Things really got hot in November. Fort Pickens began heavy shelling of Confederate Forts Barrancas and McRee along with warships USS Niagara and USS Richmond.
By Nov. 22nd, McRee had been silenced. By Nov. 23rd, the buildings at Warrenton, next to the Navy yard, were ablaze. Flames spread to the nearby village of Woolsey.
Bragg estimated the Federals fired 5,000 shots in the two day bombardment. His forces replied with 1,000.
LATER ON
Fort McRee exploded during a second artillery duel Jan. 1-2, 1862. After that, Bragg was ordered to evacuate Pensacola and left with his 10,000 troops. Before leaving, he spiked the guns, destroyed all machinery and broke up the railroads along with burning Forts McRee and Barrancas.
Goodbye Pensacola. And, Bragg Was There. --Old B-R'er
No comments:
Post a Comment