Salt, Blockades, and Survival on Florida's Civil War Coast

1862 — Governor John Milton's October 18 correspondence documents the wartime importance of salt works and the blockade.

By Wm. E. McMullen II

A Strategic Resource

A Florida governor's letterbook record dated October 18, 1862, includes subjects such as salt works, the naval blockade, and medicine. The State Archives preserves the entry among Governor John Milton's official correspondence. It is a reminder that something as ordinary as salt could become a strategic resource in wartime.

Why Salt Mattered

Before widespread refrigeration, salt was essential for preserving meat and other food. Armies depended on preserved provisions to feed troops far from farms and markets. Civilian households also needed salt. When trade was disrupted, shortages reached kitchens as well as military supply depots.

Florida's Long Coastline

Florida's coastal geography offered opportunities for producing salt from seawater, but also exposed works and transport routes to Union naval pressure. The blockade aimed to restrict Confederate trade and supplies. Coastal production could be laborious, vulnerable, and difficult to protect. The presence of salt works in official correspondence shows why authorities paid attention to an industry that might otherwise seem unremarkable.

A Document, Not a Battle Report

The October 18 record is evidence of government concern with salt, blockades, and related matters. It should not be described as proof that a particular salt works was attacked that day. Establishing a specific raid would require additional dated evidence. This distinction allows the archive to tell a strong story without overstating what it documents.

Why It Matters

Wars are fought with food, transport, labor, and medicine as well as weapons. The October 18 correspondence reveals how Florida's environment and coastline became part of the Civil War's struggle over supply and survival.

Sources for Additional Reading

• Florida Memory — Milton Letterbook, October 18, 1862