The Second Seminole War had ended in August 1842, and a period between then and this date 1855 saw increasing pressures from settlers and the US Military on the Seminoles who remained in Florida. The period between the Second and Third Seminole war was just declared by the US Military and a peace treaty was not actually ever signed. After the capture and death of Osceola towards the end of the Second Seminole War, the strongest force remaining in Florida was led by Holata Micco (Billy Bolek). The government continued to try to convince the remaining Indigenous people to remove and they continued to refuse. Also during the period between the two wars, the US Army was ever increasing their prescence in Florida with >700 troops there by late 1855. On Dec 20, 1855 Billy Bolek led an attack, possibly provoked by army engingeers land surveyors destroying crops near his village, against First Lieutenant George Hartsuff and his company. They killed four soliders. Through the Third Seminole war he led guerilla attacks against settlers, the US Army, and militias for several years with the army unable to subdue them.