Jul 28 2008
Cotanchobee Park: A 12 Part History of Tampa, Part 8
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Years of Removal
The entire U.S. watched the Florida struggle, & the names of the war leaders became household words. Today, towns, cities, & landmarks across the nation, for example, as well as numerous individuals, are named for Osceola (Asse yahóla) one of the young firebrands of the resistance. But Micanopy (Mikkó anópí”, Philip, (Emáthla), Billy Bowlegs (Holata mikko), and Sam Jones (Abiáka), were among the more powerful official leaders of the wars. Micanopy & Philip were captured & sent West in 1838, along with the family of Osceola, who had died in a prison at Fort Moultrie, SC. Bowlegs, the last to give up, left Tampa bay on the steamer Grey Cloud, bound for New Orleans & on to Indian Territory in 1858. Old Jumper (Oti emáthla), & the younger warrior Wildcat (Cowacochi) were sent West also. Jumper died en route, at New Orleans Barracks, but Wildcat lived to increase his fame as a warrior. Sam Jones, a powerful medicine man & the backbone of the resistance, told the U.S. that he would never give up, as long as he had “A single ball and charge of power.” When he could no longer shoot, he declared, he would “live on fish” & when his lines were worn out, he would “make others of horse hair” & when his hooks were worn out, he would “cut up his old tin pans & make others.” Sam Jones & his followers found safety in the Everglades & he died there, true to his word never to give up his fight. To this day, the Florida Seminoles pass these names down among the warriors’ descendents, & name children with words from the old war-medicine songs.