Billy Bowlegs, 1858

Billy Bowlegs (Holata Micco, Halpatter-Micco, and Halpuda Mikko in Seminole, meaning "Alligator Chief") (ca. 1810 – ca. March 10, 1864) was a leader of the Seminoles in Florida during the Second and Third Seminole Wars against the United States. One of the last Seminole leaders to resist, he eventually moved to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma), where he fought on the side of the Union Army during the American Civil War as a captain. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 194 × 321 pixelsFull resolution (194 × 321 pixel, file size: 20 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) From web. ... Billy Bowlegs III (1862 – 1965) was a Seminole elder and historian. ... Bowlegs may refer to: The leg deformity genu varus An alternate transliteration of Bolek, (died 1819), a Seminole chieftain from Florida during the First Seminole War Billy Bowlegs (1810-1864), a Seminole chieftain during the Second and Third Seminole Wars, related to Bolek Billy Bowlegs III, a later Seminole elder... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (70th in leap years). ... 1864 (MDCCCLXIV) was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a leap year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... The Flag of the Seminoles of Florida, adopted in 1979 The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, and now residing in that state and in Oklahoma. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Largest metro area Miami Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,795[1] sq mi (170,304[1] km²)  - Width 361 miles (582 km)  - Length 447 miles (721 km)  - % water 17. ... Osceola, Seminole leader, detail from an 1838 lithograph The Seminole Wars, also known as the Florida Wars, were three wars or conflicts in Florida between the Seminole Native American tribe and the United States. ... Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Country redirects here. ... Official language(s) None Capital Oklahoma City Largest city Oklahoma City Area  Ranked 20th  - Total 69,960 sq mi (181,196 km²)  - Width 230 miles (370 km)  - Length 298 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Captain is a nautical term, an organizational title, and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ...

Early life and Seminole Wars

Bowlegs was born into a family of hereditary chiefs descended from Cowkeeper of the Oconee tribe of the Seminole in the village of Cuscowilla on the Alachua savannah (present-day Micanopy, Florida). His father's name was Secoffee, while it is thought that the chief Micanopy was his uncle. The name "Bowlegs" may be an alternate spelling of Bolek, a preceding Seminole chief; a story that he had bowlegs from riding horses is unsubstantiated. Cowkeeper (ca 1710 - 1783) is the Anglicized name of the first recorded chief of the Alachua band of Seminole tribe. ... Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... Micanopy is a town located in Alachua County, Florida, south of Gainesville, Florida. ... Micanopy (c. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Genu varum A deformity marked by medial angulation of the leg in relation to the thigh; an outward bowing of the legs. ...

Although Bowlegs signed the Treaty of Payne's Landing of 1832, he refused to leave Florida. While not particularly well-noted at the beginning of the Second Seminole Wars (roughly, 1835 to 1842), the surrender of Osceola and the death of Micanopy, amidst the loss of other prominent Seminole chiefs, left Bowlegs and his band of 200 warriors one of the most prominent fighters remaining by the time an end to hostilities was agreed to on 14 August 1842. As part of an effort to impress and awe the Seminole chiefs, the Federal government brought Bowlegs to Washington, D.C. to underline the power of the United States. A contemporary map of the reservation assigned to the Seminole Indians in the Treaty of Moultrie Creek The Treaty of Paynes Landing (Treaty with the Seminole, 1832) was an agreement signed on 9 May 1832 between the government of the United States and several chiefs of the Seminole Indians... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Osceola Osceola (1804 – January 20, 1838) was a war chief of the Seminole Indians in Flo. ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Nickname: Motto: Justitia Omnibus (=Justice for All) Location of Washington, D.C., in relation to the states Maryland and Virginia Coordinates: Country United States Federal District District of Columbia Government  - Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D)  - City Council Chairperson: Vincent C. Gray (D) Ward 1: Jim Graham (D) Ward 2: Jack...

Bowlegs and his band lived in relative peace until 1855 when a group of army engineers and surveyors invaded his home area in southwestern Florida, cutting down banana trees and destroying other property. These brazen actions are often seen as an intentional provocation to make Bowlegs react so the settlers would have a reason to force the Seminole out. The provocation worked; Bowlegs led his warriors in sporadic attacks for the next few years in what is known as the Third Seminole War. The Army once again proved unable to stop his guerrilla tactics. 1855 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Look up guerrilla in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

In early 1858, Chief Wild Cat of the Western Seminole was brought back from Indian Territory to try to convince him to relocate voluntarily and the government offered Bowlegs $10,000 and each of his followers $1000 if they did so. They initially refused, apparently in fear of government retaliation, but the band of 123 agreed to relocation later that year. In May, Bowlegs and his followers arrived in New Orleans, enroute to Arkansas and then on to their new home in the Indian Territory. A news correspondent described him as having "two wives, one son, five daughters, fifty slaves, and a hundred thousand dollars in hard cash."^[1] Upon his eventual arrival in Indian Territory, Bowlegs became a leading chief. He and his daughters became prominent land holders and slaveowners. 1858 (MDCCCLVIII) is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Wild Cat (c. ... Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Country redirects here. ... Nickname: Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Government  - Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area  - City  350. ... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,002 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ...

Civil War

With the secession of eleven Southern states in 1861, both the Union and Confederacy vied for control of the Indian Territory. Old tribal rivalries were renewed, with some aligning with the North and others with the South. Billy Bowlegs sided with the Union, hoping that somehow his participation would be rewarded by the Federal government after the war and his fervent desire to lead his people back to Florida would be fulfilled. When a Confederate force under Col. Douglas H. Cooper attacked Unionist tribes in the Indian Territory, Billy Bowlegs aligned his followers with Opothleyahola’s Upper Creeks and resisted. Together, they fought Cooper in a series of losing battles in the winter of 1861–62 that led to the withdrawal of the Union sympathizers to Kansas in a bitter trek known as the “Trail of Blood on Ice.” Billy Bowlegs’ band covered the rear after the Battle of Chustenahlah against Cherokee chief Stand Watie. They eventually settled near Fort Belmont, where a number of his Seminoles perished of exposure and starvation during the winter. For other uses, see Secession (disambiguation). ... The Union was a name used by many to refer to the Northern states during the American Civil War. ... Motto: Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem: God Save the South (unofficial) Dixie (traditional) The Bonnie Blue Flag (popular) Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia (May 29, 1861–April 2, 1865) Danville, Virginia (from April 3, 1865) Language(s) English (de facto) Government Republic President... Indian Territory in 1836 Indian Country redirects here. ... Douglas Hancock Cooper (November 1, 1815 - April 29, 1879) was an Indian Agent in what is now Oklahoma, and later a Confederate general during the American Civil War. ... Portrait of Opothleyahola during the 1830s Opothleyahola, also spelled Opothle Yohola, Opothleyoholo, Hu-pui-hilth Yahola, and Hopoeitheyohola, (about 1798 – March 27, 1863) was a Muscogee Creek Indian chief, noted as a brilliant orator and spokesperson of the Upper Creek Council. ... The Creeks are an American Indian people originally from the southeastern United States, also known by their original name Muscogee (or Muskogee), the name they use to identify themselves today. ... Official language(s) none Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... The Battle of Chustenahlah was fought in Osage County, Oklahoma, (then Indian Territory) on December 26, 1861, during the American Civil War. ... Stand Watie Stand Watie (12 December 1806 – 9 September 1871) (also known as Degataga stand firm and Isaac S. Watie) was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. ...

Billy Bowlegs formally enlisted in the Union Army as a captain in May 1862 and was assigned command of Company A of the First Indian Home Guards. He saw action in a number of battles that year and was commended by Col. William Cloud, commander of the Third Brigade, Army of the Frontier, for his actions at the Battle of Cane Hill in December. The First Indian Home Guards arrived on the battlefield, dismounted, and entered a patch of woods on the left-center, flanked by two white regiments from Kansas and Iowa. When the Iowans gave way under a heavy volley, the entire Union line wavered and fell back. Rallying, the Indians and Kansans pushed forward and gained the position. Colonel Cloud wrote, “Of the Indian officers, Captain Jon-neh, of the Uches, and Captain Billy Bowlegs, of the Seminoles, and Captain Tus-te-nup-chup-ko, of Company A (Creek), are deserving of the highest praise.”^[2] The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Captain is a nautical term, an organizational title, and a rank in various uniformed organizations. ... The Indian Home Guard were volunteer infantry regiments recruited from the Five Civilized Tribes of Indian Territory to support the Union during the American Civil War. ... The Army of the Frontier was a Union army that served in the Trans-Mississippi Theater during the Civil War. ... Battle of Cane Hill Conflict American Civil War Date November 28, 1862 Place Washington County, Arkansas Result Confederate tactical victory At the Battle of Cane Hill, Arkansas on November 28, 1862 Union troops under General John Blunt drive Confederates under General John Marmaduke back into the Boston Mountains in northwestern...

Eventually being reassigned to command of Company F, Billy Bowlegs remained prominent in the fighting in Kansas and Indian Territory. At a skirmish with Confederates at Rhea Mills, he lost two revolvers, saddle, bridle and his horse, but emerged unscathed.

He died in 1864 of smallpox and was buried in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery. Indian Agent G.C. Snow lamented, “His loss is very much regretted, as he was an influential man among (the Seminoles) and I believe generally beloved by all.”^[3] Smallpox (also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera) is a highly contagious disease unique to humans. ... Fort Gibson National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located a mile north of the town of Fort Gibson, in Muskogee County, Oklahoma. ...

He is memorialized by the namesake town of Bowlegs, Oklahoma. Bowlegs is a town located in Seminole County, Oklahoma. ...

References

• Porter, Kenneth, "Billy Bowlegs (Holata Micco) in the Civil War," Florida Historical Quarterly, Volume XLV, No. 4, April 1967.
• Thrapp, Dan L., The Encyclopedia of Frontier Biography. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1988. ISBN 0-8032-9418-2.
• U.S. War Department, The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, 70 volumes in 4 series. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1880-1901. Series 1, Volume 8, Part 1.
• Harpers Weekly, June 12, 1858. on-line version

Harpers Weekly (A Journal of Civilization) was an American political magazine published by Harper & Brothers from 1857 until 1916. ...

External links

• Billy Bowlegs at floridahistory.org
• Billy Bowlegs, National Portrait Gallery
• Famous Indian Chiefs

The National Portrait Gallery is an art gallery in Washington, DC. It has been part of the Smithsonian Institution since 1968. ...

Notes

1. ^ Harpers Weekly, June 12, 1858
2. ^ Official Records, Series 1, Volume 8.
3. ^ Thrapp, page 112.