The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-06
NEWS FROM FLORIDA.
Union Reverse at GainsviHe - Cole
Harris Command WOrsted Full
tails of the Affair

heNeFSf NaAtnNViHe q
Harris Command WOrsted Full De
tails of the Affair.
Pior NE Palmetto Herald, Sepisnberl
The late news from the district of Florida Is moi
| OF an encouraging nature. One of the columns
sent out by General Hatch on raid encou red
| superior force of the enemy under NJ ,ioI
| Dickinson, Rebel partisan commander of nc
small shrewdness and skill, bad sharp FIGHT
and were pretty well used up. with loss in men
and material and one gun. The details of thi.
| disastrous affair are these -
One column, consisting Of one hundred aud
| thirty eight men of the 18th Ohio, ninety of the
4th Massachusetts, Cavalry, and ten men OF Cap
| tain Hammers Light Battery, OF the Sd Rhode
| Island Artillery, with hOwtzer, all under the
| command Of Colonel Harris, Of the 18th Ohio.
| moved from Trail Ridge, on the Cedar Keys and
| Fernandina railroad, some fifteen miles from
| Baldwin, towards GAINESVILLE, for the purpose of
| gathering COntrabands, cattle, cotton, aud sup
| plies, and also for reconnaissance. Their pro-
gress was comparatively rapid and was uninter-
rupted for awhile They occupied Starke, a
small station on the railroad, without opposition,
| and captured some cars there, with produce and
| quartermaSter's stores on board. The cars and
such of the merchandise and stores as could not
| be removed were destroyed.
After this work was well and thoroughly COM
| pleted, the command pushed on to within ten
miles Of GAINESVILLE, where it bivouacked for the
night. At daylight the column was again put in
motion, and advanced on GainsYlle small
force of Rebel cavalry were encountered at about
10 O'Clock, just outside Of the town. These were
driven la by our skirmishers, and our forces en-
tered the town. The command there baited their
horses, and probably scattered about the town
somewhat, when the enemy, under MAJOR ID ick-
inson, between six and seven hundred strong,
consisting of his cavalry command, and the
militia OF the country, collected together on the
news OF the movements of our forces, with three
pieces OF artillery, began the attack, while our
men were not in the best position for defense.
The attack was unexpected and threw our
forces into confusion, and after a sharp and well
contested tight, the ammunition becoming eX-
hauSted, the men were ordered to cut their way
through, and escape as best they might dash
was made and portion of the command sue
ceeded in effecting their escape, but a number
Here captured, with the piece Of artillery, l2-
FOUNDER howitZer, with horses, casson aud every
ting complete; three wagons loaded with
vtrious articles, and number Of horses. Quite
number of our men were killed, and three
officers were wounded and fell into the hands of
the enemy. A number of officers are missing,
Colonel Harris effected his escape, but Lieuten-
ant Colonel Morgan and Major Fox have not
been heard from, although it is known that they
are not or were not in the hands of the enemy.
Those who escaped struck into the swamp aud
came into Magnolia, and others are coming in
daily. Our loss will probably foot up o little over
a hundred. Under the head of missing In the
following list Of casualties, are enumerated IN my
who have subsequently come in, which consider
ably reduces the RggrBgate:-
CASUALTIES IN GAINsyILLE AFFAIR SEVENTY
FIFTH OHIO MOUNTED INFANTRY.
Commissioned officers wounded. ............, 4
Commissioned officers missing. ............... 8
Enlisted men killed ......................... s
Enlisted men wounded d.....,............... IA
Enlisted men missing. .......................8 80
FOURTH HAssAcHUSBTTs CAVALRY, cos. AND d.
Commissioned officers missing. 2
Enlisted men killed ........................
Enlisted men wounded. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l3
Enlisted men missing. .....,,.............., AZ
Total...................., ia
All but three OF the wounded men were left in
| the hands Of the enemy.
1t will be observed that tho Rebels claim to
have captured between lao and l50 prisoners in
their account, which we publish below. 1t iI
thought to BE- somewhat exaggerated.
We hope TO be able 10 present full list Of those
lost In the affair in our next issue. 1t has not as
| yet come 10 hand.
not meet the enemy's force, and came back with
about seyenty-hVe contrabands aud few horses
| and mules,
REBEL ACCOUNT.
| From ne coiunBfan EFfrg AugustIs.
| HEADoUARTBRs DIsTRICT OF FLOBIDA, LAKE
| City, August Is, lS6I.-CapIRu Dickinson ports
! by courier, who arrived last night as follows -
81 have the honor to report that had an engage
ment to- day with the cavalry force of the enemy
at this place (Gainsvillel, and by Divine aid the
| victory YVES decisive aud complete. II lasted
| about TWO hours-one hundred and forty or one
| hundred and fifty prisoners iptured, and will be
| forwarded this afternoon. Amongst them we're
! Oue captain, two lieutenans, aud one surgeon;
| scy6ral killed aud wounded. oar loss is s,gnt;
| one killed aud five wounded. l2-p)uud hO vic
| ztr WAS captured, with horses and iXtures com
| pleie a hne piece. About one hundred negro IS
| were recuptured, with three OF tue euemy's
wagons considerable number of horses,
ana other things. They numbered three hundred
and forty two, and were of the 18th Ohio Regi-
ment, Colonel Harris, commanding, and 4Lh
Massachusetts. This party left Baldwin by Trail
| Ridge, and passed between Wsid and Orange
| Springs They pillaged and thieved 7erythng
Dickinson reports that his officers and men be-
haved with great gallantry.
S. A. MORENO, Captain and A. A. g.