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==First hostilities== | ==First hostilities== | ||
− | [[ | + | [[Wikipedia:South Carolina|South Carolina]] became the first state to secede from the union on [[December 20]], [[1860]]. On [[January 8]], [[1861]], a small group of men under Colonel [[William H. Chase]] approached [[Fort Barrancas]] but were repelled by gunfire.<ref name="Views">Parks, Virginia and Sandra Johnson. ''Civil War Views of Pensacola''. Pensacola: 1993.</ref> On [[January 10]], Florida became the third state to secede. In February the seceding states would form the [[Wikipedia:Confederate States of America|Confederate States of America]]. |
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− | [[ | + | When Florida seceded on [[January 10]], the commanding officer at [[Fort Barrancas]], Lieutenant [[Adam J. Slemmer]], decided to abandon Forts Barrancas and [[Fort McRee|McRee]] and consolidate Union forces at [[Fort Pickens]]. Slemmer explained his decision as strategically necessary: |
− | {{cquote| | + | {{cquote|I called on Commodore [James] Armstrong (Union Commanding Officer of the [[Navy Yard]]) ... He had received orders to cooperate with me. We decided that with our limited means of defense we could hold but one fort, and that should be [[Fort Pickens]], as it commanded completely the harbor and the forts and also the navy yard.|20px|20px|"Pensacola in the Civil War." ''Florida Historical Quarterly'', Vol. IX, No. 2, 1978.}} |
− | + | [[Image:Reinforcement-fort-pickens.jpg|thumb|right|Reinforcement of Fort Pickens by the ''USS Brooklyn'']] | |
− | + | Slemmer's men destroyed over 20,000 pounds of gunpowder at [[Fort McRee]], spiked the guns at [[Fort Barrancas]], and evacuated 51 soldiers and 30 sailors to [[Fort Pickens]].<ref name="PICW">"Pensacola in the Civil War." ''Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol. IX, No. 2, 1978.</ref> On [[January 12]], rebel troops from Alabama and Florida occupied the [[Navy Yard]] and [[Fort Barrancas]]; [[William Conway]] famously refused to strike the Union colors. Colonel [[William H. Chase]] thereafter demanded the surrender of [[Fort Pickens]], but Lt. Slemmer refused, and indeed Fort Pickens would remain in Union control for the duration of the war, a feat not duplicated by any other fort in a seceding state. | |
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− | Slemmer's men destroyed over 20,000 pounds of gunpowder at [[Fort McRee]], spiked the guns at [[Fort Barrancas]], and evacuated 51 soldiers and 30 sailors to [[Fort Pickens]].<ref name="PICW">"Pensacola in the Civil War." ''Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol. IX, No. 2, 1978.</ref> On [[January 12]], rebel troops from Alabama and Florida occupied the Navy Yard and | ||
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In the early months of 1861, while [[Wikipedia:James Buchanan|James Buchanan]] was still President, [[Stephen Mallory]] had negotiated a gentleman's agreement that stipulated the Union would not reinforce [[Fort Pickens]] as long as rebel troops did not attempt to take it. However, incoming president [[Wikipedia:Abraham Lincoln|Abraham Lincoln]] did not intend to honor the agreement, and on [[March 12]] ordered troops about the ''[[Wikipedia:USS Brooklyn (1858)|USS Brooklyn]]'' to land at [[Fort Pickens]]. The orders reached the ''Brooklyn'' on [[March 31]], and on [[April 12]] the troops successfully reinforced the fort.<ref name="Views" /> Additional troops were landed from the ''USS Atlantic'' on [[April 16]].<ref name="PICW" /> | In the early months of 1861, while [[Wikipedia:James Buchanan|James Buchanan]] was still President, [[Stephen Mallory]] had negotiated a gentleman's agreement that stipulated the Union would not reinforce [[Fort Pickens]] as long as rebel troops did not attempt to take it. However, incoming president [[Wikipedia:Abraham Lincoln|Abraham Lincoln]] did not intend to honor the agreement, and on [[March 12]] ordered troops about the ''[[Wikipedia:USS Brooklyn (1858)|USS Brooklyn]]'' to land at [[Fort Pickens]]. The orders reached the ''Brooklyn'' on [[March 31]], and on [[April 12]] the troops successfully reinforced the fort.<ref name="Views" /> Additional troops were landed from the ''USS Atlantic'' on [[April 16]].<ref name="PICW" /> | ||
− | On [[March 11]], [[1861]], Confederate general [[Wikipedia:Braxton Bragg|Braxton Bragg]] arrived in Pensacola and assumed command of the troops present. On [[April 19]], Bragg declared martial law in Pensacola.<ref name="PICW" / | + | On [[March 11]], [[1861]], Confederate general [[Wikipedia:Braxton Bragg|Braxton Bragg]] arrived in Pensacola and assumed command of the troops present. On [[April 19]], Bragg declared martial law in Pensacola.<ref name="PICW" /> |
==Battle of Santa Rosa Island== | ==Battle of Santa Rosa Island== | ||
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[[Image:Battle-santa-rosa.jpg|thumb|right|The Confederate attack on the 6th New York camp]] [[Image:Santa-rosa-retreat.jpg|thumb|right|Confederate retreat]] | [[Image:Battle-santa-rosa.jpg|thumb|right|The Confederate attack on the 6th New York camp]] [[Image:Santa-rosa-retreat.jpg|thumb|right|Confederate retreat]] | ||
− | In response to the attack on the ''Judah'', Confederate general Braxton Bragg ordered an attack on [[Fort Pickens]]. A force of over 1,000 men under general [[Wikipedia:Richard H. Anderson|Richard H. Anderson]] set out from Pensacola on the evening of [[October 8]], landing on [[Santa Rosa Island]] about four miles east of Fort Pickens. From there the Confederate troops were divided into three groups: one which travelled on the north (Sound) side of the island, one which travelled on the south (Gulf) side, and a third which trvalled just behind both, used as a flank to connect the groups. After marching for three miles, the Confederate troops were spotted by an encampment of the [[ | + | In response to the attack on the ''Judah'', Confederate general Braxton Bragg ordered an attack on [[Fort Pickens]]. A force of over 1,000 men under general [[Wikipedia:Richard H. Anderson|Richard H. Anderson]] set out from Pensacola on the evening of [[October 8]], landing on [[Santa Rosa Island]] about four miles east of Fort Pickens. From there the Confederate troops were divided into three groups: one which travelled on the north (Sound) side of the island, one which travelled on the south (Gulf) side, and a third which trvalled just behind both, used as a flank to connect the groups. After marching for three miles, the Confederate troops were spotted by an encampment of the [[Wikiepdia:6th New York Volunteer Infantry|6th New York Volunteer Infantry]] and fired upon. However, the Confederate troops had the element of surprise and quickly overwhelmed the encampment, sending the 6th New York retreating back to Fort Pickens. Soon after, though, the Confederate general Anderson decided to retreat, during which Union forces pursued and caused extensive casualties. The retreat is described in the ''Florida Historical Quarterly'' article, "Pensacola in the Civil War": |
{{cquote|As dawn was rapidly approaching, and the fort and batteries were alerted to his assault, [Anderson] abandoned his plans for any further attack and ordered his troops to march back to their original point of debarkation. | {{cquote|As dawn was rapidly approaching, and the fort and batteries were alerted to his assault, [Anderson] abandoned his plans for any further attack and ordered his troops to march back to their original point of debarkation. | ||