Second Seminole (Florida) War 1836-1846
Start of Hostilities
September 18, 1823 the Treaty of Camp Moultrie, for the Apalachicola clans, was signed. It stipulated that
the Seminoles would be reimbursed for cattle, and property for a period of 20 years, all slaves that were taken, up to that time, were to be
turned into the proper authorities so they may be return to their owners, and that the clans agreed to be relocated.
The date for relocation was debatable. The U. S. believed that it was to be at the earliest convienence. The Seminoles
believed that they could stay for 20 years, the period of time the payments were to be received. In order to clarify this the U. S. sought
to establish a new treaty with the Seminole nation.
On the 9th of May, 1832 the Treaty of Payne's Landing was signed, for the southern clans, by fifteen chiefs of the Florida clans and the
United States Government. Under this treaty the Seminole Nation agreed to relocate to Indian Territory. In 1836, this was Arkansas to
the western border of Oklahoma. The United States promised to compensate the Seminole for a period of 20 years for cattle, property and/or any
other goods owned by the tribe along with rations for a year after their relocation. It also stipulated that the tribe could designate
several of their chiefs to go and inspect the land they were to move to, and upon their approval of this land relocation would commence.
In 1835, many clans within Florida did not wish to leave as in accordance with the treaties, which they believed were signed
under duress. The blacks that were affiliated with the Seminoles as free men were worried about their freedom if removal
was to take place. The tribes and their black allies started to prepare for armed resistance against the pending relocation.
Several incidents took place during the later part of 1835 which would rapidly start hostilities between
the United States and the tribes in Florida. The first incident in the Florida Territory happened near present
day Gainesville, Florida at a settlement called Hog Town. In June a party of seven Seminoles had left the reservation
boundary, which was just south of Paynes Prairie, to hunt and gather supplies. The party of Seminoles had five days earlier
split up and agreed to regroup near Kanapha Hall, just west of Gainesville. On the 19th of June, five of the seven were camped and
waiting for the rest of their group. A party of white men came up upon the group and an altercation soon ensued between
them, about the Seminoles being off their reservation and/or the killing of a settler's cow. The white settlers commenced to flogging the Seminoles with
their bull whips. At this time the other two Seminoles had just arrived at the predestined meeting place and seeing that their comrades
were being battered, shot a volley of musketry at the assailants. An enlivened skirmish soon took place between the whites and Seminoles.
In this action one Seminole was killed and another fatally wounded, while the settlers had experienced three men wounded.
Private Dalton was the designated mail carrier for the army on Fort King Road. This road ran from Tampa Bay to Fort King,
in present day Ocala. On the 6th of August, 1835 he was on his route when he happened upon six Mecasuky Indians near
the Hillsborough Bridge. Dalton not expecting any hostilities rode up on the group. When he approached, one of the Mecasuky
grabbed the bridle of his mule and another Indian shot him. The Mecasuky Indians proceeded to mutilate the body of the
courier after stripping him of his clothes. They shot the mule and took the saddle and bridle, along with the mail before moving on. There
is speculation that the Mecasuky Indians involved were from the tribe of Seminoles that were harrased near Hog Town and were looking
for retribution for that incident.
Monday the 28th of December, 1835 General Wiley Thompson (Indian agent assigned to the Seminoles at Fort King) was dining at
Mr. Erastus Rogers' (the sutler at Fort King) house with nine other individuals, just outside the gates to Fort King. The forts garrison
had just left with General Clinch, for his plantation "Auld Lang Syne", due to the want of food and supplies. Before leaving, General Clinch
sent a dispatch to Fort Brooke (present day Tampa) for troops to relieve the garrison. After the soldiers departed, Osceola and a band of
supporters who were lying in wait till the column was gone. They came up on the cabin and
fired a volley towards the front door of the house. The door was soon kicked open by the Seminoles and the members of the dinner party that were
not killed in the first volley, scrambled for the windows. Several men made it out of the window and ran for the woods, only to be killed
by their pursuers. Five of the dinner party survived the ambush and got away to tell their story. General Thompson was found with a
total of fifteen musket balls in him. According to reports one of the rounds came from a silver plated rifle that he had given to Osceola
in lieu of his help in keeping peace on the reservation. Osceola only a few days previous to this event was arrested by Gen. Thompson
for losing his temper and was put in chains by the Indian Agent, this would be his retribution for what Thompson had done to him.
