Official Reports of Operations near Jacksonville, Fla., March 23-31, 1863: No. 1. — Report of Col. John D. Rust, Eighth Maine Infantry.

No. 1.

Report of Col. John D. Rust, Eighth Maine Infantry.

HILTON HEAD, S.C., April 2, 1863.

COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report for the information of the major-general commanding Department of the South:

In accordance with orders received I embarked my regiment on board the steamers Delaware and General Meigs, at Beaufort, March 13, for Jacksonville, Fla., where I arrived on the 23d ultimo, having been delayed by rough weather. Major Hemingway, with three companies on the General Meigs, had already arrived. When I reached there a rebel battery mounted on a platform car propelled by a locomotive was shelling the town. The gunboat Norwich, which accompanied me, engaged it, replying vigorously, as did also a rifled Parrott 32-pounder on shore. The enemy were soon driven back. He was, as I afterward learned, making a reconnaissance, which it was his plan to follow up by an attack in force after night-fall. He expected to make the attack so close as to render our gunboats unavailable from the danger of their shells falling among our own men. Everything remained quiet during the night. The fact that our pickets had previously been drawn in at night to the edge of town encouraged this plan, which was frustrated by the arrival of the Eighth Maine Regiment and placing a night picket afterward at a distance. On Tuesday night the locomotive battery again approached and threw several 68-pounder rifled shells, striking several buildings, but injuring no one.

On Wednesday a reconnaissance in force, commanded by Colonel Higginson, and consisting of five companies of the Eighth Maine, under Lieutenant-Colonel Twitchell; four companies of Sixth Connecticut, under Major Meeker, and a portion of Colonel Higginson's colored regiment advanced along the railroad upward of 4 miles, driving in General Finegan's pickets, but were not able to overtake the enemy.

After proceeding as far as was deemed advisable, and the enemy showing no disposition to accept battle, our forces commenced to return. Soon after the locomotive battery appeared and threw several shells, but was careful to keep out of reach of our rifles. One of its shells killed privates T. G. Hoole and Joseph Goodwin and severely wounded William Willis, all of Captain McArthur's company (I), Eighth Maine Volunteers, who were the only persons killed or wounded after my arrival. On this occasion all the troops behaved exceedingly well.

Colonel Montgomery, with about 120 men of his regiment, accompanied by Captain Steedman, of the gunboat Paul Jones, made a successful expedition to Palatka, 75 miles up the river, taking prisoners a lieutenant and 14 men, with all their arms. The lieutenant violated his parole of honor and escaped. A quantity of cotton, rifles, horses, and other property, amounting to several thousand dollars, has been captured.

In accordance with Special Orders, No. 162, received from Headquarters Department of the South, I withdrew all the Union forces from Jacksonville, Fla., March 31, and embarked them on board transports, a part of which had just arrived for that purpose.

While the evacuation was taking place several fires were lit, a portion of them undoubtedly by secessionists; these fires were not confined to the lines of any regiment. Perhaps twenty-five buildings were destroyed. On my arrival I had found that many buildings had previously been destroyed, some by rebels, others by Union forces from military necessity.

Many Union families came away with us, our soldiers freely making all possible room for them on the transports.

The expedition has all returned safely.

Much credit is due to Capt. H. Boynton, of Eighth Regiment Maine Volunteers, for the careful and prudent manner in which he had administered the affairs of provost-marshal during our brief stay at Jacksonville.

Captain Cannon, of the Delaware, and his gentlemanly officers deserve mention for their kind treatment of officers and men.

JOHN D. RUST        ,

Colonel Eighth Regiment Maine Vols., Commanding Forces.

Lieut. Col. CHARLES G. HALPINE,
        Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the South.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 14 (Serial No. 20), p. 232-3

Dr. Seth Rogers to his daughter Dolly, March 23, 1863

March 23.

The 8th Maine arrived today and I am sorry that Colonel [John D.] Rust¹ ranks our Colonel.

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¹ He, however, although a senior officer, courteously waived command and remained on board his own ship. —  T. W. H.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 378

Dr. Seth Rogers to his daughter Dolly, March 25, 1863—2:30 p.m.

March 25, 2.30, P. M.

Three quarters of an hour ago I was dreaming pleasantly of a prayer meeting, when a rebel bombshell burst somewhere in the immediate vicinity of the town. Presently another and another, then the reply of our guns and then the "long call." It seemed as if we were at last fairly in for it. Dr. Minor came up to ask if we were to trust Providence to care for our hospital. I advised him to go back and assure them all that the Lord was on the side of our big guns. Meanwhile I crawled on to the top of our observatory and watched the firing until the secesh sent a shell, which burst in the air and sent a fragment whistling above my head with a note so shrill that I began to think of Gabriel's trumpet and crawled down again. Presently the cannonading ceased. I do not think it was chivalric for the rebels to wake us so early, but, I remember, we are not now in South Carolina. The cocks are crowing unconcernedly and I'll to bed again.

Evening.

Several shells came into town before our guns gave the quietus. A section of one struck within a few feet of the Colonel and Major, in front of Headquarters. The hospital of the 8th Maine was perforated by a piece of one, and two dwelling houses were terribly bored. One went through two occupied chambers. A husband and wife lost, respectively, a coat and a skirt, which were hanging on a rocking chair, and, collectively, a portion of the mosquito bar over the bed. Shells make very ugly looking holes through houses. It seems remarkable that no one was injured, although to me not much more so than that so few are injured in thunder storms, of which this scene forcibly reminded me.

This morning we made a reconnoissance in force. One of our S. C. V. companies took charge of the rifled ten pounder on the platform car, while the Colonel and Major advanced on the line of the railroad with four other companies of our regiment together with six of the 8th Maine and 6th Conn. Our Colonel in command. Our boys skirmished on the left of the road and the others on the right. The rebel pickets galloped off to camp, which has been moved back ten or twelve miles. When we had advanced about four miles through the open pine barrens and occasional thick woods, the smoke of a rebel engine was seen in the distance. Meantime I had hurried through my morning duties, and at about 12.30 P. M. had overtaken the force. I had not been there more than twenty minutes before the 64 pound shells began to come down upon us from their gun on a platform car. Our force had already begun a slow retreat [having already passed the limit fixed by orders], with repeated halts, when the conical portion of the first shell (which had exploded above our heads) struck four of the 8^th Maine soldiers, killing two and wounding two, one slightly and one so that the amputation of the foot is necessary. The firing was very accurate; first on one side of the road, then on the other a shell would come singing over and many of them exploded over our heads. Gen. Saxton believes a special Providence watches over our regiment, and that not a man was seriously injured today would seem to justify this belief. I saw a whole shell that did not explode, plough into the sand under the feet of a soldier not six rods from me, knock his gun out of his hands and his cap off his head, but before I could get to him he had gathered himself up and was off uninjured.

Dr. Mitchell, of the 8th Maine, and I, were the only mounted officers out, till the Colonel's horse was sent to meet him on the return. My "rebel" pranced well and behaved beautifully. We burned several houses and, as I had not before had the satisfaction, I chose a very new, good one, and kindled my fire in a costly mahogany sideboard. A portion of the R. R. track was destroyed, but whether enough to hinder them long in repairs I am not certain.

After our return, Sergeant McIntyre of Co. G came up to headquarters to intercede for his friend Thomas Long, a private in the same company, who had conceived the idea of going alone a dozen miles to destroy by fire a long trestle work, built through a swamp, over which the cars run. Thomas Long is a thin, spiritual-looking, unassuming black man, who trusts God. He has gone on his errand, an errand requiring more real courage and heroism than has before been manifested in our regiment. Of course he goes disguised, but he carries with him such evidence of his intention that death would surely follow his capture. My expectation of seeing him again is very small.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 379-80

Dr. Seth Rogers to his daughter Dolly, March 26, 1863

March 26.

This morning a company of the 8th Maine went over the creek, north of the town, and advanced about three miles through the pine barrens. At noon a messenger came in for reinforcements to go out and take a camp containing a hundred cavalry pickets. It was decided that Colonel H. and Major Strong, with four of our companies, should undertake the job, much to the disappointment of Lieut. Col. [Joseph F.] Twitchell of the 8th Maine, who told me how certain he was of making a fine dash of it if allowed to go. But we had held the town against great odds before they came to our relief, and it was our right to go.

To my surprise, the Colonel ordered me to stay behind until the reserve force should come up. I waited as long as I could conveniently and then rode over to the creek where our pickets were stationed. Instead of meeting a "reserve," I found only the horses of our officers, who had not attempted to get them over the barricades on the causeway and through the creek, where the bridge had been removed. They had already been gone long enough to get two miles in advance and it looked to me as if there must be ample time for our party to capture or be captured, long before the 8th Maine could reinforce them. So, for once, I disobeyed orders and gave my Rebel the reins. I found he could leap like a panther and run like a deer. Except in the circus, I have never seen a horse leap so high. The marsh each side of the causeway made it impossible to go round. Once out on the plain, among the tall, handsome pines, we went gaily in pursuit of our party. The scene was so solemn and so beautiful that I had no fear of possible guerilla shots. At length our men were in sight, on the right of the road, and hats were waying me out of the way as likely to be seen by the enemy. Knowing but little of strategy, I suppose I should have made a straightforward push for the enemy. Major Strong, with two companies, had gone around another way to cut off retreat, and I soon perceived, by the silence and ominous motions, that we were in the immediate vicinity of the camp. Finally the trap was handsomely and strategically set, the Major was on the left spring and the Colonel on the right, and when the two jaws snapped together they found between their teeth quite a lot of drying sheets and shirts and other articles, resembling, through a thickly wooded ravine, a rebel camp. Chickens were frightened, and an old mare confiscated by the Major to ride back to town. I have not seen the 8th Maine Captain who made the blunder, but everybody else seems to enjoy it. Our boys could not have had a better skirmish drill. I was not censured for disobeying orders.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 380-1

Dr. Seth Rogers to his daughter Dolly, March 29, 1863

STEAMER Convoy, Mouth of St. John's, March 29, 1863.

This is one of the sad days of my life. The evacuation of Jacksonville is the burial of so many hopes I had cherished for the oppressed, that I feel like one in attendance at the funeral of a host of his friends. I greatly fear we are to be put back: out of active service at a moment when there is most need for us to work. I believe our retrograde movement today is an error more serious and damaging to the interests of the enslaved than appears on the surface. . . Major Strong and his party visited, last night, the picket station of the rebels, but for some reason they found no one, and the search was useless.

Early this morning all was hurry and excitement. Insufficient means of transportation caused a good deal of grief among families obliged to leave behind furniture, and caused a good deal of profanity among officers and soldiers obliged to be packed as you would pack pork. This little Convoy, of 410 tons, has six companies of soldiers with all their equipments, forty or fifty citizens with all the truck we did not throw back upon the wharf: fifty horses: all the Commissary stores and all my hospital stores, save those needed on the John Adams. Were this crowded state to last but a few hours there would be no trouble, but it is thick weather and raining like fury, and the fleet dare not put out to sea before morning. I forgot to say that we have also all our camp tents on board. Here we are for the night.

Quite early this morning the 8th Maine boys began setting fire to the town a most shameful proceeding. I came near losing my hospital stores before I could find conveyance for them to the steamer. The hospital was burned and many buildings were on fire when we left. It seemed like an interposition of Providence that a heavy rain so soon came on, which probably saved part of the town. It also seems to me that Providence is interfering with General Hunter's order in a way that may be more or less destructive. The wind is changing to the East and our prospect of getting off in the morning is passing away.

SOURCE: Proceedings of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Volume 43, October, 1909—June, 1910: February 1910. p. 383

The Situation Near Savannah – Arrangement Of The Forces – From Whom Brunswick Was Taken

The long talked of expedition against Savannah still “hangs fire,” but I will venture to assure the impatient portion of the community that the “blow will be struck” when – everything is ready, and not before.  Meanwhile Pulaski is “cut off” – isolated – “left out in the cold,” and will doubtless soon fall.  Reconnoissances are made daily, and the intricate windings of creeks, cuts and straits that fringe the islands on each side of Savannah, are fast being sought out.  Gen. Wright with his brigade, consisting of the 4th New Hampshire, 7th Connecticut, 9th Maine, and 97th Pennsylvania regiments are still in the neighborhood of Tybee, having returned from an expedition to Brunswick, Ga.

Quite an amusing story is told in connection with the affair at Brunswick.  It seems that the gunboats, after reconnoitering a while in front of the rebel fortifications, got into “posish,” and were about to “let slip the dogs,” when they discovered a boat push off from the shore at the fort, and make directly for the gunboat, upon nearing which it was found to contain a couple of “contrabands,” who commenced yelling “Hold on, Massa Yankee, don’t fire, der sogers all gone Serwerner,”  “dase leff me all alone.”  And sure enough they had gone, and the anticipated sport was “nipped.”

Gen. Viele is in command of a force on Dawfuskie Island, and is erecting fortifications there.  The forces on Hilton Head Island, consisting of the Massachusetts cavalry, 3d Rhode Island artillery, 2nd New Hampshire, 8th Maine, 6th Connecticut, 28th Massachusetts, and 45th Pennsylvania regiments are under command of Col. E. Q. Fellows of the 3d New Hampshire regiment.  Col. Fellows seems to have won the entire confidence of Gen. Sherman, who has seen fit to assign him to this responsible situation. – By the way, Col. F. is currently talked of as the next Brigadier from New Hampshire.  He is a soldier, and he is capable.

The steamship Mississippi, having on board Gen. Butler and Staff, the 31st Massachusetts regiment and part of the 13th Maine, Col. Neal Dow, put into this port and hauled up at Seabrook for repairs, having run aground on “Frying Pan” Shoals, off Cape Fear.  The damage was quite severe, a hole being stove in her bottom, causing a leak which had it not been an iron boat with several compartments, must have sunk her with all on board.  She will be speedily repaired and on her way to Ship Island.  Gen. Butler and Staff attended a grand review at Beaufort yesterday by invitation of Gen. Sherman.

The 3d New Hampshire regiment has been selected by Gen. Sherman to do some important service.  They are to embark to-day, under command of Lieut. Col. John H. Jackson, who “saw service” in the Mexican war, and will doubtless render a good account of himself and the regiment on this expedition.

The contrabands are getting organized into “gangs,” in view of the opening of the “spring’s work,” and under the direction of government agents will soon commence cultivating cotton, corn, sweet potatoes, &c. – Port Royal Cor. Of Boston Journal, 7th.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, March 22, 1862, p. 2

From Port Royal

NEW YORK, April 22.

Advices per the Marion from Port Royal on the 19th, states that a surveying expedition of 200 of the 8th Michigan landing at Wilmington, were surprised by about 800 rebels who pressed on them with an effective fire, killing and wounding several. – The federals returned fire, and went gallantly into the fight. The rebels after a short stand, retreated in order.

An Adjutant of the 8th Maine was killed with 12 or 13 others, and 25 or 30 wounded. The rebel loss is unknown.

Fort Pulaski is so much impaired as to be wholly unfit for a work of defence.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport Iowa, Wednesday Morning, April 23, 1862, p. 1