, 1864-03-17
Who was Responsible for tho Florida
Disaster
Correspondence Of the n. T. TimeE-1
IAcEsQSY1ILE. Ela.

Wednesday, March 8, 1851
The army is still encamped outside the en-
trcnchments, although the lines hare bean
contracted within tie past few days. The
men are fully prepared to again meet the
enemy, md are confident TINT In the next en-
counter the result will be in their favor. The
whyE and wbereforts Of the recent disaster
have been the themes Of unlimited convcrsa-
men, and the conclusion generally arrived at
is not in a strict sense favorable to the mill
tary reputation Of the commander Of tho dis
triCt. He suffers not Eo much on account of
having mn1e IN advance movement, as to
marching bis column without dankers.
When Gen Seymour advanced on the morn
Ing Of the 90th, he was fully persuaded he
handsome in the military way, and had he
taken the proper precautions, doubt not he
would have realized all that he anticipated.
It Is hardly fair to censure General
Ssy%our a,t,n for Wanting to gife to n;5 the
tary aspect; but take tie ground
that he cannot otter a reasonable excuse for
committing the gross blunder Of allowing
his men to be entrapped+ That is the only
substantial blunder he did commit, and 1t is
the only act for Which he deserves blame.
TIE fact OF bis t14nscending orders might be
numerous instances of a similar nature pc-
Cured and been passed over without remark.
But on account Of his not succeeding. his
going beyond the limits Of his instructions
VIII, Of course, weigh heavily IN the balance
1ate to taEe upon himself The responsibility
Of his entire proceedings SO far as they re-
gard the battle Of Qlustee. lis well known
| fiat Gen. Gilmore gare instructions that the
army should settle for . while at Baldwin
and Barber's. In the belief that all was 60
ing on prosperously, Gen. Gilmore returned
I fo In 1HfrAa n n
| receive dispatch from Gen. Seymour on the
| morning OF the 18th ult., stating his intention
| 10 advance toward Lake City That same
day Gem Gilmore sent his Chief Of Staff, Gen.
Turner, By special boat to Jacksonville,
with Instructions to prevent the advance
| at the time kept the vessel from crossing st:
/ Johns bar, consequently Gen Turner did rot
arrive at Jacksonville until Saturday night,
| at about the hour the army commenced fall
ins back from Olustee. l regret to see SO
| much written about Gen Seymour not sym
As far as sympathy is concerned, I think Gen.
/ Seymour has given them full share. But
/ do not think be Is a mnn to 0yet-fndulge any
! of his trpops, either white or colored; ard
go long as the one Is not favored particularly
at the expense Of the Other, the friends o.
The colorcl troops have NO good ground iol
comnlaint, The yaluc Of co1orca soldiers ha:
been thoroughly tested, md as fur as my ex
perience goes, 1t is equal to that of white
troops, when the latter are within support
ing distance. They must have an example t.
70 br. In my opinion, 1t would be tcartn
| mistake to send body Of colored troops Init
fight without having near By force .
vLitc soldiers. Wlilel do not believe II
crowding the colorcd soldiers, do not be
lioye in placing him above the white one, 10
It is the latter, after a1l, that We must depen'
upon to achieve our signal victories.