Battle of Santa Rosa Island (1861)

The Battle of Santa Rosa Island occurred on October 9, 1861, as an unsuccessful Confederate attempt to capture Union-held Fort Pickens. Confederate forces crossed to the island to surprise Union troops at Camp Brown. Although the camp was largely destroyed, the attackers were repulsed and accepted defeat. The engagement resulted in casualties, including Captain Richard Bradford, whose death led to a county renaming.

Episodes

Background and detail

Background. Fort Pickens, located at the western tip of Santa Rosa Island, guarded the entrance to Pensacola Bay. In early 1861, the garrison was small, consisting of only one company. By fall, reinforcements from the 1st, 2nd, and 5th U.S. Artillery arrived. The island is a barrier island in Florida, thirty miles from the Alabama border, serving as a strategic defensive position for the Union.

Confederate Raid. Confederate General Braxton Bragg and Lieutenant Hamel commanded forces at Pensacola. On October 9, 1861, Colonel Richard Anderson crossed from the mainland with 1,200 men in two small steamers. The objective was to surprise Union troops at Camp Brown and potentially capture Fort Pickens. The raid targeted the camp of the 6th New York Infantry, which had reinforced the fort in late June.

Outcome and Legacy. The Confederate raid destroyed the camp of the 6th New York, but the attackers were ultimately repulsed off the island. Confederate losses were reported as 30 or 40 killed and wounded. Captain Richard Bradford, killed in the battle, was the first Florida officer to die in the Civil War. New River County was renamed Bradford County in his honor in December 1861.

People involved

Sources

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