Tampa's Egmont Key

Egmont Key is an island off the entrance to Tampa Bay, Florida.

A new lighthouse was constructed in 1858 to replace the one completed in 1848 that was immediately put out of commission by the Great Hurricane of 1848 and another one in 1852. The new tower was 87 feet high with an Argard kerosene lamp and Fixed Frensel lens.

Confederate troops occupied Egmont Keyat the beginning of the Civil War, but took the lens with them when they were forced to leave the island.

The Union Navy used Egmont Key as a base for their Gulf Coast Blockade. Union troops raided Tampa at one time in a futile search for the lens.

And, I'd Never Heard of It. --Old B-Runner

Tampa's Fort Brooke

Last week, I was writing about Tapa's Oaklawn Cemetery being shelled by the USS Sagamore while it was attacking Fort Brooke, which also played a role when Tampa was attacked by a naval expedition Oct-16-18, 1863 and a landing party caused three blockade-runners: the Scottish Chief, Kate Dale and A. B. Noyes to be destroyed. I wrote about this in three entries from October 20-25, 2008. The Union ships were te USS Adela and USS Tahoma.

In this battle, the bloc

Fort Brooke was located on the east bank of the Hillsborough River at its mouth on Tampa Bay. It is no longer there, being the present location of the Tampa Convention Center. The cemetery of the fort was relocated to Oaklawn.

In 1823, Colonels George Mercer Brooke and James Gasden were ordered to establish a military presence in the new Florida Territory and started a wood log fort at the site in 1824.

Besides the engagement with the Sagamore and the 1863 battle, the fort and town of Tampa was captured by Union forces May 6, 1864.

A Little-Known Part of the Civil War. --Old B-Runner

Tampa's Oaklawn Cemetery

HMdb also mentions some other markers in the cemetery that are of interest.

One is for the Confederate States Soldiers and sailors that are interred there.

Another is for the 102 unknown soldiers and settlers relocated there from the old US Army cemetery at Fort Brooke March 24, 1981. This probably would have been before construction of the Tampa Convention Center which was built on the fort's site.

Another marker is on the spot where victims of the 1853, 1858, 1867, 1871 and 1887-1888 Yellow Fever Epidemics are buried.

Tampa was just a struggling community of about 500 when the cemetery was established in 1850. It was designated as a public burial ground for whites, blacks, slaves, rich and poor.

The first markers erected were wooden and decayed so that now, many bodies are unmarked. This is why there are so many mass burials of unmarked people.

Not Just Any Cemetery. --Old B-Runner

USS Sagamore Shells a Florida Cemetery

The HMdb, Historical Marker Data Base, recently had an account of a cemetery in Tampa in which a shell from the USS Sagamore landed during a bombardment of the city June 30-July 1, 1862.

An 8-inch shell landed in Oaklawn Cemetery, founded 1850, and a marker is in it today to commemorate the event. Tampa was just a very small town during the Civil War and several small skirmishes, usually of a naval nature, took place.

On July 2, 1862, the Confederate commander of Fort Brooke, John W. Pearson, wrote of the USS Sagamore's attempt to reoccupy Tampa. One of the shells landed in the cemetery, which he noted a being quite a bit north of the fort.

There was mention in the article that Pearson might have moved some of his supplies to a nearby area.

There was no mention as to whether the shell was recovered, but I imagine it was.

Just a Little Bit of Minor History. --Old B-Runner

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

Bigger is Better?

Well, if it really burns them at one size, get a bigger one and really roast them.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans camp in Tampa is replacing the old 30 by 50 foot Confederate battle flag with an even bigger one, this one measuring 30 by 60.

Plans are to cut the old flag into pieces to sell to raise money for the memorial park surrounding the pole. Construction of the 1.9 acre park is expected to be finished in six weeks.

As usual, there were lots of comments in the Tampa Bay Online site. Almost more interesting than the story.

But as the author of the Civil War Memory blog points out, if these guys are just showing respect to the flag, why are they cutting it up?

A Good Question. --Old B-Runner

Hillsborough River Raid Commemorated

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

Confederate Boat Found-- Maybe

The May 19th Tampa tribune reports that at low tide in the Hillsborough River near Lowry Park, wooden beams are evident in what at first looks like an old dock, but it is the remains of an 80-100 foot ship.

Archaeologists are taking measurements and checking records. It fits what is expected to be a 19th century sloop.

During the Civil War, Union troops attacked and burned three blockade-runners in the Tampa area.

In 2007, divers from the Florida Aquarium discovered the wreck of the USS Narcissus which sank off Egmont Key after a boiler explosion June 3, 1866. It was an 82 foot Union tugboat that fought during the Civil War and was on her way to decommissioning. Twenty-nine crew members dies and were never found. It took part in the Battle of Mobile Bay.

The Hillsborough River ship might be recreated in diagrams or rebuilt as a full-scale replica. There are no plans to excavate or raise it, however.

Interesting Story. --B-R

Running the Blockade: Daughters of Union Veterans Meet-- Lawsuit Dropped-- Giant Confederate Flag

Some New News About an Old War.


1. DAUGHTERS OF UNION VETERANS MEET-- The May 31st Norman (Ok) Transcript reported that the Oklahoma Department of the National Society Daughters of the Civil War, 1861-1865, met in OKC on the 24th of May for their 83rd convention. I'd never heard of them and looked them up. After some difficulty, it turned out to be the Daughters of Union Veterans.

Good to see that organization still active. They formed on the national level in 1885 with five members. I couldn't find out how many are now members.

The Department's president's project is Quilts of Valor.


2. LAWSUIT DROPPED-- Moral to this story is to pay off your debts before big-time interest kicks in. I reported on this earlier, see March 20th.

Joan Kennedy Biddle dropped her $22 million suit vs. the City of Tampa for a Civil War debt owed her great grandfather dated June 28, 1861. He operated Tampa's biggest store and items were taken for the defense of the city.

The original note was for $299.58, but Ms. Biddle figured interest on it at 8% a year, hence the $22,718,400 sums. I wonder if there were any cents here.

Not only will she drop it, but will also pay Tampa $4,000 in legal fees and turn over the promissory note. (From May 31st Tampa Bay Online)


3. GIANT CONFEDERATE FLAG-- Also, from Tampa, we go from old debts to giant flags. The local SCV group plans on having a huge 50' by 30' Confederate flag flying on private property near the intersection of interstates 4 and 75. They have the permits, but still need to raise $30,000. Wonder whose feathers this WILL ruffle?

Save Your Confederate Money, It Might Be Worth $22 Million Smackeroos. --Old B-R

Tampa Sued for Non-Payment of Civil War Debt

The March 19th Tampa Tribune ran an article of interest saying that the city was being sued for an 1861 promissory note it wrote to the Kennedy and Darling Store for $299,58. At an 8% interest rate, that note now comes to more than $22 million!!!!

This would have been a debt incurred by the Confederate government of the city.

A descendant, Joan Kennedy Biddle, of the 19th century Tampa business, the biggest at the time in South Florida and in the town of 850, has retained a lawyer and plans on taking it to court. It was for implements and ammunition to defend the city.

The city does not feel obligated to pay it, however. According to the 14th Amendment, which came about because of the Civil War, any debt incurred because of an insurrection is eliminated.

There were quite a few comments and well worth reading. A couple of interest were as follows:

drdneast said, "Well if the city can find $22 million in CONFEDERATE currency, I suggest they pay her. File this under 'bad bet' and move on. By the way counselor, the south lost."

shinker said, "WHAT, THE SOUTH DIDN'T WIN? We suck!"

Good Money if You Can Get It!! --Old B-R'er