Seminoles Defeat Government Troops at Kissimmee Slough Shootout

The Seminole Tribune 20 February 6, 2004 ShootoutContinued from page 1Seminoles and government troops, but is a depiction of thestruggles of resistance of natives against the government policiesof removal and aggression during much of the last half ofthe 19th century.In 1845, Florida became the 27th state, and Congressgave Florida full rights to the state rivers and lands. This legislationwas designed to take the land given to the natives in1838 and exile all the Seminoles to Oklahoma.In early December 1855, Lieutenant George L.Hartsuff, a topographical engineer, along with six mountedmen, two foot soldiers and two wagons drawn by mules,entered Big Cypress country in what he described as “anexploratory mission.”On his second day, he came across several “deserted”Seminole villages, and entered Billie Bowlegs Town. Not seeingany of the village residents around, the soldiers cut somebanana bunches from plants near the chikees and destroyedcrops belonging to Bowlegs.This act of disregard for native land and propertyinfuriated the Indians, who on Dec. 20, 1855, surrounded andattacked Lt. Hartsuifs troops, killing four soldiers and woundingfour others, including Hartsuff. After this brief battle, theSeminoles retreated to the safety of the Big Cypress swamps.Soon after this incident, the third Seminole war started.The re-creation of the Kissimmee Slough Shootoutgives visitors an appreciation for the dangers that both sidesfaced during these bloody encounters, where men faced eachother at close quarters and in an environment that providedsafety for the defenders and nightmares for the aggressors.