- Treaty of Moultrie Creek (1823): This treaty attempted to confine Seminoles to a reservation in central Florida, but many resisted relocation.
- Treaty of Payne’s Landing (1832): This treaty required Seminoles to move west of the Mississippi River. Although Seminole leaders signed under duress, the majority resisted, creating tension with the U.S. government.
- Rising Tensions: Escalating conflicts between settlers, soldiers, and Seminoles, along with disputes over runaway enslaved people who found refuge among Seminoles, set the stage for military action.
By 1835, Florida was a tinderbox, with U.S. authorities seeking to enforce relocation and Seminoles determined to protect their land and sovereignty.
The Dade Massacre: November 28, 1835
The Dade Massacre, also called the Battle of Dade, is the central historical event commemorated by the park:
- U.S. Army Column: Major Francis L. Dade led a detachment of 110 soldiers from Fort Brooke (Tampa) to reinforce Fort King (Ocala).
- Ambush: Near present-day Bushnell, Seminole warriors led by chiefs Micanopy, Alligator, and Jumper ambushed Dade’s troops along a narrow trail.
- Outcome: Out of the 110 soldiers, only a handful survived the attack. Major Dade and most of his men were killed. The massacre shocked the nation and ignited the Second Seminole War.
- Tactical Analysis: The Seminoles’ use of the terrain, guerrilla tactics, and knowledge of the Florida landscape highlighted their strategic skill. The massacre demonstrated the difficulty of conventional military operations in Florida’s swamps and forests.
The Dade Massacre was both a military and symbolic victory for the Seminoles, asserting their determination to resist forced removal shutdown123