Battle of Ouithlacoochie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids "Battle of Ouithlacoochie"
Part of Second Seminole War
Date December 31, 1835 Location Near Withlacoochee River, Florida Result American tactical victory
Belligerents
United States	Seminole Indians
Commanders and leaders
Duncan L. Clinch Richard K. Call	Osceola
Strength
750	250
Casualties and losses
4 killed 59 wounded	Unknown

The Battle of Ouithlacoochie, also known as the Battle of Withlacoochee, was an important fight. It happened during the Second Seminole War on December 31, 1835. The battle took place along the Withlacoochee River in what is now Citrus County, Florida.

What Was the Battle of Ouithlacoochie?

This battle was part of a larger conflict called the Second Seminole War. This war was fought between the United States Army and the Seminole people. The Seminoles were Native Americans living in Florida. The battle was a "tactical victory" for the Americans. This means they achieved their immediate goals in the fight.

Before the Fight: Crossing the River

Before the battle, the American soldiers faced a big problem. They had just been through a difficult earlier battle. Now, they needed to cross the Withlacoochee River. The river was deep and flowing very fast.

There was no bridge to help them cross. The only way was using a small, leaky canoe. This canoe could only hold a few men at a time. They tried to swim their horses across, but only two made it.

The soldiers started crossing at sunrise. The regular army soldiers went first. By noon, only 260 men had managed to get across. They tried to build rafts from logs. However, they could not find good wood for this. Some men swam across the river. Ammunition was carried over on a small raft made of tree logs.

The Battle Begins

While some regular soldiers and a few volunteers were still crossing, the Seminole warriors attacked. The attack was sudden and fierce. General Call was trying to get his men across quickly. He had made a footbridge out of logs.

When the attack started, General Call left his men. He ordered them to cross as fast as they could. He then crossed the river himself in the canoe. This happened while the fighting was at its worst. Many volunteers managed to cross during the battle. This stopped the Seminoles from getting between the American troops and the river. It prevented the soldiers from being cut off.