Patriot and Warrior A PAINTING BY CHRISTOPHER M. STILL

OIL ON LINEN, 126" BY 48"

he proud, fierce warrior, , well, which helped lead to the Adams-Onís Treaty of Special Thanks To: looks you straight in the eye. One hand points 1819 that would make Florida a U.S. territory. toward a ship meant to remove Indians to a In 1823, the Treaty of Moultrie Creek set apart four Museum of Florida Artemis Kousanthanas reservation in the west—the other grips a knife, million acres of land south of Ocala as Indian Terri- History, Tallahassee Florida Secretary of State planted with determination into a symbolic tory, and the were relocated to make way Fort Moultrie National Katherine Harris TU.S. document. Faces in the trunk of a palm tree evoke for more U.S. settlers. Conflict remained between Monument Brian Russell the spirits of three chiefs— the two groups. The Sec- David R. Hunt, Ph.D. one for each war fought ond Seminole War erupted Winston Luzier Department of against them. These and in 1835, after many bands Anthropology, National Robert E. Batcheldor other symbols recall the refused to agree to a treaty relocating them yet again, Museum of Natural History, The art of George Catlin struggles of Florida’s Semi- The Smithsonian Institute, this time to present-day Washington, D.C. The art of Achille Colin nole Indian people before Oklahoma. The warrior and during its Territorial Heritage Village, Largo Elizabeth Coachman Osceola led the Indian Period (1821-1845). uprising, beginning the Patricia R. Wickman Honeymoon Island State Park The name “Seminole” longest, most costly Indian Louis Sloan Bobby Henry translates to “free people” war in U.S. history. and evolved from the Span- Fighting ceased in 1842, ish word, “cimmarones”, and the few hundred Semi- which means “wild” or noles that remained man- “untamed”. It is an appro- aged to live in relative priate name for this amal- peace for 14 years. In 1855, gamation of people who a third and final attempt shared a common desire to relocate the remaining to be free of domination. Seminoles was marked by a series of skirmishes led The Seminoles were made by Chief Billy Bowlegs— up of the ancestors of Florida tribes, combined with the Third Seminole War. When the U.S. withdrew in Indians from the southeastern “Creek” nation who 1858, still with no treaty, the small number of remain- emigrated into Spanish-owned Florida—in many cases ing Seminoles—“the most defiant members of a fleeing from encroaching white settlers and the U.S. famously defiant tribe”—took refuge in the swamps troops protecting them. Runaway African slaves joined of the Everglades. and intermingled with the Indians, infuriating south- The painting shows the six coin-like Florida State ern plantation and slave owners. Seals, including the current one, which features a Spain’s weakness in protecting her Florida residents Seminole woman. There is no county in the state that became clear in what became known as the First isn’t marked by the footprints of the courageous Semi- Seminole War. In 1818, General Andrew Jackson led noles, who fought against overwhelming odds to a “punitive” expedition into Florida, burning rebellious remain here. They, and their culture, are now valued Indian villages. He brazenly captured Spanish forts as as one of the state’s greatest treasures. Patriot and Warrior CHRISTOPHER M. STILL he figure of Osceola points towards T a ship as does a figure in the first mural “In Ages Past”. The faces of Seminole chiefs can be seen in the trunk of the palm tree, a symbol of 14 31 their lasting spirit. References such as a plaster cast of Osceola made after his death, and an 3 oil painting by George Catlin, were 12 1 used by the artist, along with a living model, to create this depiction of the legendary Seminole warrior. 11 10 2 1) Osceola. Born to an Upper Creek 4 Indian mother in around 1804, Osceola 13 15 came with his mother to North Florida. He relocated to Central Florida under the terms of the Treaty of Moultrie Creek (1823). When the U.S. govern- 17 ment wrote a new treaty that 5 attempted to relocate the Seminoles once again, this time to a reservation in present day Oklahoma, Osceola became a leader to those who resisted 6 leaving Florida at the start of the 7 8 18 (1835-42). 16 9 A popular, but unsubstantiated, story says that he defiantly drove his knife into the treaty in the place of his signature. He was reportedly responsible engraved name, “Osceola”, and a draw- In this painting, he plants his knife into congressional balance between slave which still belonged to Spain, to fight and surviving in its impenetrable for the murder of Indian Agent Wiley ing of a wild boar on the top of the a land grant that actually did not exist states and free states. the rebellious Seminoles during the swamps with the alligators, panthers Thompson, as well as a co-conspirator gorget. A similar gorget appears in the until seven years after his death. This is 10) Abraham. Abraham was Chief period known as the First Seminole War. and mosquitoes. a symbol of his eternal spirit of in the Dade Massacre in 1835—incidents portrait of Osceola painted by Catlin. ’s personal advisor and inter- 13) The Face of Micanopy. Micanopy was 16) Map of the Everglades. Throughout resistance and his love of his home. that started the war—and he earned a The gorget in this painting is from a preter, and was also considered his a prominent Seminole chief during the the murals, maps of Florida appear. In reputation for ruthless daring in many collection of the National Scottish 6) Flag of Truce. On October 27, 1837, “slave”. Escaped slaves who joined the Second Seminole War. He led the raid of this painting the map is reduced to only successful guerrilla-type attacks on Museum. Osceola was also called Billy Osceola was captured under a flag of Seminoles were generally required to Dade’s Massacre, and fought against the region of the Everglades, a symbol Federal troops. Powell, after his father, who was said to truce and imprisoned in the fortress of contribute in return for their asylum, Indian removal to the west until the of what was left of the Seminoles’ Osceola was captured in 1837 in St. have been of Scottish descent and mar- the Castillo San Marcos at St. Augustine but were accepted by the tribe and pressure of Federal troops, disease and Florida homeland. (at the time called Ft. Marion). The often married other Seminoles. starvation overwhelmed and depleted Augustine, tricked by a white flag of ried into the Indian tribe. Osceola later 17) Empty Dugout Canoe. This canoe may truce. He spent his final days received his lasting Indian name—Asi- droplets of blood on this flag symbolize Abraham was likely a member of the his band of warriors. the U.S. soldiers killed by Osceola and have drifted ashore after its owner imprisoned in South Carolina, where he Yaholo. Asi referred to the ceremonial war party leading Dade’s Massacre. He 14) The Face of Billy Bowlegs. Following boarded the ship for the western reser- posed for several artists, including his band, which led to the use of this Black Drink brewed from yaupon leaves also negotiated terms of Indian the Second Seminole War, sporadic vation. It is reminiscent of the canoe George Catlin. Osceola died of disease trickery to capture him. and often used before going to war. removal to the west, fighting to ensure conflicts continued. In 1855, a U.S. found in the first mural “In Ages Past” in 1838. Although his fame was such Yaholo means “one who sings out”. 7) Musket. This firearm was one of that the “Black Seminoles” be relo- Army survey party provoked an attack and symbolizes a culture that has all that his death was noted on front pages several types issued to troops fighting in cated along with the Indians rather 3) Ostrich Plumes. Osceola was known to by Seminoles led by Chief Billy but disappeared. around the world, his request to be the . than returned to slavery. Bowlegs, starting what became known buried in Florida was ignored. In fact, carry ostrich plumes to wear in his turban. 18) The State Seals. These six seals depict 8) Land Grant. Desire for land was a large 11) Transport Ship. The ship at the mouth as the Third Seminole War to the after death, he was decapitated, his 4) Osceola’s Clothing. When posing for his United States. The U.S. government the evolution of the imagery used from head embalmed and given to a New factor in the attempts to remove the of Tampa Bay waits to transport the Territorial Period to the present. The final painting, Osceola was dressed in these Seminoles from Florida, and also Seminoles out of Florida and to the once again attempted to remove all the York medical collection—later presumed garments, which vary from those typically Indians, using not only force, but also basic design elements were established destroyed in a fire. His headless body motivated the territory’s press for reservation in the west. Canoes can be by the Florida Legislature in 1868, when worn by an Indian warrior. statehood. The Federal government seen alongside. This scene is based on bounty hunters and bribery. Chief remains in a grave at Fort Moultrie, a new Constitution directed that “the 5) Hand and Knife. The legend persists would officially parcel out land to help an historic engraving captioned “The Bowlegs, starving and beaten, finally South Carolina, despite attempts to surrendered in 1858 after the capture of Legislature shall, at first session, adopt return it to Florida. that Osceola drove a knife into the settle a new state and protect it from Sorrow of the Seminoles”. his granddaughter. Thirty-eight war- a seal for the state, and such seal shall “Treaty of Paynes Landing” resolving foreign interests. Developers were eager 12) The face of Neamathla. In 1817, Following the burial of Osceola, an riors and 85 women and children left be the size of an American silver dollar.” never to give up Florida. Historians to build new railroad projects and Federal troops led by Colonel Gaines anonymous donor placed a stone on with him on a steamer called the “Grey believe the tale may have its roots in an plantations in Florida. attacked and burned Neamathla’s village The sun’s rays, a steamboat, and an his grave that reads “Oceola,[sic] instance where Osceola was kept out of Cloud” from Egmont Key, headed for Indian woman scattering flowers remain Patriot and Warrior”—inspiring the 9) Statehood. This document is the act by after the chief warned them not to cross the talks going on with Chief Micanopy. the western . on the seal today, along with the word- title of the painting. the 28th Congress on December 2, 1844 the Flint River onto their land. The Frustrated that the chief’s interpreter to admit Florida as the twenty-seventh Indians retaliated by ambushing a boat 15) Seminoles in Dugout Canoe. The ing “Great Seal of the State of Florida: 2) Gorget. These decorative silver breast- was not present, and that he, himself, state of the Union, along with Iowa as of soldiers and civilians, killing most Seminole culture survived through the In God We Trust”. In 1985 the Indian plates were often traded to the Indians. was locked out of the proceedings, he the twenty-eighth. The two were aboard. The Secretary of War sent three wars. The remaining Indians fled woman was accurately depicted in Close observation will reveal the wildly flourished his knife. passed together in order to keep a General Andrew Jackson into the region, southward into the Everglades, hiding Seminole clothing.