JOURNAL OF HENRY HAMILTON FLOYD
OF
CAMDEN COUNTY, GEORGIA
FEBRUARY 1852 - MAY 1853 December, 1852. The 1st. (Thrs.)
Having altered the arrangement of going in company of Mr. Williams and Chas. Hopkins, I started on the steamer Gaston for Jacksonville to purchase my supplies, and took Mr. Sanders and boy Chance with me to be landed at Mandarin, from there to go for the mules. The weather was so boisterous that the steamer could not land her small boat at Mandarin. I brought on Sunday last from St. Marys, my boat, T. F. Bryan and left it in Jacksonville. Fri. 2nd.
Of all the days in the year I like this anniversary the most. Sent Sanders and Chance to Col. McIntosh's plantation by the steamer Sarah Spalding. Bought provisions from Mr. McRory, and such dry goods as I needed from Bisbee and Canona (?). Satry. 3. Busy getting my things packed. Sun. 4.
I put my things on board the Sarah Spalding early this morning, soon after which she left for Palatka. I went to Palatka on the Welaka and found on board my old friend, Wm. Corrie (?), of Charleston. I paid Capt. King $45 for my tents. Mon. 5. Chas. and John Hopkins, James Sanders, Chas. King Sherman, a young man from Washington D.C.,
who goes out with Mr. Williams, and myself, freight and mules, left Palatka on the Sarah Spalding for Lake Monroe. The River St. Johns will nearly average a half mile wide until Lake George is pafsed, when it narrows suddenly to lefs than a qr. Lake George is 18 miles scrofs and a very high rough place in windy weather, owing to its being shallow. For some miles above the Lake the (forty ninth page) the scenery is truly beautiful, having many pretty Bluffs and an abundance of wild flowers
resembling the Columbine and Banks rose. The principal part of the River between Volusia and Lake Monroe pafses through swamps and prairies and is by no means pretty. Lake Monroe is 135 miles above Palatka and is 5 miles in diameter, clear water, and is altogether a beautiful lake, having on its banks handsome locations. Enterprise House is on the East side, and the house appears to stand on an artificial mound, which is not much larger than the building, and low ground surrounding it. The
beach on this lake is like that of the sea in miniature. Tue. 7. Landed at Mellonville, a place on the West side of the Lake, and named after Capt. Mellon, who was killed here by the Indians during the last war against the Seminoles. Found our men who came by land. Wed. 8. We packed our wagon, and after
leaving such stores as we could not carry, in care of Col. Arthur Ginn, left for the interior, got one mile, and pitched tents for the night. I had the blues this afternoon and would have them every day did I only give them the least encouragement. I've enough to make me sad. Thurs. 9. Our company consists of the following persons: Chas. B. Hopkins, John L. Hopkins, Edward Humphreys, James Sanders, Syladonia
Pallecere, Ben Townsend, Jake & Dan Mickler, Tom Clark and myself, the Negroes, Will, Chance, Ben, Scipio, and Andrew. Mr. Williams having a small tract of land to survey on Hutton's Island, St. Jno's River, could not accompany us. After getting (fiftient page) 9 or 10 miles it rained so hard and long that we camped for the night. I do not feet at all fatigued, although I have not walked so far in a day in many years. Several of the party went out in the afternoon to hunt, and Sanders
wounded a deer. After dark two parties fire hunted and Sanders shot once near the camp and Dan'l Mickler twice – no deer killed. Sister Susan got a letter from Sister Caroline while I was in Palatka, saying that Fannie B. was to be married tonight to Dr. Blackshear. Fri. 10. Cloudy and heavy rain in the afternoon. We left camp at 8 this morning and travelled (sic) 'till late in the afternoon,
making 17 or 18 miles. The country over which I came is poor; high pine land and black jack ridges interspersed with large ponds or small lakes, the water perfectly clear and agreeable to the taste, slightly tinctured, however, with lime stone. Crofsed many branches, the water of all of them excellent, in truth, the best branch water I ever drank. One of the wagon wheels became much injured today. Satry. 11. Cloudy and
rain early in the morning. It cleared off at 8 A.M. and became cool. I am 35 years old today. Reached Fort Gatlin at 10 A.M. and commenced repairing wagon wheel and fixing a cart that we got from Capt. Jernigan. Capt. J. has just returned from a scout against the Indians with Gen'l B. Hopkins. The Gen'l went another route to Mellonville, so we missed seeing him. Sun. 12. Clear and cool. A light frost. Left
Fort (fifty first page) Gatlin at 8 A.M. and in 6 miles got to Mr. Owen Simmons', pafsing through a high pine and black jack country with many clear water ponds and lakes, some of which have steep bluffs entirely around them. Mr. Simmons' is the last settlement on our route. A little before sunset we reached a very boggy branch, 30 yards acrofs and about 18 miles from where we left this morning, halted to cut away trees, cyprefs knees, and fill up with palmetto bushes &c. 7 deer seen and
Sanders killed one, a doe. After leaving Mr. Simmons' the country seemed low, with boggy galls and cyprefs ponds, the timber small and sparse. We employed a young man, Jno. Patrick, at Fort Gatlin, as guide. Am to give him one dollar a day. Mon. 13. Clear and pleasant. Got into St. Lucie County yesterday, after leaving Owen Simmon's 6 miles. Our course has been E. & S. E. since leaving Fort Gatlin, when we
should have gone South, but the swamps and lakes prevented our taking a direct course. After crofsing two very boggy branches, which detained us some time, one of the wagon wheels broke to pieces. Put the cart wheels to the wagon and proceeded. Got only 7 miles today. Sanders killed a large gobbler. Pafsed but one lake today. Little Tohopetallaggee, which is 10 miles long and 4 or 5 wide. Jake Mickler quite sick last night. Tu.
14. Clear and pleasant. Travelled over a very poor country, with many cyprefs ponds that were difficult to pafs. After getting 6 or 7 miles today reached Econlackhatchee Creek, which we cut a road acrofs and proceeded 10 miles further and camped for the night. Sanders killed an alligator 11 (fifty second page) feet long. Several deer seen yesterday and today. Many air plants on the cyprefs trees, and each large
plant contains about ½ pint of pure water. The flowers of the air plants are very pretty and delicate, being a pink and blue colour. Mordina is 29 years old today. Wed. 15. Clear and warm. We traveled 16 miles today over a poor pine country and saw no game but whooping (cranes), one of which Jake Mickler killed on the wing with his rifle at 100 yards. Thurs.
16. Clear and hot. Travelled 15 or 16 miles today and camped earlier than usual, as Jake Mickler was sick. About noon came again in sight of Little Tohopetalleggee Lake, the same we saw on Sunday last. Our course has been a very round about one. Sanders killed a buck. Crofsed a wet prairie nearly ½ mile wide, water two or more feet deep. Killed yesterday, 1 moccasin snake, 1 ground rattler and two others such as I never saw before. They
were about 3 feet long, 1 inch in diameter and grayish in colour. They appear to be a venomous kind and one of them struck at me and followed me for 8 or 10 feet, striking out most furiously. 8 deer seen today. Fri. 17. Cloudy and very hot. The mosketoes (sic) were very annoying last night. There was a difficulty in camp last night between Mr. Pallecere and Dan Mickler. Dan slapped him in the
face and the blow was not returned. In the afternoon pafsed by Lake Cyprefs, which is 5 or 6 miles long and from a half to a mile wide. Near sunset got to Kifsimmee Prairie and a beautiful sight it was. This (fifty third page) prairie is the largest in this state, Florida, it is from 60 to 70 miles long and will nearly average 20 miles wide. Saw 9 deer today. Started late this morning and made nearly 12 miles. Satry.
18. Clear and cool. Left the camp at 8 A.M. and after getting on the prairie one mile came to the 4th Basis Parallelline (sic). Could not follow it for a large swamp and creek. In another mile came to a creek running through the prairie and waded acrofs it, distance 200 yards, and depth hip high. On the prairie the dogs started a flock of turkies (sic) and the men fired about a doz. times and killed 2. Got on the parallel line again about noon and followed it to the West Boundary of Range 32 and ran 1 ½ miles South when we camped. 30 deer seen today. Jake Mickler had a hard chill and fever today. Country poor. Saw Indian fires. Killed a large rattle snake on the prairie.
Sun. 19. Clear and warm. Writing letters. Killed a rattle snake near my tent. A tiger (panther?) came within 30 yards of the camp last night and screamed awfully. Jake Mickler sick. Mon. 20. Clear and hot. We started out early this morning on the survey, Chas. F. Hopkins ran S. and T. line and I ran the section line, first
closing on the 4th Pasis Parallel, which was run by Dept Surveyor, Washington, many years since, and reset on Chas Hopkins' line; the closures were good on both lines. Chas. did on Satry., ½ miles and today 8 ½. I did 8 ½ today. We are working in the same Township and have agreed to take alternate T's, and this one, 28, range, 32, is his. I walked 13 miles today. Large swamps to pafs (fifty fourth page) through threw me back today or I would have done better. The camp is in the centre of the T. and we reached it at dark. Jake Mickler sick and Edy Humphreys chained in his place. John Patrick killed a large gobbler. Many turkeys and one deer seen today.
Tu. 21. Cloudy and very hot. I had my work badly laid out and only did 6 ½ miles. Chas. ran 10 miles. Jake Mickler sick. A large moccasin came near biting Chance. Sent Andrew and Tom Clark to Mellonville for provisions. Mr. John Patrick went with them as far as Fort Gatlin. Chas. and myself each paid Patrick $4.50. I walked 11 miles and saw 3 deer. Wed.
22. Clear and as hot as in Summer. I surveyed today 11 miles and walked 17. Chas. Hopkins returned to camp early in the day, as one of his chain men became lame. He did 5 ½ miles. Jake Mickler sick. Up to date Chas. Hopkins has run 25 ½ miles and I 26. 5 deer seen today and John Hopkins fired 3 times at 2. No meat. This Township, so far, is poor, and much cut up with cyprefs swamps and ponds. The water is not so good as in Orange
County, but occasionally good water is found where a bay tree has fallen. Thu. 23. Clear and warm. I did 7 miles and walked 16. I would have surveyed another mile had Chas. Hopkins not come over on my line, thereby disregarding the work laid off on the diagram. Chas. surveyed 8 ½. Jake Mickler unable to work; he killed a large gobbler. 6 deer seen today. Fri.
24. Clear and hot. Chas did 6 miles today and I 5. Finished the Township. I walked 14 miles. Jack sick. 5 deer seen. Satry. 25. Christmas day and a dull one to me. The boys were very gay last night, singing, dancing &c. We packed Chatham and the mare and moved 2 ½ miles E. towards T.28, R.33, and camped. Near sunset Mr. Wesley O'Berry
arrived, I having sent to Mellonville for him to act as packman. He came with Mr. Williams, who is now in R.31. Mr. O'Berry brought me two letters, one from Mary D. Floyd and the other from Rosalie, which were very unexpected and quite acceptable. These letters were dated on the 7th inst. Jake Mickler better, Sanders and Dan Mickler went hunting in the afternoon and shot 4 times at deer and wounded one. Sun.
26. Clear and hot. Doing little or nothing in camp. Dan Mickler killed a doe and Ben Townsend a buck. This meat was actually needed, which is the excuse for hunting on the Sabbath. Mon. 27. A little cloudy and a light shower. We moved camp today one mile E. from the T. line into Range 33. I ran 9 miles and Chas. 8 miles. Charles Hopkins' mule died
today. 8 deer seen today, and 4 yesterday. The dogs caught an old buck near the camp. The buck was freshly wounded; must have received it from an Indian. I killed an alligator with my pistol. I walked 11 miles today. Jake better. (fifty sixth page) Tu. 28. Clear and warm morning. Cloudy in the afternoon and a shower. I ran 10 miles and returned to camp about 3 P.M. Chas. ran nearly 8. Sanders
killed a large gobbler. 2 deer seen. Wed. 29. Cloudy and cooler than it has been for some time. I ran 9 miles and Charles the same. I walked 16 miles today, and very hard work. Nearly out of provisions. Thurs. 30. Cloudy and hot. John Hopkins, Dan and Jake Mickler sick. I felt badly myself today, and so did all the men, for the want of
something to eat. We have had no meat for two days and dry bread is poor diet for hard working men. Sanders killed a turkey this afternoon. We had to walk 5 miles to get to work and 7 from the work to camp, so that both Charles and myself only did 9 miles, Chas 4 and I 5. 2 deer seen yesterday and 9 today. Fri. 31. Clear and hot. Finished Township 28, Range 33. Mr. O'Berry killed a whooping crane. 12
deer seen. I staid in camp most of the day and write letters. A large rattlesnake killed today. A fresh Indian track seen near camp. | 
