 Butler became aware that the commander of the forts south of Pensacola, Florida, was not happy with the conduct and performance of one of his regiments, so 7th Vermont was sent there in exchange for the 6th New York Volunteer Infantry (Wilson's Zouaves).The Regiment boarded the steam tugboat "Nassau" on November 13, 1862, arriving in Escambia Bay the next day.The Regiment performed garrison duties at Fort Barrancas and Fort Pickens from November 1862 until August 1864.