...land, commanding the entrance to the harbor of Pensacola Bay. At the beginning of the Civil War, nearly opposite, but a little farther seaward, on a low sand-pit, was Fort McRae. Across from Fort Pickens , on the main, was Fort Barrancas, built by the Spaniards, and taken from them by General Jackson. Nearly a mile eastward of the Barrancas was the navy-yard, then in command of Commodore Armstrong. ...