In the woods-Head Quarters, Feb. 8, 1838

  Several of the enemy appearing on the edge of the hammock, with a white flag he [the interpreter] returned and stated that Tigertail and several other chiefs, were there, with a large number of Indians and wished to have a big talk with us… and several other officers and myself went forward about half way and halted. In a few moments, eight Indians emerged from the hammock and approached us. … I learned from the interpreter, was the celebrated Tigertail, Holatoucha followed next, and after shaking hands, we sat down on the grass, in a circle.

  … After some time had elapsed, and finding the Indians were not disposed to open the conversation, I desired the interpreter to say to them, that if they had any proposition to make, we were ready to hear…

  Tigertail rose and addressed the circle.

   “Chiefs of the pale faces when I used to talk to you before, I called you brothers. I even lived among you before the war commenced. I am a Tallahassean. I therefore stand in the land where rest the bones of my fathers-even the spot where your big council house is built, and your town, which is named by my people. But when you sought to drive my tribe across the big waters, among the bad Indians, I went back to them. I gathered my people around me, and said to them. To die on the land which the Great Spirit had given them. For two years we have fought the whites, and but few of my warriors have been killed, until you Georgians came, since which time I have no peace.

  Why have you come here! Did not your great chief give you a big talk before you left? Did he not tell you he was no fighting man, and that he did not wish you to go to war!-that he would not give you money to buy your meat or bread, if you went? Did not many of your head men in your big council, tell you not to come, and offered you money if you would go back home? Why did you not do it? We do not want to fight you, for you follow us into the hammock, and wad through mud and water on our trail, and shoot our people, and give us no rest. We are save from you in no hiding place. We are tired of fighting you, and hop you will listen to the words of your great chief, and go home and disturb us no more.”

  I then desired the interpreter to say to him, that although our great chief was not a fighting man still there were other chiefs who were, by whom we would be governed, and fight them until they surrendered-that although our chief would not give us meat or bread we had got along without his assistance, and that we now had plenty-and finally that we would not go home as he had advised, but still to kill his men, and take his women and children as prisoners.

  He then rose again, and addressed us:

  “Chiefs of the pale faces! If such is your determination, I can hold no further talk with you. This much, though, I wish to say: I will send a talk to my friends in Georgia, and tell them to help abuse, calumny and slauder upon you while your remain here.”

  Here he was interrupted by one of our fiery young officers, who remarked if they do heap, calumny and abuse upon us while we are here, we will disprove it by our own actions, which the world will known, and after we get home, if they continue it, we will chastise them personally.

  During this harangue, Tigertail listened with all the gravity of an Indian; and at the close made the following reply:

  “I know that your actions will disprove their assertions; but if they even live, for a moment, which they must do if you are not there, it will be some satisfaction to your enemies. You had ever return to you homes, and stop those who are disposed to slander you in your absence, and leave me and my tribe to live in peace.”

  The interpreter was then instructed to say to him that we would listen no longer, and if he did not give up immediately, we should march upon him; upon which information he raised a whoop, and broke for the hammock followed by the rest. We then charged, and fought the battle of Enuta iga.

  Florida Herald, March 29, 1938, p2