NOVEMBER 1861-1865

november 1

NOVEMBER 1, 1861 - Brigadier General J. H. Trapier assumed command of Confederate forces in Florida. General Trapier informed Governor Milton that he anticipated a force of 7,000 men would be needed to defend Florida.

NOVEMBER 1, 1862 - Eighteen Union ships took up station off the Gulf Coast of Florida to interdict and disrupt the activities of Confederate blockade-runners.

NOVEMBER 1, 1863 - Union Admiral Bailey, commander of the East Gulf Blackading Squadron, reported that his naval task force now constituted 33 ships on blockade duty.

NOVEMBER 1, 1863 - Major Pleasant W. White, Chief Confederate Commissary Officer in Florida, appealed to the citizens of the state to contribute “food and other supplies” to the Confederate cause. (The Pleasant W. White Papers are housed in the Tebeau Collection of the Library of Florida History in Cocoa.)

NOVEMBER 1, 1863 - The beginning of November 1863 saw the following Florida units on duty with the Confederate Army of Tennessee that was engaged in siege operations around Chattanooga:

Florida Marion Artillery, Florida 1st Cavalry Regiment , Florida 1st (Reorganized) Infantry Regiment , Florida 3rd Infantry Regiment , Florida 4th Infantry Regiment , Florida 6th Infantry Regiment , Florida 7th Infantry regiment

november 2

NOVEMBER 2, 1861 -  Captain G. W. Parkhill, an ardent opponent of secession, accepted an appointment today in the Army of Northern Virginia.

november 3

NOVEMBER 3, 1862 -  Floridians were appalled by the news that a Federal regiment of Negro troops had landed in Fernandina to replace white troops stationed on Amelia Island.

NOVEMBER 3, 1863 - The U.S.S. Tioga was ordered to duty as part of the Union blockading squadron in the Gulf of Mexico.

november 4

NOVEMBER 4, 1862 - Captain Alfred T. Snell and the crew of the U.S.S. Hale today captured the pilot boat Wave and an unnamed schooner in Nassau Sound, Fl.

NOVEMBER 5, 1863 - The U.S.S. Beauregard today seized the British schooner Volante off Cape Canaveral. The  Volante was carrying a cargo of salt and dry goods.

november 6

NOVEMBER 6, 1861 - Colonel Richard F. Floyd, commander of Florida troops at Aplachicola, was ordered by Governor John Milton to remove all guns, troops, supplies, munitions and other war materiel from St. Vincent’s Island to the mainland.

NOVEMBER 6, 1862 - The Confederate schooner, Elia Reed, carrying a cargo of cotton, turpentine, and resin, was captured today off the coast of Florida by the U.S.S. Octorara.

NOVEMBER 6, 1864 - Boats from the U.S.S. Adela today captured the Confederate schooner, Badger, as it attempted to run the Union blockade of St. George’s Sound.

november 7

NOVEMBER 7, 1861 - Governor and Mrs. John Milton announced the birth of a son today. In keeping with the Milton’s commitment to Southern independence, the boy was named “Jefferson Davis Milton.”

NOVEMBER 7, 1863 - The U.S.S. Annie today captured the British schooner, Paul, today near Bayport. The Paul was carrying an assorted cargo.

NOVEMBER 7, 1864 - The U.S.S. Ottawa, on duty in the St. John’s River, was ordered to assist Union troops evacuating Magnolia.

november 8

NOVEMBER 8, 1862 - Union General Nathaniel P. Banks was appointed to command the Federal Department of the Gulf, which includes West Florida.

november 9

november 10

NOVEMBER 10, 1862 - The Union bark, Gemsbok, arrived today at Turtle Bay with orders to “protect the coast schooners.” The Federal schooner, Jos. M. Houston, was at anchor in Turtle Harbor with a cargo of 300 tons of coal.

NOVEMBER 10, 1863 - A public meeting was held today in Tallahassee for the purpose of securing food and other supplies for the families of Confederate soldiers.

november 11

NOVEMBER 11, 1861 - Thomas E. Will, the pioneer developer of the Everglades and South Florida, was born today in Illinois.

NOVEMBER 11, 1861 - It was reported that the Union navy now had nine ships blockading the Gulf Coast off the mouth of the Apalachicola River.

NOVEMBER 11, 1862 - The U.S.S. Kensington has captured the Confederate schooner, Course, off the coast of Florida today.

november 12

NOVEMBER 12, 1862 - The British blockade runner, Maria, was seized today by the U.S.S. Kensington off the coast of Florida.

NOVEMBER 12, 1864 - A Union raiding party, composed of sailors form the U.S.S. Hendrick Hudson and the U.S.S. Nita, attempted to destroy salt works near Tampa Bay today, but were driven off by Confederate cavalry. Union losses were one wounded and five deserted.

november 13

NOVEMBER 13, 1862 - Negro troops of the Union army stationed at Fernandina were reported to be cruising along the east coast of Florida looking for and destroying salt works.

november 14

NOVEMBER 14, 1861 - Governor John Milton sent an urgent request to the Confederate War Department seeking the transfer of military supplies brought into Savannah by the blockade runner, Fingal.

NOVEMBER 14, 1862 - A Federal expedition from Pensacola, which included five boats, a special work gang, and sixty U.S. marines, was headed along the coast to St. Andrews Bay with orders to destroy all salt works located between the two ports.

NOVEMBER 14, 1863 - It was reported today that Confederate ships had captured two Union coal schooners near Perdido Bay today. One was destroyed by fire.

november 15

november 16

NOVEMBER 16, 1862 - The U.S.S. Tioga, on duty with the Gulf Blockading Squadron, was enroute to Key West for supplies and repairs.

NOVEMBER 16, 1863 - Colonel J. J. Finley was promoted to brigadier general today and assigned the command of the 6th Florida Infantry Regiment, which was attached to the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

NOVEMBER 16, 1863 - The Rachel Seaman was assigned to duty with the Union East Gulf Blockading Squadron.

NOVEMBER 16, 1864 - An expedition of the Union army left Fort Barrancas (Pensacola) today for an incursion to Pine Barren Ridge, Florida.

november 17

NOVEMBER 17, 1862 - The Florida Legislature convened in Tallahassee today. Observers reported that the new Legislature was more “moderate” than the one that preceded it.

november 18

NOVEMBER 18, 1862 - The Union gunboat Tioga arrived in Key West today, refueled and resupplied and put back to sea for blockade duty--all within 12 hours!

NOVEMBER 18, 1863 - The Florida Legislature today elected Benjamin J. Allen to serve as the state’s Secretary of State. It also elected James M. Baker as the Confederate Senator from Florida.

november 19

NOVEMBER 19, 1861 - Governor John Milton requested 1,000 Enfield rifles and two rifled cannon for the defense of St. Marks and Apalachicola. In addition, the governor requested 1,000 sabers, 1,000 cavalry pistols and “a few hundred bags of buckshot.”

november 20

NOVEMBER 20, 1861 - Floridians learned that 27 members of the crew of the Confederate schooner, Beauregard, were lodged in the Monroe County jail in Key West following the capture on their vessel by the Unions ship, William G. Anderson, on November 12.

NOVEMBER 20, 1862 - The U.S.S. Montgomery captured the Confederate sloop William E. Chester near Pensacola Bay today.

november 21

NOVEMBER 21, 1863 - Confederate forces readied themselves for an attack on the Union forces at Pensacola, which were under the command of General Alexander Asboth.

NOVEMBER 21, 1864 - The Florida Legislature, in a joint resolution, commended the action of Captain J. J. Dickison, and recommended him for promotion.

NOVEMBER 21, 1864 - The Florida Legislature began its 13th session in Tallahassee today. The State Treasurer reported that there was $1,106,622.07 treasury notes in circulation and that the State had an outstanding bond debt of $370,617.

november 22

NOVEMBER 22, 1861 - Federal batteries at Fort Pickens opened a barrage against two Confederate ships at anchor near the Navy wharf in Pensacola. Confederate batteries returned the fire. Two Federal ships, the Richmond and the Niagara, joined in. The Confederate Fort McRee sustained heavy damage in the eight-hour artillery duel.

november 23

NOVEMBER 23, 1863 - The Battle of Chattanooga started today and continued through the 25th. Florida units, attached to the Army of Tennessee commanded by General Braxton E. Bragg, were the:

Florida Marion Artillery, Florida First Cavalry Regiment , Florida 1st (Reorganized) Infantry Regiment , Florida 3rd Infantry regiment , Florida 4th Infantry Regiment, Florida 6th Infantry Regiment , Florida 7th Infantry Regiment

The 1st, 3rd and 6th Regiments were in the main Confederate force of Missionary Ridge, while the 4th and 7th Infantry Regiments and the 1st Florida Cavalry were on picket duty in the Chattanooga Valley.

NOVEMBER 23, 1863 - The Confederate War Department reported that of the 18,843 certificates of exemption from military service issued throughout the Confederacy, Governor John Milton had granted only 109.

november 24

november 25

NOVEMBER 25, 1862 - Floridians had a real inkling of the effect the war would have on the home scene. The Tallahassee Sentinel newspaper reported that a Mr. George H. McGinniss had three large heavy kettles that he was willing to sell at “war prices.”

NOVEMBER 25, 1863 - Florida units took heavy casualties in the Battle of Chattanooga. The 4th Florida Infantry, which entered the battle with 172 men, reportedly lost 154 killed, wounded or missing. The Florida 1st Cavalry (Dismounted) had 200 men listed ready for duty when the battle started and preliminary reported indicated that 167 men were killed wounded or missing. Florida’s other units, notably the 1st, 3rd and 6th Infantry regiment were among the last to vacate the Confederate battle lines and fall back to the Army of Tennessee winter quarters at Dalton, Georgia.

november 26

NOVEMBER 26, 1862 - The Federal ship, U.S.S. National Guard, was ordered to sail to Turtle Harbor, Florida, with a cargo of coal to replenish the supplies of the West Indies Blockading Squadron.

NOVEMBER 26, 1864 - The Florida Legislature approved a special election for sheriff in Duval County. The need for this election was because the previous sheriff, elected in 1863, was captured and imprisoned by Federal troops.

november 27

NOVEMBER 27, 1861 - Confederate ordinance inspectors visited the fortifications at Amelia Island and reported that the island had sufficient armaments to repel any Union invasion.

NOVEMBER 27, 1863 - The Union vessel, U.S.S. Two Sisters, captured the British blockade runner, Maria Alberta, as she attempted to run the blockade at Bayport.

NOVEMBER 27, 1864 - Union blockade ships were busy today. The U.S.S. Princess Royal reported that it had captured the British schooner Flash with a cargo of cotton in the Gulf of Mexico. The U.S.S. Princess Royal also reported the capture of the schooner Neptune, whose cargo of salt had, according to the ship’s captain, “simply dissolved.”

november 28

NOVEMBER 28, 1863 - The Tallahassee Floridian and Journal reported a shortage of more than $11,000 in the state paymaster’s account. R. C. Williams could not account for the money that was lost during his tenure of office.

november 29

NOVEMBER 29, 1861 - Confederate President Jefferson Davis assured Governor John Milton that Florida and its defense against a Union invasion was a prime consideration of the Confederate national government.

NOVEMBER 29, 1863 - Union general Alexander Asboth was authorized to raise a regiment of cavalry in West Florida, if he could.

november 30

NOVEMBER 30, 1862 - Confederate General Joseph J. Finegan reported that the districts of East and Middle Florida had 2,160 men under his command to provide for the defense of the state.

NOVEMBER 30, 1863 - The Florida Legislature today designated December 24 as a day of “fasting, humiliation and prayer.”