The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-09-26
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Fridn, aioreinx, September o6s ISaa
A BLOODY REMINIsCENCE.

A correspondent OF the Philadelphia Ledger.
writing from Camp Dade, Florida, relates the ter.
riele circumstances under which Major Dsde, with
ITO men were destroyed there in 1885, They had
been detailed TO force their way through from
Fort King to Tampa. 2
Nothing Of importance occurred till The eighth asx
on the morning OF that day they resumed the march
,"" s,s .nelt last sncampmeot tabout mile and
oast from this placel and were about cutting dowu
some very high grass when a most deadly and de
slIactiFs nre was opened them by an unseen enc
rnsr wnsa seiaes down every man of the advanced
suaIe, ms). pade and CAPT. Frazer now went for
wsa 70 ascertain the Of the firing when they
700 We're shot down, and the command devolved on
hs wao nsa Thigh shattered. He kept
MS posi- nnt'i he was shot dead The rear gusrd un-
der the command of Lieut. Henderson now eet
Iesdy the sxponnder. and sent such thunderins
discharges OF grape into the grass far as vet
had not seen feel, that the enemy were driven
bsok nearly half mile, and Lieutenant Basin
ger, with party OF men, commenced the cut
work for defence. This is still s.anding They
were not, however allowed much time and had On.
y raised their work about two feet when the In.
oians, under micanopy, came down them from
smother point and in less than twenty minutes, the
work OF death was SO that every officer but Bas
singer either killed or mcrtsllY wounded and
only seven men left uuhurt. Lieut.. Keys was shot
Ia the head, and excieining "Oh, God! am dead
man seated himself at the foot Of tree where he
RENAL aed until bis head split open by the top,a-
hawk OF a savage DR.. Catln, who had both legs
shattered was dragged into the little work and seiz
ns donble harIeed gun. said, al have two barrels
for 'hem yet" but poor fellow, he soon ceased 10
use them, as ball from rifle entered his heart kill
ing hln on the spot. Lieut. Bassinger now emerged
nom the works to pick up what guns he could and.
as ne wes about to return he shot down with his
Two legs and one arm shattered He, however
rescued the enclosure with few guns and for nearly
nan an hour, he and three priyates kept back the
ssFages AT last. all were entirely disabled but him
self and pTivste Clark. The fire having Stacked the
Indians now approached, and contented themselves
with rfling the bodies of the slain, Bassiuger and
Clark all the time feigning to he dead
davluS taken every thing of value they could find
the Indians now retired when Clark and Bassinger
Consulted on what to be done but alssi scarcely
an hour had elapsed when negroes half breeds
and few Indians returned and commenced mutila
ting the bodies of the slain in most bar blrous man.
ner
Lieut. Bsssinger, seeing this raised himself up
and appealing q huge negro, who spoke English
begged them spare his life for the sake of his Wife
but hundred axes imme ediately raised on him.
and Cla saws they literally cut him to pieces Clark
remained quiet till they had left and although with
eleven wounds. waited till nj ght, when he out on
his to Fort King. This place he finally reach
ed, and is in New York. pensioned by the gov
ernmept the ptiful sum of eli eht dollars per month
Such, gentlemen, the massacre of Dade and
his i'll starred command. | have examined the whole
ground for mile round ana cannot imagine spot
more suitable for ambuscade than the the In.
ere, detachment. under the command of Major
officers in grave, the soldiers in another The
oilicers grave is entirely under watsr nothing
of it bs but beard ct the head of the grave.