Liberty or Death

Within weeks 380 Seminole warriors were secure in the Everglades near Arpeika's village, waiting for Taylor and his men. These were the die-hards -- the fire-eating Mikasukis, who had refused to enter all negotiations; Coacoochee and the traditionalists, who vowed to fight to the death; and John Horse, whose Black Seminole vanguard were committed to serve at the front of any action. As they had throughout the war, the two groups fought as allies -- the Indians for land, the blacks for freedom.