Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1861-10-31


together, suppose they will have to share the
glory. AS much fuss as the Northern papers
have made Of Wilson's Znuaves. and as proud
as the Uuitcl States is Of such s:pcts," think
them the most contemptibly cowardly wretchcs
that ever disgraced the face Of the earth. Here,
in an ent,enchcd camp, where were quartered
an entire regiment, having all their clothing,
arms, and much property, these men were sur
prised and fed without firing gun, except in
retreat This. too, was after we had been fight
ing all around them, and they ought to have
been able to slaughter every man upon the Is
land. They were snugy fixed, and have lost
vast deal, besides being utterly disgraccd.
We formed round the burning camp and shot
down the wretches as they lodged about, and
took good many prisoners. "A large hospital
building was within the entertainments, which
we left without the slightest molestation Our
men nearly all took some prizes, embracing
mules. clothing, guns, pistols, money, swords,
&c. | felt interested in other things and made
no captures After remaining till the camps
were consumed and object accomplished.
we retreated for our launches, as the fort could
not be carried by storm. Amid this excitement
and conAagraton, the widest disorder reigned.
Companies were dsorganized and no such thing
as regiment Was known.
line was confused mass, moving without orders.
and almost without object We expected every
moment to be sheled by Pickens and the fleet,
which could have swept the Island and not left
Il man. Fortunately for us they had sent out
several companies to intercept our boats, and
cut off our retreat These lay behind the sand
hills and embankments and fired upon our dis
organized masses. Several attempts were made
to rally into line but without effect. The Island
is alternate marshes, ravines and hills, with>oc-
casional long sandy plains. Whenever we met
these squads, we had to carry the place by storm,
yet their advantage was too manifest.
They could hide behind sand-hills, complete
ly protecting themselves from our bullets, and
shoot into our disorganized body for several
minutes before we could come upon them Sew
era times we met these hostile squads and mis-
took them for friends occasioning us heavy loss.
One time, remember in particular we were
assailcd by body of Zouavcs, who stood in a
swamp. AS they commenced firing we gave
the watchword and were answered friends. |
thought perhaps, they had forgotten the reply,
yet they continued to shoot down the men around
me at fearful rate noticed them more close
ly, and could perceive the popularity of their
dress, and could tell by the whiz of their bullets,
that they were armed with rifles that were not
like ours.
We then turned upon them and soon cleaned
out the company. This was the severest tug of
ALL and we suffered severely before we discov-
cred their compilations. In the spot l fought
from, | saw some seven or eight Of our men fall
within five feet of me, while several others fell
around. This was about the last skirmish we
had yet struggling bodies fired for miles, doing
but little damage Scattered as we were, for
such distance, and exhausted as were our men.
fbo1, oou11 hovo lefo1y ont off with
cavalry or flying artillery, had they had either.
1t took long time for us to re-embark, and as
we were hudded together in open scows. they
fell upon us after we were out of reach, and shot
several of our men. Their large Enfield rifles
carry ball a great distance. and, elevate my
musket as I would, the bullet fell short of the
beach, while their balls fell among us or passed
just over our heads. Here Brigadier-General
Anderson was wounded very severely, though
he had passed all the danger on the Island, and
that, too far in the rear Of the enemy.
It was wonderful that our soldiers should have
s sH tq z5e9 aSaas and Refn vd So S sefFe
brave and daring as it was possible for soldiers
to be, and, in the presence of the enemy, acted
with as much gaantry as the occasion warran-
ted. One cause Of the confusion Of ranks was
the strange land we had to climb over and the
deep bogs we had to wade. l should rather at
tempt to scale the ruggest peak Of the Rocky
mountain than to make forced march on Santa
Rosa Island. tits impossible for the best drilled
troops in the world to keep in line in such a
place. Another thing that prevented, was that
the advanced bodies were less tired than the
rear, and marched too fast.
Again, one section, just in front of us, had
their Captain killed and a Lieutenant wounded,
and come crowding back into our ranks.
7 scarcely know whathor wa achinyn6 vio-
tory or suffered defeat. We did the duty
which we went to perform, and did it we'll yet
we shot down our own friends in numbers. In
deed, think as many of our men were shot by
friends as by foes. Night skirmishing is dan
gerous business, especially in an unknown coun-
try, as was the Island of Santa Rosa
1t is impossible to estimate the damage done
on either side as yet I came across and saw
at least IS dead bodies to which side they be-
longed I could not always tell. The column
that fired the Zouave camp report great many
killed while escaping from their tents. The
loss of the enemy is perhaps fifty killed and
twenty taken prisoners. do not know any
thing about the wounded. We captured Ma
ljor, Captain and Lieutenant among the prison
ers.
Gen. Bragg sent boat over to Fort Pickens
this morning for the dead. They gave them up,
ana report only fifteen bodies found and thirty
prisoners I fear the loss may prove heavier
after investigation.
The siege is momentarily expected to COM
mence, and every preparation made perhaps it
will happen as the dead and wounded are cared
for and the soldiers have rested from last nights
fatigue. The enemy appear boastful that we
did not assault the fort, after we had driven
their men in and gone almost under its guns
We accomplished all, and the great misfortune
u.s. more than We intended. ..-
From the St. Mary's Beacon of Oct. oath.
THE COURT OF APPEAIS