and other points; the seizure of United States
forts and arsenals; the attack on "Sumter"; war--these followed with
bewildering rapidity, and the human agencies concerned seemed as
unconscious as scene-shifters in some awful tragedy.

CHAPTER II.

FIRST SCENES OF THE WAR.

I was drawn from my retreat by an invitation from General Bragg, a
particular friend, to visit Pensacola, where he commanded the southern
forces, composed of volunteers from the adjacent States. Full of
enthusiasm for their cause, and of the best material, officers and men
were, with few exceptions, without instruction, and the number of
educated officers was, as in all the southern armies, too limited to
satisfy the imperious demands of the staff, much less those of the
drill-master. Besides, the vicious system of election of officers struck
at the very root of that stern discipline without which raw men cannot
be converted into soldiers.

The Confederate Government, then seated at Montgomery, weakly receded
from its determination to accept no volunteers for short terms of
service, and took regiments for twelve months. The same blindness smote
the question of finance. Instead of laying taxes, which the general
enthusiasm would have cheerfully endured, the Confederate authorities
pledged their credit, and that too for an amount which might have
implied a pact with Mr. Seward that, should war unhappily break out, its
duration was to be strictly limited to sixty days. The effect of these
errors was felt throughout the struggle.

General Bragg occupied Pensacola, the United States navy yard, and Fort
Barrancas on the mainland; while Fort Pickens, on Santa Rosa island, was
held by Federal troops, with several war vessels anchored outside the
harbor. There was an understanding that no hostile movement would be
made by either side without notice. Consequently, Bragg worked at his
batteries bearing on Pickens, while Major Brown, the Federal commander,
strengthened with sand bags and earth the weak landward curtain of his
fort; and time was pleasantly passed by both parties in watching each
other's occupation.

Some months before this period, when Florida enforced her assumed right
to control all points within her limits, a small company of United
States artillery, under Lieutenant Slemmer, was stationed at Barrancas,
where it was helpless. After much manoeuvring, the State forces of
Florida induced Slemmer to retire from Barrancas to Pickens,