Florida had so few men to fight that all it could send was a brigade. This is why so many call those who fought, The Florida Brigade. The first year of the war was spent protecting our coastlines, but quickly things grew serious up north, and Florida's Brigade was sent there by steamship or rail.

When William and his first wife came to Florida, they lived in Tallahassee. In the second book, William spends several weeks in Tallahassee for Florida's General Assembly (legislature). So what was Tallahassee like during this period?

Much is already written about the plantation class, mainly because there is so much documentation. However, the yeoman or middle class is just as interesting, though many did not read or write. Yet, they, the farmers, cattlemen, bankers, and store owners became the primary economy of the state. Learn about Florida's yeoman class.