Letter from Capt. John Brannan to Army HQ in Washington, D.C.:
"Colonel, I have the honor to report that everything is quiet at Key West to this date, nor do I apprehend any attack on this fort (Taylor) until a perfectly-organized company is raised. Flags of the Southern Confederacy have been raised upon the stores of various citizens.
"I doubt if any resident of Key West will be allowed to hold office under the federal government unless supported by the military and naval forces. We are on terms of friendship with the best portion of the citizens, and all hope there will be no collision."
The Situation Improved Since January. --Old B-R'er
Showing posts with label Brannan John M.. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brannan John M.. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Dec. 28, 1860: The Sad Shape of Forts Taylor and Jefferson in Florida
Continuing with Winfield Scott's letter to the Secretary of War.
Scott said that Forts Taylor and Jefferson were "of far greater value to even the distant points of the Atlantic coast and to the people on the upper waters of the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers than to the State of Florida.
"There is only a feeble company at Key West (Capt. John Brannon's) for the defense of Fort Taylor, and not a soldier at Fort Jefferson to resist a handful of filibusters or a rowboat of pirates; and the Gulf, soon after the beginning of secession or revolutionary troubles in the adjacent States, will swarm with such nuisances."
Things Looking Bleak in Florida. --Old B-Runner
Scott said that Forts Taylor and Jefferson were "of far greater value to even the distant points of the Atlantic coast and to the people on the upper waters of the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers than to the State of Florida.
"There is only a feeble company at Key West (Capt. John Brannon's) for the defense of Fort Taylor, and not a soldier at Fort Jefferson to resist a handful of filibusters or a rowboat of pirates; and the Gulf, soon after the beginning of secession or revolutionary troubles in the adjacent States, will swarm with such nuisances."
Things Looking Bleak in Florida. --Old B-Runner
Monday, March 14, 2016
Captain John M. Brannan-- Part 2: Civil War Service
After the Mexican War, John Brannan fought the Seminoles in various posts.
When the Civil War came, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and placed in command of the Department of Key West. In October 1862 he fought at the Battle of Saint John's Bluff on the St. John's River for control of the Jacksonville, Florida.
In 1863, he led an infantry division during the Tullahoma Campaign. He was with General George Thomas at Chickamauga, where his division lost 38% of its troops.
From October 1863 to June 1865, he was chief of artillery for the Department of Cumberland where he oversaw the defenses of Chattanooga.
He was at the Battle of Missionary Ridge and the Atlanta Campaign.
From July 10 to September 25, 1865, he commanded the Department of Savannah.
--Old B-Runner
When the Civil War came, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and placed in command of the Department of Key West. In October 1862 he fought at the Battle of Saint John's Bluff on the St. John's River for control of the Jacksonville, Florida.
In 1863, he led an infantry division during the Tullahoma Campaign. He was with General George Thomas at Chickamauga, where his division lost 38% of its troops.
From October 1863 to June 1865, he was chief of artillery for the Department of Cumberland where he oversaw the defenses of Chattanooga.
He was at the Battle of Missionary Ridge and the Atlanta Campaign.
From July 10 to September 25, 1865, he commanded the Department of Savannah.
--Old B-Runner
Capt. John Milton Brannan, U.S. Army-- Part 1: USMA Class of 1841, Fought in Mexican War
From Wikipedia.
(July 1, 1816 to December 16, 1892)
Career military officer. Fought in the Mexican War and became a general in the Civil War. Commanded the department of Key West. His first wife was the daughter of Colonel Ichabod Crane. It is thought his was the name that Washington Irving gave to his "Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Brannan's wife met a mysterious death in New York.
John Brannan was US Military Academy at West Point Class of 1841, where he graduated 23rd out of 52 cadets. He was then assigned to the 1st U.S. Artillery.
During the Mexican War he was at the battles of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, La Hoya, Contreras and Churubusco. In the fight for Mexico City he was seriously wounded.
--Old B-Runner
(July 1, 1816 to December 16, 1892)
Career military officer. Fought in the Mexican War and became a general in the Civil War. Commanded the department of Key West. His first wife was the daughter of Colonel Ichabod Crane. It is thought his was the name that Washington Irving gave to his "Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Brannan's wife met a mysterious death in New York.
John Brannan was US Military Academy at West Point Class of 1841, where he graduated 23rd out of 52 cadets. He was then assigned to the 1st U.S. Artillery.
During the Mexican War he was at the battles of Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, La Hoya, Contreras and Churubusco. In the fight for Mexico City he was seriously wounded.
--Old B-Runner
Friday, March 11, 2016
USS Macedonian and Brooklyn Heading for Pensacola
As mentioned in the previous post, Capt. Brannan at Fort Zachary mentioned that on January 31, 1861, the USS Macedonian had just sailed by Key West on the 30th and that the USS Brooklyn had arrived this day and was planning on leaving the next day.
The Macedonian, a sailing ship, had left Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 12 January 1861, to join the USS Brooklyn, a steam sloop of war. The Brooklyn arrived off Pensacola on Feb. 9, 1861, as that harbor had been seized by Confederates.
--Old B-Runner
The Macedonian, a sailing ship, had left Portsmouth, New Hampshire, 12 January 1861, to join the USS Brooklyn, a steam sloop of war. The Brooklyn arrived off Pensacola on Feb. 9, 1861, as that harbor had been seized by Confederates.
--Old B-Runner
John H. Brannan Holding the Fort in Key West in 1861
From the Official Records War of the Rebellion.
Captain John H. Brannan, First U.S. Artillery, commanding Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, Florida.
JANUARY 14, 1861: This was four days after the State of Florida seceded. Capt. Brannan had placed his entire command at Fort Taylor with plans of defending it. However, he had just 44 men.
JANUARY 26, 1861: He reported that no effort had yet been made to take the fort, but he expected one any day. "If my company was filled up with a hundred men, and a sloop of war stationed in this harbor, there would be no danger of any successful attack."
JANUARY 31, 1861: At this time, Capt. Brannan reported that he had about sixty men, mechanics and laborers who would defend the fort which was still under construction. The USS Macedonian passed by the previous night and the USS Brooklyn arrived this morning and was going to depart tomorrow night.
--Old B-Runner
Captain John H. Brannan, First U.S. Artillery, commanding Fort Zachary Taylor, Key West, Florida.
JANUARY 14, 1861: This was four days after the State of Florida seceded. Capt. Brannan had placed his entire command at Fort Taylor with plans of defending it. However, he had just 44 men.
JANUARY 26, 1861: He reported that no effort had yet been made to take the fort, but he expected one any day. "If my company was filled up with a hundred men, and a sloop of war stationed in this harbor, there would be no danger of any successful attack."
JANUARY 31, 1861: At this time, Capt. Brannan reported that he had about sixty men, mechanics and laborers who would defend the fort which was still under construction. The USS Macedonian passed by the previous night and the USS Brooklyn arrived this morning and was going to depart tomorrow night.
--Old B-Runner
155 Years Ago: Key West Still In Union Control
MARCH 13TH, 1861: It was reported by Captain J.M. Brannan, US Army, commanding Fort Zachary Taylor that "everything is quiet at Key West to this date" -- a tribute to the firm policing of the area by Union naval vessels.
Throughout the early months of 1861 the "showing of the flag" by the Fleet maintained a peaceful equilibrium in a situation fraught with tension. The much-feared attack, expected to accompany Florida's secession (January 10), did not materialize.
Of course, you could only get to Key West at that time by boat.
--Old B-Runner
Throughout the early months of 1861 the "showing of the flag" by the Fleet maintained a peaceful equilibrium in a situation fraught with tension. The much-feared attack, expected to accompany Florida's secession (January 10), did not materialize.
Of course, you could only get to Key West at that time by boat.
--Old B-Runner
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