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2011 Alligator Warrior Festival Schedule
(Subject to change)
(Subject to change)
08:00 AM Fri-Sun
Park opens to the public
Food vendors open
All day (8 AM – 5 PM)
Living History in the Seminole Camp
Living History in the Military and Militia Camp
Living History in the Settlers Camp
Demonstrations in the Crafts Bldg
Dancing, Drum and Flute music at the Dance Ground
Artisans, 19th Cent. Traders and Modern Traders
Food & Beverage Vendors
8AM-5PM Friday
Student Day for School Groups
09:00 AM Sat-Sun
Military Parade from the soldier's camp/fort to the Dance Ground to raise the colors at the dance grounds. Followed by dancing, drum and flute music and story telling at the dance grounds.
10:00 AM Sat-Sun
Safety meeting and powder ration for battle participants
11:00 AM Sat-Sun
Military weapons demonstration in the soldiers' camp
Grand Entry at the Dance Ground
02:00 PM Sat-Sun
Battle Reenactment at the battlefield
03:30 PM Sat-Sun
Daily fundraising auction and donation raffle drawings at the dance ground
04:45 PM Fri-Sun
Military Parade from the soldiers' camp to the dance ground to retire the colors
05:00 PM Fri-Sun
Alligator Warrior Festival closes to the Public at 5 PM but park remains open to the public until sundown.
5:30 PM Fri-Sat and Noon on Sun
Camp Feed
6:30 PM Friday
Shawl Circle - open to all American Indian women - held in the large lodge behind the dining hall.
After sundown on Saturday
Stomp Dance
DEMONSTRATORS, BLANKET TRADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS
The Broom LadyButch Harrison, Florida Cracker, Storyteller.
Columbia County Historical Museum in the handicrafts building.
The Dustbunny Spinner
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with a young alligator.
Foxwood Forge Blacksmith
Finger-weaving by Mary Randy
Native Nations Museum
Partnership for Strong Families providing information on foster care, adoption and assistance options for families in need or in crisis.
Tom Seger Cooperage
Seminole Wars Foundation
MUSICIANS
All of our musicians are unpaid volunteers who are performing for the love of doing it. Many of them will have audio CD's available for purchase.HOST DRUM: Spirit Turtle played by the drum group Thunder Turtle, the drum of the River Oak Inter-tribal Community. Please contact Tim "Grey Wolf" Kimmering by calling 229-305-5286 if your drum group would also like to bring your drum and play for the dancers and people.
Daniel Harrington of Northern Lights - Southern Spirit Flutes
Jamie Nemeth - American Indian Flute Music
Joey Hill - American Indian Flute Music
John Fields - American Indian Flute Music
Sybille Hummingbird - American Indian Flute Music
The Family Drum
TRADERS
Cheryl Frank Promotional ProductsCreations by Grey Wolf
Eagle's Nest Gallery
C+C Trading Post
Joey Hill Flutes
MBH Crafts
Northern Lights - Southern Spirit Flutes
Strong Bear Trading Company
Wood Cutter - Bob Noller
FOOD VENDORS
Alice's Kitchen Menu includes: BBQ Ribs, BBQ Chicken, Smoked Turkey Legs, Smoked Mullet, Fried Chicken, Collard Greens, Macaroni and Cheese, French Fries, Lima Beans, Rice, Yams, Deserts and breakfast items include Hash browns, Eggs, Grits, Sausage, Bacon and Rolls.Auntie's Table Menu includes: breakfast items, Fried Fish, Grits, Nettles Sausage with Onions and Peppers, Chicken Wings, Chicken Gizzards, Ham Hocks and Rice, Fries, Tater-Tots, Lima Beans, Black Eyed Peas, Water, Lemonade, Tea and Soda.
Bayou Billy Menu includes: Blackened Chicken Platter, New Orleans Steak Platter, Anduilla Sausage Platter, Jambalaya Platter, Po-Boy Sandwiches, and home-made soda
Pot O'Gold Menu includes: Kettle Corn, Funnel Cakes, Pumpkin Frybread, Apple Frybread, Beignets, boiled peanuts, Fresh Lemonade and other cold drinks
Handy's Hot Dogs Menu includes: Hot Dogs and Sno Cones
Sons of the American Legion Lemonade Stand
CAMPS
Creek & Seminole Reenactors CampSoldier & Militia Reenactors Camp
Gamble's Light Artillery Cannon Crew
Pioneer / Settler Reenactors Camp
Tee-pee Camp with Drum Arbor and Dance Circle
BLACK POWDER SAFETY OFFICERS
Ranger Frank Loughran of Olustee Battlefield Historic State ParkSteve Creamer, Nationally Certified
REENACTMENT OF THE BATTLE OF SAN FELASCO HAMMOCK
On the 17th of September, 1836, a cart laden with corn and attended by three white men and two black men was on the Picolata road returning to the town of Newnansville (now part of Alachua, FL). They were about a mile from the town when they were fired upon by Seminoles. The 5 men left the cart in the hands of the Seminoles and escaped to Newnansville and reported the event at Fort Gillelaud.
30 armed men were sent out to assess the situation and heavy rain started to fall. Although they did not find the Seminole warriors, they did find the cart and were able to return to the fort with it. The Seminoles had attempted to burn it but the rain had extinguished the fire. Military spies were sent during the night to discover the location and strength of the Seminole warriors but they did not find them.
Convinced that the Seminole Warriors must be hiding in the San Felasco Hammock, Colonel John Warren marched out at the head of 150 men the following morning, September 18th, at 6:00 AM to engage the Seminole warriors. His forces consisted of 100 mounted militia men, 25 former militia, and 25 United States regualrs with the fort's 24 pound cannon. Colonel Warren's forces advanced in three columns, the right led by Col. Warrren, the left by Col. Wills and the center by Capt. Tompkins with the regulars and the howitzer cannon. 
Within three quarters of a mile of the hammock they were met by the Seminole warriors. The battle immediately commenced along the right wing and center. The Seminole warriors attempted to turn the left flank but the men under Leut. Col. Wills drove them back into the thick oak scrub on the border of the hammock and then dismounted and drove them into the cannon's line of fire. The Seminole warriors then attempted to flank the right but a charge from Capt. Walker and Lieut Bruten's forces, drove the Seminoles once again in front of the howitzer.
The Seminoles mortally wounded one of the cannon crew as they twice charged the center attempting to take the howitzer, but were repelled. The Seminoles eventually retreated into the dense hammock where the would have the advantage because the soldiers could not follow them with the cannon. Instead of following them, the Colonel's forces waited to see if the Seminole Warriors would return but when they didn't, the Colonel's forces withdrew without further engagement.
The battle lasted an hour and a half with seven whites wounded, one of them fatally. Five horses were wounded and one horse killed. It was reported that some Seminole warriors had been seen to fall during the battle but Col. Warren's forces were unable to verify any Seminole losses.
