Osceola

Even if the story of Osceola's black wife was a fabrication, it was partially based on one of the best known events leading up to the war: the arrest of Osceola in June of 1835. Over the previous winter, Osceola had continued to resist emigration. Finally in June, after a heated argument, Wiley Thompson placed the chief in irons and threw him in the stockade.

The incident enraged the Seminole warrior. For awhile he smoldered in anger. Then he calmed down and plotted revenge. To gain release, he promised to accept emigration. As a show of faith, he even rounded up seventy-nine followers to witness a statement to this effect. Wiley Thompson was so pleased that he wrote the President an exultant letter and gave Osceola a fine rifle. It was said that the chief accepted the rifle with a gleam in his eye.

"I have now no doubt of his sincerity, and as little that the greatest difficulty is surmounted." -- Wiley Thompson to President Jackson in his report of June 3, 1835