1st Florida Special Cavalry Battalion

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1st Special Cavalry Battalion
1st Florida Special Battalion flag.jpg
ActiveApril, 1864–1865
CountryFlag of the Confederate States of America (1865).svg  Confederate States of America
AllegianceFlag of Florida (1861).svg Florida
BranchBattle flag of the Confederate States of America.svg  Confederate States Army
Type Battalion
Role Cavalry
Nickname(s)Cow Cavalry
Engagements American Civil War
Commanders
Notable
commanders
C. J. Munnerlyn

The 1st Florida Special Cavalry Battalion, nicknamed Cow Cavalry, was a Confederate States Army cavalry unit from Florida during the American Civil War. Commanded by Charles James Munnerlyn; it was organized to protect herds of cattle from Union raiders. [1] [2] The hides and meat from Florida cattle was a critical supply item for the Confederacy.

Contents

James McKay wrote to the state of the need to protect Florida cattle after the Battle of Olustee. Eventually a total of nine companies, largely made up of Florida crackers, was organized near Plant City. [3] [4] Some of the companies were based out of Tampa [5] or Fort Myers, [6] taking part in the Battle of Fort Myers. They would drive cattle to Baldwin. [7] John T. Lesley, Francis A. Hendry, and W. B. Henderson were all in the Cow Cavalry. McKay's son, James McKay Jr., was appointed first as Captain of one of the companies and eventually rose to the rank of Major in the unit. [8]

See also

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References

  1. Taylor, Robert (1986). "Cow Cavalry: Munnerlyn's Battalion in Florida, 1864-1865". Florida Historical Quarterly. 65 (2): 196–214. JSTOR   30146741.
  2. "Jacob Summerlin: The cowman who was king of crackers". TBNweekly. 21 August 2007.
  3. Taylor 1986, p. 201.
  4. "Cow Cavalry Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
  5. Ellis, Thomas Benton Sr. (1998). Landers, Roger Rice (ed.). The Last Wildcat. Brooksville, FL: The Genealogy Society of Hernando County. p. 33.
  6. "Raid on Gopher Ridge". www.explorenaples.com.
  7. "Whats New at the Bell Research Center". www.bellresearchcenter.com.[ dead link ]
  8. Ellis 1998, p. 33.