Fort Basinger was a U.S. Army post established December 23, 1837 on the Kissimmee River by Colonel Zachary Taylor during the Second Seminole War. The post was one of a series of small, temporary supply posts established along his route from Fort Brooke at Tampa to Lake Okeechobee. The fort was built out as a log palisade with blockhouses built at opposing angles on the south bank of the river. General Taylor deposited supplies and heavy baggage at the post and pressed on to Lake Okeechobee.
In December 1837 Colonel Zachary Taylor was on his way to Lake Okeechobee to round up Seminole Indians resisting removal. On Christmas day, 25 Dec 1837, Colonel Taylor and about 1,100 U.S. troops were ambushed by some 400 Seminole Indians under chiefs Alligator, Billy Bowlegs and Abaica. The Seminoles had carefully prepared the site, even cutting the grass to clear a field of fire. The Seminole fire was devastating and Colonel Taylor's direct approach made the situation even worse. The U.S. forces suffered 26 killed and 112 wounded while the Seminoles had only 11 killed and 14 wounded. The Seminoles carefully selected their targets and many of the officers and NCOs were among the dead and wounded. Colonel Taylor was forced to retire to Fort Basinger in what was a tactical victory for the Seminoles. Strategically, Colonel Taylor had demonstrated the ability of U.S. forces to penetrate deep into Seminole territory with large forces and with improved tactics they would certainly prevail in the removal effort. Colonel Taylor was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General soon after the battle and later, in May 1838, assumed command of operations in Florida from Major General Thomas S. Jesup.
The fort was abandoned in 1850.
You will need to get answers from Stage 1 to get to Stage 2. At Stage 1, use the information on the the Historic Road Marker.
Stage 2 is located at N 27° A1.B W 081° C3.4D0
A = the number of the Artillary unit in which Lt. William E. Basinger served.
B = 1062-the date Fort Basinger was built (subtract 1062 from the date for a 3 digit number).
C = The number of Seminole killed listed on the marker.
D = The number of miles Fort Basinger was built from the mouth of the Kissimmee River - 10 (subtract 10).
At stage two, there is plenty of parking. The coordinates for stage 3 are on an item hidden in plain sight at the coordinates of stage 2. You just have to find it.
The final stage cache is a regular sized camo'd plastic container with plenty of swag, a logbook, and a pen. There were a couple of trackables in it when hidden as well.
Permission granted by Kim Willis of SFWMD