Battle of Santa Rosa Island

The Battle of Santa Rosa Island (October 9, 1861) was an unsuccessful Confederate attempt to take Union-held Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island, Florida.

Battle of Santa Rosa Island
Part of the American Civil War

Fort Pickens, the site of the Battle of Santa Rosa Island
DateOctober 9, 1861 (1861-10-09)
Location
Santa Rosa Island (Florida)
Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union) Confederacy
Commanders and leaders
Harvey Brown Richard H. Anderson
Strength
600 1,200
Casualties and losses
67 total
14 killed
29 wounded
24 captured or missing		 87 total
30-40 killed
The harbor of Pensacola, Florida in 1861.
Map of Santa Rosa Island Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.

Background

Santa Rosa Island is a 40-mile barrier island in the U.S. state of Florida, thirty miles from the Alabama state border. At the western end stands Fort Pickens, which in the fall of 1861 was garrisoned by parts of the 1st, 2nd, 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 the fort, a short distance east of it.

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 the 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 and Lieutenant Hamel, 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. Israel Vogdes, 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.

Fort Pickens and the battle site are preserved within the Gulf Islands National Seashore.[1]

Order of battle

Union Forces

Department of Florida: Col. Harvey Brown

Confederate Forces

Brig. Gen. Richard Heron Anderson

  • Demolition Team --- Lieutenant James H. Hallonquist
  • 1st Battalion – Colonel James R. Chalmers
Detachment, 10th Mississippi Infantry
Detachment, 1st Alabama Infantry
  • 2nd Battalion – Colonel J. Patton Anderson
3 Companies, 7th Alabama Infantry
2 Companies, 1st Louisiana Infantry (Regulars)
2 Companies, 1st Florida Infantry
Detachment, 5th Georgia Infantry
Detachment, Georgia Infantry Battalion
  • Artillery
Homer’s Artillery Company - Lieutenant Hollonquist
  • Confederate Naval Forces
CSS Neaffie
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See also

References
  1. Santa Rosa Island, FL NPS Archived 2009-08-25 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Reid, Thomas. America's Fortress. Gainesville: University Press of Florida. p. 49. ISBN 9780813030197.

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