Territorial Governor Richard Keith Call brought his force of 800 volunteer militiamen from north Florida and met General Duncan Clinch at Clinch’s plantation, turned military reservation known as Fort Drane, in modern-day northwest Marion County. The force was being assembled to attack the Seminole Indians, which occurred a few days later on December 31 at the Battle of Withlacoochee. The battle was a major loss for the militia and regular forces, setting the tone for a 7 year fight between federal forces and the Seminoles of Florida known as the Second Seminole War.