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Havanna [Havana] Cuba
January 22nd, 1863

My Darling Wife

I will embrace this opportunity to address a few lines to you from a foreign port. I know
Darling you all at home have been very [sic] uneasy in regard to your Father and myself
and a letter from us even from a foreign country at this present time is a great consolation
to you all. I know my pet you all are rejoiced to hear of our safe arrival at this place and
would be more so to hear of our arrival in some Confederate port. Darling I hope the day
is not far distant and believe it is not when we shall meet again. With such a devoted and
affectionate Wife whoes [whose] constant prayer both night and day is for the safe return
of her absent Husband- He is almost sure of success. I know my Darling you all are
anxious to hear how we escape the blockade at Tampa. I wrote to you from Tampa from
time to time informing you that each letter as you would receive it would be my last as I
expected daily to leave. A few days Darling before we left Tampa the Smack Silas
Henry- Capt. [Captain] Greg- Supercargo Mr. Swann from Fernandina. He that
married Genl. Fenigan's [General Joseph Finegan's] daughter- attempted to run the
blockade from Tampa in the night, they got aground about two miles from the blockade
burnt their vessel and returned] to Tampa. That Darling was discouraging to us and
every body said for certain we would share the same or a worse fate. Our Pilot who we
had engage[ed] for the sum of $300 refuse[ed] to pilot us across the bar. Things my
Darling looked discouraging and we got [missing text] and concluded [concluded] to
make the venture pilot or no pilot [missing text] Saturday night the 17th the wind being
favorable [missing text] well to Tampa about sun down the distance to the bar is thirty
miles- the night being dark and windy- We passed the blockade about 12 o'clock that
night with both of our vessels. We ran close by her without being perceivedd. I
expected every moment to see her fire a broad side at us. The next day Darling it blew a
gale and we got separated from the Primma Donna [Prima Donna]. Monday we made the
Island of Cuba about 50 miles to the westward of this place and did not arrive here until
[sic] Tuesday about 11 o'clock A.M. Tuesday morning very early about 10 or 15 miles
from here we saw a large Man of War in the Gulf as soon as she discovered us she
steamed for us and we thought we would soon be taken. All on board began to hide what
money they had as best they could. When she came close we discovered she was a
Spanish Gun Boat and a few hours afterwards we arrived safe at this place. The Primma
Donna did not arrive here until the day after we did. We are now Darling disposing of
our cargoe [sic] and vessels and in a week or two we will leave here for home again.
Every body here Darling is in favor of the Confederacy and we are treated very kindly. I
will send this letter to you by Capt. Wm. Kendrick who will leave here this evening. He
left Charlotte Harbour near Tampa about the 1st of January and will leave today. Your
Father Capt. Johnson Charley and myself is well and expect in the course of a month to
be home again. Yesterday a Confederate Gun Boat- Florida- Capt. Maffit [Captain
John Newland Maffitt] arrived] here from Mobile; he destroyed t[w]o Yankees vessels
on his way here. He was received here by the Spanish French and English with a great
deal of honor. The Yankee Captains in this place is very much frightened] as the 290 is
off the coast too. It does me good to hear them talk and see how [missing text] frighten









they are about two Confederate Gun Boats [missing text] probably write to you again in a
few days by [missing text]. There is a great many here to run the blockade. I think I will
write to you again by Capt. [?ouky] who will leave in two or three days. Your Father
sends his love to you all. Kiss all for me. Remember me to all enquiring friends. I will
now stop writing as Capt. Kendrick is going on board.

I am Darling your absent but devoted Husband
Jacob E. Mickler


Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009

PAGE 1

Havanna [Havana] Cuba January 22nd, 1863 My Darling Wife I will embrace this opportunity to address a few lines to you from a foreign port. I know Darling you all at home have been verry [ sic ] uneasy in regard to your Father and myself and a letter from us even from a foreign country at this present time is a great consolation to you all. I know my pet you all are rejoiced to hear of our safe arrival at this place and would be more so to hear of our arrival in some Confederate port. Darling I hope the day is not far distant and believe it is not when we shall meet again. With such a devoted and affectionate Wife whoes [whose] constant prayer both night a nd day is for the safe return of her absent HusbandHe is almost sure of success. I know my Darling you all are anxious to hear how we escape the blockade at Tampa. I wrote to you from Tampa from time to time informing you that each letter as you would receive it would be my last as I expected daily to leave. A few days Dar ling before we left Tampa the Smack Silas Henry— Capt. [Captain] Greg— Supercargo Mr. Swann from Fernandina. He that married Genl. Fenigan’s [General Joseph Fi negan’s] daughter— attempted to run the blockade from Tampa in the night, they got aground about two miles from the blockade burnt their vessel and return[ed] to Tampa. That Darling was discouraging to us and every body said for certain we would share the same or a worse fate. Our Pilot who we had engage[ed] for the sum of $300 refuse[ed] to pilot us across the bar. Things my Darling looked discouraging and we got [mi ssing text] and conclu eded [concluded] to make the venture pilot or no pilot [missing text] Saturday night the 17th the wind being favorable [missing text] well to Tampa about sun down the distance to the bar is thirty miles— the night being dark and windy— We passed the blockade about 12 o’clock that night with both of our vessels. We ran close by her without be ing perceive[d]. I expected every moment to see her fire a broad side at us. The next day Darling it blew a gale and we got separated from the Primma Donna [Prima Donna]. Monday we made the Island of Cuba about 50 miles to the westward of this place and did not arrive here untill [ sic ] Tuesday about 11 o’clock A.M. Tuesday morning verry early about 10 or 15 miles from here we saw a large Man of War in the Gulf as soon as she discovered us she steamed for us and we thought we would soon be taken. All on board began to hide what money they had as best they could. Wh en she came close we discovered she was a Spanish Gun Boat and a few hours afterwards we arrived safe at this place. The Primma Donna did not arrive here until the day afte r we did. We are now Darling disposing of our cargoe [ sic ] and vessels and in a week or two we will leave here for home again. Every body here Darling is in favor of the Conf ederacy and we are treated verry kindly. I will send this letter to you by Capt. Wm. Kendr ick who will leave here this evening. He left Charlotte Harbour near Tampa about the 1st of January and will leave today. Your Father Capt. Johnson Charley and myself is well and expect in the c ourse of a month to be home again. Yesterday a Confederate G un Boat— Florida— Capt. Maffit [Captain John Newland Maffitt] arrive[d] here from M obile; he destroyed t[w]o Yankees vessels on his way here. He was received here by th e Spanish French and English with a great deal of honor. The Yankee Captains in this pl ace is verry much frighten[ed] as the 290 is off the coast too. It does me good to hear th em talk and see how [missing text] frighten

PAGE 2

they are about two Confederate Gun Boats [mi ssing text] probably write to you again in a few days by [missing text]. There is a great ma ny here to run the blockade. I think I will write to you again by Capt. [?ouky] who will leav e in two or three days. Your Father sends his love to you all. Kiss all for me. Remember me to all enquiring friends. I will now stop writing as Capt. Ke ndrick is going on board. I am Darling your absent but devoted Husband Jacob E. Mickler Transcribed by Nicole J. Milano, University of Florida, 2009