In many respects, Florida remains the forgotten state of the Confederacy. Although the third state to secede, Florida's small population and meager industrial resources made the state of little strategic importance to either side.
However Florida's 13000 mile coastline proved invaluable for the production of salt, made by boiling sea water in large kettles or evaporating it in man-made tidal pools. Florida also became an important source of beef cattle for feeding the Confederate troops. The railroad which ran north from central Florida and connected with routes east and west in Atlanta provided a steady supply of food.
