Union Raid July 6, 1864 leads to local skirmish between Blue and Grey

The impact of the Civil War on Florida was great, but few realize the importance of our state in supplying beef cattle to the front line Confederate troops-- this important fact was not even realized by the Union Army until late in the war.

In late 1863, Union reports show between 1,500 and 2,000 beef cattle per week were shipped from an area stretching from Brooksville to Tampa Bay, including present-day Pasco County. 

In an effort to stop the shipment of cattle, Union troops began raiding the west coast of Florida in January 1864, beginning south of Tampa and working their way north.

Official records show on July 6, 1864, at 5 p.m., raiding Union troops made their way to Anclote Key, where their anchored boats awaited daylight and for the orders to dispatch the 240 men aboard-- these men comprising the companies of the 2nd Florida Regiment and the 2nd United States Colored Troops.

On the morning of July 7, 1864, the Union began transporting troops from the boats to the northern mainland of the Anclote River, this daunting task finally completed around 3 p.m. that afternoon.

With troops on the mainland, they immediately formed ranks and took their line of march-- their destination Brooksville and a direct path across today’s Pasco County.

Having marched about three miles north, at about 8 p.m. they were ordered to stop their march and camp for the night, not knowing what awaited them the next few days.

At 3 a.m. on the morning of July 8, 1864 the Union bivouac awoke early only to discover the smoke of a camp fire ahead of them to the north-- an advanced guard of 10 men was formed to scout ahead of troops.

Proceeding north at daybreak, the advance guard surprised their first Confederate pickets located about 25 miles southwest of Brooksville, believed to be near today’s Gulf View Square Mall.

Consisting of 18 men from the local home guard, the Rebel picket put up a good fight, wounding one of the 10 men in the Union’s guard. However, seven Confederates were captured, along with nine horses and all their supplies and ammunition.

By noon, the advancing Union troops captured three more Rebels. Marching north, a party of men comprising U.S. Colored troops ransacked one home, tearing the children's and women's clothes to rags, stealing a ring from one small girl and breaking the family’s crockery and pots; after which they set camp for the night.

On the morning of July 9, 1864, after marching only three miles, Union troops were again met with resistance from local pickets.

After sending warning to Brooksville of the impending raid, a Confederate home guard of about 80 men was ordered to organize along a creek situated about 20 miles southwest of Brooksville, where they were to await the Union’s advancing line.

Confederate Captains Crichton and Thomas Ellis tried to hold the Yankees in check as best as they could, riding their horses backwards to stay just ahead of them but allowing them to get within speaking distance.

As the Confederate captains reached the creek where the remainder of their company waited, the men were ordered to prepare themselves to engage the Yankees. However, the Rebels weren’t prepared for the 240 men marching up the road towards them.

Capt. Ellis noted the home guard men were running all about helter-skelter with no one and everyone in command-- some of the men ran back to their plantations to run off their slaves. Ellis wasn't going down without a fight. Seeing that he could do nothing to hold the Yankees’ advancement, he turned his horse and fired on the Union line in a last ditch effort.

The Union men soon formed their skirmish lines and immediately sent out a flank party of 30 to combat the Rebels. Eventually, the entire Union body crossed a ford in the creek and in single file poured their volleys towards the Confederates, driving them back about 400 yards.

The Rebel line soon took refuge behind a large pond where Union fire couldn't reach them, but met with great resistance as the Union placed their best marksmen at the front, causing the Rebels to pull back. The skirmish continued for the remainder of the day.

Towards evening, Confederate Capt. Leroy G. Lesley rode his horse towards Union lines, carrying with him a flag of truce. He rode out with intent of inducing the Union officers to desert their cause and move back to the side of Dixie. However, the officers immediately let him know that they would listen to nothing of that kind and dismissed him and his flag of truce.  

Over the course of two days the raiding party looted and burned the plantations of  Ellis, Lesley, David Hope, Aaron Taylor Frierson, and William B. Hooker-- skirmishing along the way.

Around 11 a.m. on July 10, 1864 the Union troops were ordered to halt their march and break for lunch, only about one or two miles from their final destination of Brooksville.

During this time it was determined that Brooksville was completely deserted. An argument ensued between the officers. The Union troops were finally turned towards Confederate controlled Bayport, some 18-miles west and ultimately ending their engagement with the Rebels.

Two days later, July 12, 1864, Union troops began extraction from Bayport, but not before looting and burning the buildings there.

A delay of a day or two on the Union’s part would have likely resulted in a much greater battle. Within days after their departure, Confederate reinforcements arrived from Tampa, adding roughly another 160 men.

Too late, the Rebels began preparations of their own to raid the U.S. Military Post at Fort Meyers, where the raiding Union troops had originated from.

According to military reports, Brooksville, Bayport, and the surrounding area, including present Pasco County, officially surrendered to the Union on June 8, 1865, two months after the official end of the Civil War. They were among the last in the nation to surrender.