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A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 90/340

A History of Columbia County, Florida

3, 1861. Over the next several days Lincoln was denounced as a
“wild abolitionist” who destroyed all hope for any future peace. The
convention voted as favoring secession on January 7, and created a
committee to prepare the necessary ordinances. After some
delaying tactics, the secession ordinance was adopted on January
10, by a vote of 62 to 7. Columbia County’s delegates voted with the
“yeas.” In the evening Richard Keith Call assembled a group at a
church on Lake Jackson outside of Tallahassee to show support for
the Union. “Hail Columbia” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” were
sung, and speeches were delivered. For Florida Unionists, breaking
up the Union was sad. For the secessionists, however, it was a time of
joy, and on January 11, convention delegates assembled at the east
portico of the capitol where ceremoniously 64 of the 69 affixed their
signatures to the Ordinance of Secession. Bonfires, torchlight
processions and celebrations were held throughout the towns and
villages of the state. Florida followed South Carolina and
Mississippi in seceding from the Union.9
As secession developed into war, there are two aspects under
which Columbia County’s participation can be examined. First,
many of the county’s citizens would fight in the war, and some would
die on distant battle fields. Second, the war would also influence
many events within the county itself. The greatest battle in Florida
would take place late in the war at Olustee some fifteen miles east of
Lake City in present Baker County.
After the initial excitement of the secession convention wore
off, Floridians got down to the grim realities of preparing for war.
The militia units organized in 1860 were inadequate for full-scale
war, so better-structured militia regiments were raised. On
February 8, 1861, the legislature exempted from taxation all the
horses, arms and accoutrements of men enlisting in the cavalry. On
February 12, an act providing for regimental organization was
passed. Each regiment was to consist of ten companies and each
9Ibid., Johns, Florida During the Civil War, pp. 12-20.

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