Additonal Data-Civil War

Other Names: None
Location: Escambia County, Fla
Campaign: Operations of Gulf Blockading Squadron (1861)
Date: October 9, 1861
Principal Commanders: Col. Harvey Brown [US]
                                            Confederate Brig.  Gen. Richard H. Anderson [CS]
Forces Engaged: Santa Rosa Island Garrison (approx. 600 men) [US]
                              infantry and artillery detachments (approx. 1,200 men) [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 154 total (US 67; CS 87)

 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.

Result: Union victory

(CWSAC Reference #: FL001)

The following is a literal transcription of a copy of a typewritten sheet given to me by my dad,
W J Reynolds, 3/2001; I have no idea of its origin; presumably a grandchild of Anthony
McGrale. Nor do I know who made the handwritten addendum at the bottom of the sheet, or
if the initials after the inscription are NR or NRR.
 —William J Reynolds  5/2001
 

                         War Record of Anthony McGrale
                  Private in Company A, 48th Regiment, Illinois Infantry

He arrived in Springfield, Illinois, on veteran furlough Jan. 27, 1864; rendezvoused at Centralia.

Moved from Centralia, Illinois, March 10, 1864, via Louisville, Kentucky, Nashville, Tennessee,
and Scottsboro, Alabama to Chattanooga. From thence May 3, 1864 via Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw
Mountain to Atlanta. In the Hood campaign moved to Marietta, Resaca, and to Jacksonville,
Alabama, and returned to Atlanta.

Nov. 15, 1864, moved with General Sherman’s Army (Grandpa was with Sherman on his March to
the Sea and  they suffered great hardships as they carried no provisions but lived off the land--and
there was little enough to find to eat), arriving at the fortifications of Savannah, Dec. 11, and at Fort
McAllister 13th. Thence to Savannah, Jan. 1 , 1865. From thence by water to Beaufort. Thence
moved, Jan. 21, via Pocotaligo, Branchville, Orangeburg to Columbia. Thence via Camden,
Fayetteville, and Bentonville to Goldboro, N.C. From thence April 10, to Raleigh. Thence via
Lewisburg, Warrentown, Lawrenceville, Petersburg, and Richmond to Washington, D.C. >From
thence June 2, 1865 via Parkersburg, Virginia to Louisville, Kentucky.

June 25, moved to Little Rock, Arkansas. Mustered out August 15, 1865, and moved to Camp
Butler, Illinois, arriving August 21, 1865.

Distance marched, 3,000 miles. Moved by water, 5,000 miles. By railroad 3450. Total, 11,450
miles.

Was engaged in the following battles:

     Resaca, Georgia, May 13 to 16, 1864
     Dallas, Georgia, May 26 to 31, 1864
     New Hope Church, Georgia, June 1 to 7, 1864
     Kenesaw Mountain, Georgia, June 10 to July 3, 1864
               (Here, Grandpa said, they fought above the clouds)
     Sandtown, Georgia, July 5 to 12, 1864
     Decatur, Georgia, July 19, 1864
     Atlanta, Georgia, July 21, 22, 28, 1864
     Siege of Atlanta, Georgia, July 28 to August 26, 1864
     Jonesboro, Georgia, August 31, 1864
     Lovejoy, Georgia, Sept. 3 and 4, 1864
     Fort McAllister, Georgia, December 13, 1864
     Siege of Savannah, Georgia, December, 1864
     Duck Creek, South Carolina, February 3, 1865
     South Edisto River, South Carolina, February 9, 1865
     Columbia, February 15 and 16, 1865
     Bentonville, North Carolina, March 20, 1865
 

This record has been copied from the war record of Anthony McGrale

     These men were without blankets, without rations, without overcoats and but half shod
     they made the long march to the sea over territory swept bare of every sort of crop or
     provisions of any sort. Grandpa told of trading a blanket full of oysters for a ham. He
     told, too, of foraging expeditions in search of food. They suffered terribly.
 

(Hand written below this:)

     We can be proud of his record. NR

                                     •••
Transcribed by William J. Reynolds
(Great-great-great grandson of Anthony McGrale)
5/2001
wjr@writeme.com