"fort meade florida" Fort Meade by doug48

fort meade is the oldest town in polk county florida. the town is named after fort meade that was built in 1849 during the second seminole war. fort meade was located on the fort brooke, (tampa) and the fort pierce military road. future confederate general thomas "stonewall" jackson was stationed at fort meade in 1851. the town of fort meade was burned by union forces in 1864. of interest to the tourist is it's downtown historic district which has a number of post civil war homes and buildings listed on the national register of historic places. the fort meade area has numerous lakes that offer excellent fresh water fishing. eight miles south of fort meade on US 17 is the paynes creek historic state park. for those interested in old florida history and architecture fort meade is worth a visit in south polk county.

jacob summerlin

during the civil war central florida was an important supplier of beef for the confederacy. confederate captain james mc kay along with f.a. hendry, james lanier, and jacob summerlin would drive cattle from fort meade to the railroad depot in baldwin in north florida. by 1864 captain mc kay was supplying beef to about three quarters of the confederate army. in april 1864 union captain henry a. crane ordered james green to capture, or kill if necessary, confederates f. c. m. boggess, john r. durrance, f. a. hendry, james lanier, jacob summerlin, and willoughby tillis. on april 7 th 1864 the union second florida calvary advanced toward fort meade but were spotted by confederate pickets at bowlegs creek southeast of town. during the battle of bowlegs creek james lanier was killed. after the battle the confederates withdrew back to fort meade and union forces laid seige to willoughby tillis' homestead. union troops failed to control confederate occupied fort meade but would return later with reinforcements. on may 19 th the combined forces of the union second florida calvary and united states colored troops attacked fort meade. the confederates established a skirmish line to protect the town but were greatly out numbered by the union. the confederates were forced to retreat and union troops burned the town.