Beyond the Battle

by Steven F. Rinck

Beginning some fifty years after Major Dade's command met their demise at the hands of a much larger force of Seminoles, notable citizens began to press both Florida and Federal legislators to acquire the battle site for everlasting preservation. Steadily increasing through the first two decades of the twentieth century, an impressive legion of supporters developed to include politicians, jurists, historians, business leaders, civic clubs, and prominent national figures such as General Douglas MacArthur. All these, along with strong public voices fanned by both local and out-of-state newspapers, finally succeeded in convincing the State of Florida to purchase eighty acres that encompassed most of the battle area on September 29, 1921. Dade was only the second property that had been set aside by the State for perpetual protection. Although it was a governmental acquisition, for more than thirty years "Dade Memorial Park" was actively maintained and managed by the citizens of Bushnell and Sumter County themselves. Today Dade Battlefield Historic State Park is a unique member of the multiple National Gold Medal Award-winning Florida State Parks system and remains loved by its neighbors as "our little park." Steven Rinck served eight years as president of the Seminole Wars Foundation, and still maintains active roles with that not-for-profit group. An avid student of history for all of his life, the retired Pasco County teacher and principal is past president of the Dade Battlefield Society, a trustee of the Fort King Heritage Foundation and a member of the Florida Historical Society. He is also active with historical societies in Sumter, Hernando, and Pasco counties. Steven is a consultant for the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village and a proud supporter of the Seminole Tribe's Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. He reenacts at Second Seminole War, Civil War, and World War II events, and enjoys performing first-person historical impressions for school, military and civic groups. Beyond the Battle is Steven's first published literary endeavor, and he is excited that the personal stories of sacrifice and perseverance that were made in order to bring proper recognition to Dade Battlefield are at last being told.