Blockaders, Refugees, and Contrabands: Civil War on Florida'S Gulf Coast, 1861-1865 (Alabama Fire Ant) Review

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(More customer reviews)A rarity among Civil War literature, this study is told from the perspective of Unionist partisans/soldiers and blockaders along the Florida Gulf Coast.The ACW book market is saturated with volumes analyzing or celebrating Southern raiders, partisans, and guerrillas primarily in the Trans-Mississippi, but this is one of the few analyzing partisan activity in Confederate held territory and from the Unionist's perspective no less.

Author George Buker reveals a true civil war being conducted at the local level on Florida's Gulf Coast.The seeds were planted during the secession crisis with bullying and attacks on Unionists by "regulators."As the blockade began there were the loss of trade in the coastal regions and the efforts of the state government to remove population inland.Then came impressments and tax-in-kind, and finally aggressive conscription and removal of exemptions for saltmakers and cattle herders.These events led to widespread disaffection with the Confederate authorities and even open resistance.

This work transitions from the wartime events and civilian interaction with the East Gulf Blockading Squadron that led to the formation of the 2nd Florida Cavalry (U.S.).It then follows the actions of this Union regiment in Florida.The final chapter contrasts the successful Unionist/navy interactions on the Florida Gulf Coast with the relative lack of success on Florida's Atlantic Coast.

Coastal Florida had a refugee crisis as the war progressed.Escaped slaves ("contrabands") sought out the blockaders.Some joined the U.S. Navy.White men and their families sought to avoid conscription or vengeful neighbors/regulators and eventually sought refuge with the blockaders.

By mid-war armed bands of disaffected men were actively resisting conscription efforts in the region.They received support and cover from the blockading squadron.In addition they cooperated with blockaders in expeditions to capture small sailing vessels and destroy saltworks.Interestingly (and probably best for all involved), they delivered their prisoners to the blockaders.Buker examines the rolls of several of the "deserter bands" and finds that only 30% were actually deserters, ~10% were men who had been discharged or resigned.Others were refugees or Unionists.

Finally, an effort was made to enroll these men and others into the U.S. Army.793 eventually joined the 2nd Florida Cavalry (U.S.).They provided protection on the mainland for refugee communities and participated in raids into the interior.They had the important task of interdicting cattle headed north to supply the CSA armies.

The author explains Florida's key support functions for the Confederacy as a source of salt, beef, and small-scale blockade running.The blockade running in Florida was mostly limited to small sailing vessels working from many rivers, not the steam blockade runners of the major CSA ports).In explaining these and presenting some statistics Buker fills an information gap in Wise's "Lifeline of the Confederacy."

This book contains the necessary elements of a good study.It relies on many first hand accounts, correspondence, and ships logs.It has several well-presented maps with good detail.Muster rolls of some of the partisan bands are provided.The book has good endnotes, bibliography and index.However, it does not contain photographs and sketches.

For some reason, no mention is made of the 1st Florida Cavalry (U.S.) organizing in Pensacola.This unit participated in the Marianna raid (see Dale Cox's "The Battle of Marianna, Florida."

The one serious concern I have is that the author seems overly sympathetic to the Unionist/anti-Confederate elements.Some of the stories seem to be rather one-sided and there is perhaps inadequate consideration of the other perspective.However, the tone is not strident, good vs. evil, or hero/villain in nature.

I highly recommend this work.It is a real eye-opener written from a Unionist perspective.

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Product Description:
Here, Buker chronicles the role of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron in creating civil strife and warfare along the west coast of Florida during the American Civil War.--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.