The Portland daily press., 1863-04-21
The jacksonville Expedition.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF COLONEL J. D. RUST.
RrArrnpr 8 q Anil 9 LOG

BEAUFORT, S. c., April 9 1868.
Lieut.. Col. c. G. Haipine, assistant .ddjutant
General, Department of the South:
COLONEL: have the honor to make the follow
ing report for the information of the Major
General commanding the Department of the
South.
In accordance with orders received, | en-
barked my regiment ON board the steamers Del
aware and Gen. Meigs at Beaufort, March 10,
for Jacksonville, Florida, where | arrived on
the 23d ult., having been delayed by rough
weather. Major Heminway, with three companies
on the Gen. Meigs, had already arrived. When
reached there, a rebel battery mounted on a
platform car propelled by locomotive was
Smelling the town. The gunboat Norwich, which
accompanied me, engaged it, replying vigorous
ly, as did also a rfed 32-pounder on Shore
The enemy was soon driven back. He was, as
| afterwards learned, making a reconnaissance
which it was his plan to follow up by an attack
in force after nightfall. He expected to make
the attack so close as to render our gunboats IN
available from the danger of the shells falling
amongour own men. Everything remained quiet
during that night The fact that our pic kets
had previously been drawn in at night to the
edge of the town encouraged this plan, which
frustrated by the arrival of the Eighth
Maine and placing night picket afterwards at
a distance.
On Tuesday night the locomotive battery
again approached and threw several IS pound
iihcu SHELLS, stihiHS StNtldA pululHSs, Dut III
Juring no one.
On Wednesday reconnaissance in force, COM
manded by Colonel Higginson, and consisting
of five companies of the Eighth Maine, under
Lieutenant-Colonel Twitchell, four companies
of the SixthI connecticut, under Major Meeker,
and portion of Colonel Higginsons colored
regiment, advanced along the railroad upwards
of four miles, driving in General Finnegan's
pickets, but were not able to overtake the enemy.
After proceeding as far as was deemed advisable,
and the enemy showing no disposition to accept
battle, our forces commenced TO return. Soon
after, the locomotive battery again appeared
and threw several shells, but was careful to
keep out of range of rifles. One of its
shells killed Privates Hooe and Goodwin and
severely wounded Willis, all of McArthur's
Company |, Eighth Maine regiment. These were
the only persons killed or wounded after my
arrival.
Colonel Montgomery, with about one hun
dred and twenty men his regiment, accompa-
MED by Captain Stedman, of the gunboat Paul
Jones' made a successful expedition TO Palatka,
thirty miles up the river, taking prisoners a
lieutenant and Ia men with all their arms. The
lieutenant violated his parole of honor and es-
capped. Aauantity of cotton, rifles, horses, and
other property, amounting in value to several
thousand dollars, has been captured.
In accordance with Special Order No 1862
received from headquarters Department of the
South, Withdrew all the U S. forces from
Jacksonville, Florida, on the 3ist ult and M
barked them on board transports, part of viii oh
had just arrived for that purpose. Many Union
families came away with us, our soldiers freely
making all possible room for them on the trans
ports The expedition has all returned safely.
Much credit is due Captain II. Boynton, OF
the Eighth Maine regiment, for the careful and
prudent manner in which he conducted the
affairs of provost marshal during our brief stay
at Jacksonville.
Captain Cannon, of the Delaware, and his very
gentlemanly officers deserve mention for Their
kind treatment of officers and men.
JOHN ID. RUsT,
Colonel Eighth Reg. Me. Vols, Comd'g Forces