Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1836-02-04
HORRIBLE MASSACRE OF TWO
COMPANIES OF u. =. TROOPS
BY TIE INDIANS.

Mobile papers of the 10Th inst. bring us the
painful and distressing intelligence oftle sur
prise and Massacre of two companies Of the
United States Troops, under the command Of
Msjor Dade, consisting of liz men, by the
Seminole Indians.
Major Dude had started with his troops to
Camp King to join Gen. Clinch when Oh the
evening of the 2Sth Dec. at O'Clock, they
were surrounded by a large body Of Indians,
supposed to number from eco to 1000, and
were cut to pieces. Only Hyee men of the
liz escaped, badly wounded, to recount the
lauen story of the bulrhery Of their icl-
low soldiers.
The following melancholy particulars are
extracted from Major Bellon's official report
to the Adjutant General U. s. A. al Washi
inyton, dated FoRr BHooAE, (Florldu,) LIST
Jan, 1880.
The detachmeh, Consisted Of Major Dade'S
company of Infantry, Capt Frazicr's company
of the ;}d Regiment of Artillery, and Capt
GARDENERS company of the % Artillery, being
60 miles on the line OF march from fanipa
Bay toward Fort King, to form Junction with
General Clynch, on the Wythlihootche.-
This action occurred, It seems, three days oe-
fore the bnttle, where Gen Clynch command
ed, of which we have already given an ac-
count .
Now it becomes my melancholy duty to
nroceed to the catastrophe of this tatcd band,
nm elite of energy, patriotism, military skill
and constant courage. On The 20th, IN the
afternoon, man Of MY company, John Tho
mas, aud temporarily transferred to y. com
panv. I'd Artillery, came in, aud yesterday
Pr. Ransom Clark, of the same company, Win
four wounds, very severe, and stated tiiat all
action took place UD the 2oth, commencing
about 10 o'clock; III which every offlcer fell,
and nearly every man. The co'Iiinanu Gu
trenched every night, and about iOur mics
from the halt were attacked, and received al
least fifteen rounds before all Indian was
seen.-Majur Dade and his horse were both
killed on the first onset, and the interpreter
.I,ouis.n L. Nudge, 3D. Artillery received
his mortal wound the first fire. and afterwards
received several other wounds. LIT. Bassen-
per, 3D. Artillery. was not wounded Ill atler
the second attack; aud at the latter part vi
that. he was wounded several times before he
was tunahawkcd. Capt. Gardiner, I'd Arlil-
lery, was not wounded until the second at-
tack, and at the last part oi H. Mr. DassIil-
pcr. after Capt. Gardiner was KILLED, remark
cd. 81 am the only officer LETT, aud, boys we
will do the best we can" Lat. keley's, 81
Artillery. had both arms broken The first shot,
was unable to act, and was ton,ollawked the
latter pnrt Of the second attack, by negro.
IL. Henderson had his left arm broken tie
first fire, and after that with muskct fred at
least thirty or forty shots. DIR: Cntlln was
not killed until after the scennd attack, nor
was he wounded, he placed hinIscli bebind
the breast work, and with two double par
relied Guns, said, "he had four barrels Tor
them." Capt. Frazer fell carly IN the action
with the advanced guard; as man oi ms COM
psny ,(B. Sd Artillery who came III THIS morn
ing, wounded, reports.
On the attack they were IN column OF rows;
and after receiving heavy fire from the un-
seen enemy, they then rose up IN SUCH
swarm. that the ground, covered, as was
thought, by Light Infantry extension, showed
the Indians between the files. Muskets were
clubbed, knifes and bayonets used, and par
ties clinchcd. In the second attack, our own
mems muskets from the dead and wounded,
were used against them; crnss hrc cut oo"n
n succession of artillcrIsis at the fence, nom
which ~ rounds were fired the gun-carria-
Cos were burnt, aud the guns sunk ~ pond
4 wer.dsnce was held on the ground--n'any
peur,cs were in The field, bat no scalps were
taken by the Ind,sns, but the negroes, with