Murder in the Ranks at Pensacola, 1861

I found the following item this week and thought it might be of interest. It comes from the April 13, 1861, issue of the Pensacola Gazette:

"UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE. – We regret to learn that an unfortunate difficulty occurred last night between two members of the Chipola Rifles, from Jackson county, which is likely to terminate fatally to one of the parties. The difficult arose as to the relative strength of the two men, when a lie was passed, and a man named Joel Brown received a blow on the head from a stick of wood in the hands of the other man, whose name we could not learn. Brown’s skull was badly fractured, and he was conveyed to the hospital of Dr. R.B.S. Hargis. The assailant escaped. We have since learned that Brown is dead."

The Chipola Rifles were organized in Marianna shortly after Florida left the Union. H.H. Baker was the captain. They were added to Col. Patton Anderson's 1st Florida Infantry in March when that unit was formed and served at Pensacola Bay. I have not been able to find anything else about Joel Brown, so far.