Fort Brooke, FL

Date(s): October 16-18, 1863

Location: Battlefield Unavailable - Lost Integrity

Campaign(s): Expedition to Hillsborough River [1863]

Situation:

Commanders:

• Union: Lt. Comdr. A. A. Semmes 

• Confederate: Capt. John Westcott

Principal Forces:

• Union: U.S.S. Tahoma, U.S.S. Adela, and landing force

• Confederate: Company A, 2nd Battalion, Florida Volunteers

Description:

• Two Union ships bombarded Fort Brooke on October 16 as a diversion, while a landing party under Acting Master T. R. Harris disembarked at Ballast Point and marched 14 miles to the Hillsborough River to capture several steamers.

• Harris and his men surprised and captured the blockade running steamer Scottish Chief and sloop Kate Dale.

• Confederate forces destroyed the steamer A. B. Noyes to prevent her capture.

• On its way back to the ship, Harris’ force was surprised by a detachment from the garrison.

• Fort Brooke is captured by a Federal landing party from the U.S.S. Adela on May 6, 1864 and abandoned two days later.

Slide Presentation: None

Classification¹: D

Casualties²: Unknown

• Union:

• Confederate:

Results: Union Victory

Battlefield Website:

• Ft. Brooke Timeline

Resources: Fort Brooke, FL Civil War

• Books

• Computer and Video Games

• DVDs

• VHSs

¹ Classification:

• A - having a decisive influence on a campaign and a direct impact on the course of the war

• B - having a direct and decisive influence on their campaign

• C - having observable influence on the outcome of a campaign

• D - having a limited influence on the outcome of their campaign or operation but achieving or affecting important local objectives

² Casualties are someone killed, injured, wounded, captured or missing.