[FHStoday] TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY FOR DECEMBER 27

[Nick Wynne]

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY
DECEMBER 27
1835            Three companies of soldiers under the command of 
Lieuteneant Colonel Fanning arrived at Fort Drane today from Fort 
King.  There has been an increase in the number of confrontations between 
the Seminoles and the Army, and General Duncan Clinch has called for 
volunteers to augment the regular soldiers of the Army.

1838            Seminole warriors attacked the camp of Detachment E of the 
6th United States Infantry near the Econfina River today.

1862            The U.S.S. Roebuck captured the British schooner Kate as it 
was attempting to run its cargo of salt, coffee, copper, and liquor into 
the mouth of the St. Mark's River.

1863            Confederate scouts reconnoitering the Union camp near the 
Myakka River fired a shot into the camp, but the Federal soldiers did not 
return fire.  The Union soldiers, however, doubled their pickets and kept 
on the alert for further activity.

1864            U.S. Secretary of the Navy Gideon Welles ordered the paddle 
wheel steamer, Mahaska, and the schooner, Sophronia, to Key West for 
service with the blockading squadrons.

1894            The Whist and Literary Club, a forerunner of the Palmetto 
Club of Daytona Beach, was organized today.

1900            L. B. Wombell ended his twelve year tenure as Commissioner 
of Agriculture today.  He was first elected to the position in 1888.

1968            Frank Borman, William Anders, and James A. Lovell returned 
safely today aboard Apollo 8 after completing  ten orbits around the 
moon.  Launched from Cape Kennedy (Canaveral) on December 21, the American 
astronauts were the first humans to perform such a feat.