Page 67 - a-history-of-columbia-county-florida-(1996)-edward-f-keuchel

A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 56/340

The Second Seminole War

Whereas Fort White was regarded as “very insalubrious,”
Post No. 16 was highly regarded by the army during the war. This
post was established in 1838 in the pine barrens about eighteen
miles from Fort White. There were “no hammocks, swamps or
lagoons in the vicinity.” Not only was the climate of the area more
healthful but sufficient settlers lived in the area to supply the
company stationed there with vegetables, poultry and other foods.
The army physician who saw service at Fort White as a “real
danger” regarded Post No. 16 as an “excellent station for the
Suwannee section.”62
Citizens also provided the troops with provisions other than
poultry and vegetables. Whiskey sales to the soldiers was a vexing
problem for the military. Drunken brawls at the isolated posts
resulted in injuries and in some cases death. Officers had a
difficult time in trying to prevent whiskey sales to the soldiers by
local citizens. Simeon Dell, who had escaped the Seminoles when
James Osteen was killed on May 28,1839, was suspected of selling
whiskey to the soldiers in the southern part of the county. Dell and
a Mr. Waller were believed to be mainly responsible for the
whiskey trade of the area.63
In response to Call's request in the summer of 1841 that Fort
White be reoccupied, a mounted company was sent there and an
attempt was made to resettle the surrounding area. Settlers were
assured the army would protect them. In August 1841, a group of
thirteen whites and eight slaves located at Cedar Hammock some
twelve miles northeast of Fort White, while another band of thirty-
one whites and two slaves established themselves at Natural
Bridge. By the spring of 1842 there were one hundred and sixty-
four white men, one hundred and thirty-seven white women, one
hundred and ninety-two white children with one hundred and
three slaves and fifty-six slave children living in twelve resettle­
62 Ibid.
63W. Sewell to F. N. Page, March 20, 1842, in Sprague, Florida War, p. 419.

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