Native American Biography: Billy Bowlegs, Seminole.

Billie Bowlegs fought in the second Seminole War and he was the most prominent figure and leader in the third Seminole War.  His Muskogee name is Holata Micco meaning Alligator Chief.  After the second Seminole War he was taken to Washington to impress on him the power and might of the U.S. government.  He and his people lived in relative peace until his territory was encroached upon by civil engineers who cut downs trees to make buildings, including banana trees.  Thus provoked him into action.  The government had difficulty suppressing his guerrilla like warfare.  They offered him and his people money to relocate to Indian Territory, which they did 1858.  

 

Book Review:The Seminole: The First People of Florida

 The Seminole: The First People of Florida: American Indian Nations by Mary Englar, Bridgestone Books, Mankato, Minnesota, 2003.

The Seminole are originally Muskogee Indians from the Georgia and Alabama area who kept moving south to avoid the encroachment of white populations.  They lived in wallless homes with a thatched roof of palms called a chickee.  They were joined by Freedmen, African Americans who traveled into the region to escape slavery.  In addition to English, they speak two native languages, Muskogee and Miccosukee.  

Historically the Seminole conducted three wars against the Americans.  Each war would end in truce and then thy would lose more land, but by retreating into the swamp they would buy some peace, until that land was wanted.  Osceola played a big part in the second war.  He was captured and in-prisoned at Fort Moultrie.  In 1838 he died there of malaria.  In the third war, Billy Bowlegs was the primary chief of the Seminole.  He and his people were forced to Indian Territory in Oklahoma.  There were a few who went even deeper into the swamp and stayed in Florida.  

So today there are two nations of Seminole, in Florida and in Oklahoma.  They share a same language and culture, but some traditions are different between the groups.  The corn festival is still held in ech group, which coincides with the first harvesting of corn.  In Florida patchwork clothing is very popular.  The Seminole make this to sell to tourists.  The federal government has recognized the tribe in Florida in 1957.  There are museums in both Florida and Oklahoma.

Book review: The Seminole

The Seminole by Liz Sonneborn, Watts Library, A Division of Scholastic, New York, 2001.
The Seminole, in a real way are a combination of many Native Americans, and escaped slaves who fled to Florida.  They had an agricultural life style, living close to their farms to keep them safe.  They were involved in three wars against the U.S. government.  The first took place before Florida was even part of the United States.  Never the less, Andrew Jackson lead a U.S. force into Florida.  This was precipitated by plantation owner claiming the Seminole had stolen their slaves.  Jackson gained a victory, the Seminole headed south, leaving their best farm lands behind them.  Shortly after, Florida became a part of the United States when Spain sold the territory.
When Andrew Jackson became president, his goal was to remove the Seminole from Florida to the Indian territories in Oklahoma.  Many gave way and relocated.  Others refused, and this started the second Seminole War.  Osceola lead the Seminole resistance.  However at a negotiation he was captures and thrown in prison, where he would die from illness.  Cooacoochee then lead the Seminole.  Their defeat only took time, and more Seminole were sent west.  However some still refused, moving deeper into the Everglades.  There economy now became dependent on hunting as it was more difficult to raise crops.  They also ate wild plants.  Here they remained for some time, until surveyors entered the area.  Billy Bowlegs did not trust them, and attacked.  This lead to the third Seminole War, with even more being sent west, Billy Bowlegs among them.  However some stayed.  There are now two Seminole Nations, in the east and in the west.  The western Seminole had further problems.  At first they were not given territory, but later negotiated an area.  However they were torn in the Civil War.  The Seminole officially supported the Confederacy.  Some refused and traveled to Kansas to join the Union soldiers.  
Today both nations have their own governments, and economic bases including gambling.  They also include appeal to the tourist industry with museums, and in the eastern nation, alligator wrestlers.

Native American Biography: Seminole Wars

There are three distinct Seminole wars.  Some of the players only fought in one war, and some in all three.  Andrew Jackson was often the opposing general.

Peter McQueen was the son of a White father and Indian mother.  He considered himself Creek and affiliated with the Redsticks who favored preserving the old ways.  While bringing supplies to his band, he was attacked by local militia at Burnt Corn Creek in the battle that touched off the Creek War.  The tide turned against the Redsticks and McQueen lead his people into Florida and joined the Seminoles.  McQueen passed away in 1818 but his band of warriors would fight with Osceola in the Second Seminole War.

Osceola claimed both his parents were Creek, and his mother later married James McQueen.  More likely James McQueen was his father.  He was the grand nephew of Peter McQueen.  He most likely was of mixed race, including some Black.  He was too young to fight in the Creek War.  However he was caught in the migration south.  He and his mother were separated demo James McQueen, and became a part of e Seminole People.  Osceola participated in the First Seminole War.  He was captured but Andrew Jackson let him go because he was so young.  Osceola was not an hereditary chief, nor an elected one.  He was vehemently opposed to e Seminole removal to the West.  He had a seething conflict with the local Indian agent Wiley Thompson.  Reportedly Thompson sold out Osceola's mulatto wife the slave hunters.  At a council held by Thompson he insisted on abiding to the original treaty with Indian removal.  Osceola put a knife through the papers.  Osceola killed a chief who supported emigration.  He later killed Thompson.  He and his men attacked a baggage train.  His men attacked a column of 100 troops, killing all but three.  Osceola and his men attacked another party of regulars in the First Battle of the Withlacoochee and killed many.  Osceola was wounded in the engagement.  This began the Second Seminole War which raged for seven years.  Osceola was the main focus of federal efforts until his capture.  Osceola's warrior included many escaped slaves and he fought to protect them.  Osceola was able to free 700 Indians held in detention.  Osceola suffered from malaria, and accept an invitation to talk under truce.  This lead to his capture.  He was transferred to Fort Moultrie and died from his declining health.  Depression contributed to his health issues of malaria, toncillitis and abscesses. 

Micanopy was a Seminole leader by birthright and the closest to a chief during the Second Seminole War.  He had considerable holdings of land and slaves.  He refused to sign the Treaty of Payne's Landing. He supported Osceola and Wildcat, young people who could resist Seminole removal.  He and Osceola lead the group that attacked Major Francis Dade's men, leaving only three alive.  He had his doubts about the cause and surrendered.  He was kidnapped back by Osceola but hen retaken when Osceola was captured under flag of truce.  He went West and found the Seminole were part of the Creek aRea.  This caused friction.  After several years he negotiated a Seminole area in Indian Territory.

Wildcat was the most aggressive of the Seminole warriors, fighting in the Second Seminole War.  He was the nephew of Micanopy.  He was captured and jailed.  He escaped through a small window 15 feet above the floor.  Four years later he was recaptured and sent West.  He lived with the Cherokee, fearing reprisals from the Creek.  He and his people went to Mexico where they were granted land.

Billy Bowlegs was the primary leader in the last Seminole War 1855-58.  By this time most of the Seminole had already been removed to Indian Territory, except those who lived deep in the Everglades.   In 1832 he signed the Treaty of Payne's Landing.  He fought in the Second Seminole War even after Osceola was captured.  This included attacking a trading post and killing most of the garrison.  He finally surrendered in 1842.  He did not leave Florida however.  In 1850 government official began to pressure him to leave and offered money.  He still resisted.  In 1853 all remaining Indians in Florida were declared outlaw.  In 1855 government surveyors and soldiers penetrated the area where Bowlegs and his people lived.  Bowlegs lead the attack on the intruders, and three years of guerrilla warfare followed.  In 1858 Bowlegs finally accepted a large financial settlement to move to Oklahoma.  During the Civil War he resisted the call to serve with the Confederacy and instead went to Kansas to enroll with the Federals.  This was not expected as he was a slaveholder.  He died of smallpox during the war while serving in the army.

Arpeika was the only Seminole leader to avoid premature death or removal to the West.  He fought in the Second Seminole War despite his advanced age.  He warned Osceola and other leaders against trusting the Americans and their flag of truce.  They did not head his warning.  While most Seminole were removed, he stayed and fought in the Third Seminole War alongside Billy Bowlegs.  He was not only a warrior but also a medicine man.  He hung on in the Everglades and died at about 100 years of age close to Lake Okeechobee in 1860.