The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-22

What Our Veterans Have TO Say About
Their Old Campaigns.
The Affair Of Santa Rosa Island.
Editor NAT1oNAL TRTBuNE:


In your paper of October 4, in the Chro-
nology of the War you give the action on
Santa Rosa Island, and you include the 9th New
York. or what was known Billy Wilson's
regiment" ] have never seen true account
OF that fight i wish some one would write IL
up for ] think it would be interesting, as 1t
happened in the first part OF the war, and it
knocked out of some of our troops the fear
which they had for the louisiana wildcats and
Georgia tigers. Fifteen hundred in all landed
on the island that night. The camp Of the 9th
New York was about mile from the fort, up
the island The rebels appeared on the island
sometime before o'clock il the morning, about
four miles from the fort. j think the island is
forty-two miles long and not over 600 yards
wide at the most it is low swamp, and con-
tains some sand holes. 1t is highest IN the
middle, SO you can see the waters Of the bay
and ocean on either side. / do not remember
the hour, but / think it was about O'Clock,
when the alarm was sounded. The rebels had
attacked Billv's boys, firing right into their
camp, where they were asleep in their tents,
and driving them out like a flock of sheep
down TO the fort, where they tried TO get in.
Colonel Brown, who was IN command, would
not open the gate, however, but ordered out a
detail from the infantry, company Z, twenty
men. and fifty of company Z, Sd United States
infantry, seventy in all-under command OF
Major hadees, who rode mule, with a switch
in his hand. We had not gone far when we
ran into the Johnnies in the dark, and the
major was captured, and a rebel took hold of
our lieutenant's sword, who was next In com
mand, and ordered him TO surrender, as the
commanding officer had done so, and the cry
on both sides was surrender" There was an
Irishman who asked the lieutenant if he should
shoot the fellow who had hold of his sword;
but be said: No, don't shoot" Some one
fired and then both sides fell back, and We
fought, each man for himself We depioyed
out, and lay on our backs and loaded, and
turned over and fired, and wherever we could
see the rtbs we would fire from where we lay.
They stood up and we could see them some
times quite plain along the banks on the beach,
on the white sand, when they would try 30 get
around us.
Before daylight We had driven them up the
island nearly to the landing place, so that when
the other companies came out they had manned
their boats and were trying TO leave the shore.
1t appears that something was wrong with one
OF the wheels Of the transports, as she could
not get out of range of our guns. There was
small boat with but five inen in ii. and all
were shot except one. We lay behind the sand
bank firing az them and they were so thick
on the transports that they could not do any
thing 10 hurt us. But al last they got away,
and we went back TO the fort We could have
closed npon them before they got into their
boats, but were afraid they had cannon, and
ours were not ready, on account of the harness
being out Of order. By the time il was ready
they were In their boats. The 9th New York
took no part in the fight, none of them firing
shot, except picket who came IL and reported
the rcbs coming, whereupon the sergeant sent
them out 10 their post again, threatening to con-
fine them for leaving it. The rebs must have
surrounded them, as they were found shot at
their post with some Of their foes around them.
The rest Of the regiment was not allowed TO take
part In the light, for Colonel Brown said if they
would not fight at night when attacked, they
should not AZ that time. We had one man shot
through the body, and the rebels set hiIa up
against q tree ont Of the swamp. He finely
recovered, though the ball went completely
through hi.a- We had four killed and four
taken prisoners. The four men taken were
sent by the major TO body Of men sup
posed TO be Wilson's men. but who proved
70 be rebels. We must have killed on the island
at least twenty-five or more, and taken az least
forty prisoners, and could have taken many
more II We had had somebody to take them
10 the rear Sometimes we would run foul Of
squad Of them AID demand their surrender,
ana they would comply, but, before We could
get them oil, some Of their friends would come
along. ana we would have to sink OF, our
selves Aswe knew the ground better than they,
we had the advantage. IL was fun 20 see the
major going 10 war on his mule, with rattan
il has hand a few days before, some of the
officers were over from the other side with a
flag Of truce, and the major promised that if
lac was taken prisoner he would treat So
when he was taken the next day he sent for
his liquor crest, and / suppose he paid his bets.
In going up the island We came across a man
lying on his face. We rolled him over and
thought he was dead, but he WAS not He WAS
playing possuin. as be belieTed We would kin
hin ii found alive An officer was also picked
up for dead and carried 70 the hospital, but he
was found to be only dead drunk. Al the
rebs had their canteens filed with whisky
when they started, and it made them feel
very badly and knocked the fight all out Of
them. Can you tel me what the loss OF the
rebs WASP ] thsak il was reported about i75
men
/ like your paper better than ever. am
surprised az your boldness The truth viii
out; It can't be hidden. Some of the idols
hat were pat up and kept up at the expense
81 Others are being taken down.
+. X. JOHNSON,
Co. G, Sd U. s. Inf
DUBOIS, cLEARFIELD Co, Pa.