Battle of Lake Okeechobee

Battle of Lake Okeechobee
Part of Second Seminole War
Engraving of the battle made by John Warner Barber in 1847
Date December 25, 1837 Location Shore of Lake Okeechobee, Florida, U.S. 27°12′45.44″N 80°47′6.43″W / 27.2126222°N 80.7851194°W / 27.2126222; -80.7851194 Result Seminole victory Zachary Taylor's army retreats back to Tampa
Belligerents
United States	Seminole
Commanders and leaders
Zachary Taylor Richard Gentry † Alexander R. Thompson †	Abiaka Billy Bowlegs Wild Cat
Strength
1,100	400
Casualties and losses
26 killed (mainly officers) 112 wounded	11 killed 14 wounded

The Battle of Lake Okeechobee was one of the major battles of the Seminole Wars. It was fought between 1,000 U.S. Army troops of the 1st, 4th, and 6th Infantry Regiments and 132 Missouri Volunteers under the command of Colonel Zachary Taylor, and about 400 Seminole warriors led by chiefs Abiaka, Billy Bowlegs, and Wild Cat on 25 December 1837. The Seminoles defended their large encampment by Lake Okeechobee against an attack by Zachary Taylor's troops. Zachary Taylor's march to Lake Okeechobee was part of a larger offensive into South Florida that was planned by General Thomas Jesup. The battle was a victory for the Seminoles^[1][2][3][4], as they held off the U.S. troops long enough to safely evacuate their encampment. Due to the large amount of casualties his troops suffered (especially among the officers), Zachary Taylor was forced to end his offensive into South Florida, and he marched his army over 100 miles back to Tampa Bay.^[5]