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The Civil War involved the Southern and the Northern states. Ranging from 1861 up to 1865, the fighting troops were those allied to the USA and the Confederate. The Confederate was made up of 11 states located in the South. Located in the Southeastern part of the US, Florida played an important role in the war.
Having enrolled in the Confederacy in 1861, the state sent about 15,000 men into the war. Official records show about 5,000 men were enlisted in the Confederate ranks. Despite Florida’s efforts, many members saw its role as insignificant.

A tiny tadpole in a dirty pool

Among the 11 Confederate members, Florida was regarded as the smallest state. Despite this, the Civil War battles in Florida were intensive. The state only had a population of 140,000 people. Out of that, 60,000 were slaves. Surprisingly, records show at least 15,000 of the people participated. Compared to the other 10 member states, this was the largest team of fighters.

History records that 1/3 of the Florida Civil War fighters died. A report by one of the northern newspapers termed Florida as the tiniest tadpole in a dirty pool. At that time, the state was extremely remote and with a sparse population. Many Confederate members didn’t see it as worth fighting for in a serious battle.

Writing a Civil War Essay

If you are writing about the Civil War, the records in Florida can serve as a great source of inspiration. You can take a broad range of approaches when writing essays about the war. You could discuss what caused it, the weapons used, the effects, and many more topics. There are many civil war essay examples available on Edubirdie for free. You can read them and get inspired for your Civil War research papers and other academic projects.

A significant supplier to the needs of the Confederacy

Florida was home to a large population of settlers and slaves. It was mainly a rural state boasting extensive land for farming. After it became a state in 1845, its main economic contribution was crops and animal husbandry. The state was mainly considered a slave state. This notion was significant in the state of Florida and the Civil War. A large portion of the Northern states abhorred slavery.
However, the Southern states still believed in slavery. After Abraham Lincoln became president, he made clear his intention to abolish it. That’s when the Southern states decided to secede. Since Florida was largely viewed as insignificant, the state experienced just one major engagement. The main Civil War battles in the Florida map were around Lake City. There were other smaller battles in Florida around areas such as:

• Fort Pickens fought in early 1861.
• The Tampa area fought in mid-1862.
• The Olustee fought in early 1864.
• The war at Natural Bridge was fought in March 1865.

The state had the advantage of a long coastline that was mainly unmanned. As a crop and animal-producing state, Florida had plenty of food and animal products. They would use smaller ships and send supplies to the Confederate troops at night. Although many men were engaged in the war, the main role of Florida during the Civil War was to supply the needs of the troops. They supplied items such as:

• Beef and milk plus other cattle products.
• Pork from large pig farms in the interior.
• Fish from the long coastline.
• A wide variety of fruits including vegetables.
• Salt from the salt factories at Apalachee Bay.

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Where to visit Civil War sites in Florida

The Civil War Florida was intensive and the Florida fighters recorded one of the highest deaths. The first Civil War monument in Florida was erected at the Valley Church in 1871. Afterward, many more monuments were erected. Today, there are numerous Florida Civil War sites including museums that travelers can visit. Visitors can get chances to read reports by soldiers and view photos, and maps. The museums display items used in the war such as guns. The most visited sites in Florida include:

• The Fort Pickens site
• The Natural Bridge battle site
• Fort Clinch State Park battle site
• Castillo de San Marcos
• Gamble Plantation site
• Fort Jefferson State site

Final Thoughts

The civil war between the North and South brought together strong and weak states into the battle. Florida was considered a less worthy state. However, its role in the war was significant. It was crucial to ensure there were enough supplies for the troops. To date, Florida is considered a forgotten state among the Confederates. Many sites exist in the state as testimony of its roles in the war.