Ft. Pickens, Bragg, assault question

[trice]

Ole,

This is from the Army Official Records and covers the exchanges between Bragg (commanding for the Confederates at Pensacola) and Walker (Confederate Sec. of War) on the advisability of attacking Ft. Pickens.

Note that Bragg explains his "...may I attack?" of April 5 in his letter to Walker on April 6 ("Mine of the 3d,(*) asking if I might attack, was predicated on several occurrences which I could not explain in a dispatch, and which admitted of no delay. A strong easterly wind was blowing, calculated to drive off the United States naval vessels. It continues yet, but they hold on, though evidently with trouble."). This is also where he talks of his chances of taking the fort.

The reference to money at the end is apparently concerning funds Walker sent to use as bribes if Bragg saw an opportunity.
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WAR DEPARTMENT, A. AND I. G. O.,
Montgomery, April 3, 1861.
Brig. Gen. BRAXTON BRAGG,
Commanding Troops in Pensacola Harbor, Warrington, Fla.:
GENERAL: I am instructed by the Secretary of War to inquire whether you have made any progress in or preparation for the erection of reverse batteries on Santa Rosa Island, and if you have considered this mode of attack.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.
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PENSACOLA, April 5, 1861.
Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War:
Dispatch of 3d received. We are prepared for defense. Should the agreement not to re-enforce be violated, may I attack? Answer immediately.
BRAXTON BRAGG.
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MONTGOMERY, April 5, 1861.
General BRAGG, Pensacola, Fla.:
Can you prevent re-enforcements being landed at other points on Santa Rosa Island other than the docks? Do you mean by "attack" the opening of your guns upon the fort or upon the ships? If the former, would your operations be confined to battering the fort? Telegraph, and write, also, fully.
L. P. WALKER.
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PENSACOLA, April 6, 1861.
Hon. L. P. WALKER:
I can control the dock, but re-enforcements can be landed on the outside Santa Rosa Island in spite of me. The ships, except the Wyandotte, are beyond my range. She can be driven off or destroyed. Any attack by us now must be secretly made by escalade. My batteries are not ready for breaching, and we are entirely deficient in ammunition. No landing should be made on Santa Rosa Island with our present means. Will write.
BRAXTON BRAGG.
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WAR DEPARTMENT, A. AND I. G. O.,
Montgomery, April 6, 1861.
Brig. Gen. BRAXTON BRAGG:
The Government at Washington have determined to re-enforce Fort Pickens, and troops are now leaving for that purpose.
S. COOPER,
Adjutant and Inspector General.
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HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATE TROOPS,
Near Pensacola, Fla., April 6, 1861.
Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War, Montgomery, Ala.:
SIR: Your dispatch of the 5th instant reached me this morning, and was answered immediately. Mine of the 3d,(*) asking if I might attack, was predicated on several occurrences which I could not explain in a dispatch, and which admitted of no delay. A strong easterly wind was blowing, calculated to drive off the United States naval vessels. It continues yet, but they hold on, though evidently with trouble. They have placed an Engineer officer in Fort Pickens in violation, as I conceive, of the agreement "not to re-enforce." And, finally, I have reason to believe the garrison in Fort Pickens is greatly demoralized by influences which are operating strongly in our favor. Under these circumstances I desired to know if I should be free to act when a favorable occasion might offer. Believing myself that the United States Government and some of its agents are acting in bad faith towards us, I do not hesitate to believe we are entirely absolved from all obligations under the agreement of 29th January; but as a question of political policy might be raised, I deem it prudent to ask the consent of the Department before acting on so important a matter.
I am not prepared with my batteries for anything more than a feeble defense (see my requisition for ordnance and ordnance stores), and that condition cannot be changed until I can get supplies. The only attack which I could hope to make now would be a sudden dash, distracting the enemy by a false attack, and scaling the walls in an opposite direction. The weakness of the garrison, and the ardor and ignorance of my troops, would be strong elements of success. In this movement I should not propose to fire a gun unless in the diversion.
Such is now the incessant occupation of my staff officers in receiving, supplying, and organizing troops that but little can be done in other preparations. We have the force and the labor necessary, but the skill to apply them is confined to a few.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
BRAXTON BRAGG,
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
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PENSACOLA, April 7, 1861.
Hon. L. P. WALKER:
Your dispatch of 5th answered by telegraph and letter. I shall fire upon any re-enforcements to Pickens unless ordered not. Need supplies called for in my ordnance requisition. Have but few cartridge bags and no flannel. I shall send to Mobile for some to-day, but have no money to pay. Not a cent has been received since I arrived. Dispatches for Fort Pickens and the fleet can be received from Washington through the post-office here. The blow is over, and the vessels stood it out. Twelve hundred men expected on to-day from Mississippi and Georgia.
BRAXTON BRAGG,
Brigadier-General.
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MONTGOMERY, April 8, 1861.
General BRAGG, Pensacola:
Our Commissioners at Washington have received a flat refusal.
L. P. WALKER.

MONTGOMERY, April 8, 1861.
General BRAGG, Pensacola:
The expression "at all hazards" in my dispatch of this morning(*) was not intended to require you to land upon the island. The presumption is that re-enforcements will be attempted at the dock, and this I hope you can and will prevent, though it should lead to assault of your works. The belief here is that they will not only attempt to re-enforce the fort, but also to retake the navy-yard.
L. P. WALKER.
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MONTGOMERY, April 8, 1861.
Gov. T. O. MOORE, Baton Rouge, La.:
The state of affairs at Pensacola requires that I shall urge you no longer to delay in sending forward troops. You cannot get them in time by enlistment. Why not take volunteer companies? I hope you will consider this most urgent.
L. P. WALKER.
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PENSACOLA, April 9, 1861.
Hon. L. P. WALKER:
Your dispatch received last night. Will do our best, but supplies are short for a continued resistance. Want transportation to move guns, shot, and troops. Sixteen hundred men arrived yesterday and last night.
BRAXTON BRAGG.
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FORT MORGAN, April 9, 1861.
Hon. L. P. WALKER:
SIR: It is the opinion of Major Leadbetter, Engineers, that the great number of sand bags reported on the way to Tortugas are intended for building cover-faces at Fort Pickens. If this be done that place cannot be breached by our present batteries.
W. J. HARDEE,
Colonel, C. S. Army.

MONTGOMERY, April 9, 1861.
General BRAGG, Pensacola:
Captain Boggs left here this morning to join you. Forty thousand dollars are at your disposal, to be used in the way he suggested to me as coming from you. Although he has no instructions on that point, as it escaped me in the hurry of his departure you will, however, understand.
L. P. WALKER.
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MONTGOMERY, ALA., April 9, 1861.
General BRAGG, Pensacola:
A post-office emissary of the Washington Government, named Bryan, has left or will leave for Pensacola, who contumaciously insists upon opening the route between Warrington and Pensacola. Deal with him as you may think he deserves.
L. P. WALKER.
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MONTGOMERY, April 9, 1861.
General BRAGG, Pensacola:
Forty thousand sand bags have been shipped from New York. May be intended for cover-faces at Fort Pickens. I call your attention to this possibility.
L. P. WALKER.
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PENSACOLA, April 9, 1861.
Hon. L. P. WALKER:
Your several dispatches of to-day just received. Will handle the post, office emissary. Shall try the use of money; but great vigilance is exercised. They fear their own men. Shall take up buoys and stop lights very soon.
BRAXTON BRAGG.

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Regards,
Tim