After the usual pause, one of them, a black man named Joe, who spoke English, said they had been sent in by Coacoochee (Wild Cat), one of the most noted of the Seminole chiefs, to see the big chief of the post.

He gradually unwrapped a piece of paper, which was passed over to Major Childs, who read it, and it was in the nature of a "Safe Guard" for "Wild Cat" to come into Fort Pierce to receive provisions and assistance while collecting his tribe, with the purpose of emigrating to their reservation west of Arkansas.

The paper was signed by General Worth, who had succeeded General Taylor, at Tampa Bay, in command of all the troops in Florida.

Major Childs inquired, "Where is Coacoochee ?" and was answered, "Close by," when Joe explained that he had been sent in by his chief to see if the paper was all right.
Major Childs said it was "all right," and that Coacoochee ought to come in himself.

Joe offered to go out and bring him in, when Major Childs ordered me to take eight or ten mounted men and go out to escort him in.