Rank: Captain
Unit: 2d Dragoons
Enlisted: United States Military Academy class of 1838 in Appointed from Georgia.
Hometown: Georgia
Campaign: Plains Indian War (pre Civil War)
Died: 25 April 1849
Age at death: 38
Location of fatality: Charleston, South Carolina
Notes: 43rd in his class of 43 graduated cadets. Bvt. Second Lieut., 7th Infantry, July 1, 1833. On authorized graduation leave of absence, July 1, 1833, to Oct. 1, 1833. Resigned, Oct. 1, 1833. Re-appointed in the United States Army with the rank of Second Lieut., 2d Dragoons, Oct. 6, 1836. p567 Served: in the Florida War against the Seminole Indians, 1837‑38, (First Lieut., 2d Dragoons, December. 31, 1837) 1838‑39, 1839‑40, 1840‑41, 1842, being engaged in the Action of Locha-Hatchee, Jan. 24, 1838, — and in the Expedition to the Everglades, December. 3‑20, 1840; on Recruiting service, 1842; on frontier duty at Ft. (Captain, 2d Dragoons, Apr. 1, 1841) Jesup, La., 1842‑43, 1844, 1845; in Military Occupation of Texas, 1845; in the War with Mexico, 1846, being engaged in the Battle of Palo Alto, May 8, 1846, — and Battle of Resaca-de‑la‑Palma, May 9, 1846; on Recruiting service, 1846; in the War with Mexico, 1846‑48; and on sick leave of absence, 1848‑49.
Capt. Nathaniel Wyche Hunter is believed to be Tampa’s first environmentalist. Capt. Hunter recognized the natural beauty of the land around him and admonished his soldiers by stating “What sacrilege!” when they cut down the stately live oaks for firewood.
Click to open a new window to view a park named in honor of Capt Hunter.