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 Orp,crAL-The following OfheIaI state ,,.ot rscrived at the Adjutant Generais' Of 6ce. gives an Interesting account Of the recon noisssuce of the battle ground, where the gallant Dade, with his little command, met its melancholy fate in the aciion with the ln- dians, on the Q8th of December last We un- derstand that Major General Gaines arrived at Fort King, from Tampa Bay' with hts com mand, on the 92d of February.

 Western Department,

 Fort King Florida. Feb. go. 1888. ,

 General: Agreeably to your directions, | uhserved the battle ground six or seven miles north of the OnithlacOOche river, where Ma for Dade and his command were destroyed by the Seminole Indians on the gath of Decem- ber last, and have the honor to submit the fol. lowing report:

 Ths force under their command which ar- rived at this post to-day from Tampa Bay encamped on the night of the 18th instant,' on the ground occupied by Major Dade on the night of the 27th of December He and his party were destroyed on the morning of the 28th December, about four miles In advance of that position. He was advancing towards his post, and was attacked from the north, SD that On the goth inst. we came upon the rear of his battle ground about 9 o'clock in the

 

 the ground without haltiDg, when the Gener- al and his staff ca.ne upon one of the most ap- palling scenes that can be imagined. We first saw some broken and scattered boxes; then cart, the two oxen of which were lying dead, as ifthey had fallen asleep. their yokes stiIl on them: little to the right one or two horses were seen. We then came to small enclosure. made by feIling trees in such a n,aner as to form a triangular breastwork for defence. Within the triangle, along the north and west faces of it were about thirty bodies, mostly mere skeletons. although much of the clothing was left upon them. These were lying, almost every one of them, in precisely the position they must have occupied during the fght-their heads next to the logs over which they had delivered their fire, and their bodies stretched with striking regularity par allel to each other. They had evidently been shot dead at their posts, and the Indians had not disturbed them, except by taking the scalps of most of them. Passing this little breast work we found ether bodies along the road, and by the sides of the road, generally behind trees which had been resorted to for covers from the enemy's fire. Advancing about 900 yards further. we found cluster of bodies in the middle of the road. These were evidently the advanced guard, and in the rear of which was the body of Mai jor Dade, and 10 the right, that of Captain Fraser.

 These were all doubtless shot down on the first fire of the Indians. except Captain Fraser, who must, however, have fallen very early victim in the fight. Those in :he road and by the trees. fell during the first attack. IL was during cessation of the fire, that the little band still remaining, about thirty in number. threw up the triangular breast work. hn eff hS.h st structed. was necessarily defective, and could not protect the men in the second attack.

 We had with us many of the personal friends of the officers of Major Dade's com mand, and 1t is gratifying to be able to state, that every officer Was identified by undoubted( evidence. They were buried, and the can non, six pounder, that the Indians had thrown into swamp, was recovered, and placed vertically at the head of the grave, where it is to be hoped it will long remain.- The bodies of the non commissioned officers and privates were buried in two graves. and it was found that every man was accounted for. The command was composed ofeight officers and one hundred and two non-cOmmissioned officers and privates. The bodies of eight off. cers and ninety eight men were inferred, four men having escaped three of whom reached Tampa bay; the fourth was killed the day after the battle.

 It may Ne proper to observe. that the at- tack was not made from hammock, but in th'n'y wooded country; the Indians being concealed by palmetto and grass, which has since been burned.

 The two companies were Captain Fraser's of the Sd artillery, and Captain Gardiner's of the 2d artillery. The officers were Major Dade, oftae 4th infantry. Captains Frazer and Gardiner. Second Lieutenant Basinger, bre- yet second Lieuts. R. Henderson. Nudge and Keais, of the artillery. and Dr. J. s. Gatlin.

 \ nave the honor to be, with the highest respect your obd't. servant. (Signed)

 E. A. HITCHCOCK,

 Captain 1st Infantry, Act, lusp'r General.