A Confederate grave at Montgomery Hill near Boatyard Lake
Military dispatches provide an important reflection of the significance of a geographic area during a war. The importance of Canoe Station as a military base and supply point is illustrated through the military dispatches exchanged by various commanders, on both sides, during the War Between the States.
The coming of the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad in the 1850s provided commercial and transportation links to the backwoods of rural Alabama and in the process, the numerous small rail stops along the 100 plus mile route would become strategic assets to whichever side controlled them.
After the war began, the Confederate cavalry established a base of operations at Canoe Station. Colonel C. G. Armistead was the Confederate commander at Canoe Station and used the base to dispatch patrols to monitor Union movements from Ft. Barrancas.
Armistead communicated with his superiors on many occasions using messengers and telegraph messages from Canoe Station. Many of these telegraphed messages are lost to history but several examples of Armistead's reports to his commanders survive. One of the dispatches illustrates the excellent ability with which Armistead's men could keep track of their Union enemy. It was recorded on March 21, 1865:
"Dispatch from Keyser just received says enemy were landing at Milton yesterday morning from four steamers, and had three more steamers coming up. They report that they have 1,000 cavalry and one battery of artillery there, and that their destination is Greenville; that 40,000 (this was an exaggeration) troops have gone out from Pensacola toward Pollard, and that heavy force has gone out from Choctawhatchee, and the three columns are to concentrate at Greenville."
Armistead sent this telegram to Mr. H.L.D. Lewis who was the Acting Adjutant General for Confederate forces. Within days Armistead would abandon Canoe Station as his men skirmished with General Steele's men in northern Escambia County Florida. Afterward, Armistead retreated to the area around the Hawthorne House at Belleville.
Acting Adjutant General Lewis sent a telegram to a Captain Winston at Ft. Blakely on March 27, 1865 which mentioned Canoe Station in the following context:
"CAPTAIN: The brigadier-general commanding directs that you send scouts in direction of Canoe Station and Weatherford's (Poarch) to watch closely and see if the enemy turns from Pollard in this direction, giving timely notice of their movements and strength.
You will caution your scouts not be deceived by a small body of men and not to make false reports, which if they should do you will arrest them and send them here. With the remainder of your command you will keep in communication with General Liddell and give any information as to a move of the enemy on the left flank across Bay Minette Creek above Sibley's. You will be vigilant and active, as probably the safety of this command depends upon you. Establish a place for your headquarters and keep couriers there to communicate with General Liddell. "
Little did Acting Adjutant General Lewis know that the main body of Steele's forces (around 8000 men) was preparing to spend the night in the muddy fields around the tiny hamlet of Canoe Station.
One March 28, 1865 Lt. Col. Andrew Spurling USA sent a dispatch from Canoe Station to his superiors that he had arrived in the area with one hundred Confederate prisoners captured at Gravella.
As the last Federal soldier rode his horse out of Canoe Station on March 28, 1865 many would have believed that this would be the end of large scale military movements in the area. Yet 52 years later, in 1917, the US Cavalry returned to Canoe Station as they headed towards the killing fields of France and the First World War.
Available now: The Butler Street Chronicles; Selected histories of the communities surrounding Butler Street and will include information on settlers at Steadham, Pond Fork, Sizemore, Sardine, Butler Street, Hollinger and other communities along this route. Pick up your copy for $15. Copies can be published from the author or at Amazon.com or Lulu.com.
Shadows and Dust Volume III: Legacies is available for purchase in the amount of $30.00+$5.00 shipping and handling to PO Box 579 Atmore, AL 36502 or visit Lulu Publishing.com; Amazon.com, Barnes and Nobles.com OR at the Monroe County Heritage Museum in Monroeville, Alabama or by calling 251 294 0293.
Vote for and support the Canoe Landmark District referendum on the 2020 ballot. Call for more details.
