Category Archives: Florida

April 5, 1863: Occupation of Jacksonville

Posted on April 5, 2013 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch reprints an outraged letter from a citizen of Jacksonville, FL. The city was occupied by black Union troops. He heard that they whipped an old lady, but the worst of it was that “negroes” ordered him … Continue reading →

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October 19, 1862: Give freedmen land in Florida

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Allen Gathman

A slaveholding Floridian wrote to the New York Times to denounce the secessionists, and to advocate for freed slaves to colonize Florida. The Colonization of Florida Views of a Slaveholder. To the Editor of the New-York Times: I noticed in … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Reconstruction, Slavery | Leave a comment

September 26, 1862: The Yankee war on salt

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Allen Gathman

The Richmond Daily Dispatch reports a Union attack destroyed a Florida salt works. Necessary for preserving meats, salt was one of many crucial items denied the South by the blockade. Destruction of Salt Works. –The Yankees have broken up the … Continue reading →

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September 21, 1861: Yom Kippur

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Allen Gathman

Many Jewish southerners fought for the Confederacy. By September, 1861, Judah Benjamin had become the Secretary of War of the Confederacy — a Louisianan, he had been the first Jewish U.S. Senator before. Jewish soldiers in the ranks observed Yom … Continue reading →

Posted in Confederacy, Florida | 1 Comment

April 26, 1861: Strong in life, and in death still stronger — Bad Beef in Pensacola

Posted on April 26, 2011 by Allen Gathman

General Bragg’s camp seen from Ft. Pickens (Harper’s Weekly, June 15, 1861) The Union garrison holding Fort Pickens was receiving supplies from ships in the port of Pensacola. Apparently the Confederate troops besieging the fort weren’t doing so well. MEMPHIS … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida | 2 Comments

April 7, 1861: Lincoln’s policy on Sumter

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Allen Gathman

Governor Houston asks the Federal Government to maintain its troops in Texas. Meanwhile, troops are being sent to Fort Pickens in Pensacola, and there’s more speculation about Lincoln’s intentions for Fort Sumter. This report gets Lincoln’s policy about right — … Continue reading →

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March 28, 1861: Mississippi Troops leave for Pensacola

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Allen Gathman

The Hugh Craft House in Holly Springs (Troops could have passed by here.) From the Memphis Daily Appeal: The Mississippi Troops at Holly Springs. Editors Appeal: After witnessing the glorious reception of the Mississippi troops in Memphis yesterday afternoon, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Mississippi | 1 Comment

February 13, 1861: “The South is now in the formation of a Slave Republic”.

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Allen Gathman

From a letter by Leonidas W. Spratt, former editor of the Charleston Standard and commissioner from South Carolina to the Florida Secession Convention. This letter was sent to a Louisiana legislator, urging that the slave trade be reopened; he used … Continue reading →

Posted in Causes of the war, Florida, Secession, Slave trade, Slavery, South Carolina | 2 Comments

January 15, 1861: Chase to Slemmer: “Surrender the fort.”

Posted on January 15, 2011 by Allen Gathman

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 11:11 AM On the 15th Colonel Chase, commanding the forces of Florida, accompanied by Commander Farrand, late of the U. S. Navy, asked for a consultation, at which Colonel Chase read me the following letter: HEADQUARTERS … Continue reading →

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January 13, 1861: Definitely now some shots in Florida

Posted on January 13, 2011 by Allen Gathman

Adam J. Slemmer On the night of the 13th a body of some ten men were discovered evidently reconnoitering. A shot was fired by them, which was returned by the sergeant. They then retreated. Nothing more could be seen of … Continue reading →

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