This past weekend, an 1863 Union navy raid on Tampa, Florida, Ballast Point, Fort Brooke, and Hillsborough River was celebrated at Hillsborough County's Veterans Memorial Park.
On October 18, 1863, a Union raiding party landed while the USS Tahoma and USS Adela fired at Confederate Fort Brooke and Tampa. They marched along the Hillsborough River to what today is Lowry Park where they burned the Scottish Chieftain and Kate Dale, two Confederate blockade-runners. They were owned by future Tampa mayor James McKay.
Confederate forces pursued the landing party and a battle took place at Ballast Point. There were 18 Union casualties and a total of 13 for the Confederates.
Never Heard of the Battle of Ballast Point. --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
