Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-10-22
9ailg Appeal,
THE SANTA ROSA ExpEDITIoN.
NEAR WARRINGTON, Florida
October Is. lS6l

EDITORS APPEAL: ! presume you would like
TO have a full account of the expedition to Santa
Rosa Island on Tuesday night, the sth instant,
and to know especially what par your neigh
bors Of Mississippi took in the affair l will try
to give you the material particulars, eonfning
myself in the main of course to the action of the
division with which went-the one composed
mostly of Assissppians.
Early in the day, notice was given to compa-
ny commanders to have their companies ready
70 march an hour and half before sunset, with
good supply of ammunition and one days ra-
tions Where we were to 60, or what We were
TO do. was not communicates but, as good SOL
diers, it was enough TO know that there was work
for us somewberr About dark, detaelments
from the 9th and 10Th Mississippi, the Ist Ala
bama, and the Georgia and Mississippi regiment
"a new one made up Of tie Georgia battalion
and three Mississippi artillery companies, under
Lieut-Cni. Yillepigue) assembled at the redoubL
north Of Fort Bausncas, the place Of rendcz-
yous designated for them.
Col Chalmers, of the 9th Mississippi reg-
ment, took command Of the whole force and
y -
il was Joined by detachments from the eth Ala
hama, the Florida regiment, and the Louisiana
regulars. together with party Of FLORIDA naval
officers and marines. Thence the troops, Brig
Gen. Anderson, Of the 2d brigade being in
command, took the steamer Time for Pensacola.
Considerable delay occurred here in getting the
force aboard of two large scows and the steamer
Ewing, the former, Of Ighi draught. to be used
in effecting a landing on the Island. Our num-
bers were increased also BY detachment from
the 5th Georgia regiment and part Of Pensa-
cola company, making in all something over a
thousand men. Capt West, Lieut. Mccain, and
one or two Others Of the 9th Mississippi repi-
ment, also Joined the expedition at Pensacola,
Lieut. Mccain and the last mentioned being
assigned to duty in the medical guard After
midnight the Ewing pushed of, with the scOws in
tow, across the bay, and we landed behind a
point, the Big Woods, about six miles below
Fort Pickens, and about tive miles from vii
sons camp.
The troops were then formed into three bat
taliOns, as follows:
One, commanded by Col. Jas. r Chalmers,
composed of company d, Capt Samuel Benton,
Lieutenants Watson and Micke, company X,
Lieutenant Banks commanding, (Capt. White
being sick) and Lieutenant Smith, and company
Z, Capt Robt. Mc5Owan, Jr., Leutenants
johnson and MCGOWAN, OF the 9th Mississippi
regiment; company G, Capt. Miller and Lieu
tenant Smith, and campany X, Capt Peake
Li-ufensnts Powell and Garrison. 10Th MisSis-
sippi regiment; and company 6, First Lieu
tenant Chapman, and Lieutenants Knox and
McGhee, and company !, Capt. Ramsey, Lieu
tenant Benson, Jst Alabama regiment. Major
Bowdre and Adjutant Roger Barton, Of the 9th
Mississippi were also with the battalion.
Another, commanded, by Col j. Patton An
derson, Of the Florida regiment, made up of two
companies from his regiment. taken from COM
panies A, i, c, +, + and /, Captains Cropp and
Bradford, Lieutenants Means, Abbercrombie
Farley and GalbTeath; three companies of the
9Th Alabama regiment, Lieutenant-Co Colonel Cul-
tart Captains jackson and Graham, Lieutenants
Grubs Commanding and Henlyi two companies
OF Louisiana regulars, Captains FaTrar and
Thompson, Lieutensnfs Stingfellow, Stafford
and GLADDEN.; and a party of Florida naval
officers and Marines Captain Brent. Lieutenant
Saver, of the c. s army, was also along.
A third, commanded by Col John X. Jack
son, of the 5th Georgia regiment, composed of a
detachment from his regiment, formed into three
companies, the lrst under Capt. Mangum, Lieu
tenants Jones and Hundley; the second under
Capt Hull Lisutenants Barrett and Cummings;
and the third under Capt. IversOn, Lieutenants
Day and Poole, accompanied by Adjutant Black.
The detaehments from the Georgia and Missis-
sippi regiments, taken from companies B c, d,
and G., Capt. Spraybeny, Lieuts Poe and JEFF
fers, and spiking party under Capt. Holm
quist, G. s. army, and Lieut. Aelms, Of the 9th
Georgia regiment.
The three corps were under the general direc-
ton Of Brigadier-General Anderson, and Colonel
Chalmers battalion was assigned to the north
side Of the island, Col. Anderson's to the south
or gulf side, and Col. JacksOn's to the center.
Col Chalmers threw out a small party Of
scouts, under Capt. West, a short distance IN ad-
vance ofhs command, and moved cautiously up
the island in the vicinity of the shore. After
marching three or four miles, through dense
bushes and high grass, and over uneven and
maTshy ground, the column was deplOyed into
line Of battle and marched in that order. Very
soon the scouts came IN sight Of a sentinel post
ed on the shore. Some OF them ran forward 10
seize him, when he fred upon them. and was
shot dead by Private Tucker, Of company K
9Th Mississippi regiment. Moving on a short
distance farther, another sentinel was seen by
some of Capt. Benton's company, which was on
the right, next 70 the bay. The scouts werenow
more in front Of the center Of the line and had in
this way passed him Unnoticed. Capt Benton
communicated the fact TO Col Chalmers, who
was also IN front Of the line near the center, and
was directed by him TO order two or three to
charge and take him. Capt B. gave the order,
and ran forward with three Of his men. The
sentinel discharged his piece at them, and the
fire was returned BY Private Reed, wounding
the man, il was thought, who at once ran up the
beach. Capt. 3 pursued anI encountered him
with his sword when the fugitive turned and
made a thrust with his bayonet, and continued
his fight The bayonet struck the captains
breast, but only penetrated the skin. He fol
lowed the fugitive until they were Just upon an
l. H. L.
and fred. Capt B.8voided the shot by slipping
quickly out Of its range, getting Only slight
powder burn in the face.
The sentinel was instantly shot by Sergeant
Crunp, and bayoneted by private Reed. The
r,ylrsuit of the second sentinel was resumed but
as be had gained ground, Capt. B. had to re-
linquish it from fatigue. While this was trans
piring on the Shore Or very soon afterwards, the
other part of the battalion came 10 a battery
further in and gaIlantly charged upon it, the
sentinels hastily retreating as our men went over
the embankment-it proved to be unfinished,
however, not having the guns mounted. A few
shots were heard about this time toward the left
and Sergeant AbstOn, of Co. f., 9Th Mississippi
regiment, fell severely wounded. It's supposed
ihe shots proceeded from concealed pickets, or
retreating sontinels About this time or after
ward, the two Alabama companies got separated
from our battalion, and did not join it again.
No other incident of importance occurred until
we were descending into Tavine, not very far,
as we afterward asceTtained, from Wilson scamp,
when We beard a sharp voley on our left and 20
the rearward followed by shots in return-some
Of the balls whistling over the left Of our line.
We az once supposed that one Of the other divis-
ions had come upon the camp, and that we had
passed it. Col Chalmers Immediately attempted
70 wheel bis command to the left, for the pur-
pose Of going to the aid Of our friends.
A dense thicket and the nature Of the ground
prevented this movement. He then faced the
battalion about, and sent forward three or four
persons to ascertain what was going on. They
met with party who, when challenged. gave
the proper answer, and the scouts came bacl,
reporting that they found no enemy. The firing
had ceased also, and we again faced about and
moved on. The firing, as 1 since learn, pro-
eeeded from a skirmish Col Anderson's/ com
msnd had with party Of regulars under Mai.
Vogdes, on the gulf coast This party had
started down the island to look for the invaders,
thinking we were a small force, and hearing
Col. AndersOns battalion approaching along
the shore, posted themselves behind the ridge
that overlool1s the gulf, and fred into the Con-
federates. The latter, though taken by sur-
prise, promptly charged and routed their assa-
ants The Florida and Alabama troops both
had several killed and wounded in the contest,
and it was there that Capt. Bradford was
killed.