STORY OF OSCEOLA

The English settlers who came to Georgia in 1733 feared the
Spanish who lived in Florida. To help protect their homes and farms, the
English brought a party of Scottish Highlanders and gave them land of
the border near Florida. (1: p. 81)

One of these Scots spent much of his time exploring. On one of
his journeys he wandered westward until he came to the Chattahoochee
River. On the banks of this river lived a tribe of Creeks known as the
Red Stick Indians. (2: p. 85) (3: p. 18) The white man stayed with the
Red Sticks a long time, married an Indian girl, and had a son.

When this son grew up, he married, and in 1804 a baby boy was
born to him. This boy was named As-se-se-he-he-lar, which means Black
Drink Bearer. White men changed this long name to Osceola. (3: p. 18)
(4: p. 229)

The land where Osceola's people lived was so fertile that white
men wanted it for themselves and fought many battles with the Indians
for possession of it. Osceola was still a baby when his father was killed
in one of these battles. Soon Osceola's mother married an English trader
named William Powell. (4: p. 205) (3: p. 18) (3: p. 18)

During the next few years, more and more white men came to
take land form the Indians. The Indians fought to defend their villages