Dade Battleground State Park
The Dade Battle ground state park is need Bushnell and is about a battle that too place in 1835 between a troop of
135 soldiers who were traveling from Fort Brooke (Tampa) and Fort King (Ocala) and a group of about 180
Seminole Indians. The Seminoles had been shadowing them for 5 days and picked their spot very well. The
soldiers were completely exposed and unprepared for the onslaught. About half of the soldiers were killed in the
initial volley and they had no place to hide. The Seminoles were protected by trees. The soldier put their 6 pound
cannon into play and got the Seminoles to retreat for a bit. The soldiers built a small breastworks, but the Indians
killed them all when the soldiers ran out of ammo for the cannon. 3 soldiers escaped to tell the Tale there were a
total of 3 Seminole wars. Most were moved to OK, but the remaining ones never surrendered. They were finally
recognized as a federal tribe in 1957. Nancy and I both remember small settlements along US 41 between Fort
Myers and Miami when we were kids. The Seminoles got a very raw deal from the white man and have only
recently started to live well through gambling and cigarette sales.
135 soldiers who were traveling from Fort Brooke (Tampa) and Fort King (Ocala) and a group of about 180
Seminole Indians. The Seminoles had been shadowing them for 5 days and picked their spot very well. The
soldiers were completely exposed and unprepared for the onslaught. About half of the soldiers were killed in the
initial volley and they had no place to hide. The Seminoles were protected by trees. The soldier put their 6 pound
cannon into play and got the Seminoles to retreat for a bit. The soldiers built a small breastworks, but the Indians
killed them all when the soldiers ran out of ammo for the cannon. 3 soldiers escaped to tell the Tale there were a
total of 3 Seminole wars. Most were moved to OK, but the remaining ones never surrendered. They were finally
recognized as a federal tribe in 1957. Nancy and I both remember small settlements along US 41 between Fort
Myers and Miami when we were kids. The Seminoles got a very raw deal from the white man and have only
recently started to live well through gambling and cigarette sales.
This demonstrated the meaning of the various designs on their clothing.
Depictions of the battle
Soldiers were wearing heavy wool greatcoats. The Indians were
dressed for stealth.
dressed for stealth.
An old musket.
A 3 D picture of the battle
A replica of the 6 pound cannon
This is Billy Bowlegs from the 3rd Seminole War. I played him in a skit in
the Boy Scouts. A small creek in my hometown was named for him.
the Boy Scouts. A small creek in my hometown was named for him.
Nancy beside where an officer was killed. The memorial is a
cannon on a local stone column made of local rock.
cannon on a local stone column made of local rock.
Site of the battle.
Wild flower Nancy took a photo of.
Where Major Dade was killed. The Seminoles targeted the officers
for the first volley.
for the first volley.
Reenactment area.
Entrance to park. As i took the picture, a lady who was picking up cans
shielded her face from the shot. Must have thought I was from ICE.
shielded her face from the shot. Must have thought I was from ICE.