The National tribune., 1884-02-28
FIGHTING THEM OVER.
What Our Veterans Have TO Say AbOut
Their Old Campaigns.

TO the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In vonr issue Of November p, / noticed an
article by H. r. johnson, Of company G, 3D.
Regular infantry. regarding the affair on Santa
Rose Island, Of October 3, 1861, which, 10 some
extent. IS incorrect bat in some particulars IS
true Now, in regard 10 an article in your
paper Of the 18th December, written by j. RAM
dali, Of the 9Th New York, | must say that, rs
4 certainly know as much, il not moro, Of the
affair of the 9Th October than any soldier en-
gagged IN that action. am constrained TO write
ii SIS / know i occurred II gTieTes 10 have
men ignored who, although but private sol
dieIs, died like heroes, and such were PriEates
Roieil Murray, and others, Of company L. Sd
Regular infantry. Who gave up their lives on
That dark morning Of October 9. ls5l
THE. FIRST ALARM.
TO begin: About midnight October 8, Cap
tain John H. /. Hiidt, Sd infantry, being ofli-
Ger OF the day. taned ont company Z, Sd IN
fantTv which be cCmmsndedl with orders 10
hold themselves III readiness TO march up the
island IL having been reported by private
whose name ] forget but he also was OF CON-
lany e. who Was on post on the dock north Of
Fort pickens. that he had seen steamers APP
preaching from the main land. On investiga-
mon. however. the report was decided false
alarm. and the sentry was c0gIiined IN the
puara-h0use. We were, thereapon, ordered 10
furn IL again. but had hardly done So, when
firing was heard above the fort, IN the direc-
ton q the camp of the oh New York. Cap
tain Hjidt Al once reformed Us, and we
marched out Or the saain gate Of Fort Picl1ens,
where we 7yere Joined by Lieu5enants Taylor
and SeeieF, and about twenty-five men OF com
pany 4, isl artillery; both these officers be-
longca to the artillery, and ] believe both are
IL the service yet. Major Nogdes assumed
command, and re marched in tie direction Of
the ca1aD Ct the 6th New AeTk. many OF whom
we mot running TO the fort for protection, and
crying to rs that the J0hunies were killing
their sAea Ike dogs. Nearing the camp, we
took course north and between a sand-bag
battery manned by company II, ID Regular
artillery. and solne Of lie 9Th New 1ork-and
the camp Of the 6tl New York, (which was
then Oh tirel. ] was then sent in the advance
with seven CT eight men, by Lieutenant
Seeley. with orders to halt and report if
] saw anything. Moving but short dis
fanoe. we discovered the forms Of men fit
ting through the trees and brush, on which
] halied the men and sent one back
to report the fact to Lieutenant Seeley;
bur before I c0aid get orders the enemy had
come In orr rear and cut Us of from the Fort.
MAJOR yeGDEs TAKEN PRISONER.
While Twas IN the advance, il seems that the
commanding officer Major ogdes lad ordered
Sergeants jackson and Vaughn and PriTates
Mhaien and two orders to conduct body OF
men around q swamp that lay between Es and
the camp Of the 9Th New York, who were sup
posed 10 BE- either marines from the man % war
Mississippi OF Wilson's men, but who really
proved 70 be the enelny. The Eve men al Of
c0inp@ny Z, Sd lEiartry--were taken prisoners,
a. was also Major NOgdes, and these prisoners
were sent over 70 the main land by the enemy
IL y small boat. Oh Wi.ieh we opened fire. one Of
ILe Te men taken N2s wounded ia the face Aa-
iGT og1es, il war understood, had surrendered
Us bnt ga 81 officer coming toward Us and ask
ing Tor our surrender. saying THAI i was use
less 10 W-sie liie ig fighting snch eios, as De
had us surrounded. the men ~ both A and y
co1npaRies RAISED the cry. Don't surrender,
Ca,iia 4, ard Aaptaia EilGf refused 10 give
NJ Us Sword u this officer, whom lie seemed
a. knog. At this Corporal D0ugheriy. Of conf
Tanr l., t0lk aita az the officer. but Captain
hildt rFlel Dut. corporal. don't shoot that
mar he Is too brave 10 die like Ihis.T The
men. however. who came down with tsis OIL
CT scs2e Elseel ia number were ali killed.
SHARP EScoUSTER.
Then commenced a general firing. We killed,
] think, tilirissx Of the enemy, losing of
company = psncteGn killed aud wounded anu
fT1 prisoners. 4 DO not remember company
AAlos. The ei9eInv drove rs, by sheer 9eree
o. nai8be.s fouar6~ the south bend, where we
captured some tAirfy-oed Of the enemy who
had been left 70 guard our hospital We also
discovered pat q the Oh New York formed
between us end the fort. and Captain Iisat sent
nc over with bis compliments 70 the officer in
charge I5ily, think bis name WIS, and in
stractions to sly to him that Il they were ever
going IL d3anything, now was their chance, and
10 join rs: bat the olieer, affecting 10 believe
that belonged - the enemy, did not come on
On returning, was ordered to dcpleT the re-
Maiiider OF oar men and follow the enemy,
who Wese then retGeatlng up tEle islaIsd, which
was done, company g Of the ID infantry, and
company II. - artillery Regulars, joining as On
TIC gsorifI beach, aRc al follow iBg the enemy
s0aleijIaes al double Quick-t9 the place where
they ReTe re-eabaTking. They succeeded
III getting aboard iheir boats before IRE could
reach Flegn, but one Of their boats ran aground,
and bsssTe j seaad get away ne, who were pro-
tec1ed ~ a oans of sand, killed OF wounded
every nan ~ s. shl on the boat. This ended
The fight ! was then orltred 10 resorln the
men u company 6 and take down their names.
] fonld we had eighteen mcn lett. being the
Eank58g BOn-coInHissioned officer, the only
other being Corporal Conrad KuTtz whom
hast saw ia Tie Old Soldiers Home 81 Washing
ton, u. G., III 5s55. Respectfully,
CHARLES ScHzEFER
8EDGWIcK. KAE. 81 L. 6. Infantry.