The author states that this book can be used both as a guide book, but also as a history book. I'm the kind of person who would rather see historical sites and learn things rather than go to the beach. My husband saw the book and said the author is a pretty big name historian, so the book should be amazing. That, coupled with my love for Endicott Period Coastal Defense sites, made me very excited to read this.

I skipped ahead to the chapter on Fort De Soto. Of all of the sites mentioned, I have visited this site the most. I have researched Forts De Soto and Dade extensively. I was eager to see what the author had to say. By the end of the chapter, I was shocked. I could barely believe that there was so much inaccurate information in it.

The main focus of the chapter is Battery Laidley, which is the only 12 inch mortar battery that still includes some of its original mortars in the nation. The battery consists of two firing pits, but they are both part of the same battery. The author calls one firing pit Laidley, and one Bigelow. Here's the problem. Battery Bigelow is a separate site. Bigelow was built south of Laidley, and it contained two 3-inch guns. This battery collapsed during a hurricane, but you can easily see the remains on the beach. You can climb on them. Heck, you can even see them on Google Maps. They are so far removed from Laidley that you could never mistakenly believe that the two are the same thing.

*sigh*

Behind Battery Laidley, two 6 inch guns are on display. These two Armstrong guns were rescued from a collapsed battery on nearby Fort Dade, restored, and then moved to Fort De Soto. There is a large sign by the guns that tell you exactly what they are, where they came from, and how they got where they are.

The book gives you a completely different story that I have no earthly idea how the author came up with it. The book says these are actually 3 inch guns moved from an unnamed battery at the fort (Bigelow). WTF? The guns are actually from Fort Dade's Battery Burchsted. The guns were abandoned and stayed at the collapsing battery until 1980. Erosion caused the coast line to move in, leaving the battery almost completely submerged in the gulf. The guns were rescued from the gulf and restored over a 2 year period. The guns were placed at De Soto in 1982. Again, there is a large sign giving visitors this information. I think this is a neat story that gives a lot of character to the guns.

So where did the author get his story? After a good bit of research, I could not find any resources online that mirrors the author's version of events. Everything I found gives the correct account. I wonder if the author even visited the site. If he did, I wonder how he missed the signs and the fact that these guns are a good bit bigger than 3 inches. Anyone that read this book for the history and never went to Fort De Soto would never know how wrong this information is. Wikipedia has the right information (for crying out loud). Why not the author?

You may ask why this matters. If the author could butcher the story of Fort De Soto, how do we know he hasn't done the same thing with the rest of the chapters? I am not as well versed in the history of some of the other forts he covers. The author ruined his credibility with the Fort De Soto chapter. Why would I trust that the information in the rest of the chapters is accurate after the mess he made with Fort De Soto?

Aside from the De Soto mess, the book covers some very early forts in Florida, as well as the two aviation museums in Pensacola. I was very surprised that the author did not cover Fort Dade. Fort Dade was the main fort defending Tampa Bay, with De Soto supplementing it. Sure, you have to take a $20 ferry to get to it, but that isn't a big deal. If the author tells you about a $150 ferry to go to Fort Jefferson in the Keys, why is $20 for Fort Dade out of the question? Fort Dade boasts 3 Endicott Period batteries, as well as the remains of the city built to support it. There are the ruins of roads and numerous buildings from the turn of the century. It is one of the best historical sites in the bay area. You would never know it after reading this book.

I was also quite surprised at how the author barely mentions the multitude of Endicott period batteries at Fort Pickens. I almost get the impression he doesn't care for Endicott period sites. Sure, they built a lot of batteries inside old 3rd system forts. Sure, they weren't actually used in any wars, but they reflect a very important time in history and are architecturally interesting. I would much rather visit an Endicott fort than a reconstructed French fort that may not even be at the correct location (Fort Caroline).

In the end, the author's blunder on Fort De Soto makes me question everything else in the book. I highly doubt such sloppy research was restricted to only this chapter. I admire that the author is trying to encourage visitation and awareness to Florida forts. I support that goal. Florida forts deserve a book that covers their histories accurately. The book description said it will shock readers. Well, I was shocked. And not in a good way. ( )