Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-03-12
Gallant Conduct ut Gainesville.
Correspondence Of tho N. Y. Tribune.


ance MS delaEe for Confederate Government
stores, and as the residence of many wealthy
kebels--ofiicers in the G. S. A. Army, noto-
rious blockade-runncrs, &c. Gainesville
cast 500 votes in the last election of dele
gates to the Charleston Secession Convention
II is about as miles miles from Jackson
vile.
Capt. Marshal received orders to advance
upon Gainesville with picket force Of 40
men from Companies @, Fl, and X of his
regiment, the 40th Massachusetts, Mounted
Infantry. He skirmished all night, and
reached the place on Sunday morning Feb.
IA, at u. m, dashng past 15 rebel infan-
try. and occupying the town. His first care
was to place sentries and pickcts to prevent
the egress of the inhabitants. All new
comers were allowed to enter the place, and
were closely questioned as to the existence
and number of the enemy in the vicinity
From negro it was elected that their cav
airy were close by. A picket of two men
were surprised by the rebels and captured.
BY this means, q rebel messenger escaped
and brought down upon Captain Marshall's
little force an attack from Dickinson's and
Chambers cavalry. The negro had given
Capt. Marshall only GO minutes notice of the
impending onset. Instantly calling to his
aid the willing services of about 100 liberat-
ed negro men, the Captain and his command
removed from the confederate" warehouse
1877 bales of cotton, and barricaded the cross
roads going through the town, adding to
his extcmporized Notifications, sectors or
wings" from point to point Of his lines, to
shield the garrison from rear or thanking
| The rebel cavalry were soon heard thunder
ing down the road. Capt. Marshall cnioin-
cd his men to hold their fire until they
should be close to the brcastworks. The
foremost horscmen were near enough to leap
the petty distractions of two cotton bales,
when q seven-fold vollcy was poured into
them from the new Spencer repeating rifles.
Instantly wheeling, the rebels tried flank
movement, when terrible enfilading fire
reached them, every man of the National
forces firing seven shots at the astonished
troopers. A total rout was the result. The
frightened horses of the dismounted rebels
came vaulting over the cotton bales. The
groans of the wounded, left BY their flying
comrades, mingled in harsh accord with the
shouts and cheers of the Union soldiers
Had Captain Marshalls men been cavalry,
used to the saber, they could have followed
and killed or captured the whole party.
The loss of the rebels was over forty
Their force had been not much less, Ger
hurt
Leaving Gainesville, Mt 9 a. m. on Tues
day, 10th Feb, Capt. Marshalls command
reached Jacksonville by force march by
noon on Wednesday. Their total loss was
wounded in skirmishing, Q captured on
picket, and stragger. Important informa-
tion was obtained as to the strength and
resources of the enemy. Dckinson's caval-
ry (thc same that captured 81 men of the
10th Conn, at st. Augustin, month sInce)
were defeated on their own soil. BY the
| admission of wounded man, found on the
field, one company of the rebels was so cut
up as tobe "ruincd." The Sccessionist wo-
men in Gainesville generously applaudetl
the prowess of the Yankees, admitting that
they had "done well whipped them hand
somely !" and stigmatizeG their own cavalry
as towards and poltroons."
Thirty-six negroes were brought away
from Gainesville OF these 33 enlisted
The storehouscs of the rebel Commissaries
were thrown open to the people, and they
were allowed to take away at will green
coffee, sugar, rice, corn meal, and potatoes.
Much Union feeling was developed among
the inhabitants of the town. They were
surprised at the kindness shown them, de-
claring that the Yankees treated them bet
ter than the Secesh" One woman, finding
a soldier in her yard, readjusting screw in
his rifle, adjured him to make haste and join
in the fight. Although rebel, with her
husband in the traitor army she took the
warmcst interest in the fighting, evidently
for Its own sake. There was at least 81 800
600 worth of rebel property in the place.
Nothing but some sets ot Rebel harness for
artillery horses were destroyed. The fam
| nnnnln rpI nf Enln al NJ;
were hidden to seize and enjoy the property
of the pretended Government of the Con
federacy. Within two square miles were ut
least 1000 bales of cotton, mostly such as
had been seized by the jeff Davis usurpa-
tion. The programme of the arcsent inya-
sion is not to destroy property, but to
pacify and reasure the inhabitants, and
make them cheerfully acquiescent in the
inevitable restoration of Florida to the
Union, which bought, reclaimed from sava.
ges, and protected the State and its people
from foreign foes and internal enemies.
But with this generous treatment, Capt.
Marshall did not neglect to secure the safe
ty of his command by calling seriatim at
every house in Gainesville, instructing the
inhabitants that they must abide by martial
law during his stay must not leave the
place, must keep within doors after dark.
and must refrain from offering insults to his
men. In return, he assured all women and
helpless people that they should not he dis
turbed in person or property. A negro
insurrection in the neighborhood being ap-
pretended, the proper means were taken to
secure all negroes coming into the town.
These were told that they were free, but
their responsibilities and duties of freedmen
were strongly insisted on, while their rights
wee explained and conceded. No evil from
emancipation resulted in the neighborhood
or town of Gainesville.
Instances of individual daring occurred
among the enlisted men, deserving of praise
and mention. Private Charles Ring attack
cd on post by three enemies, mor,ally wound
ed one and put the others to flight.
Among the negroes liberated, were sever
al who read and wrote fairly. One of these
"ex-caitle" had been his masters book eep-
er, cashier, clerk, and managing man. His
owner, utterly ignorant of the merest rudi-
ments Of education, had actually bought the
negroe at high price, on purpose 10 use
his superior intelligence Another, who
had been house servant, brought in an
Enfield rifle, which his master had set up
against fence, while experimenting the
work of the field hands. Bringing the
weapon into the town. he insisted on being
allowed by Capt. Marshall 10 strike a blow
for the liberty of his race. The negroes
who were in the town procured clubs, and
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