• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Florida Traveler

Off-beat day trips and things to do in Florida.

  • Florida History
  • Florida Oddities
  • Florida State Parks
  • Florida Day Trips
  • Florida Springs
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Search
Home / Florida History / Fort King Battle Reenacts the Start of Second Seminole War

Fort King Battle Reenacts the Start of Second Seminole War

By Florida Traveler

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Print
  • Email
  • Share on Tumblr

As the Indian agent for the federal government, Wiley Thompson was charged by president Andrew Jackson with the removal of the Seminoles from Florida to make room for white settlers. His death at the hands of Osceola, a leader of the native resistance, was one of two events on Decembery 28, 1835 that sparked the Second Seminole War.

The events of that day are reenacted at a newly built replica of Fort King in Ocala in December. (The other event, known as Dade’s Massacre, is reenacted the first week of January in Bushnell.)

Fort King
Fort King was the most important federal military outpost in Florida’s interior in its day. It was built in 1827 after the Treaty of Moultrie Creek, which set aside a large Seminole reservation in central Florida. The fort was originally intended to protect the reservation against trespassing white settlers.

But Fort King failed to accomplish its purpose, and in 1829 it was abandoned when funding from the federal government was cut. The following year Congress passed the Indian Removal Act that would force the relocation of all native Americans west of the Mississippi River.

Osceola along with four Seminole chiefs resisted the Indian Removal Act. He fought federal troops until his capture, under a false flag of truce, in 1837.
Troops returned to Fort King in 1832, this time on a mission to support forced removal of the Seminoles. A skirmish at Fort King on December 28, 1835 resulted in the death and scalping of Wiley Thompson, along with Lt. Constantine Smith.
Osceola and Thompson had a turbulent but at times friendly relationship. In fact, Thompson gave Osceola the rifle that Osceola would use to kill him.

The two-day event called “Fight for Freedom” reenacts Osceola’s attack on Fort King and the killing of Indian Agent Wiley Thompson. The event sparked the Second Seminole War.

In addition to the reenactment, the event presents living history of life in the 1830s. Visitors can tour the fort, shop at period vendors, explore encampments, enjoy refreshments and watch games including tomahawk throwing and horseshoes.

Attack on Fort King: If You Go

  • East Fort King Street

The 2022 event will be held on December 3 & 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Veterans and children under 5 years old are admitted free of charge. The event is located at Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 East Fort King Street in Ocala, Florida. 3925 East Fort King Street in Ocala, Florida The 2019 event will be held on December 7 & 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 per person. Veterans and children under 5 years old are admitted free of charge. The event is located at Fort King National Historic Landmark, 3925 East Fort King Street in Ocala, Florida.

Fort King
Attack on Fort King
Facebook Comments

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • More
  • Print
  • Email
  • Share on Tumblr

Filed Under: Florida History

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kate says

    December 11, 2022 at 10:13 pm

    https://www.semtribe.com/stof/history/historic-seminole

    I love Osceola and how badass he was, but please correct his status for historical accuracy. He was not a chief, not even a tribal leader, just well known for being awesome.

    Reply
    • Michael Warren says

      December 13, 2022 at 10:03 am

      Thanks for this. I’ll update it. But in reading I’m seeing many references to him being a “chief.” Could you share a reference about the distinction?

      Reply

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

  • Contribute to Florida Traveler
  • Florida Traveler Forum
  • Florida Travel Marketing
  • Suggest a Story
  • Privacy Policy

© 2023 Michael Warren · Contact