push on to the fords, said to be eleven miles distant. Will report results to you and General Seymour instantly.

TILGHMAN,

Colonel.

[35.]

JACKSONVILLE, February 12, 1864.

General SEYMOUR:

I have directed Colonel Tilghman to send scouts to the fords of the Saint Mary's River and to forward to you any important information he may get.

GILLMORE,

General.

[35.]

JACKSONVILLE, February 12, 1864-1 p. m.

General SEYMOUR:

Your dispatch of 7 o'clock this morning received.* As you have ordered Henry back to the South Fork of Saint Mary's, I presume you consider the enemy too strong in your front. Send me your latest reliable information of the enemy. I shall garrison Palatka with the Saint Augustine command under Colonel Osborn, Twenty-fourth Massachusetts. Keep a force well out toward Sanderson if practicable.

GILLMORE,

General.

[35.]

SANDERSON, [Februjary] 12, [1864]-2 p. m.

General GILLMORE:

Colonel Henry has just arrived. Both Henry and Elder confirm my views as to holding only the South Fork of the Saint Mary's at present. I shall strengthen that point, also Callihan, and when forage and provisions are right another advance will secure your object with as much certainty as now. Henry will go to Gainesville to-night to catch the trains there. I shall stay here at Sanderson a little while. Probably Henry will go from Gainesville to Barber's or Baldwin. Will you send two or three companies of the Second South Carolina to Middleburg, in order to occupy the bridge at that place? Now, if you choose, concentrate troops at Jacksonville or at any other point where they can be supplied, and as I want them to advance I will call them up to Barber's before going farther on.

Respectfully,

T. SEYMOUR,

Brigadier-General.

Will you get the naval force at Fernandina to destroy all the ferry-boats in Saint Mary's River up as high as can be reached? And when an advance is made there should be a naval demonstration against Savannah at the same moment or just before, and with as many transports as can be shown. I shall except Hamilton and such regiments as have been ordered to me, and you can send them to Baldwin.

T. S.

Henry wants the saber and revolver badly, and needs them if they can be had.

[35.]

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*See VOL. XXXV, Part I, p. 283.

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