Description: |
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. |