The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-01
the SANTA ROSA ISLAND AFFAIR.

Colonel WilsOn's AccOunt-Dc scrf Dtfou
or the Fight-F&ve Thousand Dollars
Reward offered for Colonel Wilson-Hfs
Hair, sword and UniforaA Exhibited a.
Trophies, &C., &c., DC.
sixth RKoIaxNTN Y.sv,)
CAMP BROWN, FoRr PicKESs, Oct. II 1861.
GENERAL Administrative have had our first night It
was a terrible one for the enemy We lost nine men--
wounded, seven missing Of what few had with
me- You mnst know my companions arc scattered
about have with me I've companies numbering three
hundred and sixty Of which y were sick forty seven
detailed on service at tho FORT and about seventy on
guard that night We have watch mile OF tho beach
and three outs OF mile In front Of encampmen Tho
island is threefoWths OF . mile wide this point Wo
had ono hundred and thirty three TO turn out
On the morning Of the 9th instant at halrpas three
o'clock, the enemy attacked in three columns coma
meneng by attacking with small parties Of twenty or thi-
ty every sentinel Two companies charged tbs picket
tont the three bodies, numbering in all 1000 me stimuli
taneousy firing vollcys Of muskety the hospital
and guardhousc We out and formed in quick time.
Tho sentines, the guard and officers running In.
They had fought retreating, until overpo1ered killing
quite number Of them Several OF our picSets were
killed and wounded Private W. Scott deliberately wait
cd until one column within feet Of him. and then
shot the commanding officer. Capt Bradford. In an In
slant after we were formed fronting, supposed the
discover
ten feet OF. We wcro fred into from three Sides had
Just sent out Capt Hareton with his company to the front
skirmshcrs, and Capt Duffy with twenty mon to the
left flank to endeayor to ind the whereabouts Of tho
enemy and draw their fire, when bang we got II from
all sides BY companies and file wheeled my men into line
TO tho loft and returned the fire. At this moment blaze
arose-the tents were all on Are tho Qnartermasters
and commission store or building was also re NIL at
time The distance from the camp TO the commission
| building is an eighth Of mile. We could then our
enemy, for tho first time In dense In the centre
Of camp and extended along the ridge. Companies
seen moving across the ridges endeavorng to sur
round u.s. large body Of mon were also drawn up
fronting the camp, firing into camp and us, setting
fire to everything, We retired behind the nrst ridge
towards the halted and faced the enemy had but
| sixty men with me. sent out for the rest Of my mon
and officers, but could not find them. sraggers
In and reported that Lieutenant Colonel Creighton,
! Captains Harclton, Huherer, Hotrel and Lou
! tenant Siloway had retired towards the fort.
On hearing this, l said to my few mcn-''Wo
too few to fight 50 many and they gradually being in
good order moved towards the beach on to the rs bate
ry where we halted and rested few moments We thon,
daylgh appeared, marched Ia chase OF the enemy
Until this time heard OF my that of the
regulars then learned from Major Towen that several
companies in chase Of the enemy. We hurried up,
miles. and arrived few moments too late At
the place where the enemy were getting slaughtered by
our men while they were cndeayoring to embark
enemy lost In killed and wounded about 500 Gen.
Anderson led them on. Their war cry was nDeath TO
Wilson. No quarter to Wilson'S Zouayes." IS 900
tho reward for HIM dead or alive All our loss is about
| twenty killed, fifteen wounded and twenty prwncrs
Our new clothes are all destroyed Ihavc lost every
thing had; my men Also They burned out completely
Our papers and books are burned My commission is SAFE
sent TO tho Post QEee the day Serore the SSKi MY
! men did well; They have smeit gunpowder-now they
are all right We commence the aght tomorrow. They
have IL 600 men. They exhibiting my hair and head
in Pensacola The reward is already caimei also an old
flag which nailed 10 Flagstaff on the Fourth Of july
which has been hanging there since nothing left
however, but the stars The ladies' have CIT it up in
pieces and have pinned their bosoms trophy.
Every one in Pensacola has my sword and uniform.
must have had large quantity Of hair plenty OF swords
and uniforms. They say If to be taken alive
/ to BIO put in a cage and exhibited
Yesterday five Americans and two ladies escaped from
Pensacola and gave all the Of how they describe
the terrible victory We lay upon every night.
have slept but very little this week. don't feel well.
/ have got the diarrhra- We will want 500 Uniforms.
| Your obedicnt servant WILLIAM WILSON, Ill
ss Colonel commanding