Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Battle of Tampa Monument

Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

1. The Battle of Tampa Monument

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

The Battle of Tampa, also known as the "Yankee Outrage at Tampa", was a minor engagement of the American Civil War fought June 30 - July 1, 1862, between the United States Navy and a Confederate artillery company charged with protecting the port of Tampa, a small but notable trade hub for the Confederacy.

On June 30, USS Sagamore, a Union gunboat, came into Tampa Bay, opened her ports, and turned her broadside on the town. The gunboat then launched a boat flying a flag of truce. In his post-action report, Captain John William Pearson, CSA, reported to Gen. Joseph Finegan, CSA, what transpired. “I immediately manned one of my boats, met them in the bay, determined that they should not land on my shore, and on meeting the boat the lieutenant in command reported he had been sent by Captain Drake to demand an unconditional surrender of the town. My reply to him was that we did not understand the meaning of the word surrender; there was no such letter in our book; we don't surrender. He then said they would commence shelling the town at 6 o'clock, and I told him to pitch in. We then gave three hearty cheers for the Southern Confederacy

Photographed By Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022

2. The Battle of Tampa Monument

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and the Federal boat crew said nothing.... At 6 o'clock they promptly opened fire on us with heavy shell and shot, and after two from them we opened from our batteries, consisting of three 24-pounder cannons. Both parties then kept up a regular fire until 7 p.m." At that point, U.S.S. Sagamore withdrew. On July 1, between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m., the gunboat fired from beyond the range of the Confederate cannon. After a two-hour break for lunch, USS Sagamore fired two more rounds, weighed anchor, and sailed away. There were no Confederate casualties.

Erected by Hillsborough County.

Topics. This monument and memorial is listed in these topic lists: War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is June 30, 1862.

Location. 27° 58.624′ N, 82° 21.787′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Memorial can be reached from U.S. 301, 0.2 miles south of East Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard, on the right when traveling south. Marker located within Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3602 US-301, Tampa FL 33619, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Battle of Fort Brooke (here, next to this marker); Scottish Chief Anchor (a few steps from this marker); Cow Cavalry Monument (a few steps from this marker); Battle of Remagen Bridge

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(a few steps from this marker); First Seminole War (within shouting distance of this marker); Two Peoples, Two Cultures (within shouting distance of this marker); US Army Stuart M3A1 Light Tank (within shouting distance of this marker); Mexican War, 1846-1848 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 115 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 8, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.