Key West in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Second Seminole War

Key West — Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

1. Second Seminole War Marker

Inscription.

Second Seminole War. Key West — Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial. Second Seminole War . Enraged by the government's imminent deadline for their removal to western reservations, Florida Indians launched attacks on military units and outlying plantations in December 1835. First news of the attacks which signaled the outbreak of the Second Seminole War (1836-1842) arrived in Key West on January 11, 1836 along with two hundred refugees from the southern mainland and outlying Keys. The arrival of the frigate Constellation and a sloop-of-war at Key West to protect its citizens, marked the beginning of Navy and Revenue Marine (forerunner of the Coast Guard) involvement in the war. In the early years of the conflict, Seminole war parties raided the upper Keys, attacking and burning a schooner at Tavernier Key and killing the captain and one crewman of the Carysfort lightship on Key Largo. In August 1840, a war party of over one-hundred Indians landed their dugouts on Indian Key in the middle of the night, killed five of the inhabitants, and destroyed the village by setting it on fire. Initially, naval schooners, gun barges, and revenue cutters patrolled the waters of the Keys and the mainland to protect settlers and shipping and to stop arms smuggling to the Indians from Cuba and the Bahamas. As the war progressed, naval forces went on the offensive and established bases on Tea Table Key, and later, after the raid, on Indian Key. These forces, eventually numbering 600 personnel, were known as the "Mosquito Fleet." In dugout canoes, they hunted the elusive Seminoles in the upper Keys and the Everglades. It was the most debilitating duty imaginable. Fever and exhaustion, rather than Indian bullets and arrows were the principal enemy. Forty-six soldiers, sailors, and marines died in the makeshift hospital on Indian Key. Although they had little success in killing or capturing the elusive Seminoles, the military forces developed strategy and tactics for riverine warfare which helped train and prepare them for similar operations in the Mexican and Civil Wars. (Caption) Initially, naval schooners, gun barges, and revenue cutters patrolled the waters of the Keys and the mainland to protect settlers and shipping, and to stop arms smuggling to the Indians. These forces, eventually numbering 600 personnel were known as the "Mosquito Fleet." In dugout canoes, they hunted the elusive Seminoles in the upper Keys and the Everglades.

Second Seminole War
Enraged by the government's imminent deadline for their removal to western reservations, Florida Indians launched attacks on military units and outlying plantations in December 1835.

First news of the attacks which signaled the outbreak of the Second Seminole War (1836-1842) arrived in Key West on January 11, 1836 along with two hundred refugees from the southern mainland and outlying Keys.

The arrival of the frigate Constellation and a sloop-of-war at Key West to protect its citizens, marked the beginning of Navy and Revenue Marine (forerunner of the Coast Guard) involvement in the war.

In the early years of the conflict, Seminole war parties raided the upper Keys, attacking and burning a schooner at Tavernier Key and killing the captain and one crewman of the Carysfort lightship on Key Largo.

In August 1840, a war party of over one-hundred Indians landed their dugouts on Indian Key in the middle of the night, killed five of the inhabitants, and destroyed the village by setting it on fire.

Initially, naval schooners, gun barges, and revenue cutters patrolled the waters of the Keys and the mainland to protect settlers and shipping and to stop arms smuggling to the Indians from Cuba and the Bahamas. As the war progressed,

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naval forces went on the offensive and established bases on Tea Table Key, and later, after the raid, on Indian Key.

These forces, eventually numbering 600 personnel, were known as the "Mosquito Fleet." In dugout canoes, they hunted the elusive Seminoles in the upper Keys and the Everglades.

It was the most debilitating duty imaginable. Fever and exhaustion, rather than Indian bullets and arrows were the principal enemy. Forty-six soldiers, sailors, and marines died in the makeshift hospital on Indian Key.

Although they had little success in killing or capturing the elusive Seminoles, the military forces developed strategy and tactics for riverine warfare which helped train and prepare them for similar operations in the Mexican and Civil Wars.
(Caption)
Initially, naval schooners, gun barges, and revenue cutters patrolled the waters of the Keys and the mainland to protect settlers and shipping, and to stop arms smuggling to the Indians. These forces, eventually numbering 600 personnel were known as the "Mosquito Fleet." In dugout canoes, they hunted the elusive Seminoles in the upper Keys and the Everglades.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Wars, US Indian • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is January 11, 1836.

Location. 24°

Second Seminole War Marker (Left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

2. Second Seminole War Marker (Left)

33.579′ N, 81° 48.447′ W. Marker is in Key West, Florida, in Monroe County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of Wall Street and Tifts Street. This marker is located on Mallory Square within the Key West — Florida Keys Historical Military Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 Wall Street, Key West FL 33040, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Antipiracy Campaign (here, next to this marker); Civil War (here, next to this marker); Spanish American War (here, next to this marker); World War I (here, next to this marker); World War II (here, next to this marker); Cuban Missile Crisis (here, next to this marker); Cold War (a few steps from this marker); War on Drugs (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Key West.

Also see . . . Keys History: Key West & the Seminole War overshadowed Middle Keys. (Submitted on May 23, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Key West - Florida Keys Military Memorial image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, May 4, 2023

3. Key West - Florida Keys Military Memorial

Credits. This page was last revised on June 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 23, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 60 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 23, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on May 24, 2023, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.