The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-07-07
Some Florida
Incidents.
History of the ..florida," the Gunboat Of the
COnfederacy.

Nothing would please Stephen 4.
Mallory more than to present the Pc
titions from the several boards of
trade asking that one of the authorlz-
ed battleships soon to be built be
named "Florida." Here is what his
honored father wrote when secretary
of the Confederate States Navy. July
IA. 1862, to Lieut.. Commander J. n.
Maf6tt:
81 feel very great anxiety about
the Florida and earnestly trust that
you may be able to get her to sea
safely, and make a dash with her
against the enemy. The difficulties
in your way are serious l know. Ex-
ercise a sound discretion, and do not
hesitate to assume responsibility.
Mafit was then at Nassau. The
Florida referred to by the secretary
was a screw steamer of 25O horse
power with a tonnage of $50, bark
rugged, built at Liverpool, England,
and carried at Nassau April %, 1861.
The u. S. minister, Adams, reported
her to the British government, she
was seized and held, also examined
and 1t being found that she had none
of the characteristics of vessel of
war she was released in August.
Maffit now took her to Green Key"
80 miles south of Nassau with ten
der i'm tow. the Bahama which trans
ferred her gum: land ammunition of
war. hoisted the Confederate flag,
christened her the Florida, and regu-
larly and lawfully commissioned her a
man of war. Maffit writes from Car
denas, August 20, saying: Il took on
board at sea my battery but forgot in
haste hammers, sponges, etc.; had
buI two firemen and IL men, run the
gauntlet splendidly, my coast survey
experience being of great service
have had seven cases of yellow fever,
but only three now
The writer was with Captain Maffltt
on the crusader in Pensacola in 1859,
being then in the survey of the Flor
ida coast.
ARRIVAL AT CARDENAS.
The Confederate agent at Havana.
Helm, writes of the arrival in Carde.
mas of the Confederate gun boat Flor.
ida on the 18th Of August, anchoring
II miles from town. The captain
general, Serrano, fearing the Federal
gunboats might attempt to cut the
Florida out from her exposed posi-
ton proposed to get her around tc
Havana 1 telegraphed Maffitt te
come to this port. AT this time Maj
fit and several of his officers anC
eight of his crew were down with
sible to move. General Serrano ther
sent two Spanish war vessels to Car
denas, one of which anchored close
alongside the Florida and rendered
her every possible assistance. Know
ing the anxiety of General Serrant
and his wish that the Florida shoult
be here, / wired Maffitt.
He arrived in Havana on Septem
Der LIST. The Federal consular agen
at Cardenas objected to the sailing o
the Florida without "a hours notice
when Capt. Maffitt assured the cap
tain of the port that he would not in
terfere with any vessel until after h
sailed from Havana. The port CAP
tain, not feeling satisfied, telegraph
ed for instructions. The reply was
''Let her sail; the word of south
ern gentleman must be taken.
Maffitt finding a great difficulty i
obtaining men in Havana conclude
to run across the gulf for Mobile.
RUN THE BLOCKADE.
Captain Bullock formerly runnin
ON the steamer ''Black Warrior
from pier No. 2, north river, Ne
York to Savannah, says of this il
cident: s'The Florida stood steadil