Cattle and Cow Cavalry

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Jacob Summerlin, Confederate 'Cattle King'

Photo Credit: Florida State Archives

The Confederacy hoped Florida's cattle could help feed armies throughout the war.

In the years prior to the Civil War, cattle raising had developed into a significant industry in southern Florida and, by 1862, it was estimated that Florida had more than 650,000 head of cattle. In 1863, Pleasants Woodson White was appointed the commissary officer for the state. One of his goals was the acquisition of cattle to feed the Confederacy’s armies, especially after the capture of Vicksburg cut off the supply of cattle from Texas. In an effort to protect the Florida herds against Union forces, the Confederate government formed the 1st Florida Special Cavalry Battalion, popularly known as the Cow Cavalry, in 1864.

That year, small-scale Union raids to disrupt cattle supplies became common in south Florida, and expeditions were launched to the Peace River Valley and the cattle-driving center of Fort Meade.

Emboldened, Union forces also attacked Tampa and Fort Brooke. In February 1865, the Cow Cavalry launched an attack on the Union post at Fort Myers. While unsuccessful, the attack did lead to the post’s evacuation the following month. By then, however, the cattle driving season had ended for the year and the war was nearly over. The hope of Florida beef feeding large numbers of Confederates had not been fulfilled.

To learn more, see: “Cow Cavalry: Munnerlyn’s Battalion in Florida, 1864-1865” by Robert A. Taylor, The Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol. 65, No. 2, October 1986.