Edited by Spessard Stone from a letter by Capt. L. G. Lesley to Col. John Monroe.
Alafia, Fla.
Nov. 4th 1856
Sir:
I have the honor to report that on Monday the 20th ult. I crossed Peas Creek with 58 head of beef cattle for forts Deynaud (Denaud) and Myers, accompanied with one officer, Lt. Crane, and thirty noncommissioned officers and privates and Messrs. (?) Tillis (?) & Stephens in charge of them. After a few hours I diverged from the road north with 12 men and inclined to the right--making a detour near Choka-Nickla, Fort Hartsufff &c and arrived at camp late at night. In the morning finding one horse of my command somewhat crippled and one man sick, I turned them both back, leaving my command to 28 men.
The scouts were kept up daily until we arrived at Fort Deynaud on the morning of the 25th ult. and turning over some 19 head of cattle to that post and the others to Fort Myers, for which we went the same day. Drawing 1 day's ration at Fort Deynaud on the same day, (we) left for fort Myers and arrived on the evening of the 26th at that post. I drew one day's ration at that post and returned to Fort Deynaud to perform the duty assigned me. Deeming it proper to rest one day, as our horses required I remained at fort Deynaud and started with 5 days' rations of forage and subsistence.
Taking the military road to Fort Centre which was very good and arrived at Fish Eating Creek some 23 miles and (we) encamped for the night. This creek is some 25 ft. wide and about 4 1/2 feet water.
Oct. 29th. On crossing found that I was surrounded by a bog (?) that can be obviated either above or below and much better crossing. At 10 A.M. we came to an Indian camp in a small skirl of pine woods, evidently made there for the purpose of raising hogs as the sign is here in all directions. Leaving this point a short distance opens the first view of Lake Ocheechobee or the opening to it. At 12 we arrived at the first ridge of palmetto cabbage land leading south. Up to this time our course had been N. E. and the road quite plain, but here we lost all sign of it. From this point water covered the land in all directions, and as we proceeded it increased in depth, cauding us to incline to the northward as a pine island appeared to the left, and affording the only chance for encamping as the cabbage islands were overflowed.
30. At sunrise we started and were soon compelled from a succession of cabbage islands and sawgrass to bear more northward. Our horses bore their burden well up to this but frequent quagmires gave us no little trouble. From here our course appeared open and like all other difficulties in life we soon found out to our cost. The land all around us was submerged, and from our course, which was controlled by a large sawgrass glade, we were forced northwest and west until late at night we entered a small cabbage clump of trees and encamped. Finding it impossible to penetrate the nameless creek which opposed us, we determined to retrace our steps to our proper course. Thinking that high lands must be to the eastward and perhaps lost to us by an island we had passed over the day before. It proved a short time (?) as sawgrass appeared on all sides of us. Our only chance was to go out on our backtrack, and in a short time passed in full view of our camp 2 days previous. Our horses being very tired, we encamped in the open prairie on a small cabbage island on a large Indian trail. Saw their camps about 1 month old on an island. The trail was a large one, and many hogs were taken upon it.
31. Continuing the trail S. & W., we passed the south of old antagonist, the sawgrass and creek, and entered into a large Indian town, consisting of some 30 or more houses. This place is without doubt a permanent resort for the Indians in summer and must have been occupied by at least 100 Indians. Their play ground was smooth and well beaten, immense piles of mashings of compte (?) and brier root, showed that they were not deficient in food. Hog tracks in abundance. The town I did not molest as perhaps we might wait to revisit again in summer. On the west is an opening to enter it, and the only trail leads from it to the southward, surrounded by swamps or bay galls. Skirting along the large scrub on the northwest a short distance and finding it impossible to carry out your orders for want of supplies, I determined my course homeward and reached Oak Creek, near the road leading to Fort Deynaud. 10 A.M. Arrived at this post on the 4th inst.
Respectfully submitted,
L. G. Lesly
Capt., Comd., Co. F. M. Vol.
P. S. I respectfully ask permission to make another exploration of Fort Bassenger via Lake Istapoga.
This letter was published in The Herald-Advocate (Wauchula, Fla.) of September 3, 1998.
October 17, 2001