There are few records of Drake's service, besides his involvement in the battle of Tampa in Florida. On June 30, 1862, a Union gunboat commanded by Captain Drake came into Tampa Bay, turned her broadside on the town, and opened her ports. He demanded the surrender of Tampa. The Confederates refused; therefore, he informed the Confederates that shelling would commence at 6:00 pm to allow time for non-combatants to be evacuated from the city. As the gunboat withdrew on July 1, they continued to fire sporadically.
