Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-23
OUR WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE.
The CAMPAIGN I'm FLOHIPA.
INC sanra Rosa Expedition.
os,,,onaetee CT the Mobile Register and Ad7ertsec

santa Rosa Island on the night of the Sth inst No
one has attempted however, 10 give even in general
terms a connected version of the affair, and espe-
cIsllv of what occurred On the Island. / will en-
deavor to supply some of the details as learned
them from observation and inquiry, promising. at
the outset that must in the nam, necessarily con-
fine myself TO the movements OF the particular ol-
vision to which I belonaed-the one composed
chiefly of Nississippians.
Early in the day notice was given TO company
commanders to have their companies ready to
march an hour and hsh before sunset, with q
GOOD supply of ammunition aud one day 3 Fatlons.
Where we were 70 go,or what we were odo, was not
communicated but, good soldiers, it was enough
IN know that there wRs work for US somewhere
About dusk detachments from the 9th and 10th Mis-
sissippi the lst Alabama and the Georgia and Mis-.
sissippi regiment "a new one made up 81 the Geor-
gia battalion and three Mississippi Artillery COM
NAMES. under Lieut. Colonel Villepigne) assembled
at the Redoubt North of Fort BarrsncaS he place of
rendezvous designated for them. Col. Chalmers, of
the 9Th Mississippi regiment, took command OF the
whole force and marched il down to the Navy \ ard
There it was joined by detacments from the Tth
Alabama the Florida regiment and the Louisiana
regulars, together with party of Fiorid4 naval
officers and marines. Thence the troops, Brig. Gen
Anderson of the 81 Brigade beng in command, took
the steamer Time for Pensacola. Considerable de-
lay occurred there 10 getting the force aboard OF
two large scOws aud the stesmer Ewing, the form
er of light draught, to be used ia etecting
landing on the Island. Oar numbers were
increased also by a detachment frem the 9th Geor-
ga regiment and part of Pensacola comp any J
making in all. something over thousand men
Capt West, Lieut.. Mccain and several privEtes of
the 9Th MississipDi regiment also joined the expe
dition at Pensacola Lieut. Nee. and the last mem
toned being assigned TO duty In the medical guard
After midnight the Ewing pushed OF with se0ws
in tow across the bay, and We landed behind
point the Big Woods F" about four miles above
Fort Pickpns and about three from Wilson's camp
.ita1 in three hat
as fOlloWsi
One, Commalle by Col james 2. Chalmers,
composed of company d, Cap. Samuel Benton,
Lieuts. Watson aud Nickle, Go. K. Lieut. Banks
commanding Capt White being siok,) and Lieut.
Smith and company 3 Can't. Z. hcGO wan, snd Lieu
tenants McGowan and johnson of the Och Mississip,
pi regiment. Co. G, Capt. Miller, With Lieut. Smith
Of the Rankin Rifles snd Co. K, Capt Peake, Lieuts
Powell and Garrison, 10 h Mississippi regiment;
aad Co. G. Ist Lieut. Chspmaa, Gni Lisuts. Knox
and McGhee, and Co l. Capt Ramsey. and Lieut.
Benson, list Alabama regiment rlaJ BOTdrie and
Adjutant Roger BaFt2a i .Ae gta Mississippi we're
also with this battalion.
Another. commanded by Col J. Patton Anderson,
of the Florida regiment made up of two companies
from hls regiment, tsben frOG Cos. A. B. u &. +.
and J. Cspts Crop and Bradford, Lieats. Means,
Abercrom5ie, Farley and GalbFesthj three comps-
MES of the 9Th Ala. regiment, Capts. Jackson and
Graham, LieHts. GTubs (e0mmsDding) and Henly,
two companies of L3Eis'sna regulars, Cspts. Far
rar ard Thompson Lieuts. StTihgfelisw, Stafford
and Gladdin, and party of Florida naval officers
and marines, Capt Brent, Lieut.. Ssyre, OF the u D
Army, was also along.
A third. cammsnded by Col Joha r. Jackson, of
the 5th Georgia regiment ooBFo0ed Of the detsch-
ment from his regiment formed into three B0mPa-
MES the first under Capt. Hangum, Lieuts. Jones
and Hundey; the second under Capt. Hull, Lieuts
Barrett and Cumming, and the third under Captain
Iyerson, Iieuts. Day and Poole, accompanied by
Adiutant Black; detachment from the Georgia and
Mississippi regiment, taken frcm companies B g. D
and G. Captain Spray berry Lieuts Poe and Jefters
and spiking party Ender Captain Hollinquist C. S.
Army and Lyeuts, helms, Of the 5;h Georgia reg-
ment.
The three companies were under the direction of
Brig. Gen. Anderson and Col. Chalmers battalion
assigned to the north side of the Island; Colo
mel Anderson to th5 south gulf side, aud Colonel
Jackson to the centre.
Col. Chalmers threw out q small party OF scouts
under C&ptsin West, short distance in advance Of
his command, AMI moved cautiously up the Island
in the vicinity Of ths shore. After marching three
or four miles through dense bushes and high grass
and over uneven and marshy ground, the column
was deplOyed into iIae of battle and marched in
that order. Very soon scouts came in sight Of
sentinel. posted on the shore. Seine of them
forward TO seize him, when he fred upon them and
was shot dead BY private Tucker, Of company h
9th Mississippi regiment Moving on short distance
further another ssltnel vas seen by sosas OF Capt
BentOn's company, which vas on the right, next to
the bay The scouts we're now 10 ront of the centre
line, and had in tais Esy passed him qnn9siced.-
Captain Benton communicated tAe i2ct 70 Colonel
Chalmers who Wzz also 10 fro.t Of the line nearer
the centre, and was directed o-der Two or three
to charge aud take him. Captain D. gave the order
and ran forward with three Of his men. The sen
tnel discharged his piece Gt them and tie fire was
returned by private Reed. w2q2dIng the man, It
was thought, who &c once Faa up the beach. O.pt.
B. pursued and encountered hjW with big sword,
when the fugitive turned and made thrust at
him with his baysnat and continued his fight. The
bayOnSt struck the Captains breast, but on!y pene
t-ated the skin. BE followed the fugitive until they
came juss upon another sentinel, who hastily
brought up his piece ald fred. Capt, u. avoided
the shot by stepping quickly of jig range, get
ting only slight powder burn IN the face. The
sentinel was Instantly sho. by Sergeant Crump and
bsyoneted 0y private Reed The pursuit OF the
sec md sentinel w4= res+9sd. but he had gained
agrgTnd, Capt. 3. had 10 relnGush it from fatigue.
Rhls: this was Transporting on tie sb0se, or very
soon afterWs de, the other part Of the E&ttaliOn
came to battery further ill., eRd gallaGtly chargGd
upon it. the Sentines hastily refreshing as 0Ur pep
sent over the embaakueGt. Il proved 70 be IN
finished hGgeyeT, not having the guns mounted.
few shots vera EaagG about this time towards the
left and Sergeant Abortion. Of company F, 9Sh Mis-.
sissippi fell severely wounded. I is suppose9 the
shots proceeded from concealed picke:s or retreat
ing se1kael9. About this time, or afterwards, the
two Alabama companies got separated from our
battalion and did not join Il again,
No other incident OF. Importance occurred until we
were descending into raYlGe, Do. very far, as We
afterwards ascertaiEed, from Wilson'S camp, when
we beard sharp ralley eur left and TO the rear
ward. followed by shots in return, some of the balls
whistling over the isst'of cur line. We at once
supposed that one or the otheE dlYisions had come
upon the camp, and that We had passeq IT, Colonel
Chalmers immediately attempted to wheel his com
and 20 the Left, for the purpose of going to the
aid OF GU friends. dense thiCket and the nature
of the ground prevented this movement He then
faced the battalion about and cent tGTESrd three or
four DePsOns TO ascertain what vas going on, They
met party who, when challenged, gave the proper
answer, and the scouts came back, reporting that
they found no enemy. The firing had ceased also,
and we AGAIN faced about and moved on. The firing,
az aince learn, proceeded from skInish Colonel
Andersons command had with about forty regulars
under Major Yogdss eG the Gulf coast This party
had started down the 1siana to look for The Inva~
ders, thinking geTe sGiall force and, hearing
Col AndersOn's battalion approaching along the
shore posted themselves behind TIE ridge
thst oyerlooks the Gulf and fred into tbs COntede>
rates. The latter. though taken by surprise,
promptly charged and routed their sssailaatg. The
Florida and Aabala troops both had several killed
aud wOU aided IN the CONTEXT, and it was then that
Captain Bradford was killed.
We had gOu6 bUt little way, sitter FACING about,
when We saw the white tents on the hill right IN
fr0at of US. Gel Chalmers matted TO TecOnnoEre
aud, SIS he preparing tG charge upon It
a bright flame suddenly bisz-d up IN the caGlp, and,
as it increased soon revealed persons moving about
end firing the tents. At first We were uncertain
yyhetheS it WAS the enemy or some of cur friends
who had gotten IN Gheli of US. PausiDg awhile to
make sure of this, sS BELIEVING them to be the lat
fer the ColO1el ordered Ia to LsErll Nd quickly, |