The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-09
A BLOODY "REMINISCENCES.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
Ledger, writing from Camp Dade, Florida,
relates the terrible circumstances under
which Major Dade, with 40 men, were des
troyed there in 1896. They had been de-
tailed to force their way through from Fort
King to Tampa:
| Nothing of Importance occurred till the
eighth day. On that day they resumed the
march from their last encampment, (about
one mile and half from this place,) and were
about cutting down some very high grass,
when a most deadly and destructive fire
was opened upon them by an unseen enemy,
| which struck down every man of the ad
vance guard. Major Dadc and t'apc Frazer
| now went forward to ascertain the cause of
| the firing, when they too were shot down,
and the command dcvolved on Gardner,
who had his right thigh shattered. lie
| kept his post until he was shot dead. The
rear guard, under the command of Lieut..
Henderson, now got ready the six-pounder,
| and sent such laundering discharges of
grape into the grass (for they had not yet
seen n foe) that the enemy were driven
back nearly half mile, and Lieut.. Dassin-
ger, with a party of men, commenced the
cutting of logs for the purpose of making
breastwork for defence. This is still stand
ing. They were not, however, allowed much
time, and had only raised their work about
two feet, when the Indians, under Micano-
Ply, came down upon them from another
point. In less than twenty minutes, the
work of death was SO rapid that every officer
but Dassinger was either killed or mortally
wounded, and only seven men left unhurt.
Lieut.. Keys was shot in the head, and ex-
claimed. ooh, God am a dead man,
seated himself at the foot of a tree, where
he remained until his head was split by the
tomahawk of a savage. DR.. Catlin, who
had both legs shattered, was dragged into
little work, and seizing a double barreled
gun, said, 81 have two barrels for them yeti"
but, poor fellow, he soon ceased to use
them, az ball from a rifle entered his heart
killing him on the spot. Lieut.. Dassinger
now emerged from the work to pick up
what guns he could, and as he was about
to return lie was shot down, with his legs
and one arm shattered. He, however
reached the enclosure, with few guns, and
for near half an hour, he and three priyates
kept back the savagcs. At last, they were
entirely disabled but himself and private
Clark. The fire having slackened, the In
dams now approached, and contented them
selves with riAing the bodies of the slain;
Dassinger and Clark all the time feigning
to be dead.
Having taken everything of value they
could find, the Indians now retired, when
Clark and Dassnger consulted Oh what was
to be done; but alas scarcely an hour claps-
ed when negroes, half breeds, and few
Indians returned and commenced mutilating
the bodies of the slain in most barbarous
manner.
Lieut.. Dassingcr, on seeing this, raised
himself up, and, appealing to a huge negro,
who spoke English, begged them to spare
his life for the sake of his wife; but hun
dred axes were Immediately raised on him,
and Clark says they literally cut him to pie
ccs. Clark remained quiet till they had
left, and although with eleven wounds, wait
ed till night, when he set out on his return
to Fort King. This place he finally reach
ed, and is now in New York, pensioned by
the government on the pitiful sum of eight
dollars per month
Such, gentlemen, was the massacre of
Dade and Ills ill-starrcd command. ! have
examined the whole ground for one mile
round, and cannot imagine a more suitable
spot for an ambuscade than the one the In
dams selected. About two months after
the massacre, Il detachment, under the com
mand of Major Bonneville, visited the spot
and buried the dead, the officers in one
grave, the soldiers in another. The Off
GERS grave is now entirely under water;
nothing of it can be seen but board at the
head of the grave.