The first battle of the Loxahatchee River took place on January 15th,1838. It was commanded by Lieutenant Levin M. Powell, of the United States Navy’s Waterborne Everglades Expeditionary Unit composed of inexperienced Navel personnel who were soundly defeated by the Seminoles. The hero of this engagement was Joseph E. Johnston who took charge and directed a rear guard action and prevented what might well have become “Powells Massacre.”