One of the Exiles, residing upon the Withlacoochee, who, after the compact with General Jessup in 1838, surrendered, with others, and emigrated West, stated that he assisted Osceola in counting the sticks handed in by each warrior engaged in this affair, and there were seven hundred present; and another bunch of sticks numbering one hundred had been sent by a party who expected to reach the scene of action the next day, when a general and determined attack was to have been made. But their forces disbanded upon the arrival of General Clinch, and they separated to their different homes. The officers under General Gaines charged the allies with bad faith, intending to massacre them under pretense of treating with them; while the allies charged our troops with a treacherous effort to shoot them while their flag of truce was floating over them, and they engaged in peaceful negotiation. General Gaines proceeded to Fort Brooke, and thence returned to New Orleans; while General Clinch conducted his troops back to Fort Drane. CHAPTER IX. HOSTILITIES CONTINUED. General disappointment in regard to the continuance of the War--Its Difficulties--Feelings of the People of Florida--Letter of their Delegate in Congress--Letter of General Jessup to F. P. Blair--President Jackson's order in regard to it--Secretary of War orders General Scott to Washington, and General Jessup to take command--General Call in temporary command of the Army--Court of Inquiry--Osceola attacks Micanopy--Major Heilman's gallant Defense--General Jessup meets General Call at Tallahasse--Refuses to assume Command--Major Pearce's Expedition to Fort Drane--Meets Osceola with an equal force--Severe Contest--Major Pearce retires to Micanopy--General Jessup's contract with Creeks--Its Character--Resumes barbarous practice of Enslaving Prisoners--General Call's Expedition to Withlacoochee--Its Failure--Further attempts to destroy Stores on that River--Armstrong's Battle--Another severe Battle--Another Expedition to Withlacoochee--Its Failure--Skill and Valor of the Exiles and Indians--Loss of Creeks--They become Disheartened. When General Scott took command of the army in Florida, the Administration and the country confidently expected that he would bring the war to an immediate close. There was but little known of the combined strength, or the determined purpose, of the Seminoles and Exiles. They were regarded as few in number, and were supposed to be fighting without any very definite purpose. The difficulties of collecting an army in that territory, procuring supplies and arranging a campaign, were great; and the most effective mode for penetrating the strongholds of the allied forces could only be ascertained by experience.