Confederate Polk County
Polk County During the War for Southern Independence and the Enduring Confederate Legacy
During the War for Southern Independence, Florida drovers pushed range cattle northward along old military roads. The drives went towards Gainesville and to rail lines at Baldwin, Atlanta and Savannah. A drive encompassed some forty-five days. By 1863 Union raiding parties and Confederate deserters were interfering with the movement of cattle, rustling more than four hundred. In fact, by early 1864, U.S. Army soldiers from Fort Meyers were raiding up and down the Peace River Valley. These Union troops burned homes, buildings, destroyed crops, stole horses, cattle and other supplies they could use.
Source
Polk County Cattlemen's Association online "History" page.
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The spring of 1862 saw the mustering of Company E, 7th Florida Infantry in Polk County. The Florida 7th Infantry saw action at Chickamauga, Chattanooga, New Hope Church, Ezra Church, the siege of Atlanta, Jonesboro (Georgia), Franklin (North Carolina), Nashville (Georgia), the Carolinas Campaign and Bentonville.
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The photo below of Captain Francis Asbury Hendry, Company A, 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry, is courtesy of the Research Library of the Florida Historical Society in Cocoa, Florida.
The Lower Peace River Valley Below Fort Meade possessed considerable pro-Union sentiment. Numerous skirmishes, most undocumented, took place when U.S. Army raiding parties would venture from their bases to capture beef cattle. In April 1864 one such foray ended at Bowlegs Creek when Confederate Captain James McKay, Jr.'s men of the 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry skirmished with the invaders. One Confederate soldier (James Lanier) died and one (Henry Pine) received wounds. Although the U.S. Army suffered no casualties, the battle was a Confederate victory because the Union troops soon retreated to their base at Fort Meyers.
Source
Spessard Stone's online article: "Civil War In The Lower Peace River Valley."
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Company A, Florida Special Cavalry
Francis Asbury Hendry's was a promoter of the formation of Polk County. He even served as a Polk County commissioner. F.A. Hendry opposed secession but sided with the Confederacy. After the war began Hendry was furnishing large herds of cattle through the state commissary department. Hendry organized Company A, Florida Special Cavalry at Fort Meade. These horse soldiers were part of Colonel J.C. Munnerlyn's 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry -- a.k.a. the "Cow Cavalry." The unit's composition was of mostly ranchers and cowhands. It was the Cow Cavalry's mission to protect the cattle ranchers, saltworks, and small communities. One of Florida's greatest contributions to the War for Southern Independence was foodstuffs. The state produced and supplied beef, pork, fish, and fruit to the Confederate armies. The Cow Cavalry protected the roads and rivers by which these vital supplies flowed north to the troops. Another valuable service performed by the 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry was assisting Confederate Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin in his escape from Florida.
Sources
Spessard Stone's online article:"Capt. Francis Asbury Hendry."
University of South Florida online article: "The Cow Cavalry."
The above photo of Florida Confederate soldiers is courtesy of the Research Library of the Florida Historical Society in Cocoa, Florida.
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William H. Johnson came to Polk County with his father in 1861 and served in Co. E, 7th Florida Infantry, CSA, in the War for Southern Independence. He also served in local government as Polk County Tax Assessor, Clerk of Court and Mayor of Bartow.
Source
Polk County Tax Collector's Office online "History" page.
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Confederate images are still a common sight in Polk County, as the photograph below illustrates. A Confederate Naval Jack proudly flies from a sailboat cruising on a local lake.
