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Born in the Bahamas, Robert Watson first came to Florida in 1847. He settled in Key West, where he became a carpenter. Watson left Union-occupied Key West in September 1861 and enrolled in a Florida "Coast Guard" company at Cedar Key. In April 1862, this company mustered into Confederate service as Company K, Seventh Florida Infantry Regiment. Watson's company remained along Florida's west coast, primarily at Tampa and Point Pinellas, until late June when it joined the Confederate Army in Tennessee.
Watson's unit participated in the Confederate invasion of Kentucky in 1862. On September 2, Union troops captured Watson, sick with fever, at Boston, Kentucky. He returned to his unit in March 1863. For the rest of that year, his unit campaigned primarily in east Tennessee. In September, the unit fought in the bloody battle of Chickamauga, a Confederate victory, followed by defeat near Chattanooga two months later.
Watson and several men from his company transferred to the Confederate States Navy in March 1864. He served aboard the C.S.S. Savannah until December of that year, when, upon the evacuation of Savannah, the ship was scuttled to prevent it from falling into Union hands. Watson then served briefly in Charleston, South Carolina; then to Fort Fisher, near Wilmington, North Carolina.
Following the fall of Fort Fisher in January 1865, Watson traveled to Richmond, Virginia, assisting in the defense of the James River. Watson accompanied Lee's Army of Northern Virginia when it evacuated the Confederate capital. Federal forces captured him on April 8, 1865, one day before the surrender at Appomattox. After the war, Watson returned to Key West, Florida.
Summary:
The collection contains a photocopy of Robert Watson's diary that documents his service during the Civil War in the 7th Florida Infantry Regiment and in the Confederate Navy. The first entry is September 27, 1861, from Key West (Monroe County). The diary continues with regular entries until April 25, 1865. A part of the diary was printed in the Pass-a-Grille Gulf Beach News; copies of this version are also in the collection. It is arguably the most detailed and complete diary kept by a Floridian during the Civil War, and it is certainly unique in documenting the activities of a Floridian who served in the Confederate States Navy.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available. 0
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Photocopies.
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Unknown.
Associated Materials:
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Ownership/Custodial History:
Publication Note:
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Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Confederate States of America. Navy. Confederate States of America. Army. --Florida Infantry Regiment, 7th. Savannah (Ship)
Chickamauga (Ga.), Battle of, 1863. Civil War (U.S.)
Diaries. aat
Florida History Civil War, 1861-1865 Key West (Fla.) Monroe County (Fla.) United States History Civil War, 1861-1865
for detailed listing.