Page 125 - a-history-of-columbia-county-florida-(1996)-edward-f-keuchel

A History of Columbia County Florida (1996) Edward F. Keuchel 114/340

Events of the Civil War

On the whole, the initial transfer from war to peace went
smoothly, although the future was dark and uncertain. For the
most part Floridians cooperated with Federal authorities, and,
although on May 24, General Vodges declared martial law for the
state, there was no policy of military repression. Only a few
prominent Confederate officials were arrested in the state. They
were ex-Senator David Levy Yulee, Confederate Secretary of the
Navy Stephen R. Mallory, and Acting Governor A. K. Allison. By
the spring of 1866 all had been released.65 The most serious
problems were caused by vigilante activity by both pro-and anti­
Union groups. In August 1865, the Second Florida Union Cavalry
arrived in the state. This unit was composed of Floridians and
other southerners who had opposed the Confederacy, and in some
cases had deserted its armies. Upon returning several groups of
soldiers from this Federal unit committed acts of violence to
avenge themselves of real or imagined wrongs inflicted.on them or
their families by the Confederates. Several incidents occurred in
Jefferson County even though Federal army commanders made
every effort to discipline the troops.66
Violence was expressed by the ex-Confederates as well, usually
against Floridians who supported the Union during the war and
also against rebel deserters. One man who had been a valuable
scout for the Union army during the war was lynched near Lake
City in November 1865.67 In retrospect this was a prelude to the
violence the county would experience during the period of Re­
construction.

65Johns, Florida During the Civil War, p. 211.
66Shofner, History of Jefferson County, pp. 270-71.
67 W. W. Davis, The Civil War and Reconstruction in Florida (New York, 1913),
p. 339.
Ill

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