It was standing at the time, but no action took place there unless the Union garrison was partying at Sloppy Joe's on Duvall Street. Well, maybe Sloppy Joe's wasn't there at the time.
The fort in question was none other than Fort Zachary Taylor which has one of the best beaches in the Keys, even if locals won't tell you about it. Lots of recreational activities as well as a park.
In all the times I've been to Key West, and even the few I remember, I don't think I was ever there.
It was once nicknamed Fort Forgotten in keeping with the theme. Named for a president who spent very little time in office before dying, construction started in 1845 and it was still incomplete when the war started, but served as base of operations for the Union's blockade, the East Gulf Blockading Squadron if I remember correctly.
It was also occupied by troops during the Spanish-American War and both world wars. After 1945, it was abandoned and fell into disrepair until restoration efforts began in 1968. Currently, a Friends of Fort Zachary Taylor are involved in making the fort less forgotten.
Excavations have found one of the larger numbers of Civil War era cannons anywhere. In 1971, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From November 25th Keys Voices.
Fort Zachary Who? --Old B-Runner
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