140

COMBAT AT JACKSON'S BRIDGE.

several stray shots were fired in quick succession, and directly our vedettes came dashing in at a gallop, closely followed by several gray-backs. We had barely time to mount and wheel into position before we saw the rebels coming down upon us at the charge. It was impossible to tell what their force was, but as we were both about the same distance from the bridge I knew if the heads of column struck there we stood a pretty good show, even though they outnumbered us, as our men were the best armed and mounted, so I gave the order to charge, instructing the men to yell as loud as possible, and we bore down upon our opponent with much style. At this they discharged their pistols and carbines, killing one horse and slightly wounding one of our men, and then took to their heels. We pursued them about a mile capturing a lieutenant and nine enlisted men. Two rebels were wounded. Capt. Young and Lieut. Brown behaved very handsomely and with their accustomed gallantry. This following so closely upon the capture by Capt. Young at Pensacola exasperated our friend Maury still more, and he sent us word that the next time we "took a gallop" outside of our lines we would meet with more formidable opposition.

On the 27th of January, Lieut. George Ross of B Company, was ordered by Gen. Asboth to proceed with a detail from his company to Point Washington, at the head of Choctawotchie Bay, to protect and forward refugees wishing to enter our lines and enlist in our army, and he accordingly. embarked on the schooner "Sarah Breeze" with seventeen men for his destination. From Point Washington he advanced about twenty-five miles inland, where he

LIEUT. ROSS AND HIS CAPTURE-RE-ENLISTING.

141

struck and surprised a camp of rebel infantry, capturing three officers and forty privates, besides one or two army wagons. This company, it seems, had been stationed there to prevent refugees and deserters escaping to our lines. In trying to bring in his prisoners and plunder he was unable to make as rapid progress as he otherwise would, and before he could get back to his starting point he was overtaken and in turn surprised by a superior force of the enemy's cavalry and after a stubborn resistance was captured with eleven of his men and all his prisoners. It was reported at the time. that several rebels were killed and wounded before Lieut. Ross was overpowered. He was a plucky officer and if he had a chance I have no doubt he made a stout fight, before giving up. A few days later all of his men not taken prisoners reached our lines in safety.

On the 13th of February, Lieut. Frank N. Finney of D Company returned from Vermont with 110 recruits which we were very glad to receive.

During the same month all of the enlisted men of the regiment remaining from those originally mustered in, except fifty-eight, re-enlisted for three years further service, or for the war, the War Department having previously decided that the original term of service of the regiment would expire June 1st, 1864. By the provisions of this order the re-enlisted men were entitled to return to Vermont early in April for a furlough of thirty days. But owing to a series of vexatious delays we were not able to embark until August 10th. From the time of the re-enlistment the regiment was authorized to assume, and

142 WE BECOME VETERANS-COMBAT AT NIX'S CLEARING.

was afterwards known, by the name of the Seventh Regiment Vermont Veteran Volunteers.

On the 19th of February a serious conflagration took place at Pensacola, over one-half of the town being burned to the ground. The next day a scouting party was sent there to ascertain the origin of the fire. But we never knew certainly how or by whom it was caused. About this time we were ordered to participate in the Red River Campaign under Gen. Banks. Happily transportation arrived too late, and we escaped being mixed up in that stupendous "cotton raid." On the 2d of April Gen. Asboth received word through widow Nix that some of Col. Maury's men were at her house, and he accordingly sent out Capt. Schmidt with his entire troop of horse to capture them. In a short time heavy firing was heard across the bayou, and all of the Seventh in camp was ordered to the rescue at double quick. could reach the scene of action the fighting was we found that a serious combat had taken place near Nix's clearing between Schmidt's company and a battalion of rebel cavalry, in which the former had been successful. His first-lieutenant, Mr. Lenike, a very gallant fellow, whom I am informed was killed in the late Franco-Prussian War, was wounded, and several of his men, while the rebel loss was two killed and ten wounded.

Before we over. But

On the 18th of May G Company was detailed to relieve Capt. Larned's company of the Second U. S. Artillery at Fort Barrancas, and K Company was detailed to relieve Major Allen's company of regulars at Fort Pickens, which left but four companies of the Seventh in camp.

RUMORS OF AN ATTACK-RAID.

143

About this time rumors reached us that a combined attack was to be made on the Navy Yard by a land force under Maury and by the ram "Tennessee," then lying in Mobile Bay. This vessel, which was subsequently surrendered to Farragut, was probably the most formidable ironclad the Confederacy ever had, and if her commander had run successfully the gauntlet of our fleet he would have given us very serious trouble. In anticipation of such an attack a water battery, mounted with 11 and 15-inch guns, was constructed on the end of Santa Rosa Island by Companies D, F and K, so as to command the channel; while, on the Barrancas side, we made additional defences to meet any attack from that direction. Every few nights there was picket firing, and we were frequently under arms all night. In the meantime Farragut's preparations for an attack upon Forts Morgan and Gaines, at the entrance to Mobile Bay, were being pushed steadily forward. Neither were the rebels idle. They were constantly strengthening their position, Reinforcements for the garrisons and additional supplies were being brought from the interior, most of which passed over the railroad running from Pollard, and beyond, to Mobile. Gen. Asboth conceived a scheme for destroying this road, and thus cutting off this important line of communication. His idea was a good one, but, unfortunately, we had not. a sufficient force to carry it into effect. Nevertheless he resolved to attempt its execution. Accordingly an expedition was fitted out consisting of the following troops to wit: Four companies of the Seventh, (A, B, E and H,) Schmidt's New York Cavalry, First Florida Cavalry, Eighty-third

144

ACTION AT GONZALES STATION.

and Eighty-sixth U. S. Colored Regiments and two mountain howitzers, commanded by Adjt. Sheldon, and which for want of horses were dragged by mules and denominated by ways of pleasantry "Sheldon's Mule Battery." On the afternoon of July 21st, we left Barrancas with Schmidt's cavalry in advance, followed by our four companies and Sheldon's guns, the other troops bringing up the rear. We were informed that a considerable force of the enemy was intrenched at Gonzales Station (or as it is sometimes called the "Fifteen Mile House," that being its distance from Pensacola), whom we hoped to surprise, and our march was, therefore, so timed as to reach that point early in the morning. This we accomplished, that is to say we struck their outposts a little before daylight, and were soon engaged in an exceedingly lively skirmish. Deploying a portion of the Seventh I was directed to take charge of the right of the line and push forward as rapidly as possible. The enemy, however, contested our advance very stubbornly and it was some little time before we reached the clearing in front of their fortifications, which I soon perceived consisted of a square redoubt crudely made up of logs and earth. It nevertheless afforded protection to their riflemen and as an attempt to carry it by assault might cost several lives, I deemed it best to first try the effect of a few shell. Accordingly Sheldon brought up his howitzers and with remarkable precision landed a half-dozen rounds of spherical shot directly in the fort which caused no little confusion, whereupon Capts. Darwin A. Smalley and John L. Moseley of A and E companies respectively, with a portion of the Seventh, very gallantly led an assault across the clear