Rick Reeves (b. 1959)

Destruction of the Tampa Battery

Oil on panel

Signed to lower right

Visible 35 7/16 x 29 5/8 in., framed to 39 3/4 x 33 3/4 in.

A group of Union sailors and soldiers, including an African American soldier holding a rifle, are captured in the midst of dismantling one of the Confederate batteries that had been charged with protecting Tampa, Florida, which at the time was a small port. Despite its small size, the port was an important trade hub for Central Florida and was a pivotal spot for blockade runners. 

There had been previous bombardments of Tampa, notably by the USS Sagamore, on 30 June 1862 during the Battle of Tampa. In the fall of 1862, the Union began a concerted attempt to put an end to the blockade running. Beginning on October 16th, the USS Tahoma and USS Adela began a bombardment of Fort Brooke. Two days later, a raiding party secretly disembarked at Ballast Point. Sneaking through the dense foliage, they reached the Jean Street Shipyard and destroyed several ships, including the notorious blockade runners: steamship Scottish Chief and sloop Kate Dale. A short battle ensued as the Union troops boarded their dinghies and returned to their ships. 

In May 1864, Union forces returned to Fort Booke; however, it was no longer garrisoned, and the surrounding town was mostly abandoned. The painting here shows Union forces dismantling the remaining cannon and supplies at the fort.  

Rick Reeves (b. 1959) of Tampa, Florida, is a master of American military paintings, devoting exceptional detail to the uniforms, flags, and landscapes. His paintings reveal a profound understanding of the battlefield and a sensitivity to the pivotal moments of war.  

A unique view of one of the few Civil War actions that occurred in Tampa, Florida. 

Note: This lot cannot be packaged and shipped in-house. Successful bidders winning items marked as being packaged and shipped by a third-party service are responsible for paying the third party directly. We are happy to offer complimentary drop-off service to local third-party packing/shipping companies in Columbus, Ohio.

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [Art, Folk Art, Military Art, Etching, Engraving, Lithographs, Prints, Ephemera] [Militaria, Accouterment, Equipment, Uniforms]