Today in Florida During the Civil War …

January 5

1861 The Quincy Guards, commanded by Colonel Duryea, seized the Chattahoochee Arsenal today. The troops confiscate 500,000 rounds of musket cartridges, 300,000 rounds of rifle cartridges, and 50,000 pounds of gunpowder.

1861 The Florida Secession Convention reconvened today. John C. McGehee, a passionate state-rights planter from Madison County, was elected permanent chairman. McQueen Macintosh of Apalachicola introduced a resolution declaring Florida’s right to secede and urged the passage of a proclamation declaring that the state was no longer a part of the United States.

1863 Crews from the U.S.S. Sagamore seized the British blockade runner Avenger in Jupiter Inlet. The Avengerwas carrying a cargo of coffee, gin, salt, and other goods.

1865 An expedition from the U.S.S. Winnebago seized two copper kettles used for distilling turpentine, 1,280 copper pipes, and four sloop-rigged boats in the Gulf of Mexico today.

January 6

1861 U.S. Senator Stephen F. Mallory of Florida recommends that the state’s Secession Convention secede. This declaration followed a caucus of Southern senators called by Jefferson Davis and John Slidell of Mississippi.

1863 The U.S.S. Pocahontas captured the blockade runner Antona today off Cape San Blas, Florida.

1863 The U.S.S. Ariel today captured the sloop Good Luck, a blockade runner from New Smyrna near Key Biscayne Bay.