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JOSE MARIO HERNANDEZ
Jos* Mario Hernando*, later known as Oanoral Joseph M.(orion) Her¬
nandos, was born In St. Augustine, Fla. and died near ¿áatonsas, Cuba, June
8, 1857. nhen Florida was annexed to the United otates he beoame an Amer-
ioan oitisen and was eleoted the first delegate to Congress from the terri¬
tory of Florida, serving from Jan. 8, 1823 to Mareh 3, 1825. He was a mem¬
ber of the territorial House of Representativos and was ehosen its presid¬
ing officer. Ho was Brigadier-General in the Florida Militia and during
the war with the Indians entered the United States Service and served from
1835 until 1838.
The expedition that oaptured the Indian Chief Osceola in 1837 was under
his oommand. He was appointed Brigadier-General of Mounted Volunteers in
July 1837 and on Sept. 10, 1837 took part in an engagement with the Indians
near Mosquito Inlet.
The following details were taken from an old minusoript read at the
meeting of the St. Augustine Historical Society}
On tho 4th of September, four Negroes belonging to Major Uerlot, who
had been oaptured by the Indians at the commencement of the war, delivered
themselves up at Fort Peyton, having suooeeded in escaping the vigilance of
their captors. They presented a very pitiable speotaole, haggard and ema¬
ciated and having no covering but breeoh-oloths. They complained of intoler¬
able hardships and soant fare among the Indians having nothing to eat but
ooontie bread and alligator tail; and were subjected to severe beatings on
every occasion of ill temper in their tawny masters. These Negroes oommuni-
eated most important information ooneernlng the plans and positions of the