General Jessup at length consented to permit the chief of the Cherokees to explain these facts to the Seminoles, in the presence of himself and officers; but would not suffer any other member of the delegation to attend him.[104] The Seminoles were sent to San Augustine; and that portion of the Cherokees who had accompanied them to General Jessup's camp, at once refused all further efforts to restore peace, and returned to their homes; leaving, however, some four or five of their brethren in the Seminole country, who, ignorant of the occurrences just related, continued to urge other Seminoles to make peace upon such terms as they believed just--assuring them that the Americans demanded nothing more. CHAPTER XIII. VIGOROUS PROSECUTION OF THE WAR. General Zachary Taylor--His character and past service--His expedition--Battle of Okechobee--His loss--Returns to Withlacoochee--Repudiates the work of catching Slaves--Exiles delivered over to bondage--Regular Troops despise such Employment--Indian prisoners indignant at the outrages perpetrated against the Exiles--Separated from Exiles--Are sent to Charleston--Exiles to Tampa Bay--Further efforts to re-enslave Exiles--General Jessup moves South--Skirmish of Loca Hatchee--Erects Fort Jupiter--Is persuaded to propose peace on basis of permitting Indians and Exiles to remain in Florida--Sends one of the Exiles to the enemy with these propositions--He returns with Hallec Hajo--Parties agree to hold Council and endeavor to form Treaty on that basis--Indians and Exiles meet for that purpose--Letter to Secretary of War--His answer--Indians and Exiles treacherously seized--Their numbers--Alligator and others surrender--Exiles sent to Fort Pike--Indians sent to Charleston. [Sidenote: 1837.] General Zachary Taylor was in command of an efficient force in the western part of Florida, holding his head-quarters at Tampa Bay. He had been thirty years in service; had distinguished himself in battle, and was regarded as an officer of great merit. Looking to the honor of our flag and the prestige of the service, he appears to have borne himself entirely above all efforts to prostitute the powers of the nation to the reënslavement of the Exiles. He was particularly opposed to the plan of General Jessup, directing that all negroes captured should be the slaves of the captors.[105]