October 12, 2023 at 6:30 pm
We all know that the Civil War started at Fort Sumter, SC, in April of 1861, but what if I tell you that events 555 miles away in Pensacola, FL, were hurtling towards starting the Civil War at the exact same time? The similarities between Fort Sumter and Fort Pickens are uncanny. In this talk, we’ll explore the events leading up to the Union occupation of Fort Pickens and how parallel efforts from Washington DC truly made the powder keg that was Fort Pickens, Fort Sumter’s insurance policy, guaranteeing the start of the Civil War.
Michael Acosta serves as the Tech Officer for the Tennessee Valley Civil War Round Table, running the website tvcwrt.org, the Audio/Video needs for the monthly presentations, and coordinating online event signups. He has a Bachelor’s degree in History from the US Naval Academy and is a retired Marine Corps officer.