UPFRONT.

• Position: Brief Article - Letter to the Editor

Following the Freedom Train

It was a pleasure to see the article on a long-neglected subject, "Freedom Train to Mexico," in your December issue. I have written a book documenting the many interesting stories about these Seminole Negro Indian Scouts, and have a few minor corrections to the excellent article.

The treaty made by President Monroe with Spain for purchase of Florida was actually completed in 1819. John Horse was born in Florida with some Spanish blood, and was later known in Indian Territory and then in Mexico by various aliases, but was more commonly known by his Spanish name in Florida, Juan Caballo. The U.S. Army over their years of association with him (as an interpreter in Indian Territory and later representing the scouts) were the only ones consistently calling him John Horse.

The information about Wildcat, or Coacoochee is correct, but it was only a Creek leader that tried to profit by selling free Seminole Negroes as slaves. The U.S. Army, trying to maintain peace in Indian territory through threats to the Creeks, stopped attempts to profit from slave trade and guaranteed the freedom of those allied with the Seminoles. Also, Mexican officials were not "surprised" to receive Wildcat and Juan Caballo, for they had been invited there as "civilized Indians" after visits in 1848 to help stop raiding Indians in Coahuila. They were so highly successful that Wildcat was made a colonel in the federal police of Mexico.

Wildcat died in 1855, not 1857, in an epidemic of viruela negra, or smallpox, that struck both the Indians and blacks; however, it was more deadly to the Indians because of their lack of genetic immunity. Also implied is that Wildcat's death precipitated the movement of the Seminoles back to Indian Territory, which was not the case. The Indians were enticed by the South and promises of the...