From: The Floridian, a Tallahassee newspaper, August 4, 1838
“The Creeks- we now have great hope of the capture of the runaway Creeks, who have so long eluded the diligent pursuit of Capt. Hutter’s command of regulars. Since the recent inhuman murder of Mr. Laslie and daughter, the citizens of Gadsden County have determined upon such measures, as with the cooperation of Capt. H;s troops, cannot, we think, fail of success. We learn from Quincy that a company of fifty or sixty volunteers marched in pursuit on the first of this week and that two or three other companies would be speedily organized and follow immediately. Our fellow citizens of Gadsden, have evinced a spirit, in this instance highly worth of imitation, and will reflect the highest credit on themselves and their officers. The following letter from Col Dupont, to the Governor shows the manner of operation on such occasion:
Quincy, Florida, July 28, 1838
To R. K. Call, Governor of Florida
Dear Sir,
Upon the reception of your communication in Tallahassee I immediately proceeded to Quincy, where I found the two young men who had survived the attack on their father’s family. From the information derived from these young men, I was induced to hope, that the girl who was stated to have been killed, might possibly have escaped, and, upon which supposition, I found that my fellow citizens had organized a body of twenty five men, to be ready to march as soon as I should arrive from Tallahassee.
Under this conviction, and with a view moreover to pay the last tribute of respect to a murdered fellow citizen, we started from Quincy at six o’clock P. M.and reached the scene of murder at eight o’clock, next morning.
On approaching we beheld a scene which can scarcely be portrayed to the imagination. The whole premise had been reduced to ashes-the domestic animals such as horses, dogs and c which had all been killed, were lying around the smoking ruins, and everything gave evidence of the most wanton cruelty and mischief. Finding the signs very recent and numerous, I immediately took measures to prevent a surprise and ordered the spy guard to make the necessary search of the bodies of the murdered victims. Major William O. Kenan, who had command of the guard, soon returned with the intelligence that he had discovered the bodies of both father and
daughter, dreadfully mangled, particularly the old gentlemen who had his throat cut. After having interred the bodies as decently as our means would admit, I commenced making such observations as might be necessary to guide us in our future operations. The following is the result: We discovered the heads of seven beeves which had been killed by the enemy, and from the closest calculation we could make while on the spot, there could not have been less than thirty or forty bushels of corn gathered from the field, and in addition to this quantity they took about twenty bushels of old corn from the fields, which they carried a short distance and shelled, leaving the cobs. At the river bank, which is but a short distance from the house, I discovered four distinct landings where they landed their boats. The paths leading from the field and house to the river were much trodden, and from every indication around the premises, I am induced to believe that the number of the enemy could not have been less than fifty or sixty. One of the young men states that he counted about fifty in one gang.
Under the existing circumstances, and holding the realization that I do to the citizens of this county, I feel a weight of responsibility, which renders my situation far from enviable. After the maturest deliberation upon the measures best to be adopted, to wit: that our measures must be of an offensive, instead of a defensive character; for with an extent of frontier exceeding one hundred miles, I feel the means at my disposal wholly inadequate for the purpose of defense. I have come to the conclusion that it will require a much larger force to give protection to the frontier, acting on the defensive, than “it would to enter the enemy’s country and drive him from his fastness.” Under these convictions I have delayed taking any steps for the present. I will endeavor to see you early in the week at which time I will communicate more at large. I am induced to believe that if the regular troops now in the country would operate energetically, they might possibly capture this lawless band as they will no doubt concentrate in the vicinity of their late booty-it is possible however that they may have intended these provisions for a trip to the east, as they will give every evidence of being well supplied with boats.
I am, very respectfully, yours & c
C. H. Dupont, Col. Com’d 5th Reg. F. M.”