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[[Image:BombardmentCW-fort-pickensWaterBattery.jpg|thumb|right|Bombardment of Confederate water battery at [[Pensacola Bay]], [[Fort Pickens1861]]]]'''Pensacola''' and the surrounding area was home to several key clashes in the early stages of the '''[[Wikipedia:American Civil War|American Civil War]]'''. The Confederate Secretary of the Navy, [[Stephen Mallory]], was a Pensacolian and is buried in historic [[Saint Michael's Cemetery]].

[[WikipediaImage:South CarolinaSlemmer.jpg|thumb|South Carolinaright|Lt. [[Adam Jacoby Slemmer|Adam J. Slemmer]] became the first state to secede from the union on , commanding officer at [[December 20Fort Barrancas]]]]In January 1861, the United States Army forces in Pensacola consisted of Company G, 1st United States Artillery, which was stationed at [[1860Barrancas Barracks]]. On , near [[January 8Fort Barrancas]]. The company's commanding officer, Captain [[1861Wikipedia:John H. Winder|John H. Winder]], a small group of men under Colonel as well as his executive officer, First Lieutenant A. R. Eddy, were absent on leave, which left only two relatively inexperienced Army officers in Pensacola: First Lieutenant [[William HAdam Jacoby Slemmer|Adam J. ChaseSlemmer]] approached commanding, and Second Lieutenant [[Fort BarrancasJeremiah H. Gilman]] but were repelled by gunfire.<ref name="Viewswithslemmer">Parks, Virginia and Sandra JohnsonJ. H. Gilman. "With Slemmer in Pensacola Harbor. " ''Battles and Leaders of the Civil War Views of Pensacola''. Pensacola: 1993Century Company, 1887.</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]].

When Florida seceded [[Wikipedia:South Carolina|South Carolina]] became the first state to secede from the union on [[January 10December 20]], the commanding officer at [[Fort Barrancas1860]]. On [[January 8]], Lieutenant [[Adam J. Slemmer1861]], decided a small group of men attached to abandon Forts Barrancas and Colonel [[Fort McRee|McReeWilliam H. Chase]] and consolidate Union forces at 's command approached [[Fort PickensBarrancas]]but were repelled by gunfire. Slemmer explained his decision<ref name="Views">Parks, Virginia and Sandra Johnson. ''Civil War Views of Pensacola''. Pensacola: 1993.</ref> Lt. Gilman, second in command at Pensacola, recounts the scene:{{cquote|I called on Commodore Armstrong (Union Commanding Officer About midnight a party of twenty men came to the [[Navy Yard]]) ... He had received orders fort, evidently with the intention of taking possession, expecting to cooperate with mefind it unoccupied as usual. We decided that with our limited means of defense we could hold but one fortBeing challenged and not answering nor halting when ordered, the party was fired upon by the guard and that should be [[Fort Pickens]]ran in the direction of Warrington, their footsteps resounding on the plank walk as it commanded completely the harbor long roll ceased and our company started for the forts and also fort at double-quick. This, I believe, was the first gun in the navy yardwar fired on our side.|20px|20px|Lieutenant J. H. Gilman, "With Slemmer in Pensacola in the Civil WarHarbor." ''Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol. IX, No. 2, 1978.<ref name="withslemmer" />}}

SlemmerIn the early months of 1861, while [[Wikipedia:James Buchanan|James Buchanan]] was still President, [[Stephen Mallory]] had negotiated a gentleman's men destroyed over 20agreement that stipulated the Union would not reinforce [[Fort Pickens]] as long as rebel troops did not attempt to take it. However,000 pounds of gunpowder at incoming president [[Fort McReeWikipedia:Abraham Lincoln|Abraham Lincoln]]did not intend to honor the agreement, spiked and on [[March 12]] ordered troops about the guns ''[[Wikipedia:USS Brooklyn (1858)|USS Brooklyn]]'' to land at [[Fort BarrancasPickens]]. The orders reached the ''Brooklyn'' on [[March 31]], and evacuated 51 soldiers and 30 sailors to on [[Fort PickensApril 12]]the troops successfully reinforced the fort.<ref name="PICWViews"/>"Pensacola in Additional troops were landed from the Civil War." ''Florida Historical Quarterly, Vol. IX, No. 2, 1978USS Atlantic'' on [[April 16]].<ref name="PICW" /ref>  On [[January 12March 11]], [[1861]], rebel troops from Alabama and Florida occupied the Confederate general [[Navy YardWikipedia:Braxton Bragg|Braxton Bragg]] arrived in Pensacola and assumed command of the troops present. On [[Fort BarrancasApril 19]]; , Bragg declared martial law in Pensacola.<ref name="PICW" /> On [[William ConwayOctober 22]] famously refused to strike , the Confederate troops under General Bragg's command at Pensacola were organized as the Army of Pensacola.<ref>Miller, Francis Trevelyan and Robert Sampson Lanier. ''The Photographic History of the Union colorsCivil War''. New York: The Review of Reviews Co., 1911. Colonel </ref> ==Battle of Santa Rosa Island=={{main|Battle of Santa Rosa Island}}[[Image:Judah.jpg|thumb|right|The burning of the ''Judah'']]In September 1861, a schooner called the ''William H. ChaseJudah'', of which the Confederacy had contracted the use, ran the Union blockade and successfully entered Pensacola's harbor, docking at the navy yard. When it became apparent to Union forces that the Confederacy was attempting to outfit the ''Judah'' as a [[Wikipedia:Privateer|privateer]] thereafter demanded , they developed a plan to sabotage the surrender work. In the early morning hours of [[Fort PickensSeptember 14]], but Lta Federal raiding party of about 100 sailors and marines in four small boats cast off from the ''[[Wikipedia:USS Colorado (1856)|USS Colorado]]'' bound for the ''Judah''. Slemmer refusedApproaching the vessel at around 3:30 AM, they were greeted with musket fire from Confederate guards; however, the raiding party successfully boarded the ''Judah'' and indeed Fort Pickens would remain set it aflame. The raiding party also managed to spike a gun battery at the navy yard before retreating. The small clash resulted in Union control for three deaths apiece on both sides, the duration first of the warin Florida, a feat not duplicated by any other fort in a seceding stateas well as several wounded.<ref name="PICW" /><ref>[http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/projects/shipwrecks/legacy/shipwreck.cfm "U.S. Navy and Confederate Shipwreck Project."] ''Florida Division of Historical Resources''.</ref>

In the early months of 1861, while [[WikipediaImage:James BuchananBattle-santa-rosa.jpg|James Buchananthumb|right|The Confederate attack on the 6th New York camp]] was still President, [[Stephen MalloryImage:Santa-rosa-retreat.jpg|thumb|right|Confederate retreat]] had negotiated a gentlemanIn response to the attack on the ''Judah''s agreement that stipulated the Union would not reinforce , Confederate general Braxton Bragg ordered an attack on [[Fort Pickens]] as long as rebel troops did not attempt to take it. HoweverA force of over 1, incoming president 000 men under general [[Wikipedia:Abraham LincolnRichard H. Anderson|Abraham LincolnRichard H. Anderson]] did not intend to honor set out from Pensacola on the agreementevening of [[October 8]], and landing on [[March 12Santa Rosa Island]] ordered 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 about were spotted by an encampment of the ''[[Wikipedia:USS Brooklyn (1858)6th New York Volunteer Infantry|USS Brooklyn6th 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 land at [[Fort Pickens]]. Soon after, though, the Confederate general Anderson decided to retreat, during which Union forces pursued and caused extensive casualties. The orders reached retreat is described in the ''BrooklynFlorida Historical Quarterly'' on [[March 31]]article, "Pensacola in the Civil War":{{cquote|As dawn was rapidly approaching, and on [[April 13]] the troops successfully reinforced the fort.<ref name="Views" /> Additional troops and batteries were landed from the ''USS Atlantic'' on alerted to his assault, [[April 16]Anderson]abandoned his plans for any further attack and ordered his troops to march back to their original point of debarkation.<ref name="PICW" />

==Battle of Santa Rosa==In their hasty retreat, the [[Battle of Santa Rosa Island]]Southerners found themselves being outflanked. As they were boarding the steamers, flats, and barges, the city well trained Union infantry took careful aim from behind the closest dune ridge and showered the Confederates with large quantities of effective musketry that caused considerable death and injury. Florida's first major land battle ended when the steamers left the island for Pensacola . The Confederates reported a loss of 18 dead, 39 wounded and 30 missing or presumed prisoners of war. [Union commander] Colonel Brown stated his losses as 14 dead, 29 wounded and 24 prisoners.|20px|20px|"Pensacola in the two Confederate forts fought against an invading United States army and forces stationed at Fort PickensCivil War." ''Florida Historical Quarterly'', Vol. IX, No. 2, 1978.}}

{{sect==Artillery exchanges==[[Image:Bombardment-stub}}fort-pickens.jpg|thumb|right|Bombardment of [[Fort Pickens]]]] [[Image:Bombardment-fort-pickens-2.jpg|thumb|right|Depiction of various fortifications during the artillery exchanges]]A series of artillery battles took place during late 1861 and early 1862, in which the Union guns generally prevailed, causing substantial damage to Confederate fortifications.  At 10:00 AM on the morning of [[November 22]], the Union batteries at Fort Pickens opened fire on the Confederate steamers docked at the Navy Yard wharf. The steamers escaped the line of fire with minimal damage, but the Confederate guns returned fire. The Union ships ''[[Wikipedia:USS Richmond (1860)|USS Richmond]]'' and ''[[Wikipedia:USS Niagara (1855)|USS Niagara]]'' soon moved closer to shore and joined the Union barrage, firing primarily at [[Fort McRee]]. Union guns shot off the flagstaffs at both McRee and [[Fort Barrancas]]. Confederate general Braxton Bragg called the artillery battle "grand and sublime," and wrote that "the houses in Pensacola, ten miles off, trembled from the effect; and immense quantities of dead fish floated on the surface of the lagoon, stunned by the concussion."<ref name="Davis">Davis, William Watson. [http://books.google.com/books?id=YlIpAAAAYAAJ ''The Civil War and Reconstruction in Florida.''] New York: Columbia University, 1913.</ref> The artillery battle continued the next day. In all, Union troops expended 5,000 rounds of ammunition while Confederate troops returned some 1,000 shots. Fort Pickens on the Union side sustained little damage, but Confederate-held [[Fort McRee]], its water battery, as well as the navy yard and the village of [[Warrington]] all sustained extensive damage. Federal troops did sustain two deaths and 13 wounded. Federal artillery inflicted even more damage on [[January 1]] and [[January 2|2]], 1862, causing extensive fire damage at the Navy Yard and exploding the powder magazine at [[Fort McRee]].<ref name="PICW" />

The Union invasion of Tennessee in early 1862 necessitated Confederate reinforcement and on [[March 19]] around 8,000 Confederate troops left Pensacola for Tennessee, leaving behind only a token force. Confederate Colonel Thomas M. Jones was left in command at Pensacola and authorized to use his own discretion concerning the evacuation of the city. Upon learning on [[May 7]] that Union commander [[Wikipedia:David Farragut|David Farragut]]'s fleet was anchored off [[Mobile Bay]], Colonel Jones quickly removed most of the Confederate artillery and supplies from Pensacola. The last Confederate troops to leave, on [[May 9]], set fire to the remnants of the Navy Yard and other Confederate defenses. Most Pensacola residents evacuated inland to Greenville, Alabama.<ref name="Davis" /><ref name="PICW" /> Pensacola , left in the hands of acting Mayor [[John Brosnaham]], surrendered to U.S. troops under Lieutenant Richard Jackson on [[May 10]]. That evening, Union troops raised the stars and stripes over [[1862Plaza Ferdinand VII]].<ref name="PICW" /> Union naval officer [[Wikipedia:David Dixon Porter|David Dixon Porter]] recounted the surrender in his ''Incidents and Anecdotes of the Civil War'':{{cquote|[[John Brosnaham|The gentleman]]in question was attired without regard to expense. He wore a blue coat with brass buttons, a white vest, and most yellow nankeen trousers. His huge shirt-ruffle&mdash;or, as the sailors termed it, his head-sail&mdash;stuck out a foot at least, while his shirt-frills were fastened by a big diamond. His hat was nicely brushed, and his boots shone as if a dozen darkies had exercised their skill upon them. He advanced toward us, hat in hand, and, bowing low, exclaimed: "Welcome once more, my glorious old flag and my beloved fellow Union-men. I feel now that I shall receive protection from the laws of my country. I am Mr. Brosnaham, gentlemen, a leading citizen of Pensacola, who for the past year have dwelt beneath the folds of an alien flag and who have been despoiled of my goods and chattels worse than the Egyptians were of old. I welcome you to this loyal city , where I hope the tramp of the rebel hosts will never more be heard, and that we may never again be deprived of that dear flag which has sheltered me from boyhood, and of which I have dreamed every night since it was burnedreplaced by that meaningless rag which no one could respect, much less revere. Almost There are a thousand, aye, ten thousand associations&mdash;" There is no knowing how long this eloquent gentleman would have continued his patriotic harangue had not the General interrupted the flow of his eloquence by inquiring why the municipal authorities were not present to surrender the city. "Ah!" replied Mr. Brosnaham, "the city is at your feet&mdash;a child that has been wronged, asking a mother's protection. When Rome governed the world, it was only necessary to say 'I am a Roman citizen' to insure every consideration. Will not our great Republic&mdash;" "Where are the Mayor and City Council?" interrupted the general. "I am truly sorry to say, sir," replied Mr. Brosnaham, "that the fleeing rebels have taken the Mayor's teams into their service to carry their spoils to Mobile, and the City Council, poor fellows, were all pressed into the rebel army, and are now&mdash;heaven help them&mdash;shouldering a musket under a government they abhor, for they are all residents evacuated inland , I assure you, sir, devoted to Greenvillethe Union. In the absence, then, of municipal government," continued Mr. Brosnaham, Alabama"let me extend to you the liberty of the city and welcome you to our once hospitable but now deserted halls."|20px|20px|Admiral David Dixon Porter, ''Incidents and Anecdotes of the Civil War''}}

[[Category:Civil War| ]][[Category:History]]