The Florida army to constitute three divisions, to be known as the right, center, and left wings; the center being composed of Alabama volunteers, three companies of Louisiana volunteers, and two companies of United States artillery, amounting to twelve hundred and fifty men, to be commanded by Colonel William Lindsay.  To move from Fort Brooke and take position at or near Chicuchatty, on March 25th.  Signal guns to be fired each day thereafter at 9 A.M. to announce position.  The right wing, composed of a battalion of Augusta volunteers under Acting Major Robertson; a battalion of Georgia volunteers under Major Mark A. Cooper; Major John M. Douglass, Georgia Cavalry; eleven companies of Louisiana volunteers, under Colonel Persifor F. Smith; Florida Rangers, under Major McLemore; the regulars, under Colonel James Bankhead; and Captain Clifton Wharton’s company of Dragoons—­in all amounting to about two thousand men, to be commanded by General Clinch.  This wing to move from Fort Drane and be in position near Camp Izard, on the Ouithlacoochee River, between March 26th and 28th.  Signal guns to be fired at 11 A.M.  The left wing, composed of the South Carolina volunteers, under Colonel Abbott H. Brisbane; mounted volunteers, under Colonels Goodwyn and Butler—­amounting to about fourteen hundred men—­to be commanded by General Abram Eustis.  This wing to move from Volusia and take position at or near Pilaklakaha on March 27th.  Signal guns to be fired at ten o’clock each day.

Each wing to be composed of three columns, a center protected by a strong van and rear guard.  The baggage train to be placed in the rear of the main column.  The center and left wings, on assuming their respective positions, will fire signal guns, which will be responded to by the right wing.  The right wing will then move up the cove or great swamp of the Ouithlacoochee in a southeast direction and drive the Indians south, while the center will advance to the north and the left to the west, by which united movement the Indians will be surrounded and left no avenue of escape.  The operations of the army will be supported by the naval forces under Commodore Alfred J. Dallas, protecting the western coast of the peninsula, to cut off retreat and supplies.

Colonel Lindsay, commanding the center wing, arrived at Fort Brooke with eight companies of Alabama volunteers on March 6th, where he found a battalion of Florida troops, commanded by Major Read, and on the 10th was joined by one company of Louisiana volunteers, under command of Captain George H. Marks.

On the 12th he discovered fires to the southeast, and it was soon reported that a large body of Indians was encamped a few miles distant.  Colonel Lindsay directed Major Leigh Read with his battalion to make a reconnoissance in the direction of the Indians.  Major Read moved during the night, and coming upon the Indians at daylight, surprised them and put them to flight with a loss of three killed and six taken prisoners.  He also secured a quantity of camp equipage and some beef cattle.