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President
John Quincy Adams Adam
Slemmer Geronimo Rachel
Donelson Jackson Andrew Jackson
Andrew Pickens
Revolutionary War hero, Andrew Pickens born in Bucks County, PA in 1739, distinguished himself as a formidable leader. He was instrumental in defeating the British at Kettle Creek in North Georgia and later in 1781 at the Battle of Cowpens. After the war, he settled in South Carolina near the town of Seneca. There, he acted as an informal diplomat soothing relations between the Cherokee and US government officials. He had emulated Cherokee warfare techniques and later empathized with their fight to retain their land. The Continental Congress awarded him an honorary sword for his military valor and as a tribute to his accomplishments, Fort Pickens was named after him. Rosamond Johnson
Army Private Rosamond Johnson, Jr. was the first Escambia County resident to die in the Korean War on July 26, 1950. He had successfully carried two wounded soldiers to safety and was returning with a third when he was fatally wounded. He had joined the military at age 15 and died at 17. He posthumously received the Purple Heart August 21, 1950 and several veteran groups are still working to see if Johnson deserved additional military honors. During the early days of an integrated military it was not uncommon for recognition to be overlooked for black troops. Pensacola beaches were racially segregated at the time of Johnson's death; the Gulf beach area was a popular area for blacks. After the Korean Conflict the county-owned recreational area was renamed to honor its fallen hero at the suggestion of the Sunset Riding Club, Inc. The club leased the land in 1950 from the county for the sole use of bathing, beach and recreational facilities for "colored citizens." Although the lease was canceled in 1956 the name Rosamond Johnson Beach remained. The area became part of Gulf Islands National Seashore May 8, 1973. A permanent monument in his honor was erected at Johnson Beach on June 10, 1996. Guest speaker, retired Army Maj. Gen. Mike Ferguson of Pensacola and the Veterans of Underaged Military Service, said the real heroes of the war - those who make the ultimate sacrifice - can never receive enough recognition. "There is no medal that signifies hero. You couldn't invent a medal to signify hero."
He
stands in the unspoken line of patriots who have Freedom
lives, and through it, he lives - in a way that He crossed the 38th parallel three times. The first two times, he carried back wounded. The third time, he got killed before he could make it back. May 18, 1933 - July 26, 1950 |
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Last Updated:
1/6/03
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On January 12, 1861 Lieutenant Adam Slemmer refused to
surrender Fort Pickens. When requested to surrender by representatives
of Florida and Alabama governors, Lt. Slemmer replied that he "was
here under the orders of the President of the United States, and by direction
of the General-in-Chief of the Army;" that he "recognized no
right of any governor to demand a surrender of United States property;
that my orders were distinct and explicit." Because of his actions,
Fort Pickens remained in Union control for the entire conflict.
Apaches were held prisoners of war. Over 400 were exiled from their homelands
in Arizona and detained first in Florida, then in Alabama, and finally
at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In October 1886 Geronimo and 17 other men arrived at Fort Pickens. In April 1887 the men were reunited with their families. Twenty wives and 11 children arrived at Fort Pickens. A number of influential Pensacolans asked their
congressman to petition the War Department to have Fort Pickens designated
as the place of confinement. In addition, the editor of The Pensacolian,
September 1886, said Congressman Davidson..." can point with pride
as having been instrumental in giving Pensacola an attraction which will
bring a great many visitors." 
Rachel
Donelson Jackson accompanied her husband Andrew to Pensacola in 1821.
While General Jackson oversaw the transfer of authority from Spanish to
American administration, Mrs. Jackson provided one of the earliest descriptions
of the area and its inhabitants. Pensacola was "a perfect plain;
the land nearly as white as flour, yet productive of fine peaches, oranges
in abundance, grapes, figs, pomegranates, etc." Pensacola Bay was
" the most beautiful water prospect" she had seen. The residents
were just as interesting, a melting pot in which whites were the minority,
all spoke Spanish and French, and some spoke four or five languages.
