The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-03-11
THE DISASTER in FLORIDA.
DETAILS OF THE BATTLE.
OUR FORCES FALL INTO ATRAP.
Heroes Led to the Slaughter.
AN OVER WHELMlNG DEFEAT.
Our Forces Intrenching at Jack
SOnVille.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla, February %.
The entire column, numbering little
less than 4, 1000 men, left BARRIERS at seven
o'clock on Saturday morning, and pro-
ceeded on the main road towards Lake
City. am confident the force did not ex-
coed the number stated, for 1 am assured
by an aid de-camp to General Seymour
that rations were drawn that morning for
not quite 5000. The forward movement
was made suddenly. On Friday it was not
supposed by commanding officers-not in
Guiding General Seymour-that an advance
would be made for some days hence. With
that conviction, the officers and men had
built themselves log huts, and provided
such conveniences available in that section
as would insure fair share of comfort.
Some time during the night General Sey-
mour received information Of the enemy .
whereabouts and plans which led him to
believe that, by pushing his columns rap
idly forward, he would be able to defeat
the enemy's designs and secure important
military advantages. Whatever that in
formation may have been, the events of
Saturday would indicate that it was by no
means reliable, or that General Seymour
acted upon it with too much haste. We
all know that General Seymour is not a
man to hesitate in his actions when an OPP
portunity offers for possible success. He
is one of the class that believes he has q
chance of winning and chance of losing,
and that success would never be obtained
if he rested quietly on the bend of the little
South Fork.
The place at which the fight occurred is
on the line of the Florida Central Railroad
forty five miles from Jacksonville, and
within fifteen miles of Lake City. The
nearest station to the ground is called
Olustee, which is about three mics further
up toward Lake CITY.
BATTLE
With the view of meeting the enemy 3
pickets, three miles in advance of the mill,
two companies of the Seventh Connecticut
regiment were deployed on the left of the
railroad, while three companies were LETT
at the mill, for the purpose of supporting
the artillery. A small force of cavalry
was sent to skirmish on the right of the
railroad Our skirmishers had not adj
vanced hundred yards when they dis
covered those of the enemy directly in
their front The result was a brisk fire
on both sides, which ended by the enemy's
falling back ON a second line of skirmish-
ers Our men continued to drive the ene-
my back, sometimes on the right and some
times on the left of the railroad, but prin-
cipally on the lefe. While this was going
on, two companies of the Fortieth Massa
chusetts were ordered to the left, with a
view Of outflanking the enemy's skirruish-
ers. In endeavoring to carry out that
order the FOrtieth Massachusetts, came
upon heavy line of skirmishers and were
compelled to withdraw to their original
position
Capt. Elder, of the lst artillery, in order
to ascertain the enemy's force and position,
brought out one of his pieces into battery
on the right and fired one shot, but it did
not draw reply. The 7th New Hamp-
shire regiment, in connection with thu 18th
Connection, was then sent forward to the
right, and if possible to break through the
enemy'S lire. This movement brought on
hot firing, and it was evident that an en-
gagement was near at hand. At this time
our force on the field consisted of the 18th
New Hump hire, the 9TH Connecticut. the
Independent battalion of Massachusetts
caval,y, the 10th Massachusetts mounted
intantr,, the 9Th United Ststes colored,
Elders battery of four and Hamilton OF
SIX pieces The remainder of the column
was halted ON the road While our men
were at work on the right, Col Henry, in
person, went over to the left to reconnoi
tire, and much to lis astOnishment discOv-
cred at the enemy's right Tapped on our
left. This was reported to Seymour, who
Immediately gave orders for the advance
troops and batteries to come into position.
The enemy watched the movements with
an eager eye, and the moment Hamilton
commenced Numbering his pieces, bis
battery was subjected to a CALLING fire Of
musketry \ number of men and several
horses were s''ot before he cou get ready
to fir one ronnh. The fact that they had
f,rce far superior in point of number to
our own was now beyond all dispute The
firing became heavier and more destruc-
tive as eac' moment advanced. The rail
road a. it nears Olustea takes bend. and
| behind this b-nd the rebels had taken thei
position In the woods in the rear wer,
| their sunpolt tiers and reserves We hat
not a moment to lose. Our men wer
Within one hundred yards of the enemy
aad the onlv thing that could be done wa
to fight To retreat at that time was i'm
possible, for the road was filled with troop
comi up, and the woods on either sid
would not admit OF passage on the flank
BY rint of effort, Capt. Langd0n succeed
ed in getting his four guns in battery o
the extreme left, hut not until he had los
tiv- or six men and the salne number Il
no se- 1t must b. borne in mind tina
our batteries were with II one. hundre
yards Ct the enemys front. Ttls shOr
dl lance rendered it perfectly cas- for til
rebels 10 pick "tf man or horse at ever
discharge of their rifles At the CON
menceInent of the fight the 9Th Unite
Sta es col red troops were suppOrtin
Hamllto"'s battery, but when their al
sl-tarce was really Indispensable, by som
strange order they filed to the right !
rear 1T the battery for the purpose of join
irg their right on the left of the 7th Cor