Special Thanks To: a Marshy Bank, and in the Distance Is the Sil- State, Florida Provided 15,000 Men to the Southern J
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Reflecting On Ocean Pond A PAINTING BY CHRISTOPHER M. STILL OIL ON LINEN, 126" BY 48" he last glow of the setting sun falls on a cattle The state prepared for a short war, expecting little drive through Florida pines. The trail leads to Northern challenge. The least populous Confederate Special Thanks To: a marshy bank, and in the distance is the sil- state, Florida provided 15,000 men to the southern J. B. Starkey’s Flatwoods Lazarus (The Bull) houette of a train, pulled slowly by a regiment war effort, most fighting far from home, leaving women, of soldiers. A Civil War drum in the foreground children, and the elderly to carry on in the pioneer envi- Adventures Savannah’s Steakhouse Tis a reminder of the call to war—and the bullet holes ronment. Florida also contributed critical supplies— Jay B. Starkey, Jr. George Arvanitakis in its shell—of the cost. including salt, beef, pork, Anclote River Ranch Museum of Florida This is the 1860s. and cotton. Battles within History, Tallahassee Joe O’Brien Conflicts with native tribes the state were mainly small Tim Register Stephen Monroe had been subdued, and the raids on salt operations or cotton supply boats en route Florida State Archives T.M. Sorensen pathway for pioneers was clear. Land grants and to Cuba, led by the Union Tarpon Springs Library 97th Regimental Field troops who occupied many Music recent statehood attracted Skip Fletcher families searching for a coastal towns and forts. The Memory of the 97th Harold Howell Pennsylvania Volunteer new start. Most were poor, Florida’s largest battle—the and eked out a living by William H. Nulty Infantry Battle of Olustee—took place subsistence farming and in an area near Ocean Pond Dell Clark Pamplin Historical Park cow hunting. in 1864. Union soldiers The Memory of (Jim) Jas. Heritage Village, Largo Pasture land was scarce attempted to cut off the cat- W. Clark Ted and Avis Phillips and expensive, so cattle tle route near Lake City. L. Kim Malone Mr. and Mrs. David S. Reis were allowed to freely They were defeated, and in Steve Bogan Florida Belle Tarapani roam and graze, later to retreat toward Jacksonville, be captured. Cow hunters they placed wounded men seasonally searched out on flatbed railroad cars. their cattle, branded them, When the train broke down, and sorted out the calves. the 54th Massachusetts reg- The hardy breed of cow introduced by the Spanish iment came to its aid, pulling the engine and four cars formed the foundation for the cattle industry that for five miles. Some of these soldiers were escaped eventually became a major economic force in Florida. Florida slaves, and all were lauded for this heroic deed. Florida was a very recent member of the American The war had taken a heavy toll by 1865, and Floridians Union, and seemed on its way to becoming another longed for peace. Yet in March, a final Union incursion southern cotton state. As the country struggled to that threatened Tallahassee was thwarted by Confed- abolish slavery, the state’s influential planters, who erate troops and local militia, including a company of relied on slave labor, resisted. In 1861, following the cadets from West Florida Seminary (a predecessor of lead of Mississippi and South Carolina, Florida seceded Florida State University) in a battle at Natural Bridge. from the Union—joining the Confederate States of Tallahassee was the only southern capital east of the America when it was formed shortly afterward. Mississippi uncaptured at the war’s end a month later. Reflecting On Ocean Pond CHRISTOPHER M. STILL he full moon ascends above the T pines at dusk—a link to the next moonlit mural. As you view the murals notice that the sun moves in each 9 painting as if the events are taking 31 place in the span of two days. Many motifs such as the train, deer, raccoon and cattle are repeated once 20 again to strengthen the artist's sym- 8 bolism that, although events may seem distant, time is irrelevant to the ancient 13 land we call home. 10 12 11 16 1) Spanish or “Cracker Cow”. Livestock accompanied early Spanish expeditions 19 beginning in the 1500s. By the 1600s, the 15 Spanish maintained herds of cattle on 1 ranchos, relying on Native Americans to 2 14 help manage them. This breed, known sometimes as a Florida Longhorn, was 17 hardy enough to survive in the wild. 18 24 Florida pioneers allowed the cattle to 3 6 7 21 roam freely, rather than bear the 4 5 expense of feeding them and owning 23 costly pasture land. 22 2) Civil War Drum. This drum with a Federal eagle resembles those from Union troops, but is actually a Confederate drum. It is believed to have symbol of Florida’s continuing 9) Pine Trees. Florida’s pine trees are a expanded cattle production into an 15) Cow Dog. Cattle dogs were also intro- 20) Rising Moon. A full moon begins its been used by the First Florida Infantry in tradition of cattle ranching. source of a number of useful products. important part of Florida’s economy. duced into Florida by the Spanish—they ascent above the trees, relating to the following mural’s nocturnal theme. 1861. The Latin motto “E Pluribus 6) FC Brand. Cattle brands and ear marks During the Civil War, turpentine, made 12) Union Soldiers of the 54th were an important component in cattle Unum,” meaning “Out of Many, One,” is have been used since the early intro- by distilling the trees’ gummy sap, was Massachusetts. This African-American ranching. A dog could flush cows from 21) Hard Tack. Made from flour, water, fat, absent from the red banner, symbolizing duction of cattle by the Spanish. This an important one. The solid material unit of the Union army came to the aid dense foliage and keep them together. and salt, this hard biscuit was baked the division of the country. particular brand was introduced by the left over, called rosin, was used to make of wounded soldiers stranded on a They were also used to hunt wild pigs. for a long time to dehydrate it so it soap. Trees were felled for timber as 3) Bag of Salt. Salt was a critical item Department of Agriculture in 1989. broken down train retreating from the 16) Prairie Schooner. Small scale wagons, would not mold. It was softened by well. Older pines have a dense core during the Civil War, used for curing Cattlemen across Florida searched and battle of Olustee. They fastened ropes to pulled by horses, cattle or mules, were holding in the mouth, or by dipping into soup or coffee. Its cracker-like and preserving meat and providing an tested cattle for those with a genetic resistant to termites—valued building the train and pulled it five miles before used by the pioneers. The cloth covered appearance led some to attribute the important source of dietary iodine. connection to the original Spanish cow. material known as “heart pine”. horses were found to complete the trip. portion of the wagon appeared like a name “Cracker” to Floridians who Union raids often destroyed salt works, A herd was established to preserve this Their strength and courage was sail on a ship as the wagons moved 10) Florida, Atlantic, and Gulf Central commonly ate this bread. but they were quickly rebuilt. The hardy and historic stock. They were Railroad. The railway was built by applauded throughout the country. through tall grass or palmettos. production of salt was considered so branded with “FC” which stands for 22) Spanish Brand. This is a cattle brand Jewish plantation owner, David Yulee, 13) Wounded. On February 20, 1864, Union 17) Saw Palmetto. The stems of this native important that salt workers were “Foundation Cattle”, but has become used by the Spanish in the 1600s. to provide transportation between troops attempted to capture Lake City Florida plant were commonly used to exempted from military service. known as “Florida Cracker”. Fernandina Beach on Florida’s east and cut off the cattle supply to the cook food over an open fire. During the 23) Brands and Cow Calvary. Shown here 4) Whip. The cow men’s ten to twelve 7) Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake. coast and Cedar Key on the west. Yulee Confederacy. They were defeated in the Civil War, clothing and fabric were often are some of the brands used during the foot long whips were made of braided This venomous snake has the unique became Florida’s first U.S. Senator. He Battle of Olustee near Ocean Pond. difficult to obtain. Woven palmetto Civil War. strips of deer hide, attached to a wooden ability to shake the naturally formed initially pushed for Florida to join the Those too hurt to escape on foot were fronds were used to make hats and The “Cow Calvary’ was one of the most handle. The leather strip at the whip’s rattles on its tail in warning. A rat- Union, but later supported secession. put on rail cars. other wearable items. effective Florida units during the Civil end is known as the “cracker”, due the tlesnake’s poison can be fatal, creating The small scale of this locomotive is 14) Razorback Pig. Feral pigs were War. They were formed to guard the the cracking sound it makes when the 18) Cow Lily. This native variety of water cattle ranges from Union raids, and a hazard to cattle and cattlemen. typical of lumber trains. introduced into Florida’s ecosystem by whip is circled over the head and lily, also commonly called bonnets or protect the supply of beef for Often associated with the American the Spanish.