Indians and to advise them that resistance was both unwise and useless.  Thompson, however, with his usual lack of tact, rushed onward in his course, and learning that five chiefs were unalterably opposed to the treaty, he arbitrarily struck their names off the roll of chiefs, an action the highhandedness of which was not lost on the Seminoles.  Immediately after the conference moreover he forbade the sale of any more arms and powder to the Indians.  To the friendly chiefs the understanding had been given that the nation might have until January 1, 1836, to make preparation for removal, by which time all were to assemble at Fort Brooke, Tampa Bay, for emigration.

About the first of June Osceola was one day on a quiet errand of trading at Fort King.  With him was his wife, the daughter of a mulatto slave woman who had run away years before and married an Indian chief.  By Southern law this woman followed the condition of her mother, and when the mother’s former owner appeared on the scene and claimed the daughter, Thompson, who desired to teach Occeola a lesson, readily agreed that she should be remanded into captivity.[1] Osceola was highly enraged, and this time it was his turn to upbraid the agent.  Thompson now had him overpowered and put in irons, in which situation he remained for the better part of two days.  In this period of captivity his soul plotted revenge and at length he too planned a “ruse de guerre.”  Feigning assent to the treaty he told Thompson that if he was released not only would he sign himself but he would also bring his people to sign.  The agent was completely deceived by Osceola’s tactics.  “True to his professions,” wrote Thompson on June 3, “he this day appeared with seventy-nine of his people, men, women, and children, including some who had joined him since his conversion, and redeemed his promise.  He told me many of his friends were out hunting, whom he could and would bring over on their return.  I have now no doubt of his sincerity, and as little, that the greatest difficulty is surmounted.”

[Footnote 1:  This highly important incident, which was really the spark that started the war, is absolutely ignored even by such well informed writers as Drake and Sprague.  Drake simply gives the impression that the quarrel between Osceola and Thompson was over the old matter of emigration, saying (413), “Remonstrance soon grew into altercation, which ended in a ruse de guerre, by which Osceola was made prisoner by the agent, and put in irons, in which situation he was kept one night and part of two days.”  The story is told by McMaster, however.  Also note M.M.  Cohen as quoted in Quarterly Anti-Slavery Magazine, Vol.  II, p. 419 (July, 1837).]