April 1864-April 1865 Bringing the Death and Destruction to an End

In this post we will wrap up this series on the Florida panhandle during the War for Southern Independence (aka Civil War, War Between the States). We’ve looked at the conditions at home, and the motivating factors for some of the responses of the men who were expected to defend the homefront by those in … Continue reading April 1864-April 1865 Bringing the Death and Destruction to an End

Late Florida Regiments in the War for Southern Independence: 1863-1865

These later Florida regiments begin to show how the Confederacy was hemorrhaging men by this point. New regiments were formed by consolidating regiments that were no longer able to function as a regiment due to significant loss of men. In working to understand your ancestor’s experiences of the War it is critical that you trace … Continue reading Late Florida Regiments in the War for Southern Independence: 1863-1865

April 1863 – April 1864: The Independence Experiment Begins to Falter and the Florida Panhandle Homefront Becomes Chaotic

Let’s do a thought experiment to open this month’s post. It is June 1863. You are a 32-year man who was born and raised in the Florida panhandle. You are married with four children still living. Your wife is a small woman with a strong will but losing a couple of children over the last … Continue reading April 1863 – April 1864: The Independence Experiment Begins to Falter and the Florida Panhandle Homefront Becomes Chaotic

The Civil War and the Williford Webb Family of Holmes County, FL

I’ve been away for a while. Adjusting to not having my Mom with me and focusing on my Yellow River Baptist Church and Oak Grove writing projects. I’ve found it can be hard to think of a short writing project after a two month hiatus so I will share the life of one of my … Continue reading The Civil War and the Williford Webb Family of Holmes County, FL

Updates and Links to My Posts on the 1st Florida Union Cavalry Volunteers

As I indicated in my post at the first of November, I’m taking some time from writing new material to give myself time to adjust to no longer having my Mom with me. But I am taking the time to do some updating of some of my prior posts and thought I would start by … Continue reading Updates and Links to My Posts on the 1st Florida Union Cavalry Volunteers

The Controversial Excursion of 2nd Lt. Joseph Sanders of the 1st Florida Union Cavalry Volunteers

We’ve made a brief journey through the history of the 1st Florida Union Cavalry over the last three blogs (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3). We’ve looked at where these Southern men came from, whether they were deserters or dodgers of Confederate service and how they served while in the 1st Florida Union Cavalry. In … Continue reading The Controversial Excursion of 2nd Lt. Joseph Sanders of the 1st Florida Union Cavalry Volunteers

The Hidden History of the Florida Panhandle During the Civil War, Pt 3

This is the third in a series of blog posts on the 1st Florida Union Cavalry and the Florida panhandle (and south Alabama) during the War for Southern Independence (aka War Between the States or Civil War). You can find the first blog here and the second one here. Again, let’s pickup where we left … Continue reading The Hidden History of the Florida Panhandle During the Civil War, Pt 3

The Hidden History of the Florida Panhandle During the Civil War, Pt 2

We left off last time exploring which States the men of the 1st Florida Cavalry Union Volunteers were living in during the 1860 census. Let’s pick up from there and dig a little deeper. Today the Northwest Florida panhandle consists of the following counties: Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, … Continue reading The Hidden History of the Florida Panhandle During the Civil War, Pt 2

The Hidden History of the Florida Panhandle During the Civil War, Pt 1

Pensacola Bay Today outside the ranks of the intensely interested students of the Civil War, many do not know of the Southern participation in the Union Army. Many Southerners are unaware that every Southern state, except South Carolina, had at least one white regiment fighting for the Union. For those of us in the Florida … Continue reading The Hidden History of the Florida Panhandle During the Civil War, Pt 1

Reconstruction in the South & the Florida Panhandle, Part 2

Until the last few decades, there wasn’t a lot written about Reconstruction that wasn’t either heavily weighted toward one viewpoint (Southern) or the other (Northern), if it was discussed in detail at all. It may be getting a bit better with at least some professors and history writers making an attempt to be balanced in … Continue reading Reconstruction in the South & the Florida Panhandle, Part 2