According to my 3rd Great Grandfather`s service records, from 22-30 Aug 1862 his company ("B" Troop), 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, was sent on a large scout 110 miles (one way) east of their camp at Bluff Springs, FL. to arrest a spy at Choctawhatchee Bay (near Fort Walton). During the Civil War this area was commonly known as "Boggy Bayou". They effected the arrest and brought the spy back to their camp at Bluff Springs and then carried him up to Headquarters at Camp Lee, Pollard, Alabama turning him over to Col. John R. F. Tattnall who commanded the Detachment of Observation in the Department of the Gulf.
Below is what is written in his service records regarding this scout:
"On the 22nd day of August 1862 a scout under command of Lt. Burwell B. Lewis left Camp Lee to arrest one B. Calvin who lived on Choctawhatchie Bay, a distance of one hundred and ten miles from camps. The Lt. and his command effected the arrest of said Calvin and returned to camp Aug 30, 1862."
In a letter written on 3 Sep 1862 by Pvt. Hardin Perkins Cochrane, "D" Troop, 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, to his brother confirmed "B" Troop`s Scouting Expedition to Choctawhatchee Bay and wrote his observations regarding their actions once they returned to camp:
"One scouting party under Lt. Burwell Lewis went near Tampa Bay and brought back two men in Yankee uniforms, I suppose they were Yankee soldiers, and an old man who was suspected (to be a spy). They were carried on to Pollard that evening to headquarters."
This Mr. B. Calvin must have really did some damage for them to send out a special company sized scout for 220 miles roundtrip which took 8 days just to arrest him and bring him back for trial. I am sure that he was hanged after them going to that much trouble to travel so far and to stay out so long to arrest him and bring him back.