Civil War Heritage Trail

A State Historical Marker for the Miranda Home is

located in the vicinity of the home of Abel Miranda

who, with his brothers-in-law John and William Bethell,

ran a successful fishing operation in Big Bayou. Miranda

and the Bethells were prominent Confederate

supporters who harassed local Unionists.

In order to put a halt to the persecution of Union

sympathizers in the area, a force of Union navy sailors

from their base at Egmont Key, guided by local civilian

Unionists, raided the area in February 1862. Miranda's

home was first shelled by the Union navy, and then the

raiding force sacked and burned the house.

The Confederates' boats were seized, their farm animals

were killed, and their gardens and orange groves were

destroyed. There were no casualties. Following this

destruction, Miranda and the Bethells fled to Tampa

where John Bethell joined the 7th Florida Infantry as

A lieutenant.

Information Provided by the Florida Department

of Historical Resources