he became a successful businessman owning an inn, gristmill, saw-mill, furniture shop, and a machine shop. Civil War By 1860 it was apparent that a civil war was inevitable. Pearson was a supporter of Southern rights and believed in protecting those rights. He visited Charleston, South Carolina where he became emotionally stirred by the Southern "fire-eaters." It was here that he purchased 125 smoothbore muskets, and 100 colt revolvers. He returned to Florida and asked Governor Madison S. Perry for permission to start a militia under his command. At Camp McCarthy on the banks of the Ocklawaha River in Putnam County Pearson was elected Captain on May 14, 1862. On the first day 71 men enlisted in the militia but by the end of the war it increased to 150. Pearson outfitted his men with the equipment purchased from Charleston. In Orange Springs Pearson and his associates manufactured guns, cannons and munitions that were later used in the defense of Tampa. His machine shop in Orange Springs was used for the production of a patented cotton gin. St. Johns River The Oklawaha Rangers were first assigned to protect the town of Palatka. A Union sailing yacht called America had been sunk in Dunn's Lake. Union forces were attempting to raise the ship but Pearson was ordered to go to Dunn's Creek to block the entrance to the St. Johns River. He made a decision to cross the river in two separate detachments at night but discovered the enemy vanished by morning. Captain Pearson wanted to fight the Union forces. He went to a nearby plantation owned by Dr. R. G. May hoping to engage the Federal troops of 200 men but they refused to fight. After failing to prod the enemy into an engagement he vented his frustration by arresting whites and blacks and charged them as being Union sympathizers. Before leaving, Pearson hanged one of Dr. May's slaves in frustration. One concern of Pearson was disloyalty to the Confederacy. Pearson's men scouted the right side of the St. Johns River arresting both white and black troublemakers. He drove whole communities into the woods in the process. Tampa The Oklawaha Rangers were ordered in June 1862 to protect the town of Tampa at Fort Brooke. On June 30 the USS Sagamore, commanded by Union Captain A. J. Drake, was seen closing in on the fort. The Federal gunboat maneuvered broadside