IVITH SLEMMER IN PENSACOLA HARBOR.
28
several small boats loaded with o\xr men, provisions, brass field-pieces,
ammu-
and whatever jjublic property was most needed and could be carried, including, I remember, an old mule and cart (which afterward proved of great service to us), we were towed over to Pickens and landed there about 10 A. M. January 10th, 1861, the day that Florida seceded from the Union. Lieutenant Slemmer's family and mine were sent on board the storeship Supply, on which, a few days later, they sailed for New Tork. All oui* men nition,
This
tools,
map sIiowq the Union and Confederate batteries as tliey existed May 27. 1861. Tlie shore batteries were constructed by the Confederates after Slemmer's crossing to Fort Pickens. Two other Union batteries near Fort Pickens— batteries Scott and Totten Tvere added after the date of this map.
—
were compelled to leave behind more or less personal property, those who were married leaving their houses and families as they were. Under such ciicumstanees, when so many inducements were held out for men to desert, and
when
so
many men
in higher places failed,
it
speaks
weU
for their character,
and discipline that none of oui' men deserted. No company of men could work better or with more enthusiasm, and they were not at aU disposed to give information to those outside. The day before we left, a civilian, ^-isit" What is ing the post to see what news he could gather, asked one of them " Faith, you all this stir about ? You men are not going to fight, are you ? " loyalty,
:
me
" What are they " hear they are to be " How many men are there here now ? " " Sure. I'm painted to-morrow." not the baker, and don't know how many he bakes for." Next to the commodoi'e, the most thoroughly excited and demoralized man I saw was our old Spanish friend, Francisco Gomez, who was well known in aU that region, and had long lived in a little cottage just in front of the bai-racks. He was the friend of all army officers, but his hero was General Jackson, and his great delight was to spin yarns to us about Jackson's capture of Pensaeola from the British. Gomez was a true '' original Jackson man,"
needn't ask
moving
these
;
I'm not the
man
that gives orders here
gun-carriages out for?"
"Well,
sir,
I
!