BATTLE OF SANTA ROSA ISLAND

The 'Battle of Santa Rosa Island' was a battle fought October 9, 1861, on the barrier island of Santa Rosa Island, Florida, as part of the American Civil War.

Contents

The island

Before the battle

The battle

Order of battle

Union Forces

Confederate Forces

See also

References

The island

Santa Rosa Island is a 40-mile barrier island located in the U.S. state of Florida, thirty miles from the Alabama state border.

Before the battle

At the western end stood Fort Pickens, which in the fall of 1861 was gar­risoned by parts of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th U. S. artillery and the 3rd U.S. Infantry, under command of Col. Harvey Brown, of the 5th artillery. The 6th New York Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col. William Wilson, was encamped outside of and a short distance east of the fort.

The battle

After midnight on October 9, Brig. Gen. Richard Anderson crossed from the mainland to Santa Rosa Island with 1,200 men in two small steamers to surprise Union camps and capture Fort Pickens. He landed on the north beach about four miles east of Fort Pickens and divided his command into three columns. After proceeding about three miles, the Confederates surprised the 6th Regiment, New York Volunteers, in its camp and routed the regiment. Gen. Anderson then adopted a defensive stance to entice the Federals to leave the fort and attack. Receiving reinforcements, Col. Harvey Brown sallied against the Confederates, who reembarked and returned to the mainland.
The Union loss was 14 killed, 29 wounded and 24 captured or missing. General Braxton Bragg, commanding the Confederate forces at Pensacola, reported their loss as "30 or 40 killed and wounded," but a Confederate newspaper, found by Lieut. Seeley a few days after the occurrence, gave the total casualties as 175. Maj. Vodges, of the 1st artillery, was captured, and on the Confederate side Gen. Anderson was severely wounded. The camp of the 6th N. Y. was partially destroyed.

Order of battle

Union Forces

'Col. Harvey Brown'
:
★ 6th New York Zouave Infantry, Col. William Wilson
:
★ Vodge’s Command – Major Israel Vodges (c), Capt. John McL. Hildt
::Company A, 1st Artillery – Lieutenant F. E. Taylor
::Company E, 3rd Infantry – Captain John McL. Hildt
::
★ Company G, 3rd New York Infantry – Captain Dobie
:
★ Arnold’s Command – Major Lewis Golding Arnold
::Company C, 3rd Infantry – Lieutenant Shipley
::Company H, 2nd Artillery – Captain James M. Robertson

★ CASUALTIES Killed 14 Wounded 29 Missing 0 ^[1]

Confederate Forces

'Brig. Gen. Richard Heron Anderson'
:
★ Demolition Team --- Lieutenant J. H. Hallonquist
:
★ 1st Battalion – Colonel J. R. Chalmers
::Detachment, 10th Mississippi Infantry
::Detachment, 1st Alabama Infantry
:
★ 2nd Battalion – Colonel J. Patton Anderson
::3 Companies, 7th Alabama Infantry
::2 Companies, Louisiana Infantry
::2 Companies, 1st Florida Infantry
:
★ 3rd Battalion - Colonel J. K. Jackson
::Detachment, 5th Georgia Infantry
::Detachment, Georgia Infantry Battalion
:
★ Artillery
::Homer’s Artillery Company --- Lieutenant Hollonquist
:
★ Confederate Naval Forces
::C.S.S. Neaffie

★ CASUALTIES Killed 17 Wounded 39 Missing 30

See also

★ History of Pensacola, Florida

References

1. OR- Series I, Volume VI, Chapter XVI, Pg 438