I have become fascinated in recent years by reports of a large scale confrontation that took place in Calhoun County, Florida immediately prior to the Civil War. Similar episodes took place in other locations across the South, particularly Alabama and Texas. I would love to hear from others with information on this sort of thing.

This particular outbreak took place during the fall of 1860 when a band of "regulators" attacked members of the Durden and Musgrove families near Abe Springs in Calhoun County. The two families were rumored to be anti-slavery in their sentiments. Several men were killed and wounded in the assault.

The Durdens, Musgroves and their neighbors responded in-kind and an all out "war" broke out in Calhoun County. Circuit Judge (and future Confederate General) J.J. Finley came down from Marianna to investigate and immediately ruled that an "insurrection" was underway against the governments of Florida and the United States. He ordered the 1st Brigade of the Florida Militia to respond.

Militia troops assembled in Marianna under Brig. Gen. W.E. Anderson and marched into Calhoun County, where they became involved in a series of running fights with the regulators and their supporters. They eventually brought the fighting to an end and 27 men were captured and placed in jails in Apalachicola and Marianna.

Less than two months later, Finley and other principals in the episode cast their lots with the Confederacy.

Dale