Indian Killers

The Black Seminoles rode under El Capitán Juan Caballo (Captain John Horse), the Seminole Indians under El Coronel Gato del Monte (Colonel Wild Cat). “The maroons dressed like the Seminoles in brightly colored turbans, shirts, and leggings, and wore bracelets and bangles,” writes Mulroy. “They were armed heavily and rode in their own companies as during the Seminole Wars.”

As an incentive, the Mexican government instituted a bounty of $200 for the scalps of the hostiles, with higher rewards for live warriors and lesser amounts for women and children. The Seminole allies quickly proved their worth. Between January and May of 1852, they presented 74 Comanche scalps and prisoners to the Mexican government, receiving $18,000 in payment.