 Confederate forces moved quickly to seize control of many of Florida's U.S. Army forts, succeeding in most cases, with the significant exceptions of Fort Jefferson, Fort Pickens and Fort Zachary Taylor, which stayed firmly in Federal control throughout the war.On January 10, 1861, the day Florida declared its secession from the Union, Adam J. Slemmer destroyed over of gunpowder at Fort McRee.He then spiked the guns at Fort Barrancas, and moved his force to Fort Pickens.