Near Pensacola Beach in Escambia County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Dueling with Confederates

— Fort Pickens —

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 31, 2014

1. Dueling with Confederates Marker

Inscription. If you had been here on November 22 and 23, 1861, you would have been in the midst of a fierce Civil War battle. Union troops at Fort Pickens bombarded Confederates who, in January, had occupied Fort McRee straight ahead across the bay and Fort Barrancas and the Navy Yard on the mainland to your right. The Confederates fired back, but the Union, aided by cannon fire from two warships, heavily damaged the Navy Yard and nearly demolished Fort McRee. Needing troops elsewhere, the Confederates left the posts in the spring of 1862, and the Union moved most of its troops on Santa Rosa Island to the mainland.

"For the number and caliber of guns and weight of metal brought into action it would rank with the heaviest bombardments in the world"
Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg

Erected by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1861.

Location. 30° 19.704′ N, 87° 17.431′ W. Marker is near Pensacola Beach, Florida, in Escambia County. Marker can be reached from Fort Pickens Road, 9.8 miles west of Pensacola Beach Boulevard (State Road 399). Touch for map

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. Marker is at or near this postal address: Fort Pickens Road, Gulf Breeze FL 32561, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Beefing Up Defenses (here, next to this marker); Swatting Mosquitoes (here, next to this marker); Step Back in History (within shouting distance of this marker); Deadly Explosion (within shouting distance of this marker); Converting a Cannon (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort within a Fort (about 400 feet away); Massive Smoothbore (about 400 feet away); Apache Prisoners (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pensacola Beach.

Also see . . . Wikipedia article about Fort McKee and the November 1861 battle. (Submitted on January 2, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Long view towards Fort Barrancas & Fort McRee former locations from Fort Pickens. image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 31, 2014

2. Long view towards Fort Barrancas & Fort McRee former locations from Fort Pickens.

Dueling with Confederates Marker area image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, December 31, 2014

3. Dueling with Confederates Marker area

Fort Pickens area entrance sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Mark Hilton, January 1, 2015

4. Fort Pickens area entrance sign

Circa 1860 at Fort McRee image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Nps

5. Circa 1860 at Fort McRee

Artillery Duel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Nps, .

6. Artillery Duel

#1-Fort McRee, #2-Fort Barrancas, #3-Navy Yard, #4-Battery Scott, #5-Fort Pickens, #6-Battery Totten, #7-Battery Cameron, #8-Battery Lincoln

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 659 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 2, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. 5, 6. submitted on January 3, 2015, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.