[SAMWolf]

The Dade Massacre

Lawless men, they were to blame.
....From the Georgia line they came.
Burning, killing, stealing slaves,
....From the Seminole Indian braves.
Major Dade and his hundred
....Were marching along,
By the edge of a thick swamp.
....It was shortly past dawn.
Through scrub and palmetto
....Their harnesses did ring.
They were marching from Tampa
....On the way to Fort King.
Oh, the sun's rays were burning,
....Dade's temper was short
His scout had deserted
....Somewhere to the north.
The men had a feeling,
....The land was too quiet.
They held their guns tightly
....Their eyes showed their fright
Well, it came of a sudden,
....That wild cry of craze,
From the screaming throats
....Of the Seminole braves.
Black smoke, thudding bullets
....From Indian guns.
I'll tell you, the Dade
....Massacre had begun.
Major Dade, he fell first
....With a deep mortal wound.
'Twas from Jumper's rifle
....That he met his doom.
His men were all killed
....Without mercy or plea.
This legend lives ever
....In our history.
Now the land is all serene,
....There's a marker at the scene.
Where Major Dade sleeps
....Among his hundred men.

Will McLean

From Cross The Shadows Of My Face, McLean
12/28/1835: Bushnell FL:

During the second Seminole War, Maj. Francis L. Dade, 7 officers, 100 men killed by Seminole soldiers under sub-chief John Jumper (Otee-Emathla)

[snippy_about_it]

We have a wealth of information here today. I can't wait to get home this evening and read it all! Great thread SAM and thank sb for the additions.

[KDD]

bookedmarked...Thanks for this history on my State.