Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-26
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF TIE RECENT EseAsENgN
ON SANTA ROSA ISLAND.

OFFICIAL REPORT OF TIE RECENT EseAsENKNr
ON SANTA ROSA ISLAND.
HsadanaytsrS Department of florida
Fort Pickens, Oct. IL, 1851.
Coloasi, 1 briefly reported to you on the 9th
instant that the rebels had landed on this Island
partially DESTROYED the camp Of the Sixth esi-
ment New York Volunteers, and had been driven
on by our troops. | now report, In more detail,
the results Of the attack. For the better under
standing Of the several movements It may be well
to state that the enemy landed about four miles
from this fort ....
The place may be recoe nized on the map by
shree ponds and mound-that the island there
about three-fourths Of mile wide; that short
distance below II narrows to some 200 yards, then
widens again, and at the camp the distance across
In about fve-eighths Of mile; that a succession
Of three or four sand ridges run the side
parallel TO the coast, along the island; and low,
swampy ground, interpreted with sand hillocks,
some bushes, and few trees, extend along the
harber side, both shores being sandy beach. VIII
sons camp Is near the seacoast and short mile
from the fort.
The two batteries spoken of In his report. and
TO which he retreated, batteries Lincoln aud Tot
ten, are the frs, on the harbor, and the other on
the Gulfside, about 100 yards from Fort Pickens
About o'clock on the morning Of the 9th Inst,
was awakened, by the officer Of the day. who
reported that picket driven In had reported the
landing Of sixty men on the point Having little
confidence In the correctness of this report I d.
rected that no alarm should be made; and shortly
efter he reported that the alarm was false
About half pas. O'Clock he again reported that
volleys Of musketry were heard at the camp OF
the 9th New York volunteers. immediately or
dered the roll TO be beaten, Msjor Wedges to take
two companies and proceed to the spot, and Major
Arnold To man the On the m, tho
space. About half an hour after this time tie
firing was heavy, and the light Of the burning
camp seen; and sent staff officer to eommuni-
cate with Major Wedges, who returned very soon
and said that ne had fallen In with a large body
Of the enemy on the inside shore, and could not
ind tbs Major.
Immediately ordered Major Arnold to proceed
% support Major yogdes with two companies
and at tbs same time sent an order to Col Wilson
70 advance and attack the enemy. | also dis
patched staff officer on board the steamer
Mcclellan, with orders for him to take position
opposite the landing place, and open on the enc
my, unfortunately at the same time directing him
to go to the Potomac, lying near, and ask for some
men 10 assist him, in case landing was necessary.
Capt Powell directed him to tow his ship to the
scene o! action, which so delayed him that he did
not arrive until after the enemy had vacated
Capt. Powell acted from the best motives and
under ordinary circumstances, from correct prIn-
ciples. But the result was unfortunate; as the
"McCleilan" could have driven the rebel stea mers
away, and we must have made prisoners Of most
Of the invaders
AZ the request OF Major Arnold, late In the
morning, sent forward a light field gun, which,
however, did not reach until the affair was over
As propose only briefly to aIlude to the volun.
teess, respectfully refer you to the o1ciaI report
marked A, OF the Colonel of the regiment The
picket OF this reg iment and the guards sustained
Us principal If not entire loss, and behaved well
Capt Daly's company, on duty with the regulars
did good service, and the Captain Is spoken ofby
Maj Arnold In terms Of high appreciation. He
had two men killed. Capt. Bailey's company
was at battery, and not called out He was per.
forming his appropriate duty during the fight
Major Wedges, with companies A, First Artii.
lefy, and e, Third Infantry, proceeded beyond
kne Spanish Fort, about q mile from this fort;
when, from the obscurity Of the night, he found
himself and command completely iniermingled
Win the ehemy. He was Immediately recog-
nized and made prisoner; the command devolv-
Ing on Capt Hldt, Of the Third Infantry, who
uisen2aged his command from their periIcns DO.
siuon and opened a heavy rre on the enemy and
onaily, with great gallantry, forced them to re-
reaf, (he being ably supported by Lieut. Seeley,
my Assistant Adjutant General, who volunteered
Tor the occasion,) with loss Of IL killed.
MeJor Arnold at this moment came up and the
enemy rstreating, followed on. During this time
Major Tower and 1t. Jackson, who had success
siVely sent on to push forward the Zouaves, sue
decided liz getting some collected and Col. Wilson
also advanced-thee enemy precipitately retrea,ing.
Major Arnold, with Capt. Robertson and Lieut..
snipleys companies, promptly followed and at
ncked As they were embarking, the other com
Panies arriving up SUCCESSFULLY Capt Robertson
opened heavy fire, at short musket range on the
crowded masses, and Lieut. shipley, some fifteen
minutes later, joined him, and their IRE must ave
been very effective
This was continued 20 long as they were within
range. when they had got beyond IL, the gallant
Major ordered them to cease firing, and to give
tnen tnfee cheers, 70 which no response was
made During the time Of this occurrence Major
Tower same up with two small companies Of
Zeuayes, and. subsequently, Col Wilson with
Portion Of his regiment
When IL Is considered that less than two hmm.
dfed regulars, with some fifty volunteers, DUR
sueu I'VE nmes their numbers four miles and CT
pealed Them, under heavy hrc, ON the Island
tney had desecrated, IL will, trust be considered
an evidence OF their having calamity performed
their duty. -...
The plan of attack of the enemy was judicious
and If executed with ordinary ability might have
been attended with serious loss. But he failed In
al, ave the burning Of one half Of the tents of the
ON Regiment, which being covered with bushes
were very combustible, and In riding the trunks
OF the officers He did not reach within five hun.
ofed yards Of either Of the batteries the guns Of
which be was to spike; nor within mile of the
Ior ne was to enter pell nell with the fugitive.
ieueanng before his victorious arms. have now
IA my possession nine spikes, taken from the
eoele OF the dead, designed for our guns
oer loss ~ ofregulan, killed, % wounded,
=. 10y ughuV, aud missing, among whom
Is Major Wedges; Of the 9th Regiment q, NJ,
fosk Volunteers, 10 killed, 3 wounded. and ~
missing The enemy lost, az known to us: "A
kiued, incinding one captain; = wounded. in
Guiding one lieutenant, 1.-TWO since dead \ and
ofncsn and p enlisted men prisoners; and =, he
was known to have carried OF some Of hi. d.,d
ana probably most OF his wounded, those in our
hSi all L. -