Florida History: The Dade Battle, Part IV

December 4, 2011 by Doug Dillon 888 0 0

The battle that began the Second Seminole War in Florida on December 28, 1835 took the lives of over 100 soldiers and several Native Americans. It was a last desperate attempt by the Seminoles and their black allies to hold onto their land and keep the slave catchers away.

The reenactment of that turning point in frontier Florida history takes place every year during the first week of January in the city of Bushnell, the same area where the original battle occurred. Men dressed in historically correct costumes and using replica weapons give a very convincing performance. Click here to see a YouTube video and/or go to my previous post (Part III) under the category Florida History for a different video. My next posting will be a continuation of a photo gallery of pictures taken at one of the reenactments and also published in a previous post.

An historical sidelight to the story of the Dade battle takes us to St. Augustine. There in the St. Augustine National Cemetery, three coquina pyramids cover the remains of over 1,400 soldiers, including Dade’s men, who died during the Second Seminole War. Their remains were collected from across Florida after the conflict ended and brought to St. Augustine in wagons.

If you are interested in attending this year’s reenactment of the battle, here is some information that might be useful:

Dates: January 7 & 8, 2012

Where: Dade Battlefield Park, Busnell, FL. Just off I-75 about midway between Tampa and Ocala

Presented by: The Dade Battlefield Society

Times: The park opens at 9 a.m. but the reenactment doesn’t occur until early afternoon on each day. Saturday is usually the most crowded.

Cost: $10

Parking: You will be directed to a parking lot and a bus will take you into the park.

Food: Food vendors will be on-site.

What else? Both the Seminole and solider reenactors set up actual camps where you can can mingle with them and chat.

Directions: Take exit 314 off I-75 and go east on State Road 48 for about a mile. Then go right on Battlefield Parkway (County Road 603). That will take you straight to parking and the park itself.

For direct information on Native Americans in Florida, please click on these websites: The Seminole Tribe, The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, and The Miccosukee Tribe .

See below for Dade Battle related photo galleries and other postings