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Cedar Key, Florida
During the Civil War Cedar Key was occupied by Federal forces on
January 15, 1862. Union forces from the U.S.S. Hatteras attacked the port
and rail terminus at Cedar Key and destroyed all structures of military
value. In March of that same year Federal forces took Fernandina. The
railroad was basically closed down for the duration of the war. Rails
were stripped north of Balwin to be used on another line. Seahorse Key
was used to house prisoners. Atsena Otie Key was used as a supply depot
for Federal troops and a military hospital. Skirmishes were fought between
Federal and Confederate forces at Number Four Bridge on the outskirts of
Cedar Key. Federal forces would also make frequent raids up the railroad
and Suwannee River to confiscate cotton and cattle. In the final days of
the Civil War what was left of the Confederate treasury was brought by
train to David Yulee's plantation (Cottonwood) near Archer. When Federal
troops caught up with the train it was found empty. Rumors and tales of
the treasury's disappearance abound in the area.
Island Hotel, Cedar Key
The structure that is now the Island Hotel was built sometime between 1859
and 1860. Records indicate that Major John Parsons bought the property in
1859. It is likely that construction was finished the following year. The
Florida pioneers who settled Cedar Key made the building to last. They
mixed oyster shell, limestone and sand to pour tabby walls 10 inches
thick. Massive 12-inch oak beams were framed in the basement to support
the wooden structure. (Their workmanship has withstood the ravages of time
for more than 140 years. The building has survived innumerable hurricanes,
floods, storms and other disasters. The floors are uneven. The building
contracts and expands with the seasons and has all the "aches and pains"
of an elderly lady. Development of Cedar Key had begun in 1859 in
anticipation of the prosperity that completion of the Florida Railroad was
expected to bring to the port on the Gulf. Major Parsons and his partner
and co-owner Francis E. Hale were among businessmen hoping to take
advantage of the economic opportunity when they opened Parsons and Hale's
General Store.
The outbreak of the Civil War forced an abrupt halt to Cedar Key
development. Union troops considered it a strategic port. They invaded the
town and burned down almost every building that wasn't needed to quarter
troops or store supplies. The fact that Parsons and Hale's General Store
survived the war lends credence to the strong probability that it served
as a barracks and warehouse for the Yankees. It may have been used by
Confederate troops as well during the times they managed to retake Cedar
Key, since building owner Major Parsons was commander of a detachment of
Confederate volunteers defending the Gulf Coast against Federal gunboats
and troops.
The Fight at Station No. 4
Confederate Captain John Jackson Dickison's efforts weren't limited to
the east Florida area. In early February 1865, Dickison moved to cut off a
raid from Union-held Cedar Key on Florida's West Coast. On Feb. 8, Major
Edmund Weeks led a force of 386 Federal troops -- 186 men of the Second
Regiment of the Florida (Federal) Cavalry and 200 men from the Second
Regiment, U.S. Colored Infantry -- toward Clay Landing and Levyville,
located near present day Chiefland. By Feb. 10, Weeks and his troops were
near Levyville. On that day, Weeks elected to return to Station Four, on
the Fernandina to Cedar Key railroad, and the entry point of the railroad
into the Cedar Keys. As they left Levyville, they were observed by
Confederate scouts sent by Dickison. Dickison had just returned from Waldo
after completing a successful 10-day raid east of the St. John's --
including the fight near Braddock's farm. When Dickison arrived on the
west side of the St. Johns, he learned of the Federal incursion from Cedar
Key.
Confederate General Samuel Jones ordered Dickison and his tired unit west
to drive the Federal troops back toward Cedar Key. On Feb. 12, Dickison
arrived at Levyville, where he was joined by Captain Lutterloh and 18
soldiers, 37 militia under Captain King and some additional troops. They
followed the Union troops as they withdrew toward Station Four. Weeks
arrived at mid-afternoon of Feb. 12, along with 100 head of cattle, 50
former slaves, some wagons, 13 horses and five prisoners. Dickison
followed Weeks to Station Four, camped for the night, and opened the
skirmish at 7 a.m. on Feb. 13, when, according to Dickison, "the picket of
the enemy fired upon my advance while near the Florida Railroad, at the
point near the burnt house known as Geiger House." Captain E. Pease,
Second U.S. Colored Infantry, was in charge of the advance pickets, when
Dickison and his men approached Station Four. Dickison said that after a
three and one-half hour battle "the enemy was defeated at all points." He
estimated his opposition at 600 and said that he would have destroyed the
entire force if he had not run out of ammunition. Dickison, reportedly
carrying 200 rounds in his saddlebags, distributed the ammunition to his
rear guard, allowing the remainder of his force an orderly withdrawal.
Dickison reported that "with the loss of five men wounded, none mortally,
we drove the enemy to Cedar Key, killing, wounding and capturing about 70
of his number, recapturing all of the cattle, horses and wagons which they
had stolen in their thieving expedition from the citizens in the vicinity
of his line of march, all of which has been returned to their proper
owners."
Major Edmund Weeks viewed the fight differently, In his report he said
that on the return from Levyville he "found his men flying in all
directions," so "he left an officer to halt them and bring them up." Weeks
found members of his cavalry unit south of the trestle (at Station Four)
and "immediately pushed them across the bridge." Meanwhile, Dickison and
his men were exchanging fire with Pease and his troops, about 40 in all,
who charged the Rebel force approaching Station Four. Weeks said they took
the bridge and "drove the enemy gradually back until they broke and took
to flight. Union cavalry scouts followed the Rebels to Yearty's Place
about six miles from Station Four. There they reported a large body of
infantry, moving toward Station Four. Weeks had 250 men to oppose the
Rebel force, but with night approaching, elected to move across the
trestle to Way Key, completing the withdrawal just 20 minutes before
Dickison and his men arrived at Station Four.
Sgt. H.C. Jones of the Second U.S. Colored Infantry provided another view
of the skirmishing around Cedar Key in a letter reproduced here as it was
written to the Weekly Anglo-African, dated Feb. 13, 1865. "I have been
silent for some time, but once more I take opportunity offered to pen you
the news from this vicinity. Our battalion (the 2nd) was ordered to move
with knapsacks, haversacks, canteens and eight days' rations. After
marching some 40 or 50 miles, we were attacked by the Rebels at a place
called Day Landing. In this engagement we lost but one. We were then
ordered to a place called Sodom, where we had one wounded, and from which
place we camped for the night, being very tired. "The sun rose clear and
beautiful, and many who saw it rise never witnessed its setting, for we
were called again into battle.
Our men stood up bravely, although the thing was managed poorly by those
in command, and we had twice our number to contend with. We had only three
companies. They opened on us again with their artillery, and we replied
with our small arms. We called for no quarter. We had no time for fun
either. "We have to report that 35 were killed and 16 wounded on the Rebel
side, while we had some five killed and eight or nine wounded." |
