With its 50-mile coastline and shallow coastal waters, Taylor County was a major center for Confederate salt production

during the Civil War. Locations for saltworks in the region included Jonesville (present-day Adams Beach), the mouth of Blue Creek, the Aucilla River Slough, the mouth of the Fenholloway River, and Horseshoe Bay.

The rugged terrain and sparse population of Taylor County made it a haven for Floridaand Georgia Unionists and Confederate deserters who often joined together in armed bands and assisted Union forces in raiding the saltworks. During one such raid

in February 1864, Union sailors from the USS Tahoma were assisted by nearly 100 of these men in destroying large saltworks

described as being seven miles in extent.

The raiders destroyed 6,000 bushels of salt, 390 salt kettles, over 280 buildings, and numerous other salt-making equipment and supplies. Additionally, over 1,000 cattle, mules, horses and wagons were captured and given to the Unionist and deserter band by the Union commander as the sailors returned to their ship. Despite the Union raids, salt-making operations continued in Taylor County for the duration of the war.

Information Provided by the Florida Department of State.