DADE'S MASSACRE

'Dade's Massacre', sometimes called the 'Dade Massacre', was an action that occurred during the Second Seminole War. On December 23, 1835, 107 U.S. troops under Major Francis Dade departed from Fort Brooke (present-day Tampa) and headed up the King Highway (military road) on a resupply and reinforce mission to Fort King (present-day Ocala). The troops marched for five quiet days until December 28, when they were just south of the present-day city of Bushnell, Florida. They were passing through a high hammock with oaks, pines, cabbage palms, and saw palmetto when a shot rang out. The troops were ambushed by about 300 Seminole Indians. Dade, who was on horseback, was the first to be killed. Many of the soldiers, in two single file lines, were also quickly killed; few managed to get their flintlock rifles from underneath their heavy winter coats. Only 3 Americans purportedly survived the attack. It is said that one soldier had to crawl, due to his injuries, the 75 miles back to Fort Brooke. A few months later, when travel in the area was again possible, the dead soldiers were buried at the site.

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References and External Links

See also

Dade Battlefield Historic State Park
Francis L. Dade

References and External Links

http://www.geocities.com/rodent70/html/Dade.html