A New Capital
Simmons
1822
Ocala National Forest
Stunted pines, scrub oaks and palmettoes Typically view along Highway 19 in
the Ocala National Forest
As they proceeded northward Simmons said they intended to spend the night at a Negro settlement at the Big Swamp before nightfall, but after frequently losing the trail due to his guide having never traveled the route before, they had to retrace their steps several times. Finally, they came across a small Indian village where they asked directions and reached the Negro settlement about 11 o’clock that night. It seems that Simmons choose to spend nights at the Negro settlements rather that the Indian settlements, likely being more welcomed or perhaps in part due to Simmons having a Negro guide. The Negros settlements were often composed of both free Negros, runaway slaves and slaves of the Seminoles, which were accepted by the Indians with some groups becoming so integrated with the natives that they became what is known as Black Seminoles. The head of the village Simmons arrived at was a Negro named Cudjoe who accepted Simmons into his village providing him a bunk by the fire, which on the cool February night might have been welcomed, but Simmons said he was prevented from getting much rest due to, “The smoke and the conversation of the Negros, who sat up till a late hour.” Simmons the Negros being, “in the greatest poverty, and had nothing to offer.” Simmons went on to say,
There was, also, a general impression among them, that the Americans would seize upon all the Negro property of the Indians; and the latter were also induced to believe, by design persons, that the Americans would rob and treat them with every degree of injustice and oppression.
The following years would prove them to be correct. Simmons sums up his view on the subject as follows:
It is with great reluctance that I touch upon this subject; but, as years roll on, without to our interest and character, I should deem it criminal, in adverting to the topic, not to mark with reprobation, however little it may be calculated to produce effect, the callous indifference evinced in all the slave holding states, upon this subject.
February 7th, In morning Simmons parted with his guide who had to go to Vibrilla with the horses to meet some new settlers who he was to take to Alachua. With his guide gone, Simmons obtained a new guide and horses from the Negro village and proceeded to the next town. The pace was slow due to what he described as the “miserable ponies” could hardly walk although he said the leisurely pace allowed him time to observe the country though which they passed. After emerging from the Big Swamp they traveled though a dozen miles through pine land before traveling though an area of poor quality with a growth of stunted pines intermixed with small scrub oaks. This was what is now the Ocala National Forest lying west of Lake George, which if you now drive down Highway 19 which runs through the center of the Forest, you would miles of untouched land on the same basic route that Simmons followed in 1822.
Updated: 2026-08-07