[FHStoday] TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY FOR DECEMBER 16

[Nick Wynne]

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
DECEMBER 16
1840            Military operations, under the command of Major Fauntleroy, 
continued today near Everglades, Florida, as units of Companies A, B, D, F, 
H and K of the 2nd Dragoons and Companies D, H, I and K of the Third 
Artillery, along with Negro guides, confronted Semonle warriors.  This 
campaign, which concluded on December 24, produced over 363 wounded casualties.

1861            General Robert E. Lee ordered a regiment of Mississippi 
troops, under the command of Colonel William F. Dowd, to supplement the 
1,300 Confederate soldiers at Fernandina.

1861            The State Comptroller reported that Floridians paid 
$227,374.11 in taxes so far this year.  This was Florida's assigned quota 
of the Confederate Direct Tax.

1862            Confederate General Joseph J. Finegan established his 
headquarters to Lake City.

1889            The first post office in Farmdale, now part of Tyndall Air 
Force Reservation, was established.

1896            Cigar magnate Don Vincente Martinez-Ybor was mourned today 
by 5,000 cigar workers who surrounded his home at 1409 11th Avenue during 
funeral rites.

1924            The first trip over the cross-state highway was completed 
today from West Palm beach to Tampa-St. Petersburg.

1930            C. W. "Bill" Young, former member of Congress from the 8th 
District, was born today in Hamarville, Pennsylvania.

1950            Floridians, like other Americans, were taken by surprised 
when President Harry S. Truman proclaimed a "state of emergency" in the 
United States following the entry of Chinese Communist troops into the 
Korean War.  Included in the government's action were wage and price controls.

1962            Explorer 16 was launched today from Cape 
Canaveral.  Explorer 16 is the first satellite dedicated to the study of 
meteors and other space debris.