Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-12-04
A BLOODY "REMINISCENCES.

ger, writing from Camp Dade, Florida, re-
lates the terrible circumstances under which
Major Dade, with 10 men, were destroyed
there in 1886. They had been detailed 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 most deadly and destructive fire was
opened upon them by an unseen enemy,
which struck down every man Of the ad
vance guard. Major Dade and Capt Frazer
now went forward to ascertain the cause Of
the firing, when they too were shot down, and
the command devolved on Gardner, who had
his right thigh shattered. He kept his post
until he was shot dead. The rear guards
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 foe) that the
enemy were driven back nearly half a mile,
and Lieut.. Dassinger, with party of men,
commenced the cutting of logs for the pur-
pose of making breastwork for defence
This is still standing. They were not, how
ever, allowed much time, and had only rails
ed their work about two feet, when the In
dams, under Micanopy, came down upon
them from another point. In less than TWEEN
ty 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 exclaimed, "Oh, God! am
a dead man p' seated himself at the foot of
a tree, where he remained until his head was
split by the tomahawk of savage. DR.. Ca
tin, who had both legs shattered, was drag
ged into little work, seizing a double bar
relied gun, said, ri have two barrels for
them yeti" but, poor fellow, he soon ceased
to use them, as ball from rifle entered his
heart, killing him on the spot. Lieut.. Das-
singer now emerged from the work to pick
up what guns he could, and as be was about
to return he was shot down, with his /. q
and one arm shattered. He, however, reach
ed the enclosure with few guns, and for
near half an hour, he and three privates kept
back the savagcs. At last, they were all en-
tirely disabled but himself and private Clark.
The fire having slackened. the Indians now
approached, and contented themselves 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 Dassinger consulted on what was
to be done; but alas !! scarcely an hour elaps-
ed when negroes, half breeds, and a few In
dians returned and commenced mutilating
the bodies of the slain in most barbarous
manner.
Lieut.. Dassinger, on seeing this, raised
himself up, and, appealing to huge negro,
who spoke English, begged them to spare his
life for the sake of his wife; but hundred
axes were Immediately raised on him, and
Clark says they literally cut him to pieces.
Clark remained quiet till they had 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 is
now in New York, pensioued by the govern
ment on the pitiful sum Of eight dollars per
month.
Such, gentlemen, was the massacre of
Dade and his ill-starred 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, detachment, under the command
of Major Bonneville, visited the spot and
buried the dead, the officers in one grave,
the soldiers in another. The officers grave
is now entirely under water; nothing OF it
can be seen but o board at the head of the
grave.