Blockade-Runner Discovered in Florida-- Part 2

Continued from December 24th.

Finally, on September 19, 1863, the Union vessels were able to approach the port, they found the steamer and an onshore cotton warehouse ablaze, set by retreating Confederates. Better to destroy the vessel than turn it over to Union forces.

The steamer was described as being over 200 feet long and apparently English-made.

What the Union lost that day has turned into a major find for today's archaeologists.

Amateur diver and archaeologist Matt Mattson found the wreck in 1991, but was unable to determine if it was the steamer from 1863.

Nicole Tumbleson, outreach coordinator for the Florida Public Archaeological Network, returned to the site earlier this year to document and map Civil War-era artifacts in the Bayport area. Using a metal detector, a 70 foot long debris field was found.

Besides the pipe, "pieces of machinery, iron hull plates, charred wood, ceramic fragments of a sink and brass hinges that might have allowed the sink to be folded against the steamer's bulkhead when not in use."

Marine archaeologist Billy Morris says they are about 83% sure this is the vessel they were looking for. Unfortunately, the name of the ship is lost to history.

They are being vague about its location to prevent looting, but they were "so close to the pier that fishermen were practically looking over their shoulders" complete secrecy is impossible.

Another Piece of the Past Found. --Old B-Runner

Blockade-Runner Discovered in Florida-- Part 1

The November 21st tampabay.com had an article by Dan DeWitt "Florida archaeological divers believe they've found Civil War-era steamer off Bayport."

Divers found something old and metallic. Then another found a piece of steam pipe, meaning that this was a steel-hulled steamer, one that they had been looking for. That pipe was about nine inches in diameter, about what you'd find in a side-wheeler steamship.

As Union Naval forces successfully sealed off the major Confederate ports, blockade-running turned more and more to backwater harbors such as Bayport. Every so often these harbors would be raided like the fight that took place off Bayport in April 1863. Five months later, another attack was led on Bayport by Union Lt.-Commander A. A. Semmes, a cousin to Confederate Admiral Raphael Semmes.

They lingered off Bayport for a week, hoping for a tide high enough to allow a steamer they had seen to leave or for them to cross and attack.

To Be Continued. --Old B-Runner

Civil War in Bayport, Florida-- Part 2

According to Wikipedia, Bayport has a population of 36 at the mouth of the Weekiwachee River, by Tampa. It started in the 1850s as a cotton and supply port. By 1863, the larger ports on Florida's Gulf coast had been closed and small rivers like the Weekiwachee became important trade routes and drew Union attention.

Eleven blockade runners were captured here between 1862 and 1865 and several skirmishes between Union and Confederate forces took place.

A Confederate battery can still be seen at the point north of Bayport's fishing pier at the mouth of the river.

Civil War in Bayport, Florida

Back on April 16th, I wrote about the Battle of Bayport, Florida, and am finally getting around to a follow-up.

Union Admiral Theodorus Bailey wrote from Key West on March 24, 1863, that blockade runners were all over the area by Bayport and ordered ships there. On April 3rd, they captured and burned the Helen with a load of corn. They went after another large schooner in port, but were stopped by a two gun battery and riflemen. The Union ships drove them off and the Confederates set the ship on fire and some smaller vessels got away.

In September, 1863, Lt-Cmdr A.A. Semmes a group to Bayport, causing Confederates to burn a British blockade runner and a cotton warehouse. Another British schooner was captured there in October that was bound for Havana with 26,000 pounds of cotton and $1,200 in gold and money. This provided a nice slice of prize money for the Union sailors.

Three other vessels also surrendered to the Union forces.

So, as you can see, Bayport was a hotbed of activity.

Never Heard of This Action. --Old B-Runner

The Civil War in Bayport, Florida

An article from the March 27th St. Petersburg Times by Dan DeWitt.

From 1863 to 1865 there were at least five clashes between Union blockaders and blockade-runners in or near Bayport, Florida. Three blockade-runners were burned. A clash in April 1863 left one Confederate soldier killed and at least three wounded.

Not much was known about these actions until now.

Brooksville Mayor and former teacher John Tucker and the Hernando Post history group have been researching it and are planning to erect a marker for it.

As the war continued and more and more Confederate ports on the Gulf of Mexico were captured or effectively closed, Bayport's importance rose substantially.

A few weekends ago, the group hosted a Bayport Underwater Day where they informed the public about the town's role in the war.

More to Come. --B-Runner