Battle of Santa Rosa Island

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Battle of Santa Rosa Island
Part of the American Civil War
Date October 9, 1861 Location Santa Rosa Island near Pensacola Result Union victory
Combatants
United States of America	Confederate States of America
Commanders
Col. Harvey Brown	Gen. Richard H. Anderson
Strength
600	1,200
Casualties
67 (14 killed, 29 wounded, and 24 captured or missing)	87 (30-40 killed)

Lower Seaboard Theater

Fort Sumter - Santa Rosa Island - Fort Pulaski - Forts Jackson and St. Philip – New Orleans – Secessionville – Simmon's Bluff – Tampa – Baton Rouge – 1st Donaldsonville - St. John's Bluff - Georgia Landing - 1st Fort McAllister - Fort Bisland – Irish Bend – Vermillion Bayou - 1st Charleston Harbor – 1st Fort Wagner – Grimball's Landing – 2nd Fort Wagner – 2nd Fort Sumter – 2nd Charleston Harbor - Plains Store – Port Hudson - LaFourche Crossing – 2nd Donaldsonville – Kock's Plantation – Stirling's Plantation - Fort Brooke - Gainesville - Olustee - Natural Bridge

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 1 The island 2 Before the battle 3 The battle 4 See also

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] The battle

On the night of the 9th some 1,200 or 1,500 Confederates, commanded by Brig.-Gen. R. H. Anderson, landed about 3 or 4 miles above the fort and marched down the island in three columns, the object being to surprise and capture the garrison. About 3:30 a. m. on the 9th the pickets were suddenly attacked and driven in, and a terrific fire was opened on the camp of the 6th N. Y. Col. Wilson tried to rally his men, but the sudden and unexpected assault threw them into a panic and only a few answered the call. These, however, bravely stood their ground until reinforced "by Maj. Arnold, of the 1st artillery, with a detachment of regulars, from the fort, when the Confederates were driven back to their landing place, closely pressed by about one-fifth their number, who kept up the fire until the boats were out of range. 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.

[edit] See also

• History of Pensacola, Florida