Florida Keys Sea Heritage Journal VOL. 25 NO. 2 WINTER 2014/15 USS SHARK OFFICIAL QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE KEY WEST MARITIME HISTORICAL SOCIETY The Florida Keys Reprinted from the “Putnam’s Monthly.” Vol. VII, December 1856, No. XLVIII. “The Florida Keys.” The labors of an insignificant insect have dotted the sea, around the southernmost portion of our republic, with coral islands, or keys, of all dimensions, from the extended area of Key Largo, to a minute clump of mangroves, hardly larger than an ordinary-sized breakfast table. But these islands are indebted to the coral insect for their first foundation only. As soon as they reach the surface, the industrious architects cease their labors, and all further growth is dependent on other causes. These are many and various. A plank, torn from a wreck, and tossed about by the winds and waves for many days, may at last Key West wreckers at work. Photo credit: Monroe County Library. rest upon the surface of the coral. Sheltered from the waves by this quite an extent of ground has risen seed, borne by the bird from some slight barrier, the insects spread a like magic in the very midst of the more favored spot, drops upon the broad flat rock under its lee, which ocean. luxuriant soil, thirsting to receive soon becomes covered with sand This soil, teeming with the it, springs up, blossoms, and bears and earth, thus forming the first elements of fertility, does not long fruit. Other birds rest in the branches rudiments of a soil. This spreads remain barren and useless. Perhaps of the newly-born tree, and scatter and elevates itself—the first piece some sea-bird, wearied with its the seeds of other and different of wreck, perhaps, catches another, protracted flight over the stormy plants. Protected still more from and a larger bulwark against the waters, may pause for an instant violence of the waves is erected, till on this welcome resting-place. A (Continued on page 3) SocietyNews by Tom Hambright The Monroe County History could see the large fish which we collection over the years has have seen what they call hog fish and collected a number of original another kind they call sharks and we letters. Some are part of a large arrived in Key West, Florida on the collection and tell a story, some 4 of February at 8 o’clock morning are single or a few that are and when we came here to this place not connected to a large story. we found it awful hot and plenty Following is one of these orphan of mosquiters but still not as many letters from a military man in Key as we have now and so we pitched West in 1862. tents and camped there until the 10 The Florida Keys Sea Heritage Mr. Richard M. J. Long of March then our Company moved Journal is published quarterly. Hanoverville, Pa in Fort Taylor and here. We are Subscription is available through Northampton County drilling artillery and infantry further membership. Copyright 2015 by Penn you stated in your letter that you the Key West Maritime Historical think I would not get many sleigh Society of the Florida Keys, Inc. Key West, Florida rides – I did barely see any snow. The art on the masthead, the USS May the 12 1862 We had a little snow in Virginia the Shark, was drawn by Bill Muir. deepest was 1 inch deep and we had Friend Richard and there but here they never seen Editor: Tom Hambright no snow yet their water was never I will take the opportunity to froze yet that is what their citizens write a few lines to you and let you says and I believe it further I let you Letters and articles are welcome. know that we are well at present know that we received the news that Please write to: Editor, Florida Keys time and hoping you all the same Yorktown is taken and New Orleans Sea Heritage Journal, KWMHS, further I received your letter on the is taken to and when we received P.O. Box 695, Key West, FL march sometime and I was very the news from New Orleans all the 33041 or visit our web site glad to hear from you and further vessels was trimmed with 60 or 70 Keywestmaritime.org. I let you know that We went to different flags I tell you it looked the island of Key West, Florida. nice and we fired 35 cannons off if Key West Maritime We left in Virginia on the 22 of that fighting keeps on that way and Historical Society January 1862 and marched to after that we win every battle it will soon Board of Directors Alexandra Railroad. There we took be settled. the cars to Alexandra. It is a town We expect to be home until the President: Corey Malcom where Elsworth was shot and there 4 of July. The other night we was Vice President: Bill Verge we took a steamship to Washington fishing with the net and made three Secretary: Andrea Comstock and there we took the cars again hauls which we had enough for the Treasurer: Tom Hambright and arrived in Annapolis State of whole company so I must come to Maryland on the 24 of January and a close excuse my bad writing for it George Craig there we took the large steamboat was done in a hurry. Don’t forget to J. Gregory Griffin Oriental on the 27 January and write and direct to Bill Grosscup started at 4 o’clock in the afternoon Key West Florida Mary Haffenreffer and came to forts Monroe the next Company F47 P.V. Sheri Lohr evening there we anchored until the Care of Capt H. S. Harte Bruce Neff next morning then we started with I remain your Friend Wendy Tucker the fair wind again and I wish you Ruben Kein John Viele Robert J. Wolz New Members David Harrison Wright Michael de Bettencourt, Key West; Green, Key West; Lynn Schwubert, Thomas Callahan, Key West; Marathon; Victoria Scudder, Key Marie Geranian, Key West; Shelly West. 2 - FLORIDA KEYS SEA HERITAGE JOURNAL - WINTER 2014/15 (Florida Keys from page 1) gives place to a fresh and lively or single trees. The lagoons in the green. islands are very abundant in such disturbing influences, by the barrier This beautiful green meadow— localities. These are strictly ponds; it has itself provided, the land for such from a distance it for they scarcely deserve the name grows, like the vegetation upon it; appears—loses much of its charm of lakes. The water finds its way until miles upon miles of territory as we approach, and possesses none into them by subterranean channels. are rescued from the empire of at all should we be rash enough to Some are as salt as the ocean, while the sea. Such is a brief and simple trust ourselves upon it. The mingled the brackish water of others proves sketch of the most usual method of mass of pulverized coral, sand, and that the rain has a large share in their formation, wherever the coral insect shells, that forms the soil, is not only composition. But the term lagoon is builds. Around the coast of Florida, extremely soft and treacherous, but often more broadly applied. Many however, most of such changes took the young mangroves, spreading keys contain large interior spaces place many hundreds of years ago, out into a chain of arches, trip up filled with water, which enters and now, while some keys increase the unwary foot in a moment. Any from the ocean outside, through a in extent, others diminish. The cause thought of running over such a narrower or wider channel, as the of this lies in the numerous currents, surface would be rash, in the broad case may be. If these are so extensive which the tides, in their intricate light of day, but at night would as to deserve consideration, they are windings through so many islands, become simply ridiculous. On a honored with the name of sounds, unavoidably excite. Thus a portion fair average, the fugitive and his but, if small and unimportant, are of one key may be slowly and pursuer, too, would have the task, merged under the general term, steadily washed away. The particles not only of picking their way, but lagoon. of earth, however, are not lost, but of picking up themselves at every The shore of the keys varies serve to swell its more fortunate other step. However, as the level much. On one side it is generally neighbor, which, in its turn, may of the mud, which is almost as rocky—the grass and soil ceasing at be robbed at some part, to benefit uniform as the water around it, a line that denotes the high-water- a third. gradually rises, a short grass springs mark. When the tide recedes, a It is both instructive and amusing up, and the earth dries and hardens. greater or less space of the rock is to observe the gradual increase of The mangrove arches, like many left bare, amounting, sometimes, to some—how they stretch out long nobler structures, fall into ruin, as several hundred feet. The other side narrow points like arms, striving to the plants increase in height, till the is either covered with mangroves, pull more land from the bottom of scene assumes the appearance of whose arched and interlaced the ocean. At first we see nothing a. grassy level, dotted thickly with stems grow far into the water, and but a long bank, which is almost mangrove bushes, seldom more form a dark green fringe, entirely hidden by the sea at high-tide, and than six or seven feet high.