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The Battle At Ocklawaha 2005

Pictured (l. to r.) are Lew Zerfas, Dave Ekhardt, Vince Mangone, Rob Mattson, and Humberto Alvarez, standing behind four headstones of U.S. Navy sailors buried on Seahorse Key during the Civil War.  Three of the sailors were part or the crew on board the U.S.S. Fort Henry.  The fourth, Landsman William Robinson, served on the U.S.S. Union.  He died of a compression of the brain from a fall.

Doyle seen here preparing for battle.

We arrived at Guyandotte to be greeted by Miz Tedra Cremeans, Guyandotte Civil War days Chairman, and good friend. We call her before we leave and when we get there so she doesn't worry.  This is the kinda town folk we serve.

Saturday morning, Trooper Rigdon sounded his bugle and we moved to the VFW. Our host served biscuits and gravy, coffee, hot chocolate, OJ and fellowship as all forces ate and meet. The battle opened at 1 PM as the Cav. attacked encamped troops.

The battle continues through the town and the yanks are out numbered. Actual numbers of dead were 10 US and 3 CS.

As the day wore on and we prepared for battle, Homes such as the Madie Carrol house were opened to the public.

With period personnel dressed to assist visitors with any questions.

Veterans Day Parade

by Jimmy L. Shirley

photos by Betty Tzoumas

For the third year in a row, the Sons of Confederate Veterans participated in the Annual Veterans Day Parade in Lake Worth, Fla. The Greathouses, Calvin, Calvin Jr. and Victor, provided the main body of the Colour Bearers, with Lenny Albritton, of the 7th Fla. Vol. Inf. Co. B, providing the Colour Guard. Providing the womanly support we have come to expect was Becki Powell, of the Order of Confederate Rose and Kathy Clark-Tilson, of the UDC, OCR and Order of the Black Rose.  Greg Kaloff, of the SCV Mechanized Cavalry, came all the way from Miami to lend a hand. Wesley Frank, Cdr. of SCV Camp 1595 Pvt. G. W. Thomas and the 12th Brigade, came all the way from Melbourne, Cdr. Larry Powell, of the 14th Brigade and Past Commander of Camp 1599, and Jimmy L. Shirley Jr., Cdr. SCV Camp 1599 James Patton Anderson and Pvt. in the 7th Fla. Vol. Inf. Co. B, the Straw Hats, rounded out the group. We were well received, as we have been in the past. Although the crowds were sparse, in part because of the local school boards unwise decision to use the day for a make up day due to Hurricane Wilma, they were enthusiastic. The weather was not uncomfortable and provided enough of a wind to properly display our flags.

 

          Florida was a major source of supplies to the Confederacy during the War Between The States.  Beef, salt, fruits, vegetables, and cotton flowed north from Florida.  Also, the long 1400+ miles of Florida's coastline, provided safe havens for supply ships slipping through the Union naval blockade.  Later in the war Florida's importance grew and the Union took notice.  The Union increased its efforts to cut off the supply lines from Florida and several small battles and skirmishes happened as a result.

          In March of 1865, Sergeant Major Henry Thomas left the Union garrison at Jacksonville along with 30 men of the 8th US Colored Troops.  They traveled west along the St John's River to Fort Gates.  Then they traveled to Marion County, crossed the Ocklawaha River and attacked Marshall's Plantation where they destroyed a large quantity of sugar and syrup, machinery, and the plantation buildings.  The Ocala Home Guard Militia under Captain Samuel Howse were alerted and engaged the federal troops as they left the plantation with captured wagons and horses.  The federals withdrew across the Ocklawaha River and burned the Marshall bridge behind them.  Both sides had two dead and a handful of wounded.

          The Union troops attacked another plantation but now Confederate Captain J.J. Dickison with the 2nd Florida Cavalry was in hot pursuit.  Near St. Augustine the Union was almost caught and had to abandon their booty before entering the town.

          This and similar actions were honored by the 21st annual Ocklawaha River Raid on November 5th and 6th, 2005.  I photographed the battles of each day, the evening dance, some night scenes and more.  140 photos of the event can be seen at www.instydigipics.com  The event is held at the Marion County 4H farm near the town of Ocklawaha and also serves as their fundraiser.  About 250 reenactors were present including at least seven cannons and a handful of cavalry.  Most were in authentic camps on two sides of a large field.  The battlefield is mid-sized and seems to have a large tree surrounded.  Even so, the tree had a small "stage prop" house nearby for company along with a couple civilian tents.

          I arrived Saturday morning in time for "Colors" where both sides raise their National flag and account for all troops present.  The Rebels far outnumbered the Union troops which meant some would be strongly encouraged to switch sides to even up the numbers for the battles.  This process is known in reenacting circles as "galvanizing" and is rumored to be painless.

          Saturday's battle started when a few skirmishers from the Rebel side got too close to the Union camp.  The angered Union boys came out in force, scared the Rebels off and captured the field, the tree, and the house.  The Confederate advantage in numbers was negated by the uncoordinated attacks by the Rebel leaders.  One by one Rebel units were fed into the battle only to be cut down by a vicious artillery battery and then routed by the brave outnumbered Infantry.  In less time than it takes to ruin a plug of tobacco. the field was littered with the dead and dying and the Confederates were almost out of eyesight!  Saturday evening a fine "Barn Dance/Ball" was held on the Union side where it was easy to notice many Confederates had invited themselves as well.

          Sunday morning I arrived at the camps after ladies tea and a worship service.  It appeared that the Confederates had snuck back overnight and re-occupied their original campsite.  It seems that the bodies littering the field the day before were only wounded for I could not see any fresh graves.  Early in the afternoon, some of the Union Cavalry approached the civilian camps out by the big tree and proceeded to harass the gentle ladies there.  I witnessed wholesale looting and common theft by the troop commanded by a Union Colonel Niepert.  They even chased out an old man hiding in the tents and shot him down without warning.  This was too much for a proper southern gentleman to take and once alerted, the boys in gray set out to chase the Yankees back to their forts on the coast.

          On this day the Confederates, despite the overnight loss of two of their most senior leaders, had spent some energy on a proper plan of battle.  What followed was a well flowing plan of Union extermination and perhaps the finest battle I have seen this year.  In a common front, the effort put forth by the Rebel Infantry and the CS Marines was a sight to see.  I witnessed an entire crew manning a Union Field piece go down in a single volley from a Rebel unit.  As the Union faded from sight I was pleased to see their infernal band discarding instruments so as to flee faster.  I heard later that the stolen items had been recovered from the fleeing Union further down the road.

Wes Mayhle

A lone Union sentry stands on top of the 8 foot tall earthen wall of a fort. He looks out over a half-mile long field where the Rebels are expected. About 300 yards down-field a half dozen Federals stand just outside the thick pine forest that lines the long field. As a sentry post, they listen for movement in the woods. The fort is nothing more than a 500 foot long, heavy earth wall but serves as great protection for the Union artillery behind it. Behind the wall is a raised observation area for commanders and artillery spotters.
Just after noon gunfire erupts in the woods and soon the Union Cavalry thunders down the length of the field to investigate. As expected, a Confederate army is moving this way with the intention of attacking the earthen fort. The Union Cavalry harasses the Rebels, slowing their progress, giving the Union General time to set up lines of Infantry in defense. Federal artillerymen in bright red shirts cease lounging beside their guns and prepare to fire. The Confederate army comes into view and it's a big one. In addition, Rebel cannon and musket fire can be heard inside the woods. Cannonballs sending showers of splintered trees and metal fragments drive the Union lines back with every shot. in the open field the Federal Cavalry dash about and recklessly charge the Rebel horsemen. The Confederate infantry outnumbers the Union by 3 to 1 and inevitably drive the Union boys back and back. Despite the gallantry of the Cavalry and the blast of cannon fire from the fort, the Union are forced back to a fence line 100 yards forward of the fort. At this closer range, the Union artillery stopped the advance because 6 to 12 Rebels would fall as one when a shell hit. But then the Confederates who had fought through the forest emerged onto the Union right hauling their cannon. At the same time, on the Confederate right, some dismounted Cavalry and an Infantry unit cleared the field of Federals. The chaos allowed the Rebels main body to dismantle the fence and move ever closer to the fort. Two hospital flags behind the earthen wall marked the only safe havens as the fort was enveloped and soon over-run by the larger Confederate army. Before the fire began to die, the Hospital Corps, nurses, and the death wagon were already on the field. A field surgeon with his "medical" dog went to each fallen soldier to look for signs of life. A Rebel preacher also stopped at each for other reasons.
The good news that trumps all this mayhem and destruction is that it is a reenactment. It is the 11th Annual Battle at Horse Landing Civil War Reenactment. The rifles quit firing, 'Taps' is played by the bugler, everyone "resurrects" from their death and falls into formation before the 500 spectators to fire the "Final Salute" simultaneously. This is all done to honor the real combatants of 'The War Between The States'. With perfect timing, the rain began to fall after the end of the reenactment battle on Sunday. 138 photos of the event can be seen at www.instydigipics.com
Just under 600 reenactors attended including close to 30 Cavalry and about a dozen cannon, mountain howitzers, and artillery. This event was held on Nov. 18-20, 2005 at the Rodeheaver Boys Ranch which is about 60 miles southwest of Jacksonville, Florida. The actual site of the battle is a few miles away inside the ranch property. I photographed both days of battle, various scenes around camp, morning "colors", and different units at drill. With the Thanksgiving holiday being near, turkeys were being cooked in every conceivable way all around the camps. The Saturday night dance was the largest I have witnessed this year. At least 250 participants whirled about in their finest period clothes. Small children, parents and grandparents danced and socialized for 3 hours while being entertained by the St. Andrews String Band. A signed print by a renowned historical artist was auctioned for the site during 'halftime" at the dance.
The Real History
Palatka, Florida is located 55 miles southwest of Jacksonville on the St. Johns river. 'Pilatka' (Seminole Indian word meaning "crossing over") was a Native American settlement. In 1820 a trader named James Marver, with companions Hines and Woodruff, became the first white settlers in Pilatka. The town grew and in 1837 a military outpost was established. During the 'War Between The States', Palatka was fired on by Union gunboats that patrolled the St. Johns river. The Union controlled the river and the land to the east of it and north to Jacksonville. Horse Landing is a few miles south of Palatka and marks the only the only known incident in history where a cavalry unit sank an enemy gunboat.
Confederate Captain John J. Dickison, commander of company H, 2nd Florida Cavalry, was well known in Florida for his daring raids across the St. Johns river. Dickison, aka "Swamp Fox" was the quarry of 2 gun-ships and 600 troops sent from Jacksonville in May of 1864. The Federal troops were put off on the eastern shore at Palatka thinking they had Dickison and his men surrounded. On the western bank and 3 miles to the south, Dickison, 100 cavalrymen and 2 field pieces, engaged one of the gunboats which had anchored at 'Browns Landing'. After striking her 37 times the Confederates withdrew without casualties. He then moved upriver (south) 5 miles to 'Horse Landing' where the next day he, 16 riflemen, and the 2 cannon engaged the other gunboat, the U.S.S. Columbine. The Columbine ran aground with damage and was soon surrendered. After the 45 minute battle she was boarded and then burned by the Confederates.
This event prompted Union forces to occupy Palatka. On August 2 1864, Dickison's company was reconnoitering near Palatka where they were engaged by Federal cavalry. In that action his son, Charles age 19, was shot through the heart during a charge. The Federals withdrew from Palatka and were also repulsed at Gainesville, Florida, by Dickison. This marked the last serious invasion of inland Florida by the Federals.
- for more detailed information see -
www.floridareenactorsonline.com/battleofhorselanding.htm
www.geocities.com/fcphs/Horse_Landing_Project.html

Horse Landing is now part of the 790 acre Rodeheaver Boys Ranch. Rodeheaver in a private, non-denominational children's home. They care for 50 neglected/dependent children from all over the state. These boys attend public schools and participate in activities such as band, ROTC, 4H, and The Boy Scouts. In addition each boy has a "ranch job", learning how to work hard and the value of a job well done. Rodeheaver does not accept county, state, or federal money. The Civil War Reenactment held on its grounds serves as a fundraiser for this non-profit charity.  For more information about the Boys Ranch, check out their site at www.rbr.org

This News Magazine, its articles, photos and all the
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