Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-03-14
From Campaigns in Florida.
0CEOLA, THEINDIAN WARRIOR.
by M. n. COHEN.

BY M. N. COHEN.
This gifted individual is about 80 years
of age, s feet 10 inches high, rather slender
than stout--but elegantly iUrmed.-of re-
markable lightness oil limbs, yet capable of
iron endurance, something Of the Appollo
and Hercules blended, or rather the easy
grace, the sleallhly step and active sprirr
Of the tiger. His grandfather was q
Scotchman, his grandmother and mother
were full Indians. His father was of
course, half breed, and Oceola is quarter
blood, or one fourth white, which his COM
plexion and eyes indicate, being much
lighter than those ofthe Indians generally.
When conversing on topics agreeable to him
his countenance manliests more the dspo-
siton oft white than the red man. There
is a great variety in the play ofhs features,
and when excited, his face is lii up by
thousand fires Of passion, animation, and
energy. His nose is Grecian at its base,
and would be perfectly Phidean, bat that
it becomes slightly arched.-There are in
d1mitable frmness and whitening scorn in
the expression of his mnuth-though the
lips are tremuous from the immense emo
lions which seem ever boiling up within
him. About his brow, care and thought
and toll have traced their channels, antic-
patng on youthful lace, the havoc and
furrow work of time.
To those who have known Oceola long,
his fame does not appear like sun burst,
but as the ripening fruit of early promised
blossoms. For years past he has enjoyed
the reputation of being the best ball player
and hunter and the most expert al running,
wrestling, and all other active exercises.
tsuch times, or when naked, his figure,
whence all superhuous flesh is worn down,
exhibiies The most beautiful development Of
muscle and power. He is said TO be in
! exhaustable from the ball play, an excer-
else ST. violent that the struggle for 'maste-
~ has been known to cause the death Of
one Of the combaiants. When this occurs
in fair contest, the survivor is not pun
ished Tor murder, as in all other cases Of
taking lie. On one ocassion, Oceola acted
as guide TO party Of horsemen, and fin
ding that, at starting, they proceeded slowly,
he enquired the cause. On being told that
it was on his account, with one Of those
SMILES he alone can give, babe them to pro-
coed more rapidly. They put spurs 10
their sieeds, and he, a-foot, kept up with
them during the entire rout, nor did he
exhibit the sightes symptoms Of fatigue,
at the close Of the day, but arrived at The
point proposed, as early as the mounted bo-
dy. To Col. Gadsden, sole Commissioner
at the Treaty OF Payne's Lanling, Oceola
rendered good service, at the head of 80 or
40 warriors, posted himself nearer TO The
Colonies position than the other Indians,
and saying, he was more like the whire man
than they. He did not sign the treaty then
and there made, nor did lie refuse SOTO do.
I he fact is, he was never asked to subscribe
his maine thereto, being at that time but
Tustenugge and ofliltle note. This trea-
ty must not be coniounded with the suisse
quent agreement that Oceola finally sign
ed, and into which he is said to have plum
ged his knife, when called on for his sigma
ture. The negotiations at PayEe's Ian.
ding were in the time OF Tuckasee Emalh-
Ia, or the Ground Mole Warrior, Chief Of
the Micasuky tribe. At that date il was
not known of Powell, as Cotton Mather
says OF Roger Williams, il his Magnolia,
that "lhe whole country was soon like To
be sci on fire by the rapid motion of wind
mill in the head of this one man."
Oceola acted as agent for Micanope, who
is n imbece, in reducing into subsection
the Micasukies, who are not only The most
numerous and powerful, but most desperate
and insubordinaie tribe. by his bold
ness and energy he always succeeded in
bringing them IN TO receive punishment for
the uitt noes ommitted-laIierly he would
beg them off, and finally went over to them,
as enc of their chiefs. The U. S. officers,
as well as the Indians, all looked To Oceola
10 secure misunderstanding his resolution
and proves. And for this purpose, as
well as to restrain the Seminoles within
their limits, he had taken more pains, and
endured more fatigue, thanany four Indi-
ans put together. He is OF an elevated and
upright character, and was of kindly disro-
stion Til put in irons, hich CONVEX ted to
gall, the milk of human kindness in his bo-
som-roused his fiery Indignation, I'M
quenchable but by blood, and excited him
10 deep-sealed, ample revenge.
Oce0la's agency, and that of his lieuten-
ant, Tom, in Omathla'S death, and his Kill
ling Gen. Thompson, with The rifle pre-
scented him by the General, initiate against
the favorable estimate of his character
But that all his goodly feelings were not ut.
terIy eradica ied, is proved by an incident in
the interview with Gen. Gaines command.
On that occasion, Oceola anxiously enquir-
ed after Lieut.. John Graham, and on being
informed that he was wounded, sloutly de-
MED it.. On being asked why he was SO
positive that Lieut.. G. was unhurt, he re-
piled that he had imperatively ordered his
people never 10 modest ihat'young man, and
knew no one would dare disObey him
none should and live! 1t was then admit
ted that though one of the brothers of Ora
ham had been wounded, yet, Lieut.. G.
+This Gen. Thompson was the man who .pnt
Oceoa in irons, as mentioned above. This fact, |
and the circumstance connected with II, omitted
in the above account. 'Oceoa, or Powell, as he was
called by the whites had wife ito whom he was