Osceola

Seminole Patriot and Warrior

During the 1830's Osceola led the Seminole people of Florida in a valiant attempt to resist U.S. 
Government efforts to relocate them to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River.
The Seminole Wars were the longest and costliest Indians wars fought by the United States
 military at a cost of $50,000,000 and over 2,000 soldiers died-

Osceola's death at Fort Moultrie in 1838 foreshadowed the outcome of their struggle.
The majority of the Seminole people were eventually forced from their traditional homeland-

The word Osceola is a corrupted English pronunciation of the Seminole name for 'Black Drink Singer'.
During purification rites, a Seminole warrior drinks a black liquid brewed from the leaves of holly bushes.
The word 'Assin-ye-o-la' is the long drawn out cry that accompanied the ceremonial drinking-

There is little known for sure about Osceola's early life.

Osceola
b. 1804  d. 30 - January - 1838
Fort Moultrie, SC

Osceola had a full military funeral with rifle salute. 
A marble stone was erected over the grave containing the simple inscription, Patriot and Warrior.
By the 1880's the present iron railing was installed.
Over the years the gravestone split in half and was replaced by the current one in 1969.
The original gravestone is on exhibit at the visitor center at Fort Moultrie, SC
 

 

 

 
 

Osceola Memorial
 

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