“Events of February 28 to April 30, 1862
Station of Company: Camp Hunt
Evacuated Fort Marion Florida, March 10, 1862. Marched to Hawkinsville. Joined Smyrna detachment and assisted in guarding and protecting Government Ordinance and Ordinance stores then landing at that point. When considered safe and being ordered to Tallahassee, marched to Waldo a distance of over 120 miles averaging 18 miles per day, then took the R.R. and was sent to this place by Col. W.G.M. Davis Commanding 1st Cavalry Regiment, Florida Vols.”
The night before the Union arrived at St. Augustine, all of the Confederate troops at Fort Marion and a quarter of the population evacuated the city. The Confederates had set sail into the interior for New Smyrna, Florida. The 8th Florida’s task was to secure and protect stores “at Hawkinsville.” Here the record is confusing, as it is written that the 8th Florida joined a “Smyrna detatchment” after a “march to Hawkinsville.” Forces from St. Augustine marched out to New Smyrna, Florida, but the only Hawkinsville I can locate is found in Pulaski County, Georgia - 280 miles north.
Smyrna, Georgia, is approximately 130 miles north of Hawkinsville, so the trip would not have been much more convenient for a regiment from Smyrna, Georgia, either - but at least they would have had better access to railroads. The 8th’s next orders called for a march of “over 120 miles” to Waldo, Florida.
So my question is very simply "Where is Hawkinsville?"
Thank you,
Brad Smith
SCV Camp #262