Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-11

@eNtSa'
The following full and explicit official re-
port of Col. Z. w. IIigginson records the gal
liant conduct of the negroes under fire, and
their successful operations in Georgia and
Florida
OK BOARD STEAMER Ben DEFoRD, !
Sunday, Feb. l, 1868.
Brig. Gen. Sartoa, Military Governor, &c.;
General have the honor to report the safe
return of the expedition under my command,
consisting of 4G2 officers and men of the LIST
regiment of South Carolina volunteers, who
left Beaufort Jan. %, ON board the steamers
John Adams, Planter, and Ben Deford.
The expedition has carried the regmental
flag ana the presidents proclamation far into
the interior of Georgia and Florida. The men
have been repeatedly under fire; have had
infantry, cavalry, and even artillery arrayed
against them, and have, in every instance,
come off not only with unblemished honor,
but with undisputed triumph. At Township,
Fla. detachment of the expedition fought
cavalry company which met us Unexpectedly,
on midnight march through pine woods, and
which completely surrounded us. They were
beaten off with Il loss on our part of one man
killed and seven wounded, while the opposing
party admits twelve men killed (incuding
Lieut.. Jones, in command of the company,
besides many wounded. So complete was our
victory that the enemy scattered, hid in the
woods all night, not returning Ioaiss94;;1Sln p,
Wnlch was miles distant, until noon next
Gay-a fact which was, unfortunately, UNI
known, until too late to follow up our adyan-
tage. Had listened to the urgent appeals Of
my men, and pressed the flying enemy, we
could have destroyed his camp; but in view
of the darkness, his uncertain numbers, and
switter motions, with your injunctions of eau
ton judged it better to rest satisfied with
the victory already gained.
On another occasion, detachment of about
25O men, on board the John Adams, fought
its way forty miles up and down river, the
most dangerous IN its department-the st.
Mary's-a river left untraversed by our gun
boats for many months, as it required boat
built like the John Adams to ascend it sue
ccssfully The stream is narrow, swift, wind
ing, and bordered III many places with high
bluffs, which bazed with rifle shots. With
our glasses, as we approached these points,
we could see mounted men by the hundred
gallOping through the woods from point to
point to await us, and though fearful of our
shot and shell, they were so daring against
musketry that one of the rebels actually
sprang from the shore upon the large boat
which was tOwed at our stern, where he was
shot down by one of my Sergeants. Wecould
see our shell scatter the rebels as they fell
among them, and some terrible execution
must have beeu done; but not man of this
regiment was killed or wounded, though the
steamboat is covered with bullet marks, one
| OF which shows where our brave Capt. Cliff
ton, commander of the vessel, fell dead be-
side his own pilot house, shot through the
! head by MIME ball. Maj. Strong, who stood
beside him, escaped as if by magic, both of
them being unnecessarily exposed without my
knowledge. The secret of our safety was in
keeping the regiment below, except the gun
ners but this required the utmost energy of
the officers as the men were wild to come on
Deck and even implored to be landed on shore
| and charge on the enemy. Nobody knows
| anything about these men who has not seen
them in battle. l find that | myself knew
| nothing. There is fiery energy about them
beyond anything of which | have ever read,
unless it be the French Zouaves 1t requires
| the Strictest discipline to hold them in hand.
| During our first attack on the river, before |
| got them all penned below, they crowded at
| the open ends of the steamer, loading and
| firing with inconcevable rapidly, and shout
ing to each other ''Neyer give it up" When
| collec,ed into the hold they actually fought
| each other for places at the few PORTFOLIOS
| from which they could fire on the enemy.
Meanwhile the black gunners, admirably
trained by Lieuts. Stockdale and O'Neil,
| (both being accomplished artillerists, and Mr..
| Heron, of the gunboat, did their duty without
the slightest protection and with great cool
ness, amid storm of shot
This river expedition was not undertaken in
mere brayado. Capt. Sears, U. S. A., the
contractor of fort Clnch had urged upon the
war department to endeayor to obtain large
supply Of valuable brick, said to remain at
the brick yards, thirty miles up the St. Ma
rvs, from which fort Clnch originally
supplied The war department had referred
the matter to Col. Hawley, who approved my
| offer to undertake the enterprise. Apart from
| this, it was the desire of Lieut. Hughes, U.
| S. n, commanding United States steamer
Mohawk, now lying at Fernandina, to obtain
information regarding a rebel steamer, the
Berosa, said to be lying further up the river,
| awaiting opportunity to run the blockade.
| Both objects were accomplished. L brought
| away all the bricks, and ascertaned the Be-
rosa to be worthless. | have the honor to
| state that | have on board the Ben Deford 250
bars of the best new railroad iron, valued at
| $4,000, and much needed in this department.
| This was obtained in St SimOnS and Jehyer
| islands, Georgia, from abandoned rebel forts,
| portion of it having been previously blown
up and collected by Capt. Steedman of the
| Paul Jones. l have also five large sticks of
valuable yellow pine timber, said to be worth
| 500, which came from St. Marys, Georgia.
| There is also quantity of rice, resin, cord
| adge, oars, and other small matters, suitable
| for army purposes. On board the John Adams
there Is Il flock of % sheep from Woodstock
Florida. l have turned over to Capt. Sears
about 10000 large sized bricks, valued at
| about $4,000, in view of the present high
freights. L have also turned over to judge
Satla, civil provost marshal at Fernandina,
four horses, four steers, and quantity of ag-
ricultural implements suitable for Mr.. Help
| er's operations in that location.
| | have seen with my own eyes, and left be-
hind for want of means OF transportation,
(and because brick were considered even
more yaluable,) enough of the choicest south
ern lumber to load five steamers like the Ben
Deford-an amount estimated at more than a
million feet. and probably worth at Hilton
Head, $4,000 | also left behind from CHOICE
valuable furniture by the housetull-pianos,
china, &C., all packed up for transportation,
| as it was sent inland for safe keeping. Not
only were my officers and men forbidden to
take any of these things for private use, but
nothing was taken for public use save articles
strictly contraband of war; No wanton des-
tructon was permitted, nor were any build
ings burned, unless in retaliation for being
fred upon, according to the usages of war.
Of course no personal outrage was permitted
or desired.
At Wo dstock l took six male prisoners
whom brought down the river as hostages,