They say if I was to be taken alive, I was to be the pickets fought with dogged obstinacy. The put in a cage and exhibited. ground was contested foot by foot, and a handYesterday five Americans and two ladies es-to-hand conflict was going on in the mean time. caped from Pensacola, and gave us all the news of how they describe the terrible victory. We lay upon our arms every night. I have slept but very little this week. I don't feel well. I have got the diarrhoea. We will want eight hundred uniforms. Your obedient servant, WILLIAM WILSON, Colonel Commanding. CAPTAIN NORMAN'S STATEMENT. The following account of the engagement was furnished by Captain Norman, of the Wilson Zouaves: On the morning of the 9th of October, at three o'clock, it being pitchy dark, the attack was made. On the evening previous to the fight the rebels landed five hundred men on the lower part of the island, and on the same even ing two steamboats were noticed to leave Warrenton, which circumstances had the effect of putting the Zouaves a little on their guard. On the muster being called, but two hundred and fifteen of the Zouaves were reported ready for immediate action, several companies of the regiment being sent to Tortugas and intermediate localities. Colonel Wilson and Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton were on the island, however, with their handful of men. The steamboats, with the rebels on board, proceeded to a point three miles below the camp, and succeeded in landing one thousand more men, thus leaving the rebel attacking force on the island, one thousand five hundred in all, the whole under command of General Anderson of the rebel army. They remained under cover of night in this locality up to two o'clock in the morning, when they made a sudden and furious onslaught on the Zouaves. The night was dark and lowering, so that a man could scarcely be distinguished twenty yards ahead. Not a sound was heard save the regular tramp of the pickets and the voice of command as it rang through the silent night air. The movements of the rebels were conducted with the greatest caution, and the Zouaves little imagined so incensed and bloodthirsty a foe was so near them, panting for their blood, until the first shot was fired, which instantly aroused the camp. Onward, however, through the gloom of the hour the attacking party came, certain of an easy victory. They formed in three columns: one on the right taking the Gulf shore, one in the centre taking centre column, and one on the left taking Pensacola Bay shore. Previous to this order of march, five rebels were detailed to challenge each picket, and stop their voices forever should they give the alarm too soon. This movement was effectually done, almost at the same instant of time; but the rebels found that, though they had five of their men against one of the Union pickets, yet they had to cope with soldiers and heroes, for The main body was now fast approaching. Colonel Wilson had his little party of men drawn up in line of battle, expecting the attack to be made on the right, but he, unfortunately, was deceived on this point, it being commenced on the left. About one hundred and fifty men of the regular army had joined the Zouaves from the fort, so that the whole force actually engaged was three hundred and sixty-five, pitted in deadly strife against fifteen hundred rebels. As the right column was coming up and rounding the hospital, private Scott was challenged by Captain Bradford, of the rebel army, whose men, without waiting for a reply, shot Scott dead on the spot. The gallant soldier fell without a groan. The rebels then sent a volley through the surgeon's tent, but finding they were attacking the hospital, orders were at once given to march toward the camp. By this time the left wing of the enemy had succeeded in entering the camp of the Zouaves, and now came the most terrible and exciting part of the conflict. The pickets being engaged with the right and centre columns of the enemy, and the main body of the Union troops expecting an attack on the right, the left wing of the assailants entered the camp almost without a shot being fired. The enemy then fired a murderous volley into the gallant band, which was returned with unerring aim, causing havoc and confusion among the rebels. The Zouaves, however, so sudden was the attack, were thrown into confusion, but speedily rallied by the efforts of their officers. The fighting was now conducted with a desperation on the part of the Wilson boys. They, however, did not fight with regard to order. Bush fighting was the mode adopted, and several of the Zouaves were seen to hold their ground against treble their number of opponents for over an entire hour. Various were the acts of daring and impetuous valor displayed in this unequal contest by the Federal troops. Lieutenant Baker, of Company F, distinguished himself bravely throughout the whole struggle. Colonel Wilson fought valiantly. Captain Norman was cut off three times by the rebels from the main body, and would have been taken prisoner but for his cool and determined bravery. But for the steady action of the entire force they would no doubt have been cut to pieces. Capt. Hildt, of the regular army, with but eighty men under his command, it is conceded, did the most service of any officer in the action. When the fighting first commenced, he ordered his company to march down upon the island, taking the left of the battle. When about a half mile from the camp, he was met by some seven hundred of the enemy, when the most spirited part of the entire conflict began. The little band of eighty men at once attacked the LIEUTENANT D'ORVILLE'S STATEMENT. On the night of the 8th instant the enemy commenced landing troops at Deer Point at about nine o'clock in the evening, the moon having gone down. The attacking force was two thousand five hundred in all, one thousand five hundred being engaged in the attack, and one thousand held in reserve on the two steamers. Beside the steamers, there were two large launches and some small boats. The debarkation completed, the enemy divided into three columns, one marching down the south beach, one along the sea-shore, and the other down the centre. Their intention was to surprise and surround the camp, cutting off the retreat of the Zouaves to the fort, and driving us before them. They, however, encountered one of our outstanding pickets about two miles from the camp, who challenged them and fired, killing two of the enemy, but falling himself after being pierced by three balls. seven hundred, and succeeded in cutting their | dead on the battle-field. The loss of the rebels way through them. The superiority of the is estimated at about three hundred and fifty; Union forces was well attested on this occasion. loss of Zouaves, ten killed and sixteen wounded; The command of Captain Hildt were all regular regular troops, six killed, twenty wounded, ten troops to be sure, but then they were pitted prisoners. The Union forces took thirty-five against nearly nine times their own number-prisoners, three of whom, being surgeons, were nine men to one! At this period of the engage- let go the next morning. General Anderson, ment, the rebel General Anderson ordered the of fillibuster notoriety, who had command of the retreat to be sounded. When this was done rebel expedition, was wounded in both arms in the rebels fell into immediate confusion. The the early part of the conflict. cause of the retreat being sounded appears to be a misconception as to the position of the Union forces, the rebels thinking that they were in their front instead of in their rear. If the Unionists were in their front, between them and the mode of escape from the island, it would be quite natural that in retreating toward the shore they should overwhelm their assailants. But this mistake proved the defeat of the rebels. In retreating they ran to the right of the island, where they were met by a body of regular troops under command of Adjutant Seely. Running to the left, they also encountered a force of Zouaves, who repelled the attack with great bravery. The Union forces now closed in on the rebels, and they ran like sheep down to the shore, pursued by their brave antagonists. The battle cry of the enemy was, "No quarter for Wilson and his men ;' "but they found that the first part of the sentence would be applied with truthful force to themselves. They now pursued their headlong course down to their boats, on board of which they hurried in the greatest The sergeant of the guard running up to see confusion. The boats, unfortunately for the what was the matter was killed, and the remainenemy, were fast in the mud and could not be der of the picket guard retreated to the main got off for some time, with all the exertions that guard, and gave the alarm. By this time the camp were being made by the steamboats. Now was was gained, and the men being hastily roused the time when the carnage commenced in ear- from sleep were drawn up under arms. They nest among the rebels. The Federal troops, advanced under command of Col. Wilson and pursuing them to the shore and concealing them- Lieutenant-Colonel Creighton, and encountered selves behind embankments and other places the centre column of the enemy, with whom they erected for the better defence of the island, exchanged shots. Thinking that the attacking poured down murderous volleys upon the heads force in the centre was smaller than it really of their enemy. Very little defence could be was, one company was left to hold it in check, made by the rebels, and they had to receive the and the remaining four companies were deployed balls of their victorious enemy without being to the right to prevent the camp from being surable to shelter themselves in any way. The rounded. On reaching position, however, it scene of this portion of the contest is described was found that the enemy's left column had as being dreadful-the cries of agony and the already outflanked us, and were actually firing moans of the dying breaking forth through the the colonel's quarters, and other tents in our pauses of the firing; the shouts of the victors rear. We then turned upon them, deployed by and the curses of the defeated, the voice of com- companies as skirmishers to right and left, and mand and the sharp click of the musket follow- surrounded the enemy. A general fight ensued, ing shortly after-all, indeed, rendered the scene in which the rebels fought with desperation one of horror and heart-sickening. From the and malice, and our men stood their ground with proximity of the Zouaves to their defeated foes unflinching courage. We charged them three every ball sped with unerring aim, and it is times, and at the last got them beyond the camp. affirmed that on this occasion alone there could They then sounded the retreat and retired in not have been less than one hundred and fifty good order for about two miles, when our side rebels killed. At length the flatboats were got being reinforced by two companies from Batoff by the steamers, but before they got into tery Lincoln and two from the fort, the enemy the centre of the river one of them sunk, rid-made off at double quick for their boats. dled with several balls, and many of the rebels here met a watery grave. The morning after the battle a large number of dead bodies were found floating on the water, and nineteen lying We followed them up as closely as possible, and fired volley after volley into the boats and launches as they pushed off from shore. One of the launches, containing about two hundred and fifty men, was completely riddled by our balls | heard about two miles from the fort, beyond and sunk before our eyes. The steamer Times, Wilson's camp; and it appeared subsequently, which was crowded with troops, got aground by information got from the prisoners, that a while trying to push off, and our men, number- deserter, who had been paid off from Pickens ing now five companies, poured their volleys two days previous, had given such information into the mass of human beings for more than to the Confederates as induced them to land half an hour. We could not have killed less than on the inside beach and cross over to the south one hundred and fifty to two hundred on board beach, and so come upon Wilson's camp sudthe Times. Among the wounded was the rebel denly, without encountering the heavy guns of Gen. Anderson, who was hit in both arms. One the batteries. They first came upon and shot of the Zouaves, familiarly called "Scotty," was two of Wilson's picket guards and drove in the lying sick in the hospital, but hearing firing rest near the old Spanish fort, following up the leaped out of bed, seized a musket, and was met Zouaves and driving them from the camp, and at the tent door by Captain Bradford, command- setting the tents and stores and camp equipage ing the enemy's right column, who asked, "Who on fire. As soon as a messenger reached the are you?" "I'll show you who I am," said fort, (previous to the fire,) Colonel Brown orScotty, and levelling his piece he shot Bradford dered out thirty regulars, under Major Vogdes through the heart, killing him instantly. Our and Lieutenants Langley and Taylor, who lost men took thirty-nine prisoners, including three no time in marching to the scene of commosurgeons, who were released. One of the offi- tion, where they encountered a large body of cers, Lieut. Sayres, of the Louisiana Volunteers, the invading force, who surrounded them and was so severely wounded in the leg as to render demanded their surrender. Major Vogdes, beamputation necessary. While the enemy were ing in advance, seeing himself overpowered burning our camp their cry was, "No quarter and without support from the Zouaves, surrento Wilson's men!" The officers' tents were dered as a prisoner, and, with two or three pillaged and destroyed, and they, as well as their men, was disarmed. Lieutenant Taylor was men, lost every thing they had except the clothes also grasped by the arm, and told to surrender; they stood in. Col. Wilson lost his clothes and but, suddenly extricating himself, drew his money, but the regimental colors, which were sword, and said if they wanted it they must in his tent, were saved by Quartermaster's Ser- fight for it, and giving the word, "Open order, geant, James Chadwick, who rushed into the Fire," to his men, commenced an attack on the burning tent and brought the flag out safely. The enemy, who had been divided whilst setting regulars all fought exceedingly well. Captain fire to the tents. In the mean time Lieutenant Hildt's company, from the Third Infantry, partic- Langley had galloped back to the fort and obularly distinguished itself. Our total loss in kill- tained from Colonel Brown a reinforcement of ed, wounded, and missing is sixty-five, of whom two companies of regulars, which marched in there were ten Zouaves killed, nine wounded, double-quick to the conflict. and nineteen missing. The regiment lost all its tents, baggage, clothing, and ready money. All but the money and clothes, however, were replaced from the fort the next day, and the men are now comfortably quartered again. The Confederates, finding that the alarm was general, and having succeeded in firing the tents, &c., retired before the small body of troops rallied under Lieutenant Taylor, this time taking their route through a swamp-wood and along the inside beach, firing as they retreated on the regulars and some Zonaves who had rallied to their assistance. In this way they reached the rebel flotilla, which consisted of four lighters, a number of six and eightoared launches, and two steam-tugs, which latter were hard aground at about six o'clock A. M. The landing had taken place at about two miles from the old Spanish fort, and upon first arriving at this point on their retreat, Major Vogdes and the other prisoners were taken off to the launches, the rebels wading over the flats to get to them and aboard the steamers, which did not float for a full half-hour. In the mean time the two companies of regulars had come up, and with a few Zouaves, fired STATEMENTS OF THREE NEGRO FUGITIVES. The following is an account of the attack as given by three contrabands who were sent to the North in the McClellan, by Colonel Brown, from Fort Pickens. They are Peter Dyson, an intelligent black man, about thirty-five years of age, who, with his wife, a yellow woman, escaped from a Mrs. Hanson, a boarding-house keeper in Pensacola; they got to Fort Pickens in a skiff about two and a half months ago. Dyson is a first-rate mason and bricklayer, and has worked on the Government forts at Pensacola for the last twenty years. The third is a young colored married woman, about twentyfive years old, who was owned by Cole Crosby, and hired out to a Mrs. Wm. O'Brien, at Pen-volley after volley upon the rebels. One launch sacola. She left with two men in a sloop, and while beating up for Fort Pickens was fallen in with by the Colorado, and taken on board, and to the fort; her name is Olive Kelly, and she has been at the fort about a month. From the three we glean the folowing: Between three and four A. M. firing was was so riddled that she sunk between the dry dock and navy-yard, as she was being towed back by the steamer, and after the rebels, some of whom were wounded, had been transferred to the steamer. While the steamers were stuck fast, scores were seen to fall overboard under the fire from the shore, and upon information received next day, upon the arrival | of a flag of truce, it is supposed that between three and four hundred fell. In the first attack, eight of our side (privates) were killed and two wounded. Fifteen rebels were killed between the camps and Spanish fort, on the retreat before the regulars. They were buried in the sand, but disinterred the next day and delivered over to Lieutenant Slaughter, C. S. A., under the flag of truce. He had come over to reclaim the dead. Twenty-eight prisoners were taken, three of whom were wounded, also three officers, and a Major Anderson, (mortally wounded, and supposed to be a brother of Gen. Anderson, U. S. A.) The latter died, and his body was given up to Lieutenant Slaughter, as were three doctors of the C. S. A. The rebels took on board their boats many wounded, and great numbers were shot dead while wading in the water. Just as the reëmbarkation of the rebels took place, a steam tug, the Times, made her appearance with reinforcements, but upon seeing the state of things ashore, she contented herself by taking in tow the launches, which had hauled off from under the raking fire of the troops on shore. The flotilla had a narrow escape, as the Potomac, upon observing the fire at Wilson's camp, got under way, and was towed by the McClellan just within shelling distance as the rebels got their steamers afloat, and left the island for the navy-yard. Two false alarms had been given on the previous night, or, Colonel Brown was heard to say, he would, instead of thirty men, have ordered out a sufficient force at once to have given a greater defeat to the rebels. -N. Y. Times, October 27. AUGUSTA “CONSTITUTIONALIST" ACCOUNT. CAMP STEVENS, PENSACOLA, FLA., Oct. 9, 1861. At length we have had an opportunity of being relieved from a state of "masterly inactivity," and of measuring arms with the enemy near this place. During last night an expedition, composed of detachments of several Confederate companies and regiments, set out for Santa Rosa Island for the purpose of breaking up the encampment of the notorious Billy Wilson and his celebrated Zouaves, who had taken a position on the island. Early in the evening Col. Jackson visited our camp and informed us that he required one hundred and fifty from our regiment (the Fifth Georgia) to perform a very important service; twenty-seven from the Clinch Rifles, and nineteen from the Irish Volunteers. Every man who was willing to volunteer was requested to shoulder arms, and every man came to a shoulder. The captains of the companies were then requested to pick out the required number, which was done. These were taken from the Clinch Rifles, Irish Volunteers, Cuthbert Rifles, and McDuffie Rifles; and were under command of Lieut. Hallonquist, formerly of the United States Army. Lieut. Day, of the Clinch Rifles, being the junior officer, was on the left, but that wing arrived too late to take part in the action. Col. Jackson accompanied the expedition, and the entire force, which consisted of about twelve hundred men, was under command of Gen. Anderson. About two o'clock this morning we landed on the island, and marched about five miles through the enemy's lines, and into his camp, which we completely destroyed, burning up his tents, &c., and killing his sentinels as we proceeded. The Zouaves were taken almost completely by surprise, but as soon as they recovered, fought desperately; at times, however, they acted rather cowardly; but, upon the whole, gave us some pretty warm work. We finally succeeded in driving them into Fort Pickens, killing quite a number of them, taking some thirty or forty prisoners and a lot of camp equipage and other trophies. Some of our men have brought away money, hats, caps, guns, swords, pistols, and pieces of Billy's standard. Our men acted with great coolness and bravery; and having accomplished the object of our mission, we returned to the main land. As we did so, we found that the balance of the regiment was advancing to reinforce us, but finding us coming back they also returned to the camp. Our loss has been very severe. Among the killed are Lieut. L. A. Nelms of the McDuffie Rifles, of Warrenton, and aid to Col. Jackson; Joseph H. Adams and Fred. Cooke of the Clinch Rifles; and J. Stanton of the Irish Volunteers. Among the wounded are the following: N. Rice, of the Clinch Rifles, shot in the arm; William H. Smith of the same company shot in the shoulder; J. H. Harris, of the same company, shot on the right ear. I will send you the casnalties in the Irish Volunteers as soon as I can obtain them. They have one killed and two wounded. The Clinch Rifles, Irish Volunteers, and McDuffie Rifles faced the front all the time. James Gorman, of the Volunteers, captured one prisoner; J. H. Harris, of the Clinch Rifles, is set down for two of Abe's dead men, and several others for the same, and for burning the enemy's camp and provender. The man who shot Nelms was also made to bite the dust by one of our own men. Too much cannot be said in praise of the officers and men; and the only regret is, that some of our men were taken prisoners by the enemy. Such is the fate of war, and we must expect, while often successful, to have the cup of victory dashed with the bitters of adversity. Yours truly, GEORGIA. The following extracts are from private letters received from the volunteers at Pensacola: We killed about one hundred of them, and lost heavily in killed and wounded on our side, but I do not know the exact number. We also took some thirty or forty prisoners. One of our men got three hundred and forty dollars in cash; William E. McCoy took a gun from one of the enemy; another took the Zouave Major's hat; others took coats, hats, caps, swords, a fine pair of navy pistols; one of our men captured a fine German-silver horn. Ben | the extensive commissary buildings that had Bolt-son of Judge Bolt-is missing; we think been erected there, was but one mass of soulhe has been taken prisoner. The whole regi- dering ruins. The hospital structure is the ment was anxious to participate, and were only building now standing upon the Island of about crossing over to the island this morning, Santa Rosa. when they met the expedition returning, and all came back together. M. We set out, and before daylight were landed on Santa Rosa Island, among Billy Wilson's Zouaves, away below, and marched five miles, fighting several battles before we got off the island-losing several men from the regiment. Wilson's New York Zouaves camp was the first one reached. The sentinels, completely surprised, were either killed or captured, and the whole regiment, with its chief, found safety of Fort Pickens. The scenes which occurred only in a rapid flight beyond the eastern walls when the camp was invaded are described as being ludicrous beyond description or belief. * * * I never did see as calm a set of men in my life as last night. The gallant colonel took to his heels, with We killed the Federal sentinels all the way up, and took the enemy by nothing but a brief skirted nether garment to surprise. I was by Gen. Anderson's side, and and his valiant braves presented a struggle for cover his nakedness, and the race between him fired, by his orders, more than a dozen tentsamong them the Commissariat; we also burnt precedence more closely contested than any ever witnessed over the race course. Bull's up two hundred barrels of flour, several bales of hay, and many other articles.' I killed two of Run was as nothing in comparison with it. Abe's men and took two prisoners while burn-Our men pursued the fugitives with detering the camp. Jim Gorman, of the Irish Volunteers, took one. Barney Haney is a bruiser, and Lieut. Joseph Cuminings is as good a man as you'll want to find. Gen. Anderson goes in for destroying rather than killing. By mistake we had some of our men killed by their comrades. We laid down to fire, and many times the sand flew in our faces by the balls striking the ground. I claim the honor of killing the man that killed Nelms. Two of us fired at the same time, but I am satisfied that my shot took effect J. II. PENSACOLA, FLA., Oct. 10, 1861. The following is the list of casualties in the McDuffie Rifles, of Warrenton, Georgia, in the recent fight with the Federalists on Santa Rosa Island: Lieut. Shivers is absent; Lieut. Nelms died of a wound-he was shot through the lungs; 2d Sergeant Beddo died of his wounds; 1st Corporal Canton killed and left on the island; Private D. L. Cody missing, supposed to be killed; Privates Allen Casen and L. C. Wheeler wounded, but not dangerously; Wall, E. E. Cody, and B. Smith wounded very slightly. There was warm work on the island, and a good many of the enemy were killed and wounded. The Fifth Georgia regiment behaved nobly, while the enemy acted cowardly. We have taken some prisoners-among them a Major. ANOTHER SECESSION ACCOUNT. MOBILE, OCT. 10. The special correspondent of the Mobile Advertiser writing last evening (Wednesday) at Pensacola, sends the following details of the night attack of our forces on Santa Rosa Island: There were eleven hundred men in the expedition, under Brig. Gen. Ruggles. They crossed over to the island at two o'clock on the inorning of Wednesday. At twenty minutes past four, the first gun was fired, and in forty-six minutes all that was left of the numerous camps, Our nination, pausing now and then to fire a build- -N. O. Picayune, Oct. 11. ATLANTA "INTELLIGENCER" ACCOUNT. A correspondent of the Atlanta (Georgia) Intelligencer gives the following account of the fight. After describing the landing on the island of the rebel force, to the number of one thousand eight hundred, the writer says: |