One day, in the summer of 1841, the sentinel on the housetop at Fort Pierce called out, “Indians!  Indians!” Everybody sprang to his gun, the companies formed promptly on the parade-ground, and soon were reported as approaching the post, from the pine-woods in rear, four Indians on horseback.  They rode straight up to the gateway, dismounted, and came in.  They were conducted by the officer of the day to the commanding officer, Major Childs, who sat on the porch in front of his own room.  After the usual pause, one of them, a black man named Joe, who spoke English, said they had been sent in by Coacoochee (Wild Cat), one of the most noted of the Seminole chiefs, to see the big chief of the post.  He gradually unwrapped a piece of paper, which was passed over to Major Childs, who read it, and it was in the nature of a “Safe Guard” for “Wild Cat” to come into Fort Pierce to receive provisions and assistance while collecting his tribe, with the purpose of emigrating to their reservation west of Arkansas.  The paper was signed by General Worth, who had succeeded General Taylor, at Tampa Bay, in command of all the troops in Florida.  Major Childs inquired, “Where is Coacoochee?” and was answered, “Close by,” when Joe explained that he had been sent in by his chief to see if the paper was all right.  Major Childs said it was “all right,” and that Coacoochee ought to come in himself.  Joe offered to go out and bring him in, when Major Childs ordered me to take eight or ten mounted men and go out to escort him in.  Detailing ten men to saddle up, and taking Joe and one Indian boy along on their own ponies, I started out under their guidance.

We continued to ride five or six miles, when I began to suspect treachery, of which I had heard so much in former years, and had been specially cautioned against by the older officers; but Joe always answered, “Only a little way.”  At last we approached one of those close hammocks, so well known in Florida, standing like an island in the interminable pine-forest, with a pond of water near it.  On its edge I noticed a few Indians loitering, which Joe pointed out as the place.  Apprehensive of treachery, I halted the guard, gave orders to the sergeant to watch me closely, and rode forward alone with the two Indian guides.  As we neared the hammock, about a dozen Indian warriors rose up and waited for us.  When in their midst I inquired for the chief, Coacoochee.  He approached my horse and, slapping his breast, said, “Me Coacoochee.”  He was a very handsome young Indian warrior, not more than twenty-five years old, but in his then dress could hardly be distinguished from the rest.  I then explained to him, through Joe, that I had been sent by my “chief” to escort him into the fort.  He wanted me to get down and “talk” I told him that I had no “talk” in me, but that, on his reaching the post, he could talk as much as he pleased with the “big chief,” Major Childs.  They all seemed to be indifferent, and