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Battle of Santa Rosa Island
==Battle of Santa Rosa Island==
{{main|Battle of Santa Rosa Island}}
[[Image:Judah.jpg|thumb|right|The burning of the ''Judah'']]
In September 1861, a schooner called the ''William H. Judah'', of which the Confederacy had contracted the use, ran the Union blockade and successfully entered Pensacola's harbor, docking at the navy yard. When it became apparent to Union forces that the Confederacy was attempting to outfit the ''Judah'' as a [[Wikipedia:Privateer|privateer]], they developed a plan to sabotage the work. In the early morning hours of [[September 14]], a Federal raiding party of about 100 sailors and marines in four small boats cast off from the ''[[Wikipedia:USS Colorado (1856)|USS Colorado]]'' bound for the ''Judah''. Approaching the vessel at around 3:30 AM, they were greeted with musket fire from Confederate guards; however, the raiding party successfully boarded the ''Judah'' and set it aflame. The raiding party also managed to spike a gun battery at the navy yard before retreating. The small clash resulted in three deaths apiece on both sides, the first of the war in Florida, as well as several wounded.<ref name="PICW" /><ref>[http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/projects/shipwrecks/legacy/shipwreck.cfm "U.S. Navy and Confederate Shipwreck Project."] ''Florida Division of Historical Resources''.</ref>