The American Nation A History of the United States, Combined Volume (14th Edition)

Indian Removals 257

ATLANTIC

OCEAN

Lake

Okeechobee

G u l f o f M e x i c o

GEORGIA

FLORIDA

Kanapaha

Prairie

Camp Izard

Okeechobee

Lockahatchee

Chakalka’s

Island

Clinch’s

Dade’s

JACKSONFORT

MACOMBFORT

NEGROFORT

WHITEFORT

HEILMANFORT

PEYTONFORT

BROOKSFORT

WACAHOOTAFORT

DRANEFORT FORTKING

FANNINGFORT

DADEFORT

BROOKEFORT FOSTERFORT

CUMMINGSFORT

GARDNERFORT

MELLONFORT FORTLANE

CHRISTMASFORT

TAYLORFORT

PIERCEFORT

BASSINGEFORT FLOYDFORT

DENAUDFORT

KEATSFORT FORT

LAUDERDALE

DALLASFORT

DULANEYFORT

Tallahassee Jacksonville

St. Marks Picolata St. Augustine

Suwanee

Old Town

Miconopy

Payne’s Landing

Palatka

Peliklakaha

Charlotte

Harbor

Okihumpky

Fort

Battle

Seminole reservation 1823

Swamp

To w n

Osceola’s RebellionOsceola, a young warrior, refused to accept

tribal elders’ decision to cede Seminole land in Florida and move

to Oklahoma. In 1835 he murdered the tribal leader who had

accepted removal and spearheaded Seminole resistance.

Seminole warriors, augmented by African Americans who had

escaped from slavery, proved to be astute tacticians in guerrilla

warfare. During the next seven years, the federal government

spent $20 million, an immense sum, and lost 1,500 soldiers in the

war to force the remaining Seminole from Florida. When Osceola

hoisted a white flag to negotiate with federal officers, they seized

him and put him in prison. He died shortly after George Catlin

completed his portrait. Because of his courageous resistance and

the treacherous manner of his capture, Osceola became famous

after his death.

Osceola had led the Seminole Indians’ resistance to their forced
removal from Florida to lands west of the Mississippi. He was seized
during a truce parlay and imprisoned at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.
George Catlin, incensed by this treatment, became friends with
Osceola and then painted this picture.