The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-01
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What0m Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
WILSON'S zoUAVEs.
Their Warm Reception 20 Gen. Anderson on Santa
Rosa Island,


Iral men, Tho force az Col. wilson consisted
al bar SIX incomplete companies, numbering
less than 800 men.
The rebels landed on the island about forr
miles above the camp, which was situated mp
wand oi "a mile from Fort Plck'ns. They
drove in the National p,clsc's al about 3 clock
on thc morning Of the gth OF October, and IA
laf uu huuf allcrWard assaulted the camp ltsgH
In three columns The haiisurprised Louaycs
made q confused hut spirited resistance, hut
were Obliged ID fall back under the pressure oil
superior numbers. This Temporary success en-
nblci tHC rebels 90 set fire 90 a number 81 tents
aud 10 commit other TavaEos. ln short time
however, the IouHves were reinforced by three
companies ol RC1uIars from Fort Ptclous, when
they assailgG the q, bpls n turn aud drove them
hpadluug and iu dIsHay 60 their vessels, pour
ing Zen ou them, while they were cmbarlInE
deadly fire. They left ON The island % killed
five wounded and 30 prisoners. humbrrs were
also killed and wounded during the ,mharka-
tiun. In all, their absolute loss could not have
been less Than l5O 10 200 killed, wounded ana
missing
Col. Wilson's camp, the object aud scono Of
The attack WAS about half mile from l'cnsa-
cola Ray frur, which the men had inil view
at thc havy-yard and the rehe Qualifications.
The men were kept pretty constantly al dlll
aud continually complained az Tho lnacaVcIle
they were compelled 10 lead.
Whenever @ mail srriycd from the North
bringing newspapers containing the military
movements Id the North and West, the gram
bling always reached fever heat Al length, ON
The evening of the Slh thcir desire was graft
fed
This attacking rebel force was under COM
maud of Gen. Anderson Of Nicaragua motto
rietv. His ulan was well laid. Tho faukjng
columns had orders 10 cut OF The retreat OF the
Federal soldiers aud prevent amy commuHica-
ZION with the fort when the camp was attacked.
The center column was Jed by Anderson IN
person. hn being particularly DESTROYS 70 pene-
trafc Do Billy Wilson's quarters, as, from the
overwhelming fierce Of the rebels thcir success
seemed almost certain
Tho shades Of gilt had cuvclorcd all things
in impcucable darkness, while the loose sand
with which tho island was covered seemed 20
dcalcu the sound of the feet Of those who were
steaIJhly approaching bis small and exposed
force. At o'clock ON the morning Of the OLA
the attack commenced. The picket WAS iu-
st4uty kiic3. three balls having lodged IN bis
body. Col. Wilson and h.a men Immediately
turned aut and measures Wrrc taken 10 Tcurl
DIS troeIol6 artaeh DrtachmcHts Of the men
Wpro detailed 20 meet Tie Thinking co Umus,
while another body prepared to meet the cen
ter one Gen. Anderson Ted on bis men with
loud cries of 30 quarter 10 Wilson's men,"
lie penetrated 10 Jhc QgartcrmastoT's depart
Wcut, boo the rear OF The tO.oncis quarters.
I
stubborn encounters which took place during
the war lt RACED nearly five hours. Col
Wilson's quarters were totally destroyed, Hs
were those Of m0-t of his men. About 3 q. M.
TeIu.0frcmruis - Regulars came 90 his assist
Hucc Capt. ID ldts aud Capt toHCrlsous com.
pennies. and two companies under Maj Arnold,
in al ah9ut poo men, Capt Duhic with Co. A
OF Col. Wilson'S regiment. also came Up "a the
same time Tie total number OF the Union
fr b. 4 tII Uf
tho companies oH Santa Rosa Island either
Regulars or volunteers being ull.
As tie day began 90 break The rebels saw
tiHi the chance TO carry out thair original
plan 81 The aunihlatiou Of Col. Wilson's reri-
WcEt WIS gone and Hs the Onion rUrc's al this
time ma le several brilliant charges, tho rcb ls
began CD retreat They were followed TO the
I'.cl ri cAiaIaati0u, "a q lance of about eight
HliIl= uE lC Island. The luiuu troops pressed
them close, al rHiug 0u tFom with fixed Layo.
nets until ali bad embarked large scow
continuing abogi 250 OF ihc rebel sold .Grs WAS
completely Tidaled by the Ifo-bas aud sunk
with $50 oH board. A voicy WAS fred into
the steamer Times aud did immense execution,
killing Haa WounliuE aluui 80 more. Gen.
anderson NJ this time received second wound,
making one iu each arm.
lt i- probable that sc remembered his fruit
joss attempt 10 destroy Billy Wilson and his
LeuaVe- 'ar long whllo. Ten Of The ZUuaves
were k.lra outright l6 tEcH prisoners, and
uur wounded. Tire Regulars suffered a loss
OF 30 Billed, wounded and prisoners. The
rrhais sustained q loss 90 between 600 aud $40
Killed, wounded and prisoners One Of the
Ollie rs. Lieut. >avers OF fnr Louisiana volan-
tgrls, was SD severely wounded in tho leg a. 10
THu7er HmputatiBU necessary. One II the
EUuaya- iamlIulv called rrDttv" was s.cl.
in case hospital, hut bearing tse firing leauod
Cut Of ICED seized musiset and was met N tic
u I.fr %
eneUy.s right column, who asked Who arc
youf" III. show EOu who j am' said Sc0ttv
ard leye.iUg Bis piece shot Bradford through
tire heau, killing him instantly While tHe
enemy WITS burning The camp their continual
c.y was " 30 quarter 10 Wilson'S men. The
ohlcIa tents were p.llagut and destroyed thrv
losing everything they bad rHcrui ihp clothes
iHDg stood %. Col. Wilson lost BIS clothes and
money Lat tla IgHImrntM Cours. which were
lu Dos tent were saved bv QuaHermaster-Ser.
PrHut GAMES Chadwick. WHO rushed iuto the
burning 'gut aud brought The Gag safely out
Among thp many brave men who mari .ci-
paicd 100 taat brilliant and haI8-lgught battle
D. Eoa d be injustice not Co particularly mrn-
lion ihc names 81 Capt. Robertson. IF the E.spu-
lW Army and Capt Bo.4r o. Co. q. WlFoptg
Z1uates who Immediately hurried te lAegccnc
81 conflict uUon receiving intelligence al the
onslaught Of tAr Teauia and The critical p1-f-
LDu ~ Col. ~ on aud DIS command gnry
'1H OF" pursuit during The retreat III huGer.
ron Eua A.s MeE, aud h,aled the last CHARGE
which wa- made as ,ilc Ieir,s hurried ly entered
tdc.l uo.ie 10 retum 10 abe Navy yard.
The iaymaster had visited Wilson's carpp
iCH day bcaall The attack, ANA large sum if
GoIa H.4 notes Was Do posses ion OF the oNieerE
aud uen 90 iHe time. THIS was uIl missiUgflte
day aiirr lHe battle, ana Wa. supposed 10 have
been stolen ~ destroyed By the rebels. New
ienh H.rl sent down from Tort piclEcus. and
lAt camp soon began 70 assume it usual outside
appearance. Had wc 5trl strong enough we
cuuia iHEc made cggrg ono OF tie asailai.ts
PRISONERS a. d was, wC chased them IEa
Wlla sheep uT he island. They threw agay
ihcir nasacis, cartridge aud most Of tlTe
portable aIi.a.e stolen from Ho officers tents.
They sorcseded iu reaching their small boats.
w4ll winch they went on boar their stearB.
boats which were q short distance from Bc
shore bll having no iigf artillery here, we
c"hia ohiF give lhnln dcaoly y0lIuys OF mus
kerry aEd as HEY were z0 thick iu their boats.
emo our mcn o#iy about 300 yards from lie
beHch- tsc.f loss must have been great The
leyr.s sent . lag Ol truce over the ucxt day for
thor dead
Ihe following paragraph Is from Che rebel
account o. ihe affair taken from the AUGUSTA
toi .sia.otH.st, dated Pensacola, oct. 9. 1851.
Last night ana expedition composed OF ap.
iaehmrnts oi several Confederate c0muauies
aud regiments set ont Tor Santa Rosa Island for
me purpose % breaking up the cucampnrut al
~" notorious Billy Wilson aud IT. celeLr4f.d
lfr L9uaVrs who had taken positi6n ga nc
island, Col jackson acg0muauica tho eyr,rat 4
tioh, and The entire force which consisted al