The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-23
BY W. J. MlLNER.

| eruit besides, really did not expect II.
| for felt that 1t was an honor to which I
was not entitled.
The company was then dismissed and
the elect" ordered to hold themselves IN
readiness to march at any moment. with
forty rounds of cartridges. The camp
| was a hustle OF excitement and prepara-
/ ton. Those detailed were busy Getting
their arms and accoutrements IN perfect
| condition. Some OF the boys found a
grindstone. and ground their sabre bay
onets as sharp as butcher knives. While
| this was going on, one of the disappoint-
| ed ones. Charles e. Staples by name. who
was one of my messmates approached me
with tears In his eyes, saying, You are
not entitled to this honor. I'll give you
twenty-five dollars confederate money
was then almost as good as goid.) to let
me go In your place." Think of conquer
ing an army of such soldiers I replied,
MY opportunity is not for saiei l am
going"
Speculation was at its highest to guess
where we were going and what we were
to do Soon after dark we were called
out, and the several detachments from
the different companies of the regiment
were marched to the wharf at Pensacola,
where we were Joined by number of
other troops constituting, I learned af-
forwards, altogether force of about 1900
We were embarked upon steamboat and
two barges which 1t carried in tow. The
steamer was then headed across the bay
toward Santa Rosa island, at a point
about two miles eastward of Billy Will
sons camp. The tide being in, the boat
and barges were enabled to approach very
near the beach, and we landed by wading
ashore. Here the command was formed
into three columns one moving along the
north beach commanded by Colonel Jack
son, one moving along the south or gulf
beach commanded by Colonel James r.
Chalmers of Mississippi, while the third
commanded by Colonel Patton Anderson
of Florida, moved along the center of the
island between the other two columns.
Our detachment was in Colonel Jacksons
command.
When all was ready pickets were placed
in front and we marched cautiously and
noislessly toward the camp of the feder-
ais. After we had proceeded some dis
lance body Of troops was seen through
the darkness coming up in our rear Ex-
citement was intense for few moments.
Are they the enemy, and have they dis
covered us; or are they our men, and IL
SO, will they not mistake us for the enc
my and fire on us? Upon near approach
we could discern the strip of white cloth
upon tfeif left arms, which was to be our
mark to distinguish friend or foe, and
they were found to be one of the other
columns which in the darkness had lost
it's way and found itself marching in our
track.
A halt and a readjustment having been
made, the columns again moved silently
along nearing the doomed camp. A few
minutes later a shot was fired In front.
Either we were discovered and the enc
my's sentinel had thus given the alarm,
or our pickets had fired upon him. In
either case our presence can no longer
be concealed. We now march in line Of
battle, hurriedly and with less caution
almost a double-quick. We pass the dead
body Of the sentinel who had just been
shot by our picket A moment later and
we are in the camp from which the fed
erals flee in great haste, not waiting to
dress. Some were captured before they
could make their escape and turned over
to a guard. The camp was then burned,
for which purpose some of our boys had
been provided with matches and canteens
Of spirits OF turpentin. The flames soon
lit up the sky for miles around.
Our object now being accomplished, we
turned to effect our retreat to our boats,
for daylight was approaching, and we
were within easy range of the men-of-
war just outside, to say nothing of the
guns of Fort Pickens itself, which were
frowning upon u.s. Our troops having
disbapded to burn the camp were neees-
karilylih grea1 disorder and could not now
stop to organize. In this manner we had
gone only a few steps when we saw glls-
tening In the light of the burning camp
a line of bayonets just across our way
and only a few yards distant from us
Some one said, They are our mem" A
volley from them, which killed and
wounded some OF our men caused the cry,
'aThey are Yankees" and the fire was re-
turned by a few OF our men. Colonel
Jackson, coming up about this time, gave
the order to cease firing and to form a
line, saying, THEY are our men," In
obedience to his order to form a line, /
ran and placed myself on the coloners
left. One or two others did the same,
but most Of the men did not seem to
hear or understand the coloners order.
At any rate, it was not obeyed and the