The Indian Removal Act of 1830 resulted in increasing pressure and conflict between the native Florida Seminoles and encroaching white settlers.

Unaware of what had happened to Dade and his column only a few days prior, a U.S. force was dispatched to destroy a Seminole band who were residing at what was called "the Cove," on the southwest side of the Withlacoochee River.

Most of the volunteer militia men had only been signed on for three weeks, the U.S. military commanders believing that it would take only that amount of time to crush the Seminole resistance.

At the time, Clinch and the rest of his command were still unaware of the U.S. defeat during the Dade battle, which had occurred only 3 days prior.

[citation needed] Officer Leigh Read, who was eventually appointed brigadier general of the Florida militia during the war, was wounded during the action.