In the early morning hours of October 9th, 1861, 1,200 confederate soldiers made their way across Pensacola Bay intent on capturing Union held Fort Pickens on the Western tip of Santa Rosa Island. This attack marked a culmination of tensions within Pensacola Harbor that had been growing steadily since before the Civil War even officially began. The union held position on Santa Rosa Island prevented confederate forces from effectively using the harbor, essentially trapping the secessionists within the bay. On the orders of General Braxton Bragg, General Richard Anderson landed his 1,200 man force more than a mile east of the Fort. Anderson's men made their way west until meeting resistance at the encampment of the 6th New York Zouaves a mile from the Fort. The confederates surprised the New York Volunteers but failed to capitalize on their advantage by immediately pursuing them towards the fort. By the time the confederates reached Fort Pickens, the defenders were able to regroup and prevent the capture of the fort. The confederates were forced to retreat back across the bay, suffering 87 casualties to the Union's 67. This battle marked the first and only time a land attack was made on Fort Pickens and despite repeated artillery bombardments, the Union defenders were never dislodged. With the harbor rendered useless, confederate forces abandoned Pensacola in the spring of 1862, leaving the city and forts in the hands of the Union for the remainder of the war.