Head Quarters U.S. Forces

East of St Johns & Magnolia

Florida Apr 23 1864

 

To Capt W^m R. Burgher

AAG Dep of South

                       

Captn

                                                I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the following copy of an endorsement made by the Maj Genl Comdg Dep of South on my report of the Expedition from Baldwin to Magnolia (August 15-19) via Cedar Key Railroad.

 

                        viz       Col Noble's report is only valuable "as a record of raiding not of fighting. The mention of his personal staff for the above service is simply ridiculous"

                        "I desire the above remark to be sent to Col Noble through Gen Hatch.

            Reference to the above & [?]

                                                                       

The opinion of the Gen Comdg Dep. South I received with great respect. I very much regret that my praise of the officers alluded to, he should regard as "simply ridiculous" By gathering & destroying Rebel property within rules becoming union men, and liberating / slaves to a distance in many instances of 15 miles from the column, they visited upon the enemy all the injury which the distinct line of march ordered by Brig Gen Hatch gave me scope to infict. This order of march [?]. I might have marched along the route marked out by my order without the raiding. But I thought this punishment of the enemy a duty the faithful execution of which by the officer named warranted my commendation [insertion, could not read] I deem myself very unfortunate that [thought stricken, with interwritten insertion, could not read] upon my act as simply ridiculous.

 

No one can regret so keenly as the officer soldiers of my command under me, that because the [?] came not nigh the defined route, that we had no fighting to record. The General Commanding could do neither myself nor the column which I had the honor to command a greater favor than to again put us in the field with orders to seek the enemy & fight him where he might be found. I trust thus the [phrase stricken] in such a case neither the results of Magnolia nor the commendation of my officer who [?] issue through duties of the raid [?] I deem to [?] gallant conduct on the battlefield could / be other than to merit the approbation of the distinguished Genl Comdg the Dep of South

 

[stricken] I am respectfully

Yours

W H Noble

Colonel 17^th Regt Conn Vols

Comdg US Forces

East of St. Johns & Magnolia

 

[overleaf]                                                       

Endorsement of Maj                                       

Gen^l Foster a Report of Expedition from

Baldwin to Magnolia

SOURCES