Dade Battlefield
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2023 3:37 pm
There is a battlefield 19 miles away from where I sit, drinking coffee this morning.
We always visit the site, during our winter stays in Florida. It is a quiet place for picnicking and reflection.
In late December, 1835, a force of 107 U.S. Army soldiers & officers, commanded by Major Dade,
were marching from Ft. Brooke (at Tampa Bay), to reinforce and bring supplies to Ft. King (at Ocala), a distance of just over 100 miles.
The troop 'build up' was intended to implement the removal of the Seminoles, from Florida to new lands in Oklahoma.
A force of about 200 Seminoles, under leaders Micanopy, Alligator, and Jumper, lay in a skillful ambush at a point where the military trail skirted a large pond.
The opening Seminole volley, fired at 20 yards from heavy vegetation, inflicted 50% casualties on the soldiers and eliminated the 'command structure'.
Pinned down 41 miles short of their objective, with no escape route, the 'Dade troops' were annihilated during the ensuing four hour period of fighting.
A black slave, spared because he was not 'there by his free will', and two (overlooked) wounded private soldiers, were the sole survivors of Dade's force.
Only one of the privates survived the ordeal of walking back to Tampa Bay.
The 2nd Seminole War, which was to drag on for seven years, started with the Dade Battle.
The following year, over 35,000 U.S. troops would be battling the Seminole bands.
Eventually, most of the Seminoles would be forced to relocate to Oklahoma lands.
Some of the Florida Seminole were never conquered and no treaty marks the end of the conflict.
We always visit the site, during our winter stays in Florida. It is a quiet place for picnicking and reflection.
In late December, 1835, a force of 107 U.S. Army soldiers & officers, commanded by Major Dade,
were marching from Ft. Brooke (at Tampa Bay), to reinforce and bring supplies to Ft. King (at Ocala), a distance of just over 100 miles.
The troop 'build up' was intended to implement the removal of the Seminoles, from Florida to new lands in Oklahoma.
A force of about 200 Seminoles, under leaders Micanopy, Alligator, and Jumper, lay in a skillful ambush at a point where the military trail skirted a large pond.
The opening Seminole volley, fired at 20 yards from heavy vegetation, inflicted 50% casualties on the soldiers and eliminated the 'command structure'.
Pinned down 41 miles short of their objective, with no escape route, the 'Dade troops' were annihilated during the ensuing four hour period of fighting.
A black slave, spared because he was not 'there by his free will', and two (overlooked) wounded private soldiers, were the sole survivors of Dade's force.
Only one of the privates survived the ordeal of walking back to Tampa Bay.
The 2nd Seminole War, which was to drag on for seven years, started with the Dade Battle.
The following year, over 35,000 U.S. troops would be battling the Seminole bands.
Eventually, most of the Seminoles would be forced to relocate to Oklahoma lands.
Some of the Florida Seminole were never conquered and no treaty marks the end of the conflict.