The Exiles of Florida

Joshua Giddings (1795 - 1864)

“The Author of the following work has endeavored to give a faithful record of … the Exiles of Florida. Torn from their native land, their friends and homes, they were sold in the markets of Carolina and Georgia. Feeling the hand of oppression bearing heavily upon them, they fled to Florida, and, under Spanish laws, became free. … At a time of profound peace, our army, acting under the direction of the Executive, invaded Florida, murdered many of these free men, and brought others to the United States and consigned them to slavery. An expensive and bloody war followed …During its protracted continuance of seven years, bribery and treachery were practiced towards the Exiles and their allies, the Seminole Indians; flags of truce were violated; the pledged faith of the nation was disregarded. By these means the removal of the Exiles from Florida was effected. After they had settled in the Western Country, most of these iniquities were repeated, until they were driven from our nation and compelled to seek an asylum in Mexico.” (From the author’s Introduction, 1858)

Genre(s): Modern (19th C)

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Introduction Greg Giordano
00:05:02
Play 01 Chapter 1 - Circumstances Attending the Early History of Slavery in the Colonies Greg Giordano
00:29:42
Play 02 Chapter 2 - Further Efforts to Restore Exiles Maria Kasper
00:24:02
Play 03 Chapter 3 - Hostilities Maintained by Georgia Maria Kasper
00:32:40
Play 04 Chapter 4 - General Hostilities Greg Giordano
00:21:21
Play 05 Chapter 5 - Further Efforts of the Government to Restore Exiles to Servitude Greg Giordano
00:24:03
Play 06 Chapter 6 - Further Efforts to Enslave the Exiles Maria Kasper
00:56:53
Play 07 Chapter 7 - Commencement of the Second Seminole War Maria Kasper
00:38:34
Play 08 Chapter 8 - Hostilities Continued Greg Giordano
00:20:45
Play 09 Chapter 9 - Hostilities Continued Greg Giordano
00:20:41
Play 10 Chapter 10 - The War Continued, Peace Declared, General Jessup Assumes Command of the Army Maria Kasper
00:13:50
Play 11 Chapter 11 - General Jessup Overthrows His Own Efforts in Favor of Peace Maria Kasper
00:30:26
Play 12 Chapter 12 - The Renewal and Prosecution of the War Greg Giordano
00:31:41
Play 13 Chapter 13 - Vigorous Prosecution of the War Greg Giordano
00:33:25
Play 14 Chapter 14 - Great Difficulties Interrupt the Progress of the War Maria Kasper
00:54:09
Play 15 Chapter 15 - Difficulties in Enslaving Exiles Continued Maria Kasper
00:19:12
Play 16 Chapter 16 - Further Difficulties in the Work of Enslaving the Exiles Greg Giordano
00:19:28
Play 17 Chapter 17 - Total Failure of All Efforts to Enslave the Exiles Greg Giordano
00:36:31
Play 18 Chapter 18 - Further Difficulties in Prosecuting the War Maria Kasper
00:48:31
Play 19 Chapter 19 - Hostilities Continued Maria Kasper
00:19:59
Play 20 Chapter 20 - Hostilities Continued Greg Giordano
00:52:04
Play 21 Chapter 21 - Close of the War Greg Giordano
00:18:58
Play 22 Chapter 22 - History of Exiles Continued Maria Kasper
00:13:00
Play 23 Chapter 23 - The Re-union and Final Exodus Maria Kasper
00:29:11