Early life and career

Pacheco was born December 26, 1800, in New Switzerland on the plantation of Francis Philip Fatio Sr.—an associate and possibly a partner in Panton, Leslie, & Company.^[1] Pacheco's father Adam was a skilled slave working a lot with his hands as a carpenter, building boats, and driver. He was also noted to be a "very intelligent and ambitious man."^[2]

With Pacheco's father working as a sought-after slave, Pacheco received certain privileges that enabled him to learn how to read and write. This is where he developed his skill for learning multiple languages, and by the time he reached adulthood, he was proficient in French, Spanish, and English.^[3] Pacheco also learned the Seminole language from his brother, who was kidnapped by the Indians but later returned to the plantation. In 1811, Francis Fatio Sr. died, leaving his property and slaves to his son, Francis Fatio Jr.^[4]

In 1821, Luis married an enslaved woman named Ramon Sanchez. She purchased her freedom for 300 pesos.^[5] Luis would frequently leave the Fatio plantation to visit his wife, often getting into trouble for not informing his master of his whereabouts. In 1824, Luis and Francis Fatio Jr. had a falling out, though the exact reason remains uncertain. Subsequently, Luis ran away from the plantation near Charlotte Harbor and began working with the Spanish fisheries.^[6]

Luis was captured and returned to Fort Brooke between 1829 and 1831. He had been sold to four different individuals before being sold to Antonio Pacheco, a Cuban businessman who believed Fatio could assist him in his endeavors. Following Antonio Pacheco's death, his wife loaned Luis out to the military to serve as an interpreter for the Seminole Indians.

Dade battle

According to the Seminole leader Alligator, the Dade battle began at 10:00 a.m., but according to survivor Private Ransom Clark, it started at 8 a.m. and ended around 4 p.m., with the Indians leaving around sunset. The battle (often called the Dade massacre) was an 1835 military defeat for the United States Army.^[7] The U.S. attempted to force the Seminoles to move away from their land in Florida and relocate to Oklahoma Indian Territory. Instead, under the command of Major Francis L. Dade, consisting of 110 soldiers were ambushed by 180 Seminole warriors.^[8] Of the three U.S. soldiers who survived, Louis Fatio Pacheco was suspected of being an informant and spent the rest of his life trying to clear his name.^[9] When Major Dade was shot, Pacheco dropped to the ground so swiftly that those around believed he had been shot in the head. After being seen crawling for cover,it aroused suspicion throughout the military as if Pacheco had expected the ambush to occur.^[10]

Pacheco was found by the Seminoles hiding behind a tree. He was threatened many times while being held captive but he was always spared. It was mentioned "That's a black man, he is not his own master. Don't kill him!." Pacheco repaid his captors by reading the letters and dispatches found on the bodies of dead officers.^[11] This gave the Seminoles valuable information pertaining to the military's strategy. In 1837, he escaped the Indians and turned himself into the authorities hoping to clear his name.

Incarceration and re-enslavement

In 1837, Luis turned himself to the authorities seeking to clear his name. The man overseeing Luis's case later forgot about him and sent him to New Orleans with other Black Seminoles. Once they arrived in New Orleans, Luis sat in prison for a month; once released, he, along with the other Black Seminoles, was set free. In 1845 Marcellus Duval and his brother attempted to obtain all of the Black Seminoles set free in New Orleans, including Luis Fatio Pacheco. After being captured by the Duval brothers, he was enslaved to them until 1865, when slavery ended.

Later life and death

At the age of 82, Luis traveled back to Florida to see his former slave owner. When he arrived in Jacksonville, he met with Susan Philippa Fatio L'Engle. Luis must have divulged things about her family that no one else would know because nearly 60 years had passed since working on her family's plantation, and she welcomed Luis. Luis stayed with her until he died at the age of 94 years old.^[12]