Hard-Learned Lessons

In the decades leading up to the Civil War—often called the “Antebellum Period” by historians—a series of conflicts occurred known collectively as the Seminole Wars, which took place when the resident Americans Indians resisted the expansion of the white man into the newly acquired territory of Florida. The nature of this war (comparatively small and of less than noble purpose) has relegated it to obscurity in the national memory, but for the participants, it was a memorable experience, and for the Navy, it proved to be an effective training ground for future operations.

Although for the most part the Seminoles proved to be more elusive than lethal, a number of bloody clashes resulted in heavy casualties and one in which a Navy midshipmen led a force of five men in a courageous but ultimately unsuccessful counterattack against a much larger enemy force.