FORT PICKENS CHAPTER, GULF BREEZE, FLORIDA.
OK, Fort Pickens is more connected with the Civil War, but it was named after a Revolutionary War hero.
After the US got Florida from Spain in 1819, Pensacola was chosen as the site for a US Navy Yard and four forts were built to protect the bay and area. The largest, Fort Pickens was completed in 1839 and in use until 1947. I was able to visit Fort Pickens at the end of last month.
The fort's namesake, Andrew Pickens, led the Continental Army to victory at Kettle Creek in northern Georgia and also participated in action at Charleston and Cowpens.
For his service, the Continental Congress presented him with a ceremonial sword and South Carolina made him brigadier general of state militia.
I Knew the Fort, But Not the Man. --DaCoot
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