Spirit of the age., 1861-10-23
The Fight at Santa Rosa Island-By an
Eve Witness.

Eye Witness.
Below viii be found an interesting account Of the
fight Santa Rosa Island. opposite Pensacola which
was briefly noticed in our last issne.
The Montgomery Advertiser has the following
rative of the fight from gentleman who present
ct the scens OF action:
Amid the confusion and uncertainty OF conflicting
REPORTS brought by passengers and letters by this
mornings train from Pensacola, we Ia almost des-
paired of obtaining anything approaching reliability
We fortunately however, found DIR. Manly, who hap
pened to be at the of action peaceful mis-
sion from whom we received connected account
DR. MS well known accuracy OF Judgment viii, we
trust be sufficient apology for the unwarranted use
of his Everything was still in confusion when
Dr. NJ left at o'clock last night. and his statement
is substantially as follows:
On Tuesday night about IL O'Clock, some twelve or
fifteen hundred of our men, under command of Briga
dier General Anderson crossed the Bay in two small
steamers and attached to them. The men were
picked generally from fourteen to seventeen In num-
ber, from the companies of the regiments from Ala
bama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi
fun company being taken except perhaps, the
| Clinch Rides from Georgia The party diseRbarked
at point opposite Pensacola, near Santa Rosa Is
land, about FIVE miles from Fort Pickens. The men
had to wade, and Of them to swim to reach the
Landedo on the Island. they divided into two |
squads proceeding directly to the Southern
beach, beyond Billy Wilson's camp and the other
marched down the northern beach, opposite to each
other. They killed the sentries as they went some
six in number, spiked the guns set FIRE to the cabins
in,Which the Zouayes camped, and shot them
they out. All agree that the Zouaves ran in
contnently for Fort Pickens They rarely looked
back stopped to fire at boys, but shot they
rum They had thrown up some sand banks, but none
of their big guns were mounted. Our men took
goody quantity of rat tail files, with which they
curely spiked every gun except two They burned all
the houses and stores, except the hospital.
! The only formidable resistance from some u.
S. Regulars, sent out from Fort Pickens to redeem
the ground which the cowardy Zouayes had abandon
ed. The Regulars, however finding our force larger
than they had expected to have become panic
stricken and retreated until in the act
of returning from the Isand in obedience to the sig
nal from the navy yard They then advanced and fired
deliberately at huddled up in the boats, and
did them more damage than they had received during
the fight on the Island 1t at this time that Gen.
a Anderson was wounded in the arm. Two or three
guns were fred at them, when crossing, from Fort
Pickeng without effect.
: Our men supplied themselves well with small arms
that they took from the enemy They also killed one
!. negro and captured another. Seventeen prisoners
were seen that they brought back; how many, any
more is not known One account said the notorious
Colonel Billy Wilson, had made strait run from his
MARQUEE to the fort Another account from one O
the prisoners stated that he had not slept at Camp
that night usual having remained at Fort P1ckens
All staten ents from men, who participated agree
that they killed between and three hundred of the
Yankees Our loss I'M killed and missing is forty, ant
thirty-fye wounded, FIVE of whom died yesterday
Most of our losses in the skirmish attributed to
cross firing when men shooting at the Zou-
ayes from opposite Sides and to their not being able
it to distinguish the badge of their comrades in the dark
ness Of the night and shooting one another.
ov Lieut. Sayre when seen last, on the beach, in
sc wounded condition His friends who had him il
charge had carried him two three miles, and wer
finally compelled to leave him to save themselves
" He had requested them to do so previously but the
clung to him to the last moment, and then put Goa
h under his head for pillow He shot in the thig
,ot and was much exhausted from bleeding. He Tough
gallantly as long as he could 1t is supposed he wa
taken prisoner in this helpless condition by the YaI
KEGS. Capt. Nelnls of one of the Georgia companie
was killed, whose death was greatly regretted. No
IN wthstanding the unfortunate accidents referred
on occasioning the death OF many of brave sol
dicrs, the object of the expedition was completely al
IA complshed and the result highly satisfactory an
er nspriting to the officers and of army. Tt
is.
,ur Billy Wilson's camp, and not the taking OF Fo
u.s. Pickene.
ln' This done completely. No artillery was take
ni over-only small arms pck-axes, fire balls and file
:, reserve force, composed of the remainder of Il
nh 5th Georgia Regiment had started over to reinfor
our men, when the signals were fired by Gen. Brag
ort for the body the Island to return. 1t abo
The o'clock in the morning, they had been entirely
lck cessu and in being in danger of being surround
md by the feet and the force at Fort Pckens it "
es thought prudent for the troops to the bay
~ Major Wedges, of the distinguished Yankee pr
80, oners taken told officers, that Col Brown,
he commander at Fort Pickens would open it batteri
our yesterday last night, but up to O'Clock VIII
ne the train left no demonstration had been made.
asst wounded being well cared for by the ladies
lch- Pensacola.
IDLY
he SAyING BAcoS-A correspondent of the Huntsyi
the l.1o y Advooo+. ,,.k.s .,~aa.tion to the rlant
oal, - ~. (,o.eos.-o.. Co. -, = - =. ,o