Naming Seminole…Part 2
News Staff
Friday, May 3, 2024
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Following 20 years of protecting the northern borderlands of Mexico, the Black Seminole scouts chose to return to the United States hoping to reclaim their land rights set out in original treaties. However, the treaties only named the Seminole tribe, not the Black Seminole, and this omission led to years of protracted legal challenges for both tribes. The Black Seminole were hired by the U. S. Army and became known as the Seminole Negro Indian Scouts (not to be confused with the better known Buffalo Soldiers). The scouts were assigned to Fort Duncan (Eagle Pass, TX) and Fort Clark (Brackettville, TX) where they resided outside the forts with their families. Lt. John L. Bullis led them on more than two dozen campaigns without any loss of life or serious injury, and four of the scouts were awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions. Some of these campaigns brought the Black Seminole scouts to West Texas and Gaines County. One foray into Gaines County led to a draw located approximately 2 miles south of present day Seminole where the Bullis expedition also discovered over 50 shallow water wells. Early Gaines County settlers knew this area as Hackberry Grove due to the abundance of hackberry trees. The military was also charged with recording natural resources and topographical details of any area travelled, thus the draw became known on maps as Seminole Draw. Tune in next week to learn the process for naming a town…not as simple as you might believe.