Civil War Outpost at Shaw's Point
In 1861, the Union Army established a base of operations in Tampa Bay on Egmont Key. In order to protect Florida's coastline, the Confederate States and the state of Florida organized the Florida Volunteer Coast Guard. Units from the Florida Volunteer Coast Guard as well as an artillery battery manned signal stations around Tampa Bay, including one at Shaw's Point. Federal naval expedition reports described Shaw's Point as having a Confederate installation consisting of "temporary barracks and a gun mounted on wheels on an Indian mound."
At least five Confederate units served at Shaw's Point between September 1861 and June 1862. Soldiers writing from the outpost speak of gathering salt from Palma Sola Bay and evading capture by blockaders by keeping to the shallow flats.
Document: Levi S. Heaton Letter
Levi A. Heaton was stationed at Shaw's Point as part of the Confederate unit:
Capt. Duvall's Company, 20th Militia Regt.
The following is an excerpt of a letter Heaton wrote from there on August 28, 1861.
My dear children, Your letter of July 10th came promptly to me on the 12th[Aug (?)], and I delayed answer untill now, [unclear] something might change my course of policy. But vicisitudes these times require that we all should write often & keep each other posted up in what concerns me here, & you with what is left a my lamented home. Hardships & privations has been plentiful, yet my sad heart feels them but little. …I can get 40 acres of land and make a house on it, near this place but I know you would for many months grieve on the changed mode of life society & etc. Still the people here are happy, money is hard to get, fish of the best sort is plenty, the land is white sand with pine timber, scrub bushes, palmettos, cabage trees, live oak etc with occasional hammock spots of good land & timber. …Shaws Point is at the mouth of Manatee River, say about 6 miles below Manatee post village. …having mustered in for 6 months service with the militia of this county I have taken up soldiers life since 7th [unclear] our camp at this point (to be called Fort Taylor) is in full view (8 miles) of the Blockaders, and almost every day my transit is set on a high shell mound near our camp on the sea shore to view the enemy & their boats around the light house on the bar…A few days since I with 4 others on a small vessel had to get a load of salt from Palmasola Bay & when returning, escaped on the shallow coast where our pursuers [unclear] could not follow us. We [unclear] escape to the [unclear] & the fact that our load was short 20 sacks of salt which we did not take aboard. We grounded slightly several times after leaving the channel (to avoid the steamer & her [unclear]) but favoured by the riseing tide we got clear before their guns could reach us. …Our company is small but good hardy stock & shure marksmen at rifle range. This camp is outpost for the settlements up the Manatee River, but the strongest force is stationed 40 miles up Tampa bay. Our commander Genl. Taylor is here sometimes, but leaves most of the opperations to our Capt. Duval, this much I have written that you may know the details of things as I used allways to tell you & may serve if any need be hereafter. …
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"Levi S. Heaton Letter" courtesy of Ron Prouty. Photocopy of original letter was given to Prouty by Heaton's descendent, Edwin H. Heaton of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Copies were also given to De Soto National Memorial and Manatee County Historical Society.
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