Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-24
Further Particulars Of the Fight on Santa
Rosa IsIaud

We have already given several accounts Of the
attack on "Billy Wilson'S" Zouaves, but add the
following from the Mobile Advertiser of the 18th
instant:
1t is evident that the news Of the sortie at Pen.
sacola wasa little rose-colored as first published
The corp was made at a considerable loss to our
side. We managed also to DESTROY large amount
Of that kind Of property which the enemy cannot
well spare.
In war, success is the great thing. The saving
OF life In accomplishing success 10 not much con.
sidered To win at any sacrifice Is to gain vic
tory, and, therefore, prestige.
1t appears to be little strange that the expedi-
ton was SO successful, for the reason that Fort
Pickens might have relieved Wilson'S men, II its
commander had been watchful and ready. There
were several hours work In this bold attack, and
that would have allowed a vigilant commander
so near, TO have hurried his men forward, and
probably cut of the retreat Of our soldiers or hurt
them very much as they did retreat. Where, too,
was the fleet! What was II doing while Billy
Wilson was making loud noise with his guns,
and our brave men were firing his quarters,
We have good reason, also, for stating that Col
Wilson was not surprised An assault of the
kind had been expected for weeks and his COM
niand was under orders to be on the alert all the
time The enemy was whipped not by surprise,
but by absolute valor on the part of our soldiers
A correspondent of the New Orleans Plcayune
furnishes the following account:
There were 600 men In the expedition under
Brigadier General Ruggles. They crossed over
to the island a. two O'clock on the morning of
"Wednesday At twenty minutes past four the
FIRST gun was fred, and In forty-six Minutes
all that was left of the numerous camps the ex-
tensive commssary buildings that had been
erected there, was but one mass of smould ering
ruins. The hospital structure is the only build.
ing now standing upon the Island Of Santa Rosa
Wilson's New York Zouaves) camp was the
first one reached. The sentinels, completely sur
prised, were either killed or captured; and the
whole regiment with Its chief, found safety only
in a rapid fight beyond the eastern walls Of Fort
Pickens The scenes which occurred when this
camp was invaded are described as being ludic-
rous beyond description or belief. The gallant
Colonel took to his heels with nothing but brief
skirted neither garment to cover his nakedness,
aud the race between him and his valiant braves
presented struggle for precedence more closely
contested than any ever witnessed over the race-
course Bull X un was as nothing In comparison
with IL.
Our men pursued the fugitivss with determine.
tion pausing now and then to drive a rat-tail he
into the touchholes Of the huge cannon that met
them at almost every step. They advanced 10
within q mile of Pickens. Not gun from the
ramparts was fred TO check the advancing col.
umn, while the nearest sentnels, includi ng those
on the very mound that goes down to the heavy
swnging gates Of the fortress, were sent to their
long account.
The expedition having succeeded beyond the
hopes Of the mos; sangu!ne. or forces turned east
ward On their return, corpse after corpse Of the
enemy met their view, while many were badly
wounded Not gun all this time had been bred
from the feet whose presence and whose menaces
nave ~ IOuS
Our troops were on the island from 2 until I'm
the morning The boats engaged in the expedi.
| ton were lowed back by the steamers Ewing
Time and Neafe. OF the Confederates dozen or
more were killed, and 90 were wounded
Another letter SAYS:
About 50 OF our forces are killed and 50 more
wounded and missing. Gen Anderson, the com
handing ofhcer, was wounded In the arm Sew.
erai Of our officers were killed. Those Mimic bull
lets do whistle some, sure. got of scott fire,
! again, though had some close shaves; but IL,
awful to see the CHASTITY wounds on the poor fell
lows really cannot help crying to see how the,
suffer
FALL OF CONFEDERATE COLONEL
letter In the Charleston Courier of October 10
from Western Virginia (the locality and date no
given), says:
About noon Colonel spaulding ordered on,
company (the Richmond Light Guard) to pro
coed up the turnpike road and draw the fire OF
the enemy. In moment they were ready and
started, the colonel on horseback leading IL wal
a bold, daring act. They marched right up tc
the enemY's pickets, so close to the camp tha
every man might have been shot or taken priso
ner. Finding we could not draw their ere we
oountermarched by order Of the colonel. The
company believed he was close in the rear sind.
denly five shots called their attention to the rear
and Colonel Spaulding was seen living on hi,
horse; the animal had sense enough to come to-
ward our company. He was first lieutenant OF
this company, (R. l.. CO. and was promoted TO
Lieutenant colonel commanding a month ago
His family are Ia Pennsylvania. You NAV have
known him N IN editor In foh