The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-02-21
THE WAR IN FLonIDA.

THE WAR IN FLORIDA.
Negro Troops Aga;ast he Ie5els-71e lst South
Caroline Volunteers IN the Feld- Official Re-
port Of Col Hgginson.. = .1fssf. I n LIZ &
The following official report Of Col. T. W
Higginson records the gallant conduct Of the
negroes under FIRE, and their successful operas
tions in Georgia and Florida:
On BOARD STEAxER BEN DEroRD,l
r. - Sunday, Feb. LIST, 1868
Brig Gen. Sazton, Military Governor, de-:
GENERAL:--I have the honor to report the
safe return Of the expedition under nv com.
mand, consisting Of 462 officers and men of the
LIST Regiment of South Carolina Volunteers, who
left Beaufort on January %, on board the stea-
ners John Adams, Planter and Ben Deford.
The expedition has carried the Iegimenta
dag, and the Presidents Proclamation far into
the interior of Georgia and Florida. The men
have been repeatedly under FIRE; have had in
fantry, cavalry, and even artillery arranged
against them, and have, in every instance, come
of not only with unblemished honor, but with
undisputed triumph. . At Township, Florida, a
detachment OF the expedition fought cavalry
company which met us Unexpectedly on mid
night march through pine woods, and which
completely surrounded US. They were beaten
on with loss on our part Of one man killed
and seven wounded. while the opposing party
admits twelve men killed, Gncluding Lieutenant
Jones, in command Of the company besides
many wounded So complete was our victory
that the enemy scattered, bid in the woods ali
night, not returning to bis camp, which Was Eve
miles distant, until noon next day; q fact which
was unfortunately unknown until too late to fol-
low up our advantage Had I listened to the
earnest appeals of my men, and pressed the fy.
ing enemy We could have destroyed this camp !;
but in view Of the darkness, bis uncertain NUNS
bers, and swifter motions, with your injunctions
OF caution, Judged it better to rest satisfied
with the victory already gained. iiszdGs shi j,
On another occasion, d detachment of about
500 men, on board the John Adams, fought its
way forty miles up and down river, the most
dangerous in the department-the ST. lMary's
river-left untraversed by our gnnboats for MANY
months, as it requiredA boat built like the John
Adams to ascend it successfully The stream ia
narrow, swift winding, and bordefed at MANY
tptaces with high bluffs, which blazed with rife
shots. With our glasses, az We approached
| these points, We could see mounted men by the
hundreds gallopings 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 rebel 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. We could see our shell
scatter the rebels as they fell among them, and
some terrible execution must have been done;
but not a man Of this regiment was killed OF
bullet marks, one of which shows where our
brave Captain Clifton, commander of the vessel
| fell dead beside his ewn pilot house, shot thro
the brain by mimic ball. Major Strong, who
stood beside him, escaped az if by magic, both
of them being unnecessarily exposed without my
knowledge. The secret Of our safety was il
keeping the regiment below, except the gunners;
but this required the utmost energy of the Off
GERS, 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 abou,
these men who has not seen them in battle. !
find that myself knew nothing There is q
fiery energy about them beyond anything which
have ever read, unless it be the French Zou-
ayes. It requires tie erictest discipline to hold
them in hand. During our FIRST attack on the
river, before got them all penned below, they
crowded to the open ends Of the steamer, load
ing and firing with inconceivable rapidity, and
shouting to each other, "Neyer give it up! -
When collected 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.. He
ron Of the gunboat, did their duty without the
slightest protection, and With great GOODNESS,
amid storm of shot.
| l have the honor to state that have on
board the Ben. Deford $50 bars of the best new
railroad iron, valued at $4,000, and much
needed in this Department This was obtain
ed in St. Simon's and Jehyer islands, Geor-
ohonI al ho1 for<c nf
it having been previously blown up and COL
lected by Capt. Steedman, of the Paul Jones.
have also FIVE large sticks of valuable yellow
pine timber, saidto be worth $500, which came
from st. Mary's, Georgia. There is also .
quantity of rice, resin, cordsge, oats, and
other small matters, suitable for army pur-
poses. On board the John Adams there is .
flock of % sheep, from Woodstock, Florida.
/ have turned over to Capt. Sears about 49,
600 large sized bricks, valued at about $10,-
| 900, in view Of the present high freights.
have also turned over to Judge Satia, Civil
Provost Marshal at Fernandins, four horses,
four steers, and q quantity of agricultural
| implements, suitable for Mr.. Helpers opera.
lions in that location.
l have seen with my own eyes, and left be-
hind for want Of means Of transportation, land
because brick was considered even more valu-
able, enough of the choicest Southern lumber
to load five steamers like the Ben Deford--an
amount estimated at more than million feet,
and probably worth at Hilton Head, $50, 900.
also left behind, from choice, valuable furni-
ture by the housefull-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 contrabsnd
of war. No wanton destruction was permitted,
nor were any buildings burned, unless in re-
taliation for being fred upon, according to the
usages of war. OF course no outrage was per-
mitted or desired.
We found no large humber of slaves any
where, yet We brought away several whole
families and obtained by their means the most
reliable information I was interested to OBJ
serve that the news Of the Presidents procla-
nation produced marked effect upon them,
and in one case it was of the greatest service
to us in securing the hearty aid Of guide, who
was timid and distrustful till he heard that he
was legally free, af:ersWhich he aided us gladly
and came away with u.s. gf4 wee Ga .resis,
Nv thanks are due for advice and Informs