• "Coacoochee; Made of the Sands of Florida,"
• "Fort Mellon 1837-42; A Microcosm of the Second Seminole War"
• "Secondary Scenarios of the Second Seminole War," which reads like the script of a play that Francke wrote based on historical people and incidents.

Seminole County is known for being highly over-developed. A common problem in Florida. Any archaeological sites not presently saved will probably be destroyed under housing developments or shopping malls.

William Bartram came down to Lake Monroe during his journeys in the 1770's. Many former Indians villages and middens have been found around the lakeshore. One of these large mounds was the Enterprise Mound, near the town of the same name. This mound was eventually destroyed by waves and as a commercial source of fertilizers. There was also a significant village on the south side of Lake Jesup that a toll road was built on top of.

One of the Miccosukee families that were very much against removal during the Second Seminole War was the family of King Philip (Emathla). (Usually identified as Seminole, but more correctly Miccosukees.) King Philip had married Micanopy's sister, so his son Coacoochee (Wildcat) was a hereditary leader of the Alachua Seminoles. Philip's town is identified as being near Lake Harney on the St. Johns River. The village was built on top of an ancient Timucuan mound. From this location King Philip and Coacoochee conducted many raids and battles against the United States. Among their exploits, they raided and burned many of the sugar plantations on the east coast. Coacoochee is also know to have had a camp on the Wekiva River. In September 1837, Army soldiers surprised and captured King Philip's camp near Ponce Inlet (then known as Mosquito Inlet) near what is today New Smyrna Beach. Philip was put in prison in St. Augustine, and died near Fort Gibson while being moved out west with a large number of Seminoles.

During the Second Seminole War, Fort Mellon on the south shore of Lake Monroe became an important staging area. It was important for ships to land here along the St. Johns River to supply exhibitions going into the interior of the state.

Fort Mellon was originally known as Camp Monroe, but renamed after an Army captain who was killed there during an ambush by the Seminoles. Coacoochee and King Philip attacked the camp, and would have taken it if not for the preparations of Captain Mellon and Colonel Fanning the night before.

During the summer of 1837, negotiations were conducted with the Seminoles at Fort Mellon, and one of the main attractions was when Osceola and Coa Hadjo held a stick ball game.

In late 1837, a group of Cherokees were brought to Fort Mellon to negotiate with the Seminoles and help in removal. They even carried a personal message from Cherokee Chief John Ross. A few weeks before, Osceola was captured, so the Seminoles no longer trusted any offer given to them and would not negotiate. General Jesup only showed contempt towards the Cherokee and treated them no different than the Seminole prisoners. Jesup complained that the Cherokee were only slowing down his efforts for a large military campaign against the Seminoles. After the cold treatment they received in Florida, the Cherokee returned home, persuaded that the Seminoles were right.

After being a major army post, the town of Mellonville grew up around the area, and was later renamed Sanford.

Other Second Seminole War Forts: Fort Reid south of Fort Mellon, named after Florida Governor Reid.

Lake Harney from a 19th century print.

Fort Lane Park:

Fort Lane on southwest Lake Harney was another of the chain of forts established in 1837, going upriver on the St. Johns River. There was also a large Seminole village on the lake.

It is worth mentioning here of Colonel John F. Lane, who Fort Lane was named after. Colonel Lane commanded the Creek Indian Regiment, and arrived in Florida in October 1836. He was a young, brilliant officer (only 26 years old) who would have had an interesting career if he had lived long. He should also be remembered as the inventor of the pontoon boat. After arriving at Fort Drane, Col. Lane came down with the fever, went insane, and committed suicide by driving his sword into his head. The cause of death is listed as, "brain fever." The Creek warriors under his command were very sad to see him go. Famous Creek warriors Jim Boy and Paddy Carr served under Lane in the Creek Regiment.

There is not much to see at this park; just a picnic area along Lake Harney. This is a semi-private park and not easy to find. Go east on highway 46 from Sanford. After you pass the small town of Geneva, and a few miles before you cross the St. Johns River, turn north on Jungle Road. About a mile further is a dirt road identified as Fort Lane Road on the right. Go down this road until you see the small park.

Click here to read more about Fort Lane.

Sanford Historical Museum:

Next to Fort Mellon Park and once the site of Fort Mellon, exhibits are planned to cover the 2nd Seminole War.  Should be interesting to visit when they finish.

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(c) 1997, 1998, 2002 Chris Kimball
Note: None of this material can be reproduced without written permission from the author.