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March 29th, 2024
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larry phillipsGUEST COLUMN, Larry Phillips, Kismet

 

While reading "Hidden History of Civil War Florida" by Robert Redd, I came across something that epitomizes the Democratic Party of 2022, yet the story originated in 1865 and was re-ignited in 1918.

I’ll edit it down to fit this page, but I’ll let you compare the similarities, none the less.

The Florida legislature formed the West Florida Seminary on Jan. 1, 1857, 10 years nearly to the day before the state seceded from the Union. It was meant to be a boy’s school, but with a building added in 1958 to house a girls’ institute, it became co-ed so to say.

As separatists tensions were building in 1861, school administrators started seeking ways to turn the academy into more of a military-style school. By Aug. 23, 1864, the school board had set parameters for properly aged males to participate in war duties.

In the 1864-’65 school year, there were only 58 boys and girls enrolled at the institute, and some were called into action in early 1864. Word had spread the Union forces were advancing westward from Jacksonville, and they were sent to Olustee, just east of Lake City, Fla.

Though the boys didn’t see much of any real war, after the battle they were sent to Tallahassee to guard Union prisoners nabbed at Olustee.

However, the students were severely tested. On March 5, 1865, when Gov. John Milton made the call for “every man and boy capable of bearing arms was at his post,” according to author Redd. And by noon, the boys of the West Florida Seminary were marching to the Capitol there in Tallahassee.

It’s estimated 25 to 35 boys, ages 11 to 18, took off for duty, where they were quickly placed on a train headed for Newport, Fla., just south of Tallahassee. Some other adult Confederates troops took off for the Natural Bridge, where the St. Marks flows underground, the boys stayed at Newport.

But later, the boys were marched toward the Natural Bridge, and they witnessed the carnage left behind from Union rifles and cannon on the area. They also witnessed mangled survivors being carried away for medical help. 

Once Confederate reinforcements arrived, the boys were sent back to Newton, where no cadets were harmed or killed in any action. “Most locals accepted that the cadets … performed their duty well and showed exemplary courage,” Redd noted.

The local newspaper, The Tallahassee Democrat, was quick to heap praise on the young cadets, noting they received a company flag at an elaborate ceremony at the Capitol.

While many praised the boys, a story came out in 1918 after a request for a monument to the battle on St. Marks River and the Natural Bridge. The editorial ran in the newspaper, was written by “An Old (anonymous) Confederate.

“We had not intended ever to tell what we know of the ‘West Florida Cadets’ but we believe in giving honor where honor is due,” wrote the Old Confederate. “The true tale of the cadets is a pitiful one.

“It was a mistake to have taken these children into such a place; they trembled, they turned, their knees knocked together, some of them began to cry, and with one accord they broke ranks and ran,” he continued. “Capt. Johnson was terribly mortified and so were the cadets at first, but on their return home, the little girls of Bel-Air met the train and with laurel wreaths for each young hero (?) and by the time they reached Tallahassee and were welcomed by the anxious relatives, they were ready to forget what happened and believe themselves all the little girls had said they were.”

Well, this went over like some flotsam in the punch bowl, if you know the meaning, and all “heck” broke out.

“The response to the Old Confederate was fast and universal,” Redd wrote.

One of the local leading ladies (Susan Archer) wrote in the same paper, “It is hoped that the party who wrote the scurrilous (sic) and cowardly article about our boys will be manly enough to acknowledge his mistake, under his own name, as a true Confederate would never have been guilty of writing so vile an article.”

Amazingly, several of the former cadets chimed in supporting Archer and her rantings. But one cadet – who was recorded in the newspaper – even startled the author Redd.

“One, who volunteered that several former cadets were proud members of the Ku Klux Klan – and had produced ‘splendid results – a restored south, and white supremacy,’” Redd reported from his historical documents.

A stone monument was eventually built near Natural Bridge and unveiled April 26, 1922.

So let’s see:

• The Democrats used children in war, maybe exploited is the term today? Have we seen any children being exploited recently?

• Then the Democrats raved and made up stories of valor about the young cadets. Anyone been praising the young protestors who raid, loot and burn down businesses?

• But an anonymous Old Confederate blew the “Big Lie” to pieces with his version of the reality of the event.

• And the Democrats tried to cancel the Old Confederate, along with supporters of the “Big Lie,” especially through the local media. Anyone you know been “cancelled” by loud mouths or the media lately?

• And the supporting former cadets embellished the lie and bragged about their results of being members of the Democrat’s grand Ku Klux Klan.

Today, who tries to tie Republicans to the Klan? Oh yeah: Democrats, who love “projecting.”

Folks, they are the same people who were Democrats 157 years ago; still exploiting children, cancelling anyone who doesn’t swallow their dogma and are the real racists who treat people of color as helpless victims, not as humans.

PS: The seminary today is Florida State University.

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