December 19, 1863: Raid On St. Andrew's, Florida

DECEMBER 19, 1863:  Expedition under Acting Master W.R. Browne, comprising the USS Restless, Bloomer and Caroline. proceeded up St. Andrew's Bay, Florida, to continue the destruction of salt works.  A landing party went ashore under the Bloomer;s guns and destroyed those works not already demolished by the Southerners when reports of the naval party were received.

Browne was able to report that he had "cleared the three arms of this extensive bay of salt works .... Within the past ten days," he added, "290 salt works, 33 covered wagons, 12 flatboats, 2 sloops (5 ton each) six ox carts, 4,000 bushels of salt, 268 buildings at the different salt works, 529 iron kettles averaging 150 gallons each, 105 iron boilers for boiling brine [were destroyed], and it is believed that the enemy destroyed as many more to prevent us from doing so."

--Old B-Runner

Panama City Salt Raid Re-enactment This Past Weekend-- Pat 1

From the May 3, 2015, Panama City (Fla) News Herald "Weekend Warriors: Civil War Re-enactors gather on Beach Drive to mark 1863 Saint Andrews Bay Salt Raid" by Collin Breaux.

On Saturday afternoon, May 2nd, a thirty minute battle was re-enacted where Confederate soldiers defended St. Andrew's Bay salt works from a force of Union sailors and Marines landed with the intent to destroy.

I wish I'd known about it as I might have tried to go to it other than the thousands of motorcycles between me and Panama City.

--Old B-Runner

Panama City, Fla., During the War

As I sit out by the Gulf of Mexico here at Panama City Beach, Florida peering at the water about 100 yards away, had this been a little over 150 years ago, I just might have seen a Union blockader sailing or anchored off shore.

There was no Panama City back then, just a small settlement called St. Andrew's, taking its name from the large bays located there.  That is part of today's downtown Panama City.  Panama City Beach didn't come into being until the 1930s.

Before the war, St. Andrew's was a place people came to during the summer to enjoy the cool gulf breezes (and it sure was cool earlier today).  There was a small fishing industry as well.

Once the war came, it became a major center of salt making to provide the people and armies of the Confederacy with the much needed condiment.  This caused attacks by Union blockaders on several occasions.

Plus, later on, after Southern ports fell to the Union, there was some blockade running by smaller ships.

One famous blockade runner was the Florida (not to be confused with the Confederate cruiser of the same name.  It was eventually captured and became the Union Ship USS  Hendrick Hudson.

--Old B-Runner

Raid on St. Andrew's Bay, Florida

FEBRUARY 1ST-4TH, 1865:  A boat expedition from the USS Michigan landed and destroyed salt works "of 13,615 boiling capacity" at St. Andrews Bay, Florida (Panama City).

The making of salt from sea water became a major industry in Florida during the Civil War as salt was a critical commodity in the Confederate war effort.  Large quantities were needed for preserving meat, fish, butter and other perishable foods, as well as curing hides.

Federal warships continuously destroyed salt works along the coasts of Florida.  This expedition was the finale in the Union navy's effective restriction of this vital Confederate industry.

--Old B-Runner

Naval Action Late November '64: Whiskey and Opium

NOVEMBER 29TH, 1864:  A ship's boat from the USS Elk captured an unidentified small craft with cargo of whiskey and opium near Mandeville, Louisiana.  Can't let THAT get through the blockade, you know.

NOVEMBER 39TH, 1864:  Boat expedition from the USS Midnight landed at St. Andrew's Bay, Florida, and destroyed a salt work and took prisoners.

USS Itasca seized British blockade-running schooner Carrie Mair off Pass Cavallo, Texas.

--Old B-R'er

Attacking the Salt Works in Florida

NOVEMBER 30TH, 1864:  A boat expedition from the USS Midnight landed at St. Andrew's Bar, Florida, and destroyed a slat work and took prisoners.

--Old B-R'er

Boat Expedition Destroys Salt Works in Florida

OCTOBER 5-6, 1864:  A boat expedition commanded by Acting Ensign Henry Eaton, USS Restless, destroyed large salt works on St. Andrew's Bay (Panama City), Florida, along with 150 buildings used to house the compound and employees.

Salt works providing as they did both foodstuff and an invaluable preservative, were a constant target for fast-hitting Union boat expeditions aimed at destroying the source of intended supplies for Confederate armies.
--Old B-Runner

150 Years Ago-- January 20-22, 1864

JANUARY 21ST: USS Sciota and Granite City joined several hundred troops on a reconnaisance of Texas coast. Covered troops at Smith's Landing, Texas, and foray down the Matagordo Peninsula.

JANUARY 22ND: Rear Admiral Dahlgren wrote Welles from Charleston: "...do not suppose that I am idle because no battles are fought, on the contrary, the blockade by four monitors of such a place as this, and the determined intention of the rebels to operate with torpedoes, keep all eyes open.

**  Three men from the USS Restless led by Acting Ensign James R. Russell captured the blockade runner William A. Kain in St. Andrew's Bay, Florida (present-day Panama City). They originally were only going to reconnoiter, but after discovering and capturing the captain and several crewmembers ashore in the woods near the vessel, Russell determined to take the ship. He compelled his prisoners to row him out to the Kain and then captured the ship. Then he managed to sail the ship from Watson's Bayou out to the bay and under the restless' guns.

Quite the Daring Feat. --Old B-R'er

150 Years Ago-- December 19, 1863: Action At St. Andrew's Bay, Fla.

DECEMBER 19TH:

Expedition from USS Restless, Bloomer and Caroline proceeded up St. Andrew's Bay, Florida (current day Panama City), to continue destroying salt works. They destroyed works not already destroyed by Confederates when they heard they were about to be attacked.

Reported they had "cleared the three arms of the extensive bay of salt works....Within the past ten days 250 salt works, 35 covered wagons, 12 flatboats, 2 sloops (5 tons each), 6 ox carts, 4,000 bushels of salt, 268 buildings at the salt works, 529 iron kettles averaging 150 gallons each, 105 iron boilers for boiling brine, and it is believed that the enemy destroyed as many more to prevent us from doing so."

That is quite a huge salt making business going on there and, a lot of Union destruction.

--Old B-R'er