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. STATEMENTS OF THREE NEGRO FUGITIVES. 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 Zouaves 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 volley after volley upon the rebels. One launch 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 overBetween three and four A. M. firing was board under the fire from the shore, and upon 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 Pensacola. 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: 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 suflicient 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. 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 islaud, 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. Nelins 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. II. Harris, of the same company, shot on the right ear. I will send you the casualties 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, 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 We killed about one hundred of them, and requested to pick out the required number, lost heavily in killed and wounded on our side, which was done. These were taken from the but I do not know the exact number. We Clinch Rifles, Irish Volunteers, Cuthbert Rifles, also took some thirty or forty prisoners. One and McDuffie Rifles; and were under command of our men got three hundred and forty dollars of Lieut. Hallonquist, formerly of the United in cash; William E. McCoy took a gun from States Army. Lieut. Day, of the Clinch Rifles, one of the enemy; another took the Zouave being the junior officer, was on the left, but that Major's hat; others took coats, hats, caps, wing arrived too late to take part in the action. I swords, a fine pair of navy pistols; one of our GEORGIA. The following extracts are from private letters received from the volunteers at Pensacola: men captured a fine German-silver horn. Ben Bolt-son of Judge Bolt-is missing; we think he has been taken prisoner. The whole regiment was anxious to participate, and were about crossing over to the island this morning, when they met the expedition returning, and all came back together. M. * * * the extensive commissary buildings that had been erected there, was but one mass of souldering ruins. The hospital structure is the only building now standing upon the Island of Santa Rosa. Wilson's New York Zouaves camp was the first one reached. The sentinels, completely We set out, and before daylight were landed surprised, were either killed or captured, and on Santa Rosa Island, among Billy Wilson's the whole regiment, with its chief, found safety Zouaves, away below, and marched five miles, of Fort Pickens. The scenes which occurred only in a rapid flight beyond the eastern walls fighting several battles before we got off the when the camp was invaded are described as island-losing several men from the regiment. being ludicrous beyond description or belief. I never did see as calm a set of men The gallant colonel took to his heels, with in my life as last night. We killed the Federal sentinels all the way up, and took the enemy by cover his nakedness, and the race between him 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 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 Vol-mination, pausing now and then to fire a buildunteers, took one. Barney Haney is a bruiser, and Lieut. Joseph Cummings 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 into the touchholes of the huge cannon that -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: Ascending the back hill of the beach, we found ourselves among a squad of picket guard, who gave our close ranks a most destructive fire, throwing the company of which I was a member into great disorder. We were charging them with the bayonet, thus hoping to drive them from their strong position, when I rushed in their midst and received a severe blow over the head, which sent me rolling to the foot of the hill. We were in line again, and as friends were engaged with Wilson's Zouaves, and our misfortune had prevented the possibility of cutting off their retreat, we double quickened for those quarters; after a little skirmishing along the way we reached the encampment just in time to see the quarters fired and the guns spiked. The Fifth Georgia and the Tenth Mississippi each claimed the honor of having first reached the tents, &c., and applying the torch. As these composed one column, and they arrived there together, I suppose they will have to share the glory. As much fuss as the Northern papers have inade of Wilson's Zouaves, and as proud as the United States is of such "pets,' I think them the most contemptibly cowardly wretches that ever disgraced the face of the earth. Ilere, in an intrenched camp, where were quartered an entire regiment, having all their clothing, arms, and much property, these men were surprised and fled without firing a gun, except in retreat. This, too, was after we had been fighting all around them, and they ought to have been able to slaughter every man upon the island. They were snugly fixed, and have lost a vast deal, beside being utterly disgraced. We formed round the burning camp and shot down the wretches as they dodged about, and took a good many prisoners. A large hospital building was within the intrenchments, which we left without the slightest molestation. Our men nearly all took some prizes, embracing mules, clothing, guns, pistols, money, swords, &c. I felt interested in other things and made no captures. After remaining till the camps were consumed and our object accomplished, we retreated for our launches, as the fort could not be carried by storm. Amid this excitement and conflagration, the wildest disorder reigned. Companies were disorganized and no such thing as a regiment was known. Our men retired in great confusion, and the line was a confused mass, moving without orders, and almost without object. We expected every moment to be shelled by Pickens and the fleet, which could have swept the island and not left a man. Unfortunately for us they had sent out several companies to intercept our boats and cut off our retreat. These lay behind the sand hills and embankments, and fired upon our disorganized masses. Several attempts were made to rally into line, but without effect. The island is alternate marshes, ravines, and hills, with occasional long sandy plains. Whenever we met these squads, we had to carry the place by storm, yet their advantage was too manifest. They could hide behind sand hills, completely protecting themselves from our bullets, and shoot into our disorganized body for several minutes before we could come upon them. Several times we met these hostile squads and mistook them for friends, occasioning us heavy loss. One time, I remember in particular, we were assailed by a body of Zouaves who stood in a swamp. As they commenced firing we gave the watchword, and were answered, Friends. I thought perhaps they had forgotten the reply, yet they continued to shoot down the men around me at a fearful rate. I noticed them more closely, and could perceive the peculiarity of their dress, and could tell by the whiz of their bullets that they were armed with rifles that were not like ours. We then turned upon them and soon cleaned out the company. This was the severest tug of all, and we suffered severely before we discovered their complexions. In the spot I fought from I saw some seven or eight of our men fall within five feet of me, while several others fell around. This was about the last skirmish we had, yet straggling bodies fired for miles, doing but little damage. Scattered as we were for such a distance, and exhausted as were our men, they could have completely cut us off with cavalry or flying artillery had they had either. It took a long time for us to reembark. As we were huddled together in open scows, they fell upon us after we were out of reach, and shot several of our men. Their large Enfield rifles carry a ball a great distance, and, elevate my musket as I would, the bullet fell short of the beach, while their balls fell among us or passed just over our heads. Here Brigadier-General Anderson was wounded very severely, though he had passed all danger on the island, and that, too, far in the rear of the enemy. It was wonderful that our soldiers should have fallen into such disorder and been so entirely given up to excitement. Our men were as brave and daring as it was possible for soldiers to be, and in the presence of the enemy acted with as much gallantry as the occasion warranted. One cause of the confusion of ranks was the strange land we had to climb over and the deep bogs we had to wade. I should rather attempt to scale the ruggedest peak of the Rocky Mountains than to make a forced march on Santa Rosa Island. It is impossible for the best drilled troops in the world to keep in line in such a place. Another thing that prevented was, that the advanced bodies were less tired than the rear, and marched too fast. Again, one section just in front of us had their captain killed and a lieutenant wounded, and came crowding back into our ranks. I scarcely know whether we achieved a victory or suffered a defeat. We did the duty which we went to perform, and did it well; yet we shot down our own friends in numbers. Indeed, I think as many of our men were shot by friends as by foes. Night skirmishing is a dangerous business, especially in an unknown country, as was the island of Santa Rosa. It is impossible to estimate the damage done on duced the quick retirement of the enemy's force seen there, and three boat loads of thirty-five men each, from the First Minnesota, crossed and recrossed the river, each trip occupying about six or seven minutes. either side as yet. I came across and saw at least seventy-five dead bodies; to which side they belonged I could not always tell. The column that fired the Zouave camp report a great many killed while escaping from their tents. The loss of the enemy is perhaps fifty While this was going on, the men evinced by killed and twenty taken prisoners. I do not their cheering that they were all ready and deknow any thing about the wounded. We cap-termined to fight gallantly when the opportured a major, captain, and lieutenant among the prisoners. Gen. Bragg sent a boat over to Fort Pickens this morning for the dead. They gave them up, and report only fifteen bodies found and thirty prisoners. I fear the loss may prove heavier after investigation. The siege is momentarily expected to commence, and every preparation made; perhaps it will happen as soon as the dead and wounded are cared for and the soldiers have rested from last night's fatigue. The enemy appear boastful that we did not assault the fort after we had driven their men in, and gone almost under its guns. We accomplished all, and, the great misfortune is, more than we intended. BATTLE OF BALL'S BLUFF, VA.* FOUGHT OCTOBER 21, 1861. tunity was presented. At dusk, Gen. Gorman's brigade and the Seventh Michigan returned to camp, leaving the Tammany regiment, and the companies of the Fifteenth Massachusetts and artillery at Conrad's Ferry in position, awaiting the return of scouts. Meanwhile, Gen. Stone remained at Edwards' Ferry. At ten o'clock P. M., Lieutenant Howe, Quartermaster of the Fifteenth Massachusetts, reported that scouts, under Capt. Philbrick, had returned to the island, having been within one mile of Leesburg, and there discovering in the edge of a wood an encampment of thirty tents. No pickets were out any distance, and he approached to within twenty-five rods without being even challenged. Orders were then instantly sent to Col. Devens to cross four companies to the Virginia shore, and march silently under cover of the night to the position of the camp referred to, to attack and destroy it at daybreak, pursue the enemy lodged there, as far as would be prudent, and return immediately to the island, his GENERAL: On the 20th inst., being advised sachusetts Twentieth, to be posted over the return to be covered by a company of the Masfrom head-quarters of Gen. McCall's movements landing place. Col. Devens was ordered to to Drainesville to reconnoitre and draw out the make close observation of the position, strength, intentions of the enemy at Leesburg, I went to and movements of the enemy, and in the event Edwards' Ferry, at one o'clock P. M., with Gen. of there being no enemy there visible, to hold Gorman's brigade, Seventh Michigan, two troops of the Van Alen Cavalry, and the Puton in a secure position, until he could be nam Rangers, while four companies of the Fif-strengthened sufficiently to make a valuable reconnoissance. teenth Massachusetts Volunteers were sent to Harrison's Island, under Col. Devens, who then had one company on the island, and Col. Lee, with a battalion of the Massachusetts Twentieth, a section of the Rhode Island battery and Tammany regiment, was sent to Conrad's Ferry. A section of Bunting's New York battery and Rickett's battery was already on duty, respectively at Edwards' and Conrad's Ferries. Gen. McCall's movements had evidently attracted the attention of the enemy, a regiment of infantry having appeared from the direction of Leesburg, and taken shelter behind a hill about a mile and a half from our position at the ferry. General Gorman was ordered to deploy his forces in view of the enemy, and in so doing no movement of the enemy was excited. Three flat boats were ordered, and at the same time, shell and spherical-case shot were thrown into the place of the enemy's concealment. This was done to produce an impression that a crossing was to be made. The shelling at Edwards' Ferry, and launching of the boats, in This battle is variously known as the battle of Ball's Bluff, Edwards' Ferry, Harrison's Island, and Leesburg. At this time orders were sent to Col. Baker to send the First California regiment to Conrad's Ferry, to arrive there at sunrise, and to have the remainder of his brigade ready to move early. chusetts, was also ordered to move with a batLieut.-Col. Wood, of the Fifteenth Massatalion to the river bank opposite Harrison's in charge of Lieut. French of Rickett's batIsland by daybreak. Two mounted howitzers, tery, were ordered to the tow-path of the canal opposite Harrison's Island. Colonel Devens, in to the point indicated, Colonel Lee remaining pursuance of his orders, crossed and proceeded on the bluff with one hundred men to cover his return. To distract attention from Colonel Devens' movements, and to make a reconnoissance in the direction of Leesburg from Edwards' Ferry, I directed General Gorman to throw across the river at that point two companies of the First Minnesota under cover of a fire from Rickett's battery, and sent out a party of thirty-one Van Alen Cavalry under Maj. Mix, accompanied by Captain Chas. Stewart, assistant adjutant-general, Captain Murphy, and Lieutenants Pierce and Gouraud, with orders |