On Dec.7, 1860, the storeship Supply docked at the Pensacola Navy Yard. One of the officers, Lt Henry Erben, "found the people of Pensacola in a great state of excitement." He also wrote that town meetings favoring secession were being held every night.

On October5, 1860, Gov.William H. Gist of South Carolina wrote a letter to Southern governors asking them what action they would take in the upcoming crisis. He believed South Carolina would take the lead in secession 'IF' others would follow.

On November 9, 1860, Gov.Perry (Fl) sent a letter to Gov.Gist assuring him that Florida would fall in line with SC or ANY OTHER Cotton State or States in any course they took.

Nov.26, 1860, in his annual message to the General Assembly, Perry stated the only recourse left for the South was secession. At that time, the General Assembly introduced bills that appropriated money for military expenses and to revise the militia laws.

Jan.3,1861 the Florida secession convention convened in Tallahassee. Florida seceded Jan. 10, 1861

[Info taken from Pensacola During the Civil War by George F. Pearce.]

I have read in other resources that South Carolina was not all that interested in having others fall in line with them. Going to have to try to find those sources again. The letter that Gist sent to the other Southern governors on October of 1860, on the surface, seems like at least he was trying to test the waters.

Pam