Southeast American Indian Wars

1711-1858
Settlers in the Carolinas, Alabama, and Florida — versus — Southeast Indians

Conquistadors — 1513-21 (de Leon), 1539-43 (de Soto)     Tuscarora Wars — 1711-15 (N. Carolina)      Yamasee Wars — 1715-17 (S. Carolina)      Cherokee Wars — 1758-61 (Georgia)      Chickamauga War — 1776-94 (Tennesee)      Creek Wars — 1813-14 (Alabama)      Seminole Wars — 1814-58 (Florida)     

The southeastern states, including the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama were colonized by by white settlers after the earliest settlements in Virginia and New England so serious conflicts with tribes in those regions did not occur until the early 18th century. Some of the important tribes in the region included the Tuscarora, Yamasee, Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, and Seminoles.

After over one hundred years of settlement and continued conflict with the southeast Indians, the American government forcibly relocated thousands of Indians from throughout the region to eastern Oklahoma. This orderly removal, beginning in 1830, was just as devastating to many tribes as outright war, and is called the "Trail of Tears". Conflicts continued, especially with the Seminoles of Florida, but by 1858 most active resistance had ceased.

American Indian tribes of the Southeast include:

Spanish Conquistadors : 1513-1543

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Almost 150 years previous to the conflicts between white settlers and the Southeast tribes, Spanish explorers in the region, including Ponce de Leon and Hernando De Soto had some conflicts with these tribes. These expeditions are included included because the involved many of the same tribes that were later in conflict with American settlers.


No Battle information for Battle id = mauvila

Story Links
Book Links
Early European Intercourse with the Indians  in  Indian History for Young Folks  by  Francis S. Drake
Fountain of Youth  in  America First—100 Stories from Our History  by  Lawton B. Evans
De Soto and the Mississippi  in  America First—100 Stories from Our History  by  Lawton B. Evans
The Fountain of Youth  in  Story of the Thirteen Colonies  by  H. A. Guerber
The Father of Waters  in  Story of the Thirteen Colonies  by  H. A. Guerber
How De Soto Came to the Father of Waters  in  The Men Who Found America  by  Frederick Winthrop Hutchinson
The Fountain of Youth  in  Historical Tales: American II  by  Charles Morris
De Soto and the Father of Waters  in  Historical Tales: American II  by  Charles Morris
Defeated by Caribs  in  Juan Ponce de Leon  by  Frederick A. Ober
Juan Ponce's Last Campaign  in  Juan Ponce de Leon  by  Frederick A. Ober
Battles with the Indians  in  Ferdinand De Soto and the Invasion of Florida  by  Frederick A. Ober
Fierce Apalachees  in  Ferdinand De Soto and the Invasion of Florida  by  Frederick A. Ober
Desperate Encounter at Mauvila  in  Ferdinand De Soto and the Invasion of Florida  by  Frederick A. Ober


Book Links
Ponce de Leon  by  Frederick Ober
Ferdinand de Soto  by  Frederick Ober


Commander
Short Biography
Ponce de Leon First Spanish governor of Puerto Rico. Explored inland regions of Florida while searching for the fountain of youth.
Hernando De Soto Adventurer who aided in conquest of Peru, then explored Southwestern United States. Discovered Mississippi river.
Tuscaloosa Choctaw chieftain who resisted de Soto at the Battle of Mauvila during his expedition through the southwest.


Carolina Indian Wars : 1711-1755

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Description of Tuscarora Wars (1711-15) and Yamasee Wars (1715-1717) in North and South Carolina.

Story Links
Book Links
War with the Indians in North and South Carolina  in  This Country of Ours  by  H. E. Marshall


Chickamauga Cherokee Wars : 1774-1778 (Tennessee, Georgia)

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About Chickamauga/Cherokee Wars.

Story Links
Book Links
The French and the Natchez Indians  in  Historical Tales: American II  by  Charles Morris


Creek Wars : 1813-1814 (Alabama)

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About Creek Wars (a.k.a. Red Stick War)

Important Battles/Massacres:
Talladega
Ft. Mims
Horseshoew Bend


Commander
Short Biography
Andrew Jackson Hero of the Battle of New Orleans, President of U.S., and founder of Democratic Party.
Red Eagle Half-Creek, half-scotch who led the 'Red-sticks', and was held responsible for the Fort Mims massacre.
Tuscaloosa Choctaw chieftain who resisted de Soto at the Battle of Mauvila during his expedition through the southwest.


Story Links
Book Links
War with the Creek Nation  in  Indian History for Young Folks  by  Francis S. Drake
Old Hickory  in  America First—100 Stories from Our History  by  Lawton B. Evans
How Old Hickory Fought the Creeks  in  Historical Tales: American II  by  Charles Morris
End of the War  in  American History Stories, Volume III  by  Mara L. Pratt
Old Fort Mims the Foolish  in  Boys' Book of Border Battles  by  Edwin L. Sabin
Red Sticks at Horseshoe Bend  in  Boy's Book of Indian Warriors  by  Edwin L. Sabin


Seminole Wars : 1814-1858 (Florida)

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About First, Second, Third Seminole Wars (1814-1819, 1835-1842, 1855-1858)


Commander
Short Biography
Andrew Jackson Hero of the Battle of New Orleans, President of U.S., and founder of Democratic Party.
William Henry Harrison War hero of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812, and briefly, President of the United States.
Sir Walter Scott Author best known for novels set in Scotland.
Zachary Taylor Military leader who served in various Indian Wars and the Mexican-American War. Twelfth U.S. President.
Osceola Half-breed Seminole Warrior who resisted the settlement of Florida.
Billy Bowlegs AmerIndian chief who frustrated warred against the United States in the Seminole Wars.


Story Links
Book Links
War with the Seminoles of Florida  in  Indian History for Young Folks  by  Francis S. Drake
Osceola, Seminole Chief  in  America First—100 Stories from Our History  by  Lawton B. Evans
Jackson Stories  in  Story of the Great Republic  by  H. A. Guerber
Osceola  in  Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known  by  Oliver Otis Howard
Billy Bowlegs and the Everglades of Florida  in  Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known  by  Oliver Otis Howard
Osceola  in  Four American Indians  by  Frances M. Perry
Seeking the Seminoles in Florida  in  Boys' Book of Border Battles  by  Edwin L. Sabin


Image Links


Ponce de Leon
 in Indian History for Young Folks

De Soto discovering the Mississippi
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Battle Map: Creek Wars
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Fort Mims
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Battle of Talledega
 in Indian History for Young Folks

The Canoe Fight
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Battle Map: Horse Shoe
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Scene of the Seminole War
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Osceola
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Following a trail
 in Indian History for Young Folks

Billy Bowlegs
 in Indian History for Young Folks
Smith Fights the Indians
Smith Fights the Indians
 in A First Book in American History
Indian Massacre in Virginia
Indian Massacre in Virginia
 in A First Book in American History

He drove his knife through and through the paper
 in Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known

The soldiers tried for a long time to drive the Indians from the hummock
 in Famous Indian Chiefs I Have Known

Indian depredations
 in Four American Indians

The 'Fight of the Privates'
 in Frontier Fighters

Now it was just 'March on, march on!'
 in 

General Jackson's campaigns against the Creeks
 in