John Horse, interpreter and war leader (1842)

John Horse, interpreter and war leader (1842)

John Horse

John Horse, also known as Gopher John (Juan Cavallo/Caballo), was an interpreter and war leader during the Second Seminole War. There is an interesting legend as to how John Horse acquired the nickname, "Gopher John." He had owned a few turtles and was asked to sell them to a U.S. Army Commander. The commander kept asking John to supply him with more turtles and paid John for them. When it was time for a big turtle meat banquet at the Army camp, the commander noticed only a few turtles in the pen. John had re-sold the officer his own turtles over and over again. At first angry, then mollified by John's ingeniousness, he made the youth supply the turtles paid for and nicknamed him Gopher John to serve as a constant reminder of his prank.

Florida Memory Project- https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/31659

Florida Memory Project

1842 (circa)

b/w photo

jpg image

10 x 8 inches