A Man Called Horse: John Horse and the Black Seminole Underground Railroad

Warrior. Chief. Diplomat.

In Spanish Florida during the nineteenth century, one man shaped the course of Black Seminoles—descendants of Seminole Indians and free Blacks and escaped slaves—more than any other. A political and military leader of both Seminole and African heritage, John Horse valiantly defended his people from slave hunters, other tribes, and the U.S. government.

After fighting in the Second Seminole War—one of the longest and most costly Native American conflicts in United States history—Horse negotiated territory for the Black Seminoles and became a guide and interpreter. As part of the Underground Railroad, he led a group of former slaves and Seminoles to safety in Mexico and later to Texas, where many became scouts who defended the western American border.

Author Glennette Tilley Turner’s expertly researched biography depicts a complex, fascinating figure who served as a counselor to fellow Seminole leaders, an agent of the U.S. government, a captain in the Mexican army, and a conductor in the Underground Railroad. No matter the part he played, one thing remained constant: Whether in battle or at the negotiating table, Horse fought tirelessly to help his people survive and find a home. A Man Called Horse is a tale of daring, intrigue, and the lifelong quest for freedom.

“An exciting and well-documented tribute to the courage, insight, and dedication of John Horse [and] an excellent contribution to the little-known history of Horse and the Black Seminoles.”—A. LaVonne Brown Ruoff, professor emerita of English, University of Illinois, and recipient of the Modern Language Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to Native American literature