The Battle of Okeechobee

The Battle of Okeechobee. . , The Second Seminole War, In 1830, President Andrew Jackson authorized the removal of eastern Native American tribes to west of the Mississippi River. The US government and some Seminole chiefs discussed the removal, though details of an agreement are still unclear. In 1835, US troops began enforcing the emigration. Many Seminoles resisted leaving their homes, leading to violence. Chief Micanopy led warriors to ambush US troops along a military route and resistance leader Osceola killed a prominent government agent. The Battle of Okeechobee was one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict. The war dragged on for seven years and cost thousands of lives. By the end, only 300 Seminoles remained in Florida., The Battle of Okeechobee , The Fiercest Battle of the Second Seminole War, After a lengthy pursuit of 150 miles, Colonel Zachary Taylor's brigade of 803 US troops came upon 380 Seminole warriors positioned for battle. Taking shelter in a cypress hammock along the lake shore, the Seminoles had strategically positioned themselves to gain an advantage: Taylor's troops had to struggle through nearly a mile of muck and sawgrass before coming under fire from the warriors. Though the Seminole ultimately retreated as part of their guerilla war tactics, for them this was an overwhelming victory., Faces of War, A veteran of the War of 18 12, Zachary Taylor’s involvement in the cattle led to his promotion to General and; after serving in the Mexican-American War, he was elected President of the United States in 1848., Colonel Richard Gentry commanded the regiment of Missouri Mounted Volunteers with Taylor’s force. He had served in the War of 18 12 and on the Missouri Senate. He was mortally wounded early in the battle and died later that night., Coacoochee, nephew of Micanopy, was one of the Seminole’s most successful military leaders. Though he was wrongfully captured along with Osceola under a flag of truce, he escaped imprisonment and continued to fight before eventually being forced to emigrate to Oklahoma. He led a band of Seminole warriors at Okeechobee alongside those of Abiaca and Alligator., A respected medicine man and leader in battle, Abiaka was one of the strongest forces opposing the Seminole’s removal from Florida. He never surrendered to the U.S. army, and when the wars were done, he led the remaining Seminole in the state to Big Cypress Swamp, where they continue to thrive today.