Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. I.djvu/334

276 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS States entered upon negotiations for the purchase of that country. Meanwhile the turmoil increased. White men were murdered by Indians, and United States troops, under Col. Twiggs, captured and burned a considerable Seminole village, known as Fowltown. The Indians retorted by the massacre of fifty people who were ascending the Appalachi- cola river in boats; some of the victims were tor tured with fire-brands. Jackson was now ordered to the frontier. He wrote at once to President Monroe: "Let it be sig nified to me through any channel (say Mr. John Rhea) that the possession of the Floridas would be desirable to the United States, and in sixty days it will be accomplished." Mr. Rhea was a repre sentative from Tennessee, a confidential friend of both Jackson and Monroe. The president was ill when Jackson s letter reached him, and does not seem to have given it due consideration. On re ferring to it a year later he could not remember that he had ever seen it before. Rhea, however, seems to have written a letter to Jackson, telling him that the president approved of his suggestion. As to this point the united testimony of Jackson, Rhea, and Judge Overton seems conclusive. Afterward Mr. Monroe, through Rhea, seems to have requested Jackson to burn this letter, and an entry on the general s letter-book shows that it was accordingly burned, April 12, 1819. There can