American Justice

Jesup felt utterly betrayed. He had extended the promise of freedom to the Black Seminoles on his own authority as the war's commanding officer. Now, ten years after the fact, the country was going back on its word. Polk and Mason had violated Jesup's personal honor and the honor of the Army.

When the War department asked for advice on how best to return the Black Seminoles to bondage, Jesup replied with a terse, angry note:

"Genl Jesup considering that his personal honor is involved … declines any opinion as to the manner of returning negroes, whom he considers entitled to their freedom, to slavery."