Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-26
w. d. WALLACH.
FROM THE SOUTH.
The Battle On Santa Rosa Island.

OF THE AFFAIR.
Richmond papers of the 18th inst, received
in this city yesterday, furnish the following
account Of the fight on Santa Rosa Island, and
some ether Southern news of interest:
FULL ACCOUNT OF TIE FIGHT.
correspondent Of the Atlanta (Ga) Intel
ligencer gives the following account of the
fght. After describing the landing on the
Island Of the rebel force, to the number of
1900, the writer says:
Ascending the back hill of the beach, We
found ourselves among a squad of picket guard,
who gave our close ranks a most destructive
FIRE, throwing the company, Of which was
member, into great disorder. We were charg-
ing them with the bayonet, thus hoping
to drive them from their strong position, when
i rushed in their midst and received a severe
blow over the head, which sent me rolling 10
the foot Of the hill We were in line again,
snd as friends, were engaged with Wilson's
ZOuaves, and our misfortune had prevented
the possibility of cutting off their retreat, we
double quickened for those quarters-after a
little skirmishing along the way, we reached
the encampment Just in time to see the quar-
tiers fired and the guns spiked.
The Fifth Georgia and the Tenth Mississippi
each claimed the honor of having first reached
the tents, DO, and applying the torch As
these composed one column and they arrived
there together, / suppose they will have to
share the glory. As much fuss as the North.
srn papers have made Of Wilson'S Zouayes,
and as proud as the United States is of such
"pets, think them the most contemptibly
coEardly wretches thatever disgraced the face
Of the earth. Here, in an entrenched camp,
where we're quartered an entire regiment
having all their clsthing, arms, and much pro-
Perty, tnese men were surprised and fed with
cut firing gun, except in retreat. This, too,
was after ee had been fighting all around
them, and they ought to have been atle to
slaughter every man upon the island. They
were snugly fixed, and have lost a vast deal
besides being utterly disgraced.
We formed round the burning camp and shot
down the wretches as they dod ged about, and
took good many prisoners. A large hospital
building was within the entrenchments which
we left without the slightest molestatien 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 we're consumed and our object accom-
Plished, We retreated for our launches, as the
fort could not be carried by storm. Amid this
excitement and conAagration, the widest dis
order reigned. Companies were disorganized.
and no such thing as regiment was known
Our Ren retired in great confusion, and the
line was q confused mass, moving without or
ders, and almost without object. We expected
every moment to be shelled by Pickens and
the feet, which could have swept the island
and not left man. Fortunately for US they
had sent out several com mpanies to intercept our
boats and cut of our retreat. These lay be-
hind the sand hills and embankment and fired
upon our disorganiEed masses. Several at.
tempts were made to rally into line, but with
out effect. The island is alternate marshes
ravines and hills, with occasional long sandy
plains. Whenever we met these squads, We
had to carry the place by storm, yet their ad-
vantage was too manifest.
ThaY couid hide hahind aand k;lJ. 49,
pletely protecting themselves from our bullets
and shoot into our disorgsnizsd body for sew
eral minutes before We could come upon them
Several times we met these hostile squads and
mistOok them for friends, Occasioning us heavy
loss. One time l remember in particular. we
were assailed by body Of ZousVcs, who stood
in swamp. As they commenced firing we
gave the watchword, and were answered
friends. thought perhaps, they had for
gotten the reply, yet they continued to shoot
down the men around me at fearful rate. I
noticed them more closely, and could perceive
the peculiarity Of their dress, and could tell by
the whiI 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 dis.
covered their compilations. In the ssot I
fought from / saw some seven or eight of our
men fall within FIVE feet of me- while several
skirmish We had, yet struggling bodies fired
for miles, doing but little damage. Scattered
as We were for such a distance, and exhausted
as were our men, they could have completely
cut rs of with cavalry or flying artillery, had
they had eihter. 1t took long time for US
to re-embark; as We were huddled together in
open scows they fell upon Us after We were out
Of reach and shot several Of our men, Their
large En6eld rifles carry ball 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
Brig. Gen. Anderson was wounded very Sc
yerely, though he had passed all danger on the
Island, and that, too, far in the rear of the
enemy.
II was wonderful that our soldiers shouId
have fallen into such disorder, and been so en-
tirely given up to excitement. Our men were
as brave and daring as it was possible for
soldiers 20 be, and, in the presence Of the en-.
amy, acted with as mueh gallantry as the oc.
casion warranted One cause of the confusion
of ranks was the strange land we had to climb
over, and the deep bOgs we had to wade.
should rather attempt to scale the ruggiest
peak Of the Rocky Mountain than to make q
forced march on Santa Rosa Island. 1t is i'm
possible for the best drilled troops in the world
20 keep in line in such place. Another thing
that prevented, was that the advanced bodie:
were less tired than the rear, and marched toe
fast Again, q section, just front Of US, had
their captain killed and lieutenant wounded
and came crowding back into our ranks.
scarcely know whether We achieved vic.
tory or suffered defeat. We did the duty We
went 10 perform, and did il well; yet We sho
down our own friends in numbers. Indeed,
think, as many Of our men were shot by frieDd
as by foes. Night skirmishing is q dangeroui
business, especially in an unknown country, a
was the Island Of Santa Rosa.
1t II impossible to estimate the damage dor
on either side as yet / came across and saw
at least IS bodies; to which side they belongod
could not always tell. The column that fred
the Zouaye camp report great many killed
while escaping from their tents. The loss o.
the enemy Is perhaps so killed and 20 taker
prisoners. / do not know anything about the
wounded. We captured Major, Captain and
Lieutenant among the prisoners.
Gen. Bragg sent Q boat to Fort Pickens thii
morning, for the dead. They gave them up
and report only Is bodies found, and 80 prfs
oners. fear the loss may prove heavier aftel
Investigation.
The sisge is 'momsntsrily expected to com