Continuing our look at the Civil War in and around Panama City, Florida, this is the marker for the St. Andrew Skirmish. This small but bloody encounter took place on the shore of St. Andrew Bay near the heart of what is now downtown Panama City.
The incident took place on March 20, 1863, when a party of Union sailors approached the abandoned village of St. Andrew in a launch mounted with a single brass howitzer. Nine men and an officer came ashore, leaving two additional sailors to guard the boat.
The Federals were not aware, however, that a company of Confederate troops under Captain Walter J. Robinson were then hidden in the vicinity watching their movements. As the Union seamen moved away from their boat, Robinson and his men moved forward and advanced to within 75 yards of their enemy before they were seen. The captain ordered the Federals to surrender, but instead they broke and ran for their boat.
The captain ordered his men to open fire and they unleashed a fierce volley on the Union sailors. Several men fell immediately, but the others continued to flee to their boat. Robinson and his men pursued, charging down to the water's edge where they targeted the two remaining sailors that were trying to bring their artillery piece to bear on the Confederate force. Both sailors were wounded and the cannon never fired.
It became obvious that there was no hope of escape, so the men on the boat lowered their flag and asked for quarter. Robinson agreed and ordered his men to cease fire. Contrary to the rules of war observed at the time, however, the Union men in the boat rescued several of their wounded comrades and then rowed away across the bay instead of surrendering as promised. An infuriated Robinson ordered his men to resume fire and at least one man sustained additional wounds.
The brief skirmish was a dramatic Confederate victory. Robinson captured a Union flag, 4 weapons, 3 cartridge boxes, 3 bayonets and one pair of oars.
The boat party, commanded by Acting Master James Folger from the U.S.S. Roebuck, sustained a loss of 6 killed and 3 wounded. The dead were buried on nearby Hurricane Island, but the bodies were removed after the war to Barrancas National Cemetery near Pensacola.
Robinson's company later became Company A of the 11th Florida Infantry when that regiment was organized. He and his men were praised by General P.G.T. Beauregard for their "soldierly conduct" and "resolute courage."
Our series on the Civil War in Panama City, Florida will continue.
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