memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第5章
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I instantly took a fresh crew of soldiers and returned to the bar； there sat poor Mrs。 Ashlock on her chest of clothes； a weeping widow； who had seen her husband perish amid sharks and waves； she clung to the hope that the steamer had picked him up； but； strange to say； he could not swim； although he had been employed on the water all his life。
Her sister was more demonstrative； and wailed as one lost to all hope and life。 She appealed to us all to do miracles to save the struggling men in the waves； though two hours had already passed； and to have gone out then among those heavy breakers； with an inexperienced crew； would have been worse than suicide。 All I could do was to reorganize the guard at the beach； take the two desolate females up to the fort； and give them the use of my own quarters。 Very soon their anguish was quieted； and they began to look； for the return of their steamer with Ashlock and his rescued crew。 The next day I went again to the beach with Lieutenant Ord； and we found that one or two bodies had been washed ashore； torn all to pieces by the sharks； which literally swarmed the inlet at every new tide。 In a few days the weather moderated； and the steamer returned from the south； but the surf was so high that she anchored a mile off。 I went out myself； in the whale or surf boat； over that terrible bar with a crew of； soldiers； boarded the steamer； and learned that none other of Ashlock's crew except the one before mentioned had been saved； but； on the contrary； the captain of the steamer had sent one of his own boats to their rescue； which was likewise upset in the surf； and； out of the three men in her； one had drifted back outside the breakers； clinging to the upturned boat； and was picked up。 This sad and fatal catastrophe made us all afraid of that bar； and in returning to the shore I adopted the more prudent course of beaching the boat below the inlet； which insured us a good ducking； but was attended with less risk to life。
I had to return to the fort and bear to Mrs。 Ashlock the absolute truth； that her husband was lost forever。
Meantime her sister had entirely recovered her equilibrium； and being the guest of the officers； who were extremely courteous to her； she did not lament so loudly the calamity that saved them a long life of banishment on the beach of Indian River。 By the first opportunity they were sent back to St。 Augustine； the possessors of all of Ashlock's worldly goods and effects； consisting of a good rifle； several cast…nets； hand…lines； etc。； etc。； besides some three hundred dollars in money； which was due him by the quartermaster for his services as pilot。 I afterward saw these ladies at St。 Augustine； and years afterward the younger one came to Charleston； South Carolina； the wife of the somewhat famous Captain Thistle； agent for the United States for live…oak in Florida； who was noted as the first of the troublesome class of inventors of modern artillery。 He was the inventor of a gun that 〃did not recoil at all；〃 or 〃if anything it recoiled a little forward。〃
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 in no hurry； and I noticed that all their guns were leaning against a tree。 I beckoned to the sergeant； who advanced rapidly with his escort； and told him to secure the rifles； which he proceeded to do。 Coacoochee pretended to be very angry； but I explained to him that his warriors were tired and mine were not； and that the soldiers would carry the guns on their horses。 I told him I would provide him a horse to ride； and the sooner he was ready the better for all。 He then stripped； washed himself in the pond； and began to dress in all his Indian finery； which consisted of buckskin leggins； moccasins； and several shirts。 He then began to put on vests； one after another； and one of them had the marks of a bullet； just above the pocket； with the stain of blood。 In the pocket was a one…dollar Tallahassee Bank note； and the rascal had the impudence to ask me to give him silver coin for that dollar。 He had evidently killed the wearer； and was disappointed because the pocket contained a paper dollar instead of one in silver。 In due time he was dressed with turban and ostrich…feathers； and mounted the horse reserved for him； and thus we rode back together to Fort Pierce。 Major Childs and all the officers received him on the porch； and there we had a regular 〃talk。〃 Coacoochee 〃was tired of the war。〃 〃His people were scattered and it would take a 'moon' to collect them for emigration；〃 and he 〃wanted rations for that time；〃 etc。； etc。
All this was agreed to； and a month was allowed for him to get ready with his whole band （numbering some one hundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty） to migrate。 The 〃talk〃 then ceased； and Coacoochee and his envoys proceeded to get regularly drunk； which was easily done by the agency of commissary whiskey。 They staid at Fort Pierce daring the night； and the next day departed。 Several times during the month there came into the post two or more of these same Indians； always to beg for something to eat or drink； and after a full month Coacoochee and about twenty of his warriors came in with several ponies； but with none of their women or children。 Major Childs had not from the beginning the least faith in his sincerity； had made up his mind to se
