I believe you make a good case for their activity. We've heard some similar tales around here. With Pensacola falling to the Union kind of early, there was a lot of back and forth going on. Many of the residents who did not leave town started setting up camps outside the walls of Redoubt and Ft Barrancas. It was not just for protection from possible retaliation but for provisions. While there, the Union Army did supply them with food. There were also some male residents who did not choose to join either army. My GGGrandfather was one. He was just past the age to be hauled in but he chose not to even take sides. There were also others. They clung to their belief they were exempt because of their Spanish ancestry. It was so ingrained in them they couldn't let it go.

My Uncle's middle name was Pierpont. He was named for Dr Pierpont who delivered him.

Pam