Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-30
Interesting Particulars Of the Fight on Santa
Rssa Island


From ar account in the New York Times wy,
take the following additional particulars of tn,
late night on Santa Rosa Island:
between and a. In. firing was heard aboti
TWO miles from the Fort, beyond Wilson !,
camp; and it appeared subseq uently, by in.
formation got from the prisoners, that a de.
serter, who had been paid off from Pickens
TWO days previous, had given such information
TO the Confederates as Induced them to land
on the inside beach, and cross over to the south
beach, and so come upon Wilson's camp sud.
denly, without encountering the heavy guns
OF the batteries. They first came upon and
snot Two OF Wilson's picket guards, and drove
IN the rest near the cid Spanish Fort, follow
ing up the Zouaves and driving them from the
camp, and setting the tents and stores and
camp equipage on fre. As soon as a messen-
ger reacned the Fort, (previous to the fire J
Col Brown ordered out thirty regulars, under
MAJ fodges and Lieuts. Langley and TAYLOR
who lost no time in marching to the scene of
commotlon, where they encountered a large
body OF the invading force, who surrourjed
them and demanded their surrender. Major
'odges, being in advance seeing himself over
powered, and without support from the Zou-
aYes, surrendered as prisoner, and. with two
or three men, was disarmed. Lieut.. TsyIor
was also grasped by the arm, and told to sur.
render, but, suddenly extricating himself.
drew his sword, and said if they wanted it
tney must light for it, and giving the word,
"OPen order, Fire." to his men, commenced
an attack ON the enemy, who had been divided
whilst setting fire to the tents In the mean
time Lieut.. Langley had gaIloped back to the
Fort, and obtained from Col. Brown a rein
iorcement OF two companies of regulars, which
marched In double-quiek to the conflict.
The COnfederates finding that the alarm WAS
general, and having succeeded in firing the
tents, &c, retired before the small bodys of
troops rallied under Lieut.. Taylor this time
taking their route through a swamp-wood and
along the inside beach, firing as they retreat.
ed ON the regulars and some Zouaves who had
rallied to their assistance. In this way they
reached the rebel aotilla, which consisted of
four lighters, a number of six and eight cared
launches, and two steam-tugs,-which latter
were hard aground, at absut 6 a. In.
The landing had taken place ct about two
miles from the old Spanish Fort, and upon
hrst arriving at this point on their retreat,
MAJOR VOdges and the other prisoners were
taken of to the launches, the rebels .wading
over the flats to get to them, and aboard the
steamers, which did not float for full half
hour. In the meantime the two companies of
regulars had come up, and with few Zouayes,
fired voliey after vollcy upon the rebels. One
launch was SO riddled that she sunk between
the dry-dock and navy yard, as she was being
towed back by the steamer, and after the
rebels (some Of whom were wounded) had been
transferred to the steamer. While the steam
ers were stuck fast, scores were seen to fall
overheard under the fire from the shore, and
from information received next day, upon the
arrival Of flag of truce, it is supposed that
between three or four hundred fell. In the
hrst attack, eight Of our side (priyatesl were
killed and two wounded. Fifteen rebels were
killed between the camps and Spanish Fort,
on tns retreat before the regulars. They were
buried IN the sand, but disinterred the next
day and delivered over to Lieut.. Slaughter,
G. 5. A, under the flag of truce. He had
come over to reclaim the dead Twenty-eight
prisoners were taken, three of whom were
wounded, also three officers, and Major An
derson, (mortally wounded, and supposed to be
a brother Of Gen. Anderson, U. S. Az The
latter died, and his body was given to Lieut.
slaughter, as were three doctors of the G. S.
A. The rebels took on board their boats MANY
wounded, and great numbers were shot dead
while wading in the water. Just as the re-
embarkation of the rebels took place, a steam
tug-the Time-made her appearance, with
reinforcements, but upon seeing the state of
Things ashore, she contented herself by taking
In tow the launches, which had hauled OF
from under the raking fire of the troops on
shore. The fotills had narrow escape, as the
Potomac, upon observing the fire at Wilson's g
camp, got under way, and was towed by the
Mcclellan just within shelling distance ~ the
rebels got their steamers aloat, and left the
island for the navy.yard. Two false alarms
had been given on the previous night, or Col.
Brown was heard to say he would, instead of
thirty men, have ordered out sufficient force
at once to have given a grester defeat to the
rebels. 1t seems Wilson's men have not the
best reputation in the world for subordina-
tion, as they have got decidedly bad habit
Of talking back to their officers, and Colonel
Brown has ordered that any insubordinate
Zouaye shall be sent TO the fort to be taught
better manners under the officers of the regu-
lar Army.