St. Andrew Skirmish

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 29, 2008

1. St. Andrew Skirmish Marker

Inscription. Near this site on March 20, 1863, Confederate soldiers commanded by Captain Walter J. Robinson repelled a landing by Union sailors led by Acting Master James Folger of the blockading vessel U.S.S. Roebuck. The 11-man scouting party of Union sailors was seeking to locate a southern civilian vessel near the "Old Town" spring, when they were reportedly ordered to surrender by Captain Robinson. During the ensuing skirmish, several Union sailors were killed and wounded as they fled to their launch boat. Quarter, or safe passage, was requested by the remaining Union sailors to retrieve their dead and wounded. Total Union casualties were six dead and three wounded. Union sailors buried four of the deceased on nearby Hurricane Island, and a fifth sailor was interred by the Confederate soldiers. No casualties were recorded by the Confederate unit, which later became Company A of the 11th Florida Infantry Regiment. After the conclusion of the Civil War, the remains of the Union sailors were removed to the national cemetery at Fort Barrancas.
Florida Heritage Site

Erected 2000 by Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp 1319 and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-425.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil

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. In addition, it is included in the Sons of Confederate Veterans/United Confederate Veterans series list. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1861.

Location. Marker is missing. It was located near 30° 9.862′ N, 85° 41.252′ W. Marker was in Panama City, Florida, in Bay County. It was at the intersection of West Beach Drive (Business U.S. 98) and Friendship Avenue, on the right when traveling east on West Beach Drive. Located at a pull off along Beach Drive. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Panama City FL 32401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was on the Florida Panhandle.

It was also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: William Leroy MacGowan (within shouting distance of this marker); Baker-Whitehurst House (within shouting distance of this marker); George M. West Home (approx. 0.2 miles away); The St. Andrew Bay Saltworks (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Gwaltney Homeplace (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Haight & Zediker House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Capt. Otway Ware House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Hutchison House (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Panama City.

Another marker is no longer nearby. St. Andrews Bay Skirmish (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . .

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 29, 2008

2. St. Andrew Skirmish Marker

Missing Civil War historical marker (Nexstar Media Inc.). The marker disappeared around the time Hurricane Michael hit (Oct 7, 2018 – Oct 11, 2018). It is not believed to have gone missing due to the hurricane as their is no damage to the bolt holes and the bolts were not found near the pole still standing. (Submitted on June 28, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

St. Andrew Bay image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Swain, May 29, 2008

3. St. Andrew Bay

Hurricane Island was one of four Islands at the mouth of St Andrew Bay at the time of the Civil War. The others were Sand, Hammock, and Crooked Islands. A hurricane in 1868 shifted the barrier islands around considerably, and the resultant land was renamed Shell Island. Shell Island sits in the far distance, just right of the palm trees.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 28, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 5, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 7,141 times since then and 103 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 5, 2008, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.