Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-02-13

Fourth.-To ~inaugurate measures for the
speedy restoration of Florida to allegiancs
In accordance with the Instructions re-
ceived from the president by the, hands Of
Major John Hay, assistant adjutant gen.
eraI.
On the same day General Gilmore
issued the following order:
Headquarters Department of the South,
Hilton Head, s. c., Jan. 81, 1864.
General Orders No. 16.-In accordance
with the provision of the presidential proc
lamation of pardon and amnesty, given at
Washington on the 9Th day of December.
in the year of our Lord 1868, and in pur-
suance of instructions received from the
president of the United States, Major John
Hay. assistant adjutant general, will pro-
coed to Fernandina, Fla, and other con-
venient points in that state for the pur-
pose of extending TO the citizens of the
state of Florida an opportunity to avail
themselves of the benefits of that procla-
nation by Offering for their signature the
oath of allegiance therein prescribed and
by issuing to all those subscribing to said
oath certificates emitting them to the BEN
efts of the proclamation. Fugitive citi-
zens of the state of Florida within the
limits of this department will have an OPP
portunity to subscribe to the same oath
and secure certificates in the office of the
post commander at Hilton Head, s. C..
BY command Of
MAJOR GENERAL @. A. GILMORE.
Federals Seize Jacksonville.
Orders were issued to Brigadier Cen
eral Truman Seymour on Feb. . to
proceed to Jacksonville, Fla, and eff
feet a landing and push forward his
mounted force to Baldwin. seventy
miles from Jacksonville. 1t was the
junction of the railroads from Jack
sonville and Fernandina. On the 9th
the expedition, consisting of twenty
steamers and eight %sehooners, under
convoy of the gunboat Norwich, left
Hilton Head and arrived at Jackson
vile ON the next day, Feb. Z. When
the landing of the troops commenced
a small body of the enemy in a wood
adjacent to the town fred three shots.
thus %wounding two or three persons.
A company of colored troops went in
pursuit. and the enemy after firing a
few shots fed.
About twenty-five families remained
in Jacksonville. They were chiefly
women and children. and all professed
to be In favor of the Union. The rail
road was in running order to Talla-
hassee. Provisions and cattle were
abundant. General Joseph Finegan
was in command of the forces of the
enemy.
In the afternoon of the 9Th the
march to the interior of the state was
commenced. The forces were divided
into three columns. commanded re-
spectively by Colonels w. B. Barton,
]. R. Hawley and Guy V. Henry. Colo
mel Barton took the main road. Colo
mel Henry took the road to the right
of that and Colonel Hawley one still
farther to the right. After an adj
vance of three miles the three roads
united on the line of the railroad.
Here the infantry biyouacked for the
night. and Colonel Guy V. Henry. with
the Fortieth Massachusetts mounted
infantry. an independent battalion of
cavalry. and Elders Horse Battery B,
First artillery. pushed forward on a
reconnaissance.
Brilliant Cavalry Dash.
It was dark when the movement
commenced at a brisk trot toward
Lake City. For the distance of five
miles none sof the enemy were seen.
The country through which the force
passed was low, level and marshy. On
each side the road was ianked by pine
forests. The soil was that of fair
farming land to Lake City. but beyond
it become a rich sandy loan. A mile
and Il half from Camp Finegan a
picket station was discovered. but the
pickets had fallen back to the reserve
post.
Pressing forward after a short stop
Colonel Henry soon came in sight OF