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[[underlined]] July 21st 1849 [[/underlined]] The story is that on Monday en.9. 17th July the indians killed Payne & Jimmy Whidden & wounded McCully's wife at the trading house or Pea river and on 19th or thursday morning drove off Jimmy Whidden's family from their place some 5 mile N. of the store.

Every one seemed to think war begun, but I suggested that had the nation designed War I should not have escaped on 6th July near mouth Pea river, and again they did not kill Whidden's family when they could have done so. I therefore supposed it was murder [[underlined]] not [[/underlined]] war. and no one but Walbrdge agreed with me. Maj Morris be [[underlined doubted [[/underlined]?

[[underlined]] July 22d. [[/underlined] Express from St. Augustine from C.F.Smith with news of death of [[underlined]] Barker [[/underlined]] & wounding of Russell at Indian river on the [[underlined]] 12th [[/underlined]] (or 5 days before Payne). 

I am now asked what I think & reply that the same small party probably did both deed having time to cross and arrive to secure plunder. No one agrees with me (about T.R.W.)

For some days rumor & lies abound  more than usual. An officer (Lt Garland) and 20 men are sent out to the store - John Darling declines going with them and T.P. Kennedy send no cart for Payne's bones. They are perfectly passive & lend no aid while other citizens voluntee & go out mounted & armed- to examine into the fate of their store & clerk -

[underlined] July 25th [/underlined] Commence a foolish controversy with Morris about the hire of the sloop Savanna !!!

[[underlined]] July 27 A [[/underlined]] mail in late - Ferryman at Weethehowha had bolted - for fear of Indians & people were flying in all directions. Some near Ocella- over 100 miles from the frontier leaving their houses open & full of furniture A shameful game. I have ridden out nearly every morning expecting to see some indian with a white flag & an explanation & I find the wood deserted - no track or road hardly & every sign of a panic                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

[[underlined]] July 31 [[/underlined]] News of a horrible murder in Marion County by Johnson & 1 or 2 others of [[?]] Mobley before his family for very slight provocation These [[underlined[]] white [[/underlined]] murderers are finally fined $1.000 - & are living yet at large (1853)

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