Florida History from Joe Rubinfine Historical Autographs

The Americans fought two wars with the Seminole Indians, and despite the natives' fierce resistance, eventually, sheer numbers and munitions led to their, and all of the other native American tribes', defeat. However, along the way, in the Second Seminole War, there was one overwhelming victory by the Indians. It is what is known (to non-Indians) as the "Dade Massacre," on December 28, 1835. Francis Dade was one of the commanders of the American troops on that day, and like all but three of the 110 Americans who went to battle, he died on the battlefield (two of the three survivors died later from their wounds). Two weeks before the "massacre," Francis Dade wrote this letter to his superior. Dade reports of an order to proceed to Tampa Bay, where his fateful mission started, where he notes some "Indian depredations" have occurred, "calculated to create considerable alarm." Dade was an ambitious man, asking whether he was not entitled to higher command. That ambition to lead would soon be his downfall. However, as some recompense, Florida's largest county (home of Miami) is named for him. Item 36. $35,000.

Item 46 is a rare but odd remembrance of the Seminole Wars. It is a lock of Osceola's hair. Osceola was an Indian warrior who fought the whites that tried to force his people from their Florida homeland to territories west of the Mississippi. He was captured after being invited to truce negotiations, and later died in captivity. According to the wife of Captain Drane, who obtained the lock of hair from Osceola, Drane had given him some ostrich feathers while he was imprisoned, and Osceola asked what he could give in return. $35,000.

Everyone loves Florida. Well, almost everyone. At one time E.E. Cooney was part of the majority, but on further review, changed his mind. Cooney had earlier written a friend, encouraging him to come to Florida, but this letter from 1886 represents a major change of heart. "The only thing we have plenty of here is rain," writes Cooney. "…this letter will be a flat contradiction of my first - Fla is a fraud. I saw the country in its holiday attire when I came here last Winter." Of course, it may also be that Cooney changed his mind about wanting his friend to come to Florida. Item 116. $650.

You may reach Joe Rubinfine at 321-455-1666 or Joerubinfine@mindspring.com.