Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-10-06

In addition to those reported wounded we hear tht
names OF Col: George Patton and Gen. Wharton an:
| Capt H. n. Wilson, of Pegram's sah. Col. Pattor
8 said to have fallen into the enemy's bands.
From Florida.
The following is the Yankee account of the recent
fight at Gainesville
& Surprise By the Enen,y-0ur Force Repused- Casual
ties or oh Sdes-Neary Taoo Hundred A5n Killed
Wounded and Prisoners.
Though first reports and rumors OF disaster derived
from men who have escaped rarely it ever, economlse
the truth but frequently receive sombre shading
from the vivid imaginatops of fortunate survivors yet
we fear that the rumor (which reached us on Saturday
morning lasD of quite serious loss our side in the
engagement at Gainesville, will be fully verified when
the official reports cGme in.
The whole aff5 r seems to have been quite
u surprise the part of the enemy, and to have re-
suited far more disasrousy to US, than was at first
posed.
THE CASUALTIES OK BOTH SIDES.
The enemy report that they have captured one cap
tain two ieutenants and from one hundred and forty
to one hundred and fifty They give their own Ca
suaties in the action at two killed and five woun led
Ours reported by them follows 18th Ohio, kill
ed, three enlisted men wounded four officers and four
teen men. 4th Massachusetts Cavalry, killed, two
wounded, thirteen Sd r. I. ARTILLERY, one man kill
ed.
All our wounded, except three, are in the hands of
the enemy.
They also succeeded in capturing tie twelve pound
hOwitzar belonging to the Sd z. 1. Artillery. The
piece was successfully taken from the field but subse
quently had to be abandoned at distance Of Two miles
from the town in consequence Of the horses giving cut
The horses attached to the casson all killed but
one, and he wounded so that it was impossible to
bring it awey.
THE FORCE OF ENEMY
Consisted OF three companies Cf the I'd Florida cav
airy, a free from McOormicks command on the st.
Mary's, ard the local militia from all the adjacent
country they had three pieces tf artillery and num-
bered in all not less than fom thousand to twelve
hundred men, the majority of whom, however, being
militia Of what known in the enemys country the
" ISSUE: which consists of the old home guard and
all the old and boys from the ages of fourteen to
sixty, recently called into the State service by the last
resort proclamation of the Governor of the State.
OUR FORCES
Consisted of one hundred and eighty five men from
the seventy fifth Ohio.
Sixtyseven men of the I'd Battalion OF the fourth
Massachusetts cavalry.
Fifteen men of he Sd r. I. artillery, with one
l2EOuncer hoWitzar, making, Ia the aggrt tie, two
hundred aud sixtyseven men and one gun, all under
the command of Colonel Harris, of the seventy-fifth
Ohio.
ROUTE TAKEN.
Was t@Om a place known as Trail Bridge, fifteen
miles from Baldwin, when this detachment left the
main force under COL Noble, along the lire of the Fer
nandino and Cedar Keys e. R., passing through
Starke, mixing detour to the left of Waldo and
again crossing the H. H. Gainesville, which town
they entered with triing opposition, driving before
thlm and through the place picket guard of the
enemy numbering some twenty men. We had quiet
possession of the place, and pckets duly posted
about the envrons. TIE men had unsadded and we're
feeding their horses when the officer of the pickets rode
in and reported
SURPRISE BY THE ENEMY.
The enemy had concentrated quite force at Waldo
where they expected to meet with warm reception
Having however avoided an engagement there, by pas
sing around instead of through the place. the disap.
pointed enemy followed in wake until entry into
Gainesville, when having ambushed his force in the
thickly wooded6and about the town, he succeeded in
tectng complete, and to disastrous surprise. That
officers and men of the cavalry succeeded in getting
INTO line of battle and the artillery got their piece
r to position and opened fire before the whole iorce of
the enemy closed in upon them. The contest against
such fearful odds the first considered hopeless
though - was maintained with determined opposition
for about al hour and half beole the ual order to
retreat and save themselves given. Our then
scattered each fer himself seeking safety best he
could closely pursued by the nturisted enemy, who
their unfortunate position the long coveted oppotu
nifty to w1eak summary vengeance upon vanqushed
foe. They unscrupuous in avaing themselves of
this chance thus offered 1hsm the women, says
informant fought Eke DEVILS" and shamefully used
epihets remarkable Tor intensity rather than elegance
in their tors to ncite their soldery to deeds of saw
age vengeance.
Was effected by the men scattered in small squads
here and there seeking to make the best OF their way
to the ie - shelter Of the dense sWamps and nickets
in he vicinity whence, under cover of night, they
might pursue their course unmoested to camps at
Magnolia.