Florida in the Civil War @ Florida OCHP  Florida in the Civil
War  The Union Army in Florida  In January 1861, as Florida
seceded from the Union, U.S. Army officers stationed at
Pensacola and Key West moved quickly to ensure that two key
forts in Florida would remain in Union hands. By securing and
holding Fort Pickens near Pensacola and Fort Taylor in Key West,
along with Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, the Union had
access to strategic outposts in the deep South.  Over the course
of the war, the Union army increased its occupation of most of
Florida's coastal forts and towns. Unlike many other areas of
the South, Florida saw minimal large-scale fighting. With the
exception of the Olustee campaign and several small expeditions
into the interior, the Union army usually remained near its
forts and occupied cities. Duty in some places, such as St.
Augustine, could be interesting for northern troops. However,
many were stationed in remote locations and suffered from
boredom, insects, and potentially deadly t