Dade Massacre (28 Dec 1835) - A Seminole War Battle fought between a U.S. Army expedition traveling from Fort Brooke to Fort King commanded by Bvt Major Francis L. Dade and Seminole forces under Chiefs Micanopy and Thlocklo Tustenuggee (Alligator). The result was a tactical victory for the Seminoles but strategically it signaled the beginning of the Second Seminole War which resulted in the removal of most of the Seminoles to Indian Territory (Oklahoma). The action was deemed to be a massacre because the Seminoles refused an offer of surrender and they methodically killed the survivors including the wounded. Four expedition members survived the battle, one of those was killed the next day, one was captured and kept by the Seminole and two managed to make it back to Fort Dade. The battle was fought near present-day Bushnell in Sumter County, Florida.
Monument to Maj Dade where he fell during the first Volley.
Inverted Cannon Monuments to the Officers who fell during the Initial Attack.
Dade Massacre Triangular Breastworks, Site of the Last Stand.
As Major Dade's column approached what would be the massacre site it was organized with an advance guard of six enlisted men under the command of 2nd Lt. Robert Mudge. He was joined by Captain Fraser, Major Dade, and the translator Pacheo. The advance guard was 200 yards ahead of the main column and walked in single file. The main force followed in two-man columns led by Captain Gardiner. Following the main force was a wagon and cannon and directly behind them was the rearguard under 2nd Lt. William Basinger.
The Seminole plan was to simultaneously kill the Indian Agent at Fort King and attack Dade’s command while he was en route to reinforce Fort King. Chief Osceola would kill Indian Agent Thompson at Fort King and Chief Micanopy would lead the ambush on Dade's column. Both of these events occurred on the same day, either by plan or by circumstance.
The Seminoles were divided into two groups, the largest group was of some 200 dismounted Seminole Indians who hid on the left side of the Fort Brooke to Fort King road. The right side of the road bordered on a lake and marsh. The second group of Seminoles, some 100 in number were escaped slaves who had taken up with the Seminole and intermarried with them. This group was mounted and positioned to block soldiers fleeing toward Fort King. This group did not participate in the battle but did participate in the following massacre.
The ambush began just as the column reached the last and easiest part of the journey. The attack began sometime between 8 and 9 am with a single shot fired by Chief Micanopy that killed Major Dade instantly. Micanopy followed that shot with a war hoop that signaled the 200 warriors to open fire on the column. The first volley killed almost the entire advanced guard and almost the entire left-hand column of the main body. Half of Dade's command was killed in that first volley.
Battle Casualties
U.S. Forces
Seminole
Total
Total Engaged
110
180
290
Killed
108
3
111
Wounded
1
5
6
Total Casualties
110
8
118
Source: Various
Dade Command Battle Survivors
Name
Unit
Result
Private Edward Decourcey
Company B, 2nd Artillery
Killed the next day on way back
Private Ransom Clark
Company B, 2nd Artillery
Returned to Fort Brooke wounded
Private John Thomas
Company B, 2nd Artillery
Returned to Fort Brooke before the battle after a back injury
Private Joseph Sprague
Company B, 3rd Artillery
Returned to Fort Brooke wounded & left before final stand
Luis Pacheco
mulatto slave
Guided the expedition captured by Indians and kept by them
bodies of eight officers and ninety-eight non-commissioned officers and men original list
two more in the west point list
