77-470: Lake Weir is a fresh-water lake located in southern Marion County, Florida . Due to its large size and proximity, it is sometimes included with the Harris chain of lakes to the southeast, but is not directly hydrologically connected to them. It is connected to the west via a vegetation-filled canal to Little Lake Weir. The lake was named for Nathaniel A. Ware, a state land official of the frontier period, but
154-435: A destruction of that destroys all that is property. This party, now soon to take possession of the powers of government, is sectional, irresponsible to us, and, driven on by an infuriated, fanatical madness that defies all opposition, must inevitably destroy every vestige of right growing out of property in slaves.” The delegates adopted a new state constitution and within a month the state joined other southern states to form
231-722: A household in the county was $ 31,944, and the median income for a family was $ 37,473. Males had a median income of $ 28,836 versus $ 21,855 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 17,848. About 9.20% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line , including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over. The county is governed by the Marion County Board of County Commissioners. The five-person board currently consists of Craig Curry, Kathy Bryant, Matt McClain, Carl Zalak and Michelle Stone. [1] The Florida Department of Corrections operates facilities in unincorporated areas in
308-534: A misspelling of his name was recorded. It supports much wildlife including fish, birds, and alligators. In the 16th and 17th centuries, it was part of the territory of the town and province of the Acuera , a Timucuan -speaking indigenous tribe. This article about a location in Marion County , Florida is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Marion County, Florida Marion County
385-531: A pick-up point for rebel deserters and pro-Union Floridians. The majority of enslaved people, much like the majority of the white population, resided in North Florida during the war, while Southern Florida, aside from Key West, remained a largely "undeveloped frontier." Confederate authorities used enslaved people as teamsters to transport supplies and as laborers in salt works and fisheries. Many enslaved people working in these coastal industries escaped to
462-606: A portion of Florida as designated territory for runaway and freed former enslaved people who had accompanied his command during its March to the Sea . These controversial orders were not enforced in Florida, and were later revoked by President Andrew Johnson . On February 14, 1861, the state legislature authorized Chapter 1097 of the Laws of Florida, which allowed for the issuing of banknotes. However, due to legal and logistical challenges,
539-516: A statewide election, and met in Tallahassee on January 3, 1861. Virginia planter and firebrand Edmund Ruffin came to the convention to advocate for secession. Fifty-one of the 69 convention members held slaves in 1860. Just seven of the delegates were born in Florida. Florida gave its reasons for leaving the Union in its Declaration of Causes for Seceding. "Each complaint related to slavery:
616-409: A swath of fertile farmland stretching across the northern panhandle approximately centered on the state capital at Tallahassee . Southern Democrats walked out of the 1860 Democratic National Convention , and later nominated U.S. Vice President John C. Breckinridge to run for their party. While Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 U.S. presidential election , Breckinridge won in Florida. Within days of
693-596: Is "Kingdom of the Sun." Marion County was a hotbed of secessionist activity. Organizers petitioned the state to host the Florida Secession Convention and break away from the United States with other Southern states. The area had many plantations and more than half of the population was enslaved African Americans . Several Confederate Army units were organized by plantation owners, including
770-604: Is a county located in the North Central region of the U.S. state of Florida . As of the 2020 census , the population was 375,908. Its county seat is Ocala . Marion County comprises the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . It includes part of Ocala National Forest , which also extends into three other counties. Evidence of ancient indigenous cultures has been found in Marion County, as well as of
847-410: Is about a two-hour drive from Marion County to many of Florida's major cities; Orlando is 75 minutes to the southeast, while Daytona Beach is about 90 minutes to the east. Tampa is about 75 minutes to the southwest, Jacksonville is roughly a two-hour drive northeast, and Miami is about six hours to the southeast. There are several significant lakes within or bordering Marion County. Orange Lake
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#1732780121135924-417: Is in the far northern part of Marion County, near the border with Alachua County . Lake Kerr is in the northeastern part of the county, near the town of Salt Springs , which is near the border with Putnam County . Lake Weir , the largest of the three, is in the far southern region, near the border with Lake County . Part of Lake George is also in Marion County. Marion County is inland, centered between
1001-584: Is named after General Francis Marion of South Carolina , a guerrilla fighter and hero of the American Revolutionary War who was known as the "Swamp Fox". Numerous early settlers of this area were natives of South Carolina and likely picked their local hero as the county's namesake. The Act creating the county of Marion of the Territory of Florida was signed on March 14, 1844, by the territorial governor, R. K. Call . The county motto
1078-562: Is supervised under the Marion County School District . The Marion County Public Library System operates eight branch libraries. CSX operates one rail line within the county. Amtrak formerly provided passenger rail service to Ocala Union Station , but the stop was terminated in late 2004. The line is a former Seaboard Airline Railroad line known as the Wildwood Subdivision , and is part of
1155-730: The 1st Florida Infantry , commanded by convention delegate James Patton Anderson, tried to take the fort at the Battle of Santa Rosa Island . They were unsuccessful, and Harvey Brown planned a counter. On November 22, all Union guns at Fort Pickens and two ships, the Niagara and Richmond , targeted Fort McRee. On January 1, there was an artillery duel in Pensacola. Twenty-eight gunboats commanded by Commodore Samuel Dupont occupied Fort Clinch at Fernandina Beach in March 1862. On March 11,
1232-787: The American Civil War as a member of the Confederate States of America . It had been admitted to the United States as a slave state in 1845. In January 1861, Florida became the third Southern state to secede from the Union after the November 1860 presidential election victory of Abraham Lincoln . It was one of the initial seven slave states which formed the Confederacy on February 8, 1861, in advance of
1309-531: The Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the west. Because of this, the area is generally not affected as much by hurricanes as the more coastal counties to its east and west. The largest threats from natural disasters are high winds and flooding; tornadoes are also of concern. As of the 2020 United States census , there were 375,908 people, 145,863 households, and 94,676 families residing in
1386-487: The Confederate States of America . Florida's Senator Mallory was selected to be Secretary of the Navy in the first Confederate cabinet under president Jefferson Davis . The convention had further meetings in 1861 and into 1862. There was a Unionist minority in the state, an element that grew as the war progressed. In a message to the state legislature on November 27, 1860, Governor Perry requested $ 100,000 in funding for
1463-521: The Confederate army , Union forces operated a blockade around the entire state. The 8,436-mile coastline and 11,000 miles of rivers, streams, and waterways proved a haven for blockade runners and a daunting task for patrols by Federal warships. The Confederates attempted to use the close proximity of Florida with Cuba to continue trade with Spain and the rest of Europe in spite of the blockade. The rebel government wished to develop relationships with
1540-699: The Eastern Theater in Robert E. Lee 's Army of Northern Virginia . They fought at Second Manassas , Antietam , Fredericksburg , Chancellorsville and Gettysburg . The 2nd Florida Infantry was first commanded by convention delegate G. T. Ward. He participated in the Yorktown siege , and died after being shot at the Battle of Williamsburg , the first battle of the Peninsula Campaign . Richard K. Call's son-in-law Theodore W. Brevard Jr.
1617-583: The Fall of Vicksburg . This pivotal event effectively divided the Confederacy at the Mississippi River, making it impractical for the eastern armies to receive essential supplies from the western regions. As a result, Florida's role as a provider of food became even more significant in sustaining the Confederate forces in the eastern theater of the war. As Florida was an important supply route for
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#17327801211351694-893: The Marion Rifle Guards , organized May 2, 1861, by Captain W.L. Fletcher, county treasurer. It served as part of the Fourth Florida Infantry under Col. Edward Hopkins. Other company's included the Hammock Guards , commanded by Captain J.S. Hopkins; Marion Dragoons , a cavalry unit organized and financed by William A. Owens, Marion Hornets , commanded by Captain Wade Eichelberger , and the Marion Light Artillery , commanded at one time by John Marshall Martin . The Civil War and its aftermath disrupted local society and strained
1771-695: The Triple Crown . Today, Marion County is a major world thoroughbred center with more than 1200 horse farms. There are about 900 thoroughbred farms, totaling some 77,000 acres (310 km ). Ocala is well known as a "horse capital of the world." The nearby community of Silver Springs developed around the Silver Springs , a group of artesian springs on the Silver River . In the 19th century, this site became Florida's first tourist destination. Today, well known for glass-bottom boat tours of
1848-471: The U.S. Census Bureau , Marion is the fifth largest county in the state, with a total area of 4,310 km (1,660 sq mi), of which 3,962 km (1,530 sq mi) is land and 195 km (75 sq mi) (4.7%) is water. Marion County is generally composed of rolling hills, much like most of the rest of Florida. The highest elevation is about 60 meters (200 feet). The majority of its trees consist of live oaks, pines, and palm trees. It
1925-482: The 1820s, Marion County was created in 1844 from portions of Alachua , Mosquito ( Orange ), and Hillsborough counties. Until 1853, Marion County included most of what are now Lake and Sumter counties. In 1849, Putnam County was created and took the northeast portion of Marion. Levy County's creation took some of the western portion of Marion in 1877, near the end of the Reconstruction era. Marion County
2002-569: The American Civil War. Florida had by far the smallest population of the Confederate states with about 140,000 residents, nearly half of them enslaved people. As such, Florida sent around 15,000 troops to the Confederate army, the vast majority of which were deployed elsewhere during the war. The state's chief importance was as a source of cattle and other food supplies for the Confederacy, and as an entry and exit location for blockade-runners who used its many bays and small inlets to evade
2079-516: The CCA site, which also predated Clovis points, which she reported in a 2008 paper. The county seat of Ocala, Florida , is named for a Timucuan village visited and recorded by the Spanish Hernando de Soto expedition in the sixteenth century. During the colonial period, Spain and Great Britain traded control of this area. After acquisition of the Florida territory by the United States in
2156-807: The CSX-S Line. Nearby that line within Ocala is a former line owned by the Florida Northern Railroad , which was previously owned by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad . It begins in Candler running northwest along Marion County Road 464 towards Ocala Union Station then continues northwest along Marion County 25A to Lowell . Another FNOR rail line includes a freight line to the Crystal River Energy Complex in northern Citrus County, which
2233-551: The Confederacy, while others, like Halleck Tustenuggee and Sonuk Mikko (Billy Bowlegs), fought for the Union. Governor Milton also worked to strengthen the state militia and to improve fortifications and key defensive positions. Confederate forces moved quickly to seize control of many of Florida's U.S. Army forts, succeeding in most cases, with the significant exceptions of Fort Jefferson , Fort Pickens and Fort Zachary Taylor , which stayed firmly in Federal control throughout
2310-401: The Confederate supply chain, especially cattle. Reinforced with Union supplies and troops, including members of the 2nd United States Colored Infantry Regiment , the garrison at Fort Myers proved enough of a thorn in the Confederacy's side that a force was deployed to take the fort, resulting in a small engagement dubbed the Battle of Fort Myers . The Confederates retreated after failing to take
2387-647: The Department of War's payroll showed that Fort Zachary Taylor averaged forty-five slave laborers per month. The Confederacy also utilized slave labor and Florida was the first state to pass legislation that authorized the government to impress slaves. Slave owners were compensated $ 25 a month per slave impressed. Beginning in 1862, Union military activity in East and West Florida encouraged enslaved people in plantation areas to flee their owners in search of freedom. Planter fears of uprisings by enslaved people increased as
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2464-497: The Florida wilderness, often attacking Confederate units and looting farms. The war ended in April 1865. By the following month, United States control of Florida had been re-established, slavery had been abolished, and Florida's Confederate governor John Milton had committed suicide by gunshot. Florida was formally readmitted to the United States in 1868. Florida had been a Spanish territory for 300 years before being transferred to
2541-493: The North's disregard for the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act; John Brown’s 1859 failed slave uprising; and William Lloyd Garrison’s The Liberator and Frederick Douglass’ The North Star tried to 'excite insurrection and servile war.'" The final reason was Lincoln's election. On January 5, McQueen McIntosh introduced a series of resolutions defining the purpose of the convention and the constitutionality of secession. John C. McGehee , who
2618-621: The Spanish government in the hopes that they would help the Confederate war effort or, at the least, not hamper it. On the other hand, Spain resisted selling arms and ammunition to the Confederacy in order to remain as neutral as possible. The trade that did continue, the majority of which went through Cuba and Florida, included the exportation of cotton and importation of food, cigars, medical supplies and Spanish army surplus shoes. Union troops occupied major ports such as Apalachicola , Cedar Key , Jacksonville , Key West , and Pensacola early in
2695-490: The Union Navy. At the outbreak of war, the Confederate government seized many United States facilities in the state, though the Union retained control of Key West , Fort Jefferson , and Fort Pickens for the duration of the conflict. The Confederate strategy was to defend the vital farms in the interior of Florida at the expense of coastal areas. As the war progressed and southern resources dwindled, forts and towns along
2772-494: The Union captured St. Augustine and Fort Marion . Before falling into Union hands, many ethnic Minorcans from St. Augustine, as well as other civilians, signed on as volunteers with a militia unit called the St. Augustine Blues . This company would eventually become a part of the 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment . As a result of Florida's limited strategic importance, the 2nd , 5th , and 8th Florida Infantries were sent to serve in
2849-877: The Union. The group with the most sway that opposed secession in Florida was the Constitutional Union Party , which had several supporting newspapers including Tallahassee's Florida Sentinel . The party held its convention in June 1860 and had nominated the editor of the Sentinel , Benjamin F. Allen , for Congress. Despite being against secession, the party was composed mostly of slave-owning planters and conservative democrats. Individuals who opposed secession included Conservative plantation owner and former Seminole War military commander Richard Keith Call , who advocated for restraint and judiciousness. His daughter Ellen Call Long wrote that upon being told of
2926-727: The United States in 1821. The population at the time was quite small, with most residents concentrated in the towns of St. Augustine on the Atlantic coast and Pensacola on the western end of the panhandle . The interior of the Florida Territory was home to the Seminoles and Black Seminoles along with scattered pioneers. Steamboat navigation was well established on the Apalachicola River and St. Johns River and railroads were planned, but transportation through
3003-797: The area, Silver Springs is owned by the State of Florida; it was incorporated into Silver Springs State Park in 2013. Other nearby natural attractions include the Ocala National Forest and the Florida Trail . Several prominent man-made attractions in the Ocala area existed in the past, such as the Western-themed Six Gun Territory theme park (operated from 1963 to 1984) and the Wild Waters water park (operated from 1978 to 2016). According to
3080-587: The area. In mid-May 1864, a delegation of Miccosukee entered Fort Myers and told Union officers there that they had been lied to and treated poorly by the Confederates. The appearance of black soldiers as part of the garrison there helped further convince the Native Americans to work with Federal troops rather than their Confederate counterparts. In January 1865, Union General William T. Sherman issued Special Field Orders No. 15 that set aside
3157-584: The coast were increasingly left undefended, allowing Union forces to occupy them with little or no resistance. Fighting in Florida was largely limited to small skirmishes with the exception of the Battle of Olustee , fought near Lake City in February 1864, when a Confederate army of over 5,000 repelled a Union attempt to disrupt Florida's food-producing region. Wartime conditions made it easier for enslaved people to escape, and many became useful informants to Union commanders. Deserters from both sides took refuge in
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3234-473: The conference included Governor Perry and Governor-elect John Milton . Jackson Morton and George Taliaferro Ward attempted to have the ordinance amended so that Florida would not secede before Georgia and Alabama, but their proposal was voted down. When Ward signed the Ordinance he stated "When I die, I want it inscribed upon my tombstone that I was the last man to give up the ship." On January 10, 1861,
3311-585: The cool and collected courage of veterans." Delegate Andrew J. Lea was captain of the 5th's Company D. Delegates Thompson Bird Lamar and William T. Gregory served with the 5th at Antietam. Lamar was wounded and Gregory was killed. After Antietam, the 2nd, 5th, and 8th were grouped together under Brig. Gen. Edward A. Perry . Perry's Florida Brigade served in Anderson's Division of the First Corps under Lt. Gen. James Longstreet . At Fredericksburg,
3388-766: The county, including the Lowell Correctional Institution , and the Lowell Annex which houses Florida's female death row. Marion County's Sheriff's Office was in the news in August 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida after Sheriff Billy Woods forbade the wearing of masks by deputies unless in high risk areas, such as the hospital. Visitors to the Sheriff's Office are also required to not cover their face. County public education
3465-524: The county. As of the census of 2000, there were 258,916 people, 106,755 households, and 74,621 families residing in the county. The population density was 164 people per square mile (63 people/km ). There were 122,663 dwelling units at an average density of 78 per square mile (30/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 84.16% White , 11.55% Black or African American , 0.45% Native American , 0.70% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 1.69% from other races , and 1.44% from two or more races. 6.03% of
3542-474: The delegates formally adopted the Ordinance of Secession, which declared that the "nation of Florida" had withdrawn from the "American union." Florida was the third state to secede, following South Carolina and Mississippi . By the following month, six states had seceded; These six had the largest population of enslaved people among the Southern states. Secession was declared and a public ceremony held on
3619-550: The earliest encounter between European explorers and historic indigenous peoples. In 1976, an archaeological investigation found ancient artifacts in Marion County that appear to be the oldest in mainland United States. Excavations at an ancient stone quarry (on the Container Corporation of America site (8Mf154) in Marion County) yielded "crude stone implements". Thousands of pieces of chert were found at
3696-461: The east steps of the Florida capitol the following day; an Ordinance of Secession was signed by 69 people. The public in Tallahassee celebrated the announcement of secession with fireworks and a large parade. The secession ordinance of Florida simply declared its severing of ties with the federal Union, without stating any causes. According to historian William C. Davis , "protection of slavery"
3773-536: The economy. The population declined in its wake as many African Americans moved to towns or cities for better opportunities. During the post-Reconstruction period, there was considerable racial violence in Marion County. Locals lynched between 19 and 26 African Americans in the county from the 1880s to 1935. Since the mid-20th century, thoroughbred horse farms have been established in the county. Such thoroughbred farms have become known for such race champions as Needles , bred at Bonnie Heath Farm, and in 1956, becoming
3850-572: The election, a large gathering of Marion County pioneers was held in Ocala to demand secession. Its motions were brought to the attention of the Florida House of Representatives by Rep. Daniel A. Vogt . Although the Compromise of 1850 was unpopular in Florida, the secession movement in 1851 and 1852 did not gain much traction. A series of events in subsequent years exacerbated divisions. By January 1860, talk of conflict had progressed to
3927-768: The first Florida-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby . In 1978 Affirmed from Harbor View Farm won the Triple Crown . Carl G. Rose , who had come to Florida in 1916 from Indiana to oversee construction of the first asphalt road in the state, is credited with developing the first thoroughbred horse farm in 1943. As an engineer, he had become familiar with the area's limestone, which he realized supported good pasture for raising strong horses. (Limestone also nurtures central Kentucky's noted Bluegrass Region .) In 1943, Rose bought land along State Highway 200, at $ 10 per acre, establishing Rosemere Farm. The next year one of his horses, Gornil, won at Miami's Tropical Park , becoming
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#17327801211354004-467: The first Florida-raised thoroughbred to win a Florida race. This raised the profile of Marion County in the racing world. Close on Rose's heels, entrepreneur Bonnie Heath set up his own thoroughbred farm, producing Needles . In 1956 the horse was the state's first native-bred winner of the Kentucky Derby . (see further below). Bonnie Heath Farm is owned and operated by Bonnie Heath III and his wife Kim. In 1978, Marion County-bred-and-raised Affirmed won
4081-594: The fort. Of the state's total population of 140,000, only about 16,000 were white males between the ages of 18–45, or otherwise eligible for military service. Despite this, the state raised some 15,000 troops for the Confederacy, which were organized into twelve regiments of infantry and two of cavalry , as well as several artillery batteries and supporting units. The state's small population, relatively remote location, and meager industry limited its overall strategic importance. Battles in Florida were mostly small skirmishes, as neither army aggressively sought control of
4158-538: The interior remained very difficult and growth was slow. A series of wars to forcibly remove the Seminoles from their lands raged off and on from the 1830s until the 1850s, further slowing development. By 1840, the English-speaking population of Florida outnumbered those of Spanish colonial descent. The overall population had reached 54,477 people, with African slaves making up almost one-half. Florida
4235-402: The notes did not actually start circulating until September and October 1861. At least two specimens, or proofs, were created by Peter Hawes of New Orleans but it was Hoyer & Ludwig of Richmond, an already established security printer for the Confederacy, who ended up with the contract to produce the notes. However, there is also some documentary evidence that a Florida firm, Dyke and Carlisle,
4312-519: The point that Senators Stephen Mallory and David Levy Yulee jointly requested from the War Department a statement of munitions and equipment in Florida forts. Following the election of Lincoln, a special secession convention formally known as the "Convention of the People of Florida" was called by Governor Madison S. Perry to discuss secession from the Union. Delegates were selected in
4389-535: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. According to the 2000 Census the largest European ancestry groups in Marion County were English (18.7%), German (16.7%) and Irish (14.0%). There were 106,755 households, out of which 24.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who
4466-401: The relative safety of Union-controlled enclaves during the war. In particular, many enslaved people fled to Key West because of the relatively large free black population (the 1860 census for Key West lists 2302 white people, 435 enslaved people, and 156 free black people) and the presence of a Union garrison. The Union army utilized slave labor south of the Mason–Dixon line. During 1861 and 1862,
4543-452: The site. These showed signs of extensive wear and were found in deposits below those holding Paleo-Indian artifacts. Thermoluminescence dating and weathering analysis independently gave dates of 26,000 to 28,000 Years Before Present (YBP) for the production of these artifacts, prior to Clovis points . The findings suggested human habitation in this area much earlier than documented by other evidence. Barbara Purdy had bipoint evidence from
4620-489: The state military as well as a new militia law. The legislature approved the funding but did not enact any new militia laws. Perry took the funds to buy arms in South Carolina. Florida sent a three-man delegation to the 1861-62 Provisional Confederate Congress , which first met in Montgomery, Alabama , and then in the new capital of Richmond, Virginia . The delegation consisted of Jackson Morton, James Byeram Owens , and James Patton Anderson , who resigned April 8, 1861, and
4697-523: The state militia in an effort to create a more unified Confederate military organization. Governor John Milton stressed throughout the war the importance of Florida as a supplier of goods, rather than personnel. Florida was a substantial provider of food (particularly beef cattle) for the Confederate Army. However, many Florida planters continued to grow cotton and other cash crops despite pleas from Confederate officials and Governor Milton to grow food crops instead. Another vital resource that Florida provided
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#17327801211354774-436: The state. In 1862, the Florida House of Representatives established a Committee on Indian Affairs in an effort to improve relations with the Seminole and prevent them from fighting on the side of the Union. However, little else was done to help the Seminole and the growing number of Federal troops in the state led the tribe to remain officially neutral throughout the conflict. Despite this, some Seminole did sign on to fight for
4851-484: The vote outcome by its supporters, Call raised his cane above his head and told the delegates who came to his house, "And what have you done? You have opened the gates of hell, from which shall flow the curses of the damned, which shall sink you to perdition." In response, Call, and others against secession, were called names like "submissionists" and "Union Shriekers." Pro-unionists in Florida not only faced public ridicule, some could be attacked and even killed. One example
4928-407: The war went on. Some worked on Union ships and, beginning in 1863, more than a thousand enlisted as soldiers in the United States Colored Troops (USCT) or as sailors in the Union Navy . Companies D and I of the 2nd USCT were moved from their station at Key West to Fort Myers on April 20, 1864. These men would go on to help disrupt the Confederate cattle supply and help free enslaved people in
5005-445: The war. On January 6, 1861, state troops seized the Federal arsenal located in Chattahoochee . On January 10, 1861, the day Florida declared its secession, Union general Adam J. Slemmer destroyed over 20,000 pounds (9,100 kg) of gunpowder at Fort McRee . He then spiked the guns at Fort Barrancas and moved his force to Fort Pickens. Braxton Bragg commanded the Battle of Pensacola . On October 9, Confederates, including
5082-504: The war. USS Hatteras had blockade duty in Apalachicola, and, in January 1862, was part of a Union naval force which landed in Cedar Key and burned several ships, a pier, and flatcars. After the U.S. Navy captured St. Augustine in mid-March 1862, its harbor was closed to all except Northern ships. Gun boats were also sent on patrols up the St. Johns River all the way to Lake George . This riverine blockade force not only prevented Confederate troop and supply movements, it also became
5159-426: Was "the explicit reason" for Florida's secession, as well as for the creation of the Confederacy itself. Supporters of secession included the St. Augustine Examiner . The governors of Georgia and Mississippi sent telegrams affirming support for immediate secession. During the secession convention, president John McGehee stated: "At the South and with our people, of course, slavery is the element of all value, and
5236-458: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.79. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.40% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 23.80% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 24.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males. The median income for
5313-405: Was admitted to the union as the 27th state on March 3, 1845, when it had a population of 66,500, including about 30,000 people held in slavery. By 1861, Florida's population had increased to about 140,000, of which about 63,000 were enslaved persons. Their forced labor accounted for 85 percent of the state's cotton production, with most large slave-holding plantations concentrated in middle Florida,
5390-403: Was captain of the 2nd's Company D, the "Leon Rifles" at Yorktown and Williamsburg, leaving shortly after. Francis P. Fleming was a private in the 2nd. Convention delegate Thomas M. Palmer was the 2nd's surgeon. Roger A. Pryor commanded the 2nd during the Seven Days Battles . After Second Manassas, Pryor wrote “The Second, Fifth and Eighth (Florida) Regiments, though never under fire, exhibited
5467-491: Was home to William Strickland and his band of deserters and Unionists called "The Royal Rangers." In 1864, a Confederate colonel tasked with hunting down deserters, broke into Strickland's home and found a membership list of 35 men who "bear true allegiance to the United States of America." Despite their names being identified and homes burned to the ground, few members of the Royal Rangers surrendered. Another effective band of deserters operated out of Fort Myers . They harassed
5544-995: Was indirectly involved in producing the notes. From 1861 to 1862, the originally authorized $ 500,000 was issued. In 1863, an additional $ 340,000 in 1861-dated notes were issued, supposedly to aid soldiers families. The notes were issued in, at least, the following denominations: $ 1, $ 2, $ 3, $ 5, $ 10, $ 20 $ 50, $ 100. Growing public dissatisfaction with Confederate conscription and impressment policies encouraged desertion by Confederate soldiers. Several Florida counties became havens for Florida deserters, as well as deserters from other Confederate states. Deserter bands attacked Confederate patrols, launched raids on plantations, confiscated slaves, stole cattle, and provided intelligence to Union army units and naval blockaders. Although most deserters formed their own raiding bands or simply tried to remain free from Confederate authorities, other deserters and Unionist Floridians, joined regular Federal units for military service in Florida. For example, Taylor County
5621-444: Was involved in drafting Florida's original constitution and became a judge, was elected the convention president. Leonidas W. Spratt of South Carolina gave an impassioned speech for secession. Edward Bullock of Alabama also spoke to conventioneers. William S. Harris was the convention's secretary. On January 7, the vote was overwhelmingly in favor of immediate secession, delegates voting sixty-two to seven to withdraw Florida from
5698-502: Was previously owned by the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad . It runs primarily along US 41 between the Citrus and Levy County Lines. Other lines that used to run through Marion County were either converted into rail trails or abandoned. Local bus service is provided by SunTran . 29°13′N 82°04′W / 29.21°N 82.06°W / 29.21; -82.06 Florida Secession Convention Florida participated in
5775-413: Was replaced by G. T. Ward . Ward served from May 1861 until February 1862, when he resigned and was replaced by John Pease Sanderson . In June 1861, the Confederate government split Florida up into military districts led by Confederate commanders who were given the power to requisition soldiers from the governor, more specifically from the state's militia. By March 1862, the state convention had abolished
5852-508: Was salt. The state's long coastline made it ideal for salt production. Numerous saltworks were established on both coasts but most were located on the Gulf from Tampa Bay up through the Panhandle. Recognizing the importance of Florida salt, in 1862 the U.S. Navy began raiding operations against saltworks in the state. Florida's food supply became even more crucial for the Confederacy following
5929-404: Was the case of William Hollingsworth who was shot at and seriously wounded by a group of secessionists who called themselves regulators. A formal Ordinance of Secession was introduced for debate on January 8. The primary topic of debate was whether Florida should immediately secede or wait until other southern states such as Alabama officially chose to secede. Outspoken supporters of secession at
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