Battles of the Loxahatchee facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of the Loxahatchee
Part of the Second Seminole War
SEMINOLE (Ship)
Date January 15, 1838 Location Jupiter, Florida Result Seminole victory
Belligerents
United States	Seminole
Commanders and leaders
Levin M. Powell	Ar-pi-uck-i
Strength
80 (55 Navy, 25 Army)	300 (estimated)
Casualties and losses
4 killed 22 wounded	unknown

Second Battle of the Loxahatchee
Part of the Second Seminole War
Date January 24, 1838 Location Jupiter, Florida Result Seminole victory
Belligerents
United States	Seminole
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Jesup	Ar-pi-uck-i
Strength
1500	300 (estimated)
Casualties and losses
7 killed 31 wounded	unknown

The Battles of the Loxahatchee were two important fights that happened in January 1838. They took place near what is now Jupiter, Florida. These battles were part of the Second Seminole War. The fights were between the United States military and the Seminole people. Some Black Seminoles also fought with the Seminoles.

The First Battle of the Loxahatchee happened on January 15. It involved a group of soldiers and sailors led by Lieutenant Levin M. Powell. The Second Battle of the Loxahatchee took place on January 24. A larger army led by Major General Thomas Jesup was involved in this battle. Both battles were fought close to each other against the same group of Seminole warriors.

Why Did the Battles Happen?

After the American Revolutionary War, Spain took control of Florida again. The Seminole people started farms there. They also received land grants from the Spanish government. At the same time, enslaved people in the U.S. escaped to Florida. They found safety there because it was under Spanish rule.

These events led to the Seminole Wars. The First Seminole War (1817–1818) pushed the Seminoles further south. In 1832, the Treaty of Payne's Landing was signed. This treaty said that Native Americans had to give up their land. They were told to move west within three years.

By 1835, the U.S. Army returned to Florida. They came to make sure the treaty was followed. But the Seminole people were ready to fight for their homes.

What Do We Call the Battles?

The names of these two battles have changed over time. Older records sometimes called the first battle the Battle of Jupiter Inlet. This was probably because newspapers at the time said it happened "near" the inlet.

Today, both battles are named after the Loxahatchee River. This is not the same as the modern town of Loxahatchee, Florida. "Loxahatchee" is an English version of the Seminole name. It means "turtle river."

First Battle of the Loxahatchee (Powell's Fight)

On January 15, 1838, Lieutenant Levin M. Powell led a group of soldiers and sailors. They were called the Everglades Expeditionary Unit. They went up the Loxahatchee River looking for Seminole villages. Powell's men captured a Seminole woman. They made her lead them to the closest village.

Powell left 23 men to guard the boats. He then split his remaining men into smaller groups. After walking about 5 miles, they were attacked by Seminoles. Powell ordered his men to charge forward. The Seminoles moved back into a thick cypress swamp. There, they fought very hard.

Powell and two other officers were wounded. A naval doctor was killed. Many of Powell's men started to retreat in a rush. Another officer was wounded trying to cover their retreat. With all the other officers hurt, Joseph E. Johnston took charge. He successfully led the men back to safety. The soldiers and boats left after dark. They went back to Fort Pierce. One boat with gunpowder was accidentally left behind. Powell reported that 4 men were killed and 22 were wounded.

Second Battle of the Loxahatchee (Jesup's Fight)

Major General Thomas S. Jesup learned that Powell had found the Seminoles. So, he brought his army overland from Fort Pierce. They approached the Seminole camp from the west. Jesup had about 1,500 men. This included 600 dragoons, 400 artillery soldiers, and 400 Tennessee Volunteers. There were also 100 Alabama Volunteers and 35 Delaware Indian scouts.

On the afternoon of January 24, Jesup's scouts found the Seminoles. They were in a dense wooded area called a hammock. Jesup's dragoons and infantry attacked. They had help from cannons and Congreve rockets. The Seminoles fell back across the Loxahatchee River. They set up a new position on the east bank.

Jesup tried to lead the Tennessee Volunteers in a charge. But his glasses were shot off his face. Colonel Harney led 15 dragoons across the river. They went upstream from the Seminoles. This allowed them to attack the Seminoles from the side. The Seminoles then retreated in small groups. This ended the battle. This fight is seen as the last major battle of the Second Seminole War.

What Happened After the Battles?

After the battle, Jesup's army marched east. They built Fort Jupiter at what is now Pennock Point. General Jesup asked the government to let the Seminoles stay in the Everglades. He wanted to end the war. However, his request was not successful.

William Lauderdale's Tennessee Volunteers then marched south from Jupiter. They went to New River. There, they built Fort Lauderdale.

Who Were Some Important People?

• Joseph E. Johnston was a volunteer in the First Battle of the Loxahatchee. He was not yet an official Army officer. He later said his clothes had "no less than 30 bullet holes." One bullet even cut his scalp, leaving a scar. He was later promoted for his brave actions. He became a general for the Confederate side in the Civil War.
• Thomas S. Jesup was a U.S. Army officer. He was known as the "Father of the Modern Quartermaster Corps." He served in the military for 52 years. He started in the War of 1812. President Andrew Jackson put him in charge of U.S. troops in Florida. This was during the Second Seminole War.
• William Lauderdale is the person for whom Fort Lauderdale is named.
• Sam Jones was a spiritual leader and war chief. He led the Miccosukee and Seminole people. He was important during the Second and Third Seminole Wars.

Where Are the Battlefields Today?

For many years, people were not sure where the battles took place. For a while, it was thought to be in modern Jonathan Dickinon State Park. A marker was even placed there.

In the 1980s, people who study old sites found the location. They believed Jesup's battle happened in Jupiter Farms. This was along the Loxahatchee River Northwest Fork. Later, a professional archaeologist confirmed this. He found many Seminole sites in Riverbend Park. The part of the park where the battle happened is now Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park. Palm Beach County manages the park.

The exact spot of Powell's Battle is less clear. It probably happened east of Riverbend Park. Since 2017, a group called the Loxahatchee Battlefield Preservationists holds a battle reenactment every January.