The
Savannah Volunteer Guard
War
and Military Action
Seminole Indian War, 1835
Members of the Savnnah Volunteers and others from Savannah went to Florida during the latter part of December, 1835, and in the early portion of 1836, where it was estimated the force sent exceeded one-fourth of the city's muster rolls.
The volunteers, which were the first troops to leave Savannah, arrived at Picolate, Florida, on December 31, 1835. The group numbered 39, including Captain Charles Stephens.
Six others joined the group later, and on January 18, 17 additional volunteers, who left under the command of Lieutenant S. Elbert Muse, welled the total number from Savannah to the "handsome aggregate of 62."
On January 30, a committee appointed to procure a steamboat and dipatch with an armament into the St. John's River for defense of Jacksonville and Picolata, reported that they had chartered the steamboat John David Mongin and accepted the servicces of 25 of the Phoenix riflemen and enlisted 90 men for a term of 60 days.
The committee reported that these men and a number of volunteers departed on January 27 under the command of Captain F. M. Stone.
"We have a hard time ahead," one Savannahian wrote back. "For two days past I have not ate enough to kee a mouse alive, nor has any others in camp . . . sometimes we are ordered one way and the baggage the other."
The SVG and others served in this campaign from December 1835 until February 24, 1836. They were discharged with the thanks of the Commanding Officer for their zeal and patriotism, as well as their promptness in reporting to the Florida scene.
The United States spent about $40,000 attempting to round up the Seminoles in Florida, but they were never conquered and retreated into the wilds of the state.
Text courtesy of History of the Savannah Volunteer Guards, Inc. 1802-1992 by Henry J. Kennedy.