The New York herald., 1864-02-20

20 loosely Asthre restrictions placed upon their
usc by the eugacioas nA,or presume may he aiowcA
70 send them forward fer publication without incurras
caiar' wAi tell rs story better than any words d
mine rhe picture drawn thercla 10 in strong bus
truthful cocrs. and no one who knows the exact sas
oa OF affairs within the boundary OF the totterng ana
disinteeratn confedefacy will for momont doubt tho
accuracy aud minute truthfulness Of the sketch cai
readers especial attention ~ the admssions state
nents and gloomy predicous therein contained. and as
sort that noocia document that has fallen into our
hands gives 80 gloomy and disheartenng view OF the
state OF Affairs in Rebeldom Before General Seymour
completes his campaign the state Of Florida win have
passed from rebel and with all the immense
81 IL %
wall and secesh may a well put his house 10 order 'os
impressmeut OF beef and hogs. which will pay perusal
and furnish c0rrob0rstive evidence OF the decline aud
speedy fall OF the Jed Davis Kingdom Tho manner 10
which they get syrup from planters at their own pr
and compel them to pay the government ton dollars eacn
for barrels BY which method they get money as we as
0lasses Is exceedingly cute and snrewd and would oo
do dscredit 20 the financial abilities OF tho smartest
Yankee whom the rebels roundy abuse
TIM ADvANos TOWARDS
The weary soldiers laid themselves the ground -
the open air, without covering shortly after dark. and
were soon asleep No alarm made during the night.
buge, horses fed and light breakfast eaten. Az half
past two the column again in motion and moving
houses which bazed brightly ever and into the
darkness
Over good road through tho DARK forests vo pushed
rapidly guided BY gentleman who know every inch
OF the road. at night as we'll as by day, and,
without bait or serious Interruption, We bad
accomplished distance q nearly teea miles towards
column wou;d cccas sonay halt ut the few houses mel
here and there the road and party sent forward TO
awaken the astonished inhabitants and obtain news
Nothing OF importance dev eoped by these investga
tions. aud the column again started forward We nadc
miles before Lake City st hafpast eleven O'Clock and
there came upon outpost of four reoes who ,ncoo
nentiy fed into town the moment they caught sight OF
our advance
From reports had obtained through rebel prisoners
deserers contrabands and the inhabitants Sauderson
enemys force at Lake City. whore they would make
stand. under General Joseph Fingan outnumbered us
about two 70 one
SO II WAS important that should proceed cautiously
Afteraassug the outpost the column halted and
skrmshng and accommodating force sent forward feel
the enony and ascertain his position.
The force was drawn up in limo OF battle the artillery
o, I,Sa =, 80, suvr "1s mv Su anu sappos.eo py
the Torteth Massachusetts, mounted infantry
with their horses short distance in their We
heard few shots fred by the advance as they
came across the line OF rebel pickets. who in
stautly retired and fell back ou the main line
which our advance reconnotered Finding the enemy in
position distance ahead force again advanced
quarter OF mile in column, and then depIoyed again in
line Of battle the sound Of muskety saluted from
the front.
The enemy having drawn in their pickes aud having
formed in liue TO receive little less than mile from
the town. IN 1000 position the woods iue OF
Tie was again advanced. and third position taken up
with our right resting the railroad and left
ing wei.out 70 guard against ianx movement The
guns OF Elder battery wero so placed to sweep the
only available approach 10 'front.' and necessary
cover the left flank Ia this position AWAITED the
development OF affairs.
DsmountiDg two companies OF the First Massachusetts,
Battalion aud two OF the Foreth Massachu-
soou became engaged with those of the enemy. The in
terchange OF shots rapid Tho sharp reports Of the
cavalrys carbnes rang out. mingled with the heavier
tones OF the rebels mnskets and for time the
was exceedingly active
The enemy mad a heavy line Of skirmishers, nearly
mic Id lenyth. who, covered by trees, kept up q
sharp 6re on handful OF men. who were In
constant danger Of being fanked cut on The skir-
nsh lasted FOR hour and half. and tho strength OF
the rebel force developed aud found 70 fsr exceed
Que own by charge or Company h. First Massachusetts
Independent Battalion. which drove the rebels back
the ma0 line . couple Of hundred yards. the brave
cavalry boys dashed forward with Camanche yell and
drove the rebels In 10 splendid style.
Our mea discovered battery in position said 10 have
been manned by and supported ny strong force
OF cavalry. company Of rebel cavalry attempted 70
charge upon ths company, but was met with voliey
from their car1ues which empted several saddles and
put the rebels fight the most ug,orous confusion
The rebel line shaken By this CHARGE but bad
no force q follow up tho advantage regiment Of in.
fanty thrown forward that time would have gwen
lake City, aud al the stores F,nigau mad hen
moved beyond the Suwanee river.
Bat our force too small. aud Col Henry. after ne
had te the enemy and ascertaaed their strength aud
position. gave orders TO Withdraw skirmishers and
to fall back.
UAsuAt1iRs
Our casualties were only three w0unded:-Chas T.
seriously Elisha Pasho Co. independent Battalion. ia
arm, slightly aud Geo Hdchingson 20 G, Independent
Toe enemy lost as we have since ascerained twenty
killed and forty wounded during the engagement, and
preparing TO retreat when forces retired Our
small force only prevented frum pushing advau
age but regarded as niudcious as it certainly
was. TO risk battle while thirty miles
rom our infantry supports retired four miles
ad night. Thee1emV followed
With csralry. bat did not attack When we bad en-
aped aud were watering our horses quite number OF
,ray backs prowng around the camp. but
ieutenant Holt. OF the cavalry, chased them on aud
iFov. them iuJo the rebe, lines
Ihs ught was passed in quiet, though the torrents OF
rain dd not add the o. tue soiiers VINO were
yng the ground, which was before morning nearly
covered with water
rode from camp into sanoerson aud ound rest and
aod repast chickens and at the hotci Co'oncl
Barton brigade came up during tue evening" aud subse
aucntiy General sey mour aud stat
orders we're 10 Coone Henry TO return with his
command 10 Saudcrson the lack OF supplies prevented
ne infantry from advancing The line oi supplies being
long found dsca TO ration tue troops, and they
compelled to await the arrival OF sgbsistence trans
before al aucing further into the enemys cDnutry
lhis a ternoon Colonel Henry coumaad returned to
point, aud now bivouacsea wthn lines. To.
he will 90 forward to Gainesville aud attempt 10
capture some railroad trains there donbt whether
sh, hear OF tho results OF his expedition beiore At
lauttc sails from Port Rova..
Colonel artons brigade moves back To Barbers, eight
miles distant tonight, where toey will encamp for
whls
RESULTS ExrEDgroy
Thus Sar the expedition and raid have been brilliantly
successful We have captured aud be destroyed
and iJF million d,1 ,yoFb Of pr0peru and
have opened 40 n new Territory 10 our arms aud flag
what else may occur will descrbs IN future letter.
All the wounded will so forward to 10 Jackson
Vile thence TO Hilton Head Our are 10 good spirits
and eager to advance aud meet the enemy
Among the spos We captured at Jonnsous Station
thousand barrels OF rosin and turponne which will be
sent in as soon as transportation caa be obtained.
MORN COTTON SOUND
learn that force a. Bsdw have found twenty or
thirty bales of cotton concealed woods and they
have sent them into Jacksonville More IL vet to be
found and doubt not shall uaiy realize at least two
hundred bales from our capture Of BALDWIN
JAoKscSyiLtR. Fla, Feb. rs, 1864.
arrived berc this eveuag after nard ride from the
front. Icsme with detachment from Battery N, First
artillery. under Lieutenant Mccrca from Baroers who
kind enough 10 offer escort.
Nothing has occurred since my worthy Of mention
Colonel Henrys expedition has 40, yet been heard
from and not able give the results of the sGsir
hope to hear from the column before the last mail leaves
49,.