Jacksonville Florida.

June 2^d 1864.

 

Capt H. B. Scott

A. A. Gen'l Dist of Fla.

                                   

Captain.

            I have the honor to report that in obedience to orders from the Gen'l Comd'g. I reached Jacksonville pr Steamer Picolata, with all the available force of the 17^th Conn Vols, 157^th N.Y. Vols & 35^th U.S.C.T. on the evening of Sunday last, leaving small garrisons at Picolata and S^t Augustine, & orders with Col Harris of 75^th Ohio Mounted Inft'y, to patrol the left bank of the St. Johns and to protect S^t Augustine.

                                               

Having received in addition to the above regiments temporary command of 107^th Ohio & a portion of 3^d U.S.C.T., under the instructions of the Genl Commanding, I embarked with all said force, on board the Steamers, Mary Benton and Alice Price and gun boat Hale, and proceeded to a point of debarkation indicated to me, at the confluence of Cedar & M^cGirts Creeks. Notwithstanding the shallowness of the water near the place of landing, & our limited supply of boats, we succeeded without molestation in disembarking, and commencing our march, at about 3. o'clk A.M. on 1^st inst. My orders were to reach the flank and rear of the works, known as camps Langford & Milton, which the enemy had erected along M^cGirts Creek, at its intersection with the Jacksonville and Yellow Water Creek Road's, the Florida Central R.R. and the earth road contiguous to same. We made M^cGirts Creek at the crossing therewith of the lower Jacksonville & Black Creek Road, at about 6 o'clk A.M. Here we halted for rest and breakfast. After a short delay we advanced as / rapidly as it was possible, under a burning sun, breathless air, and without water for six hours. The long continued drought had dried up all the usual streams, and both officers and men, were compelled to struggle along against overpowering heat & thirst. It was necessary to make some detour to the North-west, on account of the nature of the country, so that our march from the landing, must have been some twenty miles to the enemies works, which we reached at about 2. o'clk P.M.

                                               

His mounted scouts were first met on the western bank of M^cGirts Creek. We came upon them soon after, at two other points. Deeming it certain they would convey the information to the enemy of our approach, a Company of 107^th Ohio were immediately thrown forward as skirmishers, with directions to keep the main column in sight, and attend its movements. As we approached the enemies encampments, their vicinity was indicated by frequent horse trails, and paths marked by blazed pines, concentrating toward the crossing of the R.R. over M^cGirts Creek. Our movement was now made with compactness, each regiment being closed in mass, and as soon as their camp became visible line of battle was formed. The 157^th N.Y. Vols on the right, and 107^th Ohio on the left, the other regiments of the column being held in reserve, and well closed up, to be deployed on either flank, or used as emergencies might demand.

                                               

The skirmishers and the main force were now pushed rapidly forward. To the former I had added a company of 157^th N.Y. Vols under Capt M^cWilliams, and another of 107^th Ohio / under Capt Meyers. The skirmish line soon came upon the last mounted force of the enemy to our north and left of the advance hurrying off their cattle. Their camps had been evidently left in great haste. Several barrels of syrup, potatoes, hominy, bundles of clothing, cooking utensils, and about a thousand bushels of corn had been abandoned. They had also attempted to destroy the R.R. Tresselwork across M^cGirts Creek to impede the possible advance by rail of that portion of our forces under command of Col Shaw.

                                               

But though the enemy had escaped through our deficiency in Cavalry, and the rapid movement of his scouts, the great purpose of our expedition, to turn, develop, and destroy his extensive and formidable earth and timber defences has been fully accomplished, and his troops routed therefrom, without firing a gun. Three miles of most laborious and carefully constructed stockades, earth works & breast works, erected only by great industry & skill, by the flanking movement, to which Gen'l Gordon had ordered my column, were made as useless to the enemy as structures of paper. The blow thus struck against his preparations for defense, and his fancied security in a strong position, behind almost impregnable breastworks, is worth more than a battle and a victory. The result is to him a severe defeat. But what is of more consequence we have also brought home to him the demoralizing conviction, that here piles of timbers & earth massed together upon lines of defences, built with great strength, toil and engineering / skill, are no longer of any avail

                                               

Finding that the direct column under Col Shaw, with the Genl Comd'g, had reached a point on the R.R. just north of our camp, I opened communications with Hd Qrs, and by direction of Gen'l Gordon, established my camp facing westward in double lines of battalion in mass, where we had just halted our advance. I posted a line of Infantry pickets, connecting with those under Col Shaw, on our right, and extending therefrom, along the line of the R.R. to the earth work on the summit, and thence around to M^cGirts Creek on the left, and south. The position was a very strong one, my right and rear being protected by M^cGirts Creek and the R.R. cutting, and in part by the earth works of the enemy, within which we were, at the same time. a defile across the hammock of said creek opposite our rear and centre, communicated directly with the Hd Qrs of the Genl Comd'g, and the camp of Col Shaw.

                                               

One or two of the enemies scouts showed themselves along our lines, just at evening, but the night passed most happyly without disturbance, for the majority of the command were exceedingly exhausted by the march of the day, and by several previous sleepless nights. On the morning of the 2^d however at 7 o'clk Major Fox Comd'g Detachment of 75^th Ohio Mounted Infty. who had gone out on a reconnaissance, supported by the 17^th Conn Vols, under Lt Col Wilcoxson reported to me a large force of the enemy, both Infty & Cavalry to be advancing. They soon / drove in the mounted force, wounding the Majors horse severely, and opened fire upon the right of our picket line very briskly. Major Fox having reported to me, that the attacking force was too strong to be resisted by the 17^th Conn, I ordered forward Lt Col Carmichael of 157^th N.Y. to their support, and to hold the right of our line. The enemy finding us prepared at this point, soon pushed along toward our left, feeling our lines strongly from point to point, throughout its whole extent. To meet these attacks and any further attempts of the enemy to advance upon us, I had ordered the 107^th Ohio & 35^th U.S.C.T. to shove forward a strong line of skirmishers, covering our whole front not protected by 17^th Conn & 157^th N.Y. Vols. down to our extreme left & the south on M^cGirts Creek. They were also directed to hold themselves in readiness for any emergency, and to support by an advance their respective lines. these duties were executed by all the regmts sent forward in the most admirable manner, and with such spirit & eagerness that the enemy were repulsed at every point.

                                               

The Videtts, the skirmish line, and the whole command, under the expectation of an attack in heavy force, which the reports of the mounted Infty had foreshadowed as imminent, bore themselves in the most admirable manner. The skirmishers rushed forward at every point of attack with a shout, and an eagerness that could hardly be held back from a pursuit.

                                               

The fire of the enemy had / about ceased, except on our extreme left, and it was there very feeble, when I received an order from the Gen'l Comd'g to commence withdrawing my force for the purpose of returning to Jacksonville, in fulfillment of his intentions expressed to me, in the evening previous. In accordance therewith the 17^th C.V. & 157^th N.Y. on the right of our line were ordered to withdraw directly from their position down the earth road, leading to Jacksonville, and await the other regts. near the Hd Qrs of the Genl Comd'g, on the left the 35^th U.S. Col^d Troops were first withdrawn and passed through the hammoc opening before named, across M^cGirts Creek, their rear being protected by 107^th Ohio and their skirmish line. The latter regmt immediately followed, and both on the easterly side of the hammoc reformed in column, closed in mass, and then proceeded to the place of junction above indicated. On my arrival there, and finding that the 3 U.S.C.T. which had been detailed early in the morning, under Lt Col Doubleday to fire and destroy the enemies works, were still some distance to the rear completing their work, I directed Lt Col Carmichael of the 157^th N.Y. Vols. to await with his regmt their return to the column which I had ordered, to support them in case of an attack, and to follow our advance as soon as they came up. I then proceeded slowly with the other three regmts of my column on the road to Jacksonville. About / 11 O'clk A.M. I halted with them, at the Sweet Water Branch for their dinner, and to await the arrival of the two regmts in our rear with whom I had kept up a constant communication, and whom I knew were only a short distance in our rear. They soon came up and the march of the column had been resumed, the 17^th C.V. & 107^th Ohio Vols having already crossed the branch when the enemy opened on our rear guard a very rapid fire seemingly pressing forward with more confidence than he had manifested in the morning, perhaps supposing that our return had been compelled by his demonstrations, rather than to have been made in compliance with the design of the Gen'l Comd'g, to return after the work was completed which we came to do. The 35^th U.S.C.T. were immediately formed in line of battle and laid down with their arms ready for action. the 157^th N.Y. also formed line

The firing of the enemy was soon silenced. The whole force was gradually withdrawn across the Sweet Water, and ordered to march in column closed in mass. as far as possible practicable, the 3^d U.S.C.T. were directed to close up the rear & cover the same by a strong skirmish line. All the movements attending the withdrawal of our force, to the east side of the branch, were coolly and handsomely executed. finding that a crossing to the North of the one, on which lay our route, could be easily reached by the enemy and used for our annoyance, / I directed Lt Col Wilcoxson 17^th C.V. to proceed with his regmt to the same, and throw forward skirmishers and hold it, till directed to return to the column. this order was executed by him, and the whole command resumed and continued their march without further molestation

                                               

Although the casualties attending the expedition have been only one wounded severely & one slightly & one missing, yet the object which it has accomplished, has not often been gained by so slight a force, and without severe fight and great losses. I feel satisfied from the bearing of both the officers and men of the command, which has been uniformly courageous & commendable, that they would have been equally meritorious in a more severe contest. I have happyly no distinction to make between the officers of the several commands, in the skillful handling of their troops, or the coolness and dash with which they led them in the execution of my orders. The same uniformity of commendation is deserved by all the soldiers of the expedition. They yielded to their officers a ready & zealous obedience. Nowhere did any man flinch from his post. The majority of the command had been for three nights without any rest, all of them without sleep for the night previous to our march outward, and all subjected to the burning sun and the air without a breath of wind, marching between thick swamps, through Florida woods, officers and / men all on foot, yet from no one came a word of murmur. I feel it not only an honor, but the highest military satisfaction to have commanded such a force, upon so important an expedition. I ought not to conclude this report without merited commendation, for the prompt & admirable arrangement made by Captains Balch & Lewis to protect our debarkation, and to aid and assist us in having it speedily effected. When we arrived in the vicinity of our landing, we found the wide stretch of water contiguous to the same patrolled in every part by their boats and that they had thoroughly dragged the channels as a precaution against any torpedoes which the enemy might have deposited.

                                                                       

I am with great respect,

Your obdt Sert

(Sig)    W H Noble

Col 17^th CV.

Comd'g Flanking

                                                                                               

Column, on Gordons

Expedition against Forts

Langford & Milton

 

[overleaf]

 

Report flanking

Camp Milton

SOURCES