25th United States Colored Troops - Florida Battle Letter

Item LTR-6814

Description

Original Civil War soldier's letter. 4 pages written in period ink.


Headquarters, 1st Brigade
Barraucas

October 5th 1864

Dear Brother James

Yours of the 19th September came to hand this morning and I hasten to reply. I am in my usual good health and sprits and moving on with my usual ease and tranquility. I am fortunate or unfortunate enough to have some ideas to write this time. an expedition consisting of the 2nd Maine Cavalry, 1st Florida Cavalry and a portion of this Brigade (mounted) in all about 900 men left here on the 15th of September. General Asboth, Commanding the District of West Florida, accompanied the expedition. They proceeded up Pensacola Sound and for some distance beyond the head of the sound without opposition. When near Eucheeanna, they encountered a small force of the enemy whom they routed. Capturing a number of them from this place until they arrived at Marianna. They met with no further resistance. Upon arriving here, they found the Rebs in considerable force and hourly expecting reinforcements. The Rebs were stationed in the tow and our boys had to run through an ugly fire before they could dislodge them from their cover in the houses. The General ordered a charge and they dashed into the town with the old general at their head. The Rebs opened on them from all sides but our boys walked into them rather lively and routed them, capturing one Brigadier General of Militia, one Colonel of the Confederate Army and about ninety (90) others. The Rebel loss in killed and wounded amounted to about seventy (70). Our loss was Captain Young of the 7th Vermont and a Lieutenant of the 2nd Maine and eight (8) enlisted men killed. General Asboth wounded, left arm broken about midway between the elbow and shoulder. It is also much shattered. He received another ball through his right cheek, knocking out two of his teeth and shattering the jaw bone. Major Cutler of the 2nd Maine, wounded and left at Marianna. He received twelve gun shot wounds and was not expected to recover. Major Miller, 2nd Maine Cavalry, severely wounded and some other officers whose names I do not know. We had quite a number of men wounded. Some of them left at Marianna. The General and all the wounded who could be brought with them came in on Sunday night. The balance of the troops has not yet returned and we are beginning to feel anxious about them. Colonel S. S. Zulavsky is in command of the expedition since the General was wounded. Up to the latest information received from him, he had captured found hundred head of beef cattle, two hundred horses, two hundred mules and about thirty wagons. If the Rebs don’t attack them in force and recapture the stuff, the Expedition will be a complete success. Everything else moves on mildly and tranquilly. The Officers of the Colored Troops all hurrah for Lincoln and Johnston and all feel confident of their election. I have been reading the papers which you sent me and I am glad to find them talking Union and no compromise with traitors. The principal among the troops in the country is the Union. Not as it was but as it should be. The copperheads at the north who cry peace ought to think in the course of a while on principal. They must be fools if they think the people of the South can hold out much longer. The prisoners captured in the late raid were miserably clothed. Although they had enough to eat. The Colonel had on a suit which no colored soldier would be permitted to wear. Their money is worth nothing scarcely and they are tired of the war, among other things. Captured on one of the late raids was a mail for the Rebels at Mobile. I read and examined a number of the letters and of all I read, only one did not contain expression of being tired of the war. One contained samples of cloth which the writer informed her husband she was weaving for clothes for themselves and the children. The cloth was of a miserable kind and poorly set up. The whole tone of those letters was one of hatred toward the Confederacy, although expressed in a guarded terms. Some of the letters were written on brown paper and one was written upon wrapping of cartridges and had the words bucket ball printed on it. Their currency is depreciated. Their energy is gone, as is clearly shown by the manner in which they have carried on the summer campaign. Almost always standing on the defensive. The only thing left them is their obstinacy and the election of Lincoln will cure them of that and bring them back to reason and begging for peace on such terms as the North may dictate to them. The only thing they had to cheer them this year was the Chicago Convention and the moment they find that the people of the North defeats the Chicago Platform, their last hope is gone.

Lieutenant Harry Campbell is in good health and sends his kind regards. As I am called on to attend to some business, I must close. Give my love to Mother and all the family. My kind regards to all who may ask for me. Hoping this may find you in good health.

Believe to remain,

Your Affectionate Brother,

George Mahaffey