Events at Pensacola - The Accounts of Mrs. Slemmer & Mrs. Gilmer

Mrs. Caroline Slemmer

When state forces from Florida and Alabama had occupied Fort Barrancas, Fort McRee and the Pensacola Navy Yard in January of 1861, a number of the wives and children of soldiers were present. These, along with U.S. servicemen taken prisoner and paroled and other noncombatants, went aboard the storeship U.S.S. Supply. The vessel made its way out of Pensacola Harbor and set sail, arriving in New York 150 years ago today.

Aboard the Supply were the wives of Lieutenants Adam J. Slemmer and J.H. Gilman, the two principal officers now commanding the besieged garrison of fewer than 100 U.S. soldiers and sailors at Fort Pickens. They provided to northern newspapers a unique account of the situation at Pensacola as it had been when they left the harbor in January:

Statements of Mrs. Slemmer and Mrs. Gilman.

Mrs. Lieutenant Slemmer and Mrs. Lieut. J.H. Gilman, two ladies who have arrived at New York in the Supply, from Pensacola, have furnished the Times with some particulars attending their departure from that place. We quote:

The exodus from the Barrancas Fort was made necessarily in much haste, there being little time except to hurriedly pack up the most valuable articles of furniture and wardrobe. No personal violence was offered to three retreating women and children, but the sudden and peaceable breaking up of so many peaceful households, and the violent separation of family ties, were cause of great distress. To many the parting of husband and wife was as if for the last time, and tears bedewed many a hardy cheek when the last “good-bye” was spoken.

Fort Barrancas

During the day and night of the evacuation of Barrancas, and the transfer of the garrison to Fort Pickens, every person – men, the officers and their wives – performed prodigies of labor, and never obtained a wink of sleep for nearly twenty-four hours; and the hard work fell about equally upon all, without regard to rank or sex. The ladies cheerfully performed their part throughout the trying ordeal. On the day following the embarkation of the families on board the Supply, Mrs. Gilman and Mrs. Slemmer, accompanied by officers from the storeship, went on shore under a flag of truce to obtain a last interview with their husbands.

Lieut. Slemmer asserted that he could hold the place against five thousand men, and declared he would do it.

All the prisoners in the navy-yard were permitted to leave after giving their parole, and those who could get away left. Such as decided to remain were compelled to take the oath of allegiance to serve the State of Florida.

The United States steamer Wyandotte is kept constantly under steam, at a safe distance from the reach of enemies, and in readiness to co-operate in the defense of the fort. In case of an emergency she will be at hand ready to receive on board the garrison, should they be overpowered and obliged to abandon the fort to the enemy. There are arrangements by which the entire forces will be able to escape through a covered way to the beach, where they can take the boats and go on board any vessel that may be in waiting to receive them. In such event it will probably be blown up.

It is stated that every one of the lieutenants and most of the other officers on board the Wyandotte have resigned, and that with the exception of the engineers, Capt. Berryman has been left entirely alone. - Pittsfield Sun, February 6, 1861.

To learn more about the historic sites in and around Pensacola Bay, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/pensacola1.

 

Fort Pickens Once Again Accessible by Car

Historic Fort Pickens near Pensacola can once again be visited by automobile. The access road to the old fort is once again open to traffic.

The road was destroyed during Hurricane Ivan several years ago and further damaged during Hurricane Dennis a year later. It has taken the National Park Service years to work through the red tape, environmental, funding and other issues, but the access road finally reopened in late May.

Built during the antebellum era, Fort Pickens played a critical role during the Civil War. Like Fort Sumter, the massive brick fortress was held by the Union throughout the war, even though Confederate troops occupied nearby Fort Barrancas, Fort McRee and the Advanced Redoubt. Two fierce bombardments took place between Confederate and Union forces in 1861 and 1862 and the outer camps of Fort Pickens were the target of a major Southern attack during the Battle of Santa Rosa Island.

In later years the fort served as a prison for the famed Apache leader Geronimo and it remained a vital U.S. military installation until after World War II. Now part of Gulf Islands National Seashore, the fort is maintained by the National Park Service.

Fort Pickens is open daily from 8 a.m. until sunset and ranger tours are given each afternoon at 2 p.m. The visitor center at the fort is open from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. The entry fee to visit the fort and the Fort Pickens section of the national seashore is $8, which allows access for a full week.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortpickens1.

Memorial Day in Florida - Fort George

Continuing our series on sites with special Memorial Day significance in Florida, we turn now to the battlefield where Americans joined with troops from Spain and France in a key action that helped assure our country's independence.

In 1781, as the American Revolution raged, Pensacola was a key British stronghold. The old Spanish city had fallen into British hands at the end of the French and Indian War and had been strongly fortified. A strong stockade surrounded the town, a redoubt at the site of today's Fort Barrancas commanded the entrance to the bay while on the heights overlooking Pensacola stood Fort George.

The key to the city itself, Fort George was a strong bastioned fortress with an attached "hornwork" or battery. Because the fort could be fired upon from nearby hilltops, two smaller forts - The Queen's Redoubt and the Prince of Wales Redoubt - were built to assist in its defense. It is a little known fact today that Pensacola was then the key to control of the entire Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi valley.

On March 18, 1781, after much discussion, a combined Spanish and French fleet stormed its way into Pensacola Bay. As the British watched and waited, Spanish General Bernardo de Galvez spent six weeks assembling his army and moving into position for a siege of Pensacola. Among his thousands of soldiers from Spain, France and other countries were 25 American volunteers.

The Battle of Pensacola began in earnest at the end of April 1781 when Galvez opened his bombardment of Fort George. British cannon roared in reply. The allied forces slowly moved closer to the British fortifications by way of trenches and batteries constructed at night. Finally, on May 8, 1781, in the middle of a fierce cannonade, they launched a shell that smashed into the magazine of Queen's Redoubt. The fort was destroyed in a devastating explosion and nearly 100 British soldiers killed. Allied troops rushed forward and occupied the ruined fort. Placing cannon of their own atop the heights, they soon opened fire on Fort George itself from short range.

British General John Campbell knew that he could not hope to hold out and raised a white flag over his works. Pensacola surrendered on May 10, 1781, ending forever British control of the Gulf Coast and lower Mississippi River. Although seldom recognized as such today, it was one of the critical battles of the American Revolution.

The Battle of Pensacola is memorialized today by a small park at the site of Fort George. Located at North Palafox and La Rua Streets in Downtown Pensacola (park on La Rua), Fort George Park includes a reconstruction of a small section of the fort as well as interpretive panels explaining the history of the site and the importance of the battle.

If you are interested in exploring an actual site of the American Revolution on this Memorial Day, it is an ideal place. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortgeorge.

Memorial Day in Florida - National Naval Aviation Museum

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I will post details on some places in Florida that hold special memories of our nation's military history and the men and women who gave their lives in the service of our country.

Perhaps the finest military exhibit in the state (if not the country) is the National Naval Aviation Museum on board the Pensacola Naval Air Station in Pensacola. This outstanding museum traces the history of naval aviation from its first crude beginning to the space race and beyond.

Pensacola holds a special place in American history as the "birthplace of naval aviation." It was here that the U.S. Navy experimented with and improved early aircraft and later trained large numbers of pilots for aerial combat during World War II. Pilots from every era of naval aviation have trained here and Pensacola had played a key role in the U.S. Navy's remarkable combat record.

The museum explores this rich history with aircraft, exhibits, photographs, video and more. The facility also pays tribute to the pilots and crew members who died in service to their country and is a moving and special place to visit at any time of the year.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/navalaviationmuseum.

Battle of Santa Rosa Island, Florida

Although it was small when compared to later engagements such as Vicksburg, Chickamauga and Gettysburg, a fierce night battle in the dunes of Santa Rosa Island, Florida, was one of the first significant battles of the Civil War.

The battle resulted from a retaliatory strike ordered by General Braxton Bragg, then commanding the Army of Pensacola, after U.S. forces launched a boat attack on the Confederate privateer Judah at the Pensacola Navy Yard. Designating General Richard H. "Dick" Anderson to lead the strike, Bragg sent 1,100 men across Pensacola Bay on the night of October 8-9, 1861, with orders to destroy the camp of Billy Wilson's 6th New York Volunteers. Wilson and his men were camped east of Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island. Contrary to some reports of the time, Bragg never intended to capture the fort unless some unexpected opportunity developed.

The Confederates advanced through the darkness during the hours before dawn on October 9, 1861, in three columns. One moved along the Gulf beach, another moved down the bay beach and the third was ordered to advance down the center of the island as the force approached the camps.

In addition to Anderson, the Southern troops were led by officers including Patton Anderson, James R. Chalmers and John K. Jackson. All would become heroes of the Southern war effort.

The Confederates overran Wilson's camp, torching the tents and breaking Wilson's attempt to form his men. Severe damage was inflicted to the encampments and the Southern force began to withdraw as Union reinforcements poured out of the fort and rushed to the scene of the action. By the time the fighting ended, the Confederates had lost 18 killed, 39 wounded and 30 captured. The Union forces lost 14 killed, 29 wounded and 24 captured.

The site of the battle is now preserved within the Fort Pickens Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore, a National Park area near Pensacola. The main road providing access to Fort Pickens was destroyed by hurricane and is currently being repaired, so the only way to access the area is by water taxi from Pensacola or private boat. The road should reopen later this year.

To learn more about the battle and Fort Pickens, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/santarosa1.

National Naval Aviation Museum - Pensacola, Florida

The Northwest Florida city of Pensacola is rightfully called the "Cradle of Naval Aviation." This rich history is explored at the National Naval Aviation Museum on board the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

The museum is a magnificent heritage attraction with massive display halls, an IMAX theater, special exhibits, a memorial hall and more.

Pensacola played a critical role in the development of air power for the U.S. Navy. The base is the home of the famed "Blue Angels," the Navy's precision aerial combat team, and was the training port for thousands of naval aviators during World War II.

The museum offers a walk through the Navy's rich aviation history. Beginning with the earliest planes, visitors can explore each era of the history of naval aviation. Key exhibits tell the story of the Navy's role in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf Wars and the modern era. The museum contains a massive collection of aircraft and other artifacts, including the yellow trainer shown above that was once flown by President George H.W. Bush.

To learn more, visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/navalaviationmuseum.

Fort George - Pensacola's British Fort

At the intersection of Palafox and La Rua Streets in Pensacola is a small park that preserves a portion of the site of Fort George, a British fort that played a key role in the American Revolution.

A small section of the fort has been reconstructed and visitors can read interpretive panels that explain the history of the site and also inspect two original British cannon of the Revolutionary War period.

Fort George was built by the British after they took possession of Pensacola from the Spanish at the end of the French and Indian War in 1763. An important port for the Indian trade, the city served as the King's capital of West Florida.

When Spain and France allied with the American colonists in their uprising against King George III, the British moved aggressively to strengthen their hold on Pensacola. Fort George and two outlying redoubts (smaller forts) were built on the heights overlooking the city and the Royal Naval Redoubt was built where Fort Barrancas stands today.

One of the least known yet most significant battles of the American Revolution was fought for control of Fort George and Pensacola during the spring of 1781. Led by General Bernardo de Galvez, a force of thousands of Spanish, French, Irish and American troops laid siege to Fort George. Heavy fighting took place as the British tried to hold them back.

The critical moment finally came when a mortar shell fell on the magazine of one of the outlying British redoubts, blowing it to bits. Nearly 100 men died in the explosion. The allied forces attacked and captured the ruins, using the position to fire down on the main British works at Fort George and forcing the men there to raise the white flag.

Although it is seldom mentioned in histories of the American Revolution, the capture of Fort George actually produced signficant results for the United States. By ending British possession of West Florida, General Galvez eliminated the possibility that British forces would remained poised on the Southern frontier of the United States following the end of the Revolution. This would prove highly significant during the War of 1812.

The battle also eliminated any British threat to the lower Mississippi Valley, clearing the way for the Louisiana Purchase.

You can learn more about Fort George and its role in the Battle of Pensacola by visiting www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortgeorge.

Fort Barrancas - Pensacola, Florida

During the first half of the 19th century, the U.S. Government built four major fortifications to defend Pensacola Bay from enemy attack.

Fort Pickens and Fort McRee stood on opposite sides of the entrance to the bay, while Fort Barrancas was built on a commanding bluff long occupied by Spanish defenses to provide extra barrages of artillery fire should an attacking ship make it past Pickens and McRee.

As the Civil War loomed on the horizon during the winter of 1860-1861, Fort Barrancas was the only one of the Pensacola Bay forts actually occupied by U.S. troops. On January 6, 1861, in fact, sentries at the fort fired the first hostile shots of the Civil War when they observed shadowy figures on the opposite side of drawbridge. The men proved to be militia soldiers from Alabama, but they escaped without injury.

Lt. Adam J. Slemmer, the commander of the fort, quickly moved his men across to Fort Pickens, a more easily defended point on Santa Rosa Island. State troops occupied Fort Barrancas and it remained in Confederate hands until 1862. The fort took part in heavy bombardments in November of 1861 and January of 1862 and later served as a Union headquarters for operations in Northwest Florida and South Alabama.

Fort Barrancas is now part of Gulf Islands National Seashore and is open to the public on a daily basis. To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/fortbarrancas1.

Lee Square - Pensacola, Florida

This is the towering Confederate monument in Pensacola's Lee Square. Fifty feet tall, it is one of the tallest monuments in Florida.

Lee Square is now a peaceful and attractive hilltop on Palafox Street, but it once was the scene of considerable military activity.

Union troops built Fort McClellan here during the Civil War. They were concerned that Confederate troops, who had evacuated the city in the spring of 1862, might launch an attack to retake it.

The fort was described as a square earthwork redoubt, armed with several pieces of field artillery. It was never attacked and did not long survive the war. No trace of it remains today.

The four cannon flanking the monument in Lee Square are of colonial origin. They are among numerous relics of the Spanish and English colonial occupations of the city that can still be found in Pensacola today.