The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-26
DADE'S MASSACRE.

BARLOW, Polk County, Fla. June, 1885,
Almost directly north OF my little cabin, some
fifty miles, as the crow flies, lies the scene of
what is known IS "Dade's massacre" in
whichfhe United States troops met with one
of the most woful and bloody defeats, perhaps,
in view of the number of men engaged, ever
recorded in the annals even of Indian warfare.
This deplorable affair stands out prominent
among my early memories, as occurring in the
same year 1S35-in which l set my first type.
Having had many talks with old men who
were living in Florida at the time of its occur
renee, and being the poSsessor, also, of an ac-
count of the massacre, derived from the lips OF
Ransom Clark, a Massachusetts, man, one of
the three soldiers who alone escaped from it. L
have thought that faithful narrative Of the
affair, drawn from the material at my COM
mand, might not prove unacceptable to the
readers of the Portland Transcript.
Dade's massacre occurred early in what is
called the second Seminole war, in which the
celebrated Osceoia was the leading war chief
of the savages He was the son, or step-son,
as some say, of a Scotch trader named Powell,
his mother being the daughter of a noted
Creek warrior. Cast adrift by his father when
a mere child, Osceola found an asylum with
the Florida Seminoles and there in few
years rose to distinction and married.
For several years the United States author
tiles had been endeavoring to induce the SEM
inoles to leave Florida and seek new homes
west of the Mississippi. AS a determined OPP
ponent of this measure, Osceola had rendered
himself obnoxious to certain army officers,
among whom was General Thompson, the In
dian agent. " lille the Seminole chief and
his family were visiting Thompson. at Fort
King, the latter caused Osceole's wife to be
arrested and carried away, under claim that
she was the daughter OF a runaway slave. At
this outrage Osceola became almost frantic
with grief and Indignation. His wrath rose to
such pitch that Thompson finally orderep
HIM to be placed in irons and confined. Dis
selnbling his anger, the heart-broken chief in
few days regained his liberty by pretense
of agreeing to the project of removal.
He was scarcely free, however, when, bent
upon ayenging his wrongs, he set about stir
ring up his people to war. 1t did not take
him long to bring matters to the desired issue,
and several slight skirmishes had already oc-
CURED, when tidings reached Fort Brooke,
now Tampa, that General Clinch, at Fort
DTane, a short distance from Orange Lake,
was being hard pressed by the savages. Itwas
determined to send party to his relief Ac-
cordingly, two companies of Omitted States ar
tillery, numbering 10Y men, of whom eight
were commissioned officers, under the charge
of Major Francis l.. Dade, set out from Fort
Brooke for that purpose, on the 23d of Decent-
Der, 1885. The progress of the detachment
was slow, as great degree of caution had to
be observed, the country through which they
NSIS pdSSgfif@ hSiffU WONDERFULLY VIGIL dQ1fs
to those adjustments and surprises which
generally characterize Indian warfare.
On the evening of the 9th they
biYouacked among some ponds aud
small streams forming the headwaters Of the
Withlabooshie river. Breaking camp the
next morning, they had by eight o'clock
marched about three miles on their way when,
whilst they were skirting the edge of small
pond, surrounded by tall grass, bushes and low
trees. and Just as Major Dade had said to the
q mo- orOft n oh oil 1ano
Keep up good heart, and when We get TO
Fort King I'll give you three days Christ
mas" single rifle shot was heard, coming
from hammock On the left Of the troops, and
which was fired by the leader of the Indians
apparently as a signal to begin the attack. At
all events, it was Immediately followed by
volley after volley from the lurking sayages,
by whom tho main body of whites now found
themselves to be surrounded, tho advance
guard having been permitted to pass unmolest-
ed through the narrow road between the pond
and the hammock, where the Indians were
hidden. By the first discharge, Major Dade
and Captain Frazier were killed, together
with several non-commissioned officers and
many private soldiers.
Their leader slain, amp panic-stricken by the
suddenness of this unlooked-for attack, tho
whites were at first thrown into confusion,
and 1t was several minutes before they recov-
cred sufficiently to organize plal of defense.
The one solitary field-piece Of the expedition
six-pound howitzer-waS now hurried up.
and brought TO bear upon the place occupied
by the unseen foe. a few rounds from this
silenced their fire, and all became quiet for
about half an hour. During this breathing
spell the wounded were brought in. Among
them was Lieutenant Nudge, who. being una
BILE to speak, was set up against a tree, where
he was found two months afterward by de-
tachment sent out to bury the remains Of those
who had fallen in the battle.
The soldiers now began throwing up n small
triangular breaStwork of logs but, before it
had been raised to a sufficient height to afford
material protection, the Indians renewed their
attack with stubborn determination that
gave the troops but slight hope of being able
to hold their ground, in view of the incomplete
state OF their defenseS. Nevertheless, as long
as their artillery ammunition lasted, they
managed to keep the Indians in check. After
firing forty-nine rounds thew were loading for
the fitch discharge when their sole remain
ing match went out. The battle was now vir-
tually lost, though the soldiers maintained the
struggle, which appears to have been one in
which no quarter was expected, until not a
solitary man was left standing. The fight
lasted until four o'clock in the afternoon,
when, finding no further opposition, the saw
ages rushed into the bfeastwork, and immedi-
ately began the work of butchering such Of
the poor soldiers as still showed signs Of being
alive.
Ransom Clark one of the three men who
came out of the fight with his life, remained
outside the breastwork. deliberately firing at
such Indians as exposed themselves TO his aim
until he received ball in his right arm, fol-
lower by a second one, which, entering his
right temple, came out Of the top of his head
Immediately afterward he received shot in
one thigh, which brought him down Oh his
side, and lie then crawled into the breastwork.
Near the close of the struggle ball entered
his right shoulder and passed into his lungs
With the blood gushing from his mouth, he
at last dropped lis musket and fell upon his
face.
When the Indians had finished their work
OF butCheriDg the wounded, their negro slaves,
Of which some Of them possessed large mum
Der, came upon the field to strip the dead.
Clark having by this time revived a little, a
negro observing him to show signs Of life, took
up musket and shot him in the top Of the
shoulder, the ball coming out OF his back
Though the enemy soon afterward disap-
peared, Clark, who had again revived, re-
manned quite still until about nine in the night.
lie thence began to crawl on his knees and left
hand. AS he was thus slowly and painfully
making his way among the dead he put ms
hand on one man, in whom he felt signs Of life.
Finally, aroused from apparent death, this
man proved 10 be the son OF a British officer in
Canada, named DE Courcy The two now
started to seek place of safety, Clark still
crawling, and De Courcy, who was only
wounded in his side and arm, being able 10
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