JOSS MARIO HERNANDEZ
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eneay whom they represented as being reduoed to wary "short commons*" They
also stated that they had left a number of Indians and Negroes in the vioi-
nity of Mosquito, engaged in preparing ooontie. The whites learned from
them that the Indians had burnt all the buildings left standing by the sol¬
diers when Fort Mellon and Volusia were abandoned»
This did not look iauoh like emigrating on the part of tns Indians, not¬
withstanding their promises and peaceful talks; in faot. the mors they talked
about peaoe and the greater their friendly overtures. the more eause was. there
for suspeoting treaohery and the more oertuin it beoorne that the Indians were
not safe until they ware plaoed on shipboard»
_ •
In oonsequenoe of the report of these Negroes that Indians were near
Mosquito. Lieutenant Peyton (Captain Drone being absent at the time) issued
an order for Lieutenant May to prooeed immediately South with his oompany
of U» S, Dragoons and endeavor to capture as many of the Indians as possl-
. i
ble» A guide being necessary, measures were taken to procure one from St»
Augustine. This oaused some delays when General Hernandez, hearing of the
contemplated expedition.immediately issued orders for a large detaohment to
proceed on.his soout not knowing what foroe might be encountered» He also
gave notice that he intended to aooompany the expedition himself»
The detaohment as finally organized consisted of 170 men in alls viz two
companies of 2nd» U. S, Dragoons commanded respectively by Lieutenant UoNeill
and Lieutenant May. one oompany of the 3rd» Regiment of Artillery by Lieuten¬
ant Fraser, and two companies of Florida Volunteers under Lieutenants Pel?
f/
lioier and Whitehurst. The entire battalion commanded by Lieutenant Peyton
of ths 2nd Artillery* General Hernandez* staff consisted of Lieut» J» Graham