On December 28, 1835, the Indian leader Osceola carried out key attacks that marked the beginning of the Second Seminole War in Florida.
Osceola personally led an attack near Fort King, killing US government agent Wiley Thompson and several others. Thompson was responsible for the forced relocation of the Seminoles and had earlier imprisoned Osceola in chains, making the attack an act of personal revenge.
Earlier that day and about 40 miles (60 km) away, a group of 180 Seminole warriors (supported by Chiefs Micanopy and Alligator) ambushed a military column led by Major Francis Dade.
Out of a total of 110 American soldiers, only two or three survived.
These coordinated attacks were the result of years of tension over the Indian Removal Act and U.S. attempts to move the Seminoles west of the Mississippi River.
The Second Seminole War became the longest and most costly Indian war in U.S. history, lasting until 1842.
The Seminoles are a Native American people native to Florida, United States. Today they are organized into two federally recognized tribes: the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Seminole Nation of Oklahoma.
They were formed in the 18th century by various groups of Native Americans (mainly Creeks) and escaped African-American slaves who settled in Florida under Spanish rule.
In the 19th century, they fought three major wars against the United States.
The Seminoles are notorious for never signing a formal peace treaty with the U.S. government after the wars. Some remain in the Everglades, refusing to relocate.
They traditionally live in structures called chickees – open platforms with thatched roofs, adapted to the humid climate of Florida.
The Seminole Tribe of Florida is world-famous today with the purchase of the Hard Rock brand in 2007. They have developed a large-scale business with casinos, hotels and tourism.
Occeola (1804–1838) was the most influential and popular leader of the Seminoles.
In 1837, during peace negotiations, he was captured by American troops under the protection of a white flag of negotiation.
He died in prison at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina, in January 1838, probably from malaria or a throat infection.
Although he was not a hereditary chief, his His courage and tactical skills made him a symbol of Native American resistance. Many counties and cities in the United States are named after him.