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they could no longer postpone a choice, for without honor or concealment they would be helpless and at our mercy.

They have I fear resolved to fight it out, and, if so, the present state of the question must have occured without any military demonstration or exploration, but at a little later date, from the action of the Law forbidding trade, alone, and probably in a worse form, as the first step would then have been to attack the settlement in search of powder, instead of the U.S. troops to arrest the [[?]] of their fortresses.

As the question of leaving them alone to be "settled" out was closed long be fore the present outreach, it will hardly be re-opened now.

I will not presume to recommend any specific measures for hunting out the remnant of the Seminoles, for it has been long discussed, and you are surrounded by officers of great experience in Indian War generally and the Florida in particular

Col. Munroe wishes me to say to you that while willing and anxious to do any duty here in his power, he does not feel physically competent to the active duties required from the chief in a war or hunt of their kind.  Besides age, he is crippled by a chronic rheumatic affection, or [[?]], which renders him lame and at times unable to walk

I write by this day, mail to Seminole agent was (G M Mashburne Ft Smith Ark) to send on here, as soon as convenient, a good interpreter (a creek negro named [underlined] Ben Bruner [underlined] if possible).  He will be required by the agent or Comdg officer to communicate with the other prisoners etc   My present interpreter is not competent to act for any one ignorant of the language, and is [[strikethrough]] besides [[/strike through]] on the other accounts objectionable during hostilities

With great respet
Yr obed servt
[[signed]] J C Casey

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Tampa Bay Fla Jany 1, 1856

Hon Jeffn Davis
Secty War    Sir; The survey of Public Lands on this frontier have been withdrawn in consequence of the late demonstration of hostilities by the Indians; and the fortunate presence of rhe Survey General [Martutt] on a tour of inspection, in the field, has made him familiar with all the circumstances.

He left this morning on his return to St. Augustine. After consultation with him and with Col. Munroe, and by desire of both of them, I now submit the following suggestion:

It is important that the surveys of the whole of So. Florida should be prosecuted with energy.  The Surveys but, say that competent surveyor will continue the work if properly protected by the troops, and it is questionable whether any other mode of occupying a great part of the troops who will necessarily be in the field  would tend more efficiently to close this business.

On this side the Caloosa Hatchee, and the Eastern side of the Kissimmee waters, the volunteers will afford the effective scouting.

South of Caloosa Hatchee most operations will be on fort & in boats and probably by regular troops

There the operations of surveyors would be more subordenate to the movements, and may at times be suspended, but would under the orders of the comdg: officers in the field probably soon extend this the Big Cypress.

At present it is proposed to run a meridem Line from Caloosa Hatchee thru the Big Cypress, if possible, to the Gulf, at about the [[?]] of Ft Deynaud or Ft [[?]], to be very plainly marked and to be open'd as much as possible during the survey.  This will serve as a line for the Mil. tipog as well as for the land seuveyor and will, besides its more obvious uses, afford additional evidence to the Indians of our permanent occupation of the country. To do this the authority and orders of the Dept of the Intr to the Suvy Gen of Florida are necessary, and should these views be sanctioned, the Surveyor Genl. assures me that he will immediately place a well 
[[?]] party in the ground and, of course, under the direction of the

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