Union Forces at East Pass

At the start of the Civil War the United States blockaded the coast of the Confederacy. Which of course effected the Florida Panhandle, including the Choctawhatchee Bay Area.

In order to prevent the reinforcement of Fort Pickens at Pensacola the Confederate Walton Guards guarded the east pass at Destin. At one point union soldiers tried to land on Destin, but were stopped by the Walton Guards.

In response Brigadier General Lewis G. Arnold sent orders to the 1st U.S. Artillery “the purpose of ascertaining the character of the upper end of the island and to punish and take prisoners any rebels he might meet, I having received information that about 200 armed rebels were encamped near the Southeast Pass, where they had a few days previously killed 2 sailors and wounded 2 others belonging to the blockading schooner stationed there.”

The 1st U.S. Artillery and the 6th New York Infantry company K would place cannons on Santa Rosa island to bombard Camp Walton. They were also planning on sending a ship down the narrows to Fort Pickens while attacking but the narrows were too narrow. Choosing instead to just fire at the Confederate encampment.

“I remained here until their huts could be seen in the dawn, and then directed Lieutenant Jackson to open fire. The shells burst right in their midst. Loud cries and yells were heard, and the rebels could barely be seen through the brush in their shirt-tails making rapidly for the back country. A scattering volley was fired from what I supposed to be their guard, who then disappeared also”

Captain Henry W. Closson

Members of the 6th New York Infantry.

Leonardo Destin and his wife Martha.

The Confederates weren’t the only people living in the nearby area. Leonardo Destin was a fisherman from Connecticut. Him and his family along with his employee also lived in the area.

The Destin family probably didn’t enjoy the war being at their footstep. The union ships would have been constantly been firing cannons in target practice, and there were a few skirmishes between the Walton Guards and the Union.

Destin is alleged to have done trade with Northern ships. We do know that at one point a Union ship found Destin’s sloop and confiscated his belongings, including his Shotgun. Destin went abord the USS Water Witch to get his belongings back. “A boat came from off the sloop anchored inside and received all of the property belonging to her except a double-barreled shotgun which was not returned.” – Log of the USS Water Witch.

 

The Walton Guards weren’t fond of Destin’s presence near the East Pass they were guarding. Since Destin was from the north. The commander of the Walton Guards would eventually have Destin moved to Four Miles Landing, later known as Freeport.

“Pursuant to instructions I have removed Lenn [Leonardo Destin] and family from east Pass, to the four mile landing in Walton County together with his smack. Frederick Lawmaster, a man in the employ of Lenn, on the day I removed Lenn, so it has been reported to me, took a small boat belonging to Lenn, and went off, no one knew where.” – Captain William McPherson

McPherson could have more harshly punished Destin but he may have been lenient with him due to them both being freemasons. We don’t know for sure that McPherson was a freemason but we know that his father was.

 

History of Eucheeanna Lodge #17 – 1849 to 1888

After the Confederates surrendered at Pensacola the Walton Guards weren’t needed anymore so they were redeployed elsewhere.

In 1864 the Union would establish a Camp of Expedition on Santa Rosa Island. The purpose of this camp was to recruit people to join the 1st Florida Union Cavalry. They type of people they were looking for at this camp were Men interested in helping the Union war effort, runaway slaves, and deserters both Union and Confederate.

Some of the soldiers at the Camp of Expedition would get sick and five of them would die, one of these deaths was John Gaskins. At first they were buried at the Camp but after the war the men would be moved to Barrancas National Cemetery. Gaskins is buried in section 1, grave 960 and the four unknown men are buried in section 8, at graves 671, 672, 673, and 674.

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