Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Cow Cavalry Monument
Hillsborough County Veterans Memorial Park
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022
1. Cow Cavalry Monument
The Florida 1st Special Cavalry Battalion was formed in 1863. Local cattleman, John I. Lesley, was commissioned by the Confederate government to organize a local company for his unit. There were nine such companies in Florida, now commonly referred to as the Cow Cavalry. The men recruited were often too old or too young for regular military service, and their assignment was to guard and drive large herds of Florida cattle headed to the north railheads in Georgia and South Carolina in order to feed the Confederate Army.When Vicksburg, Mississippi fell to the Union forces in 1863, shipments of Florida cattle to the Confederate army ended, The herds needed protection from the Union forces and local rustlers alike. Since there were no railroads in Florida at that time, the cattle had to be driven 300 to 400 miles north. An estimated 700,000 head of cattle had become critical to the Southern cause, just as the service of the Cow Cavalry had. The battalion surrendered on May 10, 1865.
Image was designed and carved by Michael D. Bethune and is used with permission of the Plant City Chapter 1931, United Daughters of The
this page online
Erected by Hillsborough County.
Topics. This monument and memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1863.
Location. 27° 58.622′ N, 82° 21.795′ 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. Scottish Chief Anchor (a few steps from this marker); The Battle of Tampa Monument (a few steps from this marker); The Battle of Fort Brooke (a few steps from this marker); Battle of Remagen Bridge (a few steps from this marker); First Seminole War (within shouting distance of this marker); Mexican War, 1846-1848 (within shouting distance of this marker); Two Peoples, Two Cultures (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans of an Earlier Era (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tampa.
Also see . . . Florida’s “Cow Cavalry”. (Submitted on May 8, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
Photographed By Brandon D Cross, March 7, 2022
2. Cow Cavalry Monument
Credits. This page was last revised on May 9, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2022, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 137 times since then and 58 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.
