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

[105]

I have to report the following loss in prisoners: Lieut. D. M. Packard, Second Florida cavalry, and 3 men on guard at St. Mary's trestle; Assistant Surgeon Wilson and Sergeant Carrol, Captain Villepigue's company, and Private Pendarvis, Company K, Second Florida cavalry; Sergeant Denham, Fifth cavalry battalion, and 2 men on scout in direction of Trail ridge; Private J. E. Purdom, Company B, Second Florida cavalry, on a scout; Private Roche, Company G, Second Florida cavalry, wounded and captured in action at Black creek—making a loss of 2 officers and 10 privates.

On the 13th of August, 1864, Captain Dickison was given command of all the State troops called into service by virtue of the provisions of general orders from the adjutant and inspector's office, Tallahassee, July 30th. After the fight at Palatka, Company H, Second Florida cavalry, continued to perform heavy picket duty on the St. John's river, frequently engaging in skirmishes with the enemy. On the morning of August 15th a simultaneous movement was made by the Federals from Jacksonville and Green Cove Springs with a force of about 5,000 negro infantry, several batteries of artillery, and 400 cavalry. They advanced on our forces near Baldwin, driving them across the Little Suwannee, made a flank movement in the direction of Lake City up to Fort Butler in Bradford county, thence flanking around to Starke, a small town on the railroad 14 miles north of Waldo, where they plundered the town and citizens. Captain Dickison had encamped at Waldo, but the raiders having cut the telegraph wires and torn up the railroad track, no communication could be held with the Confederate forces at and near Lake City. At sundown, Captain Rou with a detachment of his company, Second Florida cavalry, came up to Waldo and reported the enemy at Starke. They remained there but a short time and moved on, flanking Dickison's command about 10 miles below. Just at dark Mr. Boulware and Dr. McCrea came with haste to our