Pease Creek Tragedy
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Pease Creek Tragedy
By Spessard Stone
In April 1849, Capt. George Payne was clerk of the Kennedy & Darling Indian trading post at Charlotte Harbor. The 32-year-old former sailor and native of Cornwall, Connecticut had grown to love Florida for its climate, access to the sea, and natural beauty.
While at Charlotte Harbor, he had met many Indians who had come in to trade and had become well acquainted with Billy Bowlegs, chief of the Seminoles on the Caloosahatchee River, and Sam Jones, chief of the Mikasukies at Lake Istokpoga. Although the Indians only numbered several hundred, he believed they were many more and feared they were uneasy and might break out from their reservations and sweep the country to the banks of the Suwanee. He, nevertheless, did not consider himself in any immediate danger.
Capt. Payne, however, had now a pressing task. As the hurricane of September 1848 had badly damaged the buildings of the Charlotte Harbor trading post, the Tampa proprietors, Thomas P. Kennedy and John Darling, had been granted permission to relocate to Hatse Lotka, a tributary of Pease Creek (Peace River), fifty-one miles by the route from Tampa.
Loading the remaining goods onto canoes, the ascent up Pease began. Payne observed: "We came up the river 80 miles & from the fact that it had never before been travelled by white men the journey, excepting rains, was rather interesting...lots of game in the live oak hammocks on the banks & plenty of fish in the stream..."
When completed, the store was about a 22-square-foot log building, with upper and lower floors of pit-saw lumber and a chimney and floor to the kitchen.
Payne soon developed a plentiful trade with the Indians, who, for such items as melons, potatoes, venison, deerskins, bearskins, and beeswax, were offered in exchange a variety of goods, including rifles, powder, lead, calicos, blankets, beads, and tobacco.
To assist him Payne by June had hired Dempsey Whidden, 21-year-old son of James W. Whidden, who lived six miles north of the post. Then on July 3, William McCullough, a 27-year-old former Army veteran, and his 18-year-old wife, Nancy, sister of Dempsey, were engaged, respectively, as clerk and cook/housekeeper. With the couple was their seven-month old daughter, Elisabeth Frances.
On July 17 at about noon, Echo Emathla Chopco, called Chipco, a Tallahassee chief known for his hostility to whites, and three women came to the store. After selling their goods, they, appearing friendlier than usual, lingered for several hours before leaving.
Then about half an hour before sunset, four other Indians, carrying only their rifles, arrived. After telling Payne they had a large pack of skins on the east side of Pease Creek and wanted his boat to get them across, Payne replied that after supper he would assist them in getting the pack over, but declined their request to sleep in the store. Capt. Payne and Whidden until early twilight stayed outside where they talked with the Indians until called in for supper; whereupon, they left the Indians, smoking their pipes.
Unexpectedly, the Indians reacted violently. As Payne, Whidden, and the McCulloughs began to eat, the Indians shot into the door, thereby killing Payne and Whidden and wounding McCullough in his left shoulder.
The McCulloughs fled but were pursued by their attackers who fired upon them, wounding both William and Nancy, William in the right thigh and Nancy near the knee. On July 18, William saw a bright light in the direction of the store, which he concluded was the store burning. Hiding until dark, they evaded their foes and, after much hardship, on July 20 arrived some twenty-five miles away at the Alafia home of William J. "Jockey" Whidden.
There the McCulloughs found the family of James W. Whidden and Mary Altman Whidden, Nancy's parents, who had fled their homestead after four Indians had on July 19 shot into the Whidden home and wounded a son. As at the store, the Indians were observed to be sober.
On July 20 a rumor was brought into the Fort Brooke (Tampa) garrison of the attack on the Whidden family, and Lt. Gibbon with four men was sent to investigate. Returning the next morning, he reported that at Jockey Whidden's homestead he had received confirmation not only of the attack on the Whidden family, but also from William McCullough of the trading post assault.
Lt. John S. Garland with a detachment of twenty-five men were dispatched to the trading post, which they reached on July 23. Upon returning on July 25, Lt. Garland reported that he had found the trading house with its out buildings burned to the ground, and a nearby small bridge partially destroyed. The burned bodies of Payne and Whidden had been collected and buried.
Tracks were seen going to and from the store to the river, as if the Indians had engaged in bearing off the goods, but a barrel of whiskey was found near the house untouched. Whidden's camp was left undisturbed, with the exception of a small sum of money taken.
The settlers' worse fears of an Indian outbreak seemed to have been realized when on July 22 an express arrived from the commander at Fort Marion in St. Augustine to Major W. W. Morris at Fort Brooke that the Indians on July 12 at the Indian River settlement had killed one man and wounded another. Still Morris and other officers were disposed to doubt the Indians were determined on another war, and instead focused on the marauders as an outlaw band.
But rumors spread like wildfire. A particularly alarming one was by an express rider, who along his entire route from Tampa to Palatka, alarmed the settlers with a false report that 100 warriors had appeared in force at Pease Creek and forced the detachment under Lt. Garland to retreat.
By July 24 Capt. John C. Casey, the Indian agent, had concluded that Kennedy and Darling and their associate Micajah Brown, who also was Hillsborough County's state senator, were anxious for a war.
Darling, by July 28, had surmised that the same marauding party of four had not perpetrated the two attacks, and the store assault was composed of a large number of Indians due in part to the distant between the two points and the quantity of goods removed from the store. Darling was convinced that at the last green corn dance in the latter part of June, the Indians had determined to make war.
Col. Jesse Carter of Tampa, who had accompanied Lt. Garland to the burned store, related that at the attack on Pease Creek the Indians had obtained twelve new rifles, two or three kegs of powder, and nearly one hundred pounds of lead, and was convinced war had commenced.
The frontiersmen of Hillsborough County were panic-stricken. Abandoning their homes, they assembled their families in block houses while the men organized to scout and look after their crops and cattle. Applications were made for arms, ammunition, and rations. Capt. Casey was amazed that so many of the pioneers did not have a gun or serviceable arm in their cabins.
The reaction of the settlers in Hillsborough County was a reflection of those on the east coast settlements. Initially at Indian River, the forty-five settlers had sought refuge in a vessel offshore and then to safer locales. Fearing an outbreak among the Indians, all the settlers from the Miami River and part from New River fled to Cape Florida.
Soon whole neighborhoods abounded in rumors respecting the movements of the Indians. Many of the inhabitants, even north of Palatka, abandoned their settlements and crops, and fled to the nearest towns although not an Indian track had been seen.
An overwhelming military buildup began even though it was well-known that before October beyond Pease Creek, due to the rainy season, no offensive operations against the Indians could be successfully undertaken. By August 3, Governor Moseley had called in to service two companies of mounted volunteers (175 men) to occupy the line between Smyrna and Tampa in posts of 20 to 25 men, on which to rally the settlers. On August 10, Capt. Dell's company of mounted state militia from Newnansville arrived at Tampa and were followed the next day by Capt. Fisher's mounted company from Tallahassee.
Additionally, by August 14 five companies of federal troops near Florida were ordered to Indian River and Pease Creek; also, the 7th Infantry from Jefferson barracks was dispatched to Tampa Bay. From Pensacola on August 17, the steamship Alabama with companies A, C, F, L and M of the 4th Artillery docked at Tampa and on August 24 General David E. Twiggs and staff arrived.
Meanwhile the Indians had initiated peace overtures. On August 19 at his rancho at the south end of Sarasota Bay, Philip Bermudez found fastened to his door a white flag made of feathers and the token of Billy Bowlegs. Bermudez made the necessary marks, signifying the time he had found the flag, and his intention to return on the full moon. Notified, Capt. Casey expresses his intention to accompany him. As a result, Major Morris countermanded an order for the troops to move into the country for the protection of the settlements as the move might tend to alarm the Indians and endanger the safety of Capt. Casey.
General Twiggs, after assuming command of the army in Florida on August 25, reacted by entering into negotiations with Billy Bowlegs to secure the fugitive Indians and also authorized a cordon of forts to traverse the state from the mouth of the Manatee River to Key Biscayne.
Casey on the evening of September 3, while anchored off Sarasota, was hailed by three Indians on shore, one of whom waved a white flag. Landing, he arranged an interview with them for September 4. The next morning Casey met with the Indians, who relayed that Billy Bowlegs had been sent to look for him. They said Billy had heard with regret of the late murders and that if Casey would meet them, he would be able to settle the difficulties to the entire satisfaction of the white people. Furthermore they stated that Sam Jones had sent a runner to Billy with the news, and urged active measures to preserve peace.
The murders, without the sanction or knowledge of any chief, they continued, were committed by five young Seminoles of Sam Jones' band, who reside on the Kissimmee River, one of whom was an outlaw, and desired to make war for the purpose of saving himself from the Indian law. After the first murder, Assunwah was dispatched to arrest them, but reached the store the day after the killings there. Overtaken and arrested by Chitto-Hajo, the marauders, who had endeavored unsuccessfully to recruit others, were then enroute for the settlements.
Casey on an unrelated matter from June 30 to July 21 had been on a trip to Charlotte Harbor but had been unable to establish contact with Billy Bowlegs. From the three he belatedly learned that he had left one day before the chiefs had arrived.
Capt. Casey arranged for a council at the old trading store at Charlotte Harbor. On September 18, Billy Bowlegs, joined by the head chief of Sam Jones' band the next day, met with General Twiggs and Capt. Casey and agreed to surrender in forty-five days the five murderers who were at their town on the Kissimmee. When General Twiggs objected to such a lengthy time, the Indians explained that as the country was inundated, traveling would be difficult, and the five murderers had to be seized by stratagem and surprise, for they were desperate and armed. They then compromised on thirty days, October 19.
On October 17, General Twiggs and party returned to Charlotte Harbor to find that Billy Bowlegs, Sam Jones, and about sixty warriors had been waiting for nine days. On October 18, Billy Bowlegs surrendered three of the assailants, Pahay Hajo, Yahola Hajo, and Kotsa Elec Hajo, the hand of a fourth Hiamthlemathla(?) killed in the attempt to capture him, and promised to catch Sah-tai-yee, who had escaped.
Capt. Casey had compiled several lists of suspects, of whose names the spelling varied. At the "Pea River" store on July 17, he had identified the following four men sent from the river to the store to fire: Pahay Hajo, Yaholochee, Haithlemathla Hajo, and Kotsa-tai-Hajo. Those who pursued and fired at the retreating McCulloughs he identified as: Echo Emathla Chopko, Pahay Hajo, and Yaholochee. Echo Emathla Chopko was Echo Emathla Chopco, who had been present at the store prior to the arrival of the four, had later joined in the attack, but escaped justice as the fugitive Sah-tai-yee was named the fifth man.
General Twiggs strongly urged emigration, which Billy Bowlegs agreed to propose to his people, but many of them declared on the spot they would rather die than go to Arkansas.
When Billy Bowlegs turned over the prisoners, he expected them to be immediately executed, but General Twiggs had other plans for them. He had promised if they would consent to emigrate he would allow them to take the prisoners with them. He had then sent the prisoners to the military post on Pease Creek. Furthermore, in the event it became necessary, he anticipated using them as guides as they promised to show the hiding places of the families.
Secretary of War George W. Crawford had given General Twiggs several options concerning the prisoners, but he preferred that he surrender them to civilian authorities for trial. The district judge, however, had concurred with General Twiggs's decision.
General Twiggs, however, on November 7 advised Secretary Crawford, "I should not be taken by surprise if they [Indians] commenced hostilities as soon as they can get their families in some secure place."
If war came, General Twiggs was prepared. By October 9, 1849 there were assembled in Florida about 1,700 troops to counter less than one-eight as many Indians. The federal buildup continued despite the fact that on October 1 Governor Thomas Brown had ordered the discharge of the volunteers.
General Twiggs by November 26, 1849 had completed an impressive line of fortification, which included: Fort Hamer on the Manatee River, Fort Chokonikla, Fort Crawford, Fort Meade, Fort Myakka midway between Fort Crawford and Fort Chokonikla, Fort Fraser on Pease Creek, Fort Gardner, Fort Gatlin, Fort Pierce, and Fort Dallas at Key Biscayne. Also a bridge had been erected across Pease Creek at Fort Chokonikla. Fort Chokonikla, meaning burnt house, was established one-half mile north of the ruins of the trading post on October 26, 1849.
In January 1850, General Twiggs completed his buildup of forts and military roads while continuing to pursue Indian emigration. Negotiations with Billy Bowlegs at Fort Chokonikla in January offered promise of resolving the conflicting issue of emigration.
On February 28 the steamer Fashion sailed from Tampa Bay to New Orleans. On board were seventy-four Indians, including the three prisoners, most of whom had lived on the northern part of the reserve and in the immediate neighborhood to the whites.
Capt. Casey now redirected his efforts to the Seminoles under Billy Bowlegs living in the vicinity of the Caloosahatchee River. While meeting in council various leaders of the Seminoles and Mikasukies and a delegate from the Tallahassees, Capt. Casey on March 24 learned that about three weeks previously all the people of Bowlegs' town had apparently in haste moved off towards the Big Cypress.
Bowlegs sent a message that he had left his town because two young men who were sent into trade, not to emigrate, had been shipped west, and they were afraid to trust the Army anymore. While desiring peace, he could not leave the country, nor induce his people to go, but they would be contented with a smaller reservation.
Casey explained the two young men had both seemed anxious to escape before the emigrating party reached Fort Hamer, but as they had made no complaint to him he presumed they had changed their minds after coming into Fort Chokonikla.
Finally to Capt. Casey on April 12 at Fort Myers, Billy Bowlegs reiterated his opposition to emigration and that if they were not molested they never would make any trouble and would promptly bring in and surrender any offenders.
When President Zachary Taylor in a meeting with General Twiggs expressed a willingness to allow Billy Bowlegs and his people, subject to good behavior, to remain in Florida, it appeared the government policy of emigration had been put to rest. Then within a week on July 9, 1850 President Taylor died, and his successor Millard Fillmore soon reverted to the old order of forced removal.
With peace evident, General Twiggs had previously ordered the closing of most of the forts. Among them was Fort Chokonikla, which was abandoned July 18, 1850. (Its site is contained in Paynes Creek State Park, located on SR 664-A, east of Bowling Green. The creek Hatse Lotka had soon after Capt. Payne's death been renamed for him.)
When on August 6, 1850, eight-year-old Daniel Hubbard was killed by Indians in Marion County, the good will of the Indians was tested. After a lengthy investigation, Capt. Casey tentatively concluded that three Indians of Echo Emathla Chopko band's had slain the boy in retaliation for the theft of three ponies by Jacob Summerlin. On May 17, 1851, Pahosa, Chitto Yaholochee, and Kotsa Hajo were arrested at Fort Myers and on May 19 arrived at Tampa.
Capt. Casey, after examining them, delivered them for trial to Justice Simon Turman. The trio, however, charged the crime to Echo Emathla Chopko, Mah' nah' hee, Tallapoosa, and Puffainee (Fuso Hatchee Hajo), which led Capt. Casey to fear that the three prisoners were scapegoats.
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Justice was thwarted though when on May 23 after an attempted jail break, the three Indians were found hanging by the bars of the windows. Many citizens believed they were murdered and implicated the sheriff Benjamin Hagler and the jailers William Campbell and "Young" Whidden. Campbell and "Young" Whidden were respectively the brother-in-law and brother of Dempsey Whidden killed at the store in July 1849. The latter was, probably, James Lawrence Whidden.
Thereafter an uneasy peace prevailed until December 1855 when the final war with the Indians reignited the frontier.
If war came, General Twiggs was prepared. By October 9, 1849 there were assembled in Florida about 1,700 troops to counter less than one-eight as many Indians. The federal buildup continued despite the fact that on October 1 Governor Thomas Brown had ordered the discharge of the volunteers.
General Twiggs by November 26, 1849 had completed an impressive line of fortification, which included: Fort Hamer on the Manatee River, Fort Chokonikla, Fort Crawford, Fort Meade, Fort Myakka midway between Fort Crawford and Fort Chokonikla, Fort Fraser on Pease Creek, Fort Gardner, Fort Gatlin, Fort Pierce, and Fort Dallas at Key Biscayne. Also a bridge had been erected across Pease Creek at Fort Chokonikla. Fort Chokonikla, meaning burnt house, was established one-half mile north of the ruins of the trading post on October 26, 1849.
In January 1850, General Twiggs completed his buildup of forts and military roads while continuing to pursue Indian emigration. Negotiations with Billy Bowlegs at Fort Chokonikla in January offered promise of resolving the conflicting issue of emigration.
On February 28 the steamer Fashion sailed from Tampa Bay to New Orleans. On board were seventy-four Indians, including the three prisoners, most of whom had lived on the northern part of the reserve and in the immediate neighborhood to the whites.
Capt. Casey now redirected his efforts to the Seminoles under Billy Bowlegs living in the vicinity of the Caloosahatchee River. While meeting in council various leaders of the Seminoles and Mikasukies and a delegate from the Tallahassees, Capt. Casey on March 24 learned that about three weeks previously all the people of Bowlegs' town had apparently in haste moved off towards the Big Cypress.
Bowlegs sent a message that he had left his town because two young men who were sent into trade, not to emigrate, had been shipped west, and they were afraid to trust the Army anymore. While desiring peace, he could not leave the country, nor induce his people to go, but they would be contented with a smaller reservation.
Casey explained the two young men had both seemed anxious to escape before the emigrating party reached Fort Hamer, but as they had made no complaint to him he presumed they had changed their minds after coming into Fort Chokonikla.
Finally to Capt. Casey on April 12 at Fort Myers, Billy Bowlegs reiterated his opposition to emigration and that if they were not molested they never would make any trouble and would promptly bring in and surrender any offenders.
When President Zachary Taylor in a meeting with General Twiggs expressed a willingness to allow Billy Bowlegs and his people, subject to good behavior, to remain in Florida, it appeared the government policy of emigration had been put to rest. Then within a week on July 9, 1850 President Taylor died, and his successor Millard Fillmore soon reverted to the old order of forced removal.
With peace evident, General Twiggs had previously ordered the closing of most of the forts. Among them was Fort Chokonikla, which was abandoned July 18, 1850. (Its site is contained in Paynes Creek State Park, located on SR 664-A, east of Bowling Green. The creek Hatse Lotka had soon after Capt. Payne's death been renamed for him.)
When on August 6, 1850, eight-year-old Daniel Hubbard was killed by Indians in Marion County, the good will of the Indians was tested. After a lengthy investigation, Capt. Casey tentatively concluded that three Indians of Echo Emathla Chopko band's had slain the boy in retaliation for the theft of three ponies by Jacob Summerlin. On May 17, 1851, Pahosa, Chitto Yaholochee, and Kotsa Hajo were arrested at Fort Myers and on May 19 arrived at Tampa.
Capt. Casey, after examining them, delivered them for trial to Justice Simon Turman. The trio, however, charged the crime to Echo Emathla Chopko, Mah' nah' hee, Tallapoosa, and Puffainee (Fuso Hatchee Hajo), which led Capt. Casey to fear that the three prisoners were scapegoats.
Justice was thwarted though when on May 23 after an attempted jail break, the three Indians were found hanging by the bars of the windows. Many citizens believed they were murdered and implicated the sheriff Benjamin Hagler and the jailers William Campbell and "Young" Whidden. Campbell and "Young" Whidden were respectively the brother-in-law and brother of Dempsey Whidden killed at the store in July 1849. The latter was, probably, James Lawrence Whidden.
Thereafter an uneasy peace prevailed until December 1855 when the final war with the Indians reignited the frontier.
This article was originally published in two parts in The Herald-Advocate (Wauchula, Fla.) of July 22 and August 19, 1999.
January 17, 2001 & links = October 17, 2001