1790-1802: Muskogee Free State

The establishment of the Muskogee Free State was an attempt by Pro-British Creek Indians and their supporters to halt the westward movement into the modern southeastern Gulf coast states by American settlers. The political entity was founded in 1792 by William A Bowles and even received recognition from the British government. His main target was the Spanish authorities in Florida but many of his Muskogee supporters were ardent anti-Americans.

Shortly after the founding, Bowles was captured by the Spanish and exiled. Bowles eventually escaped and returned to Muskogee territory by 1799. During his absence many supporters found new micos (leaders) to rally around and his movement lost power. Still, Bowles was able to raise a small army including three pirate ships and invaded Spanish Florida in 1802. His force included red Stick Creeks, Seminoles, Free Blacks, Pro-British whites, pirates and Spanish Deserters. The major battle of the campaign occurred at Fort San Marcos. Bowles force failed to capture the fort which not only ended the campaign but also ended the Muskogee Free State as well.

Gamers Note: If you wanted to conduct a pirate scenario, the Free State fleet would make a unique scenario. All three ships seem to have been small brigs with only a few guns. They even had a flag which consisted of a white edged Blue St George's Cross on a Red field (3 quarters) with a smiling yellow sun face in a Blue canton field upper pole corner.

1812 Patriot War

Unofficial raids by Pro-Americans from Georgia, who favored Annexation of Florida, against Spanish garrisons and their Seminole allies. The Georgia troops under Newman were severely defeated by a combined force of Seminoles and Maroons. A more successful expedition captured a Spanish town which was returned to Spain in 1815.

1813 Florida War

These actions occurred at the same time as the Georgia Patriot actions. However they received more official support from American authorities. A three week campaign conducted by a combined force of 250 Tennessee volunteers and 40-60 US regular troops. Many Seminole suppies were burned but no lasting effects occurred.

1810-14 Muskogee Civil War

A low intensity conflict between rival groups in the Muskogee Nation. The Upper Creek Towns dominated by the Red Stick faction fought the Lower Creek Towns dominated by the White Stick faction. The Red Sticks were dominated by Pure Blood warriors and tended to be Pro- British. the White Sticks were dominated by Mixed Blood micos and tended to be Pro- American. . Many of the people killed at Fort Mims were actually members of the Mixed Blood faction. Prior to Fort Mims much of the conflict centered around the conduct of rival Justice Posses (warriors dispatched by a mico to dispense justice).

After the massacre several sieges of walled towns occurred until the intervention of American forces. At this stage the Civil War activities merged with the US-Creek War. More detailed facts are given in other sections.

1813-14 The First Creek War

US forces responding to the request for aid by White Stick micos invade Muscogee territory from three directions. Most of the Muscogee land, thus most of the campaign occurred in modern Alabama and extreme western Georgia. The three expeditions pursued independent objectives which the ill supplied Red Stick faction collapsing in the end. Most of the land confiscated by the Americans belonged to micos of the Red Stick factions which forced them to migrate mainly to Florida.

1814-15 Major Blue's Florida Expedition

General Jackson , without official approval, authorized Major Blue to enter Spanish territory with the mission of exterminating Red Stick refugee elements which had fled to Florida

1817 The First Seminole War or Second Creek War or Jackson's Florida Expedition

General Jackson with 500 regular troops, Tennessee volunteers and White Stick Creeks, entered Spanish territory with the mission to support annexation movements for Florida, destroy locations used to support runaway slaves and to stop Red Stick retailitory raids into Alabama and Georgia. The main active Seminole groups were the Alachua and the Mikasukis. During this campaign the White Stick Creeks send 1500 warriors divided into 18 companies under BG McIntosh to serve with the American troops. The war broke the Seminole power in northern Florida--west of the Suawnee river and forced Seminoles and Creeks to migrate further south.

1836-1837 The Third Creek War

(Some researchers count this as the Second Creek War instead of the 1817-18 campaign)

Muscogee in east Alabama, north Florida and south Georgia , now including some White-sticks, resisted the American government's attempt to conficate land. There was a series of raids, skirmishes and ambushes between white settlers/ squatters and Muscogee land owners. . With most regular troops committed to the Seminole campaign, the American forces consisted on independently operating state militia companies. Many Muscogee tried to migrate to Florida and join the Seminoles rather than move to Oklahoma (as happened to any captured Creeks).

1835-42 The Second Seminole War or The Florida War

The longest and deadliest of the wars between the Americans and the Seminole Confederation. It should be regarded as the US Army's first "VietNam". The similarities in military and political failures, as wekk as, successes between the two wars is remarkable. Assignment to this front was considered by most professional soldiers as a career killer. It should be noted that as with the Creek War, not every Seminole fought against the USA. Factions among the tribes still existed, many individual warriors fought with the Americans, as well as the Creek Regiment.

In December 1836 it was estimated that Osceola, Micanopy, Philip and Osuchee controlled the bulk of the Seminoles with about 100 devoted warriors each. The commands camped within a day's march of each other. These commands could swell in numbers from local tribes if the enemy approached. Other smaller groups also operated in more isolated locations. By 1837 the most active Seminole tribes were the Tallahassees and Mikasukis.

In 1837 the following American troop dispositions are reported : 1680 men assigned to fort garrison duty, 750 men on convoy escort duty and 3750 men divided into four mobile columns which conducted most of the search and destroy operations. The war just declined in intensity rather than ending with a peace treaty.

In May 1838 when Taylor assumed command, he had 1830 regular troops divided into 4 Dragoon companies and 26 Infantry/Redleg companies.

According to Chris Kimball, "From 1792 to 1859 there were over 150 battles fought in Florida between the Florida Indians and the United States.... Around 1600 soldiers, sailors, marines, and militia soldiers died during the Second Seminole War...."

1850s The Third Seminole War

Several old veteran Seminole micos protested certain American actions without success. The failure to be respected lead to several micos conducting raids against the violators. The raids and the war ended when these micos were captured.