Osceola and the Second Seminole War Essay Sample free essay sample

What was the function and guerilla warfare tactics that were applied by Osceola during the 2nd Seminole war? During his clip many Native Americans had several names and Osceola was no exclusion. This name was the deformed version of his Indian name by the Whites. His original name was Asiyahola. This adult male was born in United States of America in 1803 and passed on in January 1838. He was a Creek warrior during his clip and emerged the victor during the Seminole war II. His character came to be widely known during the 2neodymiumSeminole war. My chief focal point on this paper will be to discourse the function Osceola played and the guerilla warfare tactics that he used in order to win this battle. The Seminole wars both first and the 2nd and the 3rd were frequently referred to as the Florida wars. These were as a consequence of the struggles that occurred in Florida in the 19Thursdaycentury between different American indigen groups which were referred by one name as Seminoles. The first war started from 1817 and ended in 1818 while the 2nd war lasted from 1835 up to 1858. The 3rd war erupted from 1855 to 1858. Osceola’s took portion in the 2nd Seminole struggle which was known as the Seminole war. This war had its beginning in the pact of Payne’s landing of 1832 that was signed by the Seminole head. This took topographic point in Florida where these heads agreed to be resettled in other districts. There originate a dissension between these heads after some Seminole heads declined to lodge by the footings of the pact. They insisted on remaining in Florida something that provoked a crisp reaction to the Whites. They embarked on a run of levelling and directing their torment to these inexorable heads. They pointed out that the U. S authorities had a function of doing certain that the pact was non violated. These heads who refused to be resettled in the West of Mississippi River were led by Osceola who was an Indian Chief at that clip. This was in 1832 after the Whites started relocating the Native Americans. It did non take long earlier the 2nd Seminole war erupted in 1935. Osceola came to be recognised widely because of his masterly in using guerilla tactics. He came to be respected by the ground forces officers who were sent to capture him but they could non pull off to capture and suppress him due to his ability to use delusory maneuver. He was from Alabama and was an original upper Creek. He refused to hold any connexion with white blood. He kept stating that there was no foreign blood that was running in his system. ( Mark C. C. . 1996 ; 45 ) In 1813-1814 the Creek war broke out. It was a civil war fought between the Whites and the Red Sticks but U. S joined on the side of the White sticks against the Red Sticks who objected to the thought of the Whites catching the Creeks land and polarizing their civilization. When the war reached Osceola’s small town they went into concealment but in 1814 the war was brought to a grinding arrest by the General Jackson who slaughtered Indians in 1000s. Osceola and his female parent who feared for their safety migrated to Florida which was under Spanish authorization. The country was boggy but it became a place to the Seminoles. This motion was spearheaded by Peter McQueen who was Osceola’s great uncle and tribal leader of the brook. Soon after they settled in their new district the 1stSeminole war erupted due to aggression by the Whites on the Georgia-Florida boundary line in 1819. This prompted Neamathla who was the Seminole head to defy any invasion by the Whites. In reaction to this. the United States army set on fire the small town of Neamathla. It is these perturbations that distorted the Osceola’s perceptual experience towards the Creeks. He came to detest them every bit good as their opposite numbers. the Whites. After the war was over ; they went to fall in McQueen who by so stayed at Tampa Bay. Osceola who was in his adolescent age loved hunting. sports and besides practised warriorship accomplishments. During the Green Dance that was held one time in a twelvemonth that Osceola acquired his other name Asi Yaloto’ or merely the Black Drink Singer. his function during these ceremonials was to function the black drink. ( Kenneth C. D. . 2003 ; 56-78 ) In 1819 the Spanish authorities sold Florida the United States of America which instantly started believing to concentrate all the Seminoles who were in Florida in one country. The Seminoles were non pleased to hear that they would be resettled in another country. They remained open on what to make such that they even refused to works harvests for they neer knew when they would be forced to migrate. Finally this came to be after Moultrie’s Creek pact was signed in 1823 and was supposed to stay in force for the following 20 old ages. In this pact it was agreed that the Seminoles would be moved from their district to the South. an country was non favorable to them in any manner. It had no graze Fieldss. they could non happen anyplace to angle and there trade with Cuba was disrupted. This clip Osceola who was 19 old ages old was present during the sign language of the pact as warriors were allowed to fall in. After the pact he assisted the surveyors who were taging the reserves b oundary. He came to be known by the White persons and other Seminoles. Finding it difficult to last in the new land. Seminoles led by Osceola returned back to the boggy part that was really productive in 1825. Subsequently he met Che-Cho-ter whom he married. In 1832 he led the Seminoles in defying the Whites and this earned him the titled of the war head ( Tustenuggee ) . As it was the tradition of the Seminoles. anybody could go a leader if he managed to pull a large followers because of his peculiar character traits such as being a warrior or excess ordinary hunting accomplishments. It is in this regard that Osceola came to be the war head. ( Kenneth. 1973 ; 29 ) It is during their clip that Payne set downing pact was signed. This was a declaration that the Seminoles would be relocated to Arkansas so as they would be united with other brook. Those brooks that had fled Florida the likes of Osceola had no purpose of unifying with other brooks that fought them during the Creek war and were determined to oppose this determination ( Weigly R. F. . 1967 ; 245 ) . A twelvemonth subsequently. another pact was passed to implement that of 1932 though it had non yet expired. This was referred to as the pact of Fort Gibson. When Seminoles made up their heads to defy the planned migration. Osceola as their war head became really instrumental in puting the war schemes and in taking attention every bit good as set uping for ammo shops. He was a courageous swayer who was even prepared to set his life along the line particularly when he drew his runing knife and rupture the papers that was supposed to be signed between him and Thompson. Osceola organised his people decently in covering with the formidable U. S ground forces by doing his warriors disciplined as he was good cognizant that that was the lone manner they could defy the Whites. The opposition went on passively for sometime. His warriors conducted foraies on the lands of the Whites until a conflict between U. S ground forces and his warriors broke out after his work forces descended on a train that was used by the authorities in transporting supplies to other countries. The authorities sought to penalize him but this proved itself to be excessively hard as he became so elusive by playing fell and seek game in the swamps of Florida. Though he was non the duly elected Indian head. he was able to command his warriors who were approximately 4. 000. His work forces terrorised the U. S ground forces which comprised of more than forty 1000 for over ten old ages since the war broke out. Osceola and his work forces attacked Thompson at Fort King. in contending the Americans ; Osceola used the rule of hit and run. He decided to take this class after he realised that the Whites forced his delegates into subscribing such understandings. That is when declined to subscribe a pact in 1835 and alternatively drew a blade signifier his pocket and pierced the paper claiming that to him it was the lone manner of subscribing that pact. In fact. the Whites were sing force to do them subscribe those paperss but Osceola showed them that he was non the type to be commanded by Colonel Clinch. ( Dockstader F. J. . 1977 ; 198-201 ) After Osceola refused to subscribe the proposal in forepart of these powerful characters. he became a hero to most of the Seminoles. These heads were threatened by Jackson that they would be stripped off their powers should they neglect to subscribe the papers. Thinking that this would do them collaborate with him. this backfired and produced a different reaction to the Seminoles. It became their motivation force to stand and contend for their rights. The relationship that was someway enjoyed by the Seminoles and the Whites in the yesteryear turned rancid though Jackson was determined to hold them moved elsewhere despite the fact that they strongly resisted. Jackson organised his military ready to get down the operation. They surrounded these small towns and forced the Seminoles to acquire sell their belongingss and farm animal to the authorities personnel’s. Tampa Bay was used in transporting the first 400 Seminoles how midway adhered to the 1935 Gibson pact. Neither Osceola nor Jackson was ready to alter his head and both pursued different ends that were of involvement to them. Osceola made certain that all the Seminole heads had adequate stock of contending arms such as haltering the authoritiess program of migrating the Indians he planned how main Emathla would be killed this was one of the Rebel heads who agreed to subscribe the Gibson’s pact therefore bewraying the remainder of Seminoles. He urged Indians non to hold selling their farm animal every bit good as other belongingss to the agents of the authorities. The violent death of Emathla reflected to the authorities how good Osceola and his work forces were organised and determined to defy any move designed to stamp down them. He removed his people from countries that were non safe those that were safe and inviolable such as the boggy parts. This worried the colonists who had already grabbed some land from the country. They fled from their land and converged on some garrison s that had been constructed by the authorities. The authorities led by Jackson descended on Indians whom they concentrated on certain designated cantonments as they awaited to be ferried to Arizona and to the West of Mississippi River. Those Seminoles who managed to get away decidedly joined the Osceola cantonment. The royalty that these Indians shown to their leader made Thompson to be worried. He wrote a missive to the U. S authorities pressing them to reconsider its determination but his supplication was turned down. This shown hr determined the authorities was in traveling the Indians to another country. In forestalling farther development of belligerencies in Florida. the war section appointed General Clinch to be the commanding officer in head of all military operations in Florida. His military work forces who amount to about five 100s were non plenty to maintain the angry Indians in cheque who were more than thousand warriors. Clinch strategically positioned his ground forces barracks in some designated countries that were in desperate demand of security. Osceola was really crisp at larning the failings of the authorities. He noted that the authorities had concentrated its ground forces at the Western Peninsula and therefore decided to carry on his foray on the Eastern side near the St. John’s River. ( Wickman P. R. . 1996 ; 98 ) In a company of two 50 warriors. Osceola attacked white farms and destroyed the belongingss that were at that place pitilessly. This prompted the authorities to enroll more officers nevertheless they could non repress the Indian forces. Osceola led his warriors in busting the whites’ sugar plantations something that propelled all the Whites to fly the country in hunt of a safer topographic point. They vacated the whole of North and Central Florida. Osceola and his ground forces came out of their hideawaies when they were to the lowest degree expected to assail. He led his warriors in assailing the garrisons and that had been constructed someplace between military route. He was really certain that his Spanish arms were far much better than the muskets that were used by the US ground forces. Osceola phase managed the violative onslaughts to kill Thompson who was based at Fort King. While waiting to assail the garrison. the warriors foremost surveyed the country long before they could establish their onslaughts. ( Viele J. . 1996 ; 98 ) They reached to the scene long earlier and each took his place. In this onslaught. Thompson and Lieutenant Smith who were holding a short walk after taking their supper were killed by Indians. Osceola besides organised how the two foot companies that belonged to major Dade would be attacked. He was a individual who took his clip before he could do a move. He merely did so when he was certain that he was safe. He took many yearss be aftering how he would assail these companies. During this clip he assessed the security of the companies utilizing some undercover agents. He neer allowed his work forces to be disunited ; he ever made certain that they fought in groups. He positioned his ground forces to exclude all the possible flight paths. After they surrounded the part. they attacked the garrison from three sides. Dade and a important figure of his forces perished in that unexpected onslaught. This is one of the guerilla warfare tactics that Osceola was utilizing. In guerilla warfare you should supervise the moves of your opposition and fall on him when you are to the lowest degree expected. You should merely prosecute yourself in violative onslaughts merely when your opposition is exhausted. During this incidence. the ground forces retaliated by directing their guns at the Seminoles who were concealing. After their ammos ran out. the Indians came out of their concealment topographic points and killed many of these soldiers. His warriors neer engaged themselves in a direct confrontation or a face to confront brush. They made sure that they kept their programs every bit dark as dark. They carried out speedy foraies and so escaped before the ground forces could revenge. Osceola was favoured by his terrain which he was really familiar of. He knew where he could conceal in instance they were attacked. The authorities did all that it could to do certain that all the Indians were removed from the swamps where they used to conceal. General Clinch strongly believed that he could blush these Seminoles out with his strong forces that were to a great extent equipped. He believed that if he combined all his six foot companies that were under his legal power he would establish an violative onslaught against the Indians. He had besides recruited about 500 militia work forces though they lacked the necessary preparation and more so they were undisciplined unlike those of Osceola’s. Using his well equipped ground forces Clinch would independently shut the Withlaccochee River at give the Indians surprise onslaughts but his ground forces many a times made him neglect to accomplish his aims. His work forces were non disciplined and kept on transgressing the r egulations for illustration in December 1835 his ground forces left the Fort Drane at dark so that they could assail the Seminole warriors at morning. During the dark they were supposed to detect silence and non to get down cantonment fires but one disgruntled soldier went in front and blew his instrument. This alerted the Seminoles that the ground forces were on their manner to assail them who rapidly organised themselves and patiently waited for them. ( Weisman. B. R. . 1999 ; 85 ) The U. S ground forces had to shut a swollen river utilizing a canoe so as to make the other side. After traversing they hid themselves in knoll brushs that could barely cover them decently. In fact the country was an unfastened land. This worked to the advantage of the Indians who from nowhere attacked this ground forces pass overing out non less than a 3rd of it so they ran off when Colonel Alexander launched three speedy counteractive onslaughts. After a period of three yearss both sides had incurred heavy life losingss but on the clinch’s side it was awfully bad. No affair how the U. S authorities wanted to acquire rid of the Indians from Florida they could non successfully do so because Osceola’s ground forces seemed to be inviolable. It even made Clinch to give up driving out Seminoles out of the part. He sent all those who had volunteered and survived back place. Harmonizing to Osceola. this meant that the authorities was unable to cover with him and therefore be was entirely responsible for the part. He continued establishing his onslaughts to specific garrisons which were full of Whites who were get awaying from the wrath of Osceola. His warriors destroyed these plantations every bit good their plantations. Osceola’s triumph was non in vain in fact. he had clearly observed all the moves of his enemies. He last knew how strong they were. their failings and that is what he capitalised on. Another thing is that their leader was really familiar with the terrain of his part unlike the Whites who were new to the part. Clinch’s ground forces was undisciplined therefore missing the codification of moralss this somehow worked against their wants in that when they were told to be quiet throughout the dark. they went in front and made noise. This alerted their enemies who patiently waited for them. These ground forcess besides were non familiar with the Florida terrain particularly they did non cognize what sort of an environment they would happen after traversing the conceited river. ( Misall J. and Mary L. M. . 125-134 ) After they crossed they found an unfastened land with nowhere to conceal themselves. This made the warriors to assail them without striving a batch. Their general had non taken clip to larn about the geographics. the terrain and the clime of the part. That is why he risked traversing the swollen river utilizing a canoe cognizing really good that if they were attacked they would non be able to traverse the river rapidly. Besides clinch’s moves were uncalculated and prema turely. Why did he take to carry on his onslaught during the torrential rains? He could hold waited for the rains to lessen. Osceola was able to maintain his ground forces united and he knew when it was safe to carry on his foray. He was able to split the attending of his oppositions. For illustration the foray he organised at the locality of St. Augustine made some army work forces to be dispatched to the country go forthing a little figure of them in the targeted garrison. He besides knew how to be after for the foraies to go on at the same time. Osceola was besides good cognizant that befriending his enemies so that he could utilize them as his undercover agents was of great importance in guerilla tactics. It is merely by usage of these undercover agents that you can cognize what sort of a force that you are covering with. For this ground. he was able to convert the inkinesss to assist him contend the U. S military. This is why Pacheco a black adult male was used in giving the inside informations and the clip image of Fort King. ( Covington J. W. . 1993 ; 102 ) Osceola was arrested on 21stOctober 1837 after he was tricked by General Jesup to travel for a peace council under false feeling that he would non be arrested. He was jailed in a garrison at St. Augustine where he succumbed to fever and malaria in 30ThursdayJanuary 1838. To reason. this essay has clearly revealed that Osceola through immature achieved many things that many at this age could non hold achieved. Through non a chosen tribal leader. he was able to go a swayer because of his outstanding accomplishments in hunting and because of his brevity. He volunteered himself to protect his community from the external aggression that was directed to his people. He sacrificed himself to contend the Americans whom he knew really good were more than his warriors. Mention: Mark C. C.U. S. History. 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