Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-03-12
OFFICIAL.


The following official statement received at the Adm
tant- Generals Office, gives interesting account Of
the reconnaissance of the battle ground, where the gal
ant DlGc with his little command, met lis melancholy
fate, in the action with the Indians, The 2Sth of De-
ccmlcr last. We understand that Major General Gaines
arrived at Fort King, from Tampa Bay, with his COM
mani, on the 22d Of February.
WESTERN UErA RrMEST,
Fort King, Florida, February2 ~, lG3G. 5
GENERAL: Asrcably to your directions, observed
the battle aground six seven miles north of the Oulh
acoochce river, where Major Dadr and his command
were destroyed by the Seminole Indians the 2>lh Of
December last, and have the honor 10 submit the follow
ing Report:
The force under your command which arrived al this
post today from Tampa Bay, cncamped on the night
Of the 18th inst OH the ground occupied b. Maj Datc
on the night Of the 9Th Dec lie and his party
destroyed the morning of the 25ih Of December,
about four miles in advance OF that position. He
advancing towards this post and attacked from the
north, that the 2UtI inst. upon the
of lis battle. ground about ocuck in the morning
Our advanced guard had passed the ground without
hating when the General and his staff came upon
Of the appalling that be imagined. We
first broken and scattered boxes; then cart
tie two of which lying dead, if they lad
fallen asleep, their yokes still Them little TO the
right, one two horses We then came to
small enclosure, made by telling trees in such manner
to form triangular brcastw0rk for defence. Within
the triangle, along the north and west faces of II
about thirty bodies, mostly mere skeletons, although
much Of the clothing left upon them. Th"sc were
lying, almost every Of them, in precisely the posi-
lion they must have occupied during The tglt-ileir
heads next to The logs over which they had delivered
their fire. and their bodies stretched with striking rrgu
arily parallel to each other. They had evidently been
shot dead nj their posts, and the Indians had not dis
turbed them except by taking the scalps OF most OF
them Passing this little breastwork found other bo-
dies along the road and by the side of the road, Tcnc
rally behind trees which had been rcsorted 10 fo
from the enemys fire. Advancing about two hundred
yards further, fund cluster Of bodies in the mid.
die Of the road. These evidently the advanced
guard in the Of which the body of Maj. Dade,
and 10 the right, that Of Capt. Fraser.
These were ul doubtless shot down The first hire OF
The Indians except, perhaps, Captain Fraser, who must
however, have fallen very early In the hght. Those IN
the road and by the trees, fell during the first attack II
was during cessation of the fire that the little band
still remaining about thirty in number, threw up tic
triangular breaslwork, which, from the haste with which
it constructed necessarily defective, and could
not protect the in the second attack.
We had with many Of the personal friends OF The
officers of Major Dadcs command, and i'll gratifying
10 be able state that every officer Identified ny
undoubed evidence. They werc buried, and the can.
non sx.poundcr, that the Indians lad thrown into
swamp was recovered and placed vertically at the head
Of the grave where it is to oe hoped it will long remain.
The budes of the non-commssioncd officers and pr.
buried in two graves, and it was found that
every Idn was accounted for. The command was COM
posed Of eight officers and one hundred and two non
commissioned officers and privaes. The bodies Of eight
officers and ninety eight men were inferred, four utn
having escaped three of whom reached Tampa Bay the
fourth was killed the day after the battle.
II may be proper to observe that the attack not
made from hammock but in thiniy wooded country;
the Indians being concealed by palmetto and grass which
has since been burned.
The two companies Captain Fraser Of the Sd
tillcy and Captain Gardeners of the I'd artillery. The
officers were Major Dade Of the 4tl infantry, Captains
Fraser and Gardiner second Lieutenant Basnger, bre
vet second I.icuenants R. Henderson, Nudge and
Kcas Of the artillery and Doctor J. S. Gatin.
have The honor 10 be, with the highest respect, your
obedicnl servant, Z. A. HITCHCOCK,
Captain lst Infantry, Act Inspector General.
Major Gen. EuMUSD T. GAINES,
Commanding Western Department,
Fort King: Florida.
a uoung officer attached to Gen. Gaines detachment
,erites from Fort Drane Lang Syne, tlorida Ftbrua
ry24, 1886:
"'Whrn We eft the Bay, Gen. Gaines did no;
template proceeding far as For, King; but
rival the battle ground where poor Dadcs command
was butchered, provisions scarce land
forced TO continue on for the purpose of procuring sup
plies. Upon arriving at Fort King, however, found
the garrison there unable to furnish with than
one days raons, and were therefore forced 10
here distance of twenty-four miles, TO get something
10 eat The Artillery and Volunteers were en at For,
King, and the 4th Infantry sent to procure provi
sions We return this morning. and shall probably start
the day after for of the Indian villages,
with the view Of hunting the boys up.'-Nat. Int