Tuesday, April 2, 2013

150th Anniversary of the St. Andrew Skirmish

March 20, 1863

Throughout the war, continuous raids along the coast of the Confederacy were made.  Most of them were very small and this was one of them.  St. Andrew was the original name of Panama City, Florida, and we spend several weeks in Panama City Beach every winter.  We have been by the marker for this site on several occasions, right along the waterfront.

Confederate infantry surprised an 11-man landing party from the USS Roebuck and ordered them to surrender.  They refused and several Union sailors were killed and wounded while fleeing to their launch boat.

Six dead and three wounded.  Four of the dead were buried at Harrison Island and a fifth was buried by the Confederates.  No casualties were reported by the Confederates, who later became Co. A  of the 11th Florida Infantry.

The remains of the sailors were later removed to the National Cemetery at Fort Barrancas by Pensacola, Florida.

Old B-Runner

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