General Worth declares the Second Seminole War over (1842)

Colonel William J. Worth declared the Second Seminole War over on August 14, 1842, following meetings with Seminole chiefs. This proclamation ended active hostilities but was not a formal treaty, as no peace agreement was signed. Worth believed remaining Seminoles would relocate west or to reservations, marking the conclusion of major military operations in the region.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. The Second Seminole War, lasting from 1835 to 1842, is regarded as the longest and most costly of the Indian conflicts of the United States. By 1842, only a few hundred native people remained in Florida. Colonel Worth recommended leaving remaining Seminoles in peace if they stayed in southern Florida, setting the stage for his declaration of the war's end.

Declaration. In August 1842, Worth met with chiefs still in Florida. Believing the remaining Indians would either go west or move to the reservation, he declared the war to be at an end on August 14, 1842. This action was a proclamation ending active hostilities, not a formal treaty, as no peace treaty was ever signed.

Aftermath. Worth returned to Florida in November 1842. By April 1843, only the Eighth Infantry remained in the state. In November 1843, Worth reported that approximately 300 Indians remained in Florida, including Seminole warriors, Mikasukis, Creeks, and Tallahassees, confirming the limited scale of remaining resistance.

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Sources

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