friends, again united, became intimate, sharing together the fortunes which awaited them, of which we shall speak in due time. CHAPTER VIII. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED. The Allies in their Camp--News of General Clinch's advance--Two hundred men volunteer to meet him--His force--The Allies await his approach in ambush--He crosses the river in another place--They attack him--The battle--His intrepidity saves his army--The loss of the Allies--The loss of General Clinch--Escape of Florida slaves--Their blood-thirsty conduct--Families murdered--Dwellings burned--Inhabitants flee to villages--Their suffering--Effects of the War--General Jackson--Members of Congress--General Cass--His views and policy--Orders General Scott to Florida--General Gaines moves upon Florida with his Brigade--Reaches the scene of Dade's massacre--Buries the dead--Visits Fort King--While returning, is attacked--Ino, the Exile Chief--His character--The Allies surround General Gaines--His position--Is closely invested--Sends for assistance--Provisions fail--Unauthorized Interference of Cæsar--Flag of Truce--General Clinch arrives, and fires upon the Allies--They flee--General Gaines returns to Fort Brooks--General Clinch returns to Fort Drane. The night after the massacre of Dade and his companions was spent in exultation by the allies. Osceola and his friends brought with them from the sutler's store various goods, with which they decorated their persons; while the numerous scalps taken from the heads of their enemies, were displayed as trophies of victory. They had also found among the stores with which Major Dade's party were provided, sufficient rum and whisky to intoxicate most of them, and their rejoicings and felicitations continued, for hours, amid the darkness of night. It was a late hour in the morning when they awoke from the stupor occasioned by severe labors of the previous day, and the night's debauch. Before they had refreshed themselves with the morning's meal, their scouts arrived, bringing intelligence that troops were advancing towards the Withlacoochee, in pursuit of Indians and Exiles. General Clinch had been lying at Fort Drane. He clearly saw the evidence of approaching hostilities; and, although wholly unconscious of the danger which had threatened Major Dade, had felt it his duty to raise such forces as he could command, and advance into the Indian country as far as the Withlacoochee. He gathered about two hundred Regulars, from the 1st, 2d and 3d Artillery, and, with some four hundred Florida volunteers, under General C. K. Call, had nearly reached the Withlacoochee before the captors of Dade were informed of his approach. About two hundred warriors, fifty of whom were Exiles, volunteered to meet this army, of three times their own number, under the command of one of the most able and gallant officers at that time in the service of the United States.