State of Tennessee Department of State Tennessee State Library and Archives

SOLDIER ABSTRACT LISTS OF THE AND WARS, 1818-1836

COLLECTION SUMMARY

Creator:

Tennessee State Library and Archives

Inclusive Dates:

1818-1836, bulk 1818-1836

Scope & Content:

Consists of abstract lists of soldiers from Tennessee who were drafted into the military for the Seminole War of 1817-1818, Seminole War of 1835-1842, and the Cherokee War of 1836-1839. Abstract lists from all three wars provide the soldier’s name, when and where they were enlisted, their rank, company, regiment, brigade, and any remarks about them. The collection includes three copies of the abstract list for the Seminole War of 1817-1818, two copies of the abstract list for the Seminole War of 1835-1842, and three copies of the abstract list for the Cherokee War of 1836-1839.

None of the copies are exact as some pages are missing. The second copy of the soldiers of the Seminole War in 1836 is missing page 1. The first copy of the soldiers of the Cherokee War is missing pages 328 and 623. The third copy of the soldiers of the Cherokee War is missing pages 257, 431, 434, 444, and 494.

Physical Description/Extent:

1.5 cubic feet

Accession/Record Group Number:

2019-152

Language:

English

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Permanent Location:

XIV-J-4

Repository:

Tennessee State Library and Archives, 403 Seventh Avenue North, Nashville, Tennessee, 37243-0312

Administrative/Biographical History

The Seminole War of 1817-1818, or the First Seminole War, occurred in the aftermath of the and the impending cession of to the (1819). With the conclusion of the War of 1812 and defeat of the Red Stick faction of the Indian Nation, many fled into Spanish held Florida where they assimilated into and became part of the Seminole assemblage. Major General , as did many other Southerners, believed that the Spanish and their Muscogee/Seminole allies were a source of unrest on the frontier. Additionally, due to the abolition of slavery in 1693, Spanish Florida had become a haven for runaway African American slaves, referred to as Black . General Jackson led many troops into Seminole areas to recapture runaway slaves and, as they apprehended slaves, they seized, and in some cases, destroyed, Seminole villages. American incursions into Spanish Florida in this era (Patriot War of 1812, Jackson’s Pensacola Raid in 1814, and the First Seminole War, 1817-1818) convinced the Spanish to sell the territory to the United States under 1819 Transcontinental Treaty. Andrew Jackson was named as the Military Governor after transfer to the United States in 1821.

The Seminole War of 1835-1842, or Second Seminole War, was the longest of the three and the longest war for the United States in the 19th century, The war was a result of the Act of 1830. As the United States Army increased it presence in the Florida Territory in preparation for removal, Seminoles, under the leadership of Osecola and others, preemptively attached an American column commanded by Major Francis Dade on , 1835. Only two soldiers in Dade’s command survived the attack. The United States responded by sending hundreds of US Regulars as well as volunteer units from various states. Tennessee responded by sending several units of mounted rifles. .

Seminole War general Andrew Jackson won the presidential election of 1828 and within two years signed the (1830). The U.S. expected the Seminole nation to surrender its Florida territory within three years after negotiating the Treaty of Payne’s Landing (1832). Seminole leaders would thereby inspect the Arkansas lands assigned to the Creeks and decide on suitability for settlement. U.S. representatives then coerced the Seminoles into

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signing the Treaty of Fort Gibson (1833) which stated their delegates were satisfied with the terms of removal stated at Payne’s Landing.

Some Seminoles, including those among the tribal delegation, claimed treachery after the Treaty of Fort Gibson. What was viewed as deceit angered many in the Seminole nation, so they struck back with raids and ambushes on U.S. troops and civilians. The final battle took place in 1838, but over the next four years, small encounters worked to remove the last of the Indians. The war was declared over in 1842.

The Cherokee War of 1836-1839, refers to the Cherokee removal (), starting with the New Echota Treaty (1836), whereby any Cherokee Indians in the South who refused to leave would be removed by force. Although the treaty gave the $5 million, relocation assistance, and compensation for lost property, they felt betrayed and petitioned Congress to not approve the treaty, but with no avail. Troops marched the remaining Cherokee on a 1,200-mile journey from their reservations to the lands west of the . Due to poor conditions along the route, more than 5,000 Cherokees succumbed to myriad diseases such as small pox, cholera, and whooping cough. Many starved.

Organization/Arrangement of Materials

Series I Seminole War (1818; 1836) Series II Cherokee War (1836)

Conditions of Access and Use

Restrictions on Access:

No restrictions.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction:

While the Tennessee State Library and Archives houses an item, it does not necessarily hold the copyright on the item, nor may it be able to determine if the item is still protected under current copyright law. Users are solely responsible for determining the existence of such instances and for obtaining any other permissions and paying associated fees that may be necessary for the intended use.

Index Terms

Corporate Names/Organizations/Government Bodies:

United States. Army

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Subjects:

Cherokee Indians -- Wars Indians of North America -- Wars -- 1815-1875 Seminole War, 1st, 1817-1818 Seminole War, 2nd, 1835-1842 Soldiers -- United States -- Registers Trail of Tears, 1838-1839 Whites -- Relations with Indians

Geographic Names:

Tennessee -- History -- 19th century -- Sources

Document Types:

Listings (documents) Rosters

Acquisition and Appraisal

Provenance and Acquisition:

The abstracts were derived from original records muster rolls held by TSL and the National Archives (see also TSLA Record Group 158)

Processing and Administrative Information

Preferred Citation:

Soldier Abstract Lists of the Seminole Wars and Cherokee Wars, 1818- 1836, Tennessee State Library and Archives.

Processing Information:

Processing was completed by Saige Coble and Kimberly Mills Wires in November 2019. Duplicates were removed and any items not pertaining to the collection were transferred or removed. Updated by Myers Brown in April 2020.

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DETAILED COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

SERIES I. – SEMINOLE WARS, 1817-1842

Series Scope and Content: Consists of three copies of abstract lists of soldiers enlisted into the United States Army in Columbia, Tennessee and at Camp Blount, Tennessee, in early 1818 for what became known as the Seminole War of 1817-1818. The materials also consist of two copies of abstract lists of soldiers enlisted into the Army in numerous locations across Middle and East Tennessee during June and July of 1836 for the Seminole War of 1835-1842. The abstract lists include the soldier’s name, when and where they were enlisted, their rank, company, regiment, brigade, and in some cases additional remarks.

The second copy of the soldiers of the Seminole War in 1836 is missing page 1.

Series Arrangement: Series arranged alphabetically by soldier’s last name.

CONTAINER LIST

Contents/Item Title Date Box Folder Soldiers of the Seminole War – copy 1 1818 1 1 Soldiers of the Seminole War – copy 2 1818 1 2 Soldiers of the Seminole War – copy 3 1818 1 3 Soldiers of the Seminole War - Abbott, J. M. – 1836 2 1 Godwin, James S. Soldiers of the Seminole War –Goff, A. F. – Organ, 1836 2 2 James Soldiers of the Seminole War –Osburn, W. – 1836 2 3 Zollecoffer, F. K. Soldiers of the Seminole War – copy 2 1836 2 4 Soldiers of the Seminole War – copy 2 1836 2 5 Soldiers of the Seminole War – copy 2 1836 2 6

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DETAILED COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

SERIES II. – CHEROKEE WAR, 1836-1839

Series Scope and Content: Consists of three copies of abstract lists of soldiers enlisted into the army in numerous locations across the State of Tennessee in 1836 for the Cherokee War of 1836-1839, also known as the Cherokee Removal. The abstract lists include the soldier’s name, when and where they were enlisted, their rank, company, regiment, brigade, and in some cases additional remarks.

The first copy of the soldiers of the Cherokee War is missing pages 328 and 623. The third copy of the soldiers of the Cherokee War is missing pages 257, 431, 434, 444, and 494.

Series Arrangement: Series arranged alphabetically by soldier’s last name.

CONTAINER LIST

Contents/Item Title Date Box Folder Soldiers of the Cherokee War – Acra, Ulrich – 1836 3 1 Coker, Abernathy Soldiers of the Cherokee War – Coker, John – 1836 3 2 Goins, George Soldiers of the Cherokee War – Goins (or Gains), 1836 3 3 Isaac – King, W. M. C. Soldiers of the Cherokee War – Kingeny, Henry – 1836 3 4 Mulvany, Mark Soldiers of the Cherokee War – Munns, John – 1836 3 5 Sharp, Richard Soldiers of the Cherokee War – Shaw, H. M. – 1836 3 6 Wiley, Nelson Soldiers of the Cherokee War – Wiley, Peter – 1836 3 7 Zandle, John Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 1 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 2 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 3 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 3 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 4 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 5 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 6 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 2 1836 4 7 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 3 1836 5 1 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 3 1836 5 2 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 3 1836 5 3

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Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 3 1836 5 4 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 3 1836 5 5 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 3 1836 5 6 Soldiers of the Cherokee War – copy 3 1836 5 7

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