On August 11th the mail carrier Dalton was met by a party of Micosukee Indians six miles from Fort Brooke and killed.  The body was found a few days afterward, and General Clinch immediately sent a demand for the surrender of the murderers, but they eluded capture by seeking refuge in the “Old red sticks” in the neighborhood of Ouithlacoochee.  This murder, it was claimed, was in retaliation for the killing of an Indian in the previous June.

On August 19, 1835, at the request of Holata Amathla and twenty-five others, a council of the Seminoles was convened.  At the request of the other chiefs Holata Amathla opened the council, saying they had come to talk about matters of great interest.  He referred to the treaty of Payne’s Landing, the visit to the West of the seven chiefs, and the promises that had been made; stated that the Seminoles wanted their separate agent, and paid a high compliment to General Thompson, who, he said, had always told them the truth.  The speech was forwarded to Washington, but no notice was taken of it.  This nonaction on the part of the authorities at Washington served to intensify the distrust and suspicions of the Indians as to the good faith of the Government, and caused many of those who had expressed a willingness to move to join the ranks of those who objected to doing so.  Hostilities soon commenced.  The Long Swamp and Big Swamp Indians commenced pillaging.  Three of them were caught and subjected to exceedingly cruel treatment by the white settlers.  Many outrages were perpetrated on both sides.  The Indians were notified to bring in all their cattle, ponies, and hogs to be turned over to a United States agent and appraised, the owners to be paid on their arrival across the Mississippi.  Six of the principal chiefs and some others surrendered their stock.  The sale, however, was indefinitely postponed.  The Big Swamp Indians resolved to retain possession of the country, and condemned to death all those Indians who should oppose their views.  This caused many of the friendly Indians to take refuge in the United States forts.  About four hundred and fifty fled to Fort Brooke, and on November 9th they encamped on the opposite side of Hillsboro River.  The hostile Indians, fearing that the secrets of their councils had become known, made every effort to win over to their side those who were disposed to comply with the treaty.  Assiola and about four hundred warriors went to the house of Charley Amathla and demanded that he pledge himself to oppose removal.  He declined, saying he would sacrifice his life before he would violate the pledge he had given his great father.  Assiola attempted to shoot Charley, but was prevented by Abraham, the interpreter.  Assiola left, but soon returned with a small party to the house and murdered him in cold blood.  A number of the murdered man’s followers at once made their escape to Fort King, while others joined the hostile party.  Charley Amathla was regarded as a brave, resolute, and upright man.  He had saved the life of Assiola, and his murder was an act of horrible ingratitude.  The Indians now abandoned their homes and took refuge in the impenetrable swamps.