Accounting for the confusion of numbers, the adjutant and inspector-general of the State, in his report made November 1, 1863, says: ‘The irregularity of the numbers of battalions is occasioned by being first organized as battalions and subsequently as regiments. Many regiments and battalions of Mississippi volunteers were organized beyond the limits of the State, and others, raised under special authority, reported directly to the war department.’
These two regiments, Ninth and Tenth, served in camp and at Fort McRee during the Confederate occupancy of Pensacola, and participated in the night attack upon ‘Billy Wilson's Zouaves’ on Santa Rosa Island, October 8, 1861. This expedition, under the general command of Gen. Richard H. Anderson, was made by three special battalions; the first, under command of Colonel Chalmers, including detachments from the two Mississippi regiments and the First Alabama. A silent landing was made on the island about two o'clock in the morning, and Chalmers advanced rapidly along the north beach.
After a trudge of three or four miles in the sand, his advance encountered a picket, who fired and was promptly shot down, but the reports served to alarm the Confederates' quarry. The three detachments pushed forward rapidly driving in the outposts, but when the camp was reached the Zouaves had flown. Colonel Chalmers, continuing along the north shore, encountered pickets and outposts, and had some sharp skirmishing, but quickly beat them off and joined the other battalions
