Near Inverness in Citrus County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
War Comes to the Cove
Seminole Heritage Trail
The Second Seminole War BeginsA Year of Victory for the Seminole
In the early 1830s pressure to remove Florida's Indians grew intense. Seminole leaders signed treaties in 1832 and 1833 that called for the tribe to relocate within three years. Whether they were coerced, were stalling for time, or misunderstood the terms is not known, but by the end of 1835, the Seminole declared they had no intention of leaving.
Increasing tensions led to bloodshed. White settlers assaulted unsuspecting Indians and Seminole warriors attacked unwary travelers and isolated homesteads. No one in Florida, Indian or white, felt safe. The Second Seminole War began in December 1835 with the annihilation of a force under Major Francis Dade near present-day Bushnell. For the first year of the war the Seminole and their black allies skillfully defended their homes.
The Tide Turns
The successes enjoyed by the Seminole were short lived. In December 1836, General Thomas Jesup was given command of the war and began to put unrelenting pressure on the Seminole. Captured Indians were sent west, escaped slaves were returned to bondage and the remaining Seminole were driven into southern Florida. Jesup also began the controversial practice of taking Seminole leaders prisoner while they negotiated under a flag of truce.
Old Military Road
You are now standing on the Old Military Road. During the Second Seminole War it was used to transport cannon, ammunition, food and medicine to the troops fighting in the Cove. Thousands of war-weary soldiers and Seminole warriors trod this path, which can still be seen today. The road remained in use by local inhabitants well into the 20th century.
The Consequences of War
Driven Into a New Homeland
By mid-1838, most Seminole had been pushed from central Florida and had taken refuge in areas south of Lake Okeechobee. The conflict continued for another four years with the army gradually wearing down the Indians. The U.S. government declared the war over in August 1842. Despite this, the defiant Seminole and their descendants lived in fear of removal for the next hundred years until they were federally recognized in the 1950s.
Seminole Leadership
Chief Micanopy led the Seminole warriors throughout the early years of the Second Seminole War. He was captured and imprisoned by Jesup in 1838 and ultimately sent to the Indian Territory in the west.
Osceola was a defiant warrior and widely recognized by both sides as a skilled political leader. He fiercely opposed forced emigration, was outspoken in his support for the war, and helped plan military strategy. He was taken prisoner while negotiating under a flag of truce and died at Fort Moultrie in Charleston, SC, in 1838.
Chief Abiaka (Sam Jones) was a powerful medicine man and spiritual leader. He was determined to escape removal and taught his people to avoid the whites when possible but to fight fiercely when necessary. Abiaka led embattled warriors and their families to safety and was the only major Seminole leader to evade relocation to the west.
Second Seminole War Timeline
December 28th 1835 Dade's Battle
Only two of 108 soldiers serving under Major Francis Dade survive a Seminole ambush. The Second Seminole War begins.
December 31st 1835 Clinch's Battle
A force of 750 men under General Duncan Clinch is forced to retreat after crossing the Withlacoochee to attack Seminole villages in the Cove.
February 27th 1836 Gaines' Battle
The Seminole prevent General Edmund Gaines and 1000 men from crossing the Withlacoochee. They hold the soldiers under siege at Camp Izard for a week.
March-April 1836 Scott's Campaign
General Winfield Scott is sent to Florida with 5000 men. His elaborate plan of a three-pronged attack on the Cove fails.
April 1836 Siege of Fort Cooper
Major Mark Anthony Cooper and his 380 men are held under siege at Fort Cooper for 16 days until a relief column arrives.
November 21st 1836 Battle of Wahoo Swamp
The Seminole hold off a force of 2,500 men led by Florida Governor Richard K. Call in the difficult terrain of Wahoo Swamp.
(photo captions)
General Thomas Jesup, Florida Memory Project
Black leather Army hats are called “Forage Caps”
U.S. Army Ammunition Kit & Canteen
U.S. Muskets are fitted with bayonets
Powder horns hold black powder for Seminole rifles
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian.
Location. 28° 48.336′ N, 82° 18.532′ W. Marker is near Inverness, Florida, in Citrus County. Marker can be reached from Old Floral City Road, 0.2 miles south of Carnegie Drive, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located within Fort Cooper State Park, along the Seminole Heritage Trail, about one mile inside the park and a 1/4 mile walk from the parking lot, at the intersection of the Seminole Heritage Trail and the Old Military Road Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3100 South Old Floral City Road, Inverness FL 34450, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Old Military Road (a few steps from this marker); Lonely Outpost in a Hostile Land (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); A Costly Florida War (about 800 feet away); Life Along the Withlacoochee (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Cooper (approx. 0.3 miles away); Florida's First People (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Seminole in the Cove of the Withlacoochee (approx. 0.4 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Cooper (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Inverness.
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Fort Cooper, The Seminole Heritage Trail, and the Second Seminole War
Also see . . . The Friends of Fort Cooper. Organization website homepage (Submitted on October 15, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on April 16, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 543 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 18, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.