Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in pursuance of instructions received from the President of the United States, Major John Hay, Assistant Adjutant-General, will proceed to Fernandina, Florida, and other convenient points in that State, for the purpose of extending to the citizens of the State of Florida an opportunity to avail themselves of the benefits of that Proclamation, by offering for their signature the oath of allegiance therein prescribed, and by issuing to all those subscribing to said oath certificates entitling them to the benefits of the Proclamation. Fugitive citizens of the State of Florida, within the limits of this Department, will have an opportunity to subscribe to the same oath and secure certificates in the office of the Post Commander at Hilton Head, South Carolina.

By command of Maj.-Gen. Q. A. GILMORE. ED. W. SMITH, Ass't Adj.-Gen.

Orders were issued to Brig.-Gen. Truman Seymour on February 5th to proceed to Jacksonville, Fla., and effect a landing and push forward his mounted force to Baldwin, seventy miles from Jacksonville. It was the junction of the railroads from Jacksonville and Fernandina. On the 6th the expedition, consisting of twenty steamers and eight schooners, under convoy of the gunboat Norwich, left Hilton Head and arrived at Jacksonville on the next day, February 7th. When the landing of the troops commenced a small body of the enemy in a wood adjacent to the town fired three shots, thus wounding two or three persons. A company of colored troops went in pursuit, and the enemy after firing a few shots fled.

About twenty-five families remained in Jack sonville. They were chiefly women and children, and all professed to be in favor of the Union. The railroad was in running order to Tallahassee. Provisions and cattle were abundant. Gen. Joseph Finegan was in command of the forces of the enemy.

no apprehension from this force, he continued his advance, and three miles beyond surprised and captured a camp of artillery containing four guns, camp and garrison equipage, including wagons, tents, commissory stores and officers' baggage. Three prisoners were taken. The remainder of the force escaped to the woods. This body was falling back, and had not anticipated so rapid an advance of the Federal force. Early on the next morning the advance reached Baldwin, a place of fifteen buildings. Here three cars, two of which were filled with corn, a three-inch rifled gun, a considerable quantity of cotton, rice, tobacco, and other stores were captured. At evening Gens. Gilmore and Seymour arrived.

On the 10th Col. Henry continued his advance. At Barber's Station a thousand barrels of turpentine and five hundred pounds of bacon were captured. An advance guard was then sent forward to see if the enemy were in position to defend the south fork of the St. Mary's river, while the remainder of the force cautiously followed. The enemy in small force were found defending the fork, when a skirmish ensued, in which four were killed on the Federal side and thirteen wounded. Two of the enemy were killed and three wounded, when they fled to the woods. Their force was about one hundred and fifty men. At 6 P. M. Col. Henry reached Sanderson, forty-miles from Jacksonville. The place had been abandoned by the enemy, and a large amount of stores committed to the flames. On the 11th the command encamped five miles from Lake City, which was held by the enemy but evacuated during the night. This was unknown to Col. Henry, and, as he was without infantry, he retraced his steps to Sanderson. The most important property captured was as follows: Two twelve-pounder rifled guns, two six-pounder guns, one three-inch gun, two other guns, five caissons, a large quantity of ammunition, an immense supply of camp and garrison equipage, four railroad cars, one hundred and thirteen bales of cotton, four army wagons, one hundred and five horses and mules, a large stock of saddlery, tanning machinery, three thousand and eighty-three barrels turpentine, six thousand bushels corn; three large warehouses were destroyed. On the 11th telegraphic communication was established between Jacksonville and Baldwin, and on that day Gen. Gilmore sent instructions to Gen. Seymour not to risk a repulse in advancing upon Lake City, but to hold Sanderson unless there were reasons for falling back, and also in case his advance met with serious opposition to concentrate at Sanderson and the south fork of the St. Mary's. On the 13th Gen. Seymour was further instructed to concentrate at Baldwin without delay. This was done at once. Meantime, Col. Henry was sent toward the left to capture some railroad trains at Gainsville on the Fernandina and Cedar Keys railroad. This resulted in a skirmish with a

In the afternoon of the 8th the march to the interior of the State was commenced. The forces were divided into three columns, commanded respectively by Cols. Barton, Hawley, and Henry. Col. Barton took the main road, Col. Henry took the road to the right of that, and Col. Hawley one still further to the right. After an advance of three miles the three roads united on the line of the railroad. Here the infantry bivouacked for the night, and Col. Guy V. Henry, with the 40th Massachusetts infantry, the independent battalion of cavalry and Elder's horse battery B, 1st artillery, pushed forward on a reconnoissance. It was dark when the movement commenced at a brisk trot toward Lake City. For the distance of five miles none of the enemy were seen. The country through which the force passed was low, level, and marshy. On each side the road was flanked by pine forests. The soil was that of fair farming land to Lake City, but beyond it becomes a rich sandy loam. A mile and a 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, Col. Henry soon came in sight of Camp Finegan on the right. About two hundred cavalrymen were seen drawn up in line of battle. Having

body of East Florida cavalry, which was repulsed. A reconnoissance was also made along the Georgia State line by Col. Scammon, destroying several small works of the enemy. After arranging with Gen. Seymour for the construction of certain defences at Jacksonville, Baldwin, and the south fork of the St. Mary's, Gen. Gilmore departed to Hilton Head. His understanding was that no advance would be made by Gen. Seymour without further instructions, and not until the defences were well advanced. It was the intention of Gen. Gilmore to construct several works capable of resisting a coup de main at Jacksonville, Baldwin, Pilatka, and perhaps one or two other important points, so strong that two or three hundred men would be sufficient at each. His desire was to see the lumber and turpentine trade on the St. John's River revived, and to give assurance that the occupation of the river was intended to be permanent.

On Thursday the 18th, the force of Gen. Seymour at Jacksonville left camp with ten days rations, and advanced on the line of the railroad sixteen miles. On the next day it moved seventeen miles to Barber's Station, the roads having been bad on the whole route. On the 20th the troops were in motion at an early hour, the light cavalry in advance. The line of march was across the south fork of the St. Mary's, and up the road to Sanderson, nine miles distant. The day was beautiful. The sky was clear overhead, and the savannahs which stretched out on each side of the sandy road winding through the pine woods, were warm with the sunshine. Sanderson was reached without a halt. There the infantry made a short halt, but the cavalry kept its position about two miles in advance. The march was resumed at midday toward Lake City. Gen. Seymour's force, consisting of five thousand men, moved in three columns, Col. Hawley's brigade on the left, Col. Barton's in the centre, and Col. Scammon's regiment on the extreme right. The cavalry in advance were led by Col. Henry with Elder's battery. In the rear was the colored brigade led by Col. Montgomery. About six miles from Sanderson the enemy's mounted pickets, thirty or forty in number, were met and driven in after exchanging shots. The main body hurried forward a distance of two miles, when three or four cannon shot of the enemy fell among the head of the column. Skirmishing commenced immediately. The artillery dashed into position on the gallop, the infantry on the double-quick step, and in a brief period of time a severe battle was progressing. Elder's battery unlimbered at the head of the road, Hamilton's to the left, and Langdon's on the extreme left, opening at short range with canister shot. The artillery of the enemy consisted of four or five guns, and was badly served at first, being fired too high to do injury. Gen. Seymour's line of infantry was well formed for the position. With the exception of a small field of a few acres, it was in the woods, amid a

heavy growth of pine timber, and with swampy ground intervening between it and the enemy, of whose position nothing was known. The battle lasted for three hours. Two of the Federal batteries were disabled early in the action. The 7th New Hampshire broke, but was rallied again. The 8th U. S. colored fought well until the loss of their leader, when they fled. The contest closed at dusk, and Gen. Seymour finding his force repulsed with some loss, and the colored reserve unequal to the emergency, retired from the field leaving his dead and wounded. The retreat for a short distance was conducted in successive lines of battle, but finding the enemy were not disposed to follow the line was changed, and the force retired in column, Barton's brigade bringing up the rear covered by the cavalry and Elder's battery. A halt was made at Sanderson, six or seven miles, coffee cooked, and some attention given to the wounded. From Sanderson to Barber's Station, says a writer, "ten miles, we wended or crawled along, the wounded filling the night air with lamentations, the crippled horses neighing in pain, and a full moon kissing the cold, clammy lips of the dying." On the next morning the retreat was continued to Baldwin, where the cavalry of the enemy made their appearance. Many of the wounded were here sent on cars drawn by mules to Jacksonville, and Gen. Seymour, knowing that the enemy was following in force, ordered the commissary stores, worth about sixty thousand dollars, to be destroyed, and resumed his march to Jacksonville. His loss in killed, wounded, and missing was about twelve hundred.

The following despatch from the Governor of Florida presents the enemy's account of the battle:

TALLAHASSEE, FLA., February 21.

TO PRESIDENT DAVIS: I have just received the folday:

lowing despatch from Gen. Finegan, dated yester

"I met the enemy in full force to-day, under Gen. Seymour, and defeated him with great loss. I captured five pieces of artillery, hold possession of the battle-field, and the killed and wounded of the enem My cavalry are in pursuit. I don't know precisely the number of prisoners, as they are being brought in constantly. My whole loss, I think, will not exceed two hundred and fifty killed and wounded. Among them I mourn the loss of many brave officers and men."

I understand that Gen. Finegan also captured many small arms.

(Signed) JOHN MILTON, Governor. Gen. Seymour now occupied Jacksonville with his forces, and the enemy took up a position at Camp Finegan, eight miles distant, toward Baldwin. The following correspondence passed, at this time, between Gen. Seymour and Gen. Finegan commanding the enemy's force:

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, D. S. JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Feb. 23, 1864. SIR: In view of the inconveniences to which the wounded prisoners in your hands, since the action of the 20th, near Olustee, Florida, may be unavoidably subjected, I have the honor to propose that they may be paroled, and delivered within my lines as

soon as possible, and Capt. G. S. Dana, of my staff, the bearer of this communication, is authorized to make such arrangements therefor as may be convenient, and a horse car or ambulance will be sent for the wounded, at such times as may be designated, should this proposal be acceded to.

The body of Col. C. W. Fribley was left on the field at Olustee. If there have been any means of identifying his person, I request that his grave may be so marked, that at some future day his family may be able to remove his remains.

I am, General, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

T. SEYMOUR, Brigadier-General Commanding. To the General commanding the Confederate forces in Florida.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT EAST Florida,
BALDWIN, FLA., Feb. 24, 1864.

Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour, Commanding United States forces, Jacksonville:

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 23d inst., proposing "that the wounded prisoners left by you on the field of battle, at Ocean Pond, on the 20th inst., be paroled and sent within your lines, and request ing that, if the body of Col. C. W. Fribley, left on the ground, can be identified, that his grave be marked, so that at some future day his family may

be able to remove his remains."

In reply, I have to state that the wounded prisoners have been sent forward and properly taken care of, and will be kept to await the future action of my Government in reference to a general exchange of prisoners.

I regret to state that the body of Col. Fribley has not been identified.

Very respectfully, your ob't serv't,

JOSEPH FINEGAN. Brigadier-General Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF FLORIDA, D. S., Į JACKSONVILLE, FLA., Feb. 25, 1864. GENERAL: Notwithstanding the information contained in your communication of the 24th inst., respecting the body of the late Col. Fribley, that it has not been identified, I have the honor to urge that measures be taken to ascertain the possession of some of the articles upon his person, with a view to the return of some of them to his widow, at this place. The accompanying memorandum may serve to assist in whatever investigation you may decide

to institute.

And I feel assured that whatever can be done by you to mitigate the sorrow that is the lot of a most deserving and greatly suffering lady, will be cheerfully accorded.

And any remuneration that may be desired or necessary to procure any part of the personal memorials mentioned in this memorandum, will be duly forwarded to the parties having them in possession.

I have further to request, if the arrangement can be made, that Mrs. Fribley herself, accompanied by the adjutant of the late colonel, may be permitted to pass within your lines, in the hope of obtaining more information than can perhaps otherwise be anticipated.

The circumstances of this contest will certainly not be injuriously affected by such a concession to humanity.

Respectfully, your obedient servant, T. SEYMOUR, Brig.-Gen. Commanding. Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan, Commanding Confederate forces East Florida.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT EASTERN FLORIDA, February 26, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 25th inst., and to reply that I will cause the proper inquiries to be made to obtain the information sought for in your

letter, and will, as soon as practicable, forward you a reply by flag of truce.

I regret to say that I consider it at present objectionable, for reasons which it is needless for me to state, but which will doubtless be appreciated by yourself, to grant a permit for Mrs. Fribley and the adjutant of her late husband's regiment to visit the battle-field of Ocean Pond. At a future day these obstacles may be removed.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, (Signed) JOSEPH FINEGAN, Brigadier-General Commanding. Brig.-Gen. T. Seymour, Commanding United States forces Jacksonville, Florida.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA AND FLORIDA, March 4, 1864. District of Florida headquarters, forces in the field. GENERAL: In further reply to your communication of the 25th of February, 1864, I have the honor to forward through you to the widow of the late Col. Fribley, an ambrotype, supposed to be the one referred to in the memorandum accompanying your

communication.

Traces have also been discovered of his watch, a letter from his wife to himself, and his diary, and steps have been taken to recover possession of them. If successful, the two former articles will be forwarded.

self to state that no sympathy with the fate of any That I may not be misunderstood, it is due to myfor a widow in grief, has induced these efforts to reofficer commmnding negro troops, but compassion cover for her relics which she must naturally value. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. M. GARDNER, Brigadier-General Commanding. To Brigadier-General T. SEYMOUR, Comm'g United States forces, Jacksonville, Fla.

(Signed)

A small Federal force remained at Jacksonville for several months, and many raids in different directions were made. (See FLORIDA.) No important military operations took place. The movement to reorganize the State ceased after the battle at Olustee.

Early in the year, a concentration of forces at New Orleans commenced. To these were added a portion of the forces of Gen. Sherman. After his return to Vicksburg from his expedition to Meridian, a considerable body of his troops moved to join Gen. Banks, while the division of Gen. A. J. Smith remained at Vicksburg, ready to cooperate. It was the purpose of Gen. Banks to open the region of Western Louisiana to trade, and scatter or dethe months of March and April the Red River stroy the forces of the enemy. During only has sufficient water to be navigable by the largest vessels.

the division of Gen. Franklin, who formerly In the beginning of the month of March, held a command in the army of the Potomac, moved from New Orleans by the railroad to Brashear City, thence along the Bayou Teche and Opelousas, to Alexandria. This was substantially the same route as was taken by the army in the previous year, under Gen. Banks. (See ANNUAL CLYCLOPEDIA, 1863, ARMY OPERATIONS.) In the mean time the most formidable fleet ever seen in the western waters had been collected under Rear-Admiral Porter, at the mouth of the Red River. It consisted of twenty powerful armed steamers of all classes,

from the light to the heaviest draught. Among them were the monitors Ozark, Osage, Neosho; the ironclads Benton, Carondelet, Pittsburg, Mound City, Louisville, Essex, and Chillicothe; the rams Price, Choctaw, Lafayette, besides the lighter boats, Blackhawk, Ouachita, Champion, and Tyler.

On the 10th of March, about ten thousand troops under Gen. A. J. Smith embarked in twenty transports at Vicksburg, and proceeded to join the fleet. This force consisted of the first and third divisions of the sixteenth army corps, and the first and fourth divisions of the seventeenth. It was intended to unite with the force of Gen. Banks, to which was subsequently to be added the force under Gen. Steele from Arkansas. The principal force of the enemy was under Gen. Richard Taylor, at Shreveport. Bodies of troops under Gen. Price and Gen. Walker were also moving to unite with it. On the next afternoon the transports arrived at the mouth of Red River, and joined the fleet. On the next day, Saturday, the 12th, the fleet moved up the old Red River, into the Atchafalaya, and in the afternoon anchored at Semmesport. The town had ceased to exist; a few chimneys marked the former site. It was burned by Col. C. R. Ellet, in retaliation for the firing upon his steamer, the Queen of the West; and afterward entirely destroyed by Col. John Ellet, during the siege of Port Hudson, to prevent the construction of batteries by the enemy, and a traffic across the river. Hearing nothing from Gen. Banks, Gen. Smith disembarked a portion of his troops on the next day, and sent a brigade under Gen. Mower to reconnoitre in the vicinity of Yellow Bayou. The enemy had broken up their camp and retired. Two extensive earthworks in an incomplete state were found. A distance further five teams loaded with tents were overtaken. The latter were burnt, and the teams loaded with sugar and molasses, and taken to the fleet. It was now decided that the column should march overland to Fort De Russy, a distance of thirty miles, whither it was supposed the enemy had retreated. At daybreak, on Monday morning, the force started in light marching order, with the brigade of Gen. Mower in advance. They had advanced scarcely five miles before they were beset by the enemy's cavalry, in front and rear. This continued until the position of the enemy, known as Fort De Russy, was approached in the afternoon. It consisted of two distinct and formidable earthworks, connected by a covered way; the upper part facing the road mounted four guns, two field and two siege; the lower work, commanding the river, was a casemated battery of three guns. Only two guns were in position in it, one a 11-inch Columbiad, and an 8-inch smooth bore. On each side were batteries of two guns each, making in all eight siege and two field-pieces. As the line moved up to the edge of the timber, the upper work opened with shell and shrapnel,

against which two batteries were brought to bear. The cannonading continued for two hours. A charge was then ordered, and as the men reached the ditch, the garrison surrendered. The Federal loss was four killed and thirty wounded; that of the enemy, five killed and four wounded. The prisoners taken were twenty-four officers and two hundred men. Considerable ammunition and stores were found, besides a thousand muskets. A portion of the fleet arrived as the fort surrendered. Gen. Smith ordered the works to be destroyed. This portion of his troops were then embarked on the transports, and reached Alexandria, one hundred and forty miles from the Mississippi River, on the evening of the 16th. They were followed by the remainder of the forces and the fleet. The enemy retired before the advance, destroying two steamboats and considerable cotton. During the first week, the gunboats rescued upwards of four thousand bales of cotton, and large quantities were brought in by the negroes. The fleet was detained by the low water on the falls above Alexandria, its depth being only six feet, whereas nine feet were required to float the largest gunboats. Three formidable iron-clad rams of the enemy were reported to be at Shreveport, about four hundred and fifty miles above the Mississippi River. On the 19th, Gen. Stone, chief of Gen. Banks' staff, arrived and reported that the latter was at Opelousas. On the 20th, the cavalry force under Gen. Lee, attached to the command of Gen. Banks, reached Alexandria, after marching from Franklin across the Teche country. Meantime detachments from Gen. Smith's command had been sent forward, and captured several small bodies of the enemy.

On the 21st, Natchitoches was taken, with two hundred prisoners and four pieces of artillery. It is about eighty miles from Alexandria. On the 26th, the force of Gen. Smith as the advance, left Alexandria for Shreveport, to be followed by the troops of Gen. Banks then arriving. Shreveport was the destination of the expedition. It had been the capital of the Confederate State Government. Its situation is in almost the extreme northwestern corner of Louisiana, and at the head of navigation on the Red River. The enemy were reported to have a strong force there, and large quantities of cotton and military stores were expected to be captured. The cooperation of Gen. Steele in command at Little Rock, Arkansas, was also expected by Gen. Banks. Twelve of the gunboats and a fleet of thirty transports were able to pass over the shoals, and moved up the river in cooperation with the land forces. On the 4th of April, Gen. Banks' column reached Nachitoches. Here he remained two days.

On Wednesday, the 6th, the army moved from Nachitoches for Shreveport, with Gen. Lee's cavalry in advance. The infantry marched seventeen miles, and the cavalry reached