The Civil War Interactive Blog runs a section called This Day in the Civil War. For December 2nd, they had an account on an attack on a Confederate saltworks on the Florida coast.
It took place on December 2, 1863, which was on a Wednesday.
Ships on the East Gulf Blockading Squadron were charged with being on the lookout for smugglers, blockade-runners and saltworks.
A regular industry started up along the coasts of the Southern states during the conflict to provide the much needed supplies of salt.
Seawater was scooped up into kettles where the water was boiled until it evaporated, leaving the salt behind. Other times, shallow pans were filled and sunlight evaporated the water.
The USS Restless, Acting Master William R. Browne, came upon a rather large saltworks at Lake Ocala, Florida, producing 130 bushels of salt a day. Browne ordered the boilers destroyed along with two flatboats and six ox carts. All the salt was returned to the sea and 17 prisoners taken.
Want Some Salt with that Steak? --Old B-Runner
The Battle of Fort Fisher, N.C.
