April 13, 1861: (from Gladwin, 1992) Interestingly enough, the Union blockade of Pensacola Harbor
began on April 13. It was the first port closed by the Union.
Secret orders from Union Secretary of the Navy, Gideon Welles,
carried by Lieutenant John L. Warden, USN, to Captain Henry A.
Adams, U.S.S. Sabine, instructed him to reinforce Fort Pickens and,
if action commenced, to blockade the port. General Bragg's,
response to the blockade was that it was "an act of aggressive war
... and he considered it a virtual acknowledgment of Confederate
national existence and independence."
April 19, 1861: At the time of his declaration of a blockade, Lincoln only had 4 ships available to blockade 12 major Confederate ports, 189 harbors and river mouths along with 3500 miles of coastline from Alexandria, Virginia to Brownsville, Texas. By war's end, the U.S. would purchase and outfit over 500 ships with the weaponry to enforce the blockade and over 1500 blockade runners will have been captured or destroyed during the four year long blockade.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_blockade
May 6, 1861: Lieutenant T. Augustus Craven https://www.geni.com/people/Tunis-Augustus-Macdonough-T-A-M-Craven/6000000008540034959 read about Lincoln's order for a blockade in a newspaper that arrived on a ship in Key West. Craven closed the port of Key West and a week later confiscated the WANDERER which had been in port for a month.
U.S.S. WANDERER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wanderer_(1857) The U.S.S. WANDERER was first deployed to blockade St. Andrews Bay in October of 1862.
TUNIS AUGUSTUS MACDONOUGH CRAVEN was buried @ sea off Fort Morgan, Alabama on August 5, 1864 when his ship was sunk during the Battle of Mobile Bay. The wreck of the U.S.S. TECUMSEH now resting on the bottom of Mobile Bay contains the remains of Craven along with 92 other U.S. sailors.
CRAVEN
Over the turret, shut in his iron-clad tower,
Craven was conning his ship through smoke and flame;
Gun to gun he had battered the fort for an hour,
Now was the time for a charge to end the game.
There lay the narrowing channel, smooth and grim,
A hundred deaths beneath it, and never a sign;
There lay the enemy's ships, and sink or swim
The flag was flying, and he was head of the line.
The fleet behind was jamming; the monitor hung
Beating the stream; the roar for a moment hushed,
Craven spoke to the pilot; slow she swung;
Again he spoke, and right for the foe she rushed.
Into the narrowing channel, between the shore
And the sunk torpedoes lying in treacherous rank;
She turned but a yard too short; a muffled roar,
A mountainous wave, and she rolled, righted, and sank.
Over the manhole, up in the iron-clad tower,
Pilot and Captain met as they turned to fly:
The hundredth part of a moment seemed an hour,
For one could pass to be saved, and one must die.
They stood like men in a dream: Craven spoke,
Spoke as he lived and fought, with a Captain's pride,
'After you, Pilot.' The pilot woke,
Down the ladder he went, and Craven died.
All men praise the deed and the manner, but we—
We set it apart from the pride that stoops to the proud,
The strength that is supple to serve the strong and free,
The grace of the empty hands and promises loud:
Sidney thirsting, a humbler need to slake,
Nelson waiting his turn for the surgeon's hand,
Lucas crushed with chains for a comrade's sake,
September 14, 1861: Flag Officer William Mervine of the Gulf Blockading Squadron ordered the burning of the C.S.S. Judah before it could be outfitted to leave port in Pensacola. This was THE FIRST CIVIL WAR ENCOUNTER IN FLORIDA with each side losing three men.
September 16, 1861 – Federal forces seized SHIP ISLAND, an important base for future operations in the Gulf of Mexico. https://civilwarmonths.com/2016/09/16/the-fall-of-ship-island/comment-page-1/
January 20, 1862: Secretary of the U.S. Navy Gideon Wells divided the Gulf Blockading Squadron into two squadrons: The Eastern with its headquarters in Key West commanded by Flag Officer W.W. McKean and the Western based on Ship Island, Mississippi and commanded by Admiral David Farragut.
January, 1862: Confederate officials detained all mail for Apalachicola by canceling the mail contracts from Ricko's Bluff and Chattahoochee. (Buker, page 35) This probably also occurred with the mail contracts for St. Andrews. The Confederates didn't want their newspapers being delivered to the enemy by their mail.
February 5, 1862: "Previous to this date this port had furnished a most valuable means for running in supplies for the confederacy. One method was described by Lieut. G. W. Doty, commanding the steamer Marion, stationed off West Pass, Apalachicola, in a memorandum dispatch under date of February 5th, 1862. He stated that 'vessels go into St. Andrews and land their cargoes at Bear Creek, and cart them across to Ochesee, on the Chattahoochee river, and then it comes down to Apalachi cola by water.' He further stated 'that the schooner Wm. P. Benson was then at St. Andrews ; about two weeks before she brought a cargo of coffee there from Havana and was known to be there then taking on a cargo of cotton.' He stated 'she may not get out for a month, but they are loading her now. About 150 bales of cotton was sent to her last week from Apalachicola. She carries English colors when at sea. Capt. Thomas L. Mitchell is now loading the Benson ; he loaded the Phoenix also. He is a northern man and married there. It is about five days' travel from Ochesee to Bear Creek by carts.' "
U.S.S. MARION https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Marion_(1839):
February 19, 1862: The Confederate blockade runner FLORIDA, supplying the Confederate army @ New Orleans escaped the blockade on the mouth of the Mississippi and sailed for Havana. She picked up 500 rifles and 60,000 pounds of powder in Havana and brought them to Bay Head where the Confederate army offloaded them. The blockade runner was then forced to remain docked @ Bay Head while a cotton cargo could be gathered and delivered.
February 20, 1862: Admiral Farragut arrived @ Ship Island and issued his first order concerning St. Andrews Bay. Flag Officer McKean was also @ Ship Island and ,on that same day, he ordered the U.S.S. R.R. Cuyler to go to St. Andrews Bay and intercept blockade runners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_R._R._Cuyler_(1860)
March 5, 1862: "Lieutenant Hughes, of the Water Witch, reported that on the morning of March 5th, 1862, while cruising off St. Andrews Bay he gave chase to a schooner, which he succeeded in capturing after a pursuit of five hours. She proved to be the William Mallory, of Mobile, from Havana, February 28th, with an assorted cargo bound . wherever she could make port, and probably would have come into St. Andrews Bay had she not been discovered by the steamer Water Witch."
U.S.S. WATER WITCH https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Water_Witch_(1851)
U.S.S. WATER WITCH
March 12, 1862:The bark U.S.S. PURSUIT was reported blockading St. Andrews and St. Joseph's Bay. U.S.S. PURSUIT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pursuit_(1861)
April, 1862: Governor Shorter of Alabama requests permission from Governor Milton of Florida to make salt for his citizens on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
April, 1862: (from Kurlansky, 265) In April 1862, when the first Confederate draft was declared, there were no exemptions for salt makers, but by August, Jefferson Davis revised the conscription to exempt them. Making salt became a way to avoid military service. Deserters also drifted to the saltworks, hoping either to be safe in the swamps or to earn an exemption as a salt worker.
April, 1862: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Mercedita_(1861)
April 14, 1862: The bark Pursuit was in St. Andrews Bay, coming from St. Joseph's Bay, on which trip the steamer FLORIDA and sloop LaFAYETTE were captured. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hendrick_Hudson
WRECK OF THE LAFAYETTE https://books.google.com/books?id=aU-0X45vbS4C&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=STEAMER+FLORIDA+%22ST.+ANDREWS+BAY%22+PURSUIT+1862+April&source=bl&ots=a3qlg5t_CP&sig=ACfU3U3ndLMAo9jSv0HIqujNRdKGfD3frQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-xbCFoNLhAhXhUN8KHUPQBGwQ6AEwA3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=STEAMER%20FLORIDA%20%22ST.%20ANDREWS%20BAY%22%20PURSUIT%201862%20April&f=false
April 14, 1862: The regular report made to the Secretary of Navy shows that on April 14th, the schooner Beauregard was blockading St. Andrews Bay. This is the first reported stationing of a boat to blockade this port. U.S.S. BEAUREGARD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Beauregard_(1861)
May to July, 1862: U.S.S. SAMUEL ROTAN maintained the blockade @ St. Andrews Bay.
U.S.S. SAMUEL ROTAN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Samuel_Rotan_(1861)
August 5, 1862: The steamer Sagamore was reported blockading St. Andrews Bay with Lieutenant G. A. Bigelow in command. U.S.S. SAGAMORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sagamore_(1861):
August 7, 1862: from the MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER
August 26, 1862: Lieutenant James A. Clendinen, 6th Alabama, is ordered to take over the State of Alabama salt works on West Bay. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53181892/james-augustus-clendinen
early Fall, 1862: The U.S. Navy reoccupies the Pensacola Naval Yard and Admiral Farragut designates it the depot for resupplying the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.
September 11, 1862: FIRST ATTACK ON SALT WORKS ~ Abstract log U. S. S. Sagamore, Lieutenant-Commander Bigelow, U. S. Navy, commanding. "September 11, 1862. — At 10 a. m. sent launch and second cutter on shore armed, the first in charge of Acting Master Babson and Master's Mate Sidell, the second in charge of Acting Master Fales and Assistant Engineer Leavitt. Boats landed and employed in destroying salt works. At 11 stood underway and stood in nearer the town. At 5:45 p. m. boats still employed destroying salt works. "September 12. — At 7:30 a. m. second cutter in charge of Acting Master Fales, 15 men, launch in charge of Acting Master Babson, 17 men, left the ship to destroy salt works." From a report from Rear Admiral Lardner, commanding the East Gulf Squadron, the following additional work of the Sagamore at that time is described : Report of Acting Rear Admiral Lardner, U. S. Navy, regarding the destruction of salt works at St. Andrews and St. Joseph's bays. (No. 122) "Flagship St. Lawrence, "Key West, October 2, 1862. "Sir: I have the honor to report that salt works of the rebels at St. Andrew's Bay, capable of making 216 bushels of salt per day, were destroyed by Lieutenant- Commander Bigelow, of the Sagamore, on the 11th of September last. "The salt works at St. Joseph's Bay, estimated of capacity to make 200 bushels of salt a day, were destroyed by Lieutenant Commanding Couthony, of the Kingfisher, on the 8th of September. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "J. L. LARDNER, "Acting Rear-Admiral, Comdg. Eastern Gulf Squadron. "Hon. Gideon Welles, "Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C."
September 22, 1862: Governor Shorter of Alabama writes Richmond requesting a military escort be assigned to protect salt makers on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.
October 15, 1862: the bark Wanderer, Acting Master E. S. Turner in command, and the schooner Samuel Rotan. Acting Vol. Lieutenant commanding W. W. Kenniston, were blockading St. Andrews Bay. This same ship was reported to be on blockade duty on St. Andrews Bay in November. U.S.S. WANDERER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wanderer_(1857)
November 14, 1862: The U.S.S. ALBATROSS and the U.S.S. BOHIO depart Pensacola for a raid on St. Andrews Bay salt makers. (from Wikipedia) From 24 November until 8 December 1862, boat crews from Albatross and from the armed brig USS Bohio made a series of raids against salt works along the Florida coast between St. Andrews Bay and Pensacola, during which they destroyed over 300 salt pans. The U.S.S. Wanderer also participated in this salt works raid and many boats were destroyed in the village of St. Andrews which had only (see page 1, March 5, 1908 PANAMA CITY PILOT)
"On the 17th the Wanderer in attempting to work up the bay, got aground; and I went to her assistance with the steamer, and concluded to follow her up the bay to the town of St. Andrew's. With the exception of three men and two women the place was deserted. There were boats hauled upon the beach, and under sheds that were serviceable, and which I set fire to and otherwise destroyed, at the suggestion of Acting Master Turner, of the Wanderer, who thought they might be put to improper use, and if manned and armed could give great annoyance, in endeavoring to capture the boats of the schooner, carrying salt across the bay, or running the blockade. Within a few miles of the town I destroyed several salt pans, with their furnaces, pumps, tubs, and gutters, etc.; two or three of these pans were made of the coast survey harbor buoys cut in two; each half would hold over one hundred and fifty gallons of sea water."
December of 1862: Florida legislature extends the privilege of making salt in Florida to the State of Alabama.
December of 1862: Governor Shorter of Alabama sends J.A. Clendinen, superintendent of the destroyed Alabama state-owned salt works on St. Andrews Bay, to Richmond with a message for Confederate Secretary of War Randolph requesting reorganization of the Confederate Army so as to provide military protection for salt workers.
December 9, 1862:The General Assembly of the State of Alabama passed Act 38 creating the Salt Commission. http://www.archives.alabama.gov/teacher/civilwar/civ1.html
December 15, 1862: The steamer Stars and Stripes, Acting Master commanding C. L. Willcomb, was blockading St. Andrews Bay, also on same station January 1st, 1863, and January 15th. U.S.S. STARS AND STRIPES https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Stars_and_Stripes_(1861)
December 28, 1862: A group of U.S. soldiers and sailors from Ft. Pickens come up the Choctawhatchee and capture the steamboat BLOOMER which is docked for repairs below Geneva. U.S.S. BLOOMER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bloomer_(1856)
from the January 7, 1863 MONTGOMERY WEEKLY ADVERTISER
February 1, 1863: The bark Roebuck, Acting Master J. Sherrill, was on St. Andrews Bay station, also in same place on February 15th, March 1st, March 16th, April 1st, April 15th, May 1st, May 15th, June 1st, July 15th, August 1st, August 15th, September 15th, same, but Acting Master J. O. Barclay was in command. October 1st, same. U.S.S. ROEBUCK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Roebuck_(1856)
February 1863: U.S.S. ETHAN ALLEN relieves the U.S.S. ROEBUCK ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ethan_Allen_(1859)
A public notice by Alfred Broxson denying the accusation that he was a man named "Broxton" who cooperated with the Yankees during the salt raid on St. Andrews Bay in November of 1862. This was published in the
February 4, 1863 SOUTHERN ADVERTISER out of Troy.
March 20, 1863: A landing party from the U.S.S. Roebuck was ambushed by Captain Robinson's Confederate unit near the spring at the village of St. Andrews. http://civilwarnavy150.blogspot.com/2013/03/tragic-assault-on-st-andrews-bay-20.html
(Page 389, Vol. 17) U. S. BARK ROEBUCK, St. Andrew‘s Bay, May 10, 1860’.
SIR: Your communications of the 10th instant, sent by flag of truce, have been received. Your statement of the affair is replete with falsehood, as no demand was made to surrender before being fired upon. With one so devoid of all honorable rules of warfare I decline holding further communication. As to hereafter “ quarter being denied,” none has been shown by or expected from one who stoops to guerrilla warfare. I am, sir, yours, etc., JOHN SHERRILL, Acting Master, U. S. Navy, Comdg. U. S. Bark Roebuck
May 21, 1863: from the 1863 HARTFORD COURANT (Connecticut)
July 29, 1863: from the CHICAGO TRIBUNE
December 2, 10 and 18, 1863 A massive operation was launched by sailors from the USS Restless, USS Caroline and USS Bloomer to destroy salt works at Lake Ocala and St. Andrew Bay. Over three days, the U.S. sailors destroyed 6 steamboat boilers, cut in half, being used as salt boilers, and 422 large salt boilers, as well as 407 salt kettles, 7 flatboats, 327 buildings, 27 wagons and 2,000 bushels of salt. The damage was estimated at $3,000,000. The sailors also burned the town of St. Andrews (today’s Panama City) to the ground, destroying 32 houses. Despite the destruction of more than 200 salt works, the sailors reported that 100 more remained in operation. The bay was reported to be lined for 7 miles by government and private salt works, all in operation. (ORN, Series I, Volume 17, p. 594-598).(from West, 1922) " A correspondent of the New York Herald estimated the property destroyed as follows : 500 boilers and kettles averaging 150 gallons each, at $5 per gallon, $375,000; value of manufactured salt, $120,000; Con federate Government works, three-fourths of a mile square, with buildings, $500,000 ; 199 small salt works of 100 gallons each, $1,999,000; total, $2,985,000. The works of the Confederate Government had just been completed but ten days before, and were very complete and extensive. Another private report states that 98 brick furnaces were destroyed, and 100 buildings. This was possibly about the date of the greatest activity on St. Andrews Bay, and it brought here a large number of people. There were also many deserters and runaway negroes in this section at that time."
"Deserters from Captain Anderson's and Robinson's companies reported subsequently that both officers and men had broken up and gone home, as the destruction of the salt works, which they were ordered to guard, had been so complete; and six of them have enlisted in the Navy, after taking the oath of allegiance."
January 16, 1864: George Maslin from Marianna under a flag of truce contacts the commander of the U.S.S. Restless about his scheme to smuggle cotton on his ship KAIN out of St. Andrews Bay.
February, 1864: A unit from the U.S.S. RESTLESS captured the KAIN. A Massalina piloted the boat from Bay Head to Hurricane Island.
February, 1864: The United States 1st Florida Cavalry unit camped at Point Washington was captured after attacking a Confederate unit near Cedar Bluff (present-day Red Head north of Ebro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Head,_Florida ) on the Choctawhatchee River http://sites.rootsweb.com/~fljackso/cox/wfw1.htm
“Learning that the rebels had erected new Government salt works on West Bay, on the site of the old salt works destroyed by us in December, and that they had a force of 50 men armed and stationed there for protection, I fitted out the first cutter, manned with 13 men, under charge of Acting Ensign James J. Russell, with orders to proceed up the Gulf coast 20 miles, and march inland 7 miles to the salt works and attack them in the rear, while Acting Ensign Henry Eason with 10 men, in command of the second cutter, would proceed by the inside passage and attack them in the front at the same time.
The expedition was entirely successful, the works being abandoned upon the appearance of our men, Messrs. Russell’s and Eason’s party joining at the appropriate time, and immediately proceeded in the destruction of everything in the manufactories, consisting of 26 sheet-iron boilers, averaging 881 gallons, and 19 kettles, averaging 200 gallons, making an aggregate of 26,706 gallons, which cost in Montgomery $5.50 per gallon.”
The redoubtable Browne would send in additional raiding parties in March and April 1864. His determination and initiative earned him a promotion to Acting Lieutenant.
February 17, 1864: "According to my instructions the boats left the ship at 8 P. M., the 17th instant, and proceeded to a bayou on the southwest side of East bay, selected as a place of ambush, and which the barge must necessarily pass. After lying in wait the appointed time and seeing no appearance , of the barge, the men were landed, and destroyed all the works at hand, fifteen in number, among which were some of the largest government salt-works ever erected in ' Florida, the whole of which were successfully destroyed, consisting of five large steam boat boilers, and twenty- three kettles, together with sixteen log houses, one flat- boat, a large quantity of salt, vats, tanks, and other materials connected with the manufacture of this article. After destroying the above they returned to the ship bring ing with them six contrabands found at this place. Very respectfully your obedient servant, W. A. BROWNE, , Acting Master Commanding. Acting Rear-Admiral Theodorus Bailey, Commanding E. G. B; Squadron."
April 1864: St. Andrews Bay salt raid by the U.S.S. RESTLESS. https://books.google.com/books?id=YDwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA90&lpg=PA90&dq=1864+Wetappo+%22St.+Andrews+Bay%22&source=bl&ots=bWFgDswmLC&sig=ACfU3U241Fc-pGSgUn4OdWyoqpswXWVJWQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYurKWidXhAhUkU98KHcNgB0MQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=1864%20Wetappo%20%22St.%20Andrews%20Bay%22&f=false
April 21, 1864. Sir: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William R. Browne commanding the bark Restless, at St. Andrews' Sound re ports the result of two more expeditions made under his orders to harass the enemy in that vicinity. The first consisted of eight refugees in a dug-out canoe, who ascended the Wetapoo river, some twenty , miles to White Bluffs, and there .destroyed about two thousand bushels of salt, brought away the sacks, and , . captured a barge about thirty-six feet long, eleven feet' ! beam, and three feet deep, sloop rigged and decked, which - he is fitting up with a howitzer for further operations. A - heavy rain had fortunately driven the cavalry guard . away from the place of shelter, so that no resistance was offered. Twenty-three refugees were brought off. The 'other expedition consisted of twenty-two men in the boats of the Restless, who proceeded up East bay during another heavy rain storm, which had again sent the guard to look for shelter. They succeeded in destroying two government salt-works with three hundred bushels of salt and about the same quantity of cornmeal, without opposition and brought off one contraband. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Browne reports that there are five companies of rebel troops in that vicinity to guard the salt works, and that these works are rebuilt as fast as he destroys them. . ,. :)
May 23, 1864: Ensign H. Eason of the U.S.S. Restless with 10 of his sailors and 34 members of the U.S. 2nd Florida Cavalry destroyed 11 salt works containing 60 kettles. Eason learned that the rebels had a large quantity of new boilers to replace any broken ones.
May 27, 1864: Ensign Eason attempted to destroy salt works in East Bay but his unit was fired upon near the Parker house and the Johnson house. Eason believed that the rebels were using a flag of truce to decoy U.S. Navy sailors.
July 1864: Captain Edmund C. Weeks leads the United States 2nd Florida Calvary on a 44 mile invasion track after landing at Bay Head. "On landing, 100 bales of cotton were captured near the coast and burnt. The expedition marched 44 miles into the interior, burnt 80 bales of cotton, 2 large bridges, 1 large grist mill, 1 camp with storehouses, etc., capable of containing 500 men. On the return to the coast, the expedition brought in 115 contrabands (i.e. slaves), 8 mules and 2 horses."
U.S.S. NIGHTINGALE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nightingale_(1851)
"Our troops marched to within thirty miles of Mariana, and then turned back, sufficient to march to the above place and thence to Appalachacola with trouble, and in this route, we could have taken three hundred horses and mules besides 1500 or 2000 contrabands. But the major says he does not wish to get any of his men hurt, forgetting that the only way to end this distressing war in favour of the Union arms is by fighting." ~ William McCullough https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1269&context=sunlandtribune
"The navy has taken advantage of their wants and poverty to seduce the young girls and married ones, some of the latter were mothers of one or two children. Some of these poor creatures the gentlemen had promised to marry, and after a time have given them the pox, and some the clapp, which they have in the worst form. After these diseases are contracted, the poor things are abandoned to look out for themselves; as a natural sequence the soldiers mixing with them contracts the same complaints. Now once in a while, a strange man comes along and marrys one of them, probably for life, or during the war, or sooner shot, as the soldiers have it. There is one poor thing on this island at this time afflicted with this complaint caught in the manner I have stated. She has had the disease about 6 months, is abandoned by everyone, scorned like a brute, destitute of clothing or bedding of any kind, lying upon the naked boards. I believe that the doctors do not give her any medical treatment whatever, and in a short time she must go the way of all the earth, uncared for or lamented by any strangers or relatives. This is not the only case by several which has come under my knowledge within the last six months. " ~ William McCullough
DRY TORTUGAS FERRY https://www.drytortugas.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7YblBRDFARIsAKkK-dLSBvtrrKnQUO7Go54yKK5O7OW91fMpQDx-petMwHEVr9NWqu7y_sQaArEREALw_wcB
https://www.keywesttravelguide.com/ferries-to-ft-jefferson-and-the-dry-tortugas/
BLOCKADE OF ST. ANDREWS BAY by G. M. West https://books.google.com/books?id=YDwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=april+1862+steamer+Florida+%22St.+Andrews+Bay%22&source=bl&ots=bWFfAsynPA&sig=ACfU3U3CwpyeHAqM4f0hlyKagehD2eYDFg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZxcihpq_hAhVMON8KHa2MDeYQ6AEwA3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=april%201862%20steamer%20Florida%20%22St.%20Andrews%20Bay%22&f=false
U.S.S. R.R. CUYLER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_R._R._Cuyler_(1860)
U.S.S. NIGHTINGALE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nightingale_(1851)
U.S.S. ELLEN (MORSE) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ellen_(1853)
Ella Lonn's ST. ANDREWS BAY SALTWORKS article from Florida Historical Quarterly https://www.jstor.org/stable/30151279?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Salt Famine documents from FLORIDA MEMORY https://www.floridamemory.com/onlineclassroom/floridacivilwar/documents/
PENSACOLA BRICK BUSINESS https://www.jstor.org/stable/30145900?read-now=1&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents
MEN, SALT, CATTLE AND BATTLE
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a255006.pdf
West Gulf Blockading Squadron https://books.google.com/books?id=OlNoBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA245&lpg=PA245&dq=%22George+W.+Browne%22+Albatross&source=bl&ots=PcYTlwXj9Q&sig=ACfU3U2ogzNH3M6xd_gmzzMZT-xu0_yu0g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwir3pjDi7zhAhXmQd8KHeQvC-wQ6AEwC3oECAQQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22George%20W.%20Browne%22%20Albatross&f=false
VOLUME 17, SERIES 1 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924051350969;view=1up;seq=13
RICKO BLUFF https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ricko+Bluff/@30.1095828,-85.1320455,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8893502bd45684ff:0xda7db673782eede5!8m2!3d30.2479752!4d-85.0699157
MAP OF THE LOCATION OF U.S. NAVY STATION ON HURRICANE ISLAND https://www.google.com/maps/place/30%C2%B004'23.0%22N+85%C2%B038'36.0%22W/@30.0730556,-85.645522,640m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d30.0730556!4d-85.6433333
ROBERT REGISTER article on Confederate salt making published in PANAMA CITY LIVING https://panamacityliving.com/civil-war-salt-makers-st-andrews-bay-salt-earth/
CONFEDERATE CONSCRIPTION ACT https://www.floridamemory.com/blog/2013/05/30/florida-and-the-civil-war-may-1863/
http://www.museumoffloridahistory.com/exhibits/permanent/civilwar/escape.cfm
African Americans escaping slavery sail in a small boat to be picked up by the Union blockade ship USS Kingfisher off the Florida coast near St. Marks in 1862. (Illustration from Harper's Weekly, April 1862) (Florida State Archives)
The U.S.S. KINGFISHER ran aground on March 28, 1864 near the southeastern point of Otter Island on a shoal on the Combahee Bank of St. Helena Sound in the vicinity of Beaufort, S.C.
FIRST ATTACK ON ST. ANDREWS BAY: September 12, 1862
U.S.S. SAGAMORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sagamore_(1861)
U.S.S. KINGFISHER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kingfisher_(1861)
Michelle Kirby slide show https://slideplayer.com/slide/4652407/
Michelle Kirby blog http://flordygirlsouthernsentiments.blogspot.com/
ST. ANDREWS BAY DURING THE CIVIL WAR BY GEORGE MORTIMER WEST https://books.google.com/books?id=YDwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA57&lpg=PA57&dq=%22George%20Mortimer%20West%22%20%22St.%20Andrews%20Bay%2C%20with%20its%20many%20secluded%22&source=bl&ots=bWFeDstpHu&sig=ACfU3U1CEvhijhzHqJM1c7Moom_il1Vwqg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi75YCu5JrhAhUhTd8KHbKWDsAQ6AEwAHoECAAQAQ&fbclid=IwAR3OkHaQEu34phy1xCR7EuCJkip_-HA211877psGrsdmrU2yMVZvZpPHEDE#v=onepage&q=%22George%20Mortimer%20West%22%20%22St.%20Andrews%20Bay%2C%20with%20its%20many%20secluded%22&f=false
U.S.S. R.R. CUYLER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_R._R._Cuyler_(1860)
U.S.S. WATER WITCH https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Water_Witch_(1851)
U.S.S. BEAUREGARD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Beauregard_(1861)
U.S.S. SAMUEL ROTAN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Samuel_Rotan_(1861)
U.S.S. SAGAMORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sagamore_(1861)
U.S.S. PURSUIT
(a 144 foot bark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barque )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pursuit_(1861)
U.S.S. ALBATROSS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Albatross_(1858)
U.S.S. WANDERER
schooner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schooner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wanderer_(1857)
U.S.S. BOHIO
Brig https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brig
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bohio_(1856)
U.S.S. RESTLESS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Restless_(1861)
schooner KAIN
U.S.S. BLOOMER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bloomer_(1856)
U.S.S. ROEBUCK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Roebuck_(1856)
British schooner EMMA AMELIA
U.S.S. CAROLINE
U.S.S. KINGFISHER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kingfisher_(1861)
STEAMER FLORIDA
U.S.S. MIDNIGHT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Midnight_(1861)
EAST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924051350969;view=1up;seq=668
HOW SALT HELPED WIN THE CIVIL WAR https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/civil-war-salt
MATERIAL PERTAINING TO ST. ANDREWS BAY AND THE CONFEDERATE SALT FAMINE
from the OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE NAVIES:
... St. Andrew's Sound, from the East Pass of Santa Rosa's Sound, with the stern-wheel steamer BLOOMER and her tender, the sloop CAROLINE, having heard of the expedition to Lake Ocola [ed. note: Phillips Inlet], and placed his command at the disposal of Acting Master Browne, for more extensive operations near St. Andrew's. Accordingly, three officers and forty-eight men were sent from the RESTLESS to the BLOOMER, and she proceeded to West Bay, where the rebel government's salt-works were first destroyed, which produced 400 bushels daily. At this place there were twenty- seven buildings, twenty-two large boilers, and some 200 kettles, averaging 200 gallons each, all of which were destroyed, together with 2,000 bushels of salt, and some storehouses containing three months' provisions. The whole was estimated at half a million dollars. From this point the expedition proceeded down the bay, destroying private salt-works, which lined each side for a distance of seven miles, to the number of one hundred and ninety-eight different establishments, averaging two boilers and two kettles each, together with large quantities of salt. Five hundred and seven kettles were dug up and rendered useless, and over three hundred buildings were destroyed, together with twenty-seven wagons and five large flat-boats. The entire damage to the enemy is estimated by Acting Master Browne at $3,000,000. Thirty-one contrabands [ed. note: fugitive slaves], employed at these works, gladly availed themselves of this opportunity to escape, and were of great service in pointing out the places where the kettles were buried...
from the December 28, 1958 Tampa Tribune
Peter Brannon article in the July 3, 1938 Montgomery Advertiser
July 10, 1904 Wilmington Messenger
from the November 25, 1956 BALTIMORE SUN
from the June 18, 1862 WEEKLY MARYSVILLE (Ohio) TRIBUNE
from the December 30, 1862 DAILY DELTA (New Orleans)
from the August 7, 1862 (reprinted from the MONTGOMERY ADVERTISER
from the February 4, 1863 TROY MESSENGER
from the February 4, 1863 TROY MESSENGER (on same page as the draft notice)
from the February 4, 1863 TROY MESSENGER
from the February 4, 1863 TROY MESSENGER
from the January 7, 1863 SOUTHERN ADVERTISER (Troy)
Alabama Salt Commissioner's letter book https://www.worldcat.org/title/general-correspondence-1861-1865/oclc/86119013
WILLIAM MCCULLOUGH DIARY http://www.lamartin.com/history/william_mccullough_diary.htm
BATTLE OF MARIANNA http://sites.rootsweb.com/~fljackso/cox/wfw1.htm
SMOKEHOUSE DIRT by Robert Morgan
James A. Clendinen @ BULL RUN https://books.google.com/books?id=jFx4DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT461&lpg=PT461&dq=%22James+A.+Clendinen%22&source=bl&ots=IGCGfx6psu&sig=ACfU3U3xBATtlcTDXI7W-o9rZ10jO1P2pg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi72onP2eDhAhUDmeAKHW2XD2w4ChDoATAJegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=%22James%20A.%20Clendinen%22&f=false
James A. Clendinen Confederate service and bio: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~alcwroot/6th_alabama_inf/photo_album/clendinen_files/clendinen.htm
James Augustus Clendinen findagrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53181892/james-augustus-clendinen
BOAT HOWITZER https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/category/artillery/boat-howitzers/
"Men, Salt, Cattle & Battle" : THE CIVIL WAR IN FLORIDA [November 1860 - July 1865] https://archive.org/stream/DTIC_ADA255006/DTIC_ADA255006_djvu.txt
April 19, 1861: At the time of his declaration of a blockade, Lincoln only had 4 ships available to blockade 12 major Confederate ports, 189 harbors and river mouths along with 3500 miles of coastline from Alexandria, Virginia to Brownsville, Texas. By war's end, the U.S. would purchase and outfit over 500 ships with the weaponry to enforce the blockade and over 1500 blockade runners will have been captured or destroyed during the four year long blockade.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_blockade
May 6, 1861: Lieutenant T. Augustus Craven https://www.geni.com/people/Tunis-Augustus-Macdonough-T-A-M-Craven/6000000008540034959 read about Lincoln's order for a blockade in a newspaper that arrived on a ship in Key West. Craven closed the port of Key West and a week later confiscated the WANDERER which had been in port for a month.
TUNIS AUGUSTUS MACDONOUGH CRAVEN was buried @ sea off Fort Morgan, Alabama on August 5, 1864 when his ship was sunk during the Battle of Mobile Bay. The wreck of the U.S.S. TECUMSEH now resting on the bottom of Mobile Bay contains the remains of Craven along with 92 other U.S. sailors.
CRAVEN
Over the turret, shut in his iron-clad tower,
Craven was conning his ship through smoke and flame;
Gun to gun he had battered the fort for an hour,
Now was the time for a charge to end the game.
There lay the narrowing channel, smooth and grim,
A hundred deaths beneath it, and never a sign;
There lay the enemy's ships, and sink or swim
The flag was flying, and he was head of the line.
The fleet behind was jamming; the monitor hung
Beating the stream; the roar for a moment hushed,
Craven spoke to the pilot; slow she swung;
Again he spoke, and right for the foe she rushed.
Into the narrowing channel, between the shore
And the sunk torpedoes lying in treacherous rank;
She turned but a yard too short; a muffled roar,
A mountainous wave, and she rolled, righted, and sank.
Over the manhole, up in the iron-clad tower,
Pilot and Captain met as they turned to fly:
The hundredth part of a moment seemed an hour,
For one could pass to be saved, and one must die.
They stood like men in a dream: Craven spoke,
Spoke as he lived and fought, with a Captain's pride,
'After you, Pilot.' The pilot woke,
Down the ladder he went, and Craven died.
All men praise the deed and the manner, but we—
We set it apart from the pride that stoops to the proud,
The strength that is supple to serve the strong and free,
The grace of the empty hands and promises loud:
Sidney thirsting, a humbler need to slake,
Nelson waiting his turn for the surgeon's hand,
Lucas crushed with chains for a comrade's sake,
Outram coveting right before command:
These were paladins, these were Craven's peers,
These with him shall be crowned in story and song,
Crowned with the glitter of steel and the glimmer of tears,
Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud, and strong.
These were paladins, these were Craven's peers,
These with him shall be crowned in story and song,
Crowned with the glitter of steel and the glimmer of tears,
Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud, and strong.
September 16, 1861 – Federal forces seized SHIP ISLAND, an important base for future operations in the Gulf of Mexico. https://civilwarmonths.com/2016/09/16/the-fall-of-ship-island/comment-page-1/
January 20, 1862: Secretary of the U.S. Navy Gideon Wells divided the Gulf Blockading Squadron into two squadrons: The Eastern with its headquarters in Key West commanded by Flag Officer W.W. McKean and the Western based on Ship Island, Mississippi and commanded by Admiral David Farragut.
January, 1862: Confederate officials detained all mail for Apalachicola by canceling the mail contracts from Ricko's Bluff and Chattahoochee. (Buker, page 35) This probably also occurred with the mail contracts for St. Andrews. The Confederates didn't want their newspapers being delivered to the enemy by their mail.
February 5, 1862: "Previous to this date this port had furnished a most valuable means for running in supplies for the confederacy. One method was described by Lieut. G. W. Doty, commanding the steamer Marion, stationed off West Pass, Apalachicola, in a memorandum dispatch under date of February 5th, 1862. He stated that 'vessels go into St. Andrews and land their cargoes at Bear Creek, and cart them across to Ochesee, on the Chattahoochee river, and then it comes down to Apalachi cola by water.' He further stated 'that the schooner Wm. P. Benson was then at St. Andrews ; about two weeks before she brought a cargo of coffee there from Havana and was known to be there then taking on a cargo of cotton.' He stated 'she may not get out for a month, but they are loading her now. About 150 bales of cotton was sent to her last week from Apalachicola. She carries English colors when at sea. Capt. Thomas L. Mitchell is now loading the Benson ; he loaded the Phoenix also. He is a northern man and married there. It is about five days' travel from Ochesee to Bear Creek by carts.' "
U.S.S. MARION https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Marion_(1839):
February 19, 1862: The Confederate blockade runner FLORIDA, supplying the Confederate army @ New Orleans escaped the blockade on the mouth of the Mississippi and sailed for Havana. She picked up 500 rifles and 60,000 pounds of powder in Havana and brought them to Bay Head where the Confederate army offloaded them. The blockade runner was then forced to remain docked @ Bay Head while a cotton cargo could be gathered and delivered.
February 20, 1862: Admiral Farragut arrived @ Ship Island and issued his first order concerning St. Andrews Bay. Flag Officer McKean was also @ Ship Island and ,on that same day, he ordered the U.S.S. R.R. Cuyler to go to St. Andrews Bay and intercept blockade runners. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_R._R._Cuyler_(1860)
March 5, 1862: "Lieutenant Hughes, of the Water Witch, reported that on the morning of March 5th, 1862, while cruising off St. Andrews Bay he gave chase to a schooner, which he succeeded in capturing after a pursuit of five hours. She proved to be the William Mallory, of Mobile, from Havana, February 28th, with an assorted cargo bound . wherever she could make port, and probably would have come into St. Andrews Bay had she not been discovered by the steamer Water Witch."
U.S.S. WATER WITCH https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Water_Witch_(1851)
March 12, 1862:The bark U.S.S. PURSUIT was reported blockading St. Andrews and St. Joseph's Bay. U.S.S. PURSUIT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pursuit_(1861)
April, 1862: Governor Shorter of Alabama requests permission from Governor Milton of Florida to make salt for his citizens on the Gulf Coast of Florida.
April, 1862: (from Kurlansky, 265) In April 1862, when the first Confederate draft was declared, there were no exemptions for salt makers, but by August, Jefferson Davis revised the conscription to exempt them. Making salt became a way to avoid military service. Deserters also drifted to the saltworks, hoping either to be safe in the swamps or to earn an exemption as a salt worker.
April, 1862: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Mercedita_(1861)
April 14, 1862: The bark Pursuit was in St. Andrews Bay, coming from St. Joseph's Bay, on which trip the steamer FLORIDA and sloop LaFAYETTE were captured. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Hendrick_Hudson
WRECK OF THE LAFAYETTE https://books.google.com/books?id=aU-0X45vbS4C&pg=PA33&lpg=PA33&dq=STEAMER+FLORIDA+%22ST.+ANDREWS+BAY%22+PURSUIT+1862+April&source=bl&ots=a3qlg5t_CP&sig=ACfU3U3ndLMAo9jSv0HIqujNRdKGfD3frQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-xbCFoNLhAhXhUN8KHUPQBGwQ6AEwA3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=STEAMER%20FLORIDA%20%22ST.%20ANDREWS%20BAY%22%20PURSUIT%201862%20April&f=false
April 14, 1862: The regular report made to the Secretary of Navy shows that on April 14th, the schooner Beauregard was blockading St. Andrews Bay. This is the first reported stationing of a boat to blockade this port. U.S.S. BEAUREGARD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Beauregard_(1861)
May to July, 1862: U.S.S. SAMUEL ROTAN maintained the blockade @ St. Andrews Bay.
U.S.S. SAMUEL ROTAN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Samuel_Rotan_(1861)
August 5, 1862: The steamer Sagamore was reported blockading St. Andrews Bay with Lieutenant G. A. Bigelow in command. U.S.S. SAGAMORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sagamore_(1861):
August 26, 1862: Lieutenant James A. Clendinen, 6th Alabama, is ordered to take over the State of Alabama salt works on West Bay. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53181892/james-augustus-clendinen
early Fall, 1862: The U.S. Navy reoccupies the Pensacola Naval Yard and Admiral Farragut designates it the depot for resupplying the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.
September 11, 1862: FIRST ATTACK ON SALT WORKS ~ Abstract log U. S. S. Sagamore, Lieutenant-Commander Bigelow, U. S. Navy, commanding. "September 11, 1862. — At 10 a. m. sent launch and second cutter on shore armed, the first in charge of Acting Master Babson and Master's Mate Sidell, the second in charge of Acting Master Fales and Assistant Engineer Leavitt. Boats landed and employed in destroying salt works. At 11 stood underway and stood in nearer the town. At 5:45 p. m. boats still employed destroying salt works. "September 12. — At 7:30 a. m. second cutter in charge of Acting Master Fales, 15 men, launch in charge of Acting Master Babson, 17 men, left the ship to destroy salt works." From a report from Rear Admiral Lardner, commanding the East Gulf Squadron, the following additional work of the Sagamore at that time is described : Report of Acting Rear Admiral Lardner, U. S. Navy, regarding the destruction of salt works at St. Andrews and St. Joseph's bays. (No. 122) "Flagship St. Lawrence, "Key West, October 2, 1862. "Sir: I have the honor to report that salt works of the rebels at St. Andrew's Bay, capable of making 216 bushels of salt per day, were destroyed by Lieutenant- Commander Bigelow, of the Sagamore, on the 11th of September last. "The salt works at St. Joseph's Bay, estimated of capacity to make 200 bushels of salt a day, were destroyed by Lieutenant Commanding Couthony, of the Kingfisher, on the 8th of September. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "J. L. LARDNER, "Acting Rear-Admiral, Comdg. Eastern Gulf Squadron. "Hon. Gideon Welles, "Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C."
September 22, 1862: Governor Shorter of Alabama writes Richmond requesting a military escort be assigned to protect salt makers on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.
October 15, 1862: the bark Wanderer, Acting Master E. S. Turner in command, and the schooner Samuel Rotan. Acting Vol. Lieutenant commanding W. W. Kenniston, were blockading St. Andrews Bay. This same ship was reported to be on blockade duty on St. Andrews Bay in November. U.S.S. WANDERER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wanderer_(1857)
November 14, 1862: The U.S.S. ALBATROSS and the U.S.S. BOHIO depart Pensacola for a raid on St. Andrews Bay salt makers. (from Wikipedia) From 24 November until 8 December 1862, boat crews from Albatross and from the armed brig USS Bohio made a series of raids against salt works along the Florida coast between St. Andrews Bay and Pensacola, during which they destroyed over 300 salt pans. The U.S.S. Wanderer also participated in this salt works raid and many boats were destroyed in the village of St. Andrews which had only (see page 1, March 5, 1908 PANAMA CITY PILOT)
"On the 17th the Wanderer in attempting to work up the bay, got aground; and I went to her assistance with the steamer, and concluded to follow her up the bay to the town of St. Andrew's. With the exception of three men and two women the place was deserted. There were boats hauled upon the beach, and under sheds that were serviceable, and which I set fire to and otherwise destroyed, at the suggestion of Acting Master Turner, of the Wanderer, who thought they might be put to improper use, and if manned and armed could give great annoyance, in endeavoring to capture the boats of the schooner, carrying salt across the bay, or running the blockade. Within a few miles of the town I destroyed several salt pans, with their furnaces, pumps, tubs, and gutters, etc.; two or three of these pans were made of the coast survey harbor buoys cut in two; each half would hold over one hundred and fifty gallons of sea water."
December of 1862: Florida legislature extends the privilege of making salt in Florida to the State of Alabama.
December of 1862: Governor Shorter of Alabama sends J.A. Clendinen, superintendent of the destroyed Alabama state-owned salt works on St. Andrews Bay, to Richmond with a message for Confederate Secretary of War Randolph requesting reorganization of the Confederate Army so as to provide military protection for salt workers.
December 9, 1862:The General Assembly of the State of Alabama passed Act 38 creating the Salt Commission. http://www.archives.alabama.gov/teacher/civilwar/civ1.html
December 15, 1862: The steamer Stars and Stripes, Acting Master commanding C. L. Willcomb, was blockading St. Andrews Bay, also on same station January 1st, 1863, and January 15th. U.S.S. STARS AND STRIPES https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Stars_and_Stripes_(1861)
December 28, 1862: A group of U.S. soldiers and sailors from Ft. Pickens come up the Choctawhatchee and capture the steamboat BLOOMER which is docked for repairs below Geneva. U.S.S. BLOOMER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bloomer_(1856)
from the January 7, 1863 MONTGOMERY WEEKLY ADVERTISER
February 1, 1863: The bark Roebuck, Acting Master J. Sherrill, was on St. Andrews Bay station, also in same place on February 15th, March 1st, March 16th, April 1st, April 15th, May 1st, May 15th, June 1st, July 15th, August 1st, August 15th, September 15th, same, but Acting Master J. O. Barclay was in command. October 1st, same. U.S.S. ROEBUCK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Roebuck_(1856)
February 1863: U.S.S. ETHAN ALLEN relieves the U.S.S. ROEBUCK ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ethan_Allen_(1859)
A public notice by Alfred Broxson denying the accusation that he was a man named "Broxton" who cooperated with the Yankees during the salt raid on St. Andrews Bay in November of 1862. This was published in the
February 4, 1863 SOUTHERN ADVERTISER out of Troy.
(Page 389, Vol. 17) U. S. BARK ROEBUCK, St. Andrew‘s Bay, May 10, 1860’.
SIR: Your communications of the 10th instant, sent by flag of truce, have been received. Your statement of the affair is replete with falsehood, as no demand was made to surrender before being fired upon. With one so devoid of all honorable rules of warfare I decline holding further communication. As to hereafter “ quarter being denied,” none has been shown by or expected from one who stoops to guerrilla warfare. I am, sir, yours, etc., JOHN SHERRILL, Acting Master, U. S. Navy, Comdg. U. S. Bark Roebuck
May 21, 1863: from the 1863 HARTFORD COURANT (Connecticut)
July 29, 1863: from the CHICAGO TRIBUNE
December 2, 10 and 18, 1863 A massive operation was launched by sailors from the USS Restless, USS Caroline and USS Bloomer to destroy salt works at Lake Ocala and St. Andrew Bay. Over three days, the U.S. sailors destroyed 6 steamboat boilers, cut in half, being used as salt boilers, and 422 large salt boilers, as well as 407 salt kettles, 7 flatboats, 327 buildings, 27 wagons and 2,000 bushels of salt. The damage was estimated at $3,000,000. The sailors also burned the town of St. Andrews (today’s Panama City) to the ground, destroying 32 houses. Despite the destruction of more than 200 salt works, the sailors reported that 100 more remained in operation. The bay was reported to be lined for 7 miles by government and private salt works, all in operation. (ORN, Series I, Volume 17, p. 594-598).(from West, 1922) " A correspondent of the New York Herald estimated the property destroyed as follows : 500 boilers and kettles averaging 150 gallons each, at $5 per gallon, $375,000; value of manufactured salt, $120,000; Con federate Government works, three-fourths of a mile square, with buildings, $500,000 ; 199 small salt works of 100 gallons each, $1,999,000; total, $2,985,000. The works of the Confederate Government had just been completed but ten days before, and were very complete and extensive. Another private report states that 98 brick furnaces were destroyed, and 100 buildings. This was possibly about the date of the greatest activity on St. Andrews Bay, and it brought here a large number of people. There were also many deserters and runaway negroes in this section at that time."
"Deserters from Captain Anderson's and Robinson's companies reported subsequently that both officers and men had broken up and gone home, as the destruction of the salt works, which they were ordered to guard, had been so complete; and six of them have enlisted in the Navy, after taking the oath of allegiance."
January 16, 1864: George Maslin from Marianna under a flag of truce contacts the commander of the U.S.S. Restless about his scheme to smuggle cotton on his ship KAIN out of St. Andrews Bay.
February, 1864: A unit from the U.S.S. RESTLESS captured the KAIN. A Massalina piloted the boat from Bay Head to Hurricane Island.
February, 1864: The United States 1st Florida Cavalry unit camped at Point Washington was captured after attacking a Confederate unit near Cedar Bluff (present-day Red Head north of Ebro https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Head,_Florida ) on the Choctawhatchee River http://sites.rootsweb.com/~fljackso/cox/wfw1.htm
February 17 1864:
“Learning that the rebels had erected new Government salt works on West Bay, on the site of the old salt works destroyed by us in December, and that they had a force of 50 men armed and stationed there for protection, I fitted out the first cutter, manned with 13 men, under charge of Acting Ensign James J. Russell, with orders to proceed up the Gulf coast 20 miles, and march inland 7 miles to the salt works and attack them in the rear, while Acting Ensign Henry Eason with 10 men, in command of the second cutter, would proceed by the inside passage and attack them in the front at the same time.
The expedition was entirely successful, the works being abandoned upon the appearance of our men, Messrs. Russell’s and Eason’s party joining at the appropriate time, and immediately proceeded in the destruction of everything in the manufactories, consisting of 26 sheet-iron boilers, averaging 881 gallons, and 19 kettles, averaging 200 gallons, making an aggregate of 26,706 gallons, which cost in Montgomery $5.50 per gallon.”
The redoubtable Browne would send in additional raiding parties in March and April 1864. His determination and initiative earned him a promotion to Acting Lieutenant.
February 17, 1864: "According to my instructions the boats left the ship at 8 P. M., the 17th instant, and proceeded to a bayou on the southwest side of East bay, selected as a place of ambush, and which the barge must necessarily pass. After lying in wait the appointed time and seeing no appearance , of the barge, the men were landed, and destroyed all the works at hand, fifteen in number, among which were some of the largest government salt-works ever erected in ' Florida, the whole of which were successfully destroyed, consisting of five large steam boat boilers, and twenty- three kettles, together with sixteen log houses, one flat- boat, a large quantity of salt, vats, tanks, and other materials connected with the manufacture of this article. After destroying the above they returned to the ship bring ing with them six contrabands found at this place. Very respectfully your obedient servant, W. A. BROWNE, , Acting Master Commanding. Acting Rear-Admiral Theodorus Bailey, Commanding E. G. B; Squadron."
April 1864: St. Andrews Bay salt raid by the U.S.S. RESTLESS. https://books.google.com/books?id=YDwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA90&lpg=PA90&dq=1864+Wetappo+%22St.+Andrews+Bay%22&source=bl&ots=bWFgDswmLC&sig=ACfU3U241Fc-pGSgUn4OdWyoqpswXWVJWQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjYurKWidXhAhUkU98KHcNgB0MQ6AEwAnoECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=1864%20Wetappo%20%22St.%20Andrews%20Bay%22&f=false
April 21, 1864. Sir: Acting Volunteer Lieutenant William R. Browne commanding the bark Restless, at St. Andrews' Sound re ports the result of two more expeditions made under his orders to harass the enemy in that vicinity. The first consisted of eight refugees in a dug-out canoe, who ascended the Wetapoo river, some twenty , miles to White Bluffs, and there .destroyed about two thousand bushels of salt, brought away the sacks, and , . captured a barge about thirty-six feet long, eleven feet' ! beam, and three feet deep, sloop rigged and decked, which - he is fitting up with a howitzer for further operations. A - heavy rain had fortunately driven the cavalry guard . away from the place of shelter, so that no resistance was offered. Twenty-three refugees were brought off. The 'other expedition consisted of twenty-two men in the boats of the Restless, who proceeded up East bay during another heavy rain storm, which had again sent the guard to look for shelter. They succeeded in destroying two government salt-works with three hundred bushels of salt and about the same quantity of cornmeal, without opposition and brought off one contraband. Acting Volunteer Lieutenant Browne reports that there are five companies of rebel troops in that vicinity to guard the salt works, and that these works are rebuilt as fast as he destroys them. . ,. :)
May 23, 1864: Ensign H. Eason of the U.S.S. Restless with 10 of his sailors and 34 members of the U.S. 2nd Florida Cavalry destroyed 11 salt works containing 60 kettles. Eason learned that the rebels had a large quantity of new boilers to replace any broken ones.
May 27, 1864: Ensign Eason attempted to destroy salt works in East Bay but his unit was fired upon near the Parker house and the Johnson house. Eason believed that the rebels were using a flag of truce to decoy U.S. Navy sailors.
July 1864: Captain Edmund C. Weeks leads the United States 2nd Florida Calvary on a 44 mile invasion track after landing at Bay Head. "On landing, 100 bales of cotton were captured near the coast and burnt. The expedition marched 44 miles into the interior, burnt 80 bales of cotton, 2 large bridges, 1 large grist mill, 1 camp with storehouses, etc., capable of containing 500 men. On the return to the coast, the expedition brought in 115 contrabands (i.e. slaves), 8 mules and 2 horses."
U.S.S. NIGHTINGALE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nightingale_(1851)
"Our troops marched to within thirty miles of Mariana, and then turned back, sufficient to march to the above place and thence to Appalachacola with trouble, and in this route, we could have taken three hundred horses and mules besides 1500 or 2000 contrabands. But the major says he does not wish to get any of his men hurt, forgetting that the only way to end this distressing war in favour of the Union arms is by fighting." ~ William McCullough https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1269&context=sunlandtribune
"The navy has taken advantage of their wants and poverty to seduce the young girls and married ones, some of the latter were mothers of one or two children. Some of these poor creatures the gentlemen had promised to marry, and after a time have given them the pox, and some the clapp, which they have in the worst form. After these diseases are contracted, the poor things are abandoned to look out for themselves; as a natural sequence the soldiers mixing with them contracts the same complaints. Now once in a while, a strange man comes along and marrys one of them, probably for life, or during the war, or sooner shot, as the soldiers have it. There is one poor thing on this island at this time afflicted with this complaint caught in the manner I have stated. She has had the disease about 6 months, is abandoned by everyone, scorned like a brute, destitute of clothing or bedding of any kind, lying upon the naked boards. I believe that the doctors do not give her any medical treatment whatever, and in a short time she must go the way of all the earth, uncared for or lamented by any strangers or relatives. This is not the only case by several which has come under my knowledge within the last six months. " ~ William McCullough
July 25, 1864: Leaving the Santa Rosa County village of Milton on the morning of July 25, 1864, Captain W.B. Amos and fifteen of his troopers from the Fifteenth Confederate Cavalry sailed down the Blackwater River in two small boats. Making for the mouth of the Yellow River, they discovered a Federal schooner lying at anchor about two miles off shore. The cavalrymen succeeded in slipping up on and capturing the little vessel and its crew without firing a shot. Amos described what happened next:
I then sent my boats and prisoners up to camp and took the small schooner and balance of my men and sailed down to East bay, where I was informed that there was a schooner by the name of Osceola....I concealed my men in the boat and sailed for her and managed to get to her after dark and succeeded in boarding her. I ordered the crew to surrender; three made to their guns. I ordered my men to fire on them, which they did and killed the three. The remaining two surrendered.48
Ironically, the naval battle between Amos' men and the Osceola was one of the bloodiest in West Florida waters. The whole affair must have come as something of a shock to Asboth. Undoubtedly the concept of a Confederate cavalry officer launching an impromptu naval raid against the Federal forces was not something that would have been expected.
NOVEMBER 10, 1864 PITTSBURGH DAILY POST
November 30, 1864: J.C. Wells of the U.S.S. MIDNIGHT reported a party from his ship made a salt raid on St. Andrews Bay.
"St. Andrew's Bay, Fla., Dec. 4, 1864 Sir: I have the honor to report the following,- since relieving the United States Bark Restless on this station : "I have had reason to believe, by what I could glean from refugees, that there was considerable salt making on the bays above here. Consequently, on the 30th of Nov., last, I despatched an expedition with twenty-four men in command of Acting Master Charles H. Cadieu, accompanied by Acting Ensign E. O. Drew and Acting Assistant Surgeon Edward W. Avery, up the bay to destroy salt works and salt, which they did effectually. They captured and brought away with them, the sixteen salt-makers, whom I have since paroled. Three contrabands, who are here, one has enlisted and the others object to enlist, on the ground, that they have left their families in secessia."
February 1, 1865: U.S.S. MIDNIGHT conducts a salt works raid on St. Andrews Bay.
July 1865: U.S.S. MIDNIGHT sails away from St. Andrews Bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Midnight_(1861)
NOVEMBER 10, 1864 PITTSBURGH DAILY POST
November 30, 1864: J.C. Wells of the U.S.S. MIDNIGHT reported a party from his ship made a salt raid on St. Andrews Bay.
"St. Andrew's Bay, Fla., Dec. 4, 1864 Sir: I have the honor to report the following,- since relieving the United States Bark Restless on this station : "I have had reason to believe, by what I could glean from refugees, that there was considerable salt making on the bays above here. Consequently, on the 30th of Nov., last, I despatched an expedition with twenty-four men in command of Acting Master Charles H. Cadieu, accompanied by Acting Ensign E. O. Drew and Acting Assistant Surgeon Edward W. Avery, up the bay to destroy salt works and salt, which they did effectually. They captured and brought away with them, the sixteen salt-makers, whom I have since paroled. Three contrabands, who are here, one has enlisted and the others object to enlist, on the ground, that they have left their families in secessia."
February 1, 1865: U.S.S. MIDNIGHT conducts a salt works raid on St. Andrews Bay.
July 1865: U.S.S. MIDNIGHT sails away from St. Andrews Bay. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Midnight_(1861)
DRY TORTUGAS FERRY https://www.drytortugas.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7YblBRDFARIsAKkK-dLSBvtrrKnQUO7Go54yKK5O7OW91fMpQDx-petMwHEVr9NWqu7y_sQaArEREALw_wcB
https://www.keywesttravelguide.com/ferries-to-ft-jefferson-and-the-dry-tortugas/
BLOCKADE OF ST. ANDREWS BAY by G. M. West https://books.google.com/books?id=YDwVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA105&lpg=PA105&dq=april+1862+steamer+Florida+%22St.+Andrews+Bay%22&source=bl&ots=bWFfAsynPA&sig=ACfU3U3CwpyeHAqM4f0hlyKagehD2eYDFg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZxcihpq_hAhVMON8KHa2MDeYQ6AEwA3oECAkQAQ#v=onepage&q=april%201862%20steamer%20Florida%20%22St.%20Andrews%20Bay%22&f=false
U.S.S. R.R. CUYLER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_R._R._Cuyler_(1860)
U.S.S. NIGHTINGALE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Nightingale_(1851)
U.S.S. ELLEN (MORSE) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ellen_(1853)
Ella Lonn's ST. ANDREWS BAY SALTWORKS article from Florida Historical Quarterly https://www.jstor.org/stable/30151279?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Salt Famine documents from FLORIDA MEMORY https://www.floridamemory.com/onlineclassroom/floridacivilwar/documents/
PENSACOLA BRICK BUSINESS https://www.jstor.org/stable/30145900?read-now=1&seq=4#page_scan_tab_contents
MEN, SALT, CATTLE AND BATTLE
https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a255006.pdf
West Gulf Blockading Squadron https://books.google.com/books?id=OlNoBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA245&lpg=PA245&dq=%22George+W.+Browne%22+Albatross&source=bl&ots=PcYTlwXj9Q&sig=ACfU3U2ogzNH3M6xd_gmzzMZT-xu0_yu0g&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwir3pjDi7zhAhXmQd8KHeQvC-wQ6AEwC3oECAQQAQ#v=onepage&q=%22George%20W.%20Browne%22%20Albatross&f=false
VOLUME 17, SERIES 1 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924051350969;view=1up;seq=13
RICKO BLUFF https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ricko+Bluff/@30.1095828,-85.1320455,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8893502bd45684ff:0xda7db673782eede5!8m2!3d30.2479752!4d-85.0699157
MAP OF THE LOCATION OF U.S. NAVY STATION ON HURRICANE ISLAND https://www.google.com/maps/place/30%C2%B004'23.0%22N+85%C2%B038'36.0%22W/@30.0730556,-85.645522,640m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d30.0730556!4d-85.6433333
ROBERT REGISTER article on Confederate salt making published in PANAMA CITY LIVING https://panamacityliving.com/civil-war-salt-makers-st-andrews-bay-salt-earth/
CONFEDERATE CONSCRIPTION ACT https://www.floridamemory.com/blog/2013/05/30/florida-and-the-civil-war-may-1863/
http://www.museumoffloridahistory.com/exhibits/permanent/civilwar/escape.cfm
African Americans escaping slavery sail in a small boat to be picked up by the Union blockade ship USS Kingfisher off the Florida coast near St. Marks in 1862. (Illustration from Harper's Weekly, April 1862) (Florida State Archives)
The U.S.S. KINGFISHER ran aground on March 28, 1864 near the southeastern point of Otter Island on a shoal on the Combahee Bank of St. Helena Sound in the vicinity of Beaufort, S.C.
FIRST ATTACK ON ST. ANDREWS BAY: September 12, 1862
U.S.S. SAGAMORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sagamore_(1861)
U.S.S. KINGFISHER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kingfisher_(1861)
Michelle Kirby slide show https://slideplayer.com/slide/4652407/
Michelle Kirby blog http://flordygirlsouthernsentiments.blogspot.com/
U.S.S. R.R. CUYLER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_R._R._Cuyler_(1860)
U.S.S. WATER WITCH https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Water_Witch_(1851)
U.S.S. BEAUREGARD https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Beauregard_(1861)
U.S.S. SAMUEL ROTAN https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Samuel_Rotan_(1861)
U.S.S. SAGAMORE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Sagamore_(1861)
U.S.S. PURSUIT
(a 144 foot bark https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barque )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Pursuit_(1861)
U.S.S. ALBATROSS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Albatross_(1858)
U.S.S. WANDERER
schooner https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schooner
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wanderer_(1857)
U.S.S. BOHIO
Brig https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brig
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bohio_(1856)
U.S.S. RESTLESS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Restless_(1861)
schooner KAIN
U.S.S. BLOOMER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Bloomer_(1856)
U.S.S. ROEBUCK https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Roebuck_(1856)
British schooner EMMA AMELIA
U.S.S. CAROLINE
U.S.S. KINGFISHER https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Kingfisher_(1861)
STEAMER FLORIDA
U.S.S. MIDNIGHT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Midnight_(1861)
EAST GULF BLOCKADING SQUADRON https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924051350969;view=1up;seq=668
HOW SALT HELPED WIN THE CIVIL WAR https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/civil-war-salt
MATERIAL PERTAINING TO ST. ANDREWS BAY AND THE CONFEDERATE SALT FAMINE
from the OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE NAVIES:
... St. Andrew's Sound, from the East Pass of Santa Rosa's Sound, with the stern-wheel steamer BLOOMER and her tender, the sloop CAROLINE, having heard of the expedition to Lake Ocola [ed. note: Phillips Inlet], and placed his command at the disposal of Acting Master Browne, for more extensive operations near St. Andrew's. Accordingly, three officers and forty-eight men were sent from the RESTLESS to the BLOOMER, and she proceeded to West Bay, where the rebel government's salt-works were first destroyed, which produced 400 bushels daily. At this place there were twenty- seven buildings, twenty-two large boilers, and some 200 kettles, averaging 200 gallons each, all of which were destroyed, together with 2,000 bushels of salt, and some storehouses containing three months' provisions. The whole was estimated at half a million dollars. From this point the expedition proceeded down the bay, destroying private salt-works, which lined each side for a distance of seven miles, to the number of one hundred and ninety-eight different establishments, averaging two boilers and two kettles each, together with large quantities of salt. Five hundred and seven kettles were dug up and rendered useless, and over three hundred buildings were destroyed, together with twenty-seven wagons and five large flat-boats. The entire damage to the enemy is estimated by Acting Master Browne at $3,000,000. Thirty-one contrabands [ed. note: fugitive slaves], employed at these works, gladly availed themselves of this opportunity to escape, and were of great service in pointing out the places where the kettles were buried...
from the October 8, 1863 AUTAUGA CITIZEN (Prattville)
from the February 4, 1863 TROY MESSENGER (on same page as the draft notice)
from the February 4, 1863 TROY MESSENGER
from the February 4, 1863 TROY MESSENGER
from the January 7, 1863 SOUTHERN ADVERTISER (Troy)
Alabama Salt Commissioner's letter book https://www.worldcat.org/title/general-correspondence-1861-1865/oclc/86119013
WILLIAM MCCULLOUGH DIARY http://www.lamartin.com/history/william_mccullough_diary.htm
BATTLE OF MARIANNA http://sites.rootsweb.com/~fljackso/cox/wfw1.htm
SMOKEHOUSE DIRT by Robert Morgan
The shadow of the meat-hung roof puddles sterile as the site of Carthage. Rain will lick away the savor in about a century. The light cannot feel at home on this ground for a while, nor rabbits warm here at a hearth of vegetation. The scald won’t even hold a drop of snow, but eats away the lush crystals fast as heat.
Where the smoked ham sweated and fatback wept its oils, and molasses cooked down to plasma in jars, erosion rubs brine in the wound same as a pissbum in the pasture. The lye tub drooled its whey also. Hunger has left a tear track, recondite among the thickets.... Let it
scab and fur over on its own and offer no crop bigger than dew and the beadwork of berrypicking. My secret pleasure: to come and watch these shoots work up their honey from bitter clay. Lichen gardens improve the scars, patching over history. I offer the land my leisure.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Phineas_Woodbury
James A. Clendinen @ BULL RUN https://books.google.com/books?id=jFx4DQAAQBAJ&pg=PT461&lpg=PT461&dq=%22James+A.+Clendinen%22&source=bl&ots=IGCGfx6psu&sig=ACfU3U3xBATtlcTDXI7W-o9rZ10jO1P2pg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi72onP2eDhAhUDmeAKHW2XD2w4ChDoATAJegQIBhAB#v=onepage&q=%22James%20A.%20Clendinen%22&f=false
James A. Clendinen Confederate service and bio: http://sites.rootsweb.com/~alcwroot/6th_alabama_inf/photo_album/clendinen_files/clendinen.htm
James Augustus Clendinen findagrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/53181892/james-augustus-clendinen
BOAT HOWITZER https://markerhunter.wordpress.com/category/artillery/boat-howitzers/
"Men, Salt, Cattle & Battle" : THE CIVIL WAR IN FLORIDA [November 1860 - July 1865] https://archive.org/stream/DTIC_ADA255006/DTIC_ADA255006_djvu.txt
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