Company I at Fort Heileman, all in east Florida. Company D, which was already a veteran organization when the other companies arrived, had been stationed at Fort Heileman, east Florida, since August, 1836. Continue Reading »

BROKEN TERMS

January 15th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleColonel Twiggs and his staff remained in Washington until April 1, 1837, when they moved the headquarters to New Orleans, La. After a month at this place, they sailed up the Mississippi River to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, where they arrived May 30. Companies B and C also left Washington in April for New Orleans, where they were organized as units upon arrival. Company K was organized in that city during the month of March. All three of these companies sailed for Jefferson Barracks in the latter part of May. The men of these organizations together with a number of recruits now began intensive training for field service both in mounted and dismounted tactics. Continue Reading »

FORT JUPITER, KANAHAPA PRAIRIE

January 14th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleAfter three months of strenuous preparation under Colonel Twiggs at Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, the regimental headquarters and Companies B, C, and K left there by marching September 5, 1837, for the field of action in Florida. The line of route passed through Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Rosses Landing, Tennessee, and Milledgeville, Georgia, and they arrived in Jacksonville, east Florida, October 31. Leaving that place the next day, they reached Fort Mellon on Lake Monroe, east Florida, November 26, where they remained only a few weeks before beginning the campaign. Continue Reading »

CHARLOTTE’S HARBOR

January 13th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleFor the purpose of improving the instruction and raising the moral of the Florida troops, the War Department issued G.O. No. 28, May 20, 1839, permitting such units as could be spared to be sent to camps in the north. At the same time it was decided to start recruiting the Second Dragoons to full strength. Regimental headquarters and band moved to Fort McHenry, Md., in May and there started recruiting. In compliance with G.O. No. 5, W.D., May 19, 1839, and S.O. No. 37, W.D., June 1, 1839, Companies A, E, G, H, I, and K marched to Garey’s Ferry, east Florida, in the early part of June, turned over their horses, and sailed for Fort Columbus, N.Y., all arriving by the end of the month. A few men from these companies remained in Florida. Continue Reading »

AN HONORABLE DRAGOON

January 13th, 2009

ON the evening of the 6th inst., I met Judge SMITH, of St. Augustine, at a private house in this city, and found him in the presence of ladies, indulging in rude and ungentlemanly language of altercation and dispute, which I felt it my duty to put an end to, as soon as my attention was called to it. In my endeavors to do this, I incurred the like treatment, which resulted in a personal affray, and was stopped by the intercession of others, and in respect for the host, and the presence of the ladies – with the understanding that it would be attended to on the morrow. I accordingly this morning addressed him the following note:

ST. AUGUSTINE, E.F. June 7th, 1839.
SIR, – For your ungentlemanly and rude attack upon me last night at Mr. CLELAND’S, under circumstances that prevented any action on my part at the time, I have to request immediate satisfaction, and meeting at the earliest possible moment, as I am obliged to leave town on duty in the morning.
I am Sir,
Your ob’t Serv’t,
N. DARLING,
Lt. 2d Dragoons.
To Judge SMITH,
St. Augustine

Which he returned to my friend, with the simple remark that finding my name attached to it, he did not choose to be acquainted with its contents, alleging that he only knew me by report, and from the meeting of last evening – which was of a nature, in his opinion, to forbid any further intercourse. Under these circumstances, I pronounce him a COWARDLY SCOUNDREL, and deem no apology necessary for taking satisfaction from him whenever and wherever I meet him.
N. DARLING,
Lt. 2d Dragoons
St. Augustine, June 7, 1839

The above affair has just ended by
Darling’s giving Judge Smith a most thorough thrashing – the Judge having first attacked him.
BR0132

REENFORCING THE REGIMENT, DECEMBER 1840 CAMPAIGN

January 12th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleThe companies sent north to recuperate from the Florida campaign were finally brought together at Camp Washington, Trenton, New Jersey, for an inspection and review in October, 1839. Inspector General Wool and Colonel Twiggs went over the men thoroughly and pronounced them fit for field service. At this time the only arm of the privates was the carbine, but General Wool recommended the sword and it was later adopted. Regimental Headquarters and band and the six companies sailed from Fort Columbus, New York, in November, and arrived at Garey’s Ferry, east Florida, via Savannah, Georgia, the same month. Colonel Twiggs took station with the headquarters and band at Fort Heileman, east Florida, and the companies were placed at strategic points on the Atlantic side of the territory. Continue Reading »

SUMMER 1841 CAMPAIGN

January 11th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleNotable among the many scouts made by the Second Dragoons in 1841, was the one made by Company I under Captain B. L. Beall as a part of a force of 450 men under Colonel Worth, comprising also the Eighth Infantry. Leaving January 22, they traveled from Fort Brooke toward the Kissemmee River but found the entire country inundated. The net result was that the chieftain, Coacoochee, agreed to meet Colonel Worth in conference March 5. As it was desired to convince him of the necessity of moving his tribe to Arkansas he was treated with much courtesy. On one occasion when the officers were giving toasts while having a drink, Coacoochee asked what they meant. The interpreter, at a loss, told him their meaning was “How d’you do”. The chief immediately said, “Hough”, in a strong voice, and it was repeated by the officers present and, later, became popular throughout the army in Florida. This is supposed to have been the origin of the famous toast used now all over our land. Continue Reading »

DISEASE RAVAGES THE REGIMENT

January 10th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleDuring the fall of 1841, operations were partially suspended due to less activity on the part of the Indians. The Second Dragoons within the district of Lieutenant Colonel Whistler, Seventh Infantry, patrolled the Georgia frontier. Those in the district around Fort King examined the country for the trail of the Chiefs, Halleck, Tustenugge, and Short Grass, toward Orange Lake and Micanopy. The Chief, Coacoochee, finally convinced that further resistance was useless, persuaded his people to surrender and they were sent to Arkansas, along with some other small bands, October 12. Due to illness, which was mostly caused by the unhealthful climate, the regiment was greatly reduced in strength at this time. Company C had thirty sick men out of a total strength of forty-eight. Continue Reading »

FINAL CAMPAIGN IN FLORIDA

January 9th, 2009

From:
ONE HUNDRED YEARS WITH THE SECOND CAVALRY
By Joseph I. Lambert, Major, Second Cavalry
Copyright 1939 Commanding Officer, Second Cavalry, Fort Riley, Kansas
Capper Printing Company, Inc.

seminoleAn extensive expedition into the cypress swamp was begun in November 1841, under Captain Belknap, Eighth Infantry, of which Companies F and K, Second Dragoons, under Captains Thornton and Ker, were a part. Depots were established on the border of the swamp and mules were used to carry the kitchen utensils and rations. In addition the men carried blankets and food for seven days. The Indians were driven out of this area, and a few captured or killed. After two months campaigning in mud and water, the detachment finally brought their wanderings to a close on February 8, 1842. Although few Indians were found, the results were that towns and fields were destroyed and the savages forced to break up into small bands and flee for safety. Continue Reading »

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