Sunday, November 9, 2008

An Artifact of the Second Seminole War


This unusual artifact was actually used by Native American warriors during an attack on a frontier family in Gadsden County, Florida, during the Second Seminole War.
A "lightard" or lightwood pine knot, it was used as a war club by Creek warriors that had taken refuge in Florida following the Creek War of 1836-1837.
Their fight against the whites continued after their flight to Florida and is remembered in that state as part of the Second Seminole War (1835-1842).
In 1840, a group of warriors attacked the McLane cabin near Telogia Creek in Gadsden County, using this pine knot to kill several members of the family.
If you would like to learn more about this incident of the Second Seminole War, please visit http://gadsdencountyhistory.blogspot.com/ where you can read three excerpts on the McLane Massacre from my new book, The Early History of Gadsden County.

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