No. 2.
Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan, C. S.
Army, commanding District of East Florida.
GENERAL: 1 have the
honor to report that on the 10th instant I received information from
Lieutenant-Colonel McCormick, commanding forces at Camp Finegan, of the arrival
at Jacksonville of five gunboats and transports, and the landing of a large
number of Abolition troops, said to be negroes. I immediately issued orders by
telegraph and express trains for the concentration of all the troops which I
could reach within the space of four or five days at the camp in the immediate
vicinity of Jacksonville, prepared to check any movement of the enemy by land
into the interior. To do this I am compelled to leave with entirely inadequate,
protection many important points on the coast whence negroes may escape in
large numbers to the enemy and where they have easy access to the interior.
On the same evening
I proceeded to the camp, arriving there near midnight. I here found that the
enemy had landed from five gunboats and transports, and he had occupied the
town with so much celerity and secrecy as to have surrounded it with his
pickets before the people generally were aware of his presence.
The next morning I
made a reconnaissance in person, with the cavalry companies of Captains
Stephens and Chambers, of the Second Florida Cavalry, under command of
Lieutenant-Colonel McCormick, of the same regiment, and directed Major Brevard,
commanding First Battalion Partisan Rangers, with the companies of Captains
Mays, Bird, J. Q. Stewart, and Asa Stewart, numbering 200 men, to advance to
the immediate vicinity of the town, and cut off, capture, or kill their other
pickets. The cavalry detachment under command of Lieutenant-Colonel McCormick,
which I accompanied, advanced into the suburbs of the town, where we found the
enemy posted in strong picket force. We were fired upon by their first pickets
without effect, except the disabling of 1 or 2 horses, and drove them into the
town. Proceeding farther, we encountered a stronger force, which I estimated to
be about two companies of infantry, drawn up in line of battle and
advantageously posted. These opened on us unexpectedly, firing alternately by
platoons and by file, with some degree of regularity. Our men, at great
disadvantage of position, returned their fire with effect and drove them in
haste and confusion from their position, killing 2 of whom we are certainly
advised and wounding 4 or 5, and we have some reason to believe inflicting on
them a severe loss. In this skirmish we lost a valuable life in Acting Surgeon
Meredith, who accompanied the expedition, and was killed in the second skirmish
with the enemy. At this point I had expected to meet the infantry detachment
under command of Major Brevard, and with them to have retired from the town,
capturing such pickets as were posted still farther out. The road taken was
shorter than anticipated, and the two skirmishes with the enemy had accelerated
our progress, so that we arrived at the place in advance of the infantry. Being
under the range of the enemy's five gunboats and of his field pieces, we
withdrew, bringing off the body of Surgeon Meredith.
Later in the day
Major Brevard, commanding the infantry detachment, making his way into the
suburbs of the town, encountered in the vicinity of the same place one or two
companies of the enemy drawn up in line under cover of the trees and a house.
Feeling the party with skirmishers, he then opened on them with his entire
command, when they broke and fled in confusion, having first, however, returned
his fire. Major Brevard then withdrew his command, and, although the enemy
opened on them with shell from their gunboats, escaped without loss, having
inflicted, as we believe, some loss on the enemy. We have ascertained from the
reconnaissances and other sources of information that the enemy are certainly
in large force in Jacksonville; that they are negroes, with white commissioned
officers, company and field, and generally mulatto non-commissioned officers.
From the best information that we can gather there may be 4,000 negroes now in
the place, with perhaps one company of white troops. That they are expecting
re-enforcements and have strongly fortified the place, having cut down all the
trees, of which there were a great number, and made of them barricades and
abatis; that they have posted field pieces in all the streets and covering the
approaches, and have burned the houses from the river out beyond the suburbs of
the town, so as to enable them to sweep with their heavy guns the whole country
in rear and on either side of the place. They keep five boats with guns of long
range in front and on the sides of the town, thus enabling them from the
conformation of the ground to cover the country for several miles. The object
of these formidable preparations, as we gather from our people who have been
allowed to come out and as indicated by the probabilities of the case, is to
hold the town of Jacksonville and then to advance up the Saint John's in their
gunboats and establish another secure position higher up the river, whence they
may entice the slaves. That the entire negro population of East Florida will be
lost and the country ruined there cannot be a doubt, unless the means of
holding the Saint John's River are immediately supplied. The next movement of
the enemy will be to Palatka, and it may be to-day or to-morrow, and will
necessitate the division of the force here concentrated. In a short time a
similar landing may be effected in the vicinity of Fernandina and another
division of the force required. It is impossible to do anything of importance
unless I obtain the means asked for. All positions on the river, with the
superior weight and number of the enemy's guns, are untenable with the means
which I possess. I hope the commanding general will be able to supply me with
the means absolutely necessary for the preservation of the people of this
district. With the four siege guns asked for I can drive off the enemy's
gunboats preparatory to an attack on the town.
I am to-day advised
that the regiment of white troops in Saint Augustine have been ordered to
re-enforce the enemy at Jacksonville. It is more probable, however, that they
will proceed to Palatka, which is an easy march of 30 miles, through an open
country, and there establish themselves. With the means at my command I shall
not be able to prevent it.
To appreciate the
danger of the permanent establishment of these posts of negro troops on the
Saint John's River I respectfully submit to the commanding general that a
consideration of the topography of the country will exhibit the fact that the
entire planting interest of East Florida lies within easy communication of the
river; that intercourse will immediately commence between negroes on the
plantations and those in the enemy's service; that this intercourse will be
conducted through swamps and under cover of the night, and cannot be prevented.
A few weeks will suffice to corrupt the entire slave population of East
Florida.
I herewith transmit
a copy of an address which I deemed it my duty to publish to the people of the
State, and which I trust will meet the approval of the commanding general; also
a copy of general orders, complimentary to the conduct of officers and men of
this command in the two skirmishes of the 11th instant.
The whole force
which I am able to concentrate at this point, after leaving exposed many
important points, will be less than 1,000 men (of all arms). I further beg
leave to urge upon the commanding general the necessity of supplying me with
300 or 400 Enfield rifles and necessary ammunition for new recruits and new
companies.
Chief of Staff.
[Inclosure No. 1.]
I feel it my duty as
brigadier-general commanding this district to inform the people of the district
and of the State that our unscrupulous enemy has landed a large force of
negroes, under command of white officers, at Jacksonville, under cover of
gunboats. He is attempting to fortify the place so as to make it secure against
attacks. The purpose of this movement is obvious and need not be mentioned in
direct terms. It is sufficient to inspire the whole body of the people with a
renewed and sterner purpose of resistance. I therefore call on such of the
citizens as can possibly leave their homes to arm and organize themselves into
companies without delay and to report to me. Ammunition, subsistence, and
transportation will be furnished them while they remain in service. I further
ask the zealous co-operation of the whole people in forcing into service all
persons within the conscript age who yet remain out. With the blessing of the
Almighty, the zealous support of the people and the Government, I doubt not that
the detestable foe will soon be driven from their cover.
General ORDERS,} No.—,
The
brigadier-general commanding desires to notice in general orders the coolness
and daring exhibited by the officers and men of this command of detachments of
the companies of Capt. W. E. Chambers and Capt. Winston Stephens, of Second
Florida Cavalry, and of the companies of Capts. S. W. Mays, P.B. Bird, J. Q.
Stewart, and Asa Stewart, under the command of Maj. T. W. Brevard, First
Battalion Partisan Rangers, in two separate skirmishes with the enemy in the
suburbs of Jacksonville on this day, These troops advanced with steadfast bravery
while within range of his gunboats and attacked and drove him from his cover.
The brigadier-general commanding commends the gallant and meritorious conduct
in this affair of Lieutenant-Colonel McCormick, Second Florida Cavalry,
commanding cavalry force, and Capts. W. E. Chambers and W. Stephens, of Second
Cavalry, and their officers and men, and of Maj. T.W. Brevard, First Battalion
Partisan Rangers, commanding infantry force, and his captains, S. W. Mays, P.B.
Bird, J. Q. Stewart, and Asa Stewart, and their officers and men.
The command mourns
the loss of Surgeon Meredith, who fell by nobly discharging his duty.
