The Seminole wars A Case Study

Historical Context of Spanish florida 18th c. Asylum for colonial slaves Maroon communities Seminole Tribe firmly established 19th c. US desire for expansion into Spanish Florida Desire for Seminole cattle w/in the US Raids of reprisal Destination for runaway slaves Slave catchers

The first Seminole war: 1818-1819 November, 1817 Gen. Edmund Gaines attempt to take Neamathla (Micc) Retaliation & ambush by Seminoles + allies  WAR! 35 US soldiers dead + 6 women March, 1818 AJ + 3,500 sent by Monroe into W FL 3 months of fighting Seminole settlements destroyed Execution of 2 Brits (oops! Diplomacy in order) Capture of St. Marks, Pensacola

"Do you think . . . I am like a bat, that hangs by its claws in a dark cave, and that I can see nothing of what is going on around me? Ever since I was a small boy I have seen the white people steadily encroaching upon the Indians, and driving them from their homes and hunting grounds . . . I will tell you plainly, if I had the power, I would tonight cut the throat of every white man in Florida.” -Neamaltha

Treaty of Fort Moultire  Seminole Restriction 1821 = Territory of FL Territorial Gov. AJ Treaty of Fort Moultire  Seminole Restriction 2nd Territorial Gov. William Duval 1828- President AJ + Southern Congressmen  Indian Removal Act 1830 1932- Treaty of Payne’s Landing Inspection of OK grounds Micanopy, Treaty of Fort Gibson Osceola  Resistance Slave question

“Am I a negro, a slave. I am an Indian “Am I a negro, a slave? I am an Indian. The white man shall not make me black. I will make the white man red with blood, and then blacken him in the sun and rain, where the wolf shall smell his bones and the vulture live upon his flesh.” -Osceola

SECOND SEMINOLE WAR: 1835-1842 December 28, 1835 Seminoles destroy sugar plantations 3 prong attack Murder of IA Wiley Thompason by Osceola Fort King (Ocala) Dade’s Massacre 108 dead Retaliation by Seminoles against General Clinch + 750 @ Withlacoochee Longest, costliest, deadliest

War in florida Impact of attacks = Northern support for military reinforcement Ft. Lauderdale, Ft. Meade, Ft. Pierce Troops by land, by boat across interior  Seminoles into open country Attacks on villages 1836  Seminole Success General Gaines forced to retreat General Winfield Scott unsuccessful at hunting down Seminoles Gov. Richard K. Call stopped by resistance Heat, rain, disease

War Ends Late 1836 1837  summer break General Thomas Jesup- forts built, methodical campaign sweep through swamps Surrender of Micanopy? 1837  summer break Jesup sense of betrayal from Micanopy  policy to capture Seminole leaders Osceola, Micanopy Prison @ Fort Moultrie (Charleston) = disease, death, beheading Wildcat, Alligator, Jumper, Billy Bowlegs, Sam Jones

Survivors head south + Jesup & 9k Patrol of coats, rivers Supplies to forts Freedom to Black Seminoles (in West) Dec. 25, 1837- Col. Zachary Taylor vs. Seminoles Victory for US? Defeat or draw High causalities Seminoles buy time Families  Everglades Taylor? War hero and general

1838- Everglades = protection Jesup desire war to end Pres. MVB deny, command to Gen. ZT Slave holding interest power Removal of ALL Seminoles  continued war 1839- Gen. Alexander Macomb sent to negotiate peace Negotiation break down Temporary provisions to stay in FL N FL booming with settlers, S FL war zone

Federal troops into Everglades year round Advantage to Seminoles when retreat in summer Leadership under Billy Bowlegs Soldiers, sailors, Marines, captured black/Indian POWs Small bands of Seminoles captured Treaties/removal on individual basis August 1842- US say war ended 7 years of war 1,500 US men dead All regiments of Army committed to Seminoles 30k citizen soldiers involved 4k Seminoles removed (2k warriors) $30 million total Budget of 1836 = $25 million

Third Seminole war: 1855-1858 Approx. 350 Seminoles remained in Everglades White encroachment (+ FL militia) through “farms” Muck of S FL Dec. 1855- Billy Bowlegs retaliation = attack on military camp 2 ½ years of guerilla warfare White bounty hungers $500, $250, $100 Capture or surrender May 1858- Chief Bowlegs surrender Family captured  surrender, 200 + BB move to OK -200 remain in Everglades as sovereign nation