Col. J. J. Dickison, Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 11.2, Florida
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

[106] headquarters, reporting the enemy in large force at their plantations, burning Boulware's mill, gin house and other buildings, with about 60 bales of cotton. Captain Dickison immediately prepared to follow them with about 130 cavalry: Company H, about 25 of Captain Starke's company from the Fifth battalion of cavalry, and one section of artillery under command of Lieutenant Bruton, about 90 infantry, new recruits who had reported to Captain Dickison, and Captain Rou's detachment of about 30 men. In all, our cavalry force consisted of about 180 men. The infantry moved out on the road leading to Gainesville under Colonel Earle, staff officer of Governor Milton, while Captain Dickison pushed forward with the cavalry and artillery. The enemy's cavalry, with one piece of artillery, moved through the country in the direction of Gainesville, leaving in their camps near the Boulware plantation 5,000 negro infantry and several sections of artillery. Concluding the latter were there for the night, Dickison followed the raiding party with great rapidity, the enemy occasionally stopping at the plantations and farmhouses on the line of march, taking with them all the negroes, horses and mules. They completely sacked Col. Edward Lewis' plantation, carrying off all the negroes, about 125 in number. Mrs. Lewis, who was alone on the plantation—her husband and son with our command—on hearing of the advance of the enemy, had four large plantation wagons loaded with her most valuable furniture, bedding, clothing, etc, ordering her teamsters to put in four mules to each wagon and drive them to a place of safety in the woods near by. As soon as the Federals came up, by fierce and cruel threats the slaves were intimidated and gave information where the wagons were concealed. They were ordered to drive them on and for all the negroes to follow. Just at daylight Captain Dickison rode up with his advance. Mrs. Lewis met him down the avenue and in heart-thrilling words told of her great loss. She had been robbed of everything, only