Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-11
FLORIDA INDIAN WARFARE.
osceOla, the Noted Chief Once a Pris-
Oner in Fort Marion.
from t1e 81. Augustjale (FlaD Weeb5y


From the 81. 4 augustine (FId.) Weekly.
William Kendrick, of Jacksonville, is
62 years of age, and was born and reared
in Florida. His birthplace was on the
Suwanee river, within mile OF where the
great Indian chief Osceola was born and
lived. He contends that the great chief
whipped the United States government in
every battle he fought during the Florida
Indian war. He regards Osceola the
equal, il not the superior, of Napoleon, or
any other of the great generals of his day,
in strategy and prOwess.
He was a hali-breed. His father was a
man from Georgia by the name of Powell.
The great chief was known by the name
OF Powell until the day of the meeting at
Fort King for the purpose OF signing the
treaty with Thompson, the United States
Commissioner, to transfer their lands and
move to Indian Territory. When the
great chief, or king, of the tribe had
signed the treaty, followed by all
the sub-chiefs, Powell was asked to
affix his name, as he was regarded as
a sub-chief, or an Indian of distinction,
for his prowess in the hunt, as we'll as his
bravery and influence with the tribe, and
his fine personal appearance. When
called by the Commissioner, Powell came
forward, took the pen, threw it to the
ground, drew his hunting knife, and
plunged it into the heart of the great chief
of the nation, and then, turning in the
twiDkling of an eye, buried it in the heart
of the United States Commissioner.
The sub-chiefs were as greatly sur
prised at OsceOla's act as were the United
States authorities present. Powell had
taken the precaution to have in striking
Of naf
warriors of the tribe, who, upon signal,
made their appearance. and as he walked
out OF the tent mutllated it with the same
knife that he had taken the lives or the
two principal actors in projecting the
treaty. His braves met him and subse-
Quently declared him Osceola, the great
chief Of the Seminoles.
Kendrick told me at this time Osceola
was only y years of age. He contends
that the Indian mas always been misrep-
resented; instead of being the savage
beast that he has always been represented
to be, be was always kind to his prison.
ers, and prevented to the extent e could
the scalping and mutilatiOn of the dead
and the making If war on women and chill
dren. AS an evidence Of his friendly dispO-
sitlon to the whites, Mr. kendrlck SAYS that
after he had assasslnated the two princi-
pal actors IN the signing OF the treaty he
would not permit the warriors TO modest
the garrison of Uni ted States troops, who
were wholly in his power, but said TO
them on his departure: leave me and
my people to the wilds OF my country,
and you will never have to complain of
OsceOla and his people; but If you at
tempt to hunt us down and capture us bv
force, we will fight you to the b tier end. ="
Another evidence Of the humanity OF
Osceola was shown in the massacre of
Mai. Dade and his command. Dade was
sent with detachment from Fort King
against the Indians, and to open commu-
nication between Fort King and Tampa,
on the Gulf coast. He was a man greatly
loved by OsceOla, as they had often been
on the hunt together OsceOla attempted
to eVade the contest, even to the extent OF
aruusing the suplciOn of HIS loyalty to
the tribe. When ne ordered the attack on
the detachment commanded by MAJ. Dade,
in the commencement OF the battle, be
raised his gun ana said to one of his chiefs
IL am now going to kill one of my best
friends, and man love-"
At the crack OF his rifle Maj. Dade fell
dead. and OsceOla threw down his gun
and never fired another shot during the
remainder of the engagement.
Another evidence OF his disposition TO
conduct a civilized warfare was the fact
that when the last United States soldier
was shot down, as none proposed to sur
render, tue Garage ceased and not
soldier was sealped, and IL Is also fact
undisputed that several days after the en-
gagement, when detachment from fort
King went TO the battlefield 10 bury the
dead, not a body had been mutilated, and
further, that Si,0 900 IN gold and silver was
removed from the pockets OF the dead.
Where Will you find a like occurrence on
any battlefield in our civil WARP IL is
said that Osceola became alarmed at the
close of the battle and retreated rapidly,
but il is on record that he did not leave
the battlefield until be disposed OF all the
implements Of war and transportation,
sinking the wagons and cannon carriages
i'm quicksand lake near the battlefield,
so il they had time for this work they GER
tainly mad time 20 scalp and rifle the
pockets Of the dead on the battlefield.
MIR. Kendrick aliirms that the capture
Of Oseeola under the white flag and his
incarceration in prison at SulIvan's
island will ever remain dark spot on the
eseutcheon OF the United states. After
his CAPTURE. Osceola said 70 hts captOre
that he had during tue war in Florida
tried 10 conduct il upon the principles ut
civilized warfare. lie said be bad never
made war upon women aud children, but
said: "Now that you have made me "A
prisoner. / advise you % look out for the
safety of your women and cn'ldren.'
Imam