Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1856-11-08
A Bloody Renaissance.

correspondent Oh the Philadelphia
Ledger, writing from Camp Dade, Florida
relates the terrible circumstances undel
which Major Dade, with ITO men, wer.
destroyed there in 1886. They had beer
detailed to force their way through from
Fort King to Tampa s.
Nothing of Importance occurred till tn.
eighth day. On the morning of that day
! they resumed the march from their last en-
campment, (about one mile and half from
this place, and we're about cutting down
some very high grass, when most deadly
and destructive fire vas opened on them by an
unseen enemy, which struck down every
man Of the advanced guard. Major Dade
and Capt. Frazer now went forward to as
certain the cause of the firing, when they
two were shot down, and the command de-
yolved on Gardner, who had his thigh shat
tered. He kept his post until he was shot
dead. The rear guard under the command
of Lieutenant Henderson, now got ready the
six FOUNDER, and sent such laundering dis
charge of grape into the grass, (for as yet
they had not seen foe, J that the enemy
were driven back nearly half mile, and
Lieut.. Bassinger, with party ofmen, COM
menced the cutting of logs for the purpose
Of making a breastwork for defence. This
is still standing. They were not. however,
allowed much time, and had only raised
their work about two feet high, when the
Indians, under Micanopy, came down on
them from another point, and in less than
20 minutes, the work of death was 50 rapid,
that every officer but Bassinger was either
killed or wounded, and only seven men left
unhurt.
Lieut.. Keys was shot in the head, and
|exclaiming oh, God am dead man p
seated himself at the foot of tree, where
he remained until his head was split open
by the tomahawk of savage DR.. Catlin,
who had both legs shattered, was dragged
into the little work, and seizing a double
barre,ed, gun, said 81 have two barrels
for them yet !" but, poor fellow, he soon
ceased to use them, as rifle ball entered
his heart, killing him on the spot Lieut..
Bassinger now emerged from the works to
pick up what guns he could, and as he was
about to return he was shot down, with his
two legs and one arm shattered. He, how
ever, reached the enclosure with few guns,
and for near half an hour, he and three pri-
Yates kept back the savages. At last, all
We're disabled but himself and private Clark.
The fire having Stacked, the Indians now APP
preached, and eontented themselves with
rifing the bodies of the slain. Bassinger
and Clark all the time feigning to be dead.
Having taken everything of value they
could find, the Indians now retired, when
Clark and Bassinger consulted on what was
to be done but alas scarcely had an hour
elapsed when some negroes, half-breeds,
and few Indians returned and commenced
mutilating the bodies Of the slain in the
most barbarous manner.
Lieut.. Bassinger, on seeing this raised
himself mp, and, appealing to huge negro,
who spoke English to spare his life for the
sake Of his wife; but an hundred axes were
Immediately raised on him, and Clark says
they literally cut him to pieces Clark re-
manned quiet till they left, and although
with eleven Wounds waited till night, when
he set out on his return to Fort King.
This place he finally reached, and he is now
in New York, pensioned by the government
on tho pitiful sum of eight dollars per
month.
Such, gentlemen, was the massacre of
Dade and his ill-starred command 1 have
examined the whole ground for one mile
round, and cannot imagine spot more suit
able fora ambuscadc than the one the In-
dians selected. About two months after
the massacre, a detachment under the COM
mand of Maj. Bonneville. visited the spot
and buried the dead. the officers in one
grave and the soldiers in another. The Off
GERS grave is now entirely under water ;
nothing can be seen but board at the head
of the grave.