Sunday, February 03, 2013

Can You Believe This One?

 

Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park, Okeechobee, Florida (high 73, low 40)

This week-end they are doing  re-enactments of the battle  between the US forces and the Seminole Indians. Al is a history buff and wanted to go, so we headed down to Okeechobee on Saturday.

It was an all day event with canon firings, displays by the US Army, alligator wrestling, and booths with stuff for sale and historical displays.   It cost $10 per car to get in, all to a good cause.

The battle occurred on  Christmas day, in 1837.  The Seminoles battled the US Infantry and the Missouri National Guard for control of the land.

This was the largest battle in the deadly Second Seminole War.  The forces of the United States had been battling the Indians for two years, unsuccessfully.  They wanted the Indians moved out of their home in Florida and sent to Oklahoma.

The  Infantry left Tampa with 1,000 men in late November, led by Colonel Zachary Taylor, who would later become the 12th President of the United States. The Indians had been fleeing south until they reached Okeechobee, where they finally took their stand. 

Over 300 warriors took their positions in a densely wooded hammock along the north shore of Lake Okeechobee.  In front of the hammock was a large sawgrass swamp in which the soldiers would have to cross.  The Indians placed canoes by the lake for their eventual escape.  They knew they could not defeat such a large army.  Their goal was to give the fleeing women, children, and elders time to reach their hideouts in the Everglades.

The Battle of Kissimmee re-enactment

The first group sent into battle was the Missouri National Guard.

The Battle of Kissimmee re-enactment

Next was the Infantry.

The Battle of Kissimmee re-enactment

Colonel Taylor declared victory since he was in control of the land at the end of the day, but the Indians had also accomplished their goal of allowing their families a chance to escape.

There are still a lot of Seminole Indians still living in the Everglades.  It was sure a sad time in Americas history.

After coming back home to our prairie, we decided to sit outside and try to read by the campfire.  The campground is completely full this week-end, so it was a tad noisy, between playing kids, barking dogs and squawking crows. 

Before we went to sit outside, I happened to be by the window and saw a woman walking her very large dog  (Laberdoodle?).   Our patio side faces the campground road.  This very inconsiderate woman walked her dog into our campsite, and let her dog do his business about a foot from our patio rug!  I was in such shock I didn’t get a chance to say anything, but you can be sure she heard me slam the window!  I watched as she so politely picked it up….but still!!!!  A foot from our rug….on OUR campsite?     Can you believe she did that?   Oh the joys of being in a state park on the week-ends!

After we sat outside by the campfire for a while, it was time for our nightly sunset run along the campground road.

The night before, we happened to see a large owl sitting on a metal fence post between the office and the family campground.   Natalie, who works in the office told us where we should look for one, and sure enough he was right where she said!  Thanks Natalie!   Natalie works here, but her husband is the caretaker for the piece of land the Battle of Okeechobee sits on.   Her husband was one of the "Missouri National Guard” and is in one of the pictures above, wearing a pink shirt.

Sunset was beautiful as usual, but we didn’t see as much wildlife as we sometimes do.  We definitely saw a lot more wildlife when we were here last June.  I guess we’ll have to come back.  :)

IMG_8037

Al spotted this vulture posing nicely in the top of a tree.

Turkey vulture at sunset on the prairie

Turkey vulture at sunset on the prairie

We slept in this morning and almost missed sunrise.  We didn’t crawl out of bed until 6:40 am. 

Sunrise was gorgeous, as usual, but I won’t bore you with any more photos…..at least not today.

 

We are enjoying our stay here so much, that we extended it two more days!  The weather is supposed to be in  70’s to low 80’s during the day and 40’s and 50’s at night.  Now that’s my kind of perfect weather!

15 comments:

  1. I wasn't a history fan in school but being able to actually see where the battles took place and being lucky enough to see a reenactment, just makes it real for me. The week-end will soon be over and you can go back to enjoying your prairie.

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  2. I'm new to your blog. Thanks for sharing a little bit of history.

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  3. The battles involving our Native Americans are always so sad to me.

    At least she picked it up. Lots of inconsiderate people out there.

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  4. Be glad he didn't do it ON the rug. She probably thought it was OK because she picked it up. I'm glad We don't have a dog anymore.

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  5. The dog-walker should have kept the dog out of your campsite, however, as the owner of an aging dog, you don't always know when they have to "go"...it sometimes comes on suddenly as it does with aging humans LOL!! But I am glad she picked it up as there is NO EXCUSE for not doing that.

    Love the shot of the vulture atop the tree. Your sunset pictures are always gorgeous.

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  6. Hmm, wearing a pink shirt into battle...nothing like making yourself an easy target! :cO

    There's always one inconsiderate pet owner, once at a KOA in Niagara Falls, NY, someone let their dog do its business right in front of my RV step. Guess how I found it. :c(

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    1. Sorry, Paul, I won't let that happen again!

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  7. There are a lot of dog owners in this park. They have a dog run, and mind you this isn't a big park. However...there are so many pee burns in the grass here! Glad I don't have a dog :)

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  8. With four rescue pups, we have seen it all. Lots of times we step in the "special" poop left behind by "special" folks! ( I said with great sarcasm ). Folks like that give the rest of us trying to do the right thing a bad rep. Sunset picture is beautiful and I like the reenactment and history lesson.....thanks! Till next time.....enjoy!

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  9. Oh the joys of public campgrounds, we don't much do them anymore for that very same reason. Too bad.

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  10. It doesn't make a difference if it is a state park or a private park, you will always find people who don't follow rules.

    Kevin and Ruth
    www.travelwithkevinandruth.com

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  11. Thanks for the history lesson on the Seminole Wars - a sad time for sure.

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  12. I secound the comment by Kevin and Ruth!

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  13. there is always one apple that will spoil the barrel...hence why I see pet free rv parks right on their entrance signs..we've been pretty lucky here...folks are considerate...

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