Seminole War

The Osage Massacre

Kiowa Calender

When the treaty council with the Osage at Fort Gibson broke up in disagreement on April 2, 1833, three hundred Osage warriors under the leadership of Clermont departed for the west to attack the Kiowa. It was Clermont’s boast that he never made war on the whites and never made peace with his Indian enemies. At the Salt Plains where the Indians obtained their salt, within what is now Woodward County, Oklahoma, they fell upon the trail of a large party of Kiowa warriors going northeast toward the Osage towns above Clermont’s. The Osage immediately adapted their course to that pursued by their enemies following it back to what they knew would be the defenseless village of women, children, and old men left behind by the warriors. The objects of their cruel vengeance were camped at the mouth of Rainy-Mountain Creek, a southern tributary of the Washita, within the present limits of the reservation at Fort Sill.

Establishment of Fort Gibson in 1824

Fort Gibson in 1875

By Act of Congress of March 2, 1819, Arkansas Territory was established July 4, embracing substantially all of what are now the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma; though the civil government of Arkansas Territory was limited to that section lying east of the Osage line, divided into counties, and embracing approximately the present state of Arkansas. That west of the Osage line was the Indian country, and in later years became known as Indian Territory. James Miller of New Hampshire was appointed the first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and among the duties of his office was that of supervision of … Read more

Second Seminole War – Indian Wars

micanope

The second Seminole war against the Indians and runaway Blacks in Florida commenced in 1835. A treaty had been concluded with the Seminole warriors, by which they agreed to remove beyond the Mississippi. A party of the Indians had proceeded to the territory appointed for their reception, and reported favorably upon their return. Everything promised a speedy conformity to the wishes of the government. But at this juncture, John Hext, the most influential chief of the tribe, died, and was succeeded in power, by Osceola. This chief wielded his power for far different purposes. Being opposed to emigration, he inflamed … Read more

The Seminole War of 1816 and 1817 – Indian Wars

colonel clinch

After the close of the war with Great Britain, in 1815, when the British forces were withdrawn from the Florida’s, Edward Nicholls, formerly a colonel, and James Woodbine, a captain in the British service, who had both been engaged in exciting the Indians and Blacks to hostility, remained in the territory for the purpose of forming combinations against the southwestern frontier of the United States. Nicholls even went so far as to assume the character of a British agent, promising the Creeks the assistance of the British forces if they would rise and assert their claim to the land which … Read more

Biography of Capt. Alfred M. Julian

Among the many prominent, enterprising and successful citizens of Springfield, Missouri, whose biography it is a pleasure to give among the honored ones of that city, is the pioneer attorney, Capt. Alfred M. Julian, who has been a resident of Springfield since the year 1838. Over eighty years have passed over the head of this venerable man, leaving their impress in the whitening hair and lined features, but while the outward garments of the soul show the wear and tear of years, the man himself is richer and nobler and grander for the experience that each successive decade has brought … Read more

Biography of Mikanopy

Mikanopy (`head chief’). A Seminole chief. On May 9, 1832, a treaty was signed purporting to cede the country of the Seminole to the United States in exchange for lands west of the Mississippi. The Seminole had already relinquished their desirable lands near the coast and retired to the pine barrens and swamps of the interior. Mikanopy, the hereditary chief, who possessed large herds of cattle and horses and a hundred Negro slaves, stood by young Osceola and the majority of the tribe in the determination to remain. Neither of them signed the agreement to emigrate given on behalf of … Read more

Muskogean Indians

Muskhogean Family, Muskhogean Stock, Muskhogean People, Muskhogean Indians. An important linguistic stock, comprising the Creeks, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Seminole, and other tribes. The name is an adjectival form of Muskogee, properly Măskóki (pl. Maskokalgi or Muscogulgee). Its derivation has been attributed to an Algonquian term signifying `swamp’ or `open marshy land’, but this is almost certainly incorrect. The Muskhogean tribes were confined chiefly to the Gulf states east of almost all of Mississippi and Alabama, and parts of Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. According to a tradition held in common by most of their tribes, they had reached their historic seats from some starting point west of the Mississippi, usually placed, when localized at all, somewhere on the upper Red River. The greater part of the tribes of the stock are now on reservations in Oklahoma.

Mikasuki Tribe

Mikasuki Indians, Mikasuki Tribe. A former Seminole town in Leon County, Florida, on the west shore of Miccosukee lake, on or near the site of the present Miccosukee. The name has been applied also to the inhabitants as a division of the Seminole. They spoke the Hitchiti dialect, and, as appears from the title of B. Smith’s vocabulary of their language, were partly or wholly emigrants from the Sawokli towns on lower Chattahoochee River, Alabama. The former town appears to have been one of the ‘red’ or ‘bloody’ towns, for at the beginning of the Seminole troubles of 1817 its … Read more

Yuchi Indians

Yuchi Tribe. Significance unknown, but perhaps, as suggested by Speck (1909), from a native word meaning “those far away,” or “at a distance,” though it is also possible that it is a variant of Ochesee or Oeese, which was applied by the Hitchiti and their allies to Indians speaking languages different from their own. Also called: Ani’-Yu’tsl, Cherokee name. Chiska, probably a Muskogee translation of the name of one of their bands. Hughchee, an early synonym. Round town people, a name given by the early English colonists. Rickohockans, signifying “cavelanders” (Hewitt, in Hodge, 1907), perhaps an early name for a … Read more

Yaha Hajo, Seminole War Chief

Advancing on Yaha Hajo, General Joseph Shelton placed the pistol at his breast, and drew the trigger, but the weapon missed fire. The Indian brought his rifle to his shoulder and shot the General in the hip; at the same moment the brave savage received a fatal wound from another hand, fell on his knees, attempted to load his rifle in that position, and died, resisting to the last gasp. with the obstinacy which always marks the death of the Indian warrior.

Seventh Regiment 1st Brigade Florida Militia

Muster Roll of Captain A. A. Fisher’s Company of the 7th Regiment, 1st Brigade of Florida Militia; commanded by Col. John A. Cuth ? , ordered into service of the United States by Gov. R. K. Call from the 10th day of May to the 10th day of November 1836. Company enrolled at Tallahassee, Florida. by Col. L. Parkhill. Fisher, A. A. Captain, 2 horses, 1 servant. Johnson, J. B.1st Lieut., 2 horses, 1 servant. Kerr, R. B. 2d Lieut., 2 horses, 1 servant. David, F. H. Bryan, E. 1st Sergt. Frazier, Micajah 2d Sergt. Mills, Stephen 3d Sergt. Lee, … Read more

Second Regiment, Second Brigade Mounted Men

Muster Roll of Captain Charles Freymuth’s Company of Mounted men of the 2nd Regiment, Second Brigade of the Florida Militia, commanded by General Hernandez ordered into the service of the United States by Governor Call from the 1st day of October 1836 to the 1st day of February 1837. The company was enrolled by Major Pierce. Muster roll certified as true by Charles Freymuth, Captain, February 1837 at St. Augustine, East Florida. Also certified by the Mustering Officer, L. O. Webster. Freymuth, Charles Captain, furnished 1 public horse from the 5th of Nov. Lopez, Petronelus 1st Lieut. Sanchez, John 1st … Read more

Second Regiment Florida Mounted Militia

Muster Roll of Captain Thos. C. Ellis’s Company of the 2nd Regiment Brigade of Florida Mounted Militia, commanded by Col. F. L. Dancey, ordered into service of the United States by the Secretary of War from the 12th day of January 1841 to the 12th of April 1841 when discharged. Ellis, Thomas C. Captain Turner, James 1st Lieutenant McNeil, John 2d Lieutenant Blanton, Isaac B. 1st Sgt. Carter, Isaac I. Sgt. Dowling, Joseph Sgt. Cason, John Thomas, Allen Corporal Burnett, Laburn Corporal Hagen, Alfred Corporal Murphy, Stephen Corporal Prevatt, Joseph Bugler Harrison, Ephraim Bugler Privates Adkins, Samuel R. Blake, Edward … Read more

Mounted Company, First Regiment, 2nd Brigade Florida Militia

Muster Roll of Captain James Edwards, Mounted Company of the 1st Regiment, 2nd Brigade of the Florida Militia, commanded by Colonel John Warren; ordered into service of the United States by Major Gen. Thomas L. Jessup from the 27th day of January to the 5th day of June 1837. All were enrolled on the 27th of January 1837 at Fort Beckham by Lt. Col. Mills. Captain Edwards, 1st Lieut. Tillis, and 2nd Lieut. Morgan each had one servant and two horses. Edwards, James Captain Tillis, Willoughby 1st Lieutenant Morgan, Daniel 2nd Lieutenant Rosseau, W. H. 1st Sergeant. Barber, Samuel 2nd … Read more

Michael Garrison’s Mounted Company

Muster Roll of Captain Michael Garrison’s Mounted Company of the 1st Regiment 2nd Brigade of the Florida Militia, commanded by Col. John Warren, ordered into service of the United States by His Excellency Governor Call from the 22nd day of September 1836 to the 22nd day of January 1837. Lieutenants Bruton and Hindley with a part of this Company greatly distinguished themselves at the Battle of San _____ on ____ber 1836 and in several other services. Also, with a part of the Company, they serviced in the Battalion under my command in Col. Pearce’s Division and greatly distinguished them-selves for … Read more

Seminole Indian War

During the American Revolution (1776-1783), Spain gained control of Florida as part of the Treaty of Paris. On September 3, Britain also signed separate agreements with France and Spain, and (provisionally) with the Netherlands. In the treaty with Spain, the colonies of East and West Florida were ceded to Spain (without any clearly defined northern boundary, resulting in disputed territory resolved with the Treaty of Madrid), as was the island of Minorca, while the Bahama Islands, Grenada and Montserrat, captured by the French and Spanish, were returned to Britain. Spanish colonists as well as settlers from the newly formed United … Read more

First Regiment, 2nd Brigade Florida Militia

Muster Roll of Captain James Edwards’ Company, 1st Regiment, 2nd Brigade of Florida Militia, commanded by Col. John Warren, ordered into service of the United States by Major Gen. Thomas L. Jesup from the 27th day of January 1837 for six months unless sooner discharged. This hand-drawn Muster Roll contains the following headings: (1) Number, (2) Names, (3) Rank, (4) Enrollment Date, (5) Description of Horses, (6) State of the Company when enrolled Jan. 27th 1837, and (7) State of the Company when mustered March 27th 1837. All were enrolled at Fort Beckham except 1st Lieut. Tillis who enrolled at … Read more

Fourth Regiment 2nd Brigade Florida Militia

Muster Roll of Captain Daniel S. Gardner’s Company of the 4th Regiment, 2nd Brigade of the Florida Militia, commanded by Col. Warren, ordered into service of the United States by Brig. Gen’l Hernandez from the 10th day of November 1835 to the 5th day of March 1836. On 11th August 1836 at Jacksonville, Florida, the muster was certified to be true and was signed by Captain D. L Gardiner, Commanding the Company. Gardner, Daniel S. Captain. Waterman, Adin 1st Lieut. Madin, James R. 2nd Lieut. Smith, Gurney 1st Sgt.; not mounted, discharged Jan. 9th. Donaldson, W. L. Sgt. & 1st … Read more

Florida Militia Muster Rolls, Seminole Indian Wars

This series of the Florida Indian Wars Militia Muster Roles has been produced through the courtesy of the Jacksonville Genealogical Society. The Historical Services Division of the Florida Department of Military Affairs provided the photostatic copies of the original muster roles and individual members of the Jacksonville Genealogical Society laboriously transcribed the information contained therein and later, proofed and typed them. They have been accorded the right to produce these lists in book form for commercial sale. The Department would like to express its deepest appreciation to the Society for their willingness to help us provide this important historical material … Read more