THIS DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE SUNSHINE STATE (Post appears one day before the actual date) MARCH 11 1843 Wakulla County, Florida’s 23rd county, was created today by the Florida Territorial Legislature. The county takes its name from the famous Wakulla Springs, which are nearby. The exact meaning of the word “Wakulla” is unknown, although it is thought to be of Timucuan origin and prbably refers to “springs of water.” County Seat: Crawfordville See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wakulla_County,_Florida 1861 General Braxton E. Bragg arrived in Pensacola and relieved Major General William H. Chase of his command of all Confederate troops in or near the city. 1862 The U.S.S. Wabash landed today in St. Augustine. The ship’s commander, C. R. P. Rodgers, negotiated with city leaders and occupied Fort Marion and the city. There was no opposition. 1862 Two Confederate gunboats under construction in Pensacola Bay were burned to prevent their capture by Federal naval forces. 1863 Confederate forces attacked Union positions in Jacksonville today and forced the Federal soldiers to retreat to their gunboats. Confederate forces penetrated the city as far as the Judson House Square before retreating. Confederate losses were placed at one man, lost or killed. 1864 Federal naval forces reported a great deal of activity today and the capture of several blockade runners. The U.S.S. San Jacinto reported the capture of a schooner with a cargo of turpentine and 132 bales of cotton in the Gulf of Mexico, while the U.S.S. Beauregard reported the capture of the British sloop Hannah off the coast of Mosquito Inlet. The commander of the Beauregard, acting in concert with the Federal schooner, Norfolk Packet, pursued the British schooner, Linda, up the Indian River Inlet. Although Union forces were forced to take to the shore when their boat was grounded, the Linda, lowered its sails and surrendered after shots were fired. The British vessel was destined for new Smyrna with a cargo of salt, liquors, coffee, and dry goods. 1869 Dr. Samuel Mudd, who was imprisoned in Fort Jefferson in Florida’s Dry Tortuguas, was released today after being pardoned by President Andrew Johnson. Mudd had been convicted of being part of the conspiracy to kill Federal President Abraham Lincoln in 1865. Mudd set the broken leg of actor John Wilkes Booth, the assassin of Lincoln. There were serious doubts about his participation in the conspiracy in 1865 and practically no one today believes that Mudd was in any way connected to the conspiracy. Dr. Mudd was a distant relative of noted television correspondent, Roger Mudd. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Mudd 1870 The Catholic diocese of St. Augustine was formally established today. The Very Reverend Jean-Pierre Augustin Marcellin Verot was installed as the first bishop. See diosav.org/bishop-verot 1873 St. Luke’s Hospital, the oldest continuously operating hospital in Florida, opened today in Jacksonville with two rooms and four beds. 1882 The City of DeLand was incorporated today. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DeLand,_Florida 1921 The Florida Branch of the national Congress of Mothers and Parent-Teacher Association met today in Jacksonville. Mrs. Arthur G. Cummer was elected president. 1929 Major Henry Seagraves established a new automobile speed record today at Daytona Beach. He reached an average speed of 223.2 miles-per-hour in a 450 horsepower Golden Arrow. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Segrave
Posted on: Mon, 10 Mar 2014 10:13:34 +0000
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