Comanches

By November 1850, most of the Black Seminoles who would make it to Mexico had already arrived and were living on temporary lands at the headwaters of Rio San Rodrigo. According to Black Seminole oral traditions, a few scattered parties would arrive over the coming years. Refugees from Texas slavery would also join the Black Seminole ranks, but never in large numbers. Coacoochee’s confederation peaked in size in late 1850 with about 300 Kickapoos, 200 Seminole Indians, and 200 Black Seminoles.

Los mascogos, as the Mexicans called the blacks, had already served their new government successfully in punitive raids on Apache and Comanche bands. Many more raids would follow—three decades of blood, as the Black Seminoles found themselves delicately situated on a border between warring nations and hostile tribes.