4th U. S. Infantry Company B

Second Seminole (Florida) War

1835-1842

Brief history of service

Upon a reorganization of Infantry Regiments after the War of 1812, the newly formed Fourth Regiment was assigned to Major-General Jackson's command in 1817. This was just in time to participate in General Jackson's campaigns against the Red Stock Creeks and the Spanish, who according to Jackson were giving them safe haven, this would eventually be known as part of the First Seminole War.

Upon the completion of the hostilities and the adoption of Florida as a territory of the United States the headquarters of the Fourth Infantry was established in Pensacola, Fla. (the old capitol of West Florida). In 1823, Colonel Mercer Brooke and four companies of the Fourth Infantry were ordered to construct a fortification in Tampa Bay. During this time the companies of the regiment located in the Florida Territory were engaged in building the fort, which would later be known as Fort Brooke, and building a military road to connect it with a post office in Wanton, Fl. (north of present day Micanopy, Fl.) In 1829, the Army ordered Bvt. Brigadier-General Clinch to take command of all the forces in Florida and with him the headquarters of the Fourth Regiment followed and made Fort Brooke their home. During this time officers and men were engaged in protecting the pioneering settlers from the Indians and vice versa (mostly protecting the Indians from Whiskey traders). They were also involved in the many treaties with the various tribes that would be signed in this time frame. In 1831 the regimental headquarters was moved to Baton Rouge, La. leaving company D behind to garrison Fort Brooke, by 1832 the Black Hawk War had started and the regiment found itself engaged in this confrontation.

In 1835, Company B under the command of Bvt. Major Francis Dade was engaged in building a fortification in Key West, they would return to Tampa on December 21st only seven days before their tragic march to Fort King to aid General Clinch who was supposedly located there. This battle is said to have started the war and was deemed as Dade's Massacre. Brevet Major (Captain) Francis Langhorne Dade, who commanded Company B, was in overall command of the column consisting of two artillery companies and eleven men of his company in this ambush near Wahoo Swamp. On February 22, 1836 General Gaines found the battlefield with a force that included seven companies of the 4th Reg't Infantry and buried the remains of the soldiers.

The 4th Reg't would serve in General Scott's campaign in 1836, which would prove to be undecisive. The 4th Reg't remained in the territory throughout the summer months performing garrison duties and preparing for General Thomas G. Jesup's campaign of 1837. The militia or volunteer regiments would garrison many posts during the winter, but the troops of the regular army found themselves at these posts throughout the summer since volunteers would not stay due to disease and insects. Under Gen. Jesup the 4th Reg't. Inf. operated independently and were instrumental in bringing in Chief Micanopy and his followers that year.

On Christmas Day in 1837 the largest engagement of the war was fought on the shores of Lake Ockeechobee. Six companies of the 4th Inf. were under command of Colonel Zachary Taylor, First Infantry. In this engagement the regiment lost a total of 22 killed and/or wounded. By May of 1838 the regiment would leave for Tennessee to help in the removal of the Cherokee tribes there.

In 1841 the 4th Inf. would take place in the final campaign of the war. This campaign in the Everglades was to capture Chief Halleck Tustenuggee. This was successfully carried out and the regiment was transfered to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. in September of 1842. During the time spent in Florida the 4th Infantry suffered: 6 Officers killed in action or died of disease and 128 Enlisted men killed in action or died of disease.

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