Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guard Company was the core of what would become Company K, 7th Florida Infantry Regiment. Mulrenan's Company was organized and called into the service of the State of Florida by Special Order No. 2, issued from the Adjutant General's office, Tallahassee, Florida, on November 27, 1861. The company was sworn into state service on December 13, 1861, before Judge Augustus Steele, at Cedar Keys, Florida. Initially stationed at Tampa for a few days in mid-December, 1861, the unit took up station at Fort Buckley, Point Pinellas on December 21, and remained in that vicinity for some time.
During its short existence, Mulrenan's Company was mainly involved in the regular duties associated with a coast guard unit, such as drills, guard duties, and observation of the coastline for enemy activities. In the latter, they regularly crewed three small, armed vessels. The sloop Cate Dale (aka Kate Dale) transported the officers as well as the six-pounder cannon and provisions between the signal stations. The Mary Jane and Mollie Post were fourteen-oar, single-sail-rigged boats of approximately thirty feet, and each was probably mounted with a four-pounder cannon in its bow. It was not all work and no play, as their sojourn also included periods of welcome activities, such as fishing, hunting, singing, dancing and other similar episodes. The sobriquet, Key West Avengers, was adopted by the men on January 30, 1862.
About mid-February 1862, the men of Mulrenan's Company were advised that they would be taken into Confederate Army service.
On April 10, 1862, Florida Governor John Milton informed Secretary of War George W. Randolph that the requisition for "two regiments and a half of infantry…would by the 15th instant be fully organized and subject to your orders, and companies enough have volunteered for service for three years or the war to compose three full regiments of infantry. ... to serve during the war and wherever their services may be necessary…Some of the companies which will compose the battalion [soon to be the 7th Florida Infantry Regiment]...have been used in saving the arms, &c., landed at Smyrna, but will be at Camp Lee, if I am correctly informed (Camp Lee is near Gainesville, in East Florida) in time to elect a commander during this week." On April 21, 1862, Florida Adjutant and Inspector General Wm. H. Milton would inform Governor Milton that, "...five companies for local defense were assigned to General Trapier and by him ordered to be mustered into Confederate service: One cavalry company, known as the Tallahassee Guards, and commanded by Capt. P. B. Brokaw, for twelve months, and stationed near the Shell Point, and four infantry companies, one known as Dilworth Volunteers, and commanded by Capt. James Tucker, and upon duty on the Suwannee River and at the railroad bridge where it crosses the river; one company known as Key West Avengers, and commanded by Capt. Henry Mulrenan, at Tampa Bay, and a company known as the Gulf Coast Rangers, and commanded by Capt. John C. Chambers, near Cedar Keys."
The 7th Florida Infantry Regiment, created to complete the February quota, organized in Gainesville in late April, 1862. It was composed of nine militia companies that had been organized in late 1861 and early 1862, and for good measure added Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guard Company. By April 25, 1862, most of Mulrenan's company were mustered into service as company K, 7th Florida Infantry. Elections of field and staff officers for the 7th Florida were held on April 25. Ex-Governor Madison Starke Perry was elected colonel; Robert W. Bullock was elected lieutenant colonel, and Tillman Ingram, a cousin and political crony of Madison Starke Perry, became the major. Captain Mulrenan was appointed assistant quartermaster general, with the rank of major, on April 24, 1862. Robert Blair Smith, a 2nd lieutenant in Mulrenan's Company, was elected captain and company commander; the company would become "Smith's Company".
For the remainder of April until early June, eight of the 7th Florida's companies remained at Camp Lee outside of Gainesville in camp of instruction; one company remained at Cedar Key, and Company K remained on duty at Tampa. On June 12, the companies at Camp Lee and Cedar Key made their way to Chattahoochie to embark on steamers bound for Columbus, Georgia, where they arrived on June 14–15. Company K, after having to move from Tampa to Chattahoochee, did not reach Columbus until July 11.
Company K would serve from July through August 1862 in the Army of East Tennessee commanded by Major General Edmund Kirby Smith. The Army of East Tennessee was redesignated as the Confederate Army of Kentucky on August 25, 1862, when General Smith led it into eastern Kentucky during the Confederate Heartland Offensive. On November 20, 1862, the Army of Mississippi, General Braxton Bragg commanding, and the Army of Kentucky, General E. Kirby Smith commanding, became the Army of Tennessee. General Bragg assumed command, and General Smith was reassigned to the Department of East Tennessee. The 7th Florida would remain assigned to the Army of Tennessee for the remainder of the war (under General Braxton Bragg through December 27, 1863; under General Joseph E. Johnston from December 27, 1863, to July 18, 1864; under General John B. Hood from July 18, 1864, through January 23, 1865; under Major General Richard Taylor from January 23 to February 23, 1865: and again under General Joseph E. Johnston from February 23 to April 26, 1865.).
From May 1862 through March 1864, Company K suffered almost 38% losses; not by combat action or sickness, but by transfer of its men to the C.S. Navy. The "core" of Company K were men who before the war made their living as mariners or fishermen. 49 of the 82 men mustered into Confederate service at Gainesville in April 1862 were already in state service to Florida, either in 2nd Lieutenant Able Merander's Coast Guard Detachment or Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards.
A great many of these "core" mariners were not at all thrilled with the idea of being soldiers. At the request of a number of the beached mariners, Private Peter A. Crusoe (until recently a Clerk of the Circuit Court of Florida at Key West) was prevailed upon to draft a letter to the Confederate Secretary of the Navy, former U. S. Senator Stephen R. Mallory of Florida.
May 5, 1862 (Monday) - Fort Brooke, Florida - "This petition was sent last night and Capt Smith is dreadfully put out at it, he says that we want to break up the company, but we assured him that such was not our intention but that we wished to enter the navy and would do so if we could get a chance." - 3rd Sergeant Robert Watson, Company K, 7th Florida Infantry Regiment
A number of Key West's prominent citizens were members of the "Key West Avengers", and known personally by Secretary Mallory; he seemed to have no qualm with approving the requested transfers. On August 5, 1862, 10 men received orders transferring them from the "Key West Avengers" to CSS Chattahoochee under construction at Saffold, Georgia. Between August 6, 1862, and March 1864, another 21 "Key West Avengers" would be transferred into the C. S. Navy; in addition to CSS Chattahoochee, they would also variously serve in CSS Charleston, CSS Columbia, CSS Georgia, CSS Macon, CSS Sampson, CSS Savannah, CSS Spray, and CSS Tallahassee.
From April 8–10, General Johnston reorganized the army, consolidating dozens of shrunken regiments and brigades. Containing fewer soldiers than an understrength battalion, the remnants of the Florida Brigade were united to form the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment, Consolidated – 1st Florida Infantry & 3rd Florida Infantry (consolidated)(Capt. A. B. McLeod); 1st Florida Cavalry (dismounted) and 4th Florida Infantry (consolidated) (Capt George B. Langford); 6th Florida Infantry (Lieut. Malcolm Nicholson); 7th Florida Infantry (Capt. Robert B. Smith).
Company K of the original 7th Florida Infantry, along with companies A, C, D, and I, would be consolidated to form Company F of the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment.
On April 18, General Joseph E. Johnston signed an armistice with General William T. Sherman at Bennett's Place near Durham, and on April 26, formally surrendered his army. Of the 100 men who mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, at Camp Lee at Gainesville, Florida, only ?? "Key West Avengers" were present. On May 1, 1865, five days after General Johnston surrendered the force under his command, the troops of the 1st Florida Infantry, Consolidated, were paroled.
Captain Robert Blair Smith was born March 15, 1834, in Blairsville, Pennsylvania. After he completed his education, he visited a relative in Social Circle, Walton County, Georgia. Apparently liking the South, he took up farming in Lafayette County, Florida. Prior to Florida's secession, he also taught at the Jefferson Academy at Monticello, Florida. He mustered the Mulrenan's Company on December 1, 1861, and was appointed as master's mate. He was sworn in before Judge Steele, at Cedar Key, Florida, on December 13, 1861. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 2, 1862, by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was elected to captain of the company, and was appointed as such on April 24, 1862. He was reported sick at Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 24, 1862, and again for an unspecified period between April 30, 1863, and July 13, 1863. He was admitted to the Ocmulgee Hospital at Macon, Georgia, on July 20, 1864, for debilitas and discharged back to duty on July 26, 1864. He was wounded at Missionary Ridge. He reported as present on a Muster Roll of Officers and Men of Company F, 1st Regiment of Florida Volunteers paroled at Greensboro, North Carolina on May 1, 1865. Captain Smith returned to Walton County, Georgia, after the war and in 1867 married Anna Jane Clark, the daughter of General Josiah Clark (Georgia Militia) and probably the granddaughter of General Elijah Clark of Revolutionary War fame. He bought a farm in Greene County midway between the towns of Woodville and Union Point. He served for many years on the Greene County Board of Education and served at County School Commission for eight years. While serving as Education Commissioner, it was his duty to visit over 40 rural schools operating in the county at that time. His mode of transportation was a horse and buggy. He was an able substitute for any absent teacher. He resigned as Commissioner of Education in 1904. During the last ten years of his life while residing in Sanford, Florida, Captain Smith drew a Confederate Pension and made occasional trips to Atlanta to attend Confederate reunions, taking the opportunity to visit his daughter in Greensboro. While on such a visit in 1920, Captain Smith became seriously ill and died September 7 of that year at the age of 86.
1st Lieutenant Walter C. Maloney, Jr. was counted among the cultivated and wealthy citizens of Key West, nearly all of whom were strongly pro-Southern. Among these were Senator Stephen R. Mallory, Mr. Peter Crusoe, Mr. (and soon to be Captain) Henry Mulrennan, and Mr. William H. Ward, the latter the editor of a newspaper called the "Key of the Gulf". Maloney, in the company of a Mr. Pacetti slipped past the guard boat in the harbor in a small boat and made for Tampa. He enlisted in Captain Henry Mulrennan's Florida Volunteers Coast Guards on November 27, 1861, as a 2nd lieutenant; he was promoted to 1st lieutenant on January 31, 1862. He served with this organization until April 25, 1862. On that date, he was enlisted in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Florida Infantry Regiment on April 25, 1862, by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, for 3 years or the war. His name appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States as being appointed 1st lieutenant on April 24, 1862. He is reported as present on all company rolls from that point until the period 7–28 February 1862, where he is reported absent on detached duty to the city police at Knoxville, Tennessee, since December 1862. From that point until October 26, 1864, he is again reported present on all rolls. His name appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States as having resigned his commission as 1st lieutenant on October 26, 1864. After his resignation, he joined the Washington Siege Artillery stationed near Adams Run, South Carolina. After the war, he served as the Revenue Collector for Monroe County, Florida (1879–1881); Mayor of Key West, Florida (1889–1891); and publisher of the "Key West Dispatch" He died at Key West, Florida, on June 25, 1894.
2nd Lieutenant Samuel B. Ashby enlisted in Captain Henry Mulrennan's Florida Volunteers Coast Guards on November 27, 1861, as a coxswain. He was promoted to 3rd lieutenant on January 31, 1862, and later brevetted to 2nd lieutenant. He served with this organization until April 25, 1862. He was enlisted in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Florida Infantry Regiment on April 25, 1862, by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, for 3 years or the war. His name appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States as being elected 2nd lieutenant on April 25, 1862. He is reported as present on all company rolls from that point until the period April 30 through November 14, 1862, where he is reported absent sick at Knoxville, Tennessee, since November 1. He submitted his resignation to Secretary of War James A. Seddon on December 1, 1862. This letter was forwarded with favorable endorsement by Brigadier General W. G. M. Davis on December 26, 1862, stating in part that "…I am informed by the Lt. Col. commanding the 7th Regt. that he ( Lt. Ashby) has tendered his services to act as Pilot to a Gunboat built by the C.S. Navy now ready for sea on the Chattahoochee River and that the Navy Department wish to employ him at once." His name appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States as resigning on January 15, 1863. He last appears on a roster of the CSS Chattahoochee, dated 1863, as "S. B. Ashby, assistant boatswain".
2nd Lieutenant John A. Bethell was born on July 21, 1834, in Key West, Florida. His family were some of the early settlers of Pinellas Point (St. Petersburg), Florida. He was teaching school at the outbreak of the war. He entered state service as a member of Able Merander's Coast Guard Detachment, between July 14, 1861, and September 5, 1861. He continued state service by enlisting in Captain Henry Mulrennan's Florida Volunteers Coast Guards on November 27, 1861; he was promoted to coxswain on February 1, 1862. He served with this organization until April 25, 1862. He was enlisted as a 2nd corporal on April 25, 1862, in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. An undated company muster roll for April 30 to November 14, 1862, documents that he was brevetted to 2nd lieutenant from 2nd corporal on April 25, 1862; an undated company muster roll for February 7–28, 1863, documents his promotion to 2nd lieutenant January 1, 1863. He is present on all company muster rolls until an undated company muster roll for January and February 1864 stating that he was absent on 25-day furlough starting February 14, 1864. He tendered his resignation on February 27, 1864. In a letter dated April 5, 1864, by Lt. Col Tilghman Ingram to Colonel Kinloch Falconer AAG, he recommended that Lieut. Bethell "be discharged from the service for the following reasons – 1st That Lt. Bethell on the 4th day of February 1864 was furloughed for Twenty five (25) days and has not since reported [to] this command. 2nd That by letter to his Captain [Robert Blair Smith] he states that he has resigned on Surgeon's Certificate of disability with the intention of doing the Navy." His name last appears on a Register containing Rosters of Commissioned Officers, Provisional Army Confederate States as being "Dropped" May 16, 1864. After the war he ran a small store and made a living as a fisherman at Point Pinellas. He drew a Confederate Pension. One year prior to his death on April 12, 1915, he published a history of Point Pinellas Florida. It was said at the time of his death that throughout his life he never complained of illness, and when he died he suffered from no recognizable disease. The doctor in attendance declared, "He just passed away , like a piece of machinery, worn out."
1st Sergeant Charles H. Berry resided at Key West prior to Florida's secession, and left there between May and November 1861. He enlisted in Captain Henry Mulrennan's Florida Volunteers Coast Guards on November 27, 1861, as a mate. He served with this organization until April 25, 1862. He was enlisted in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Florida Infantry Regiment on April 25, 1862, by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, for 3 years or the war. He is reported as present on all company rolls until an undated roll for the period April 30, 1862, to November 14, 1862. This roll documents his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 8, 1862. He served in CSS Chattahoochee at Blountstown, Florida, until May 27, 1863, when her boiler exploded and she sank. He was numbered among those killed in the accident.
4th Sergeant John Allison served in 2nd Lieutenant Able Merander's Coast Guard Detachment between July 14, 1861, and September 5, 1861. Mustered in as "mate" November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a 4th sergeant in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; on active duty; $50 bounty due for service and clothing money since March 5, 1862. He was transferred August 5, 1862, to the Confederate States Navy and assigned to the CSS Chattahoochee as quartermaster. The vessel sank as a result of a boiler explosion on May 27, 1863. He was not listed among the killed or injured; there is no further mention of him from this date.
2nd Sergeant Timothy Buckley served in 2nd Lieutenant Able Merander's Coast Guard Detachment as "mate" between July 14, 1861, and September 5, 1861. He enlisted with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards on January 1, 1862. Mustered in March 5, 1862, at Tampa, Florida, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He was ordered discharged on April 25, 1862, by order of Major R. B. Thompson. His rank is documented as 2nd sergeant.
5th Sergeant Jules Chebert was born in France in 1820, and resided in Florida since about 1848. He enlisted as a coxswain in Captain Henry Mulrennan's Florida Volunteers Coast Guards on November 27, 1861. He served with this organization until April 25, 1862. He was enlisted in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Florida Infantry Regiment on April 25, 1862, by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, for 3 years or the war. He is reported as present on all company rolls until an undated roll for the period April 30 through November 14, 1862. This roll documents his promotion from 1st corporal to 2nd sergeant on April 25, and his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 8, 1862. He served in CSS Chattahoochee at Blountstown, Florida, until May 27, 1863, when her boiler exploded and she sank. He then served in CSS Savannah until June 3, 1864, when he was wounded in action (shot through body) in the taking of the USS Water Witch. He returned to Key West, where he lived with his wife Missouri (maiden name Roberts), and three children (eldest born in 1861), and was employed as a seaman. He drew a Confederate Pension, and died in Key West in 1873.
3rd Sergeant Joseph E. Cole mustered in as "Coxswain" November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a 3rd sergeant in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; on active duty; $50 bounty due for service since March 5, 1862. He is reported as present on all company rolls until an undated roll for the period April 30, 1862, to November 14, 1862. This roll documents his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 8, 1862, and assignment to the CSS Chattahoochee as quartermaster. The vessel sank as a result of a boiler explosion on May 27, 1863. He was listed among the injured. There is no further mention of active service; however, his widow's Florida Confederate Pension Application documents that he remained in the C.S. Navy until the end of the war. He died March 12, 1889, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida.
3rd Sergeant Robert Watson was born September 9, 1834, at Ragged Island, Bahamas. His family relocated to Key West, Florida, in 1847. Prior to the war, he was a carpenter. Late in 1861 he, along with Alfred Lowe, Marcus Oliveri, and William Sawyer stowed away aboard an English schooner bound for Nassau. After reaching that port they got a vessel to land them at Cape Florida, and walked from there to Jupiter Light, and there got a small boat and went to New Smyrna. Thence they walked to Enterprise, where they took the steamer Darlington to Jacksonville, and continued their journey until they reached Tampa. Watson was mustered into service as a "mate" December 1, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a 3rd sergeant in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present for the period March 25, 1862, through June 1862 and due He is reported present; due $50 bounty and clothing money. On the company muster roll for April 30 to November 14, 1862, he is documented as promoted 1st sergeant on August 8, 1862 (likely as a result of the vacancy caused by 1st Sergeant Charles Berry's transfer to the C.S. Navy on the same date). On September 2, ill with fever, Watson was captured and paroled by Union troops at Boston, Kentucky. On an undated company muster roll for February 7–28, 1863, he is reported absent on 40 days sick furlough since January 1, 1863, at Tampa, Florida. He returned to his unit in March 1863. The Roll for March and April 1863 document him as being absent without leave from March 15 to April 3, 1862. He is reported present on all further muster rolls through February, 1864. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy on February 24, 1864. He served on CSS Savannah until December of that year, when, upon the evacuation of Savannah, the ship was scuttled to prevent it from falling into Union hands. Watson was briefly sent to Charleston, South Carolina; then to Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, North Carolina. Following the fall of Fort Fisher in January 1865, Watson traveled by rail to Richmond, Virginia, assisting in the defense of the James River. Watson accompanied Lee's Army of Northern Virginia when it evacuated the Confederate capital. He was captured as a member of Admiral Semmes' naval brigade near Appomattox by Federal forces on April 8, 1865, one day before the surrender at Appomattox. He was paroled April 14, 1865, although he refused to take the oath. After the war, Watson returned to Key West, Florida, and resumed his profession as a carpenter. He drew a Confederate Pension, and died on April 6, 1911, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida. (More detailed information may be obtained from his diary, published as "Southern Service on Land and Sea: The Wartime Journal of Robert Watson CSA/CSN".)
4th Corporal Rofena Fallis was mustered into service as a seaman on December 1, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a 4th corporal in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all subsequent rolls until February 25, 1864, when he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and assigned to serve in CSS Savannah at Savannah, Georgia. He served in CSS Savannah from March 10 until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He, along with Robert Watson, was briefly sent to Charleston, South Carolina, where he served briefly in CSS Columbia. He was transferred to Richmond station on January 25, 1865; there is no further record of service after this date.
3rd Corporal Augustus Merrillac was mustered into service as a "seaman" November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a 3rd corporal in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present for the period March 25, 1862, through June 1862 and due $50 bounty and clothing money. On the company muster roll for April 30 to November 14, 1862, he is documented as being absent (time, pace, date, and reason illegible are illegible). Undated company muster roll for February 7–28, 1863, he is reported absent on parole since December 1, 1862, at Tampa, Florida. (Owing to the large number of men documented as being left behind sick when General E. K. Smith withdrew from Kentucky in the fall of 1862, it is not unlikely that Merrillac was among these). He is reported present on all further muster rolls through February, 1864. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy on February 24, 1864. He served on CSS Savannah until December of that year, when, upon the evacuation of Savannah, the ship was scuttled to prevent it from falling into Union hands. There is no further record of service after this date.
1st Corporal Samuel Morgan was born in the Bahamas in 1831. He was mustered into service as a "seaman" November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a 1st corporal in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; on active duty; $50 bounty due for service since March 5, 1862. He is reported as present on all company rolls until an undated roll for the period April 30, 1862, to November 14, 1862. This roll documents his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 8, 1862, and assignment to the CSS Chattahoochee as a sailmaker. The vessel sank as a result of a boiler explosion on May 27, 1863. He emerged unscathed, and was sent to Savannah, Georgia, for assignment as a sailmaker's mate in the recently commissioned CSS Savannah. He served in CSS Savannah until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. It is not unlikely that he, along with several other "Key West Avengers" would make his way north to continue service; he was listed as captured following the Battle of Sayler's Creek on April 6, 1865, at Burkeville and documented as "able seaman, CS Navy". (Private Jules Chabert, Private Charles Miller, and Private John D. Sands would also be transferred and assigned to the CSS Savannah) . He survived the war and died at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, on June 16, 1904.
2nd Corporal William Oliver Sawyer was born ca. 1837 in the British West Indies. Prior to the war, Sawyer lived with his wife and daughter at Key West; his occupation was mariner. Late in 1861 he, along with Alfred Lowe, Marcus Oliveri, and Robert Watson stowed away aboard an English schooner bound for Nassau. After reaching that port they got a vessel to land them at Cape Florida, and walked from there to Jupiter Light, and there got a small boat and went to New Smyrna. Thence they walked to Enterprise, where they took the steamer Darlington to Jacksonville, and continued their journey until they reached Tampa. He was mustered into service as a "seaman" December 1, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards, and served on the crew of the boat Mollie Post. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a 2nd corporal in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present for the period March 25, 1862, through June 1862 and due $50 bounty and clothing money. He is reported absent on the company muster roll for the period April 30 through November 14, 1862. He is reported absent sick at Knoxville, Tennessee, since August 12, 1862; this roll also documents his appointment as 1st corporal on August 8, 1862 (likely as a result of the vacancy caused by 1st Corporal Samuel Morgan's transfer to the C.S. Navy on the same date). On an undated Hospital Muster Roll to August 31, 1862, he is documented as received a $50.00 bounty; it also documents his rank as "Sergt." His name appears on an undated register of officers and soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease. This register documents his death from [unspecified] disease on December 28, 1862, at Fair Grounds Hospital. He was buried at Bethel Confederate Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee, where his last name is incorrectly given as "Sanger" on a cemetery register and his date of death December 29 instead of the 28th.
Private Benjamin Richard Albury was born on Royal Island, Bahamas on September 6, 1811. He, along with his wife and children, migrated to Key West, Florida, in 1852. His pre-war occupation was a fisherman. He mustered into service on November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until he was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for three years or the war. He is reported present; on active duty; $50 bounty and clothing money due for service since March 5, 1862. He was present with the company until November 14, 1862, when he was reported on sick furlough. He was medically discharged from service at Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 30, 1862, being found incapable of performing the duties of a soldier due to "old age and debility". His discharge certificate gives his physical description as 50 years of age, 5 ft. 6 in. tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, and gray hair. He died ca. 1865, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida.
Private Manuel Amon was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present for the period March 25, 1862, through June 1862 and due $50 bounty and clothing money. He is reported absent on the company muster roll for the period April 30 through November 14, 1862, being left sick at Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He is reported as having deserted to the enemy near Versailles, Kentucky, in October 1862.
Private Charles Anderson was mustered into service as a "seaman" November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a 2nd corporal in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present for the period March 25, 1862, through June 1862 and due $50 bounty and clothing money. His name appears on an undated register of officers and soldiers of the Army of the Confederate States who were killed in battle, or who died of wounds or disease. He is reported to have died of [unspecified] disease at Frankfort, Kentucky, on September 22, 1862.
Private George Anderson was enlisted on April 25, 1862, in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present for the period March 25, 1862, through June 1862 and due $50 bounty and clothing money. He is present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he is reported absent sick at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was granted a sick furlough of 40 days beginning January 27, 1863, at Tampa, Florida. He was reported present on the company muster roll for March and April 1863; he was reported as being discharged under Surgeon's Certificate on May 21, 1863.
Private Henry Angui was enlisted by Captain Henry Mulrenan on March 5, 1862, at Tampa, Florida. He was discharged by Major R. B. Thomas on April 25, 1862, at Tampa, Florida. Reason for discharge is not given.
Private Augustus Azariah Archer was born March 14, 1829, at Green Turtle Key, Bahamas. His family moved to Key West in 1839. In 1860, he and John Thomas Lowe owned and captained their own vessels, and left Key West and settled near Anona, Florida. He was mustered into Confederate service on May 15, 1862, as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; due $50 bounty and clothing money. He is reported present on all rolls until about September 1, 1862, when he was documented as absent due to capture and parole at Boston, Kentucky, on or about September 1, 1862. He was documented as absent without leave from September 1, 1862, until October 31, 1863, when he was dropped from the rolls. He was labeled a deserter in one source; however, his available military service records and corroboration by Robert Watson's diary indicate that he was actually a prisoner of war, taken while on parole near Tampa, Florida, on December 2, 1862, and transported to the Union authorities at Key West. After the war, Archer sailed a schooner in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, carrying for cargo mostly lumber from Cedar Keys to Tampa and other Gulf coast towns. Sometimes he went as far as Tortugas, where the Yankees had a prison camp. On one of these cruises he slipped past the islands west of Tampa and dropped anchor in a lagoon near a little peninsula (Bay Pines, Florida). On the mainland grew tall long leaf pines. Wild turkey flew up from the underbrush, and deer eyed the vessel from the water's edge. "Right here," declared Archer, "is where I'm going to live." Back in Key West he told great tales of the rich soil in the new country, where a man could live unhindered by the social conventions that were becoming so irksome in the older towns. He gathered his family together, loaded his schooner with provisions, and headed back north. "Gus" Archer died on December 18, 1904, near Seminole, Florida.
Private Thomas H. Ashford was enlisted on April 25, 1862, in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until November 14, 1862, when he was reported absent sick at Social Circle, Georgia, since about August 2, 1862. On February 28, 1863, he was reported absent at Gainesville, Florida, and absent without leave since September 1, 1862. He was reported as dying of disease [unspecified] at Gainesville, Florida, on April 1, 1863.
Private Joseph Atzeroth was born August 20, 1804, at Besingen, Germany. He was enlisted on May 1, 1862, in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He is reported present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he was reported absent sick at Hospital at Knoxville Tennessee since November 3, 1862. He was discharged from service on November 7, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee, for "old age and debility". He died October 29, 1871, at Terr Ceia, Manatee County, Florida.
Private James Barnett served in 2nd Lieutenant Able Merander's Coast Guard Detachment between July 14, 1861, and September 5, 1861. He was mustered into service as a "seaman" December 1, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he was reported absent sick at Hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was reported sick in camp at Knoxville, Tennessee, sometime between April 30 and July 13, 1863; he was present on all rolls until February 20, 1864, when he was again reported absent in the hospital. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy on February 24, 1864. He served in the CSS Savannah for only a few days before being transferred to CSS Sampson on March 11, 1864. He was wounded in action at Savannah, Georgia, during the taking of the USS Water Witch on June 3, 1864. He survived the war and married Rebecca (Arnold), at Tampa, Florida, on April 26, 1866. He and his wife became the first settlers of what is now Gulfport, Florida, building a house near the shore of Boca Ciega Bay in 1867. Private Barnett died on September 23, 1886; Rebecca applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Joseph Simon Bartlum was born June 28, 1838, at Green Turtle Cay, Great Abaco, Bahamas. His family relocated to Key West, Florida, prior to 1857. He married Mary Elizabeth Roberts on October 22, 1857, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls, and was wounded at the Battle of Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. He was reported present on the rolls for November and December, 1864, and reported as absent on furlough for 30 days beginning February 6, 1864. He is widely believed to have entered the C.S. Navy at Savannah, Georgia, between February and March 1864 and to have served in CSS Savannah with a number of other former members of company K; however, there is no further official record of service after February 6, 1864. After the war he lived at Key West and worked as a carpenter and cigar make. He died at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, on September 19, 1903. Mary Elizabeth applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Lewis Bell, Jr. was born in 1831. He married Florencia Josefa Haager nee Leonardi on September 11, 1858, at Tampa, Florida. He was enlisted on May 14, 1862, in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He is reported as present on all company rolls from that point until the period 7–28 February 1862, where he is reported absent on detached duty to the city police at Knoxville, Tennessee, since December 1862. He was promoted from the ranks to 4th corporal between March and April, 1863. He is reported present on all rolls until February 6, 1864, when he was granted a 30-day furlough. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy on April 10, 1864, and was assigned to the CSS Chattahoochee as a seaman and quartermaster. There is no further official record of service after April 19, 1864. Quartermaster Bell died of spinal disease and chronic diarrhea on December 31, 1884, at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. Florencia Josefa applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Asa Bishop was born in 1829 at Baldwin County, Alabama. He married Martha Ann Andress at Morgan County on April 2, 1857. Asa and Martha came to Manatee County, Florida, with her father, John Andress, at the end of the Third Seminole War in 1859. Andress chose to homestead near Shaw's Point on the Manatee River where an old tabby house stood. The place Asa Bishop chose, just up the river, also became known as Bishop's Point. Asa's occupation was listed as "farmer" on the 1860 census. Not long after constructing a home for his family, Asa went to Tampa to join the Confederate forces. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until February 3, 1863, when he was reported on detached duty to the city police at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was reported present on all rolls from March 1863 until April 3, 1864, when he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and assigned to serve in CSS Spray at St. Mark's, Florida, as ordinary seaman, on June 2, 1864. He was paroled at St. Mark's, May 12, 1865. After the war, he lived with his family on Sneed Island in Tampa Bay, where he worked for the US post-office delivering mail by boat up the Manatee River. He and his descendents were fishermen by trade and at one point supplied fish to The Barnum & Bailey Circus, which was located in Bradenton. He was familiar with both Augustus Atzeroth and Miguel Guerrero, both men being in the service with him, and living near Bishop's Point and Terra Ceia. Asa died on November. 14, 1894, at Palma Sola, Manatee County, Florida. Martha Ann applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Samuel Bishop, a single man, came to Florida in November, 1841. Under the provisions of the Armed Occupation Act of 1842, he filed a claim on March 23, 1843, and received permit #549, June 16, 1843. He sold the land to Eliel N. Lockhart, November 4, 1857. He served in Lieutenant Michael L. Shannahan's Coast Guard Detachment, between July 14, 1861, and September 5, 1861. He was enlisted on March 5, 1862, as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Captain Henry Mulrenan at Tampa, Florida. He was discharged by order of Major R. B. Thomas on April 25, 1862, at Tampa, Florida. Reason for discharge is not given.
Private T. S. Boswell was enlisted on March 24, 1864, as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Colonel Barnes at Tallahassee, Florida, for the war. He is reported on an undated company muster roll Company H, 1st Regiment Troops and Defenses, Macon, Georgia, for November and December 1864 at Camp Wright near Macon, Georgia. He is identified as a private assigned to Company K, 7th Florida Infantry. He appears on an undated Roll of Prisoners of War as surrendering at Tallahassee, Florida, on May 10, 1865, and being paroled there on May 17, 1865.
Private George W. Boyett was enlisted on March 5, 1862, by Captain Henry Mulrenan at Tampa, Florida. He was discharged by order of Major R. B. Thomas on April 25, 1862, at Tampa, Florida. Reason for discharge is not given. He was enlisted as a private in Captain Gettis' Company (Company B, South Florida Rifles), 7th Florida Infantry on May 4, 1862, by Lieutenant Henderson at Tampa, Florida.
Private Robert M. Bryson was enlisted as a private on April 25, 1862, in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; due $50 bounty and clothing money. He was detailed to serve as the regimental drummer by order of Colonel Robert Bullock on August 25, 1863. He is reported as present on all rolls until February 25, 1864, when he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and assigned to serve in CSS Savannah as a seaman. On April 19, 1864, he was part of an oystering expedition party and deserted to the Union forces at Fort Pulaski.
April 19, 1864 (Tuesday) - Savannah, Georgia - "One of our boats went down the river in the morning after oysters, two midshipmen and 4 men went in her. They got a boat load and went on shore and built a fire and while they were opening and eating, Robert Bryson and another man sneaked off and deserted and have gone to Fort Pulaski and the Yankees."
April 20, 1864 (Wednesday) - Savannah, Georgia - "At daylight our boat came back to the ship and confirmed the report about the two men deserting, they had remained with the boat and searched all about for the two men thinking that they may have got lost in the swamp, but after waiting until nearly daylight they were satisfied that they had deserted, so they started and came back to the ship (CSS Savannah). Bryson was transferred from our company with me, am greatly surprised at his deserting from the navy where he had plenty to eat and little to do. [Page torn] of a chance to desert while in the army. [Page torn] starved, half naked and marched nearly to [page torn]." - Seaman Robert Watson, CSS Savannah, C.S. Navy
Private Thomas Burns was mustered into service as a "seaman" on November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 8, 1862, and assigned to the CSS Chattahoochee as an ordinary seaman.
Private Thomas E. Butler was born at London, England, in 1834. He was mustered into service as a "seaman" on December 15, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He was accidentally wounded in the foot by a loaded firearm mishap on February 5, 1862. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; due $50 bounty and clothing money. He was present on all rolls until July 8, 1862, when he was reported as being discharged by order of Brigadier General Joseph Finnegan. Reason for discharge is not given, and there is no further mention of him from this date.
February 5, 1862 (Wedensday) - Near Manatee, Florida - "Started for the settlement at daylight at which place we arrived at 7 1/2 o'clock A.M. In passing the guns [loaded and left in the boat from the previous evening] out of the Mary Jane one of the guns accidentally went off, one of the buckshot went into Tom Butler's foot. It struck one of his toes breaking it all to pieces and passing up into his foot. Sent Tom Butler up to Tampa in the Cate Dale to have his wound dressed for we have no doctor with us – Seaman Robert Watson, Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards
Private Charles H. Chapman was mustered into service as a seaman on November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; due $50 bounty and clothing money. He was present on all rolls up to August 8, 1862, when he was promoted from the ranks to 4th corporal, effective August 8, 1862 (likely due to the vacancy created when 1st Corporal Samuel Morgan was transferred to CSS Chattahoochee on August 5, 1862). He was reported as absent on detached duty to the city police at Knoxville, Tennessee, from December 2, 1862, until March, 1863. He was promoted to 1st corporal on March 1, 1863. He is reported as present on all rolls until February 25, 1864, when he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and assigned to serve in CSS Savannah as a seaman. He reported to CSS Savannah on March 7, 1864; two days later, he was transferred, as seaman, to the CSS Sampson. There is no further record of service after this date.
Private William S. Clay was mustered into Confederate service on May 15, 1862, as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Captain R. B. Smith at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He deserted on the same day.
Private John Clute was mustered into Confederate service on June 26, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present for the period May and June 1862 and due $50 bounty and clothing money. He is reported absent on the company muster roll for the period April 30 through November 14, 1862, being captured and paroled in Kentucky about October 14, 1862. not the muster roll for February 7 through February 28, 1863, he is reported as having deserted to the enemy near Versailles, Kentucky, in October 1862.
Private William Thomas Collier was born on March 12, 1815, at Franklin County Tennessee. He attended school through the age of 16 before quitting to begin work in a carriage manufacturing company. He next tried his hand as a millwright, planning and building mills and making a name for himself in north Florida, Georgia and North Carolina. He married Barbara Elizabeth Hedick on April 5, 1849. His work required the family to move quite frequently. They were living in Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, when the Civil War broke out. When he enlisted, Mr. Collier sold his property and moved the family to his wife's family home in Hernando County. He was mustered into service of the state of Florida as a private on July 20, 1861, with Captain James P. McMullen's Company for three month's service. The company was stationed at Clearwater until their term of service expired on October 20, 1861. He was mustered into Confederate service on May 14, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He is reported present for the period May and June 1862 and due $50 bounty and clothing money. He was promoted from the ranks to 5th sergeant on August 8, 1862 (likely as a result of the vacancies resulting from the numerous non-commissioned officer transfers to the C.S. Navy on August 5). He was reported absent on the company muster roll for the period April 30 through November 14, 1862, being captured and then paroled at Lawrenceburgh, Kentucky, about October 12, 1862. He was reported as being discharged due to diagnosis of "phthisis pulmonalis" (an archaic term for "consumption"; essentially, tuberculosis or TB) under Surgeon's Certificate issued on November 12, 1862, at Knoxville, Tennessee. On this certificate, he is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, and by occupation an engineer when enlisted. After the war, he relocated the family to Hatchet Creek, near Gainesville, Florida. Unhappy with his workers at his mill, Mr. Collier heard of a man in Savannah who might be able to assist him in hiring other workers. While at Savannah, Collier was shanghaied – knocked unconscious and picked of his watch, gold pencil and $100 cash. He awoke and found himself in the hold of a ship destined for the Bahamas, where he was dumped. Though penniless, he was able to take passage on a ship bound for the coastal town of Veracruz in central Mexico. From there, he boarded a small schooner and sailed to Galveston, Texas. And from there, Collier made his way back to his family at Hatchett Creek. in 1870, Collier and his family in their two-masted schooner, the Robert E. Lee, for the state's southwest coast from coastal northeast Florida. After briefly staying in the Fort Myers area, the family moved south, settling on Marco Island. Collier was 55 years old when he arrived on the northern end of the island. Collier was 55 years old when he arrived on the northern end of the island; the only people they encountered were four Negro squatters. Mr. Collier eventually purchased their land claims and also paid for their passage to Fort Myers. The Collier's first home, built within three months of their landing, burned down. The family's second home, a palmetto shack, was destroyed in a hurricane. Their third home survived, and times became more prosperous. They grew crops, especially cabbage sold in Key West. One haul went for $10,000, another for $12,000. For three decades, William T. Collier survived the cough that his caused his discharge from military service. Collier and his wife had three more children, bringing the total to 12. He saw his sons build a 20-room hotel and a general store, which started attracting tourists. He died on October 30, 1902, at the age of 87.
Private J. E. Collins was mustered into service as a seaman on December 15, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; due $50 bounty and clothing money. He was present on all rolls until his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 8, 1862, and assigned to the CSS Chattahoochee as a seaman. There is no further record of service after this date.
Private Charles Combe was mustered into service as a seaman on December 15, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present; due $50 bounty and clothing money. He is reported as present on all company muster rolls until November 25, 1863, when he is reported missing in action at Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. He was captured by Federal forces and sent to the military prison at Louisville, Kentucky, arriving there on December 8, 1863. He was transferred to the military Prison at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois, the following day, and arrived there on December 11, 1863. On a Roll of Prisoners dated February 5, 1864, he is documented as enlisting in the U.S. Navy on January 25, 1864, and being transferred to the Naval rendezvous at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, on February 5, 1864.
Private Peter A. Crusoe was born ca. 1820 at Gibraltar. He married Sarah A. Roberts prior to 1858, and was a Clerk of the Circuit Court at Key West, Florida, from 1851 to 1861. He was appointed as one of two secretaries assigned to record a meeting held on December 12, 1860, for the purpose of nominating delegates to the State secession convention to assemble in Tallahassee on the third day of January, 1861. In May 1861, he departed Key West and went to Tampa. He was mustered into service as a seaman on December 1, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged by Major R. B. Thomas very soon after (the reason stated is illegible in the records). According to Robert Watson's diary, Crusoe is known to have returned to Tampa, and apparently engaged in business until Tampa was occupied by the Federal forces on May 6, 1864; he was taken into custody for refusing to take the oath of allegiance. After the war, he returned to Key West, where he again served as Clerk of the Circuit Court at Key West, Florida, from 1865 to 1868. He died at Key West on March 5, 1873.
Private Edmund Curry was born at Key West, Florida, on July 4, 1846. He was mustered into Confederate service on May 4, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Captain R. B. Smith at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged under Surgeon's Certificate at Lexington, Kentucky, on October 8, 1862. The reason given is due to continued sickness (according to his original pension application, he was diagnosed with malaria). He married Florida Townsend on December 17, 1867, at Hillsborough County, Florida. He drew a Confederate pension for his service until his death on June 14, 1925, at St. Petersburg, Pinellas County, Florida. Florida applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Henry Curry was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported to have been discharged from service prior to July 8, 1862; reason not specified.
Private Joseph Curry was born March 8, 1841. He married Frances Johnson on December 7, 1859. He was mustered into service as a seaman on October 14, 1861, with Captain A. B. Noyes Coast Guards at St. Marks, Florida, for a period of three months. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Camp Lee, Gainesville, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported as absent without leave on all Confederate records from April 1862 through 1863. He is reported to have been sent home on sick furlough between November and December, 1862. In a letter from the [U.S.] Provost Marshal's Office of Key West Florida dated June 18, 1863, he was reported to have left Key West to visit his father at Manatee but was known to have left Manatee and joined the Confederate army. He was also known to have been sick or disabled while in service and an invalid in a Confederate Hospital. Private Curry died at Key West, Florida, on July 9, 1912.
Private Samuel George Curry was born March 22, 1843, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Camp Lee, Gainesville, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until July 1, 1863, being then sick in the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was again reported sick in the hospital at Marietta, Georgia, on September 12, 1863. He was present on all subsequent muster rolls until April 10, 1864. On that date, he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and was assigned to the CSS Chattahoochee as a seaman. He served on the CSS Chattahoochee during a raid on Apalachicola May 3, 1864. He also served in the CSS Savannah, the CSS Georgia, and CSS Charleston. He, along with Robert Watson, was briefly sent to Charleston, South Carolina; then to Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, North Carolina. Following the fall of Fort Fisher in January 1865, they traveled by rail to Richmond, Virginia, assisting in the defense of the James River. Curry and Watson accompanied Lee's Army of Northern Virginia when it evacuated the Confederate capital. He was captured as a member of Admiral Semmes' naval brigade near Farmville, Virginia, on April 6, 1865. He was released on oath on June 25, 1865, at Newport News, Virginia. He married Amanda Melvinia Andress on September 20, 1866, at Manatee, Manatee County, Florida. After the war, he was Commander of a local United Confederate Veteran Camp. He drew a Confederate pension until his death on April 5, 1925, at Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida. Amanda applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private William D. Curry was born May 6, 1840, in the Bahamas. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he was reported absent sick i the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was reported absent without leave at Clearwater, Florida, from February 13, 1863, through July 13, 1863. He returned to the unit between July 13 and September 12, 1863; on the latter date, he is reported absent sick at Marietta, Georgia. He was reported present on the company muster roll for January and February, 1864. There is no further record of his service; however, he applied for and received a Confederate Pension from the State of Florida beginning May 3, 1886, until his death at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, on August 13, 1886.
Private Manuel Francisco Diaz was born at Ferrol, Spain, c. 1840, and was a resident of Key West, Florida, since 1858. He was mustered into service as a seaman on January 25, 1862, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he was reported absent sick in the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was present on all subsequent muster rolls until March 3, 1864. On that date, he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and was assigned to the CSS Savannah as a seaman. He served in CSS Savannah until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He, along with Robert Watson, was briefly sent to Charleston, South Carolina; then to Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, North Carolina. Following the fall of Fort Fisher in January 1865, they traveled by rail to Richmond, Virginia, assisting in the defense of the James River. He was captured as a member of Admiral Semmes' naval brigade near Farmville, Virginia, on April 6, 1865. After the war, Diaz returned to Key West and found employment as a sailor. He married Ascunsion Cabeza in Monroe County, Florida, August 24, 1888. In 1907 was a member of Camp Franklin Buchanan No. 1214, United Confederate Veterans, of Monroe County. He was reported to be an odd job worker in 1910. He drew a Confederate pension until his death on September 27, 1910, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida. Asuncion applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private St. Johns Le Boudrias DeLaunay was born ca. 1841. He first appears on a Regimental Return of Company C, 5th Florida Infantry Regiment for the month of April, 1862; he is document as being discharged on April 8, 1862 (location and reason not given). He mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until October 17, 1863, when he was detailed to drive beef cattle from Tampa, Florida. There is no further record of service after this date. After the war, he was a member of Hillsborough Camp #1, United Confederate Veteran in 1891. He died at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, in 1903.
Private Edward Dorsey was mustered into service as a seaman on November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned the duty of cook for the crew of the Mollie Post. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until February 25, 1864. On that date, he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and was assigned serve in CSS Savannah as a seaman. There is no further record of his service.
Private John H. Duke was born ca. 1837. He was mustered into Confederate service on May 14, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 5, 1862, to serve in CSS Chattahoochee as a seaman. He is documented as requesting pay on December 11, 1862, at Leon County, Florida, for the period June 30 to October 31, 1862. He attests that he was on sick furlough. He was recommended for discharge from military service by Acting Assistant Surgeon W. A. Lively at Fort Brooke, Tampa, Florida, on January 13, 1863. He was diagnosed with rheumatism and general debility, due to torpid liver, enlarged spleen, and abdominal dropsy. There is no further record of service after this date.
Private John Dupuy was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present until November 3, 1862, when he was recorded as absent sick in hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was again present for duty from at least February 7, 1863, until February 25, 1864, when he was wounded in action during the first Battle of Dalton, Georgia. He had been officially transferred to the Confederate States Navy the day he received his mortal wound. He was visited in the Fairground Hospital #2 in Atlanta by many of his Company K comrades on March 6, 1864, at which time Sgt. Watson of his company recorded he was "in good spirits and doing well." Dupuy died at Atlanta Fairground Hospital #2, Atlanta, Georgia, on March 7, 1864. He is the only known combat-related fatality among the personnel of Company K during active service.
Private George W. Edwards was mustered into service as a seaman on December 1, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present until November 2, 1862, when he was recorded as absent sick in hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was reported as absent sick at Mossy Creek Hospital since November 2, 1862, until April 1863. He was reported present on all subsequent rolls until April 10, 1864, when he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and assigned to serve in CSS Spray at St. Mark's, Florida. There is no further record of service after this date.
Private Joseph Fagan was born ca. 1846 at St. Augustine, Florida. In 1860, he was living at Key West, Florida, with his parents, Henry and Ellen (Lyon) Fagan, and one brother. His pre-war occupation is shown as laborer. In autumn of 1861, Fagan and John T. Lowe were working in Manatee county and joined their comrades from Key West in Tampa. The others were engaged in smack fishing for the Havana market. Their vessels were captured by the Confederates near Tampa, which afforded them an opportunity to give their services to their country. Fagan was mustered into service as a seaman on December 1, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present until November 2, 1862, when he was recorded as absent sick in hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was absent on sick furlough through February, 1863. He was reported present In March 1863, his absence to that point was document as absent without leave. He is reported present on all subsequent muster rolls until November 25, 1863, when he is reported missing in action at Missionary Ridge. He is documented on an undated (Federal) Register of Prisoners of War for the Department of the Cumberland documenting his capture at Missionary Ridge on November 25. He was taken to the General Field Hospital at Bridgeport, Alabama, in December, and remained there until transferred to the Post House Hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, in February, 1863, where he received treatment for pneumonia. He was released from care in March 1864, and transferred to travel Louisville, Kentucky, on March 20, 1864, for further transfer to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he arrived on March 26, 1864. He applied to take the oath of allegiance on June 10, 1864; he was administered the oath and released on March 29, 1865. He was described as being 21 years old and having dark complexion, light brown hair, 5 feet 10 inches tall, gray eyes. He returned to Tampa and married Mary Aurelia Bourquardez on October 3, 1869. He was a member of the UCV Camp Loring No. 1126, at Tampa, in 1907, and drew a Confederate Pension until his death at Tampa, Florida, on June 4, 1911. Mary Aurelia re-applied for a Widow's Pension, but apparently was denied based upon Joseph have received the Oath of Allegiance prior to the "official" cessation of the war.
Private William Hillary Franklin was born Oak Grove, Santa Rosa County, Florida, on June 5, 1844. He was mustered into service as a seaman on November 27, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until February 25, 1864. On that date, he was transferred to the C.S. Navy and was assigned serve in CSS Savannah as a seaman. There is no further record of his service. He died at Blackmon, Okaloosa County, Florida, on June 15, 1925.
Private William T Gilley was born in Early County, Georgia, on May 2, 1824. He was orphaned in 1839. His relocation to Manatee County, Florida, occurred between 1845 and 1855. He is documented as serving as a private in William B. Hooker's Company during the 3rd Seminole War. He married Martha M. Johnson May 31, 1860, at Manatee County, Florida. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until about September 8, 1862, when he was reported captured and paroled at London, Kentucky. He was exchanged at Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, on September 16, 1862. He was reported absent without leave in Manatee County from September 1862 through May 4, 1863. He was reported present from that time until July 22, 1864, when he was captured during the Battle of Atlanta. He was sent to the Military Prison at Louisville, Kentucky, arriving there about July 30, 1864. He was transferred from there on July 31, 1864, to Camp Chase Ohio. He was paroled at Camp Chase, Ohio, on March 4, 1865, and transferred to City Point, Virginia for exchange. He died at Parrish, Manatee County, Florida, on March 12, 1893.
Private Benjamin Edington Goddard was born in Manatee County, Florida, on September 21, 1849. He was mustered into Confederate service on February 1, 1864, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Captain R. B. Smith at Dalton, Georgia, for the war. Special Field Order 98, issued in the field by Headquarters, Army of Tennessee on September 6, 1864, discharged him on September 7, 1864. The reason given for discharge was that Private Goddard was a minor. According to his pension application, he was discharged at Bear Creek, Georgia, after being hospitalized for rheumatism; further, that after his discharge he was captured by Federal forces and taken to Cedar Key, Florida, where he remained in captivity until the end of the war. He maintained both stories to his death. After the war, he married Melissa E. Wilkens on January 22, 1891. He drew a Confederate Pension until his death at Parrish, Manatee County, Florida, on June 1, 1924. Melissa applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Miguel Guerrero was born in Minorca ca. 1805. From there he moved to New Orleans. In 1848 he moved to Palmetto, Florida. He was a fisherman. In 1856, he served as a private in the state militia, first in Addison's Company from April 7, 1856, to October 8, 1856 and then in Parker's Company October 8, 1856, until December 15, 1856. After his discharge, he returned to Terra Ceia and commercial fishing. Shortly after his discharge from state service, he met and then married Fredrica Kramer who was from Bavaria. Her aunt, Julia Atzeroth, owned a store in Palmetto. Family lore has it that he didn't speak German and she didn't speak Spanish, and neither spoke English. Miguel and Frederica moved from his modest fisherman shack shed to a small home on the long shell mound facing what is now "Miguel Bay" Their family grew at a rapid pace. Michael was born in 1857, and Frederick in 1859. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until November 8, 1862, when he was reported as absent sick in hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. On March 1, 1863, he was reported as being discharged under Surgeon's Certificate due to diagnosis of chronic rheumatism and general debility the result of age. On this certificate, he is described as being 58 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches tall, dark complexion, gray eyes, light hair, and by occupation a fisherman when enlisted. He was discharged from service on March 9, 1863, while his company was stationed at Watauga Bridge, Tennessee. Returning to Terra Ceia, Manuel resumed his livelihood of fishing. Frederica bore three more children; Christopher on June 1, 1864, Robert in 1866, and Mary in 1868. Shortly following Mary's birth, yellow fever struck the family, killing Michael and Fredrick. Miguel and Frederica buried their small bodies in the shell mound. Following the solemn service, Miguel had to leave on an extended fishing trip. When he returned, he found his wife dead; she was lying in bed next to her new baby. Miguel was not well himself. He too had been stricken with the fever. The two young boys were running around outside disoriented and hungry. They were confused; they didn't understand why their mother wasn't responding to them or where the two oldest children had gone. Miguel couldn't communicate with them. The extended fishing trip had left him weak. He was too faint to bury Frederica, or take a rowboat to the mainland and get help. He laid down next to his beloved wife, waiting to join her in the afterlife. Asa Bishop, of Bishop's Point in Palma Sola, eventually came sailing by. He was in a neighborly mood when he stopped in to discover the dire situation. He helped Miguel bury Frederica in the shell mound. According to an interview conducted by the Manatee County Historic Society, his son claimed he eventually caught the two boys in a castnet. He then loaded Miguel and the three children in his boat and carried them to his home. Miguel and the baby eventually died. Reverend Edmund Lee and his wife Electa of the Village of Manatee adopted Christopher, changing his name to Edmund Miguel Guerro Lee, or E.M. Lee as he was called. Mary and John Fogarty adopted Robert. Robert was renamed Robert Guerro Fogarty. Both children quickly learned to speak English in their new homes.
Private Daniel L. Hawkins was born on August 26, 1827, at Greenville, South Carolina. He married Amelia Russell on March 25, 1855. In 1856, he served as a private in the state militia during the 3rd Seminole War, first in Addison's Company from April 7, 1856, to October 8, 1856[85] and then in Parker's Company October 8, 1856, until December 15, 1856. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he was reported as absent sick in hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was promoted to 3rd corporal on March 1, 1863, and promoted again to 1st sergeant sometime in 1864. He was present on all rolls until his capture on January 4, 1865, at Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was sent to the military prison at Louisville, Kentucky, and transferred from there to Camp Chase, Ohio, on January 14, 1865. He took the "Oath of Allegiance" and was released on May 15, 1865. He was described as being 36 years old, residing at "Manitee County, Ala." [Manatee County, Fla.], 5 feet 4 1⁄2 inches tall, hazel eyes, florid skin, dark hair. After the war, he lived in Manatee Co. as a cattleman and served as one of the county's first commissioners. He married his second wife, Elizabeth A. Williams, on March 3, 1867. He married his third wife, Henrietta Harris, on June 24, 1881. He died of yellow fever on April 1, 1900, and was buried in unmarked grave on the Johnston Ranch, east of Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida. Henrietta applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private William Herryman was mustered into service as a seaman on January 1, 1862, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until detached for duty to the city police at Knoxville, Tennessee, since December 22. 1862. After that duty, he was reported present on all subsequent muster rolls until November 25, 1863, when he is reported missing in action at Missionary Ridge. He is reported present at the Federal Military Prison at Louisville, Kentucky, as a prisoner of war captured at Missionary Ridge on December 8, 1863. He was transferred to the military prison at Rock Island Barracks, Illinois, the following day, and arrived there prior to January 4, 1864. He took the "Oath of Allegiance" and was released on March 18, 1864, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 23, 1864.
Private John Brown Jackson was born on October 23, 1845, at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years. He is present on all rolls until November 27, 1863, when he was admitted to the Floyd House and Ocmulgee Hospital on November 27, 1863, having suffered a gunshot wound to the back at Missionary Ridge on November 25. He returned to his company and was present on all rolls until being transferred to the C.S. Navy on April 9, 1864. He was assigned initially to CSS Georgia, a floating battery at Savannah, Georgia. On May 4, 1864, he was reassigned to the steam gunboat CSS Macon. He was paroled at Augusta, Georgia, on 20 May 1865. John never married. He applied for and was granted a Confederate Pension for his service. Died March 31, 1921, at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida.
Private William A. Josselyn was mustered into service as a seaman on January 1, 1862, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged under Surgeon's Certificate shortly afterwards (reason and date illegible).
Private Edmund C. Lee was born in 1809 in Vermont. He was ordained a Presbyterian Minister in 1843 and assigned to all of Florida east of Tallahassee and south of Jacksonville. He was paid $200.00 a year. Lee arrived in Mantee County in 1848 with his first wife, Electa, and daughter. Lee was a "consumptive", and his move to Florida was a last-ditch effort to fight the disease that was consuming him. Edmund and Electa were both school teachers; they opened the "Dame School for Boys" in the village. Edmund established the First Presbyterian Church in 1854 and also was a town merchant. He was active in local politics, serving as county judge and was the first Clerk of Circuit Court for the newly formed Manatee County. He was mustered into service on October 9, 1861, with Captain A. B. Noyes' Coast Guards. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until October 9, 1862, when he was discharged under Surgeon's Certificate due to "increased disability from a long standing pulmonary disease". His physical description at discharge was given as 5 feet 10 inches tall, dark skin, and gray hair. He was dropped from the rolls but continued to serve as a preacher until the end of the war, serving primarily at General Hospital No. 1 at Savannah, Georgia. "... it is not known just when he returned to Manatee, but old citizens remember that when he did come he had been compelled to walk a large portion of the distance." Jesse Knight, an old friend who lived in Hillsborough Co., brought him the remaining sixty miles home. Apparently, his removal from Vermont improved his "consumption". Reverend Lee survived the war and outlived 3 wives; Electa (Arcotte), Adelaide (Frieson), and Elizabeth (O'Dell).
November 6, 1863 (Friday) - Savannah, Georgia - "Visited Ironclad (C.S.S. Savannah) twice lately, saw [Charles] Miller, [Joseph] Cole, [John B. Sands] Bager, [Samuel] Morgan and [Jules] Chabert. I preached on profane swearing." Rev. Edmund C. Lee to his daughter Sarah
Private James Lovett was born at Nova Scotia in 1810. He was mustered into service on July July 20, 1861, in Captain James P. McMullen's Infantry Company, and discharged on October 20, 1861. He was again mustered into service on December 20, 1861with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until his discharge for unspecified disease on October 22, 1862, at Knoxville, Tennessee. He died the next day. He was described as 5 feet 11 inches, fair skin, blue eyes, grayish hair, and by occupation a sailor.
Private Alfred B. Lowe was born on July 20, 1840, at Green Turtle Cay, Abaco (Bahamas). He was the brother of William E. "Butcher Bill" Lowe. Alfred's family relocated from Green Turtle Cay to Key West when he was five months old. He lived with his parents and one brother, and was occupied as a clerk. After being denied a pass to leave Key West in 1861, he slipped away with Robert Watson and others by stowing away on an English vessel. He was mustered into service on December 20, 1861, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mollie Post. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls, being promoted to 2nd corporal late in 1862, and then to 4th sergeant early in 1863. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia, on February 25, 1864, and was assigned to serve in CSS Savannah on March 13, 1864. He served in CSS Savannah until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avoid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, then to Wilmington, North Carolina where he served at Fort Fisher. After the fall of the fort, he escaped and went to Wilmington, then to Richmond, Virginia. He was a member of Tucker's Naval Brigade stationed at Drewry's Bluff and surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia, April, 1865. He was paroled at Burkesville Junction, Virginia, April 14, 1865. He married Mary Jane "Mollie" Whitehurst at Hillsborough County, Florida, on October 10, 1867. He was a member of UCV Camp Franklin Buchanan No. 1214, at Monroe County, in 1907, and drew a Confederate pension. He died at Key West, Florida, on December 1, 1921. "Mollie" applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private John Thomas Lowe was born on February 15, 1830, at Green Turtle Cay, Abaco (Bahamas). He lived at Key West, Florida, at age 17, and was a mariner and a "wrecker" He married Laura Dorothy Meares in 1853. In 1860, he and friend Augustus Archer left Key West for Clearwater, Florida, before the arrival of Federal occupation forces. Both owned and captained their own ships. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted 3rd corporal on August 8, 1862, and then promoted to 3rd sergeant on March 1, 1863. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia, on February 25, 1864, and was assigned to serve in CSS Savannah on March 3, 1864. He served in CSS Savannah until December 21, 1864. He was a participant in the capture of USS Waterwitch , and served temporarily in CSS Tallahassee from August 6 through August 26, 1864. He served as pilot in CSS Savannah until December 21, 1864; he is credited with assisting in firing and scuttling the vessel to deny her capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He was paroled at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, in 1865. In 1883 Capt John Thomas Lowe established a landing at the northwest end of Siesta Road calling it Lowe's Landing. This was the landing for the community called Anona. It received its name from the Anona sweet apples brought to the area from Key West. In 1872 settlers and circuit riding preacher Rev. John Wells established the first church service with the first rough board church/schoolhouse being built in 1873 on land donated by Captain John Thomas Lowe. The community of Anona eventually disappeared and became a part of the larger area of Largo. Lowe drew a Confederate pension. He died at died Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, on August 5, 1921.
Private William E. "Butcher Bill" Lowe was born on November 23, 1839, at Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. In 1860, he lived with his parents and brother, Alfred B. Lowe at Manatee County, Florida. He was mustered into Confederate service on May 1, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Captain R. B. Smith at Tampa, Florida, for three years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until February 25, 1862, when he was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia. He was assigned to serve in CSS Savannah on March 3, 1864. He was discharged from service by Surgeon's Certificate on June 2, 1864. He died at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, on April 26, 1926.
Private Jacob Maill was mustered into Confederate service on May 1, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until October, 1862, when he was reported to have deserted to Union forces near Versailles, Kentucky. According to Roberts Watson's diary, Maill arrived in a group of some 1,000 Union prisoners of war at Savannah, Georgia, on September 28, 1864.
September 28, 1864 (Wednesday) - Savannah, Georgia - "Jacob Mill[sic], a young fellow who deserted from the Yankees in Key West in 1862 and came to Tampa and joined our company is among the prisoners. He deserted from our company while in Kentucky in 1862 and joined the Yankees again. We would never had known that the fellow was there but the fool made himself known and wanted to join our service again, for [Joseph] Cole reported him to the Comdg. Officer who sent Cole into the stockade and brought him out and lodged him in jail. I expect he will be shot, he certainly deserves it." – 1st Sergeant Robert Watson, CSS Savannah, Savannah River Squadron
Private John Mason was mustered into service on January 25, 1862, with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. In July 1863, he, along with Robert Watson and Alfred Lowe, split off from the officers to create their own "mess" He is reported present on all rolls until September 20, 1863, when he was reported as sick at the Hospital at Dalton, Georgia. Apparently he absented himself at the Battle of Chickamauga, and no one in the company saw him until after the battle; further, he was reported to have remained at various hospitals until he took ill again. He is documented as being on extra duty as a nurse for the period December 1–31, 1863, at "rec'g & Dristrib. Hosp, Dalton, Georgia" by order of Surgeon R. P. Bateman. This assignment is corroborated by Robert Watson on November 29, 1863, when Mason was reported to have taken 3 men with him from Dalton to the hospital, and to have sent backsent back a bag of potatoes, a bag of cornmeal, and some hard bread. Mason, along with several others, was transferred to the CS Navy from Dalton on February 25, 1864; he had apparently obtained a furlough, and was on his way back to Tampa, getting as far as Marietta, Georgia. before suffering a relapse of illness from the previous October, and almost died from it. Robert Watson reported seeing him June 23, 1864, on board CSS Savannah and related that Mason was examined by the Surgeon, determined to be unfit for further service, and discharged the same day.
Private William McLaughlin was mustered into service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. Robert Watson recorded that he, along with Private Anderson Wood, Augustus Archer, and William McLaughlin were left sick, along with many men from other companies of the 7th, at Boston, Kentucky, when the regiment started for Barboursville. Official Records document McLaughlin as having been sick at hospital near Boston, Kentucky, and dying there of [unspecified] disease on August 24, 1862.
Private John L. McLean was mustered into service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. Official Records document him as dying of disease [unspecified] at Frankfort, Kentucky, on September 20, 1862.
Private William Brownell Meares was born October 7, 1829, at Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas. He immigrated through the port at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, with his mother Meriem on June 30, 1838, and was living with her at Key West when the 1850 Census was taken. He may have been naturalized on July 12, 1852, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida. He is believed to have traveled from Key West on the schooner Seadrift to "Lowe's Landing" (now Anona) with his mother in 1859; an old family friend, Capt. Augustus R. Archer, is reported to have traveled with them. He was mustered into Confederate service on May 14, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged from service in June 1862 under Surgeon's Certificate due to loss of one eye and other disabilities. He married Sarah Roberts July 9, 1866, at Lowe's Landing, Anona, Hillsborough County, Florida. By 1870, William was farming real estate valued at $200 and had acquired personal property valued at $115. In 1874, he and Capt. Archie Lowe rafted lumber from Cedar Key for the 1st Anona schoolhouse. He died on 18 October 1894 at Anona, Hillsborough, Pinellas County, Florida, at age 65. Sarah applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Charles Miller was born ca. 1843. He mustered into service on December 15, 1861, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mollie Post. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 5, 1862, while at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was sent from the Navy Yard to Columbus, Georgia, in November, 1862, for service aboard the CSS Chattahoochee. On May 27, 1863, he was on board CSS Chattahoochee when the explosion of her boilers occurred; he escaped the accident unharmed, and was transferred to Columbus with the remaining survivors, arriving there on June 1, 1863. He would be assigned to CSS Savannah, along with Private Jules Chabert and Private John D. Sands. He is last recorded on a roster from CSS Savannah dated June through December, 1863; and serving as a quarter-gunner. There is no further mention of his service him from this date. He married Emily J. McLeod on August 4, 1867, and died on April 4, 1899, at Manatee County, Florida.
Private Manuel Monte De Ocha was born ca. 1845 at Hillsborough County, Florida. He is mentioned by Robert Watson as being a member of Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards, but there is no independent corroboration of this service. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until February 25, 1862, when he was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia. He was assigned to serve in CSS Savannah on March 3, 1864. He served in CSS Savannah until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avoid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, where he served briefly in CSS Columbia, then transferred to the Richmond station on January 22, 1865. He married Matilda Willingham on January 17, 1867, at Tampa, Florida. Manuel died at Fort Meade, Polk County, Florida, in March, 1876. Despite having remarried twice after his death, Matilda applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her Manuel's service.
Private John B. Morrison was mustered into service on December 15, 1861, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was absent sick at Knoxville, Tennessee, on most rolls, and died there of pneumonia on May 17, 1863.
Private James Mosier was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until October, 1862. He was left sick at Versailles, Kentucky, and deserted to the US with Jacob Maill.
Private Joseph Henry Moss was born at the Bahamas on November 17, 1845. In 1860, he was living with his mother Sarah at Key West. He was mustered into service on November 27, 1861, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls, and listed on the Confederate Roll of Honor for "most conspicuous…gallantry and good conduct" at the Battle of Chickamauga. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia, on February 25, 1864. He was assigned to CSS Savannah on March 3, 1864, and served in her until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avoid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He was sent to Battery Buchanan at Fort Fisher outside Wilmington, North Carolina on December 30, 1864, serving in the Confederate Navy Detachment with the rank of ordinary seaman. Moss was captured at the Battle of Sailor's Creek on April 6, 1865, and sent to Camp Hoffman at Point Lookout, Maryland. He was paroled on June 15, 1865. He returned to Key West and took employment as a carpenter. He married Lydia Esther Pierce at Key West on February 17, 1873. Prior to 1885, he became the assistant keeper at the Jupiter Inlet Light Station at Dade (now Palm Beach) County, Florida. Joseph died there on May 22, 1885. Lydia applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Marcus Olivieri was born at Genoa, Ligura, Italy on November 25, 1835. In 1860, he was living at Key West, Florida, and employed as an assistant at the Marine Hospital. After being denied a pass to leave Key West in 1861, he slipped away with Alfred Lowe, William Sawyer, and Robert Watson by stowing away on an English vessel. He was mustered into service on December 1, 1861, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mollie Post. He remained in this unit mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged October 30, 1862, at Knoxville, Tennessee, under Surgeon's Certificate. At the time of his discharge, his physical description is given as 5 feet 11 inches tall, dark complexion, dark eyes and black hair. Occupation given as "merchant". He is reported to have been engaged in blockade running after his return to Key West. He died at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, on October 5, 1887.
Private William O'Neil was a resident of Manatee, Florida, in 1860. He married Mary Nicholas on July 4, 1861. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted from the ranks to 4th sergeant on August 8, 1862 ( likely as a result of the vacancies resulting from the numerous non-commissioned officer transfers to the C.S. Navy on August 5). He was present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he was reported sick at Knoxville Tennessee. He was appointed 3rd sergeant in February, 1863. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia, February 25, 1864. He was assigned to CSS Savannah on March 3, 1864. He was mentioned in Robert Watson's diary entry for October 4, 1864: "In afternoon Wm. O'Neil came on board. He had been home in Manatee, Fla. on furlough and is 16 days behind his time. He brought his wife and child with him." He served in CSS Savannah until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avoid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He was sent as a quarter gunner to Battery Buchanan at Fort Fisher outside Wilmington, North Carolina on December 30, 1864. He was discharged at Newport News, Virginia. He die December 2, 1897, at Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida. Mary applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private John Pent was born at Key Vacas [Marathon], Monroe County, Florida, on February 4, 1845. He left Key West ca. 1861. He was mustered into service on December 13, 1861, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on May 21, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is present on all rolls until November 1863; he was reported as wounded by gunshot through the palm of his right hand at Missionary Ridge on November 25, 1863. He was sent to the hospital at Newnan, Georgia; he was furloughed from there in 1864 due to complete loss of use of the middle finger of his right hand. He returned to Gainesville, and was in the command of Captain W. B. Henderson of the 1st Florida Reserve Infantry until the close of the war. He returned to Key West, where he was employed as the Overseer of Prisoners. John married Elizabeth Bowe c. 1880. He was a member of UCV Camp Franklin Buchanan No. 1214, at Monroe County, in 1907, and drew a Confederate pension. John died on June 27, 1919, at Key West, Florida; Elizabeth died less than a month later.
Private Benjamin Pratt was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls, and was on detached service as a regimental teamster from August 17, 1862, until February 1, 1863. There is no further mention of active service, or if he survived the war.
April 10, 1862 (Thursday) - Tampa, Florida - "...we went to the officers quarters, took an old fellow that belongs to our company named Pratt that was living with a negro woman that cooked for the officers and rode him on a rail down to the wharf and threw him overboard. We then gave him a lecture, told him what it was done for and that if he was caught doing the like again that we would give him thirty nine lashes, after which we went to our different quarters and turned in." - 3rd Sergeant Robert Watson, Company K, 7th Florida Infantry Regiment
Private George Victor Rickards was born on August 18, 1836, at Yorkshire, England. He came to the United States sometime in 1853, and moved to Key West, Monroe County, Florida, sometime in 1855. Sometime between May 1855 and January 1861, George and his family moved to Pinellas County, Florida. He was employed as the light keeper at Egmont Key, which lay at the mouth of Tampa Bay. At the onset of Florida's secession, George found himself caught in a struggle for control of the Egmont Light. The collector in Key West was loyal to the Union, while the collector at St. Marks sided with the Confederates. Rickard feigned allegiance to Union blockaders near the island, until their absence allowed him to flee the island. After crating up the Fresnel lens, Rickard absconded to Tampa with the lens, his family, and as many supplies as he could transport. He was mustered into service on December 24, 1861, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until November 1, 1862, when he was detached for service as assistant hospital orderly, guard, and cook at the University Hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee, until July 1863. He was reported as present until November 25, 1863, when he was reported as sick in hospital at the Newsom Hospital at Cassville, Georgia (a hospital muster roll for November and December 1863 dated January 21, 1864, lists him as present and employed as a nurse). Sometime between January 21 and July 22, 1864, he was promoted to 1st sergeant. He was captured near Atlanta, Georgia, on July 22, 1864, and sent to Camp Chase, Ohio, where he arrived on July 31, 1864. He died while in captivity of erysipelas on April 17, 1865, and is interred in the prison cemetery.
Private John W. Russell was born on January 28, 1832, at Green Turtle Cay, Abaco, Bahamas. In 1860, he along with wife Caroline and two children resided at Key West, Monroe County Florida. His occupation was given as a ship's carpenter. He was mustered into service on January 1, 1862, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is listed as present on all rolls until June 18, 1863, when he is reported sick in the Fairground Hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He returned to the company sometime in January 1864. He was transferred to the C.S. Navy while at Dalton, Georgia, on April 30, 1864. He served first in CSS Georgia, and was transferred to CSS Macon on October 6, 1864. There is no further mention of him from this date. He did survive the war, and died on May 1, 1903, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida.
Private Thomas J. Russell was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until September 12, 1863, when he was reported sick at the hospital at Marietta, Georgia. He died at the Medical College Hospital at Atlanta Georgia on January 11, 1864.
Private John D. Sands was born in 1841 at Ragged Island, Bahamas. He was mustered into service on November 27, 1861, as seaman with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast Guards; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mollie Post. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until his transfer to the C.S. Navy on August 5, 1862, while at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was sent from the Navy Yard to Columbus, Georgia, in November, 1862, for service aboard the CSS Chattahoochee. On May 27, 1863, he was on board CSS Chattahoochee when the explosion of her boilers occurred; he escaped the accident unharmed, and was transferred to Columbus with the remaining survivors, arriving there on June 1, 1863. He would be assigned to CSS Savannah, and served in her until December 21, 1864, when the vessel was fired and scuttled to avoid capture by General Sherman's forces at Savannah. He was sent to Charleston, South Carolina, then to Wilmington, North Carolina where he served at Fort Fisher. After the fall of the fort, he escaped and went to Wilmington, then to Richmond, Virginia. He was a member of Company B, Naval Battalion and was captured at Burkeville following the Battle of Saylor's Creek. He was paroled at Burkeville Junction, Virginia, April 9, 1865. He returned to Key West and married Eliza Demeritt, at Key West, Florida, on March 17, 1872. John died on October 25, 1899, at Key West, Monroe County, Florida. Eliza applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Samuel Young Sawyer was born on January 7, 1837, at Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas. He married Amelia Curry at Key West, Monroe County, Florida, on September 8, 1857. He was mustered into Confederate service on March 5, 1862, when was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted to 3rd sergeant from the ranks on August 8, 1862 (likely as a result of the vacancies resulting from the numerous non-commissioned officer transfers to the C.S. Navy on August 5). He was reported present on all rolls until November 3, 1862, when he was reported sick in the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He died at Mossy Creek Hospital, Jefferson County, Tennessee, on January 18, 1863; there are conflicting reports of "disease" and "drinking too much water after a long march" as the cause.
Private George W. Smith was mustered into service on July 20, 1861, as a private in Captain James P. McMullen's Infantry Company, which was stationed at Clearwater Harbor, Pinellas County, Florida. He remained in this unit until its 3-months term of service expired on October 20, 1861. He next enlisted with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast as a seaman on January 1, 1862; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mollie Post. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on March 5, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged on April 25, 1862, and re-enlisted as a private in Captain Gettis' Company (South Florida Infantry), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war.
Private Benjamin C. Swain was born ca. 1830 at Washington County, North Carolina. He served as a private in the state militia during the 3rd Seminole War, being enlisted in James F. P. Johnson's Independent Company of Mounted Volunteers at Fort Brooke (Tampa, Florida) from June 29 to December 28, 1857. The muster roll gives his age as 27, a physical description of 5 feet 3 inches tall, fair complexion, blue eyes, and light hair, and his occupation as a farmer. He was mustered into service on July 20, 1861, as a private in Captain James P. McMullen's Infantry Company, which was stationed at Clearwater Harbor, Pinellas County, Florida. He remained in this unit until its 3-months term of service expired on October 20, 1861. He next enlisted with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast as a seaman on December 15, 1861; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mary Jane. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on March 5, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is reported present on all rolls until February 6, 1864, when he is reported absent on a 30-day furlough. There is no further record of service after this date.
Private Noah L. Thompson was mustered into service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry.
Private John S. Turner was mustered into Confederate service on May 8, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until December 20, 1862, where he is reported absent on detached duty to the city police at Knoxville, Tennessee. He is reported absent on detached service in March and April 1863, serving as a hostler for General [W. G. M.] Davis. He was detached from the company on June 9, 1863, for service at the Mar's Bluff Navy Yard on the Graat Pee Dee River at Marion, Florence County, South Carolina, and is documented as continuing on that detached service until February, 1864. There is no further record of service after this date.
Private William Harvey Vanderipe was born in Kentucky on June 10, 1834. His family traveled to Florida in 1844; his family, along with the families Chapman and Hancock, established the village of Miakka ca. 1850. William served in the state militia during the 3rd Seminole War, first as a corporal in Addison's Company from April 7, 1856, to October 8, 1856; next in Durrance's Company, Florida Mounted Volunteers as a private from January 12 through June 22, 1857; next in Lesley's Company, Florida Mounted Volunteers as a private from August 24, 1857, through April, 1858. He is believed to have established established a herd of cattle in the Myakka region of Manatee County (now part of Sarasota County), Florida before or during the Civil War. He was mustered into Confederate service on March 5, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged for unspecified reason by Major Thomas on April 25. He married Eliza Jane Burts on September 17, 1863, at Manatee County, Florida. He is reported to have enlisted with Company A, Florida 1st Special Cavalry Battalion on or about July 7, 1864. He surrendered at the end of the war, taking the Oath of Allegiance in October 1865. After the war, he continued to raise cattle, and at one time owned over a thousand acres adjacent to the Myakka river between Upper and Lower Lake. He became the first Postmaster of Manatee in 1872, and served several terms as a county commissioner. He served as the president of the Bank of Manatee from its establishment in January 1900 until his death on July 7, 1901. Eliza Jane applied for and was granted a Confederate Widow's Pension for her husband's service.
Private Malchi Wadsworth was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until his death from disease on December 28, 1862, at Morristown, Tennessee. A claim was filed by his wife Evaline with the Confederate States Auditor for the War Department on March 9, 1864.
Private Jeremiah Weatherford was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was reported present on all rolls until June 5, 1863, when he was reported sick in the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. In the next muster report dated July 13 through October 31, 1863, he was reported absent without leave beginning on September 24, 1863. On the roll for November and December 1863, his status is changed from absent without leave to deserter. There is no further mention of him from this date.
Private John P. Willemsen was born in 1816 in Germany. In 1857, he settled at Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida. He was married to Sarah Jane (date and place unknown), who was born in 1825 in Ireland. He was mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was promoted from the ranks to 2nd sergeant on August 8, 1862 (likely as a result of the vacancies resulting from the numerous non-commissioned officer transfers to the C.S. Navy on August 5). He was reduced to the ranks by his own request on June 3, 1863. He was returned to the position of 2nd sergeant on July 18, 1863. He was reported present on all rolls until he was transferred to the C.S. Navy on February 24, 1864. There is no further mention of active service; however, he is known to have survived the war. He is recorded in 1867 as having assisted in erecting a tomb for a Colonel and Mrs. Fulmore of Bradenton; he is also recorded as being a pilot and guide in Manatee County in 1869. He is accounted for in the 1880 Federal Census at Williamson, Manatee County, Florida, "Married to Sarah J. (Ireland), age given as "64", trade as "carpenter". He is also recorded as owning the "Cosmopolitan Hotel" in Bradenton in November, 1888; until that date, it was a polling place. He died at Bradenton, Manatee County, Florida. The date of his passing is not known, but is thought to have occurred between 1899 and 1909.
Private Peter Williams enlisted with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast as a seaman on December 1, 1861; on January 9, 1862, he was assigned to the crew of the Mollie Post. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on March 5, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was discharged for unspecified reason by Major Thomas on April 26.
Private Anderson Wood was born January 8, 1832. He enlisted with Coast Guards, Lieutenant Able Merander's Detachment from July 14, 1861, through September 5, 1861. He then enlisted with Captain Henry Mulrenan's Florida Volunteer Coast as a seaman in January, 1862. He remained in this unit until mustered into Confederate service on March 5, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. There is no further mention of his service; however, he is known to have survived the war. He married Ellen Townsend on April 26, 1865, at Tampa, Hillsborough County Florida. Anderson died on December 18, 1906, at Gary, Hillsborough County, Florida. Ellen applied for and was granted a Confederate pension for her husband's service.
Private Joseph Woodruff was born in 1811 at Wilkes County, Georgia. He lived at Sarasota Bay in 1836, and served in all three Seminole Wars and the Mexican war. He mustered into Confederate service on April 25, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present on all rolls until August 10, 1862, when he was reported as sick in the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He is next recorded as being discharged under Surgeon's Certificate on October 22, 1862, at Knoxville, Tennessee, due to age. He was described as being 5 foot 10 inches, with ruddy skin, blue eyes, dark hair, and by occupation a farmer.
Private James Woods was mustered into Confederate service on March 5, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He is present on all rolls until September 2, 1862, when he was left behind at Boston, Kentucky, with Robert Watson and Augustus Archer (and a great many others, all being too ill and too weak to travel) and captured by Federals on September 2, 1862. Being to ill to travel, they were immediately paroled. On October 16, they received a 4-day pass from the Provost to visit Atlanta to attend to some matters. He is documented in Watson's Diary as being in Tampa on February 18, 1863. He was discharged under Surgeons Certificate on February 25, 1863, at Knoxville, Tennessee, due to the amputation of his right arm between the wrist and elbow. The certificate is dated January 25, 1863, at Fort Brooke, Florida, by M. A. Lively, Acting Assistant Surgeon.
Private Daniel A. Youngblood enlisted in Captain James P. McMullen's Infantry Company on July 20, 1861, and mustered out October 20, 1861. He was mustered into Confederate service on May 14, 1862, when he was enlisted as a private in Captain Smith's Company (Key West Avengers), 7th Regiment Florida Infantry by Major R. B. Thomas at Tampa, Florida, for a period of 3 years or the war. He was present until November 3, 1862, when he was reported sick in the hospital at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was reported absent without leave at Old Tampa, Florida, beginning on December 15, 1862. He never returned to the company, and was declared a deserter on the Muster Roll for November and December, 1863.
