Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-25

| AASnNh AASSoHAt az ahS ElSht upon BILLY VIII
sons Zuuayes.
Pensacola Letter to the Augusta Ga) Constitutonalis
PENSACOLA, Oct. Eve have at length an
opportunity Of being relieved from our state
OF mastery inactivity" and of measuring
arms with the enemy near this place. During
last night an expedition, composed of detach-
ments Of several confederate companies and
regiments, set ont Tor Santa Rosa Island for
the purpose OF breaking up the encampment
OF the notorious Billy Wilson and his cee
brated Fire ZOuaveS, who had taken a position
on the island. Early in the evening Colonel
Jackson visited our camp and informed us
that he required one hundred and fifty men
from our regiment (the 9th Georgia. to per.
TO m very important sergice-twenty-sev
from the Clinch Rifles and nineteen from the
IRISH volunteers. Every man who was willing
to volunteer was requested to shoulder arms
ahd every man came to Il shoulder. The cap
tans OF the companies were then requested to
pick out the required number, which was
done. These were taken from the Cnch Ri.
flies, Irish volunteers, Cuthbert Rifles, and
McDuttie Rifles, and were under command oil
Lieut. Halionquist, formerly of the United
States army. Lieut.. Day, of the Clinch Ri
files, being the junior officer, was on the lett.
but that wing arrived TOO late to take part in
the action
Col jackson accompanied the expedition
and the entire force, which consisted OF about
twelve hundred men, was under command of
Gen. Anderson. About Two O'Clock This
morning we landed on the island and marched
about live miles through the enemy's lines and
into his camp which we completely destroy.
ed, burning up his tents, &C., and killing his
sentlnetS as we proceeded. The Zouaves were
taken almost completely by surprise, but as
soon as they recovered fought desperately-at
fl,aU ,,I,,-
but upon the whole gave us some pretty warm
work. We finally succeeded in driving them
into Fort Pickens, killing quite number of
them, taking some thirty or forty prisoners
aud lot Of camp equpage and other trophies.
oome OF our men nave brought away money,
hats, caps, guns, swords, pistols, and pieces OF
BIlly's standard
Our men acted with great GOODNESS and
bravery, and, having accomplished the object
OF our mission, We returned to the main land.
AS we dld so, we found that the remainder of
tile regiment was advancing to reinforce us
but, finding US coming back, they also returned
to the camp. Our loss has been very severe
Among the KILLED aie Lieut.. Col A. Nelms of
the AcDutie Rifles OF Warrcnton, aud aid 10
Col. jackson Joseph Ii. Adams and Freder
lex Cook of the Clinch Rifles and j. Stanton
OF the Irish Volunteers. Among the wounded
are N. Rice Of the Clinch II fles, shot in tba
arm VIM Ii. Smith of the same company,
shot IN the shoulder; j Ii. Harris Of the same
company, shot on the right ear. will send
you tbs casualties in the Irish Volunteers as
soon as | can obtain them. They have one
Killed and two wounded. The Cineh Rifles.
Irish Volunteers, and McDuffie Rifles faced
the front all the time
Too much cannot be said in praise of the
officers and men; and the only regret is that
some OF our men we're taken prisoners by the
enemy. Such is the late OF war, however,
and we must expect, while often successful, to
have the cup OF victory dashed with the bitters
OF adversely.