The Civil War Fall Out – Part 2 December 9, 2009

At the age of 56, having spent 25 years in a distinguished public career, Senator Yulee commenced, and carried on for 20 years more the most strenuous work of his life: that of restoring to vitality that part of the railroad system of Florida in which he was personally invested.

Senator Yulee was the driving force behind The Florida Railroad, the state’s first trans-state line. It was his vision to unleashed the “iron dragon” and send it rumbling through the swamps and pine forests from the ocean to the gulf. Yulee’s railroad opened up the center of the state and planted new towns in the wilderness.

Senator Yulee was a true civil servant to Florida throughout most of his adult life.  He made significant contributions to my home state of Florida and to my little town of Homosassa. The Yulee Sugar Mill stands tall and proud as a reminded of his diligence to his state, my state.

The Civil War Fall Out – Part One December 9, 2009

After the Union burned Homosassa, all that was left standing was the Sugar Mill, which still stands to this day.

When the Confederacy vanished into history, the Governor of Florida appointed Senator Yulee one of a commission to go on to Washington, DC and confer with the President, as to Florida’s reestablishment into the Union.

During this trip, Yulee was arrested and charged with treason for his support of the Confederacy.  He was imprisoned at Fort Pulaski, Georgia (near Savannah) were he was interrogated for six months. Gen. Grant intervened to get Yulee out of prison.

David Yulee and the Civil War – Part 2 December 9, 2009

 The Sugar Plantation was run by 1,000 workers. For two years, the Yulee family lived comfortable in Homosassa. At the end of two years, the whole family went off to visit Captain Taylor, a “neighbor” some fifty miles away. The family was enjoying their stay when, one morning, two of the Homosassa people appeared and told a startling tale…

The servants at the Yulee residence, alarmed by barking dogs, saw coming through the gloom of the night a large boat rowed with muffled oars. The servants had to act fast. They took a few belongings to a boat on the other side of the island; they hurried up to the plantation, 3 miles away and sounded the alarm. The croppers took command. Torches flared through the darkness, wondering mules and oxen were hitched to dozens of sugarcane wagons, bedding, children, cooking utensils, and odd treasures heaped in confusedly. As dawn came, a long line marched rapidly away from the strangers known to be bearing their freedom towards a loved and trusted master. 

On the second day, four caution scouts went into the empty residence, finding a heaving box similar to the one used for silver–but really containing books–and carried it to their boat and started upon their return. Unfortunately, a navy launch appeared from a branch river. They were able to escape the ship by turning down a narrow creek. 

The Yulee’s home was destroyed and the family relocated to a cotton plantation near Archer.