The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-07-31

7 be seen TO this day. until he had
crossed the forks of the Withlacoochee
river. he had sent scouts ahead, and
at night made an entrenched camp, or
cut trees for breastworks, and used
all possible precautions against a night
attack.
Dade's Breakfast Pond.
1.-THE evening before the attack he
had crossed his last river, and had
encamped for the night near a small
pond about four miles below or south
of the point of attack. On the morning
of the 28th he assembled his command
near the pond, which is now known
as Dade's Breakfast Pond, and ad-
dressed them, stating that the most
dangerous part of their journey had
been passed, and, that they were near
ing their destination, and by nightfau
would probably beach Fort King.
ION previous days he had advanced
with flankers and an advance guard
but on the morning of the 2Sth of
December, having passed the thick
swamps and the morning being some
what chilly. his vigilance was relaxed
and the command proceeded with a
| small advance guard, the men wear
ing their overcoats buttoned, and their
ammunition boxes under the outer
garments. Major Dade and Captain
Fraser closely followed the advance
guard, and the men in double file fol-
| lowed.
about four miles north of the last
| night camp, and while in the open
woods and just west of a small pond.
and at point where the grass was
| tail and there were many clumps of
saw palmetto, the Indians, one hun
dred and eighty in number, besides a
large number of their negro slaves and
retainers, had concealed themselves in
the grass and in the palmettoes. The
command was slowly progressing along
! the trail, at this point where the at
tack was, according to the methods
| of Indian warfare, not to be expected.
| The cold quiet morning was suddenly
startled by shrill war whoop uttered
! by the chief Jumper, followed by a
single shot fired by Micanopy, and
then Immediately a sheet of fire from
, the concealed Indians poured into the
startled soldiers. More than half of
| the command went down at the first
| volley. The aim of the Indians was
well nigh perfect, and the attack had
been carefully planned, and discussed
by the chiefs.
Captain Fraser.
'Halpatter-Tu stenuggee or A1Iiga-
| tor in his narrative of the battle, says
! that after the first volley the soldiers
We're rallied by the few remaining of
ficers, and that the field piece was
| loaded and fired several times, but the
| Indians soon shot down the artillery
men and the gun was silenced. He
| says that one officer, little man, was
a very brave man, that he drew his
sword and swore great oaths and made
every effort to rally his soldiers. From
| all accounts this officer was Captain
Fraser, as it appears that Major Dade
was killed during the first volley from
the Indians. The soldiers took refuge
behind trees. and fought to the last
! The firing continued for some time,
and then the Indians retired a short
| distance to replenish their ammunition.
An Indian coming up said that there
were few white men left, and that
| they had thrown up a breastwork of
| logs. The savages returned to the
ground, and placed the survivors under
severe fire, and the soldiers fire was
soon silenced for want of ammunition.
The Indians sent their negroes into
the enclosures and found three white
men alive who after a conversation
with the Indians in English We're put
| to death, but not until one soldier,
whom Alligator says was a very brave
man and who refused to surrender.
dashed out the brains of the Indian,
land then ran IN the road He wa G
pursued by Indians on horseback and
soon shot down. Clarke, who had re-
ceived seven wounds, corroborates this
account and said that he pretended to
| be dead when the Indians came into
| the enclosure. A negro slave gave him
| a push with his foot and said: He is