. Only those who have lived in such a camp can
appreciate the stories of hair-breadth escapes from hand-to-hand fights.

The repose lasted until January, when an important movement took place
for the permanent occupation of Florida. The following account, written
by the author of this book, was published in "The Journal," of Toledo,
O.:

"The twentieth day of February, 1864, was one of the most
disastrous to the Federal arms, and to the administration of
President Lincoln, in the annals of the war for the union.
Through private advice Mr. Lincoln had received information
which led him to believe that the people in the State of
Florida, a large number of them, at least, were ready and
anxious to identify the State with the cause of the Union,
and he readily approved of the Federal forces occupying the
State, then almost deserted by the rebels. Gen. Gillmore,
commanding the Department of the South had a large force
before Charleston, S. C., which had been engaged in the
capture of Fort Wagner and the bombardment of the city of
Charleston, and the reduction of Sumter.

"These objects being accomplished, the army having rested
several months, Gen. Gillmore asked for leave to undertake
such expeditions within his Department as he might think
proper. About the middle of December, 1863, the War
Department granted him his request, and immediately he began
making preparations for an expedition, collecting
transports, commissary stores, drilling troops, etc., etc.

"About the 1st of January, 1864, General Gillmore wrote to
the General-in-Chief, Halleck, that he was about to occupy
the west bank of St. Johns river, with the view (1st) to
open an outlet to cotton, lumber, etc., (2d) to destroy one
of the enemy's sources of supplies, (3d) to give the negroes
opportunity of enlisting in the army, (4th) to inaugurate
measures for the speedy restoration of Florida to the Union.

"In accordance with instructions from President Lincoln
received through the assistant Adjutant General, Major J. H.
Hay, who would accompany the expedition, on the 5th of
February the troops began to embark under the immediate
command of General Truman Seymour, on board of twenty
steamers and eight schooners, consisting of the following
regiments, numbering in all six thousand troops, a