Florida

In 1860, Florida had the smallest population among the Confederate states, 140,424. When the war began, it was totally dependent on the Confederacy for manufactured goods, having received them from northern states and from abroad, now cut off by the Union blockade.   Its only trade goods were cotton, cattle and salt.   Its mere 400 miles of railroads were not connected to those of nearby states.   Senators Stephen R. Mallory and David L. Yulee resigns from the Senate on January 21, 1861.   Mallory returned to Florida two days later, but Yulee remains in Washington to advise the state on developments.   Some 14,000 to 15,000 Florida men served in the Confederate armies.   About 1,200 white men and almost as many blacks served with the Union. ^{Tebeau 199-200}

December 1, 1860.   The Florida legislature convenes specially to consider political events. ^{Long 8}

January 5, 1861.

Chattahoochee:The Quincy Guards seize the arsenal from an ordnance sergeant and 3 civilians.   It contained 500,000 rounds of musket cartridges and 50,000 pounds of gunpowder to supplement the almost noexistent state arms. ^{Tebeau 201}

January 6, 1861.

Apalachicola:Florida militia seize the Federal arsenal. ^{Long 22}

January 7, 1861.

St. Augustine:A single Union soldier surrenders Fort Marion (Castillo de San Marcos) to local volunteers.   It provides guns and ammunition. ^{Tebeau 201}

January 8, 1861.   Pensacola:, The 46 artillerymen and 35 seamen under U. S. Army Lt. Adam Jacoby Slemmer, First U. S. Artillery, at Fort Barrancas fire on advancing Confederates who flee. ^{Tebeau 201}

January 10, 1861.   Florida secedes from the Union by a vote of 62 to 7 at a state convention at Tallahassee.   Lt. Adam Slemmer transfers his Federal troops and seamen from Barrancas Barracks at Pensacola to more easily defended Fort Pickens, a large, unoccupied fort on Santa Rosa Island in the harbor in response to Florida's secession.   The fort has a capacity for 1,260 men and is outside the range of shore batteries. ^{Tebeau 202}

January 12, 1861.   Pensacola:   Alabama and Florida troops seize Barrancas Barracks, Fort Barrancas, Fort McRee, and the well-provisioned Naval Yard with only a small protest from Commodore James Armstrong, a native of Kentucky who may sympathize with the southern cause.   They also demand the surrender of Fort Pickens, which is refused by Lt. Slemmer.   Commodore Armstrong will later be court-martialed for his failure to defend the Union facilities. ^{Tebeau 202}

January 14, 1861.   The Federal Fort Taylor at Key West, guarded by 44 men under Captain James M. Brannan is garrisoned by more Union troops.   It will be a major coaling station for Union vessels in the blockade of Confederate shipping during the Civil War. ^{Long 27}

January 18, 1861.   The U. S. Army garrisons Fort Jefferson on the Dry Tortugas, to the west of Key West.   It will become famous as a prison for political prisoners during the war. ^{Long 27}

January 21, 1861.   Washington:   In moving farewell speeches, the Florida Senators withdraw from the Senate. ^{Long 28}

February 9, 1861.   Fort Pickens, Santa Rosa Island:   The USS Brooklyn, Captain Israel Vogdes, arrives with reinforcements, but does not land them by a January 28 agreement between Pres. Buchanan with Florida authorities to prevent an escalation of military actions. ^{Long 34}

March 7, 1861.   Montgomery, AL:   Brig. Gen. Braxton Bragg is appointed commander of all troops in the Pensacola area.   He will assume command on March 11.   He was once stationed there and knew the area. ^{Tebeau 204}

March 9, 1861.   Montgomery, AL:   The Confederate Congress authorizes issuance of treasury notes up to $1,000,000 and establishes a Confederate Army and calls for 11,700 troops, 5,000 of which are to go to Pensacola. ^{Long 48}

March 29, 1861.   Washington:   After much discussion with Gen. Scott and the cabinet members, Pres. Lincoln decides to resupply and reinforce Fort Sumter in the Charleston harbor and Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island, off the coast of Pensacola.   He signs a sealed order for the USS Powhatan to reinforce Fort Pickens. ^{Long 51,52}

April 1, 1861.   Washington:   Capt. Vogdes receives the Gen. Scott order of March 12 to land his troops at Fort Pickens from the USS Brooklyn, but he cannot because Capt. Henry A. Adams, the senior naval officer refuses to furnish boats until he has orders from Sec. of Navy Welles that rescind the previous Fort Pickens truce. ^{Tebeau 205}

April 5, 1861.   Ft. Sumter:   Sec. of Navy, Gideon Wells, orders USS Powhatan, USS Pawnee, USS Pocahontas, and Revenue Cutter, Harriet Lane to provision Ft. Sumter.   However, unknown to him, Powhatan had already secretly been ordered by Pres. Lincoln to provision Ft. Pickens. ^{Long 54}

April 6, 1861.   Fort Monroe, VA:   At the direction of Pres. Lincoln, Lt. John L. Worden carries the order for the USS Powhatan to land troops for reinforcing Ft. Pickens.   He leaves the next day. ^{Long 54}

April 12, 1861.   Fort Pickens:   Having received the orders through Lt. Worden the previous day, Federal reinforcing troops on the USS Brooklyn from Fort Monroe, VA, land on Santa Rosa Island without hindrance from the Confederate area commander, Brig. Gen. Braxton Bragg. ^{Long 57}

April 17, 1861.   Fort Pickens:   Federal troops under the command of Col. Harvey Brown land from the USS Powhatan.   By the end of June it contains a force of 2,088 troops and remains in Union control throughout the war to block the Pensacola harbor from blockade runner and threaten the Confederacy along the Gulf Coast. ^{Tebeau 206}