Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-25
The Attack on Billy Wilson'S zou-
ayes.

ayes
New YORK, Oct. 24.-The steamer Nc
Clellan, formerly the Jos. Whitney, has ar
rived from Key West. She brings advices
from the Southwest pass 10 the l4th, from
Fit. Pickeus 10 the 18th, Tortugas to the
18th. and keyWest to the 10th.
On the morning of the 9th inst, about
half past three o'clock, the rebels attacked
Col. Wilson's position on Santa Rosa Is
land in force. Company E, of the Sd in
iantry, Capt. HIldt, and , 4 men of COmpA-
ny a, Ist artillery, So men in all, under
/ Maj. Vogdes, met the enemy some distance
above Camp Brown. Maj. V. was taken
/ prisoner Immediately, and Capt Hildt as
sumed the command, and engaged the enc
my. The loss in this struggle was kill
/ ed, 81 wounded and prisoners. The en-
emy's loss is much larger IL of the rebels
were found dead in one heap.
| Maj. Arnold arrived after daylight to
the assistance of Capt. Hildt. The COM
mand proceeded to the point where the
rebels had disembarked. Their steamers
were just leaving and II destructive fire
was opened on them. The rebels lei be-
( hiud them on the Island % killed, 8 wound
| ed aud 80 prisoners. Many of their
wounded were carried away on the boats.
/ Capt. Bradford and Lieut.. Fins were kill
ed. Three of their officers were captured.
one of whom is Lieut.. jacques, formerly
Of the u. S. Marines. He is badly wound
| ed. Cen Anderson, who was in command
OF the rebels, was wounded in the arm af-
! ter disembarkipg. The enemy acknowledge
their loss to be over 100.
| In addition TO the loss on our side. above
stated, the ZouavcS lost 8 killed in their
camp and II taken prisoners.
The details of the fight at Santa Rosa
say the rebel forces, 800 strong, landed
on the Island, from three steamers about
four miles above Wilson's camp. Their
landing was effected ut about two o'clock
in the morning. The night was very dark.
They rapidly formed in Snrec columns and
proceeded silently towards the Xouavc
camp, hoping to effect total surprise, il
which they were partially successful. The
picket guard about COO yards Off discov-
cred and fired upon them, gave the alarm
and saved the regiment from humiliation
The attack by the enemy's columns was
simultaneous, and vollry after volley was
aimed upon the Zouaves, who were forced
to tall back, leaving their camp in the
hands of the rebels. The rebels thcu COM
meuccd burning the camp.
Fort Pickens was by this time thorough
ly aroused, and three companies came to
; their assistance. The rebels retreatcd to
the boats, closely followed by the regulars
and Il small number of volunteers, keeping
a destructive fire upon them, killing ami
woumding Il large number.
The rebels funlly reached the boats, but
the steamers were over 500 yards from the
beach. and our men poured repeated vol
lcys into the crowded mass, and 10y the
shouts and confusion of the rebels it WAS
evident that we had obtained ample salts
faction for the Insult to our flag.
The regulars behaved nObly. Great
credit is due 10 Captains Robertson and
Hill, and Leutenants Zelley and Taylor.
The Wilson Zpuaves wer" badly mention
ed, and Col. Wilson is very much censured
for inctficiency. He did not reach the scene
until all was over. The camp was almost
entirely destroyed, GAc officers and men
losing everything. Major Newly had a
narrow escape from capture, being confined
to bed from duu> roU5 illness. One of his
servants was killed and the other taken
with his revolver, got out of the house.
mounted his horse and escaped through =
storm of bullets.
Wilson's regiment lost 10 killed, IL
wounded and taken prisoners. The reg
uIarS lost 4 killed, 20 wounded and 10 tu-
ken prisoners. The rebels lost, by their
own statement, $50 killed, wounded and
missing. We took 80 prisoners, including
three doctor 5, who were released.
The steamer Mcclellan also brings a re-
liable account of the fight ut the mouth of
the Mississippi. The rebel fleet consisted
of six gun boats, the RAM Manassas, and
IL large number of fire ships, filling the
ri err from shore TO shore. Our squadron
composed of the Richmond, Huntsville,
Water Witch, Preble. and Vincrnncs, and
the store ship Nightingale. They were at
anchor inside OF the southwest Pass. The
Manassas drflcd afoul of the Richmond,
knocking hole i'll her quarter and stern,
doing but little damage. To avoid the fire
= ships, the squadron got under way immc-
diately, and dritted down the river. The
Richmond, Prchle, Vincenues and Nightiu-
gale got ashore on the bar, and while
ashore were attacked by the rebels, but
only one of his shots took effect and that
struck the Richmond in the quarter. They
were beaten of by the Vincenncs, with
only two guns. the rest of her armament,
with her chains. anchors, &c, having been
thrown overheard TO Tighten her, she being
much expo, ed to the rebel fire. Not one
person was killed or wounded in the
squadron. The Richmond, Preblc aud
Yincenncs were lowed off the next day by
the steamer Mcclellan. The Nightingale
was still shore, but would probably Sc, oil
the next day.
The steam frigate Niagara arrived at the
mouth OF the Mississippi on the l4th inst.
The sloop-of-w:tr Dale WAS spoken on the
10th, cruising III the Gulf stream.
Captured by Pirate.