Captain Sprague, who had the advantages of personal observation and experience during the war, says that General Hernandez of the Florida Militia, serving principally in the eastern part of the Territory, "captured some important chiefs, and restored to citizens more than _three hundred negroes_ who had been captured by the Indians." But the means which he used for their capture is not stated. General Jessup informs us, also, that Abraham, the negro chief, and two Indians, were sent to the Seminoles west of the Okechobee, and prevailed upon Alligator, and three hundred and sixty Indians and negroes, to surrender to Colonel Smith and General Taylor. But what proportion of this number were Exiles, we are not informed; nor are we told of the means used, or the assurances given, to induce them to surrender. It is certain, that many of the chiefs alleged that the Cherokee Delegation assured their friends, that they would be permitted to remain in their own country, and that the President was desirous of making peace upon those terms; and General Jessup says, that the negro chief Abraham, and another negro interpreter named Auguste, gave the same information. Abraham had in fact dictated the supplemental treaty, entered into by the delegation while in the Western Country, and was made to believe, at all times, that the Government would fulfill, and abide by, the terms of this supplemental treaty. It was on this conviction that he acted, and he appears never to have doubted the good faith of the Executive until he actually arrived in the Western Country. CHAPTER XIV. GREAT DIFFICULTIES INTERRUPT THE PROGRESS OF THE WAR. John Ross, the Cherokee Chief, demands the release of Wild Cat and other Chiefs--Answer of Secretary of War--Mr. Everett's resolution in Congress--Secretary's Report--General Jessup's answer--Agitation in Congress--Hon. John Quincy Adams--Hon. William Slade--Difficulty with Creek Warriors--The Exiles who had been captured by the Creeks--Arrangements for emigrating both Indians and Exiles--Indians at Charleston, and Negroes at Tampa Bay, transported to Fort Pike--Families again united--Sympathy excited--General Gaines becomes engaged in their behalf--His noble conduct--Embarrassment of Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and of the Secretary of War--Singular arrangement--Discrepancies unexplained--A Slave-dealer professes to purchase ninety of the Exiles, in order to relieve the Government--Appoints his brother-in-law an Agent to receive them--Department furnishes the necessary vouchers--Sudden change of policy--Sixty Exiles claimed by a Slave-dealer named Love--General Gaines appears on behalf of Exiles--His able defense--Court renders judgment discharging Rule--Thirty-six Exiles released by Love--Lieutenant Reynolds with the Indians, and all but these thirty-six Exiles, take passage for Fort Gibson.