Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1837-07-15

~aI DADE MAssACRE.

.., ~ the msGsscrc OF MAJOR Dadc'
.sc, IN Flosiih u Decembef' 1852 "a
. - 6on tho liz . a., . ".,;o. vho !. now !,
s~y;yor Of ~ Asadfa' sc"00' WI" - ~" 7"
~ 1,ehuena, consisting Of III men IN
.d o. Major Dade, started from For
T..,oa Hav. on the 23d Of December
;-.1 n The scene If action about 8 O'Clock
-,e,inr Of the 18th. II was on the edge o.
.I aAeee niles from the spot where nc had
.ied On Tho night previous. The pond was
s.s.-.ded BY tall grass, brush, and small trees
4 roment be6oss VIC were surprised MAJOR Dade
IT, 1--WE have now got through all danger
-. - !. nod hearts, and when we get to Fort
~. Fl e;yc you three days for Christmas
M ~ time VIC were in path, or trail, on the
go, n the uoud and the first notice that we
.ss;r.d ~ he presence Of tho enemy, was the
Es~S,.s AZ = yi6e by their chief, as q signal to
s.-.eses The attack. The pond was on our
,;sAa. - de Indians were scattered round IN a
seSe;rcje, On our LEFT, in the rear, and in advance
-n.ehine At the two latter points to the edge
~ - poed: but leaving IN opening iof our en-
t..cc - ne path. and similar opening on the
unoeite extremity for the egress Of our advanced
auafd. which was permitted to pass through with.
ont lc;no 6rcd On. and Of course UNCONSCIOUS OF
the anbuscade through which they had marched
Al the time Of the attack this guard was about
. quarter Of . milo in advance, the main body
following in column, two deep. The Chiefs rifle
was allowed BY general discharge from his men
ana Major Dade, Captain Frazier, and Lieut..
Nudge. together with several non commissioned
officers and priyatcs, were brought down by the
first vollcy. Our rear guard had a six FOUNDER,
which as soon rs possible, was hauled up, and
brought to bear upon the ground occupied by the
unseen enemy, sccrctcd among the grass, bushes,
end trees The discharge Of the canon checked,
and made them fall back for about half an hour.
r.
wounded and the arms, leaving the dead. Among
the wounded was Lieut.. Nudge, who was speech
less. We set him up against u tree, and he was
found there two months after, when General
Gaines sent detachment To bury the bodies Of
oursoldicrs-All hands then commenced throw
ing upa small triangular breast work of logs, but
Just VIC had raised il about two feet the Indians
relumcd, and renew Cd the engagement. A part
n our tru.pa Cssxht within tho bron~s.~~sA, -..A
,.n outside remained outside till received
IN IN INV right arm, and another near my right I
temple, which came out ut the top Of my head.
pext received shot in my thigh, which brought
~ down on my side, and then got INTO the
sscastwork. We gave them forty nine dischar-
gcs fsom the canon; and, while loading for the fit
tieth, the last shot; VIC had, our match went out
The Indians chiefly lcycllcd at the men who work
ed the cannon. In tho meantime the main body
q our troops hcpt up general fire Of musketry.
The loss Of the enemy must have been very
yroat, because we never fired until we fixed Oh
'uf men, but the cannon was necessarily fired ut
asdOm, only two three Indiana appeared to-
yeiAcr. When the firing commenced, the advan-
I'D guard wheeled, and i'll returning to the main
,ody, were entirely cut up. The battle lasted
III about four in the afternoon, and ] was about
he last one who loadcd gun while lying on my
idle AT the close, Ircccived a shot in my right !
houdcr, which passed into ny lungs; the blood
ishcd out oil my mouth in a stream, and, drop
toJ he
indians then entered tho breastwork, but found not
ne man Standing to defend it. They secured $
hc arms, ammunition. and the cannon, and dis !
atchcd such Of our fallen soldiers as they suppos I
d stiil to he alive. Their negroes then came IN :
} strip the dead. had by this time somewhat /.
'yived, and negro observed that was not dead
ok up muskct and shot me on the top Of the
BOULDER, and the ball came out at my back. Al c
firing, he said, s.Thcrc, d-n you, take that j
l. then stripped me Of every thing but my 4
Airt. o
~Thc enemy then disappeared TO the left Of the X
ood, and, through weakness and apprehension, +"
resumed still, till about nine o'clock at night g
then commenced crawling on my knees and y
n hand. As was crawling over the dead. II
u my hand on ono man, who felt different from 81
Y rest-he was warm and Timber, ] reused him T,
,, and found il was De Courcy, an Englshman, Il
ID the son Of British officer, resident in Can Ct
h. told him il was best for us to attempt to al
ascl, as the danger appeared to be over, and We III
'ght tall in with some assistance. As he was Ct
ny wounded in the side and arm, he could walk u
little. We got along we'll as VIC could that ia
gnt u continued on till next noon. when ona RI IN
~ ground, VIC observed Indian ahead, on b
loading his rifle. We agreed that he til
oud go side of the road and on the other n
he indian took after DC Courcv. and hcarcd pa
g discharge OF his rifle This gave me time
crawl into a hammock and hide away. The
ma" scon returned, with his arms and legs COW te
~ win o'ood, having, doubt, according to NJ
s~n"' CUT nc Courcy to pieces, after bringing te
down with hrs rifle. The Indian came riding IA
rough the brush in pursui, Of me. and apnn,ch. M
within ten feet, but gave up the search -,
en- resumed INV route back toF For Rr,r,kc cr,wl =,
and iimPed through the nights and fo,enoons w
slept in the brush during the middle Of IN, ,.;
y, with no other nourishmcnt than cold v,,er n
os to Fort Brooke on the evening Of the eth 80
q IN five months afterwards was discharged AZ -,
pens'oncr, at eight dollars per month. The IN
ctor attributes my not dying Of NV wounds to ~
circumstance that blcd a good deal and did
.Part"ke OF any solid food during tho first five
~. III
Two other soldiers, by the names Of Thomas NJ
SPranue, also came in afterwards: Although q
ny wounded. they assembled tree. and thus r.
"Pea me enemy ON the evening of the battle TO
'cS Jo'ned another expedition. two months af. co
oa' peicfe their wounds were healed. and thew Ca