The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-20


Oustee, or Ocean Pond, in which $50
FederaIs. under Brig. Gen. Thomas Sey'
mour, were defeated by a slightly in
ferior force OF Confederates. was fought
on a swamp-girt field in Northern
Florida.
The engagement was hotly contested
il was the outcome of a movement in
stituted by Union sympathizers in Florida
and fostered by President Lincoln to re-
construct the States administra tive ma
chinery and to bring that part of the
Confederacy once more into the Union.
The Federsls had already gained a foot
hold at Fernandina, and the east coast.
and at various times since the beginning
of the war had possessed Jacksonville,
on the st. Johns River.
In January President Lincoln had sent
his secretary. John Hay. whom he COM
missioned a major in the Federal Army,
10 supervise the work of reconstruction
in Florida. He had gone TO Fernandina
and had started the work there.
Mai. Gen. Quincy A. Gilmore. COM
manding the Federal Department of the
South. within the limits of which was
Florida, determined to enlarge his field
of operations in that QsIarter by securing
a strong foothold at Jacksonville. This
town had been held by the Federals three
distinct times during the war. Each
time the forces had been withdrawn.
either to meet emergencies. or in fear
that they were not strong enough to
hold their positions in face of the Con-
fcderates
The force which Gen. Gilmore pro-
posed to send was to he of sufficient
strength to maintain its hold against any
ordinary pressure which might be brought
10 bear against it. The permanent pos
session of Jacksonville would cut Off a
valuable Confederate source of commits
sary supplies, provide an outlet for cot
ton. lumber and other products of the
State. and open for recruiting among
tho negroes q new and large territory
Gen. Gillmore's proposal was sanctioned
by the War Department officials. On
February orders were issued for the
cmbsrkation of the expedition at Hilton
Head.
FedcraIs March InIa nd.
In the night of February the Federal
troops boarded the transports that were
to take them to Florida. and before day
break the next morning the flotilla was
steaminS south. The army transports
were conveyed by IiGht-draft gunboats
capable Of passing the bar at the en-
trance to the St Johns River
There were in all about 5000 troops in
the command, under Gen. Seymour Gen.
Gilmore accompanied the expedition. in
tending TO remain at Jacksonville until
affairs there should warrant his return
1" headquarters at Hilton Head.
Crossing the bar at the entrance TO
the river on the morning tide of February
the vessels arrived in front of Jack
sonville early in tn. afternoon. and be-
fore dark the troops had landed. For
the fOurht time the town was occupied
by bluecOats No opposition was en-
Countered. Investigation showed that
the few Confederate troops in the State
were concentrated at Lake City, more
than 10o miles to the west
February a brigade of mounted infan-
try and cavalry, under Col. Guy V. Henry.
Of the FOrtieth Massachusetts Infantry.
pressed along the railroad TO the west.
surprised detachment of Confederates
at Camp Finegan. seven miles from
Jacksonville, captured a battery of eight
guns and took several prisoners.
Finding the country in their front open
the Federals. in force. penetrated the in
terror as far as SandersOn. about forty
miles west Of Jacksonville and sixty miles
east of Lake City. Large quantities of
Confederate stores were found and de-
stroyed and scattered bodies of troops
captured or driven back. The force then
returned to Jacksonville.
On February l.. Gen. Gilmore turned
the command over TO Gen. Seymour and
returned to Hilton Head.
According to Gen. GiIlmore's reports,
he had instructed Gen. Seymour to re-
main at Jacksonville and not to under
take any operations without his Gill
Inurc'sJ sanction. However. on Gen. Gill |
moTe's departure. Gen. Seymour deter
mined to advance 10 the interior and, il |
possible. to destroy railroad communica-
tiun between East and West Florida by |
burning the bridge over the Suwannee |
River. 100 miles inland
Leaving a garrison at Jacksonville, |
he moved with d force OF $500 men and /