SURPRISE OF WILSON'S ZOUAVES.

75

of falling back there. More rebel troops landed to cut him off, when he fired every thing that could not be carried away, and with a forced march reached the light-house. Colonel Hawkins sent six companies of Zouaves to reinforce Brown, and ordered Captain Lardner of the Susquehanna to his aid. The Susquehanna was soon ready, and the Monticello was ordered to double Cape Hatteras and go along the shore. She soon saw the enemy pursuing, and the masts of rebel vessels came distinctly to view. On this they were shelled by Lieutenant Braine and scattered, the shells making them flee in terror. The vessels were then shelled, and many rebels jumped into the water, while some of the boats, with their freight, went to the bottom. On the night of October 9th, a Confederate force of about two thousand made an attack on Santa Rosa island, Florida, on which Fort Pickens is situated, and surprised the camp of Wilson's Zouaves, a mile from the fort; purposing, if successful, to carry the fort. The darkness favored them, and the regi ment was rudely awakened from its slumbers in confusion, while the shouts and musketry of the enemy rendered it difficult for them to form in order, and the whole camp was blazing from the fire of the rebel torch. The Zouaves fled to the batteries, a little way off, for protection. Meanwhile, the shots being heard at Fort Pickens, the long roll beat, and Major Vogdes sent out two companies in the direction of the firing, and manned the guns on the rampart. A staff officer sent by Colonel Brown to Major Vogdes was captured, and Major Arnold was sent to take the command. Before his arrival the enemy retired from the destructive fire opened upon them by Captain Hildt, of the regular army. Colonel Wilson now rallied his regiment, and with other companies, now arrived from the fort, pursued the flying enemy three miles to their boats, drove some into the water, and sent deadly volleys into the boats, which killed them by scores. Federal loss sixty.

On the night of the 11th, Captain Hollins, of the rebel naval force at New Orleans, by means of an iron-clad vessel with a terrible iron prow, called the ram Manassas, and two small steamers, attempted the destruction of the blockading fleet at the mouth of the Mississippi. Night favored the design, and dashing suddenly down, the formidable ram struck the Richmond and for ed the vessel from her moor

76

REBEL RAM MANASSAS.

ings with a terrible crash, and, backing, struck at her stern, ripping off the planks. A broadside from the Richmond was poured in with a will by her undaunted crew, as the ram ran alongside; and as one of his engines gave out, Captain Hollins, attempting to get off, threw up a rocket. The signal was answered, and the bright flame which lighted up the river revealed a number of ships descending to destroy the Federal fleet. While the Richmond and Preble dropped down the pass, the Water Witch and Vincennes remained; and as the fire ships bore steadily down, the Vincennes, fearing lest she should be struck in the position in which she was, determined to drop down and leave the Water Witch, of quicker and lighter build, to lead the way and report on the condition of affairs. As several gunboats were coming down, the Water Witch was sent to convey the tidings, when she saw that the Vincennes had grounded on the bar, and that the Richmond also was aground, which caused great consternation in the Union fleet. Fortunately, as both the vessels seemed doomed to destruction, the Richmond swung about her broadside toward the stream, so that her guns could be made use of advantageously. Her quick and well-directed fire, brought to bear on the enemy, made it prudent for him to get away as quickly as possible, and he returned to New Orleans. The braggadocia of Hollins made him a hero; the city was wild with joy; illuminations to him declared the enthusiasm of the people, as their hopes saw an early opening of the Mississippi. Rebel accounts were received in the North before the true account was had, and the blockading fleet was considered in a perilous situation. The true state of things was soon known; Hollins was laughed at, and dwindled down from a hero to his native insignificance.

The Federal affairs, in the meantime, were prospering in Missouri, and the troops under Fremont were successful in various minor encounters. On the 13th, two companies of cavalry under Major Wright, charging with gallantry a rebel force of three hundred, near Lebanon, drove them from the field with a loss of sixty killed and wounded, and thirty-six captured. Captains Switzler and Montgomery gathered unfading laurels in this brilliant affair; Montgomery discharged all the barrels of his revolver, and then assailing a rebel with his fist quickly unhorsed him. A few days

BATTLE OF BLUE MILLS FERRY.

77

after, the latter a tacked Linn creek, taking twenty-five rebel prisoners, and the ensuing day, Lexington, with seventy prisoners, fell into the possession of the patriots. Ironton and Pilot Knob were now threatened by the rebels, who were advancing under Jeff. Thompson and Colonel Lowe. A severe skirmish with these forces and some troops under Colonel Carlin had taken place, when Colonels Carlin, Ross, and Baker, with two thousand troops, reached Fredericktown, which the enemy had very recently evacuated, and advancing a mile, came up to and attacked his lines. Grape and canister met their onset, but the undaunted soldiers pressed forward, and in an action of two hours' duration, the enemy, heavily punished, broke and fled in wild dismay, with the loss of Colonel Lowe and one hundred and fifty killed, and sixty-four prisoners. Federal loss in killed and wounded, sixty. The ground was strewed with arms, equipments, and clothing, and the pursuit was continued to Greenville, and on the next day for twenty-two miles, but the enemy proved superior in flight, and escaped.

Some days before, the enemy, four thousand in number, were attacked at Blue Mills Ferry, near Liberty, by Lieutenant-colonel Scott, with the Third Iowa regiment of five hundred men. With these, Colonel Smith, with the Sixteenth Illinois and part of the Thirty-ninth Ohio, was to form a junction. Scott, having waited some time, and while heavy rains detained Smith, determined to advance, and fought the enemy one hour, when he was obliged to retreat to Liberty, where he was found by the cavalry sent after him by Smith. The combined forces now moved on the enemy, but at Blue Mills it was found that he had crossed the river, and was beyond pursuit. The enemy's loss was unknown, that of the Federals was ninety killed and wounded.

The Federal arms in Kentucky were now prosperous, and the command of the department by the heroic Anderson, and subsequently by General Crittenden, neutralized the influence of Buckner's proclamation.

A struggle of great severity was now about to take place. Colonel Coburn, on the 16th of October, 1861, was ordered to occupy Camp Wild Cat with three hundred and fifty men, and had hardly reached his position, when a hidden fire poured on his men, and a large rebel force soon made its

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AFFAIRS ON THE UPPER POTOMAC.

appearance. Colonel Wood met their advance with two hundred and fifty loyal Kentucky cavalrymen, whom he formed under fire, when quickly, two Tennessee rebel regi ments rushed from the woods and in four columns charged the position on two sides with a heavy fire. They advanced, under a fierce fire, within twenty-five yards of the works, and the Kentucky troops for a moment faltered, but recovering, the contest was fierce and bloody, though brief, and the baffled enemy were forced to retire. Another attempt on Camp Wild Cat was frustrated by the bravery of the Seventeenth Ohio regiment and two companies of the Fourteenth Ohio. The enemy retired with heavy loss; the Federal loss was but twenty-three killed and wounded. This battle, besides answering the purpose for which it was fought, greatly animated the loyal people of the State.

At this time the enemy's left on the Potomac was near Leesburg, and General Banks ordered General Stone to keep watch on the rebel troops, and prevent their crossing the river at that point. Great care was needed to keep the rebels out of Maryland, and several unimportant actions had lately taken place. A brisk action took place at Bolivar, a village two miles from the Potomac, October 16th. Major Gould had gone across the river at Harper's Ferry, to get some wheat which the enemy held there, and having attained his end, was recrossing, when Bolivar Heights swarmed with rebels, whose cannon, in position, commanded the Union camp. Another body threatened the ferry from Loudon Heights. The Thirteenth Massachusetts regiment, under Captain Schriber, repulsed a fierce charge made by rebel cavalry, at the upper portion of the town, and, having driven them back three times, occupied it, and from every shelter poured showers of bullets upon the enemy, who gained no advantage. Reinforcements were called up by Colonel Geary, and Lieutenant Martin dashed through a scathing fire, and having unlimbered his pieces in the streets, cannonaded the heights. As the Federal troops advanced, the order rang out to "fix bayonets," and the brave men at the order charge," rushed along the heights with wild shouts; while the artillery prevented the enemy from rallying, and dismounted their guns. The fight had lasted five hours, and this heroic band of two hundred and fifty rested till midnight, and reached and crossed the river without annoyance.

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BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF.

79

The enemy lost a hundred in this action, the Federal loss, was but thirteen. On the 20th of October, Romney, situated amid an amphitheatre of hills, was taken by General Kelly.

BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF.

To ascertain what troops of the enemy were in the neighborhood, and how situated, Colonel Devens, of the Sixteenth Massachusetts regiment, crossed the Potomac on the 20th, at midnight, to make a reconnoissance. He left Harrison's island with three hundred men, with the intention of capturing a rebel camp, and waiting until more troops crossed. Three boats, in a miserable condition, took four hours in crossing. Having crossed, the high bluff could not be reached, but a bridle path gave the troops a means of ascent, and they marched in the deepest silence, and, at the top of the bluff, awaited day-dawn. Should the event prove unfortunate, the brave troops saw at a glance, that death or capture must be the result. A hundred men, under Colonel Lee, of the Twentieth Massachusetts, joined the little band at daylight, and an advance was made on Leesburg. No enemy was in view, and a large scow, capable of containing sixty men, having been added to the transportation, determined the commander to wait for reinforcements, instead of returning to report. A brisk action between Captain Philbrick and a company of riflemen ensued, when a body of cavalry appeared, and Colonel Devens then retired to the woods, in which the main body were laying. Not being attacked, he, in half an hour, joined Colonel Lee on the bluff, and now receiving orders to await reinforcements, he was rejoined by his regiment, six hundred and twenty-five strong. The enemy was in force on his left, and the attack began at noon. The men maintained their position, but the enemy making great efforts to outflank him, Colonel Devens retired to where the woods left an open space, and the skirmishers were recalled. Not being followed up by the enemy, he fell back to the bluffs, and found reinforcements, and Colonel Baker in command, by General Stone's orders. It was an unwise plan to send more reinforcements, with such poor facilities for transportation as the bad boats and miserable scow afforded, and why it was done was a mystery.

Colonel Baker now advanced; on the right the Fifteenth Massachusetts and part of the Tammany regiment; the left