Scouts: the Black Seminoles, 1870-1914
Prior to the Civil War, members of the Five Southeastern Tribes, had owned black slaves. Slaves, both from other tribes and from White masters, found a ready escape in Florida with the Seminoles. While some Seminoles did own black slaves, for the most part they welcomed blacks to live among them and intermarry with Natives. Mixed race Seminole leaders, such as John Horse, were trusted colleagues of Seminole leaders such as Osceola and Coacoochee, fighting for what they considered their homeland, too. John Horse eventually agreed to lead his people to Oklahoma, under a promise that they would not be returned to slavery. However, once in Oklahoma, White slave catchers began taking blacks and mixed race Natives back into slavery. John Hors led his people from Oklahoma and down into Mexico to escape enslavement. Many became scouts for the Mexican Army. Following the Civil War, the U.S. government turned its attention to Texas, where tribes such as...