Battle of Gainesville
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Gainesville (not to be confused with the First Skirmish of Gainesville of February 15, 1864) was fought on August 17, 1864, when a Confederate force defeated Union detachments on a raid from the Union garrison in the Jacksonville, Florida, area. However, the other and first Battle of Gainesville was fought on 14 February 1864, when a small unit associated with the February 1864 Florida Expedition
, defeated a Confederate cavalry unit.
, site of a railroad junction and depot in north central Florida
, was the scene of two small-scale engagements during the war. On 14 February 1864, the first battle occurred when about 50 Union
troops entered the city intending to capture two trains. Company
H of the 2nd Florida Cavalry
with 130 men attempted to repulse this raid but were defeated by the Union force, which successfully returned to Jacksonville after holding the town.
Listed in the War's Official Orders is a General Order signed by Brigadier General Truman Seymour
on 17 February 1864, stating that he:
Mounted infantry
, reinforced by two companies of the 4th Massachusetts
Cavalry and supported by a battery
of 3 cannon
s from Battery A, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery
under the command of Col.
Andrew L. Harris
occupying the city were attacked from the rear by some 200 soldiers of the Second Florida Cavalry, under the command of Captain John Jackson Dickison
(companies H and F), supported by local militia
, elements of 5th Florida Cavalry Battalion
and a small artillery battery of two cannons for a total strength of about 290 (although only 175 would be engaged in the actual fighting).
The Union column, tired from a long march in the hot summer sun of Florida, was taken by surprise and did not have time to fully deploy when the main attack commenced. After just over 2 hours, the Union troops were routed, driven out of town and suffered significant casualties — 28 dead, 5 wounded, 86 missing or unaccounted for, and 188 captured, along with 260 horses and a 12-pound howitzer
lost. The Confederate
s lost 3 killed and 5 wounded (2 mortally). Only 40 Union troopers and Colonel Harris escaped. He reported his column was destroyed by a large Confederate force of 600-800 men and 3 cannons.
After hearing his account, the remaining Union forces in the north central Florida area withdrew to the garrisons at Jacksonville
and St. Augustine
. Gainesville would remain in Confederate control for the duration of the war.
Battle of Olustee
The Battle of Olustee or Battle of Ocean Pond was fought in Baker County, Florida on 20 February 1864, during the American Civil War. It was the largest battle fought in Florida during the war.-Background:In February 1864, Major General Quincy A...
, defeated a Confederate cavalry unit.
Background
GainesvilleGainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, site of a railroad junction and depot in north central Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, was the scene of two small-scale engagements during the war. On 14 February 1864, the first battle occurred when about 50 Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
troops entered the city intending to capture two trains. Company
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
H of the 2nd Florida Cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
with 130 men attempted to repulse this raid but were defeated by the Union force, which successfully returned to Jacksonville after holding the town.
Listed in the War's Official Orders is a General Order signed by Brigadier General Truman Seymour
Truman Seymour
Truman Seymour was an a career soldier and an accomplished painter. He served in the Union Army during the American Civil War, rising to the rank of major general. He commanded the Union troops at the Battle of Olustee, the largest Civil War battle fought in Florida.-Early life and career:Seymour...
on 17 February 1864, stating that he:
"...especially desires to praise Capt. George E. Marshall, Co. G. 40th Mass. Mounted Volunteers, and his small command of forty-nine men who captured and held Gainesville for fifty-six hours, receiving and repulsing an attack from more than double his force, and, after fulfilling his mission successfully, returning to the designated place of rendevous."
Battle
The Battle of Gainesville took place on August 17, 1864, in the town square. The fighting was viewed by many of the townspeople from the windows of the Beville house near downtown. Three hundred forty-two Union troops of the 75th OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Mounted infantry
Mounted infantry
Mounted infantry were soldiers who rode horses instead of marching, but actually fought on foot . The original dragoons were essentially mounted infantry...
, reinforced by two companies of the 4th Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
Cavalry and supported by a battery
Artillery battery
In military organizations, an artillery battery is a unit of guns, mortars, rockets or missiles so grouped in order to facilitate better battlefield communication and command and control, as well as to provide dispersion for its constituent gunnery crews and their systems...
of 3 cannon
Cannon
A cannon is any piece of artillery that uses gunpowder or other usually explosive-based propellents to launch a projectile. Cannon vary in caliber, range, mobility, rate of fire, angle of fire, and firepower; different forms of cannon combine and balance these attributes in varying degrees,...
s from Battery A, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery
Battery A, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery
Battery A, 3rd Rhode Island Heavy Artillery was a heavy artillery regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:...
under the command of Col.
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
Andrew L. Harris
Andrew L. Harris
Andrew Lintner Harris was one of the heroes of the Battle of Gettysburg and the last Civil War general to serve as a governor in the U.S., serving as the 44th Governor of Ohio.-Biography:Harris was born in Milford Township, Butler County, Ohio, and was educated in the local schools...
occupying the city were attacked from the rear by some 200 soldiers of the Second Florida Cavalry, under the command of Captain John Jackson Dickison
John Jackson Dickison
Colonel John Jackson Dickison , known as "The Swamp Fox", was an officer in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Dickison is remembered as being the person who led the attack which resulted in the capture of the USS Columbine, Union warship in the "Battle of Horse Landing"...
(companies H and F), supported by local militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, elements of 5th Florida Cavalry Battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
and a small artillery battery of two cannons for a total strength of about 290 (although only 175 would be engaged in the actual fighting).
The Union column, tired from a long march in the hot summer sun of Florida, was taken by surprise and did not have time to fully deploy when the main attack commenced. After just over 2 hours, the Union troops were routed, driven out of town and suffered significant casualties — 28 dead, 5 wounded, 86 missing or unaccounted for, and 188 captured, along with 260 horses and a 12-pound howitzer
Howitzer
A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...
lost. The Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
s lost 3 killed and 5 wounded (2 mortally). Only 40 Union troopers and Colonel Harris escaped. He reported his column was destroyed by a large Confederate force of 600-800 men and 3 cannons.
After hearing his account, the remaining Union forces in the north central Florida area withdrew to the garrisons at Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
and St. Augustine
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine is a city in the northeast section of Florida and the county seat of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer and admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, it is the oldest continuously occupied European-established city and port in the continental United...
. Gainesville would remain in Confederate control for the duration of the war.
External links
- General Seymour's Report on the Results of the 1st Battle of Gainesville]
- General Seymour's General Order No. 5 commending Union troops for their performance in the 1st Battle of Gainesville
- Boston Herald newspaper article on the 1st Battle of Gainesville
- Chelsea Telegraph and Pioneer newspaper article on the 1st Battle of Gainesville
- Detailed account of the 2nd Battle of Gainesville