SW007 Captain Coe Advocates for the Red Patriots

2020-06-07

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In the late 19th century book, Captain Charles Coe wrote a curious treatise called Red Patriots --The Story of the Seminoles 1898. The book, a mixture of history and lobbying, served as an extended plea to the US Government and the American people to understand the Florida Seminole. He viewed them as akin to the Minutemen Patriots of the founding generation, fighters who defended their homeland from a hostile occupying force. Coe's idea was to gain political support for l...

In the late 19th century book, Captain Charles Coe wrote a curious treatise called Red Patriots --The Story of the Seminoles 1898. The book, a mixture of history and lobbying, served as an extended plea to the US Government and the American people to understand the Florida Seminole. He viewed them as akin to the Minutemen Patriots of the founding generation, fighters who defended their homeland from a hostile occupying force. Coe's idea was to gain political support for legislation to ensure the remaining Florida Seminoles could be left alone to live on their own lands in the Everglades or anywhere in Florida -- without eviction by property-hunger settlers.

Coe’s great grandson, Andrew Foster, has popularized Coe’s memorable endeavor. Andrew Foster has traveled up and down Florida as a living history speaker and local historian, dressing the part as Captain Coe. He joins us today to discuss Charles Coe -- newspaperman; naturalist; farmer; union printer; genealogist; author; port collector; poet; photographer, amateur archaeologist; small boat captain -- Coe's legacy impact on Seminole and Florida history, and what he himself has learned portraying Charles Coe at talks throughout the state.

Host Patrick Swan is a board member with the Seminole Wars Foundation. He is a combat veteran and of the U.S. Army, serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Kosovo, and at the Pentagon after 9/11. A military historian, he hold masters degrees in Public History, Communication, and Homeland Security, and is a graduate of the US Army War College with an advanced degree in strategic studies. This podcast is recorded at the homestead of the Seminole Wars Foundation in Bushnell, Florida.

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