Extract from a dispatch from the Florida Governor Joh Milton to the Confederate Secretary of War the Hon. J. P. Benjamin
Executive Department,
Tallahasee, October 28, 1861.
Your attention, and through you that of the President, is respectfully invited to the following extract of a letter addressed to me officially by Col. J. P. Anderson, commanding near Pensacola the First Florida Regiment, viz:
You will have heard of the affair on Santa Rosa Island, on the morning of the 9th instant. The object of the expedition was fully and completely accomplished, though the loss of such men as Captain Bradford, of Florida; Lieutenant Nelms of Georgia; Sergeant Routh, of Tallahasee; Private Tillinghast, &c., would not be compensated for, in my opinion, by the total annihilation of Billy Wilson and his whole band of thieves and cutt-throats. The Florida Regiment only had a 100 men in the expedition out 1,060, and lost 6 killed, 8 wounded, and 12 prisoners, as follows, viz: Killed, Captain Bradford, Sergeant Routh, Privates Tillinghast, Hale, Thompson of Apalachicola, and Smith. Wounded, Corporal Lanier, Privates Echols, McCorkle, Sims, William Denham, Hicks, Sharrit, and O'neal (Peter, of Pensacola). These are doing well and will recover; some are only slightly wounded. Prisoners: H. Hale, Company A, and Bond, Company A; Mahoney, Company B, and Nichols, Company B; Bev. Parker and Finley, Company E; Holliman, Godlie, John Jarvis, M. Mosely, and Patterson, of Company F; also Lieutenant Fancy, Company E. I deeply regret that such men as Lieutenant Farly, Parker, and Finley should have fallen into the enemy�s hands. However, they write to us that they are well treated, but destiny unknown. By any civilized nation in the world most of these prisoners would be promptly delivered up, for they were taken while standing as a safeguard over the enemy�s hospital, to prevent it from sharing the fate of the balance of the camp. They protected it from flame and sword most scrupulously, but failing to hear the signal for us to retire, only remained too faithful to their trust, and have fallen into the hands of the enemy by so doing. Their names should illustrate one of the brightest pages of Florida�s history.
...
I have the honor to be, very repectfully, your obedient servant,
John Milton,
Governor of Florida.
Report of Brig. Gen. Richard H. Anderson, C. S. Army, commanding expedition.
Pensacola, Fla.,
October 23, 1861.
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the affair on Santa Rosa Island on the night of the 8th and morning of the 9th of October:
The detachments which had been ordered to assemble at the navy-yard arrived at the hour appointed, and were embarked in good order on the steamer Time. Whilst proceeding from the navy-yard to Pensacola the troops were divided into battalions, as follows:
The First Battalion, 350 strong, to the command of which Col. James R. Chalmers, Ninth Mississippi Regiment, was assigned, was composed of detachments from the Ninth and Tenth Mississippi and First Alabama Regiments. Three companies of the Seventh Regiment Alabama Volunteers, two companies of Louisiana infantry, and two companies of the First Regiment of Florida Volunteers, composed the Second Battalion, 400 strong, to the command of which Col. J. Patton Anderson, First Regiment Florida Volunteers, was assigned. The Third Battalion, 260 strong, under command of Col. John K. Jackson, Fifth Regiment Georgia Volunteers, was composed of detachments from the Fifth Georgia Regiment and the Georgia Battalion. An independent company of 53 men, selected from the Fifth Georgia Regiment, and Captain Homer�s company of artillery, lightly armed with pistols and knives, carrying materials for spiking cannon, burning and destroying buildings, gun-carriages, &c., were placed under command of Lieutenant Hallonquist, acting ordnance officer. Lieutenant Nelms, adjutant Fifth Georgia Regiment, was attached to this command.
The medical officers who accompanied the expedition were: Dr. Micks, of the Louisiana infantry; Dr. Tompkins, of the Fifth Georgia Regiment; Dr Gholson of the Ninth Mississippi Regiment; Dr. Lipscomb, of the Tenth Mississippi Regiment, and Dr. Gamble, of the First Florida Regiment, and a detail of 20 men was made to attend on and assist them.
Arriving at Pensacola at about 10 o�clock p. in., the transfer of the troops to the steamer Ewing and the barges and flats which had been provided was pushed on as rapidly as possible, but not without some unavoidable delay. It was found absolutely necessary to employ the Neaffie to assist in towing, and at length, all preparations having been completed, the boats departed from Pensacola at a little after 12 o�clock, crossed the bay, and effected a landing at the point which had been indicated by instructions. Disembarkation was rapidly executed in good order and silence, and the battalions were formed upon the beach at a little after 2 o�clock a. m.
To effectually accomplish the object of the expedition Colonel Chalmers was directed to advance rapidly along the north beach, Colonel Anderson along the south beach, and Colonel Jackson, following a few hundred yards in rear of Colonel Chalmers, was to push his command to the middle of the island, and deploy it as soon as he should hear firing from either of the other battalions or should perceive from any other indications that the enemy�s camp was approached or assailed by the other columns. Colonels Chalmers and Anderson had been further directed to endeavor to restrain their men from firing, to capture guards and sentinels, and to place their commands, if possible, between Fort Pickens and the camp of the enemy. Lieutenant Hallonquist followed in rear of Colonel Jackson�s battalion, with orders to do whatever damage he could to the batteries, buildings, and camps from which the enemy might be driven.
After a march of 3 or 4 miles, rendered toilsome and fatiguing by the nature of the ground, the head of Colonel Chalmers� column came suddenly upon a sentinel, who fired ineffectually at our troops, and was himself instantly shot down. The alarm having been thus given, and it becoming impossible to conceal our further advance from the enemy, I ordered Colonel Jackson to push his way through the thickets to the middle of the island, and advance as rapidly as possible. The guards and outposts of the Zouaves were now rapidly driven in or shot down, and the progress of a few hundred yards, quickly accomplished by Colonel Jackson, brought him upon the camp of the enemy in advance of either of the other battalions. Without a moment�s delay he charged it with the bayonet, but met with no resistance. The camp was almost entirely deserted, and our troops speedily applied the torch to the tents, store-houses, and sheds of Wilson�s Zonaves.
In the mean time Colonels Chalmers and Anderson, advancing along the shores of the island, encountered pickets and outposts, with which they had some sharp skirmishing, but quickly beat them off, and joined in the work of destroying the camp. This having been most thoroughly executed, the troops were reassembled, with a view to proceeding against and destroying the batteries which lay between the camp and Fort Pickens; but daylight appearing, and there being no longer a possibility of a surprise of the batteries, I directed the signal for retiring to be sounded and the troops to be put in march for the boats. At about half way between the Zouave camp and the point of disembarkation of our troops we encountered two companies of United States regulars, which had passed us under cover of the darkness, and posted themselves behind a dense thicket to intercept our retiring column, and a very sharp but short skirmish ensued. The enemy was speedily driven off, and our troops resumed their march. The re-embarkation was successfully accomplished, and the order given to the steamers to steer for Pensacola, when it was discovered that a hawser had become entangled in the propeller of the Neaffie, and that she could not move.
After some delay, from ineffectual attempts to extricate the propeller, she and the large fiat which she had in tow were made fast to the Ewing. It was soon found, however, that with this incumbrance the Ewing would not obey her helm, and that a change in the manner of towing the Neaffie was necessary. While attempting to make this change the flats and barges which the Ewing had in tow became detached from her, and still further delay was occasioned in recovering them. By the time this had been done the hawser was cut away from the propeller, and the Neaffie proceeded on her way. The enemy, taking advantage of these circumstances, appeared among the sand hills near the beach, and opened a fire upon the masses of our troops densely crowded upon our transports, but without doing much execution, and we were soon out of range of their rifles. The necessity of using the Neaffle as a tug and the accident which for some time disabled her prevented her guns from being brought into play, otherwise she might have rendered effectual service in driving back the enemy who harassed us from the beach.
Our loss in this affair was as follows: Killed, 2 commissiofled officers, 4 non-commissioned officers, 11 privates, and 1 citizen volunteer; wounded, 2 commissioned officers ,5 non-commissioned officers, and 3 privates; taken prisoners, 5 commissioned officers, 2 non-commissioned officers, and 23 privates. The larger portion of the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates captured by the enemy were the guard left for the protection of their hospital and sick and the medical officers who had remained in the building to attend to such of our wounded as might be carried there. Notwithstanding that I caused the signal for retiring to be repeatedly sounded during the return of the troops it was not heard at the hospital, and the guard and medical officers were cutoff and taken prisoners.
The loss of the enemy in killed and wounded has not been precisely ascertained, but is certainly known to have much exceeded our own. From such imperfect observation as I made in passing over parts of the ground I will estimate his loss at 50 or 60 killed and 100 wounded. Twenty prisoners were taken, among them Maj. Israel Vogdes, of the United States artillery. The destruction of property in the conflagration was very great. Large stores of provisions, supplies of clothing, camp and garrison equipage, arms, and ammunition were entirely consumed. Some arms were brought away by our men, and in a few instances money and clothing, as will be seen by the report of Colonel Jackson, and I would respectfully recommend that the captors be permitted to retain whatever private property they have taken. It is with pride and pleasure that I bear testimony to and call to the notice of the general commanding the admirable conduct of the troops throughout the expedition and conflict. The alacrity, courage, and discipline exhibited by them merit the highest commendation, and give assurance of success im any future encounters which they may have with the enemies of our country.
I beg leave to refer you to the accompanying reports of commanders of battalions and of Lieutenant Hallonquist for particulars concerning casualties, incidents, and individual instances of meritorious conduct. I inclose the report of Captain Brent, C. S. Navy, who was charged with the entire arrangements for the transportation of my command, under whose direction this important matter was very successfully managed.
The report of Major Lovell, C. S. Army, chief of harbor police, and in command of the steamer Neaffie, is also submitted. The members of my staff, Capt. T. S. Mills, assistant adjutant-general, and Capt. Hugh M. King, Fifth Regiment Georgia Volunteers; Lieuts. Calvin L. Sayre and Wilber Johnson, C. S. Marines, who volunteered their services and acted as my aides, rendered me active and efficient assistance throughout the whole of the operations. Captain Mills, who was with Colonel Anderson�s battalion in its first encounter with the enemy, received a severe contusion in the chest from a partially-spent ball, but nevertheless continued energetically to perform his duties, and Lieutenant Sayre, while fearlessly using his revolver with effect, had his thigh bone shattered just above the right knee by a musket-ball, and, being left upon the ground, fell into the hands of the enemy. Capt. Hugh M. King, in conveying orders and superintending the destruction of the camp, displayed commendable zeal and activity, and the ardor and intrepidity of Lieutenant Johnson, while deserving especial notice, give promise of this young officer�s future success and distinction.
The officers of the medical staff rendered to the wounded every service which under the circumstances was possible.
Colonels Anderson and Jackson pay graceful tribute to the memory of Captain Bradford and Lieutenant Nelms, of their regiments, to which I desire to add my respectful admiration for them and for every brave patriot who fell with them in defense of their country�s liberties.
I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
R.[ichard] H. Anderson,
Brigadier-General, Provisional Army.
Maj. G. G. Garner,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., C. A., Hdqrs. Army of Pensacola.
Report of Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg on the Santa Rosa expedition
Headquarters of the Army of Pensacola
Near Pensacola, Fla., October 29, 1861.
Sir: Owing to the disability of Brigadier-General Anderson from his wound I have been unable to procure earlier a detailed report of the affair with the enemy on Santa Rosa Island on the night of the 8th and 9th instant, with a tabular statement of killed, wounded, and prisoners. It is herewith inclosed. [No. 15.] The circmnstances attending this little expedition rendered it a most daring and successful feat of arms.
Landing from steamers and flats on the enemy�s shore within sight of his fleet, marching some 3 or 4 miles in the darkness of night over an unknown and almost impassable ground under his guns, killing his pickets, storming his intrenched camp of 600 or 700 men, driving the enemy off in utter confusion and dismay, and burning every vestige of clothing, equipage, and provisions, leaving them individually in a state of destitution, and this under the close range of the guns of his stronghold, Fort Pickens, without his discovering our object or firing a gun, is an achievement worthy of the gallant men who executed it. Our loss was almost entirely the result of exhaustion from the fatigue of the march and from the over-zeal of the hospital guard left to protect the enemy�s sick when they were captured.
From the nature of the service and the necessity of rapidly retiring with our small force before the enemy could rally from his surprise some of our wounded were left on the field, and, I regret to say, indications show they were brutally murdered by the enemy. Of 13 dead bodies recovered 11 were shot through the head, having at the same time disabling wounds in the body. This fact admits of but one inference.
Brigadier-General Anderson commends in very just terms the gallan try of his little band, who have fully justified the high estimate I had formed of this excellent little army. They have shown it is only necessary to order and they will promptly execute, however desperate the undertaking. The general modestly omits to mention that at the close of the affair he received a painful wound in the left arm from a musketball, which will disable him for several weeks.
In commending the troops generally for their good conduct I cannot omit to mention the separate commanders of the three small columns - Col. J. Patton Anderson, First Florida Volunteers; Col. J. K. Jackson, Fifth Georgia Volunteers, and Col. J. B. Chalmers, Ninth Mississippi Volunteers. The darkness and nature of the service rendered it necessary for each one to act an independent part. They proved themselves not only gallant leaders, but competent commanders.
To Capt. W. R. Boggs, engineer, C. S. Army, and First Lient. J. E. Slaughter, C. S. Artillery, acting inspector-general, I am indebted for the perfect knowledge of the enemy�s pickets and positions, obtained by close reconnaissances, on which the expedition was based, and for the secret and complete organization which insured its success.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Braxton Bragg,
Major-General, Commanding.
Adjutant-General C. S. Army,
Richmond, Va.
Federal Report of the Santa Rosa Island Expedition
Headquarters Department of Florida,
Fort Pickens, October 11, 1861
Colonel: I briefly reported to you on the 9th instant that the rebels had landed on this island, partially destroyed the camp of the Sixth Regiment New York Volunteers, and been driven off by our troops. I now report in more detail the events of the attack.
For the better understanding of the several movements it may be well to state that the enemy landed about 4 miles from this fort, (the place may be recognized on the map by three ponds and a mound); that the island there is about three-quarters of a mile wide; that a short distance below it narrows to some 200 hundred yards, then widens again, and at the camp the distance across is about five-eighths of a mile; that a succession of three or four sand ridges run on the sea-side parallel to the coast along the island, and low, swampy ground, interspersed with sand hillocks, some bushes, and a few trees, extends along the harbor side, both shores being sandy beach. Wilson�s camp is near the seacoast and a short mile from the fort. The two batteries spoken of in his report, and to which he retreated, Batteries Lincoln and Totten, are, the first on the harbor, and the other on the Gulf side, about 400 yards from Fort Pickens.
About 2 o�clock on the morning of the 9th instant I was awakened by the officer of the day, who reported that a picket driven in had reported the landing of 60 men on the point. Having little confidence in the correctness of this report I directed that no alarm should be made, and shortly after he reported that the alarm was false. About 3.30 o�clock he again reported that volleys of musketry were heard at the camp of the Sixth New York Volunteers. I immediately ordered the roll to be beaten, Major Vogdes to take two companies and proceed to the spot, and Major Arnold to man the guns on the ramparts on that face. About half an hour after this time the firing was heavy and the light of the burning camp seen, and I sent a staff officer to communicate with Major Vogdes, who returned very soon, and said that he had fallen in with a large body of the enemy on the inside shore, and could not find the major. I immediately ordered Major Arnold to proceed to support Major Vogdes with two companies, and at the same time sent an order to Colonel Wilson to advance and attack the enemy. I also dispatched a staff officer, on board the steamer McClellan, with orders for him to take position opposite the landing place and open on the enemy; unfortunately at the same time directing him to go to the Potomac, lying near, and ask for some men to assist him in case landing was necessary. Captain Powell directed him to tow his ship to the scene of action, which so delayed him that he did not arrive until after the enemy had vacated. Captain Powell acted from the best motives, and under ordinary circumstances from correct principles, but the result was unfortunate, as the McClellan could have driven the rebel steamer away, and we must have made prisoners of most of the invaders.
At the request of Major Arnold, late in the morning I sent forward a light field gun, which, however, did not reach until the affair was over. As I propose only briefly to allude to the volunteers, I respectfully refer you to the official report, marked A [No. 4], of the colonel of the regiment. The picket of this regiment and guards sustained its principal if not entire loss, and behaved well. Captain Dobie�s company, on duty with the regulars, did good service, and the captain is spoken of by Major Arnold in terms of high approbation. He had 2 men killed. Captain Bailey�s company was at a battery, and not called out. He was performing his appropriate duty during the fight. Major Vogdes, with Companies A, First Artillery, and E, Third Infantry, proceeded beyond the Spanish fort, about a mile from the fort, when from the obscurity of the night he found himself and command completely intermingled with the enemy. He was immediately recognized and made prisoner, the command devolving on Captain Hildt, of the Third Infantry, who disengaged his command from their perilous position, and opened a heavy fire on the enemy, and finally, with great gallantry, forced them to retreat (he being ably supported by Lieutenant Seeley, my assistant adjutant-general, who volunteered for the occasion), with a loss of 11 killed. Major Arnold at this moment came up and, the enemy retreating, followed on. During this time Major Tower and Lieutenant Jackson, who I had successively sent to push forward the Zouaves, succeeded in getting some collected, and Colonel Wilson also advanced, the enemy precipitately retreating. Major Arnold, with Captain Robertson�s and Lieutenant Shipley�s companies, promptly followed, and attacked as they were embarking, the other companies coming up successively. Captain Robertson opened a heavy fire at short musket range on the crowded masses, and Lieutenant Shipley some fifteen minutes later joined him, and their fire must have been very effective. This was comitinued as long as they were within range. When they had got beyond it the gallant major ordered them to cease firing and to give them three cheers, to which no response was made. During the time of this occurrence Major Tower came up with two small companies of Zouaves, and subsequently Colonel Wilson with a portion of his regiment. When it is considered that less than 200 regulars, with some 50 volunteers, pursued five times their number 4 miles and expelled them under a heavy fire from the island they had desecrated, it will, I trust, be considered an evidence of their having gallantly performed their duty. The plan of attack of the enemy was judicious, and, if executed with ordinary ability, might have been attended with serious loss; but he failed in all, save the burning one-half of the tents of the Sixth Regiment, which, being covered with brushes, was very combustible, and in rifling the trunks of the officers. He did not reach within 500 yards of either of the batteries the guns of which he was to spike, nor within a mile of the fort he was to enter pell-mell with the fugitives retreating before his victorious arms. I have now in my possession nine spikes, taken from the bodies of the dead, designed for our guns.
Our loss is, of regulars, 4 killed, 20 wounded (most very slightly), and 8 missing, among whom is Major Vogdes; of the Sixth Regiment New York Volunteers, 10 killed, 9 wounded, and 10 missing. The enemy lost, as known to us, 14 killed, including 1 captain; 7 wounded, including 1 lieutenant (2 since dead), and 5 officers and 22 enlisted men prisoners, and as he was known to have carried off some of his dead and probably most of his wounded, those in our hands being all severely so and unable to be removed, and as the heaviest loss is supposed to have been in the boats at the re-embarkation, it was probably three times as great in killed and wounded as I have named.
I close with the agreeable duty of naming to you the oflicers engaged who so faithfully performed their duty. I mention Major Yogdes first, who, unfortunately, was taken prisoner before a gun on our part was fired, to say that, as second in command and my executive officer, he has efficiently and industriously performed his duty during the whole time of my command, and his services have been very valuable.
Major Arnold, who succeeded to the command alter the capture of his superior, conducted the affair with great gallantry, prudence, and ability. He speaks in the highest terms of Captains Robertson and Hildt and Lieutenants Shipley and Seeley, and indeed of all the others whose names I give: Major Tower and Lieutenant Reese, of the Engineers; Lieutenants Duryca, Langdon, Jackson, and Taylor, U. S. Artillery, and Captain Dobie, of the New York Volunteers; and it gives me great pleasure to append the names of non-commissioned officers and privates named by their company commanders for distinguished good conduct, and to recommend them to the favorable notice of the Government.
The following are the companies of Major Vogdes� and Arnold�s command who participated in the battle, and (with a very few exceptions of individuals) to whom the greatest praise is due: Company A, First Artillery; H, Second Artillery, and Companies C and E, Third Infantry.
I estimate the force of the enemy at 1,200 or 1,500, having closely observed them through a fine telescope as they retreated. There were two large steamers and a barge of equal size and five or six launches all crowded with troops, and the almost unanimous estimate of the officers engaged is 1,500, from personal observation close by.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Harvey Brown,
Colonel, Commanding.
Col. E. D. Townsend,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Washington, D. C.
P. S.�I have just seen the Pensacola paper, which gives their loss as follows: Killed, 21; wounded, 38; prisoners, 22, which probably is not one-fourth of the actual loss. General Anderson is severely wounded.
[Inclosure.] Table of distances from Fort Pickens to where the rebels landed on the morning of the 9th of October, 1861, to the intermediate points, by actual measurement, made October 23, 1861.:
From Fort Pickens to Battery Cameron................................................580 yards
Battery Lincoln...............................................................................803 yards
Spanish Fort................................................................................2,612 yards
From the first place of fighting, where Major Vogdes was captured........3,331 yards
The first pine trees.......................................................................4,043 yards
Long Point Beach..........................................................................6,101 yards
Where we first fired on the steamers................................................6,832 yards
Where the rebels landed, and where they were attacked by Major Arnold,
with Captain Robertson�s and Lieutenant Shipley�s companies................7,306 yards
or 4 miles 266 yards.
Harvey Brown,
Colonel, Commanding.