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.
Assistant Adjutant-General, Department of the South.
