OSCEOLA (c. 1804-1838), a Seminole American Indian, leader in the second Seminole War, was born in Georgia, near the Chattahoochee river. His father was an Englishman named Wil liam Powell; his mother a Creek of the Red Stick or Mikasuki division. In 1808 he removed with his mother into northern Florida. When the U.S. commissioners negotiated with the Semi nole chiefs the treaties of 1832-33 for the removal of the Semi noles to Arkansas, Osceola seized the opportunity to lead the oppo sition of the young warriors, and declared to the U.S. agent, Gen. Wiley Thompson, that any chief who prepared to remove would be killed. Late in 1835 he murdered Charley Emathla (or Emar tla), a chief who was preparing to emigrate with his people, and with a few companions shot and killed Gen. Thompson.
In 1836 Generals Edmund P. Gaines (1777-1849), Winfield Scott (1786-1866) and Richard K. Call (1791-1862) waged war against them with little effect, and the year closed with General Thomas Sidney Jesup (1788-186o) in command with 8,000 troops at his disposal. General Jesup drove the enemy from the Withla
coochee country and was pursuing them southward toward the Everglades when several chiefs expressed a readiness to treat for peace. On March 6, 1837, they agreed to cease hostilities, to pre pare for emigration to Arkansas, and gave hostages to bind them to their agreement. But on June 2 Osceola came to the camp at the head of about 200 Mikasuki (Miccosukees) and effected the flight of all the Indians there, about 700 including the hostages, to the Everglades. Hostilities were then resumed, but in September, after the capture of several chiefs, Osceola requested an interview. This was granted, and by command of General Jesup he was taken captive and carried to Fort Moultrie, at Charleston, S.C., where he died in January, 1838. The war continued until 1842, but after Osceola's death the Indians did little but attack the unarmed inhabitants.
See J. T. Sprague, The Origin, Progress and Conclusion of the Florida War (1848).