Could it possibly be that Buchannan was just doing the hand washing thing? He was leaving and maybe he was more passive on things and sort of allowed the incoming gang to pull the strings on the set up.

I really don't know that much on the military view on situating troops but looking at the map of Charleston Harbor and then Pensacola's Pass and fort layout it seems Anderson and Slemmer did the exact opposite in their moves. Tell me if I'm wrong please. Moultrie was the least habitable at that point so he scooted over to Sumter and it looks like that may have been easier for any help sent his way to access. I'm not familiar with the area and I don't know what the land around Moultrie was like. Swampy or sand? Trees or flat? Maybe it was just not that well repaired at that point? I saw Glory but I don't know how much of the 'scenery' was correct.

Slemmer went from what I'd say was the best of the 3 choices, Ft Barrancas, on the land side and facing Pensacola Pass (with cannon that could reach Pickens and McRee) to the least habitable of the 3. The fort was in sad shape and really hadn't been maintained since the Spanish packed up and left town. McRee was the newest but it was a bit of a strange duck.It looked strange and the number of troops it could hold may have been a consideration. I don't know the capacity. It also had a bit of a spit of land that could be acessed from the land proper close to where the lighthouse is now. Fosters Spit.

The plus for Pickens is that it was on a barrier island and the access from the Gulf for supplies could have been further east and that would avoid the guns of McRee and Barrancas. There was nothing to shield incoming enemy troops at Pickens. Just dunes, sand, skunks, snakes and low growing seaoats and other vegetation. They found that out the hard way. Union troops could camp outside the fort and really be pretty safe, except for the snakes.

What I do know is standing at the top of Barrancas and looking at the view of the pass and other forts, it was a no brainer,if one were confident they were not going to be using it as a real fort during a war. I never saw McRee but have been where it stood often. Gotta go by boat. I have a brick from it my Daddy got when he camped over there when he was in Boy Scouts. That was in the late 1920's or early 1930's. Just going by the written description and the virtual tour on that wonderful website it wouldn't be my choice to move to.

I've been atop Pickens many times. It has never failed to awe me. The view in all directions is perfect for what Slemmer needed. Standing where the Big Rodman is now, the view of the other forts and the pass while one can see the Gulf is for sure the reason Slemmer made that call.

Pam