Key Actors

In less than a week, everything in Florida had changed. White residents who had become accustomed to viewing the Seminoles as an enfeebled race suddenly had to reckon with their surprising power. 

At the outset of war, the Indians numbered approximately 4,000. The various bands were loosely organized under Micanopy as head civil chief. The Seminoles had no official ranks for warriors, but Osceola was quickly recognized as the leading war chief. Other prominent leaders included Yaholoochee (Cloud), Emathla (King Philip), and Emathla's son Coacoochee (Wildcat), of whom more will be heard later.