El Jobean in Charlotte County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Myakka River Civil War Skirmish

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 21, 2016

1. Myakka River Civil War Skirmish Marker

Inscription. During the American Civil War in late 1863, Union forces and "refugee rangers" encountered local combatants in a brief skirmish on the eastern shore of the Myakka River near today's El Jobean. It is the only recorded Civil War skirmish within the boundaries of present-day Charlotte County.

From Dec. 24 to 30, 1863, 14 Union military regulars commanded by Acting Ensign J. H. Jenks on small boats from the U.S. bark Gem of the Sea encountered signal fires and sporadic gun fire from local southern sympathizers. Commanded by Master's Mate Peter Coffin, the U.S. sloop Rosalie arrived to provide cover at a shelling position 200 yards from the Myakka's east shore, opening fire with a howitzer when clashes escalated on Dec. 30. Fifteen Florida refugee rangers led by ranger Captain Enoch Daniels had proceeded on a scouting mission over land to the northeast, and some witnessed the skirmish on their return. Union forces retreated to their boats, with one seaman injured.

The Myakka skirmish led Union commanders to believe that thousands of regulars would be needed to capture and hold mainland Charlotte Harbor, so the area cattle

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

continued to be driven north to feed the Confederate army.

Erected 2013 by Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is December 24, 1863.

Location. 26° 58.12′ N, 82° 12.658′ W. Marker is in El Jobean, Florida, in Charlotte County. It is on Kerrigan Circle 0.1 miles west of El Jobean Road (Florida Route 776), on the left when traveling south. Marker is located in Randy Spence Park within Kerrigan Circle. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: El Jobean FL 33927, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 21, 2016

2. Myakka River Civil War Skirmish Marker

8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Southland Trail Cemetery (approx. 2.3 miles away); Town of McCall (approx. 2.7 miles away); Placida Bunk House (approx. 2.7 miles away); Murdock (approx. 5.1 miles away); Telling Your Story (approx. 6.9 miles away); Prehistoric Man Lived Here/Spring Was Once a Cave (approx. 6.9 miles away); Little Salt Spring (approx. 7.6 miles away); First White Man Dies in America (approx. 8.2 miles away).

Also see . . . Myakka River Civil War Skirmish. (Submitted on June 7, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 8, 2020. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,686 times since then and 128 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2020, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.