Dade Pyramids - St. Augustine, Florida
Dade Pyramids - St. Augustine, Florida
Major Dade's Command
The bodies of the men killed in the
attack on a column led by Major
Francis Dade now rest in St.
Augustine, Florida.
Dade Pyramids - St. Augustine, Florida
Dade Pyramids
Although the three small pyramids in the St.
Augustine National Cemetery are associated with
Major Dade, they actually memorialize more than
1,000 men who died in the Second Seminole War.
U.S. Dead of the Seminole War
Overlooked by most visitors to the nation's
oldest city, the Dade Pyramids hold a unique
place in Florida and Southern history.

Located near the southern end of the St.
Augustine National Cemetery, the pyramids
are named for Major Francis Dade and his
"last command." The major and his men
were wiped out by Seminole warriors during
a devastating attack on December 28, 1835.
The event is remembered today as Dade's
Battle, but was known for years as the Dade
Massacre.

The Seminoles - led by Osceola, Jumper,
Micanopy, Alligator and others - reached the
point of war due because of U.S. demands
that they relocated to new lands in what is
now Oklahoma. When they learned that a
column of troops led by Major Francis Dade
was preparing to move from Fort Brooke on
Tampa Bay to Fort King on the present site of
Ocala in the heart of the Seminole lands, they
prepared for action.

The Second Seminole War was launched
with a two-pronged offensive. Osceola and
one party of warriors killed the U.S. Indian
Agent and others near Fort King, while
Micanopy, Jumper and Alligator moved with
their warriors to attack Dade's column.

The results of the attack were stunned the
nation. In a fierce battle in the open woods,
warriors overran Dade's column, killing the
major, his officers and at least 103 men. The
bodies lay exposed in the woods for some
time before they were given a temporary
burial on the battlefield by U.S. soldiers. As
soon as conditions allowed, however, the
remains of Major Dade and his men were
exhumed and removed to what is now St.
Augustine National Cemetery.

There, along with hundreds of other men
who lost their lives in the brutal guerrilla war,
the dead from Dade's battle were buried in
three vaults. The other men buried with them
died in countless battles, as well as from the
diseases and hardships that killed far more
U.S. soldiers than Seminole bullets, arrows,
knives and hatchets.

The vaults capped by the Dade Pyramids
contain the remains of 1,468 soldiers who
died from 1835-1842.
Dade Pyramids
The monuments are located in the
southern end of the St. Augustine
National Cemetery.
Victims of a Forgotten War
The Second Seminole War was one
of the most brutal conflicts in
American history.
Resting Place of Major Dade
Dade and his command were wiped
out by Seminole forces in December
of 1835.
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Copyright 2011, 2014 & 2015 by Dale Cox
All rights reserved.

Last Update: January 5, 2015
More soldiers from the Seminole War period
rest in nearby graves.

The Dade Pyramids are in the St. Augustine
National Cemetery which borders historic St.
Francis Barracks, the headquarters of the
Florida National Guard. The cemetery is
open daily 8 a..m. to 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m.
to 7 p.m. on Memorial Day.  It is free to visit.

The address for the main entrance is 104
Marine Street. You will find it just south of the
intersection of Marine and St. Francis streets.

Please click here to learn more about St.
Augustine National Cemetery.