Emilio, Luis F., History of the Fifty-Fourth Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry , 1863-1865

[155] had arrived, Seymour might have gone to the Suwanee River, a strong, defensive line. Seymour arrived at Sanderson with Barton's brigade on the evening of the 11th, amid a torrent of rain. Gillmore on the 11th sent instructions to Seymour not to risk a repulse at Lake City, but to hold Sanderson and the south fork of the St. Mary's. Seymour withdrew to Barber's on the 12th.

From Jacksonville on the 10th, Major Appleton, with Companies C, D, F, and K, went to Camp Finegan, where the next day he was joined by Company E, and on the 12th his force marched to Baldwin. This hamlet was the junction of the Atlantic and Gulf, and Fernandina and Cedar Keys railroads. It consisted of a hotel, railroad depot, freight-house, and a few small, unpainted dwellings. The telegraph was in working order from there to Jacksonville. Supplies were brought up by means of captured cars drawn along the rails by horses.

Col. B. C. Tilghman, Third United States Colored Troops, with his regiment, and a company of the First New York Engineers, held the post. Work began and continued daily on intrenchments, block houses, and a stockade. Scouting parties and foraging details went out each day, the latter bringing in beeves, poultry, and potatoes. Pickets from the Fifty-fourth alternated with those from the Third United States Colored Troops, and furnished garrisons for the block houses and stockades.

From beyond the St. Mary's our advance forces had been all drawn back to Barber's by the 13th. Henry was sent to the southward. Capt. George Marshall, Fortieth Massachusetts, at Gainesville on the 15th repulsed the noted Captain Dickison, Second Florida Cavalry, with a superior