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


The following official statement received at the Adu-
nt-Generas Office, gives interesting account of
liant Dade, with his little command met its melancholy
fate, in the action with the Indians, the 2Sth of De-
cenber last We understand that Major General Gaines
arrived Fort King, from Tampa Bay. with his com
mand, on the 22d of February.
WEsrKRs DEpARrMExr
Fort King, Florida, February % 1896.
GENERAL: Agreeably to your directions | obser yed
the battle-ground six miles north of the Ouith
lacoochee river where Major Dade and his command
destroyed by the Seminole Indians ON the o,b Of
December last and have the honor TO submit the follow
ing Report:
post to-day from Tampa Bay, encamped on the night
oil the l9th INST the ground occupied by Mai Dade
on the night OF the 9th Dec He and his party were
DESTROYED on The morning of the 25th of December
about four miles in advance of that position. lie was
advancing towards this post and attacked from the
norh so that on the 2Oth inst upon the rear
OF his battle ground about o'clock i'm the morning
Our advanced guard had passed the ground without
hating when the General and his staff upon one
oil the most appalling that be imagined We
first saw some broken and boxes then car,
the two oxen OF which were lying Dead if they had
fallen asleep, their Jokes still on them little TO the
right, one or two horses We then came to
small enclosure, made by telling trees in such manner
as to form triangular breastwork for defence Within
the triangle, along the north and west faces of were
about thirty bodies, mostly skeletons although
much OF the clothing left upon them. These were
lying, almost every one of them in precisely the oos
ton they must have occnped 3nr;,rr ,ha e.. pI o
heads next to the logs which they had delivered
Their re and their bodies stretched with striking reru
shot dead at their posts and the Indians had not dis
turbed them, except by taking the scalps of most of
tnem fassing this little breastwork found other boz
Giles along the road and by the side of the road gene
rally behind trees which had been resorted 10 for covers
from the eneny's fire. Advancing about two hundred
yards further, we found a cluster Of bodies in the mid
die of the road These were evidently the advanced
guard, in the rear Of which the body of Mai Dade
and to the right, that Of Capt. Fraser.
These all doubtless shot down on the first FIRE of
the Indians, except perhaps Captain Fraser who must
however, have fallen very early in the fight Those in
tile road and by the trees, fell during the first attack 1t
was during cessation Of the fire that the little band
still remaining, about thirty in number threw up the
triangular work, which, from the haste with which
1t was constructed, necessarily detective and could
not protect the men in the second attack
we had with us many Of the personal friends of the
officers Of MAJOR Dade command and il is gratifying
to be able to state that every officer identified by
undoubted evidence. They buried and the can.
non, six-pounder, that the Indians had thrown into
swamp, was recovered and placed vertically al the head
OF the grave, where is to be hoped will long remain
The bodies of the non-commissioned officers and pr.
Yates were buried in two graves and it found that
every man was accounted for. The command was COM
posed OF eight officers and hundred and two non
commissioned officers and pryaes The bodies of eight
officers and ninety-eight were inferred four en
having escaped; three Of whom reached Tampa Bay the
fourth was killed the day after the battle.
IL may be proper to observe, that the attack was not
made from hammock, but in lbnly wooded country;
the Indians being concealed by palmetto and grass which
has since been burned
The two companies Captain Fraser Of the Sd ar.
tlery, and Captain GARDENERS Of tie I'd arIerv The
officers were Major Dade Of the 4th infantry Ca.laios
Fraser and Gardiner, second Lieutenant BasinQer be.
vet second Lieuienants X. Henderson, Nudge and
keais of the artillery, and Doctor J. $. Gatlin
have the honor to be, with the highest respect your
Obedient servant, T. A. HfTCHCOCk
Captain LIST Infantry, Act Inspector. General.
Major Gen Edmund r. GAINES,
Commanding Western Department,
Fort King, Florida.
q young officer attached 10 Gen Gaiaes detaehusas
writes from Fort DJaae, Jung Syus floyda, FeJrua-
ry -, 1885,
When we len tie Bay, Gen. Gaines did not con.
template proceeding az far az Fort King bot our ar
rival Of the battle ground where poor Dadc's command
was butchered provisions scarce and we were
forced 10 continue on for the purpose Of procuring sup
plies Upon arriving at Fort King however, We fond
the garrison there unable 70 furnish with more than
one days ratons and we're therefore forced 10 come
mere distance Of twenty four miles, 10 get something
King and the 9TH Infantry q procure provi-
SONS We return this morning. and shall probably start
the day after tomorrow for Of the Indian Villages
with the view Of hunting the boys up. '--haL mt