Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is located about an hour west of Orlando, Florida. The 80 acre park is forested, ripe with wildlife, hiking trails and historical significance. In 1972 the location was designated a US National Historic Landmark for its role in the Second Seminole War. Today the park offers visitors the chance to see gopher tortoises, woodpeckers, hawks, indigo snakes and many other forms of wildlife. Let's take a look at the importance of the location.
By 1835 the First Seminole War had been over for almost twenty years and relations between the settlers and the Seminole Indians was tense. In late December of that year two US military companies, numbering 110 men, left Tampa bound for Fort King. Fort King had recently been burned to the ground by the Seminole and the personnel left needed supplies and reinforcements. Major Francis L. Dade was leading the two units, and knew they were being followed by a the Seminole. He sent out groups of scouts to watch for an ambush as it was customary for the Seminole to attack during water crossings or in the thick of the forest.
Once the companies had passed through river and forest crossings, Major Dade recalled his scouts thinking the men were out of danger. No doubt his mind was keen on getting to Fort King as soon as possible to prevent further bloodshed there. As the troops marched through a dense forest of oak, pine and palm the Seminole were watching every step they took and sending word back to their chiefs. Just 25 miles from Fort King, 180 Seminole attacked the men killing all but three. The companies were marching in two single file lines and therefore were easy targets as they came through the forest. Of the three surviving men, one was killed the next day by and two made it back to Fort Brooke. Of the two that made it back, only one was able to give an account of the fight.
The Dade Massacre was the event to spark the Second Seminole War which lasted seven years, the longest of the three Seminole Wars. It would prove to be a devastating war, with thousands of soldiers and Indians perishing. The soldiers who died at Dade were buried at the site, however at the end of the war in 1842 their bodies were brought to the St. Augustine National Cemetery.
Clearly Dade Battlefield Historic State Park holds great significance in the history of Florida and the nation. The war that the massacre sparked ended up changing the landscape of the Florida, as treaties were signed that lead to the end of Seminole Indians residing in Florida. For the time being they were confined to the everglades region, but by the end of the Third Seminole War they were all but gone.
By 1835 the First Seminole War had been over for almost twenty years and relations between the settlers and the Seminole Indians was tense. In late December of that year two US military companies, numbering 110 men, left Tampa bound for Fort King. Fort King had recently been burned to the ground by the Seminole and the personnel left needed supplies and reinforcements. Major Francis L. Dade was leading the two units, and knew they were being followed by a the Seminole. He sent out groups of scouts to watch for an ambush as it was customary for the Seminole to attack during water crossings or in the thick of the forest.
Once the companies had passed through river and forest crossings, Major Dade recalled his scouts thinking the men were out of danger. No doubt his mind was keen on getting to Fort King as soon as possible to prevent further bloodshed there. As the troops marched through a dense forest of oak, pine and palm the Seminole were watching every step they took and sending word back to their chiefs. Just 25 miles from Fort King, 180 Seminole attacked the men killing all but three. The companies were marching in two single file lines and therefore were easy targets as they came through the forest. Of the three surviving men, one was killed the next day by and two made it back to Fort Brooke. Of the two that made it back, only one was able to give an account of the fight.
The Dade Massacre was the event to spark the Second Seminole War which lasted seven years, the longest of the three Seminole Wars. It would prove to be a devastating war, with thousands of soldiers and Indians perishing. The soldiers who died at Dade were buried at the site, however at the end of the war in 1842 their bodies were brought to the St. Augustine National Cemetery.
Clearly Dade Battlefield Historic State Park holds great significance in the history of Florida and the nation. The war that the massacre sparked ended up changing the landscape of the Florida, as treaties were signed that lead to the end of Seminole Indians residing in Florida. For the time being they were confined to the everglades region, but by the end of the Third Seminole War they were all but gone.
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