Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1836-03-18

to their vessel some went to fight the lndi-
ans in Florida, and others who had learned
a trade, turned to their business. and earned
more money in week than they would
gain by whole campaign in Texas.
Iss-The following is an official statement,
received at the Adiulant Generals office at
Washington and gives an interesting account
OF the reconnaissance Of the battle ground,
where Major Dodeand bis gallant comrades,
met their melancholy fate in the action with
the Indians. on the 2slh December last -
WESTERN DEPARTMENT,
F5rt King. Forida, Feb 22d. 1886. !
General-Agrceably TO your directions, |
observed the battle ground six or seven miles
north Of the Ouiihhcoochc river, where Ma-
or Dade and his command were destroyed
hy the Seminole Indians on the -th of Dec
last. aud have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing report
The force under your command which
arrived at this post 10 day from Tampa Bay,
pucamped on the night OF the 18Th inst on
the ground occupied by Major Dade. on the
nigh of the 27th Dec He and his party
we're destroyed on the morning OF the 2s,h
Of December, about four miles in advance
Of that position lle was advancing towards
this post, and was attacked from the north.
sa that on the ooh inst we came upon the
rear OF his battle ground about nine o'clock
10 the morning our advanced guard had
passed the grouud without haliing. when
the General and his staff came upon one Of
the most appalling scenes tha, can be mag
med We first saw some broken and seat
tered boxes, then a cart, the two oxen Of
which were lying dead. as if they had fllcn
asleep, their yokcs still on them. liulc 10
the rig ht, one or Two horses were seen We
then came 20 small enclosure. made bv
telling trees in such manner as to form
triangular breast work for defence Within
this triangle, along the north and west faces
OF II were about thirty bodies mostly mere
skeletons, although much OF the clothing was
len upon them. These were lying almost
every one Of them, in precisely the position
they must have occupied during the fight
their heads next to the logs over which they
had delivered their FIRE, and their bodies
stretched with striking regularity parallel to
each other. They had evidently been shot
dead nj their posts, aud The Indians had not
disturbed them, except by taking scalps of
most oithem. Passing this little breast work
we found other bodies along the road, gene
rally behind trees which had been resorted
TO for covers from the enemv's fire. Adyan-
eng about two hundred yards further, we
found cluster of bodies in the middle of
The road These were evidently the ad
vanced guard and in the rear OF which was
The body of Major Dade, and to the right
hat OF Captain Fraser
10 These were all doubtless shot down on
.he first fire. OF the Indians except, perhaps.
Capt. Fraser, who must, however. have fall
en- very early in the fight Those in the
road and by the trees, fell during the first
attack 1t was during cessation of the fire
hat the little band still remaining. abont
thirty III number, threw up the triangular
breast work, which, from the haste with
which II was constructed was necessarily
defective, and could not protect the men in
he second attack
We had with us many of the personal
friends of the officers of Major Dade's com
nand, and II is gratifying to be able to state
hat every officer was identified by undoubl,
ed evidence. They were buried. and the
cannon six FOUNDER, that the Indians had
brown INTO swamp, was recovered and
placed vertically at the head of the grave, |
where It is to be hoped it will long remain, |
The bodies of the non-commissioned officers
and prvaies were buried in Two graves. and
it was found that every man was accounted
for The command was composed of eight
officers and one hundred and two non.com-
officers and privates. The bodies
Of eight officers and ninety-eight men were
inferred, four men having escaped: three of
whom reached Tampa Bay, the fourth was
KILLED the day after the battle.
It may be proper to observe, that the at-
tack was not made from hammock bnt in
'hlnly wooded country; the Indians heinz
concealed by palmetto and grass, which has
since been burned.
Inc two companies were Capt Frasers
Of the Sd artillery aud Capt Gardeners. of
The I'd artillery. The officers were Moior
Dade, of the 4th infantry, Captains Fraser
and Gardiner second Lieutenant Basinper
brevet second Lieutemnisa II. Henderson,
Nudge and Keats, of thoarlilery, and DR.
J S. Catlin
have the honor to be, with the highest
respect your obi servt
(Signed) e. A. HITouoooK
Capt. LIST Infantry, Act Insp'r General.
Major Gen. Edmund p. Gaines,
Commanding Western Department.