At the start of the Civil War, Confederate Florida looked to local militias to begin the difficult task of raising an army.

Most militias were made up of men from different social orders in the community- farmers, bricklayers, teachers, fisherman, lawyers and even some judges. Few had prior military service and in the beginning most had to supply their own weapons, clothing, and food.

One such Confederate militia formed was the Walton Guards. In March of 1861 they set up Camp Walton in modern day Fort Walton Beach along a long narrow waterway called Santa Rosa Sound.

To defend the area from Union gunboats, the Walton Guards mounted a cannon on a small shell mound along the water's edge. When the militia left in 1862, they disabled and buried it so Federal troops could not use it.

In 1932, the cannon was rediscovered. It's the largest artifact from this Confederate militia. And, today it is on display along U.S. highway 98 at the very site, where they once camped.

Written and produced by the Florida Public Archaeology Network, WUWF Public Media, and narrated by Dr. Judy Bense.