1st Florida Special Cavalry Battalion
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.
| 1st Special Cavalry Battalion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | April, 1864–1865 |
| Country | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Confederate States of America |
| Allegiance | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Florida |
| Branch |  Confederate States Army |
| Type | Battalion |
| Role | Cavalry |
| Nickname(s) | Cow Cavalry |
| Engagements | American Civil War |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | C. J. Munnerlyn |
James McKay wrote to the state of the need to protect Florida cattle after the Battle of Olustee, and a group of Florida crackers was organized near Plant City,[3] and were based out of Fort Myers,[4] taking part in the Battle of Fort Myers. They would drive cattle to Baldwin.[5] John T. Lesley, Francis A. Hendry, and W. B. Henderson were all in the Cow Cavalry.
References
- Taylor, Robert (1986). "Cow Cavalry: Munnerlyn's Battalion in Florida, 1864-1865". Florida Historical Quarterly. 65 (2): 196–214. JSTOR 30146741.
- "Jacob Summerlin: The cowman who was king of crackers". TBNweekly. 21 August 2007.
- "Cow Cavalry Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org.
- "Raid on Gopher Ridge". www.explorenaples.com.
- "Whats New at the Bell Research Center". www.bellresearchcenter.com.
External links
- 1st Battalion Florida Special Cavalry
- Williams, Amy Bennett (15 June 2014). "The Civil War battle of Fort Myers, 150 years later". The News-Press.
- Kambic, Randy (17 January 2015). "Fort Myers in the Civil War, more than a brief battle". The News-Press.
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