During the Civil War, Tampa was an active area for Confederate blockade running and salt production, and was blockaded by Union vessels throughout the war. Several military actions also took place there.

On June 30-July 1, 1862, Tampa was shelled by the Union gunboat USS Sagamore after Confederate forces refused an ultimatum to surrender. The Confederates returned fire from their battery at Fort Brooke but the Union gunboat was out of range.

Little damage was done to Tampa or Fort Brooke, and no casualties were reported. On October 16-17, 1863, Tampa and Fort Brooke were again shelled by the Union gunboats USS Tahoma and USS Adela as a cover for a Union raiding force which burned two blockade runners in the Hillsborough River.

As the raiders attempted to return to their ships on October 18, they were attacked at Ballast Point by a Confederate force and, after a sharp skirmish with casualties on both sides, withdrew to their vessels. Before leaving the area, the Union navy sent another raiding party to destroy a large salt making facility at the head of Tampa Bay near the east end of the present-day Courtney Campbell Causeway.

On May 6-7, 1864, a Union force of several hundred men from the 2nd U.S. Colored Infantry, 2nd Florida Union Cavalry, and Union navy occupied Tampa after most of the Confederate defenders were withdrawn to reinforce the hard-pressed army in Virginia.

After taking some prisoners, capturing a sloop loaded with cotton, and destroying the Fort Brooke battery, the Union forces returned to their ships. Union forces continued to raid Tampa Bay area saltworks throughout the remainder of the war.

Information provided by the Florida Department of State.