John Bemrose came to America from England as an unaccompanied 16-year-old in 1831. He served in the US Army as a dedicated hospital steward during the Second Seminole War.

Bemrose documented his five years in America in a series of sixty letters written to his eldest son, Weightman, between November 1863 and May 1866. Randal J. Agostini, the great-great-grandson of John Bemrose, has compiled and edited these fascinating letters into an engaging memoir.

In this first-person narrative, John Bemrose provides unique descriptions of nineteenth century St. Augustine, Jacksonville, Micanopy, and other locations. He offers personal observations of Florida’s diverse populations, and key figures of the Seminole War. Bemrose recounts dramatic battles, difficult marches through the Florida wilderness, and the challenging life of a soldier.

This exciting memoir, available to the public for the first time, provides valuable new insights into Florida history and culture from An Englishman in the Seminole War.