Dade Massacre (28 Dec 1835) - A Seminole War Battle fought between a U.S. Army expedition traveling from Fort Dade 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.
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
