The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-28
PENSACOLA DURING
THE CIVIL WAR

We are indebted to Mrs D. Hale
Wilson, president of the United Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy for the follow
ing historical reference, a reprOduc-
ton of her graduating essay, from
facts furnished in its composition by
the late Generals Geo. Reese and S. A.
Moreno. 1t will be interesting reading
to the old residents and We hope will
crafty the thousands who now thrOng
its streets and quayS:
Pensacola During Civil War.
When the Civil War broke out our
city was but a miniature of what it is
now. The town though very scattered
lay between the present streets of La
Rua, Florida Blanca and Reus. The
inhabitants were a mixed population of
about three or four thousand who had
up to this time lived quiet lives. Early
in 1861, however, their peace was rude
ly broken by the RACES of war. Lum-
Der trading had been the principal in
dustry, this however, now largely dis
continued giving place to trade with
the military forces who held the forts
and manned the navy yard.
Among the first preparations for war
in Florida was the forming in this city
of two military companies. The Pen
sacola Guards, under Capt. Henderson
Bright, and Pensacola Rifle Rangers,
commanded by Capt. Edward A. Perry.
These companies were made up of
Pensacola's best and bravest men. The
first company organized was the
Guards. Soon after their organization
flags were given to them by citizens.
Miss Anna P. Simpson, later Mrs. Geo.
Reese. presented the Standard to the
Guards, and Miss Julia Baker gave the
Rife Rangers their banner. The sol
diers drilled in what is now our beau
tiful Plaza.
On January 9th. 1861. d rumOr that
the COnfederates intended to seize the
Navy Yard and Warrington, reached
Lieutenant Slemmer, then In command
of the United States haTbOr defences
here. He determined to concentrate
all his forces at Fort PickenS. On the
10th of January the soldiers were trans
ferred from war ships. and Fort Bar
rancas and McRee were abandoned.
The guns at Barrancas were spiked
and were in this condition when the
Confederates. under Col. LomaX took
the fort.
The navy yard was surrounded by
Florida, and Alabama troops under
Colonel rLOmax on the 18th of January
His command consisted OF seven COM
panies numbering nearly five hundred
men. They gained access to the yard
by the east entrance at eleven o'clock
a. m.
General BraXton Bragg assumed
command of Pensacola on March 18th.
1861 He had q force of five thousand
men from the state of Alabama. Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, Georgia and Flor
ida. He ordered all intercourse with
Santa Rosa Island, Fort Pickens or any
of the Federal fleet, discontinued, on
April Is.
Pensacola harbor was blocked by or
der of Federal Commander Capt /
of the United States Sabine !
on the 18th of May. General Bragg in /
his reply said, that he considered this I
a recognition of the Confederacy as a ]
government by the Federals.
During the summer of 81 a party of /
about fifty men from the blockading /
frigate Colorado burned the armed
schooner William Judah in the dry !
dock basin at the Navy Yard. They |
were commanded by Lieutenant Rus /
sell of the United States Navy. The /
attack was made in a small boat with |
muffled oars, and they escaped with /
little loss of life After burning the /
schooner they fired cannon down the |